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 to Indonesia? 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.

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 in England. A circus was first presented in 1793 at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. By the early 19th 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 19th century a main feature of the permanent circus program was the presentation of th grams that included displays of horsemanship. Throughout the 19 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 19th century. Tents are believed to have come into use in the 1820s, but it is uncertain whether they appeared first in Europe or in the United 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 19th 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

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 in China today 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 of China the 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 lion in a Lion Dance symbolize? 5. How long do acrobats receives training?

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

Task 2: Exercise to Relax
Script
Wendy: What a day…a walk on the beach, bodysurfing, an hour of pumping iron, followed by a nice long jog. Maybe we can finish off with a little badminton this evening. Howard: Groan. Wendy: So far this week, we?ve played beach volleyball, gone hiking, gone swimming, and ridden mountain bikes. Don?t you feel better in mind and body than when we arrived here? Howard: To tell the truth, I ache all over. My muscles are complaining that they?re being mistreated.

Wendy: Oh, now, admit it: This is the way to get the most out of life. This is how Nature intended us to live. I?ll bet you?d be exercising even if I weren?t here. Howard: Not a chance. Whenever I feel the urge to exercise, I lie and wait for the feeling to pass. I prefer sitting around fishing or resting on a comfortable chair and watching the grass grow or stretching out on the beach while the sun slowly sets. Wendy: You?re a lazy lump. Before long you?ll be fat and weak and short of breath. If you think we had a big workout this week, just wait till next week. We?re going rafting, and after that, I want to go camping and mountain climbing. Howard: Know what you are? You?re fitness freak. You?re hooked on exercise. Wendy: Well, that may be true. But I?ll make a deal with you. If you promise to go camping with me next week, we?ll go to a movie this weekend. Howard: Wonderful. Just what I was waiting to hear. It sounds like a great chance to relax. Maybe someday I can even help you break free from that horrible fitness habit. Wendy: That?ll be the day!

Keys: FTTFF