Unit 1
Section One Tactics for Listening
Part 1 Phonetics-Stress, Intonation and Accent 1. We haven’t got any in dark blue. 2. We can’t make it at nine tomorrow. 3. My telephone number is not 65031609. 4. I don’t like the black jumper. 5. He won’t come by the 7:30 train.
(The word or digit in bold has the most stress)
Exercise:
1. a 2. b 3. a 4. b 5. b
Part2 Listening and Note-talking
Driving Carefully
Drive carefully and slowly when pedestrians are about, particularly in crowded shopping streets, when you see a bus stopped, or near a parked mobile shop. Watch out for pedestrians coming from behind parked or stopped vehicles, or from other places where you might not be able to see them.
Three out of four pedestrians killed or seriously injured are either under fifteen or over sixty. The young and elderly may not judge speeds very well, and may step into the road when you do not expect them. Give them, and the infirm, or blind, or disabled people, plenty of time to cross the road.
Drive slowly near schools, and look out for children getting on or off school buses. Stop when signalled to do so by a school crossing patrol showing a Stop-Children sign. Be careful near a parked ice-cream van—children are more interested in ice-cream then in traffic.
When coming to a zebra crossing. be ready to slow down or stop to let people cross. You must give way once they have stepped onto a crossing. Signal to other drivers that you mean to slow down or stop. Give yourself more time to slow down or stop on wet or icy roads. Never overtake just before a zebra crossing.
Exercise A:
1. Drive carefully and slowly when pedestrians are about. 2. Three out of four pedestrians killed are either under fifteen or over sixty. 3. Be careful near a parked ice-cream van—children are more interested in ice-cream than in traffic. 4. When coming to a zebra crossing, be ready to slow down or stop to let people cross. 5. You must give way once they have stepped onto a crossing.
Exercise B:
Driving Carefully
I. Look out for pedestrians
A. Drive carefully at crowded shopping streets. B. Drive carefully near a bus stop. C. Drive carefully near a parked mobile shop. II. Look out for the young, the old and the disabled
A. Three out of four pedestrians killed or seriously injured are either under
fifteen or over sixty. B. The young and the elderly may not judge speeds very well. C. Give them, and the infirm, or blind, or disabled people, plenty of time to
cross the road. III. Look out for children
A. Stop at a Stop—Children sign B. Drive slowly near a parked ice-cream van IV. Coming to a zebra crossing
A. Slow down or stop to let people cross. B. Signal to other drivers that you mean to slow down or stop. C. Never overtake just before a zebra crossing.
Section Two Listening Comprehension
Part 1 Dialogues
Dialogue 1 Making Arrangements Mum: Hello.
Tessa: Hi, Mum. It’s me. How are you?
Mum: Oh, I’m fine, Tessa. I except you’re phoning to find out how the arrangements for your party are going? Tessa: Yes. That’s right. You know, it’s really good of you and Dad to make all the arrangements while I’m away.
I really don’t know what I’d do without you!
Mum: Oh, there is not that much to do really. In fact, your father and I are quite enjoying it Tessa: Good. So how are thing going?
Mum: Well, let’s see. I’ve already hired the hall, so that’s OK. Tessa: Have you found anyone to do the disco yet? Mum: No, not yet, dear.
Tessa: Well, do you think you could do that soon, Mum? It might not be easy. What about the equipment? Mum: Well, we’re having the sound system and records delivered by a local company next week. Tessa: Good. That should be all right. What about the bar?
Mum: That’s all under control. We’re having the drinks delivered next week. Tessa: Great! Have you organised the food? Are you cooking it?
Mum: What, for 70 people? You must be joking! No, I think I’ll have it done by the caterers* in the village. Tessa: You’ll do that soon, won’t you? They’ll need a bit of notice.
Mum: Mmm. Of course. Now, I had the invitations printed last week. The stationer’s did them, but I haven’t
had time to send them yet…
Tessa: Oh, Mum, but the party’s in ten days! Send them soon, will you, or we’ll have no guests!
Mum: Yes, I’m sorry, dear. Look, I’ll phone everyone too. I’ve been so busy with all the arrangements…
Exercise:
Done To be done Relevant information The place The hall has been hired. To find someone to do it. The disco The equipment The sound system and records will be delivered by a local company next week. The bar The drinks will be delivered next week. To have it done by the caterers in the village. They are printed and will be sent soon. The food The invitations Dialogue 2 Fast Food Survey A: Excuse me, do you mind answering a few questions? B: No.
A: Um firstly, do you ever eat fast food. B: Yes, yes, I do.
A: What kind of fast food do you normally eat?
B: Oh, er you know, burgers, sandwiches, well sometimes like a pizza or, you know, kebabs*.
A: Oh, right. And how often do you eat fast food? Every day, more than once a week or less than once a
week?
B: Er, well Monday to Friday when I’m working er, yeah every day, um but not…not usually at the weekends. A: And what time of day do you eat fast food?
B: Well, at work as I said, you know at lunchtime, um you know, I sort of go out and get a burger or sandwich.
Sometimes, you know, if, if I’m going out and I’ve no time to cook in the evenings then I’ll, I’ll send out for a pizza.
A: Oh, right. Do you only eat it as a main meal or do you snack between meals? B: No, only as a main meal, you know lunch or, or in the evening.
A: And what do you think of fast food? Which statements do you think are true? Um, either“It’s convenient” B: Oh, definitely. I mean, that’s sort of the main reason that I eat it. A: Right. How about “It tastes good”?
B: Yeah. Um, I mean, not as good as food like in a, in a good restaurant, but it’s not bad. A: “It’s good for you”?
B: No. Sort of eating quickly and standing up. It’s sort of bad for you. The food itself isn’t very good for you,
you know there’s not enough greens, um you know, vegetables or salad.
A: Mm. How about “It’s an expensive way of eating”? What do you think of that?
B: Oh, yes it is, er but you’re paying for the convenience, you know the speed of it. Er, well, I certainly think
that it’s cheaper than you know cooking your own food.
A: Er, and what about lastly “It creates litter.” Do you think that’s true?
B: Yes, yes, it does. Only I, I always put mine in a you know in a litter bin, but er unfortunately a lot of people
don’t, um but in the packaging there is a lot of paper involved and plastic and sometimes polystyrene*.
Exercise A: How often do you eat fast food? Every day Every weekdays At the weekends Occasionally Breakfast At what time of the day do you eat fast food? Lunch Dinner Between meals Exercise B:
It is convenient and fast, though it doesn’t taste as good as food in a good restaurant. However it is bad to one’s health because there are not enough vegetables. It is also quite an expensive way of eating, but you’re paying for the convenience. And it creates litter because in the packaging there is a lot of paper, plastic and sometimes polystyrene involved.
Part 2 Passages
Passage 1 Snack It’s 3:15 in the afternoon and half the office just stepped out* for a coffee break. Your eyelids are starting to close and 7-11 is just around the corner. A soda or a bag of chips would be just the thing to perk you up*. So you, too, go out for an afternoon snack.
Sometimes we eat simply because everyone else is doing it. Other times we eat when we feel tired, bored or depressed. Snacking for the wrong reasons can lead to overeating and unhealthy diet.
Of course, there are times when our bodies really need extra energy. Here are four tips to keep your snacking on the right track.
1. Know why you’re eating. Using food to change your feelings can be a dangerous habit. An order of French fries might distract* you from feeling sad for a while, but it’s only a temporary cure. Once the fries are gone, the problem is still there. If you’re feeling lonely, don’t reach into the refrigerator. Call a friend. If you’re feeling stressed, take a 10-minute walk.
2. Find a healthy pick-me-up*. If you’re truly hungry, a healthy snack can give you the boost of energy you need. If you like fresh foods, bring a small bag of tomatoes or apples slices to work whit you. To tame your sweet tooth, try a handful of dried fruit. A serving of nuts can be a perfect pick-me-up. They have the right combination of nutrients to give you the energy you need. But wait until you’re hungry to find something to eat. Plan ahead and bring something healthy whit you.
3. Eat just one serving. Don’t open up a whole box of crackers and start munching away. Instead, pull out just one serving and put away the box.
4. Think of snacks as mini-meals. Eating small, healthy snack can keep you from stuffing yourself at the next meal. Instead of eating three big meals each day, split them into four or five mini-meals. You may actually eat less food overall.
Use these tips to help you plan snacks ahead of time. The next time you have a snack attack, tame your hunger the healthy way.
Exercise A:
a soda or a bag of chips; a piece of cake; a sandwich; a small bag of tomatoes; a small bag of apple slices; a serving of nuts; a glass of low-fat-milk; a serving of crackers, etc.
Exercise B:
1. A 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. D 6. B 7. C 8. A
Exercise C:
1. Using food to change your feeling can be a dangerous habit.
2. If you’re feeling lonely, don’t reach into the refrigerator. Call a friend. 3. A serving of nuts can be a perfect pick- me-up.
Part 3 News
News Item 1 The Japanese electronic giant Sony has slashed* its annual earnings forecast again. It’s expected to report an annual operating loss of almost three billion dollars. The company had previously forecast a profit of two billion dollars.
If confirmed, this would be Sony's first loss in 14 years, the second only since the company was listed on* the Tokyo stock exchange in 1958
Like other Japanese exporters, Sony is taking a beating* from the global slump*. The yen's appreciation* also means less profit --- as the company gets 80 percent of its sales from overseas. Exercise A:
This news item is about Sony’s first loss in 14 years.
Exercise B:
1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5.T
News Item 2 World Trade Organization ministers are meeting in Montreal*, Canada. The trade ministers have been debating the issue of reducing import taxes and government aid for certain services, especially farming. Major agricultural exporters like the United States, Australia and Brazil want all import duties cut to an average of 25%. Importers such as the European Unions, Japan and some developing countries say import taxes should be
cut by some reasonable percentage based on the country. The United States and European Unions are under pressure to reach a farming agreement that other WTO members can support. The WTO is also divided on the issue of providing necessary drugs to poor countries.
Exercise A:
This news item is about a world trade organization meeting on reducing taxes and government aid for certain services.
Exercise B:
The trade ministers have been debating the issue of reducing import taxes and government aid for certain services, especially farming. Major agricultural exporters like the United States, Australia and Brazil want all import duties cut to an average of 25%. Importers such as the European Unions, Japan and some developing countries say import taxes should be cut by some reasonable percentage based on the country.
News Item 3 Russian gas could soon be flowing back into Europe. A spokesman for Naftogaz, the Ukrainian state energy company, told the BBC that Ukraine would accept the presence of Russian monitors as part of a broader EU mission to check the volume of Russian gas entering and exiting Ukraine.
This appeared on Thursday night to be the key demand from Moscow, the condition on which Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, would agree to turn on the taps.
But, even if the deal is accepted by all sides and gas flows to Europe resume*, there are still difficult negotiations ahead on the underlying issue* that caused the switch-off in the first place: how much Ukraine should pay Russia for the gas it consumes, and how much Russia should pay Ukraine in return, in transit fees*. Until that issue is resolved, this crisis is far from settled. Exercise A:
This news item is about the crisis between Russia and Ukraine in terms of gas supply..
Exercise B:
1. Ukraine would allow Russian monitors to check the volume of Russian gas entering and exiting Ukraine. 2. Russia gave that key demand on Thursday night. 3. Yes, Ukraine would accept the deal.
4. The underlying issue was how much Ukraine should pay Russia for the gas it consumes, and how much Russia should pay Ukraine in return, in transit fees.
5. No, it isn’t. Until the underlying issue is resolved, this crisis is far from settled.