大学英语四级专项训练

大学英语四级专项训练编写：胡登攀,徐仪，陈婧,徐继菊PartICompoundDictation(15passages)CompoundDictation1Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Super-babiesaren'thappybabies.Theyaredrillingtheirinfantsinmathandreadingskills,usingflashcards,booksandvideotapes.Theyare1their3-year-oldintennislessonsandenteringtheir4-yrar-oldsinbeautycontestand2competitions.Nowtheyaretryingtoeducatetheirkidsinthewombwithphone-likelearning3.Theyareparentswhowanttheirchildrentobesuper-babies.Asadistinct4species,theyhavegainedincreasingattentioninrecentyears,evenastheiroverzealousnesshasbeen5bymanychild-developmentexperts.Butnoonehaspresentedevidenceagainstthesuperbabyethicinacomprehensive,6_way--

untilnow,inanewbookbyDr.Elkind,achildpsychologist."These7parentsareengaginginaformormis-education,"saidDr.Elkind,"I'malarmedbywhatIsee.Thoughsuperbabyphenomenonwasfirstnotedinupper-middle-classfamiliesseveralyearsago,nowlessadvantagedfamiliesseemtobe8wealthyparents.IncreasingnumbersofAmericanyoungstersarepressedtothink,feel,andbehavelikeolderchildrenandadults."Thelong-termconsequencesofparentaleffortsare9--stomachachesandheadaches,eatingandsleepingproblemsandchangesinchildren'sordinary10.Preschoolers'self-esteemcanalsobediminishedsincethetendencyofchildrenistoblamethemselveswhentheycan’tdoanimpossibletasksetbyanadult.Therecanbeothermoredamagingeffects.CompoundDictation2Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Weareallmoreobsessedwithourappearancethanweliketoadmit.Concernaboutappearanceisquitenormalandunderstandable.Attractivepeoplehave1advantagesinoursociety.Studiesshow:Attractivechildrenaremorepopular,bothwithclassmatesandteachers.Teachersgivehigher2totheworkofattractivechildrenand3ofthem.Attractiveapplicantshaveabetterchanceofgettingjobs,andofreceivinghighersalaries.OneUSstudyfoundthattallermenearnedaround$600perinchmorethanshorter4amonth.Incourt,attractivepeoplearefoundguiltylessoften.Whenfoundguilty,theyreceiveless5Wealsobelieveinthe"Whatisbeautifulisgood"stereotype--adeep-rootedbeliefthatphysicallyattractivepeople6otherdesirablecharacteristicssuchasintelligence,7,socialskillsandconfidence--evenmoralvirtue.Thegoodfairyprincessisalwaysbeautiful;thewickedstepmotherisalwaysugly.Itisnotsurprisingthatphysicalattractivenessisofoverwhelmingimportancetous.Everyperiodofhistoryhasitsownstandardsofwhatisbeautiful,andeverycontemporarysocietyhas8oftheidealphysicalfeatures.Inthe19thcenturybeingbeautifulmeantwearingacorset–causing9problems.Nowwetrytodietandexerciseourselvesintothefashionableshape--oftenwithevenmoreseriousconsequences.Butalthoughweresembleourancestorsinourconcernaboutappearance,thereisadifference10CompoundDictation3Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Formalevaluationsofteachersbystudents,somethingthatwouldhavebeenviewedastheheightof1agenerationago,havebecomeacceptedprocedureonmostcampuses.Theevaluationsareusedtoimproveteaching,tohelpstudentschoosecoursesandassistfacultyandadministrators2Inadditiontotheinstitutionalizedproceduresforfacultyevaluations,informalcourseguidesarealso3andsoldbystudentsatsomeuniversities.Oneoftheoldestoftheseguidesisthe"ConfidentialGuidetoCourses",orthe"ConfiGuide,"putoutbytheeditorsoftheHarvardCrimson."Thefirstpurposeistobehumorous;thesecondpurpose,ifonecan'tbehumorous,istobeinteresting,andlast,we're4,"saidJonathanMoses,managingeditorofTheCrimson."We'renotliketheCUEGuide,"hesaid,5theofficialuniversitycourseguide,"Theyarelookingforsubstance,notstyle--aterriblething."AtStanfordUniversity,theofficialguidehasbeen6.Studentisabletouseaterminaltofindoutallthecoursestaughtonacertaindayorthenamesofthecoursetaughtbyacertainprofessororwhat7agivencoursefulfills.Attheendofeachcourse8isastudentevaluationsection,whichasksquestionslike,"Whatarethebestthingsabouttheclass?Howwouldyou9CompoundDictation4Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.TheformaleducationintheUnitedStatesdifferedfromeducationsystemsofotherWesternsocietiesinthreefundamentalrespects.First,Americansweremore1toregardeducationasasolutiontovarioussocialproblems.Second,becausetheyhadthisconfidenceinthepowerofeducation,Americans2moreyearsofschoolingforalargerpercentageofthepopulationthanothercountries.Third,educationinstitutionswere3governedbylocalauthoritiesratherthanby4ones.ThemostnotablecharacteristicoftheAmericaneducationsystemisthelargenumberofpeopleitserves.Expandingaccesstocollegeeducationisa5fortheUSgovernment.In1997PresidentClintoncalledforcreatinganewpolicytoenable6everyhighschoolgraduatetoreceivesomeformofcollegeeducation.Sincethe1980s,educationpolicymakershavegivengreaterattentionand7toimprovethequalityofeducationinnonschoolsettings.Forexample,educatorsviewthefamilyasperhapsthemostpowerfuleducationalforce,andschoolshaveincreasededucationprogramsdesignedspecificallyforparents.Museumshavealso8theirinstructionalrole."SesameStreet"forchildren,createdinthe1960s,wasanearlydemonstrationofhowtelevisioncouldadvanceratherthanretardeducationalvalues.9theUnitedStates,fewerpeoplegoontohighereducationinBritain,andthereismoreemphasisonsegregatingpupilsatthelowerlevel10ability.CompoundDictation5Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.StudiesshowtheaverageageofAmericanfarmersisslowlyrising.FeweryoungAmericansaredecidingtoenterfarmingthaninthepast.AndthenumberoffarmersandworkingfarmsintheUnitedStateshas1overtime.TheEconomicResearchServicereleasedareport2.TheagencyispartoftheUnitedStatesDepartmentof3.TheEconomicResearchServicesaysthe4ageofanAmericanfarmerisfifty-fouryearsold.Itnotesthepercentageoffarmersfifty-fiveorolderroseto61%in1997.Onlythirty-seven5offarmerswerefifty-fiveorolderin1954.ThenewreportsaysfarmersgenerallyareolderthanotherAmericanworkersfor6reasons.Farmerscancontinueworkingontheirfarmslongaftermostwage7haveretired.ThenumberofyearsthatAmericanscanexpecttolivehasincreased.Thismeansmanyfarmerscan8untiltheyareveryold.Theincreaseduseofmachinesinagriculturealsohashelpedolderfarmers.Theycanusemachinesinsteadofphysicallabor.TheEconomicResearchServicenotesthatthefutureoffarmingintheUnitedStates9theemploymentofmorenewworkersonfarms.However,feweryoungAmericansarebecomingfarmers.Thepercentageoffarmersyoungerthanthirty-fiveyearsoldhas1015%in1954to8%threeyearsago.CompoundDictation6Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Wesitaroundtheroughwoodentableinthesummercabinforaclassreunion.About15menandwomenwhohaveonething1:weallwenttoelementaryschooltogether.Aclassmate2."What'smostimportantinlifeisfriendship.Idon'tknowwhatI'ddowithoutmyfriends."Theroomfullofgrayhair3inagreement.Decadesofresearchhave4thatfriendshipisgoodforyourhealth.Peoplewithfriendshavelowerdeath5.Theyrecoverfasterfromillness.Justwhyfriendshipisa6forceisthefocusofmuchresearch.AsscientiststrytounraveltheDNA7bookoflife,Ilookaroundthetableatmyclassmates.Thereareoldmemoriesofthegray-hairedmusicteacher.Thereareturningpointsofweddings,births,funerals.Laughterand8，crisesofillness,despair,andloss.9,friendshipisahumanconnectionthatinvolvesaffectionandintimacy.Intheinnercircle,thereisacontinualsharingofthemostimportantdetailsofyourlife.Whomdoyouconfidein10?Whomcanyoucalluponifyouneedhelp?Whomdoyoucallifyouwanttocelebrate?Theinnercircletodaymayincludespouses,lovers,collegeroommatesandcousins,childrenandgrandchildren,colleagues,andchildrenoffriends.CompoundDictation7Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Autism(孤独症)isalifelongdevelopmentaldisorderthataffectsthewayapersoncommunicatesand1tootherpeople.Therangeandintensityofdisability2widely,butallindividualsaffectedbyautismhavedifficultywithcommunication,learningandsocialskills.Autismusuallymanifestsduringthefirstthreeyearsoflife.Impairedsocial3isthehallmarksymptom.Manypeopleaffectedbyautismdonothaveevenonefriend.Thisisvery4tothemandtotheirfamilies.Individualsaffectedbyautismmayalso5repeatedbodymovements,unusualresponsestopeopleorattachmentstoobjects,6inroutine,andextremesensorysensitivity.Thiscommonlyincludesseverereactionstonoiseandtouch,maycontributeto7andoftenmeansthatsignificantlevelsofsupervisionarerequired.Thereisnodefinitivecauseorcure,butspecializedinterventionscangiveindividualsaffectedbyautismthetoolstheyneedto8.Therearemanydifferentmythssurroundingautismintheworld.Here,aresomeofthetruthsaboutit.Autismisnotrare.Thelatest9indicateonein165CanadiansisaffectedbyAutism,anincreaseofover600%inthepasttenyears.Whatwasonceviewedasararedisorderisnow10asthemostcommonneurologicaldisorderaffectingchildren.CompoundDictation8Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Thetimeofthedaywhensomethingisdonecangiveaspecialmeaningtotheevent.ManagersintheUS

fullyrealizetheimportanceofan1madeduringthemiddleofthemorningorafternoonthattakeseveryoneawayfromhiswork.IntheUS,itisnot2tocallsomeoneveryearlyinthemorning.Ifyoutelephonehimearlyintheday,whileheis3orhavingbreakfast,thetimeofthecallshowsthatthematteris4andrequiresimmediateattention.Thesamemeaning5madeafter11:00pm.Ifsomeonereceivesacallduringsleepinghours,he6itisamatteroflifeanddeath.Thetimechosenforthecall7itsimportance.Imaginetheexcitementandfearcausedby8arrivingatthedoorat2:00am.OnanislandintheSouthPacific,aplantmanagerfromtheUShadjustsuchanexperience.Thenativesoftheislandmetonenighttodiscussaproblem.whenthey__9,theywenttoseethemanagerandwokehimuptotellhimwhathadbeendecided.Unfortunately,itwasafter2o'clockinthemorning.TheydidnotknowthatitisaveryseriousmattertowakeupAmericansatthishour.Themanagerwhodidnotunderstandthelocalculture,thoughttherewasafightand10.Itneveroccurredtohimortothenativesthatpartsofadayhavedifferentmeaningsindifferentcultures.CompoundDictation9Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Computervirusesareelectronicprogramsthatdestroyinformationonacomputerorcausethecomputertostopworking.Computerexpertssaythe"ILoveYou"virusisoneofthemost1theyhaveeverseen.ItbeganspreadingMayFourthandquickly2computersinmorethantwentycountries.Theexpertssayitmayhavecausedasmuchas10,000,000,000dollarsindestroyedinformationandlostcomputerworktime.Thevirusgotineachcomputeraselectronicmailthat3tobesentfromafriend.Itstitlewas“ILoveYou.”Whenthecomputeruseropenedthemessage,thevirusdidseveralthings.First,itfoundthecomputer’saddressbookand4mailedcopiesofitselftoeachcomputeraddress5.Itdestroyedelectronicpictureskeptinthecomputer’smemory.Italso6usedtoprotectcomputerinformationandattemptedto7them.The“ILoveYou”Virusquicklyspreadthroughcomputersusedingovernmentsandprivatebusinesses.Electronicaddressbooksinthesecomputersquickly8thevirustoothergovernmentcomputersystems.Businesscomputerssentcopiesofthevirustootherbusinesscomputers.Withindaysthe“ILoveYou”virushadspreadfromcomputertocomputeraroundtheworld.Expertsincomputercrimearestill9.TheyhavefollowedelectronicevidencetothePhilippineswheretherearenolawsagainstthiskindofcomputeractivity.Itisacrimeinmanycountries,butnotinthePhilippines.Internationallegalexpertssaynewlawsareneededthat10likethe“ILoveYou”virus.CompoundDictation10Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Thetrendstowardglobalizationbeganinearnestinthe1970swhenthesystemoffixedexchangerates,setupafterWWII,was1.Thismeantthatthevalueofcurrencieswouldnow2themarketsinsteadofindividualgovernments.Overthenexttwodecades,countriesslowlybegantoremovetheir3controls.By1990,nearlyallmajoreconomieshad4onhowmuchmoneycouldbemovedinandouttheircountries.Otherfactors5ofglobalizationarenewcommunicationstechnologies,andbetter6systems.Thesehaveenabledcompaniestogrowintomultinationals--producinggoodsononesideoftheplanetandsellingthemontheother.Lowercostshavealsohelped--thepriceoftelephonecalls,forinstance,ischeapernowthan_7.Butadjustingtothis"economicorder"isprovingdifficult.Inthedevelopedworldglobalizationisfacingwidespreadpublicresistance.Criticscomplainthat,8___tradebarriers,jobsarebeinglosttoworkersinpoorercountries,andwagesforemployeesinrichcountiesarestagnant,exceptfora9__few.Opponentsofglobalizationalsopointtoitseffectsontheworkersinpoorercountries.Theyagreethatmultinationalsmaybehelpingto10____inthedevelopingworld,buttheyarguethatthejobsarehardlyworthhavingsincetheyarelowpaidandexploitative.CompoundDictation11Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Superwomanisdead.Infact,Superwomanneverexistedexceptinourwildestimaginations.Thewhole1thatonewomancanhaveitallanddoitallisfalsefrombeginningtoend.The2thingisthatwearegullibleenoughtoacceptitastruthandfeelguiltyfornotachievingwhatwefeelwearesomehow3aswomentoachieve.Itistimetofreeourselvesfromthisfalsestandard.Weallmust4whatwedo.Whenyouchooseonething,somethingelsemustnecessarily5.It'swrongtofeelguiltythatwearen’tabletocrammorethingsintoouralready___6days.TryingtobeaSuperwomandoesn’thelpanyone.Itcannotbedone.Itisasurepathtofailureanddisappointment.Thepathtolifeandhealthandpeaceis___7___,serviceandloveforothers,notseekingpraiseorrecognitionbutbeingwillingtoworkharddayafterdayandfindour8inwhatGodhasgivenourhandstodo.LetSuperwomandie;puthersuperhumanaccomplishmentsoutofyourmind.WhenwemakethedecisionnottobeSuperwoman,wemakethedecisiontoputotherpeoplebeforeourowndesires,thedesiresthat9.Foronewomanitisthedesirestohaveasuccessfulbusinesscareer.Foranotheritisaclassywardrobeandflawlessappearance.Foryetanotheritistheshiningtalentthatmustnotbehidden.Accomplishmentscananddo10,buttheymustneverreplaceourrelationshipswithflesh-and-bCompoundDictation12Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Knowwhatyou’regettinginto.Ifyoubelievealltheads,aftereyesurgery,you’llbeabletoreadthebottomlineofaneye1throughabrickwall,ifonlyitweretrue.Youmaynot2asgoodasispromised.Besides,youmightbeapoor3.Eyesurgerystillisn’tfitforpeoplewithcertain4visionproblemsoraneyedisease.Thesamegoesforchildrenunder18and5women,whoseeyesmaybe6changes.Sodon’tbeshockedifadoctorgazesintoyoureyesandshowsyouthedoor.Finally,7.Somecomplainofdryeyesandrequireeyedropsknownas8tearsformonths.Othersseehalosandstarburstswhiledrivingatnight.Fortunatelysuchsymptomstendtobeminorand_9__.Findadoctor.AskfriendsforreferralsorlookforasurgeonontheInternet.Whateveryoudo,don’tmakeadecisiononarock-bottomprice.Youhaveonlyonesetofeyes.Askthedoctorrightquestions:Whowillbedoingthe10?Easilyavailableandopencommunicationwiththesurgeonandhisteamarehallmarksofagoodpractice.CompoundDictation13Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.TheauthorsofthiswelldesignedandcarefullyexecutedstudyremindusthattherearewinnersandlosersintheAmericanfree1system.ManyoftheUSmiddleclassarelosers,astheirseemingly2middleclasslifestylesmaybe3byajobloss,aseriousaccident,illness,divorce,orthe4temptationofeasycredit.Itisalltooeasytomakepurchaseswhenyoujusthavetopulloutthe"plastic".Easythatis,untilallofthemonthlybillsarrive.Manyfamiliesusecreditto5andtheyfindithard,ifnotimpossible,tomakeallthemonthlypayments.That’swhenthe"creditcardblues"__6.Thebanksmakemoneyfromthosewhopaytheirbillsandcan7thosewhocannot.BankruptcyispartoftheAmerican"safetynet"whichisgreatforeveryoneexceptthosewhomustsufferitshumiliation.The8ofeasycreditareaproblemtowhichmoralandreligiousleadersshouldattend.Thisisalsoanimportantbookforwomentoread.Themostdisturbingchaptertoreaderswasthedescriptionofwhathappenstowomenfollowingdivorce.Theauthorsshowthatadivorcedwomanhasa300%greaterchanceoffilingfor9thanhermarriedsister.Canitbe,astheauthorssay,thatawoman'seconomicsuccessisstill10marrying--andstayingmarried?CompoundDictation14Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten."Anythingwhichtendstoslowworkdownisawaste,"ThomasEdisonsaid,1thatthelightbulbwouldmake24-hourworkdayspossible.And,indeed,overthepastcenturyAmericanshavereducedtheir2nightlysleeptimebymorethan20percent--wearingthedarkcirclesundertheireyeslikebadgesof3.Ourpoliticalleadersare4proudofhowlittleresttheyget."Noneofushavehadagreatdealofsleep,"ablearyeyedPresidentBushsaidafterburningthemidnightoildecidingwhetherornotto5Iraq.Unfortunately,thereisastrong6betweenpoordecision-makingandlackofsleep.ANASAstudyfoundthat21percentofpiloterrorsarerelatedto7.TheAmericanAirlinescrashinArkansasearlierthismonthmayhavebeenduetothepilots’impairedjudgmentafter13and1/2straighthoursonduty.Andsleepdeprivationhasbeenafactorinsomeofthebiggestdisastersinrecenthistory,includingChernobyl,theExxonValdezspill,theChallengerexplosionandthemarriageofPamelaAndersonandTommyLee.Even_______8likethese,sleepdeprivationcostsUSbusinesses$100billionayearinaccidentsand9.Prof.Moore-EdeoftheHarvardMedicalSchoolhasrecommendednappingpoliciesforcorporations,andCompoundDictation15Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom1to10withtheexactwordsandphrasesyouhavejustheard.Whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.TheunstatedpurposeofmostAmericanstudents'sociallifeistohave"fun".Forthem,sociallife1goingsomewhereoutsidetheirhouseorapartmentand"doingsomething",suchasdrinkinginabarorataparty,2insomesportorrecreationalactivity(ToAmericans,theword"drinking"referstoconsumingalcoholic3),havingapicnic,goingtoaconcert,oratleasttakingawalk."Juststayinghome"and"visiting"or"playinggames"wouldbethelast4ofmostAmericanswhowanttosocialize.AlargeamountofsocializingamongAmericanstudentstakesplaceinbars.Othercommongatheringplacesare5,parks,andplacestoeat.Studentsfromothercountriesgenerallyseemfarlessinterestedindrinking,atleastinpublicplaces.Thisfact6