2014年12月英语四级考试听力(第三套)

[00:01.38]College English Test (Band 4) [00:04.55]Part ⅡListening Comprehension [00:08.29]Section A [00:09.89]Directions: In this section, you will hear [00:13.22]8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. [00:17.92]At the end of each conversation, [00:20.20]one or more questions will be asked about what was said. [00:24.49]Both the conversation and the questions [00:26.91]will be spoken only once. [00:29.57]After each question there will be a pause. [00:32.88]During the pause, you must read the four choices [00:35.96]marked A),B), C) and D), [00:39.51]and decide which is the best answer. [00:42.30]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 [00:46.18]with a single line through the centre. [00:48.86]Now let’s begin with the eight short conversations. [00:53.93]1. W: Simon, could you return the tools [00:57.83]I lent you for building the bookshelf last month? [01:00.98]M: Oh, well, I hate to tell you this, [01:04.81]but I can't seem to find them. [01:07.66]Q: What do we learn from the conversation? [01:25.41]2. W: I am going to Martha's house. [01:28.89]I have a paper to complete. [01:30.50]And I need to use her computer. [01:32.61]M: Why don't you buy one yourself? [01:34.86]Think how much time you could save. [01:37.67]Q: What does the man suggest the woman do? [01:55.61]3. W: Daddy, I've decided to give up science [01:59.30]and go to business school. [02:01.14]M: Well, it is your choice [02:02.45]as long as you pay your own way, [02:04.33]but I should warn you that not everyone [02:06.47]with a business degree will make a successful manager. [02:10.84]Q: What do we learn from the conversation? [02:29.22]4. W: I just read in the newspaper [02:32.68]that The Lord of the Rings is this year's greatest hit. [02:36.29]Why don't we go and see it at the Grand Cinema? [02:39.20]M: Don't you think that cinema is a little out of the way? [02:43.56]Q: What does the man mean? [03:00.65]5. W: Bob said that Seattle is a great place for conferences. [03:06.05]M: He is certainly in the position to make that comment. [03:09.02]He has been there so often. [03:12.15]Q: What does the man say about Bob? [03:30.03]6. W: Mr. Watson, I wonder whether it's possible for me [03:35.44]to take a vacation early next month? [03:38.13]M: Did you fill out a request form? [03:41.80]Q: What is the probable relationship between the two speakers? [04:00.99]7. M: Do you want to go to the lecture this weekend? [04:05.53]I hear that the guy who is going to deliver the lecture [04:08.61]spent a year living in the rainforest. [04:12.00]W: Great, I am doing a report on the rainforest. [04:15.30]Maybe I can get some new information to add to it. [04:19.31]Q: What does the woman mean? [04:37.22]8. M: This article is nothing but advertising [04:41.65]for housing developers. [04:43.42]I don't think the houses for sale are half that good. [04:47.20]W: Come on, David. Why so negative? [04:49.32]We are thinking of buying a home, aren't we? [04:52.74]Just a trip to look at the place won't cost us much. [04:56.79]Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? [05:15.20]Now you will hear the two long conversations. [05:19.07]Conversation One [05:20.88]M: OK. Now we'd better make sure you enjoy your studies. [05:24.74]We offer a wide range of options on the foundation course, [05:28.74]but you can only take five courses. [05:31.16]What have you selected? [05:32.94]W: Physical sciences, basic electronics, art and design CAD... [05:38.05]M: Oh, right. CAD and ... English. [05:41.74]That's quite strange. [05:42.99]Don't you want to do maths, [05:44.52]or computer programming, for example? [05:47.59]Why did you choose art and design? [05:50.52]W: Well, I'm interested in electronics [05:52.45]and in writing computer games. [05:54.78]I'd like to produce educational software and educational games. [05:59.18]I've taught myself a lot of programming. [06:01.21]So I don't think I'd benefit much [06:02.93]from a foundation level course. [06:05.12]M: Oh, no. I see that. Go on, please. [06:08.88]W: So, I want the basics- [06:10.93]the physical science and electronics. [06:13.59]I was hopeless at physics in school [06:15.41]and we didn't have electronics. [06:17.13]But I was good at maths. [06:18.95]I don't think I need that. [06:20.68]M: Then what about the art and design? [06:23.49]W: That will be good for my graphics. [06:25.19]I need that to produce games,and CAD too- [06:28.67]I've never done CAD before. [06:31.00]M: Right. They've got some powerful packages [06:33.57]in the computer graphics and CAD offices. [06:36.77]You'll enjoy that. Then English. [06:39.21]I know your English is very good, [06:41.23]but why did you take it? [06:43.49]W: In fact, I don't have any problem in speaking, [06:46.05]but my writing is terrible. [06:48.62]M: Then I suggest you join the study skills class. [06:51.93]They'll have lectures on report writing and [06:54.16]that may help you with how to structure your essays and so on. [06:58.41]W: Right. That sounds good. [07:01.38]Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation [07:04.32]you have just heard. [07:06.55]9. What are the two speakers talking about? [07:26.21]10. What is the woman's favorite course? [07:45.77]11. Why did the woman take an English course? [08:06.46]Conversation Two [08:08.48]W: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. I'm Diana Huston. [08:11.32]M: Good morning. What can I do for you? [08:13.94]W: I'm a college student. [08:15.26]I'm taking a business course [08:16.67]which needs three weeks' work experience. [08:19.73]My lecturer, Mr. Armstrong, suggested I contact you [08:23.55]as you've allowed students before to practice in your company. [08:27.16]I've brought a letter of reference from Mr. Armstrong for you. [08:30.63]M: Thanks. [08:31.54]Yes, our company has a good relationship [08:33.83]with the university. [08:35.24]We've had many students here over the past years. [08:38.88]We usually take students [08:40.24]who are in the second half of their courses. [08:42.51]What about you? [08:44.05]W: I'm almost at the halfway mark. [08:45.80]I've got some exams in two weeks. [08:48.32]Then I'll be ready to start [08:49.64]before the beginning of the second semester. [08:52.12]But I thought I'd get this organized [08:53.73]before the exams start. [08:55.53]M: That's a very responsible way of thinking. [08:58.03]It's a good idea to get in early. [09:00.35]I'm sure there will be many students soon. [09:03.44]W: I could start in three weeks if you like. [09:05.94]M: Do you understand what's involved in the practice? [09:09.10]W: I think so. [09:10.23]Mr. Armstrong explained the procedures to us. [09:13.32]I have to work regular hours, [09:15.08]and write a comprehensive report on what I've learnt [09:18.24]as an assignment for Mr. Armstrong [09:20.75]and the personnel department of the company as well. [09:23.73]And you will send a report about my work to Mr. Armstrong [09:26.89]and that will also be part of my assessment. [09:29.49]M: That's right. [09:30.42]But I'll have to discuss this application [09:32.41]with the personnel department. [09:34.21]And I will let you know as soon as possible [09:36.49]if you've been accepted. [09:38.65]W: Yes, please. If I'm not accepted, [09:41.17]I'll have to apply somewhere else. [09:44.01]Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation [09:47.03]you have just heard. [09:49.68]12. What's the woman's main purpose of the visit? [10:09.68]13. Which kind of students will the company usually accept? [10:30.98]14. What would the man do for the woman's practice [10:35.29]if she were accepted? [10:52.33]15. When will the woman's practice begin? [11:12.23]Section B [11:13.84]Directions: In this section, [11:16.03]you will hear 3 short passages. [11:18.75]At the end of each passage, [11:20.23]you will hear some questions. [11:22.23]Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. [11:26.70]After you hear a question, [11:28.16]you must choose the best answer from the four choices [11:31.12]marked A),B), C) and D). [11:33.69]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 [11:36.92]with a single line through the centre. [11:39.59]Passage One [11:41.57]In the next few decades, [11:43.34]people are going to travel very differently [11:45.69]from the way they do today. [11:47.97]Everyone is going to drive electrically-powered cars, [11:51.74]so in the few years, [11:53.17]people won't worry about running out of gas. [11:56.17]Some of the large automobile companies [11:58.06]are really moving ahead with this new technology. [12:01.66]F&C Motors, a major auto company, for example, [12:05.46]is holding a press conference next week. [12:08.34]After the press conference, [12:09.73]the company will present its new electronically-operated models. [12:14.45]Transportation in the future [12:16.23]won't be limited to the ground. [12:18.53]Many people predict that traffic will quickly move to the sky. [12:22.62]In the coming years, [12:24.08]instead of radio reports about road conditions and highway traffic, [12:28.50]news reports will talk about traffic jams in the sky. [12:32.62]But the sky isn't the limit. [12:34.70]In the future, [12:35.71]you will probably even be able to take a trip to the moon. [12:39.47]Instead of listening to regular airplane announcements, [12:42.81]you will hear someone say: [12:45.61]the spacecraft to the moon leaves in ten minutes. [12:48.86]Please check your equipment. [12:50.82]And remember no more than ten ounces of [12:53.74]carry-on baggage are allowed. [12:56.68]Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. [13:01.95]16. What will be used to power cars in the next few decades? [13:23.16]17. What will future news reports focus on [13:27.91]when talking about transportation? [13:45.55]18. What will passengers be asked to do [13:49.75]when they travel to the moon? [14:07.01]Passage Two [14:08.64]County fairs are a tradition in New England towns. [14:12.55]They offer great entertainment. [14:14.58]One popular event is the pie-eating contest. [14:18.14]If you want to take part in the contest, [14:20.50]it is a good idea to remember these guidelines: [14:23.44]first, make sure your stomach is nearly empty of food. [14:27.58]Eating a whole pie can be hard [14:29.18]if you have just finished a meal. [14:31.54]Next, it is helpful to like the pie you are going to eat. [14:35.84]The cream types are a good choice. [14:37.79]They slide down the throat more easily. [14:40.16]Placing your hands in the right position [14:41.94]adds to the chances of winning. [14:44.03]There is a temptation to reach out [14:45.81]and help the eating process. [14:47.74]This will result in becoming disqualified. [14:50.47]Don't just sit on your hands. [14:52.51]If your hands are tied behind your back, [14:54.87]you will not be tempted to make use of them. [14:57.41]Now you are ready to show your talent at eating pies. [15:01.03]The object, of course, [15:01.93]is to get to the bottom of the pie plate [15:03.91]before the other people. [15:05.44]It is usually better to start at the outside [15:07.84]and work toward the middle. [15:09.67]This method gives you a goal to focus on. [15:12.31]Try not to notice [15:13.41]what the other people near you are doing. [15:15.95]Let the cheers from the crowd spur you on. [15:18.05]But do not look up. [15:19.11]All you should think about is eating that pie. [15:22.87]Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard. [15:28.01]19. Where is a pie-eating contest usually held? [15:48.94]20. What should a person do before entering a pie-eating contest? [16:10.01]21. Where is the person advised to put his hands [16:15.03]during the contest? [16:32.00]22. What suggestion is offered for eating up the pie quickly? [16:53.67]Passage Three [16:55.77]The period of engagement is the time [16:57.89]between the marriage proposal and the wedding ceremony. [17:01.92]Two people agree to marry [17:03.52]when they decide to spend their lives together. [17:06.55]The man usually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring. [17:10.87]That tradition is said to have started [17:12.72]when an Austrian man gave a diamond ring [17:15.75]to the woman he wanted to marry. [17:18.20]The diamond represented beauty. [17:20.69]He placed it on the third finger of her left hand. [17:24.29]He chose that finger because it was thought that [17:27.78]the blood vessel in that finger [17:29.30]went directly to the heart. [17:31.95]Today we know that this is not true, [17:34.45]yet the tradition continues. [17:37.07]Americans generally are engaged for a period of about one year [17:41.62]if they are planning a wedding ceremony and a party. [17:45.23]During this time, [17:46.45]friends of the bride may hold a party [17:48.83]at which women friends [17:50.22]and family members give the bride gifts [17:53.06]that she will need as a wife. [17:55.59]These could include cooking equipment or new clothing. [17:59.49]Friends of the man who is getting married [18:01.79]may have a bachelor party for him. [18:04.35]This usually takes place the night before the wedding. [18:08.06]Only men are invited to the bachelor party. [18:11.33]During the marriage ceremony, [18:13.11]the bride and her would-be husband [18:15.42]usually exchange gold rings [18:18.00]that represent the idea [18:19.70]that their union will continue forever. [18:22.86]The wife often wears both the wedding ring [18:25.38]and the engagement ring on the same finger. [18:28.78]The husband wears his ring [18:30.63]on the third finger of his left hand. [18:33.67]Many people say the purpose of the engagement period [18:37.10]is to permit enough time to plan the wedding. [18:40.37]But the main purpose is to let enough time pass, [18:43.01]so the two people are sure they want to marry each other. [18:47.63]Either person may decide to break the engagement, [18:50.69]if this happens, the woman usually returns the ring to the man. [18:55.58]They also return any wedding gifts they have received. [19:00.16]Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. [19:05.92]23. What was the diamond ring said to represent? [19:26.68]24. Why did the Austrian man place the diamond ring [19:31.40]on the third finger of the left hand of his would-be wife? [19:50.87]25. What is the chief advantage [19:54.39]of having the engagement period? [20:11.46]Section C [20:13.27]Directions: In this section, [20:15.47]you will hear a passage three times. [20:17.97]When the passage is read for the first time, [20:20.38]you should listen carefully for its general idea. [20:23.65]When the passage is read for the second time, [20:26.19]you are required to fill in the blanks [20:28.52]with the exact words you have just heard. [20:31.37]Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, [20:34.81]you should check what you have written. [20:36.83]Now listen to the passage. [20:39.44]In the center of a big city [20:40.93]there are usually dozens of [20:42.59]large office buildings that house big banks, [20:45.58]corporation headquarters, and government agencies. [20:49.15]Thousands of people work in these buildings. [20:52.03]People who do all the office work are called white-collar workers. [20:56.06]Secretaries and receptionists, bookkeepers and computer operators [21:00.49]work for many different kinds of companies. [21:02.93]Many office workers dream of working their way up to the top, [21:06.85]from clerk to president of a corporation. [21:09.58]The way lies through middle management. [21:12.03]Middle management includes junior executives, [21:15.07]who may fill specialized jobs, [21:17.40]supervise other workers in the company, [21:19.91]recommend action to top management, [21:22.26]or see that the company's policies are being carried out. [21:25.92]At the very top are the senior executives. [21:28.89]They establish the policies [21:30.40]for their own companies, especially financial matters. [21:34.20]The Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, [21:36.53]of a large corporation [21:38.28]has a great deal of power and influence. [21:40.90]It is believed that one can start out [21:43.21]at the bottom and go all the way to the top. [21:45.45]Because financial matters are so important, [21:47.78]some accountants become top executives. [21:50.56]In companies where technology is important, [21:53.14]people with an engineering background can also rise to the top. [21:57.13]Nowadays, however, education plays a central part [22:00.21]in the selection of people for management jobs. [22:03.11]Universities in many countries [22:04.82]offer courses in business administration. [22:07.57]The graduates of these courses [22:09.22]often start out in middle management jobs. [22:11.94]From there, they can easily get promoted [22:14.39]if they show the necessary personality and ability. [22:18.30]Now the passage will be read again. [22:20.84]In the center of a big city [22:22.47]there are usually dozens of [22:24.21]large office buildings that house big banks, [22:27.28]corporation headquarters, and government agencies. [22:31.13]Thousands of people work in these buildings. [22:33.85]People who do all the office work are called white-collar workers. [22:38.45]Secretaries and receptionists, bookkeepers and computer operators [22:42.89]work for many different kinds of companies. [22:46.10]Many office workers dream of working their way up to the top, [22:49.88]from clerk to president of a corporation. [22:53.30]The way lies through middle management. [22:55.98]Middle management includes junior executives, [22:59.08]who may fill specialized jobs, [23:01.55]supervise other workers in the company, [23:04.05]recommend action to top management, [23:06.72]or see that the company's policies are being carried out. [23:11.12]At the very top are the senior executives. [23:14.35]They establish the policies [23:15.93]for their own companies, especially financial matters. [23:20.16]The Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, [23:23.35]of a large corporation [23:24.90]has a great deal of power and influence. [23:27.90]It is believed that one can start out [23:30.16]at the bottom and go all the way to the top. [23:34.03]Because financial matters are so important, [23:36.97]some accountants become top executives. [23:39.95]In companies where technology is important, [23:43.12]people with an engineering background can also rise to the top. [23:47.71]Nowadays, however, education plays a central part [23:51.45]in the selection of people for management jobs. [23:54.85]Universities in many countries [23:57.25]offer courses in business administration. [23:59.98]The graduates of these courses [24:01.67]often start out in middle management jobs. [24:04.93]From there, they can easily get promoted [24:07.36]if they show the necessary personality and ability. [24:12.94]Now the passage will be read for the third time. [24:16.86]In the center of a big city [24:18.31]there are usually dozens of [24:19.95]large office buildings that house big banks, [24:22.93]corporation headquarters, and government agencies. [24:26.57]Thousands of people work in these buildings. [24:29.37]People who do all the office work are called white-collar workers. [24:33.38]Secretaries and receptionists, bookkeepers and computer operators [24:37.85]work for many different kinds of companies. [24:40.27]Many office workers dream of working their way up to the top, [24:44.09]from clerk to president of a corporation. [24:46.93]The way lies through middle management. [24:49.48]Middle management includes junior executives, [24:52.44]who may fill specialized jobs, [24:54.75]supervise other workers in the company, [24:57.46]recommend action to top management, [24:59.62]or see that the company's policies are being carried out. [25:03.29]At the very top are the senior executives. [25:06.22]They establish the policies [25:07.74]for their own companies, especially financial matters. [25:11.59]The Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, [25:13.84]of a large corporation [25:15.64]has a great deal of power and influence. [25:18.26]It is believed that one can start out [25:20.59]at the bottom and go all the way to the top. [25:22.76]Because financial matters are so important, [25:25.16]some accountants become top executives. [25:27.93]In companies where technology is important, [25:30.57]people with an engineering background can also rise to the top. [25:34.54]Nowadays, however, education plays a central part [25:37.52]in the selection of people for management jobs. [25:40.37]Universities in many countries [25:42.09]offer courses in business administration. [25:44.92]The graduates of these courses [25:46.47]often start out in middle management jobs. [25:49.38]From there, they can easily get promoted [25:51.55]if they show the necessary personality and ability. [25:55.80]This is the end of listening comprehension.