新世纪大学英语系列教材_视听说教程_6_听力原文.docx

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit1:Peter Graham: last class, I asked you to think about how you would improve the overall quality of our education. Ive invited two foreign students to share their views with us today. Yoon-Hee, Pak is from Seoul, Korea, and Gordon Pickering is, from Canberre, Australia. Theyll each talk about how they think the quality of education where they live could be improved. Yoon-Hee, would you like to start first?Yoon-Hee: sure. I think instead of being institutions that foster critical thinking and address the real-world needs of students, many of todays schools are more like “information factories”places where we memorize as much data as we can(most of which we later forget)so that we can “ pass a test.”. in my country, for example, ones futurefrom the major you will study to the job you will eventually get-often depends on whether or not you pass the test to get into a good college. Families spend enormous amounts of money to send their kids to cramAdj.填鸭式的 schools to help them prepare for and pass the university entrance exam. Your education becomes focused on this one single goal: passing the test.In my opinion, if we want to talk about improving the quality of education for all, the first thing we should do is to place less emphasis on rote死记硬背 memorization and test-taking in our school and more emphasis on developing critical thinking and important life skills. Classes in all grades should feature more hands-on, practical learning. Lets take one example. We have all studied science from a book. But students can also learn about it by going on field trips and spending time in nature, or volunteering at a local wildlife preserve. “learning by doing” is a great way to develop practical skills and to apply what weve learned in books. Many high school and university graduates often wish theyd had a chance to do more of this kind of learning in school. I wish I had!We also need to understand that being educated is about more than studying science , math, and languages. of course these subjects are important. But so are painting and music. And what about learning how to cook, plant a garden, and make your own clothes? Mahatma Gandhi himself believed that these were just as important as science and math and belonged in every school curriculum. I couldnt agree more.Peter Graham: thank you, Yoon-Hee. Now lets listen to what Gordon from Australia has to say.Gordon: well, here is my response to Yoon-Hees comments. First off, I would say that I agree with her that schools should be places that cultivate critical thinking and prepare students to meet the challenges they will face in the real world.On a philosophical level, I also think that it would be great if our classrooms featured more hands-on learning. But we have to be realistic, too. Many private and public schools in Australia and around the world have a minimum of forty students in a classroom. Yoon-Hee talks about spending time in nature rather than learning science from a book. Its a lovely idea, and in a perfect world, classroom ratio would be ten students for every one teacher. But with forty or more students, how can a teacher make sure the students are learning, not just goofingV.混日子 off while they are “ out in nature” or volunteering somewhere?Yoon-hee also mentioned that schools should spend less time on drills and tests. In my opinion, students need to spend more time on drilling and memorizing certain information. I say this because in a recent national geographic study, only about 25% of the 18-24-tear-olds interviewed from around the world were able to identify countries such as Israel and Iran correctly on a map! An alarming number of high school graduates today can not do basic math or write a coherentAdj连贯的/清晰的 essay. How are people like this supposed to compete in the job market?I guess the question for me is why do we go to school? And I think we do so to master academic skills in core areas such as reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Schools in Australia need to be doing more to make sure that all students are graduating with a solid foundation in these subjects. If it means more drills and tests, well then, so be it.Unit2:Diana is organized and reliable. She turns in her homework on time and says shes good about checking in with her parents while shes out with friends.“ I keep my grades up and I am responsible fro getting things done,” says Diana, 15.It would come as no surprise to many experts that Diana is the oldest child in her family. Some psychologists believe that you place in the family can shape your personality, influencing whether you are responsible, a risk-taker, or ridiculously funny.“oldest children are usually responsible,” says frank j. Sulloway, research scholar and author of born to rebel , a book on the significance of birth order.“firstborns are more likely to serve as parents,” Sulloway says. “as a result, firstborns tend to be more conscientious.”Firstborn children, he adds, are rule keepers who also are ambitious and self-disciplined.Diana, with two younger siblings, says the responsible part is true and that her parents tend to ask her for help first. “my parents usually ask me before they ask my brother or sisters,” she says. “sometimes its a pain.”She says some of the other first born characteristics, like being organized, also are a good description of her. She always sets the weekend plans with friends. “ I am always the one organizing things,” she says.While oldest children are known for being dependable, middle kids usually are peacekeepers who are social and diplomatic, according to Sulloway.Bridget is a middle kid in her family. Shes the fourth kid out of nine but says she wouldnt describe herself as outgoing. “ I am more quite when I am not at home,” says Bridget, 11.“Peacekeeper ”is a better fit for Bridget, who says she breaks up fights between her sibs. “ if some of my younger siblings are arguing bout a toy, I try to work it out ,” she says. “ I find something else that someone can play with and tell them to stop arguing with each other.”The little ones might argue occasionally , but last-born children tend to be the most agreeable, fun-loving and amusing. Older children have physical strength over the younger kids, so humor is one way last-born children can get what they want.Youngest children are also creative, outgoing and open to new experiences, Sulloway says. Justin J. is the youngest in his family and says that is an accurate description of him.“ my mom has always said I am creative,” says Justin, 15. “ if my brother is not around, I am always looking for stuff to do around the house for fun.”But what happened if you are an only child?Kids without siblings often have traits similar to firstborn kids. Only children are usually ambitious and good at following parents rules, Sulloway says.Willie b., 11, agrees. Willie says he doesnt talk back and always wears his helmet when inline skating. He also cares for his familys four pets.But unlike kids with siblings, only children usually are quite comfortable around adults, Sulloway says.“I have been around adults since I was little. I am kind of more experienced,” Willie says.And while only children are good around adults, youngest children question authority and usually are leaders in social movements, Sulloway adds.Unit 3: If you havnt been the victim of bullying, you may know someone who has. Bullying is the act of one person or a group of people repeatedly picking on another. A bully creates an environment of fear and intimidation in order to feel powerful and in control.Victims of bullying often deal with different types of harassment including constant teasing, name calling, or physical abuse. Others are the subject of hurtful and usally untrue rumors.New kid on the blockMayumi sato, 11, recently returned to japan with her family after six years in germany, where her father was working. Now attending middle school in tokyo, she initially had a difficult time fitting in. “ most of the kids in mayumis class had gone to the same schools and grown up together, so Im not surprised that they saw my daughter as different at first, ” says Mayumis mother, Hiroko. “ some of the kids were just mean. They teased her in class and picked on her in the schoolyard.” At first, Mayumi tried to ignore it, but then she finally told her mother what was going on. “ Iam glad she came to me, ” Hiroko say. “ you know, a lot of kids would be too embarrassed to talk about something like this. But if you are being bullied, you do need to talk about itto a parent, a friend, or someone you trustso that something can be done.” Hiorko spoke to one of the girls teachers, who promised to keep an eye on Mayumi and try to encourage the kids in the class to be more welcoming towards her. This approach seems to be working. “Mayumis been doing better in school and is making friends, ” says Hiroko. “ shes definitely happier than she was those first few weeks.” On the defenseAfter being picked on for months by a group of older boys at the high schol he goes to, Adam Wheeland, 15, had had enough. “ these three guys were always calling me dork in the hallways and threatening to beat me up. One day I came to school, and they had glued my locker shut. They were standing nearby laughing, and I lost it. I got into a fight with one of them.” Wheeland and the other boy were suspended from school for two days for fighting. When they returned, the trouble continued. Wheeland realized he needed to approach the situation differently. “ the thing about bullies is that they are often very insecure people. These guys who have been harassing me only do it when they are together. So I try to stay in a group with my friends now. “ wheeland, who is a straight-A student, has also decided he needs to do things that boost his self-confidence . he has joined the debate club abd is taking a martial-arts武术 class. “now when I see those guys around school, I think of them as the opponent in a competition. I feel less nervous, and I think theyve noticed that.”Trouble at workThirty-year-old Blanca Montero, an up-and-coming civil engineer at Allied System, was assigned recently to work on a team project with Bretta collegue who had joined the company around the same time she had. Almost immediately there were problems. “ whenever I disagreed with his ideas, Brett became very argumentative. It was really difficult, ” says Montero. “ then he started complaining about me behind my backyou know, telling others that my work was secondrate.” In a month, Montero went from loving her job to dreading everyday. She finally decided to confront Brett about his behaviour. “ I sacheduled a time to speak to him. Actually, before we got together, I thought about what I was going to say so that I could stay calm during our meeting.” On the day they met, Montero explained the situation to Brett. “ I asked how hed feel if I or others on the team-attacked his ideas or spread rumors about him. Though he didnt say much during our talk, he did listen and promised to work on being more considerate.” So have things changed? “ I have noticed that brett is trying to bemore aware of his behavior-and not just with me, but with others on the team, too. Things aren t perfect,” says Montero, “ but Im glad we spoke. If we hadnt, I suspect I would have lost my temper at some point or quit the project.” Unit 4The worst day of the yearBritish psychologist calculates “most depressing day”IS the midwinter weather wearing you down? Are you sinking indebt after the holidays? Angry with yourself for already breaking your New Years resolutions? Wish you could crawl back under the covers and not have to face another day of rain, sleet, snow, and *work? Probably. After all, its Jan. 24, the “most depressing day of the year,” according to Dr. Cliff Arnall.Arnall is a U.K. psychologist and specialized in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales. He created a formula that takes into account numerous factors to devise peoples lowest pint. The factors include weather, debt, monthly salary, time since Christmas, time since failed quit attempt, low motivational levels, and the need to take action.Reality starts to kick inArnall found that, while days technically get longer after Dec. 21, cyclonic气旋的 weather systems take hold in January, bringing low, dark clouds to Britain. Meanwhile, the majority of people break their healthy resolutions six to seven days into the new year, and even the hangers-on have fallen off the wagon, torn off the nicotine patches, and eaten the fridge empty by the third week. Any residual dregs of holiday cheer and family fun have kicked the bucket by Jan. 24Following the initial thrill of New Years celebrations and changing over a new leaf, reality starts to sink in. The realization coincides with the dark clouds rolling in and the obligation to pay off Christmas credit card bills.Arnalls formula was devised to help a travel company, Sky Travel, analyze when people book holidays and holiday trends. It seems that people are most likely to buy a ticket to paradise when they feel like hell. People feel bleak when they have nothing planned, but once they book a holiday they have a goal, they work toward having time off and a relaxing period. When they imagine themselves on the beach it makes them feel positive. They will save money, go to the gym and come back to the optimism they had at the end of the year.In U.K., up to third get SAD Research shows an escape to the sun can have real health benefits. According to a leading mental health charity in English and Wales, up to a third of the population, in Britain at least, suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, also know as winter depression. Furthermore, nine out of 10 people report sleeping and eating more during the darker months.While most cases of the winter blues are not severe, 2 percent to 5 percent of those with SAD cannot function without continuous treatment. However, its extremely rare to find anyone with the disorder within 30 degrees of the equator, where days are long and the sky is bright year-round.These findings appear to support a key factor in Arnalls research on the formula for sky Travel. However, some people warn against overemphasizing the psychologists claims. These types of formulae, if anything, may serve to oversimplify the complexities of real-life experience. Others in the medical field are less skeptical. Dr. Alan Cohen, spokesperson for the Royal College of General Practitioners, believes that Arnalls equation is right. He holds that there are a number of different causes of depression. It may be something about ones personality, genes or external events. In his view, for those who suffer from external events, Jan. 24 would be the most depressing day.While travel companies hope to turn gloom intogold this date, for those unable to book a last-minute tropical getaway, Arnall might want to consider a formula for the “happiest day of the year.”Unit 7Hi, Im Sherry May. This week on People in the World, we bring you the story of Jane Goodall.Jan Goodall is one of the worlds most important researchers on animal behavior, and also a strong environmental advocate. She has given her whole life to the conservation of animal species and the rainforest. But Jane is perhaps best known as the worlds foremost authority on chimpanzees. For decades, she was in the Gombe Stream Reserve in Tanzania, where she lived in the chimps environment and gained their confidence. In doing so, she was able to closely observe their behavior.Jane Goodall was born on April 3, 1934 in London, England. When Jane was a year old, her father gave her a gift that she still treasures today. It is a toy chimpanzee called Jubilee, named after a famous chimp at the London Zoo at that time. After her parents divorced, Jane lived with her mother and grandmother in the little seaside town of Bournemouth, England. The family owned many different kinds of pets, and Jane loved to play with and take care of the animals. Though she enjoyed time with her friends, Jane was also very happy alone on the seashore spending time with her many pets. Jane adored the outdoors, loved stories about Tarzan, and was fascinated by the jungle. She was especially fond of climbing trees and sitting up there to read books. These traits would later be useful in helping her through the solitude that would be a major part of her lifes work.When she was a child, Jane dreamed of working in Africa. That dream did eventually come true for her. In 1956, she was invited to visit a friends family in Kenya. There she met Dr. Louis Leakey, a famous anthropologist who was looking for someone to carry out research on chimpanzees. Jane got the job. This opportunity gave her a chance to fulfill her lifelong ambition.In 1960, Jane arrive in Tanzania to begin her research on chimps. She had no fear of the animals, which was in part attributable to Leakey. He told her that if she remained calm and meant no harm to the animals, they would sense that and not harm her. Jane climbed up a mountain to its peak, and sat there day after day waiting for chimps to see her and gradually become used to her presence. She patiently waited and watched them. She watched as the chimps fashioned and used tools. She noticed that the chimps used nonverbal behavior to show their emotions such as patting each other on the back, holding hands, and evening having grudges if they were offended. With this daily routine, Jane lived with and observed the chimps for more than 20 years, keeping exceptionally detailed records of their behavior. In spite of many difficulties, she was committed to her work and made important scien