SECTION 1 LISTENING TEST
Part A Spot Dictation
1. religious associations
2. local and national characters 3. how far back 4. a 200-yard dash 5. other field 6. 708 BC
7. consisted of 8. every four years 9. were abolished 10. 1500 years 11. summer games 12. in turn
13. living accommodation 14. the marathon races 15. lighted
16. a succession of runners 17. continuation
18. the closing ceremony 19. a modern conception
20. participating in the Games
Part B Listening Comprehension
I. Statements
Questions 1~10
1. (B) Diana is working as a sales person for an insurance company this summer. It is a tough job and she gets to be outdoors from time to time, but the pay is decent.
2. (C) Please don't get annoyed over what I said now. I'm just worried about the delay. In no way do I blame you for what happened. You have tried your best.
3. (C) Mrs. Green called the after-sales service agency and had her almost new refrigerator repaired for free because it was still under warranty.
4. (D) George is a true pal. He is ready to offer any kind of assistance whenever you are in need. Friends like him are few and far between.
5. (A) Unless the whole production cost could be reduced to a reasonable limit, the company would have to double its budget by next year.
6. (A) If the goods could not arrive in time for the Christmas rush, good quality and competitive price would mean nothing at all.
7. (C) Well, I'm sure we can work something out but it's almost dinner time. May I suggest that we come back tomorrow, say 9 o'clock, to continue the talk?
8. (D) If our products are to compete on the international market, advanced technology is a key element. The higher the technology, the better the products and the greater the competitiveness.
9. (B) The fact that Mr. Parkinson is a high-ranking CEO doesn't mean that he can advise you about finance and investment questions.
10. (A) In this country, the total number of people over 65 years old is 23 million today, but it will swell to 45 million by the year 2020.
II. Talks and Conversations
Questions 11~14
W: Now , you are looking for a flat in this area, correct?
M: Yeah, that's right.
W: And, how much are you prepared to pay?
M: Well, I can pay up to six hundred pounds a month if I have to. W: Well, there are some very reasonable apartments for around five hundred pounds.
M: Are there?
W: It depends on the size, of course. We have flats that can't be rented for only four hundred pounds a month. What size did you have in mind? I mean how many bedrooms? How much space, ect. , do you need?
M: We need at least three bedrooms, as we have two children and my mother-in-law lives with us. She is a widow now and can't stand living alone, you know.
W: Well, I've got just the place for you, a nice flat near Station Street.
M: Oh, yes, I know Station Street quite well. It's very convenient for transportation and shopping.
W: It's handy to almost everything. Very good position indeed.
M: Now, how big is this house? How many rooms are there?
W: There are seven including the bathroom.
M: Sounds like there is plenty of room, all right? But just a minute, how much is the rent?
W: And that's the best part. It's only four hundred and fifty pounds a month. Would you like me to run you around.
M: Why not? Sounds like just what I'm looking for.
W: Yeah, could be your lucky day.
11. (B) How much is the man going to pay for the flat? 12. (C) What does the man know about the Station Street? 13. (A) Why does the man need a flat with three bedrooms?
14. (B) According to the woman, what is the best part of the flat at issue?
Questions 15~18
Will you enjoy a cup of orange juice every morning? My advice is please make sure that you do so. Orange juice is an integral part of a healthy diet. Today the flavor of orange is the world's third favorite flavor next to chocolate and vanilla. As a common kind of fruits, the orange has additional nutritional contents than other citrus fruits.
The major nutritional content in oranges is vitamin C. As a whole, the vitamin C content in orange fruits can keep your immune system strong and healthy. Another nutritional content in oranges is calcium. It can ensure strong teeth and bone. Calcium also supports to maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Calcium in oranges also assists for a healthy muscle function.
The health benefits of the orange never end here. A daily glass of orange juice can help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones, better that other citrus fruit juices, such as lemonade. The fiber in the orange reduces high cholesterol level in the body. The natural food sugar, fructose in the orange controls the rising blood sugar levels after a meal. So next time you go to a supermarket or dine in a restaurant, make sure that you buy and have that delicious food as a part of your everyday diet.
15. (D) What is the main idea of this talk?
16. (B) According to the talk, which of the following is the world's first favorite flavor?
17. (A) What is good about vitamin C in the orange?
18. (D) Which of the following assists for a healthy muscle function?
Questions 19~22
W: George, as a university student, you've been here for almost a year. Do you miss your home cooking a lot? Or are you getting used to our English food?
M: Oh there are quite a lot of dishes I miss very much indeed. You see in my country we have a much greater variety of dishes, but I must say English food is much better than I thought it was going to be.
W: Really, what are your favorite English dishes?
M: Well, first of all I think the quality of your food is excellent. Your dairy products are so fresh and your meat is usually so tender. For example, the strawberry yoghurt and pork rib chop. And there is so much to choose from (in) the shops.
W: Yes, but what English dishes do you particularly like? Or don't you like any of them?
M: Well, I'm a little tired of your fishing chips, and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding is only good when properly cooked at home. I don't like the way you cook your vegetables, either. And...
W: So you don't really like any of our food, do you?
M: Oh, no. I didn't say that.
W: Well...
M: I'm very fond of the steak and kidney pudding you make. And I like your apple pies. You know, all the home-made stuff.
W: It's very nice of you to say so.
M: And I think your cooked breakfasts are simply marvelous. Nothing like them where I come from.
19. (C) What is the man doing at the moment?
20. (D) What does the man think of the English food?
21. (C) Which of the following statements is true about the man? 22. (A) According to the man, why does he like the steak and kidney pudding so much?
Questions 23~26
More often than not, I've been asked by my students this question: how can I improve my listening skills?
Let me first cite a very common instance of poor listening at this school. You don't know how it happened. You know you were paying attention when your history class started. But somewhere along the way your eyes glazed over and the teacher's voice became a dull hum in the background of your mind. When you finally shook yourself out of your trends, he was asking you a question, \"So what happened at Hastings in the year of 1066?\" Once again, poor listening has you in hot water.
As listeners, we tend to think that the responsibility for a
successful communication lies with the person doing the talking. This attitude causes us to become passive listeners. We tolerate distractions, putting up with the noise in the hall for instance instead of getting up to shut the door. And we generally fail to reopen to the speaker's message
by asking questions or to remember anything that was said. Effective listeners, on the other hand, play an active role by paying constant attentions, by following the speaker's movement, by taking notes, or by asking questions. Passive listeners are the sponges in the communication sea. Active listeners are their sharks. Good listening is a valuable skill. It is one of the top management skills needed for success in business. Listening is also critical to success in family life and among friends. Good listeners do well in school. They follow directions better and don't waste time wandering what the assignment was. Therefore, becoming an active listener will help you in your relationships with your schoolwork and on the job.
23. (D) What is the main idea of the talk?
24. (A) Which of the following is true about the passive listeners? 25. (A) According to the talk, how can we reopen to the speaker's message? 26. (C) To which of the following does the man compare poor listeners?
Questions 27~30
W: Recently artist Samuel Cliff and writer Dan Archer took our readers by surprise with their new comment book entitled Tales Up The Forest. With a diverse cast of characters, and a craze story that reflex upon both reality and unreality, Samuel has once again exposed his unique art to a much larger audience. Here in the studio we are happy to have you with us. Samuel, as an artist where have you been, and where are you going? M: Well, I'd like to think that my past as an artist has been an interesting one as far. Stylistically there have been a lot of changes; I started out with a chunky organic brush style, very popular at that time. Back then when I did my first book, My Dollar, I had a feeling that comments would just too precious, and I want my work to be bold. I still enjoy working that way. But since then my Interests have changed. Half way through my \"Run on the Little Cat\linear style, which is something I’ve always loved. I've been trying a little variations on things out since then, and now I am trying to push towards a more graphic work. I really loved doing color work.
W: I'd say your works have been fairly eclectic in tone and story, do you agree?
M: Yeah, eclectic is a good word for it. I try to take on a project that seems interesting to me, I can't imagine working on just one kind of story for the rest of my life.
W: You are, em, for lack of a better term, all-inclusive artist, meaning you usually ink your own pencils and keep you own style, can you stand to be influenced by someone else?
M: I have been influenced by others in the past, and they've all done an outstanding job. It's the nature of collaboration, isn't it? The thing is now I really enjoying having control over the final look of the art work.
W: What is it about the company that you've giving it so much of your time and effort as an artist?
M: It's a very nurturing environment. My editors are all open to new ideas. They've encouraged me to push my abilities and grow. It's a great place to be. And I wonder they keep renewing my contract.
27. (B) What is the man's job?
28. (B) What's the man trying to do now for his works?
29. (C) What's the woman's comment about the man's artistic works? 30. (D) What does the man say about the company with whom he has contracts?
Part C Listening and Translation
I. Sentence Translation
1. Most people are too anxious during tests. Such anxiety makes them less efficient than normal. As a result, their scores are much lower than they expected.
译文：大多数人在考试中都很紧张。紧张会让他们做题时比平时的效率低。结果，他们的分数会比自己预期的要低。
2. The office of Mr. Arthur Tiger, the prominent industrialist, was broken into during the weekend. A small amount of money was taken and the office itself was left in a terrible mess.
译文：著名实业家阿瑟·泰格的办公室周末遭劫，少量现金失窃，办公室内一片狼藉。
3. A job interview works both ways. On the one hand, employers measure shortlisted candidates during the conversation. On the other, prospective employees can decide whether the job in question is right for them. 译文：工作面试是双向选择的过程。一方面，雇主会在交谈中衡量入围名单中的候选人，另一方面，准雇员也在考虑眼前的这份工作是否适合他。
4. The stock exchange index was 998 in June, 2005. Yesterday, it reached 5, 960 which is the highest in history and almost 6 times higher than 2 year ago.
译文：股票指数在2005年6月是998. 昨天，达到5，960. 这是历史最高峰，股指比两年前升了六倍。
5. By far, the most serious economic problem in Britain is that of inflation, now being accelerated by overheated investment in capital and property and threatened further by a possible wage explosion. 译文：英国目前最严重的经济问题是通货膨胀。资本和资产投资过热已经在推波助澜，而如果工资猛增，则令这个问题雪上加霜。
II. Passage Translation
1. Water is great medicine needed to maintain a healthy body and a clear
mind. About 60%of your body is water and you must constantly resupply it. The standard recommendation is to drink at least 8 glasses a day. When you are exercising, your need even more water because you are sweating and losing water. Of course, warm temperatures also increase water loss. Just walking for an hour on a warm day may increase your requirement by 2 glasses or more.
译文：要保持身体健康，头脑清醒，水是最好的药品。你身体的60%是由水组成的，你必须不断地补充水份。标准的建议是每天至少喝八杯水。当你做体育运动的时候，会需要更多的水，因为你在不停地流汗、失水。当然炎热的天气也会增加失水。如果你在炎热的天气里走上一小时，就要多喝2杯水。
2. Some people might think that being a foreign student is an easy task to do. It is not true. We live between two worlds. One, a world of memories, a world of the past where we get our strength to deal with the difficulties of growing up to and adapting to new places, a world that nobody here knows. Two, a world of the present, strange and unfamiliar. A world where only we can take care of ourselves. A world where the rules and values are so different from the ones I was born to.
译文：有些人可能认为在国外读书是一件很容易的事情。但事实并非如此。我们生活在两个世界里：一个是记忆的世界，即过去的世界，我们从那里获得力量，来解决成长中的困难、适应新的地方，那是身处现在世界的人并不知道的一个世界。另外一个是现在的世界，一个陌生的、不熟悉的世界。在这样的世界里，只有我们自己才能照顾自己，这个世界的规则和我们生来所知的世界是不同的。
2008年9月上海中级口译笔试真题答案与听力原文
Part A Spot Dictation
1. common interest
2. mutual friend connection 3. 5 p.m. 4. sacrifice
5. adult interaction 6. potential
7. comfortable and secure 8. local restaurant 9. major function
10. annual summer picnics
11. in jeans and T-shirts 12. in their own homes 13. his employees 14. formal banquets 15. an open house 16. anytime
17. 1 to 2 hours 18. as they please 19. light snacks
20. poor practice to refuese
Part B Listening Comprehension
I. Statements
Questions 1~10
1. (B) I really cannot decide whether to dig up information from the Internet for our annual report over the weekend or go shopping with my friends. But maybe a break would do me good.
2. (C) Rarely do new employees take such initiatives as Mr. Johnson does. Usually they’ll wait until they’re familiar with their working environment.
3. (B) The subject of the conference is marketing and sales. And I was wondering if you could give us a talk, say, fifty minutes or so, on cost-effective publicity.
4. (A) If a family has a baby, it brings about special food and clothing needs. When that child grows up, he or she will more directly influence their parents' choice of daily commodities.
5. (C) Not all sugar-containing foods are bad. For example, an apple has its main calories come from sugar, but it’s surrounded by fiber, so it digests slowly and keeps blood sugar under control.
6. (D) Had I known that we could buy exactly the same type of camera cheaper on the Internet, I would not have placed the order and paid for this one.
7. (A) By far, the most serious economic problem is that of inflation, now being accelerated by the rise of unemployment, and threatened further by a possible wage explosion.
8. (D) According to our economists, a tariff is a kind of tax imposed by the government on goods imported from abroad.
9. (A) Due to our vigorous advertising campaign, the sales figure for our new product has reached 360,000 dollars this month, three times of our original promotion plan.
10. (B) Although the short report was well written and documented, it failed to convince the committee to vote against the proposed project.
II. Talks and Conversations
Questions 11~14
M: Well, as an overseas student, I suppose you don't have a great deal of earning power, so inflation must have affected you to some extent.
W：Yes, it affects me in that my parents aren't able to afford to pay my tuition. So I've been forced into taking part of my study time to devote to earning as much as I can to help pay for that.
M: You mean you've been taking part-time jobs? What kind of jobs are they?
W: There are quite a number of par-time jobs available for overseas students here. There are the student cafeteria, university libraries, and of course, the summer course programs offered by the education centre.
Presently, I've been working in the university book store, the second-hand book division.
M: But that kind of cuts into your studies, I suppose.
W: It does, to a certain extent. But I found that with the added pressure of having to earn money, I use my study time more effectively and get more done.
M: So in that sense, it's kind of a good thing for you.
11．(D) What is the woman doing now? 12．(C) According to the conversation, which of the following is the major reason for the woman to work part-time while in the university? 13．(B) Where is the woman working part-time now?
14．(A) What will the woman do with the added pressure of having to earn money herself?
Questions 15~18
If you want to improve your memory, be confident! That may sound a bit ridiculous, but that is what happened you learn to ride a bicycle or drive a car, isn’t it? At first, you did it awkwardly, but the more you practiced, the surer you were. The activity had changed from a set of awkward rules to nerve-ending responses. You had it on your finger tips. A while back I had each student in class learn the first and last names of everyone else, all in one fifty minute period. I had never done this before myself. And I was expected to perform when everyone else had finished. There I was encouraging everyone while I was getting sweaty hands and developing considerable anxiety.
What if the teacher failed? It was hard but I did manage with one or two mistakes. But after that session, it got easier and easier. Now I am absolutely sure I can do it with 120 students each semester. That is 240 bits of information. Not only that, but I am not at all worried, no sweaty palms. The less anxious I am, the better I perform. That is the point. Success makes you more confident and confidence makes it easier to succeed. So try it till you succeed. Then try a few more times just to convince yourself.
15．(D) Who is the speaker?
16．(C) Why did the woman get sweaty hands when remembering names? 17．(B) How many students does the woman probably teach each semester? 18．(D) According to the woman, what makes her more confident?
Questions 19~22
M: Good morning, Patricia. How are you these days?
W: Fine, thanks, Bill. Glad to see you again. What news can you bring from your business trip to our headquarters in New York last week?
M: Well, not bad ones. During my stay in New York last week, I met our company's CEO Mr. Johnson. He wants us to put on a local conference sometime next month. I remember you made most of the arrangements for our last conference, and things went so smoothly. I thought I couldn't do better than ask you for some tips.
W: I'll be glad to help. Is it a sales conference again?
M: Yes, in a way. It's mainly for agents from home and abroad, and we're inviting a few of our influential customers. The objectives are mainly to introduce the products we'll put in on the markets next season, to describe our services to customers and so on.
W: And how many people are expected to attend this time? Last time, it was about 220.
M: We're counting on 300 this time. No more than 350.
W: Then we can not use the seaside conference hall again. It has a capacity of only 250.
M: That's the trouble. I was thinking of the President Convention Center,
which has a larger capacity. Besides, I haven't worked out all those details yet. Then there are other things to arrange, like loudspeakers and visual aids. I'm going to make a checklist.
W: Yes, I did that, too. I’ll be glad to give you a hand.
M: That would be great, Patricia. I’d very much like to chance of using some of your experience. May I invite you to lunch today? And then we could have a bit of planning session about it all afterwards.
19. (B) What was the man doing last week?
20. (C) Who will be invited to attend a local conference next month? 21. (A) According to the woman, about how many people attended the last conference in the seaside conference hall?
22. (D) Which of the following will NOT be included in the man's checklist for his planning of the conference?
Questions 23~26
If you are driving a car to work or to a seaside resort, safety is always the top priority. Here are some of the tips for driving safely. First, drive carefully and slowly when pedestrians are about,
particularly in crowded shopping streets. When you see a bus stop or near a parked mobile shop, Watch out for pedestrians coming from behind parked or stopped vehicles, or from other places where you might not be able to see them. Three out of four pedestrians killed or seriously injured in traffic accidents are either under the age of 15 or over 60. The young and the elderly may not judge speeds very well, and may step into the road when you do not expect them. Give them plenty of time to cross the road. Also, stop and wait patiently for the blind or disabled people.
Second, drive slowly near schools, and look out for children getting on or off school buses. Stop when signaled to do so by a school crossing patrol showing a stop-children sign. Be careful near a parked ice-cream van. Children are more interested in ice-cream than in traffic.
Finally, when coming to a zebra crossing, be ready to slow down or stop to let people cross. You must give way once they have stepped on to a crossing. Signal to other drivers that you mean to slow down or stop. Give yourself more time to slow down or stop on wet or icy roads. Remember, under no circumstances should you overtake other vehicles just before a zebra crossing.
23. (C) What is the main idea of the talk?
24. (A) Why are young and elderly people more likely to get killed or injured in traffic accidents?
25. (D) According to the talk, for whom should a driver stop the car and wait patiently?
26. (B) What should a driver do just before a zebra crossing?
Questions 27~30
M: And now with us on today’s program we have Lucy Draper. She is an expert on handwriting analysis and has published a number of books on the subject. Lucy, welcome.
W: Thank you very much.
M: It is well known that there are many different features of one’s handwriting. What are these features exactly?
W: Well, there is the slant of the writing, the pressure and spacing, the capital letters, the margins and the signature. They all play a part in handwriting analysis.
M: Perhaps we can begin by looking at the question of slant.
W: Okay. Well, basically there are three kinds of slant: right, left and upright, though sometimes you may come across a mixture. If your handwriting slants to the right, it shows a friendly and sociable
disposition. You enjoy human contact and like to have people around you. However, if your handwriting definitely slants to the left, it shows an introspective nature, often shy and reserved. You are more interested in your own feelings than other people’s. If your handwriting is upright, it reveals very good self-control, and your head usually controls your heart.
M: What about size of handwriting? Does the size of one’s handwriting tell us something?
W: Yes. Well, basically very large handwriting belongs to the extroverts and socially-minded people. They enjoy attention and admiration. The small writer, on the other hand, is more concerned with things than people. Small writing is often found in the handwriting of many scientists and intellectual. They generally are not interested in an active social life. Medium handwriting shows a good balance between mind and emotion. Such writers are generally able to communicate and mix without being either reserved or over familiar.
M: So let’s put theory to practice. What would you say to this sample of handwriting?
W: Well, this more rounded, medium-sized handwriting shows a lively personality who enjoys companionship. She is talkative. See the small open As and Os, and has a friendly approach to people. But the wide space between the words indicates that she can keep her personal distance when necessary. Whose handwriting is this?
M: Well, to tell you the truth, that’s my wife’s handwriting.
27. (C) What is the woman’s specialized field of research?
28. (A) According to the woman, what does an upright slant in one’s handwriting reveal about the writer? 29. (B) Who are more likely to be concerned with things rather than people? 30. (C) What feature of handwriting makes the woman say that the man’s wife can keep her personal distance when necessary?
Part C Listening and Translation
I. Sentence Translation
1. Our online courses are open to the public for immediately enrolment. They include everything our students need for study. Our students love the quality as well as the convenience.
译文：在线课程是面向公众可以快速注册登记入学的课程，其学科几乎可以满足所有学生的需求，便利性和质量深受学生们欢迎。
2. In 1986, there were over 40 million computers in the world, while by 2006, that number climbed to about 800 million, a twenty-fold increase in two decades.
译文：1986年全世界有4千万台电脑，到2006年攀升到了8亿台，20年内增长了近20倍。
3. In an age of fast communication via telephone and computer, face-to-face meetings might seem like wasting our time and energy. However, they are still an important part of doing business.
译文：在这样的一个电话与电脑为主要交流方式的时代中，面对面的会议似乎太浪费时间和精力，但在商务往来中仍然是一种重要形式。
4. There are ten clubs here representing foreign students on campus. Their main purpose is to get students from the same countries together, so we won’t get too homesick and can help each other.
译文：本校有10个不同的社团为海外学生服务，其主要目的就是让同一国籍的学生能时常地相聚在一起并能相互帮助，这样也就不会那么的思乡心切了。
5. Listening is what we do first and most. The average person spends 45% of his daily communication time in listening, with the rest 55% in writing, reading and speaking.
译文：聆听是人们交流中最重要的部分之一，占到45%，剩下的55%为写作，阅读和说话。
II. Passage Translation
1. I am here tonight to wish your club a happy birthday. Now, I myself
have reached that stage in life where I would like to have my birthdays remembered but not my age. I suppose I am what is called middle-aged, which is when you start eating what is good for you and not what you like. I am proud of your club because it is set up for our senior citizens. This is a place you can come to for peace and quiet, where you have tea and chat with people of your own age group.
译文：今晚恭贺贵俱乐部周年庆。我实际也步入了这么一个希望大家能记住我的生日而不是我的年龄的人生阶段，也就是步入中年了。到了这个年纪，我们应该吃有利于健康的东西而不能随心所欲了。我为你们的俱乐部感到自豪，因为她专为老年人建立。在这里你们可以颐养天年，和你们同龄人一起品茗畅谈。
2. Researchers have found that daily walking may improve sleep quality. They have also noticed that only those who exercise in the morning have the beneficial effects on sleep. Those who exercised in the evening actually had more trouble falling asleep. One possible explanation is that morning versus evening exercise may affect sleep quality. Morning
exercise may get the body clock in good order, and evening exercise may upset it. However, more research is needed to confirm this theory.
译文：研究者表明白天走路有助于睡眠质量。同时他们还发现晨练也有助于睡眠。其实那些晚上锻炼的人反而会造成入睡困难，事实上晨练和晚练会产生各异的睡眠质量，即：晨练有助于生物钟保持良好状态，而晚练则可能造成生物钟混乱。然而，这方面还需进一步研究加以证明。
2009年3月上海中级口译考试听力试题原文及答案
Spot dictation:
You might think that hamburgers were invented in the United States, but that is not totally true. These round, flat cakes or patties actually came from Germany in the middle of the 19th century. They were brought to the United States by German immigrants who came from the city of Hamburg. That is why their name was Hamburger Stake. However, people in other places claim that they invented the hamburger. Perhaps we’ll never have a clear answer. But there is no question that the hamburger was a great hit. Why? Perhaps because at that time, industry was growing, and the kind of fast, practical and cheap food was needed for workers. The hamburger became even more popular in the 1920s when the first chain of fast food restaurants was started. This chain was called White Castle. It served tiny hamburgers
that were sold for only 5 cents each. Then, in the 1940s there came the drive-in restaurant where customers were served in their cars by waiters in uniform. And the hamburger was one of the most popular manual items. By now, the hamburger was ready to conquer the world and this happened with McDonalds, which was actually a hotdog stand at first. But by the early 1950s the hotdog was replaced by the hamburger. McDonalds and other fast food restaurants spring up around the world throughout the west of the 20th century. McDonalds alone has sold 12 hamburgers for every person in the world. The importance of the hamburger to US culture remains significant. About 60% of all sandwiches that are eaten are hamburgers. According to some sources, 7% of current workers in the Untied States had their first job at McDonalds. But the face of the hamburger is changing according to the times. Nowadays it is possible to buy a chicken burger, a turkey burger, a fish burger or a veggie burger.
Statement:
Mrs Jones came to us at the airport. We thought she was the secretary but she turned out to be the president of the company.
After Susan carefully explained her ideas at the board meeting last week, the directors all voted for the change she’s made concerning the proposed project
Of the students participating in our university’s research project, 73% classified themselves as freshmen and sophomores.
Originally we had planned to buy a car by the end of last year, but then with the recent fluctuation of the crude oil prices we decided to postpone the purchase.
Most people I know are interested in the proposed tax reform being debated in the congress because they hope it will lower taxes for them.
If you’re good at managing your own time and energy, it is very likely that you can do well both in your schoolwork and for your career
Mr. Paul White, thank you very much for your inquiry, but I feel the position more suits a female applicant. Anyway, I will keep your name on file.
Is this your best quote? I thought the prices will be coming down now given the current situation of financial and economic crisis.
Last month our manager took a ten-day business trip to Chicago, but he had to stay there for 3 more days situation as the negotiation turned out to be a tougher one.
When our children are made confident that they are positive and competent individuals, they will adapt themselves to the changing society and successfully accomplish personal goals.
Talks and Conversations:
Talk 1 (Q11-14)
W：What are you laughing about?
M: I just saw the serious advertisement on TV for Germen soups. It’s said our products are home-made with the freshest vegetables and fruits. Then a scene in the factory showed that products were prepared and packed by the most sophisticated machinery.
W: And I am sure that the word NATURE was put on the jars and cans of the products. I think the stupidest advertisements are those that imply that you are one of a kind. If you buy the product, you will be a very special person. Now you will be just like every other one of the 20 billion people who bought it.
M: That’s really silly. But to me, the dullest of them all is when advertisers put a celebrity on TV to talk about a particular brand of soap
or about a particular car. I bet that the celebrity’s never used the product before they got the job of appearing in the commercial.
W: Yeah! But most of these commercials work and people remember the product.
M: I agree, here we are talking about ads we’ve seen, aren’t we? We are all influenced by those celebrities and brand names.
W: I think teenagers are specially vulnerable. Advertisers try to get teenagers used to a brand because they know that in later years, the teenagers will stick to that particular product of theirs.
Question 11: What in the advertisement has made the man laugh? Question 12: When some ads imply that you are one of a kind, what does that mean?
Question 13: Why does the advertiser put the celebrity on TV to talk about a particular product?
Question 14: According to the women, what will teenagers do if they are used to a brand?
Talk 2 (Q15-18)
Many of you may have heard of jet lag, which is a condition of space disorders, resulting from rapid travel over time zones. Such as on a jet plane. The symptom of jet lag can be quite varied, and may include loss of appetite, nausea, headache, fatigue, insomnia, or even mild depression. Here are a few tips for you to avoid jetlag, or cope if you are stricken by the condition.
First, adjust your biological rhythm several days before your departure, and develop a plan to start switching to the time zone of your destination. For instance, if you will be flying from New York to Paris, where it is 6 hours later, get up one hour earlier for a couple of days, then 2 hours earlier, then 3 hours earlier, I will try to at least get half way to your
new time zone. Turn lights on during day time in your destination, and off at night time. Second, during the time of your adjustment, especially during the flight, drink plenty of water. If you are not a big water fan, drink some other fluid that is not high in sugar, carbonation and caffeine; avoid junk food, salty food and caffeine, and alcohol on the plane. Of course I say that, but I always have a couple of drinks during the flight. If you do that, just be sure to drink as much water between drinks as possible. Thirdly, when you arrive in your destination, try to resist the urge to nap during the day time. Get outside, during the daylight hours, even it is just to sit in a café and relax. Try to get a good night sleep for the 1st couple of nights. The key is to reset your body’s natural clock to get enough rest. Finally, when you return home, use some of the same tactic above to return to your previous time zone Talk 3 (Q19-22)
F: Come on Mr. Edision, take a seat.
M: Good morning doctor.
F: Now let’s get a few details. Shall we? First your age, now you’re 40?
M: Er, 35 actually, doctor
F: Right, 35. And your weight?
M: About, 105 kilos.
F: That’s rather a lot for your height, don’t you think?
M: Yes, Well, I don’t get much exercises, doctor.
F: And what kind of work do you do exactly?
M: I work with computers,
F: So you sit most of the day, is that right?
M: All day.
F: Right, so tell me, do you smoke?
M: Well, I used to smoke 20-30 a day, but now it’s about 10.
F: En, Have you had any illness likely?
M: Nothing serious, just usual coughs and colds
F: I see. Now, let’s talk about your diet. What have you eaten this morning, for example?
M: I’ve had two fried eggs, 5 bread, toast, butter and jam, and oh, 3 cups of tea.
F: Well, Mr. Edison, that isn’t the best diet now, is it? What else do you normally eat?
M: Beef burghers a lot, Chips
F: Dear Oh dear. And what about exercise do you have Mr. Endison? Do you play any Sports?
M: Er, can’t say I do really.
F: Well Mr. Edison this is rather serious. I think we have to Change a few things in your life, firstly I recommend that you stop smoking completely. Secondly, you need to get some exercise, walk, instead of drive Mr. Edison. Join in a sports club. And lastly, we must make some
changes to your diet. No more fried foods, no more chips, and beef burgers, good healthy vegetables, boiled potatoes, grilled meat and fish.
19. What does the woman say about the man’s health? 20. How many cigarettes does the man smoke each day now? 21. What does the woman think of the man’s breakfast?
22. Which of the following can not be concluded from the conversion?
Talk 4 (Q23-26)
May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen? Since the international club meets only once every semester for this special event, the first thing on our agenda is to have the secretary read the minutes of the last meeting. So when I finish this opening speech, the secretary will read the minutes of our meeting for the last semester. And then we’ll go through our annual treasurer’s report and decide whether it can be accepted or not.
At the top of our agenda, and I’m sure in everyone’s mind, is the International Display Week. It has been proposed for discussion. I was chairman of the African club, and now as chairman of the international club, I know more than anyone else the importance of such a display week.
Let me explain. There are ten foreign clubs here representing the foreign students on our campus. The purpose of these clubs is, first of all, to get the students from the same countries together, so they won’t get too homesick, and so we can help each other over the rough spots. And secondly, so that the American students can join the club of their interest and learn about our culture as we learn theirs.
Now, about the display. Some of you old hands will have to help me out, as there was so much going on I can’t remember at all. Let me see. There are the Scottish folk dance and Irish one, too. We’ll team up with the folk music club and recruit anyone who can sew to make costumes. Of course, each group will set up a booth decorated with pictures and things of interest in their respective countries, and everyone will wear his national costume.
Question 23: Who is the man? Chairman of the international club Question 24: How often is the meeting held? Once every semester Question 25: What is at the top of the meeting’s agenda? International Display Week
Question 26: What is the purpose of organizing foreign clubs on campus? Get the students from the same countries together, so they won’t get too homesick / they can help each other over the rough spots / the American students can join the club of their interest and learn about different cultures. Talk 5 (Q27-30)
F: Paul, nice to see you back from the university. How do you like your new university? I remember your mum had wanted you to go to London University so that you can live at home and walk or cycle to attend the lectures.
M: Well, you know I didn’t go to London University after all. My new university is on the suburbs of an ancient cathedral city and it is almost 8 miles from the city center. The university is planned on the so called American campus system. That is to say, students live in halls of residence groupped around the main university buildings.
F: You mean you live, eat and study within the university proper?
M: Yes, I like it. Because we are a real community. We’ve got comfortable common rooms and bars. We arrange dances and parties. We’ve got clubs, theater groups, choirs and so on. And we’ve got an orchestra. I played the drums in it. By the way, how about your university days, Betty?
F: I rented a house with two other girls in the middle of the city about then minutes walk from the university. The house is falling to pieces. It is damp and there is no proper heating.
M: That sounds awful. I couldn’t work in a place like yours. The district is poor and could almost be classed as a slum.
F: I don’t think so. We live among real people who treat us as real people. We’ve got an electrician living next door, who is always coming in and mending our cooker and electric fires. We could try to get into one of the halls of the residents. But we prefer to be independent. It’s nice to belong to the city and to do things outside the university.
M: What sort of things do you do outside the university?
M: Well, there is a group of us who go and help in a home for handicapped children. And I think in the city bar choir we get on well with the local people, not like you in that suburban district.
W: Well, I like history. And my university is one of the best universities for that subject. Besides, it is an ancient city with a lot of historical relics and sightseeing spots. If you can drop by by any chance, I can show you around.
F: You bet.
27. What do the man’s live?
28. What is typical of the American campus system?
29. Why did the women choose to rent a house at the city center? 30. What does the man promise to do for the woman?
Listening and Translation:
Sentence Translation
1. Please hold my telephone calls and just take a message. I can call back
later. I must have a little peace and quiet to concentrate on these figures.
请别挂断我的电话，先留个言，我一会儿会再打来的。现在我必须静静地先集中精力看一下这些数字。
2. This company has a registered capital of 15 million US dollars and specializes in importing and exporting and a great variety of digital products.
这家公司有1500万美元的注册资金，主营各类数码产品的进出口。
3. Share prices on the London market have fallen sharply today. Following sharp losses are on Wall Street. Shares of living financial banks have been the worst hit.
随着今天伦敦市场的股价暴跌，华尔街也遭受了巨大损失，现存的金融银行的股价跌得最为厉害。
4. Good health is usually associated with exercise. But that is not the whole picture. In order to keep fit, you have to eat well, sleep well and generally feel good about yourself.
健康的身体往往会让人联想到锻炼，但锻炼并非全部，保持身体健康还需要吃好、睡好和对自我感觉良好。
5. Many young people dream of becoming top models. To become slim is what they usually desire. Therefore in order to keep their weight down, they simply avoid food.
很多年轻人梦想着成为名模，她们通常渴望变得苗条。因此，为了减肥，她们就干脆不吃东西。
Passage Translation
American Businessmen frequently use social situations to make business deals. One of the best examples of this practice is the business lunch. It is used to win clients, to make influential contacts, to discuss and settle internal disagreements, and even to interview potential employees. Some companies always conduct job interviews over lunch. A business lunch usually lasts from one to two hours and it often takes place at a restaurant with a pleasant, quiet atmosphere conducive to private discussions.
美国商人经常利用社交场合来做生意，最好的例子就是商务午餐，可以用来争取客户，扩大影响，讨论并解决内部分歧，甚至面试未来的员工。很多工作面试都是在商务午餐中完成的。商务午餐通常持续1-2.5小时，在餐厅举行，那里安静宜人，适合进行私人对话。
As the world population becomes denser, we will feel greater pressure from the expanding number of people. Some experts argue that we are approaching the limit of the number of people the earth can support adequately and they feel we shall turn to compulsory birth control. Other authorities feel that if birth control is imposed on the population, the future of mankind will be seriously endangered. They think intelligent people will be more likely to have fewer children, which will bring about a lowering of the level of intelligence.
世界人口密度不断加大，越来越多的人口带来的压力也随之增加。专家认为，我们正在接近地球所能承受的人口极限，因此应该进行人口生育控制，也有人认为如果这样会危及到人类的未来。因为通常高智商人群生育的孩子较少，所以有人担心这会导致人类整体智力水平的下降。
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