大学体验英语听说教程 第四册08

　　Unit 8 A choice of attitude

Vocabulary Task

Script and Answers

1. A: How did Sam strike you?

B: He’s a wishy-washy guy.

A: Really? Why?

B: He never knows what he wants.

2. A: What’s wrong, Fred? You don’t look too good.

B: I don’t know if I’m coming or going.

A: What do you mean?

B: Well, Jane was taken into hospital last night. The children are crying, but I’ve got to work overtime 1 today. What shall I do?

3. A: What’s the matter, Toshio? You seem upset.

B: I don’t know why I let Coach talk me into the switch.

A: Haven’t you made up your mind?

B: No. I think it’s a crazy idea to join you in figure skating.

4. A: Congratulations, Vicky! You’ve been offered the chance to work abroad for one year.

B: Thanks, Reginald! But I feel I’m pulled in two directions.

A: What’s wrong?

B: You know, I have two career opportunities at the same time-- my career as a teacher and my career as a mother.

5. A: Hi, Wilma. What’s the deal with hockey?

B: I can’t go back.

A: Why?

B: I’ve been wrestling with the question of whether, being in such shape, I’ll ever nail my opponent.

Listening Task

2. Listening Activity

1) First Listening

Answers

1. He is Abraham Lincoln. He was determined 3 to become a public servant.

2. He is Henry Ford 4. His bliss 5 was the automobile 6.

3. He is Babe Ruth. He loved playing baseball.

2) Second Listening

Answers

1. Stumbles 8: He ran for legislature and lost. He ran for Congress and lost. He ran for the Senate twice and lost both times. He tried for a state land officer and was rejected.

Success: In 1860 he was elected President of the United States.

2. Stumbles: He tried to establish two car companies and both went bankrupt 9 when he was 40 years old.

Success: By 50 years old, he was the world’s leading auto-maker and was well on the way to becoming the first billionaire.

3. Stumbles: He struck out 1 330 times and he failed.

Success: The 714 times he hit a home run and he held the record for many years as having struck out more than any ball player in history.

Script

Follow your bliss

It is natural for you to be faced with choices in life. My advice is to follow your bliss. It means to follow a course in life that is most exciting and challenging for you and to follow a direction that brings you the greatest personal satisfaction.

Do you know the story of King Arthur’s knights 10? When they set out on their quest 2 for the Holy Grail, each set out alone. Each entered the woods at the deepest, darkest point, where there was no way or path. If there is a well-worn path, it is someone else’s path, not yours.

There was a man who was determined to become a public servant. He ran for legislature and lost. He ran for Congress and lost. He ran for the Senate twice and lost both times. After all these failures, he even tried for a political appointment as a state land officer, something like a Justice of the Peace, and he was flatly rejected. Yet this guy held to his vision of public service, and in 1860 was elected President of the United States. The man, of course, was Abraham Lincoln.

Look at this guy. At 40, he tried to establish two car companies. Both went bankrupt, and he was flat broke. Yet the automobile was his bliss. By 50, he was the world’s leading automaker, and was well on his way to becoming the first billionaire. That man was Henry Ford.

Consider the baseball player who held the record for many years as having struck out more than any ball player in history. In his career, he struck out 1 330 times. Yet what we remember about Babe Ruth is not the 1 330 times he failed, but the 714 times he hit a home run.

Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Edgar Allen Poe and Shelly were all expelled 11 from school at one point. People are stumbling 12 while following their bliss. Where you stumble 7, stop and smile, for there your treasure may lie.

Real World Listening

1. Predict

Answers

Claudia: □excited □confident

Toshio: □upset □ hesitant

2. Get the Main Ideas

Answers

Question 1:

Claudia:

□I can’t do the triple 13 toe loop.

□My legs aren’t strong enough.

Toshio:

□I want to get back my shape.

Question 2:

Claudia:

□ If we stick to it, perhaps we can compete against the best.

□Let’s give it a try.

□I plan to go to the Olympics by any means necessary.

Toshio:

□I think it is a crazy idea. It’ll never work.

□I don’t think figure skating is for guys.

□I never planned to take the figure skating seriously.

Script and Answers to Self-study

A choice of attitude-- accept the switch or not?

In a moment, you are going to hear a conversation between Claudia and Toshio. They are discussing Coach’s suggestion of going to the Olympics as a team.

Claudia: Hey, are you okay? Toshio, you seem upset. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings in there. It’s just that--

Toshio: Don’t be ridiculous. I can accept the switch. Well, just for the record, I think this is a crazy idea. It’ll never work. I don’t know why I let Coach talk me into it. I’m only here to get back in shape.

Claudia: You seem in pretty good shape to me. There doesn’t seem to be much wrong with the way you move on the ice.

Toshio: Glad you noticed.

Claudia: What’s the deal with hockey? Why can’t you go back?

Toshio: It’s a long story. I don’t want to talk about it.

Claudia: I’m sorry I asked.

Toshio: What I don’t understand is why you are doing this. I mean, isn’t it better to get to the Olympics as a solo 14 performer? You seem the type who wants the limelight all to yourself.

Claudia: Coach just told me I won’t get to the Olympics as a solo skater. I can’t do the triple toe loop. My legs aren’t strong enough. And Coach doesn’t think I’ll ever nail it. So I can’t follow my real dream anymore -- just like you can’t follow your hockey dreams.

Toshio: So we’re both failures, then. Maybe we really do belong together.

Claudia: Speak for yourself. I don’t consider myself a failure. I’m just changing directions. That’s all. I intend to get to the Olympics by any means necessary.

Toshio: But I never planned to take this figure skating seriously.

Claudia: Coach said you had talent, that you should try it out.

Toshio: Well, maybe it’s okay for girls. But guys don’t figure skate-- not real guys. They do stuff like football and hockey.

Claudia: Are you willing to give it a try, Toshio? Let’s just work together and see if it’s right for both of us. And if we stick to it, perhaps we can compete against the best.