2. What does the woman suggest the man do to make his work easier? 3. Why does the woman mention Romanticism?
4. Why doesn‘t the woman want any help from the man? Conversation 2
M: Hey, Michelle, Look what I just found. Right here in the sand.
W: A piece of wood? Oh, Driftwood. Interesting shape…Almost like some sort of modern sculpture.
M: Yeah. And feel how smooth it is .
W: Hmm. Must‘ve been in the water a long time. It could‘ve been drifting in the ocean currents for months, or even years.
M: In the currents? Doesn‘t the wind just blow things around out there?
W: Well, sure. But the currents are always moving, too. Almost like rivers, but underwater rivers, flowing through the ocean.
M: So how do they find out where these currents go？Stick a message in a bottle and throw it in the water?
W: Don't laugh. In fact, I was reading in a science magazine that oceanographers have released huge numbers of bottles into the ocean over the years. They wanted to map out where the currents would carry them.
M: Say, I‘ll bet— after they found out where all those bottles ended up—they could enter all that data into a computer and make a pretty detailed model to --- to show where the currents go. W: In fact, they did. And they also found a neat way to test that model. There was a freighter carrying sneakers from a factory in Asia. It was caught in a big storm and thousands of pairs of sneakers got dumped in the Pacific Ocean. M: Really? What a waste?
W: Yeah. Turns out, though, that hundreds of these shoes started washing up on beaches somewhere near Seattle, just about where the computer models had predicted the currents would carry them.
M: Gee. you mean all that stuff I find on the beaches might be part of some big scientific experiment? I thought it was all just trash! Questions:
5. What are the speakers mainly discussing? 6. What did the man find on the beach?
7. According to the magazine article, what did scientists put into the ocean? 8. What can be inferred from the story about the sneakers? Conversation 3
W: Today‘s guest on ―Science Update‖ is David Brown. Dr. Brown, you and your team have found bacteria far below the Earth‘s surface. You must be thrilled about your discovery.
M: Well, yes very exciting. For a long time we‘d suspected the presence of such organism, but we lacked substantial evidence.
W: How did you confirm the existence of bacteria?
M: Well, technology helped. Our drilling techniques have improved significantly, and so the risk that surface bacteria could be mistaken for those found at much greater depth was reduced. With the new techniques, we could get much deeper into the Earth. W: How far down did you actually get?
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M: In one case, about three kilometers. We were surprised, I must tell you, that there were organisms that far down.
W: You know, it sounds like fiction, something like a lost word.
M: Let‘s call it a hidden biosphere, and it‘s probably a very extensive one. The mass of the living organisms below the surface may be equal in size to the mass of the surface bacteria. W: Have you found any unique life-forms?
M: Yes. One of the organisms is the first anaerobic bacillus ever discovered. That means it can live and grow only where there is no oxygen.
W: Is there any danger of these bacteria infecting people when you bring them to the surface?
M: The bacteria in question were adapted to an environment that‘s hostile and alien to humans. Conversely, these anaerobic bacteria could not survive in our environment. So we really don't need to worry about these bacteria causing illness in people. Questions:
9. What is the main topic of the interview?
10. What aspect of the hidden biosphere dose the man discuss?
11. According to the man, why is there no danger of infection by the bacteria? Conversation 4
M: Margaret, I could use your advice. W: What about, Ron?
M: Well, I‘ve put off doing my science requirement for three years.
W: And if you want to graduate this year, you‘ve got to take a science course.
M: Right. I figure since you are doing premed, you know about the various courses.
W: Well, I have to take biology, chemistry, math and physics. What you need is a good introductory course for non-science majors.
M: Yeah, I‘m really weak in math. I did poorly in it in high school.
W: Then you‘d better avoid chemistry and physics. How about biology? M: The problem is the lab. I‘m a little squeamish about dissecting things.
W: That is a problem. What about astronomy? Everybody says Dr. Coolie is great. I‘d take that course myself if I had the time.
M: That‘s what I thought I‘d take. But it meets at the same time with my modern drama course. W: Geology is pretty interesting, and cutting up rocks shouldn‘t bother you.
M: That‘s a good idea. It even fits in with my hobby of mountain-climbing. Thanks a lot! Questions:
12. Why is the man going to take a science course? 13. What course would probably take?
14. Why isn‘t the man going to take astronomy? 15. What course has the woman not taken? Conversation 5
M: Hi, Hellen, what do you think of our class in children‘s literature?
W: It looks pretty good. I was surprised to see you there. Are you also majoring in elementary education?
M: No, I‘m not, but as a psychology major, I can use this to fulfill the requirement in developmental psychology.
W: Have you finished the first assignment yet?
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M: Not yet. I just bought the books today. How about you?
W: I started this afternoon. It‘s great fun reading those wonderful children‘s stories by Dr. Suess. M: Dr. Suess? I don‘t remember seeing his name on the reading list.
W: His full name is Theodore Geisel. That‘s how it‘s listed in the bibliography. Dr. Suess is his pen-name.
M: I loved reading those stories as a child. It‘ll be interesting to read them now from a different perspective. I guess it‘ll give me a good idea how children think. W: Those stories are also great for classroom use. M: How is that?
W: Well, take a typical Dr. Suess‘ book like ―The Cat in the Hat‖. It has a controlled vocabulary of only 200 words.
M: So that means the children gets lots of practice using a small number of words over and over. W: Exactly. In fact, ―The Cat in the Hat‖ was written primarily to show how a controlled vocabulary reader could also be interesting and fun.
M: Well, it sounds like all these courses are also going to be interesting and fun. I think I‘ll get started on this reading-list tonight. Questions:
16. What is Hellen‘s major field of study?
17. Why will the speakers be reading children‘s stories? 18. Who are Suess and Theodore Geisel?
19. What is true about the book called ―The Cat in the Hat‖?
Conversation 6 M: Hello.
W: Hello, this is Susan Welson. May I speak to Greg Roberson, please? M: Hi, Susan, it‘s Greg. What can I do for you?
W: Well, I‘m calling about the theater group I belong to---- the Princeton Players. We‘re looking for more people to join, especially men. And I thought you might be interested.
M: Oh, gosh! You know how much I love acting, but I‘m taking some very hard courses. I might be able to learn my part, but I would hardly have time to come to the rehearsals.
W: Well, actually we rehearse only one night a week, Thursday from seven to ten, so we wouldn‘t have to put in extra time before a performance.
M: Only once a week, you say? Well, would you give me time to think it over?
W: Sure. But look, why don‘t you come and watch our rehearsal next Thursday? I think you‘ll like the way we work. When you see how much fun it is, you‘ll want to join right away. M: Okay, I‘ll come to a rehearsal. But I can‘t promise more than that.
W: Great! I‘ll give you a call on Wednesday to remind you. Talk you then, bye now! M: Bye, Susan! Questions:
20. Why did Susan think Greg might be interested in the theater group? 21.How often does the grou p rehearse?
22. Why does Greg ask for time to think about whether he will join the group? 23. What does Susan expect Greg to do?
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Conversation 7
M: Hello, I have a reservation for tonight. W: Your name, please.
M: Nelson, Charles Nelson.
W: Ok, Mr. Nelson. That‘s a room for five and...
M: But excuse me, you mean a room for five pounds? I didn‘t know the special was so good. W: No, no, hold no-according to our records, a room for 5 guests was booked under your name. M: No, no---hold on. You must have two guests under the name. W: Ok, let me check this again. Oh, here we are. M: Yeah?
W: Charles Nelson, a room for one for the 19th... M: Wait, wait. It‘s for tonight, not tomorrow night.
W: Em..., I don‘t think we have any rooms for tonight. There‘s a conference going on in town and---er, let‘s see...yeah, no rooms.
M: Oh, come on! You must have something, anything! W: Well, let---let me check my computer here...Ah! M: What?
M: Oh, come on! You must have something, anything!
W: There has been a cancellation for this evening. A honeymoon suite is now available. M: Great, I‘ll take it.
W: But, I 'II have to charge you 150 pounds for the night. M: What? I should have a discount for the inconvenience!
W: Well, the best I can give you is a 10% discount plus a ticket for a free continent breakfast. M: Hey, isn‘t the breakfast free anyway? W: Well, only on weekends. M: I want to talk to the manager.
W: Wait, wait, wait...Mr. Nelson, I think I can give you an additional 15% discount...
Questions:
24. What‘s the man‘s problem?
25. Why did the hotel clerk say they didn‘t have any rooms for that night? 26. What did the clerk say about the breakfast in the hotel?
27. What did the man imply he would do at the end of the conversation? （07年6月23日真题）
Conversation 8
M: Sarah, you work in the admissions office, don‘t you? W: Yes, I‘ve been here ten years as assistant director. M: Really? What does that involve?
W: Well, I‘m in charge of all the admissions of postgraduate students in the university. M: Only postgraduates?
W: Yes, postgraduates only. I have nothing at all to do with undergraduates.
M: Do you find that you get particular-sort of...different national groups? I mean, do you get large
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numbers from Latin America or...
W: Yes. Well, of all the students enrolled last year, nearly half were from overseas. They were
from African countries, the Far East, the Middle East, and Latin America.
M: Em. But have you been doing just that for the last 10 years, or, have you done other things? W: Well, I‘ve been doing the same job. Er, before that, I was secretary of the medical school at Birmingham, and further back, I worked in the local government. M: Oh, I see.
W: So I‘ve done different types of things.
M: Yes, indeed. How do you imagine your job might develop in the future? Can you imagine
shifting into a different kind of responsibility or doing something...
W: Oh, yeah, from October 1, I‘ll be doing an entirely different job. There‘s going to be more committee work. I mean, more policy work, and less dealing with students, unfortunately-T II miss my contact with students. Questions:
28. What is the woman‘s present position?
29 What do we learn about the postgraduates enrolled last year in the woman‘s university? 30. What will the woman‘s new job be like? （07年6月23日真题）
Conversation 9
M: Mary, I hope you're packed and ready to leave.
W: Yes, I‘m packed, but not quite ready. I can‘t find my passport. M: Your passport? That‘s the one thing you mustn‘t leave behind.
W: I know. I haven‘t lost it. I‘ve packed it, but I can‘t remember which bag it‘s in. M: Well, you have to find it at the airport. Come on, the taxi is waiting. W: Did you say taxi? I thought we were going in your car.
M: Yes, well, I have planned to, but I‘ll explain later. You‘ve got to be there in an hour. W: The plane doesn‘t leave for two hours. Anyway, I‘m ready to go now. M: Now, you're taking just one case, is that right? W: No, there is one in the hall as well.
M: Gosh, what a lot of stuff! You're taking enough for a month instead of a week. W: Well, you can‘t depend on the weather. It might be cold.
M: It‘s never cold in Rome. Certainly not in May. Come on, we really must go. W: Right, we're ready. We‘ve got the bags, I‘m sure there‘s no need to rush. M: There is. I asked the taxi driver to wait two minutes, not twenty.
W: Look, I‘m supposed to be going away to relax. You‘re making me nervous. M: Well, I want you to relax on holiday, but you can‘t relax yet.
W: OK, I promise not to relax, at least not until we get to the airport and I find my passport.
Questions:
31. What does the woman say about her passport? 32. What do we know about the woman‘s trip? 33. Why does the man urge the woman to hurry?
34. Where does the conversation most probably take place?
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