上外中级口译第三版听力教程原文及讲解--Unit 5

Unit 5. Part one. The inhabitants of a small island.

2. Exercises. 1. Listen to the passage about the life on a small island and then answer the following questions.

The inhabitants of a small island in the South Pacific discovered a plant which contained a powerful drug. This drug made it more difficult for them to think rationally. It stops them worrying about the future, and enables them to forget all their problems. At the same time it made it much easier for them to relax and enjoy themselves. So much so indeed that the whole population of the islands stopped working and spent all their time singing dancing and looking at the sea. Unfortunately this had a very bad effect on the country’s economy, and people began to run short of food. This however didn’t discourage the people from taking the drug. The prime minister made speeches on the TV, warning them about the drug. But nobody took any notice. And before long the economy was in ruins. This forced the government to make the drug illegal. But that only made the situation worse. The law couldn’t prevent the people from taking the drug which grew wild all over the island. On the contrary the fact that the drug was illegal merely encouraged people to take it. Eventually the government found a better solution. They exported the drug to other countries. This saved the islanders from having to work more than one day a week, and allowed them to spend the rest of their time sitting in the sun without a care of the world.

2. Listen again and then supply the missing information in the following passage.

Part 2. Statements. 2. Exercises. Listen and then choose the answer which is closest in meaning to the statements you hear.

1. Since the 1990s I have been to the southern part of Europe several times. But I wouldn’t mind another package holiday in Spain.

2. If Tom could have repaired the roof of his own house he wouldn’t have called in a builder and paid him a packet.

3. Jane said that she would be happy to come to our graduation. But she has to work on her assignment every evening this week.

4. I am kind of busy now and have no time to look at this proposal for you. How does late this afternoon sound?

5. I am not the only one in the school of economics to graduate with honors. There are a number of others.

6. Do you really ask me to cook for the children over the weekend? To be frank with you I would rather do anything but cook.

7. You have decided to take another semester of biology. You must be kidding. I know you didn’t even take the introductory course.

8. In my garden there are a great variety of plants. I grow some plants for their flowers and others for their leaves.

9. The other day Sally felt greatly embarrassed in the bank branch, because her check bounced with so many people looking at her strangely.

10. I have known Jack for so many years. If I had known he was in the hospital I would have visited him.

11. The earliest flight from Washington to New York is a t 6 o’clock. If that’s full there is another one at 7 o’clock.

12. Alice is now taking an intensive spoken English course but her writing has obviously