W: Have you chosen your electives for next semester yet? Are you taking French writing again?
M: Yes I am, but it’s compulsory for us next semester. So I think I’m gong to do marketing as an elective instead.
Q: Which class will the man choose as his elective? 2. Script
M: Did you go to that business strategy lecture on Friday? I missed it and need to copy your notes.
W: I’d say you could borrow my notes, but Sarah’s got them. Be careful not to miss Professor Brown’s seminar; he takes attendance in that.
Q: What is the woman telling the man? 3. Script
W: Wow, Steven! In the library! What brings you here?
M: I’m enjoying the view. All the girls in fashion design are here preparing for an exam on Monday.
Q: Why is the man in the library? 4. Script
W: How’s your group doing with this statistics presentation? Mine’s terrible.
M: Yeah, mine too. David and Mike are OK, but Steven doesn’t pull his weight and Suzie’s never around. I don’t see how we can pass unless Steven and Suzie realize that this is their last chance.
Q: What is the true of Steven and Suzie? 5. Script
W: You took an MBA at Harvard Business School, didn’t you? What’s it like?
M: It’s expensive, about U.S. $ 40,000 a year, plus the costs of food and housing. But the teaching is first class. The professors have a lot of practical experience. They use the case system of teaching; that is, you study how actual businesses grew or failed.
Q: Why is he MBA teaching in Harvard Business School first class, according to the conversation?
Keys: 1.C 2.D 3.B 4.D 5.A
III. Listening In
P4 Task1: On the First Day Script
Harrison: I’m Harrison. Good to meet you. So you’ve bought the books for this biology class.
Jenny: Sure, I think everyone had to before class started.
Harrison: No. Usually no one does much on the first day because it’s still add-drop. Jenny: What’s that?
Harrison: Changing from class to class to find out which one is best. Hey, where are you from?
Jenny: Poland. Have you had this teacher before? I’ve heard he is really good. Harrison: He’s good if you’re a hard-worker. He expects a lot.
Jenny: Oh, I guess that’s good. I hope I can keep up with everyone else in the class. Maybe I need your help after class.
Harrison: You’re welcome. …
Professor: All right. See you guys next week. Student: See you.
Jenny: Harrison, wait up!
Harrison: So what do you think about the professor’s lecture? Jenny: I think half of what he said went over my head.
Harrison: That’s all right. A lot of what he said is explained in the reading.
Jenny: Hey, would you mind if I borrowed your notes tonight to look them over? Harrison: No problem. We don’t have class until Wednesday. Here you go. Jenny: Thanks. I just want to make sure I’m prepared for the seminar.
Harrison: Yeah, participation in the discussion is an important part of the education here. Seeing that Jenny has bought the books for the biology class, Harrison says nobody does much on the first day because it’s still add-drop, which means students are changing from class to class. Jenny knows the professor is really good. But Harrison warns her that the professor is good, only if students are hard-workers, for he expects a lot.
After class, Jenny admits that half of what the professor said went over her head, and Harrison assures her that a lot of what the professor said is explained in the reading.
When Jenny asks to borrow Harrison notes, he says “on problem”, for they don’t have class until Wednesday. Finally, Harrison says participation in the discussion at the seminar is an important part of the education there.
P5 Task 2
How to select elective courses?
To begin with, you should select the courses that fit your profession. It is a good idea to choose elective courses closely related to your chosen profession. Potential employers will appreciate every bit of extra training and knowledge that they don't have to give you. For example, you may select elective courses in chemistry, biology or even physics if you are doing a science major. For business majors, select electives in accounting, business administration, and even computing, as you'll never know when these will come in handy in the corporate world.
Moreover, you can choose an education that includes many fields of study. If you are taking a heavy load of career-related courses, you may prefer electives that are not directly related to your major. If you receive a well-rounded education, some employers believe that you have better potential. For example, if you have courses in science along with your business degree, you could possibly win a job over someone who majored purely in business with no outside electives. Finally, you can also select a challenging elective course. Part of getting an education is learning how to learn, and elective courses should help you achieve this goal. You need not to memorize all the information from each class, but you should get a better understanding of the world. So, pick elective courses that challenge your belief system and make you look at the world in a different way. For instance, you can consider a philosophy elective if you have been told that you are a little narrow-minded.
P6 Task3: How to Get Straight A’s Script
It is interesting to note how straight A students achieve academic excellence. Here, according to education experts and students themselves, are the secrets of super-achievers.
First, they know how to set priorities. Top students allow no intrusions on study time. Once the books are open or the computer is turned on, phone calls go unanswered, TV shows unwatched, snacks ignored. Study is business, and business comes before recreation.
Also, good students can study anywhere and everywhere. Claudia Hill, an Arizona State University business professor recalls a cross-country runner who worked out every day. Hill persuaded him to use his spare time to memorize biology term. Then he posted a list of biology terms on the mirror in the bathroom. He learned a few terms every day while brushing his teeth. Eventually, he scored high on the final examination.
Moreover, top students schedule their time well. Study times are strictly a matter of personal preference. Some work late at night when the house is quiet. Others awake early. Still others study as soon as they come home from school when the work is fresh in their minds. All agreed, however, on the need for consistency. A student says, “Whatever I was doing, I maintained a certain period of time every day for studying.”
Another important characteristic of super-achievers is that they know how to read, According to a book entitled Getting Straight A’s, the secret of good reading is to be “an active reader---one who continually asks questions that lead to a full understanding of the author’s message”.
1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about super—achievers starting to study?
2. What did the cross-country runner do to score high on the exam? 3. What is the good thing all top students agree on? 4. What does the speaker mean by “an active reader”? 5. What is the main idea of the passage? Keys: 1B 2.C 3. D 4.A 5.D IV. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 You’re just going to have study hard
Nora: Only our first day back at school, and already I feel like I’ve learned a lot.
Chris: Only our first day back at school, and I already feel like I’m up to my ears in homework.
Nora: You’re going to have to hit the books if you want to keep your grades up.
Chris: Tell me about it! I already have two reports, two books reports, a composition, an oral report, and a research project—all due before midterms.
Nora: We could work together. Maybe some of my organized study habit would rub off on you.
Chris: Better yet, maybe you could do my homework for me. Nora: Forget it! That would be cheating.
Chris: All right, all right. I have yet to write a term paper. Can you recommend any articles and books? You’d better find me the exact pages where I can find what I want.
Nora: You could borrow ideas from references, but if you quote without giving the sources, you’re plagiarizing.
Chris: The quiz next week will be a headache. If you don’t help me, I’ll have to prepare some study sheets and hide them in my hand when I take the test.
Nora: Oh, no! If you’re caught, the professor will definitely give you an F. Probably, you will have to repeat the year.
Chris: All right, I’ll take your advice. The library is going to be my new home, and in the dorm I’ll be burning the midnight oil.
MODEL2 Which class do you prefer? Script
Chris: First period is math with Mr. Woods. I don’t know how am I going to stay awake? Nora: I like Mr. Wood. He’s interesting.
Chris: He’s boring! He could put the entire basketball team to sleep—during the championship game! Who do you have for economics?
Nora: Mrs. Jenkins. She’s smart. Students really learn a lot from her.
Chris: She’s tough! You have to work hard in her class, or you’ll probably fail. Nora: No pain, no gain.
Chris: Nonsense, You could have learned even more with Mr. Sharp. But not many students opt for his class.
Nora: What’s wrong with him?
Chris: Often, the highest grade he gives on a term paper is C+, and he usually fails half of the students.
Nora: No wonder he’s got the nickname Mr. Shark. Well, how about PE? What are you doing this semester?
Chris: That’s the worst part. In PE, we’re learning t’ai chi. I’m bored to death.
Nora: Ha-ha! Not to rub salt into the wound, but our class is playing your favorite sport: basketball.
Chris: Oh…that figures! This is going to be a terrible semester. Nora: This is going to be a great semester!
MODEL3 Publish or perish Script
Chris: Tell us, Professor Grant, What are your primary duties as a professor? Professor Grant: Well, I do a lot of research and writing. It’s rough being an associate professor. It’s publish or perish.
Chris: So you spent a lot of time in your office?
Professor Grant: Yes, but I also have to prepare class notes, give lectures, hold office hours. Teaching is an important part of being a professor.
Chris: With all those responsibilities, you must make a lot of money.
Professor Grant: I wish. Actually, I spend a lot of tome applying for grants to fund my research. Then I can offer assistantships and scholarships to the worthy graduate students who can help me with my research project.
Chris: I see why they call you “the boss”. But being a professor sounds pretty competitive.
Professor Grant: Actually, I think you were in one of my classes… Chris: Um….I think you’re mistaken, Professor Grant!
Professor Grant: No, I remember very clearly now! You owe me an essay!
Chris: Sorry, I have too much work to do for the Student Union Newsletter, and I have to work two jobs to pay for school.
Professor Grant: So you get an F in this course.
P14V. Let’s Talk Maintaining the quality or increasing the intake?
Interviewee: It's a really difficult balance to strike, actually maintaining the quality but making sure as many young people as possible and older people as well—there's been a surge in the number of over 25s applying, and we take many people who are over 25. But we've got to get that balance right. It's going to be terribly difficult for us next year.
Hostess: Given the cuts that the government announced a couple of weeks ago, and the numbers that we know in terms of applications, where are you going to draw that line? Are you going to have to look at cutting intake in order to maintain the quality of the courses?
Interviewee: We're trying not to cut intake at the moment. But what it means is we're going to have to be extra-cautious in the number of offers we make, because we simply cannot afford to go over our quota of the number of places that we can offer. Because if we do, it means that we could be fined, or we just simply haven't got enough money to make sure the students' experience is right. So it means that maybe last year we would allow a few more people to have an offer. This year is going to be tougher.
Hostess: Do you lay some of the blame for the situation at the door of the government? Interviewee: If you look to France, Sarkozy is actually increasing the budget for higher education. Obama in the U.S. has done the same thing. So we're just slightly puzzled as to why the government seems to be cutting back on higher education rather than pumping more money into what we think is a service that is absolutely vital for the economy.
VI. Further Listening and Speaking
P.16 Task 1 Problems with our educational system
Hi, everybody. My topic today is “Problems with Our Educational System”.
There are a lot of things in our educational system that I don’t agree with. It seems that educators just want to give standardized tests, which focus only on academic performance but neglect students’ abilities and interests in other areas. I think there’re a lot of people who are very intelligent, but haven’t had the opportunities they could’ve had, had they been educated in a broader-minded educational system. I feel that a lot of courses that students are forced to take in high school are too academic, and, as a result, many kids lost their interest in learning.
Educators have failed to recognize various kinds of intelligence. They often exert a lot of pressure on students to be as well-rounded as possible. I think being well-rounded isn’t really possible. And as a consequence, some students who are believed to be intelligent can’t get into good colleges if they, for example, haven’t scored well on the math section, even if they ate brilliant writers.
Another thing that disturbs me is that the so-called “weak students” are separated from the rest of the school. Some kids are kept in a separate class if their grades are lower then others. And they’ve very aware of their social position, you know. I think it causes them to act in a way that is
not really positive. They’re just acting in a way that they are expected to act. Often their grades go from bad to worse. And that’s pretty sad to me. I think that many of the kids in those classes are intelligent, but never actually realize their potential because of the way they are treated very early on in their education. Problems Educators just want to give standardized tests. They only focus on academic performance but neglect students’ abilities and interests in other areas. Results Kids lose interest in learning. Educators often exert a lot of pressure on Some intelligent kids can’t enter good students to be as well-rounded as possible. colleges. “Weak” students are separated from the rest of the school. Their grades go from bad to worse. P16 Task 2: The Final Exam Script
At a university, there were four sophomores taking a chemistry course. They were doing so well on all the quizzes, midterms, labs, that each had “A” so far for the semester.
These four friends were so confident that on the weekend before finals, they decided to go up to the University of Virginia and party with some friends there. They had a great time, and didn’t make it back to school until early Monday morning.
Rather than taking the final then, they decided to find their professor after the final exam and explain to him why they missed it. They explained that they had planned to come back in time for the final exam, but, unfortunately, they had a flat tire on the way back and didn’t have a spare. As a result, they missed the final.
The professor thought it over and then agreed they could make up the final the following day. The guys were relieved and elated. The next day, the professor placed them in separate rooms, handed each of them a test booklet, and told them to begin.
They took at the first problem, worth five points. It was a simple question on a chemical reaction. “Cool,” they thought at the same time, each one in his separate room, “This is going to be easy.” Each finished the problem and then turned the page.
On the second page was a question worth 95 points: “Which of the tires was flat?”
P17Task3: Harvard University Script
Harvard University is the oldest institute of highest learning in the United States. Founded 16 years after the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, the university has grown from 9 students with a single master to the present enrollment of more than 18,000 students, including undergraduates and students in 10 graduate and professional schools. Over 14, 000 people work at Harvard, including more than 2,000 faculties. Harvard has produced six presidents of the United States and 34 Nobel Prize winners.
During its early years, Harvard offered a classic academic course based on the model of English universities, but consistent with the prevailing Puritan philosophy. Although many of its early graduates became ministers in Puritan churches throughout New England, the university
never formally affiliated with a specific religious group.
Under President Pusey (1953-1971), Harvard started what was then the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of American higher education. It was an 82.5 million dollar program for the university. The program increased faculty salaries, broadened student aid, created new professorships, and expanded Harvard’s physical facilities.
Neil L. Rudenstine took office as Harvard’s 26th president in 1991. As part of an overall effort to achieve greater coordination among the university’s schools and faculties, Rudenstine encouraged academic planning and identified some of Harvard’s main intellectual priorities. He also stressed the importance of the university’s excellence in undergraduate education, the significance of keeping Harvard’s doors open to students from families of different economic backgrounds, the task of adapting the research university to an era of both rapid information growth and serious fund shortage.
1. What is main idea of the passage?
2. How many teachers did Harvard have at the very beginning?
3. What was the role of religion at Harvard University was during is early years?
4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an achievement of President Pusey’s fund-raising program?
5. What did President Rudenstine do?
Keys: 1.B 2.A 3.C 4.D 5.D
P18 Viewing and speaking Task 1 University budget cuts
Host:Well, David Lammy, the University Minister, joins me from Westminster.Now thanks for joining us this lunchtime, Mr. Lammy. How do these cuts... tie in with your much trumpeted commitment to increasing higher education?
Interviewee:Well, I think it's important to remind viewers that we will spend well over 12 billion pounds on higher education this year and to also say that there will be more students at university next year than ever before in our history. But what is important is that when they get to university, is that they have good facilities, good buildings, that they have good contact with their lecturers and, for students from poorer backgrounds that they receive a grant. And you know 40 percent of students who are going to university are in receipt of some grants. So we have to plan...
Host:But there's going to be less money next year. That's the bottom line, isn't it? Interviewee:Er, we are asking universities to make a one percent cut in their teaching
grant. That's 51 million out of a total budget of over five billion. Look, I think there are families across the country preparing for Christmas spending a bit less and they're, you know, it's a lot more than one percent that they're, they're feeling. So I think this is reasonable to ask universities if we are to ensure that we can continue to send more young people to university and we remain committed to that.
Host:And briefly, what about these two-year degrees? This is a reduction in standards, isn't it
Interviewee:Well, we, we, we... It's important in this country that we remember that
students aren't just the classic 18- to 21-year-old undergraduates. We want mature students. We want more part
time students and over the last few years we've been growing the number of foundation degree, two-year degrees that ensure that transition into high university and high level skills. That's what we want to support and that's what we're indicating in the grant letter that we've sent to universities over the last few days.
Host: OK. David Lammy, thank you so much for joining us. Interviewee: Thank you Keys:
(1)increasing (2)12 / twelve (3)more (4)facilities (5)lecturers (6)poorer (7)grant (8)one (9)budget (10)less (11)young (12)classic (13)part-time (14)growing (15)two-year
Unit 2 Our globe is in danger! II. Basic Listening Practice 1. Script
M: Now we have satellite and high-powered microscopes, it’s easy to think we know everything about the world; but we still don’t understand EI Nino.
W: Right. Even the scientists are uncertain about the exact cause of the warm Pacific current that brings storms or drought—the mysterious EI Nino.
Q: Which of the following is true according to the conversation? B) Even scientists cannot understand EI Nino. 2. Script
M: Everyone is talking about environmental problem: acid rain, greenhouse effect, holes in the ozone layer. We should think positively. What can we do to improve things?
W: I agree. We could do a lot more to harness the sun’s energy for heating and lighting in our homes. Millions of solar roofs are now emerging in Japan, the U.S., Italy, and Germany.
Q: How do the man and the woman view the environment? D) Both the man and woman think positively about it. 3. Script
W: We lived in Beijing some years ago. It was always difficult to keep the house clean with the wind from the north blowing sand from the desert.
M: That’s why the Chinese government has been encouraging people to plant trees along the edges of the Gobi Desert. Now those trees act as wind barriers.
Q: What have the Chinese people been encouraged to do? A) To grow trees. 4. Script
M: Many old refrigerators and cars are environmental hazards because they contain CFCs that destroy the ozone layer.
W: Yes, but government organizations are helping people to safely dispose of old refrigerators or, in the case of cars, to upgrade their air conditioning.
Q: What are government organizations helping people to do? A) To treat old electrical appliances safely. 5. Script
M: Hey. That’s an aerosol spray you’re using on your hair! Build a bomb or set fire to the apartment to kill us quickly instead of making holes in the ozone, so we die of cancer.
W: Cool it. This spray doesn’t contain CFCs. And you’d better read a little more. Q: What does the man mean?
C) The woman should not use an aerosol spray. III. Listening In
Task 1: We should have proper respect for nature!
Martha: Do you think most people in your culture respect nature? Ed: I think so. Um… more now than before.
Martha: What do you think is the most serious environment problem in the world today?
Ed: Today…I think damage to the ozone layer is a big problem, and another problem is pollution in big cities and things like that.
Martha: How do you learn about environmental problems?
Ed: Um… through school. A lot of clubs promote environmental safely, and some TV programs, too. They talk about environmental safely and stuff like that.
Martha: Do you think students should learn more about the environment at school?
Ed: I think so. So, as they grow older, they can be more aware of all the problems that are going on, and prevent more problems from occurring.
Martha: If you could create a new law to help the environment, what would it be?
Ed: A new law for the environment? Um…I’d probably say that when people throw away their cigarette butts, they have to throw them into the garbage bin, not just throw them everywhere because it’s just littering and I hate that. So they should be fined if they throw them on the floor on the ground.
Martha: That’s a good idea. What do you personally do to help protect the environment?
Ed: I’ m so against littering. I never litter. If I see somebody litter, I get really angry. So I always throw my trash into the garbage bin.
Key: (1) nature
(2) environmental problem (3) pollution (4) promote (5) aware of
(6) from occurring (7) law
(8) throw away (9) fined (10) trash
Task 2: River pollution Script
If you see dead fish floating on the river or notice that the water is discolored and smelly, you know the river has been polluted, and there are four main possible causes for it.
First, fertilize. If large amount of fertilize or farm waste drain into a river, the concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in the water increase considerably. Algae use these substances to grow rapidly, turning the water green. This massive growth of algae leads to pollution. When the algae
die, they are broken down by the action of the bacteria, which quickly multiply, using up all the oxygen in the water and therefore causing the death of fish.
Second, industrial waste. Factories sometimes discharge chemical waste into rivers. Examples of such pollutants include cyanide, lead, copper, and mercury. These substances may enter the river in such high concentrations that fish and other animals are killed immediately. Sometimes the pollutions enter the food chain and accumulate until they reach toxic levels, eventually killing fish and other animals.
Third, oil pollution. If oil enters a slow-moving river, it forms a rainbow-colored film over the entire surface, preventing oxygen from entering the water.
Fourth, warm water. Industry often uses water for cooling processes, sometimes discharging large quantities of warm water back into rivers. A higher temperature of the water lowers the level of dissolved oxygen and upsets the balance of life in the water.
Question and key:
1. What is the passage mainly about? D) The causes of river pollution.
2. Why does the river water turn green?
A) Because nitrate and phosphate in the water increase. 3. What harm does industrial waste cause? B) Poisoning..
4. Which of the following is true of oil pollution? C) It prevents oxygen from entering the water. 5. What harm can warm water in a river bring? D) Lack of oxygen.
Task3: Curbing carbon emissions Script
Although it is not an easy task, China is striving to fulfill the promise to cut its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent in the next 10 years.
Zhang Guobao, Director of the National Energy Administration, said,“The government puts great emphasis on seeking harmonious development between cities and the environment, and is readjusting the energy structure by giving priority to the development of clean and low-carbon energies, including hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, and solar power. ”
Government authorities have closed small, coal-fired plants with a total capacity of 60.06 million kilowatts in the past four years. This year’s target of closing 10 million kilowatts of capacity will be achieved by August.
“We have promised to the international community that 15 percent of our power will be generated from non-fossil sources by 2020,” Director Zhang said. At present, non-fossil energy accounts for only 7.8 percent.
China is making efforts to increase the proportion f clean energy in its total energy consumption. Statistics show that China invested US$ 18.6 billion. Thus, China has become the world leader in generating clean energy. Five years earlier, China’s investment in clean energy was only US$ 2.5 billion.
However, China’s carbon emission reduction target cannot be achieved easily. The shift to a low-carbon economy might be met at a cost to society. For instance, more than 400,000 people were laid off as a result of the shutdown of small coal-fired power plants in the past four years.
Many studies indicate that the effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions may delay China’s development, affect people’s income, and lead to unemployment.
Question and key:
1. What is the passage mainly about?
D) Cutting carbon dioxide emissions: China’s achievements and problems.
2. From four years ago until August this year, how many kilowatts of coal-fired plant capacity will have been close？
D) More than 70 million.
3. By 2020, what will be the proportion of non-fossil energy in the total power in China? A) 15%.
4. Which of the following is true of the investment by China and the United Stated in clean energy last year?
B) China’s investment was almost twice as large as the United States.
5. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as a problem arising from curbing greenhouse gas emissions?
C) Causing more strikes. IV. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Our globe is in danger
John: How is your Grandma getting along during this usually hot weather?
Nora: Over the last few years, Granny has been complaining that the hot, humid weather is killing her. She believes the weather has changed. John: What she means is the climate’s long-term conditions; weather refers only to day-to-day conditions.
Nora: Yeah, she says summer is hotter, and winter wetter. But I tried to comfort her, saying, “It’s all in your mind, Granny.”
John: She’s right, you know. The greenhouse effect does bring global warming and rain. Nora: How can I explain global warming and greenhouse gases to a 97-year-old Granny? John: Tell her the earth now is like a real greenhouse made of glass panels that let in light and trap heat.
Nora: Think she’ll want to know that carbon monoxide from earth makes greenhouse gases? John: Everybody should know what cause global warming; otherwise we won’t stop it. Nora: I’ll tell Granny not to burn any more wood or coal, or to use spray on the hair. John: OK, joke about it, but it won’t be so funny when the polar icecaps melt and oceans rise.
MODEL2 Rainforests will soon be only a memory.
Susan: Hey, Chris, there is an environmental group on campus asking for donations to save the rainforests. Chris: So what? Susan: So what?! Don’t you want to save the rainforests?
Chris: But there’re no rainforests in our country. They need hot, tropical climates. Susan: Come on. A rain forest is any forest where heavy rainfall leads to dense vegetation. Tropical rainforests can be found in hoe, tropical areas, but there are also cool rainforests, including one in southeast Alaska.
Chris: How did you know that?
Susan: Well, I’ve just read a book on rainforests. You know, 140nillion people live in the world’s rainforests, and 35 percent of the world’s plant and animal species exist only in rainforests. Chris: Wow, I’m impressed. So what else have you learned?
Susan: Most of the world’s rainforests are in danger of destruction by loggers, farmers and developers. They are disappearing at a rate of 1000 acres a minute! Chris: It’s terrible!
Susan: Yeah, we’ve got to find a way to save them. Now would you like to give a donation? Chris: Sure.
MODEL3 What a terrible sandstorm!
Susan: Hey, John. You’re back. A few days ago, a big sandstorm hit our city John: Oh, that’s bad.
Susan: The air was full of dirt and sand and dust. I had to wear a scarf around my head. John: The dust, as I know, comes from Mongolia. And from my reading in science, I’ve heard the dust often comes after a long period of drought. Susan: This is a serious problem in many parts of the world, and unfortunately our city is one of them.
John: And if the drought continues, the soil is easily airborne. And then if the wind comes, the soil can be lifted up on the cold are that rises up, and it can travel very long distances.
Susan: Normally, when there’s a wind, it can clear the air, and you have beautiful weather. But when the dust is brought in with the wind, then you can’t breathe, you can’t see well, and it’s dangerous for driving, or for walking.
John: Yeah. You know, when the dust is lifted up it can go as high 3,000 meters. And it’s not just China that has problems, but many other countries. For example, the middle of Australia sometimes has dust storms, and some of the dust goes up very high, goes across the ocean, and falls down on New Zealand.
Susan: Not a very nice neighbor.
John: Is there a solution to the problem? Susan: We need to plant more trees and grass so that the soil can stay where it is. John: No wonder the government is launching a new afforestation program in a bid t address the environmental problem.
V. Let’s Talk
Man: Well, it’s aspirational language which is nice and lovely and fluffy, but doesn’t really actually commit anyone to doing anything, and so it’s really hard to take to the bank. I mean, people’s lives are on the line in the developing world where we are seeing the impacts felt first and foremost. And obviously the atmosphere simply can’t take the kind of emissions we’ve been seeing in the business-as-usual scenario and there’s no real commitment to change that. There’s no real commitment to put serious money on the table and that’s a big problem.
[On-screen text: Wind Farm]
This is a great photo op for all the world leaders, but if it’s not backed by action, it really doesn’t mean much at the end of the day.
Woman: What’s in there is very disappointing. It does not constitute a …a deal. It’s a hollow
shell that will need to be filled in, and it has some numbers, it talks about trying to avoid degrees. That’s the same language that the G8 used last July. But it lacks anything on emissions cuts as yet that would guarantee that we’re actually on the, on track to get there. And the financing commitments…there is a mention of a 100-billion-dollar figure and the attempt to raise or mobilise that level of resources, but there’s no guarantee that there will be new money, that the money will be real, there’s actually a commitment to get there, or that it will be channeled in new ways, as yet.
Key:
(1) –b (2) –a(3) –h(4) –d(5) –g(6) –e(7) –c(8) –f VI. Further Listening and Speaking
Task1: The environment and the development Script
Li: Hi Professor Wang, I’m Li Lin, a correspondent from the university newspaper. The staff and students here are getting more and more interested in the relationship between the environment and economic development. What do you think is the most serious environmental problem at present? What measures should we adopt to improve the environment and develop the economy at the same time?
Wang: There are many environmental problems: air pollution, water pollution, desertification, overfishing, destruction of natural habitats, acid rain, overconsumption of wild animals and plants, etc. But lying at the center of all those problems, as I see it, is the contradiction between economic growth and the environment.
Since the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992, growing number of people and governments have adopted the new idea of ―sustainable development‖. This means today’s economic growth should not wipe out the resources and options for future generations. Planning and development should ensure not only economic growth, but also social advancement and environment health. In other words, some economic behavior must be restricted or controlled. Instilling principles of sustainable development into government planning, resource management and economic policy is the most important step China can take to solve its environmental problems.
China has already taken some remarkable steps to reduce damage to the environment. For instance, following the huge floods of 1998, the government banned logging in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in order to protect forests and reduce the risk of floods.
Still, the basic contradiction between environment and development persists. Much work is to be done before we can achieve the aim of a balance between economic growth and the environment.
Key:
(1) water pollution(2) overconsumption(3) economic growth(4) resources
(5) social advancement(6) restricted(7) government planning(8) economic policy (9) remarkable steps(10) balance
Task2: Thick cloud of pollution covering southern Asia Script
A United Nations study says that a thick cloud of pollution covering southern Asia threatens the lives of millions of people. Scientists say the pollution could increase lung disease and cause early death. The cloud is also damaging agriculture and affecting rainfall levels. It has affected many countries in southern Asia. The pollution cloud is three kilometers high. Scientists say it can
move halfway around the world in a week.
The cloud is the result of forest fires, the burning of agricultural waste, and huge increases in the burning of fuels by vehicles, industries and power stations.
Pollution from millions of bad cooking stoves has made the problem worse. Many poor people burn fuels like wood and animal waste in such stoves.
Scientists say the cloud of pollution appears to cool the land and oceans by blocking sunlight. They say it reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface by as much as 15 percent. At the same time, heat inside the cloud warms the lower parts of the atmosphere.
Scientists say this combination could be changing winter rainfall levels in Asia. They say rainfall has increased over the eastern coast of Asia. But it has dropped sharply over parts of northwestern Asia. The report says the cloud could reduce rainfall over northwestern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and western China by up to 40 percent.
Harmful chemicals from the cloud are mixing with rainfall. This acid rain damages crops and trees and threatens public health. Scientists are concerned that the pollution will intensify during the next 30 years as the population of Asia increases to an estimated 5,000 million people.
Question and key:
1. What is true of the cloud of pollution?
D) It can move halfway around the world in a week. 2. What is NOT the cause of the cloud of pollution? B) Evaporation from the ocean.
3. What does the cloud of pollution bring about? A) It cools the land and oceans.
4. Why will the pollution intensify in the next 30 years? C) Because the Asian population will increase a lot. 5. What is the main idea of the passage?
C) The causes and results of a cloud of pollution.
Task 3: Mountain regions face a number of dangers.
Mountain people around the world are in great danger of the negative effects of the worsening environment, according to a UN report. As global warming and deforestation accelerate and technology makes wilder places more accessible, environmental and social pressures on the world’s remotest regions increases.
The UN has found that many mountainous regions—inhabited by one out of five of the world’s people—are barely recognizable when they are compared to what they ere like 60 years ago. This is mostly because forests were cut to make way for cattle grazing and agriculture. The authors of the UN study expect 98 percent of its mountain areas to experience severe climate change by 2055. Biological losses are expected to be heavy. The mountains of Europe, part of California and the northwest Andes in South America are among the most threatened mountain areas in the world and should be given priority in conservation.
The UN is anxious to raise awareness of the problem facing mountain areas because they are inhabited by some of the most vulnerable people. These people could lose their culture and their livelihood with even the smallest shifts in climate.
At the same time, many mountain regions are losing people. Thousands of villages in Europe are deserted most of the year. In other areas like Nepal, people are drifting to the cities in search of work.
Viewing and speaking
Santa’s Hometown in Danger Script
Weather experts may have found a new problem caused by global warming, one which many people will pay attention to: There are signs that Santa’s home in the North may be in trouble because of warmer temperatures. The Finnish town of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, which many Europeans say is the home of Santa Claus, has had its warmest winter in 40 years. As a result, there has been much less snow than usual—meaning no snowmen, no snowballs and possible not enough snow for Santa to ride his sleigh on.
More important for local residents, it may mean fewer tourists, as well. Santa’s wintry hometown normally attracts thousands of visitors each year, and millions of dollars. Anne Pelttari-Bergman, the town’s tourist director, worries that the town could be in trouble if snow levels do not return to normal. She explains: “Snow is really important for us, of course. For Santa Claus, for Christmas tourism, and also for our winter tourism because winter is our best season. It is really important for us.”
Weather experts and town residents are hoping this warm winter is a one-time thing. Few people can imagine a holiday when even Santa does not have a white Christmas.
Unit 3 Culture makes me what I am. II. Basic Listening Practice
1. Script
W: Chinese students are often too shy to say anything in class.
M: I think they don’t speak because their culture values modesty， they don’t want to be showing off. Goes back to Confucius.
Q: Why don’t Chinese students say in class according to the man. C They are modest. 2. Script
W: The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the work place. Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work.
M: Yeah. In the United States women earn only 70 percent of what men get for the same job. It’s a situation that has to be changed.
Q: What does the man say about the women. A They earn less than men. 3. Script
W: I admire Michael Dell. He had a dream to be the world’s largest manufacture of personal computers and he has realized that dream.
M: And he dropped out of university to become a success. I wonder if there is a lesson in that.
Q: What do we learn about Michael Dell from the dialog.
D He succeeded in his career though he did not complete his education. 4. Script
M: Successful entrepreneurs are often self-made people who have a vision and know where they are going.
W: But do they enjoy life like you and me or is money their only concern. Q: What are the two speakers’ attitudes toward successful entrepreneurs. D The man admires the entrepreneur but the woman does not. 5. Script
W: Do you agree that equal opportunity for all in an educational system is important？ M: Yes but we have to recognize that all of us are not of equal ability. Q: What does the man imply？
A We should acknowledge differences between students. III. Listening In
Task 1: Competition in America Script Alan: What are you reading, Eliza?
Eliza: An article on America competition.
Alan: Competition is everywhere. Why so much fuss about it, Miss Knowledge?
Eliza: Don’t make fun of me. According to the author, competition is especially important in American life. They’re taught to complete from early childhood. When children play games, they learn how to beat others.
Alan: And many girls want to look more attractive than the girls sitting next to them in class. Do you think that way?
Eliza: Don’t be silly. Let’s get back to the point. When children are growing up, they complete with one another in their studies.
Alan: Isn’t that also true of students in other nations? As we all know, many Asian students would kill for a high test score and grab every opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge over others.
Eliza: American boys find great pleasure in competing with each other in sports, according to the author.
Alan: I do like sports. When our football team beats the other team, I feel great… makes me want to shout out loud. But isn’t that normal throughout the world?
Eliza: American people also compete with each other at work and at climbing the social ladder.
Alan: But there’s such competition in other countries as well.
Eliza: You’re right in a sense, but the author says the idea of competing is more deeply rooted in the minds of Americans. They’re even taught that if you lose and don’t feel hurt, there must be something wrong with you.
Alan: I hear that some Asians put emphasis on cooperation. Which approach do you think makes more sense?
Eliza: It’s hard to say. Anyway, it’s just culture difference. Question and key:
1. What is the dialog mainly about?
C) Varies aspects of American competition. 2. What is the woman reading?
A) Reading an article on American competition.
3. What do children learn from playing games according to the woman? C) Competitiveness.
4. What does the man say about Asian and American students? B) Competition exacts among both Asian and American students.
5. What does the woman think more sense, competition or cooperation? D) It’s difficult to arrive at a definite conclusion. Task 2: Americans’ Work Ethic Script
For four hundred years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their “work ethic”. Its (S1) roots were in the teaching of the Christian Puritans who first settled in (S2) what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their (S3) moral duty to work at every task to please God by their (S4) diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill, and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a (S5) sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible’s (S6) teachings, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Therefore, Americans have for (S7) centuries believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. (S8) Even as children they were taught, “If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.”
But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of “climbing the ladder” so as to increase their status, financial position, and sense of self-worth. (S9) In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsively. The word “workaholic” describes an individual who is as addicted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol.
There are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally. (S10) Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are extremely productive. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic upholds these values.
Task3: Cross-cultural tips on doing business
Countries from around the globe, such as Germany, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia, conduct a lot of business in China-the biggest market in the world. Here are some tips to help you deal more successfully with people from those nations.
Firstly, you must be punctual with the Germans. Being even five minutes late makes a poor impression. Being punctual is also very important with Americans and the British. But while it’s important to be on time for business meetings, nobody expects you to be punctual for a social event. Half past seven is really means a quarter to eight, or even eight o’clock! With Russians, always be on time, but don’t be surprised if your Russian contact is very late! It is not unusual for them to be one or even two hours late!
In the business environments of those four countries, it is best to wear formal clothes of dark colors. In Russia, designer clothes are rather common. However, don’t be surprised if you go to an office in the U.K., on a Friday and find everyone wearing jeans. Many companies in the U.K.
have “dress down Fridays”, when people wear casual attire.
In conversation, the British and the Americans love humor and talking about sports. The weather is also a good topic of conversation with the British, but you should avoid political talk. With the Russians, say positive things about their country, and avoid making complaints. The Germans, however, prefer to get straight down to business!
Remember that with the Germans, once a deal has been agreed upon, you can’t change it! With the Americans, money is more important than relationships, whereas with Russians it’s important to get to know your contacts well. Also, don’t be surprised if a British meeting seems like a chaos, with everyone participating and giving opinions!
Remember these tips and you will be on your way to a successful international career. Question and key:
1. What is true of the Americans and the British in term of punctuality? D) They are punctual for business meetings, but less for social events.
2. In which country do people have “dress down Fridays”? A) The U.K.
3. What can you infer about the Russians from their conversation? D) They are patriotic.
4. How can you do business well with the Russians? A) You should know your contacts well. 5. What is the speaker’s attitude toward the four nationalities? C) He is neutral to all of them.
V. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Americans glorify individualism.
Susan: John, I was looking for you. Where have you been hiding all morning? John: Well, I caught Professor Brown’s lecture on American individualism. Susan: Oh, how did you find it?
John: Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe individual interests rank above everything else.
Susan: Sounds intersting. It’s a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism Professor Wang talked about last semester.
John: But you should know that the individualism in the United States is not necesssarily an equivalent for selfishness.
Susan: Then what does it mean in the States?
John: They believe all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they emphasize individual initiative and independence.
Susan: There could be something in that. Of course in oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else.
John: I So, it’s all the more necessary for foreigners to understand American culture, or they can’t hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West..
Susan: Maybe that’s the reason nuclear families outnumber extended families in the United States.
John: Right on! You’re catching on fast! Susan: Now let me ask you a question. John: Shoot. Go ahead.
Susan: Why do Americans cherish individualism more than oriental people? John: I don’t know. Anyway, Professor Brown didn’t say.
Susan: One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at an early age. They learn independence early, so it’s deeply rooted. John: Wow, that’s an intelligent guess!
MODEL2 What do you think are the reasons for that difference? Script
Susan: Do you find that people in America often walk faster than people in China? Americans always seem to be in a hurry.
John: It’s hard to come to a definite conclusion. Some Americans walk in a leisurely way, and some Chinese hurry all the time. But on the whole, I think you’re right. Susan: What do you think are the reasons for that difference?
John: Americans treasure time. For them, time is tangible. It’s a thing. “Time is money.” You can “spend time”, “waste time”, “save time”. You can even “kill time”! Susan: Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle?
John: Sure. If you’re 20 minutes late for a bussiness appointment, the other person or persons will be annoyed. They may not trust you anymore.
Susan: But as far as I know, English-speaking people may be 15-30 minutes late for a dinner party.
John: That’s true. For an informal occasion like that, punctuality is not so important. Also, a boss may keep his employees waiting for a long time.
Susan: But if his secretary is late, she’s in trouble. She will probably receive a reprimand. John: How true!
Susan: The American workship of time probably led them to create fast foods.
John: I agree. And globalization shrinks the differences between cultures. Now people everywhere are rushing, and anywhere you go, you find Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Susan: But plenty of Chinese are still making appointments saying, “If I am late, wait for me.” John: But with more intercultural communication, I think the gap will eventually be bridged, and Chinese will be hurrying everywhere.
MODEL3 That’s the secret of their success. Script
Chris: Hey Sue, how’s the math class going? Are you head of the class?
Susan: Are you kidding? There’s a bunch of foreign students in the class---from China somewhere---and they are on top.
Chris: Why do you think so many Chinese students excel in math? It’s been my observation that the Chinese students are usually the best.
Susan: In class they don’t say much, but they definitely get the best marks.
Chris: I think part of it is their work ethic. They never skip class, and they pay attention.
Susan: One Chinese student in my class did homework each night until the early hours. He never took a break, watched TV, or went out for a beer.
Chris: That’s the secret of their success: hard work and diligence.
Susan: It’s so unfair. I could probably do better if I worked harder, but that’s no fun. I think learning should be more fun.
Chris: Someone with a knowledge of chess would find a chess tournament fascinating. But if you don’t have the knowledge, then you won’t understand the significance of the moves, and you’ll be bored.
Susan: So what you’re saying is knowledge requires hard work, and knowledge makes things interesting. I am not against knowledge; I just want to learn it in an interesting way. What’s more, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Ⅴ Let’s talk International Slavery Museum Script
The international Slavery Museum has opened at Albert Dock, in Liverpool. Many people travelled from all over the world to celebrate the opening on 23rd of August.
The museum is a place of reflection, contemplation and education.
It tells the story of the cruel acts of the transatlantic slave trade, the stories of the lives of the millions of Africans people, who were forced from their homelands onto ships that sailed to unknown lands where they were made to work on farms and in mines in harsh conditions without dignity or payment.
Liverpool is one of the many British seaports that became very rich from money made transporting goods such as cotton and sugar, produced by African slaves.
One of the most important parts of the museum’s exhibits are the stories of the lives of people who live all over the world today, whose family history can be traced to the Africans whose lives were changed forever by the transatlantic slave trade.
It has taken four years of the hard work and planning to organise the creation of the museum, and its opening year is a very significant date because in 2007 we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.
This was a law made in 1807; it banned all British people from taking part in the slave trade. Later in 1833 all people who had been forced into slavery to work for British companies were freed.
Key: 1. It tells the story of the cruel acts of the (1) transatlantic slave trade, the stories of the lives of the millions of African people, who were forced from their homelands onto ships that sailed to (2) unknown lands where they were made to work on farms and in mines in harsh conditions without (3) dignity or payments.
2. Liverpool is one of the many British seaports that became very (1) rich from many made transporting goods such as (2) cottons and sugar, produced by African slaves.
3. One of the most important parts of the museum’s exhibits are the stories of the lives of people who live (1) all over the world today, whose (2) family history can be traced to the Africans whose lives were (3) changed forever by the transatlantic slave trade.
4. Because 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.
5. A law made in 1807; it (1) banned all British people from (2) taking part in the slave trade. Later in 1833 all people who had been forced into (3) slavery to work for British companies were (4) freed.
Ⅵ Further listening and speaking Listening Task1 Punctuality Script
To Americans, punctuality is a way of respect for other people’s time. Being more than 10 minutes late to an appointment usually calls for an apology and maybe an explanation. People who are running late often call ahead to let others know of the delay. Of course, the less formal the
situation, the less important it is to be exactly on time. At informal get-togethers, for example, people can arrive as much as 30 minutes past the appointed time. But they usually don’t try that at work.
American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks in advance. Once the time is fixed, it takes almost an emergency to change it. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is convenient. Only very close friend will just “dropped in” unannounced. Also, people hesitate to call others late at night for fear they might already be in bed. The time may vary, but most people think twice about calling after 10:00p.m.
To outsiders, Americans seem tied to the clock. People in some Eastern cultures value relationships more than schedules. In these societies, people don’t try to control time, but to experience it. Many Eastern cultures, for example, view time as a cycle. The rhythm of nature- from the passing of seasons to the monthly cycle of the moon-shapes their view of events. If they have wasted some time or let an opportunity pass by, they are not very worried, knowing that more time and opportunities will come in the next cycle. But Americans often want to jump at the first opportunity. They are unwilling to stand by idly and give up the opportunity.
The early American hero Benjamin Franklin expressed that view of time like this: “Do you love life? Then do not waste time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”
Question and key:
1. When people are running late in America, what do they do? C) They call ahead to inform others of their delays.
2. What do Americans do after the time for an appointment is fixed? B) They change it only when there is an emergency.
3. How do people in Eastern cultures view relationships and schedules? A) Relationships are more important than schedules.
4. Why aren’t some Eastern people worried if they let an opportunity pass by? C) Another opportunity will come in next cycle.
5. What was Benjamin Franklin’s view of time? D) It is part of life.
Task2: Our personal space
Our personal space, that piece of the universe we occupy and call our own, is contained within an invisible boundary surrounding our body. As the owners of this area, we usually decide who may enter and who may not. When our space is invaded, we react in a variety of ways. We back up and retreat, stand our ground as our hands become moist from nervousness, or sometimes even react violently. Our response shows not only our unique personality, but also our cultural background.
For example, cultures that stress individualism such as England, the United States, Germany, and Australia, generally demand more space than collective cultures do, and tend to aggressive when their space is invaded. The idea of space is quite different from the one found in the Mexican and Arab cultures. In Mexico, the physical distance between people when engaged in conversation is closer than what is usual north of the border. And for Middle Easterners, typical Arab conversations are at close arrange. Closeness cannot be avoided.
As is the case with most of our behavior, our use of space is directly linked to the value
system of our culture. In some Asian cultures, for example, employees do not stand near their bosses; the extended distance demonstrates respect. Extra interpersonal distance is also part of the cultural experience of the people of Scotland and Sweden, for whom it reflects privacy. And in Germany, private space is scared.
Key: 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. F
Task3: We don’t know what to do with them.
A Russian, a Cuban, an American businessman, and an American lawyer were passengers on a fast train speeding across the French countryside. As time wore on, they gradually became friendly with one another, introducing themselves and shaking hands. Eventually, the Russian took out a large bottle of vodka and poured each of his traveling companions a drink. Just as the American businessman was sipping the vodka and praising its fine quality, the Russian hurled the half-full bottle out of the open window.
“What did you do that for?” asked the startled American businessman.
“Vodka is plentiful in my country,” said the Russian. “In fact, we have thousands and thousands of liters of it-far more than we need.”
The American businessman shook his head and leaned in his seat, obviously baffled by the Russian’s reasoning .
A little later, the young Cuban passed around a box of fine Havana cigars. The men enjoyed this treat and made admiring remarks about the pleasure of smoking good Havana cigars. At that very moment the Cuban took a couple of puffs of his cigar and then tossed it out of the open window.
“I thought the Cuban economy was not good this year,” the American businessman said, “Yet you threw that perfectly good cigar away. I find your actions quite puzzling.”
“Cigars,” the Cuban replied, “are a dime a dozen in Cuba. We have more of them than we know what to do with.”
The American businessman sat in silence for moment. Then he got up, grabbed the lawyer, and threw him out of the window.
Key: 1. The Russian hurled the half-full bottle of vodka out of the open window.
2. He answered, “Vodka is plentiful in my country. In fact, we have thousands and thousands of liters of it-far more we need.”
3. The businessman said, “I thought the Cuban economy was not good this year. Yet you threw that perfectly good cigar away. I find your actions quite puzzling. ”
4. He replied, “Cigars are a dime a dozen in Cuba. We have more of them than we know what to do with.”
5. The American businessman sat in silence for moment. Then he got up, grabbed the lawyer, and threw him out of the window. He did that probably because he thought there were too many lawyers in the United States.
Viewing and speaking Reviving the image of tea
Voice-over: Walk down any high street and you can’t help noticing the explosion of trendy coffee shops. The old style of cafes are gradually (1) disappearing to make way for the caffeine culture. As people become espresso fiends and cappuccino connoisseurs, designer coffees are (2) kicking the traditional British beverage-tea-off the menu. But there are still a few oases of calm.
[On-screen text: Charlotte Grindling.]
Voice-over: Charlotte Grindling is a design guru and a tea fanatic. Charlotte: I’ll have a pot of house blend please. Waitress: OK, and a cream.
Charlotte: Yes, thank you. Here we are in a quintessentially English (3) tea shop. I love these places. Look, they even give you a doily. But the problem is that tea is undergoing an (4) image crisis. You think of your granny, tea at four, the flat cap. But with the explosion of the new coffee shops hitting the high street, the question is: How is tea going to (5) update its image？
Voice-over: One tea manufacturing company saw a niche in the market for a chain of tea shops to (6) compete with the American-style coffee shops that dominate the high street. But to compete successfully, they needed a tea machine that made quality tea as (7) fast as the coffee machines make coffee. They turned to the company Design Bridge for help.
David: I’m David. Richard: I’m Richard.
David: We work for Design Bridge. Richard: And we design things like that. David: And that. Richard: And that. David: Yeah, and that. Richard: And this one. David: In fact, all of these.
Voice-over: David and Richard are (8) product designers. They’re responsible for repackaging many familiar high street brands. Repackaging tea was just one of their briefs and it was because of the (9) contacts that they made with the tea company that they got the job of designing the tea machine.
[On-screen text: David Helps.]
David: we met up with our client in a place (10) similar to this, and he said he wanted a tea machine to fit into a load of tea shops he was launching the year after. So he all spun around and looked at that, and said actually I think that’s the sort of thing we (11) want.
[On-screen text: Richard Rees.]
Richard: The trouble is there it’s a beautiful coffee machine. It’s been around for 30 years, it’s got this gorgeous Italian styling: lots of chrome, lots of stainless steel, but we weren’t sure whether that style was what we needed for a tea machine. So that was our (12challenge: What’s the right style for a new tea machine?
Voice-over: Faced with creating a new product from scratch, David and Richard would need a design brief. The brief is crucial because they need to know about the (13) consumer before they can design the product. There is a (14) traditional way of finding out what the consumer wants and creating this design brief.
Unit 4 Taste the sweets and bitters of family life.
II. Basic Listening Practice
1. Script
M: Amy, sit down, we need to talk. Your mother and I are going to separate.
W: What! Are you crazy? You can't do that! What will my friends say? I just want to have a normal family.
Q: What is the girl saying?
2. Script
M: Good evening, Mrs. Jones. The manager sent you these roses and his best wishes to you both for a happy anniversary.
W: Thank you. We like the room and the service here, and we especially appreciate the manager's consideration/
Q: What can we learn from the conversation? 3. Script
W: While I'm scrambling the eggs, could you put the flour into the bowl? M: You bet, darling. I'll also turn the oven on so that it gets warmed up. Q: Where does this conversation probable take place? 4. Script
W: I have a very important meeting tonight, and I'm afraid I can't miss it.
M: But this evening is the parents' meeting at school, and I was expecting you'd come to it. OK, I'll phone Dad, maybe he and his girlfriend will come.
Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 5. Script
W1: So you're still single? If you'd listen to me and used the Internet, you'd have a husband by now.
W2: I did use the Internet. I posted an ad that read “Husband Wanted”. There were dozens of e-mail responses. But they all said pretty much the same thing: You can have mine.
Q: What can we infer from the conversation?
Keys: 1.C 2.A3.B 4.C 5.D
III Listening in
Task 1: Nuclear family living patterns
A nuclear family is typical in highly-industrialized societies. Beginning in the early 20th century, the two-parent family known as the nuclear family was the predominant American family type. Generally children live with their parents until they go away to a college or university, or until they find jobs and acquire an apartment or home of their own.
In the early mid-20th century, the father was typically the sole wage-earner, and the mother was the children's principal caregiver. Today, often both parents hold jobs. Dual-earner families are the predominant type for families with children in the United States. Increasingly, one of the parents has a non-standard shift, that is, a shift that does not start in the morning and end in the late afternoon. In these families, one of the parents manages the children while the other works.
Prior to school, adequate day care of children is necessary for dual-earner families. In recent years, many private companies and home-based day care centers have sprung up to fulfill this need. Increasingly, companies are getting involved in the arrangement of day care. Governments are providing assistance to parents that require day care as well.
Task 2 Fatherhood in Australia
Can it be true that Australian men spend more time during the week brushing their teeth than they do alone with their children? A new study from the University of New South Wales has discovered that during the working week, Aussie fathers only spend an average of just over a minute each day alone with their children. Australian mothers, on the other hand, spend three hours a week purely looking after their children – a much greater disparity than in other countries like America, Denmark, Italy and France, where couples divide the child-care more evenly. These findings will infuriate those who want to shake off the perhaps unfair image of Australia as a land of old-fashioned male chauvinism.
According to the author of the study, Australian fathers appear to like the fun aspects of parenthood, but shy away from the drudgery. So while they tend to be happy taking the kids to the park or to sports events, they are unlikely to participate regularly in feeding, bathing, or taking the kids to school. In short, Australian parenting is seen as a woman's job and a man's hobby.
Many people believe that the last twenty years have seen the arrival of the so-called ‘new man’ – the man who is willing to share the housework and child-care and is not afraid to demonstrate his sensitive side either. The new man has a picture of his children on his computer desktop at work; he never misses the kids’ school plays and he passes on a drink after work so that he can get home in time to read their bedtime story.
This study suggests that the new man feels a little more at home in Europe than in Australia. Indeed, a poll conducted in the UK for the think-tank the Fatherhood Institute in January indicated that almost 70% of British women thought that men were as good at raising children as women.
That’s something for Aussie men to ponder while they brush their teeth!
Key： F T T F T
Task3: Views on filial piety see change
With fast economic development in Hong Kong, young people are less likely to cherish the traditional notion of filial piety. Instead, they are gradually taking a new approach to a welfare society, according to a three-year survey conducted by the City University of Hong Kong.
As many as 85 percent of the respondents expect the government to take up the responsibility for supporting the elderly, and 77 percent agree with the idea that the burden should fall on society as a whole rather than on individual families.
Researcher Richard Wong, who took charge of the study, is sad about the eroding of traditional family bonds. He said that while most people still respect their parents and grandparents, they tend to equate economic assistance with love. When asked about how they would show their love for their old parents, many simply said they would send them to old people's homes. Others said they would give money, and only two percent of the respondents said they would be ready to take care of the psychological health of their parents.
According to the study, middle-aged people who have children of their own take their filial duties more seriously. Also, married women know better than men the need for this kind of loving care.
Researcher Wong questioned the wisdom of adopting the new concept of government
welfare.
He said, \"A welfare society is founded on high tax rates, but here in Hong Kong the personal tax rate is only 15 percent. How can you expect the government to take care of all the elderly?\"
He further pointed out that even when a social security network can support all senior citizens, it cannot replace the love that only family members can give.
Keys:1.A 2.A 3.A 4.D 5.C
Speaking out
MODEL 1 Is youth wasted on the young?
Amy: I'd like to talk to you, so stop what you're doing for a minute.
Bill: What is it, Amy? I'm having a hectic time working on this report for tomorrow's meeting.
Amy: Well, you're always pretty busy, and it's been more five years, almost six, since we were married. Bill: Yes, time has gone so fast, but they've been good years. Amy: I know, but I want to have a baby—I want us to have a baby.
Bill: I know you do. But remember, we said we'd wait until we could afford it. Amy: But five years is a long time to wait. Anyway, it's long enough. Bill: I'm this close to getting a promotion. Amy: What has that got to do with it? We could wait forever if we wait for the “perfect” moment. Soon we'll be too old to enjoying having a baby.
Bill: You know, you have a good point. This report can wait. I'll do it tomorrow morning. Let's open a bottle of wine and enjoy ourselves.
MODEL2 So many people in the United States get divorced! Kim: Hi Amy.
Amy: Hi! Look at this headline, Kim.
Kim: Wow! So many people in the United States get divorced! Amy: But this is not uncommon in west. In some places, the divorce rate can be as high as 50 percent. Kim: It seems strange to me that Westerners fall head heels in love quickly, if not at first sight; but they also leave each other quickly.
Amy: Is it the same in your country? Kim: I don't think so. In my country, some marriages break up, but most couples stay together. Amy: Do people get married young? Kim: Not really. Not many people get married before the age of 20. Amy: Hmm. Do woman usually work after they get married? Kim: No, a lot of women stay home to take care of their families. But more women work now.
MODEL3 Why not have both our parents here for Christmas?
Amy: You know, Christmas is coming. And I haven't seen Dad for ages—he always has such
great stories to tell.
Bill: I know we went t my folks' last year, but my Mom's been pretty sick. This might be her last Christmas.
Amy: She's been ill, but don't exaggerate. You just don't like my mother. That's why you don't want to go to my parents
Bill: She's never liked me. Never thought I was good enough for you. Amy: Well, you're not… But seriously, Mom's not so sad. She's just got a thick skin and likes to hide her feelings.
Bill: I don't think so.
Amy: Why not have our both families here for Christmas?
Bill: That would make twenty-two of us if we invited everybody. Amy: Why not just have our parents here for Christmas? Bill: Good idea. Just don't sit me next to your mother.
Let’s talk
When I, when I knew that my parents split up, it felt like a piece of my heart or something was gone. Like, at first, I didn't know what it was, but I could already feel it and it was really weird. And when I cry, I usually go to my mum about it and just talk to her. So in some ways it's very traumatizing, but in other ways it's a relief to just talk about it. I don't really share this stuff with my dad ‘cause he's the very strong type of person who doesn't cry a lot.
I wish that they would have just been more understanding about how I would feel, ‘cause I think I don't know what happened, but I think they might have just gone straight into it and just decided on it without thinking about what it would be like for me. And in that ways I'm really angry with them and stuff.
I didn't really see my dad much ‘cause he worked, and so I didn't, I wasn't really aware that he'd actually left. When I was about three or four, I just started wondering where he was and what he was doing. And my mum told me when I was about five or six.
When I do my drawings when I feel sad or anything, it's like a wave of calmness just washed over me. It relieves a lot of stress and it just feels fine after. Or if it doesn't, I go talk to my friends or invite them for a sleepover. We do lots of silly and fun things, ‘cause that's another way it helps.
The happy time is Christmas. Um, I remember when I went around to my nan and granddad's. And it was all my cousins there, all my family, and we were in the dining room. And I was just staring at them, gobsmacked about how many presents there were: big, gigantic, small, really small. And I was just so excited and I got my first pair of high heels then and I was really, I was over the moon.
Further listening and speaking Task1: Reasons for a Divorce Script
W: I’m divorcing my husband.
M: How long have you been married? W: Thirteen years.
M: Do you have children?
W: Yes, and I have to protect them from any more harm from my husband’s irresponsibility M: So, what are your grounds for divorce?
W: Well, first of all, he keeps changing jobs. We’ve had moved four times in thirteen years! M: And, you believe that will be good grounds for divorce?
W: I do have a right to stability for my children and myself, don’t I? M: Aren’t they his children, too?
W: But my husband isn’t fulfilling his duties! M: Is he paying the bills?
W: Well, yes, but we just live around the poverty line. Our kids are being teased by other kids at school because we can’t dress them in good clothes! We have to live in a small department and drive an old car! M: Does the car run?
W: Yes, but it looks OLD!
M: Do you yell at him and call him names? W: Well, he yells at me!
M: So, those are the reasons to not honor your husband. Are you going to give him joint custody in this divorce?
W: No, just visitation rights. M: Why?
W: Because the law permits me to.
M: And, what about the financial demands of this divorce?
W: I’m demanding half of all we have, which isn’t much, and large support payments.
Key：
After thirteen years marriage, the woman wants to divorce her husband, claiming he is irresponsible. When asked for the specific grounds for divorce, she gives these reasons: First, he keeps changing jobs, and the family has had to move four times in thirteen years, but she wants stability for her children and herself. Second, although he is paying the bills, they just live around the poverty line. Her children are being teased by other children for not dressing good clothes. Also, they had to live in a small apartment and drive an old car, though it still runs. Worse still, the husband yells at her, though she admits she also yell at him and calls him names. As for the divorce arrangements, the woman will give the husband only visitation rights instead of joint custody. Moreover, the woman will demand half of all they have and large support payments.
Task 2
Question:
Hi, I have been divorced for eight years. My ex sees our child Maria on a regular basis. She is eight and in the second grade. My ex has a wife that is 20. My ex and his wife go to the school almost every day to see our daughter. Our daughter has failed the second grade and now has to repeat it. I have seen her grades plummet since those two started showing up at school. They are both very controlling and verbally abusive to me and to our daughter. I'm concerned about this. He forced my daughter to call his wife mommy. I am really tired of their unkind visits. I don't know what to do. If you have any advice to give me, I would be grateful. Thanks.
Answer (by a woman psychiatrist):
Hi, Diana. It's obvious to me that your daughter is having problems with the visits. I would suggest having a frank conversation with your daughter to see what she feels the problems are. If
she says it is all these problems as you have stated above, I would try to talk to your ex about her problems. I'll try to stick to what your daughter feels to be the problems and hope he will help your daughter do better at school.
If he is not responsive, then I'll take your daughter for counseling to help her.
You can't make others do things that are right for your child, not even the father, so spend your energy on things you can control like counseling for your daughter. Also, you should spend quality time with her and allow her to vent her feelings on you, and let her know you are always there for her no matter what happens. Try to keep her self-esteem high. When a child fails a grade, they will feel bad. Good Luck!
Keys:1.B 2.C 3.A 4.D 5.C
Task3: A man who remarried
If you want me to tell you why I remarried, here's my story.
Remarriage was the last word I'd consider for two years after my divorce. I had heard about the high rate of remarriage failures. More importantly, I wondered how remarriage would affect my 10-year-old son, John. My heart ached when I saw my son draw a picture of himself, my ex-wife and me holding hands—with sadness on our faces. Since my parents have married and divorced eight times altogether, I hoped my son would not have to go through the same pain I experienced. As a result, my primary focus after the divorce was my relationship with John, not finding a wife.
As time went by, my son gradually grew up, and he became conscious of my loneliness and anxiety. One day he asked me to consider dating. The first time he said this, I ignored him. The second time he brought it up, I reconsidered my reservations about dating. I began to date Maria. As our relationship developed over the following year, I was concerned about how my son would actually respond to her. At first, John's affection for Maria was lukewarm. For instance, he would hug her, but the act seemed mechanical. But after several months, he warmed up to her. Seeing the time was ripe, I asked Maria to marry me. She accepted. So the two of us blended smoothly into the three of us. Thinking back, I believe my remarriage was the right choice.
Some single parents are still hesitating about remarriage. Now that you've heard my story, I hope you won't hesitate and let golden opportunities slip through your fingers. Keys:
(1) the last word (2) remarriage (3) picture (4) eight times (5) wife (6) dating (7) loneliness and anxiety (8) second (9) response to her (10) lukewarm (11) warmed up (12) accepted (13) ripe (14) blended into (15) right
Viewing and speaking:
Task 1:Mother-daughter relationship
I love all the children, they've all got fantastic personalities. Lovely children, but the one that's the most like me is Sarah Lucy. I can, I can... she does things like I do, she says things I say. Um, and I think that's why sometimes we have our clashes because we are so similar. She's very, very much like me.
Me and Sarah Lucy have very... both have very strong personalities, so we clash quite a bit. When Sarah Lucy can't have her own way, she struts off, slams the door, stamps up the stairs. Favorite expression for me is, very quietly she'll say, \"Mum's like a witch!\" And then, um, I'll say to her, \"Stay in your room till you feel better. When you feel better, you come and talk to me about
it.\" Um, so she'll stay in her room for a few minutes and then she'll come back down and she's all, \"I'm sorry mum.\" And then if I've upset Sarah Lucy, I'll apologize if I think I'm in the wrong. And then we'll have a discussion or a debate about it.
There's certain aspects about Sarah Lucy's behavior, um, it's learned behavior because children live what they learn, and so there're some traits that she's got and I think, \"Oh they're beautiful, they're lovely, I love them.\" And there're other ones and I think, \"Oh they're not so good.\" For example, her strutting off and slamming the door. But, um, confession: She gets it off me. She gets it off mum. Um, and she'll say to me, \"You haven't got a lot of patience.\" and she's telling the truth. And so I have to say to her, \"What do you think I could do to make that better?\" And then she'll sit me down and she'll say, \"You have to listen more, you have to learn to listen.\" So, I try. I do. When we have this conversation, I do listen more, and I do try. Don't always get it right, but I do try.
When I'm feeling angry, um, if the other children are around, when one of them sees me upset, they don't like to see me upset, so one of them will come to me and say, \"Is it time for some medicine?\" And their medicine is they give me a big cuddle. So we have a cuddle, a hug, and that is fantastic medicine because it does make you feel better. And that's what works for us.
Keys:
(1)Lovely (2)similar (3)room (4)apologize (5)children (6)patience (7)listen (8)angry (9)medicine (10)fantastic
Unit 5 Here are the seasons to enjoy. II. Basic Listening Practice 1. Script
W: Of all the holidays people celebrate, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day...which are the most important to you?
M: Christmas and Easter, because they mark events in Jesus Christ's life: his birth and his escape from a tomb into heaven. The other festivals, I think, were mainly created to increase sales.
Q: How many holidays does the man believe to be important? C)Two 2. Script
M: I used to love giving my mother a present on Mother's Day. It always made her cry, then she'd hug me hard enough to squeeze the breath out of me.
W: Mothers are really no different from anyone else. They love to be loved, that's all. Q: What was the mother's response to her son's gift? A)She was beside her-self with joy. 3. Script
M: Every country has its own unique holidays. There is one exclusive to some British Commonwealth countries like England, Australia and Canada. That' s Boxing Day.
W: I know, and it's a perfect date for a holiday, being the day after Christmas Day. Apparently
it began with the custom of giving the poor boxes of food; thus a boxing day.
Q: What was the origin of Boxing Day? B)Giving poor people food 4. Script
M: I absolutely hate Christmas shopping. I can never figure out what to buy for everyone, so I rush around like an idiot at the last minute, buying junk.
W: Then maybe you shouldn't buy any gifts. Just tell people \"Merry Christmas!\" instead. Q: What does the woman mean?
D)She disagrees with the man .J 5. Script
M: When all the children come home for Christmas, there won't be enough room for everyone...what shall we do? Maybe some will have to stay in a hotel.
W: I want them all here. We'll make it work. I can hardly wait to see everyone; it doesn't matter if we're a bit squished. We'll be like turkey stuffing.
Q: What does the woman mean?
C)She won’t care if the children are crowded at home III. Listening In
Task1:Expensive Holidays Script
Grace: So, Mark, what are you going to get me for Chinese Valentine's Day-a holiday for the Cowherd and Girl Weaver to meet?
Mark: Sorry, I've never heard of it. Anyway, we already celebrated Valentine's Day in February. I gave you a bunch of red roses.
Grace: But there's another lover's day in the world. Isn't it wonderful if lovers have more than one lover's day a year?
Mark: Do you mean I have to get you a present fort each lover’s day?
Grace: Well, you d better give me a present from time to time if you want to win my heart. Mark: I gave you a beautiful card on New Year's Day...and a Christmas gift a couple of days before that. Then I invited you to a dinner on the Chinese New Year's Day, that is, the Spring Festival.
Grace: Thank you for that. Nowadays the Chinese Spring Festival is getting popular here. And it's exciting.
Mark: But few people here know anything about a foreign Lover's Day. Grace: You see, I enjoy celebrating holidays again and again.
Mark: But it's hard on the wallet. I'll end up in the poor house at this rate.
Grace: But it's romantic! And don't forget it's only another month before my birthday. Mark: Your birthday was last month! I already bought you a ring!
Grace: That was my birthday on the Western calendar. Next month, it's my birthday on the lunar calendar!
Keys： D C D A B
Task2:April Fool’s Day Script
On a flight from the West Coast to the East Coast, the lead flight attendant was eager to get in
early as her boyfriend, a pilot, was going to have a short stopover at the destination airport. She made a point of telling her fellow crew members about this. Because it was April 1st, April Fool's Day, the day people play tricks on one another, the captain decided to have a little fun.
About an hour before landing, he made an announcement that went like this: \"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. I have a little bit of bad news. There're some thunderstorms at our destination, and they've currently closed the airport. They expect it to reopen in about thirty minutes to an hour. As one might expect, this will result in long delays. As we've come all the way from the West Coast, we don't even have enough fuel to circle until the airport reopens. Therefore, we are going to be diverting to Cleveland, and we should be landing in about thirty minutes. We'll take some fuel there and get you back on your way to our original destination.
I’m terribly sorry for the delay. However, we’11 get you there just as soon as possible.\" It was at this moment that you could hear someone running up to the cockpit. The cockpit door flew open, and sure enough it was the lead flight attendant mumbling something like, \"This can’t be happening. What shall I do?\" As she went on painfully, the captain made another
announcement: \"Ladies and Gentlemen, happy April Fool's Day!'\"
KEYS: T F T F T
Task3
What to do for mom?
Young men and women, tomorrow will be Mother's Day. Some of you are still wondering what to do for your mom. Here's my advice.
Look out for anything that she plans to buy, and buy it if you can afford it. For example, a casual dress or formal office wear. Or, it may be a hair clip with a touch of difference. Check out if she is planning to get a new microwave or a new steam iron, and give it to her if you can afford it. You can get some ideas by considering what her likes and dislikes are. If she likes cats, how about giving her a pet or something that has a cat's picture on it? But make sure she doesn't find out that you're getting her a present. Let her gift be a pleasant surprise.
Definitely spend some time with her, especially if you are not living with her. Make her feel special. For example, you can cook a special dish for the day. You can also throw a little party and invite those who are close to her.
And of course, if she enjoys outings, take a little trip with her. And if possible, take one with your entire family. She'll love it for sure. After all, she is the one who takes care of all of you. A special trip to the countryside could show her how much you care for her. If she is happy, I'm sure you'll feel happy, too.
Keys:
(1) buy (2) office wear (3) likes (4) cats (5) pet (6) time (7) special dish (8) little party (9) little trip (10) countryside
IV. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Eat, drink and be merry on Christmas.
Nora: My mother bought an enormous twenty-five pound turkey for Christmas dinner. I'm so excited!
Susan: We have geese and ham for Christmas dinner on both Christmas Eve and Christmas night.
Nora: Our traditional Christmas dinner is a turkey, so gigantic that we eat leftovers for days.
Susan: Chris swears he'll refuse a huge dinner and stick to a healthy meal of tofu and salad. Nora: No way. He's kidding! Wait till he sees what his mother cooks: roast turkey with
stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas and plum pudding for dessert!
Susan: We heap up our presents under the tree and open them on Christmas morning. Nora: We open one Christmas Eve, more Christmas morning, and the rest the next day. Susan: Wow! Your family prolongs the celebration for three days!
Nora: We start by decorating the tree on Christmas Eve, putting ornaments, lights and artificial snow flakes on it.
Susan: Do you hang stockings by the fireplace and have a star on top of the tree? Nora: Yes. And we have another activity. We also \"give not expecting to get\". Susan: That's a peculiar expression. What do you mean by that?
Nora: It's secret giving. We sneak up to the door of somebody we want to give a gift to, ring the doorbell, and run.
Susan: So, you're not expecting anything; you're just being generous. That's a kind-hearted gesture.
Nora: Isn't that what the true spirit of Christmas is supposed to be? MODEL 2 The Pilgrims' spirit of Thanksgiving lives on. Script
Chris: Will Nora be spending Thanksgiving with us this year?
Susan: No, she's going home to spend the holiday with her mother and brother. She hasn't seen her family in over a year.
Chris: I know how she feels. Thanksgiving is such a big family holiday in the States.
Susan: It began as a celebration by the Pilgrims. They were happy just to have survived their first harsh winter in the new land in 1621 \"
Chris: But wasn't that harsh winter followed by an abundant harvest?
Susan: Yeah, that's good reason to celebrate: they had beaten the odds and were still alive. It was a time to relax and \"count your blessings\".
Chris: You know, most cultures seem to have some sort of celebration like this--don't the Chinese have a festival of moon cakes to celebrate the harvest month?
Susan: Yeah, they do. I believe the round moon cakes also symbolize a family reunion. Chris: Well, today Thanksgiving in the States has developed into a major holiday.
Susan: True, it's a very emotional time. Families often travel great distances to be together and share a huge dinner. Jamie's mother will have a turkey and a ham, corn-on-the-cob, yams, peas and carrots, and to top it all off, pumpkin pie.
Chris: Just thinking about all that food makes my mouth water, and I think I'm going to gain ten pounds this year.
Susan: But you have the rest of the year to lose those unwanted pounds. And losing weight will give you something to be thankful for next Thanksgiving.
MODEL 3 Don't let ghosts frighten you on Halloween Script
Susan: Hey Kim! Are you okay? You seem badly shaken. Where did you go'? Kim: Just to the corner, but I'm frightened out of my wits, scared silly, terrified. Susan: What happened? You said you were only going to the store for a coke.
Kim: People in funny costumes and masks everywhere! Some in tall, pointed hats.
Susan: It's October 31 st, Halloween, the day for dressing like witches and ghosts. Kim: In the store window is a big vegetable with a carved face and candle inside. Susan: It's a pumpkin. A face and a candle burning inside make it a Jack o' Lantern. Kim: A crowd of children followed me shouting, \"Tickle your feet.\" Imagine! Susan: No, they said, \"Trick or Treat?\" They were hoping you'd give them candy. Kim: Welt, it's a funny kind of holiday. What's it called? Halloween?
Susan: Yeah, it's one of the oldest holidays in the West. Today it's mostly for children. Kim: I myself would never dress like a ghost and shout, \"Tickle your feet.\" V. Let’s Talk New Year’s Day
Woman1: We’re from EL Paso, Texas, and I’ve been waiting here since about 7:30 this morning, and because my mom just celebrated her 71 st birthday and where’s the best place to celebrate that is here in Times Square.
Man1: The winter, no matter, the cold, as long as we stay here and say hello and enjoy the party, you know. New York is the center of the universe. It’s a chance, maybe, like I said, once in a while, once in a lifetime to do that.
Man2: This is my dream. I’m from Macon, Georgia and I came up, I always wanted to do new years in New York City. So I decided that, you know, I was able this year and I could do it so, this is my dream I’m realizing, right before me, with the snow.
Man3: We’re from Miami and we’re here to watch the ball drop.
Woman2: I’m, I’m actually from Connecticut and I want to come here with my best friend Laura. I knew her from preschool and to celebrate 2010 because it’s a big, big year. It’s beautiful. So I just want to be around the people and the lights and everything.
Woman3: We’re from Scotland… and we’re standing here until the ball drops. We’re out nice and early, prepared for it.
Woman4: God bless everyone in the world. We need love, a lot of love because there’s so much hate in this world, so we need love and I just want to wish everybody a happy New Year.
Key (1)-e (2)-b (3)-g (4)-d (5)-h (6)-a (7)-f (8)-c
VI. Further Listening and Speaking Listening Task:
Task1: The Wilsons' Thanksgiving Script:
Thanksgiving is one of America's most popular holidays. It is a day for expressing thanks for the good things in life. It is also a day for family reunion. On that day many people travel long distances to get together with their families. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is the time when the members of a family gather.
But not everyone can spend Thanksgiving with his or her family. Today we'll introduce you to a couple, Joan and Sandy Wilson, who could not afford to travel long distances to visit their parents. They regretted not being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with all their family members. But soon they met other people who also were separated from their families. So the Wilsons began holding a yearly Thanksgiving dinner for what they called their \"extended family\". This included people in their community. All the guests brought food to share for Thanksgiving dinner.
The group has grown over the years. To accommodate all the guests, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson now have to add small tables to their large one in the big dining room. At first, many of their
friends brought their babies and young children. Now some of the first guests are grandparents.
Like other Americans, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and their visitors enjoy a long day of cooking, eating and talking. The traditional meal usually includes a turkey. Other traditional Thanksgiving foods served with turkey are sweet potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pies.
Keys:1.A 2.D 3.C 4.B 5.C Task 2 Father’s Day
Father's Day is a fairly new celebration in the British calendar compared with Mother's Day, which has been a very popular and well celebrated festival in the UK for a very long time.
The origins of the celebration are American, and it was inspired by the actions of a man named William Smart. His wife died giving birth to their sixth child, so he raised six children alone without remarrying, which was undoubtedly unusual back in those days.
His daughter, Sonora Dodd, realized when she was an adult what her father had sacrificed for his children. It was in the early 1900s and she was actually at church one day, listening to a sermon on Mother's Day. She thought there should also be a Father's Day celebration. So the tradition was born, on the third Sunday every June, close to the anniversary of Sonora's father's death.
Britain took the idea of Father's Day from the American celebration and it has been celebrated officially since the 1970s. What do British people do for Father's Day? Well, most people would buy their fathers a card. The card would probably have a nice message in it saying what a great Dad their father is. Some people do buy presents as well. Popular gifts for Dads are probably ties, chocolates or socks because these are things that Dads can always use even if they don't want them. Some families might do things together to celebrate Father's Day like going for a meal. As a special treat, British people might give their Dad a bit of a rest – make him a cup of tea, or even wash his car and mow the lawn.
Task3: St.Valentine’s Story Script
Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. He wanted to have a big army, and he expected men to volunteer to join. Seeing many men did not want to leave their wives and families, Claudius had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So he passed a law to forbid any more marriages. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!
I was a priest, and one of my favorite activities was to marry couples. I kept on performing marriage ceremonies, secretly. One night, we heard footsteps and shouts of soldiers outside. It was scary! The couple I was marrying escaped in time, but I was caught. I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.
Then wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, \"Love from your Valentine.\"
I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. Keys:
1.He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So he passed a law to forbid any more marriages
2.He kept on performing marriage ceremonies, secretly
3.They came to the jail to visit him. They threw flowers and notes up to his window. 4.She was one of those young people and the daughter of the prison guard.
5.Before he was killed, Valentine left the girl a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed, \"Love from your Valentine.\" That note started the custom.
Viewing and Speaking
A Famous Christmas Market
Receiving Christmas presents is always fun, but buying them can be a headache. This is why many Christmas shoppers around Europe are now going to the German city of Nuremberg to visit its famous Christmas market, Christkindlesmarkt..
The four-hundred-year-old market is a child's paradise. Its 150 stalls sell all kinds of toys, gifts, and special foods. A staggering two million people visit the market annually.
The old city and market add a special feeling to Christmas. As one British tourist, Mivart Thomas, explains,\" There's something quite, sort of, medieval about the atmosphere here. There are quite a lot of old stalls--traditional-looking stalls--and the cathedral in the background with lights all around; and just a few minutes ago, the brass band was playing...playing Christmas carols. The whole atmosphere is wonderful.\"
The market maintains its Old World atmosphere with regulations saying what can and can't be sold. Not surprisingly, the focus is on the family. The market's tourist officer, Gerd Lauterbauch, points out that the market's name translates as \"Christ child's market\offer presents for children on Christmas.
Christmas markets are found in many German cities, but Nuremberg's is the most famous. It gives a very different impression from the one tourists expect, considering the city's Nazi past. And as word of the market spreads around Europe, the market is becoming a tourist center.
Unit 6 Here are tips finding a job. II Basic listening practice 1. Script
M: Did you pick up the paper for me today? I really want to check the job vacancies.
W: I know, it’s over there. There’s not much happen though. I had a look already. Maybe you should look on the Net instead. Q: What is the man looking for? 2. Script
M: You don’t have enough experience or qualifications for this role. What makes you believe you could handle the position?
W: I’m a fast learner and enjoy learning on the job. My natural skills lie in this area, and I’m confident that I could handle the challenge. Given a chance, I would prove myself.
Q: What is the woman saying? 3. Script
M: Could you help me with my resume? Jane said you’re good with these things, and I really need someone to edit it. It’s way too long.
W: Sure, no problem, give I to me. A good resume should be no more than one page, you know. And it should list you experience in reverse chronological order. I can see we’ve got some work to do!
Q: Which of the following is true according to the conversation? 4. Script
M: Could you tell me why you would like to work for our company?
W: Well, it has a good reputation as an employer, and its products are quite popular in the marketplace. I would feel proud to work for a company like this and to contribute a great deal to its success.
Q: Why does the woman apply for the job? 5. Script
W: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
M: I aim to have been promoted to senior manager at the very least. I’m very ambitious and want to climb up the career ladder as fast as possible. I don’t want to feel miserable on the first rung in five years’ time, watching everybody above me. Q: What does the man want in five years? Keys: 1.C 2.D 3. A 4.C 5.B III Listening in
Task 1 Tips for job interviews
M: After listening to the career officer’s talk, I’ve now realizes the importance of getting prepared for an interview.
W: Quite true. First of all, we should never be late for an interview. If you’re not punctual, they’ll suspect that you’ll be late for work in future.
M: And before going to the interview, we had better pay attention to our dress. We must look professional without overdoing it. Careless clothes will lead them into thinking that you’re likely to do your job carelessly.
W: Yes. During the interview, it is important to look confident without being too pushy. It’s necessary to maintain eye contact. This shows your interest in the conversation, and helps to maintain the communication between you and the interviewer.
M: Besides, many employers attach importance to the education you’ve received. We need to highlight those courses especially valuable to the company.
W: Book knowledge is not enough. We must show them we have practical experience in the field. Tell them about our internship, and emphasize the skills that are useful in the job we’re seeking. M: Sure! Many students will tell the prospective employer that they have a good command of English.
W: They’re also eager to tell interviewer about their computer skills with PowerPoint, office automation, and so on. Students from non-key universities especially need certificates to shoe they’ve acquired those skills before they can hope to compete against students from prestigious universities.
M: Character is considered an important factor in contemporary society, where teamwork is a
must.
W: Well, too many students are saying more or less the same thing. If everybody says, “I’m warm-hearted and cooperative, get along well with my classmates, and have good team spirit,” the boss will soon get fed up.
M: Perhaps we should let the work we’ve done speak for itself.
W: Right on. Participation is important. If you can show them you’re an important official of the Student Union of the University or the Department, or you’ve organized a singing competition, etc., obviously you’re a good team player. Key: T F T T F T T
Task 2 Are you ready for a phone interview?
Nowadays, many employers use telephone interviews to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interview. They are also used as a way to minimize the expenses in involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.
While you’re job-searching, it’s important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment’s notice. You never know when a recruiter might call. So, you’d better take a look at the following phone interview tips.
Before the interview, you should get well-prepared. For example, you can compile a list of your background and skills, your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical phone interview questions. You need to keep your resume on the top of your desk or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it’s at your fingertips when you need to answer questions. Also, you should have a pen and paper handy for note taking.
It’s helpful to practice interviewing. You can rehearse answers to those typical questions you might be asked. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and tape record it, so you can see how you sound over the phone. In this way, you will be able to hear your “ums” and “uhs” and “OKs”, and you can practice reducing them from your conversational speech.
During the phone interview, try to smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice. Over the phone, you must speak slowly, clearly and politely. You should use interviewer’s title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name), and remember to only use a first name if they ask you to. It is essential to interrupt the interviewer. On your part, you should try to give answers that are short and to the point.
Finally, remember your goal is to set up a face-to-face interview. After you thank the interviewer, ask if it would be possible to meet in person. Question and key
1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a purpose of screening candidates on the phone? B) To test candidates’ psychological stability when they speak on the phone.
2. What can you infer from the speaker’s recommendation of compiling a list of information about yourself? C) Without it, you may become disorganized while being interviewed. 3. What does the speak say about your resume? C) Put it near the phone. 4. According to the speaker, why should you conduct a simulated interview?
A) To reduce unnecessary words in an interview.
5. Which of the following is suggested when you address the interviewer on the phone? D) All of the above.
Task3 Do you know how to write a resume?
Your resume, or CV in British English, has one mission and one mission only: to get you a job interview. Your resume is usually the first impression an employer has of you. And as “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”, you’d better get it right firs time. Here’re some suggestions that may be of use in preparing a resume.
First, use a design that demands attention. Employers don’t have time to read through each of your job descriptions to know if you have the skills they need. The design of your resume must do it for them. Your resume should be concise, well-organized and relevant. It should emphasize the most important and relevant points about your experience, skills and education.
Second, put important information first. List important information at the beginning of your job descriptions. Put statements in your resume in order of importance and relevance to the job you want. A powerful statement with exact numbers influences every statement that follows.
Third, target the job. You will have more success if you adjust your resume and cover letter for the specific skills an employer is seeking. This means you would write one resume for one particular job and a different resume for another job. In other words, you need to “repackage” yourself. In that way, an employer will see immediately whether you are suitable person for the job. It is not dishonest to “repackage” yourself. You are simply pressing yourself and your skills in the best light for a particular employer. This will help you t get more interviews and allow you to apply for a wider range of jobs. Question and key
1. Why does the speaker say a resume is important? C) Because it leaves a first impression and you have only one chance to do so.
2. Which of the following will NOT be regarded as a feature of good resumes? A) Detailed.
3. Where should you put the important information in your job descriptions according to the passage? A) At the beginning.
4. How many resumes would the speaker advise you to write if you applied for three jobs? C) Three.
5. What is the passage mainly about? B) Resume tips. IV Speaking out
MODEL 1 Can you give me some tips about how to get a good job? Susan: John, can you give me some tips about how to get a good job? John: Did you go to the job fairs and meet with companies?
Susan: Yeah, I did. But they didn’t seem to be interested in women. I thought about suing then for sexual discrimination.
John: I’m afraid it won’t be much help. Have you looked at the want ads in the newspaper?
Susan: I’ve been checking the want ads every day for a week, but I can’t find anything interesting that I’m qualified for. And the few that I have seen are very low-paying.
John: Then try the Internet. You can use a search engine to find a job site related to your field. Susan: Good thinking! Thanks! I think I’ll look for something in electronic engineering.
John: Hey, I just saw a job opening at a company called E-Tech. It could be just the sort of thing you’re looking for.
Susan: Great, I’ll try my luck there.
John: Yeah, but if I remember, the deadline is this afternoon.
Susan: This afternoon? Oh no! I’d better get online quickly and see if I can submit my resume by E-mail.
John: Wait, have you updated your resume? You’d better include your work experience from the IT company last summer.
Susan: Don’t worry. It’s all set. Thanks, mate. John: Any time, Sue.
MODEL2 Do you have any tips for a successful interview? Susan: John, do you have any tips for a successful interview? John: Well, first of all, you need to dress professionally. Susan: Oh, what about during the interview?
John: Ok, be sure to maintain good eye contact and answer all questions politely and directly. Don’t look too shy, nor should you sound too aggressive. Susan: I’m not sure what kind of questions they’ll ask.
John: They’ll probably want to know a little about your work experience. Many companies don’t want a completely green hand. They don’t want to spend time and money on training.
Susan: Fortunately, I gained some experience at an IT company during the last summer holiday. John: They may also want to know something about your character. You see, ability for teamwork is usually valued.
Susan: What kind of questions should I ask them?
John: You should ask them about the job requirements and about the company. Susan: Should I ask about salary and fringe benefits?
John: Better not. Not unless they bring it up. Just use the first interview to sell yourself.
Susan: You’re right. If they are interested in hiring me, there will be plenty of chances to talk about money later.
John: Right. And the more interested they are, the more they’ll offer.
MODEL3 Our best bet is to recruit from the competition.
Helen: Our company is starting from scratch, so we don’t have the expertise to compete. Bill: Then our best bet is to recruit from the competition.
Helen: We need managers who know how to be strong, yet know how to give employees their freedom.
Bill: That’s essential, especially in the computer industry. Often computer experts like to work on their own.
Helen: We also don’t believe that a right management system will work wonders for our company. Bill: Um…that philosophy will help you attract many worthwhile people.
Helen: I remember your friend David Miller is the CEO of a management recruitment agency. I hope he’ll help us start a recruitment drive.
Bill: Certainly. And it’s a good time, too. A number of firms have been downsizing.
Helen: Good. So lots of capable people out there are interested in bigger and batter things. But can David help us pin them down?
Bill: Sure, Helen! That’s why they call them headhunters.
V Let’s talk
Selecting recruits
Voice-over: T-Mobile is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telecom, the giant German telephone company. T-Mobile is their goal mobile phone operation. Nine hundred people work at the company’s call centre in Greenock, which was set up only five years ago; 760 of them are employed in handling customer calls and they are managed by 70 team managers and 10 operation managers. In a large-scale operation like this, the role of recruitment is the reasonability of a dedicated on-site human resources department.
Woman: We have a training team, headed up by two leading advisers and supported by a number of customer-facing advisers who’ve been moved into the role of training. The theory behind is, these are the people who are doing the job, are in the best place to train that job to other people. [On-screen text: Helen Young, Human Resources Adviser]
Helen: Our recruitment is divided into two main sections. We have a CSA recruitment: Customer Service Adviser, and we also have all the other recruitment. It’s crucial to us that we get the right people for the job, absolutely crucial, and we do whatever possible to ensure that people have realistic expectations of the job before they, before they’re made an offer.
Helen: In the initial stages they’d be given a telephone interview which would last somewhere in the region of 15 minuets. Following that, they’d be invited to come on-site. They’d have a tour of the centre. They then get, if you like, an opportunity to try us on for size. They get to see the role, they get to see how it feels, feel the culture of the company and if they’re still happy at that stage and want to apply, then they need to do so formally. They would then complete form and be brought on-site for a two-hour assessment. The assessment consists of a role-play, which looks at their customer service ability and a competency interview. We need people who have the ability to communicate well and deliver the customer service that we want to deliver. We have a full age range of employees coming from various different backgrounds: manufacturing, customer service straight through to school leavers.
Key (1) 900 (2) customer service (3) 70 (4) human resources (5) supported (6) customer-facing (7) place (8) two (9) right people (10) realistic
VI Further listening and speaking Task1 Tell me about yourself.
M: Tell me a little about yourself. W: I’m from Guilin City. M: What brought you to the east coast? W: I came to Qingdao to attend college. I’m impressed by this city’s dynamic economy. I’ve come to love it so much that I’ve decided to stay and work here. M: What work experience do you have?
W: I worked as an intern for a small shipping company. My primary responsibilities were to maintain the company’s ties with the existing customers and try to find new cargo sources. M: What did that experience teach you?
W: I learned that communication skills are extremely important. Text knowledge is indeed necessary, but it is equally essential to be able to persuade a potential client t to trust you. M: How would your former employer describe you?
W: He told me that my ability to find one customer after another was an asset to the company. He thanked me for my loyalty. He also appreciated my team spirit as shown in my cooperation with my colleagues.
M: You seem very mature for your age. And I see from your resume that you are very goal-oriented.
W: Thank you. I believe I’ve acquired many good qualities from my parents. They?re my role models. However, I know I still have a lot to learn.
Key (1) coast (2) impressed (3) shipping company (4) cargo (5) communication skills (6) essential (7) asset (8) team spirit (9) her age (10) her parents Task 2: A Work Qualification Test
Murphy applies for an engineering position at an Irish firm based in Dublin. An American applied for the same job. Quite by coincidence, the two amplifications had the same qualification, and were asked to take the same test by the manager of the Human Resource Department. Upon completion of the test, both men missed only one of the questions. The manager went to Murphy and said, “Thank you for your interest, but we’ve decided to give the American the job.”
Bewildered by the manager’s decision, Murphy asked, “Why would you be doing that? We both got nine questions correct. This being Ireland and me being Irish, I should get the job!”
The manger answered calmly, “We have made our decisions based on the correct answers, but on the question you missed.”
Unconvinced and somewhat indignant, Murphy question, “And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?”
The manager’s answer took him by surprise, “Simple, on QuestionNo.5, the American put down ‘I don’t know’, and you put down ‘Neither do I’.” Key 1.F 2.T 3.T 4.F 5.T
Task3: A guide to a successful job interview
There are times that you will be asked a hard question during a job interview. Don’t panic, they just want to see how you handle a difficult situation. Being prepared is always the best policy. Here are some samples of questions and some advice on how to handle them properly.
Why should we choose you? To this question, you can ask yourself why you applied, what makes you suitable for this position, what the company can gain from hiring you, what you have to offer, how you would handle this job, etc.
Often they ask you to tell them about yourself. You can split your answer into two, the professional and the personal level. Both are important, and how you move from one to the other depends on what you have to say. You can give a brief summary of your life, professional and personal, with less emphasis on the early past, and more emphasis on the present and the future.
When asked “What are your weaknesses?” by the interview, don’t say, “I don’t have any.” Everyone has weakness, and it takes strength to recognize them. Say something relevant but hugely important to the specific positive, and always add something positive like, “I haven’t had a lot of exposure to the on-site work, but I’m looking forward to being more involved in dealing with customers directly and learning their needs.”
Another common question is: “What are your strengths?” You should customize your answer to meet the position requirements. Keep in mind the things they asked for in the advertisement. Tell them your strengths, but also show them how they how they would be applied to this job. To show how your strengths were valuable, use the “Why, where, when, how” to demonstrate and prove your strengths. Question and key
1. What is the passage mainly concerned with? C) Getting prepared for questions at a job interview.
2. What does the speaker NOT mention as an answer to the question, “Why should we choose you?” C) How you can beat other competitors.
3. What does the speaker advise you to stress when introducing yourself? B) Your present and future.
4. What might the speaker advise you NOT to say when asked, “What are your weaknesses?” A) I don’t have any.
5. What should you say when asked about your strong points? D) You should relate your strengths to the job requirements.
Viewing and speaking Hiring and firing Speakers & The speakers’ words
Blond man: … so careful with our (1) selection process. We don’t take a zillion girls and chuck them on the wall and see, see which ones stick. We take on two girls, maybe three a year, and I really want them.
Woman in pink: Are you used to working under (2) pressure?
Black-haired woman: Yes, ‘cause I come from a (3) marketing background.
Woman in pink: Obviously there’s always a real structure and purpose to an (4) interview in that we’re hiring for a specific job. So we have to make people very, kind of, very at ease in an interview. Because otherwise you might end up hiring someone who is completely wrong for the (5) business.
Woman in blue suit: I’ve had an individual who was extremely (6) nervous and she was sick in the interview. And we had another lady who giggled all the way through the interview and it’s really hard not to (7) laugh in an interview when you’ve got someone on the other side of the desk behaving that way.
Long, straight-haired woman: When you make people (8) redundant which is, which is a not very nice part of the job is, you have to be very compassionate because it is somebody’s livelihood that you are dealing with.
Woman in pink：You have to, um, obviously be empathetic with that person, and that be quite (9) difficult.
Blond man: We call it (10) sacking. And, and it is probably the most harrowing thing you can do. Long, straight-haired woman: If you can help, write a new CV for them so that can help them get another job, um, you know that’s very useful as well.
Unit 7 Why don’t we start a business of our own? II Basic listening practice 1. Script
W: I hear you’re considering starting your own business. What kind of business do you have in mind?
M: Just an Internet start-up. I plan to design webpages for clients. Q: What is man planning to do? 2. Script
W: Why are you planning to start up a textile company in that developing country?
M: You see, even here in the United States textile companies are turning a profit with huge labor costs. We could do the same thing in that country at a fraction of the cost because the labor there is much cheaper.
Q: Which of the following is true of establishing a textile company? 3. Script
W: We ordered 50 from your company, but on the invoice I see there’s an extra charge for shopping. I thought shipping was included in the quote.
M: Shipping is included; there must be a mistake on the invoice. I’ll straighten on the mistake and send you a new invoice.
Q: Which of the following is true? 4. Script
M: This was s time-sensitive document! There’s no point in delivering it three hours late!
W: I’m sorry, sir. Perhaps I could connect you to our complaints department if you wish to take it further.
Q: What is true of the document? 5. Script
M: We were very surprised to receive such bad service from a company we’ve done business with in the past. So now we have this problem, and I’d like to know what you’re going to do about it. W: I think this is the result of a breakdown in communication, and we need to look at our communication methods both internally and externally. Obviously we want to keep our clients
happy, and unfortunately we’ve fallen short this time. I’m here to make sure it won’t happen again. Q: What is the reason of the problem, according to the woman? Key: BCABC III Listening in
Task 1: Attending a Business Reception Script
Chris: I’ve been looking forward to this reception for weeks. I can’t wait to get sure of my own leads. You know, start making new connections.
Nora: Smart thinking. But what are you going to do with all those brochures? Chris: The party ends at two, I figure I can have them all distributed by one-thirty,
Nora: No, no, no, no. Let me clue you in. Those brochures will make you look like a green hand. Chris: What should I do then?
Nora: Hand out business cards. That’s the way to do it.
Chris: I don’t understand what’s wrong with these brochures about our company.
Nora: This room is going to be filled with potential clients, but there is an unwritten law; you leave your work at the door.
Chris: But how am I supposed to get anything of this if we can’t talk business?
Nora: You have business cards. Get out there and exchange cards. Just get a card for a card. Chris: Then follow up on Monday?
Nora: You catch on quick. Let’s split up so we can cover more ground.
Chris: Great idea. This is going to be a piece of cake. I’ll meet you back here at two.
Chris and Nora are going to a reception. Chris is eager to making new connections. As the party ends at two, he intends to have all those brochures distributed by one- thirty. But Nora disagrees, saying that those brochures will make him look like a green hand. She advises him just to hand out business card and leave his work at the door. But Chris wonders how he can get anything out of this if she can’t talk business. To this, Nora insists that he should just get a card for a card. Chris catches on quickly and knows that he can hand out business cards now and follow up on Monday. Finally, Nora suggests splitting up so that they can cover more ground. Chris feels it will be a piece of cake and promise to meet her back there at two. Task 2 Business ideas
Business ideas are all around you. Many business ideas come from a careful analysis of market and consumer needs. If you are interested in starting a business, but don’t know what product or service you might sell, here are some ways that may help you find one.
First of all, you should study how to value to an existing product. The difference raw wood and finished wooden products is a good example of putting a product through an additional process that increases its value.
But additional processes are not the only way value can be added. You might also add services, or combine one product with other products. For instance, a local farm which sells produce can also offer a vegetable delivery service—for a free.
What business ideas can you develop along these lines? Focus on what products you might buy, and what you might do to them or with them to create a profitable business.
Some people have another way of making profit. They improve an existing products or service. We all know that the person who can build a better mousetrap will make a lot of money. That
person could be you! A local entrepreneur has created an improved version of the hula hoop. It’s bigger and heavier, so hula-hoopers can control it more easily and do more tricks. How did she come up with this business idea? She thought hula hooping would be a fun thing to do with her daughter, but found the commercially available product too flimsy.
There are very few products or services that can’t be improved. Start generating business ideas by looking at the products and services you use and brainstorming ideas as to how they could be better.
1. What is the first way the speaker mentions that helps you produce a business idea? 2. Which of the following methods does the speaker NOT mention? 3. Why does the speaker mention the mousetrap?
4. Which of the following is true according to the passage? 5. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? Keys: 1.C 2.B 3.B 4.A 5.D Task 3 Start-up companies
Start-up companies can come in all forms, but the phrase \"start-up company\" is often associated with high-growth, technology-oriented companies. Investors are often attracted to those new companies that have lower bootstrapping costs, higher risk, and higher potential returns on investment. Successful start-ups are typically more scalable than established businesses, in the sense that they can potentially grow more rapidly with limited investment of capital, labor, or land.
Start-ups have a number of options for funding. Venture capital firms and angel investors may help start-up companies begin operations, exchanging cash for an equity stake. In practice though, many start-ups are initially funded by the founders themselves.
A critical task in setting up a business is to conduct research in order to assess the business ideas, the opportunities and risks in future development, and the commercial potential. If a company's value is based on its technology, it is often equally important for the business owners to obtain intellectual property protection for their ideas. The news magazine The Economist estimated that up to 75 percent of the value of U.S. listed companies is now based on their intellectual property (up from 40 percent in 1980). Often, 100 percent of a small start-up company's value is based on its intellectual property. As such, it is important for technology-oriented start-up companies to develop a sound strategy for protecting their intellectual capital as early as possible.
Start-up companies, particularly those associated with new technology, sometimes produce huge returns to their creators and investors. Based on a research, founder CEOs of high-tech companies can typically expect their stock to be worth about $16.5 million if the company succeeds in going public. However, the failure rate of start-up companies is very high. Keys
(1) technology-oriented (2) higher (3) returns (4) options (5) Venture capital (6) cash (7) founders (8) business ideas (9) potential (10) intellectual property protect (11) 100% (12) creators (13) stock (14) $16.5 million (15) failure rate
IV Speaking out
MODEL 1 I am having cash problems.
Bill: Helen, you started this company only a year ago. If you want it to grow, I’m afraid you need to do something about cash flow.
Helen: Bill, although you’ve worked here only for a couple of months, you already know this company inside out. I am having cash problems. Bill: Clearly you don’t have the money you need to buy the equipment to be competitive. You have just barely enough funds to cover your day-to-day operational expenses. Helen: I think my best bet is to secure a small-business loan. Bill: I don’t think that’s possible. It seems to me you don’t have the collared for a loan. Helen: What can I do then?
Bill: Try the Small Business Association. They help underwrite loans for a small business. Helen: So, even though I don’t have much collateral, I can still quality for a loan? Bill: Under this special program, possibly.
Helen: That would really help me cover our overhead. I just need to get some time to get the revenues up.
Bill: Apply for the small-business loan, and keep your fingers crossed!
MODEL2 I have some very bad news.
Helen: Bill, I’ve been searching for a loan, but I was rejected everywhere. Now I’m afraid I have some very bad news. Bill: What is it?
Helen: Well, the company has been experiencing serious financial difficulties for quite a long time now.
Bill: I know we’ve been operating in the red for the past few months.
Helen: Exactly. After a long discussion with my partners, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best course of action is to file for bankruptcy. Bill: What? Bankruptcy? I didn’t know you were in this kind of serious financial trouble.
Helen: Sales have been low all year long. Now two of our leading competitors are discussing a merger. Then we’ll have to face even stiffer competition. I feel the situation is going to go from bad to worse. We simply can’t afford to keep our doors open for long.
Bill: When do you plan to make the announcement to tell all the employees? Helen: Early next week.
Bill: What kinds of severance package will we able to offer them? Helen: Unfortunately, the best we can do is offer one month’s salary.
Bill: Oh! How terrible! OK, I’ll contact Vivitek and see if they are interested in acquiring our company.
MODEL3 We’ve been looking for a merger partner. Script
Bill: I hear that Vivitek has been considering acquiring a CD manufacturer for some time. Jessica: That’s quite true. What’s on your mind?
Bill: My boss Helen thinks that our company would be a good match for Vivitek. And we’ve been looking for a merger partner. Jessica: Are you sure youroperation has much to bring to the table? Bill: Definitely. The quality of our products is first-rate, and we have many reliable sales out lets. What’s more, Vivitek can propel us to even greater heights. It will be an all-around excellent match.
Jessica: I think it might be, though we have yet to discuss details.
Bill: As a matter of fact, we’ve already received a few attractive bids.
Jessica: Well, we of curse need to come up with a plan that is attractive for both parties Bill: True, but my boss has to keep our shareholders’ interests in mind. Jessica: It’s reasonable to keep your employees’ welfare in mind. Bill: Yes, we don’t want to disappoint them. Jessica: Then let’s talk about specifics.
V Let’s talk
The birth of a small company
Voice-over: In [South] Korea that anything that takes life away from the tradition of (1) rapid growth, directed by the big corporations, causes quite a stir. In 1997, the financial crisis that hit the whole of Asia Pacific delivered a severe (2)shock to the big guns of [South] Korean industry. Since then, the number of people starting to turn their backs on the (3)large companies and strike out on their own has (4)shot up. Among the new band of go-getters is Myung Soo Kim. We asked if he left Samsung because the work was too (5)hard and the place was too regimented.
Myung Soo Kim: No, that wasn’t the case. I didn’t think there were enough (6)opportunities to use all of my abilities because it was such a massive organization. I also wanted to have a go at something (7)different from working in a big company. I just kept my eyes open for a business that looked like being (8)stable. Then, I happened to find a place that did car washing and small repairs. The number of cars has gone up astronomically. But although it hasn’t been easy, I’m making more (9)money now and don’t have so many hassles. I don’t have anybody looking over my shoulder. It’s my (10)own business, that’s the difference. VI Further listening and speaking Task 1 Where to start your business?
You have to consider the location when launching a business. You will be “planning your business tree” there and will have to maintain it for years to come. You have to keep in mind a few things when deciding on a place t open your business.
First of all, you have to take the local economy into consideration. Is your local area growing and building? Are the market trends good? Even if you have to locate your business farther from your home, try to find a place that is building up and bringing people in. The worst thing you can do is to pick a place that is in the “bad area of town” because it is less expensive. Your address can be the first thing people will ask for, and it can say a lot about your business.
The second thing you have to bear in mind is the job market. Since unemployment is low in most area in the Unites States, consider what type of employees you will need and find out if there are many in your area. The amount of money that you will have t o spend I the recruiting phase could be an indicator that you should or should not locate the business in an area with a different employee pool.
Another factor people have to consider is whether you can integrate with the local community and get to love it. To make the community warm to you, you should become involved in it by joining the local Chamber of Commerce, Business Association, City Council Committees, or other local organization that could offer you help. Why plan on retiring “one day” to some great location? Why not move there now and start your dream business?
1. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
2. What must you find if you are going to locate a business at a distance from your home? 3. According to the speaker, what is the worst thing you can do? 4. What will the recruiting money tell you?
5. What can you do integrate with the local community? Kes: 1D 2.C3. C 4.A 5.C Task 2 Too clever to be wise
Once there was a Scottish accountant. The business has been in the family for generations and generations. Over time, with the countless clients that had gone in and out of the office, the marble step in front of the building had developed a big, deep dip in it from all the wear and tear.
The accountant’s friends kept telling him that he had better get it replaced; otherwise he’d be sued if anyone ever slipped and fell.
Reluctantly, the accountant called a stonemason to get a quote for the repairs. When the stonemason got there, the accountant demanded a price for a new step.
“Ah, big job,” said the e stonemason, “But I suppose I could give you a new step for a hundred pounds.”
The accountant was stunned. “Are you crazy, man? I can’t pay you a hundred pounds!” Thinking about it for a second, he turned to the stonemason and asked, “What would you charge me to dig up the step and turn it over so that the worn part is in the ground and I’d get a new square step?” The stonemason hesitated, “20pounds.”
“Do it!” Demanded the accountant, “And call me when you’re done.”
The accountant went back inside to read his books, but after only 15minutes the stonemason rang the bell. As the accountant opened the door, he saw the stonemason standing there, pointing to a deep dip in the step. The stonemason laughed as he said, “Your great-great granddaddy thought of that a hundred and fifty years ago!”
Keys: FTFFT
Task 3 Mergers and acquisitions
Although the terms merger and acquisition are often used interchangeably, as though they were synonymous, they mean slightly different things.
When one company takes over another and clearly establishes itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist, the buyer \"swallows\" the business, and the buyer's stock continues to be traded.
In the pure sense of the term, a merger happens when two firms agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a \"merger of equals\". The firms are often about the same size. Both companies' stocks are surrendered, and the new company's stock is issued in its place.
In practice, however, actual mergers of equals don't happen very often. Usually, one company will buy another and, as part of the deal's terms, simply allow the acquired firm to proclaim that the action is a merger of equals, even if it is technically an acquisition. Being bought out often carries negative implications; by describing the deal euphemistically as a merger, top managers try to make the takeover more palatable.
A purchase deal will also be called a merger when both CEOs agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. But when the deal is unfriendly—that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased—it is always regarded as an acquisition.
Whether a purchase is considered a merger or an acquisition really depends on whether the purchase is friendly or hostile and how it is announced. In other words, the real difference lies in how the purchase is communicated to and received by the target company's board of directors, employees, and shareholders. Keys: CBDCA
Viewing and speaking
Interviewee: Oh, absolutely not. I mean I think the case has been made very strongly throughout the process. And I think today, which is in fact our results for the 2009 period, strongly reinforces the message that this is a first-class business worth a considerable amount more money than we’re being offered by Kraft.
Interviewer: It does seem to suggest that when the analysts say it’s just about the price being right and the shareholders will be keen to go for the Kraft offer.
Interviewee: Well, it’s certainly about value, and the whole process is about extracting the best value for the shareholders. But that value is really relative to the value that Cadbury can create as an independent company. And I think the results we’ve shown demonstrate that that value is materially more than the Kraft offer.
Interviewer: Have you spoken to Lord Mandelson or any other government ministers recently about the state of affairs with Kraft, and have they given you any reassurance?
Interviewee: We’ve not spoken directly to Lord Mandelson although we’ve clearly seen his commentary on the impact of hostile bids on British companies. I mean, our position has been throughout that we are appreciative of support from all sources whether it is the consumer or very, very well-known politicians. But our job is to assess value for our shareholders. So to that extent we will be continuing to focus on value, but listening and appreciative of the support we receive from others.
Interviewer: And so the key message you’d like everyone to take away today from this last-ditch appeal?
Interviewee: Well the key message is that it isn’t a last-ditch appeal; it is a statement of the quality of the business. Cadbury is a wonderful iconic business with remarkable market positions and great positions in growth markets which is delivering for its shareholders today. It has no strategic issues, no financial issues and no managerial issues. And for that reason anybody that seeks to own this company should pay a lot of money for the privilege. Key: 1,2,4,6,7,8
Unit 8 Here is a darker side of society. II Basic listening practice 1
W: Are those cigarettes yours? I thought you quit. If you go back to it, your teeth and fingers will be nicotine-stained; your breath and clothes will smell smoky.
M: I didn't, I swear. Ads showing diseased lungs kept me from starting again. Believe me, I'll never again be a slave to smoking.
Q: Why didn't the man go back to smoking?
2
M: What's that noise? It's really loud! Sounds like gunshots!
W: It's the local \"youth\" throwing firecrackers. Don't go out. They're likely to throw one at you or put one through the letterbox if you bother them. Q: What may the young people do? 3
M: I wish I had left my wallet at home. But I'm sure I put it in my back pocket.
W: Oh no, it's so easy for a pickpocket to take it from there. You should put your money in your breast pocket.
Q: What should the man have done? 4
M: I hate that subway station. Whenever you come out, you're always plagued by beggars.
W: I know, but the kids really get to me. I can't help but feel sorry for them. They look so miserable.
Q: What do the man and woman think about the young beggars? 5
M: The bank called me today; they wanted to know if I spent 3,000 dollars in a furniture shop this morning! Of course I didn't!
W: Someone must've made a copy of your credit card. It's easily done. You'll have to cancel it at once and get a new one. Hopefully, the bank will cover the damage. Q: What does the woman advise the man to do? Keys: CCBAD III Listening in
Task 1 Internet safety for youngsters
The increasing popularity of social networking sites and mobile phone texting has presented society with problems in how to protect children online. More and more youngsters are becoming victims of Internet bullies. Parents are finding it more difficult to ensure their kids are safe online. Gone are the days when mom and dad could keep an eye on their children's surfing on the Internet. Today's new mobile and networked world poses new and dangerous threats to online kids. About one-third of all teenagers who use the Internet say they have been targets of a range of annoying and potentially menacing online activities—such as receiving threatening messages; having their private e-mails or text messages forwarded without consent; having an embarrassing picture posted without permission; or having rumors about them spread online. However, the most common complaint from online teens is not direct threats or physical violence, but rather it is about private information being shared.
Two recent initiatives aim to teach children about cyber-safety. Internet safety will soon be taught in high schools. In Indiana, parents will attend an Internet Social Networking conference. The school authorities are launching a program aimed at educating students on how to use the Internet safely and avoid suspicious websites. A government official said: \"Advances in instant communication media, including Twitter, Facebook, and other instant messaging services, are affecting our modern society. Parents, brothers, sisters, teachers, and children alike will need to understand the dangers the connected world presents.\" The Indiana conference will explore topics like cyber-bullying, sexting, and online child exploitation. A local lawyer said: \"The No. 1 way to keep children safe is for them to be skeptical. If they do not believe automatically what people tell
them, they will be safer.\"
Keys: B A C C D
Task 2 Nursing home abuse
In the United States, families turn to nursing homes to give the elderly care and attention, but many nursing homes have been cited for abuse. According to a review of state inspection records requested by Republican Henry Waxman, some 5,283 nursing homes were cited for abuse violations. These homes were cited for nearly 9,000 abuse violations in the past two years.
\"We found examples of residents being punched, choked, or kicked by staff members or other residents,\" Waxman said.
The story of Helen Smith reported by CBS News last year is a shocking reality for thousands of old Americans. She was attacked by a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home, who was angered because she'd soiled herself.
\"He choked me and broke my wrist,\" said Smith.
Helen Smith died two days after her interview. That nurse assistant got a year in the county jail and a CBS News investigation found that three other employees at the same nursing home had been fined for abuse, which should have barred them from nursing home work.
The nursing home industry agrees on the need for stiffer background checks, but disagrees abuse is widespread. \"Abuse is not the norm in nursing homes, and many staff members deserve praise,\" said Carol Sellers, vice president of Washington Home, a nearly 200-bed center in the District of Columbia.
\"The great majority of long-term care in our nation is excellent. There're people every day that are working very hard to provide that care,\" said Charles Roadman, president of the American Health Care Association.
To deal with nursing home abuse, Bruce Brown, spokesman for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging said, \"We strongly believe nursing homes that exhibit consistently poor performance should either clean up their act or be put out of business.\" Keys: C D C B C
Task 3 Battling poverty
Today I’ll be presenting a report on our findings on the condition of the world’s population. It may be a surprise to you that half the people in the world live on less than two dollars a day, and one billion people live on less than one dollar a day.
I’m going to look at poverty and its relationship to population issues. We must work fast if we hope to reduce poverty by half, by the year 2015.
Our survey shows that the first step should be to improve health-care systems. In the world’ poorest countries, people are expected to live just 49 years. One in ten children doesn’t reach his or her first birthday. According to our study, poor health and poverty are linked. Women are affected most by poor-care systems, especially pregnant women.
The second job we have to do, as many of you can guess, is to reduce birth rates. We have found that when given a choice, poor people in developing countries have fewer children than their parents dis. A possible reason for this is probably that smaller families have fewer expenses and more chances of increasing their earnings and savings.
Since the 1970s, developing countries with lower birth rates have had faster economic growth. They have had higher productivity, more savings and more investment. Obviously we must encourage family planning and lower birth rates.
Now, here is the third measure we must take: promote education in developing countries. Investing in education, especially for women, can reduce poverty. Educated women have more opportunities to work and a chance to live better. Moreover, they tend to send their children to food schools so that they can climb the social ladder.
Well, any questions? None? OK. Now I’ll talk about the fourth step we need to take… Keys: (1) 49 (2) first birthday (3) health care systems (4) reduce
(5) expenses (6) increasing (7) lower (8) faster (9) education
(10) reduce poverty (11) more opportunities (12) live better (13) social ladder IV Speaking out
MODEL 1 Nursing home abuse is a national epidemic. John: Nora, what are you doing? What are these notes about?
Nora: Well, they are for a 1,000 word essay on abuse on the elderly, due Monday. John: That’s a big topic. What made you decide to write about that subject? Nora: Granny’s going into a nursing home. And this essay is driving me crazy. John: Narrow down the topic. Pick one aspect, like nursing home. Do an outline.
Nora: You mean list the ideas under headings: Introduction, Body, and the Conclusion? John: Yes. In the Introduction, say people live longer now, crowing nursing homes.
Nora: Then maybe in the Body I can explain how the owners try to save money on food and care. John: Right. Here I see a good quotation: “Nursing home abuse is a national epidemic.” Nora: I have statistics: 500 homes inspected; in one-third, care was substandard. John: Mention government offices and lawyers who’ll help in cases of abuse.
Nora: Then, I think I can summarize the main ideas about the helpless elderly in the Conclusion. John: Good. When you’ve written a first draft, read it aloud to eliminate awkward spots. Nora: I’m feeling a lot better about this essay and a lot less worried about Granny now. John: The essay is a piece of cake; but ensuring Granny’s OK is a lot harder. MODEL2 This beauty battled the bottle. Chris: Hey Nora.
Nora: Hey Chris. How is it going?
Chris: Not too bad. Sit down. Sit down. Hey, who was that food-looking girl you were talking to near the auditorium?
Nora: “The Drunken Doctor”, Dr Doyle, who gave dynamite Ladies Only lecture. Chris: No, no. I mean the blonds, healthy-looking, the twenty-something girl in blue.
Nora: Yeah, exactly. She’s a doctor, but she used to be a drunk. Now she tells women the dangers of drinking.
Chris: I can’t imagine some one as pretty as she is to be a drunk. And a doctor, too! Nora: She says there are alcoholics all over the world, 16 million plus just in the U.S. Chris: I’m surprised that there are so many people who lack the will-power to stop. Nora: It’s a disease that strikes young and old, rich and poor, and al walks of life.
Chris: Drunks are often dirty old men begging for money. How did Dr. Doyle get hooked? Nora: She was an intern in a big hospital: long hours, little sleep, and constant stress. Chris: I suppose at first alcohol helped her to relax, but she realized.
Nora: First it was a drink at night, then two, then a bottle, then drinks to wake up. Chris: That’s a sad story.
Nora: More inspiring than sad. She got help and stopped. Now she helps others. Isn’t that
wonderful?
MODEL3 There are high risks with games of chance. Script
Susan: Hey, Chris. Why so you look so depressed?
Chris: Oh, it’s my brother. You know, he has got a gambling problem. You can’t understand gambling as an addiction unless you’ve been hooked.
Susan: Apparently it’s like being addicted to drugs or alcohol. You just want more and more. Chris: It’s exactly like alcoholism; it takes over you life. It’s on your mind constantly. Susan: Yeah, like some horrible disease. But you can get help.
Chris: My brother tried to stop, but he felt restless…bad tempered. His nerves were always on edge.
Susan: Did he try Gamblers Anonymous? It’s a self-help group with experience just like his. Chris: Yeah, he’s not alone. It’s estimated there are 10 million addicts in America. Susan: I don’t want to nag him, but isn’t it a question of taking control of his life? Chris: I see your point, but he’s a compulsive gambler. Susan: I know. But if he gets help, maybe he’ll get better. Chris: No doubt. It’ll be tough. Though but worth it.
Susan: Remember the proverb “Better medicine has wholesome effects.” V Let’s talk
Rise in older people using drugs
Voice-over: Barbara is 55. She’s been using heroin for 30 years.
Barbara: I met this guy and he introduced me to heroin. And he gave me my first six of heroin. Voice-over: She was in Manchester for the heroin boom in the 80s. Now she’s in Yorkshire and away from the drug scene. But trying to get off heroin hasn’t got easier as life’s gone on. Instead the difficulties of growing older like loneliness and bereavement have been the triggers which have put her back to drugs.
Barbara: My mum passed, passed away last year. So that’s left a big hole in this life. You really mind, certainly.
Interviewer: Are there triggers that can, can keep you taking it as you get older?
Barbara: Yeah, I would think so, yeah, definitely. I mean, me personally, the boredom, boredom is what triggers me. I’m a person needs some, something feeding my brain and I haven’t got that. Voice-over: Thousands of aging heroin addicts have chronic health problems, but unlike younger addicts they are less likely to overdose, so they don’t appear on anyone’s radar. And when Barbara fist asked the doctor for help, she came up against the assumption that pensioners don’t do drugs. Barbara: Nobody seemed to know what to do with me really. I mean I went to the pain clinic, as soon as they saw the history, it was out of the door, you know. So they, they, I think attitudes certainly need to change.
VI Further listening and speaking
Task 1: How to Solve Unemployment Problem Script
Alan: I have a meeting with my accountant tomorrow morning. She’s preparing my income tax return, and I need to go over some of the receipts with her.
Pamela: Income tax return! Don’t you think the government just squanders our hard-earned tax on
some unnecessary projects?
Alan: Sure, someone they do, but we are living pretty well and, to be honest, I don’t mind paying taxes. If I’m paying income tax, it means I’m earning would be much lower. Pamela: If the poor would just get jobs, our taxes would be much lower.
Alan: Most people would rather work than receive charity, but the situation is complex: sometimes there are no jobs that they are trained for.
Pamela: Then they should take the needed training—upgrade their skills and knowledge to become more employable.
Alan: Training and upgrading cost money. Some government tax dollars are directed to programs that help the poor get jobs.
Pamela: But even when jobs are available, some of the unemployed don’t want to work. They would rather have a handout.
Alan: It’s partly a matter of education. Some people have to be educated to realize how much fuller their life would be if they were not dependent on charity.
Pamela: I think the government should attack unemployment by reducing the tax rate. That would put more money into people’s pockets, then they would spend more, and the spending would create more jobs for the poor.
Alan: Many people would agree with you. Keys: BACBC
Task 2: Why buy lottery tickets? Script
Charles: Did you hear? Next week’s lottery will be 28 million dollars! You got your ticket yet? Joan: I didn’t buy lottery tickets, and I don’t gamble on other ways, either. Lottery tickets ate just another way of taxing the poor. Charles: What do you mean by that?
Joan: Many of the big spenders on lottery tickets are poor. They are spending money they can’t afford to spend.
Charles: I just buy lottery tickets for fun. You know…the first prize is a huge amount, and if would be exciting.
Joan: But you don’t need the money to enjoy life, so for you it’s a game. But when the poor buy lottery tickets, it is often out of desperation.
Charles: You must be right. Casinos are opening everywhere, and many people go on gambling holiday—you can even take a gambling cruise.
Joan: Imagine being on an ocean cruise and spending all your time indoors bent over a card table or a roulette wheel.
Charles: Maybe there should be some programs to help people overcome their gambling addictions something similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.
Joan: There’s indeed an online program that can help. But nobody can force gamblers to join it. They must first want to be cured themselves. Key:
1. She thinks many (of the) big spenders on lottery are poor, spending money they can’t afford to spend.
2. He just buys lottery tickets for fun. He thinks if he won a huge amount, it would be exciting.
3. They buy lottery tickets out of desperation. And the thrill of a win, of something for nothing, is addictive.
4. Casinos are opening everywhere, many people go on gambling holidays, and one can even take a gambling cruise.
5. It will be helpful to habitual gamblers only when they want to be cured themselves.
Task 3: Held Back Because I Speak Spanish Script
I was raised speaking English, but I also spoke Spanish at home. When I went to school for the first time, I was enrolled in ESL classes—classes of English as a Second Language. I was also put in the Limited English Proficiency Program. In all these classes, I always got the highest grades. I was the best reader and speaker. There was no reason for me to be in any of those classes.
When my parents discovered that I was in those classes instead of in regular classes with other English-speaking students, they went to the school administration to complain about the discrimination. The school had nothing to say. My parents tried to get me out of the ESL classes, but the school fought it very hard to keep me there. And then we found out why—for every student the school had in the ESL and Limited English Proficiency Program, they would receive$400. This was pretty devastating. The school’s only excuse for keeping me there was because I lived in a Spanish-speaking household, and that I was influenced by the way my parents spoke. My parents were outraged, but I remained in the ESL and Limited English Proficiency Program until I was in the fifth grade.
Then parents transferred me to another school where they had friends. The new school gave me an English proficiency test. I aced it. SO I didn’t have to attend those programs for non-native English speakers. I was finally on the right track and back at the head of the class. The first school I had would have never let me out of those programs or even let me take the test. I was too “Spanish” for them. Key: CDABA
Viewing and speaking Humanity is indivisible. Script
Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
Peace must be sought above all because it is a condition for every member of the human family to live a life of dignity and security. We have entered the third millennium through a gate of fire. If today, after the horror of 11 September, we see better and we see further, we will realize that humanity is indivisible. New threats make no distinction between races, nations, or regions. A new insecurity has entered every mind, regardless of wealth or status. A deeper awareness of the bonds that bind us all, in pain and in prosperity, has gripped young and old…because beneath the surface of state and nations, ideas and language, lies the fate of individual human beings in needed. Answering their needs will be the mission of the United Nations in the century to come. Thank you very much.
Unit 9 What mode of travel do you prefer? II Basic listening practice 1 Script
M：would you prefer a window or an aisle seat，madam?
W：Aisle，please．If there's none left，then a window seat is OK．But I don't like middle seats. Q: what is the order of the woman’s preference? C: aisle-window-middle 2 Script
M：I’d like to fly economy to Thailand on October 8th．I want to book two tickets．
W：we have only one seat left in economy，but we will give you two business class seats for the same price as one economy and, one business class seat． Q：What can the man get?
B: Two business class tickets at reduced price. 3 Script
M：Excuse me, where do I check in for British Airways to London? I can’t find the right check-in counter．
W：You should go to Counter 26 on the left-hand side, sir．It's just next to Thai Air．You’d better hurry, though. There’s a long queue. Q：What does the woman say? ”
C)The British Airways counter is Counter26. 4．Script
W：Airport security checks always make me nervous．I’m afraid I’ll set off the alarm because of the jewelry I’m wearing．
M：I know. I’ll set off the security alarm. I have a steel plate in my arm from a rugby injury. Q：Why will the man set of the alarm? D)Because he has a metal plate in his body 5．Script M：Welcome home! Here，let me take your suitcase．The car is out in the parking lot．Your plane was two hours late. You must be exhausted．
W：Yes, we have to check in three hours before take-off time. The security guards take ages searching carry-on stuff, but they ignore check-in baggage．Strange system． Q：What is the woman NOT complaining about? A)Security guards search her check-in baggage.
III Listening in
Task 1: The smaller the airport, the greater the security.
Paul：The airport security checks sometimes seem very strange to me． Sylvia：What do you mean?
Paul：I just completed an international flight．And with all the threats to security of travel today I expected to have my luggage searched．
Sylvia：that’s understandable．I mean, with all the fear that’s out there about terrorism, of course they’re going to check your baggage—especially your carry—ons． Paul：I don’t mind them checking my baggage．In fact，I expect it．But there seems to be an inverse ratio at work．
Sylvia：What on earth do you mean? They check everyone’s baggage，don’t they? Paul：Yes，but here’s what’s funny：The smaller the airport，the greater the security．The less likely a plane is to be hijacked，the more precautions they take．
Sylvia：Are you serious? Why should a small airport be more aware of security than a large one? Paul：Here’s what I’ve experienced：Once at a small airport，they seized a roll of adhesive tape and argued that it could be used in hijacking．Then they asked me to remove my digital camera from its case and demonstrate that it could take pictures． Sylvia：And is this different from a large airport?
Paul：According to my experience，it is．When I flew from Vancouver to Paris，they simply ran my bags through the scanner, and 1 was on my way
Sylvia：If that’s the case，the baggage checking system is really strange． Keys:
(1) security checks (2) searched (3) fear
(4) carry-ons (5) checking (6) greater (7) seized
(8) digital camera (9) take pictures (10) bags (11) on his way (12) strange Task 2 Ships
Today, I’d like to introduce you to different kinds of modern merchant ships.
First, container ships. There are cargo ships that carry their entire load in containers. They are the usual way of moving commercial freight. Informally known as “box boats”, they carry the majority of the world’s cargo. Most container ships have crews of between 10 to 30 people.
The second type I want to mention are bulk carriers. These ships transport bulk cargo like coal, ore, rice and grain. They have big box-like hatches on deck. A bulk carrier could be for either dry or wet cargo. Most lakes are too small to accommodate bulk ships, but a large fleet of bulk carriers has been sailing on the Great Lakes of North America for over a century.
The third kind are tankers or cargo ships for carrying fluids like crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, chemicals, vegetable oil, wine and other food. Tankers make up one-third of the world’s tonnage.
Reefer ships are fourth. They’re cargo ships that carry perishable goods like fruits, meat, fish, vegetables, and dairy products. They provide temperature-controlled transportation.
Fifth are roll-on roll-off ships. They carry wheeled cargo like automobiles, trailers or railway carriages. Roll-on roll-off vessels allow the cargo to be efficiently “rolled on” and “rolled off” the vessel.
Sixth are cruise ships, the passenger ships for pleasure trips, where the voyage itself and the ship’s amenities are essential to the experiences. Cruising is a big part of the tourism industry, with millions of passengers each year.
Key: A C C D D
Task 3 High-speed passenger trains
Recently the frequency of service on the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed passenger trains has doubled.
The line commenced operations last December and carried about 50,000 passengers per day. Starting July 1st, the line increased its carrying capacity to over 80,000 passengers per day and frequency to every 10 to 25 minutes.
At a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour, it takes about three hours to travel the over 1,000 kilometers between Guangzhou and Wuhan. At present it is one of the longest railway lines in the world.
At this high speed, the Wuhan-Guangzhou line has served the local population well at prices that are not unreasonably high. One indication of this is that the high-speed train service has forced the cost of air travel along the line to fall below the cost of a second-class train ticket, meaning that the high speed train service has already become more competitive than the service offered by the airlines. With the doubling of frequency of service, getting aboard the high-speed train in Guangzhou to go to cities hundreds of miles away in Hunan and Hubei provinces is as convenient as taking a local train or a subway in the Pearl River Delta region. The large saving of time, even compared with traveling by air, is a great benefit to travelers and their business, whether personal, corporate or public. Obviously, the regional economy will benefit a great deal. Key: A B D D A IV Speaking out
MODEL 1 I'd like to book hotel and airline reservations. Travel agent: Horizon Travel, how may I help you?
Helen: This is Helen Parker. I'd like to book hotel and airline reservations. Travel agent: And what's your destination. Ms. Parker?
Helen: I'm headed for Las Vegas to attend an electronics trade show. Travel agent: OK. Can you spell your name, please? Helen: My last name is Parker, P-A-R-K-E-R, and my first name is Helen. Travel agent: Will you be traveling alone? Helen: Yes, I'll be traveling by myself.
Travel agent: Will that be a one-way or a round-trip ticket?
Helen: Return. I plan on leaving July 21st and coming back on the 30th. Travel agent: Will you be flying first class or business class?
Helen: No, no, not a chance. Economy class, the cheapest. If there's a three-star hotel located downtown, that would be great. If it has a pool, that's better still.
Travel agent: OK, let me check the computer. I can book your flight immediately. I'll have to inquire about the hotel reservation and call you back.
Helen: No problem. I'm at 658-0266, extension 513. I'll be expecting your call.
Travel agent: OK, Ms. Parker. Thank you for your call. I'll get back to you soon. Bye bye. Helen: Bye
MODEL 2 Last week I flew non-stop to San Francisco. Script
Nora: Hey John.
John:hey
Nora: I took a course on how the airport runs, and I don't suffer from fear of flying any more. Last week I flew nonstop to San Francisco.
John: Congratulations! Which flight did you take? Nora: United Airlines, Flight UA858.
John: How did it go? Everything smooth sailing?
Nora: Not everything. Since I hadn't traveled by air for a long time, I wasn't familiar with the airport. It took me quite a while to find the United Airlines check-in counter. John: Then how did you find it?
Nora: In fact, it was displayed on the monitor: \"Flight UA858 c~/Counter 45.\" John: And was everything OK once you found it?
Nora: No, there was a terrible line-up. I had to wait there for an hour.
John: I see. You must have been burned out waiting before you even boarded the plane.
Nora: That still wasn't the end of my troubles. When I finally got to the counter and handed in my passport and ticket, the airline agent looked at my passport and at me again and again. John: Why? Did she think your passport was a fake?
Nora: I don't know. I just told her my photo did not flatter me at all. John: Your photo certainly doesn't do justice to your beauty.
Nora: She didn't say anything like that. Fortunately, when I asked for an aisle seat, she said she had one. You know, I wouldn't dare take a window seat and look out the window.
John: I prefer an aisle seat, too. Then I can stretch my legs and occasionally stand up in the aisle. Nora: Finally she gave me a boarding pass, and it said that my flight would be boarding at Gate 33 in just minutes. So I had to run!
John: That's bad luck. But you made it! Good for you. MODEL 3 I've got jet lag. Script
Susan: Wow! What happened? You look like something the cat dragged in. John: You would too if you’d been through what I have. I've got jet lag.
Susan: Jet lag's not for real, is it? It's like a \"broken heart\"-a figure of speech John: It’s for real. See my eyes? They’re all bloodshot. I can’t eat; I can’t sleep. Susan: How long does this jet lag last after you’re home again and walking round? John: I don’t know exactly. It can be a day for each hour’s difference in time. Susan: Ouch! At that rate it’ll take you twelve days to recover from the flight. John: Maybe a drink on the plane can ease your jet lag.
Susan: That's not a very good idea. Alcohol dries you out when it's combined with altitude and stale dry air in the cabin.
John: I wonder whether a long flight like that is worth the high cost.
Susan: Take my advice. Go by boat. Arrive rested and ready to enjoy your holiday.
John: No, it'll take too long-longer than the time for me to reset my biological clock after a flight. V Let’s talk
World record balloon flight
Man on phone: You’ve done it. You’ve flown to the North Pole. Well done, mate!
Voice-over: There was jubilation at Britannic Challenge HQ. At 3 o’clock this afternoon, the team decided David Hempleman-Adams had got close enough: 12.9 miles from the North Pole was further than they had dreamed possible.
David Hempleman-Adams (speaking from the Arctic): Er, I just feel exhausted… I just feel I could do with a lovely cup of tea right now.
Voice-over: After 90 hours in the air with barely any sleep, Hempleman-Adams had to abandon Plan A, to set down on the Pole itself, because of low visibility. Earlier he almost sleepwalked over the side of the balloon at 7,000 feet.
Team member: He’s over the Pole, and we’re over the moon. Er, we’re absolutely delighted and, and pretty staggered that he’s actually achieved this. He is the first man to fly over the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole.
Team: Cheers, David; cheers, David!
Voice-over: Although Hempleman-Adams did not reach the actual Pole, the control team are claiming a world first. The priority now is to get him back safely. This evening the balloon’s autopilot is on and the British record-breaker is fast asleep above the Arctic Circle. Key:
1. close; 12.9 miles; dreamed 2. exhausted; cup of tea 3. abandon; set down; low 4. Pole; fly over 5. on; fast asleep
VI Further listening and speaking
Task 1 Advantages and disadvantages of flying
Before I conclude my talk, I'd like to summarize what we have covered.
Air travel has its inherent advantages. Airplanes fly fast, and they are now flying faster than before. Now supersonic passenger planes can fly across the Atlantic Ocean in just a couple of hours. It is reported that new models are being designed. In the future they may carry people from New York to London in less than an hour.
In the past not many people traveled by air because of the high fares. Now owing to the market competition, the fare has dropped a great deal, so more people are traveling by air. In the 1990s, the United States witnessed an explosive growth in demand for air travel. Many millions who had never, or rarely flown before, became regular passengers. They even joined frequent flyer loyalty programs, receiving free flights and other such benefits.
Flying has become increasing convenient. The introduction of new services and more frequent flights has meant that business flyers can fly to another city, do business, and return on the same day. This applies to almost any two points in the country.
Some passengers worry about safety in flying. In a crash there are usually no survivors. However, to prevent tragic accidents and serious financial loss, airlines are especially cautious in checking the conditions of aircraft to reduce the possibility of accidents to the minimum. It is sometimes claimed that flying involves fewer accidents than any other modes of travel.
Airplanes do have their disadvantages. For example, they are incapable of transporting large quantities of cargo.
Also, an airport can be quite far away from the city center. But the advantages of flying outweigh these small drawbacks, and flying remains an efficient kind of transportation. That's the end of my lecture. Now may I take your questions if you have any?
Key:
Pros and Cons of Flying Pro 1 An airplane flies fast
(1) Supersonic passenger planes can fly across the Atlantic Ocean in just a couple of hours; (2) In future they may carry people from Now York to London in less than an hour.
Pro 2 The fare has dropped a great deal, so more people are traveling by air: Many millions became regular passengers, and even joined frequent flyer loyalty programs.
Pro 3 Flying has become increasingly convenient: Business fliers can fly to another city, do business, and return on the same day.
Pro 4 Airlines are cautious about checking the conditions of aircraft to reduce the possibility of accidents to the minimum
Con 1 The plane is incapable of transporting large quantities of cargo. Con 2 An airport can be quite far away from the city center.
Task 2: An Overview of Airlines Script
An airline is an organization which provides aviation services for passengers and cargo. It owns or leases airliners to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for reasons of mutual benefits.
The scale and scope of airline companies range from those with a single airplane carrying mail or cargo, to full-service international airlines operating many hundreds of airplanes of various types. Airline services can be categorized as intercontinental, intra-continental, regional or domestic and may be operated as scheduled services or charters. These variations in the types of airline companies, their operating scope, and the routes they serve, make analysis of the airline industry complex. But one thing is certain: The industry is heavily influenced by the market now. In the past 50 years or so, the general trend of ownership has gone from government-owned or government-supported to independent, for-profit companies. This is a result of the government permit greater freedom. This trend is not yet consistent across all airlines in all regions. The demand for air travel services depends on other things: needs for cargo transportation, business passenger demand, leisure passenger demand, which are all influenced by macroeconomic activity in the market. These trends are highly seasonal, and often depend on day-of-week, or time-of-day. The industry is cyclical. Four or five years of poor performance are followed by five or six years of gradual improvement in performance. 1.D 2 C 3.D 4.A 5.B
Task 3: Funny Flight Announcements Script:
Occasionally, airline crews try to make their announcements entertaining. Here are some examples that have been reported. One pilot delivered this welcome message: \"We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately none of them are on this flight.\"
One pilot said, \"Folks, we have reached our cruising altitude now, so I'm going to switch the seatbelt sign off. Feel free to move about as you wish, but please stay inside the plane till we land. It's a bit cold outside, and if you walk on the wings, it affects the flight pattern.\"
A Southwest Airlines employee said, \"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If
you have small children traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with two small children, decide now which one you love more.\"
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing goes like this: \"We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.\"
Still another attendant said, “As you exit the plane, please be sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses. Last one off the plane must clean it.” Key:
(1) best; none of them (2) land; wings
(3) small children; before (4) smoothly
(5) distributed evenly; clean it Viewing and speaking
Paragliding for a Publishing Deal Script
An Australian writer-and paraglider-tried landing in front of Buckingham Palace last December to help him land a publishing deal.
In what looked like a scene from a James Bond movie, the paraglider, 36-year-old Brett de la Mare, was followed through the skies of central London by a police helicopter as he headed toward the palace-the London home of Queen Elizabeth II.
The royal family was not present at the time, but police took the incident seriously, all the same. The helicopter tried to force the paraglider away, but in the end, he succeeded in landing on the palace grounds. Police there promptly arrested him.
This was no terrorist, however, as Police had feared. He was, rather, a writer trying to gain publicity to help publish a book, called “Canine Dawn”. Unable to get publishers interested in the book, he tried some new ways to get attention.
After the incident, de la Mare explained what happened to reporters. \"I came in over the fence, and I landed in the forecourt here, and the crowd started cheering. And I was arrested and dragged off.\" De la Mare said police had difficulty deciding what to charge him with: \"They initially… they arrested me for attempted burglary.. of ...Buckingham Palace... and of course, they dropped that. I mean, attempted burglary! I mean, it's hardly a discreet method of burglary...\" They later charged him with breaches of the Air Navigation Order.
De la Mare left a humorous message on his cell phone for callers: \"Hi, this is Brett. I'm sorry you missed me. I am incarcerated right now or something. Please leave me a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I am free, ha ha.\" Key:
(1) landing (2) followed (3) headed (4) present (5) succeeded (6) arrested (7) publish
(8) attention (9) happened (10) cheering (11) charge (12) dropped (13) humorous (14) missed
(15) get back
Unit 10 With a failing memory, you meet a lot of new people. II Basic listening practice 1. Script
W: Ok. It’s your turn to pay the bill. I paid last time.
M: What? You have a selective memory. You tried to pay last turn, but your credit card failed; so I ended up paying! It’s definitely your turn. Q: What is true according to the conversation? 2. Script
M: I’m having real trouble reviewing for this French exam. I just can’t memorize all the vocabulary.
W: Me too. I hate having to learn things by heart. I guess we just have to keep reading the texts over and over.
Q: What does the woman prefer? 3. Script
W: Oh look! There’s that guy we saw last week, playing football in the park! He looked great in his kit, remember?
M: Him? I don’t remember him. I’ve got a terrible memory for faces. I have a hard time even recording people I’ve been introduced to.
Q: According to the conversation, what is the man’s problem? 4. Script
M: Why is there a big sign on the back of your door that says “keys”?
W: It’s to remind me to take my keys when I go out because I’m always locking myself out by accident! It doesn’t help enough. Now I just forget to read the sign. Q: Why is there a sign on the back of the door? 5. Script
M: That history exam was really hard. The essay question was terrible!
W: I know, I wish I were like David. He has a photographic memory, you know. How useful that would be!
Q: What is true of David? Keys: 1.C 2.D 3. A 4.B 5.C
III Listening in
Task 1 Short-term memory
M: Did you catch Prof. Brown’s lecture on memory? I dodged it.
W: Yeah. It was very interesting. He said that we have short-term and long-term memories.
M: So what? Without attending the lecture, I know that. First there’s information you hear and retain for only a little while. The other kind sticks in your mind for a long time. Have I got it right?
W: Yes, you do. An interesting part of his lecture is the magic number seven. A psychologist called Miller did experiments to show that the capacity of short-memory was about seven items, or seven plus or minus two items.
M: I don’t quite see what you mean.
W: Here’s an example. After listening to a long string of digits, most adults can repeat about seven digits in the correct order. This suggests our short-term memory can keep about seven items. M: I can dig it. More than seven digits, even a clever man like me starts to make mistakes. W: Well, have you heard about the magic number four? M: That’s new to me.
W: Trying to remember seven digits makes you feel the strain. But you can usually memorize three or four digits painlessly.
M: I quite agree. When you try to recall a 10-digit telephone number, you can divide the digits into three groups: first, the area code, such as 215, then a three-digit chunk, and finally a four-digit chunk.
W: This method of remembering telephone numbers is far more effective than trying to remember a string of 10 digits. By the time Prof. Brown finished, we all believed our working memory couldn’t comfortably handle more than four small numbers at a time. Are you convinced? Key: B C D C A
Task 2 Where did the professor go?
This is a true story, while happened to friends of ours in a small town in South Africa. They were a hospitable couple who often entertained their neighbors for drinks, tea or dinner. On this particular spring night, they have invited a retired professor to super. During the evening, it began to pour with rain, and the heavens really opened. Because he had walked there, they offered to put him up for the night. They pointed out that by staying overnight, he did not need to go to out in the bad weather. He agreed on the soundness of that idea, thanked his hosts profusely, and the matter seemed to be settled. But while they were washing the dishes after supper, the forgetful professor disappeared. No one could find him anywhere. Eventually, after40 minutes, the front door bell rang. There was the professor, soaked to the skin. When he was asked what on earth he has been dong in the rain, he replied that because he was going to stay there overnight, he had gone home to get his pajamas and toothbrush. Key: T F F T F
Task 3 How to improve your memory?
Everyone can take steps to improve their memory and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize huge amounts of information. Here are some tips:
First take mental exercise. Regularly “exercising” the brain keeps it growing and promotes the development of new nerve connections that improve memory. By learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument you can keep your brain active.
Second take physical exercise. Regular aerobic exercise promotes blood circulation to the brain and helps it avoid the memory loss that comes with aging.
Third eat well and eat right. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli blueberries and spinach are the best sources of the vitamins minerals fiber and antioxidants. Antioxidants protect and support brain functions. Also you need to get enough protein which is necessary to maintain healthy muscles organs and nerve cells. Eating five or six small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals also seems to improve mental functioning by limiting dips in blood sugar which may affect the brain negatively.
Fourth avoid chemical poisoning. Avoid eating foods that contain such additives as artificial sweeteners preservatives and artificial colors. These chemicals can accumulate in the body and become toxic causing brain damage memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. If you eat foods polluted with pesticides or insecticides instead of organically grown food, the toxic chemicals can affect nerve functions and cause memory loss. Moreover, avoid alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs; they destroy brain cells at a rapid rate.
Fifth, sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep—a minimum of seven hours a night—may improve your memory.
Sixth, reduce stress. Chronic stress can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stress can make it difficult to focus on concepts or to observe things. So, you should try to relax. Regularly practice yoga or other calming exercises. Key:
(1) brain (2) nerve connections (3) musical instrument (4) your brain (5) blood circulation (6) vegetables (7) Protect and support (8) healthy (9) sugar (10) memory loss (11) nerve functions (12) tobacoo (13) Improve (14) remembering (15) temporary
IV Speaking out
MODEL 1 It slipped my mind!
Amy: I sent out the invitations to the dinner party. Bill: That’s good. Now what should we do? Amy: We’ve got to plan the menu.
Bill: Oh, that’s right. Do you have anything in mind?
Amy: I think I’m going to make the chicken salad we had at the Christmas party. Remember I sled the chef for the recipe?
Bill: Yeah, but did you forget that Linda doesn’t eat chicken?
Amy: Linda? Oh, my gosh! I forgot to invite Linda! It just slipped my mind. She’ll be mad at me. Bill: Well, everyone forgets something sometimes. It’s not too late yet. I’ll make a phone call. Don’t worry.
Amy: Thanks! You see, I’m getting forgetful. I think I’m getting old! Bill: Looks like you are, sweetheart.
MODEL2 I can’t think of it off the top of my head. Script
John: Hey, Sue. Do you know what Jack’s home phone number is? Susan: I can’t think of it off the top of my head. I don’t have my address book on me, and I don’t have my mobile phone with me, either.
John: That’s too bad! I’ve got to find him now. It’s urgent! If I can’t find him today, I’ll be dead! Susan: You might want to look it up in the phone book.
John: I’ve checked already, but it seems that hid phone number is unlisted. Susan: Maybe it’s under his roommate’s name. John: Well, I guess so.
Susan: Well, why don’t you call Jane? She has his phone number. John: I’ve tried, but no one answered!
Susan: Maybe call his office and ask his secretary.
John: I’ve already tried. She won’t tell me. She says it’s private.
Susan: Oh, that’s right. They usually don’t release private information over the phone.
John: It’s a pity. You usually have a powerful memory, but you can’t help today. What’s wrong with you? Your memory seems to be fading early.
Susan: It’s not my memory is fading. I do have memory for face and names, but a poor one for number and dates
MODEL3 What’s wrong with your memory? Script
Bill: Hi, honey! My trip to London was wonderful. Amy: Tell me what thrilled you most.
[The telephone rings and Bill answers it....He hangs up.] Bill: Er, where was I?
Amy: You were talking about your tour in London. Bill: Oh, yeah.
Amy: I bet you had a great time.
Bill: Yes, I particularly enjoyed visiting the tower of London. Amy: How did you get there? By bus or underground? Bill: Let me see….Sorry, I can’t remember any more. Amy: What’s wrong with your memory?
Bill: I hope it’s not Alzheimer’s disease. I don’t want to forget my own name.
Amy: I don’t think so. Perhaps it’s just temporary forgetfulness. You’ll be right after a good sleep. Bill: I hope so. But as this is happening so often recently, I think I must go to see a doctor and get some pills
Amy: It’s not as serous as that. Anyway, I wish you had a good memory for happy events, and a bad one for unhappy things.
V Let’s talk A memory test
This is Bringing Science to the People, the impromptu lab set up in a bookshop in Piccadilly. The plan—to test the (1) memory power of our brains. A human guinea pig is required, and I was happy to oblige. Ten minutes go by, along with a couple of hundred pictures, and that it was time for the (2) test .
\"So, if you look at these two, one of them you've seen before, and one is completely (3) new. Which one do you think you (4)saw before?\" \"Uh, B?\"
\"OK. And these two?\"
\"Umm, ha ha. B again I think.\" \"OK.\"
A few more questions later and it was time for the (5) verdict.
\"So, not too bad at all. I see, around about 60 percent recall, which is interesting when you only saw the slides for a few (6) seconds there. And that's really what we're looking at here, just how amazing our visual (7) memories are.\"
This hasn't been tried since the 1970s, deemed too grueling for anyone to (8) endure. Not so for these two (9) volunteers; they'll spend the next three days (10)staring at the screen.
So to put this into context, imagine a relative of yours goes on holiday, takes (11) 10,000 pictures. When they come home, and they make you sit through a three-day (12) slide show. And then at the end of that, they force you to take a test.
The professor hopes to prove that we remember (13) 70% of everything we see. Good news for advertisers who want to keep their products on our minds; not so good though if you (14) lose your keys. This type of recall will help you remember what they look like, but you'll still have no idea (15) where you put them.
Toby Sadler, London Today, Piccadilly. VI Further listening and speaking
Task 1 Skills to remember things better
Six skills are recommended to help you remember things better.
1. Focus your attention. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because we do not concentrate or pay attention. For instance, often we don't learn people's names at first because we aren't really concentrating on remembering them. If you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you'll do much better.
2. Create vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that's too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more dramatic, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book.
3. Repeat things you need to learn. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker's name or your best friend's birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently.
4. Record important tasks. Write down what you want to do in a diary. If you don’t have a pen, wear your watch on your right wrist or wear it upside down; this will help you remember the task. You can also leave yourself a telephone message reminding yourself of something important.
5. Group things you need to remember. Random lists of things such as a shopping list can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can put 10 things into three groups, you can remember them more easily.
6. Organize your life. Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Key: A B D D C
Task 2 Is your memory in good shape?
M: Tell me your secret. You’re suddenly getting excellent marks in every subject, and you used to be a bottom-of –class student just like me.
W: Simple enough. I read an article in a scientific journal that studying with remembering, based
on recent research into the brain.
M: Aw, that stuff’s old hat: study at the same time every day, be sure your clothes are comfortable, and make sure you have enough light, blah-blah-blah.
W: Not so fast, wise guy. I’m talking about principles like “Mental Visualization”, creating a picture in your mind of what is to be remembered.
M: Ok, that dies sound different. Id “Association” a principle—you know, you connect what you want to remember with something you’re familiar with?
W: Right on! ‘Consolidation” is another. I review my notes right after class and consolidate—or absorb—the new material into what I’ve already learned.
M: You’re moving ahead fast with those principles. I swear this weekend I’m going to study sixteen hours a day both Saturday and Sunday.
W: Whoa, big guy. That’s not the way. Follow the principle of “Distributes Practice”. Shorter study sessions distributes over several days are better.
M: That system is all very well for you; you’ve got a good memory. But what about me? I’ve got a memory like a sieve.
W: You’re too modest. There’s nothing wrong with your memory. But memory is like a muscle; it needs exercise. And don’t forget it.
Key: (1) excellent marks (2) principles (3) picture (4) Association (5) familiar with (6) Consolidation (7) already learned (8) 16 / sixteen (9) Distributed Practice (10) shorter (11) muscle (12) exercise
Task 3 How to remember names?
You just called the TV repair shop, and the voice on the other end of the line tells you, “This is Don Smith”.
About 5 minutes later you tell your wife that “this guy” will be out to fix the TV in the morning. You can’t think of his mane although you know he mentioned it on the phone.
This happens all the time to just about any of us unless we have learned to concentrate and implant a name in our memory, right at the time we hear it. To do this, you must make a habit of repeating the name back to the person. This action will remind you to store the name in your “memory bank” each time you hear someone’s name, and within a short time the “repeating” process can be discontinued
When you meet someone in person, use the same procedure, and in addition, visualize something different, unusual or ridiculous about hid or her appearance, position, or actions that “ties in “with his or her name. Later, you may write the descriptive information on one side of a card and the name in the other side. Look at it repeatedly, see the “picture” in your mind’s eye as you look at the name; or when you see he name, visualize the “picture” you have assigned to the name.
Getting this system to work will require changes in your thinking, and it may take several days or several weeks to become proficient. Key:
1. Maybe we can't remember the name.
2. We can repeat the name back to the person to help us store the name in our \"memory bank\". 3. We can repeat the name. In addition, we can visualize something different, unusual, or ridiculous about the person's appearance, position, or actions that ties in with his or her name. 4. The descriptive information on one side of the card and the name on the other side. 5. We can
look at it repeatedly, seeing the \"picture\" in our mind's eye as we look at the name; or when we see the name, visualize the \"picture\" we have assigned to the name.
Viewing and speaking
A recent art exhibition in Florida honored the animal often seen as man’s most intelligent friend, the dolphin.
The “Dolphins on Parade” exhibition in the Florida Keys featured life-sized decorates dolphin paintings made of wood and the cost of materials. The dolphins were shown at area business and along the beach. Sponsors paid U.S. $750 to cover the artists’ fee and the cost of materials.
There were more than 100 dolphin themes, including a beer-belly dolphin. They showed the work of local artists, as well as the beach atmosphere the Keys are famous for. Probably the most unique was special because of its artist, Pandora. Pandora the dolphin painter is area dolphin, art the Dolphin Research center, in Marathon, Florida. The playful artist streaks colors across a dolphin painting holding a brush in its mouth. The exhibition was held by the Monroe Council of the Arts as part of a plan to make the Keys an international arts center. The paintings were to be auctioned off in March, with the money earned going to community art programs.
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