大学英语四级考试巅峰 Track 29

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[00:02.18]Model Test Eight

[00:04.03]Section A

[00:05.46]Directions: In this section,

[00:09.62]you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.

[00:15.41]At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said.

[00:22.74]Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.

[00:29.09]After each question there will be a pause.

[00:33.35]During the pause, you must read the four choices

[00:37.83]marked A) , B) , C) and D) , and decide which is the best answer.

[00:45.82]Then mark the corresponding 1 letter on Answer Sheet 2

[00:50.96]with a single line through the centre.

[00:53.36]Now let's begin with the 8 short conversations.

[00:59.27]11. M: Jessica,could you forward this e-mail to all the club members?

[01:08.34]W: Sorry, the computer broke down this morning,

[01:12.17]I'll do it for you as soon as I have it fixed 2.

[01:15.75]Q: What does the woman imply 3?

[01:34.30]12. W: Did you find the book for your reading assignment in the library?

[01:39.88]M: It closed before I got there.

[01:42.72]I had no idea it closes so early on weekends.

[01:47.21]Q: What does the man mean?

[02:05.64]13. M: Did you check the power plug and press the play button?

[02:11.44]W: Yes.The power indicator 4 was on and it was running,

[02:15.81]but somehow the sound didn't come through.

[02:18.98]Q: What was the woman probably trying to do?

[02:40.30]14. M: Joanna, I'm awfully 5 sorry,I didn't mean to hurt you.

[02:43.92]Shall we have a beer and forget the whole thing?

[02:48.07]W: OK,we can drop it this time,but don't do it again.

[02:53.10]Q: What do we learn from the conversation?

[03:12.49]15. W: Airports are sad places.

[03:17.08]M: Sometimes I guess. But we'll keep in touch

[03:20.80]and I'll fly over to see you at Christmas.

[03:24.85]Q: What are the speakers doing?

[03:44.00]16. M: Are you going to return to your present job after the vacation?

[03:48.80]W: No,I plan to graduate next semester 6.

[03:52.63]That means I have to be a full-time 7 student.

[03:56.02]Q: What will the woman do?

[04:14.25]17. W: John, are you doing research for Professor William this semester?

[04:20.38]M: Actually, I'm working as his teaching 8 assistant.

[04:23.66]Q: What does the man mean?

[04:42.52]18. M: I heard there are a few seats left for the show tonight.

[04:47.78]W: Really? I was under the impression

[04:51.06]that the tickets were sold out a long time ago.

[04:54.01]Q: What do we know from the woman's reply?

[05:07.95]Now you will hear the 2 long conversations.

[05:15.06]Conversation One

[05:18.56]W:  What do you want to do tonight?

[05:20.75]M:  How about going to the movies?

[05:23.15]I should be home from work at 5∶20.

[05:25.89]Then we can go out and eat and then to the movies.

[05:29.17]W:  What do you want to see?

[05:31.25]M:  Let's see the ad in the newspaper.

[05:33.65]W:  It starts at 6∶30.

[05:37.32]I don't think we can get there in time to see the beginning.

[05:41.92]How about the one at the New State Cinema? That starts at 7∶00.

[05:47.05]M:  I don't like Tom Cruise 9.

[05:49.13]W:  Well there's one with Zeta Jones and Tom Hanks that starts at 6∶50.

[05:55.69]Maybe we can go to that.

[05:58.10]M:  I've already seen it.Maybe we should just stay home and watch TV.

[06:03.13]W:  There's a Julia Roberts movie on TV.How does that sound?

[06:07.73]M:  Yeah, let's just stay home and watch that.

[06:11.12]Then we can go out Friday night.

[06:13.53]W:  Did you forget that Allan and Catherine are coming to dinner that night?

[06:18.01]In addition we probably couldn't get a baby-sitter Friday.

[06:22.50]There's a school dance.

[06:24.24]M:  OK.I hope Saturday is all right.Do we have anything planned for then?

[06:28.51]W:  No,Saturday is fine.

[06:30.48]And there's a good movie starting on Saturday too.

[06:33.54]M:  Good. I'm going to go bowling 10 Saturday morning

[06:36.61]but I'll be home by 2∶00 p.m.

[06:38.79]Then we can go out for a big dinner and to the movies,

[06:41.85]if nothing else comes up.

[06:42.94]W:  I'm sure we'll be able to.

[06:44.69]It's so nice to share the wonderful romantic movie with my darling.

[06:49.07]M:  It's the same to me.

[06:51.37]Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

[07:04.09]19. What are the two speakers talking about?

[07:22.40]20. Why does the man refuse to go to see the movie which starts at 7∶00?

[07:44.86]21. What is their original arrangement on Friday night?

[08:05.47]22. What will the man do Saturday morning?

[08:23.67]Conversation Two

[08:26.96]M:  I've just found the most useful device 11 at that new outdoor store,

[08:31.55]a water purifier 12.

[08:33.63]W:  A water purifier?

[08:35.60]You want to carry even more equipment with you on our hiking trip?

[08:39.98]M:  If it's lightweight and saves work,yes.

[08:42.93]And this one fits that description.

[08:44.79]W:  Really.I bet 13 it takes up a lot of room.

[08:48.50]M:  Not at all.

[08:50.36]It's a straw,much like the ones you use to drink a soda 14 or milk shake.

[08:56.16]W:  Really? That is small?

[08:59.11]M:  Yea, it's plastic,and has a series of mineral and chemical filters 15

[09:04.26]that strain 16 harmful germs 18 from water.

[09:06.77]W:  Yes,but how good a job can it do filtering 19 the germs

[09:11.48]out of motionless 20 pond water,or water from lakes and streams?

[09:15.96]M:  It's fantastic. It makes the water entirely 21 germ 17 free.

[09:20.66]W:  But what about salt or chemical pollutants 22 that might be in the water?

[09:26.19]Does it clean those out?

[09:28.16]M:  No,it does not remove salt and chemicals,

[09:31.77]but those are really not major concerns

[09:34.18]when we are out hiking and camping.

[09:35.71]W:  Hmm,how long will a straw last?

[09:39.10]M:  For about one hundred gallons but don't worry about measuring

[09:42.82]that large amount of water.There is a built-in safety feature.

[09:45.88]W:  I think I'll get one for my camping trip this weekend.

[09:49.27]It'll sure be carrying a lot of water or having to boil it at the camp site.

[09:54.96]Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

[10:04.15]23. Where would the special straw probably be most useful?

[10:26.72]24. How does the man describe the water purifier?

[10:46.91]25. According to the man, what does the water purifier remove from the water?

[11:06.86]Section B

[11:10.46]Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages.

[11:17.57]At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions.

[11:20.85]Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.

[11:25.67]After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer

[11:29.83]from the four choices marked A) , B) , C) and D).

[11:36.28]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2

[11:40.98]with a single line through the centre.

[11:43.49]Passage One

[11:45.35]There was once a man in South America who had a parrot,

[11:49.40]a pet bird that could imitate human speech.The parrot was unique.

[11:55.53]There was no other bird like him in the whole world.

[11:59.57]He could learn to say any word except one.

[12:03.51]He could not say the name of his native town Catarnow.

[12:08.76]The man did everything he could to teach the parrot to say“Catarnow”.

[12:14.56]But he never succeeded.

[12:16.42]At first he was very gentle with the bird,

[12:20.02]but gradually he lost his temper 23.“You stupid bird!

[12:25.28]Why can't you learn to say that one word?

[12:28.66]Say Catarnow,or I'll kill you!”But the parrot would not say it.

[12:33.70]Many times the man screamed: “Say Catarnow or I'll kill you!”

[12:40.15]But the bird would never repeat the name.

[12:43.43]Finally the man gave up.He picked up the parrot

[12:48.68]and threw him into the chicken house.

[12:50.98]“You are even more stupid than the chickens!”

[12:54.37]In the chicken house there were four old chickens,

[12:58.85]waiting to be killed for Sunday's dinner.

[13:01.70]The next morning when he went out to the chicken house,

[13:05.75]the man opened the door. He was shocked by what he saw.

[13:10.34]He could not believe his eyes and ears.

[13:13.73]On the floor lay three dead chickens.

[13:17.67]The parrot was screaming at the fourth:

[13:21.26]“Say Catarnow, or I'll kill you!”

[13:24.32]Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

[13:31.21]26. Why did the man lose his temper?

[13:51.58]27. Who killed the three chickens?

[14:13.11]28. Why was the man shocked at the scene the next morning?

[14:30.60]Passage Two

[14:34.97]In Britain if you are found guilty of crime,

[14:39.78]you can be sent to prison or be fined or be ordered to do community work,

[14:45.69]such as tiding public places and helping 24 the old.

[14:49.85]You may also be sent to special centres

[14:53.35]where you learn practical skills like cooking,writing and car maintenance 25.

[14:58.71]About 5 percent of the prison population are women.

[15:03.08]Many prisons were built over 100 years ago,

[15:06.91]but the government will have built 11 new prisons by next year.

[15:12.16]There are two sorts of prisons: the open sort and the closed sort.

[15:18.50]In the closed sort,prisoners are given very little freedom.

[15:23.53]They spent 3 to 10 hours outside their cells

[15:28.35]when they exercise,eat,study,learn skills,watch TV

[15:34.47]and talk to other prisoners.All prisoners are expected to work.

[15:39.61]Most of them are paid for what they do,

[15:43.01]whether it is doing maintenance or cooking and cleaning.

[15:46.83]Prisoners in the open prisons are locked up at night,

[15:51.42]but for the rest of the time they are free within the prison grounds.

[15:55.80]They can exercise,have visitors or study.

[15:59.73]And some are allowed out of the grounds to study or do community work.

[16:05.43]Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.

[16:11.44]29. What do we know about women prisoners in Britain?

[16:31.51]30. In what way are open prisons different from closed prisons?

[16:56.64]31.  What do we learn about prisoners in Britain?

[17:15.86]Passage Three

[17:18.04]London Taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands.

[17:24.61]No matter how small and indistinct the street is,

[17:29.20]the driver will be able to get you there without any trouble.

[17:33.14]The reason London taxi drivers are so efficient is that

[17:38.93]they have all gone through a very tough training period

[17:43.20]to get a special taxi driving license 26.

[17:45.60]During this period which can take from two to four years,

[17:50.96]the wouldbe taxi driver has to learn

[17:55.01]the most direct route to every single road

[17:57.53]and to every important building in London.

[18:00.26]To achieve this most learners go around the city

[18:04.74]on small motor bikes practicing how to move to

[18:08.68]and from different points of the city.

[18:11.42]Learner taxi drivers are tested several times

[18:16.12]during their training period by government officers.

[18:19.84]Their exams are a terrible experience.

[18:23.67]The officers ask you:

[18:25.74]“How do you get from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London?”

[18:30.12]And you have to take them there in a direct line.

[18:33.95]When you get to the tower,they won't say“Well done”.

[18:37.45]They will quickly move on to the next question.

[18:41.50]After five or six questions they would just say:

[18:45.87]“See you in two months' time.”

[18:48.28]And then you know the exam is over.

[18:50.80]Learner drivers are not allowed to work and earn money as drivers.

[18:57.25]Therefore many of them keep their previous jobs

[19:01.51]until they obtain their licenses 27.

[19:03.81]The training can cost quite a lot

[19:06.98]because learners have to pay for their own expenses

[19:10.15]on the tests and the medical exam.

[19:13.76]Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

[19:19.01]32. Why are London taxi drivers very efficient?

[19:42.19]33. How long does the training period last?

[20:02.69]34. Why does the speaker think the driving test is a terrible experience?

[20:23.84]35. Why do learner drivers have to keep their present jobs?

[20:46.00]Section C

[20:49.50]Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times.

[20:55.51]When the passage is read for the first time,

[20:58.47]you should listen carefully for its general idea.

[21:01.21]When the passage is read for the second time,

[21:04.16]you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43

[21:09.63]with the exact words you have just heard.

[21:12.47]For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required

[21:18.27]to fill in the missing 28 information.

[21:20.68]For these blanks, you can either use the exact words

[21:24.83]you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words.

[21:29.75]Finally, when the passage is read for the third time,

[21:33.80]you should check what you have written.

[21:36.42]Now listen to the passage.

[21:40.36]Many new plays are presented first on Broadway,

[21:45.06]the theatre district of New York City.

[21:47.90]If they are successful,

[21:49.66]they later go“on the road”to scores of cities throughout the country.

[21:54.47]More than 50 productions are presented each season on Broadway.

[21:59.39]To many Americans,

[22:01.25]seeing a Broadway show is a high point

[22:04.10]in their visit to the nation's largest city.

[22:06.39]However,a movement known as“regional theatre”

[22:11.03]has developed across the United States,

[22:13.66]and playhouses are attended eagerly in cities throughout the nation.

[22:18.15]In recent years another side of the New York Theatre has developed,

[22:23.50]known as“off Broadway”.

[22:25.69]These plays are modestly staged in small play-house,

[22:30.72]but some rank with the best Broadway performances in professional skill,

[22:35.86]and many enjoy long runs.

[22:38.27]After the regular theatre season has closed,

[22:42.32]more than 300 summer theatres go into action in rural 29 areas,

[22:47.45]in suburbs 30 and at seashore and mountain resorts 31.

[22:51.40]Well-known actors often appear in these plays.

[22:55.00]At the same time,

[22:56.64]ambitious young students of the theatre

[22:59.05]have an opportunity to work under experienced 32 actors and directors.

[23:03.31]Motion pictures remain a favourite form of entertainment

[23:07.91]despite the popularity 33 of television.

[23:10.42]Not as many feature films are being made today as 20 years ago,

[23:15.78]but the quality of the films has improved.

[23:18.74]Many movies are now made by independent producers

[23:23.00]with fresh ideas and approaches.

[23:25.52]They select their stories and treat the subjects

[23:29.23]in ways that reflect their creative ideas.

[23:32.85]Modern methods of movie making,

[23:35.36]such as the wide screen, colour film, and improved sound

[23:39.62]have enhanced 34 realism and audience enjoyment 35.

[23:44.30]Now the passage will be read again.

[23:48.78]Many new plays are presented first on Broadway,

[23:53.38]the theatre district of New York City.

[23:56.11]If they are successful,

[23:57.86]they later go“on the road”to scores of cities throughout the country.

[24:02.68]More than 50 productions are presented each season on Broadway.

[24:07.59]To many Americans,

[24:10.11]seeing a Broadway show is a high point

[24:12.73]in their visit to the nation's largest city.

[24:15.47]However,a movement known as“regional theatre”

[24:19.41]has developed across the United States,

[24:22.03]and playhouses are attended eagerly in cities throughout the nation.

[24:26.96]In recent years another side of the New York Theatre has developed,

[24:31.88]known as“off Broadway”.

[24:34.83]These plays are modestly staged in small play-house,

[24:38.77]but some rank with the best Broadway performances in professional skill,

[24:44.24]and many enjoy long runs.

[24:48.83]After the regular theatre season has closed,

[24:51.67]more than 300 summer theatres go into action in rural areas,

[24:56.59]in suburbs and at seashore and mountain resorts.

[25:51.07]Well-known actors often appear in these plays.

[25:54.02]At the same time,

[25:55.44]ambitious young students of the theatre

[25:57.85]have an opportunity to work under experienced actors and directors.

[26:02.33]Motion pictures remain a favourite form of entertainment

[26:06.59]despite the popularity of television.

[26:59.56]Not as many feature films are being made today as 20 years ago,

[27:03.72]but the quality of the films has improved.

[27:07.11]Many movies are now made by independent producers

[27:11.04]with fresh ideas and approaches.

[27:14.98]They select their stories and treat the subjects

[27:17.39]in ways that reflect their creative ideas.

[27:21.76]Modern methods of movie making,

[27:23.40]such as the wide screen, colour film, and improved sound

[27:28.00]have enhanced realism and audience enjoyment.

[28:23.04]Now the passage will be read for the third time.

[28:25.88]Many new plays are presented first on Broadway,

[28:31.57]the theatre district of New York City.

[28:34.20]If they are successful,

[28:36.17]they later go“on the road”to scores of cities throughout the country.

[28:40.87]More than 50 productions are presented each season on Broadway.

[28:45.68]To many Americans,

[28:47.87]seeing a Broadway show is a high point

[28:50.94]in their visit to the nation's largest city.

[28:53.34]However,a movement known as“regional theatre”

[28:57.50]has developed across the United States,

[29:00.12]and playhouses are attended eagerly in cities throughout the nation.

[29:04.50]In recent years another side of the New York Theatre has developed,

[29:10.08]known as“off Broadway”.

[29:12.05]These plays are modestly staged in small play-house,

[29:16.85]but some rank with the best Broadway performances in professional skill,

[29:22.43]and many enjoy long runs.

[29:25.06]After the regular theatre season has closed,

[29:29.10]more than 300 summer theatres go into action in rural areas,

[29:33.91]in suburbs and at seashore and mountain resorts.

[29:37.75]Well-known actors often appear in these plays.

[29:41.57]At the same time,

[29:42.88]ambitious young students of the theatre

[29:45.40]have an opportunity to work under experienced actors and directors.

[29:50.00]Motion pictures remain a favourite form of entertainment

[29:55.03]despite the popularity of television.

[29:56.89]Not as many feature films are being made today as 20 years ago,

[30:02.14]but the quality of the films has improved.

[30:05.42]Many movies are now made by independent producers

[30:09.57]with fresh ideas and approaches.

[30:11.87]They select their stories and treat the subjects

[30:15.81]in ways that reflect their creative ideas.

[30:19.31]Modern methods of movie making,

[30:21.93]such as the wide screen, colour film, and improved sound

[30:26.74]have enhanced realism and audience enjoyment.

[30:30.53]This is the end of listening comprehension.