英语听力材料

71. On Post-graduate Education

Post-graduate education refers to education after college, which is another three years of study. There can be no doubt that the pursuit of learning after four years’ studies is no easy thing, and it requires perseverance and persistence to continue one’s major. In the past several years, a large percentage of graduate students hurried to the profession they had chosen without hesitation about the choice, which greatly worried some educators. However, the situation now is totally different from the past: more graduates, even those who are at their posts, remain at or go back to universities.

What could be the possible reasons for this change? Firstly, the students are of the opinion that what they learned in the universities is not adequate for the workforce. Secondly, a great number of vacancies require a higher level of qualified personnel, which encourages the job-hunter to be well prepared for them.

(148 words)

72. On Social Security

All advanced countries have some form of social security. Based on various insurance laws, the goal of social security is to meet the needs of the aged, unemployed, sick and poor by providing then with home, money or medical cars.

Social security is very much needed. For one thing, there will always be social misfits that need help. For example, for some reason, there is always a certain number of unemployed workers in any society. Thus, it is necessary for the government to take effective measures. Firstly and most importantly, social and economic security programs help the unemployer to get through their present economic hardships. If not, these unemployed are more likely to become potential causes of social instability.

Social security is of great importance to the development of society. Correspondingly, with the advancement of society, social security will likely become more mature in its actual performance.

(147 words)

73. How to Spend Our Leisure Time

Physical activities and intellectual pursuits are the two basic ways in which we spend our leisure time.

Of the two basic ways, physical recreation affords us the opportunities to strengthen our bodies and to satisfy our competitive nature. Activities range from participation is strenuous sports such as running, playing basketball or playing a couple of sets of tennis, to slow-paced events like jogging or a round of golf.

Intellectual activities, such as reading a good book, listening to a favorite record, or going to a film, revitalize our mental processes. This revitalization can either stimulate mental readiness and innovation or provide us with a temporary escape from the pressures of daily life. Intellectual pursuits are often regarded as solitary practices. The pleasure a stamp collector derives form mounting a new issue is one example of what is meant by this.

(140 words)