1Unit 6
Part 1
Listening I
Woman: Why do you think people are afraid of tarantulas?
Man: Well, I guess it's because people are afraid of all spiders, and tarantulas happen to be the biggest of all the spiders. And maybe it's also because some spiders really are very poisonous. In California, for example—in most of the garages in California—you get black widows, which are quite small but certainly more dangerous than tarantulas. Woman: But personally you aren't afraid of tarantulas?
Man: Well, I shouldn't be frightened of tarantulas, simply because I know that they aren't really dangerous—all they can do is give you a small bite, but it's not poisonous. And yet I must say I don't like to pick them up. But you see, some people keep pet mice and pet rabbits and, well, they can give you a much worse bite than a tarantula ever could. And yet people aren't frightened of them.
Woman: Why do you think people are frightened of spiders?
Man: I don't know—it's very strange. People are frightened of spiders and they are frightened of snakes, and, well, obviously some spiders and some snakes really are poisonous. But most snakes are harmless, and it's really strange that people are so frightened of spiders because it's quite difficult to find a spider that's really dangerous.
Exercise 1
1. B 2. C 3. D 4. B Exercise 2
1. T 2. F 3. F 4. F 5.T 6.F
Listening II
Shop Assistant: Good afternoon, madam. Can I help you?
Customer: Yes. I'm looking for a pet for my son. Can you suggest anything?
Shop Assistant: What kind of pet does he want? A traditional pet, a cat...or a dog? Or something unusual?
Customer: Well, he'd like a snake or a crocodile, but he isn't going to get one. Shop Assistant: We've got a nice Alsatian at the moment.
Customer: An Alsatian? Did you say \They're very big and savage.
Shop Assistant: Oh, no, madam. They aren't as savage as some dogs. Customer: Really?
Shop Assistant: Oh, yes. Last week we had a small dog. It was only as big as your handbag, but it was as savage as a tiger—it bit me three times! Customer: Perhaps not a dog, then. Shop Assistant: How about a cat?
Customer: A cat? Hmm...they aren't as friendly as dogs, are they?
Shop Assistant: No, but they don't eat as much as dogs either. And they're very clean. They wash themselves every day. Customer: Hmm...
Shop Assistant: Or how about a bird? A parrot or a budgie? We have both. Customer: Which do you recommend?
Shop Assistant: Well, budgies aren't as easy to train and they never speak as well as parrots. Customer: Yes, but budgies don't need as much space as parrots, do they?
Shop Assistant: That's true. Budgies are very popular because they are so easy to keep. Customer: Yes...but they're a bit noisy, aren't they? I want a quiet pet.
Shop Assistant: A quiet pet? Well, how about a goldfish? There's nothing as quiet as a goldfish.
Exercise 1
1. snake, crocodile 2. parrot, budgie 3. quiet 4. goldfish Exercise 2
1. A 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. A
Listening III
Over 450 wild horses have been killed in Nevada. The land they were on belonged to the
government. Some people say it is worse than when all the buffaloes were killed. Many of the horses were shot while running.
Wild horses are protected by law. 28 thousand wild horses share the land with six million cattle. Cattlemen say the horses are crowding the cattle out. It is said that there is a war going on. Both the cattle and the horses need the water and grass that is on the land.
The president of the Nevada cattleman group also helps to protect the horses. He says that he does not like what is happening to the horses. He does want the government to help keep the number of horses low.
Some people think the Navy used the wild horses for target practice. Pilots flew over the area where the horses were found. The Navy said that they did not let their pilots do that.
The horses were found far from the nearest road. The killings happened over a large area. It has been happening for the last two years.
Some people think that the horses should be gotten rid of. Others think that they should stay. In the meantime, the police will try to figure out who killed the horses. Questions:
1.Which animal has been killed in Nevada recently? 2.What is the number of the animals killed? 3.How long has the killing lasted? 4.Who did the killing?
Exercise 1
1. C 2. A 3. B 4.D
Exercise 2
1. crowding , war, water, grass 2. what is happening, keep the number of horses low 3. target practice, where the horses were found 4. gotten rid of , stay
Listening IV
Narrator: I'm going to tell you about an extraordinary thing that happened the day before yesterday, about eight o'clock at night, a young woman approached the box office of the best movie theater in the city. She had with her an enormous dog with a beautifully groomed coat. She bought two tickets and went toward the door, followed by her dog. The manager of the theater spoke to her...
Manager: I'm sorry, Miss, but dogs aren't allowed in this theater. Girl: But I have a ticket for him.
Manager: I'm very sorry, but animals aren't permitted.
Girl: You don't understand. This is a special case. My dog is so well trained and so intelligent that he's almost human.
Manager: I see that you have an exceptional animal, but...
Girl: I promise you that if there is any problem we'll leave the theater immediately. I assure you that this dog isn't like any other dog you've ever seen.
Manager: Well, all right. I'll let you go in, since the theater is almost empty tonight. Nevertheless, your dog will have to behave himself, or you will have to leave.
Narrator: About two hours later, and now the people are leaving the theater. The manager sees the girl with her dog.
Manager: I congratulate you. You are right; your dog behaved very well. I've been watching him, and it's amazing how quiet he was.
Girl: I told you that he's well trained and very intelligent.
Manager: He certainly is. It even seemed as if he was enjoying the movie.
Girl: Oh, he did enjoy it. He liked the film very much. However, he liked the book much better. Exercise 1
1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5.F 6.T 7.F 8. F Exercise 2 4 6
Part 2
Exercise 1
1. D 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. C 6. A Exercise 2
1. farm animals, hold, feed 2. small pets, toys 3. bury, toss them out 4. real shame
5. dangerous, destructive, bring diseases 6. have a point 7. humanely, limit
8. time, money, warm place 9. isolated, company 10. storm of debate
Part 3
Exercise 1
1. A 2. D 3. D 4. B 5. A 6. C 7. A 8. B Exercise 2
1. female, collectively 2. not a moment 3. infinite care 4.picks up, left to right 5. struck, smarter 6. salt water lake, dock 7. self-aware, non-human intelligence, belong in captivity
Part 4
Further listening Listening 1
Many people around the world become friends with animals. Some call their pet animals by
human names. They treat them like members of the family. Scientists now are proving what many pet owners already know—pets are good for your health.
The Delta Society is a research center in the northwestern state of Washington. They say animals have a healthy effect on people, especially people who are sick and lonely.
Several years ago, the Delta Society developed a program called \people work in pet therapy programs throughout the country. They take animals to visit people in hospitals, prisons and private homes. Dogs and cats are taken most often. But other visitors include snakes, rabbits, horses and birds. Some of the animals stay with the people forever. The dolphin also has a good effect on people. Scientists at the Dolphin Research Center in Florida introduce sick people to playful dolphins. People feed the dolphins, touch them, and ride on the dolphins' backs in the water. In this way, the animals help the patients feel better.
The head of the Delta Society, Linda Hines, says one reason for the pet therapy is that animals help sick people get better. Also, she says the animals have a calming effect on people, because pets can help people forget their own problems.
Exercise 1 1. 4.5.6.7 Exercise 2
1. A 2. C 3. C 4. A 5.D
Listening II