听力题 Today I''m going to discuss transportation and communication in the early 19th century in the United States. At that time, inland waterways provided North America''s most popular form of long distance transportation. Travel by river was often more convenient than taking a wagon over primitive country roads, especially when shipping heavy loads of farm products or household goods. Where the natural waterways were inadequate, shallow canals were built. The Erie Canal, opened in 1825, connected the Great Lakes with the upper Hudson River. It allowed settlers in the Great Lakes region to send their crops eastward to New York City at the mouth of the Hudson at a much lower cost. From there, crops could be shipped to other Atlantic ports. The construction of the Erie Canal also encouraged westward migration along inland waterways and helped populate the frontier. The City of Detroit grew up between two of the Great Lakes. Later a canal joined the Great Lakes with the Mississippi river system and Chicago became a thriving city. Politically the waterway system united the nation in a way few had imagined possible. By the mid-1800''s faster and cheaper railroads became more popular and the canal system declined. Railroads could be used year round whereas canals were often frozen in the winter. During the first third of the century, however, transportation on rivers, lakes and canals aided greatly in the growth of the United States. Next week we''ll discuss the railroads in greater detail. Today I''m going to discuss transportation and communication in the early 19th century in the United States. At that time, inland waterways provided North America''s most popular form of long distance transportation. Travel by river was often more convenient than taking a wagon over primitive country roads, especially when shipping heavy loads of farm products or household goods. Where the natural waterways were inadequate, shallow canals were built. The Erie Canal, opened in 1825, connected the Great Lakes with the upper Hudson River. It allowed settlers in the Great Lakes region to send their crops eastward to New York City at the mouth of the Hudson at a much lower cost. From there, crops could be shipped to other Atlantic ports. The construction of the Erie Canal also encouraged westward migration along inland waterways and helped populate the frontier. The City of Detroit grew up between two of the Great Lakes. Later a canal joined the Great Lakes with the Mississippi river system and Chicago became a thriving city. Politically the waterway system united the nation in a way few had imagined possible. By the mid-1800''s faster and cheaper railroads became more popular and the canal system declined. Railroads could be used year round whereas canals were often frozen in the winter. During the first third of the century, however, transportation on rivers, lakes and canals aided greatly in the growth of the United States. Next week we''ll discuss the railroads in greater detail.

听力题W: Hi, Mike. What are you doing here

听力题M: I have recently read a book on signals and words. I learned a lot about signals used in conversation. W: It sounds quite interesting. What have you learned about that? M: It says that with the development of behavioral sciences, researchers find that the importance of speech has been overestimated. W: How interesting! I only know that speech is quite important in communication. M: It''s true. But it''s not the only means of communication. Maybe it''s the most conscious way in communication. W: Then, what other means can we use to communicate? M: Well, it is possible that we are unconsciously sending out messages with our every action. Sometimes we unconsciously pick up others'' messages, and we even form opinions based on such messages. That''s probably an explanation of some people "love at first sight", and sometimes we just have to make "snap judgment." W: Yes, you mean we communicate a lot with our bodies, we send out messages when we move, sit, stand and whatever we do with our hands and our heads. M: That''s absolutely correct. Just imagine a few people sitting in a waiting room. One is drumming his fingers on his briefcase, another keeps rubbing his hands together, another is biting his fingernails, still another grasps the arms of his chair tightly and a final one keeps running his fingers over his hair. W: Excellent examples! These people actually aren''t talking, but they are "saying" a lot if we happen to know the "language" they are using. M: Right, I can''t agree with you more. There are also two most "telling" forms of behavior. One is driving a car. The other is playing games such as card games or chess. It is interesting to note a person''s reaction to stress in these situations and aggressive behavior in others. W: If he easily becomes angry, excited, passive or resentful when driving or playing, we may have a clue to his personality. M: Yes, I''m sure we will. Oh here comes the bus. Let''s be quick. Our language class is about to begin in fifteen minutes. W: Yes. We also can discuss this interesting topic again with Professor Lee. M: I have recently read a book on signals and words. I learned a lot about signals used in conversation. W: It sounds quite interesting. What have you learned about that? M: It says that with the development of behavioral sciences, researchers find that the importance of speech has been overestimated. W: How interesting! I only know that speech is quite important in communication. M: It''s true. But it''s not the only means of communication. Maybe it''s the most conscious way in communication. W: Then, what other means can we use to communicate? M: Well, it is possible that we are unconsciously sending out messages with our every action. Sometimes we unconsciously pick up others'' messages, and we even form opinions based on such messages. That''s probably an explanation of some people "love at first sight", and sometimes we just have to make "snap judgment." W: Yes, you mean we communicate a lot with our bodies, we send out messages when we move, sit, stand and whatever we do with our hands and our heads. M: That''s absolutely correct. Just imagine a few people sitting in a waiting room. One is drumming his fingers on his briefcase, another keeps rubbing his hands together, another is biting his fingernails, still another grasps the arms of his chair tightly and a final one keeps running his fingers over his hair. W: Excellent examples! These people actually aren''t talking, but they are "saying" a lot if we happen to know the "language" they are using. M: Right, I can''t agree with you more. There are also two most "telling" forms of behavior. One is driving a car. The other is playing games such as card games or chess. It is interesting to note a person''s reaction to stress in these situations and aggressive behavior in others. W: If he easily becomes angry, excited, passive or resentful when driving or playing, we may have a clue to his personality. M: Yes, I''m sure we will. Oh here comes the bus. Let''s be quick. Our language class is about to begin in fifteen minutes. W: Yes. We also can discuss this interesting topic again with Professor Lee.

听力题[此试题无题干]

听力题When my husband was promoted

听力题There are a lot of good cameras available at the moment—most of these are made in Japan but there are also good (36)____models from Germany and the USA. We have (37)____a range of different models to see which is the best (38)____for money. After a number of different tests and interviews with people who are (39)____with the different cameras being assessed, our researchers (40)____the Olympic BY model as the best auto-focus camera available at the moment. It costs $200 although you may well want to spend more (41) ____as much as another $200 — on buying (42)____lenses and other equipment. It is a good Japanese camera, (43)____to use. (44)______________, whereas the American versions are considerably more expensive. The Olympic BY model weighs only 320 grams which is quite a bit less than other cameras of a similar type. Indeed one of the other models we looked at weighed almost twice as much. (45)____________. All the people we interviewed expressed almost total satisfaction with it. (46)____________.

听力题 For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth''s natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse. Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye-pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer. Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution. People began to notice the problem in the early 1970s. It is that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they built buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using man-made building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases. As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building -green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant''s leaves absorb or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and through its tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square meters of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and safer place. For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth''s natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse. Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye-pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer. Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution. People began to notice the problem in the early 1970s. It is that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they built buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using man-made building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases. As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building -green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant''s leaves absorb or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and through its tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square meters of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and safer place.

听力题W: Hi, Kevin

听力题If you are like most people

听力题 Unless you have visited the southern United States, you probably have never heard of Kudzu. Kudzu, as any farmer in the south will sadly tell you, is a super-powered weed. It is a strong climbing plant. Once it gets started, Kudzu is almost impossible to stop. It climbs to the tops of the tallest trees. It can cover large buildings. Whole barns and farm houses have been known to disappear from view. Wherever it grows, its thick twisting stems are extremely hard to remove. Kudzu was once thought to be a helpful plant. Originally found in Asia, it was brought to America to help protect the land from being swallowed by the sea. It was planted where its tough roots which grow up to five feet long could help hold back the soil. But the plant soon spread to places where it wasn’t wanted. Farmers now have to fight to keep it from killing other plants. In a way, Kudzu is a sign of labor shortage in the south. Where there is no one to work the fields, Kudzu soon takes over. The northern United States faces no threat from Kudzu. Harsh winters kill it off. The plant loves the warmth of the south, but the south surely doesn’t love it. If someone could invent some use for Kudzu and remove it from southern farmland, his or her fortune would be assured. Unless you have visited the southern United States, you probably have never heard of Kudzu. Kudzu, as any farmer in the south will sadly tell you, is a super-powered weed. It is a strong climbing plant. Once it gets started, Kudzu is almost impossible to stop. It climbs to the tops of the tallest trees. It can cover large buildings. Whole barns and farm houses have been known to disappear from view. Wherever it grows, its thick twisting stems are extremely hard to remove. Kudzu was once thought to be a helpful plant. Originally found in Asia, it was brought to America to help protect the land from being swallowed by the sea. It was planted where its tough roots which grow up to five feet long could help hold back the soil. But the plant soon spread to places where it wasn’t wanted. Farmers now have to fight to keep it from killing other plants. In a way, Kudzu is a sign of labor shortage in the south. Where there is no one to work the fields, Kudzu soon takes over. The northern United States faces no threat from Kudzu. Harsh winters kill it off. The plant loves the warmth of the south, but the south surely doesn’t love it. If someone could invent some use for Kudzu and remove it from southern farmland, his or her fortune would be assured.

听力题After the early period of settlements

听力题Bacteria can make foods go bad

听力题W: Good afternoon

听力题W: Oh, Jackie, I''ve had such a terrible day

听力题Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.

听力题W: Oh, Jackie, I''ve had such a terrible day

听力题We do not know when men first began to use salt

听力题Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

听力题 A sixth of undergraduates in Beijing this year have registered at driving school. The students, mostly from majors such as business management or international trade, will finish their driving courses within 20 days or so. Training costs have dropped to 2, 600 yuan for students, according to the Haidian Driving School in Beijing. The price is not really low, but students will accept it, seeing it as an investment in their future. Familiarity with the operation of Computers and fluent English are the basic skills graduating students need to find a job. But a driver''s permit has become another factor. "In the job market, owning a driver''s permit sometimes strengthens a graduating student''s competitiveness for a good position," says Zhou Yang, an undergraduate at the China University of Political Science and Law. Cars will become a necessary part of many people''s lives in the coming years, and it is difficult to get a permit of campus because of the pressures on working people''s time. "Having a fulltime job after graduation offers limited time to learn to drive. We senior students have plenty of spare time, plenty of opportunity to learn." Zhou says. Xu Jian, an official at the driving school, said undergraduates were very able and serious, and could grasp in an hour what ordinary people took four hours to learn. In this driving school, middle-aged people, young women and college students are the main customers. To get a driver''s permit, a beginner is now required to have at least 86 hours'' practice before the final road test. A sixth of undergraduates in Beijing this year have registered at driving school. The students, mostly from majors such as business management or international trade, will finish their driving courses within 20 days or so. Training costs have dropped to 2, 600 yuan for students, according to the Haidian Driving School in Beijing. The price is not really low, but students will accept it, seeing it as an investment in their future. Familiarity with the operation of Computers and fluent English are the basic skills graduating students need to find a job. But a driver''s permit has become another factor. "In the job market, owning a driver''s permit sometimes strengthens a graduating student''s competitiveness for a good position," says Zhou Yang, an undergraduate at the China University of Political Science and Law. Cars will become a necessary part of many people''s lives in the coming years, and it is difficult to get a permit of campus because of the pressures on working people''s time. "Having a fulltime job after graduation offers limited time to learn to drive. We senior students have plenty of spare time, plenty of opportunity to learn." Zhou says. Xu Jian, an official at the driving school, said undergraduates were very able and serious, and could grasp in an hour what ordinary people took four hours to learn. In this driving school, middle-aged people, young women and college students are the main customers. To get a driver''s permit, a beginner is now required to have at least 86 hours'' practice before the final road test.

听力题M: Do you mind if I take notes? W: Not at all