beautiful sceneries on them to make them look like fine artworks. Many people are keen to gather them as their collections.
筷子( chopstick)起源于中国古代，一直是中国饮食文化最要的一部分。我们的祖先喜欢吃蒸煮食物，但用勺子很难舀到( spoon out)汤里的蔬菜，所以发明了筷子。从此，筷子成为他们生活中最为方便的餐具( tableware)，标志着饮食文明的到来。如今，筷子除了具有餐具功能外，也增添了很多新功能。熟练手艺人在筷子上描绘美丽的风景，使之变成精美的艺术品。许多人热衷于收集筷子作为藏品。
20. Table tennis is a sport which gains much popularity and praise in China. For a long time, it has really been the only sport in China and seemed to set football, basketball and baseball rolled into one, but it was more popular. Anyone can play table tennis, for all required are a pair of paddles and ball and a table and net, which are easy to be improvised. People can play it when taking a break or killing time. You can find table-tennis tables in schools, factories or even some companies all over China.
乒乓球在中国是一项颇受欢迎和推崇的运动，长期以来，它的确是中国唯一的运动，似乎集足球、篮球和棒球于一身，但却更受欢迎。任何人都可以打乒乓球，所需的只是一副拍子( paddle)、一个球、一张桌子和一张网而已，这些郁易于临时拼凑(improvise)。人们可以在休息间隙或消磨时间时打乒乓球。在中国的学校、工厂甚至某些公司里，都能找到乒乓球桌。
21. There is a Chines saying that no visit to Beijing is complete if you miss seeing the Great Wall or eating Beijing Roast Duck. As a famous and delicious food
16
with a long history, Beijing Roast Duck is an excellent choice if you want to know more about Chinese cuisine, culture and customs. There is one point which you need to pay attention to, that is, the best seasons of eating it are spring, autumn and winter. The hot roast duck will be brought on the dining table by the chef where he will slice it into more than 100 thin flakes, and each of them is covered with crispy skin. The terrific taste will make it unforgettable in your life!
中国有句俗语是这么说的：不到长城非好汉，不吃烤鸭真遗憾。如果你想更多地了解中国美食、文化和风俗，北京烤鸭（Beijing Roast Duck）作为一道历史悠久、赫赫有名的佳肴，是最佳的选择。有一点需要注意：吃烤鸭的最佳季节是春天、秋天和冬天，厨师会将热腾腾的烤鸭送到餐桌上，然后切成100多个薄片，每片都带着脆皮。那绝妙的滋味一定会让你终生难忘！
22. According to Chinese tradition, filial piety is the most important virtue to be cherished throughout one’s parents’ lifespan. Being a filial child is the uppermost duty of any Chinese and it means showing complete obedience to parents, taking care of them. And meeting their demands at any cost as possible as one can. Chinese tradition takes a view that filial piety has some other features, too. For example, the eldest son is required to perform all the rituals after the death of his parents; the son has to ensure that the family line will continue.
中国传统认为孝顺（filial piety）是我们在父母有生之年应该一直秉承的、最重要的美德。成为孝子是任何一个中国人首要的责任，这意味着要尽可能完全服从父母，关心父母，不惜任何代价满足他们的需求。中国传统认为孝顺还有一些其他特征，如父母过世后，长子需要一手操办葬礼；儿子必须确保家里的香火（family line）得以延续。
23. Taijiquan is one cf the internal styles of Chinese martial art. It is based on the principle of the soft overcoming the hard and originated in ancient China as a martial art and a means of self-defense. Over time. People began to exercise it to improve their health and well-being. Practicers move their bodies slowly, gently and with thought while breathing deeply. So it is sometimes referred to as “moving meditation”. Chines commonly practice Taijiquan in nearby parks in early morning.
太极拳( Taijiquan)是一种中国武术内家拳（the internal styles of Chinese martial art），、它基于以柔克刚( the soft overcoming the hard)的原理，发端于中国古代，最开始是一种武术和自卫方式。随着时间的推移，人们开始通过练太极拳来改善健康状况、增加福祉(well-being)。练习者用意念慢慢地、轻轻地移动身体，同时深呼吸，因此有时被称为“移动冥想( meditation)”。中国人通常会在清晨到附近的公园练习太极拳。
24. Playing mahjong, which is sometimes described as a metaphor of real life, needs a mix of strategies and luck. Typically in China, it also involves placing large or small bets. A century ago, it was mainly a pastime for wealthy people, but today it is considered a game of the people. When it was first introduced to the U.S.A. In the 1920, a craze of mahjong ensued. The best way to leam playing mahjong is to sit with friend.s and ask them to play a demonstration game: ask them to turn their pieces upwards and watch what everybody is doing.
17
打麻将( mahjong)有时被描述成现实生活的翻版，既需要策略，也需要运气。在中国玩麻将通常还需要下或大或小的赌注(bet)。一个世纪前，麻将主要是富人的消遣( pastime)，但如今已被认为是大众游戏。麻将在20世纪20年代引人美国，一股麻将热潮随之而来。学习打麻将最好的方式是与朋友坐在一起，让他们示范玩一次，把麻将牌面向上，看大家怎么玩。
Listening Comprehension
Section A
Conversation One
M: [9] I have been studying too much and need a change. So I am . Just making plans to go away during January break. W: Really? Where are you going? M: I’m planning to visit New Mexico.
W: My sister and I had the vacation there last year and we had a great time. M: Did you get into Albuquerque? W: Sure. Whenever we were skating. M: Is it far from the mountains?
W: Not at all. Though Albuquerque is on the high plateaus, there are even higher mountains near it. Just half an hour ay from the city there is a snow-covered slope. M: Well. [10]As the mountain are just thirty minutes away, I guess I should take my ice skate and my skies.(溜冰鞋、滑雪板)
18
W: Definitely.
M: I heard that the weather there is great. W: It is. [11] No humidity, moderate temperatures, but you do need to be careful about high altitude.
M: What should I do about that?
W: Oh, just take it easy for a few days. Don’t go hiking up to the mountains or exercise too vigorously. Just do everything gradually. 徒步登山、从事剧烈运动
M: I’m sure I will be fine. And I will let you know all about my trip when I come back. 9. Why is the man going to have a trip? 10. What can be inferred about the man? 11. According to the woman, what may cause the man the most problems in Albuquerque?
Conversation Two
W: Hi, Bill, how is it going?
M: Oh, hi, Jane. I’m OK. How about your?
W: You can probably tell just by looking at me. I’m really busy. Hey, what are you reading?
M: A pretty interesting article. My biology professor assigned it, and I thought I’d just look it over but i got really involved it. It’s about endangered species. W: That sounds pretty interesting. [12] I’m getting frustrated with the two papers I’m struggling with.
19
M: Oh?
W: [13] And can you believe they are both due on the same day? M: That’s tough.
W: I’ll get through it. So what’s this you are reading?
M: Well, it’s basically about the choices conservationists are faced with. You know, on these days when funding is so hard to come by. W: Wait a minute. Is the focus on biology or economics?
M: Both. [14] Conservationists don’t have enough funding to save every endangered species in the world, so they have to decide based on what would be lost if a species became extinct.
W: Can you give me an example of what you mean?
M: Take for instance, two animals, the spotted owl (猫头鹰)and the tailed toad. (尾蟾) [15] The article says the toad is unique. It has no relatives. But there are a lot of owls. W: So, if that toad became extinct, we’d lose an important link in the chain of revolution, right?
M: Exactly. But that isn’t so for the owl. So for conservationists, it might be clear choice of which animal to save.
W: I see. I am glad I don’t have to make that kind of decision. 12. Why is the woman so busy?
13. Why does the woman say she’s Frustrated? 14. What problems do conservationists have? 15. What can be inferred about the tailed toad?
Section B Passage One
In the United States, many people once lived in large two- or three-storey homes. Today, many people would like to live in such houses, but most people can’t. [16] They don’t have enough money to buy them, even to make the first payment. So many people rent from month to month. But some Americans really want to live in a house of their own. So they build their own house, or
20