SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST

Part A: Spot Dictation

　　Good afternoon! The topic for today’s lecture is “The ‘Click and Go’ Generation” which, of course, refers to today’s teenagers. As you can recall, we used to have just one telephone and one TV in the living room, and there was no such thing as a home computer. Nowadays, all those items can be found in most teenagers' bedrooms. Teens can have private conversations behind closed doors, and they can turn the TV on to any channel they like. If they are curious, they will use the Internet to explore places they never imagined existed, get a lot of information, and talk to people far away. Having this equipment in their own rooms means an increase in privacy for the kids.

　　As a result, many parents complain that teenagers are becoming too individualistic and too isolated from the family. On the other hand, teenagers think that parents should respect their privacy. Psychologists say that if the teens lock their bedroom door , parents should just keep on knocking. Parents have the right to know who their sons and daughters are with and what they are doing. But parents must be flexible , too. Some parents are very strict and try to keep control of their kids. But in the end, that doesn't work, because it makes teens rebellious and unhappy. The more unhappy teenagers are, the more they want to be left alone. Some may even turn to the Internet and give up all social encounters with family members and live in cyberspace.

　　Today's teenagers may be "click and go," but they are also the most educated, and the most globally aware, generation. They realize the importance of studying and getting a job. If you ask teenagers today about the future, most of them will tell you that they are optimistic. But teenagers will be teenagers. I once asked a teenager why he questioned everything his parents said and why he was behaving like such an idiot. His answer was, "It's my job. I'm a teenager."  (333)

Part B: Listening Comprehension

1. Statements

Question 1:

Michael has put all his spare time into his foreign language training. Though he has only studied English for two years, he speaks it very well.

Question 2:

All my colleagues are going over to the cafeteria now, but I cannot. I’m waiting for a phone call from a client of mine.

Question 3:

The insurance company acknowledged receiving my letter, saying that they are going to settle my claim very soon.

Question 4:

If this hot weather keeps up, you’d better stay away from outdoor activities. Autumn is still a long way off, you know.

Question 5

I think television is unhealthy for us. We sit around too much. Do we play sports every day? Well, most of us walk very short distance and do little exercise!

Question 6:

Over fifty years ago books were among the cheapest things you could buy and the expenditure of a dollar or two at Christmas solved all your gift problems.

Question 7:

Generally, between the age of five and seven, a child will master two or more languages if the child is exposed to those languages equally and has comparable experiences in them.

Question 8:

Listening to noise above 140 decibels, such as a jet taking off close by, can result in hearing loss. The same is true with listening to a live rock concert once or twice a week.

Question 9:

A survey conducted by a London University claims that on average Britons with unattractive appearance earn ?3,000 less than their better-looking colleagues.

Question 10:

Some businesses or government agencies provide employees with the opportunities to progress to higher positions with higher salaries. The higher position an individual occupies; the more responsibilities it brings.

2. Talks and Conversations

Questions 11 to 14 are based on the following telephone conversation.

Jane:  Hello. Jane speaking.  

Steve:  Hi, Jane, it’s Steve here. Would you do me a favor?

Jane:  Well, it all depends, Steve. What do you want me to do?

Steve:  Could you lend me your car?

Jane:  You want to borrow my car?

Steve:  You see, Jane, I’m taking this girl to the country club on Saturday night. It's our first date, and I want to impress her.

Jane:  Erm I don’t think it’s polite to drive someone else’s car to impress a girl. Besides, you are not covered by the insurance of my car.

Steve:  I know. The thing is that my car is in the garage. I had a mild bump yesterday, but that wasn't my fault. The other driver didn't stop at the traffic light.

Jane:  What a pity. I’ve got a better idea, Steve. How about getting a car from the Car Rental? I’ve got their phone number, if you want.

Steve:  OK. One more thing. Would you care to lend me some money for gas?

Jane:  No way. You can always use your credit card.  (174)

Question 11:

Why does Steve need a car?

Question 12:

What happened to the man’s own car?

Question 13:

What is the woman’s suggestion?

Question 14:

Which of the following is TRUE about the woman?

Questions 15 to 18 are based on the following talk.

(Woman) I work for a beer distributing company. A secondary business we own is a carpet company. One Friday, I was trying to buy a carpet for my own personal use in a rental property. Julie is the salesperson I had to deal with to get this carpet. I met her on Friday at 4:00 P.M. in her office. We spent an hour talking about what party she was going to, what she was going to do this weekend, and so on. We only briefly talked about the purpose of my visit, which was to purchase a carpet. At first, this drove me a little crazy because I wanted to get the carpet and get out of there.

　　An hour later, we went down to the showroom to look at some carpet. I agreed to one of the first carpets I looked at, and then we proceeded to talk about everything but purchasing the carpet. She was really nice. It was like we had known each other all our lives.

　　We finally agreed on a very low price, and it was a done deal. Well almost. After we agreed on the price, she said, "Oh, by the way. You only need sixty square yards, but you have to buy the whole roll to get it at that price." There was about seventy-two square yards in the roll. I agreed to everything she said. When I got home and started thinking about it, I realized I had bought more than I really needed and I had actually paid more. (258)

Question 15:

For what purpose did the speaker meet Julie in her office?

Question 16.

How long had the speaker stayed in Julie’s office?

Question 17

What was Julie’s occupation? (12秒)

Question 18:

Which of the following is TRUE about the speaker?

Questions 19 to 22 are based on the following conversation.

(Woman): So, what do you think is going to happen with this South African contract then?

(Man): You mean the investment project? You know, something tells me we're not going to get it.

W: Oh, really? What makes you think that? It’s not like you to be so pessimistic.

M: Well, for one thing, I mean the last bidding; we've gone in way too higher. My guess is that they’ll accept a lower tender.

W: Mm. By the way, have some more lobster -- there's plenty of it in this dinner party, and it’s so delicious.

M: Thanks. I think it’s one of the best dinner parties I’ve attended for years. I enjoy, in particular, those wonderful seafood.

W: Me too. Going back to the contract, I don't reckon price is really the issue.

M: No?

W: No. I mean, we're talking long-term here. This is a seven-year project, maybe longer. So, reliability is what they'll be looking for, if you ask me. They'll pay more for that.

M: You've got to be joking. This is one of the most price-sensitive markets in the world. The way I see it, we'll be doing well just to get part of the contract. They'll probably get a local firm in to do the main work.

W: Hm, well, that's bad news. (218)

Question 19

Where is this conversation most probably taking place? (12秒)

Question 20:

What are the man and the woman talking about?

Question 21:

What does the man think about the investment project?

Question 22:

According to the woman, what is the most important factor in the investment? (12秒)

Questions 23 to 26 are based on the following talk.

(Man) Now I know you’re all curious about this place and you want to enjoy yourselves. That’s OK. I don’t want to spoil your fun, and it’s my duty to tell how to avoid putting yourselves and your property at risk. For all the girls here, if you’re in the bar or disco then make very sure that your handbag or purse is where you can keep an eye on it. Not on the floor or on another chair. If you want to dance, ask a friend to take care of it or take it with you.

　　Um, for the gentlemen: don’t walk around with your wallet stuck in the back pocket of your trousers. It’s easy meat for a pick-pocket, believe me. As you are all foreigners here, don’t carry a lot of cash with you and the same goes for passports, identity cards and other important documents. For your own personal security, it’s always better to go home by bus or taxi if it’s late. If you have to walk home late at night go with some friends. If you’re alone, stick to well-lit areas. Should you see a group of people looking for trouble, cross over the road and, if you really think someone is going to bother you, bang on the door of the nearest house and ask for help. Oh, another word of warning: Don’t hitch lifts. It’s asking for trouble. If a car stops to ask for information, just keep well clear of the door so you can see what the people want. This isn’t a dangerous town if you’re sensible.

   To close, I just want to say that in this country it is illegal to carry a knife, spray or anything that can be used as a weapon, even if it’s for self-defense.(300)  

Question 23:

What is this talk mainly about?

Question 24:

According to the man, what would happen to a wallet stuck in the back of one’s trousers?

Question 25:

What kind of people is the man talking to?

Question 26:

When you go home late at night, which of the following things are you advised NOT to do?

Questions 27 to 30 are based on the following telephone conversation.

(Woman)  Hi, Brown. I’d like to get your opinion about the news.

(Man)   OK. Well, I get most of my news on the Internet, but I read papers, too.

W: And what do you think about the news in the newspaper?

M: What I notice about the papers is that the news is really depressing, especially the main stories—you have bombings, and accidents, and people killing people. I find more and more that the news in the United States is getting focused on negative things. It’s always a disaster of some sort.

W: So you think it’s very negative.

M: Yeah, and there’s something else. I like to read about international news, but it seems that people here aren’t really that interested in it. I read somewhere, I can’t remember—that it’s a prestige thing, to cover the international news.

W: And you don’t think people in the United States like international news?

M: No. I don’t. But because I’ve lived in so many countries around the world, I am interested in international news. The news in Korea is from everywhere—the United States, Europe, Japan, China. Anyway, what I like about newspapers are the arts and culture sections. And the human interest stories, which can be really uplifting. I like to read about people. For example, there was a story about some crime in the park, but now they’re examining that case again, and it turns out that the five young people who they thought did it might be innocent, actually. It was shocking that the judicial system had failed in the beginning, but I’m glad they finally found out that those young people were innocent.

W: So you liked that story.

M: Yeah, I mean, that kind of news, people could actually read it and feel positive, like you could really improve the system, or whatever—compared to news that’s depressing and you feel helpless—you can’t do anything about it. (324)

Question 27:

What’s Brown’s opinion about the news in the newspaper?

Question 28:

Why is Brown interested in international news?

Question 29:

Brown likes several sections in newspapers. Which of the following is NOT one of these sections?

Question 30:

Which of the following statements is TRUE about Brown?

Part C: Listening and Translation

1. Sentence Translation

Sentence 1:

Australia has millions of sheep. They say there are three sheep for each inhabitant of the country. Thousands of tons of wool are produced each year in Australia. (28)

Sentence 2:

People in large cities are surrounded by noise pollution. Every day their ears are bombarded by sounds made by vehicles, machines, television, loud speakers and so on. (27)

Sentence 3:

In order to be successful in this world, you must “get along” with people. This means you must learn to behave in such a way that you have the affection and respect of others. (34)

Sentence 4:

In the big-data era, the biggest business in developed countries has become information, which we have more access to, thanks to email, the Internet, TV, and cell-phones. (27)

Sentence 5:

Initially, they were demanding a discount of 20% on orders of over 10,000 units, but we finally managed to beat them down to 12.

2. Passage Translation

Passage 1:

Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise. It can improve heart action. It also helps blood circulate. Swimming will develop strong muscles. It will even strengthen the lungs. People who are disabled and cannot enjoy other sports can keep their bodies in better condition by swimming. It is a good idea for parents to make sure that their children learn to swim at an early age. This will be an activity that the children can enjoy for the rest of their lives. (84)  

Passage 2:

Ice cream has been around for more than 4,000 years. The first ice cream was produced by the Chinese, and it consisted of a mixture made from rice and milk. The paste was put into snow to freeze and kept cold in underground chambers. Later Marco Polo discovered ice cream on his voyage to China and brought the recipe back to Europe. Today ice cream is found all over the world. But the country where the most ice cream is eaten is the United States. The average American eats 21 liters of ice cream a year. (96)

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