新视野大学英语第二册听力Unit01a

 

 

Unit One Time-Conscious Americans

[ 本帖最后由 Wmlover 于 2008-5-15 19:04 编辑 ]

 Listening Task 1

 1. She is so lazy that it is quite difficult to assess her ability.
 2. We spent a restless night in a roadside hotel.
 3. John always budgets his time very carefully.
 4. After supper, they often take a leisurely walk round the grounds.
 5. The significance of this project remains mostly unknown to us.
 6. It is a convention to use the right hand to shake hands.
 7. The airline decides to replace its small planes with Boeing 747s.
 8. Dogs are known to have all acute sense of smell.
 9. Tom has never had cheerful surroundings since his early years.
10. Copper conducts electricity.

Key: 1. (B) 2. (A) 3. (A) 4. (B)  5. (A) 6. (B) 7. (B)  8. (A) 9. (A) 10. (B)

 

Listening Task 2

  1. I regret we've run out of money.
  2. The government is firmly committed to helping low-income and unemployed citizens.
  3. His carelessness resulted in the forest fire.
  4. Everyone in Shanghai seems to be in a rush.
  5. You are supposed to sign this agreement in person.
  6. My success is entirely due to hard work.
  7. How can you account for your frequent lateness for class?
  8. We still fall behind our competitors in using new technology.
  9. He's nothing but a cheat.
 10. They communicate with each other through personal contacts rather than through phone calls.

Key: 1.(B) 2.(A) 3. (C) 4.(A) 5.(A) 6.(C)  7.(C)  8.(B)  9.(D)  10.(D)

Listening Task 1

 I. W: What do you do in your leisure time?
    M: l spend my leisure time at the golf course.
    Question: What does the man do in his leisure time?

 2. M: If 1 lose this dictionary, how should 1 replace it?
    W: Go to a bookstore and obtain another copy.
    Question: What should the man do if he loses this dictionary?

 3. W: I'm thinking of using some labor-saving devices. What do you suggest?
    M: If I were you, I would prefer email to the telephone.
    Question: What labor-saving device does the man suggest?

 4. M: Do you know another word for "brief"?
    W: Yes, "short". For instance, when I come for a brief meeting, it's short.
    Question: Which word does the woman use in place of "brief'?

 5. W: What do you think about the telephone service in your area?
    M: I think it's superb here. However, the postal service is less efficient.
    Question: What does the man say about the telephone service in his area?

 6. M: How do you know if a doctor is competent?
    W: If he solves your problem, he's competent.
    Question: What does the woman say about a doctor who can solve problems?

 7. W: Stop for a minute. I'd like to look at this exhibition in the window.
    M: Why not go inside and see if we can get something on literature and sports?
    Question: Where are they standing?

 8. M: How about going to a fashionable party with me tonight, Jane?
    W: I'd really love to, but my parents expect me at home before 9:00 and we'll leave to visit my aunt early tomorrow.
    Question: Why didn't Jane accept the invitation?

 9. W: George says he'll return the book he borrowed as soon as he finishes reading it.
    M: Well, if George is reading it, I won't hold my breath.
    Question: What does the man imply about George?

10. W: I surely enjoyed meeting your parents. I hope they liked me.
    M: Take it easy. My parents would like any girl I liked.
     Question: What's the likely relationship between the man and the woman?

11. M: Hurry, another train for Shanghai is coming now.
   W: Why run? There will be another one in five or six minutes.
   Question: What does the woman mean?

12. W: Prof. Wang's lecture yesterday evening was so dull!
   M: 1'11 say. I had one eye on the clock the whole time.
   Question: What can we infer from the man's reply?

13. M: Do you think you can finish your assignment tomorrow morning?
    W: Will Thursday do?
    Question: What does the woman imply about her assignment?

14. W: Are you looking forward to your move in September?
    M: You bet I am. The rooms here are too small, and there's no space to store things.
    Question: What will the man do?

15. M: Tom is taking a language course this year.
    W: Should he be taking that course this year?
    Question: What does the woman imply that Tom should be doing?

16. W: Did you and Jane really meet at exactly 6:30 p.m. in front of Shanghai Grand Theater?
    M: Yes, both of us were there on time.
    Question: What happened to the man and Jane?

17. W: Dr. Xiao, when can we meet to discuss my research tomorrow morning?
    M: Will ten o'clock be all fight?
    Question: What does the man suggest?

18. M: These figures have been all mixed up. Let's figure them out again.
    W: Yes, but why not do them tomorrow? It's very late now.
    Question: What does the woman suggest to the man?

19. W: What time should I arrive at the celebration this evening?
     M: Oh, so you can come. What about 6:00 p.m.?
     Question: What did the man assume?

20. W: John is going to play football this afternoon,
     M: Should he be doing that today, so soon after his injury?
     Question: What does the man imply?

Key:  1. (C)    2. (B)    3. (B)     4. (A)      5. (B)    6. (D)    7. (A)    8. (C)     9. (C)     10. (B)
      11. (B)   12. (C)  13. (B)    14. (D)     15. (D)    16. (C)   17. (C)   18. (C)   19. (B)     20. (B)

[ 本帖最后由 Wmlover 于 2008-5-15 19:09 编辑 ]

 Conversation 1
   W: How does time affect you?
   M: 1 actually spend time deciding how I will conduct my day.
   W: That sounds like a good way to budget some leisure time for you.
   M: Yes, 1 like the relaxed feeling of the surroundings at the golf course.
   W: Do you take your cell phone with you?
   M: No, I like to avoid such devices when I am at the golf course because if the phone tings, I will want to answer it.
   W: 1 spend my leisure time playing tennis.
   M: That's a superb way to stay in shape and also have a good time.
   W: I'm not a very good player; I just want to play for a brief time and make friends by playing tennis.
   M: I have met some interesting people at the golf course, too. And I can contact them by email when t don't have leisure time.
 W: I always like to meet people face-to-face because I am able to explore my questions more thoroughly than I can by email or electronic communication.
   M: Yes, I think face-to-face interaction is very important and should be used when possible.
   W: Well, I couldn't agree with you more. Also, playing tennis also allows me to get away from  my work environment.
   M: Yes, I also enjoy getting away.
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
I. What does the man think about the surroundings at the golf course?
2. Does the man take his cell phone with him to the golf course?
3. What does the woman do in her leisure time?
4. How does the man contact his golf friends when he has no leisure time?
5. What does the woman think about face to-face communication?
Key:  1. (C)    2. (A)    3. (A)     4. (A)      5. (D)
Conversation 2
  M: Today time has gone by so quickly! Do you estimate how long a job will take?
  W: Well, sometimes it's not productive for me to estimate how much time I will spend completing a job.
  M: That's true, but in order not to waste time, I always want to set a precise time to meet someone.
  W: Ill have an appointment, I try to figure it out how much travel time is involved.
  M: I find it really difficult to stay on a time plan when I go to a convention.
  W: Why is that?
  M: Because 1 meet so many new people, and I want to interact with them.
W: A convention is a good place to enquire with them professionally.
   M: Yes, although 1 can communicate with many of my colleagues through email, I would  prefer to chat with them face-to-face.
  W: That would fulfill my needs better because I wouldn't have to write out my questions or comments.
   M: Well, by the way I have noticed that many people in China travel to work by bicycle.
  W: Yes, it's convenient most of the time because the traffic is often very had.
   M: But it would net be possible for me to ride to work in the United States by bicycle because I live a long way from work.
  W: Of course not! Also, parking a car in Shanghai is a problem, so when I really need to get
       somewhere quickly, 1 sometimes take a taxi.
   M: In my city in file United States, you have to telephone a taxi if you need one.
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
 6. What will the woman try to do when she has an appointment?
 7. Why does the man find it difficult to stick to a time plan when he goes to a convention?
 8.  How does the man prefer to communicate with his colleagues?
 9. What has the man noticed about many people in China?
10. What will the woman do when she really wants to get somewhere quickly?
Key: 6. (C)    7. (A)    8. (C)     9. (B)     10. (D)

Passage 1
    According to a recent survey, employees in many companies today work longer hours and take shorter vacations than employees did in 1979. It seems that Americans are working harder today than ever before. A management adviser, Bill Meyer, decided to find out the answer to the question. For three days, he observed an investment banker hard at work. Meyer wrote down everything the banker did during his long workday; the banker worked 80 hours a week. At the end of the three-day period, Meyer reviewed the banker's activities with him, and discovered that the man spent 80 percent of his time doing busy work.
     Apparently, many people believe that the more time a person spends at work, the more he or she accomplishes. However, the connection between time and productivity is not always positive. In fact, many studies show that after a certain point, anyone's productivity and creativity begin to decrease. Furthermore, it's not always easy for individuals to realize that their performance is decreasing.
     Part of the problem is understandable. When employers evaluate employees, they often consider the amount of time on the job in addition to job performance. Employees know this.
    Consequently, they work longer hours and take less vacation time than they did nine years ago. Although many working people can do their job effectively during a regular 40-hour work week. They feel they have to spend more time on the job after normal working hours so that the people who can promote them see them.
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard.
  1. What happens to employees in many U.S. companies today?
  2. What did Bill Meyer do with an investment banker?
  3. What is the relationship between time and productivity?
  4. How much time did the banker spend doing busy work?
  5. How do employers evaluate employees?
Key:  1. (C)    2. (A)    3. (B)     4. (D)      5. (C)
Passage 2
     One observation made by many visitors to the United States is that Americans frequently prefer to answer with a brief "Yes", "No", "Sure", or the very popular "Yeah" rather than with a longer reply. But brief replies do not mean Americans are impolite or offensive. Very often, Americans are rushed and may greet you with a hurried "Hi”. Indeed, this is a greeting you will hear again and again during your stay in the United States. It is used by everyone, regardless of status, age or employment. However, those used to longer, beautifully formed statements may require a little more time before they feel comfortable with American "plain talk".
     Americans sometimes use plain talk when they are embarrassed. If people praise them or thank them in an especially polite way, they may become embarrassed and not know what to say in reply. They do not intend to be impolite or offensive; you can be sure that they liked what was said about them. Except for certain holidays, such as Christmas, Americans do not usually give gifts. Thus, you will find Americans embarrassed as they accept gifts, especially if they have nothing to give in return. They are generally a warm but easy-going or relaxed people.
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard.
  6. What does the fact that Americans do not waste words tell us?
  7. Which of the following is true of those who like using beautiful or quality language?
  8. Winch of the following is NOT true?
  9. How will the Americans feel if they are praised in a polite way?
10. What did you learn about the American custom of giving gifts?
Key:  6. (D)    7. (A)    8. (C)     9. (D)     10. (B)
Passage 3
     Those long lines at United States airports are not just on the runways. As the number of airline passengers increases   to 614 million last year, up from 488 million in 1993 – and airports remain the same size, waiting in line has become a frustrating experience. The airlines, heating ~owing complaints and eager to cut costs, have begun adopting new techniques to speed people on their way.
       Continental Airlines and Alaska Airlines use a program with computer screens where passengers, using credit cards for identification, can check themselves in, answer security questions about who packed their bags and whether it has been under their control at all times,  and obtain boarding passes.
       Alaska also has ticketing officers who walk about in airports carrying computers that can print out boarding passes.
       Airlines are also improving their computer networks, which will reduce the time it takes to issue tickets and boarding passes. TWA recently installed touch-screen computers, like those at ATM machines, that allow officers to issue boarding passes faster.
       Penny Thomas, United Airline's manager of in-airport service planning, said: "The most basic rule to reduce time in line is to arrive at the airport in travel-ready condition. That means you do not need to see anyone, to buy a ticket or to change a seat assignment. It means your only requirement is to get a boarding pass."
  Questions 11 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.
   11. What causes the long lines at U.S. airports?
   12. What was the number of U.S. airline passengers in 19937
   13. Which new technique have Continental Airlines and Alaska Airlines adopted?
   14. What's the purpose of improving the U.S. airlines' computer networks?
   15. According to Penny Thomas. what is the most basic rule to reduce time in line?
 Key: .(A)    12.(C)    13.(A)    14.(A)     15.(A)
 assage 4
    Although the relaxed American style is well known, many new visitors think that it shows a "lack of respect'. This is especially true in the business world. Americans often use first names upon meeting a stranger and do not always shake hands. They often just smile and say "Hi" or "Hello", rather than using a more formal handshake. It is good to remember that to an American such a relaxed greeting really means the same thing as a more official handshake somewhere else.
   In a similar way, Americans do not usually give a special "good-bye' or shake hands to each person when they leave a party or business meeting. They will often just wave good-bye to the whole group and perhaps say, "Well, so long everybody, I'll see you tomorrow." They then will leave. No handshakes.
   Americans seem either totally hurried and hard-working or totally relaxed and at ease. Often you will see men working at office desks without their chairs and even putting their feet up on the desk while they talk on the telephone. This is not meant to be offensive. Once Americans leave the busy streets, they are easy and relaxed.
   A visitor to the United States should, therefore, understand that being in a great hurry does not show unfriendliness, and being relaxed and being at ease does not show a lack of respect.  Americans have a great range of customs and habits that at lust may seem strange to a visitor. In time you will learn these new ways.
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. What do many visitors think about the relaxed American style?
17. Why do Americans often use first- names upon meeting a stranger?
18. To whom do Americans use "Hi" and "Hello" in greeting?
19. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
20. What is the subject of this passage?
Key: 16. (B)    17. (A)    18. (B)    19. (A)    20. (B)