new-B-lesson 15 Reform and Development

Unit Fifteen Reform and DevelopmentPart A Getting Started1. M: I'd like to try to sell some of my textbooks from last semester.W: You and a few hundred other people.Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?a. The bookstore is rarely crowded.b. The woman has bought all her textbooks for this semester.C. Many students have used books to sell.d. Last semester's books cost the woman several hundred dollars.2. M: Could I talk to you for a minute about the discrepancy I found in this graph? W: I'm kind of in the middle of things right now.Q: What does the woman mean?a. The graph is in the center of the page.b. She can't discuss the problem until later.c. She's only finished half of the document.d. They should look for another graph immediately.3. W: Do you know if George is coming to the meeting?M: Oh, no. I was supposed to tell you that he's sick and can't come.Q: Which of the following is true about the man?a. He's supposed to go to the meeting.b. He wants the woman to give George the message.c. He doesn't know why George can't attend the meeting.d. He forgot to deliver a message.4. W: Dick, please don't tie up the phone. I need to make a call.M: I'll be off in a minute.Q: What will the man do?a. End his conversation quickly.b. Make several calls for the woman.c. Take the phone off the hook.d. Write down his phone number.5. M: You took the European literature class last year, are you interested in selling me any of the books?M: I always hold on to them for future reference.Q: What will the man probably do?a. Return his literature books to the library.b. Keep his books from the literature class.c. Sell his literature books to the woman.d. Give his literature books to his roommate.6. M: I've come about the job you advertised in the paper.W: You need one of those forms over there. On the table next to the file cabinet.Q: What does the woman imply the man should do?a. Fill out an application form.b. Apply for a different position.d. Show her the advertisement from the newspaper.7. M: I know I ought to call home, but I've got a plane to catch, and I'm already late.W: Well, I know you have to hurry, but it'll only take a minute.Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?a. Go with her to the airport.b. Talk to her for a short time.c. Find out when the plane is leaving.d. Make the phone call now.8. W: I have to drive to Chicago next week. Do you have a map I could borrow? M: Sorry, I don't, but I can pick one up for you at the bookstore.Q: What will the man do to help the woman?a. He will give the woman directions to Chicago.b. He will drive the woman to Chicago.c. He will get a map for the woman.d. He will take the woman to the bookstore.9. W: What did you think of the painting exhibition last week?M: I never made it to the exhibit.Q: What can be learned about the man?a. He didn't show his paintings at the exhibit.b. He didn't see the paintings.c. He doesn't understand Ted's art.d. The exhibit was canceled.10. M: Did you hear about the big snowstorm in Iowa yesterday? Three feet in 12 hours.W: Yeah, and I hear it's headed our way. We're supposed to get the same thing tonight.Q: What can be known according to the conversation?a. The woman has canceled her trip to Iowa.b. The snowstorm is getting weaker.c. The man's information isn't accurate.d. They also may get a lot of snow.11. M: You're joining us for dinner tonight, aren't you?W: Oh, I'm really sorry, but I had the wrong day for my geometry test. I just found out it's tomorrow, and I need all the time I can get to prepare.Q: What will the woman probably do?a. She will spend some time to get ready for the dinner.b. She will join them for dinner on time.c. She will go out shopping.d She will need all the time she can get to prepare for a test.12. W: I can't decide whether I should take physics now or wait till next semester. M: You might as well get it over with you if you can.Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?b. Get permission to take the class.c. Take the class over again.d. Register for the class next semester.13. W: You look different today. Did you get a haircut?M: It's funny. You're the third person to ask me that. But all I did was get new eyeglass frames.Q: What do you learn about the man?a. He doesn't like his new eyeglass frames.b. He hasn't had a haircut.c. He got his eyeglasses a long time ago.d. He has been asked by several people about his new eyeglass frames.14. W: How did your job interview go?M: I don't think I came across as well as I could have.Q: What does the man mean?a. He shouldn't have applied for the job.b. He is disappointed with his interview.c. He performed well in the interview.d. He doesn't want to discuss the interview now.15. M: That last speaker was pretty boring, but he did make a few good points at the end.W: Really? I didn't catch them. I must have dozed off for a minute.Q: Which can be learned about the woman according to the conversation?a. She left the lecture for a few minutes.b. She was reading during the lecture.C. She may have fallen asleep.d. She misunderstood the speaker's last points.Passage 1 Reform of FBIThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main investigating agency of the United States Department of Justice. The justice department recently announced new measures to help the FBI fight terrorism. For many years, FBI agents investigated threats to national security. Now, however, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller has told Congress that the Bureau's main responsibility must be to protect the United States from terrorist attacks.The justice department recently announced a major reorganization of the FBI. The size of the agency will be increased. FBI agents also will have new powers to investigate inside the United States. Most of the reforms are to improve the FBI's ability to gather and study intelligence information about terrorists planning attacks on the United States.The changes are in reaction to recent criticism of the FBI. Many people have questioned its actions in relation to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001.The FBI plans to hire 900 more agents. They include people skilled in computer technology, science and languages. They will join about 11,500 other FBIagents. A central Office of Intelligence will be established in the FBI's Washington headquarters. The FBI has already appointed a numberof officials to intelligence positions.FBI Director Mueller and justice department officials say the new rules will greatly improve FBI performance. For example, commanders at agency offices will now be able to order investigations that are limited in time. In the past, they needed permission from FBI headquarters to do this. The commanders can also start limited investigations when no crime has taken place. Evidence gathered during this time could help launch extended investigations.In addition, agents will be able to gather information about religious and political organizations from the Internet and from libraries. And agents will be able to observe activities in public places, including religious centers.Some civil rights groups, however, say the new rules interfere with traditional American rights. They say privacy and free speech might be threatened. Critics of the new rules say the FBI might investigate political dissenters without any evidence of wrongdoing. Many American Muslimssay they fear the possibility of FBI agents targeting them unfairly. Exercisesi. Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to each question you have heard.1. According to FBI Director Muller, what is the main responsibility of the FBI?a. To protect the United States from terrorist attacks.b. To investigate threats from other countries.c. To employ more people skilled in languages.d. To appoint more people to intelligence positions.2. Why is the justice department reorganizing the FBI?a. The FBI has failed to collect information about religious organizations.b. The FBI headquarters lacks skilled agents.c. More hands are greatly needed in gathering information about terrorist attacks.d. The FBI has been criticized tor its actions in relation to the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.3. How many more agents does the FBI plan to hire?a. 11,500.b. 900.c. 500.d. 1,900.4. What kind of people does the FBI plan to hire?a. People whose major is information technology.b. People who studied foreign languages in college.c. People skilled in computer technology, science and languages.d. People skilled in gathering and studying intelligence information.5. What do some civil rights groups say about the new rules of the FBI?H The new rules interfere with traditional American rights.b. The new rules have threatened the safety of American Muslims.c. The new rules will bring efficiency to the FBI.d. Under the new rules, political dissenters will be expelled from the U.S. ii. Listen to the passage again and complete the paragraph below.According to FBI Director Mueller and Justice Department officials, the new rules will 1) greatly improve FBI performance. Commanders at agency offices will now be able to 2) order investigations that are limited in time. They can also start limited investigations 3) when no crime has taken place. In addition, agents will be able to gather information about 4) religious and political organizations from the Internet and from libraries. And they will be able to 5) observe activities in public places, including 6)religious centers.Passage II Yucca mountainThe United States Senate has given final congressional approval for a project to bury nuclear waste material under Yucca Mountain in the state of Nevada. The project calls for burying more than 70,000 tons of radioactive nuclear waste material.The material includes used nuclear fuel from power centers and waste from the production of nuclear weapons. The waste is now stored at power centers around the country. However, these power centers have little storage space left.The federal government owns Yucca Mountain. No one lives there. It is in an extremely dry area more than 145 kilometers northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The dispute about burying nuclear waste under Yucca Mountain has continued for many years. Bush Administration officials support the nuclear waste burial project. They say it is scientifically acceptable. They say the area is a good place to bury nuclear waste because of its lack of population and low rainfall.They also say placing all of the country's nuclear waste in one place would help protect against terrorist attacks in other parts of the country. Supporters of the plan say it is important for the future of the nuclear power industry.However, there is much opposition to the plan. Opponents include environmental groups, Nevada state officials and many members of Congress. They say the area is near potentially active volcanoes and has experienced earthquakes. Movements in the earth could spread the radioactive material. Opponents say the rock might not be able to hold the waste and keep it from entering water underground.Opponents also say the dangerous nuclear waste would have to be transported by trucks and trains across about forty states. They fear accidents or threats from terrorists could endanger the population in many areas.Now that Congress has approved the plan, the Energy Department must request and receive permission for the project from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Energy Department must provide evidence about the safety of the project. Supporters of the project hope it will begin in 2010. However, opponents say they will continue to fight against it.Exercisesi. Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to each question you have heard.1. What does the speaker mainly talk about?a. Congress has approved the nuclear waste burial project.b. Whether to bury the nuclear waste material under Yucca Mountain or not.c. Yucca Mountain is not the right place for burying nuclear waste material.d. The evidence for burying nuclear waste material in Yucca Mountain.2. How many tons of radioactive nuclear waste material will be buried if the project can be carried out?a. Over 7,000 tons.b. Over 1,700 tons.c. More than 17,000 tons.A More than 70,000 tons.3. According to Bush Administration officials, why is Yucca Mountain a good place to bury the nuclear waste?a. Because it rains very often in this area.b. Because it is in an extremely cold area.c. Because of its lack of population and low rainfall.d. Because it is in the central part of the U.S.4. Why do some people oppose the nuclear waste burial project?a. They say Yucca mountain has experienced earthquakes.b. They think the radioactive material may pollute underground water because of movements in the earth.c. They fear the rock might not be able to keep the waste from entering water underground.d. All of the above.5. What are the prospects of the nuclear waste burial project?a. It is still unknown.b. The project is waiting for the approval of the U.S. Senate.c. The project will be carried out very soon.d. The project will not be carried out because there is no evidence about its safety.ii. Listen to the passage again and give a short answer to each of the following questions.1. Who has given final congressional approval for the nuclear waste burial project? The United States Senate.2. What does the nuclear waste material include?Used nuclear fuel from power centers and waste from the production of nuclear weapons.3. Where is Yucca Mountain located?It is in an area more than 145 kilometers northwest of Las Vegas. Nevada.4. Who are the opponents of the nuclear waste burial plan?Environmental groups. Nevada state officials and many members of Congress.5. What must the Energy Department do now that Congress has approved the plan? It must request and receive permission for the project from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and provide evidence about the safety of the project. Part D Extensive listening DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSEIn this part, you are going to hear a longer passage. The passage is printed below with some words and expressions missing. As you listen, fill in the blanks with the words and expressions you have heard.Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all 1) achievement. And its lack is the stumbling block for 98 out of every 100 people, simply because they never really define2) their goals and start toward them. Study every person you can think of who has achieved lasting success. You will find that each one has had 3) a definite major purpose. Each had a plan for reaching that goal, and each devoted the greatest part of his or her thoughts and efforts to that end. Andrew Carnegie was the man who led me to formulate my definite major purpose, assembling and publicizing the principles by which great individuals achieve 4) enduring success. Carnegie started work as 5) a laborer in a steel mill. Because of his well-defined goal to make and market 6) better quality steel than anyone else, he became one of the wealthiest men in the country and was able to endow libraries in small towns all across America. His definite major goal was more than 7) a wish. It was a burning desire. Only by finding your own burning desire will you achieve success. The difference between a wish and 8) a burning desire is crucial. Everyone wants the better things in life, money, 9) fame, respect. But most people never go beyond just wishing for them. If you know what you want from life, if you are determined to get it to the point that it becomes an obsession, and you back that obsession with 10) continuous effort and sound planning, then you have awakened and developed definiteness of purpose.Once you learn how to harness the tremendous potential of your mind, how to 11) organize the knowledge you already have, you can turn them into the power necessary for obtaining your definite major purpose. 12) Definiteness of purpose develops self-reliance, personal initiative, imagination, enthusiasm, self-discipline and concentrated effort. All these are required for success. Definiteness of purpose encourages you to specialize, and specialization leads to perfection. Your success in life willdepend a great deal on your ability to know much about 13) a specific area and to perform exceptionally within it. General education is important because by pursuing it, you will discover your basic aptitudes and desires. Once you have discerned them however, you should immediately begin to acquire specialized knowledge in your area of major interest.Definiteness of purpose will act as a magnet to attract to you the specialized knowledge necessary for success. Once you have determined your definite major purpose, you will begin to budget14) your time and your money and all your day-to-day endeavors so that they will lead to the attainment of your major purpose. Time budgeting always pays dividends because each moment is made to progress toward 15) your goal. Money is also used to its best advantage, ensuring that you pass the mileposts along the road to success. Successful people make decisions quickly and firmly as soon as all the facts are available. Unsuccessful people make decisions 16) slowly and they change them often. Remember that 98 out of a hundred people never make up their mind about their major purpose in life.They simply can't make a decision and stick to it.How can you overcome 17) the habit of avoiding decisions? Start with the very next problem you face and make a decision. Make any decision. Any decision is better than none. If you make some mistakes at first, 18) take courage. Your batting average will improve. Knowing what you want willhelp in decision-making of course, because you can always judge whether or not it will contribute to19) your goals.The greatest benefit of definiteness of purpose is that it opens your mind to the quality known as faith. It makes your mind positive and frees it from the limitations of doubt, 20) discouragement，indecision and procrastination.。