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College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
Debating
As you probably know, china has been conducting research and experiments that are aimed at sending cosmonauts into space. The successful launch and landing of the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou IV has pushed China closer to its goal of manned space flight. Of course, to achieve this goal, China has to spend a huge amount of money estimated at 10 billion Yuan. We all know that China is still a developing country and its education still lags behind that of the developed countries. Many young Chinese are denied chances of receiving higher education because of insufficient educational facilities. So why not use this amount of money to build more universities across the country?
Suppose you are the policymakers and you have the right to vote either for the space program or for building more universities, which decision would you make? Give your reasons.
Topic: Argument for or against “using our limited resources on the manned space program” Perspectives:
1. From the perspective of supporter of the manned spaceship (for) 2. From the perspective of those rejecting the space program (against) Demos
From the perspective of supporters of the manned spaceship (for)
If I were a policy maker, I would definitely support our space program. It’s significance is manifold(有多种用途的).
First, the launch of the unmanned spaceship Shenzhou IV is deemed(认为，相信) a symbol of national prestige(威望). This shows that our country is strong both militarily and economically, and China would become the third nation in the world to achieve manned space flight. The manned spaceship would also inspire Chinese people to love, support and defend our country.
Second, the spaceship program requires the development of advanced technology, especially in the manufacturing sector. So it would contribute to the economic growth of our country.
Third, the space program is an integrated program. It combines many branches of science, such as medicine, aerospace, genetic engineering, biophysics and even agriculture. Many experiments done on the spaceship would prove the quality of our lives. So the enormous amount of money spent would pay off in the end.
From the perspective of those rejecting the space program(against)
I don't think it's wise to spend so much money on the space program. There would appear to be no direct link between the unmanned or manned spaceship program and the quality of our daily life. As we all know, China is a
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College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
developing country with a large population. We have so many domestic
problems waiting for us to solve and our economy is relatively weak. We cannot compete with the U.S. in space exploration. Besides, education in China lags behind that of the major developed countries. According to some statistic, only about one fifth of youth can receive higher education in China because of insufficient educational facilities. Poverty is still a serious social problem in
China, especially in the western part, which not only deprives many children of opportunities of going to school, but also slows down the process of applying science to production.
So why not spend the limited funds available trying to improve the existing educational facilities and to build more universities? If more young people can receive higher education, China would have a better resource of manpower to compete with the U.S. Only science and education will save our country in the long run.
Part C Additional Listening
Mir's End
Mir was a testament to Russian technology. Built to last five years, operational for 13, it's been called an accident waiting to happen, for the space station has survived fires, decompression and problems ranging from mechanical and computer breakdowns to a collision with an unmanned cargo ship.
Since its launch in 1986, Mir has been home to over 25 crews from more than a dozen countries. It's been a base for astronomical observations and scientific experiments as well as giving astronauts invaluable experience of long-duration space flight. But Mir's end, though welcomed by many, could affect the pace of future space exploration.
Mir really brings to an end, the end of that space race, uh, really closes off space race now. And I think to a certain extent, we won't see the challenge, that ... that competition to push the technology. So I think, we might see the exploration of the space slowing down from now on.
Attempts to extend Mir's life by private and commercial funding have failed. So the current crew which includes a French astronaut from the European Space Agency will return inside the Soyuz spacecraft currently attached to Mir.
When the last crew leaves Mir, it will be the end of an era. But one final crucial part of the mission is the decommissioning process. An automatic navigational system is already on board for its final descent into the Pacific Ocean next year.
Questions 1:
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College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
Listen to the recording and choose the right answers to each question you hear.
1. For how many years of operation was Mir designed to last? A. Five years. B. Eight years. C. Ten years.
D. Thirteen years.
正确答案：A. Five years.
2. What happened to Mir during its flight? A. Some astronauts lost their lives.
B. It survived fires, computer breakdowns, etc. C. It ran out of control many times. D. It orbited the earth very smoothly.
正确答案：B. It survived fires, computer breakdowns, etc.
3. What effect would Mir have if it descended onto the earth? A. It would cause a terrible explosion on the earth. B. It would put the astronauts in danger.
C. It would have a bad effect on the pace of future space programs. D. It would explode in the air, affecting many countries.
正确答案：C. It would have a bad effect on the pace of future space programs.
4. What is the crucial part of Mir's last mission? A. It's about the safety of the last crew.
B. It concerns the possible explosion of Mir in a densely populated area. C. It is the final descent into the ocean. D. Efforts are made to save the spaceship.
正确答案：C. It is the final descent into the ocean.
Part C Leisure Time Humor
Dogs
There was a man who had two dogs, named \“Trouble\He always brought his dogs to the park every evening. One day, he only brought Trouble to the park, and left Commonsense at home.
While the man was so happy playing Frisbee (飞碟) with his friends, Trouble
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College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
disappeared. The man quickly became sad and panicky. He looked for his dog everywhere but could not find it.
A young lady, wishing to help, asked the man: 'What are you looking for?\ The man replied: \\
The man replied in a higher tone, \
The lady was annoyed and asked:”Where’s your COMMONSENSE?” The man, his mind only on his dogs，answered:”At home” Part C Additional Listening Movie Time
Watch an excerpt of a film and choose the right answer to each of the following questions.
Notes
choose v. 决定 Houston 休斯墩 alloy n. 合金
stress n. 应力; 重力 precision n.精确
propulsion 提涯，推动 untried a. 未经尝试的 celestial a. 天体的 hazardous a. 危险的
elllbark (on) v. 登上{船只等} ，开始
For All Mankind
We choose to go to the moon.
We choose to go to the moon…
We choose to go to the moon, in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used … for the progress of all mankind.
We shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses
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College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and therefore, as we set sail, we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked. Question:
1. Where did President John F. Kennedy make this speech? A. At a press conference in Houston.
B. At a welcome meeting to the astronauts. C. At the White House.
D. On the site where the mission (代表团) officially started.
正确答案：D. On the site where the mission (代表团) officially started.
2. What did he mean by \A. Landing on the moon. B. Exploring the Universe.
C. Launching the rocket from the sea. D. Flying into space.
正确答案：A. Landing on the moon.
3. What is one thing that the US wanted to do by going to the moon? A. Win new rights.
B. Discover new places for man to live. C. Find new ways to travel on the sea. D. Create new metals.
正确答案：A. Win new rights.
4. What is known about the rocket to be sent to the moon? A. It weighed over 300 tons. B. It was 3,000 feet tall.
C. It was to be launched from Houston.
D. It was 240,000 miles away from Houston.
正确答案：D. It was 240,000 miles away from Houston.
Part C Additional Listening Time to Talk
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