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[00:02.18]Model Test Eight
[00:04.03]Section A
[00:05.46]Directions: In this section,
[00:09.62]you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.
[00:15.41]At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said.
[00:22.74]Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.
[00:29.09]After each question there will be a pause.
[00:33.35]During the pause, you must read the four choices
[00:37.83]marked A) , B) , C) and D) , and decide which is the best answer.
[00:45.82]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2
[00:50.96]with a single line through the centre.
[00:53.36]Now let's begin with the 8 short conversations.
[00:59.27]11. M: Jessica,could you forward this e-mail to all the club members?
[01:08.34]W: Sorry, the computer broke down this morning,
[01:12.17]I'll do it for you as soon as I have it fixed.
[01:15.75]Q: What does the woman imply?
[01:34.30]12. W: Did you find the book for your reading assignment in the library?
[01:39.88]M: It closed before I got there.
[01:42.72]I had no idea it closes so early on weekends.
[01:47.21]Q: What does the man mean?
[02:05.64]13. M: Did you check the power plug and press the play button?
[02:11.44]W: Yes.The power indicator was on and it was running,
[02:15.81]but somehow the sound didn't come through.
[02:18.98]Q: What was the woman probably trying to do?
[02:40.30]14. M: Joanna, I'm awfully sorry,I didn't mean to hurt you.
[02:43.92]Shall we have a beer and forget the whole thing?
[02:48.07]W: OK,we can drop it this time,but don't do it again.
[02:53.10]Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
[03:12.49]15. W: Airports are sad places.
[03:17.08]M: Sometimes I guess. But we'll keep in touch
[03:20.80]and I'll fly over to see you at Christmas.
[03:24.85]Q: What are the speakers doing?
[03:44.00]16. M: Are you going to return to your present job after the vacation?
[03:48.80]W: No,I plan to graduate next semester.
[03:52.63]That means I have to be a full-time student.
[03:56.02]Q: What will the woman do?
[04:14.25]17. W: John, are you doing research for Professor William this semester?
[04:20.38]M: Actually, I'm working as his teaching assistant.
[04:23.66]Q: What does the man mean?
[04:42.52]18. M: I heard there are a few seats left for the show tonight.
[04:47.78]W: Really? I was under the impression
[04:51.06]that the tickets were sold out a long time ago.
[04:54.01]Q: What do we know from the woman's reply?
[05:07.95]Now you will hear the 2 long conversations.
[05:15.06]Conversation One
[05:18.56]W: What do you want to do tonight?
[05:20.75]M: How about going to the movies?
[05:23.15]I should be home from work at 5∶20.
[05:25.89]Then we can go out and eat and then to the movies.
[05:29.17]W: What do you want to see?
[05:31.25]M: Let's see the ad in the newspaper.
[05:33.65]W: It starts at 6∶30.
[05:37.32]I don't think we can get there in time to see the beginning.
[05:41.92]How about the one at the New State Cinema? That starts at 7∶00.
[05:47.05]M: I don't like Tom Cruise.
[05:49.13]W: Well there's one with Zeta Jones and Tom Hanks that starts at 6∶50.
[05:55.69]Maybe we can go to that.
[05:58.10]M: I've already seen it.Maybe we should just stay home and watch TV.
[06:03.13]W: There's a Julia Roberts movie on TV.How does that sound?
[06:07.73]M: Yeah, let's just stay home and watch that.
[06:11.12]Then we can go out Friday night.
[06:13.53]W: Did you forget that Allan and Catherine are coming to dinner that night?
[06:18.01]In addition we probably couldn't get a baby-sitter Friday.
[06:22.50]There's a school dance.
[06:24.24]M: OK.I hope Saturday is all right.Do we have anything planned for then?
[06:28.51]W: No,Saturday is fine.
[06:30.48]And there's a good movie starting on Saturday too.
[06:33.54]M: Good. I'm going to go bowling Saturday morning
[06:36.61]but I'll be home by 2∶00 p.m.
[06:38.79]Then we can go out for a big dinner and to the movies,
[06:41.85]if nothing else comes up.
[06:42.94]W: I'm sure we'll be able to.
[06:44.69]It's so nice to share the wonderful romantic movie with my darling.
[06:49.07]M: It's the same to me.
[06:51.37]Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
[07:04.09]19. What are the two speakers talking about?
[07:22.40]20. Why does the man refuse to go to see the movie which starts at 7∶00?
[07:44.86]21. What is their original arrangement on Friday night?
[08:05.47]22. What will the man do Saturday morning?
[08:23.67]Conversation Two
[08:26.96]M: I've just found the most useful device at that new outdoor store,
[08:31.55]a water purifier.
[08:33.63]W: A water purifier?
[08:35.60]You want to carry even more equipment with you on our hiking trip?
[08:39.98]M: If it's lightweight and saves work,yes.
[08:42.93]And this one fits that description.
[08:44.79]W: Really.I bet it takes up a lot of room.
[08:48.50]M: Not at all.
[08:50.36]It's a straw,much like the ones you use to drink a soda or milk shake.
[08:56.16]W: Really? That is small?
[08:59.11]M: Yea, it's plastic,and has a series of mineral and chemical filters
[09:04.26]that strain harmful germs from water.
[09:06.77]W: Yes,but how good a job can it do filtering the germs
[09:11.48]out of motionless pond water,or water from lakes and streams?
[09:15.96]M: It's fantastic. It makes the water entirely germ free.
[09:20.66]W: But what about salt or chemical pollutants that might be in the water?
[09:26.19]Does it clean those out?
[09:28.16]M: No,it does not remove salt and chemicals,
[09:31.77]but those are really not major concerns
[09:34.18]when we are out hiking and camping.
[09:35.71]W: Hmm,how long will a straw last?
[09:39.10]M: For about one hundred gallons but don't worry about measuring
[09:42.82]that large amount of water.There is a built-in safety feature.
[09:45.88]W: I think I'll get one for my camping trip this weekend.
[09:49.27]It'll sure be carrying a lot of water or having to boil it at the camp site.
[09:54.96]Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
[10:04.15]23. Where would the special straw probably be most useful?
[10:26.72]24. How does the man describe the water purifier?
[10:46.91]25. According to the man, what does the water purifier remove from the water?
[11:06.86]Section B
[11:10.46]Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages.
[11:17.57]At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions.
[11:20.85]Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.
[11:25.67]After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer
[11:29.83]from the four choices marked A) , B) , C) and D).
[11:36.28]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2
[11:40.98]with a single line through the centre.
[11:43.49]Passage One
[11:45.35]There was once a man in South America who had a parrot,
[11:49.40]a pet bird that could imitate human speech.The parrot was unique.
[11:55.53]There was no other bird like him in the whole world.
[11:59.57]He could learn to say any word except one.
[12:03.51]He could not say the name of his native town Catarnow.
[12:08.76]The man did everything he could to teach the parrot to say“Catarnow”.
[12:14.56]But he never succeeded.
[12:16.42]At first he was very gentle with the bird,
[12:20.02]but gradually he lost his temper.“You stupid bird!
[12:25.28]Why can't you learn to say that one word?
[12:28.66]Say Catarnow,or I'll kill you!”But the parrot would not say it.
[12:33.70]Many times the man screamed: “Say Catarnow or I'll kill you!”
[12:40.15]But the bird would never repeat the name.
[12:43.43]Finally the man gave up.He picked up the parrot
[12:48.68]and threw him into the chicken house.
[12:50.98]“You are even more stupid than the chickens!”
[12:54.37]In the chicken house there were four old chickens,
[12:58.85]waiting to be killed for Sunday's dinner.
[13:01.70]The next morning when he went out to the chicken house,
[13:05.75]the man opened the door. He was shocked by what he saw.
[13:10.34]He could not believe his eyes and ears.
[13:13.73]On the floor lay three dead chickens.
[13:17.67]The parrot was screaming at the fourth:
[13:21.26]“Say Catarnow, or I'll kill you!”
[13:24.32]Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
[13:31.21]26. Why did the man lose his temper?
[13:51.58]27. Who killed the three chickens?
[14:13.11]28. Why was the man shocked at the scene the next morning?
[14:30.60]Passage Two
[14:34.97]In Britain if you are found guilty of crime,
[14:39.78]you can be sent to prison or be fined or be ordered to do community work,
[14:45.69]such as tiding public places and helping the old.
[14:49.85]You may also be sent to special centres
[14:53.35]where you learn practical skills like cooking,writing and car maintenance.
[14:58.71]About 5 percent of the prison population are women.
[15:03.08]Many prisons were built over 100 years ago,
[15:06.91]but the government will have built 11 new prisons by next year.
[15:12.16]There are two sorts of prisons: the open sort and the closed sort.
[15:18.50]In the closed sort,prisoners are given very little freedom.
[15:23.53]They spent 3 to 10 hours outside their cells
[15:28.35]when they exercise,eat,study,learn skills,watch TV
[15:34.47]and talk to other prisoners.All prisoners are expected to work.
[15:39.61]Most of them are paid for what they do,
[15:43.01]whether it is doing maintenance or cooking and cleaning.
[15:46.83]Prisoners in the open prisons are locked up at night,
[15:51.42]but for the rest of the time they are free within the prison grounds.
[15:55.80]They can exercise,have visitors or study.
[15:59.73]And some are allowed out of the grounds to study or do community work.
[16:05.43]Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.
[16:11.44]29. What do we know about women prisoners in Britain?
[16:31.51]30. In what way are open prisons different from closed prisons?
[16:56.64]31. What do we learn about prisoners in Britain?
[17:15.86]Passage Three
[17:18.04]London Taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands.
[17:24.61]No matter how small and indistinct the street is,
[17:29.20]the driver will be able to get you there without any trouble.
[17:33.14]The reason London taxi drivers are so efficient is that
[17:38.93]they have all gone through a very tough training period
[17:43.20]to get a special taxi driving license.
[17:45.60]During this period which can take from two to four years,
[17:50.96]the wouldbe taxi driver has to learn
[17:55.01]the most direct route to every single road
[17:57.53]and to every important building in London.
[18:00.26]To achieve this most learners go around the city
[18:04.74]on small motor bikes practicing how to move to
[18:08.68]and from different points of the city.
[18:11.42]Learner taxi drivers are tested several times
[18:16.12]during their training period by government officers.
[18:19.84]Their exams are a terrible experience.
[18:23.67]The officers ask you:
[18:25.74]“How do you get from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London?”
[18:30.12]And you have to take them there in a direct line.
[18:33.95]When you get to the tower,they won't say“Well done”.
[18:37.45]They will quickly move on to the next question.
[18:41.50]After five or six questions they would just say:
[18:45.87]“See you in two months' time.”
[18:48.28]And then you know the exam is over.
[18:50.80]Learner drivers are not allowed to work and earn money as drivers.
[18:57.25]Therefore many of them keep their previous jobs
[19:01.51]until they obtain their licenses.
[19:03.81]The training can cost quite a lot
[19:06.98]because learners have to pay for their own expenses
[19:10.15]on the tests and the medical exam.
[19:13.76]Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
[19:19.01]32. Why are London taxi drivers very efficient?
[19:42.19]33. How long does the training period last?
[20:02.69]34. Why does the speaker think the driving test is a terrible experience?
[20:23.84]35. Why do learner drivers have to keep their present jobs?
[20:46.00]Section C
[20:49.50]Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times.
[20:55.51]When the passage is read for the first time,
[20:58.47]you should listen carefully for its general idea.
[21:01.21]When the passage is read for the second time,
[21:04.16]you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43
[21:09.63]with the exact words you have just heard.
[21:12.47]For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required
[21:18.27]to fill in the missing information.
[21:20.68]For these blanks, you can either use the exact words
[21:24.83]you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words.
[21:29.75]Finally, when the passage is read for the third time,
[21:33.80]you should check what you have written.
[21:36.42]Now listen to the passage.
[21:40.36]Many new plays are presented first on Broadway,
[21:45.06]the theatre district of New York City.
[21:47.90]If they are successful,
[21:49.66]they later go“on the road”to scores of cities throughout the country.
[21:54.47]More than 50 productions are presented each season on Broadway.
[21:59.39]To many Americans,
[22:01.25]seeing a Broadway show is a high point
[22:04.10]in their visit to the nation's largest city.
[22:06.39]However,a movement known as“regional theatre”
[22:11.03]has developed across the United States,
[22:13.66]and playhouses are attended eagerly in cities throughout the nation.
[22:18.15]In recent years another side of the New York Theatre has developed,
[22:23.50]known as“off Broadway”.
[22:25.69]These plays are modestly staged in small play-house,
[22:30.72]but some rank with the best Broadway performances in professional skill,
[22:35.86]and many enjoy long runs.
[22:38.27]After the regular theatre season has closed,
[22:42.32]more than 300 summer theatres go into action in rural areas,
[22:47.45]in suburbs and at seashore and mountain resorts.
[22:51.40]Well-known actors often appear in these plays.
[22:55.00]At the same time,
[22:56.64]ambitious young students of the theatre
[22:59.05]have an opportunity to work under experienced actors and directors.
[23:03.31]Motion pictures remain a favourite form of entertainment
[23:07.91]despite the popularity of television.
[23:10.42]Not as many feature films are being made today as 20 years ago,
[23:15.78]but the quality of the films has improved.
[23:18.74]Many movies are now made by independent producers
[23:23.00]with fresh ideas and approaches.
[23:25.52]They select their stories and treat the subjects
[23:29.23]in ways that reflect their creative ideas.
[23:32.85]Modern methods of movie making,
[23:35.36]such as the wide screen, colour film, and improved sound
[23:39.62]have enhanced realism and audience enjoyment.
[23:44.30]Now the passage will be read again.
[23:48.78]Many new plays are presented first on Broadway,
[23:53.38]the theatre district of New York City.
[23:56.11]If they are successful,
[23:57.86]they later go“on the road”to scores of cities throughout the country.
[24:02.68]More than 50 productions are presented each season on Broadway.
[24:07.59]To many Americans,
[24:10.11]seeing a Broadway show is a high point
[24:12.73]in their visit to the nation's largest city.
[24:15.47]However,a movement known as“regional theatre”
[24:19.41]has developed across the United States,
[24:22.03]and playhouses are attended eagerly in cities throughout the nation.
[24:26.96]In recent years another side of the New York Theatre has developed,
[24:31.88]known as“off Broadway”.
[24:34.83]These plays are modestly staged in small play-house,
[24:38.77]but some rank with the best Broadway performances in professional skill,
[24:44.24]and many enjoy long runs.
[24:48.83]After the regular theatre season has closed,
[24:51.67]more than 300 summer theatres go into action in rural areas,
[24:56.59]in suburbs and at seashore and mountain resorts.
[25:51.07]Well-known actors often appear in these plays.
[25:54.02]At the same time,
[25:55.44]ambitious young students of the theatre
[25:57.85]have an opportunity to work under experienced actors and directors.
[26:02.33]Motion pictures remain a favourite form of entertainment
[26:06.59]despite the popularity of television.
[26:59.56]Not as many feature films are being made today as 20 years ago,
[27:03.72]but the quality of the films has improved.
[27:07.11]Many movies are now made by independent producers
[27:11.04]with fresh ideas and approaches.
[27:14.98]They select their stories and treat the subjects
[27:17.39]in ways that reflect their creative ideas.
[27:21.76]Modern methods of movie making,
[27:23.40]such as the wide screen, colour film, and improved sound
[27:28.00]have enhanced realism and audience enjoyment.
[28:23.04]Now the passage will be read for the third time.
[28:25.88]Many new plays are presented first on Broadway,
[28:31.57]the theatre district of New York City.
[28:34.20]If they are successful,
[28:36.17]they later go“on the road”to scores of cities throughout the country.
[28:40.87]More than 50 productions are presented each season on Broadway.
[28:45.68]To many Americans,
[28:47.87]seeing a Broadway show is a high point
[28:50.94]in their visit to the nation's largest city.
[28:53.34]However,a movement known as“regional theatre”
[28:57.50]has developed across the United States,
[29:00.12]and playhouses are attended eagerly in cities throughout the nation.
[29:04.50]In recent years another side of the New York Theatre has developed,
[29:10.08]known as“off Broadway”.
[29:12.05]These plays are modestly staged in small play-house,
[29:16.85]but some rank with the best Broadway performances in professional skill,
[29:22.43]and many enjoy long runs.
[29:25.06]After the regular theatre season has closed,
[29:29.10]more than 300 summer theatres go into action in rural areas,
[29:33.91]in suburbs and at seashore and mountain resorts.
[29:37.75]Well-known actors often appear in these plays.
[29:41.57]At the same time,
[29:42.88]ambitious young students of the theatre
[29:45.40]have an opportunity to work under experienced actors and directors.
[29:50.00]Motion pictures remain a favourite form of entertainment
[29:55.03]despite the popularity of television.
[29:56.89]Not as many feature films are being made today as 20 years ago,
[30:02.14]but the quality of the films has improved.
[30:05.42]Many movies are now made by independent producers
[30:09.57]with fresh ideas and approaches.
[30:11.87]They select their stories and treat the subjects
[30:15.81]in ways that reflect their creative ideas.
[30:19.31]Modern methods of movie making,
[30:21.93]such as the wide screen, colour film, and improved sound
[30:26.74]have enhanced realism and audience enjoyment.
[30:30.53]This is the end of listening comprehension.