单选题
What does the conversation mainly discuss? A. How to care for precious metals. B. A standard unit for measuring weight. C. The value of precious metals. D. Using the metric system.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] K: Dr. Smith? This is Keet Bradley from the Daily News. I'd like to ask you some questions about the new official standard weight that you purchased. S: I'd be happy to help you. What would you like to know? K: First of all, how is the standard weight used? S: Well, the people in our department use it to check the scales all over the country. As the department of weights and measures, we are a government agency. It's our responsibility to see that all the scales measure a kilogram accurately so this is the way we use to adjust the scales. K: How did you check the scales before? S: We have an old standard weight that we used to use. It had to be replaced because it was imprecise. You see it was made of poor quality metal that was too porous. It absorbed too much moisture. K: Oh. So when the weather was humid it weighed more and when it was dry it weighed less. S: Exactly. And that variation can affect the standards of the whole country. So our department had the new weight made out of higher quality metal. K: How much did it cost? S: About 45 thousand dollars. K: 45,000 dollars? For one kilogram weight? That's more expensive than gold. Is it really worth that much? S: I'm sure it is. Industries depend on our government agency to monitor the accuracy of scales so that when they buy and sell their products there is one standard. Think of the drug industry, for example, those companies rely on high accuracy scales to manufacture and package medicine.
[解析] 本题查考主旨大意，需要在听过全文后归纳总结，尤其是要注意对话一开始的内容“I'd like to ask you some questions about the new official standard weight that you purchased”，开门见山点题，所以选 [B]。
单选题
How was the weight used? A. To check the accuracy of scales. B. To calculate the density of other metals. C. To observe changes in the atmosphere. D. To measure amounts of rainfall.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查细节。因为对话中问到了“how was the standard weight used?”只要认真听后面的回答“Well，the people in our department use it to check the scales…It's our responsibility to see that all the scales measure a kilogram accurately so this is the way we use to adjust the scales．”就可以选出答案[A]。
单选题
Why was it necessary to replace the old standard weight? A. Someone spilled water on it. B. Someone lost it. C. It was made of low quality metal. D. The standard for measuring had changed.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查细节。对话中提到“We have an old standard weight that we used to use．It had to be replaced because it was imprecise．You see it was made of poor quality metal that was too porous．”，所以答案选 [C]。
单选题
What does Dr. Smith probably think about the cost of the new weight? A. It is a small amount to pay for so much precious metal. B. It is difficult to judge the value of such an object. C. It is reasonable for an object with such an important function. D. It is too high for such a light weight.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查细节推断能力。对话中当问到价格时说到“45,000 dollars? For one kilogram weight? That's more expensive than gold. is it really worth that much?”显然说话者认为价格太高，但根据“I'm sure it is. Industries depend on our government agency to monitor the accuracy of scales so that when they buy and sell their products there is one standard．”这个回答可以看出[C]选项符合题意。