[00:01.74]Test 2
[00:05.13]Section A
[00:06.44]Directions: In this section,
[00:08.95]you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.
[00:13.99]At the end of each conversation,
[00:15.96]one or more questions will be asked about what was said.
[00:20.00]Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.
[00:25.25]After each question there will be a pause.
[00:28.54]During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D),
[00:35.43]and decide which is the best answer.
[00:38.48]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2
[00:42.43]with a single line through the centre.
[00:44.84]Now let's begin with the 8 short conversations.
[00:49.00]1. M: Have you filled out your application forms yet?
[00:54.25]W: Don't remind me of them!
[00:56.65]They're so confusing that I'm discouraged before I start!
[00:59.93]Q: What does the woman imply?
[01:17.83]2. W: Would you like to climb the mountains with us this weekend?
[01:22.75]It will be very interesting.
[01:24.83]M: Thanks a lot, but that is the last thing I want to do in the world.
[01:29.97]Q: What does the man mean?
[01:46.82]3. W: I don't understand how you got a ticket.
[01:52.28]I always thought you were a careful driver.
[01:55.02]M: I usually am, but I thought I could make it before the light turned.
[01:59.17]Q: Why did the man get a ticket?
[02:18.32]4. M: I thought you'd gone to see your sister last weekend
[02:22.69]before you left for New York.
[02:24.44]W: I intended to, but at the last minute she called and said that
[02:29.26]the weekend was inconvenient so I stayed home altogether.
[02:33.42]Q: What did the woman do last weekend?
[02:52.36]5. W: Could you please tell me what I should do if my car breaks down?
[02:58.70]M: Well, I'm sure you won't have any trouble,
[03:01.21]Mrs. Smith, but if something should happen,
[03:03.62]just call this number. They'll see that you'd get help.
[03:07.45]Q: What does the man really mean?
[03:21.71]6. W: If Professor Thomas is willing to give us a three-day extension to finish the project,
[03:33.14]maybe he'll give us a few more days.
[03:35.77]M: Let's not push our luck, Mary. OK?
[03:39.05]Q: What does the man mean?
[03:56.23]7. M: You can see that it's in very good condition. The previous owner was a builder.
[04:03.94]W: It's quite an old house.
[04:05.58]I'm worried about the electrical wiring.
[04:08.53]Q: What can we learn from the conversation?
[04:27.50]8. M: Suppose the boss offered to increase your pay by 100%
[04:33.18]and to promote you as the sales manager,
[04:36.25]would you still quit and look for another job?
[04:39.20]W: Yes. I am determined. I would like to find a job to which my knowledge can be fully applied.
[04:45.65]Q: Why was the woman determined to quit the current job?
[05:05.35]Now you'll hear two long conversations.
[05:08.93]Conversation One
[05:10.46]M: Hello and welcome to today's show, Shirley's Garden.
[05:14.83]Today, we'll be interviewing Shirley on her amazing techniques at growing a garden.
[05:20.52]Thank you for being here, Shirley.
[05:22.60]W: You're welcome.
[05:23.81]M: Shirley, you truly have an amazing garden.
[05:27.31]Can you tell us how you learned about gardening?
[05:30.15]W: Well, this spring I took a gardening class.
[05:32.88]Then I decided to try some of the things I had learned.
[05:36.49]So I have tried various attempts at gardening and with different degrees of success.
[05:42.51]M: From the pictures of your garden,
[05:44.92]I've seen all kinds of different vegetables, including cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries,
[05:51.48]carrots and so on. Could you let us know how you put these plants together in your garden?
[05:57.60]W: Well, one of the most important things in gardening is that you choose a good location.
[06:02.96]You need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunshine.
[06:07.34]Um, you also need to choose a location that has good drainage,
[06:12.37]and it should be a convenient location.
[06:14.99]After choosing a good location,
[06:17.51]I just decided what I wanted to plant,
[06:20.24]and based on what the final plant would look like,
[06:23.74]I divided the whole garden into different parts.
[06:26.92]M: Shirley, I've noticed some vertical beams in your garden.
[06:32.06]I'm truly amazed by them. Could you explain that to us a little bit?
[06:37.19]W: Well, take cucumbers for instance.
[06:39.71]Cucumbers take a lot of space when you grow them out on the ground,
[06:44.08]but I don't have that much space. So I just grow them up.
[06:48.57]Just grow them vertically.
[06:50.32]I just used a metal frame and some strings to allow them to grow up,
[06:55.57]and they will support themselves.
[06:57.75]M: Well, Shirley, this is truly amazing.
[07:01.25]Thank you very much for being with us today.
[07:04.10]W: My pleasure.
[07:05.63]Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
[07:11.54]9. What are the two speakers mainly talking about?
[07:31.42]10. How did Shirley learn about gardening?
[07:46.20]11. Which of the following is important to grow a nice garden?
[08:12.10]12. What is the main purpose of using vertical beams according to Shirley?
[08:33.75]Conversation Two
[08:35.29]W: Excuse me. Is this the School of Economics?
[08:38.89]M: Yes, it is. May I help you?
[08:40.97]W: Oh good. Um, I'm a new student and I was wondering if someone could give me some information?
[08:47.31]M: Well, I might be able to help. I lecture on that program.
[08:51.00]What do you need to know?
[08:52.53]W: Quite a few things, actually. Firstly, how many lectures a week do I have to attend?
[08:58.44]M: Ah, well, the economics course is a double unit
[09:02.05]so there are two lectures a week and one tutorial.
[09:05.11]The lectures are scheduled at four for Tuesday and Thursday.
[09:09.16]W: I've got a part-time job that starts at four thirty.
[09:12.76]M: Well, you can't be in two places at once, can you?
[09:16.05]And attendance at lectures is necessary.
[09:18.67]We expect at least 90% attendance at this university.
[09:23.05]W: 90%! That's high! Do they enforce that rule?
[09:27.75]M: Yes, we do. We're pretty strict about it actually.
[09:31.80]Anything else I can help you with while you're here?
[09:34.42]W: Well, yes, actually. Do you know what the course requirements are?
[09:39.34]M: Well, you have to complete a paper.
[09:41.75]W: What does it involve?
[09:43.72]M: Well, it's a 3 000-word essay on a given topic based on some set reading texts.
[09:49.18]And in addition to that there is an exam.
[09:52.03]W: An exam! I have to work on it very hard. What's the focus of the course?
[09:58.16]M: Well, the course at this university has a vocational focus
[10:01.98]that is a focus on preparing its graduates for work,
[10:06.03]so we're orientated very much towards employment.
[10:09.31]W: So my chances of getting a job are good?
[10:12.26]M: Well, provided you get good results.
[10:14.67]W: I'll work hard. Thanks for your time. You've been really helpful.
[10:19.05]M: That's fine. See you soon.
[10:21.01]Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
[10:26.37]13. Which of the following description about attendance is proper according to the conversation?
[10:49.99]14. What does the paper involve?
[11:07.90]15. What's the focus of the course?

[11:27.31]Section B
[11:29.15]Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages.
[11:34.17]At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions.
[11:37.89]Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.
[11:41.93]After you hear a question,
[11:43.79]you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
[11:51.02]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
[11:57.14]Passage One
[11:59.21]With the development of science, scientists have discovered more about the world.
[12:05.01]Scientists say world coastal areas must prepare now for a rise in sea levels.
[12:12.13]No matter what action is taken, scientists say there are already enough greenhouse gases
[12:18.90]in the atmosphere to cause a major warning.
[12:22.08]As a result, scientists and government officials are focusing
[12:27.00]on how society might adapt to rising sea levels,
[12:31.37]changing agricultural zones, changing climates and other problems.
[12:36.87]Already, state and local governments along the coast of the United States
[12:42.89]are starting to plan for a possible long-term rise in the sea level,
[12:47.92]and a few have taken action to cope with it.
[12:51.31]Agricultural researchers are developing heat-resistant and draught-resistant crops
[12:57.76]that might replace traditional crops if the climate changes.
[13:02.36]How long it will take for maximum warming to be reached
[13:06.52]is uncertain because the oceans slow such warming.
[13:10.45]Most scientists expect the maximum warming to take place by the second half of this century.
[13:17.12]If levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere double, sea levels will rise;
[13:23.47]estimates of the average rise are from 1.5 feet to 6.5 feet.
[13:29.49]Some leading experts expect a rise of 1 meter, a little more than three feet.
[13:35.56]Questions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.
[13:41.03]16. What must world coastal areas prepare for according to scientists' opinion?
[14:03.79]17. According to the passage, what has caused the rise in sea levels?
[14:25.79]18. What are the agricultural researchers developing?
[14:47.88]19. When will the maximum warming take place?
[15:08.05]Passage Two
[15:10.12]As more women in the United States move up the professional ladder,
[15:15.15]more are finding it necessary to make business trips alone.
[15:19.31]Since this is new for many, some pieces of advice will certainly be helpful.
[15:24.77]If you are married, it is a good idea to encourage your husband and children
[15:30.14]to learn to cook a few simple meals while you are away.
[15:34.07]They will be much happier and probably they will enjoy the experience.
[15:39.10]If you will be eating alone a good deal, choose good restaurants.
[15:43.47]This will be good for your digestion.
[15:45.66]You may also find it useful to call the restaurant in advance and state
[15:50.81]that you will be eating alone.
[15:52.22]You will probably get better service and almost certainly a better table.
[15:57.37]Finally, and most importantly, anticipate your travel needs as a business woman;
[16:03.27]this start with lightweight luggage which you can easily carry.
[16:07.10]Take a folding case inside your suitcase; it will come in handy for dirty clothes,
[16:13.12]as well as for business documents and papers you no longer need on the trip.
[16:18.37]And make sure you have a briefcase so that you can keep currently required papers separate.
[16:24.82]Obviously, experience helps,
[16:27.11]but you can make things easier on yourself from the first by careful planning,
[16:32.04]so that right from the start you really can have a good trip!
[16:36.20]Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.
[16:41.78]20. Who does the passage intend to address?
[17:00.42]21. What advice is given for married business women?
[17:22.95]22. Why is a briefcase necessary for people who are on business trips?
[17:43.57]Passage Three
[17:44.77]After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994,
[17:49.58]earthquake scientists had good news to report:
[17:53.41]the damage and death toll could have been much worse.
[17:57.40]More than 60 people died in this earthquake.
[18:00.69]By comparison, an earthquake of similar intensity
[18:04.29]that shook America in 1988 claimed 25 000 victims.
[18:09.98]Injuries and deaths were relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m.
[18:17.64]on a holiday, when traffic was light on the city's highway.
[18:21.57]In addition, changes made to the construction methods in Los Angeles during the last 20 years
[18:28.14]have strengthened the city's buildings and highways, making them more resistant to quakes.
[18:34.37]Despite the good news, engineers today are determined to come up with a new design
[18:39.40]that would offer even greater security to buildings during earthquakes.
[18:43.78]In the past, people used steel and rubber,
[18:47.28]materials that bend without breaking to make buildings resistant to earthquakes.
[18:52.31]The new design would install computers in the building
[18:55.59]and the computers would help the buildings adjust itself during the earthquake.
[18:59.75]Such buildings would be called smart buildings and could be very expensive to build.
[19:05.54]However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.
[19:11.66]Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
[19:17.03]23. How many people were killed in the earthquake in Los Angeles in 1994?
[19:38.92]24. What did people use in the past to make buildings resistant to earthquakes?
[19:57.56]25. What is the passage mainly about?

[20:22.33]Section C
[20:23.64]Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times.
[20:29.33]When the passage is read for the first time,
[20:32.17]you should listen carefully for its general idea.
[20:35.67]When the passage is read for the second time,
[20:38.41]you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 26 to 33
[20:43.85]with the exact words you have just heard.
[20:46.58]For blanks numbered from 34 to 36 you are required to fill in the missing information.
[20:53.58]For these blanks, You can either use the exact words you have just heard
[20:58.50]or write down the main points in your own words.
[21:02.00]Finally, when the passage is read for the third time,
[21:05.83]you should check what you have written.
[21:08.01]Now listen to the passage.
[21:10.10]Nearly half of new American teachers quit the job within five years.
[21:16.00]Some get weary of large class sizes, limited free time and little financial support,
[21:22.01]and wish to feel more valued by society.
[21:25.41]At the same time, experts criticize too many teachers
[21:29.35]lack the required knowledge of what they teach.
[21:32.41]Complaints of teaching are usually less about the working conditions than about the pay.
[21:37.55]A recent report proclaims that an immediate pay increase of fifteen to twenty percent is a must.
[21:44.11]It says this would elevate teachers from the bottom in starting pay among professions.
[21:49.58]The report advocates new plans to settle a crisis
[21:53.51]in the number of qualified math and science teachers.
[21:56.47]It says less than half of students who graduate
[21:59.75]from high school are ready for college-level math or science.
[22:03.47]It says another problem is a shortage of minority teachers
[22:07.51]who can actually better represent society.
[22:10.03]It says two times as many black
[22:12.98]and three times as many Asian and native American teachers are required.
[22:17.79]The report says excellent teachers and those
[22:20.42]who agree to teach in troubled schools and subjects with shortages could get extra pay.
[22:26.11]The plan also calls for better working conditions,
[22:29.71]and more pathways into teaching for those without traditional training.
[22:34.19]The report says schools will not improve until teachers have the necessary support,
[22:39.66]skills and training so as to be qualified for their jobs.
[22:43.70]It suggests the surest way to end the teacher shortage is for all teachers
[22:49.06]to receive pay that recognizes the job they have to do,
[22:52.78]because only if the teachers have no trouble with finance
[22:56.07]they can have a strong sense of security when devoted to teaching.
[23:00.77]Now the passage will be read again.
[23:04.14]Nearly half of new American teachers quit the job within five years.
[23:10.16]Some get weary of large class sizes, limited free time and little financial support,
[23:16.28]and wish to feel more valued by society.
[23:20.26]At the same time, experts criticize too many teachers
[23:24.19]lack the required knowledge of what they teach.
[23:27.26]Complaints of teaching are usually less about
[23:30.86]the working conditions than about the pay.
[23:33.38]A recent report proclaims
[23:35.68]that an immediate pay increase of fifteen to twenty percent is a must.
[23:39.51]It says this would elevate teachers
[23:42.57]from the bottom in starting pay among professions.
[23:45.74]The report advocates new plans to settle a crisis
[23:49.89]in the number of qualified math and science teachers.
[23:52.96]It says less than half of students who graduate
[23:56.46]from high school are ready for college-level math or science.
[24:00.18]It says another problem is a shortage of minority teachers
[24:04.33]who can actually better represent society.
[24:07.28]It says two times as many black and
[24:11.33]three times as many Asian and native American teachers are required.
[24:15.48]The report says excellent teachers and those
[24:18.33]who agree to teach in troubled schools and subjects with shortages could get extra pay.
[25:09.27]The plan also calls for better working conditions,
[25:17.47]and more pathways into teaching for those without traditional training.
[25:17.51]The report says schools will not improve until teachers have the necessary support,
[25:22.86]skills and training so as to be qualified for their jobs.
[26:11.99]It suggests the surest way to end the teacher shortage is for all teachers
[26:17.58]to receive pay that recognizes the job they have to do,
[26:21.29]because only if the teachers have no trouble with finance
[26:24.57]they can have a strong sense of security when devoted to teaching.
[27:14.36]Now the passage will be read for the third time.
[27:18.20]Nearly half of new American teachers quit the job within five years.
[27:23.33]Some get weary of large class sizes, limited free time and little financial support,
[27:29.62]and wish to feel more valued by society.
[27:32.91]At the same time, experts criticize too many teachers
[27:36.73]lack the required knowledge of what they teach.
[27:39.79]Complaints of teaching are usually less about the working conditions than about the pay.
[27:44.94]A recent report proclaims that an immediate pay increase of fifteen to twenty percent is a must.
[27:51.50]It says this would elevate teachers from the bottom in starting pay among professions.
[27:56.97]The report advocates new plans to settle a crisis
[28:00.68]in the number of qualified math and science teachers.
[28:03.75]It says less than half of students who graduate
[28:07.25]from high school are ready for college-level math or science.
[28:10.97]It says another problem is a shortage of minority teachers
[28:14.68]who can actually better represent society.
[28:17.42]It says two times as many black
[28:19.94]and three times as many Asian and native American teachers are required.
[28:24.96]The report says excellent teachers and those
[28:27.92]who agree to teach in troubled schools and subjects with shortages could get extra pay.
[28:33.50]The plan also calls for better working conditions,
[28:37.00]and more pathways into teaching for those without traditional training.
[28:41.60]The report says schools will not improve until teachers have the necessary support,
[28:46.95]skills and training so as to be qualified for their jobs.
[28:50.99]It suggests the surest way to end the teacher shortage is for all teachers
[28:56.47]to receive pay that recognizes the job they have to do,
[29:00.08]because only if the teachers have no trouble with finance
[29:03.47]they can have a strong sense of security when devoted to teaching.
[29:08.06]This is the end of listening comprehension.