新世纪研究生英语听说(下)原文LESSON15(B).doc

LESSON FIFTEENReform and DevelopmentPART A1. M: Id like to try to sell some of my textbooks from last semester. W: You and a few hundred other people. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?2. M: Could I talk to you for a minute about the discrepancy 1 found in this graph? W: Im kind of in the middle of things right now. Q: What does the woman mean?3. W: Do you know if George is coming to the meeting? M: Oh, no. I was supposed to tell you that hes sick and cant come. Q: Which of the following is true about the man? 4. W: Dick, please dont tie up the phone. I need to make a call. M: Ill be off in a minute. Q: What will the man do?5. M: You took the European literature class last year, are you interested in selling me any of the books?. M: I always hold on to them for future reference. Q: What will the man probably do?6. M: Ive come about the job you advertised in the paper. W: You need one of those forms over there. On the table next to the file cabinet. Q: What does the woman imply the man should do?7. M: I know I ought to call home, but Ive got a plane to catch, and Im already late. W: Well, I know you have to hurry, but itll only take a minute. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?8. W: I have to drive into Chicago next week. Do you have a map I could borrow? M: Sorry, I dont, but I can pick one up for you at the bookstore. Q: What will the man do to help the woman? 9. W: What did you think of the paintings showed last week? M: I never made it to the exhibit. Q: What can be learned about the man?10. M: Did you hear about the big snowstorm in Iowa yesterday? Three feet in 12 hours. W: Yeah, and I hear its headed our way. Were supposed to get the same thing tonight. Q: What can be known according to the conversation?11. M: Youre joining us for dinner tonight, arent you? W: Oh, Im really sorry, but I have the wrong day for my geometry test. I just found out its tomorrow, and I need all the time I can get to prepare. Q: What will the woman probably do?12. W: I cant decide whether I should take physics now or wait till next semester. M: You might as well get it over with you if you can Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?13. W: You look different today. Did you get a haircut? M: Its funny. Youre the third person to ask me that. But all I did was get new eyeglass frames.Q: What did you learn about the man? 14. W: How did your interview go? M: I dont think I came across as well as I could have. Q: What does the man mean?15. M: That last speaker was pretty boring, but he did make a few good points at the end. W: Really? I didnt catch them. I must have dozed off for a minute. Q: Which can be learned about the woman according to the conversation?PART BPassage I: Reform of the FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main investigating agency of the United States Department of Justice. The Justice Department recently announced new measures to help the FBI fight terrorism. For many years, FBI agents investigated threats to national security. Now, however, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller has told Congress that the Bureaus main responsibility must be to protect the United States from terrorist attacks. The Justice Department recently announced a major reorganization of the FBI. The size of the agency will be increased. FBI agents also will have new powers to investigate inside the United States. Most of the reforms are to improve the FBIs ability to gather and study intelligence information about terrorists planning attacks on the United States. The changes are in reaction to recent criticism of the FBI. Many people have questioned its actions in relation to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001. The FBI plans to hire 900 more agents. They include people skilled in computer technology, science and languages. They will join about 11,500 other FBI agents. A central office of Intelligence will be established in the FBIs Washington headquarters. The FBI has already appointed a number of officials to intelligence positions. FBI Director Mueller and Justice Department officials say the new rules will greatly improve FBI performance. For example, commanders at agency offices will now be able to order investigations that are limited in time. In the past, they needed permission from FBI headquarters to do this. The commanders can also start limited investigations when no crime has taken place. Evidence gathered during this time could help launch extended investigations. In addition, agents will ha able to gather information about religious and political organizations from the internet computer system and from libraries. And agents will be able to observe activities in public places, including religious centers. Some civil rights groups, however, say the new rules interfere with traditional American rights. They say privacy and free speech might be threatened. Critics of the new rules say the FBI might investigate political dissenters without any evidence of wrongdoing. Many American Muslims say they fear the possibility of FBI agents targeting them unfairly.I1.According to FBI Director Muller, what is the main responsibility of the FBI?2. Why is the justice department reorganizing the FBI? 3. How many more agents does the FBI plan to hire?4. What kind of people does the FBI plan to hire?5. What do some civil rights groups say about the new rules of the FBI?II1) greatly improve2) order investigations that are limited in time.3) when no crime has taken place.4) religious and political organizations5) observe activities6) religious centers.Passage II:Yucca Mountain The United States Senate has given final congressional approval for a project to bury nuclear waste material under Yucca Mountain in the state of Nevada. The project calls for burying more than 70,000 tons of radioactive nuclear waste material, The material includes used nuclear fuel from power centers and waste from the production of nuclear weapons. The waste is now stored at power centers around the country. However, these power centers have little storage space left. The federal government owns Yucca Mountain. No one lives there. It is in an extremely dry area more than 145 kilometers northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The dispute about burying nuclear waste under Yucca Mountain has continued for many years. Bush Administration officials support the nuclear waste burial project. They say it is scientifically acceptable. They say the area is a good place to bury nuclear waste because of its lack of population and low rainfall. They also say placing all of the countrys nuclear waste in one place would help protect against terrorist attacks in other parts of the country. Supporters of the plan say it is important for the future of the nuclear power industry. However, there is much opposition to the plan. Opponents include environmental groups. Nevada state officials and many members of Congress. They say the area is near potentially active volcanoes and has experienced earthquakes. Movements in the earth could spread the radioactive material. Opponents say the rock might not be able to hold the waste and keep it from entering water underground. Opponents also say the dangerous nuclear waste would have to be transported by trucks and trains across about forty states. They fear accidents or threats from terrorists could endanger the population in many areas. Now that Congress has approved the plan, the Energy Department must request and receive permission for the project from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Energy Department must provide evidence about the safety of the project. Supporters of the project hope it will begin in 2010. However, opponents say they will continue to fight against it.I1. What does the speaker mainly talk about?2. How many tons of radioactive nuclear waste material will be buried if the project can be carried out?3. According to Bush Administration officials, why is Yucca Mountain a good place to bury nuclear waste?4. Why do some people oppose the nuclear waste burial project?5. What are the prospects of the nuclear waste burial project?II1.The United States Senate.2.Used nuclear fuel from power centers and waste from the production of nuclear weapons.3.It is in an area more than 145 kilometers northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.4.Environmental groups, Nevada state officials and many members of Congress.5.It must request and receive permission for the project from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and provide evidence about the safety of the project.Passage III: The Development of the Internet The Internet began more than thirty years ago. It was designed to link computers. Its goal to increase communication among universities, the government and some major Armenian businesses. The Internet made it easy for them to send information quickly. As time passed, more people began using the Internet. In 1981, the Internet linked 213 computers. Only nine years later, it linked more than 350,000 computers. Today experts say there are about 300 million co