英语听力教程第二版 第二册-1

Part Ⅰ Getting ready

The family, being the basic living unit of society, is the social group with which every individual is most closely connected. On the whole, families in the world can basically be divided into four types: joint 1 families, nuclear families, enlarged families and incomplete 2 families, among which nuclear families are becoming more and more popular with the rapid economic development in most countries.

A  The following words and phrases will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.

   1. kindergarten: a school or class for young children, usually four to six years old, that prepares them for first grade

   2. nursery school: a school for very young children, usually three to five years of age

   3. kid: a child or young person

   4. stability 3: steadiness, the state of being not likely to separate, break down or fall apart

   5. discipline: n. strict control to enforce obedience 4; punishment

                  v. control, train, punish

   6. divorce: legal ending of a marriage

   7. care for: look after, take charge of b

   8. coo: speak gently and lovely

   9. wedding: the act or ceremony of becoming married

  10. bride: a woman who has just been married or is about to be married

B  You are going to hear some people talking about pictures of their families. Listen carefully and identify which one of the following pictures each person is talking about.

 

Part Ⅱ A birthday present

Nothing in life is as good as the marriage of true minds between man and woman, but it requires great care to keep this tender plant alive. Remember, happiness is a perpetual 5 rejoicing 6 in small events ?a gift, a gentle smile, a small sticky kiss.

A  John has just opened his birthday present from his wife, Mary. Before listening to the following dialogue, you will hear several questions about it on the tape. Write down the questions.

   Question 1: ____________________________________________________

   Question 2: ____________________________________________________

   Question 3: ____________________________________________________

   Question 4: ____________________________________________________

 

B  Now listen to the dialogue. While listening for the first time, take down key points in the left-hand column. After the second listening, give brief answers to the above questions.

   Answers

   Answer 1: ____________________________________________________

   Answer 2: ____________________________________________________

   Answer 3: ____________________________________________________

   Answer 4: ____________________________________________________

C  Now listen to the dialogue again. Pay special attention to the names of people and places and all the telephone numbers. Complete the following chart.

   Names of People/Places       Telephone Numbers

   the bank                     ______________________  

   _________________________    76763

   the dentist                 ______________________     

   __________________________   757412

   the station                 ______________________

   the flower shop/the florist  ______________________ 

   John and Jane         ______________________

   ______________________ 675645

Part Ⅱ Family life then and now

As one gets on in years, he/she is always inclined 7 to remember the good old days: how delicious the food was, how cheap things were, how obedient 8 children were and how unsophisticated people were.

Josephine Davies and Gertrude Smith, two members of the older generation, are talking about their childhood in Britain 70 years ago.

A  Now listen to the following conversation. While listening for the first time, add more key words in the left-hand column. After the second listening, answer the questions.

   Questions

   1. Why does Josephine feel that there was more stability in family life 70 years ago? Fill in the blank.

      Because in those days, nobody expected the families to ______________.

   2. According to Gertrude, people also did some things not so good years ago. What were they?

      _____________, _________ and drug-taking.

   3. Josephine's mother did a great deal of work outside. What was she interested in? Fill in the blank.

      She was interested in the Nursing Association ______________ money for it.

   4. Where did Gertrude's father work?

      ___________________ at Victoria Station.

   5. Why did Gertrude's mother go out so much with her friends? Fill in the blank.

      Because life at that time was not ____________ and it was a relief for her to go out.

   6. According to Josephine, since there was neither television nor radio in those days, what did children use to do in the evenings?

   7. How does Josephine explain that there were more discipline in families 70 years ago? Fill in the blanks.

      She says, at that time, she couldn't ____________ with any friends of her own until she was about _________.

B  Now try this: listen to a more authentic 9 version of the conversation and decide whether the statements after the conversation are True or False. Put "T" or "F" in the brackets 10.

   1. (    )   2. (    )   3. (    )   4. (    )   5. (    )   6. (    )

Part Ⅳ More about the topic: Father's Day

American fathers have lots of different opinions about being a father. Some say they would like to spend more time caring for their children, but are afraid to do so. They say it might prevent them from getting a better job or earning more money. Other fathers would never think of staying at home. They believe an important part of being a man is to go to work and earn money. Do American men today spend enough time with their children?

The following passage is about the father's role in the family. Supply the missing words while listening.

   Father is a very formal word today. Most people use the word "__________" or "______________" instead. On Father's Day children might take their dad out for a ______________。They might send him a ______________ or call on the telephone, or they might buy him a present.

   Not all children however will ____________ or speak with their dad on Father's Day. Studies say about __________ of American children live in a family without a father. This is three times more than in ________. Back then only __________ of children lived in a family without a father.

   One reason is the increasing children born to women who are not ___________. Studies show the children growing up without a father are more likely to be __________. They are more likely to __________ before completing their education, and they are more likely to become involved in __________ or illegal drugs.

   Another reason for the __________ number of American families without fathers is the increasing of the number of people who have _________ their marriage. The divorce rate in the US has increased sharply 11 in recent years. Today more than ___________ of all marriages end in divorce. In __________ the rate was only _________. After a divorce, a judge decides which parent will care for the children. In about __________ of cases, the judge decides that the children will live with their mother. In about __________ of the cases, children live with their father after a divorce and in about __________ of the cases children live with each parent at ___________ times.

   The image of fathers in America has changed especially since the _________. Before then, many people felt that fathers were not supposed to become ____________ with their children or to show ________ for them. This was not a part of father's image as a strong and ____________ man. Fathers were the ____________ of the family. They earned the money. They made the rules. They ___________ the children when they were bad. Back then fathers did not always spend a lot of time with their children. __________ mothers stayed at home to care for them. They also did all the shopping, __________ and cooking.

   During the __________ and __________, however, more American women began to work outside the home. As a result, more and more fathers became ____________ in taking care of their children and helping 12 their ________. Yet, most studies today show that women still spend more time caring for their children and doing ___________. This is true even if the wife works and _________ the same amount of money as her husband. _________ studies show that fathers who are involved with their children are usually more happy and in better_________than fathers who are not involved. So celebrating ____________is important for men not only on Father's Day but throughout the year.

Part Ⅴ Memory test: Brothers and Sisters

When your little brother or sister is brought to the world, are you happy, jealous, or even hateful?

You are going to hear a young lady talking about the relationship between brothers and sisters. After that several questions will be asked. Find the right answers as quickly a possible according to the notes you have taken while listening.

   Notes

   ________________________________________

   ________________________________________

   ________________________________________

   ________________________________________

   ________________________________________

   ________________________________________

   1. a. 1      b. 2      c. 3     d. 4

   2. a. happy    b. calm    c. hateful   d. jealous

   3. a. He got very angry.

      b. He laughed a lot.

      c. He beat his daughter.

      d. He asked his wife to punish the girl.

   4. a. 16     b. 17    c. 15     d. 50

   5. a. In England.

      b. In Brazil.

      c. In France.

      d. In Australia.

   6. a. the bride's brother

      b. the young lady's brother

      c. the bride's father

      d. the bride1 s good friend

 

Part Ⅵ  Reminder 13 of key points in this unit

           Verb & Verb Phrase    Noun & Noun Phrase      Other

   Part Ⅰ be married            kindergarten            be involved in

                                 nursery school          Time really flies.

                                 kid

                                 soccer

   Part Ⅱ hunt around           calculator               super

           look up               solicitor                in a panic

                                 contract                 Great minds think

                                 the telephone directory  alike!

   Part Ⅲ separate              stability                tremendous

           keep sth / sb quiet   drug-taking

           look after            flat

           do the cooking        wage

           do the cleaning       an easy life

           be close to           relief

           discipline            discipline

   Part Ⅳ end in                crime                     formal

           care for              drug

           be supposed to        divorce

           become involved with  image

    PartⅤ be jealous of sb      curl

           coo over sb           travel agent

           ignore                wedding

           lose contact with     bride