Part C

Additional Listening

A Conversation           Planning a Visit to Miami

Listen to the conversation and then fill in the blanks with information you hear.

1．  Paul says that he'd like to fly. Then they'll have two leisurely weeks on the beach.

2．  Steve thinks that flying is too expensive.

3．  Charlie suggests that they take a train or a bus.

4．  But Paul and Steve don’t agree, because taking a train or a bus is too uncomfortable.

5．  Charlie proposes that they rent a car and drive there.

6．  Steve thinks that will be too expensive.

7．  At last Charlie has got an idea. He knows a good place for a vacation. It's not Miami Beach, but it's very comfortable. They can wear casual clothes all the time there. It's inexpensive, but the food is good. The place is — home!

8．  All the others shout that it is terrible!

Script

Planning a Visit to Miami

(Charlie, Paul and Steve are discussing a trip to Miami.)

Charlie: Okay, guys.  How are we going to get to Miami?

Paul:     I'd like to fly.  Then we'll have two leisurely weeks on the beach. What do you say, Steve?

Steve:     No, Paul, flying is too expensive. Don’t you think so, Charlie?

Charlie: Well, we can take a train or a bus.

Paul:      I can't fall asleep on a train. It's too uncomfortable.

Steve:    I won't go by bus. The seats are too small for me, and there isn't enough room for my legs.

Charlie: All right. We can drive my car.

Steve:     Charlie, your car is too old to take on a long trip.

Charlie: Maybe we can rent a car.

Steve:     That'll be too expensive.

Paul:     Don't worry, Steve. We're going to share the expenses, so it won't cost too much.

Steve:     How long will the trip take?

Charlie: We'll probably be on the road for two or three days.

Steve:     That's too much time to spend in a car.

Charlie: Oh, it won't be too bad. We'll take turns driving and sleeping.

Paul:     Charlie, are you sure we'll have enough time for this trip?  The new semester is going to start on January 15th.

Charlie: Look, I have an idea. I know a good place for a vacation. It's not Miami       Beach, but it's very comfortable. We can wear casual clothes all the time       there. It's inexpensive, but the food is good.

Steve:  Where is this place? In Asia?

Charlie: No, it’s right here. Let’s stay home and forget about the trip. How does      that sound?

Paul & Steve: Terrible!

Movie Time

Watch a video clip. After watching it, filling in the blanks with the missing information.

Word Bank

democracy   n. 民主国家

heyday      n. 最繁荣的时期

the ebb and flow （潮水的）涨落；盛衰起伏

epic        n. 史诗

humanity    n. （总称）人类

preserve     vt. 保存

bind        vt. 捆绑，结合

churning    n. 搅动，翻腾

cosmic      adj. 宇宙的

vein        n. 特点

thrilling     adj. 震撼的

ancestor     n. 祖先

the Arabian Sea  阿拉伯海

fertility     n. 富饶，肥沃

Script:

Sixty years ago, India threw off the chains of the British Empire and became a free nation. And now, the world's largest democracy is rushing headlong into the future. As the brief heyday of the West draws to a close, one of the greatest players in history is rising again.

India has seen the ebb and flow of huge events since the beginning of history. Its tale is one of incredible drama and the biggest ideas.

It's a place whose children will grow up in a global superpower, and yet still know what it means to belong to an ancient civilization. This is the story of a land where all human pasts are still alive, a 10,000-year epic that continues today — the story of India.

In the tale of life on Earth, the human story is brief. A few hundred generations cover humanity's attempts to create order, beauty and happiness on the face of the Earth. The beginnings to most of us are lost in time, beyond memory. Only India has preserved the unbroken thread of the human story that binds us all.

According to the oldest Indian myths, the first humans came from a golden egg laid by the king of the gods in the churning of the cosmic ocean. Modern science, of course, works in a less poetic vein, but no less thrilling to the imagination.

For what science tells us is that our ancestors first walked out of Africa only 70 or 80 thousand years ago, round the shores of the Arabian Sea and down into South India. And when they came here to India, they must have been overwhelmed by the fertility. Here, down south, you throw a mango away and a tree will grow. Life is superabundant. So here, some of them stayed, and they were the first Indians.

Exercise

Sixty years ago, India threw off the chains of the British Empire and became a free nation. And now, the world's largest democracy is (1) ____________________. As the brief heyday of the West draws to a close, one of the greatest players in history is rising again.

India has seen the ebb and flow of huge events since the beginning of history. Its tale is one of (2) ________________________ and the biggest ideas.

It's a place whose children will grow up in a global superpower, and yet still know what it means to (3) ________________________. This is the story of a land where all (4) ________________________, a 10,000-year epic that continues today — the story of India.

In the tale of life on Earth, the human story is (5) ________. A few hundred generations cover humanity's attempts to (6) ________________ on the face of the Earth. The beginnings to most of us are lost in time, (7) ________________________. Only India has preserved the unbroken thread of the human story that binds us all.

According to the oldest Indian myths, the first humans came from (8) ________________ laid by the king of the gods in the churning of the cosmic ocean. Modern science, of course, works in a less poetic vein, but no less thrilling to the imagination.

For what science tells us is that our ancestors first walked out of Africa (9) ________________________, round the shores of the Arabian Sea and down into South India. And when they came here to India, they must have been overwhelmed by the fertility. Here, down south, (10) _______________________________________ Life is superabundant. So here, some of them stayed, and they were the first Indians.

Keys:

(1)    rushing headlong into the future

(2)    incredible drama

(3)    belong to an ancient civilization

(4)    human pasts are still alive

(5)    brief

(6)    create order, beauty and happiness

(7)    beyond memory

(8)    a golden egg

(9)    only 70 or 80 thousand years ago

(10)you throw a mango away and a tree will grow

Part D

Test Your Listening

A Compound Dictation

 Listen to the passage three times and supply the missing information

       1) Nowadays there are more and more ways of going on holiday. More and more people go 2) abroad every year. Some people even go on two or three holidays a year.

       In my 3) opinion, there are two types of holidaymakers. The first kind always 4) flock to seaside 5) resorts when they go on holiday. Their one and only aim is to have a good time by sunbathing and putting their feet up. They are not a bit interested in local 6) specialties. At mealtimes, if they can get a plate of British "fish and chips", they're more than happy! They spend their days in the sunshine and their evenings getting 7) drunk, then sleep soundly. If this sort of person forgets to pack the suntan oil, 8) he or she will undoubtedly come home as red as a lobster.

       Holidaymakers of the other type go to every country to increase their knowledge of foreign lands. 9) They make use of the chance to travel to improve their world knowledge. For them, going on holiday is educational. Consequently, they'll not move from place to place every few days. If they visit lots of places in a short span of time, 10) there is no way that they can get a proper feel of a place or fully appreciate the local food and wine.             

Script

       Nowadays there are more and more ways of going on holiday. More and more people go abroad every year. Some people even go on two or three holidays a year.

       In my opinion, there are two types of holidaymakers. The first kind always flock to seaside resorts when they go on holiday. Their one and only aim is to have a good time by sunbathing and putting their feet up. They are not a bit interested in local specialties. At mealtimes, if they can get a plate of British "fish and chips", they're more than happy! They spend their days in the sunshine and their evenings getting drunk, then sleep soundly. If this sort of person forgets to pack the suntan oil, he or she will undoubtedly come home as red as a lobster.

       Holidaymakers of the other type go to every country to increase their knowledge of foreign lands. They make use of the chance to travel to improve their world knowledge. For them, going on holiday is educational. Consequently, they'll not move from place to place every few days. If they visit lots of places in a short span of time, there is no way that they can get a proper feel of a place or fully appreciate the local food and wine.