评论
打印
听力短文原文
Passage One
JeanBrown has been married for 12 years. She has 3 children, and lives in thesuburb outside Columbus, Ohio. When her youngest child reached school age, Jeandecided to go back to work. She felt that she should contribute to thehousehold finances. Her salary can make a difference between the financialstruggles and secure financial situation for her family. Jean also felt boredand frustrated in her role as a homemaker and wanted to be more involved inlife outside her home. Jean was worried about her children’s adjustment to thisnew situation. But she arranged for them to go stay with the woman nearby afterschool each afternoon. They seem to be happy with the arrangement. The problemseems to be between Jean and her husband, Bill. When Jean was at home all day,she was able to clean the house, go grocery shopping, wash the clothes, takecare of the children and cook 2 or 3 meals each day. She was very busy ofcourse. But she succeeded in getting everything done. Now the same things needto be done, but Jean has only evenings and early mornings to do them. Both Jeanand Bill are tired when they arrive home at 6 P.M. Bill is accustomed tositting down and reading the paper or watching TV until dinner is ready. Thisis exactly what Jean feels like doing. But someone has to fix the dinner andBill expects it to be Jean. Jean has become very angry at Bill’s attitude. Shefeels that they should share the household jobs. But Bill feels that everythingshould be the same as it was before Jean went back to work.
Questions 26 to 29 are based onthe passage you have just heard.
26. Why did Jean want to go back to work?
27. How did Jean spend her days before shewent back to work?
28. What problem arose when Jean went backto work?
29.What does the story try to tell us？
Passage Two
Thedecade for natural disaster reduction is a program designed to reduce theimpact of natural disasters throughout the world. With support from the UnitedNations, countries will be encouraged to share information about disasterreduction. For instance, information about how to plan for and cope withhurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. One of the most importantthings the program plans to do is to remind us of what we can do to protectourselves. For example, we can pack a suitcase with flashlights, a radio, food,drinking water and some tools. This safety may help us survive a disaster untilhelp arrives. Besides, the program will encourage governments to establishbuilding standards, emergency response plans, and training programs, Thesemeasures can help to limit the destruction by natural disasters. The comparativelymild effects of the northern California earthquake in 1989 are good evidencethat we do have the technology to prevent vast destruction. The recentdisasters, on the other hand, prove that people will suffer if we don’t usethat technology. When a highway collapsed in northern California, people werekilled in their cars. The highway was not built according to today’s strictstandards to resist earthquakes. Individuals and governments have to befar-sighted. We should take extra time and spend extra money to build disastersafety into our lives. Although such a program can’t hold back the winds orstop earthquakes, they can save people’s lives and homes.
Questions 30 to 32 are based onthe passage you have just heard.
30. What is the purpose of the programmentioned in this passage?
31. What can we learn from the northern California earthquake in1989?
32. Why did the highway in northern California collapse?
Passage Three
Livingat the foot of one of the world’s most active volcanoes might not appeal to youat all. But believe it or not, the area surrounding Mount Etna in Italy ispacked with people. In fact, it is the most densely populated region on thewhole island of Sicily. The reason is that rich volcanic soil makes the landfantastic for forming. By growing and selling a variety of crops, local people earna good living. For them, the economic benefit they reap surpasses the risk ofdying or losing property in one of the volcano’s frequent eruptions. Peopleeverywhere make decisions about risky situations this way. That is, bycomparing the risks and the benefits. According to the experts, the side of therisk depends on both its probability and seriousness. Let’s take Mount Etna forexample. It does erupt frequently, but those eruptions are usually minor. Sothe overall risk for people living nearby is relatively small. But supposeMount Etna erupted everyday, or imagine that each eruption there killsthousands of people. If that were the case, the risk would be much larger.Indeed, the risk would be too large for many people to live with. And they wouldhave to move away.
Questions 33 to 35 are based onthe passage you have just heard.
33. How do people make decisions aboutrisky situations?
34. What do we know about Mount Etna from the passage?
35. What will people living near Mount Etna do in the face of itseruptions?
