https://online2.tingclass.net/lesson/shi0529/0008/8758/04.mp3
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[00:13.12]MODEL TEST 4
[00:15.94]Section A
[00:17.88]Directions:
[00:19.67]In this section,
[00:21.25]you will hear 8 short conversations
[00:23.91]and 2 long conversations.
[00:27.10]At the end of each conversation,
[00:29.29]one or more questions
[00:30.77]will be asked about what was said.
[00:33.97]Both the conversation and the questions
[00:36.47]will be spoken only once.
[00:39.57]After each question there will be a pause.
[00:43.42]During the pause,
[00:44.98]you must read the four choices
[00:46.95]marked A), B), C), and D),
[00:51.31]and decide which is the best answer.
[00:54.34]Then mark the corresponding letter
[00:57.02]on Answer sheet 2
[00:59.28]with a single line through the centre.
[01:02.17]now let's begin with the 8 short conversations
[01:08.73]11. W: Hi, Tom.
[01:10.95]Have you been playing much basketball lately?
[01:14.11]M: I play as often as I can get out of the classroom.
[01:17.49]And the game is my way to be somebody.
[01:20.18]It’s my life, you know?
[01:22.51]Q: What does Tom tell the woman?
[01:40.65]12. W: Bob, can I come to see you
[01:44.19]at your home tomorrow evening.
[01:46.29]M: Sure. Susan and I have half decided to go swimming
[01:49.98]late tomorrow afternoon.
[01:52.04]So give me a ring before you come, OK?
[01:55.62]Q: What can we learn from the conversation?.
[02:14.06]13.W: We have to face the fact
[02:17.61]that it is a little hard to get fuel for the car.
[02:21.04]M: Between you and me,
[02:22.90]I think there is always a way to get around this problem.
[02:26.82]Q: What does the man mean?
[02:44.09]14.M: The bag is $18 now.
[02:49.02]W: Yes, it's exactly a half more than it was two months ago.
[02:53.96]Q: What was the price of the bag two months ago?
[03:12.46]15. W: Well, the examination is over now,
[03:16.33]and we can go on the picnic to relax.
[03:20.42]M: Hmm...Going on the picnic is too tiring,
[03:23.91]why not come to my home to have a party?
[03:27.16]Q: Where will the man offer to go?
[03:45.07]16.W: You can go to the film tonight
[03:48.57]and I will baby-sit for you.
[03:50.96]M: That would be very kind of you to do so.
[03:53.57]Q: What is the woman going to do?
[04:11.72]17.W: Please turn down the television.
[04:15.29]I can't understand anything my friends is saying on the phone.
[04:20.43]M: Hurry up and finish your call.
[04:22.31]I don’t like standing so close.
[04:24.96]The light hurts my eyes.
[04:27.17]Q: Why is the woman upset?
[04:44.85]18.W: Have you finished the research paper on psychology?
[04:50.93]M: Not yet, I never write it until the last minute.
[04:55.04]Q: What did the man mean?
[05:11.37]Now you will hear the two long conversations
[05:18.10]Conversation One
[05:20.24]M: I really have no idea what to do during this summer holiday.
[05:24.35]I can't bear to just sit around,
[05:26.97]and there seem to be no jobs available.
[05:29.29]W: Why don’t you try house-sitting?
[05:31.60]Last summer my friend Tom house-sat for the Alexanders
[05:35.45]when they went away on vacation.
[05:37.58]Mr. Alexander hired Tom to stay in their house
[05:41.05]because he didn't want it left empty.
[05:43.89]M: You mean the Alexanders paid Tom
[05:46.30]just to live in their house?
[05:47.91]W: It certainly wasn't that easy.
[05:50.35]He had to mow the lawn and water the houseplants
[05:53.61]and also feed the pets.
[05:55.57]And when Boris house-sat for Mr. Alexander,
[06:01.43]M: I heard about baby-sitting,
[06:03.72]and house-sitting sounds just like that---
[06:07.04]except you're taking care of a house insteadof children.
[06:09.91]It may be a suitable job for me.
[06:12.40]W: The student employment office still has a few jobs posted.
[06:16.40]M: Do I just have to fill out an application form?
[06:19.21]W: Yes, and Tom and Boris had to interview
[06:22.09]with the homeowners and provide three references each.
[06:26.54]M: That seems like a lot of trouble for a summer job.
[06:29.59]W: Well, the homeowners want some guarantee
[06:31.69]that they can trust the house-sitter.
[06:34.17]You know, they want to make sure you're not the type
[06:37.08]who'll throw wild parties in their house,
[06:40.18]or move a group of friends in with you.
[06:42.97]M: House-sitters who do that sort of thing
[06:44.94]probably aren't paid then.
[06:47.22]W: Usually they're paid anyway just because
[06:49.32]the homeowners don't want to make a fuss.
[06:52.37]But if the homeowner reported it,
[06:54.89]then the house-sitter wouldn’t be able to get another job.
[06:58.60]So why don't you give it a try?
[07:00.75]M: Yeah, I think I will.
[07:04.24]Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation
[07:07.74]you have just heard.
[07:10.67]19. What does the man want to do this summer?
[07:30.88]20. What did the Alexanders do
[07:34.86]when they went away on holiday last summer?
[07:53.62]21. What is one responsibility the house-sitter
[07:58.81]probably wouldn't have?
[08:17.23]22. How do homeowners determine
[08:21.34]the reliability of a house-sitter?
[08:39.46]Conversation Two
[08:41.20]M: I really appreciate your filling me in on yesterday's lecture.
[08:45.09]W: No problem.
[08:46.32]I thought you might want to go over it together.
[08:48.89]And anyway, it helps me review.
[08:51.14]Hope you're feeling better now.
[08:53.16]M: I am. Thanks. So, you said she talked about squid?
[08:57.30]Sounds a little strange.
[08:59.24]W：Well, actually, it was about the evolution
[09:01.74]of sea life-a continuation from last week.
[09:05.20]The octopus and the squid
[09:07.34]descended from earlier creatures with shells.
[09:10.36]They made surprising change by shedding theirshells-somewhere
[09:14.33]between 200 and 500 million years ago.
[09:18.56]M: That's a pretty long span of time.
[09:20.87]W: I know. That's what she said, though.
[09:23.70]To be precise: “exactly when they emerged is uncertain…
[09:28.19]and why is still unexplained.”
[09:31.19]M: Some squid are really huge.
[09:33.57]Can you imagine something that big if it still had a shell?
[09:37.25]W: Actually, it's because they lost their shells
[09:39.75]that they could evolve to bigger sizes.
[09:42.17]M: Makes sense. But some are really huge.
[09:45.91]I've read about fishermen that caught squid
[09:48.27]that weighed over a ton.
[09:50.30]Did she talk about how that happened?
[09:52.40]W: Not really. But she did mention some unusual cases.
[09:57.04]In 1933 in New Zealand they caught a squid…
[10:01.69]let's see here… it was twenty-two yards long.
[10:06.53]Its eyes were eighteen inches across.
[10:09.68]Can you imagine?
[10:11.28]M: Reminds me of all those stories of sea monsters.
[10:14.31]W: Dr. Simpson thinks there are probably even larger ones
[10:18.45]that haven't been found because squid are intelligent
[10:22.12]and fast-so they can easily get away from humans.
[10:26.32]Maybe some of those monster stories are true.
[10:31.05]Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation
[10:35.47]you have just heard.
[10:38.29]23. What topic are the man and woman discussing?
[10:58.73]24. Why does the man need to talk to the woman
[11:03.39]about the class?
[11:20.91]25. What does the woman imply about sea monsters?
[11:41.33]Section B
[11:42.78]Directions:
[11:44.74]In this section,
[11:46.09]you will hear 3 short passages.
[11:49.39]At the end of each passage,
[11:51.39]you will hear some questions.
[11:53.89]Both the passage and the questions
[11:56.60]will be spoken only once.
[11:59.41]After you hear a question,
[12:01.34]you must choose the best answer from the four choices
[12:05.21]marked A), B), C) and D).
[12:09.66]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2
[12:14.43]with a single line through the centre.
[12:18.22]Passage One
[12:20.00]Heredity is not the only thing
[12:22.14]that influences our color.
[12:24.85]Where and how we live after we are born is important too.
[12:28.94]For instance, our skin color greatly depends on
[12:32.31]how much sunshine we get.
[12:34.51]Centuries ago, most people in Europe were peasants
[12:38.25]and had to work in the fields all day.
[12:40.80]On the other hand, noblemen did not have to work.
[12:44.64]They stayed indoors and remained pale.
[12:47.93]You could always tell a nobleman from a peasant
[12:50.71]because the peasant had a tan.
[12:53.50]As a result, noblewomen did their best
[12:56.53]to keep their skins as light as possible.
[12:59.54]A skin so pale was considered a mark
[13:02.37]of great beauty and nobleness.
[13:05.48]During the Industrial Revolution,
[13:07.70]farmers left their fields and went to work in factories,
[13:11.19]mines and mills.
[13:13.80]Working for long hours in those dark places
[13:16.63]make their skins pale.
[13:19.10]Wealthy people, however,
[13:20.76]could afford to travel to sunny countries.
[13:23.43]They lay around on the beaches and got a tan,
[13:26.75]which became a sign of wealth.
[13:28.99]In Western Europe and North America
[13:31.56]pale skin is no longer desirable.
[13:34.65]The desire for a quick tan has led to the invention of pills
[13:38.80]that darken the skin without exposure to sunlight.
[13:42.50]So there are three answers to the question
[13:45.33]“Where does our color come from?” -
[13:47.97]It comes from the genes we inherit.
[13:50.63]It comes from the conditions in which we live.
[13:53.52]And it can come from a bottle
[13:55.35]that we buy at the drugstore on the corner.
[13:59.15]Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage
[14:02.50]you have just heard.
[14:05.89]26. Why did noblewomen in Europe do their best
[14:10.68]to keep their color as light as possible?
[14:29.19]27. Who were the people having a tan
[14:33.12]according to the passage?
[14:50.29]28. What does the passage mainly tell us?
[15:10.76]Passage Two
[15:12.37]More and more Americans are visiting Italy
[15:15.48]not to see the sites of ancient Rome
[15:18.50]but to taste the delights of the rest of the country,
[15:22.09]according to a new survey.
[15:24.26]Not only are long waits under the hot summer sun
[15:27.98]to get into sites such as the Coliseum turning visitors away,
[15:32.35]but the attractions of good wine, pasta and cheese
[15:36.47]are drawing people to other lesser-known destinations.
[15:40.89]A little over a quarter of those surveyed said
[15:43.70]they were choosing alternative locations
[15:46.18]because they want to get to know Italian cooking better.
[15:49.74]Another 21 percent said
[15:51.80]it was much more relaxing
[15:53.90]to be in the countryside eating wholesome Italian food
[15:57.30]after leaving stressful jobs and unhealthy diets
[16:00.74]in the United States.
[16:02.50]And 17 percent said
[16:04.23]they were following in the footsteps of their Hollywood heroes.
[16:08.13]For years, Hollywood stars have enjoyed low-key vacations
[16:11.78]at quiet but luxurious villas in rural Italy,
[16:15.98]and it appears the trend is rubbing off on Americans.
[16:19.79]“Americans are realizing that the Mediterranean diet
[16:23.37]is the best way to stay in shape
[16:25.95]and courses in Italian cooking are better for handling stress
[16:30.67]than visiting a psychologist.”
[16:32.83]a statement accompanying the survey said.
[16:37.31]Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage
[16:40.87]you have just heard.
[16:45.97]29. What do more and more Americans go to Italy for ?
[17:04.64]30. Which is not the reason for people
[17:08.06]choosing lesser-known destinations?
[17:26.86]31. What's the advantage of a Mediterranean diet
[17:32.39]as mentioned in the passage?
[17:50.22]32. What is the passage mainly discussing?
[18:10.49]Passage Three
[18:12.02]Twenty years ago London could have claimed
[18:14.96]the title “Smog City, Europe”.
[18:18.34]Three fourths of its smoke is gone now
[18:21.39]and the remarkable change was caused by a series of killer fogs
[18:25.56]in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
[18:29.51]The worst of these settled over London
[18:31.88]on December 5th, 1952.
[18:34.83]For four continuous days the city's normal daily death rate increased,
[18:39.72]in all, some 4,000 extra deaths
[18:42.67]that winter were blamed on the incident.
[18:45.77]More such fogs came in the winters that followed.
[18:49.19]Each gave people a big alarm.
[18:52.15]In 1956 Parliament passed the Clean Air Act,
[18:56.20]declaring that factories and homes in critical areas of the city
[19:00.58]must switch from soft high sulphur coal to less smoky fuels:
[19:06.07]hard coal, gas, electricity, or oil.
[19:10.13]Inevitably there were economic problems and complaints,
[19:14.13]both from householders and industries.
[19:17.43]But, with each passing year, London's air grew clearer.
[19:22.02]London has proved that the veil of smog can be cast off,
[19:26.28]but its success story stands almost alone. In sunny Spain,
[19:31.85]Madrid has joined the ranks of fog cities.
[19:35.57]In Italy, acid from smog cuts into centuries old sculpture.
[19:41.04]And each rain here in Washington
[19:43.41]washes more acid onto our marble buildings and monuments.
[19:47.42]The massive struggle to clean our air began so recently
[19:52.35]that victory seems far off.
[19:55.42]But we have taken an important step
[19:57.60]and we realize we must do something.
[20:00.79]In the frequency quoted words of Pogo,
[20:03.70]“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
[20:07.75]Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage
[20:11.31]you have just heard.
[20:13.53]33. Which city's buildings are not suffering from smog now?
[20:35.75]34. Where was the article probably published?
[20:56.36]35. Which of the following can best
[20:59.83]describe the main idea of the article?
[21:19.89]Section C
[21:21.54]Directions:
[21:23.31]In this section,
[21:24.50]you will hear a passage three times.
[21:27.63]When the passage is read for the first time,
[21:30.63]you should listen carefully for its general idea.
[21:34.68]When the passage is read for the second time,
[21:37.39]you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43
[21:43.57]with the exact words you have just heard.
[21:47.61]For blanks numbered from 44 to 46
[21:50.95]you are required to fill in the missing information.
[21:55.02]For these blanks, you can either use the exact words
[21:58.69]you have just heard or write down the main points
[22:02.35]in your own words.
[22:04.48]Finally, when the passage is read for the third time,
[22:07.91]you should check what you have written.
[22:12.34]now listen to the passage
[22:16.01]Singaporeans are passionate about food and eating.
[22:20.65]Look around and the proof is everywhere.
[22:24.14]Almost in every corner of the island,
[22:27.10]you will find an endless variety of food,
[22:30.74]served hot or cold, at any hour of the day (or night)!
[22:35.97]In this multicultural city,
[22:38.35]you can expect nothing less than
[22:40.47]a complete range of flavors from around the globe.
[22:44.25]It's not just East-meets-West
[22:46.95]when it comes to feasting in Singapore-
[22:49.95]it is a tasty tale about a country's unique cultural tapestry
[22:55.27]woven with its distinct influences
[22:57.84]to capture the essence of Singapore's multicultural heritage.
[23:03.13]One of the most important financial and commercial
[23:07.60]centers of Asia,Singapore has more than 130 banks
[23:10.69]and other financial institutions
[23:13.03]at its commercial heart around Raffles Place.
[23:17.10]Business dealings are facilitated
[23:19.45]by Singapore's superb communications network,
[23:22.84]which links the nation to the rest of the world via satellite,
[23:27.17]24-hour telegraph and telephone systems.
[23:30.89]Grand hotels and fine restaurants have sprung up
[23:35.17]in the shining steel and glass skyscrapers,
[23:39.09]and even the nightlife scene has come on very rapidly.
[23:43.14]Strategic location, excellent facilities,
[23:46.29]fascinating cultural contrasts and tourist attractions,
[23:50.70]all contribute to its success of being a leading destination
[23:56.16]for both business and pleasure.
[23:58.87]As a result, Singapore is frequently voted
[24:02.28]Asia's top business destination,
[24:05.24]and is regarded as one of the finest places
[24:09.03]for international conferences, conventions and exhibitions.
[24:21.24]now the passage will be read again
[24:27.63]Singaporeans are passionate about food and eating.
[24:31.70]Look around and the proof is everywhere.
[24:35.79]Almost in every corner of the island,
[24:38.66]you will find an endless variety of food,
[24:42.31]served hot or cold, at any hour of the day (or night)!
[24:47.50]In this multicultural city,
[24:50.21]you can expect nothing less than
[24:51.97]a complete range of flavors from around the globe.
[24:55.82]It's not just East-meets-West
[24:58.45]when it comes to feasting in Singapore-
[25:01.51]it is a tasty tale about a country's unique cultural tapestry
[25:07.21]woven with its distinct influences
[25:09.34]to capture the essence of Singapore's multicultural heritage.
[25:14.72]One of the most important financial and commercial
[25:19.06]centers of Asia, Singapore has more than 130 banks
[25:22.10]and other financial institutions
[25:24.59]at its commercial heart around Raffles Place.
[25:28.56]Business dealings are facilitated
[25:30.72]by Singapore's superb communications network,
[25:34.36]which links the nation to the rest of the world via satellite,
[25:38.65]24-hour telegraph and telephone systems.
[25:42.43]Grand hotels and fine restaurants have sprung up
[25:46.75]in the shining steel and glass skyscrapers,
[25:50.72]
[26:52.02]and even the nightlife scene has come on very rapidly.
[26:56.33]Strategic location, excellent facilities,
[26:58.93]fascinating cultural contrasts and tourist attractions,
[27:03.33]all contribute to its success of being a leading destination
[27:08.45]for both business and pleasure.
[27:11.47]
[28:13.10]As a result, Singapore is frequently voted
[28:16.52]Asia's top business destination,
[28:19.72]and is regarded as one of the finest places
[28:22.71]for international conferences, conventions and exhibitions.
[28:29.63]
[29:33.25]Now the passage will be read for the third time
[29:38.62]Singaporeans are passionate about food and eating.
[29:42.88]Look around and the proof is everywhere.
[29:46.80]Almost in every corner of the island,
[29:49.69]you will find an endless variety of food,
[29:53.37]served hot or cold, at any hour of the day (or night)!
[29:58.45]In this multicultural city,
[30:01.00]you can expect nothing less than
[30:03.12]a complete range of flavors from around the globe.
[30:06.90]It's not just East-meets-West
[30:09.77]when it comes to feasting in Singapore-
[30:12.64]it is a tasty tale about a country's unique cultural tapestry
[30:18.36]woven with its distinct influences
[30:20.54]to capture the essence of Singapore's multicultural heritage.
[30:25.68]One of the most important financial and commercial
[30:30.08]centers of Asia,Singapore has more than 130 banks
[30:33.26]and other financial institutions
[30:35.64]at its commercial heart around Raffles Place.
[30:39.65]Business dealings are facilitated
[30:41.71]by Singapore's superb communications network,
[30:45.43]which links the nation to the rest of the world via satellite,
[30:49.66]24-hour telegraph and telephone systems.
[30:53.47]Grand hotels and fine restaurants have sprung up
[30:57.78]in the shining steel and glass skyscrapers,
[31:01.73]and even the nightlife scene has come on very rapidly.
[31:05.53]Strategic location, excellent facilities,
[31:09.01]fascinating cultural contrasts and tourist attractions,
[31:13.21]all contribute to its success of being a leading destination
[31:18.70]for both business and pleasure.
[31:21.48]As a result, Singapore is frequently voted
[31:24.78]Asia's top business destination,
[31:27.36]and is regarded as one of the finest places
[31:31.68]for international conferences, conventions and exhibitions.
[31:39.31]This is the end of listening comprehension.
