星火四级听写50篇答案.doc

1.What a Firefighters Job Is Like The damage that a fire can cause is obvious / and this is why the firefightersjobs are so important. / Firefighters are usually the first ones responding to any type of emergency and perform many tasks,/which include putting out burning buildings, / helping out with medical emergencies, vehicle accidents and many other incidents./ They must make sure their equipment is clean / and all the items they use are in proper working order. / Keeping their skills up to date is necessary. / Therefore, they will be continually trained with new equipment and techniques. / Because of the extreme conditions / and also the stress associated with the emergency situations that arise, / the firefighters definitely need to stay in shape for the work they must do. / They will stay in the fire station while on duty. / Unless they need to work on the trucks or respond to a call, / they can eat, sleep, shower and watch TV at the fire station, just like at home. (160 words)2.Aliens For a long time, aliens have often been in the news. / They have always been surrounded by mystery / and interest of people all around the world. / People have claimed to have been abducted by aliens. / Some have claimed to have actually seen them. / But is there a sound proof that can prove aliens to be real? / Alien sightings have mostly been accompanied by sightings of lights in the night sky. / Some of them have also believed that / the lights came from the spaceships used by the aliens. / Disk-like objects traveling across the sky / have often been taken as aliens vehicles./ At times, people have found blood or hair at the locations / where aliens were sighted. / Researchers say alien sightings could have probably been a result of human imagination accompanied by fear, / and some of these sightings might have been a result of certain astronomical phenomena. ( 145 words)3.Computer Eyeglasses As computers become a more and more vital part of todays lifestyle and practices,/ new medical conditions are developing as a result of their usage. / The most common to date is computer vision problems, / which include eye pain, tired and burning eyes, watering or dry eyes, eye strain. / One Would never imagine that such a useful and innovative tool could cause so much physical discomfort ! / As a result of these, science professionals seized the opportunity / to create computer eyeglasses to ease these common conditions / and make computer usage less painful and more comfortable. / The computer vision problems affect adults as well as children./ Although children normally have different requirements for near and distance vision glasses, / computer eyeglasses can be used universally for both groups. / Please note that near and distance vision glasses / should not be used as replacements for computer glasses. /They do not serve the same purpose, / and in some cases will cause more harm than good. (158 words) 4.Labor DayInternational Labor Day, also known as International Workers Day, / is scheduled for May 1st of each year. /It is a holiday in celebration of the eight-hour workday. / It evolved from efforts of the labor union movement / to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. / It is celebrated as a national holiday across many countries around the world. / The idea for a workers holiday began in Australia in 1856 / but was celebrated on May 1st in 1886 in Chicago. /In China, Labor Day was extended to three days during the 1990s. / The Chinese government made it a seven-day holiday / by moving the prior and upcoming weekends together with these three days. / This holiday allowed millions of Chinese people to travel / or take other activities during this period. / However, China has reduced the Golden Week holiday down to one day in 2008, / while at the same time reviving some traditional holidays such as Mid-Autumn Festival. (158 words)5.Negative Effects of Television Spending too many hours watching television wastes the precious time / that can rather be spent in fruitful and healthy activities like exercise or reading. / It also uses up the time / that you can rather spend with your family and friends. / Chatting with your near ones, spending time with your close ones / is a better way of spending time than watching TV. / People watching television, especially children and youngsters,/ start identifying with what is shown on TV. / They relate to television shows and films to such an extent that / they get bored of living a normal and simple life. ! They are eager for fame and money; / they long for living the lives of their favorite IV characters. / This may lead to a high amount of dissatisfaction for the real world. / As real life is the contrast of the life shown on TV, / such TV addicts become hungry for power, money and status. (151 words)6.Family Life in India Family life is equally varied in Indian states. /India is a country with many states / in which people are from different cultures, and so on. /The languages, clothing, customs, and traditions of people are influenced by the respective regions they live in. / Most of the families in India are extended ones, / in which every member has his or her own role, often influenced by age and gender. / Children are cherished and considered as gifts from God. !Children can look forward to continual family support throughout their lives. / However, they are expected to respect their elders and parents, their wishes and family relationships. / The family structure in India is typical, / in which there are many wedding customs, / which have to be strongly followed by people. / Religion, social status, traditional practices, and regional differences influence family structures. / Indians are more emotionally attached to the members of their family. / Husbands and wives are not allowed to openly display their affection for one another. ( 160 words)7.Societys Influence on Education Society plays an important role in education, and influences it both positively and negatively. / Social inequalities and unhealthy educational practices are some of the negative influences of society on our lives. / Customs and traditions prevent certain sections of society from exercising their fundamental rights / and get in the way of the well-being of society, / shatter the basic ideas of education and social awareness. / Some social groups deny womens right to education, / while others force children to work, / depriving them from a healthy environment / which is good to their growth and development. / Education is one of the basic human rights. / If social norms come in the way of social welfare, / it defeats the purpose of education. /Society is an entity that cant be separated from us. / It is we who make up the society. / It is entirely in our hands whether to add value to our education or devalue it. (149 words)8.Choosing the Perfect Hair Color Coloring your hair is one way to express your individuality. / Choosing the right hair color can be confusing / whether you want to cover gray hair or give yourself a new fresh look. / If you are clear about what you want exactly, / it can help while choosing the hair color that is right for you. / You can achieve the most flattering look, / if you consider your skin make-up and eye color. / Hair color that balances your complexion gives the best results. / For covering gray hair, you can select a shade close to your natural hair color. / Hair highlights are another way to improve your overall look. /Highlights can look fascinating and make an attractive impression. / They add depth and dimension to the base color or natural hair. /Different hair colors suit different complexions. /In order to choose a suitable hair color, / you need to identify the right combination. ( 148 words9.Traditional Brazilian Clothing Brazil is known internationally for its stylish and sophisticated clothing. /Brazilian clothes are comfortable, vivid, beautifully crafted and decorated with attractive laces. / Traditional Brazilian clothing is influenced by a combination of different races and immigrants from all over the world. / A true traditional Brazilian clothing can be seen in the countryside, / where mens clothing includes shirt, jeans and dresses made from inexpensive cotton. / In the south of Brazil, the cowboys wear a distinctive dress including loose-fitting trousers, / while in the northeast region they wear coat, hat and leather trousers. / In the urban areas of Brazil, most people prefer modern clothing. / Young men wear jeans and T-shirts. / Short skirts and dresses are very popular among women. / Brazilian jeans are very common ! and they come in a wide variety of styles and textures. / Jeans made for women are tight-fitting and loose-fitting near the feet. / Due to abundance of beautiful beaches, / beachwear is a very popular clothing in Brazil. ( 156 words)Passage 10 Culture Shock Culture shock isnt a clinical term or medical condition. / Its simply a common way to describe the confusing and nervous feelings a person may have / after leaving a familiar culture to live in a new and different culture. / When you move to a new place, youre bound to face a lot of changes. /That can be exciting and stimulating, /but it also can be overwhelming. /You may feel sad, anxious, frustrated, and want to go home. /Its natural to have difficulty adjusting to a new culture. /People from other cultures may have grown up with values and beliefs that differ from yours. /Because of these difference, /the things they talk about, the ways they express themselves, /and the importance of various ideas /may be very different from what you are used to. /But the good news is that the culture shock is usually temporary.11.Spy Cell Phones A spy phone is a mobile phone or a spy device / that allows a user to monitorand hear or record conversations and other activities taking place over the phone. /Spy phones can function in different ways. / They can be used as listening devices/ whereby secretive conversations can be tracked. / They are popularly used by secret agencies to track criminal activities / that are carried out over networks. / They can be used for tracking periodic calls and recording the frequency of calls from certain suspicious numbers. / Also, they can be used for monitoring business and household activities / while the cell phone user is away. / Although spy cell phones have many positive sides, / they give rise to legal as well as moral concerns, / because spy cell phone software is easily available. / Cell phones are easily transferable to spy phones. / Their ready availability makes them subject to illegal use. (146 words)12.Water Pollution Water pollution is an undesirable change in the state of water, / polluted with harmful substances. /It is the second most important environmental issue next to air pollution. / Any change in the physical, chemical or biological properties of water / will have a harmful effect on living things. / Water pollution affects all the major water bodies of the world / such as lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater. / Polluted water is unfit for drinking and for other consumption processes. / It is also not suitable for agricultural and industrial use. / The effects of water pollution are harmful to human beings, plants, animals, fishes and birds. / Water problems in the future will become more intense and more complex. / Our increasing population will tremendously increase urban wastes, primarily sewage. / On the other hand, increasing demands for water / will decrease the amount of water available for dealing with wastes. /Due to water pollution, the entire ecosystem gets disturbed. (150 words)13.Health Benefits of Red Wine We all know drinks containing alcohol are not good for health, / but when it comes to drinking red wine, / it is the other way around. / Recent studies have concluded that there are no negative effects on the body, / if red wine is not consumed excessively. / Certain compounds in red wine can play a very important role in protecting the heart. / It is a heart-healthy drink that can be enjoyed during evening meals. /If you think that red wine is only good for the heart, / then you are wrong. / Studies have revealed that the substance found in the skin of red grapes, / can restrict cancers development. /However, the ideal consumption is not 7 to 8 glasses of red wine. /Scientific studies on the potential benefits of red wine recommend that women should not have more than one drink per day; / whereas men can have 2 drinks per day. /The word moderate is the key to maximize health benefits of red wine. (160 words)14.How to Gain Fluency in Another Language To gain fluency in another language, / many people will tell you the only solution is / to travel to a foreign country and immerse yourself completely. / This advice may be greatly appealing for some people. / But for the majority of people, this solution is both inconvenient and costly. / Thankfully, the Internet has brought us new and exciting options for communicating in another language. / To expand your vocabulary, try reading free articles and original books in another language. / To begin with, reading may be a slow and frustrating process / as you will have to stop to look up the meanings for many unfamiliar words. / Before you begin, find an online dictionary / that will offer you quick translations. / Hearing a language is the key to learn how to speak it. / Popular music downloading sites offer free audio files / that you can download and take with you wherever you go. / And most importantly, one must actually practice speaking the language. (155 words)Passage 15 Holidays in the USLike other nations, the United States sets aside a number of days each year/to commemorate events, people or public occasions. /These holidays typically are marked by a general suspension of work and business activity, /and by public or religious ceremonies. /Technically, the United States does not celebrate national holidays. /However, Congress has designated 10 legal public holidays. /During such public holidays, /most federal institutions are closed and most federal employees are excused from work. /Although the individual states and private businesses are not required to observe these, /in practice all states and nearly all employers observe the majority of them. /Since 1971, a number of these holidays have been fixed on Mondays /rather than on a particular calendar date /so as to afford workers a long holiday weekend. / Meanwhile, there are some US state holidays /particular to individual US states.Passage 16 Harvard University Harvard College was established in 1636. /Harvard is Americas oldest institution of higher learning, /founded 140 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed./ The University has grown from nine students with a single master/to an enrollment of more than 18,000 degree candidates,/including undergraduates and students in 10 principal academic units./An additional 13,000 students are enrolled in one or more courses/in the Harvard Extension School./Over 14,000 people work at Harvard, including more than 2,000 faculty./There are also 7,000 faculty appointments in affiliated teaching hospitals./Our mission, to advance new ideas and promote enduring knowledge, has kept the University young./We strive to create an academic environment in which outstanding students and scholars from around the world /are continually challenged and inspired to do their best possible work./It is Harvards collective efforts that make this university such a vibrant place/to live , to learn, to work, and to explore.17.Organic Coffee Today many agricultural products are grown using organic methods / and coffee is no exception. / Organic products have a very minimal effect on the environment / because there is no use of pesticides and fertilizers. / M1 organic produces are certified to ensure that / their products are grown in such a way. / Organic coffee is a multimillion dollar industry / and each year the sales of this coffee are increasing. / Exports of organic coffee are up in most of Europe and North America. / Organic coffee is usually grown in many countries such as Africa, Asia and South America. / All over the world people have become organic coffee drinkers, / but Americans consume the majority of it./ AI1 organic coffee products in the USA are certified for quality. /The organic coffee is produced in a very specific way / and all operators are at random inspected to ensure that they meet US Department of Agriculture standards. ( 149 words)Passage18 White PollutionWhite pollution refers to plastic pollution./It is a new member of pollution family, but it grows fast./ Unrecyclable plastic lunch boxes line along railroads./Plastic shopping bags dance in the wind./When leaders are busy mapping out blueprints for the future,/one color “WHITE” from white pollution becomes their headache./Everything in the life circle deserves its place on earth./If we continue using plastic lunch boxes, shopping bags and other unrecyclable plastic products,/ what would happen?/ One day they might bury us in an ocean of white rubbish./ Then the earth, our common home, would be a dustbin./To prevent this nightmare from coming true/governments need to work closely with each other and back up their verbal commitment by action./However, it is not enough only to ask what governments can do to get rid of white pollution./We must ask ourselves what we as individuals can do to color the earth gree