新世纪大学英语视听说4听力原文

1、UNIT1 Our EarthTrack 4-1-1& 4-1-2Blake: What are you working on, Mary?Mary: rm finishing my paper. Its due tomorrow, Blake.Blake: Whats the topic?Mary: Its about Greenland.Blake: Greenland. Hmmm . thats part of Canada, right?Mary: I think you need to study your world geography, Blake.Blake: Well, is

2、nt it near Canada?Mary: Yes, its off the coast of northeast Canada, but its part of Denmark.Blake: Oh, I didnt know that. Well, whats your paper about exactly?Mary: In my paper, I answer the question Is Greenlandreallygreen? In other words, is Greenland covered by a lot of plants and trees?Blake: Is

3、 it?Mary: What do you think?Blake: Lets see . . . Greenland is in the Arctic Circle-way upnorth.Its cold, . . . so Is Greenland really green? rd answer probably not.Mary: Youd be correct. Its too cold there. In the north, a lot oftheground is frozen. The summers are short, so only the surface thaws.

4、Blake: That sounds tough.Mary: Its hard for the construction industry. Its not easy to build in Greenland.Blake: It sounds so harsh. Why would anyone want to gothere?Mary: There are big mountainranges on the coasts. Theyre greatfor hiking and outdoor sports. And there are lots of animals there. You

5、can sometimes see whales swimming in the harbors.Blake: That sounds cool! OK,so if its not really a green place, why was it named Greenland?Mary: The first settlers wanted to attract other people. They gave it an attractive name.Track 4-1-3Bart: So what exactly did you do over the summer?Gustav: We

6、worked as volunteers at Glacier National ParkBart: r ve never been there. Whats it like?Carolina:Its beautiful. There are mountains and lakes. and, ofcourse, glaciers!Bart: How was the job?Gustav: We had to do a lot of physical work. It was kind of hard.Carolina:Thats true, but it was exciting, too!

7、 We actually saw bears!Bart:Wow! That does sound exciting. Maybe I should appl y. Ill needa job next summer.Carolina:Sorry, Bart, but you cant apply to that program. Its aspecial program for international students.Track 4-1-41. Mt. Fuji is really beautiful from far away. When you climb it, its justr

8、ocks and dirt . but its really beautiful from far away.2. Last year I was in San Francisco and I had a chance to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. What an amazing feat of engineering. It gives you a chance to look through all of San Francisco and over San Francisco Bay and its just a wonderful ch

9、ance to see the city.Track 4-1-OL-1&4-1-OL-2Jay:Come in here, Elise. You should see this show!Elise:Jay:What is it?Its called The Titanic of the Sky. Its about the Hindenburg, agreat engineering feat. Elise: The Hindenburg .Jay:You know, that giant zeppelin that crashed in 1934.Thirty-fivepeople die

10、d.Elise: Oh yeah, I remember now. It was flying from Germany to the United States. It crashed as it was landing.Jay: Right. Its so funny looking, dont you think? It doesntlookanything like the airplanes we have today.Elise: Thats true. Why would people ride in a zeppelinanyway? Itseems so dangerous.

11、Jay: Well, some people called the Hindenburg mans greatest achievement in flight.They thought it was safe, I guess.Elise: Who rode in it anyway?Jay: Mostly wealthy people. It accommodated between 30 and 40 passengers and crew. One person said it waslike a flying hotel.Elise: It sounds pretty great.J

12、ay: Yeah, and it was fast. Thats why people rode it. They wanted to get to their destination faster.Elise: Why didnt they just take a jet plane?Jay: Elise! You know they didnt have jets back then. Look, in 1934 ittook five days to travel from Germany to the U.S. by ship. The zeppelin could do it in

13、half that timet was speedy.Elise: Well, maybe Ill sit down and watch a little bit. Maybe Ill learn something .Track 4-1-OL-3Jack:I think we should buy a bigger car. Big cars are safer.Kayla:Yes, but on the other hand, they consume more oil.Jack:They also look really cool.Kayla:That s true, but there

14、 are some SUVs which are notbig butalso very beautiful.Jack:And I think big cars are more fun to drive.Kayla:But then again, it s very expensive.Jack:Well, let s get more information about several kinds of cars,okay?Track 4-1-OL-4My country has two very famous buildings called the Petronas Towers. T

15、he buildings are made of glass, steel, and concrete. They were designed by an American architect, but he used a Malaysian style. They were finished in 1998, and they were the tallest buildings in the world at that time. Each tower has 88 floors, and is 452 meters high. I really like the Petronas Tow

16、ers. They show both the modern and the traditional side of my countryTrack 4-1-OL-5&4-1-OL-6Modern buildings: We love them, We hate themThe world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris is almost 500 years old, and it faced a very modern problem: There simply wasn t enough space for six million visitors each

17、year. In 1989, American architect I.M. Pei designed a striking glass pyramid in the building center to be a visitor entrance and shopping arcade. But he also started an angry debate. Some people felt his glass building was a piece of art, like the ones inside the museum. Others said it was just an u

18、gly, modern mistake.Kyoto, Japan, is the country s ancient capital, and theinrtof its culture. Its railroadstation was toosmallfor the millionsofvisitors. In 1997, the city completed a new station in a huge shoppingcenter,right in the oldest part of the city. Designed byHiroshi Hara,the buildingalso

19、 contains a hotel and departmentstore. Before it was built, critics said that the high, wide, modern building would destroy the city traditional look. On the other hand, supporters said it would bring new life into the city center.Track 4-1-OL-7&4-1-OL-8The future building boom?Interviewer:What do y

20、ou think is the biggest problem facing ourcities?Erika: I think its overcrowding. Talk to anyone living in a major metropolitan area and they will say the same thing; Theresnospace. Even the suburbs are getting crowded.Interviewer:Well, in some places there simply isnt any land left forbuilding, rig

21、ht?Erika: Yes, thats true, but you have to think creatively. You cant give up so easily.Interviewer: Think creatively? What do you suggest?Erika: What rm saying is that we can build more structures underground. We can add parking lots,malls, hotels, and even apartment buildings.Theres plenty of spac

22、e.Interviewer: Isnt it expensive?Erika: Yes, it can be. In the past building underground has been very expensive. However, we have new technologythat will bring thecost down. It involves using robots. You dont have to pay robots a salary!Interviewer: Isnt building down more dangerous than other kind

23、 of construction?Erika:Actually, I think its safer than building skyscrapers, for example.Remember, we already do it. We have subways and underground shopping malls. rm just suggesting we invest in a variety of biggerprojects and that we dig deeper.Interviewer: What would you say to people who doubt

24、 your Erika: I can understand their feelings. Whenever theres a it can cause controversy. But building impractical idea. It makes sense. underground:It can accommodatepeople. With the new technology we consider the idea -its the wave of the future!downis notThereis soa lot of traffic,idea? new idea,

25、 some kind of much space storage, andhave, wed be crazy not toUNIT2Track 4-2-1&4-2-2Situation 1Man: Oh no!Woman:What happened?Man: I cant believe it! I was sending a message and I accidentally clicked on Reply to All.Woman:So?Man: It was a personal message for my friend, Jerry. I wanted to send it t

26、o his e-mail address only.Woman:Oops.Man: Exactly. . Instead I sent it to everyone on the list.How embarrassing!Situation 2Man: I see you have a new keyboard. Thats nice.Woman:Yes, the company bought me a new one.Man: Thats good.Woman:Well, actually . I spilled coffee on my old keyboard,andit stoppe

27、d working.Man:Oh, I see.Woman:Dont tell anyone. Drinking coffee near the computers isnot allowed!Situation 3Woman:Have you finished working on my computer?Man: Yes, I have. Im afraid I dont have good news for you.Woman:Really?Man: Really. The problem is with your hardware.Woman:Oh. What do you sugge

28、st?Man: I think you should probably buy a new computer. This one cant be fixed.Woman:Well, I have had it for five years. Its time to replace it, Iguess.Track 4-2-3Lea: I hate writing term papers! It takes forever!Steve: Youre lucky, Lea. When I was young.Lea: Oh, Ive heard this story before.Steve: W

29、ell, when I was young, we didnt have computers. We usedto write our papers on typewriters.Lea: Oh, really? That sounds difficult!Steve: It was, especially because I made a lot of mistakes.Lea: Did it take a long time?Steve: Yes. Computers are so much faster and easier to use.Track 4-2-41like the lap

30、top because its very, very thin. Its maybe less than one inch and its about four pounds and I can carry it anywhere I want.2.My favorite feature of my computer is the Instant Messenger. Thereason for this is that its very affordable, fun and convenient and allows me to chat with my friends from all

31、over the world.Track 4-2-OL-1 &4-2-OL-2Pam:Well, Lynn, I must be going. It was great to see you-Lynn:By, Pam.Pam:Wh at s that?Lynn:Oh that s Ollie.Pam:Ollie:?I didn t know you had a dog!Lynn:Well, we don t really.Pam:What do you mean?Lynn:Come here.Pam:Oh my goodness. It s a robot!Lynn:That s right.

32、 It s a dog robot. They call it aPam:How interesting! But it a little strange, don t youthink?Lynn:Well, I wanted to get an interactive toy for the kids. Theylove it. So Im happy.Pam:How much did it cost?Lynn:Don t ask. It wasn t very affordable. It cheaper than having a real dog, though. We don t e

33、ver have to buy dog food! And the batteries are rechargeable.Juliana:Hey, Henrik. Look.Henrik:What is it, Juliana?Juliana:What s that guy doing over there?Henrik:Which guy?Juliana:The one over there. Wearing a suit. H s punching somany buttons on his cell phone.Henrik:Oh, him. He s probably playing

34、a game.Juliana:Really?Henrik:A lot of people have games on their cell phones. It s really popular here in Finland. They play them everywhere.Juliana:Do you play them, too?Henrik:Yes, I do.Juliana:I only use my phone to make telephone calls. I guessI m old-fashioned.Henrik:I heard that some people pl

35、ay games even at work. They can play quietly during business meetings. No one knows about it.Juliana:I d like to try it.Henrik:Here, use mine!Track 4-2-OL-3Penny:Hello. Your Computer World sales department.Ted:Hi, Penny. It s Ted.Penny:Oh, hi, Ted. What s up?Ted:well, my computer has crashed again.P

36、enny:Oh no!Ted:Oh, y es. That s why I m calling. You know, it s fold. And I need to speak to Scott about getting a new one.Penny:well, you ve called at a good time. We have someattractive new models.Ted:Great! I m looking for something affordable. And I wantto get something portable this time.Penny:

37、I m sure Scott can help you with thatLet s see,a meeting until 3:30. Ill ask him to call you.Ted:No, that s OK. I ll call him after 3:30. Please give him themessage.Track 4-2-OL-4E-mail is my favourite way to communicate. I think it is as fast as a fax machine, and it is as easy as a cell phone. Of

38、course, e-mail has some problems, too. It isn tas affordable as ordinary mail, because you need a computer and Internet service. And I dontthink it is as reliable as a fax machine. Sometimes e-mail messages get lost. But in my opinion, e-mail is as convenient as a cell phone. I can send a message fr

39、om my home or office, and my friends can read it when they have time.Track 4-2-OL-5&4-2-OL-6In today s report, we look at a new technology called pervasive computing.Pervasive computing means putting tiny computers into everyday electronic appliances, such as toasters and microwaves. With pervasive

40、computing, appliances can communicate with their users - and with other appliances!Some companies now sell pervasive computing products like a “ smart ” toaster. It remembers your favourite kind of toast: light ordark. Companies are designing a “ smart ” coffee maker and a “ smart ” clock. The coffe

41、 e maker can measure the water andcoffee.It can evenput milk in your breakfastcoffee and makeblack coffee in the afternoon.The clock will check the time onother clocks in your house, appliances. For example, it can teand give information about otherll you,“ Your coffee maker needsmore water.And that

42、 s only the beginning. One company is now advertising“ Save time - phone your washing machine! ” engineers are making a “ smart ” house. Irihis house, the lights, heater, and air conditioner change automatically when family members come home. This makes the home comfortable, and it saves a lot of en

43、ergy. Pervasive computing could change many parts of our daily lives.But do people really want pervasive computing? Do they really need technology everywhere? One company asked people about their opinions on “ smart ” appliances. There were surprises. A“ smart ” refrigerator can buy more food on the

44、 internet, but people didn t want it, because it might make mistakes.“ Pervasive computingis as important as a telephone, ” saysRebecca Blair, presidentof InnoTech Corporation. But some ofthese products are not useful, or even practical. Companies should learn more about the technology that people r

45、eally want.Track 4-2-OL-7&4-2-OL-8Local girl rescuedShe may have a broken leg, but she can t be happier. MorganBailey, 11, is happy to be alive.Tuesday was like any other day for Morgan. She was at school. It was fourth period, and she was the first student to arrive in the gymnasium for her physica

46、l education class.Suddenly there was a loud noise.“ There was a sharp cracking noise and then a loud boom. After that, I don t remember anything,” said Morgan.The roof of the gymnasium had collapsed under the heavy snow. Morgan was trapped underneath. She couldn t escape.“I woke up and there was a b

47、ig piece of wood on my leg. I couldn t move it. I was starting to get cold.”Fortunately, help was nearby. A new program using “ rescue robots ” was tried for the first time.“ We were nervous about using the robot,” said Derrick Sneedthe man in charge of the program.“ But in the end, the robot gaveus

48、 reliable information. It went extremely well.”The rescue robot was able to go into the gym and locate Morgan s exact position.“ We send in robots first because it may not be safe for humans, said Mr. Sneed.“ Human beings are not as useful as robots in somesituations. A gas leak, for example, could

49、kill you or me butwouldnt hurt a robot.Although it didn t happen in Morgan s case, some rescue robots can bring fresh air or water to people who are trapped.Rescue robots go into rough, dangerous places. They work in life or death situations. They have to be durable.Doctors say that Morgan is doing

50、well. She should be going home in two or three days. What is the first thing she wants to do after she gets out of the hospital?“I want to meet my hero, ” laughs Morgan. “ That little robot that saved my life!”UNIT3Track 4-3-1 &4-3-2Conversation 1Woman 1: What are you watching?Woman 2: Oh, just the

51、news.Woman 1: Can I change the channel?Woman 2: In just a minute. I want to see the end of this report.Woman 1: I didnt know you were interested in the news.Woman 2: Well, its Christiane Amanpour. Shes really great. She usually reports from London - the city where she was born.Woman 1: I dont know h

52、er.Woman 2: Shes an international correspondent. She goes to some really dangerous places. When theres a war, shes usually there.Woman 1: Sounds scary.Woman 2: Yeah. And - get this - shes a wife and mother, too.Woman 1: Thats very impressive!Conversation 2Man 1: Thats a strange - looking book. What

53、is it?Man 2: Its the writings and photos of Dan Eldon. He was a photojournalist.Man 1: A photojournalist?Man 2: Yeah. A photographer and a journalist. He was born inLondon in 1970. The book tells all about his life and his dangerous adventures.Man 1: Well, the book certainly looks interesting. Has h

54、e written anything else?Man 2: He wrote a book when he was younger. Unfortunately, he wont be writing anything else - he was killed.Man 1: He died?Man 2: Yeah. Its really sad. He was only 22. He was killed while working in Africa.Track 4-3-3Peter: Hello. rm Peter Daniels. rm a reporter from the Cent

55、er City NewsPeggy: Its nice to meet you, Mr. Daniels. My name is Peggy Sims.Peter:Hi, Peggy.rm looking for the owner of the Golden PearlRestaurant. Do you know him?Peggy: Yes. Hes standing over there.Peter: That tall man in the sweater?Peggy: No, thats an employee. The owner is the man wearingthesui

56、t.v/QuestionTextPeter: Oh, I see him. Thanks a lotTrack 4-3-41.1 usually always get my news online. I use the Internet because I think its a very useful tool and its always up to date.2. I dont watch TV or use the Internet, but I read the newspaper starting on the front page and going to the international section. Track4-3-OL-1&4-3-OL-2Joe: What are you reading, Maria?s a terrible paper.s not so bad.that headline on the front page! ItMaria: The Daily News.Joe: Th