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中级英语听力lesson 4

时间:2005-06-14 16:00:00

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Announcer: And now over to Marsha Davenport for today's weather forecast. Marsha?
Weather reporter: Thanks, Peter. Well, as you can see from the weather map, there's varied1 weather activity across the United States and Canada today. Let's start with the west coast, where it's raining from British Columbia down to northern California. The high in Seattle will be 50 degrees. Southern California will be in better shape today—they'll have sunny skies and warmer temperatures. We're looking for a high of 78 degrees in San Diego. The mid-west will be having clear but windy weather. Oklahoma City will see a high of 65 and sunny skies, with very strong winds. Down in Houston we're looking for cloudy skies and a high of 69. Over to the east in Miami we expect the thermometer to reach 64 degrees, but it'll be cloudy and quite windy. Up in the northeast, it looks like winter just won't let go! New York City will be having another day of heavy rains, high winds, and cold temperatures, with a high of only 35 degrees expected. Further north in Montreal it's even colder—28 degrees, with snow flurries expected today. Over in Toronto it's sunny but a cold 30 degrees.
    And that's this morning's weather forecast. We'll have a complete weather update today at noon.

News anchor: Good evening. I'm Charles McKay, and this is the 5 o'clock evening news. The top story this hour: The town of Delta2 has been declared a health hazard. The entire town of Delta was closed down by government authorities yesterday, after testing confirmed that the town had been poisoned by the dumping of toxic3 chemicals in town dumps. Suspicions were first aroused three weeks ago, when 200 people telephoned the hospital complaining of headaches, stomachaches, faintness, and dizziness. An investigation4 revealed that toxic wastes had leaked into the ground and contaminated the water supply. People were being poisoned by their drinking water and by the fruits and vegetables they were eating from their gardens. In fact, any contact they had with soil or water was dangerous. Government authorities have ordered all residents to leave the area until the chemical company responsible for the toxic waste can determine whether the town can be cleaned up and made safe again.
    And now here's Sarah Cooper with tonight's Consumer Report. Sarah?
Consumer reporter: Thank you Charles, and good evening. There was some good news for beer drinkers today: A recent study of 17,000 Canadians shows that people who drink beer moderately are healthier than people who drink other alcoholic5 beverages6, such as wine or liquor. Researchers say they don't yet know exactly why this is so. They found, however, that moderate beer drinkers reported less illness and appeared to have a lower risk of death from heart disease. Good health seemed to be connected to the amount of beer consumed and the regularity7 of drinking. People who drank beer one or more times a day reported the least amount of illness. Heavy drinkers, however—people who drank 35 or more pints8 of beer a week—reported more illness.
    The war against cigarette smoking is heating up again. Legislation was introduced today that would make it illegal to advertise cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco product in any form of media. That means ads would be banned from newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and billboards9. The legislation would also prevent tobacco manufacturers from sponsoring sporting events and from giving away free samples. This is the strongest anti-smoking legislation that has been introduced to date. Cigarette manufacturers insist that the legislation would be useless. In fact, they claim that in parts of the country where advertising10 has already been prohibited, cigarette smoking has actually increased.
    That concludes the Consumer Report for tonight. Let's go over now to Jerry Ryan and find out what's happening in the world of sports. Jerry?
Sports announcer: Thanks, Sarah, and good evening sports fans. It was an exciting day in world soccer. Mexico defeated France 7 to 6, in a close game that offered spectators plenty of excitement. The game between Canada and Argentina ended in a tie, 3 to 3. And in a game that's still in progress, Italy is leading Haiti 2 to 1, with 30 minutes left to go.
    Tune11 in tonight at 11 for a complete sports update.

Reporter: Well here I am at the Brooklyn Academy of Dramatic Arts. I'm asking different students here about their favourite forms of artistic12 entertainment. Pop or classical concerts? Art galleries or the theatre? The ballet or the opera? The first person I'm going to talk to is Benny Gross. Benny comes from New York and he's 20 years old and he's studying the piano. Benny, hello and welcome to our programme.
Benny: Hi, thanks.
Reporter: So, first question Benny—have you ever been to an art gallery?
Benny: Yes, lots of times.
Reporter: And the ballet, have you ever been to the ballet?
Benny: Yes, a few times. It's all right, I quite like it.
Reporter: And what about classical concerts?
Benny: Yes, of course, many many times.
Reporter: Erm—next—have you ever been to an exhibition, Benny?
Benny: Oh, yes—I love going to photographic exhibitions.
Reporter: Do you? Now, next question—what about a ... folk concert?
Benny: No, never. I think folk music is awful.
Reporter: Ok. And the opera? Have you ever been to the opera?
Benny: Yes. Two or three times. It's a little difficult but I quite like it.
Reporter: And a pop concert?
Benny: No, never.
Reporter: And finally—have you ever been to the theatre?
Benny: Yes, once or twice, but I didn't like it much.
Reporter: Ok Benny. Now the next thing is—which do you like best from this list of eight forms of artistic entertainment?
Benny: Well I like going to classical concerts best because I'm a musician, and I love classical music.
Reporter: Ok and what next?
Benny: Erm let's see—next, art galleries I think. And then, exhibitions.
Reporter: OK—art galleries, then exhibitions. Then? The theatre?
Benny: No, I don't think so, I don't really like the theatre.
Reporter: The ballet? The opera? Which do you prefer of those two?
Benny: The opera.
Reporter: So of the theatre and the ballet, which do you prefer?
Benny: Erm, the ballet I think because there's the music. I can always enjoy the music if I don't always like the dancing.
Reporter: Right, well, thanks very much, Benny.
Benny: You're welcome.
Reporter: My next guest is Kimberley Martins. What are you studying here, Kimberley?
Kimberley: Modern dance. I want to be a professional dancer when I leave.
Reporter: OK, so here we go. First question—have you ever been to an art gallery?
Kimberley: Yes, lots of times.
Reporter: And have you ever been to the ballet? Stupid question I think.
Kimberley: Yes, a bit. Of course I have. I go almost every night if I can.
Reporter: And what about classical concerts?
Kimberley: Yes—there are classical concerts here a lot—the other students perform here and I go to those when I can.
Reporter: What about exhibitions—have you ever—?
Kimberley: Oh yes, lots of times—I like exhibitions—exhibitions about famous people—dancers, actors, you know—
Reporter: Mmm. And what about a folk concert? Have you ever been to one of them?
Kimberley: No, I don't like folk music very much.
Reporter: What about the opera?
Kimberley: No, never. I don't really like opera. It's a bit too heavy for me.
Reporter: A pop concert?
Kimberley: Yes. I saw Madonna once. She was fantastic—she's a really great dancer.
Reporter: And have you ever been to the theatre?
Kimberley: Yes, I have.
Reporter: Right. Thank you Kimberley. My next question is—which do you like best of all? And I think I know the answer.
Kimberley: Yes—ballet, of course. After that, exhibitions. And after that, art galleries.
Reporter: OK.
Kimberley: Erm, what's left. Can I see the list?
Reporter: Yes, of course.
Kimberley: Erm, let me see—oh, it's difficult—I suppose—what next?—er—classical concerts, pop concerts, the theatre. Well, I think pop concerts next, I like going to those. Then I don't know. Classical concerts or the theatre? Classical concerts I think. So that leaves the theatre after them. OK?
Reporter: Great. And many thanks for talking to us, Kimberley.
Kimberley: You're welcome.

Salesgirl: Yes?
Mrs. Bradley: Six packets of Rothmans and three of Silk Cut please.
Salesgirl: Six Rothmans ... and three Silk Cut. That's ... six fifty fives—three pound thirty ... three Silk Cut—one forty-four ... That's four pound seventy-four altogether. Thank you. 26p. change ... and your stamps.
Interviewer: Excuse me madam.
Mrs. Bradley: Yes?
Interviewer: I wonder whether you'd help us. We're doing a survey on smokers14' habits. Would you mind ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Well ... I'm in a bit of a hurry actually
Interviewer: It'll only take a few minutes. We'd very much appreciate your help.
Mrs. Bradley: Well all right. I can spare that I suppose.
Interviewer: Thank you. You are a smoker13 ... of course?
Mrs. Bradley: Yes I'm afraid I am. My husband is too. As you can see ... I've just bought the week's ration15.
Interviewer: Would you describe yourself as being a heavy smoker?
Mrs. Bradley: Heavy ... no. I wouldn't call three packets of twenty a week heavy smoking. That's not even ten a day. No ... a light smoker. My husband ... he's different ...
Interviewer: Yes?
Mrs. Bradley: I get in twice as many a week for him. He smokes twenty or more a day.
Interviewer: You wouldn't describe him as a chain-smoker ...?
Mrs. Bradley: No ... he's not as bad as that.
Interviewer: Right ... Thank you Mrs. ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Bradley. Doris Bradley.
Interviewer: ... Mrs. Bradley. You and your husband smoke cigarettes I see. What about cigars ... a pipe ... Does your husband ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Oh he's never smoked a pipe. He's the restless, nervy type. I always associate pipe-smoking with people of another kind ... the calm contented16 type ... As for cigars I suppose he never smokes more than one a year—after his Christmas dinner. Of course I only smoke cigarettes.
Interviewer: Right. Now let's keep to you Mrs. Bradley. When and why—if that's not asking too much—did you begin to smoke? Can you remember?
Mrs. Bradley: Yes ... I remember very well. I'm thirty-two now ... so I must have been ... er ... yes ... seventeen ... when I had my first cigarette. It was at a party and—you know—at that age you want to do everything your friends do. So when my boyfriend—not my husband—when he offered me a cigarette I accepted it. I remember feeling awfully17 grown-up about it. Then I started smoking ... let's see now ... just two or three a day ... and I gradually increased.
Interviewer: I see. That's very clear. Now ... Might I ask if you have ever tried to give up smoking?
Mrs. Bradley: Yes—twice. The first time about six months before getting married. Oh that was because I was saving up and ... yes ... I used to smoke more in those days. Sometimes thirty a day. So I decided18 to give it up—but only succeeded I'm afraid in cutting it down. I still smoked a little ...
Interviewer: And the second time?
Mrs. Bradley: Oh the second time I did manage to give up completely for a while. I was expecting ... and the doctor advised me not to smoke at all. I went for about ... seven or eight months ... without a single cigarette.
Interviewer: Then you took it up again.
Mrs. Bradley: Yes ... a couple of weeks after the baby was born. It was all right then because the baby was being bottle fed anyway.
Interviewer: Good. That's interesting. So if you'd been breast-feeding you would have gone for longer without smoking?
Mrs. Bradley: Definitely. It's what the doctors advise. Though not all mothers do as their doctors say ...
Interviewer: Now Mrs. Bradley. When do you smoke most?
Mrs. Bradley: Erm ... When I'm sitting watching TV or ... or ... reading a book ... but especially I'm with ... when I'm in company. Yes ... that's it ... when I'm with friends. I never smoke when I'm doing the housework ... never ... There's always too much to do.
Interviewer: Do you ever smoke at meal times?
Mrs. Bradley: I always have ... one cigarette after a meal. Never on an empty stomach. Which reminds me—I must be going. My husband will be waiting for his lunch. And Keith ... he's my son.
Interviewer: Just one more question and that'll be all.
Mrs. Bradley: Well if you insist.
Interviewer: How would you describe the effect that smoking has on you?
Mrs. Bradley: What do you mean?
Interviewer: Well ... Does smoking—for example—make you excitable ... keep you awake ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Oh no—quite the contrary. As I told you before I smoke most at times when I'm most relaxed. Though quite honestly I ... don't really know whether I smoke because I'm relaxed or ... er ... you know ... in order to relax. Now I really must be ... Please excuse me. I see you're ... you're carrying a tape-recorder. This won't be on the radio, will it?
Interviewer: No Mrs. Bradley ... I'm afraid not. But we do thank you all the same.
Mrs. Bradley: Right. Goodbye.
Interviewer: Goodbye Mrs. Bradley.
(Pause.)
Salesgirl: How's it going then?
Interviewer: Fine. Give us a packet of Seniors, will you. I'm dying for a smoke.
Salesgirl: That's 60p.
Interviewer: What about you. Don't you smoke ...?

(1) Interviewer: Why do the actors wear roller-skates?
    Designer: Well, they're all playing trains, you see.
    Interviewer: Trains?
    Designer: Yes, singing trains and they have to skate all round the audience at very high speeds. We've designed special lightweight costumes for them out of foam19 rubber, otherwise (pause) they'd be exhausted20 at the end of each performance.
(2) I found it took me rather a long time to get into the book. I mean, I kept wondering when we were going to begin with the plot, when we were going to get the actual story. Apart from that I must say that (pause) I enjoyed it very much.
(3) I found it very exciting and moving. I couldn't put it down and (pause) I stayed up very late to finish it.
(4) Well, I do agree with Jane that the book took a long time to start. In fact, for me, it's only honest to say that (pause) the book never really got started at all.
(5) I'm one of those impatient readers who want to get straight into a book from the beginning. Otherwise (pause) I tend to skip parts that don't really hold my interest.
(6) A: I'm afraid I did quite a lot of skipping with Alan Bailey's novel. And with over five hundred pages it was a bit of a disappointment really.
    B: Yes, I must admit that (pause) it was rather long.

Books Belong to the Past
Sir,
    I visited my old school yesterday. It hasn't changed in thirty years. The pupils were sitting in the same desks and reading the same books. When are schools going to move into the modern world? Books belong to the past. In our homes radio and television bring us knowledge of the world. We can see and hear the truth for ourselves. If we want entertainment most of us prefer a modern film to a classical novel. In the business world computers store information, so that we no longer need encyclopaedias21 and dictionaries. But in the schools teachers and pupils still use books. There should be a radio and television set in every classroom, and a library of tapes and records in every school. The children of today will rarely open a book when they leave school. The children of tomorrow won't need to read and write at all.
                                                                                                      M.P. Miller
                                                                                                      London

 


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 varied giIw9     
adj.多样的,多变化的
参考例句:
  • The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
  • The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。
2 delta gxvxZ     
n.(流的)角洲
参考例句:
  • He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
  • The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔,形成了一个三角洲。
3 toxic inSwc     
adj.有毒的,因中毒引起的
参考例句:
  • The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
  • There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。
4 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
5 alcoholic rx7zC     
adj.(含)酒精的,由酒精引起的;n.酗酒者
参考例句:
  • The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
  • Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。
6 beverages eb693dc3e09666bb339be2c419d0478e     
n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
  • regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例
7 regularity sVCxx     
n.规律性,规则性;匀称,整齐
参考例句:
  • The idea is to maintain the regularity of the heartbeat.问题就是要维持心跳的规律性。
  • He exercised with a regularity that amazed us.他锻炼的规律程度令我们非常惊讶。
8 pints b9e5a292456657f1f11f1dc350ea8581     
n.品脱( pint的名词复数 );一品脱啤酒
参考例句:
  • I drew off three pints of beer from the barrel. 我从酒桶里抽出三品脱啤酒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Two pints today, please. 今天请来两品脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 billboards 984a8d026956f1fd68b7105fc9074edf     
n.广告牌( billboard的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Large billboards have disfigured the scenery. 大型告示板已破坏了景色。 来自辞典例句
  • Then, put the logo in magazines and on billboards without telling anyone what it means. 接着我们把这个商标刊在杂志和广告看板上,却不跟任何人透漏它的涵意。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年4月号
10 advertising 1zjzi3     
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的
参考例句:
  • Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
  • The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
11 tune NmnwW     
n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整
参考例句:
  • He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子,并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
  • The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。
12 artistic IeWyG     
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的
参考例句:
  • The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
  • These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
13 smoker GiqzKx     
n.吸烟者,吸烟车厢,吸烟室
参考例句:
  • His wife dislikes him to be a smoker.他妻子不喜欢他当烟民。
  • He is a moderate smoker.他是一个有节制的烟民。
14 smokers d3e72c6ca3bac844ba5aa381bd66edba     
吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
  • Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。
15 ration CAxzc     
n.定量(pl.)给养,口粮;vt.定量供应
参考例句:
  • The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
  • We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。
16 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
17 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
18 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
19 foam LjOxI     
v./n.泡沫,起泡沫
参考例句:
  • The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
  • The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。
20 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
21 encyclopaedias 0383fe1bd930c867f25c5b4e991465d6     
n.百科全书,大全( encyclopaedia的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • IT IS normally hard to get excited about encyclopaedias. 一般情况下,人们很难对一本百科全书而感到兴奋。 来自互联网
  • He went from door door, selling encyclopaedias. 他逐门逐户去推销百科全书。 来自互联网

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