英语四六级考试听力调整，据说难度将加大 -凯发k8ag旗舰厅真人平台

这是一个不好的消息，来自全国大学英语四、六级考试委员会消息，2016年6月份英语四六级考试，将取消短对话和短文听写，取而代之的是新闻听力和学术讲座。难度大幅度增加！进一步向托福雅思等国际权威考试接近。

以下是通知全文：

关于全国大学英语四、六级考试听力试题调整的说明

为了适应新的形势下社会对大学生英语听力能力需求的变化，进一步提高听力测试的效度，全国大学英语四、六级考试委员会自2016年6月考试起将对四、六级考试的听力试题作局部调整。调整的相关内容说明如下。

一、四级听力试题的调整

取消短对话
取消短文听写
新增短篇新闻（3段）
其余测试内容不变。调整后四级听力部分的试题结构见下表：

测试内容

测试题型

题量

分值比例

短篇新闻3段

选择题（单选）

7题

7%（每题1分）

长对话2篇

选择题（单选）

8题

8%（每题1分）

听力篇章3篇

选择题（单选）

10题

20%（每题2分）

二、六级听力试题的调整

取消短对话
取消短文听写
听力篇章调整为2篇（原3篇）
新增讲座/讲话（3篇）
其他测试内容不变。调整后六级听力部分的试题结构见下表：

测试内容

测试题型

题量

分值比例

长对话2篇

选择题（单选）

8题

8%（每题1分）

听力篇章2篇

选择题（单选）

7题

7%（每题1分）

讲座/讲话3篇

选择题（单选）

10题

20%（每题2分）

三、以下是调整后的样题：

大学英语四级考试听力样题

part ii            listening comprehension           (25 minutes)

section a
directions: in this section, you will hear three news reports. at the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.

1.   a) christmas-time attacks made by somali rebels.
b) an explosion at a bus station in central nairobi.
c) the killing of more than 70 ugandans in kampala.
d) blasts set off by a somali group in uganda’s capital.

2.   a) on christmas eve.                           c) during a security check.
b) just before midnight.                       d) in the small hours of the morning.

questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item.

3.   a) it is likely to close many of its stores.
b) it is known for the quality of its goods.
c) it remains competitive in the recession.
d) it will expand its online retail business.

4.   a) expand its business beyond groceries.
b) fire 25,000 of its current employees.
c) cut its dvd publishing business.
d) sell the business for one pound.

questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item.

5.   a) all taxis began to use meters. 
b) all taxis got air conditioning.
c) advertisements were allowed on taxis.
d) old taxis were replaced with new cabs.

6.   a) a low interest loan scheme.             c) taxi passengers’ complaints.
b) environmentalists’ protests.             d) permission for car advertising.

7.   a) there are no more irregular practices.
b) all new cabs provide air-conditioning.
c) new cabs are all equipped with meters.
d) new legislation protects consumer rights.

section b
directions: in this section, you will hear two long conversations. at the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

conversation one
questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

8.   a) it has a partnership with lcp.         c) it specializes in safety from leaks.
b) it is headquartered in london.               d) it has a chemical processing plant.

9.   a) he is a chemist.                                c) he is a safety inspector.
b) he is a salesman.                             d) he is mr. grand’s friend.

10.  a) the public relations officer.             c) director of the safety department.
b) mr. grand’s personal assistant.        d) head of the personnel department.

11. a) wait for mr. grand to call back. 
b) leave a message for mr. grand.
c) provide details of their products and services.
d) send a comprehensive description of their work.

conversation two
questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12.  a) teacher.                                           c) editor.
b) journalist.                                         d) typist.

13.  a) some newly discovered scenic spot.
b) big changes in the amazon valley.
c) a new railway under construction.
d) the beautiful amazon rainforests.

14.  a) in news weeklies.                            c) in newspapers’ sunday editions.
b) in a local evening paper.                  d) in overseas editions of u.s. magazines.

15.  a) to become a professional writer.     c) to get her life story published soon.
b) to be employed by a newspaper.     d) to sell her articles to a news service.

section c
directions: in this section, you will hear three passages. at the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

passage one
questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16.  a) she is both a popular and a highly respected author.
b) she is the first writer to focus on the fate of slaves.
c) she is the most loved african novelist of all times.
d) she is the most influential author since the 1930’s.

17.  a) the book critics circle award.      c) the pulitzer prize for fiction.
b) the nobel prize for literature.        d) the national book award.

18.  a) she is a relative of morrison’s. c) she is a skilled storyteller.
b) she is a slave from africa.               d) she is a black woman.

passage two
questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.

19.  a) they are very generous in giving gifts.
b) they refuse gifts when doing business.
c) they regard gifts as a token of friendship.
d) they give gifts only on special occasions.

20.  a) they enjoy giving gifts to other people.
b) they spend a lot of time choosing gifts.
c) they have to follow many specific rules.
d) they pay attention to the quality of gifts.

21.  a) gift-giving plays an important role in human relationships.
b) we must be aware of cultural differences in giving gifts.
c) we must learn how to give gifts before going abroad.
d) reading extensively can make one a better gift-giver.

passage three
questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.



22.  a) she tenderly looked after her sick mother.
b) she developed a strong interest in finance.
c) she learned to write for financial newspapers.
d) she invested in stocks and shares on wall street.

23.  a) she inherited a big fortune from her father.
b) she sold her restaurant with a substantial profit.
c) she got 7.5 million dollars from her ex-husband.
d) she made a wise investment in real estate.

24.  a) she was dishonest in business dealings.
b) she frequently ill-treated her employees.
c) she abused animals including her pet dog.
d) she was extremely mean with her money.

25.  a) she carried on her family’s tradition.
b) she made huge donations to charities.
c) she built a hospital with her mother’s money.
d) she made a big fortune from wise investments.



tape script of listening comprehension

 
section a
directions: in this section, you will hear three news reports. at the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.

kenyan police say one person was killed and 26 injured in an explosion at a bus station in central nairobi. the blast hit a bus about to set off for the ugandan capital kampala. last july, the somali group al-shabab said it was behind the blasts in the ugandan capital which killed more than 70 people. will ross reports from the kenyan capital.
the explosion happened beside a bus which was about to set off for an overnight journey from nairobi to the ugandan capital kampala. some eyewitnesses report that a bag was about to be loaded on board, but it exploded during a security check. windows of the red bus were left smashed, and blood could be seen on the ground beside the vehicle. just hours earlier, uganda’s police chief had warned of possible christmas-time attacks by somali rebels.

1. what is the news report mainly about?
2. when did the incident occur?

questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item.

woolworths is one of the best known names on the british high street. it’s been in business nearly a century. many of its 800 stores are likely to close following the company’s decision to call in administrators after an attempt to sell the business for a token ￡1 failed.
the company has huge debts. the immediate cause for the collapse has been britain’s slide toward recession, which has cut into consumer spending. however, the business had been in trouble for years.
known for low-priced general goods, woolworths has struggled in the face of competition from supermarkets expanding beyond groceries and a new generation of internet retailers. 
many of the store group’s 25,000 employees are likely to lose their jobs. some profitable areas such as the dvd publishing business will survive.

3. what do we learn about woolworths from the news report?
4. what did woolworths attempt to do recently?

questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item.

cairo is known for its overcrowded roads, irregular driving practices and shaky old vehicles, but also for its air pollution. in recent months, though, environmental studies indicate there have been signs of improvement. that’s due in part to the removal of many of the capital’s old-fashioned black and white taxis. most of these dated back to the 1960s and 70s and were in a poor state of repair.
after new legislation demanded their removal from the roads, a low interest loan scheme was set up with three egyptian banks so drivers could buy new cars. the government pays about $900 for old ones to be discarded and advertising on the new vehicles helps cover repayments. 
the idea has proved popular with customers ― they can now travel in air-conditioned comfort and because the new cabs are metered, they don’t have to argue over fares. banks and car manufacturers are glad for the extra business in tough economic times. as for the taxi drivers, most are delighted to be behind the wheel of new cars, although there have been a few complaints about switching from black and white to a plain white colour.

5. what change took place in cairo recently?
6. what helped bring about the change?
7. why do customers no longer argue with new cab drivers?

section b
directions: in this section, you will hear two long conversations. at the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

conversation one

w: morning, this is tgc. 
m: good morning. walter barry here, calling from london. could i speak to mr. grand, please? 
w: who’s calling, please? 
m: walter barry, from london.
w: what is it about, please?
m: well, i understand that your company has a chemical processing plant. my own company, lcp, liquid control products, is a leader in safety from leaks in the field of chemical processing. i would like to speak to mr. grand to discuss ways in which we could help tgc protect itself from such problems and save money at the same time.
w: yes, i see. well, mr. grand is not available just now. 
m: can you tell me when i could reach him?
w: he’s very busy for the next few days – then he’ll be away in new york. so it’s difficult to give you a time.
m: could i speak to someone else, perhaps?
w: who in particular?
m: a colleague for example?
w: you’re speaking to his personal assistant. i can deal with calls for mr. grand.
m: yes, well, could i ring him tomorrow?
w: no, i’m sorry he won’t be free tomorrow. listen, let me suggest something. you send us details of your products and services, together with references from other companies and then we’ll contact you.
m: yes, that’s very kind of you. i have your address.
w: very good, mr….
m: barry. walter barry from lcp in london.
w: right, mr. barry. we look forward to hearing from you. 
m: thank you. goodbye. 
w: bye.

questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

8. what do we learn about the woman’s company?
9. what do we learn about the man?
10. what is the woman’s position in her company?
11. what does the woman suggest the man do?

conversation two

m: you’re going to wear out the computer’s keyboard!
w: oh, hi.
m: do you have any idea what time it is?
w: about ten or ten-thirty?
m: it’s nearly midnight.
w: really? i didn’t know it was so late.
m: don’t you have an early class to teach tomorrow morning?
w: yes, at seven o’clock. my commuter class, the students who go to work right after their lesson.
m: then you ought to go to bed. what are you writing, anyway?
w: an article i hope i can sell.
m: oh, another of your newspaper pieces? what’s this one about?
w: do you remember the trip i took last month?
m: the one up to the amazon?
w: well, that’s what i’m writing about—the new highway and the changes it’s making in the amazon valley.
m: it should be interesting.
w: it is. i guess that’s why i forgot all about the time.
m: how many articles have you sold now?
w: about a dozen so far.
m: what kind of newspapers buy them?
w: the papers that carry a lot of foreign news. they usually appear in the big sunday editions where they need a lot of background stories to help fill up the space between the ads.
m: is there any future in it?
w: i hope so. there’s a chance i may sell this article to a news service.
m: then your story would be published in several papers, wouldn’t it?
w: that’s the idea. and i might even be able to do other stories on a regular basis.
m: that would be great.

questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12. what is the woman’s occupation?
13. what is the woman writing about?
14. where do the woman’s articles usually appear?
15. what does the woman expect?

section c
directions: in this section, you will hear three passages. at the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

passage one

in today’s class, we’ll discuss toni morrison’s novel beloved. as i’m sure you all know, morrison is both a popular and a highly respected author, and it’s not easy to be both. born in 1931, morrison has written some of the most touching and intelligent works on the african-american experience ever written by anyone, and yet to call her an “african-american writer” doesn’t seem to do her justice. in many ways, she’s simply an american writer—and certainly one of our best.
beloved is a truly remarkable work. it was recommended for nearly every major literary prize, including the national book award and the national book critics circle award, and it in fact won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1988. morrison herself is distinguished for having won the nobel prize for literature in 1993.
what makes beloved unique is the skillful, sure way in which morrison blends intensely personal storytelling and american history, racial themes and gender themes, the experience of blacks with the experience of all people everywhere, the down-to-earth reality of slavery with a sense of mysterious spirituality.
we’ll be paying special attention to these themes as we discuss this work. i’m particularly interested in your views on the relative importance of race and gender in this book. is it more important that sethe, the main character, is black or that she’s a woman? which contributes more to her being? what does morrison tell us about both?

questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. what do we learn about toni morrison?
17. what honor did toni morrison receive in 1993?
18. what does the speaker tell us about sethe, the main character in morrison’s novel beloved?

passage two

the topic of my talk today is gift-giving. everybody likes to receive gifts, right? so you may think that gift-giving is a universal custom. but actually, the rules of gift-giving vary quite a lot, and not knowing them can result in great embarrassment. in north america, the rules are fairly simple. if you’re invited to someone’s home for dinner, bring wine or flowers or a small item from your country. among friends, family, and business associates, we generally don’t give gifts on other occasions except on someone’s birthday and christmas. the japanese, on the other hand, give gifts quite frequently, often to thank someone for their kindness. the tradition of gift-giving in japan is very ancient. there are many detailed rules for everything from the color of the wrapping paper to the time of the gift presentation. and while europeans don’t generally exchange business gifts, they do follow some formal customs when visiting homes, such as bringing flowers. the type and color of flowers, however, can carry special meaning.
today we have seen some broad differences in gift-giving. i could go on with additional examples. but let’s not miss the main point here: if we are not aware of and sensitive to cultural differences, the possibilities for miscommunication and conflict are enormous. whether we learn about these differences by reading a book or by living abroad, our goal must be to respect differences among people in order to get along successfully with our global neighbors.

questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.

19. what does the speaker say about gift-giving of north americans?
20. what do we learn about the japanese concerning gift-giving?
21. what point does the speaker make at the end of the talk?

passage three

hetty green was a very spoilt, only child. she was born in massachusetts, usa, in 1835. her father was a millionaire businessman. her mother was often ill, and so from the age of two her father took her with him to work and taught her about stocks and shares. at the age of six she started reading the daily financial newspapers and opened her own bank account.
her father died when she was 21 and she inherited $7.5 million. she went to new york and invested on wall street. hetty saved every penny, eating in the cheapest restaurants for 15 cents. she became one of the richest and most hated women in the world. at 33 she married edward green, a multi-millionaire, and had two children, ned and sylvia.
hetty’s meanness was well known. she always argued about prices in shops. she walked to the local grocery store to buy broken biscuits which were much cheaper, and to get a free bone for her much loved dog. once she lost a two-cent stamp and spent the night looking for it. she never bought clothes and always wore the same long, ragged black skirt. worst of all, when her son ned fell and injured his knee, she refused to pay for a doctor and spent hours looking for free medical help. in the end ned lost his leg.
when she died in 1916 she left her children $100 million. her daughter built a hospital with her money.

questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22. what do we learn about hetty green as a child?
23. how did hetty green become rich overnight?
24. why was hetty green much hated?
25. what do we learn about hetty’s daughter?



参考答案

part ii      listening comprehension
section a
1.    b                  2.    c                  3.    a                  4.    d                  5.    d
6.    a                  7.    c

section b
8.    d                  9.    b                 10.  b                 11.  c                  12.  a
13.  b                  14.  c                  15.  d

section c
16.  a                  17.  b                  18.  d                  19.  d                  20.  c
21.  b                  22.  b                  23.  a                  24.  d                  25.  c

大学英语六级考试听力样题

part ii            listening comprehension           (30 minutes)

section a

directions: in this section, you will hear two long conversations. at the end of each conversation, you will hear some questions. both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1with a single line through the centre.

conversation one

questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

1.   a) he invented the refrigerator.           c) he was admitted to a university.

b) he patented his first invention.       d) he got a degree in mathematics.

2.   a) he started to work on refrigeration.

b) he became a professor of mathematics.

c) he fell in love with natasha willoughby.

d) he distinguished himself in low temperature physics.

3.   a) discovering the true nature of subatomic particles.

b) their explanation of the laws of cause and effect.

c) their work on very high frequency radio waves.

d) laying the foundations of modern mathematics.

4.   a) to have a three-week holiday.       c) to patent his inventions.

b) to spend his remaining years.          d) to teach at a university.

conversation two

questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

5.   a) the injury of some students.

b) a school bus crash on the way.

c) the collapse of a school building.

d) a fire that broke out on a school campus.

6.   a) teaching.                                         c) having lunch.

b) on vacation.                                    d) holding a meeting.

7.   a) a malfunctioning stove.                  c) violation of traffic rules.

b) cigarettes butts left by workers.      d) negligence in school maintenance.

8.   a) sent a story to the local newspaper.

b) threw a small thanksgiving party.

c) baked some cookies as a present.

d) wrote a personal letter of thanks.

section b

directions: in this section, you will hear two passages. at the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

passage one

questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.

9.    a) it is a trait of a generous character. c) it is an indicator of high intelligence.

b) it is a reflection of self-esteem.        d) it is a sign of happiness and confidence.

10.  a) it was self-defeating.                       c) it was the essence of comedy.

b) it was aggressive.                             d) it was something admirable.

11.  a) it is a double-edged sword.             c) it is a unique gift of human beings.

b) it is a feature of a given culture.      d) it is a result of both nature and nurture.

passage two

questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.

12.  a) she is a tourist guide.                     c) she is a domestic servant.

b) she is an interpreter.                         d) she is from the royal family.

13.  a) it is situated at the foot of a beautiful mountain.

b) it was used by the family to hold dinner parties.

c) it was frequently visited by heads of state.

d) it is furnished like one in a royal palace.

14.  a) it is elaborately decorated.              c) it is very big, with only six slim legs.

b) it has survived some 2,000 years.    d) it is shaped like an ancient spanish boat.

15.  a) they are interesting to look at.

b) they have lost some of their legs.

c) they do not match the oval table at all.

d) they are uncomfortable to sit in for long.

section c

directions: in this section, you will hear recordings of lectures or talks followed by some questions. the recordings will be played only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

now listen to the following recording and answer questions 16 to 19.

16.  a) they investigate the retirement homes in america.

b) they are on issues facing senior citizens in america.

c) they describe the great pleasures of the golden years.

d) they are filled with fond memories of his grandparents.

17.  a) the loss of the ability to take care of himself.

b) the feeling of not being important any more.

c) being unable to find a good retirement home.

d) leaving the home he had lived in for 60 years.

18.  a) the loss of identity and self-worth.

b) fear of being replaced or discarded.

c) freedom from pressure and worldly cares.

d) the possession of wealth and high respect.

19.  a) the urgency of pension reform.

b) medical care for senior citizens.

c) finding meaningful roles for the elderly in society.

d) the development of public facilities for senior citizens.

now listen to the following recording and answer questions 20 to 22.

20.  a) it seriously impacts their physical and mental development.

b) it has become a problem affecting global economic growth.

c) it is a common problem found in underdeveloped countries.

d) it is an issue often overlooked by parents in many countries.

21.  a) they will live longer.                       c) they get along well with people.

b) they get better pay.                         d) they develop much higher iqs.

22.  a) appropriated funds to promote research of nutrient-rich foods.

b) encouraged breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life.

c) recruited volunteers to teach rural people about health and nutrition.

d) targeted hunger-relief programs at pregnant women and young children.

now listen to the following recording and answer questions 23 to 25.

23.  a) the guaranteed quality of its goods.

b) the huge volume of its annual sales.

c) the service it provides to its customers.

d) the high value-to-weight ratio of its goods.

24.  a) those having a taste or smell component.

b) products potentially embarrassing to buy.

c) those that require very careful handling.

d) services involving a personal element.

25.  a) those who live in the virtual world.

b) those who have to work long hours.

c) those who are used to online transactions.

d) those who don’t mind paying a little more.

tape script of listening comprehension

section a

directions: in this section, you will hear two long conversations. at the end of each conversation, you will hear some questions. both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1with a single line through the centre.

conversation one

w: hello.

m: hello, is that the reference library?

w: yes. can i help you?

m: i hope so. i rang earlier and asked for some information about denys hawtin, the scientist. you asked me to ring back.

w: oh, yes. i have found something.

m: good. i’ve got a pencil and paper. perhaps you could read out what it says.

w: certainly. hawtin, denys. born: darlington 1836; died new york 1920.

m: yes. got that.

w: inventor and physicist. the son of a farm worker, he was admitted to the university of london at the age of fifteen.

m: yes.

w: he graduated at seventeen with a first class degree in physics and mathematics. all right?

m: yes, all right.

w: he made his first notable achievement at the age of eighteen. it was a method of refrigeration which arose from his work in low temperature physics. he became professor of mathematics at the university of manchester at twenty-four, where he remained for twelve years. during that time he married one of his students, natasha willoughby.

m: yes. go on.

w: later, working together in london, they laid the foundation of modern physics by showing that normal laws of cause and effect do not apply at the level of subatomic particles. for this he and his wife received the nobel prize for physics in 1910, and did so again in 1912 for their work on very high frequency radio waves. in his lifetime hawtin patented 244 inventions. do you want any more?

m: yes. when did he go to america?

w: let me see. in 1920 he went to teach in new york, and died there suddenly after only three weeks. still, he was a good age.

m: yes. i suppose so. well, thanks.

questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

1. what do we learn about denys hawtin when he was 15?

2. what did denys hawtin do at the age of 24?

3. for what were denys hawtin and his wife awarded the nobel prize a second time?

4. why did denys hawtin go to new york?

conversation two

w: this is lisa meyer in the wbz newsroom, talking with mike bassichis, who is the director of the gifford school, about the cleanup from last week’s fire and what the possible cause of that blaze may have been.

m: we’re getting ready for our entire staff to return early from vacation tomorrow whereupon we are going to move into temporary classrooms. and the other buildings that did not burn are being de-smoked. as to the cause of the fire, all we know is that we were having trouble with the pilot lights since we bought the stove in july and it had been serviced three times. well, as a matter of fact, we think it was a malfunctioning stove that may have caused the fire. nothing definite yet has been determined.

w: have you heard from other schools or other institutional users of this stove that have had the same problem?

m: no. i wouldn’t know anything more about the stove itself. all i know is that this fire went up so quickly that there’s been a suspicion about why it went up so quickly. and it may be that there was a gas blast. but, again, this has not been determined officially by anybody.

w: i got you. when do kids come back to school?

m: next monday, and we will be ready for them. monday january 4. we’re just extremely thrilled that no one was hurt and that’s because of the fire fighters that were here, nine of them. they’re wonderful.

w: and i’m sure you send your thanks out to them, uh?

m: well, we’re sending out thanks to them in a letter or in any other way we can. i heard a story today where one of our kids actually baked some cookies and is taking it to the fire department, to give it to them.

questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

5. what were the speakers talking about?

6. what were the school staff doing at the time of the accident?

7. what was supposed to be the cause of the accident?

8. what did one of the kids do to show gratitude?

section b

directions: in this section, you will hear two passages. at the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1with a single line through the centre.

passage one

in today’s personality stakes, nothing is more highly valued than a sense of humor. we seek it out in others and are proud to claim it in ourselves, perhaps even more than good looks or intelligence. if someone has a great sense of humor, we reason, it means that they are happy, socially confident and have a healthy perspective on life.

this attitude would have surprised the ancient greeks, who believed humor to be essentially aggressive. and in fact, our admiration for the comically gifted is relatively new, and not very well-founded, says rod martin, a psychologist at the university of western ontario. being funny isn’t necessarily an indicator of good social skills and well-being, his research has shown. it may just as likely be a sign of personality flaws.

he has found that humor is a double-edged sword. it can forge better relationships and help you cope with life, or it can be corrosive, eating away at self-esteem and irritating others. “it’s a form of communication, like speech, and we all use it differently,” says martin. we use bonding humor to enhance our social connections, but we also may employ it as a way of excluding or rejecting an outsider.

though humor is essentially social, how you use it says a lot about your sense of self. those who use self-defeating humor, making fun of themselves for the enjoyment of others, tend to maintain that hostility toward themselves even when alone. similarly, those who are able to view the world with amused tolerance are often equally forgiving of their own shortcomings.

questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.

9. how do people today view humor according to the speaker?

10. what did the ancient greeks think of humor?

11. what has psychologist rod martin found about humor?

passage two (female voice)

and now, if you’ll walk this way, ladies and gentlemen, the next room we’re going to see is the room in which the family used to hold their formal dinner parties and even occasionally entertain heads of state and royalty. however, they managed to keep this room friendly and intimate and i think you’ll agree it has a very informal atmosphere, quite unlike some grand houses you visit. the curtains were never drawn, even at night, so guests got a view of the lake and fountains outside, which were lit up at night. a very attractive sight.

as you can see, ladies and gentlemen, the guests were seated very informally around this oval table, which would add to the relaxed atmosphere. the table dates from the eighteenth century and is made of spanish oak. it’s rather remarkable for the fact that although it is extremely big, it’s supported by just six rather slim legs. however, it seems to have survived like that for two hundred years, so it’s probably going to last a bit longer. the chairs which go with the table are not a complete set—there were originally six of them. they are interesting for the fact that they are very plain and undecorated for the time, with only one plain central panel at the back and no arm-rests. i myself find them rather uncomfortable to sit in for very long, but people were used to more discomfort in the past.

and now, ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to follow me into the great hall …

questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.

12. what do we learn about the speaker?

13. what does the speaker say about the room they are visiting?

14. what is said about the oval table in the room?

15. what does the speaker say about the chairs?

section c

directions: in this section, you will hear recordings of lectures or talks followed by some questions. the recordings will be played only once. after you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked a), b), c) and d). then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

now listen to the following recording and answer questions 16 to 19.

moderator:

hello ladies and gentleman, it gives me great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker for today’s session, dr. howard miller. dr. miller, professor of sociology at washington university, has written numerous articles and books on the issues facing older americans in our graying society for the past 15 years. dr. miller:

dr. miller:

thank you for that introduction. today, i’d like to preface my remarks with a story from my own life which i feel highlights the common concerns that bring us here together. several years ago when my grandparents were well into their eighties, they were faced with the reality of no longer being able to adequately care for themselves. my grandfather spoke of his greatest fear, that of leaving the only home they had known for the past 60 years. fighting back the tears, he spoke proudly of the fact that he had built their home from the ground up, and that he had pounded every nail and laid every brick in the process. the prospect of having to sell their home and give up their independence, and move into a retirement home was an extremely painful experience for them. it was, in my grandfather’s own words, like having a limb cut off. he exclaimed in a forceful manner that he felt he wasn’t important anymore.

for them and some older americans, their so-called “golden years” are at times not so pleasant, for this period can mean the decline of not only one’s health but the loss of identity and self-worth. in many societies, this self-identity is closely related with our social status, occupation, material possessions, or independence. furthermore, we often live in societies that value what is “new” or in fashion, and our own usage of words in the english language is often a sign of bad news for older americans. i mean how would your family react if you came home tonight exclaiming, “hey, come to the living room and see the old black and white tv i brought!” unfortunately, the word “old” calls to mind images of the need to replace or discard.

now, many of the lectures given at this conference have focused on the issues of pension reform, medical care, and the development of public facilities for senior citizens. and while these are vital issues that must be addressed, i’d like to focus my comments on an important issue that will affect the overall success of the other programs mentioned. this has to do with changing our perspectives on what it means to be a part of this group, and finding meaningful roles the elderly can play and should play in our societies.

first of all, i’d like to talk about . . .

16. what does the introduction say about dr. howard miller’s articles and books?

17. what is the greatest fear of dr. miller’s grandfather?

18. what does dr. miller say the “golden years” can often mean?

19. what is the focus of dr. miller’s speech?

now listen to the following recording and answer questions 20 to 22.

the 2010 global hunger index report was released today by the international food policy research institute (ifpri). it notes that, in recent years, experts have come to the conclusion that undernourishment between conception and a child’s second birthday can have serious and long-lasting impacts.

undernourishment during this approximately 1,000-day window can seriously check the growth and development of children and render them more likely to get sick and die than well-fed children. preventing hunger allows children to develop both physically and mentally.

says ifpri’s marie ruel, “they will be more likely to perform well in school. they will stay in school longer. and then at adulthood, ifpri has actually demonstrated that children who were better nourished have higher wages, by a pretty large margin, by 46 percent.”

ruel says that means the productivity of a nation’s future generations depends in a large part on the first 1,000 days of life.

“this is why we’re all on board in focusing on those thousand days to improve nutrition. after that, the damage is done and is highly irreversible.”

the data on nutrition and childhood development has been slowly coming together for decades. but ruel says scientific consensus alone will not solve the problem.

“it’s not enough that nutritionists know you have to intervene then, if we don’t have the politicians on board, and also the...people that implement [programs] in the field.”

ruel says there are encouraging signs that politicians and implementers are beginning to get on board. many major donors and the united nations are targeting hunger-relief programs at pregnant women and young children. they focus on improving diets or providing micro-food supplements. they improve access to pre-birth care and encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life.

ruel says in the 1980s thailand was able to reduce child undernourishment by recruiting a large number of volunteers to travel the countryside teaching about health and nutrition.

“they really did very active promotion of diversity in the diet and good eating habits. so they were providing more food to people, but also educating people on how to use them, and also educating people on how to feed their young children.”

ruel says countries may take different approaches to reducing child undernutrition. but she says nations will not make progress fighting hunger and poverty until they begin to focus on those critical first thousand days.

20. what is the experts’ conclusion regarding children’s undernourishment in their earliest days of life?

21. what does ifpri’s marie ruel say about well-fed children in their adult life?

22. what did thailand do to reduce child undernourishment in the 1980s?

now listen to the following recording and answer questions 23 to 25.

i’d like to look at a vital aspect of e-commerce, and that is the nature of the product or service. there are certain products and services that are very suitable for selling online, and others that simply don’t work.

suitable products generally have a high value-to-weight ratio. items such as cds and dvds are obvious examples. books, although heavier and so more expensive to post, still have a high enough value-to-weight ratio, as the success of amazon, which started off selling only books, shows. laptop computers are another good product for selling online.

digital products, such as software, films and music, can be sold in a purely virtual environment. the goods are paid for by online transactions, and then downloaded onto the buyer’s computer. there are no postage or delivery costs, so prices can be kept low.

many successful virtual companies provide digital services, such as financial transactions, in the case of paypal, or means of communication, as skype does. the key to success here is providing an easy-to-use, reliable service. do this and you can easily become the market leader, as skype has proved.

products which are potentially embarrassing to buy also do well in the virtual environment. some of the most profitable e-commerce companies are those selling sex-related products or services. for a similar reason, online gambling is highly popular.

products which are usually considered unsuitable for selling online include those that have a taste or smell component. food, especially fresh food, falls into this category, along with perfume. clothes and other items that need to be tried on such as diamond rings and gold necklaces are generally not suited to virtual retailing, and, of course, items with a low value-to-weight ratio.

there are exceptions, though. online grocery shopping has really taken off, with most major supermarkets offering the service. the inconvenience of not being able to see the food you are buying is outweighed by the time saved and convenience of having the goods delivered. typical users of online supermarkets include the elderly, people who work long hours and those without their own transport.

23 what is important to the success of an online store?

24. what products are unsuitable for selling online?

25. who are more likely to buy groceries online?

参考答案

part ii      listening comprehension

section a

1.    c                  2.    b                  3.    c                  4.    d                  5.    d

6.    b                  7.    a                  8.    c

section b

9.    d                 10.  b                 11.  a                  12.  a                  13.  b

14.  c                  15.  d

section c

16.  b                  17.  d                  18.  a                  19.  c                  20.  a

21.  b                  22.  c                  23.  d                  24.  a                  25.  b