Part III Listening Comprehension

　　Section A

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　11. W: Id like a satin dress for this summer. Itll make me look more elegant.

　　M: Forget about it. Its one of those catwalk illusions and doesnt generally translate into reality.

　　Q: What does the man mean?

　　12. W: Whats all that smoke coming from your window? I was about to call the fire department.

　　M: Youre just in time to try my moon cakes. Im afraid Ive burned these, but the first batch should be all right.

　　Q: What can we infer from the conversation?

　　13. M: Thank you so much for applying to become a Resident Assistant and for coming to this interview today.

　　W: Youre welcome. Im so happy to have the opportunity to talk with you and to go through the Resident Assistant process.

　　Q: What are the two speakers doing?

　　14. M: Hey, Lee. Did you watch the Super Bowl last Sunday? My favorite team the Patriots won the game in the last 9 seconds.

　　W: I am a big fan of that team too. The winning field goal was so incredible!

　　Q: What are the two speakers talking about?

　　15. M: Are you sure that you really want to be a policewoman? Arent you afraid something could happen to you?

　　W: Relax. I plan to eventually work in Crime Scene Investigation. Ill only have to spend one year patrolling on the streets.

　　Q: What is the man concerned about?

　　16. M: Linda, do you need any help with your luggage? I dont have to work tomorrow, and I can drive you there if you need.

　　W: No, thanks. Ill just bring one carry-on and my backpack. And you should go to the gym to have a workout.

　　Q: Where is the woman going tomorrow?

　　17. W: I have eaten in so many restaurants during the last two weeks. The thought of eating out makes me weak.

　　M: I feel the same way, but it cannot be helped. Theres no way to get out of this invitation.

　　Q: What is the speakers attitude towards eating out?

　　18. M: Im sorry to have kept you waiting so long. I didnt expect the meeting would last for such a long time.

　　W: Its OK, Mr. Green. I brought the data you required and the few reference books which may be helpful for your presentation at the conference.

　　Q: Why did the woman visit the man?

　　Now youll hear two long conversations.

　　Conversation One

　　M: Good morning, Doctor Richardson.

　　W: Good morning. Mr?

　　M: Taylor. John Taylor.

　　W: John Taylor! Im Linda Richardson. We were in the same business management program in 1995 in Chicago.

　　M: Linda! Its incredible! Youve changed a lot. I remember you planned to start your own business in San Francisco. But how did you become a doctor of psychology and work as a personal coach?

　　W: Well, I had that plan and worked as a manager in a high-tech company for quite a while to get prepared. But one day, I suddenly felt miserable and decided to make a change.

　　M: Why? In my impression, you were highly motivated in business management.

　　W: I was. The stock prices were up, sales were strong, and I had been a major contributor to the success of my division. But a few years later, I felt lost.

　　M: What do you mean by lost?

　　W: I got up early every day, got to my desk by 8 am, and left the office after 7:30 pm. My life seemed like an endless routine. I was tired and lonely. So I was determined to find something I truly loved. And now I have been a personal coach for 6 years. I love it. I help my clients to re-evaluate their lives and rediscover what really matters most to them.

　　M: Oh, I feel as tired as you did. I need some professional advice, doctor.

　　W: Whats your situation, John?

　　M: I have a consulting business. Its successful. And Ive made more money this year than the last two years combined. Ive attained the success that I hoped for, but it doesnt feel the way I expected it to feel.

　　W: Look, John. As a personal coach, I believe I can help you to re-evaluate your life and feel happier.

　　Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

　　19. Where did the two speakers first meet?

　　20. What job did the woman take after the business management program?

　　21. Which of the following is not true about the man?

　　Conversation Two

　　M: What shall we do? The boy is going to bankrupt us, Im sure.

　　W: Why? Whats the matter this time?

　　M: He had another little accident with his car.

　　W: An accident again? Was he hurt?

　　M: Dont worry, he is fine. But the damage came to two hundred and fifty bucks― which of course he doesnt have.

　　W: Hes not shaping up to be very responsible with money. Perhaps I should get him to take a look at the book Im reading. Its called Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

　　M: Hmm. Sounds like the second half is about me. Anyway, what good would it do to Byron, assuming you could get him to read anything longer than the liner notes on a CD?

　　W: It discusses how very wealthy people invest their money. One of its main points is that most people dont really understand the difference between an asset and a liability.

　　M: What does he mean?

　　W: OK. Let me put it this way. How do you view our car and house? Are they assets or liabilities?

　　M: Assets, of course. We own them.

　　W: Well, according to the writer, your attitude to cars and houses is mistaken.

　　M: It sounds interesting. What does he say?

　　W: The writer says owning cars and houses just keeps you trapped in a vicious circle. You have to work to earn money to spend on them. He says people should put their money into things that generate more money.

　　M: Hmm. Perhaps youd better pass the book on to me when youve finished. Ill get Byron to read it if I find it useful with his case.

　　Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

　　22. Whats the problem with Byron?

　　23. What does the writer of Rich Dad, Poor Dad say about most people?

　　24. Whats the effect of owning cars and houses?

　　25. What will happen when the woman finishes reading the book?

　　Section B

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　Passage one

　　Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. The risk increases in summer because ultraviolet rays from the sun are the main cause of skin cancer. Anyone can get skin cancer, but people with light colored skin, hair or eyes are at greatest risk. A history of sunburns early in life also increases the risk. So does a family history of skin cancer.

　　The sooner skin cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. So doctors advise people to examine all areas of their skin once a month, from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet. Even look under the nails and between the toes. Professional examinations are also important. See a doctor if a mole bleeds or itches or is bigger than six millimeters. The Cleveland Clinic suggests taking pictures of moles and dating the images to compare over time.

　　Hats, sunglasses and clothing offer protection from harmful sunrays, but that can depend. Experts say the denser the weave of the material, the less ultraviolet radiation reaches the skin. Also, darker colors may offer more protection, and natural cotton can block more than bleached cotton. When clothing is wet or stretched, however, it lets more UV radiation pass through. Choose sunscreen products and sunglasses designed to protect both UV-A and UV-B rays. Put a thick amount on all areas of skin that will get sun. UV levels can be high even on cloudy days. Put on more sunscreen if you stay in the sun for more than two hours and after you swim or sweat a lot from activities.

　　Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　26 Who are the most likely to get skin cancer?

　　27 What is the doctors advice to people?

　　28 Which is the most effective in protecting people from harmful sunrays?

　　29 Which of the following is not true about sunscreen?

　　Passage Two

　　Now, teenagers are using a cell phone ring tone that many adults cannot hear. The sound that the cell phone releases is a very high frequency or pitch. Many older people are not able to hear the ring tone. Teenagers are using it to communicate during school classes. Students are supposed to have their cell phones turned off during classes. But some students use the ring tone so they can send text messages to each other during class without their teachers knowing. For example, the frequency of normal talking is as high as eight kilohertz. The frequency of the ring tone is said to be about seventeen kilohertz. Over time, most adults over the age of forty or fifty lose their ability to hear high frequency sounds. So most young people can hear the ring tone but many older people cannot.

　　A British security company first created the sound and called it the Mosquito. The Mosquito device was used to solve a problem for British storeowners. Many teenagers gathered in stores without buying anything. Storeowners used the Mosquito sound to make the teenagers leave the store. The Mosquito sound was reinvented as a ring tone for cell phones.

　　Teenagers in the United States found the ring tone on the Internet. Some students downloaded the ring tone onto their cell phones and sent it to their friends. The ring tone quickly spread among teenagers in the United States and in other countries. Many people from around the world have written about the ring tone on Web sites. Some people over forty years old said they could hear the ring tone, too. And some young people found the ring tone to be painful to hear. They said it hurt their ears and gave them headaches.

　　Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　30. What can the students do with the new ring tone?

　　31. Why did the storeowners install the Mosquito device in their store?

　　32. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　　Passage Three

　　A college education can be very costly in the United States, especially at a private school. Rising costs have led more and more families to borrow money to help pay for college. As borrowing has increased, there are growing concerns that many students graduate with too much debt.

　　In 1993, less than one-half of graduates from four-year colleges had student loans. Now two-thirds of them do. Their average loan debt when they graduate is 19,000 dollars. At public universities, the average is 17,000 dollars. However, averages do not present the full picture. For example, in 2004, one-fourth of students with loans graduated more than 25,000 dollars in debt. And that did not include borrowing by their parents. Parents as well as students are borrowing more to pay for college.

　　Students from all economic levels are borrowing more. Corrected for inflation, student loans have increased around 60% in ten years. Researchers say one effect is that the higher the debts, the more likely graduates are to look only for high paying jobs. That means there is less chance they will take jobs in areas like teaching or other public service.

　　A study done in 2002 for a major student lender found that debts can also affect lives in other ways. Some students paying back their college loans said they delayed buying their first house. Some delayed marriage or having children.

　　In May, groups representing students, parents and college officials asked the government to change some of its loan repayment rules. The requested changes would recognize graduates who have difficulty repaying their loans because they do not earn very much. They would be able to pay less right after they graduate, then pay more as their earnings increase.

　　Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　33. Which is true about the graduates from four-year colleges now?

　　34. What will happen to the graduates with debts?

　　35. What is the government expected to do?

　　Section C

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

　　A Jewish proverb says that God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. Here are some mothers who have achieved fame not only for their many diverse accomplishments, but also because they have distinguished themselves in their roles as mothers.

　　Rose Kennedy buried five of her nine children, raised a president, two US senators, and presided over one of the most famous families in American history―all with elegance and dignity. I looked on child-rearing not as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world. She once said. When she died at 105, she had 28 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

　　Hillary Clinton, who, despite enduring immense pain and endless scrutiny, became the first First Lady to be elected to public office, has raised a well-adjusted, level-headed daughter, Chelsea. She said, For Bill and me, there has been no experience more challenging, more rewarding and more humbling than raising our daughter. And we have learned that to raise a happy, healthy and hopeful child, it takes all of us.

　　Mother Teresa touched millions with her missionary work aiding lepers, the blind, and the terminally ill. In 1948, Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman-Catholic organization dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. Her selfless devotion earned her a Nobel Peace Prize and truly made her a spiritual mother to the oppressed and an example for us all.

　　To express our love and gratitude for these mothers and the women who have devoted their lives to making ours safe and happy, Mothers Day is the day for all of us.