大学英语视听说四级新版原文+练习答案unit4

1、Unit 4 CreativityPart 1 Listening, Understanding and SpeakingListening IIn China, education is considered a race. Students have to begin as early as possible and have to proceed as quickly as possible around the track. Success is measured by how manystudents cross the finish line in the short time .

2、In America, we recognize the race too, but we feel that the students have a chance to explore things for themselves, even if not all of them reach the finish line. As a result of their exploring, some of the participants may have more to offer by the end of the race.The advantage of the Chinese way

3、is that more studentsbecome proficient and reachthe finish line. The disadvantage is that they may have less to say or to show once they get there. The disadvantage of the American way is that some students never finish the race. The advantage, however, is that some who do go all the way have very i

4、nteresting and original things to say when they get there.1. F T T T F F2. 1) race 2) race 3 ) proceed 4) explore things for themselves 5)proficient 6)interesting 7) original 8) less 9) finish the raceListening IIOnce Wealth and Poverty approached a merchant and introduced themselves as Goddesses. T

5、he merchant greeted both of them and said, May I ask why you have come to my humble house The Goddess of Wealth said, We want you to judge between us who is the most beautiful.The merchant did not know what to say. He knew he was between the devil and the deep blue sea: If he said that Wealth was mo

6、re beautifulthan Poverty, Poverty would cursehim. If he said that Poverty was more beautiful tha n Wealth, Wealth would aba ndon him. However, he became calm and said, I have great respect for you both. Wouldyou please do what I ask of you It is the only way I can judge properly. The Goddesses agree

7、d. He said, Mother Wealth, would you please walk towards my house MotherPoverty, Would you please walk away from my house This way I can see you both better, from n ear and far. The two Goddesses did what the mercha nt had asked them to do.Then the mercha nt con fide ntly declared, Mother Wealth! Yo

8、u appear most beautiful when you are nearest my house. Mother Poverty! You look most beautifulwhen you arefarthest from myhouse. The Goddesses appreciated the wit and wisdom of the merchant. The Goddess of Wealth happily stayed in his house while the Goddess of Poverty cheerfully departed.When ever

9、we have a serious problem, if we look within and thi nk calmly, a soluti onwill come in an swer to the problem.1. F T F F F2. 1. Why did the two Goddesses go to the merchant s place C _2. What would happe n if the mercha nt declared the Goddess of Wealth to be morebeautiful tha n the Goddess of the

10、Poverty B_3. What did the mercha nt ask the Goddesses to do D_4. What was the react ion of the Goddesses A_5. What does the story tell us C_Liste ning III There is an old and common saying in the United States that There is nothing newunder the sun. I thought of that today while reading an article i

11、n a magazine. The article tells about the growing number of people who are building earth-sheltered houses, which are partly underground. I had known about modern earth-sheltered houses, but I had never thought about their roofs before. Instead of having metal or tiles on the roofs, many of these ho

12、uses now have living roofs. The wooden top of the house is covered with a special waterproof plastic material. On top of this there is soil, in which grass and flowers are planted. Such a roof can be very beautiful. But this really is not a new idea. When the early settlers came to theUnited States,

13、 they often made their houses by digging into the ground. Their roofs were made of wood, and then covered by large areas of soil with grass or turf. They were warm, though not always waterproof. People replaced these houses and roofs as soon as they could live in regular wooden homes with wooden or

14、metal roofs. Now, 200 years later, some people think of this as a new idea. But I think, There is nothing new under the sun.1. 1) partly underground 2) living 3 ) digging into the ground 4) grass waterproof2.Questions:1. What does the speaker mean by saying There is nothing new under the sun2. What

15、makes the speaker think of earth-sheltered houses3. What is a living roof4. How many years ago did the early settlers first build earth-sheltered houses5. Why did People replace these earth-sheltered houses with regular wooden onesKey: C D A B DListening IVMan: It is said that the first sandwich was

16、 made in 1762 by the Earl of Sandwich.He didnt want to take time away from his card games to eat, so he orderedhis butler to make sandwiches instead.Woman:Is that so Hey, look at this. The first beauty contestwas held in Belgiumin 1888. Why in Belgium of all placesMan: Why not Oh, heres one I bet yo

17、ure proud of. The electric chair was usedfor the first time in 1890, in the United States. Yes, youre first todiagnose AIDS, too. The first recorded case was in New York.Woman:Plus and minus signs were used in 1514 in Holland. Yeah, there was no waywe could have guessed that one. And the equals sign

18、, youll be pleased tohear, was first used in Oxford, in 1557. Youd have thought theyd all have been invented at the same time.Man: Well, we both got these right. Coffee was in Arabia around 1,000 AD, andjust before that, playing cards were invented in China.Woman:Well, I got this one right. First di

19、agram of a flying machine was drawnby Leonardo da Vinci, as I said, in 1492.Man: Yeah, but the first air flight wasnt made until 1903, and it was in theUnited States.Woman:But that wasnt the question, was it Also, England was also the first totransmit television.Man: Garbage! It was the Italians.Wom

20、an:No, it says here, the first TV transmission was in London, 1925. And herewe are again, the first traffic lights were in London, in 1868.Man: But they didnteven have cars then, so whywould they have needed trafficlights1 D A A F C E A B B21)1762 2)1888 / Belgium 3)1890/the United States 4)New York

21、5)1514/Holland 1557 6) 1492/1903 7) 1925/1868Part 4 Further ListeningListening IJuan comes up to the Mexican border on his bicycle. Hes got two large bags overhis shoulders. The guard stops him and says, Whats in the bagsSand, answers Juan.The guard says, Well just see about that. Get off the bike.

22、The guard takes thetwo bags and rips them apart; he empties them out and finds nothing in them but sand.He detains Juan overnight and has the sand analyzed, only to discover that thereis nothing but pure sand in the bags.The guard releases Juan, puts the sand into new bags, hefts them onto the mans

23、shoulders and lets him cross the border.A week later, the same thing happens. The guard asks, What have you gotSand, says Juan.The guard does his thorough examination and discovers that the bags contain nothing but sand. He gives the sand back to Juan, and Juan crosses the border on his bicycle. Thi

24、s sequence of events is repeated every week for three years. Finally, Juan doesnt show up one day and the guard meets him in a bar in Mexico.Hey, buddy, says the guard. I know youare smuggling something. Itsdriving mecrazy. Its all I think about. I cant sleep. Just between you and me, what are you s

25、mugglingJuan sips his beer and says, Bicycles.1) border 2) rips 3) overnight 4) analyzed 5) release 6) cross7) weekly 8 ) thorough 9) show up 10) bicyclesListening IIPottery has been found in the remains of every ancient civilization. The oldest known piece of pottery was found in China and dates ba

26、ck to 7,900 BC. Thats almost 10,000 years ago!The first pots were large bowls, formed by taking a lump of clay and making a bowl shape. Pottery doesnt just include pots, but anything made from clay that can hold things, such as jugs, vases and cups. Pottery was used to hold water, milk, seeds and gr

27、ains.Later, people learned to mix different clays together to make stronger pottery and to put the pottery in a fire oven so that the clay would harden faster. The potters wheel was invented in China around 3100 BC. The wheel spins clay like a top. It allows people to make pottery much more quickly

28、and makes shapes that were perfectly symmetrical bowls that were really round, rather than lumpy or uneven.Potteryis not only considered one of the first inventions but also one of the first art forms. Most types of pottery have been painted with figures or designs; some even tell a story!1. B A C2.

29、 oldest known piece of pottery was found in china and dates back to 7900 BC(and was made almost 10,000 years ago).2. It was used for holding water, milk ,seeds, and grains.3. To make stronger pottery and to make the clay harden faster.make symmetrical4. It allowed people to make pottery much more qu

30、ickly and toshapes.5. Because most types of pottery have been painted with figures or designs; some even tell a story.Listening III( Students arein the classroom waiting for the teacher to arrive. Twoare talking .)Cathy:Ive enjoyed talking about creativity in our English class. I wishI had been enco

31、uraged more when I was in elementary school.Michael:I know what you mean. I always liked drawing, but my teachers andparents insisted I was just wasting my time with it. My father saidI should work on mathematics.Cathy:Maybe you still will still use your artistic talent some day.Michael:Oh, I dont k

32、now. After all, Im in university now. Perhaps Im too old to be creative.Cathy:I dont think so. I read an interesting article about a lady who wanted to be an artist but the whole family wanted her to work in their candy business.Michael:What happenedCathy:Well, Jean, the lady, knew painting was what

33、 she wanted to do, not making candy. After graduating from college she tried various jobs to support herself, though none of her jobs was in the candy business. And she kept painting in her spare time.Michael:Then whatCathy:About 20 years ago a worker in the family candy business quit aroundValentin

34、es Day, one of their busiest seasons. Her father needed Jeanto come to help with the business.Michael:Did sheCathy:Yes, although she didnt like it.Michael:So, how did she copeCathy:She got an idea of putting art and candy together.Michael:HowCathy:First she experimented with making an edible paint.

35、She found that powdered food coloring mixed with vodka would work.Michael:Thats quite a combination.Cathy:Then, for her canvas, she melted white chocolate and molded it flat. She even learned how to make chocolate frames.Michael:What kind of art did she createCathy:She copied the works of famous pai

36、nters. She displayed her candy art in the candy shop and customers would come in just to look at the art.Michael:What did her family think thenCathy:They didnt take her seriously until the Toledo Museumof Art heard about her works and paid her to paint 77 reproductions of works in their collection.

37、That was her first big job. Nowshe works full-time on her candy creations.Michael:Does she do anything besides copying art masterpiecesCathy:Yes, shes done some portraits. However, people love herreproductions.Michael: What are the prices for her candy art creati onsCathy: From $150 to $200 each.Mic

38、hael: Well, her creativity has brought her success.1. What did the male speaker like to do B_2. How did Jea n make a living right after graduat ing from college B_3. Why did she beg in to help with the family bus in ess C4. How did she paint A _5. In what way was she successful AListe ning IVFor ove

39、r 30 years, Sesame Street has bee n the most popular TV program for youngchildre n inthe Un ited States. The characters on this show are mainly puppets,andprobably the most loved of the puppets is a gigantic yellow bird called Big Bird.Caroll Spinney has played Big Bird all the years of Big Birds ex

40、istenee on American television. Spinneys love of puppets and his own creativity led him to this career.Whenhe was five years old, he saw his first puppet show. He loved the show and never forgot it. Whenhe was seve n he bought a used mon key puppet for five cen ts. His mother had made him a stuffed sn ake from gree n material, so he got the idea of making his own pupp