Talks and Conversations

Q11-14

B: Hey Mary, you look depressed. Is everything OK?

G: It's my parents. They are not easy to put up with. They are so old fashioned and they never let me do anything. I go out at night only once in a while, and when I do, I have to be back by 10:00. What should I do?

B: Have you tried to talk to them?

G: They never have any time for me. My dad's work comes first, and my mum only sits down with me when she wants to show me off to her friends:” Marry gets straight As, and she made basketball team this year!" Er, I want to move out and live on my own!

B: Well, I get along with my parents, but we don't agree all the time. They worry too much about me. If I'm going away, it's always: "don't forget to call as soon as you arrive!", "take this medicine with you in case you get sick”,” you must stay away from drugs." They know I'm not into that. They should trust me.

G: I guess parents are all the same.

Question 11: What does the woman think of her parents?

Question 12: Which of the following is TRUE about the woman?

13: What do this man’s parents often ask him to do when he is going away?

14: What does the man think his parents should do?

Q15-18

Ladies and Gentlemen, we all know that even with the advances of science and technology in our modern society, it is very difficult for us to predict an earthquake, let alone, prevented. But people had long ago tried every possible means to record and in some way predict the occurrence of an earthquake.

The world's first instrument for recording earth quakes was invented in China in the second century AD. The instrument, today we would call it a seismoscope was designed by a Chinese astronomer, and geographer named Zhangheng. It was a vessel like device made of bronze and measured in 6 feet in diameter.

Inside the instrument, there was a pendulum that was swing from the movement of a trimmer that is too weak to be felt by a human being. When the pendulum swung, it will pull one of the attached bars. The bar will open the mouth of the dragon sculpture on the outside of the vessel. And a bronze ball will drop, and fall with a clang into the open mouth of a frog sculpture below. This seismoscope could not only record the movement of an earthquake, but also show from which direction of the earthquake came.

In AD 138, Zhangheng used his invention to announce that a major earthquake has struck 400 miles northwest of Luoyang, the Chinese capital. His report came long before massagers on horse back brought news of the earthquake to the capital city.

15. For what purpose was the vessel like seismoscope invented?

16. What is the function of the pendulum inside the instrument?

17. According to the talk, what happened in the year AD 138?

18. How was the news of earthquake brought to the capital city before the invention of such an instrument?

Q19-22

B: Hi Betty, nice to see you again! How long ago did we two meet in the student centre? I'm glad the final examinations are over, and we don't have to stay up all night to cram all the academic stuff into our minds.

G: Yes. I’m glad we can be here again to relax, and have fun with other fellow students. And now we can look forward to our summer holiday. I've been thinking of going to the States for some time.

B: I think it would be much better for you to go on holiday here in England than to the United States. To start with, it's a lot nearer, and so it would be much cheaper to get around. That means you will have far more money to spend.

G: That may be true. But thinking about when you get there. There are much more to do in the United States. There are so many different things to see, and places to go. Imagine you could go to New York, San Francisco, the Grand Canyon, and Disney World!

B: Exactly! Disney World! I have been dreaming of going there ever since my childhood.

G: So, you are changing your mind, aren't you?

B: I'm still worrying about the cost of taking a trip to the States. Meanwhile, if you stay here in England, you can probably take up some part-time jobs. That way, you can earn extra money to support your study next semester.

G: Maybe you are right. I’ll think it over, and talk about it with my parents while I'm home. Anyway, it is they who pay for my study here in the university.

19: What has the man been doing recently?

20: Why does the man wants to spend his holiday in England?

21: Where is this conversation taking place?

22. At the end of the conversation, what does the woman decide to do?

Q23-26

All humans experience stress. It is a necessary part of life. Generally speaking, a person's ability to deal with stress is affected by his or her feelings, attitude and outlook on life. To start with, my topic for this week's lecture is teenage stress.

Parents tend to think that their children's adolescence is a carefree period of life. However, study show that teenagers can experience the most stress of all people. They can experience stress related to money, family problems, self-esteem, acceptance by their peers, getting accepted into college, choosing a career, and pressure to do well in school, sports or clubs. One reason for such stress is that childhood has gotten shorter, and the perception of children has changed. With the rapid advance of information technology, children can get messages that in the past, were probably meant only for adults. And the dividing line between childhood and adulthood ceases to exist. Children do not play as many as their games as we used to. And most of their games and sports nowadays are those usually performed by adults. Youngsters are encouraged to use adult language that was once never to be heard around a child.

Today, our people are under tremendous pressure to achieve and succeed. It seems to me that the higher our living standard is, the more stress our children experience. In any case, the way by which we live today definitely has something to do with the increase of the level of stress.

Q23 According to the talk, how would parents view their children's adolescence?

Q24 Which of the following is not a stress-related phenomenon for teenagers?

Q25 According to the speaker, what kind of messages can children get today?

Q26 What has contributed to the increase of the level of stress?

Q27-30

A: Good afternoon, Mr. Brown. Won't you take a seat? That's an attractive shirt, is that new?

B: Fairly, I got it last month for my birthday.

A: It's very nice. Mr. Brown, I've been enjoying working with you, and you certainly have made some significant contributions. Today, however, I need to speak with you about a problem I have observed. When we are done speaking, I anticipate that we will have a solution worked out for this problem. Does that sound reasonable to you?

B: Sure, this must be serious. You are so formal.

A: Yes, Mr. Brown. During the past month, I have observed you returning late from lunch on 5 different occasions. I have the specific deeds listed here.

B: Hey, I wasn't late, I was running errands.

A: Mr. Brown, I'm going to give you a chance to respond in just a minute. I need you to listen first. If we interrupt each other, we aren't going to get anywhere.

B: Okay.

A: I first observed this change in behavior last month, but I ignored it, assuming that you were engaging in work related activities. However, the end of the month reports came in, and they reviewed a definite drop in your productivity, and significant increase in errors. I spoke with you on the 3rd, and the 17th. On each occasion, the smell of alcohol was obvious. Today, the smell of alcohol is obvious. Drinking while on the job is strictly against company policy. Is there a reason for this change in your behavior?

B: There is no change in behavior. I only had one beer at lunch. That's not a crime, is it?

A: I'd like this to be a problem solving session, not a warning session. You are a valuable employee, and I'd like it to stay that way. I'd like to help you, but you have to be willing to be truthful. Would you like to talk about this with a professional councilor?

B: If you think that would help.

A: I don't know if it will help. That part is up to you. But I'm willing to work with you. Here's the telephone number of Dr. Laurence. I'd like you to call him and set up an appointment. In the mean time, you must understand that alcohol during working hours is strictly forbidden. Failure to observe this rule will lead to dismissal. May I count on you to observe this rule?

B: I'll do my best.

Q27 What does the man think of the woman's opening remark?

Q28 According to the conversation, what has the woman observed recently?

Q29 What does the woman suggest to help solve the problem?

Q30 What is the company rule according to the woman?