四级听写50篇45-50.doc

Passage 45 The Influence of LifeIn the early times when human beings hunted and gathered food, they were not in control of their environment. They could only interact with their surroundings as the other lower animals did.When they learned to make fire, however, they became capable of altering their environment. To provide themselves with fuel, they cut down trees. They also burned clearings in forests to increase the growth of grass and to provide a greater grazing area for the wild animals that human beings fed upon. This development led to farming and the domestication of animals. Fire provided the means for cooking plants which had previously been inedible. Only when the process of meeting the basic need for food reached a certain level was it possible for humans to follow other pursuits such as setting up families, forming societies and founding cities. (139 words)Useful Words and Expressions:interact with与相合cut down v. 砍倒cut down a tree with an axe用斧头把树砍倒cut down on smoking减少抽烟clearing n空旷地grazing n放牧，牧草domestication n驯养，驯服previously adv先前，以前inedible adj，不适于食用的，不能吃的pursuit n追击scholastic pursuit学术探讨研究；做学问pursut of profit追逐利润In ones pursut of happiness 追求幸福Hell-fo-rleather pursuit全力追击，拼命追赶set up v设立Passage 46 AutomobilesIt is impossible to say that any one man invented the automobile. Many individuals living and working in different countries and at different times contributed to its development. Many of the discoveries that went into the creation of the automobile were small in themselves. But together they were important. Here are two examples.Carriage is running at a speed of 8 to 9 miles an hour. It was almost unheard of in those days. According to automobile historians, this was the first practical use of mechanical power to move a vehicle. After its first run, the machine reportedly burned up while the inventor and his friends were celebrating its success at a pub.Henry Ford is considered the father of modem automobile mass production. His famous Model-T car, because of its low price, made it possible to produce cars on a large scale and his efforts made it accessible to ordinary people. (152 words)Useful Words and Expressions:automomile n. 主美汽车(=英motor car, carcontribute to v. 捐献，贡献contribute to me Red Cross向红十字会捐献contribute to a literary journal向文学杂志投稿Drink contributed to his ruin酗酒促使他毁灭。She seldom contributes to the discussion她在讨论中很少发言。carriage n马车，客车historian n历史学家，史家vehicle n交通工具，车辆reportedly adv. 据传说，据传闻pub n酒馆，客栈mass production n.大规模生产on a large scale大规模地accessible adj易接近的，可到达的accessible t与接近Passage 47 House and HomeHouse and home are two words that have similar meanings.House and home both refer to places where people live. However, there is a difference between them. Home is often referred to as the place that we live in with our families. Sadly, in our society, people can hardly distinguish a home from a house because they often see no difference between them. This confusion can be traced back to the indifference between family members. Therefore, we can say that love is an important factor in a home. A home is a shelter, not only for our bodies but also for our minds. Whenever we are depressed, we can go home for comfort. Everyone in the family will do his best to take care of each other and share their happiness as well as sorrow. Without love, a home is merely a house where loneliness is all that can be found. And a house can never be a home unless there is love. (163 words)Useful Words and Expressions: refer to v. 提到，指的是refer a question to an expert非曲直把问题提交给专家（处理）refer sb. to the dictionary 叫某人去查字典He referred his success to the good teaching he had. 他把他的成功归于以前所受的良好教育。distinguish v区别，辨别distinguish between silk and rayon 分清丝和人造丝People who cannot distinguish between colours are said to becolour-blind不能分辨颜色的人被称为色盲。confusion n混乱，混淆trace back to v. 追溯到trace ones family back追溯某人家世trace a rumour to its source 追查谣言的根源indifference n不关心depressed adj沮丧的，降低的Passage 48 Population GrowthIt is well-known that there has been a drastic increase in world population. But it is probably less well-known that the extinction rate of wildlife species is experiencing a parallel trend.Take the United States for instance. In 1990, U.S. population reached an unprecedented level of 250 million, which is approximately 250 times of that of 1800. On the other hand, wildlife species are disappearing from the country at an alarming rate. By 1900, about 70 wildlife species would never be seen in U. S. We are fully justified in declaring that the explosive population growth has had an adverse effect on the survival of wildlife species and will be a constant threat to the wildlife resources if no immediate actions are taken.Nothing has ever equaled the magnitude and speed with which the human spedes is altering the physical and chemical world. It has been demolishing the environment we are living in. (152 words)Useful Words and Expressions:drastic adj.激烈的take drastic measures采取果断措施激烈手段a drastic debate激烈的辩论make drastic change 做彻底的改变species n种类extinction n消失，消灭Paralell adj平行的，相同的，类似的trend n倾向，趋势unprecedented adj空前的approximately adv近似地，大约justify v证明是正当的explosive adj爆炸（性）的magnitude n大小，数量，量级alter v改变The weather alters almost daily天气几乎天天变化。demolish vt毁坏，破坏Passage 49 Natural ResourcesThrough the changes in the ways of making a living in a family over several generations, the cartoon aims at sounding a warning against mans wasteful use of natural resources and emphasizing the urgent need to preserve these resources.Ever since man appeared on the earth, mans survival has been heavily dependent on nature. Almost everything we use in our everyday life comes from nature, ranging from the food we eat, the water we drink, to the wood which is turned into furniture. With the development of technology and population growth, the amount and range of materials used has increased at an alarming rate.However, natural resources are not inexhaustible. Some reserves are already on the brink of exhaustion and there is no hope of replacing them. The widespread water shortage is an example in point. If man continued to squander natural resources with no thought for the future, the whole world would be in a mess. (157 words)Useful Words and Expressions:make a living 谋生earn gain, get, make ones living 谋生eke out a living勉强维持生活high living 奢侈阔绰的生活scrape a living勉强够维持生活scrounge a living靠乞讨过日子aim at v. 瞄准，针对aim high胸怀大志；力争上游take aim (at)）瞄准warning n警告，预告give sb. warning 预先通知某人（特指解雇、辞职、退租等）ake warning有所警戒惕warning wodS告诫之言alarming adj使人惊动的，令人担忧的be in a mess乱七八糟，处境狼狈Passage 50 ReadingNowadays few of us read books after we leave school.This is rather disturbing, for one should know that books are no less necessary to ones mental life than fresh air is to ones physical life. From good reading we can derive companionship, experience and instruction. A good book is our faithful friend. It can increase our contentment when we are cheerful and happy, and lessen our pain when we are sad or lonely. Books can also offer