【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[听力原文]29-31
"High tech" and "state of the art" are two expressions that describe very modern technology. (29)High tech is just a shorter way of saying high technology. And high technology describes any invention, system or device that uses the newest ideas or discoveries of science and engineering. What is high tech? A computer is high tech. So is a communications satellite. A modern manufacturing system is surely high tech. (30)High tech became a popular expression in the United States during the early 1980's. Because of improvements in technology, people could buy many new kinds of products in American stores, such as home computers, microwave ovens, etc. "State of the art' is something that is as modern as possible. It is a product that is based on the very latest methods and technology. Something that is "state of the art" means the newest possible design or product of a business or industry. A state of the art television set, for example, uses the most modern electronic design and parts. It is the best that one can buy. "State of the art" is not a new expression. Engineers have used it for years, to describe the best and most modern way of doing something. (30) Millions of Americans began to use the expression in the late 1970's. (31)The reason was the computer revolution. Every computer company claimed that its computers were "state of the art". Computer technology changed so fast that a state of the art computer today might be old tomorrow. The expression "state of the art" became as common and popular as computers themselves. Now all kinds of products are said to be "state of the art".
29．What is the author's purpose for this passage?
[听前预测] 从题目选项的表述来判断，选项多在表述high tech与state of the art的区别、发展状况、定义等，根据动词不定式的结构，可以推测本题很可能是来回答文章的写作目的。
[答案详解] 综合理解题[考频：14]。短文开始提到High tech is just a shorter way of saying high technology． And high technology describes any invention，system or device that uses the newest ideas or discoveries of science and engineering．后面又具体表明了何为high tech，何为state of the art，并且加以例证。因此不难推断本文的具体写作目的是表明什么是high tech和the state of art，故A)为正确答案。
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[听力原文]
Where were the expressions of “high tech” and “state of the art” first used?
[听前预测] 从问题的选项来看，全部为国家名称，由此可以推测本题很可能提问某一事物与选项中的哪个国家或地点相关。
[答案详解] 事实细节题[考频：83]。在具体阐述这两个名词时，短文中提到High tech became a popular expression in the United States during the early 1980's 和 Millions of Americans began to use the expression in the late 1970's，故B)为正确答案。