2006年6月17日四级听力原文

Section A

1.     M: I think the hostess really went out of her way to make the party a success.

W: Yes, the food and drinks were great, but if only we had known a few of the other guests.

Q: What did the two speakers say about the party?

2.     M: Can you stop by the post office and get me some envelopes and 39 cents’ stamps?

W: Well, I am not going to stop by the post office, but I can buy you some at the bookstore after I see the dentist on Market street.

Q: Where will the woman go first?

3.     M: How do you like the new physician who replaced Dr. Andrews?

W: He may not seem as agreeable or as thorough as Dr. Andrews, but at least he doesn’t keep patients waiting for hours.

Q: What can we infer from the woman’s answer?

4.     W: Tom must be in a bad mood today. He hasn’t said half a dozen words all afternoon.

M: Oh, really? That’s n, ot like the Tom we know.

Q: What does the man imply?

5.     W: Do you have the seminar schedule with you? I’d like to find out the topic for Friday.

M: I gave it to my friend, but there should be copies available in the library. I can pick one up for you.

Q: What does the man promise to do?

6.     W: I wonder if you could sell me the Psychology textbooks. You took the course last semester, didn’t you?

M: As a matter of fact, I already sold them back to the school bookstore.

Q: What do we learn from the conversation?

7.     W: Here is this week’s schedule, Tony. On Monday, there is the board meeting. Your speech to the lion’s club is on Tuesday afternoon. Then on Wednesday you have an appointment with your lawyer and…

M: Wait, you mean the business conference on Tuesday is cancelled?

Q: What will the man do this Tuesday?

8.     M: Can you believe it? Jessie told her boss he was wrong to have fired his marketing director

W: Yeah, but you know Jessie. If she has something in mind, everyone will know about it.

Q: What does the woman mean?

9.     M: We’ve got three women researchers in our group: Mary, Betty and Helen. Do you know them?

W: Sure. Mary is active and sociable. Betty is the most talkative woman I’ve ever met. But guess what? Helen’s just the opposite.

Q: What do we learn from the woman’s remark about Helen?

10.   W: Jimmy said that he was going to marry a rich French businesswoman.

M: Don’t be so sure. He once told me that he had bought a big house. Yet he’s still sharing an apartment with Mark.

Q: What does the man imply?

Section B

Passage 1

Unless you have visited the southern United States, you probably have never heard of Kudzu. Kudzu, as any farmer in the south will sadly tell you, is a super-powered weed. It is a strong climbing plant. Once it gets started, Kudzu is almost impossible to stop. It climbs to the tops of the tallest trees. It can cover large buildings. Whole barns and farm houses have been known to disappear from view. Wherever it grows, its thick twisting stems are extremely hard to remove. Kudzu was once thought to be a helpful plant. Originally found in Asia, it was brought to America to help protect the land from being swallowed by the sea. It was planted where its tough roots which grow up to five feet long could help hold back the soil. But the plant soon spread to places where it wasn’t wanted. Farmers now have to fight to keep it from killing other plants. In a way, Kudzu is a sign of labor shortage in the south. Where there is no one to work the fields, Kudzu soon takes over. The northern United States faces no threat from Kudzu. Harsh winters kill it off. The plant loves the warmth of the south, but the south surely doesn’t love it. If someone could invent some use for Kudzu and remove it from southern farmland, his or her fortune would be assured.

11.   What do we learn about “Kudzu” from the passage?

12.   What will happen if the fields are neglected in the southern United States?

13.   Why isn’t Kudzu a threat to the northern United States?

Passage 2

The word “university” comes from the Latin word “universitas”, meaning “the whole”. Later, in Latin legal language, “universitas” meant a society or corporation. In the Middle Ages, the word meant “ an association of teachers and scholars”. The origins of universities can be traced back to the 12th to14th centuries. In the early 12th century, long before universities were organized in the modern sense, students gathered together for higher studies at certain centers of learning. The earliest centers in the Europe were at Bolonia in Italy, founded in 1088. Other early centers were set up in France, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany from 1150 to 1386. The first universities in Britain were Oxford and Cambridge. They were established in 1185 and 1209 respectively. The famous London University was founded in 1836. This was followed by the foundation of several universities such as Manchester and Birmingham, which developed from provincial colleges. It was in the 1960’s that the largest expansion of higher education took place in Britain. This expansion took 3 basic forms: existing universities were enlarged, new universities were developed from existing colleges and completely new universities were set up. In Britain, finance for universities comes from three source: the first, and the largest source, is grants from the government, the second source is fees paid by students and the third one is private donations. All the British universities except one receive some government funding. The exception is Buckingham, which is Britain’s only independent university.

14.   What did the word “Universitas” mean in the Middle Ages?

15.   Why was the 1960s so significant for British Higher Education?

16.   What is the main financial source for British universities?

Passage 3

One of the biggest problems in developing countries is hunger. An organization called Heifer International is working to improve the situation. The organization sends farm animals to families and communities around the world. An American farmer, Dan West, developed the idea for Heifer International in the 1930s. Mr. West was working in Spain where he discovered a need for cows. Many families were starving because of the civil war in that county. So Mr. West asked his friends in the United States to send some cows. The first Heifer animals were sent in 1944. Since that time, more than 4,000,000 people in 115 countries have had better lives because of Heifer animals. To receive a Heifer animal, families must first explain their needs and goals. They must also make a plan which will allow them to become self-supporting. Local experts usually provide training. The organization says that animals must have food, water, shelter, health care and the ability to reproduce. Without them, the animals will not remain healthy and productive. Heifer International also believes that families must pass on some of their success to others in need. This belief guarantees that each person who takes part in the program also becomes a giver. Every family that receives a Heifer animal must agree to give that animal’s first female baby to other people in need . Families must also agree to pass on the skills and training they receive from Heifer International. This concept helps communities become self-supporting.

17.   What does the speaker tell us about Mr. West?

18.   What is the ultimate goal of Heifer International?

19.   What are families required to do after they receive support from Heifer International?

20.   What is the major achievement of Heifer International?