沈阳农业大学大二英语期末考听力

Unit 2 Our globe is in danger!II. Basic Listening Practice1. ScriptM: Now we have satellite and high-powered microscopes, it’s easy to think we know everything about the world; but we still don’t understand EI Nino.W: Right. Even the scientists are uncertain about the exact cause of the warm Pacific current that brings storms or drought—the mysterious EI Nino.Q: Which of the following is true according to the conversation?B) Even scientists cannot understand EI Nino.2. ScriptM: Everyone is talking about environmental problem: acid rain, greenhouse effect, holes in the ozone layer. We should think positively. What can we do to improve things?W: I agree. We could do a lot more to harness the sun’s energy for heating and lighting in our homes. Millions of solar roofs are now emerging in Japan, the U.S., Italy, and Germany.Q: How do the man and the woman view the environment?D) Both the man and woman think positively about it.3. ScriptW: We lived in Beijing some years ago. It was always difficult to keep the house clean with the wind from the north blowing sand from the desert.M: That’s why the Chinese government has been encouraging people to plant trees along the edges of the Gobi Desert. Now those trees act as wind barriers.Q: What have the Chinese people been encouraged to do?A) To grow trees.4. ScriptM: Many old refrigerators and cars are environmental hazards because they contain CFCs that destroy the ozone layer.W: Yes, but government organizations are helping people to safely dispose of old refrigerators or, in the case of cars, to upgrade their air conditioning.Q: What are government organizations helping people to do?A) To treat old electrical appliances safely.5. ScriptM: Hey. That’s an aerosol spray you’re using on your hair! Build a bomb or set fire to the apartment to kill us quickly instead of making holes in the ozone, so we die of cancer.W: Cool it. This spray doesn’t contain CFCs. And you’d better read a little more.Q: What does the man mean?C) The woman should not use an aerosol spray.III. Listening InTask 1: We should have proper respect for nature!Martha: Do you think most people in your culture respect nature?Ed: I think so. Um… more now than before.Martha: What do you think is the most serious environment problem in the world today?Ed: Today…I think damage to the ozone layer is a big problem, and another problem is pollution in big cities and things like that.Martha: How do you learn about environmental problems?Ed: Um… through school. A lot of clubs promote env ironmental safely, and some TV programs, too. They talk about environmental safely and stuff like that.Martha: Do you think students should learn more about the environment at school?Ed: I think so. So, as they grow older, they can be more aware of all the problems that are going on, and prevent more problems from occurring.Martha: If you could create a new law to help the environment, what would it be?Ed: A new law for the environment? Um…I’d probably say that when people throw away their cigarette butts, they have to throw them into the garbage bin, not just throw them everywhere because it’s just littering and I hate that. So they should be fined if they throw them on the floor on the ground.Martha: That’s a good idea. What do you personally do to help protect the environment?Ed: I’ m so against littering. I never litter. If I see somebody litter, I get really angry. So I always throw my trash into the garbage bin.Key:(1) nature(2) environmental problem(3) pollution(4) promote(5) aware of(6) from occurring(7) law(8) throw away(9) fined(10) trashTask 2: River pollutionScriptIf you see dead fish floating on the river or notice that the water is discolored and smelly, you know the river has been polluted, and there are four main possible causes for it.First, fertilize. If large amount of fertilize or farm waste drain into a river, the concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in the water increase considerably. Algae use these substances to grow rapidly, turning the water green. This massive growth of algae leads to pollution. When the algae die, they are broken down by the action of the bacteria, which quickly multiply, using up all the oxygen in the water and therefore causing the death of fish.Second, industrial waste. Factories sometimes discharge chemical waste into rivers. Examples of such pollutants include cyanide, lead, copper, and mercury. These substances may enter the river in such high concentrations that fish and other animals are killed immediately. Sometimes the pollutions enter the food chain and accumulate until they reach toxic levels, eventually killing fish and other animals.Third, oil pollution. If oil enters a slow-moving river, it forms a rainbow-colored film over the entire surface, preventing oxygen from entering the water.Fourth, warm water. Industry often uses water for cooling processes, sometimes discharging large quantities of warm water back into rivers. A higher temperature of the water lowers the level of dissolved oxygen and upsets the balance of life in the water.Question and key:1. What is the passage mainly about?D) The causes of river pollution.2. Why does the river water turn green?A) Because nitrate and phosphate in the water increase.3. What harm does industrial waste cause?B) Poisoning..4. Which of the following is true of oil pollution?C) It prevents oxygen from entering the water.5. What harm can warm water in a river bring?D) Lack of oxygen.Task3: Curbing carbon emissionsScriptAlthough it is not an easy task, China is striving to fulfill the promise to cut its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent in the next 10 years.Zhang Guobao, Director of the National Energy Administration, said,―The government puts great emphasis on seeking harmonious development between cities and the environment, and is readjusting the energy structure by giving priority to the development of clean and low-carbon energies, including hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, and solar power. ‖Government authorities have closed small, coal-fired plants with a total capacity of 60.06 million kilowatts in the past four years. This year’s target of closing 10 million kilowatts of capacity will be achieved by August.―We have promised to the international community that 15 percent of our power will be generated from non-fossil sources by 2020,‖ Director Zhang said. At present, non-fossil energy accounts for only 7.8 percent.China is making efforts to increase the proportion f clean energy in its total energy consumption. Statistics show that China invested US$ 18.6 billion. Thus, China has become the world leader in generating clean energy. Five years earlier, China’s investment in clean energy was only US$ 2.5 billion.However, China’s carbon emission reduction target cannot be achieved easily. The shift to a low-carbon economy might be met at a cost to society. For instance, more than 400,000 people were laid off as a result of the shutdown of small coal-fired power plants in the past four years. Many studies indicate that the effort to curb greenhouse g as emissions may delay China’s development, affect people’s income, and lead to unemployment.Question and key:1. What is the passage mainly about?D) Cutting carbon dioxide emissions: China’s achievements and problems.2. From four years ago until August this year, how many kilowatts of coal-fired plant capacity will have been close？D) More than 70 million.3. By 2020, what will be the proportion of non-fossil energy in the total power in China?A) 15%.4. Which of the following is true of the investment by China and the United Stated in clean energy last year?B) China’s investment was almost twice as large as the United States.5. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as a problem arising from curbing greenhouse gas emissions?C) Causing more strikes.IV. Speaking OutMODEL 1 Our globe is in dangerJohn: How is your Grandma getting along during this usually hot weather?Nora: Over the last few years, Granny has been complaining that the hot, humid weather is killing her. She believes the weather has changed.John: What she means is the climate’s long-term conditions; weather refers only to day-to-day conditions.Nora: Yeah, she says summer is hotter, and winter wetter. But I tried to comfort her, saying, ―It’s all in your mind, Granny.‖John: She’s right, you know. The greenhouse effect does bring global warming and rain.Nora: How can I explain global warming and greenhouse gases to a 97-year-old Granny?John: Tell her the earth now is like a real greenhouse made of glass panels that let in light and trap heat.Nora: Think she’ll want to know that carbon monoxid e from earth makes greenhouse gases?John: Everybody should know what cause global warming; otherwise we won’t stop it.Nora: I’ll tell Granny not to burn any more wood or coal, or to use spray on the hair.John: OK, joke about it, but it won’t be so funny when the polar icecaps melt and oceans rise.MODEL2 Rainforests will soon be only a memory.Susan: Hey, Chris, there is an environmental group on campus asking for donations to save the rainforests.Chris: So what?Susan: So what?! Don’t you want to save the rainforests?Chris: But there’re no rainforests in our country. They need hot, tropical climates.Susan: Come on. A rain forest is any forest where heavy rainfall leads to dense vegetation. Tropical rainforests can be found in hoe, tropical areas, but there are also cool rainforests, including one in southeast Alaska.Chris: How did you know that?Susan: Well, I’ve just read a book on rainforests. You know, 140nillion people live in the world’s rainforests, and 35 percent of the world’s plant and anima l species exist only in rainforests.Chris: Wow, I’m impressed. So what else have you learned?Susan: Most of the world’s rainforests are in danger of destruction by loggers, farmers and developers. They are disappearing at a rate of 1000 acres a minute!Chris: It’s terrible!Susan: Yeah, we’ve got to find a way to save them. Now would you like to give a donation?Chris: Sure.MODEL3 What a terrible sandstorm!Susan: Hey, John. You’re back. A few days ago, a big sandstorm hit our cityJohn: Oh, that’s b ad.Susan: The air was full of dirt and sand and dust. I had to wear a scarf around my head.John: The dust, as I know, comes from Mongolia. And from my reading in science, I’ve heard the dust often comes after a long period of drought.Susan: This is a serious problem in many parts of the world, and unfortunately our city is one of them.John: And if the drought continues, the soil is easily airborne. And then if the wind comes, the soil can be lifted up on the cold are that rises up, and it can travel very long distances.Susan: Normally, when there’s a wind, it can clear the air, and you have beautiful weather. But when the dust is brought in with the wind, then you can’t breathe, you can’t see well, and it’s dangerous for driving, or for walking.John: Yeah. You know, when the dust is lifted up it can go as high 3,000 meters. And it’s not just China that has problems, but many other countries. For example, the middle of Australia sometimes has dust storms, and some of the dust goes up very high, goes across the ocean, and falls down on New Zealand.Susan: Not a very nice neighbor.John: Is there a solution to the problem?Susan: We need to plant more trees and grass so that the soil can stay where it is.John: No wonder the government is launching a new afforestation program in a bid t address the environmental problem.V. Let’s TalkMan: Well, it’s aspirational language which is nice and lovely and fluffy, but doesn’t really actually commit anyone to doing anything, and so it’s really hard to take to the bank. I mean, people’s lives are on the line in the developing world where we are seeing the impacts felt first and foremost. And obviously the atmosphere simply can’t take the kind of emissions we’ve been seeing in the business-as-usual scenario and there’s no real commitment to change that. There’s no real commitment to put serious money on the table and that’s a big problem.[On-screen text: Wind Farm]This is a great photo op for all the world leaders, but if it’s not backed by action, it really doesn’t mean much at the end of the day.Woman: What’s in there is very disappointing. It does not constitute a …a deal. It’s a hollow shell that will need to be filled in, and it has some numbers, it talks about trying to avoid degrees. That’s the same language that the G8 used last July. But it lacks anything on emissions cuts as yet that would guarantee that we’re actually on the, on track to get there. And the financing commitments…there is a mention of a 100-billion-dollar figure and the attempt to raise or m obilise that level of resources, but there’s no guarantee that there will be new money, that the money will be real, there’s actually a commitment to get there, or that it will be channeled in new ways, as yet.Key:(1) –b (2) –a(3) –h(4) –d(5) –g(6) –e(7) –c(8) –fVI. Further Listening and SpeakingTask1: The environment and the developmentScriptLi: Hi Professor Wang, I’m Li Lin, a correspondent from the university newspaper. The staffand students here are getting more and more interested in the relationship between the environment and economic development. What do you think is the most serious environmental problem at present? What measures should we adopt to improve the environment and develop the economy at the same time?Wang: There are many environmental problems: air pollution, water pollution, desertification, overfishing, destruction of natural habitats, acid rain, overconsumption of wild animals and plants, etc. But lying at the center of all those problems, as I see it, is the contradiction between economic growth and the environment.Since the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992, growing number of people and governments have adopted the new idea of ―sustainable development‖. This means today’s economic growth should not wipe out the resources and options for future generations. Planning and development should ensure not only economic growth, but also social advancement and environment health. In other words, some economic behavior must be restricted or controlled. Instilling principles of sustainable development into government planning, resource management and economic policy is the most important step China can take to solve its environmental problems.China has already taken some remarkable steps to reduce damage to the environment. For instance, following the huge floods of 1998, the government banned logging in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in order to protect forests and reduce the risk of floods.Still, the basic contradiction between environment and development persists. Much work is to be done before we can achieve the aim of a balance between economic growth and the environment.Key:(1) water pollution(2) overconsumption(3) economic growth(4) resources(5) social advancement(6) restricted(7) government planning(8) economic policy(9) remarkable steps(10) balanceTask2: Thick cloud of pollution covering southern AsiaScriptA United Nations study says that a thick cloud of pollution covering southern Asia threatens the lives of millions of people. Scientists say the pollution could increase lung disease and cause early death. The cloud is also damaging agriculture and affecting rainfall levels. It has affected many countries in southern Asia. The pollution cloud is three kilometers high. Scientists say it can move halfway around the world in a week.The cloud is the result of forest fires, the burning of agricultural waste, and huge increases in the burning of fuels by vehicles, industries and power stations.Pollution from millions of bad cooking stoves has made the problem worse. Many poor people burn fuels like wood and animal waste in such stoves.Scientists say the cloud of pollution appears to cool the land and oceans by blocking sunlight. They say it reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface by as much as 15 p ercent. At the same time, heat inside the cloud warms the lower parts of the atmosphere.Scientists say this combination could be changing winter rainfall levels in Asia. They say rainfall has increased over the eastern coast of Asia. But it has dropped sharply over parts of northwestern Asia. The report says the cloud could reduce rainfall over northwestern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and western China by up to 40 percent.Harmful chemicals from the cloud are mixing with rainfall. This acid rain damages crops andtrees and threatens public health. Scientists are concerned that the pollution will intensify during the next 30 years as the population of Asia increases to an estimated 5,000 million people.Question and key:1. What is true of the cloud of pollution?D) It can move halfway around the world in a week.2. What is NOT the cause of the cloud of pollution?B) Evaporation from the ocean.3. What does the cloud of pollution bring about?A) It cools the land and oceans.4. Why will the pollution intensify in the next 30 years?C) Because the Asian population will increase a lot.5. What is the main idea of the passage?C) The causes and results of a cloud of pollution.Task 3: Mountain regions face a number of dangers.Mountain people around the world are in great danger of the negative effects of the worsening environment, according to a UN report.As global warming and deforestation accelerate and technology makes wilder places more accessible, environmental and social pressures on the world’s remotest regions increases.The UN has found that many mountainous regions—inhabited by one out of five of the world’s people—are barely recognizable when they are compared to what they ere like 60 years ago. This is mostly because forests were cut to make way for cattle grazing and agriculture.The authors of the UN study expect 98 percent of its mountain areas to experience severe climate change by 2055. Biological losses are expected to be heavy. The mountains of Europe, part of California and the northwest Andes in South America are among the most threatened mountain areas in the world and should be given priority in conservation.The UN is anxious to raise awareness of the problem facing mountain areas because they are inhabited by some of the most vulnerable people. These people could lose their culture and their livelihood with even the smallest shifts in climate.At the same time, many mountain regions are losing people. Thousands of villages in Europe are deserted most of the year. In other areas like Nepal, people are drifting to the cities in search of work.Viewing and speakingSanta’s Hometown in DangerScriptWeather experts may have found a new problem caused by global warming, one which many people will pay attention to: There are signs that Santa’s home in t he North may be in trouble because of warmer temperatures.The Finnish town of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, which many Europeans say is the home of Santa Claus, has had its warmest winter in 40 years. As a result, there has been much less snow than usual—meaning no snowmen, no snowballs and possible not enough snow for Santa to ride his sleigh on.More important for local residents, it may mean fewer tourists, as well. Santa’s wintry hometown normally attracts thousands of visitors each year, and millions of dollars.Anne Pelttari-Bergman, the town’s tourist director, worries that the town could be in troubleif snow levels do not return to normal. She explains: ―Snow is really important for us, of course. For Santa Claus, for Christmas tourism, and also for our winter tourism because winter is our best season. It is really important for us.‖Weather experts and town residents are hoping this warm winter is a one-time thing. Few people can imagine a holiday when even Santa does not have a white Christmas.Unit 3 Culture makes me what I am.II. Basic Listening Practice1.ScriptW: Chinese students are often too shy to say anything in class.M: I think they don’t speak because their culture values modesty，they don’t want to be showing off. Goes back to Confucius.Q: Why don’t Chinese students say in class according to the man.C They are modest.2.ScriptW: The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the work place.Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work.M: Yeah. In the United States women earn only 70 percent of what men get for the same job. It’s a situation that has to be changed.Q: What does the man say about the women.A They earn less than men.3.ScriptW: I admire Michael Dell. He had a dream to be the world’s largest manufacture of personal computers and he has realized that dream.M: And he dropped out of university to become a success. I wonder if there is a lesson in that.Q: What do we learn about Michael Dell from the dialog.D He succeeded in his career though he did not complete his education.4.ScriptM: Successful entrepreneurs are often self-made people who have a vision and know where they are going.W: But do they enjoy life like you and me or is money their only concern.Q: What are the two speakers’ attitudes toward successful entrepreneurs.D The man admires the entrepreneur but the woman does not.5.ScriptW: Do you agree that equal opportunity for all in an educational system is important？M: Yes but we have to recognize that all of us are not of equal ability.Q: What does the man imply？A We should acknowledge differences between students.III. Listening InTask 1: Competition in America ScriptAlan: What are you reading, Eliza?Eliza: An article on America competition.Alan: Competition is everywhere. Why so much fuss about it, Miss Knowledge?Eliza: Don’t make fun of me. According to the author, competition is especially important in American life. They’re taught to complete from early childhood. When children play games, they learn how to beat others.Alan: And many girls want to look more attractive than the girls sitting next to them in class. Do you think that way?Eliza: Don’t be silly. Let’s get back to the point. When childr en are growing up, they complete with one another in their studies.Alan: Isn’t that also true of students in other nations? As we all know, many Asian students would kill for a high test score and grab every opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge over others.Eliza: American boys find great pleasure in competing with each other in sports, according to the author.Alan: I do like sports. When our football team beats the other team, I feel great… makes me want to shout out loud. But isn’t that normal throughout the world?Eliza: American people also compete with each other at work and at climbing the social ladder.Alan: But there’s such competition in other countries as well.Eliza: You’re right in a sense, but the author says the idea of competing i s more deeply rooted in the minds of Americans. They’re even taught that if you lose and don’t feel hurt, there must be something wrong with you.Alan: I hear that some Asians put emphasis on cooperation. Which approach do you think makes more sense?Eliza: It’s hard to say. Anyway, it’s just culture difference.Question and key:1. What is the dialog mainly about?C) Varies aspects of American competition.2. What is the woman reading?A) Reading an article on American competition.3. What do children learn from playing games according to the woman?C) Competitiveness.4. What does the man say about Asian and American students?B) Competition exacts among both Asian and American students.5. What does the woman think more sense, competition or cooperation?D) It’s difficult to arrive at a definite conclusion.Task 2: Americans’ Work EthicScriptFor four hundred years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their ―work ethic‖. Its (S1) roots were in the teaching of the Christian Puritans who first settled in (S2) what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their (S3) moral duty to work at every task to please God by their (S4) diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill,and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a (S5) sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible’s (S6) teachings, ―If a man will not work, he shall not eat.‖Therefore, Americans have for (S7) centuries believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. (S8) Even as children they were taught, ―If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.‖But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of ―climbing the ladder‖ so as to increase their status, financial position, and sense of self-worth. (S9) In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsively. The word ―workaholic‖ describes an individual who is as addicted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol.There are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally. (S10) Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are extremely productive. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic upholds these values.Task3: Cross-cultural tips on doing businessCountries from around the globe, such as Germany, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia, conduct a lot of business in China-the biggest market in the world. Here are some tips to help you deal more successfully with people from those nations.Firstly, you must be punctual with the Germans. Being even five minutes late makes a poor impression. Being punctual is also very important with Americans and the British. But while it’s important to be on time for business meetings, nobody expects you to be punctual for a social event. Half past seven is really means a quarter to eight, or even eight o’clock! With Russians, always be on time, but don’t be surprised if your Russian contact is very late! It is n ot unusual for them to be one or even two hours late!In the business environments of those four countries, it is best to wear formal clothes of dark colors. In Russia, designer clothes are rather common. However, don’t be surprised if you go to an office in the U.K., on a Friday and find everyone wearing jeans. Many companies in the U.K. have ―dress down Fridays‖, when people wear casual attire.In conversation, the British and the Americans love humor and talking about sports. The weather is also a good topic of conversation with the British, but you should avoid political talk. With the Russians, say positive things about their country, and avoid making complaints. The Germans, however, prefer to get straight down to business!Remember that with the Ge rmans, once a deal has been agreed upon, you can’t change it! With the Americans, money is more important than relationships, whereas with Russians it’s important to get to know your contacts well. Also, don’t be surprised if a British meeting seems like a chaos, with everyone participating and giving opinions!Remember these tips and you will be on your way to a successful international career.Question and key:1. What is true of the Americans and the British in term of punctuality? D) They are punctual for business meetings, but less for social events.。