《现代大学英语听力2》听力原文及题目答a案Unit--11

1、【答案】1) c2) a3) b4) a【原文】Bali is a beautiful island of mountains, forests and rice fields. It is also an island of artists. Almost everybody there is an artist of some kind. The people work all day at home, in the fields or on their boats, but in the evening they make music, dance, paint or carve thi

2、ngs out of wood and stone. For the Balinese, art is part of religion. It is a way of pleasing their gods-and Bali, they believe, is full of gods. There are thousands of temples in Bali, and there are festivals at these temples when people die or get married, or when a child is born. At these festiva

3、ls the people try to keep their gods happy by giving them food, by dancing, by acting, and by playing music for them. In the past, the Balinese did not care about the outside world. For them Bali was the whole world. But in the 1930s tourists began to visit Bali, and since the 1950s tourism has beco

4、me big business there. So the islanders have begun to sell their art to tourists. These days the Balinese pro-duce more and more things for tourists; they make fewer things for their temples. They have less time for their gods, so there are fewer festivals. Each year more tourists bring more money t

5、o the island; they also bring new ideas and a new way of life. The Balinese know that if fewer tourists come to the island, there will be less money. But they also know if there are too many tourists, the Balinese way of life will change drastically. The authorities are trying hard to organize and c

6、ontrol tourism with caution. Bali has to change; nevertheless they want to make sure that it changes for the better, not for the worse.Task 3【答案】A.1) Because until 1980, it had been quiet for more than a hundred years.2) It was strange. No birds were singing, and the air was still.3) He was standing

7、 near the summit and reporting the eruption on radio.B.Washington; 35; 1980; 123; recreation; summit; tremors; small eruptions; no danger; 1980; dust; ash; rocks; mud; 40; peaceful; empty【原文】Most volcanoes are quiet. They rest peacefully for hundreds of years. No one pays much attention to them.Moun

8、t St. Helens was one of these volcanoes. Until 1980, it was a beautiful recreation area. Its last eruption had been 123 years ago. No one was worried about another one. Then, in March 1980, Mount St. Helens began to make noises. At first, there were tremors. Then, small eruptions occurred. Some resi

9、dents left immediately. Others felt there was no danger.But on the morning of May 18, 1980, the mountain blew its top. With the power of twenty-five atomic bombs, Mount St. Helens exploded. Clouds of dust and ash rose more than twelve miles into the sky. Rocks and mud crashed down the slopes.Unfortu

10、nately, many people were still living, camping, or working in the area. Over forty people lost their lives. Others were rescued.Robert Baker was fishing with his family when the explosion occurred. He reported that the morning of May 18 was strange. No birds were singing. The air was still. Then, he

11、 saw a large black cloud coming down toward them. In minutes, day turned into night. He called his family to their van and they started on the slow dark ride away from the mountain. All the time, hot ash was raining on them.But other people were not so lucky. David Johnston, a volcano expert, was st

12、anding near the summit of the mountain. At 8:31 a. m. , he radioed, This is it! He was never heard from again.Mount St. Helens is peaceful now. But its slopes are empty. It will be many years before fish, plants, and trees will again live on the mountain.Task 4【答案】A.1) Mrs. Rakel Surlien is the Norw

13、egian Minister of Environmental Protection, and she is about to begin a three-day visit to Britain.2) Britain.3) Britain insists the case against acid rain in general and its contribution in particular is far from proven. / Britain insists that neither the disastrous effects of acid rain nor Britain

14、s responsibility in the issue has been proven.4) Sweden.5) It refers to a group of some 20 nations which are committed to reducing sulfur dioxide by a third.6) Norway is against Britain in the dispute over acid rain in spite of its cordial approach.B.1) fish; aquatic life; forest2) power stations3)r

15、emain isolateed【原文】Norway has decided to resume a softly-softly approach to Britain in the long-standing dispute over the issue of acid rain, as Mrs. Rakel Surlien, the Norwegian Minister of Environmental Protection, begins a three-day visit to Britain. All the Nordic countries believe that Britain

16、is responsible for as much as a third of the acid deposit failing in southern Scandinavia, killing fish and most other aquatic life in thousands of lakes and rivers and possibly putting large areas of forest at risk. Emissions from coal and oil burning power stations are blamed mostly, but Britain i

17、nsists the case against acid rain in general and its contribution in particular is far from proven. The issue has become almost fashionable since the Swedes raised it in 1972. More than 20 nations have agreed to join the so-called 30 Percent Club, committed to reducing sulfur dioxide by a third, and

18、 Britain is increasingly isolated in Western Europe by its refusal to do so. Mrs. Surlien says there has been no change in the Norwegian position in spite of the cordial approach, and she also scented victory, as she said, I dont see you can remain isolated in this way for long. It must be very diff

19、icult to live with.Task 5【答案】1) four out of five; survive; rosy; forest flower; for centuries2) 2,000; fight cancer; 40; wildlife; the rain forest3) drugs; a South American tree; blood pressure; the snakeroot plant from Indian forests4) foods; tropical forests; winged bean5) rubber; oils; one; exami

20、ned; 99; threatened【原文】A representative of an ecological organization is talking about the advantages and benefits for humans of the rain forests. Four out of five of all children who got leukemia in 1960 died. Now four out of every five survive. The secret of this miraculous change is the rosy peri

21、winkle, a forest flower which tribal doctors had used for centuries. The United States National Cancer Institute has identified more than 2,000 tropical rain forest plants with the ability to fight cancer. In fact, about 40 percent of all drugs given out in the United States today owe much of their

22、strength to chemicals from wildlife, largely from the rain forest. Other drags include quinine, which comes from a South American tree, and drugs to relieve high blood pressure are derived from the snakeroot plant from Indian forests. The armadillo of South America is helping us find a cure for lepr

23、osy. The tropical forests also contain large amounts of new foods. For example, the winged bean of New Guinea is now grown in about 50 different countries. Japanese scientists have found a calorie-free substance in Paraguay which is 300 times sweeter than sugar, and a coffee free of caffeine has bee

24、n found in the small forests of the Comoros islands. Every day we use products from the rain forests-robber, spices and oils, and of course wood. Less than one percent of the forest plants have been examined for their potential, but the remaining 99 percent is threatened by our endless search for wo

25、od. The South American Indians say the trees hold up the sky, and if they come down there will be a catastrophe.Task 6【答案】A.1) A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, and the moons shadow covers part of the earth.2) A solar eclipse has occurred at Christmas only 30

26、 times during the past 5,000 years, the last time in 1954.3) The (retina of the) eye can be permanently damaged.4) It works by projecting the suns image on a piece of paper through a pinhole on another piece.5) The next eclipse at Christmas will occur in 2307; it can be observed on the west coast of

27、 Africa.B.1) T2) F3) T【原文】On December 25, 2000, many people across North America received a rare Christmas treat when the moon passed in front of the sun resulting in a partial solar eclipse. Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, and the moons shadow covers part of

28、 the earth, and a total solar eclipse takes place when the moons shadow blocks out the sun entirely. What made this particular solar eclipse unique was that this event has occurred on December twenty-fifth only 30 times during the past five thousand years, the last time in 1954. But people must be e

29、xceptionally careful when attempting to view the solar eclipse. Without taking precautionary measures, one can permanently damage the retina of the eye; however, there are several safe methods of witnessing this heavenly marvel. First, you can view a solar eclipse by using eclipse safety glasses for

30、 filtering out the suns harmful rays. They should be used when any part of the sun is visible. Sunglasses can block out some of the suns ultraviolet rays, but the results can be very deceptive. The eyes natural reaction to this darken state when wearing sunglasses is to make the pupil larger, which

31、allows in more light and can intensify the damage to the your eye. You can watch an eclipse by projecting the suns image on a piece of paper either by using a telescope, or easier yet, by creating a pinhole in a piece of paper and viewing the result on another piece of paper, thus called a pinhole p

32、rojector. Only during a total eclipse when the sun is completely and briefly covered can you watch the eclipse without eye protection. Even then, extreme caution should be taken. In case you didnt catch this last spectacular solar eclipse on December twenty-fifth, 2000, there is no need to fret. You

33、r posterity can record the next eclipse on Christmas in the year 2307, but only if theyre visiting the west coast of Africa for the holidays. Task 7【答案】A.1) pottery; metal2) large cities; food production3) the late 1950s; borrow; returnable; one-trip4) pots; pansB.1) Because the food must be shipped

34、 from place to place when it is produced, and because of the increased variety of foods available and the convenience of precooked meals, it is impossible for the customer to collect many foods in his own container.2) Until the late 1950s Americans had to borrow soft-drink bottles by paying a deposi

35、t each time they bought one.3) Yes, beaus sales of soft drink climbed.4) Glass companies gave soft-drink sellers a helping hand. A US company, Consumers Glass, made an arrangement with the bottler companies to reimburse them for much of the cost of one-trip bottles.5) Aluminium food packages now hav

36、e their own electric plugs. After you eat the food, you can just throw them away. 6) The writer is mildly criticizing the trend toward one-trip living and thinks it probably has gone too far.【原文】The product that most people throw out after using only once is packaging. This is not always tree. The p

37、ottery or metal container used in Roman times and in most rural areas of the world today is a permanent and valuable household item. Unless a container is accidentally broken, it lasts a lifetime, despite the many journeys from home to market, farm or water well and back. The growth of large cities

38、and modem methods of food production changes all that. Because the food must be shipped from place to place while it is produced, and because of the increased variety of foods available and the convenience of precooked meals, it is impossible for the customer to collect many foods in his own contain

39、er. It costs a great deal to provide a new container each time we buy milk, wine, beer and other drinks. Yet for a number of reasons the trend towards one-trip bottles for all these items is in full swing. The case of the vanishing returnable soft-drink bottle shows how much these containers add to

40、the rising tide of waste. Until the late 1950s, Americans had to borrow soft-drink bottles by paying a deposit each time they bought one. But several years later, soft-drink bottlers decided that it was more convenient for the customer to throw the bottle away instead. A returnable bottle lasting 30

41、 or more trips was replaced with 30 one-trip cans or bottles. Sales of soft drinks climbed and the container manufacturers smiled all the way to the bank. Glass companies gave soft-drink sellers a helping hand. A US company, Consumers Glass, made an arrangement with the bottler companies to reimburs

42、e them for much of the cost of one-trip bottles. Other manufacturers have joined in promoting the throw-away spirit. The Aluminium Company of America announced that packages would soon replace pots and pans. Food packages were being designed with their own electric plugs. After you eat the food, you

43、 just throw away the pan with the messy old grease. What about a camping holiday? You can make a bonfire on the last day with the disposable equipment that can now be purchased. In hospitals, there may well be a case on health grounds for disposable syringes. But isnt the use of one-trip sleeping ba

44、gs and tents taking disposability too far?Task 8【答案】A.When was it started?1991Who started it?Jane GoodallWhat kind of programme is it?An environmental and humanitarian programmeHow many Roots & Shoots groups are there worldwide? In how many countries?More than 4,000 groups in 68 countriesWhat is its

45、 main purpose?To help kids develop a concern for animals, the environment, and their own communitiesWhy is it called Roots & Shoots?Young people, like the roots which creep underground everywhere and shoots which break through brick walls to reach light, can break through the walls, which represent

46、all the problems that humans have caused on the planet, and change the world.B.1) F2) F3) T【原文】Jane Goodall, a British field biologist, has devoted her life to wildlife conservation, in particular to the study of chimpanzees. She makes a special effort to reach out to young people. In 1991, Jane sta

47、rted an environmental and humanitarian programme for kids called Roots & Shoots. Today, there are more than 4,000 Roots & Shoots groups in 68 countries all over the world and a programme in every state in the US. The main purpose of the Roots & Shoots programme is to help kids develop a concern for

48、animals, the environment, and their own communities. Roots creep underground every-where and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light they can break through brick walls, Jane tells people as she speaks about the programme. Imagine the brick walls are all the problems hum

49、ans have inflicted on the planet. Young people, like those roots and shoots, can break through those walls to change the world. A hundred years ago, Africa was home to about 2 million wild chimpanzees. Today the population of chimps has dropped to less than 150,000. Jane Goodall knows it will take a

50、 worldwide effort to save the species. She is working to sec that this effort is made. In November 2000, the Great Ape Conservation Act was signed into law in the United States. Jane worked hard to persuade members of the US Congress to support this bill. The act provides money for protecting the gr

51、eat apes of Africa and Asia that are in danger of extinction. Experts predict that if we do not protect them now, soon there will be no more great apes living in the Congo Basin, their last stronghold in Africa. Jane Goodall is hopeful about the future. She knows that each of us can do our part, no

52、matter where we live, to protect wildlife and our environment. Her story shows us that one person really can make a difference.Task 9【答案】A.1) Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.2) Its San Franciscos world-famous landmark3) Because of the gap between the amount of cars and the amount of roadway availa

53、ble. Or: If you think of it as a supply/demand relationship, youll find that theres a lot more demand than supply.4) Texas Transportation Institute.B.1) 852) 62; Los Angeles; 136; Seattle; Houston; New York; Miami; 693) Bigger cities; roadway; transit system4) expensive; $68 billion【原文】James Hattori

54、, the Host: Hi, everybody. Im James Hattori. Welcome to our program, this week from the Golden Gate Bridge, San Franciscos world-famous landmark, at the mouth of the Golden Gate straits. 42 million vehicles a year cross this bridge. That gives you an idea of the often nightmarish traffic drivers fac

55、e around here. And, of course, were not alone. Natalie Pawelski, our environment correspondent, has the numbers on what it costs Americans to cope with rush hour traffic, in time and money.Natalie Pawelski, the Environment correspondent:If you think traffic is getting worse in your town, youre proba

56、bly right. Theres a combination of factors. Its the amount of people, the amount of roadway that is there. Its sort of a demand/supply relationship. You can think of it that way, and theres a lot more demand than there is supply. The annual Urban Mobility Report from the Texas Transportation Institu

57、te finds in the average American city people traveled 85 percent more miles by car in the year 2000 than they did in 1982. And rush hour drivers are now wasting an average of 62 hours a year stuck in traffic. Now thats not total travel time, thats just the extra time spent going slow or going nowher

58、e because of traffic congestion. The study says the worst traffic is in Los Angeles where the average rush hour driver loses 136 hours a year, more than three work weeks, to traffic jams. The runners up in the time drained category San Francisco, D.C., Seattle, Houston, San Jose, Dallas, New York, Atlanta and Miami where the average rush hour driver loses an extra 69 hours a year stuck in traffic. Once you get to a big system, its difficult to maintain the pace of