公共英语等级考试听力(2)
公共英语等级考试听力：b
Questions 14-17 are based on a press interview at a politician's office.
You now have 20 seconds to read the questions.
W:Edward Heath,you seem to have had two consuming passions in your life,
music and politics.
Is it important for a leader to have an escape like music or art?
M:I don't regard it as an escape,
but I think it's very important that leaders should have a wide variety of interests.
If you are just a politician and nothing but a politician,
you gradually drive yourself into the ground.
You become very inwardlooking and very narrow-minded.
But if you've got other interests,
you come back to problems with a fresh mind
and you can serve your electors much better than you could otherwise.
W:Where did this interest of yours come from?
Was yours a musical family?
M:It wasn't musical in the sense that Mozart's father was a professional musician
and Bach had brothers and sons who were musicians.
On the other hand,my mother and father both wanted to encourage me in music
and my brother as well He became a violinist while I was a pianist.
W:What about politics?Was yours a political family?
M:It wasn't at all.My father I think,would have described himself as a Liberal.
I became interested in politics at school,
very largely through a debating society.
I've always enjoyed debating and arguing with people.
W:It is one thing to be interested in politics;
it is another to want a political career.
M:Well.I became seriously interested in politics towards the end of the war;
not in a party sense but in a general sense:
that we couldn't allow Europe to tear itself apart again.
If we were going to survive
then we ought to do something about it after the war.
You have one minute to answer questions 14-17.
14.Why,according to Heath,
is it important to have a variety of interests?
(A)It is an escape from the routine headaches.
(A)It is an escape from the routine headaches.
(B)It can give a political leader a clear mind and strong sense of duty.
(C)It can make a leader inward-looking and narrow-minded
(D)It makes a politician serve his electors worse.
15.What kind of family was Heath probably from?
(A)a typical musical family like Mozart's
(B)a typical political family like Kennedy's
(C)a family,the members of which are music lovers
(D)a family,the members of which are fond of politics
16.How did Heath become interested in politics?
(A)When he was a schoolboy he became interested in debate.
(B)When he was a schoolboy he began worshipping a famous political leader.
(C)It was music that lead him to politics.
(D)His father forced him to enter political circle.
17.What made him determined to go into British politics?
(A)war(B)music(C)passion(D)family
Questions 18-21 are based on the following dialogue.
You now have 20 seconds to read the questions.
M:Ah,good morning.Mrs.Miles?W:Yes.M:How do you do.
Julian Alien from Sun Insurance.
I've come to make a damage report on the house.
I'm visiting quite a few houses in this area actually.
Storm did a lot of damage. W:Well.you have been quick.
I only phoned two days ago.
M:I know.We like to try and settle claims as soon as possible.
M:Good.Let's start here at the front,shall we?
Er,you've got a lot of tiles missing off the roof.
W:Yes,and the TV.aerial's fallen down.
W:Hum,you can the bedroom window on the left was smashed.
I've just put some boards over it.M:O.K.Anything else?
W:Er...yes.The chimney was damaged as well.
you can just about see if you look.
M:Ah,yes.Some of the bricks have blown off.
Right,let's walk round to the back.W:Here we are.
M:Goodness,that tree's fallen down right onto the fence!W:Yes.
It's a real pity.Lovely tree that was.
The shed roof was damaged too,I'm afraid.
M:Oh yes.Well,that's also covered in your policy.
W:The,er...kitchen window on the right was broken and part of the garden wall collapsed too.
M:I see.OK.I've got all that.W:Um,that's about it.I think.M:Good.
I'll write up my report and we'll let you have a cheque as soon as possible.
You have one minute to answer questions 18-21.
18.What does Mr.Allen come for?
(A)a visit to show friendship(B)an investigation on damage
(C)a drink with his neigbour
(D)a casual chat with his old day schoolmate
19.Why is the house damaged?(A)because of war
(B)because of a tornado(C)because of a storm
(D)because of an earthquake
20.Why did Mrs.Miles contact the insurance company?
(A)for compensation on damage(B)for policymaking(C)to make profit
(D)to hunt for a job as an insurer
21.What is NOT included in Mrs.Miles' damage?
(A)walls(B)chimney(C)fence(D)floor
Questions 22 -25 are based on a lecture.
You now have 20 seconds to read the questions.
Professor:Let me begin by saying that...ah...
the history and culture of these two countries...
Great Britain and the United States...seem to be similar in many ways,but
ah...not in others. In the field of education,for example,
the school systems of these two English-speaking countries
are no more alike than...ah...than cricket and baseball.
Let's look at the matter of examinations...
those terrible inventions that students all over the world fear and dread...
In England they are standard.
That is,students all over the country take the same examination.
Most children begin school at five,you see...
and study the basics for about eight years... then,if they decide to go on,
they select certain subjects and study for these nation-wide standard exams.
This process ends at about age 16,
except for those who want to enter universities.
These students must...ah,study for yet more difficult examinations,
known in England as the "A Levels",or Advanced Level Examinations.
As you can see,these national examinations
are very important to British students...
but in the United States there are none...
oh,of course we have other kinds of tests that are important...
but I mean there are no nationally set examinations
that determine whether students can graduate from our public schools.
Each local school system has its own standards,
and these are set by the local school boards.
So a high school diploma from...ah...Oregon,for example,
is not the same as one from ah...Florida,or Minnesota,or California.
Generally speaking,there are twelve grades in the American system
and these twelve are divided into two levels:elementary and secondary
the secondary one is known as "high school."
Each grade takes one year so children who begin the first grade
at the age of six usually graduate when they are about seventeen.
If they want to go on to college...
they have to write and find out what the entrance requirements are,
because each college and university is different.
Now,as for which system is better...
the American or the British,I can only say that each one...(fade)
You have one minute to answer questions 22 -25.
22.What is the lecture mainly about?
(A)history and culture of the Great Britain and US,
(B)cricket and baseballs of the Great Britain and US.
(C)varieties of examinations of the Great Britain and US.
(D)educational system of the Great Britain and US.
23.How long do British children study the basics?
(A)six years(B)five years(C)eight years(D)twelve years
24.What sort of exams do British children have to take?
(A)nation-wide standard exams(B)local exams
(C)school set tests(D)private test
25.What do American high school students
have to do if they want to go to college?
(A)They have to take national college entrance exams.
(B)They need not do anything except for paying the tuition fee.
(C)They have to make a phone call to the university president.
(D)They have to find out the basic requirements and apply for entrance
This is the end of Part B.
Exercise3 Part A You will hear 10 short dialogues.
For each dialogue,there is one question and four possible answers.
Choose the correct answer--A,B,C or D,and mark it in your test booklet.
You will have 15 seconds to answer the question
and you will hear each dialogue ONLY ONCE.
Now look at question 1.1.M:It is such a nice warm day.
I think I'll go to write my report under the tree.
W:I'd like to join you but I find it hard to work outside.
1.What's the woman going to do?(A)Join her friend.
(B)Stay inside.(C)Sketch the tree outside.
(D)Find something easy to do.
2.W:I don't think I can handle all of these books for this course.
M:I found that you don't have to read them thoroughly.
Just skim through and get the major points.
2.How does the woman feel about her books?
(A)They are too heavy and she can't carry them.
(B)They are too many and she can't read them all.
(D)She feels too tired to read.
3.M:I wish I could get used to this American custom of using first names.
W:I usually call just my good friends by their first names.
3.What's the man complaining about?
(A)Calling up customers.(B)Some of his good friends.
(C)Not getting what he wants.(D)A custom that is new to him.
4.M:Good morning. Could you ring Mr.Grant for me,
Mr.Charles Grant He's staying here.I have an appointment.
He said to get reception to ring when I arrived.
W:Yes,just let me look.Ah,Mr.Grant,Room 117.
4.Where did this conversation take place?
(A)in a hotel(B)in a hospital ward
(C)in an office building(D)in an apartment building
5.W:Don't forget.Professor Jackson wants the lab reports in by Wednesday.
That means we have to write it up today.
M:I won't forget.We'll finish it at three after my last class.
5.When are the reports due?
(A)Friday.(B)Today.(C)Wednesday.(D)Thursday.
6.W:Excuse me,how do I get to the Summer Palace?
M:Walk past those three traffic lights
and turn right on Beihai Street.
It's on the right hand side.
6.How many traffic lights should the woman pass?
(A)One.(B)Two.(C)Three.(D)Four.
7.W:Did you and Jane go to dinner with Jane's parents last night?
M:Well their house was lovely and the food was delicious
but I can't say much for the company.
7.What did the man think about Jane's parents?
(A)They were both friendly.(B)He didn't enjoy meeting them.
(C)He'd love to invite them over
(D)They talked so much,and he had no chance to talk.
8.M:Where have you been all this time?
The train is about to leave.W:I'm sorry I'm late
but I was waiting for you at the information desk upstairs.
8.Where did the woman think they were supposed to meet?
(A)At the information desk.(B)On the platform.(C)Near the stairs.(D)On the train.
9.M:I paid 15 yuan for these books.I think they're too expensive.
W:Expensive?They're a steal.You shouldn't complain;
they're a lot more in other bookstores.
9.How did the woman feel about the books?
(A)She didn't like the books.(B)She thought they were cheap.
(C)She thought they were expensive.
(D)She thought other bookstores carried more of them.
10.W:Professor Yang helped me so much
that I'm thinking of buying him a book of poetry.
M:I think you should get him a record.
Just because he's teacher of English doesn't mean that all he does is reading.
10.What does the man mean?
(A)Teachers usually like to read a lot.(B)Not every teacher likes to read all the time.
(C)Teachers like to read a lot and listen to music.
(D)People who teach English like things besides books.This is the end of Part A.
Part B You are going to hear four conversations.
Before listening to each conversation,
you will have 5 seconds to read each of the questions which accompany it.
After listening,you will have time to answer each question by choosing A,B,C or D.
You will hear each conversation ONLY ONCE.
Mark your answer in your test booklet.
Questions 11-14 are based on an interview through telephone.
You now have 20 seconds to read the questions.
W:Hello.M:This is Jim Evens from Market Research Corporation.
We're conducting a nationwide survey of people's reading habits.
May I ask you a few questions?W:Oh,I suppose,
M:Do you read any newspapers and,if so.which ones?
W:I read the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
M:Okay,do you subscribe to these newspapers?
W:I subscribe to the Times.
But I get the Wall Street Journal at the office.
M:I see.What about magazines?Do you subscribe to any?
W:Oh,yeah,I get Fortune and Psychology Today.
And my husband gets Esquire,so I read that too,sometimes.
M:About how many hours a week do you read magazines then?
W:Oh,about two or three.M:All right.
Now,do you read books regularly and if so what type?
W:Well,novels are my favorite
but,to tell you the truth,I haven't read one in quite a while.
I'm taking a class at night,
so the only books I've been reading lately are textbooks.
M:I take it don't belong to a book club?W:No,I don't.
M:And about how much time do you spend a week reading textbooks?
W:Not enough.I guess a couple of hours.M:Well,we're just about done.
Thank you very much for your time.W:You're welcome. Bye.
You have one minute to answer questions11- 14.
11.What company does the man work for?
(A)An investigation company.(B)A newly set-up newspaper firm.
(C)A sales company.(D)A market research company.
12.How much time does the woman
spend reading magazines every week?
(A)One or two.(B)Two or three.(C)Three or four.(D)Four or five.
13.Which newspaper or magazine did she NOT subscribe?
(A)Wall Street Journal.(B)Psychology Today.(C)Fortune.(D)New York Times.
14.Why does the woman read textbooks?
(A)They're her favorite.(B)She's taking some lessons.(C)She's a club member(D)She had nothing else to read.
(C)She's a club member (D)She had nothing else to read.
Questions 15-17 are based on a conversation.
You now have 15 seconds to read the questions.
M:Hi Margaret! Where were you at lunchtime?
I was saving a seat for you in the cafeteria.
W:Oh!Sorry to miss you.
But my thirst for knowledge was greater than my pangs of hunger!
M:I never had that problem!So where were you?
W:My political science class ran overtime.
M:That's been happening quite a bit lately,hasn't it?
W:I guess so.Actually what happens
is that a bunch of us hang around for a while after class
to talk with our professor and ask him questions.
M:Who is this 20th century philosopher?
W:Professor Taylor.Have you heard of him?
M:Hm.He does have a good reputation in the political science department
W:And a well-deserved one!
The same students who fall asleep in discussion groups and seminars
fight for front-row seats in his lectures.
M:Oh no!I hope this isn't catching!W:You can joke!
But it's great to have a professor who's not only interesting,
but prepared to give up time for students.
M:I know.They're a rare breed!
Maybe I should sit on his class sometime.
Do you think he'd care?W:Not at all.
Lots of students bring their friends,and he says he feels flattered.
M:Hmm.I think I'll do that next week.
You have 45 seconds to answer questions 15-17.
15.How do the students demonstrate that they really enjoy the class?
(A)They do all their homework.(B)They study hard for his tests.
(C)They read all the books he has published.
(D)They compete for the best seats in the class
16.How does Professor Taylor feel about visitors at his lectures?
(A)They bore him.(B)They make him angry.
(C)They make him feel good.(D)They make no impact on him,
17.At what time does Professor Taylor's class probably meet?
(A)In the late morning.(B)Immediately after lunch.
(C)In the mid-afternoon.(D)After the evening meal.
Questions 18-21 are based on a talk.
You now have 20 seconds to read the questions.
Before I finish my lecture today,
I'd like to mention an interesting science program that will be on TV on May 5th.
It's about an important part of the human body --the brain.
It's a new public television show produced in Hong Kong.
The program will investigate how the brain functions and malfunctions.
Some interesting topics that will be discussed are dreaming,
memory,and depression.
These topics will be illustrated with computer animation
to make explanations easy to follow.
The show is not for children,but don't worry,
it's not intended for scientists either.
It's produced for the understanding of the general public.
I think the program will be very helpful with the work we're doing in class on thebrain.
I hope you'll watch it.After the show,we'll hold discussions.
Remember,the program will be on CCTV Channel One on May 5th
and it will start about 8:45 p.m.
You have one minute to answer questions 18-21.
18.What will be shown on TV on May 5th?
(A)A science fiction cartoon.(B)A scientific program.
(C)A movie about dreaming.(D)A drama set in Hong Kong.
19.What will be the main purpose of the show?
(A)To demonstrate the latest use of computer graphics
(B)To raise funds for public television programming
(C)To explain the workings of the human brain.
(D)To increase membership in professional medical societies
20.Why does the speaker recommend watching the program?
(A)It is required of all science majors.
(B)It was made in Hong Kong.(C)It will be shown after working hours.
(D)It will be helpful with course work.
21.Why should the program be easy to understand?
(A)It is meant for nonscientists.(B)It is simple enough for
(C)A discussion will be held after the show.
(D)There will be a series following the first show.
Questions 22-25 are based on some introductory remarks of a history lecture
You now have 20 seconds to read the questions.
We usually think of history as the story of important people and events,
but some historians are also interested in the daily lives of ordinary
We can get this kind of information from written documents like diaries
and town records,of course--but strange as this may seem--
we can also learn a lot from studying old family portraits,
family portraits provide information about things like the size of the family
and the hobbies and tastes of the family;
the types of clothing family members wore for the portrait
suggest the popular fashions of the time.
The objects that children hold in their hands
can give clues about the games they played and their hobbies.
The background of a family portrait gives historians an idea
of room size and furnishings and even the wealth and social position of the family.
All of these details help historians understand more about the everyday lives
of some of the ordinary people from the past.
You have one minute to answer questions 22-25.
22.According to the speaker,
what do most people think historians are concerned with?
(A)Unusual works of art.
(B)Dates and names that cannot be determined.
(C)Articles written by previous historians.
(D)Significant events and influential people.
23.According to the speaker,
what makes family portraits valuable to historians?
(A)They are few in number.(B)They depict important historical events.
(C)They provided a lot of information about ordinary people.
(D)They conceal information about the social role of artists.
24.According to the speaker,what was most likely held
by children in family portraits?
(A)Their playthings.(B)Some money.games children played.(D)The profession of
(C)Their relative's hands.(D)Their shoes.
25.According to the speaker,what can historians learn
from studying the background area in a family portrait?Exercise 3.Part A 1-5 BBDAC
(A)The locations of the house.(B)The social and economic status of the family.
(C)The types of games children played.
(D)The profession of the owner of the house.
This is the end of Part B.