听说教程Unit_6(The Nature We Live In).doc

Unit 6The Nature We Live InWARM-UPA Listen to a speaker talking about the damage done by ice storms. Complete the following chart according to the information you hear.Script：Ice-Strom Number Tell Chilling Tale In January 1988, there successive storms dropped more than 4 inches of freezing rain in areas of New England and southern Canada. About 100.000 people had to take refuge in shelters, while the Red Cross raised more than 10 million to help the victims. The ice brought down more than 1,000 power transmission towers and 30,000 wooden utility poles. Nearly 1.7 million customers lost their electricity, in some areas for weeks. More than one-third of all farmland in the region was affected. Nearly 5.3 million sugar-maple trees were in the path of the storm, and it may take 30 to 40 years for maple syrup production to return to normal. The hardest hit were dairy farmers，as nearly one-quarter of Canadas cows were subjected to the storm. The ones that survived may never reach their previous level of production. Furthermore ,2.5 million gallons of milk, valued at more than 5 million, had to be dumped because there was no electricity.Damages Caused by Ice StormsAreasDamagesPeopleAbout people had to live .More than $10 million was raised to help the .ElectricityMore than 1,000 towers and 30,000utility poles fell.Nearly1.7million lost electricity.cropsMore than1/3 of was damaged.Nearly 5.3 million were hit.DairyNearly of Canadas were killed.Nearly 2.5 million gallons of milk .People ：100.000/ in shelter / victimsElectricity ：power transmission / customersCrop： all farmland in the region / sugar-maple trees Dairy： 1/4 /cows / had to be dumpedB Discuss the following questions.1. What other environmental problem may cause damage to people?2. What can we do right now to slow global warming and make a real difference?LISTENING FOR CONTENT Listening to a conversationAListen to an interview between Tony Brown, a journalist from a local newspaper, and Andrew Metzger, the director of a zoo. After the interview, some questions will be asked about what was said. Write down a short answer to each question.Script： Andrew McTagger is the director of a zoo located in a large North American city. In this interview he explains the type of work that is done in todays zoos.Tony： Im Tony Brown from the local newspaper. Now，what was the purpose of the first modern zoos?Andrew： Well, those zoos were the only places where people could really see wild animals .Tony： And today thats changed ,right?Andrew： Well, on the one hand , zoos are still the place for people to see live wild animals up close . Seeing an animal touches people, especially young people. Most zoos today have great educational exhibits. On the other hand, now we can watch TV programmes about animals living in the wild.Tony：Do you think zoos are good places for wild animals to live in?Andrew: Well, in some cases, yes. You see, we can build better cages, or enclosures, for the animals. In the bears enclosure, for example, we recreate the forest with different kinds of plants, tree trunks, rocks, and waterfalls.Tony： Do you think the animal feel as if it were right at home?Andrew： No, probably not, but we try to do as much as possible. We create places where they can be private and hide away from people. We put in big rocks with spaces to crawl into, or trees to go behind.Tony：What is the most important job for todays zoos?Andrew： Conservation work.Tony： What do you mean by that, saving animals?Andrew： Exactly. We can help animals endangered in the wild to reproduce safely in zoos. Then we can return these animals to the wild.Tony：Is this an important job for zoos?Andrew：Its very important. Dont forget its estimated that about 200 to 300 animals in the wild become extinct every year, and that number is increasing rapidly. I think zoos play an important part in saving animals from extinction. This is the future role of zoos.1. What is mainly talked about in this interview? .2. What was the purpose of the first modern zoos? .3. What is the most important job for todays zoos? .B Listen to the interview again and choose the best answer to each question you hear.1. A) Getting closer to the animals in the zoo.B) Seeing a wild animal in the zoo.C) Visiting educational exhibits in the zoo.D) Watching TV programmers about animals living in the wild.2. A) Todays zoos are built in forest with different plants, rocks and waterfalls.B) Todays zoos have already become the best place for wild animals.C) Todays zoos are good habitats for wild animals.D) Todays zoos make wild animals feel at home.3. A) To raise 200-300 animals each year in each zoo.B) To estimate the number of endangered animals.C) To increase the number of endangered animals.D) To prevent endangered animals from extinction.Listening to a passageA Mary is expressing her opinion on how to punish those who traffic in illegal animal products. Listen carefully and choose the best answer to each question you hear.Script：A Law to Help Protect Endangered Species Many species are now in danger of becoming extinct. Among the threats to endangered species are businesses that buy and sell animals for their skin and other parts. Unfortunately, the people who run these businesses are not discouraged by fines. They simply see it as just another business expense. A better way to control the problem would be to force whoever is caught buying or selling products made from endangered species to perform community service. Their community service should require work that helps protect the animals they are harming. Such a law could be quite effective. If people trafficking in illegal animal products were forced to help endangered species, they might understand how destructive their business is. Also, their community service tasks would turn then into helpers rather than destroyers. In the process of fulfilling tasks, they will see the importance of protecting the animals. Some might argue that community service would not be an effective way to protect endangered species because it would not really convince people to abandon a profitable business. However, community service would be much more effective than fines alone. Paying a fine is as easy as writing a check, but doing community service reveals your responsibility and obligation as a citizen. We must do whatever we can to save all species so that the complex web of life is protected. For this reason, we need stronger, more effective penalties such as the one I am proposing.Questions1 What can be inferred about the business of buying and selling animal skins?2 What is the significance of community service?3 Which of the following is true according to the speaker?1. A) They are becoming extinct.B) They are in danger of being fined.C) They are the threats to species.D) They are unfortunate.2. A) It can stop trafficking in illegal animal products.B) It can force illegal animal traffickers to fulfill community service tasks.C) It can be destructive to traffickers in illegal animal predicts.D) It cam show the importance of protecting the animals.3. A) Fines would be an effective way to protect endangered animals.B) Doing community service reminds a citizen of their responsibility to protect animals.C) Fines can convince people to abandon their illegal businesses.D) Doing community survive is as easy as paying fines.KEY C B DB Listen to the passage again and discuss the following questions.1. What is Marys opinion on how to punish those who practice trafficking in illegal animal products?2. Do you agree with Marys opinion? Why or why not? Listening to English newsA Listen to the following news about the damage from acid rain and fill in the blanks with what you hear.Script：Acid Rain Damage from acid rain is widespread not just in eastern North America, but throughout Europe, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Is the rain thats falling on your umbrella acidic? A listeners question on todays “Earth and Sky”.JB: This is “Earth and Sky”, with a question from Sandra Renee of Olive Hill, Kentucky. She asks, “ How do you know when it rains that its not acid rain, and what exactly is acid rain? ”DB: Sandra, you need a PH meter to reliably measure the acidity of rain or snow. But in certain parts of US-especially in the Northeastyou can probably assume that most rain will be at least somewhat acidic. Westerly winds move pollutants eastward，so the eastern US gets more acid rain.JB: Acid rain happens when airborne acids fall down to earth in rain. Electrical utility plants that burn fossil fuels emit chemicals in the air to form sulfuric acid, nitric acidthe “acid” in acid rain. You dont have to live next door to a power plant to get showered by acid rain. These acid pollutants reach high into the atmosphere and can travel with wind currents for hundreds of kilometers.DB: The acids in acid rain are corrosive chemicals that leach nutrients from the soils, slow the growth of trees, poison lakes and combine with other chemicals to form urban smog. The simplest way to curtail acid rain is to use less energy from fossil fuels.JB: Special thanks today to the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to advancing research and education in the chemical sciences. Were Block and Byrd for “ Earth and Sky ”.Acid RainDamage from acid rain is 1) not just in eastern North America, but throughout Europe, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Is the rain thats 2) your umbrella acidic? A listeners question on todays” Earth and Sky”.JB: This is “Earth and Sky”, with a question from Sandra Renee of Olive Hill, Kentacky. She asks,” How do you know when it rains that its not acid rain, and what 3) is acid rain?DB: Sandra, you need a pH meter 4) the acidity of rain or snow. But in certain parts of the USespecially on the Northeastyou can probably 5) that most rain will be at least somewhat acidic. Westerly winds move 6) eastward, so the eastern US gets more acid rain.JB: Acid rain happens when airborne acids fall down to earth in rain. 7) that burn fossil fuels emit chemicals into the atmosphere that 8) water and other chemicals in the air to form sulfuric acid, nitric acidthe” acid” in acid rain. You dont have to live next door to a power plant 9) by acid rain. These acid pollutants reach high into the atmosphere and can travel 10) for hundreds of kilometers.DB: The acids in acid rain are corrosive chemicals that 11) from the soil, slow the growth of trees, poison lakes and 12) other chemicals to form urban smog. The simplest way to curtail acid rain is to use les energy 13) .JB: Special thanks today to the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, a private foundation 14)Advancing research and education in the chemical sciences. Were Block and Byrd for” Earth and Sky”. KEY1. widespread 2. falling on 3. exactly 4. to reliably measure 5. assume 6. pollutants7. Electrical utility plants 8. react with 9. to get showered10. with wind currents11. leach nutrients12. combine with 13. from fossil fuels 14. dedicated to NoteA pH meter is an electric device that measures pH using an electrochemical cell.” pH”, also” pH value”, abdicates a number on a scale of 0 to 14 which shows how acid or alkaline a substance is.B Listen to the news again and answer the following questions. After you finish the task, check your answers with your partner.1. Why is it assumed that most rain in the northeast part of the United States will be at least somewhat acidic?2. How is the” acid” in acid rain formed?3. What damage has been done to nature by the acids in acid rain?4. What is the simplest way to reduce acid rain?FOLLOWUPListening to short conversationsIn this section you will hear five short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be red only once. After each question there will be a paisa. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C)and D), and decide which is the best answer. Script：1 W：Did you know that we waste hundreds of gallons of water every day, simply because people dont turn off their taps properly?M ：The problem is that people cant see that by turning off their taps, or switching off, or switching off a light in their house, they are saving gallons of water and hundreds of trees.Q ：What is mainly talked about in this dialogue?2M： I think government should do whatever is necessary to create more wild animal preserves. They should raise money through environmental awareness campaigns.W： Maybe people could make voluntary contributions when they file their taxes.M：Thats a good idea. That way whoever wants to contribute can, but its not obligatory.Q What does the man mean?3W： I heard about the tornado on the radio Texas.M： Was it as bad as the one in Louisiana?W：It was much worse. A hundreds people were killed.M：Thats twice as many people.Q： What do we know about the tornado in Louisiana?4W： I sincerely feel that animals should not be used for research purpose.M： I dont really agree. I seriously doubt that medical research could be done without animals.W： We seen to be in a dilemma to decide what to do, protect the environment or develop the medical science?Q： What attitude does the man hold towards using animals for research purposes?5M ：Scientists say that water pollution is the biggest problem in the environment.M： Do you believe that?W：Well, scientists base their statements on studies, dont they? What do you think is the biggest problem?M：Air pollution, because theyre always talking about it in the news, arent they?W：True, but can you always believe what they say in the news?Q： What can be inferred from the conversation?1. A) How to turn off taps properly.B) How to save water every day.C) How to switch off light in the house.D) How to protect water and trees in nature.2. A) It is a good idea to set up more wild animal preserves.B) It is necessary to raise money through awareness campaigns.C) It is a good idea for people to make voluntary contributions.D) It is peoples obligation to contribute money.3. A) Louisiana tornado was as terrible as the one in Texas.B) Louisiana tornado killed 50 people.C) Louisiana tornado killed 200 people.D) Louisiana tornado was much worse than the one in Texas.4. A) He is doubtful about medical researches with animals.B) He is in agreement with the woman not to use animals in research.C) He feels it necessary to use animals in medical researches.D) He feels in a dilemma whether to protect the environment or not.5. A) The two speakers agree water pollution is the biggest environmental problem.B) The two speakers think air pollution is the biggest environmental problem.C) The two speakers always believe what is talked about in the news.D) The two speakers have different opinions about the biggest pollution problem.KEY D C B C D Listening to a longer conversationIn this section you will hear a longer conversation. At the end of the conversation, questions will be asked about what was said. After each question there will be a During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer.Script： Things You Can Do to Help the EnvironmentSteve: Our environment is in trouble. People and industries are polluting the air, rivers, lakes and seas. It seems that we can do nothing to help. What do you think, Helen?Helen: No. Thats not turn, Steve. In fact, there are many things we can do.Steve: For example?Helen: We can walk, bicycle or use public transportation to work instead of driving. If it is really necessary to drive a car, drive at a steady speed, because burning gasoline is one of the biggest sources of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.Steve: Yes, it is believed that carbon monoxide is causing global warming. It thins the ozone layer, which protects us from the suns rays.Helen: Right, I would tell the same story. The thinner ozone layer means a lot more radiation, disastrous to human beings and nature.Steve: Then, what else can we do?Helen: A lot. Generally, try not to use disposable products. Believe it or not, in a single year, people in the United States use enough disposable diapers to reach to the moon and back seven times Steve: Oh, no! That causes great damage to the forests. The shrinkage of forests adds to environmental pollution.Helen: Definitely. So everybody should do their best to help reduce pollution in our daily life. For instance, showers use a lot of water. Have you heard that a typical American family uses as much water as a person drinks in there years!Steve: Incredible! Ill have to do something to cut my water usage.Helen: Good for you. Just go and buy a special “ low-flow” shower head and dont forget to fix any leaky faucets.Questions1 What does Helen think about protecting the environment?2 What is implied about driving at s steady speed?3 Why did Helen mention people in the United States?4