A LESSON two.doc

LESSON EIGHT1. M: Do you still want to go to the graduate school after you get out of college? W: Ive changed my mind about that. I want to start working before I go back to school. Q: What does the woman mean? 2. M: Weve got a whole hour before the Browns come by to pick us up. W: Yeah. But wed better get moving. Q: What does the woman suggest they do?3. M: Im thinking of getting a new printer. W: Id invest in a laser printer. The print quality is much better. Q: What does the woman mean? 4. W: Ive got a coupon for half-off dinner at that new restaurant down the street. I think Ill use it when my cousin comes for a visit this weekend. M: Where did you get it? I wouldnt mind trying that place out too. Q: What does the man want to know?5. W: Whats Laura doing here today? I thought she was supposed to be out of the office on Mondays. W: She decided shed rather have Fridays off instead. Q: What can be inferred about Laura? 6. M: I need to find a new roommate. W: So Johns going to California after all. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?7. M: My math assignments due tomorrow morning and I havent even started it yet. W: Ill miss you at the party tonight. Q: What does the woman imply? 8. W: Those packages took forever to arrive. M: But they did arrive, didnt they?Q: What does the man say about the packages? 9. M: My parents are coming to see our apartment this weekend. W: Looks as if Id better lend you my vacuum cleaner then. Q: What does the woman imply?10. M: Sarah, did you have a chance to buy that new novel you wanted? W: No, but I had Doris get it for me. Q: What does Sarah say about the novel?11. M: Ive been waiting all week for this concert. The philharmonic is supposed to be excellent and with our student discount the tickets will be really cheap. W: Uh - uh, Im afraid I left my student ID in my other purse. Q: What does the woman imply? 12. M: The university bookstore opens at 9 in the morning. W: Oh, dear. I need a textbook for my eight oclock class today. Q: What does the woman mean? 13. M: The storm last night damaged some of the neighbors roofs. W: No wonder. Q: What does the woman mean? 14. M: Youve certainly been reading that one page for a long time now. W: Well, Im being tested on it tomorrow. Q: What does the woman imply?15. W: Another thing we need to do is show the new students around town. You know, show them all the highlights of the area. M: I dont see why we need to do that ourselves. I understand the visitors center offers a wonderful bus tour. Q: What does the man suggest they do? PART B Passage I: People in the US get a two-week paid vacation from their job every year. Most British people have four or five weeks paid holiday a year. Americans often complain that two weeks is not enough especially when they hear about the longer holidays that Europeans enjoy. In addition, there are eight days in each European country, which are public holidays (the British call Bank Holiday) and many of these fall on a Monday giving people a long weekend. What do people do in Britain and the US when they are on holidays? In the US, outdoor vacations are popular, for example, at the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone or other national parks or forests. Young people may go walking or camping in the mountains. Many people have small trailers in which to travel, or if they are in a car, they may stay at motels on the journey. Disneyland and Disney world are also popular and people can go skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Some children go to summer camp for a holiday during the summer vacation from school, where they do special activities, such as sports or crafts. When Americans want a holiday for sun and rest, they usually go to Florida, Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean. They may go to Europe for culture, for example, to see art, plays, and places of historic interest. In Britain, many people like to go to the seaside for holidays. There are places near the sea, such as Backpool, Scarborough and Bournemouth, where there is plenty to do even when it rains. People also like to go to the country, especially to walk, in places like Scotland, Wales and the Lake District. When the British go abroad they usually want to go somewhere warm. Spain and the Spanish islands of Majorea and Ibiza are popular as are other places in southern Europe. For skiing, people often go to the Alps.1. How long a paid vacation can Americans enjoy every year?2. About how many days of additional public holidays are there for each European country every year? 3. Where do Americans usually go for sun in the sun? 4. Where do Americans usually spend their holidays for culture?5. British people usually go to Spain for holidays. What for?l. ( F ) Many of the public holidays are on Friday in Britain.2. ( T ) Americans like to do outdoor activities during their vacations.3. ( T ) Some American children do some special activities in the summer camps during their vacations.4. ( F ) When British people go abroad, they usually go for culture.5. ( T ) For the British, the Alps is a favorite spot for skiing.Passage II: Every country in the world celebrates New Year but not everyone does it on the same day. The countries of North and South America and Europe welcome the New Year on January 1. This practice began with the Romans. Julius Caesar, a Roman ruler, changed the date of the New Year from the first day of March to the first day of January. In the Middle East, New Year is on the day when spring begins. People in China celebrate it on the Spring Festival, which is the first day of their lunar calendar. The Spring Festival usually comes between January 21 and February 19. Rosh Hashana, which is the Jewish New Year, comes at the end of summer. In all of these cultures, there is a practice making noise. People made noise in ancient times to drive away the evil spirits from the home. Many people do it with fire-works. In Japan, people go from house to house making noise with drums and bamboo sticks. Young people in Denmark throw broken pieces of jars or pots against the sides of friends houses. In the United States, many people stay up until midnight on New Years Eve to watch the clock pass from one year to the next. Friends often gather together at a party on New Years Eve, and when the New Year comes, all ring bells, blow horns, blow whistle songs, and kiss each other. In many European countries, families start the new year by first attending church services, which is followed by paying calls on friends and relatives. Italian boys and girls receive gifts of money on New Years Day.New Years Day is more joyful than Christmas in France and Scotland. In these countries Christmas is a religious holiday only, while the New Year is the time for gifts-giving, parties, and visits.1. Who changed the date of the New Year from March 1 to January 172. When does the Jewish New Year begin?3. Why did people make noise in ancient times when they celebrated the New Year?4. According to the speaker, how do the children in Denmark celebrate the New Year?5. In which country do children receive gifts of money on New Years Day?1. ( F ) People in the Middle East welcome the New Year on January 1.2. ( T )The Spring Festival usually comes between January 21 and February 19.3. ( T ) On New Years Day, many people make noise with fireworks.4. ( F ) In all European countries, families start the new year by paying calls on friends and relatives.5. ( F ) Christmas is the most joyful and important festival of the year in France.Passage 3: The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese. It comes on the first day of the first month according to Chinese lunar calendar. It marks the beginning of a new year. Its also an old occasion for family reunion. Family members and relatives get together to say goodbye to the old year and greet the new one. Guonian means “passing the year”. People start preparing for it half a month before it comes. They clean their houses thoroughly, decorate them and even paint them; they buy new clothes for children, and they prepare food for the big feast on the eve of the festival. On the eve of the festival, the whole extended family comes together for a big dinner. Dumplings are a must for this festival dinner in northern China, while for southerners niangao- a sticky sweet rice puddingis the traditional food for this occasion. People stay up until midnight chatting, playing mah-jong or watching TV. At the turn of the old and the New Year, people used to let off firecrackers to greet the arrival of the New Year. In the old days people believed setting off firecrackers could drive away the evil spirits. But now, people make phone calls or send messages on mobile phones to ex