TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2002)-GRADE FOUR-
PART I DICTATION
Listen to the following passage, Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence，or phrase by phrase，with intervals of 15 seconds．The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more. Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Now listen to the passage.
DISAPPEARING FORESTS
The world's forests are disappearing.
As much as a third of the total tree cover has been lost
since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago.
The remaining forests are home to half of the world species,
thus becoming the chief resource for their survival.
Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet
as well as supporting at least half of the world species of plants
and animals. / These rain forests are home to millions of people,
but there are other demands on them.
For example, much has been cut for timber,
and an increasing amount of forestland
has been used for industrial purposes
or for agricultural development, such as crop growing.
By the 1990s,
less than half of the earth's original rain forests remained,
and they continue to disappear at an alarming rate every year.
As a result, the world's forests
are now facing a gradual extinction.
DISAPPEARING FORESTS
The world's forests are disappearing.
DISAPPEARING FORESTS
The world's forests are disappearing.
As much as a third of the total tree cover has been lost
As much as a third of the total tree cover has been lost
since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago.
since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago.
The remaining forests are home to half of the world species,
The remaining forests are home to half of the world species,
thus becoming the chief resource for their survival.
thus becoming the chief resource for their survival.
Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet
Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet
as well as supporting at least half of the world species of plants and animals.
as well as supporting at least half of the world species of plants and animals.
These rain forests are home to millions of people,
These rain forests are home to millions of people,
but there are other demands on them.
but there are other demands on them.
For example, much has been cut for timber,
For example, much has been cut for timber,
and an increasing amount of forestland has been used for industrial purposes
and an increasing amount of forestland has been used for industrial purposes
or for agricultural development, such as crop growing.
or for agricultural development, such as crop growing.
By the 1990s,less than half of the earth's original rain forests remained,
By the 1990s,less than half of the earth's original rain forests remained,
and they continue to disappear at an alarming rate every year.
and they continue to disappear at an alarming rate every year.
As a result, the world's forests are now facing a gradual extinction.
As a result, the world's forests are now facing a gradual extinction.
DISAPPEARING FORESTS
The world's forests are disappearing.
As much as a third of the total tree cover has been lost
since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago.
The remaining forests are home to half of the world species,
thus becoming the chief resource for their survival.
Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet
as well as supporting at least half of the world species of plants
and animals. / These rain forests are home to millions of people,
but there are other demands on them.
For example, much has been cut for timber,
and an increasing amount of forestland
has been used for industrial purposes
or for agricultural development, such as crop growing.
By the 1990s,
less than half of the earth's original rain forests remained,
and they continue to disappear at an alarming rate every year.
As a result, the world's forests
are now facing a gradual extinction.
Now you have 2 minutes to check through your work.
That is the end of the Part I Dictation.
PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION
In Sections A，B and C you will hear everything ONCE ONLY.
Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow．
Mark the correct answer to each question on your answer sheet．
SECTION A CONVERSATIONS
In this section you will hear several conversations．
Listen to the conversations carefully
and then answer the questions that follow．
Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation.
At the end of the conversation，
you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions．
Now, listen to the conversation.
M: Do you agree
that newspapers seem impersonal?
W: Yes. There're no personalities
involved as in radio or TV.
M: Yes. But being impersonal does not mean objectivity.
Newspapers are written by people
who have biases and prejudices.
W: You said it. On the other hand,
radio and television can be just as biased as,
if not more biased than, newspapers.
M: People on radio and television
are trying to stick closely to a script.
W: Even without a script,
people will let their biases show.
M: So the difference between newspapers on the one hand
and radio and television on the other is personality.
W: Yes. When you read a newspaper article,
it's kind of cold.
M: There're no voice inflections.
W: And there're no facial expressions
or body language, either.
M: It could be a real exciting story,
and all you can do is put exclamation marks.
W: But on camera,
people can interpret the words of a script
in their voices and expressions.
M: That would have an impact on the audience.
W: Yes. People are more likely to be influenced
by what's offered on radio and television than in newspapers.
M: Of course, newspaper writers can use descriptive words
such as adjectives or adverbs,
but that's nothing compared with personalities.
W: Yes.
M: Personality sells.
Questions 4 to 6 are based on the following conversation．
At the end of the conversation, you will be given
15 seconds to answer the questions．
Now, listen to the conversation.
W: Welcome to visit out city, Mr. Lewis-
but,of course,
you have been here before, haven't you?
M: Yes, I have. What a good memory I have!
I was here for the Arts Festival last year.
W: And what will you be doing this year?
M: Oh, I came here primarily for a holiday
and to see some friends.
But I will also be giving private cello lessons as well.
W: I believe that your cello is rather special.
Is that true?
M: Oh, yes. It was made for my uncle
by a very expert German cello maker called Schuster.
When I began cello lessons at the age of eight,
he said that when I grew big enough
to handle a full-sized cello, he would give it to me.
W: So when a child begins to play the cello,
he or she starts on a smaller instrument?
M: Of course, or he would be very uncomfortable.
Many children begin with half-sized cello,
but as I was big for my age,
I began with a two-third-sized cello.
W: Are you going to other places on this trip
and will you take your cello with you?
M: Yes, very definitely.
W: But, isn't it difficult to take a cello around with you?
M: Not really. I just receive two seats
when I'm traveling anywhere,
one for me and one for my cello.
It's such a precious instrument to me
that it hardly ever leaves my side.
Questions 7 to 10 are based on the following conversation．
At the end of the conversation, you will be given
20 seconds to answer the questions．
Now, listen to the conversation.
M: Good morning, Miss Brown.
Have a seat please.
I have been looking through your application.
You seem to have many of the qualifications
needed for this position, especially the experience.
W: I have been working in hotels for eight years now.
M: Oh, really. Were you satisfied with your last position?
W: Well, to be honest, not entirely.
The chances for advancement were very slim.
M: I see. Was it hard work?
W: No, it's an interesting job
and I loved meeting people.
I know how to handle a bad-tempered guest.
M: But have you done anything to do with tour-a tour guide?
W: I did work for a short time
as an attendant for a tour operator,
taking foreigners on guided tours of London.
M: Do you speak any foreign languages?
W: Yes. I speak German and Spanish-you see,
I spent several years abroad when I was young.
M: Oh, did you? Next is the question of salary, of course.
W: Well, I used to get 2000 monthly,
so I couldn't accept less than that.
M: Well, we ask for loyalty
and hard work from our employees.
But we pay well, and opportunities for promotion depend on merit,
not just on age or seniority.
W: Mr. Robert, I don't mind working hard and working overtime.
M: That's fine.
I have a few more applicants to interview today
for this position.
But at the moment, your chance looks very good.
W: I'm glad to hear it.
SECTION B PASSAGES
In this section，you will hear several passages．
Listen to the passages carefully
and then answer the questions that follow．
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage．
At the end of the passage,
you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions．
Now, listen to the passage.
Even a careful motorist
may have the misfortune to commit a motoring offence.
In due course, having received a summons,
he will appear in what is commonly known as a police-court.
This is a court presided over by a civil officer,
who tries cases without a jury.
A civil officer has powers
to pass sentence for relatively minor offences only;
serious charges are dealt with by a judge and jury.
When his case comes up in court,
the motorist hears his name called by the clerk of the court,
and comes forward to identify himself.
The civil officer then calls for the policeman
who charged the offender and asks him to give evidence.
The policeman also is expected
to give an account of what happened
when the offence was committed
and to mention any special circumstances.
For instance, the offence may have been partly
due to the foolishness of another motorist.
It would be unwise for the accused motorist to exaggerate this.
It will not help his case to
try to blame someone else for his own mistake.
The civil officer, on hearing
that some other motorist is involved,
will doubtless say, "What is being done about this man?"
"Case coming up later this afternoon," may will be the answer.
If you are guilty,
it is of course wise to plead guilty
and apologize for committing the offence and taking up the court's time.
Questions 14 to 16 are based on the following passage．
At the end of the passage, you will be given
15 seconds to answer the questions．
Now, listen to the passage.
Scientists say there are more than 350 different kinds of sharks.
Sharks do not have bones,
and a shark has an extremely good sense of smell.
It can find small amounts of substances in the water,
such as blood, body liquids and chemicals produced by animals.
Sharks also sense electrical and magnetic power
linked to nerves and muscles of living animals.
These powerful senses help them find their food.
Some sharks will eat just about anything.
Many unusual things have been found
in the stomachs of some tiger sharks.
They include shoes, dogs, a cow's foot
and metal protective clothing.
About forty percent of the different kinds of sharks lay eggs.
The others give birth to live young.
Some sharks carry their young
inside their bodies like humans do.
Scientists are beginning to understand
the importance of sharks to humans.
Medical researchers want to learn
more about the shark's body defense system against disease.
They know that sharks recover quickly from injuries.
Sharks appear never to suffer infections, cancer or heart diseases.
Questions 17 to 20 are based on the following passage．
At the end of the passage, you will be given
20 seconds to answer the questions．
Now, listen to the passage.
Not every service or product meets your satisfaction.
When you are dissatisfied,
you should voice your dissatisfaction.
One reason for doing so
is to help the vendor know there is a problem.
The problem may have been created at a lower level
in the vendor's company,
and the vendor himself may know nothing about it at all.
You help him when you bring weaknesses or failures to his attention.
A second reason for writing a letter of complaint to a vendor
is to seek compensation.
You may not wish to pursue the matter
so far as to take legal action,
but you may wish to give the vendor
the opportunity of making good.
Most vendors value your business
and their reputation sufficiently to replace defective goods
on their own initiative or refund money when necessary.
This is the preferred way of making a vendor
answer your complaint.
No vendor likes to do so,
but your carefully worded letter of complaint
may motivate him to do so.
When you write a letter of complaint,
you'd better keep these tips in mind:
First, be polite though firm.
You will not win a vendor's cooperation by anger.
Secondly, be reasonable.
Show logically and factually
that the fault lies with the vendor.
Thirdly, be specific about what is wrong
and what you want done about it.
Lastly, tell how you have been hurt
or inconvenienced by the problem.
This strengthens your argument for compensation.
SECTION C NEWS BROADCAST
In this section, you will hear several news items.
Listen to them carefully
and then answer the questions that follow.
Questions 21 and 22 are based on the following news．
At the end of the news item，you will be given
10 seconds to answer the questions．
Now listen to the news.
Britain has announced
that it decided to cancel about 200 million pounds of world debts
owed to it by poor commonwealth countries.
The international development secretary
says the relief has been offered to countries
committed to eliminating poverty, and pursuing good government.
These would include taking actions against corruption.
At the same time,
common market finance ministers are meeting in Malaysia.
Britain is expected to put forth a fresh initiative
on reducing the debts of the poorest countries.
The Charles Levine strategist has indicated
that they plan to revive the scheme
put forward last year by the International Monetary Fund,
which has not yet provided any relief.
Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following news．
At the end of the news item，
you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions．
Now listen to the news.
An underground train derailed at the station
in central Paris yesterday,injuring 23 people
and just missing another underground train standing
on the opposite track.
French emergency services
said the train was traveling at 35 kilometers per hour
when it derailed as it entered the station.
No one has been killed
and no one was trapped in the train during the accident.
Ambulances rushed to the scene
and doctors began treating casualties in the station.
In a nearby cafe,
some people have broken limbs
and others have suffered bruising.
None was in a critical condition.
Last night, it was not known
why the train came off the tracks.
Questions 25 and 26 are based on the following news．
At the end of the news item，you will be given
10 seconds to answer the questions．
Now listen to the news.
Argentina civil servants held a 24-hour strike yesterday
to protest pay cuts of 12-15%
for anyone earning more than 1,000 U.S. dollars a month.
Public service unions
and the local teamsters planned to hold the protest rally
in front of the government house.
The work stoppage comes after last Friday's general strike
when many of Argentina's 12 millions workers stayed home
after the nation's powerful General Workers Confederation,
the nation's largest union group,
called a one-day strike
to protest spending cuts and free market reforms.
Questions 27 and 28 are based on the following news．
At the end of the news item，
you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions．
Now listen to the news.
Germany was due to strike a deal yesterday
to close down its 19 nuclear power plants,
making it the first major industrial nation
to commit to withdrawing from nuclear energy.
The talks between chancellor of the Kern government
and the chiefs of the German energy industry began at 8∶30 p.m.
Closure of Germany's 19 reactors,
which provided around a third of the country's electricity needs,
was the key pledge of the Greenes,
the junior partner in this coalition government.
Questions 29 and 30 are based on the following news．
At the end of the news item，you will be given
10 seconds to answer the questions．
Now listen to the news.
The UN children's program UNICEF
says it plans to help millions of African children return to school
or start classes for the first time next year.
The agency's executive director
says more than twenty-four million children in Africa
are not in school
because of discrimination, school fees or other factors.
Meanwhile the chief UN office for refugees
is asking for additional fifty-six million dollars
for food and housing for people fleeing ethnic violence
in Sudan's western Darfur region. A spokesman
says Secretary General Kofi Annan
is planning to visit the region soon.
This is the end of Listening Comprehension.