Uint7

II. Basic Listening Practice

12. Script

M: We offer all kinds of tours and excursions. DO you have anything particular in mind?

W: Not really, we’d just like to see the local sights and have an English speaking guide. It would be good if they were someone local too. My husband is interested in the local stories and folklore.

Q: What does the woman mention as one of her preferences?

2. Script

M: Are you joining a tour group when you go toIndonesia?

W: No, I’m going to backpack my way round. I like being independent and seeing things at my own pace. Besides, there’s more chance of meeting local people that way. I’ve just got to be careful.

Q: what dose the woman want?

3. Script

W: Hey, could you bring your video camera to the kids’ concert tomorrow? I’d love to capture it on film.

M: No problem. I’ll burn it to a DVD for you afterwards, then you can watch it at home.

Q: How will the woman watch the concert later in the week?

4. Script

W: I can’t find that track I really like anywhere. It’s not on CDs in any of the shops, and I really want it on a CD.

M: Well, let’s look online. Maybe we can download it, then burn it to a CD.

Q: What does the man suggest doing to get the track?

5. Script

W: Here’s a riddle: You love deep-sea finishing in Florida, and you’re crazy about skiing in Canada, but you can’t afford even one vacation home. What do you do?

M: I buy a share in two holiday homes, so I own a week or more at each place. Timesharing is the way many people afford seemingly expensive holidays.

Q: What advice does the man give for people unable to afford expensive holiday homes?

Keys: 1.A 2.A 3. D 4.B 5.C

III. Listening In

Task 1: I’m doing a lot of things on the computer!

Script

Barbara: Jack, you’re sitting in front of your computer again! The sea and the sand are only steps only away. Why are you wasting these beautiful holidays? The summer will be over before you know it.

Jack:I’m not wasting the holidays as you say. The computer is a good thing. On the Internet you can go to any part of the world; I can see everything in the world. It’s more real than reality.

Barbara: But…but you can’t spend your entire summer watching that screen. You’ll get a big bottom.

Jack: I’m not just watching the screen. I’m doing a lot of things—I’m sending e-mails, I’m learning things, I’m chatting in chat rooms…

Barbara:  Right! But I’ll bet you’re spending most of your time playing computer games—a time-wasting, mindless activity that I’ll turn your brain into Chinese doufoo.

Jack: No, it isn’t a single mindless pastime. It’s many activities: role-playing games, arcade games, adventure games, strategy games…

Barbara:  I understand the computer is a wonderful thing, but you have to be careful not to get too much of a good thing. Every life needs some variety in it. It would be a lot healthier if you played a chess game outdoors, in the park.

Jack:    It wouldn’t be the same. In those games in the park I can’t play against the grandmaster of Moscow, can I? And there are creative games in the computer, where I can learn city planning and psychology.

Barbara:  Well, what about me? Don’t you think I’d like a little attention?

Jack:Now, Baby, that’s no way to talk. After all this time together, you know I love you.

Barbara:  I’m not so sure any more. It’s time you made a choice. Is it going to be more me or the computer?

Jack:  Well…

1. Where does this dialog probably take place?

2. What dose the man like to do according to the dialog?

3. What does the woman mean when she says the man’s brain will turn into Chinese doufoo?

4. What does the man think about a chess game outdoors?

5. What does the woman mean when she says, “Don’t you think I’d like a little attention?”

Keys: 1.A 2.B 3. C 4.D 5.C

For Reference

1. He says that in those games in the park he can’t play against the grandmaster of Moscow. And there are creative games in the computer, where he can learn city planning and psychology,

2. She asks him to make a choice between her and the computer.

Task 2: A Magician and a Parrot

Script

A magician was working on a deluxe cruise ship in the Caribbean. The (S1) audience was different each week, so the magician did the same (S2) tricks over and over again. He felt he could cast a spell over the audience (S3) whenever he wanted to.

There was only one problem: The captain’s (S4) parrot watched every show and began to understand what the (S5) magician did in each trick. Once he understood that, he started shouting in the middle of the show.

“Look, it’s not the same (S6) hat!” “Look, he’s hiding the flowers under the table!” “Hey, why are all the (S7) cards the Ace of Spades?”

(S8) The magician was furious. Each time the parrot revealed one of his secrets, the audience roared with laughter. The performance he intended to be dark and mysterious turned into a comedy. He was in a rage. (S9) He dreamed of various ways he could do away with the troublesome bird. But he didn’t dare to touch it. It was the captain’s parrot after all.

One foggy night the ship collided with an enormous iceberg and sank. The magician found himself on a piece of wood, in the middle of the ocean, and the parrot was by his side. (S10) They stared at each other with hate, but did not utter a word. This went on for several days.

After a week the parrot finally said, “Okay, I give up. But I hope you’ll tell me what trick you are going to do with the boat.”

Task3: The Modern Circus

Script

The first modern circus was staged in London in 1768 by Philip Astley, a former English cavalry officer, who performed as a trick ride. Beginning with a visit to Paris in 1772, Astley introduced the circus in cities throughout continental Europe and was responsible for establishing permanent circuses in a number of European countries as well as inEngland. A circus was first presented in 1793 at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg.

By the early 19^th century, several permanently-based circuses were located in larger European cities. In addition, small traveling shows moved from town to town in covered wagons in which the performers lived. The traveling shows were usually simple affairs, featuring a fiddler or two, a juggler, a ropedancer, and a few acrobats.  In the early circuses such performers gave their shows in open spaces and took up a collection for pay; later, the performers used elaborate shows. In the earlier part of the 19^th century a main feature of the permanent circus program was the presentation of grams that included displays of horsemanship. Throughout the 19^th century the circus evolved in programming and management. Initially, trained horse and horsemanship performances dominated circuses, but ropedancing, juggling, acrobatic acts, wild-animal acts, and clowning were all introduced within the first few decades. The flying trapeze, an important part of the modern circus, was not invented until 1858, and the street parade and sideshow did not become standard circus events until later in the 19^th century. Tents are believed to have come into use in the 1820s, but it is uncertain whether they appeared first in Europe or in theUnited States.

Nowadays, the entertainment activities offered at a circus are more elaborate, generally consisting of displays of horsemanship, exhibitions by gymnasts, aerialists, wild-animal trainer, performing animals, and comic performance by clowns.

27. What was Phillip Astley especially good at?

28. According to the passage, what was true of the early traveling shows?

29. What acts were featured in permanent circus programs in the early 19^th century?

30. When were wild-animal acts introduced?

31. What is the main idea of the passage?

Keys: 1C 2.A3. B 4.B 5.D

For Reference

They are more elaborate, generally consisting of displays of horsemanship, exhibitions by gymnasts, aerialists, wild-animal trainer, performing animals, and comic performance by clowns

IV. Speaking Out

MODEL 1   Would you like to do anything?

Amy: Would you like to go to see a movie tonight, say, The Lord of the Rings?

Bill:  Thanks for asking, but there’s too much violence in those blockbusters.

Amy: Then, let’s go roller-skating.

Bill:  I don’t really like to now that I’m not so young any more. You know, my knees ache terribly.

Amy: I’ m sorry to hear that. Hey, let’s go to see a country singer tonight?

Bill:  No. I’m not really in the mood.

Amy: Well, would you like to do anything?

Bill:  Sure, let’s stay home and watch TV.

Amy: Is there anything worth watching tonight?

Bill:  Let me look at the TV Guide first. Well, Survivor’s on Channel 3 at 7:30.

Amy: If I remember correctly, there’s a documentary about animals on another channel.

Bill:  Yes, on Channel 10. Do you want to watch it?

Amy: Do you mind if we watch it?

Bill:  Well. I really wanted to watch the Rocket game tonight.

MODEL2   I can’t make up my mind!

Script

John: Hey!

Nora: Hey!

John: I see you’re reading travel brochures. Planning a holiday trip somewhere?

Nora: Once the warms up. I get itchy feet. I think about going places.

John: Will this be a trip abroad or some excursion close to home?

Nora: Two tours are offered in May: one to big American cities; one to Europe.

John: Are these whirlwind tours that allow you a few hours in each place?

Nora: Oh, no, no, they’re both three-week three-city tours, with a week in each city.

John: That’s more like it. You can look around and not feel rushed. What cities?

Nora: I can’t make up my mind: London, Paris and Rome or New York, San…?

John: Stop there. Europe’s more interesting.America’s OK, but it’s all the same.

Nora: You didn’t let me finish. San Francisco and Chicago, a modern metropolis.

John: BigU.S.cities are so much alike. European cities differ from one anther.

Nora: Yeah, like, they’re in different countries.

John: There are other differences in languages, architecture, food, and customs.

Nora: All right. You convinced me. They say variety’s the spice of life. Variety, here I come.

 MODEL3   You’d better get more exercise in your leisure time.

Script

Amy: Look at you! You’re fat and flabby. You’d better get more exercise in your leisure time, or you’ll never be Governor of California.

Bill: That’s right. I’m no Schwarzenegger, no Mr. Universe, so don’t bug me.

Amy: He shows what exercise can do. He used to be a skinny kid fromAustria.

Bill:  He likes exercise; I don’t. I was born tired, and I’ve been resting ever since.

Amy: Seeing a fine specimen like him, don’t you feel like exercising vigorously to stay in good shape?

Bill:  Whenever I feel like exercising, I lie down and rest until the feeling passes.

Amy: Ha, ha, very funny. Surely you’ve read about the dangers of obesity.

Bill:  Scientists constantly find dangers: smoking, cholesterol. What else is new?

Amy: You must know an exercise like walking benefits the mind and body.

Bill:  I do, and I walk every day—from my office to the parking lot, not-stop.

Amy: OK, have it your way. Eventually you’ll be a burden on our health system.

Bill:  And just what do you mean by that? I’m not sick. My appetite is good.

Amy: If you stay fat, heart trouble or high blood pressure could hospitalized you.

Bill:  Well, you may have a point there. I suppose we could go for a walk after dinner, slowly.

Now Your Turn

Task 1

SAMPLE DIALOG

Qiang: I see you’re reading travel brochures. Planning a holiday trip somewhere?

Li:Once the warms up. I get itchy feet. I think about going places.

Qiang: Will this be a trip abroad or some excursion close to home?

Li: I prefer going abroad. We’ve never visited a foreign country before.

Qiang:  What countries are advertised in the brochure?

Li:Two overseas tours are offered during summer vacation. One is to a nearby country likeKoreaorJapan, and the other is to European countries.

Qiang:  Which tour do you prefer?

Li: I’d like to go and seeKorea. It’s close toChinaso that the tour is less expensive.

Qiang:  I prefer to spend our savings on the European tour. We can see very different people and architecture, enjoy different food, and appreciate different customs.

Li: All right. You convince me. They say variety’s the spice of life. But shall we take a long tour or a whirlwind tour that allow us only a few hours in each place?

Qiang:  In a long tour we can look around and not feel rushed, but it’s too expensive. So let’s take a whirlwind tour. That’s what we can afford.

Li:I agree. A whirlwind tour allows us to visit many important places we’ve heard and read so much about. That’s good enough for us.

Qiang: Right on.

V. Let’s Talk

Script

The notion of a weekly rest is ancient. Christian religions celebrate a day of rest known as the Sabbath, also called the Lord’s Day. It is on Sunday. The weekend as a holiday is a rather modern invention. Before the industrial revolution the wage labor force was a small fraction of the population. The day of the Sabbath was viewed as one dedicated to God, not one of relaxation.

The early industrial period in Europe saw a six-day work week with only Sunday off, but some workers had no days off at all. Only the workers’ rights movements in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century saw a five-day work week introduced as Saturday became a day of rest and relaxation. This movement began inEngland.

In many ways this has been a great boon to the economy as it leads to a great increase in consumer spending on Saturdays as restaurant visits, motorcar journeys, or trips to the movies became common on Saturday. Many jurisdictions continued to enforce strict Lord’s Day laws on Sunday, which meant that most places of recreation, such as stores and theaters, were forced to close on that day. These regulations began to weaken in the years after the Second World War, and Sunday also became a day of recreation for many.

After centuries of development, the weekend is now a part of the week usually lasting two days in which most paid workers do not work. This is a time for leisure and recreation, and for religious activities.

VI.  Further Listening and Speaking

Task1: The History of Chinese Acrobatics

Script

Welcome to the magnificent world of the Beijing Acrobats! Here the impossible is made of possible, and “daring” only begins to describe their amazing performance. The Beijing Acrobats are comprised of the finest acrobatic troupes inChinatoday and have received acclaim from countries around the world. An outgrowth of Great China Circus, popular during the 1920’s, this group became an integrated professional acrobatic company in 1958.

Many of the magnificent and sophisticated feats we see today were performed even in ancient times. The history of Chinese acrobatics is rich in tradition and dates back over 2,000 years. It began with folk arts; tumbling, juggling ordinary household objects and balancing.

Myth and religion also influenced the acrobatic performing arts. The Lion Dance is Buddhist in origin. It was a symbol for the spirit of renewal and for avoiding bad luck. Throughout the history ofChinathe acrobatic arts flourished, but in varying degrees. Originally, court entertainments were formal and monotonous, quite the opposite of the lively folk arts of the people. Eventually, however, the excitement of the acrobats’ amazing feats caught and held the attention of the ruling class. Acrobatic performers were routinely invited to the court to entertain and impress the Emperors. These varied acts of tumbling, singing, dancing and juggling became known as “The Hundred Entertainments” in the Han Dynasty, more than 2, 000 years ago. The acrobatic arts have always maintained their popularity with the people. Today the acrobatics of families carry on this highly-acclaimed tradition. Children begin training at a young age to do handstands on a chair, balance jar, spin plates and throw knives; they stick to a strict training schedule which they follow the rest of their lives.

Now let’s sit back, relax and enjoy the shows as our performers reveal to you their mastery of an ancient art from, thousands of years in the making!

27. Where does this speech probably occur?

28. When was the Great China Circus popular?

29. How long is the history of Chinese acrobatics?

30. According to the passage, what does the 查看更多