外研社必修四M16听力材料.doc

必修4
Module 1
Interviewer is a woman, with a British accent. G is an American architect.
Interviewer:
Good afternoon everybody and on the programme this afternoon is an expert of American domestic architecture, Mr Simon Oppenheim who's going to talk to us about the house of the future. So where shall we be living in twenty years' time?
G:
Twenty years isn't a long time. We won't be living underground or in space. We'll be living in houses and flats just as we do today.
Interviewer:
What will the houses look like?
G:
I think they'll look much the same as they do today, at least from the outside. But they will be different inside.
Interviewer:
In what way?
G:
For a start, they'll be more flexible. That means we'll be able to move the walls to create bigger or smaller rooms when we want to. So the dining room and living room as we know them would disappear.
Interviewer:
And the kitchen?
G:
The kitchen will become the most important room in the house! We'll still be cooking, and we'll probably be using the kitchen more as a family room. And bathrooms will be bigger.
Interviewer:
So we'll be spending more time in the bath.
G:
Just as other people have done in the past, like in the days of the ancient Romans, when the bath had an important social function ...
Interviewer:
What about furniture?
G:
Well, a lot of furniture will be the same—we'll still be sitting in chairs and using cupboards to keep things in, but the technology will be different. I think a single computer will control most of the functions in the house, and it will have a voice recognition system.
Interviewer:
So we'll just have to say "Switch on the light!" and the light comes on?
G:
Yes, that's right. And the technology will be smarter.
Interviewer:
Smarter?
G:
Yes. For example, if we run out of something, like there's no more milk left in the fridge, the computer will tell us. Maybe a shopping list would appear on a screen on the fridge. And the toilet will move higher or lower, depending on who uses it—a child or an adult.
Interviewer:
Will the houses of the future be environment friendly?
G:
Yes, definitely. We'll be using machines which use less energy. An example could be a dishwasher which doesn't need water. I think everyone will be trying hard to take care of the environment.
G:
Does that mean you're optimistic about the future?
Interviewer:
Oh yes, very definitely.
Module 2
Speaker 1
On my way home a few days ago, I got stuck again in the traffic. While I was waiting, I saw a group of taxi drivers in front of me getting out of their cars. They seemed to know each other. They had coffee cups and one of them carried a thermos flask and poured out some hot water to make tea. It was quite funny! But even after the tea party was over, the traffic was still jammed and we still couldn't move.
Speaker 2
A few weeks ago I had to catch a plane to Sichuan Province. The plane took off at 5:30 p.m. so I set off at 2:30 p.m. to allow plenty of time to get to the airport. But it wasn't enough time. At 5 p.m. I was still only at the third ring road. It was just ridiculous! There was no way I was going to catch the plane, so I told the taxi driver to turn back and go home.
Speaker 3
It's only 7 kilometres from my home to my place of work. But every day, it is almost certain there will be a traffic jam as I get near the west fourth ring road. It's so annoying! It takes at least 15 to 20 minutes to get through it. I think the traffic jams are usually caused by people disobeying traffic rules. To get to the front of the line, they often take the bicycle lane. It's the same with pedestrians and cyclists. They don't wait for the green light to pass.
Speaker 4
Beijing traffic seems to have got noticeably worse recently. The causes seem to be roadworks as the city prepares for the Olympics, and a huge increase in new car owners and new drivers. Whatever the cause, it's enough to drive you mad! Why not limit the number of cars, build more underground lines or follow Shanghai and build roads in the sky? These days I only go out in my car at night after 9 p.m. That way I avoid the worst of the traffic.
Speaker 5
Going to the Summer Palace the other evening there was a big traffic jam at a narrow bridge. One lane in either direction. So obviously there were lots of cars overtaking on the wrong side of the road which then came to a complete stop when a car came in the other direction. Result: no-one was able to move for 10 minutes! As soon as it cleared the same thing happened again. It's unbelievable !

Module3

Bill:
Hi, Li Hong. How are you doing? I hear you're off to the States.
Li Hong:
That's right, Bill. I'm going to stay in America for three months.
Bill:
That's great. But you look a bit fed up. What's the problem?
Li Hong:
Look, Bill, can I ask you a favour? I need some advice about what to do ... or better still, what not to do there.
Bill:
Oh you mean customs? Of course.
Li Hong:
For example, what should I do when I meet new people?
Bill:
Shake hands at the first meeting. Whoever they are, Americans don't usually like to call each other by their family name: it sounds too formal.
Li Hong:
What shall I do if I'm invited to dinner?
Bill:
When you're invited to someone's home, it's a good idea to bring a gift for your host. It doesn't have to be something expensive, perhaps some flowers or a bottle of wine. And it's usual for people to open gifts when they receive them, so don't be surprised. That's the way we do things in the States.
Li Hong:
OK.
Bill:
Be more or less on time, not very early and not very late.
Li Hong:
What on earth can I talk about?
Bill:
It's best to avoid any heavy-going conversation topics. So avoid politics or religion completely. If your mind goes blank, try not to panic. Remember to smile and stay relaxed and unless you're very unlucky you'll soon think of something. In difficult situations I always talk about the weather.
Li Hong:
Oh, good idea.
Bill:
If you have a meal don't start eating before everyone is served. And whatever you do, don't leave immediately after the meal is finished. That could seem rude.
Li Hong:
Right.
Bill:
But when you do leave, be sure to thank your host for "a wonderful evening". Oh, and one last thing to remember ...
Li Hong:
Yes?
Bill:
I know you'll really enjoy yourself so be sure to... have a great time!
Module4
Quiz Master:
Boys and girls, we're into the second round of "Superquiz", and the subject of this round is "Great Scientists". In this round, the first person to answer the question gets a point. If he's wrong, he loses a point, and the question goes to the second contestant. At the moment, Matthew and Rachel are equal, with 36 points each. First question: What is Einstein known for?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
The theory of relativity.
Quiz Master:
Correct. When was Einstein born?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
1880.
Quiz Master:
Wrong. Rachel?
Rachel:
1879?
Quiz Master:
Correct. The special theory of relativity was published in 1905. Who was it written by?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
Einstein.
Quiz Master:
Correct. Einstein was given an important award in 1921. What award was he given?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
Was he given the Nobel Physics Prize?
Quiz Master:
Yes, he was. Well done. Next question: What book is Stephen Hawking famous for?

(buzzer)
Rachel:
"A Brief History of Time".
Quiz Master:
Correct. When was it published?

(buzzer)
Rachel:
1988.
Quiz Master:
Correct. What is a "black hole"?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
It's a star that has collapsed in on itself.
Quiz Master:
Correct. Who discovered black holes?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
They were discovered by Einstein.
Quiz Master:
No, they were not discovered by Einstein, they were discovered by Fred Hoyle. How are black holes measured? (Silence) Rachel?
Rachel:
Pass.
Quiz Master:
Matthew?
Matthew:
They're measured by the light waves that come from them.
Quiz Master:
Wrong, they aren't measured by light waves, they're measured by the radiation that comes from them. Who was this radiation discovered by?

(buzzer)
Rachel:
Stephen Hawking?
Quiz Master:
Well done! It was discovered by Stephen Hawking. It's called the Hawking radiation. Now, Stephen Hawking is famous for another reason. Does anyone know?

(buzzer)
Matthew:
He can't walk and he can't talk except with a machine.
Quiz Master:
That's correct. Do you know the name of his disease?

(buzzer)
Rachel:
Motor neurone disease. He sits in a special wheelchair and he speaks through a voice machine.
Quiz Master:
Correct. And at the end of this round Matthew has thirty-nine points and Rachel has forty-one points!

Module5
Tourist:
I'm interested in booking a classic Three Gorges cruise. Can you tell me something about the boats?
Travel agent:
Yes, certainly. They're big modern boats, and they all have professional English-speaking directors. You can choose between western and Chinese cuisine.
Tourist:
Right. What about on-board activities?
Travel agent:
Well, first of all there's the welcome party. The captain lets passengers use his cabin for that.
Tourist:
That sounds fun ...
Travel agent:
Then there are lectures every evening on history and culture—but you don't have to go to them, of course.
Tourist:
Good, I'm glad they're not compulsory. What about other entertainment?
Travel agent:
Well, there's an on-board disco every night.
Tourist:
Great. And are there any traditional Chinese activities?
Travel agent:
Yes, there are. You can do Tai Chi and kite flying, and you can even learn some Chinese.
Tourist:
What about swimming in the Yangtze?
Travel agent:
No, swimming from the boat is forbidden. It's too dangerous.
Tourist:
Oh, I see. Are there any other rules I should know?
Travel agent:
There aren't a lot of rules. But the boats are non-smoking—so you're not allowed to smoke anywhere except in your cabin and in the smoking lounge.
Tourist:
I see.
Travel agent:
And passengers are required to take their passports with them every time they go on shore.
Tourist:
Yes, of course. And we're allowed to take photos of the dam?
Travel agent:
Oh yes, there's no problem about that.

Module6
Listening1
Good afternoon, and welcome to this week's edition of Mysteries of Nature. Today's topic is a big one—it's dinosaurs, those strange creatures which ruled the earth for no less than two hundred million years, some of them were plant eaters, others were like the infamous Tyrannosauraus Rex, carnivores who lived off meat and who attacked the more peaceful plant eating dinosaurs. Not all dinosaurs were big—some were the size of chickens, and in fact the closest things to dinosaurs living today are actually birds. But the mystery we are going to talk about today is why the dinosaurs suddenly disappeared exactly 66 million years ago, and to throw light on the subject we've invited one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, from the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, Dr Roger Binfield.
Listening2
Presenter:
Good afternoon Dr Binfield, and welcome to the programme.
Dr Binfield:
Thank you.
Presenter:
I'm going to come straight to the point, even if I think there's not going to be an easy answer: why did the dinosaurs suddenly disappear, almost overnight, 66 million years ago?
Dr Binfield:
You're right. There's no easy answer to that question, but there are lots of theories.
Presenter:
Such as?
Dr Binfield:
Well, probably the most widely accepted theory is the meteorite one...
Presenter:
You mean the earth was hit by a meteorite from space?
Dr Binfield:
Yes, that's right.
Presenter:
And the dinosaurs died immediately?
Dr Binfield:
Not exactly, not all of them. The meteorite may have hit the earth with such force that it created a huge dust cloud, which stopped the sunlight from getting through... so there was no light, no heat, and no food.
Presenter:
But other animals survived?
Dr Binfield:
Yes, smaller creatures like mammals, which may have survived because they ate nuts and seeds.
Presenter:
What other theories are there?
Dr Binfield:
Lots. The dinosaurs may have stopped evolving, and been unable to adapt to changes in the climate. Or they might all have killed each other.
Presenter:
Is that possible?
Dr Binfield:
Oh yes. They spent a lot of time fighting. There again, it might have been volcanic eruptions, not a meteorite, which sent up clouds of dust and cut off the light. One very recent theory says they died of cancer.
Presenter:
Cancer? You mean the dinosaurs died out because they fell ill?
Dr Binfield:
Yes. As a result of radiation coming from a dying star somewhere in our galaxy...
Presenter:
That sounds fantastic.
Dr Binfield:
Well, I think it's unlikely, but it's not impossible.
Presenter:
Which theory do you believe?
Dr Binfield:
I'd go for the meteorite. I think it's the most likely one. And in fact there is a huge crater in the Caribbean sea, off the coast of Mexico, where the meteorite may have landed...