听力题In Greece

听力题The first English dictionary

听力题 Perhaps the most unusual animal ever brought to Australia was the cane toad. It is a large and ugly species of toad and was imported to this country by the sugar cane farmers in 1935 to get rid of the beetle which kills the sugar cane plant. The cane beetle is the natural enemy of the sugar cane plant. It lives in the cane and drops its eggs onto the ground around the base of the cane. The eggs develop into worms and then the worms eat the roots of the cane, resulting in the death of the plant. In the mid 30s there was a serious outbreak of the cane beetle and the farmers became desperate to get rid of the pest which was ruining their livelihood. Meanwhile it was reported that a toad, native to Central America, had been taken to Hawaii, where cane is also grown, and introduced with apparent success. So the Australian farmers arranged to import one hundred loads from Hawaii. The toads were then released into the cane fields to kill the cane beetle. As predicted, the toads started to breed successfully and within a very short time their numbers had swollen. But there was one serious problem. It turned out that cane toads do not eat cane beetles. And the reason for this is that toads live on insects that are found on the ground and the cane beetle live at the top of the cane plant well out of reach of the toads. In fact they never come into contact with each other. Perhaps the most unusual animal ever brought to Australia was the cane toad. It is a large and ugly species of toad and was imported to this country by the sugar cane farmers in 1935 to get rid of the beetle which kills the sugar cane plant. The cane beetle is the natural enemy of the sugar cane plant. It lives in the cane and drops its eggs onto the ground around the base of the cane. The eggs develop into worms and then the worms eat the roots of the cane, resulting in the death of the plant. In the mid 30s there was a serious outbreak of the cane beetle and the farmers became desperate to get rid of the pest which was ruining their livelihood. Meanwhile it was reported that a toad, native to Central America, had been taken to Hawaii, where cane is also grown, and introduced with apparent success. So the Australian farmers arranged to import one hundred loads from Hawaii. The toads were then released into the cane fields to kill the cane beetle. As predicted, the toads started to breed successfully and within a very short time their numbers had swollen. But there was one serious problem. It turned out that cane toads do not eat cane beetles. And the reason for this is that toads live on insects that are found on the ground and the cane beetle live at the top of the cane plant well out of reach of the toads. In fact they never come into contact with each other.

听力题 Indian summer is a short period of extremely fair weather and mild days in autumn. It comes in late October or early November while the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees. It has no definite day of beginning or ending. The pleasant weather follows the autumn''s first period of cold, wintry days. The days become warmer but the nights remain chilly. An Indian summer moon often has a soft yellow or orange hue. Indian summer lasts from a week to ten days and sometimes for two weeks. Then winter starts. Indian summer is caused by a large mass of warm tropical air. South winds carry these masses northward. The American Indian enjoyed Indian summer and called it a gift of a favorite God, Cautantowwit, the god of the southwest. Indian summer is a short period of extremely fair weather and mild days in autumn. It comes in late October or early November while the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees. It has no definite day of beginning or ending. The pleasant weather follows the autumn''s first period of cold, wintry days. The days become warmer but the nights remain chilly. An Indian summer moon often has a soft yellow or orange hue. Indian summer lasts from a week to ten days and sometimes for two weeks. Then winter starts. Indian summer is caused by a large mass of warm tropical air. South winds carry these masses northward. The American Indian enjoyed Indian summer and called it a gift of a favorite God, Cautantowwit, the god of the southwest.

听力题Questions 3 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

听力题Questions 5 to 7 are based on the new report you have just heard

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听力题 Reducing the amount of sleep students get at night has a direct impact on their performance at school during the day. According to classroom teachers, elementary and middle school students who stay up late exhibit more learning and attention problems. This has been shown by Brown Medical School and Bradley Hospital research. In the study, teachers were not told the amount of sleep students received when completing weekly performance reports, yet they rated the students who have received eight hours or less as having the most trouble recalling old material, learning new lessons, and completing high-quality work. Teachers also reported that these students had more difficulty paying attention. The experiment is the first to ask teachers to report on the effects of sleep deficiency in children. "Just staying up late can cause increased academic difficulty and attention problems for otherwise healthy, well-functioning kids", said Garharn Forlone, the study''s lead author. So the results provide professionals and parents with a clear message: When a child is having learning and attention problems, the issue of sleep has to be taken into consideration. "If we don''t ask about sleep and try to improve sleep patterns in kids'' struggling academically, then we aren''t doing our job, Forlone said. "For parents," he said, "the message is simple: Getting kids to bed on time is as important as getting them to school on time." Reducing the amount of sleep students get at night has a direct impact on their performance at school during the day. According to classroom teachers, elementary and middle school students who stay up late exhibit more learning and attention problems. This has been shown by Brown Medical School and Bradley Hospital research. In the study, teachers were not told the amount of sleep students received when completing weekly performance reports, yet they rated the students who have received eight hours or less as having the most trouble recalling old material, learning new lessons, and completing high-quality work. Teachers also reported that these students had more difficulty paying attention. The experiment is the first to ask teachers to report on the effects of sleep deficiency in children. "Just staying up late can cause increased academic difficulty and attention problems for otherwise healthy, well-functioning kids", said Garharn Forlone, the study''s lead author. So the results provide professionals and parents with a clear message: When a child is having learning and attention problems, the issue of sleep has to be taken into consideration. "If we don''t ask about sleep and try to improve sleep patterns in kids'' struggling academically, then we aren''t doing our job, Forlone said. "For parents," he said, "the message is simple: Getting kids to bed on time is as important as getting them to school on time."

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听力题Passage One Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

听力题 Indian summer is a short period of extremely fair weather and mild days in autumn. It comes in late October or early November while the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees. It has no definite day of beginning or ending. The pleasant weather follows the autumn''s first period of cold, wintry days. The days become warmer but the nights remain chilly. An Indian summer moon often has a soft yellow or orange hue. Indian summer lasts from a week to ten days and sometimes for two weeks. Then winter starts. Indian summer is caused by a large mass of warm tropical air. South winds carry these masses northward. The American Indian enjoyed Indian summer and called it a gift of a favorite God, Cautantowwit, the god of the southwest. Indian summer is a short period of extremely fair weather and mild days in autumn. It comes in late October or early November while the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees. It has no definite day of beginning or ending. The pleasant weather follows the autumn''s first period of cold, wintry days. The days become warmer but the nights remain chilly. An Indian summer moon often has a soft yellow or orange hue. Indian summer lasts from a week to ten days and sometimes for two weeks. Then winter starts. Indian summer is caused by a large mass of warm tropical air. South winds carry these masses northward. The American Indian enjoyed Indian summer and called it a gift of a favorite God, Cautantowwit, the god of the southwest.

听力题Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard

听力题M: Ow! That hurts! W: What happened

听力题Not everybody reads the daily newspaper

听力题 London taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands. No matter how small or indistinct the street is, the driver will be able to get you there without any trouble. The reason London taxi drivers are so efficient is that they all have gone through a very tough training period to get a special taxi driving licence. During this period, which can take two to four years, the would-be taxi driver has to learn the most direct route to every single road and to every important building in London. To achieve this, most learners go around the city on small motorbikes practicing how to move to and from different points of the city. Learner taxi drivers are tested several times during the training period by government officers. The exams are a terrible experience. The officers ask you "How do you get from Birmingham Palace to the Tower of London?" and you have to take them there in the direct line. When you get to the tower, they won''t say "well done". They will quickly move on to the next question. After five or six questions, they will just say "See you in two months'' time." and then you know the exam is over. Learner drivers are not allowed to work and earn money as drivers. Therefore, many of them keep their previous jobs until they have obtained the licence. The training can cost quite a lot, because learners have to pay for their own expenses on the tests and the medical exam. London taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands. No matter how small or indistinct the street is, the driver will be able to get you there without any trouble. The reason London taxi drivers are so efficient is that they all have gone through a very tough training period to get a special taxi driving licence. During this period, which can take two to four years, the would-be taxi driver has to learn the most direct route to every single road and to every important building in London. To achieve this, most learners go around the city on small motorbikes practicing how to move to and from different points of the city. Learner taxi drivers are tested several times during the training period by government officers. The exams are a terrible experience. The officers ask you "How do you get from Birmingham Palace to the Tower of London?" and you have to take them there in the direct line. When you get to the tower, they won''t say "well done". They will quickly move on to the next question. After five or six questions, they will just say "See you in two months'' time." and then you know the exam is over. Learner drivers are not allowed to work and earn money as drivers. Therefore, many of them keep their previous jobs until they have obtained the licence. The training can cost quite a lot, because learners have to pay for their own expenses on the tests and the medical exam.

听力题W: I think continuing education is for innovative adults. M: That’s interesting. I always thought of continuing education as training sessions for teachers to update their knowledge or for workers to fit themselves for new jobs. W: There are those, too. But I mean people who personally choose to take continuing education, those who pay out of their own pockets because they decide, at a mature age, that life needs a little polishing up. M: You mean like Marie who worked as a nurse for 25 years? At 45 she decided to go to university and then go for an MBA and is now the Chief Nurse. She earns double the salary, but has also double the trouble. W: Exactly. Someone who has the courage to say, “Hey, I don’t want to die doing only this!” You know, someone who wants to use 99% rather than 60% of his or her potential. M: It does take guts to return to studying as a working adult. I mean, you have family responsibilities, usually a job, and suddenly, you have to study and pass exams again. W: That’s why I think continuing education is for people with initiative. M: Well, count me out. I’m for live-and-let-live. So I’ll never make big money, but I earn enough to lead a good life. I’d rather go and learn to be a carpenter so when I retire I can make furniture or something like that. W: Well, that’s a kind of continuing education. It doesn’t all have to be intellectual. The philosophy behind continuing education is that you’re never too old to learn. But of course we return to learn what we enjoy. M: If you put it that way, I’m definitely for continuing education. I mean, I have no regrets as a dentist. But if I had another chance, I might choose architecture or art rather than medicine. I guess with continuing education I can try to get the best of both at different stages in my life! W: I think continuing education is for innovative adults. M: That’s interesting. I always thought of continuing education as training sessions for teachers to update their knowledge or for workers to fit themselves for new jobs. W: There are those, too. But I mean people who personally choose to take continuing education, those who pay out of their own pockets because they decide, at a mature age, that life needs a little polishing up. M: You mean like Marie who worked as a nurse for 25 years? At 45 she decided to go to university and then go for an MBA and is now the Chief Nurse. She earns double the salary, but has also double the trouble. W: Exactly. Someone who has the courage to say, “Hey, I don’t want to die doing only this!” You know, someone who wants to use 99% rather than 60% of his or her potential. M: It does take guts to return to studying as a working adult. I mean, you have family responsibilities, usually a job, and suddenly, you have to study and pass exams again. W: That’s why I think continuing education is for people with initiative. M: Well, count me out. I’m for live-and-let-live. So I’ll never make big money, but I earn enough to lead a good life. I’d rather go and learn to be a carpenter so when I retire I can make furniture or something like that. W: Well, that’s a kind of continuing education. It doesn’t all have to be intellectual. The philosophy behind continuing education is that you’re never too old to learn. But of course we return to learn what we enjoy. M: If you put it that way, I’m definitely for continuing education. I mean, I have no regrets as a dentist. But if I had another chance, I might choose architecture or art rather than medicine. I guess with continuing education I can try to get the best of both at different stages in my life!

听力题 Sometimes we say that someone we know is "a square peg in a round hole". This simply means that the person we are talking about is not suited for the job he is doing. He may be a bookkeeper who really wants to be an actor or a mechanic who likes cooking. Unfortunately, many people in the world are "square pegs", they are not doing the kind of work they should be doing, for one reason or another. As a result they probably are not doing a very good job and certainly they are not happy. Choosing the right career is very important. Most of us spend a great part of our lives at our jobs. For that reason we should try to find out what our talents are and how we can use them. We can do this through aptitude tests, interviews with specialists, and study of books in our field of interest. There are many careers open to each of us. Perhaps we like science, then we might prepare ourselves to be chemists, physicists, or biologists. Maybe our interests take us into the business world and such work as accounting, personnel management or public relations. Many persons find their place in government service. Teaching, newspaper work, medicine, engineering—these and many other fields offer fascinating careers to persons with talent and training. Sometimes we say that someone we know is "a square peg in a round hole". This simply means that the person we are talking about is not suited for the job he is doing. He may be a bookkeeper who really wants to be an actor or a mechanic who likes cooking. Unfortunately, many people in the world are "square pegs", they are not doing the kind of work they should be doing, for one reason or another. As a result they probably are not doing a very good job and certainly they are not happy. Choosing the right career is very important. Most of us spend a great part of our lives at our jobs. For that reason we should try to find out what our talents are and how we can use them. We can do this through aptitude tests, interviews with specialists, and study of books in our field of interest. There are many careers open to each of us. Perhaps we like science, then we might prepare ourselves to be chemists, physicists, or biologists. Maybe our interests take us into the business world and such work as accounting, personnel management or public relations. Many persons find their place in government service. Teaching, newspaper work, medicine, engineering—these and many other fields offer fascinating careers to persons with talent and training.

听力题 Humans use a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of shortages and droughts are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the world''s population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis. But that doesn''t have to be the outcome. Water shortages don''t have to trouble the world— if we start valuing water more than we have in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as we like in any way we want. Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply costs. Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions and pumping it to nearby crop land. No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local, regional agencies that watch various aspects of water use, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate water supply. Humans use a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of shortages and droughts are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the world''s population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis. But that doesn''t have to be the outcome. Water shortages don''t have to trouble the world— if we start valuing water more than we have in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as we like in any way we want. Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply costs. Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions and pumping it to nearby crop land. No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local, regional agencies that watch various aspects of water use, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate water supply.

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听力题M: Hey Linda