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UNIT ONE THE TEMPTATION OF A RESPECTABLE WOMANUNDERSTANDING SHORT CONVERSATIONS1M：Whats your family like，Emma?W：Wellmy parents are separated，but my father lives near usMy mother is a middle aged womanShe works as a chemical engineer for a drug companyQ：How do Emmas parents get along?2W：I have to go downtown tomorrow morning to have my spring dresses fitted M：Dont you have other clothes to wear? W：Nonone of them fit，and I cant even button up my dressesI think I need some new clothes M：Maybe you should first think about doing more exercises and losing weight and then worry about your new clothes Q：What does the man suggest the woman do?3M：Robert talks a great deal about moving from his present home in New York to a plantation in the South W：But that is the same thing he has been saying since he moved there six years ago Q：What can we learn from the conversation?4W：How long has your friend been at your home? M：About 10 days W：Did he have a good time? M：YeahIt seemed as if he just got here when it was time for him to say goodbye. W：It is certainly a pleasure to see him again and renew old memories M：Wellwe talked about college days when we had been best friends，and when we used to have SO many ambitions Q：What can be learned about the man and his friend? 5W：What happened to you? You look really happy M：My wife voluntarily proposed to invite my best friend to our family party. W：Didnt your wife like your friend? M：No，at first she found him a terrible nuisance，but she has finally overcome her dislike for him Q：What does the man mean?6M：So you have finally decided to end your teaching career，Lucy? W：YesIt has been driving me crazyMy health doesnt permit me to cope with such a heavy workload at the momentThats why I decided to go to Australia to take a rest M：OhI seeSo thats why youve been so quiet recentlyYour periods of silence were not your basic nature，but the result of moodsYou really need a change Q：What can we know about the woman?7M：I heard just last week that Vicky had got married W：Vicky married? I cant believe it! Remember how she always said that marriage wasnt her choice? M：But I also heard that Vicky left her husband，just two days after their marriage W：What? M：When her husband arose in the morning，Vicky had already gone，without even saying farewellA porter had carried her trunk to the station and she had taken all early morning train to another city Q：What can we learn about Vicky from the conversation?8W：Do you know who that man is? M：Which one? W：The one in casual clothes M：Oh，thats David SmithHes the one who just moved into the apartment W：Oh，really? He looks kind of interesting Q：What does the woman think of David Smith?9W：Do you know anything about Henry? M：That name sounds familiarbut Im not sure W：Hes from New ZealandHe works for IBM M：Have you spoken to him? Whats he like? W：He seems to be a very nice manHes very friendly and hes got a good sense of humor They say hes a man of wit0：what can be learned about Henry?10M：Did you hear that Mr. and Mrs. Brown went to Singapore for a vacation last month? W：YeahDid they enjoy themselves? M：Its hard to sayWhen they got therethey couldnt get a room in a good hotel W：Thats too badBut they really should have made a reservation for a room earlier Q：What can be drawn from the conversation?11M：You know Martin? Although weve been in the same office for many yearsIve never been able to figure him out silence in which he has unconsciously covered himself, but . Q: What does the man mean?12. W: Have you made your peace with your wife yet? M: Ive certainly tried, but she refused to talk to me last night. And when I arose this morning, she had already left for her aunts. W: When will she return? M: Havent the slightest idea.Q: What happened between the man and his wife?13. M: What is it like to live here? W: Its terrible. It used to be quieter when I went to school here. I still remember that I often sat alone on the bench that stood beneath an oak tree at the edge of the trail. M: And nothing disturbed you? W: Yeah. Being alone there, my thoughts quickly flew this way and that. Q: What does the woman imply?14. W: When my husbands friend Bob visited us, I just left them alone for the most part. M: Why? W: Because he was so different from other people and I couldnt understand him. M: Did he notice your absence? W: No, he didnt. Sometimes 1 imposed my company upon him, accompanying him in his idle walks to the mill. M: Did he want you to accompany him? W: No, that was the last thing he would desire. Q: What does the woman mean?15. W: Peter is a quiet boy. He seldom says a thing. M: Well, let me tell you. His brother Tom is just the opposite. Q: What kind of a person is Tom?16. M: Do you often see our fellow students? W: I did for a while until I left university, but after that not really. M: Yeah, Ive lost touch with most people as well, but I still see Peggy occasionally. W: Oh, yeah. Hows she getting on? M: Ok, I suppose, but shes had a rough time in the last few years. She got divorced. Q: Whom do the man and woman talk about?17. M: Did you hear about Mrs. Baroda? W: Yes, I did. She was a upright and respectable woman. She was also very sensible. Its a pity that the world has lost a great modern dancer. Q: What happened to Mrs. Baroda? 18. W: When is your friend going? M: Not for a week yet, dear. I dont understand why you ask my friend to leave our house. Actually he gives you no trouble. W: No. I should like him better if he did; if he were more like the others, I could plan somewhat for his comfort and enjoyment. M: He just came here to take a rest, so please dont make a fuss over him. W: Fuss! Nonsense! How can you say such a thing? Q: What can be concluded from the conversation? 19. M: Oh, its you, Mrs. Johnson. Come in and sit down. Now, what was it? Oh, yes, your leg. Has there been any improvement since last week? W: Well, no. Im afraid not, doctor. Its still the same. M: Id better have another look at it. Hmm! Still very swollen. Have you been resting it, as I told you to? W: Its so difficult to rest it; doctor, you know, with a house to run, and six children and . Q: What made it difficult for the woman to follow the mans advice?20. M: You are very nice to me and Ive had a delightful time. I really appreciate your inviting me here and spending so much time showing me around. W: Oh, it was fun for me, too. It gave me a chance to get away from routine and do something a little bit different. Q: What have the speakers been doing together?Key: 1. (A) 2. (C) 3. (A) 4. (C) 5. (B) 6. (A) 7. (B) 8. (B) 9. (D) 10. (A) 11. (C) 12. (C) 13. (A) 14. (B) 15. (D) 16. (C) 17. (D) 18. (B) 19. (C) 20. (D)UNDERSTANDING LONG CONVERSATIONS(Emma, Bill and Tim are talking about friendship.) Emma: How important are friends to you, Bill? Bill: Ive never had a lot of friends. Ive never regarded them as particularly important. Perhaps thats because I come from a big family - two brothers and three sisters, and lots of cousins. Thats whats really important to me. My family. The different members of my family. If you really need help, you get it from your family, dont you? Well, at least thats what Ive always found. What about you, Emma?Emma: To me friendship., having friends., people I know I can really count on. to me thats the most important thing in life. Its more important even than love. If you love someone, you can always fall out of love again, and that can lead to a lot of hurt feelings, bitterness, and so on. But a good friend is a friend for life.Bill: And what exactly do you mean by a friend?Emma: Well, Ive already said, someone you know you can count on. I suppose what I really mean is. Mm. lets see, how am I going to put this., its someone who will help you if you need help, wholl listen to you when you talk about your problems., someone you can trust. What do you mean by a friend, Tim?Tim: Someone who likes the same things as you do, whom you can argue with and not lose your temper, even if you dont always agree with him. I mean someone you dont have to talk to all the time but can be silent with, perhaps. Thats important, too. You can just sit together and not say very much sometimes. Just relax. I dont like people who talk all the time.Questions 1 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard:1. What does Bill think of friends?2. Whom does Bill usually turn to when he runs into difficulties?3. What does friendship mean to Emma?4. According to Emma, what may love lead to?5. What kind of people does Tim like to make friends with?Conversation 2 W: You know, it doesnt look like youve cleaned the living room.M: No, I havent. Ugh. I had the worst day. I am so tired. Look, I promise Ill do it this weekend.W: Listen, I know the feeling. Im tired, too. But I came home and I did my share of the housework. I mean, thats the agreement, right?M: All right. We agreed. Ill do it in a minute.W: Come on. Dont be that way. You know, I shouldnt have to ask you to do anything. I mean, we both work, we both live in the house, we agreed that housework is.is both of our responsibility. I dont like to have to keep reminding you about it.M: Whats the matter with you today? You are displeased.W: Its us.M: What do you mean by us?W: Well, we used to talk to each other before we were married. Remember?M: What do you mean? Were talking now, arent we?W: Oh, yes, but we used to do so much together.M: We still go to the cinema together, dont we?W: Yes, but we used to go out for walks together. Remember?M: Of course, I do.W: And we used to do silly things, like running barefoot through the park.M: Yes. I used to catch terrible colds. Honestly, you are being totally ridiculous.W: But we never argued. You used to think I was wonderful. Once.(sound of the door opening) Where are you going?M: Back to live with my parents. Thats something else we never used to do before we were married. Remember? Questions 6 to 10 are based on the conversation you have just heard.6. Where does the conversation most probably take place? 7. What is the agreement between the man and the woman? 8. What are they doing now? 9. How does the man react to the womans complaints? 10. What will the man do?Key:Conversation 1: 1. (C) 2. (A) 3. (B) 4. (A) 5. (D)Conversation 2: 6. (C) 7. (A) 8. (A) 9. (B) 10. (D)UNDERSTANDING PASSAGESListening Task 1 Passage 1 Peter and Rhoda were going steady for two years. Everyone thought they were going to get married. One evening while they were eating in a restaurant, Peter said to Rhoda: You know, Rhoda, youre the only girl I really know well. We are both very young, and I think we must try to make new friends and have new experiences. If we still love each other after all that, then we can get married. Thats true, isnt it? But I dont want to stop our relationship, do you? We can see each other, cant we? No, Rhoda, not for a while. I guess youre right, but Im going to miss you very much. Im going to miss you, too, Rhoda. The months passed. Rhoda and Peter were very lonely. Rhoda finally decided to try a computer dating service. She filled out an application which stated what she liked in a person. Soon the phone rang. It was Andre Legros who received her name from the computer service. They arranged to meet that evening for coffee. While she was waiting for Andre, Peter came in. She asked him: What are you doing here? Well, I have a blind date for tonight with a girl named April May. Its a computer match. What are you doing here? Im waiting for my blind date. His name is Andre Legros. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Rhoda began to laugh. She said: Im April May. Peter looked surprised. After a moment, he said: And Im Andre Legros. This was no mismatch, was it? It was meant to be.Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard:1. How many years were Peter and Rhoda going steady?2. What did they decide to do one evening?3. Why did Rhoda try a computer dating service?4. How did Peter and Rhoda feel when they first knew the truth?5. What can be inferred from the passage?Passage2Georges mother was worried about him. One evening, when her husband came home, she spoke to him about it. Look, dear, she said, you must talk to George. He left school three months ago, but he still hasnt got a job, and he isnt trying to find one. All he does is smoke, eat and play records. Georges father sighed. It had been a very tiring day at the office. All right, he said, I11 talk to him. George, said Georges mother, knocking at Georges door, your father wants to speak to you. Oh! Come into the sitting room, dear. Hello, old man, said George, when George and his mother joined him in the sitting room. Your fathers very worried about you, said Georges mother. Its time you found a job. Yes, replied George without enthusiasm. Georges mother looked at her husband. Any ideas? he asked hopefully. Not really, said George. What about a job in a bank? suggested Georges mother, or an insurance company, perhaps? I dont want an office job, said George. Georges father nodded sympathetically. Well, what do you want to do? asked Georges mother. Id like to travel, said George. Do you want a job with a travel firm then? The trouble is, said George, I dont really want a job at the moment. Id just like to travel and see a bit of the world. Georges mother raised her eyes to the ceiling. I give up, she said.Questions 6 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard: 6. What did Georges mother ask his father to do? 7. How did Georges father feel after a days work? 8. When did George leave school? 9. What did George want to do after graduation? 10. What can be concluded from the passage?Passage3 If you listen to American music, watch American television or magazines, you will probably agree that the most popular subject of these forms of entertainment is love. Romantic love always finds an audience in the United States. Falling in love, solving the problems of love, and achieving the happy ending - the big wedding are subjects of interest to the adult as well as the teenage public. Millions of Americans celebrate Valentines Day with special cards and gifts that announce their love to their mates, their friends, their coworkers, and their families. Popular songs tell us that all the world loves a lover. A popular saying is Love conquers all. Numerous columns in magazines and newspapers offer advice to the lovelorn, those with difficulties of the heart. To most Americans, romantic love is central to a happy life. Not only do Americans believe in romantic love but they also believe that it is the best basis for marriage. Despite the high divorce rate in the United States, young men and women continue to marry on the basis of romantic love. Americans consider marriage a private arrangement between the two people involved. Young Americans feel free to choose their own marriage partners from any social, economic, or religious background. The man or woman may have strong ties with parents, brothers, or sisters, but when he or she falls in love, the strongest feelings are supposed to be for the loved one. When an American couple marries, they generally plan to live apart from both sets of parents and build their own independent family structure.Questions 11 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard:11. What is the most popular subject of all forms of entertainment?12. Who is interested in the subject of love?13. What do most Americans think of romantic love?14. What factors do young Americans consider when choosing their own marriage partners?15. What does an American couple plan to do when they marry?Passage4 Family is of course an elastic word. But when British people say that their society is based on family life, they are thinking of family in its narrow, peculiarly European sense of mother, father and children living together alone in their own house as an economic and social unit. Thus, every British marriage indicates the beginning of a new and independent family - hence the great importance of marriage in British life. For both the man and the woman, marriage means leaving ones parents and starting ones own life. The mans first duty will then be to his wife, and the wifes to her husband. He will be entirely responsible for her financial support, and she for the running of the new home. Their children will be their common responsibility and theirs alone. Neither the wifes parents nor the husbands, nor their brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles, have any right to interfere with them - they are their own masters. Readers of novels like Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice will know that in former times marriage among wealthy families was arranged by the girls parents, that is, it was the parents duty to find a suitable husband for their daughter, preferably a rich one, and by skillful encouragement to lead him eventually to ask their permission to marry her. Until that time, the girl was protected and maintained in the parents home, and the financial relief of getting rid of her could be seen in their giving the newly married pair a sum of money called a dowry. It is very different today. Most girls of today get a job when they leave school and become financially independent before their marriage. This has had two results. A girl chooses her own husband, and she gets no dowry.Questions 16 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard:16. What does British marriage indicate?17. What should the husband and wife do in a traditional British family?18. Who decides everything in a family?19. What can be learned from novels like Pride and Prejudice?20. How do present-day girls differ from those in former times?Key:Passage 1: 1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (A) 4. (A) 5. (D)Passage 2: 6. (A) 7. (B) 8. (C) 9. (C) 10. (D)Passage 3: 11. (B) 12. (D) 13. (A) 14. (D) 15. (B)Passage 4: 16. (D) 17. (A) 18. (C) 19. (B) 20. (B)UNIT 2 Charlie ChaplinUNDERSTANING SHORT CONVERSATIONS1. M: Arent you watching the movie on TV? W: Whats on tonight? M: Charlie Chaplins Modern Times. Have you seen it before? W: No, never. But Ive heard of it. So are you watching it? M: Its not until 8. Q: What does the man mean?2. M: Do you know something about Charlie Chaplins childhood? W: Yes, I do. He was born in a poor area of South London in 1889. He spent his childhood in poorly-furnished houses. He wore his mothers old red stockings cut down for ankle socks. His mother was temporarily mad and was in and out of mental hospitals. M: How about his father? W: He was never sure who his real father was. Although he pursued learning passionately in later years
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