听力听力教程二文本

Part2 Passages Passage 1 The Loch Ness Monster One of the strangest and most fascinating things about Scotland* is the Loch* Ness Monster, Some people believe in the monster's existence. Many do not! However, very important bodies of people do believe there is some truth in the famous monster story: experts from Britain's Royal Air Force*, scientists from the Boston Academy of Applied Science* and computer specialists from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S.A.), to mention but a few! Loch Ness is an enormous lake in Northern Scotland. It is about twenty-four miles long and one mile wide, and has an approximate depth of 1,000 feet, which makes it very difficult for anybody to find and examine the highly elusive* monster. In fact the first convincing reports of people seeing the monster date from only about six years before the beginning of the Second World War. Since then there have been other sightings, and photographs of the monster have been taken! Many of these photographs have later been recognised as fakes -- silly jokes played on an unsuspecting public! However, other photographs have amazed the most searching scientific minds. In fact, it seems certain that something (and probably several of them) does exist in the deep waters of Loch Ness. The most amazing photographs show a flipper* -- the flipper perhaps of a very large animal (twenty or thirty feet long, it is imagined). From these photos British specialist in animal life, Sir Peter Scott, who is also an artist, has constructed this picture of what he believes the monster might look like. But where did the monster come from? Did it mysteriously climb out of a prehistoric world beneath the earth's crust*? Did it originally swim into the lake from the sea? Before the Ice Age, Loch Ness opened into the sea. Was the young monster's egg frozen into the ice of the Ice Age? And somehow did the monster come alive again when the ice went away? We just do not know! Can we ever find the answers to all the questions surrounding the legend* of the Loch Ness Monster, do you think? Exercise A: Loch Ness is an enormous lake in Northern Scotland. It is about twenty-four miles long and one mile wide, and has an approximate depth of 1,000 feet. Exercise B: 1.C *2. A 3. D 4. A 5. B 6. B 7. C 8. D Exercise C: l. One of the strangest and most fascinating things about Scotland is the Loch Ness Monster. 2. They are Britain's Royal Air Force, the Boston Academy of Applied Science and NASA. 3. Because the most amazing photographs show a flipper -- the flipper perhaps of a very large animal (twenty or thirty feet long, it is imagined). 4. Because before the Ice Age, Loch Ness opened into the sea. 5. Sir Peter Scott is a British specialist in animal life and also an artist. Passage 2 Fossil Fossil*, remains or traces of prehistoric plants and animals, buried and preserved in sedimentary* rock, or trapped in organic matter. Fossils representing most living groups have been discovered, as well as many fossils representing groups that are now extinct. Fossils range in age from 3.5-billion-year-old traces of microscopic cyanbacteria* (blue-green algae) to 10,000-year-old remains of animals preserved during the last Ice Age. Fossils are most commonly found in limestone, sandstone, and shale (sedimentary rock). Remains of organisms can also be found trapped in natural asphalt, amber, and ice. The hard, indigestible skeletons and shells of animals and the woody material of plants are usually preserved best. Fossils of organisms made of soft tissue that decays readily are more rare. Paleontologists* (scientists who study prehistoric life) use fossils to learn how life has changed and evolved throughout earth's history. Many factors can influence how fossils are preserved. Remains of an organism may be replaced by minerals, dissolved by an acidic solution to leave only their impression, or simply reduced to a more stable form. The fossilization of an organism depends on the chemistry of the environment and on the biochemical makeup of the organism. As a result, not all organisms in a community will be preserved. Plants are most commonly fossilized through carbonization. In this process, the mobile oils in the plant's organic matter are leached out* and the remaining matter is reduced to a carbon film. Plants have an inner structure of rigid organic walls that may be preserved in this manner, revealing the framework of the original cells. Animal soft tissue has a less rigid cellular structure and is rarely preserved through carbonization. Although paleontologists have found the carbonized skin of some ichthyosaurs*, marine reptiles from the Mesozoic* Era (240 to 65 million years before present), the microscopic structure of the skin was not preserved. Different types of fossils are found in different geological formations, depending on the prehistoric environment represented and the age of the rock. Older rocks are found on low, eroded continents near the edges of large oceans. Younger rocks are found more' commonly where there is active mountain building and volcanic activity. Old fossils are most commonly found where an old mountain range has eroded, such as in eastern North America and northern Europe, or where two old continents have collided, such as in Russia. Younger fossils are found at the ocean side of young mountains where an ocean plate is colliding with a continental plate, such as in western North and South America and in New Zealand. Exercise A: Plants are most commonly fossilized through carbonization. In this process, the mobile oils in the plant's organic matter are leached out and the remaining matter is reduced to a carbon film. Exercise B: 1.A 2. B 3.C 4. B 5. D 6. A 7. C 8. D Exercise C: 1. Fossil, remains or traces of prehistoric plants and animals, buried and preserved in sedimentary rock, or trapped in organic matter. 2. Paleontologists use fossils to learn how life has changed and evolved throughout earth's history. 3. The remains of an organism may be replaced by minerals or dissolved by an acidic solution. 4. Old fossils are most commonly found where an old mountain range had eroded, such as in eastern North America and northern Europe, or where two old continents have collided, such as in Russia. 5. Younger fossils are found at the ocean side of young mountains where an ocean plate is colliding with a continental plate, such as in western North and South America and in New Zealand. Part 3 News News Item 1 The Philippine government has barred further workers from traveling to Iraq after one of its citizens was kidnapped in Baghdad. The group threatened to kill the hostage within 72 hours unless the Philippine government withdraws its troops from Iraq. The Philippine Labor Secretary ordered an immediate halt in the deployment* of any further Filipino workers to Iraq. Some 4,000 Filipino civilians are working in U.S. military bases in Iraq as cooks, mechanics or in other jobs. The government has offered help for any workers who want to come home. Exercise A: This news item is about the Philippine government’s prohibition against deploying any further workers to Iraq. Exercise B: The Philippine government has barred further workers from traveling to Iraq after one of its citizens was kidnapped in Baghdad. The group threatened to kill the hostage within 72 hours unless the Philippine government withdraws its troops from Iraq. The Philippine Labor Secretary ordered an immediate halt in the deployment of any further Filipino workers to Iraq. Some 4,000 Filipino civilians are working in U.S. military bases in Iraq as cooks, mechanics or in other jobs. The government has offered help for any workers who want to come home. News Item 2 A new round of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program will be held next week in Beijing. The talks involving China, Russia, Japan, the United States, and North and South Korea have been scheduled for June 23-26. Working group talks set for June 21-22 will lay the groundwork for discussions later in the week. Beijing has already hosted two rounds of the so-called six-party talks, but both have made little headway into resolving the standoff*. China hopes all sides will deepen their discussions based on previously reached agreements, including to resolve.the crisis peacefully through dialogue and reaching the final goal of a nuclear freed Korean Peninsula. The United States and its key Asian allies, South Korea and Japan, have been pushing Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program since the extent of the program became known in December 2002. Exercise A: This news item is about a new round of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program. Exercise B: Directions: Listen to the news item and answer the following questions. 1. What kind of talks will be held next week in Beijing? A new round of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program will be held next week in Beijing. 2. When have the talks been held? They have been scheduled for June 23-26. 3. Which countries are involved? The talks involve China. Russia. Japan the United States and North and South Korea, 4. Has much headway been made into resolving the standoff after two rounds of six-party talks? No. little headway has been made into resolving the standoff. 5. What does China hope? China hones all sides will deepen their discussions based on previously reached agreements, including to resolve the crisis peacefully through dialogue and reaching the final goal of a nuclear freed Korean Peninsula. News Item 3 The Bush administration has claimed victory in a dispute with China over semiconductors. The settlement brought a swift close to the World Trade Organization complaint filed March 18 against China, the first such suit against Beijing since it joined the WTO in 2001. The pact* will help U.S. companies expand what was a $2 billion semiconductor market opportunity last year. A 17-percent value-added tax on U.S. integrated circuits also will be eliminated*. The U.S. semiconductor industry, with about 255,000 domestically based workers, applauded the deal. In April, China and the United States sorted out another semiconductor-related trade dispute that related to a proprietary security technology that China had planned to impose on wireless networking chips. Exercise A: This news item is about the semiconductor-related trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Exercise B: 1.F 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T Part 2 Passages Passage 1 Epidemics Epidemics* occur roughly every three to five years and a worldwide pandemic* is happening now. Among the areas most affected recently are India, Viet Nam and the Caribbean*. Cases happen in Mexico often, and even in South Texas. This virus* has four flavors, called serotypes*, which are creatively named 1, 2, 3 and 4. Getting infected with one serotype does not protect you against the other stereotypes: in fact, getting a second dengue infection, particularly with type 2, leads to an even worse infection. This manifests as either Dengue* Hemorrhagic Fever* or Dengue Shock Syndrome*, which can be fatal. These are particularly dangerous in children, who suffer the most and who are at the greatest risk of dying from dengue. Still, most cases of dengue are benign* (not-serious), ending after approximately 7 days. Dengue has a short incubation* period -- often days, usually less than a week. This signs and symptoms of dengue include a sudden, rapidly climbing fever, a severe headache, nausea* and vomiting, loss of appetite, rash and deep muscle and joint pains. The disease is nicknamed "breakbone fever" for these last two symptoms. The rash usually shows up 3-4 days after the start of the symptoms and begins on the torso, spreading out to the face, arms and legs. There can be a few days respite but the fever and rash often recur, and this is known as the "saddleback pattern." With Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever the blood cells are crippled and bleeding develops -- in the gums, the skin, the intestinal tract*. With the shock syndrome* the blood vessels don't work quite right, and the blood pressure drops precipitously; as a result the blood fails to meet the metabolic* demands of the cells in the body -- which is the definition of shock. Well then, what can we do about it? There is no vaccine* and there is no cure, go if one contracts dengue, the treatment is "supportive" -- which means rest, plenty of fluids, acetaminophen* (Tylenol), and hospitalization if the hemorrhagic fever or shock forms develop. This leaves us with prevention, the most sensible option. Exercise A: The signs and symptoms of dengue include a sudden, rapidly climbing fever, a severe headache, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, rash and deep muscle and joint pains. Exercise B: 1.B 2. A 3. C . 4. C 5. D 6. D 7. A 8. B Exercise C: 1. It will probably lead to an even worse infection, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome. 2. Children suffer the most from dengue and they are at the greatest risk of dying from dengue. 3. The signs and symptoms of dengue include a sudden, rapidly climbing fever, a severe headache, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, rash and deep muscle and joint pains. 4. Because with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever the blood cells are crippled. 5. With the shock syndrome the blood vessels don't work quite right, and the blood pressure drops precipitously; as a result the blood fails to meet the metabolic demands of the cells in the body —which is the definition of shock. Passage 2 Cancer Cancer is the general name for a large group of diseases. It occurs when cells in the body grow and divide out of control. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells. Layers of cells form tissues. Normal cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly way. This process helps keep our bodies healthy. Cancer cells grow and divide too quickly. The process usually starts when something damages the genetic structure (DNA*) inside the cells, instead of dying in an orderly way, cancer cells keep growing, lump together* and form an extra mass of tissues. This mass is called a malignant tumor. As a malignant* tumor grows, it damages nearby tissue. A malignant tumor can take a long time (up to 30 years) or a short time (2 or 3 years) to cause symptoms. Cancer can begin in one part of the body and spread to others. This is called metastasis*. During metastasis; cancer cells travel through the body. In the new location, cancer cells create a new malignant tumor and grow out of control. Not all tumors are malignant. Some are benign, which means they aren't cancerous. Benign tumors usually aren't life threatening. They can usually be removed and rarely come back. We're not exactly sure what causes cancer. We don't always know why one person gets it and another doesn't. However, we do know a lot about the risk factors for cancer. The more we know about the risk factors, the more we can do to protect ourselves. Risk is a person's chance of getting a disease over a certain period of time. A person's risk factors make up a person's risk. A risk factor is anything that raises or lowers a person's chance of getting a disease. You can control some of them, but not all of them. Risk factors for cancer include: · A lifestyle choice, like what a person eats; · An environmental exposure, like smoke from other people's cigarettes; · Genetic make-up or family history; · Another disease or medical problem. These things mix together with different effects on different people. Some people are more sensitive to risk factors than others. Just because you have one or even several risk factors does not mean you will definitely get cancer. And avoiding risk factors does not guarantee you will be healthy. Exercise A: Risk factors for cancer include the followings: 1. A lifestyle choice, like what a person eats; 2. An environmental exposure, like smoke from other people's cigarettes; 3. Genetic make-up or family history; 4. Another disease or medical problem. Exercise B: 1.C 2. D 3.D 4. A 5. B 6. A 7. B 8. C Exercise C: 1. Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow and divide out of control. 2. The process of normal cells helps keep our bodies healthy. 3. Not all tumors are malignant. Benign tumors can usually be removed and rarely come back. 4. A risk factor is anything that raises or lowers a person's chance of getting a disease. 5. Some people are more sensitive to risk factors than others. Just because you have one or even several risk factors does not mean you will definitely get cancer. And avoiding risk factors does not guarantee you will be healthy. Part 3 News News Item 1 Haiti has become the first country to launch a Bush Administration plan to reduce the passing of HIV and AIDS from mothers to children. The program began Monday at a hospital. Haiti will receive $4 million for the first year of the five-year program. Officials say the money is expected to increase to $60 million over five years. The project is part of the $15 thousand million AIDS plan for African and Caribbean that President Bush recently signed into law. Every year as many as 6 thousand Haitian children are reportedly born with H1V -- the virus that causes AIDS. Exercise A: This news item is about the launch of a Bush Administration plan to reduce the passing of HIV and AIDS from mothers to children in Haiti. Exercise B: Haiti has become the first country to launch a Bush Administration plan to reduce the passing of HIV and AIDS from mothers to children. The program began Monday at a hospital. Haiti will receive $4 million for the first year of the five-year program. Officials say the money is expected to increase to $60 million over five years. The project is part of the $15 thousand million AIDS plan for African and Caribbean that President Bush recently signed into law. Every year as many as 6 thousand Haitian children are reportedly born with HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS. News Item 2 A new World Bank study warns that HIV and AIDS may damage African economies far worse than had been believed. The reports said African nations with high rates of AIDS could see as much as half of their entire domestic product disappear within 90 years. The study shows that AIDS kills mostly young adults. Many children are then left without parents. It said children whose parents die of AIDS are less likely to complete their education. As a result, they failed to gain the skills to make them productive adults. The study said that immediate action must be taken to keep infected people alive so that they can care for and educate their children. Exercise A: This news item is about a new World Bank study which warns that HIV and AIDS may damage African economies far worse than had been believed. Exercise B I.A new World Bank study warning 1. HIV and AIDS may damage African economies far worse than had been believed. 2. African nations with high rates of AIDS could see as much as half of their entire domestic product disappear within 90 years. 11. Harmful influence on young adults and their children 1. The study shows that AIDS kills mostly young adults. Many children are then left without parents 2. It said children whose parents die of AIDS are less likely to complete their education. As a result, they failed to gain the skills to make them productive adults. 3. The study said that immediate action must be taken to keep infected people alive so that they can care for and educate their children. News Item 3 The annual AIDS report from the United Nations