VI. Further Listening and Speaking
Task1: Hot Business Ideas Script
Business ideas are all around you. Many business ideas come from a careful analysis of market and consumer needs. If you are interested in starting a business, but don‟t know what product or service you might sell, here are some ways that may help you find one.
First of all, you should study how to value to an existing product. The difference raw wood and finished wooden products is a good example of putting a product through an additional process that increases its value.
But additional processes are not the only way value can be added. You might also add services, or combine one product with other products. For instance, a local farm which sells produce can also offer a vegetable delivery service—for a free. What business ideas can you develop along these lines? Focus on what products you might buy, and what you might do to them or with them to create a profitable business.
Some people have another way of making profit. They improve an existing products or service. We all know that the person who can build a better mousetrap will make a lot of money. That person could be you! A local entrepreneur has created an improved version of the hula hoop. It‟s bigger and heavier, so hula-hoopers can control it more easily and do more tricks. How did she come up with this business idea? She thought hula hooping would be a fun thing to do with her daughter, but found the commercially available product too flimsy. There are very few products or services that can‟t be improved. Start generating business ideas by looking at the products and services you use and brainstorming ideas as to how they could be better. 1. What is the first way the speaker mentions that helps you produce a business idea? 2. Which of the following methods does the speaker NOT mention? 3. Why does the speaker mention the mousetrap? 4. Which of the following is true according to the passage? 5. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
Keys: 1.C 2.B 3.B 4.A 5.D
Task 2: What do you know about business?
Script
Historically, the term business referred to activities or interests. By extension, the word became, as recently as the 18th century, synonymous with “an individual
commercial enterprise”. When referring to activities, the terms business and industry sometimes appear interchangeable. Thus a fisherman might say either that he is in the “fishing business”, which is a bit colloquial or that he works in the “fishing industry”, which sounds somewhat formal. The word “trade” may serve as an equivalent of both “business” and “industry”.
People establish business in order to perform economic activities. With some exceptions, such as non-profit organizations and institutions of the government, businesses exist to product profit. In other words, the owners and operators of a business have receiving or generating a financial return for their time, effort and capital as one of their main objectives. One can classify businesses in many different ways. In recent years, service businesses have become increasingly popular. They offer intangible products and typically have different, usually smaller, capital requirements than manufacturers. Distributors need smaller funds than manufacturers.
Most laws specify the forms that a business can take, and a body of commercial law has been developed for each type. Some common types include partnerships, corporations, also called limited liability companies, and sole ownerships.
Task3: An office boy or a billionaire?
A jobless man applied for the position of “office boy” at Microsoft. The human resource manger interviewed him, and gave him a test: clean the floor. “You are engaged,” he said, “give me your email address, and I‟ll send you the application form to fill and tell you when you will start.” The man replied, “I don‟t have a computer or an email.”
“I‟m sorry,” said the HR manager, “if you don‟t have an email, that means you don‟t exist. And whoever doesn‟t exist can‟t have the job!”
The man left with no hope at all. He didn‟t know what to do, with only 10 dollars in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a crate of tomatoes. He sold the tomatoes in a door-to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded in doubling his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with 60 dollars. The man realizes that he could survive this way, and started to go out early and returned late every day. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day. A little later, he bought a cart, then a trunk, then he has his own fleet of delivery vehicles. Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers in the United States. He started to plan his family‟ future, and decided to buy life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. Before the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him for his email address. The man replied,” I have no email.”
The broker replied,” You don‟t have an email, and yet have succeeded in building an empire! Can you imagine what you could have been you had an email.” The man replied, “ An office boy at Microsoft!”
For Reference
1. “If you don‟t have an email that means you don‟t exist. And whoever doesn‟t exist can‟t have the job!”
2. He sold the tomatoes in a door-to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded in doubling his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with 60 dollars.
3. He bought a cart, then a trunk, then he has his own fleet of delivery vehicles. Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers in the United States.
4. He started to plan his family‟ future, and decided to buy life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan.
5. He thought that with an email , he would have become an office boy at Microsoft.
News Report
A Historic Settlement between the Law and Business Script
Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman:
We hope that when the state attorney general fully reviewed the settlement, they will also agree that it‟s the right way forward. Litigation is never a good thing for any industry or any company. We have said for some time that we would go the extra mile to resolve this case. That is exactly what we did in reaching this settlement.
The experience of the past the three years hs had a profound impact on me personally and on our company. We are in a fast-moving, competitive industry, but we will focus more on how our actions affect other companies. John Ashcroft, U.S Attorney General:
Today we are announcing a strong, historical settlement reached by the Department of Justice and the Microsoft Corporation that will put an end to Microsoft‟s unlawful conduct, bring effective relief to the marketplace, and ensure that consumers will have more choices in meeting their needs of computing and working with their computers. This settlement is the right result for consumers and for businesses, the right result for the economy, and the right result for government. It provides prompt, effective, certain relief for consumers and removes the uncertainty in the computer market, a critical factor in today‟s economy.
Unit 6
II. Basic Listening Practice
1. Script
W: Are those cigarettes yours? I thought you quit. If you go back to it, your teeth and
fingers will be nicotine-stained; your breath and clothes will smell smoky.
M: I didn‟t. I swear. Ads showing diseased lungs kept me from starting again. Believe me, I‟ll never again be a slave to smoking. Q: Why didn‟t the man go back to smoking?
Script
M: What‟s that noise? It‟s really loud! Sounds like gunshots!
W: It‟s the local “youth” throwing firecrackers. Don‟t go out. They‟re likely to throw one at you or put one through the letterbox if you bother them. Q: What may the young people do?
3. Script
M: I wish I had left my wallet at home. But I‟m sure I put it in my back pocket. W: Oh, no, it‟s easy for a pickpocket to take it from there. You should out your money in your breast pocket.
Q: What should the man do, according to the conversation?
4. Script
M: I hate that subway station. Whenever you come our, you‟re always plagued by
beggars.
W: I know, but the kids really get to me. I can‟t help but feel sorry for them. They look so miserable.
Q: What do the man and woman think about the young beggars? 5. Script
M: The bank call me today: they wanted to know if I spent 3,000 dollars in a furniture shop this morning! Of course I didn‟t!
W: Someone must‟ve made a copy of your credit card. It‟s easily done. You‟ll have to cancel it at once and get a new one. Hopefully, the bank will cover the damage. Q: What does the woman recommend the man to do?
Keys: 1.C 2.C3. B 4.A 5.D
III. Listening In Task 1: How to Solve Unemployment Problem
Script
Alan: I have a meeting with my accountant tomorrow morning. She‟s preparing
my income tax return, and I need to go over some of the receipts with her.
Pamela: Income tax return! Don‟t you think the government just squanders our
hard-earned tax on some unnecessary projects?
Alan: Sure, someone they do, but we are living pretty well and, to be honest, I
don‟t mind paying taxes. If I‟m paying income tax, it means I‟m earning would be much lower.
Pamela: If the poor would just get jobs, our taxes would be much lower.
Alan: Most people would rather work than receive charity, but the situation is
complex: sometimes there are no jobs that they are trained for.
Pamela: Then they should take the needed training—upgrade their skills and
knowledge to become more employable.
Alan: Training and upgrading cost money. Some government tax dollars are
directed to programs that help the poor get jobs.
Pamela: But even when jobs are available, some of the unemployed don‟t want to work. They would rather have a handout.
Alan: It‟s partly a matter of education. Some people have to be educated to
realize how much fuller their life would be if they were not dependent on charity.
Pamela: I think the government should attack unemployment by reducing the tax rate. That would put more money into people‟s pockets, then they would spend more, and the spending would create more jobs for the poor. Alan: Many people would agree with you.
Alan‟s accountant is preparing his income tax return, so he needs to go over some of the receipts wit her. Pamela complains that the government just squanders people‟s hard-earned tax money on some unnecessary projects. But Alan does not mind paying taxes, saying it means he is earning money, which is better than living on charity. Pamela insists that if the poor would just get jobs, taxes would bee much lower. Alan disagrees, saying most people would rather work than receive charity, but sometimes there are no jobs that they are trained for. But Pamela asserts that the jobless people should take the needed training to upgrade their skills and knowledge to become more employable. Alan believes that some of the government tax dollars are already directed to training and upgrading programs that help the poor to get jobs. When Pamela says some of the unemployed don‟t want to work, preferring to have handouts, Alan points out that some people have to be educated to realize how much fuller their life would be if they ere not dependent on charity. Pamela is, however, more down-to-earth, thinking the government should attack unemployment by reducing the tax rate. That would give people more money; then, they would spend more, which would create more jobs for the poor.
Task 2: A Professional Gambler
Script
In a bar a guy told the bartender, “I‟m a professional gambler; I‟ve made of lots of money from gambling.”
The bartender answered, “I can hardly believe it. Your odds are fifty-fifty at best, right?”
“Well, I only bet on sure things,” said the guy. “Like what?” asked the bartender.
The bartender thought about it, “Okay,” he said.
So the guy pulled out his false right eye and bit it, “Ah, you screwed me,” said the bartender, and paid the guy fifty dollars.
“I‟ll give you another chance. I‟ll bet you another fifty dollars that I can bite my left eye,” said the stranger.
The bartender thought it over again and said, “Well, I can see you‟re not blind. I‟ll take that bet.”
So, the guy pulled out his false teeth and bit his left eye. And the bartender had to pay him another fifty dollars.
Then the guy went to the back room to play cards with some of the locals. After many hours of drinking and card playing, he stumbles up to the bartender and said, “Bartender, I‟ll give you one last chance. I‟ll bet you 500 dollars that I can dump tomato juice into that whiskey bottle three foot away without spilling a drop.” The bartender thought the guy must be drunk now, “Okay, you‟re on,” he said.
The guy began dumping tomato juice all over the bartender, but no a drop fell into the whiskey bottle.
The bartender was overjoyed. Laughing, the bartender said, “Hey, pal, you owe me five hundred dollars!”
The guy said, “That‟s okay. I just bet the guys in the card room1, 000 bucks each, that I could dump tomato juice all over you but you still laugh!”
Keys: TFTFT
For Reference
1. Because not a drop tomato juice fell into the whiskey bottle, and he was to win the bet of 500 dollars. 2. Because he just bet the guys in card room1, 000 buck each that he could dump tomato juice all over the bartender and still make him laugh.
Task3: Fighting Teen Smoking Script
The percentage of teens who smoke cigarettes dropped to 28% in 2003, according to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That was down from 36% in 1999 as measured by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. It‟s a triumph for many people across the nation who worked tirelessly to reverse the climb in teen smoking rates during the 1990s.
An equal accomplishment many be discovery of what works to influence teens‟ motivation and behavior. Success has come in communities with a comprehensive
program to fight tobacco use by teens. The best school health classes won‟t have much effect on teen who already smoke. Many of them need professional help before they can quit. Another interesting finding is that nearly all first use of tobacco occurs before high school graduation. So if adolescents don‟t start smoking by age 18, odds are they never will. For those who do experiment with cigarettes, new research shows teens can get hooked on nicotine more quickly than adults and by extremely low levels of tobacco.
Now the bad news: while the teen smoking rate is down to 28%, that still means more than one in four teenagers still smoke. Public health and parents are not ready to abandon a quarter of today‟s young people to the damaging effects of tobacco. Obviously, it is still too early to celebrate a complete victory. There is still much room for improvement.
1. What percentage did the teen smoking rate drop by?
2. What happened in the 1990s, according to the speaker? Useful for reducing teen smoking according to the speaker?
3. What is especially useful for reducing teen smoking according to the speaker? 4. What is the bad news mentioned in the passage? 5. What is the main idea of the passage?
Kes: 1D 2.A 3. B 4.C 5.
For Reference
Before the age of 18. According to the passage, if adolescents don‟t start smoking by age 18, odds are they never will.
IV. Speaking Out MODEL 1 Nursing home abuse is a national epidemic. John: Nora, what are you doing? What are these notes about?
Nora: Well, they are for a 1,000 word essay on abuse on the elderly, due Monday. John: That‟s a big topic. What made you decide to write about that subject? Nora: Granny‟s going into a nursing home. And this essay is driving me crazy. John: Narrow down the topic. Pick one aspect, like nursing home. Do an outline.
Nora: You mean list the ideas under headings: Introduction, Body, and the
Conclusion?
John: Yes. In the Introduction, say people live longer now, crowing nursing homes. Nora: Then maybe in the Body I can explain how the owners try to save money on food and care. John: Right. Here I see a good quotation: “Nursing home abuse is a national epidemic.”
Nora: I have statistics: 500 homes inspected; in one-third, care was substandard. John: Mention government offices and lawyers who‟ll help in cases of abuse.
Nora: Then, I think I can summarize the main ideas about the helpless elderly in the
Conclusion.
John: Good. When you‟ve written a first draft, read it aloud to eliminate awkward spots. Nora: I‟m feeling a lot better about this essay and a lot less worried about Granny
now.
John: The essay is a piece of cake; but ensuring Granny‟s OK is a lot harder.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: Oh, Bobby, so you‟ve come to see me again. B: How are you doing? Hope everyone is OK here.
A: My God, I can hardly bear the life here. This nursing home is driving crazy. B: What‟s wrong?>
A: You see, there are to many old people here, but far too small a staff. B: Yeah, that‟s probably because people live longer now, crowding nursing homes. A: So we can hardily get attention. The owner tries to save money on food and care. B: I see, nursing home abuse is now a very common problem. I heard of one survey with statistics: 300 homes were inspects, and in nearly half of them care was substandard.
A: Sometimes they even beat me. I don‟t know where and how I can get help. B: I n theory government offices and lawyers can help you in cases of abuse. A: But it is inconvenient for me to contact government offices again and again, and I‟m too poor to hire a lawyer. B: OK, aunt, since it‟s hard to ensure you‟re Ok here, I‟ll take you home. Mary and I will take care of you. A: Are you sure Mary thinks in the same way as you do?
MODEL2 This beauty battled the bottle.
Chris: Hey Nora.
Nora: Hey Chris. How is it going?
Chris: Not too bad. Sit down. Sit down. Hey, who was that food-looking girl you
were talking to near the auditorium?
Nora: “The Drunken Doctor”, Dr Doyle, who gave dynamite Ladies Only lecture. Chris: No, no. I mean the blonds, healthy-looking, the twenty-something girl in blue. Nora: Yeah, exactly. She‟s a doctor, but she used to be a drunk. Now she tells women the dangers of drinking. Chris: I can‟t imagine some one as pretty as she is to be a drunk. And a doctor, too! Nora: She says there are alcoholics all over the world, 16 million plus just in the U.S. Chris: I‟m surprised that there are so many people who lack the will-power to stop.
Nora: It‟s a disease that strikes young and old, rich and poor, and al walks of life. Chris: Drunks are often dirty old men begging for money. How did Dr. Doyle get hooked? Nora: She was an intern in a big hospital: long hours, little sleep, and constant
stress.
Chris: I suppose at first alcohol helped her to relax, but she realized.
Nora: First it was a drink at night, then two, then a bottle, then drinks to wake up. Chris: That‟s a sad story.
Nora: More inspiring than sad. She got help and stopped. Now she helps others. Isn‟t
that wonderful?
Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG
A: Hi, John, I‟m so glad to see you are back! B: It‟s nice to be home again, Mom.
A: Oh, you smell terribly of alcohol and tobacco. You didn‟t smoke or drink before you left home a year ago. How did you get hooked? B: As an assistant engineer, I had to work might shifts often. I felt lonely and began to drink and smoke. That helped me to relax. A: So gradually you drank more and more? B: Yeah, first it was a drink at night, then two, then a bottle, and then I drank to wake up.
A: Oh, I simply can‟t imagine my handsome son to be a drunk and a heavy smoker now. Can‟t you stop?
B: It‟s difficult. I lack the will-power to stop. A: But remember the dangers of heavy drinking and smoking. Sooner or later you‟ll develop high blood pressure, heart trouble, or liver trouble. B: There are alcoholics all over the world, and they are still living. A: I‟m sorry that drinking and smoking ate diseases that strike young and old, rich and [poor, and all walks of life. Young must get help and stop. B: OK, I‟ll try my best.
MODEL3 There are high risks with games of chance. Script
Susan: Hey, Chris. Why so you look so depressed?
Chris: Oh, it‟s my brother. You know, he has got a gambling problem. You can‟t understand gambling as an addiction unless you‟ve been hooked.
Susan: Apparently it‟s like being addicted to drugs or alcohol. You just want more
and more.
Chris: It‟s exactly like alcoholism; it takes over you life. It‟s on your mind constantly. Susan: Yeah, like some horrible disease. But you can get help.
Chris: My brother tried to stop, but he felt restless…bad tempered. His nerves were
always on edge.
Susan: Did he try Gamblers Anonymous? It‟s a self-help group with experience just
like his.
Chris: Yeah, he‟s not alone. It‟s estimated there are 10 million addicts in America. Susan: I don‟t want to nag him, but isn‟t it a question of taking control of his life? Chris: I see your point, but he‟s a compulsive gambler. Susan: I know. But if he gets help, maybe he‟ll get better. Chris: No doubt. It‟ll be tough. Though but worth it.
Susan: Remember the proverb “Better medicine has wholesome effects.”
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: Good morning, Mr. Brown, I‟m a correspondent with the magazine Health. I heat you‟ve overcome your gambling problem. First of all, could you describe your problems in the past?
B: Yeah, I did have serious gambling problems. You can‟t understand gambling as an addiction till you‟ve been hooked.
A: Could you tell me your feeling at the time? B: There was a sensation like the one that comes with drugs or alcohol, and I wanted more and more.
A: How do you compare it with alcoholism? B: It‟s like alcoholism; it takes over your life. It‟s on your mind constantly. A: Did you try to get help? B: At first I didn‟t. I tried to stop on my own, but I felt restless and bad-tempered. My nerves were on edge. A: I see it‟s difficult for a compulsive gambler to overcome the problem. But how did you finally get rid of it? B: I went to a doctor for help. He made me realize that it was a question of getting hold of my life. He told me that if I thought of it as a disease, I would probably be cured. He also gave me some medicine. A: I guess it was a thought fight.
B: Yes, though but worth it. Anyway, “Bitter pills may have wholesome effects.”
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Today I‟ll be presenting a report on our findings on the condition of the world‟s population. It may be a surprise to you that half the people in the world live on less
than two dollars a day, and one billion people live on less than one dollar a day.
I‟m going to look at poverty and its relationship to population issues. We must work fast if we hope to reduce poverty by half, by the year 2015.
Our survey shows that the first step should be to improve health-care systems. In the world‟ poorest countries, people are expected to live just 49 years. One in ten children doesn‟t reach his or her first birthday. According to our study, poor health and poverty are linked. Women are affected most by poor-care systems, especially pregnant women.
The second job we have to do, as many of you can guess, is to reduce birth rates. We have found that when given a choice, poor people in developing countries have fewer children than their parents dis. A possible reason for this is probably that smaller families have fewer expenses and more chances of increasing their earnings and savings. Since the 1970s, developing countries with lower birth rates have had faster economic growth. They have had higher productivity, more savings and more investment. Obviously we must encourage family planning and lower birth rates. Now, here is the third measure we must take: promote education in developing countries. Investing in education, especially for women, can reduce poverty. Educated women have more opportunities to work and a chance to live better. Moreover, they tend to send their children to food schools so that they can climb the social ladder. Well, any questions? None? OK. Now I‟ll talk about the fourth step we need to take… Measures to Take in Developing Problems and Reasons for Taking the Countries Measures In the poorest countries: 1.To improve health care systems 1. People are expected to live just 49 years. 2. One in ten children doesn‟t reach his or her first birthday. 3. Women are affected most by poor health-care systems, especially pregnant women. 1. Smaller families have fewer expenses 2.To reduce birth rates and more chance of increasing their earnings and savings. 2. Countries with lower birth rates have had faster economics growth. Investing in education, especially foe 3. To popularize education women, can reduce poverty: 1. Educated women have more opportunities to work and can live better 2. They are more likely to send their
children to good schools so that the children will climb the social ladder. Discussion
SAMPLE
A: To reduce poverty, it is very important to lower birth rates, as the speaker
suggested in his lecture.
B: True. Smaller families have fewer expenses and more chances to increase their earning and savings.
A: Moreover, developing countries with lower birth rates have had faster economic growth.
B: It‟s equally important to popularize education.
A: Yes, investing in education, especially for women, can reduce poverty. Educated women, you know, have more opportunities to work and a chance to live better. B: Moreover, they tend to send their children to food school s so that they will climb the social ladder.
A: The speaker also mentions the necessity to improve the health-care system. In fact, poor health and poverty are linked.
B: I agree. If you are not in good health, you can‟t work well to get good pay. What‟s more, you have to spend lots of money on seeing doctors. A: Some countries are economically backward, so they try to develop a powerful tourism industry, and in this way they earn a lot of money. B: I think it is more important for them to develop their national economy. With fast economic growth, many people will shake off poverty. A: Poverty can be alleviated further by economic aid from rich countries. B: But I think technological aid from advanced countries can be more significant. With better technology, poor countries can develop faster on their on,. As the Chinese saying goes, it is better to teach someone how to fish than to give him fish.
A: If less developed countries are allowed to export more of their workforce, they can earn more foreign currency.
B: This requires developed nations to lower their tariff barriers.
VI. Further Listening and Speaking
Task1: Held Back Because I Speak Spanish Script
I was raised speaking English, but I also spoke Spanish at home. When I went to school for the first time, I was enrolled in ESL classes—classes of English as a
Second Language. I was also put in the Limited English Proficiency Program. In all these classes, I always got the highest grades. I was the best reader and speaker. There as no reason for me to be in any of those classes.
When my parents discovered that I was in those classes instead of in regular classes with other English-speaking students, they went to the school administration to complain about the discrimination. The school had nothing to say. My parents tried to get me out of the ESL classes, but the school fought it very hard to keep me there. And then we found out why—for every student the school had in the ESL and Limited English Proficiency Program, they would receive$400. This was pretty devastating. The school‟s only excuse for keeping me there was because I lived in a Spanish-speaking household, and that I was influenced by the way my parents spoke. My parents were outraged, but I remained in the ESL and Limited English Proficiency Program until I was in the fifth grade.
Then parents transferred me to another school where they had friends. The new school gave me an English proficiency test. I aced it. SO I didn‟t have to attend those programs for non-native English speakers. I was finally on the right track and back at the head of the class. The first school I had would have never let me out of those programs or even let me take the test. I was too “Spanish” for tem.
6. What kind of class does the speaker think he should attend? 7. What was the real reason the speaker was placed in a Limited English Proficiency class?
8. What was the excuse the school used to put the speaker in an ESL class? 9. How did the speaker perform in the regular English class? 10. When the speaker described his first school, what were his feeling?
Keys: 1.C 2.D 3.A 4.B 5.A
Task 2: Drinking, Gambling and Golf Script A man was walking in the city when he was accosted by a particularly dirty-looking bum, who asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner. The man took out his wallet, extracted two dollars and asked, “If I give you this money, will you take it and buy whiskey?”
“No, I stopped drinking years ago,” the bum said. “Will you use it to gamble?”
“I don‟t gamble. I need everything I can get just to stay alive?” “Will you spend the money on green fees at a golf course?” ”Are you nuts? I haven‟t played golf for 20 years!”
The mad said, “Well, I‟m not going to give you two dollars. Instead, I‟ m going to take you to my home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife.”
The bum was surprised, “Won‟t your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I „m dirty, and I probably smell pretty bad.”
The man replied, “That‟s OK. I just want her to see what a man looks like who‟d given up drinking, gambling, and golf.”
Task3: Why buy lottery tickets?
Script
Charles: Did you hear? Next week‟s lottery will be 28 million dollars! You got your ticket yet?
Joan: I didn‟t buy lottery tickets, and I don‟t gamble on other ways, either.
Lottery tickets ate just another way of taxing the poor.
Charles: What do you mean by that?
Joan: Many of the big spenders on lottery tickets ate poor. They are spending
money they can‟t afford to spend.
Charles: I just buy lottery tickets for fun. You know…the first prize is a huge amount, and if would be exciting.
Joan: But you don‟t need the money to enjoy life, so for you it‟s a game. But when
the poor buy lottery tickets, it is often out of desperation. Charles: You must be right. Casinos are opening everywhere, and many people go on gambling holiday—you can even take a gambling cruise. Joan: Imagine being on an ocean cruise and spending all your time indoors bent over a card table or a roulette wheel. Charles: Maybe there should be some programs to help people overcome their
gambling addictions something similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Joan: There‟s indeed an online program that can help. But nobody can force
gamblers to join it. They must first want to be cured themselves.
For Reference 6. She thinks many (of the) big spenders on lottery are poor, spending money they can‟t afford to spend. 7. He just buys lottery tickets foe fun. He thinks if he won a huge amount, it would be exciting. 8. They buy lottery tickets out of desperation. And the thrill of a win, of something for nothing, is addictive.
9. Casinos are opening everywhere, many people go on gambling holidays, and one can even take a gambling cruise.
10. It will be helpful to habitual gamblers only when they want to be cured themselves.
News Report
Humanity is indivisible. Script
Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
Peace must be sought above all because it is a condition for every member of the human family to live a life of dignity and security.
We have entered the third millennium through a gate of fire. If today, after the horror of 11 September, we see better and we see farther, we will realize that humanity is indivisible.
New threats make no distinction between races, nations, or regions. A new insecurity has entered every mind, regardless of wealth or status. A deeper awareness of the bonds that bind us all, in pain and in prosperity, has gripped young and old…because beneath the surface of state and nations, ideas and language, lies the fate of individual human beings in needed. Answering their needs will be the mission of the United Nations in the century to come. Thank you very much.
Uint7
II. Basic Listening Practice 2. Script
M: Now we have satellite and high-powered microscope, it‟s easy to think we know everything about the world; but we still don‟t understand EI Nino.
W: Right. Scientists all over the world over are even uncertain about the cause of the warm Pacific current that brings storms or drought—the mysterious EI Nino. Q: Which of the following is true according to the conversation? 2. Script
M: Everyone is talking about environmental problem: acid rain, the greenhouse effect, holes in the ozone layer. We should think positively. What can we do to improve things? W: I agree. We could do a lot more to harness the sun‟s energy for heating and lighting in our homes. In Japan 43,000 solar roofs were installed in 2002. Q: How do the man and the woman view the environment?
3. Script
W: We lived in Beijing some years ago. It was always difficult to keep the house clean with wind from the north blowing sand from the desert at us.
M: That‟s why the Chinese government has been encouraging people to plant trees along the edges of the Gobi Desert. Now those trees act as wind barriers. Q: What did the government encourage people to do?
4. Script
M: Many old refrigerators and cars are environmental hazards because they contain CFCs that destroy the ozone layer.
W: Yes, but government or organizations are helping people to safely dispose of old refrigerators or, in the case of cars, to upgrade their air conditioning. Q: What are government departments helping people to do?
5. Script
M: Hey, that‟s an aerosol spray you‟re using on your hair! Build a bomb or set fire to the apartment to kill us quickly instead of making holes in the ozone, so we die of cancer.
W: Cool it, man. This spray doesn‟t contain CFC s. And you‟d better read a little more. In 2003 the hole in the ozone layer shrank by 20 percent, so there‟s no reason to panic.
Q: What does the man mean?
Keys: 1.B 2.D 3. A 4.A 5.C
III. Listening In
Task 1: We should have proper respect for nature! Script
Martha: Do you think most people in your culture respect nature? Ed: I think so. Umm…more now than before. Martha: What do you think is the most serious environment problem in the world
today?
Ed: Today…I think damage to the ozone layer is a big problem; and another problem is pollution in big cities and things like that. Martha: How do you learn about environmental problems? Ed: Umm…through school. A lot of clubs promote environmental safely, and
some TV programs, too. They talk about environmental safely and stuff like that.
Martha: Do you think students should learn more about the environment at school? Ed: I think so. So, as they grow older, they can be more aware of all the
problems that are going on. And also to prevent more problems from occurring.
Martha: If you could create a new law to help the environment, what would it be? Ed: A new law for the environment? Umm…I‟d probably say that when
people throw away their cigarette butts, they have to throw them into the garbage bin, not just throw them everywhere because it‟s just littering and I hate that. So they should be fined if they throw them on the floor on the
ground.
Martha: That‟s a good idea. What do you personally do to help protect the
environment?
Ed: I‟ m so against littering. I never litter. If I see somebody litter, I get really
angry. So I always throw my trash into the garbage bin.
While being interviewed by Martha, Ed said more people in his culture respect nature ever before. When asked about the most serious environmental problem in the world today, he mentioned the damaged ozone layer and the pollution in big cities.
Ed learned about environmental problem at school. A lot of clubs and some TV programs promote environmental safely. He believes that students should learn more about the environment at school. Then they can be more aware of all the problems and prevent more problems from occurring. When asked about a new law he would like to create to help the environment, he said that when people throw away their cigarette butts, they have to throw them in the garbage bin. They should be fined if they throw them on the floor. Personally, Ed is so set against littering that he never litters. He always throws his trash into the garbage bin.
Task 2: A Work Qualification Test Script
According to a report by Australian researchers, the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica will probably start closing within five years. They say it may be completely closed within fifty years. The ozone layer protects the Earth from dangerous radiation from the sun. The hole in the ozone layer was discovered over Antarctica almost thirty years ago. At the time, it was three times the size of Australia. The report found that ozone-destroying gases in the upper atmosphere were at or near their highest levels in the year2000. But since then, there has bee continuous progress made toward the recovery of the ozone layer.
Satellite information showed that levels of ozone-destroying gases in the atmosphere are slowly decreasing. At its largest this year, the ozone hole covered more than 15 million square kilometers. That is down from a yearly average of 23 million square kilometers over the last six years. Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are responsible for destroying part of the ozone layer over Antarctica. CFCs have been widely used since the1930s in cooling devices such as refrigerators and air conditioners. CFCs remain in the atmosphere for years.
Government scientist say the level of chlorine in the atmosphere is decreasing because of restrictions on the use of chlorofluorocarbons. The chemicals were restricted under an international agreement called the Montreal Protocol in 1987. Under the Protocol, developing countries promoted to cut their use of chlorofluorocarbons in half by the year 2005. They also agreed to an eighty-five percent cut by the year 2oo7.
Keys: FTTFT
For Reference
3. It was three times the size of Australia.
4. They promised to cut their use of CFCs in the half by 2005 and agreed to an 85 percent cut by 2007.
Task3: A Mild EI Nino
Script
The EI Nino weather condition has returned. However, official at the United States National Weather Service say EI Nino is weaker than usual this year. EI Nino is a change in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. It happens every four or five years. Normally, water temperatures in the western Pacific Ocean increase near the end of the year. This cause more rainfall in Indonesia, Australia and other nearby place. At the same time, cold ocean water cause less rainfall in the eastern Pacific Ocean, near South America. The opposite happens during EI Nino. Pacific Ocean temperatures increase near South America, causing unusually high amounts of rainfall there. In contrast, EI Nino causes dry weather in Indonesia and Australia. A strong EI Nino can severely affect the weather all over the world. The last powerful EI Nino was in 1997 and 1998. It caused major floods in many places. EI Nino also led to extremely dry weather in some other areas. Reports say the weather caused the deaths of about 24,000 people.
So experts say having a weaker EI Nino this year is good news. Meteorologists say rainfall has been higher than usual in South America. The experts say the effects of EI Nino will begin to show in November in the United States. The northern states may have a warmer winter. But, scientists say EI Nino will not be strong enough to prevent this year‟s powerful storms in the Atlantic Ocean.
6. According to the passage, how often does EI Nino happen? 7. What normally happens in the western Pacific Ocean? 8. What did the EI Nino in 1997 and 1998 cause? 9. What is NOT mentioned as a result of this year‟s EI Nino? 10. What is the central idea of the passage?
Kes: 1C 2.A3. D 4.B 5.C
For Reference
Pacific Ocean temperatures increase near South America, causing unusually high level of rainfall there. Dry weather results in Australia.
IV. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Our globe is in danger
John: How is your Grandma getting along during this usually hot weather?
Nora: Over the last few years, Granny has been complaining that the hot, humid weather is killing her. She believes the weather has changed.
John: What she means is the climate‟s long-term conditions; weather refers only to
day-to-day conditions.
Nora: Yeah, she says summer is hotter, and winter wetter. But I tried to comfort her,
saying, “It‟s all in your mind, Granny.”
John: She‟s right, you know. The greenhouse effect does bring global warming and rain. Nora: How can I explain global warming and greenhouse gases to a 97-year-old Granny? John: Tell her the earth now is like a real greenhouse made of glass panels that let in light and trap heat.
Nora: Think she‟ll want to know that carbon monoxide from earth makes greenhouse gases?
John: Everybody should know what cause global warming; otherwise we won‟t stop it.
Nora: I‟ll tell Granny not to burn any more wood or coal, or to use spray on the hair. John: OK, joke about it, but it won‟t be so funny when the polar icecaps melt and oceans rise.
Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG A: How are you getting along during this usually hot weather? B: Not well at all. Over the last few weeks the hot, humid weather is killing me. I believe the climate has changed. A: Yeah, the summer is hotter, and winter wetter. B: Do you know why all this has happened? A: The greenhouse effects bring global warming and rain. B: What do you mean by greenhouse effects? A: The earth is now like a real greenhouse made of glass panels that let light in and trap heat. You know, carbon monoxide from earth is a greenhouse gas.
B: I see. Everybody should know what cause global warming; otherwise we won‟t stop it.
A: The important thing is that human beings should take steps to reduce global warming.
B: What can we do then? Perhaps we should not burn any more wood or coal. A: Right. Also we should try to produce less CFCs or Freon. B: How can we achieve that?
A: Don‟t use aerosol spray on your hair, and depend less on air-conditioners and refrigerators..
B: But it‟s hard to give up all this.
A: But we must take action before polar icecaps melt and oceans rise.
MODEL2 Rainforests will soon be only a memory. Script
Susan: Hey, Chris, there is an environmental group on campus asking for donations to save the rainforests. Chris: So what?
Susan: So what?! Don‟t you want to save the rainforests?
Chris: But there‟re no rainforests in our country. They need hot, tropical climates. Susan: Come on. A rain forest is any forest where heavy rainfall leads to dense vegetation. Tropical rainforests can be found in hoe, tropical areas, but there are also cool rainforests, including one in southeast Alaska. Chris: How did you know that?
Susan: Well, I‟ve just read a book on rainforests. You know, 140nillion people live in the world‟s rainforests, and 35 percent of the world‟s plant and animal species exist only in rainforests. Chris: Wow, I‟m impressed. So what else have you learned?
Susan: Most of the world‟s rainforests are in danger of destruction by loggers, farmers and developers. They are disappearing at a rate of 1000 acres a minute!
Chris: It‟s terrible!
Susan: Yeah, we‟ve got to find a way to save them. Now would you like to give a
donation?
Chris: Sure.
Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG A: Most of the world‟s rainforests are in danger of destruction by loggers, farmers and developers. They are disappearing at a rate of 100 acres a minute! B: What a tragedy! , Many of the world‟s plant and animal species exist only in rainforests.
A: We really need to save the beautiful forests. B: Yeah, we‟ve got to find a way to save them.
A: Do you know our mayor is making a call to plant trees?
B: Yeah, we do have to plant more trees. I hear China doesn‟t have a lot of forests compared with many countries.
A: That‟s true. I‟ve just read an article about afforestation. China‟s forest coverage
rate was 18.21percent last yea, ranking only 130th in the world. B: No wonder we have to plat more trees.
A: Don‟t lose heart. Progress has been remarkable. In 2000 the rate was just 16.55 percent.
B: Any other good news?
A: China has stepped up its tree-planting efforts. Now it‟s the world‟s No.1 planter of trees.
B: Wow, I‟m impressed.
MODEL3 What a terrible sandstorm! Script
Susan: Hey, John. You‟re back. A few days ago, a big sandstorm hit our city John: Oh, that‟s bad.
Susan: The air was full of dirt and sand and dust. I had to wear a scarf around my head.
John: The dust, as I know, comes from Mongolia. And from my reading in science, I‟ve heard the dust often comes after a long period of drought. Susan: This is a serious problem in many parts of the world, and unfortunately our
city is one of them.
John: And if the drought continues, the soil is easily airborne. And then if the wind comes, the soil can be lifted up on the cold are that rises up, and it can travel very long distances.
Susan: Normally, when there‟s a wind, it can clear the air, and you have beautiful
weather. But when the dust is brought in with the wind, then you can‟t breathe, you can‟t see well, and it‟s dangerous for driving, or for walking.
John: Yeah. You know, when the dust is lifted up it can go as high 3,000 meters. And it‟s not just China that has problems, but many other countries. For example, the middle of Australia sometimes has dust storms, and some of the dust goes up very high, goes across the ocean, and falls down on New Zealand. Susan: Not a very nice neighbor. John: Is there a solution to the problem? Susan: We need to plant more trees and grass so that the soil can stay where it is.
John: No wonder the government is launching a new afforestation program in a bid t address the environmental problem.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: I‟m so glad to be back home, again. Oh, what a clear blue sky!
B: Yes, the wind has cleared the air. I hope you still remember the situation a couple of years age; that is, when you were here. Each spring a big sandstorm struck our city.
A: Oh, that was bad. That air was filled with sand and dust. I had to wear a scarf around my head.
B: I had to cover my mouth and nose with a handkerchief. And facial makes sold well. The dust came from the north, and it often rose after a long dry spell.
A: If the drought continued, the soil was easily airborne. And when the wind came, the soil was swept up on the cold air, and it could travel very long distances.
B: When the dust was brought in with the wind, we could hardly breathe, we couldn‟t see well, and it was dangerous for driving. A: How did your town solve the problem?
B: Not only our town. In fact, people in the whole province planted a lot of trees and grass so that the soil would stay where it is.
A: I see. The government launched an afforestation project to deal with the sandstorm. The green shelter belt is playing a role.
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Li: Hi Professor Wang, I‟m Li Lin, a correspondent from the University
Newspaper. The staff and students here are getting more and more interested in the relationship between the environment and development. What do you think is the most serious environmental problem at present? What measures should we adopt to improve the environment and develop the economy at the same time?
Wang: There are many environmental problems: air pollution, water pollution,
desertification, over-fishing, destruction of natural habitats, acid train, over-consumption of wild animals and plants, etc. But lying at the center of all those problems, as I see it, is the contradiction between economic growth and the environment. Since the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992, more and more people and governments have adopted a new idea; that is, “sustainable development”. This means today‟s economic growth should not wipe out he resources and options for future generations. Planning and development should ensure not only economic growth, but also social advancement and environment health. In other words, some economic behavior must be restricted or controlled. Instilling principles of development into government planning, resource management and economic policy is the most important step China could take to solve its environmental problems.
China has already taken some remarkable steps to reduce damage to the environment. For instance, following the huge floods of 1998, the government banned logging in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in order to protect forests and reduce the risk of floods.
Still, the basic contradiction between environment and development persists. Much work is to be done before we can achieve the aim of a balance between
economic growth and the environment. Environment Problems Central problems A New Idea air pollution, water pollution, desertification, over-fishing, destruction of natural habitats, acid train, over-consumption of wild animals and plants, etc. the contradiction between economic growth and the environment. sustainable development; it means: (1) Today‟s economic growth should not wipe out he resources and options for future generations. (2) Planning and development should ensure not only economic growth, but also social advancement and environment health. (3) some economic behavior must be restricted or controlled Instill principles of sustainable development into government planning, resource management and economic policy China has already taken some remarkable steps to reduce damage to the environment. e.g. Following the huge floods of 1998, the government banned logging in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River A balance between economic growth and the environment. What China Could Do What China Has Done The Aim Debate SAMPLE A: In my opinion, we must give priority to economic growth. At present China‟s economy is not strong enough, and the per-capita GDP is much smaller than those of advanced countries. B: I beg to differ. Compared with 30 years ago, the Chinese economy has developed a great deal, and at the same time it has produced a lot of pollution. It is high time we gave environmental conservation serous consideration. A: It seems to me that it‟s more urgent for us to improve people‟s life. If we don‟t boost our economy, we can‟t raise the living standards..
B: I‟d like to draw your attention to the fact that environmental problems are already affecting people‟s lives. Didn‟t you hear that the poisonous substances factories dump into rivers are killing fish and causing cancer among people?
A: Well, you have a point there, but we should be aware that an economically backward nation is also militarily weak, and therefore it tends to be bullied by stronger countries.
B: If China wants to follow the trend toward economic globalization, it has to meet
the international environmental criteria. Even if you can make a lot of products, they can‟t be exported if they are environmentally unfriendly.
A: OK, people we‟d better combine out point of view and strike a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation.
B: That certainly makes sense. What we need is sustainable development.
A: To achieve this goal, we have to burn less coal, petroleum and wood because they can‟t e reproduced easily.
B: Right on, we can rely more on solar energy. We can also make more use of water power if the dams we build don‟t present great environmental hazards.
A: Also, we should not build so many roads because they occupy so much farmland. B: Yeah, we should turn more to water transportation. By transporting more cargo along rivers and the coast, we can ease the burden on highway transportation.
VI. Further Listening and Speaking Task1: Thick Cloud of Pollution Covering Southern Asia Script
A United Nations study says that a thick cloud of pollution covering southern Asia threatens the lives of millions of people. Scientists say the pollution could increase lung disease and cause early deaths. The cloud is also damaging agriculture and affecting rainfall levels. It has affected many countries in southern Asia. The pollution cloud is three kilometers high. Scientists say it can move halfway around the world in a week.
The cloud is the result of forest fires, the burning of agricultural waste, and huge increases in the burning of fuels by vehicles, industries and power stations. Pollution from millions of bad cooking stoves hs made the problem worse. Many poor people burn of fuels wood and animal waste in such stoves. Scientists say this combination could be changing winter rainfall levels in Asia. They say rainfall has increased over the eastern coast of Asia. But it has dropped sharply over parts of northwestern Asia. The report says the cloud could reduce rainfall over northwestern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and western China by up to forty percent.
Harmful chemicals from the cloud are mixing with rainfall. This acid rain damages crops and trees and threatens public health. Scientists are concerned that the pollution will intensify during the next thirty years as the population of Asia increase to an Estimated 5,000 million people.
11. What is the true of the cloud of pollution?
12. What is NOT the cause of the cloud of pollution? 13. What does the cloud of pollution bring about?
14. Why will the pollution intensify in the next 30 years, according to the passage? 15. What do you think is the best title for the passage?
Keys: 1.D 2.B 3.A 4.C 5.C
Task 2: Mountain regions face a number of dangers. Script
Mountain people around the world are in great danger of the negative effects of the worsening environment, according to a UN report. As global warming and deforestation accelerate and technology makes wilder places more accessible, environmental and social pressures on the world‟s remotest regions increases.
The UN has found that many mountainous regions—inhabited by one out of five of the world‟s people—are barely recognizable when they are compared to what they ere like 60 years ago. This is mostly because forests were cut to make way for cattle grazing and agriculture.
The authors of the UN study expect 98 percent of its mountain areas to experience severe climate change by 2055. Biological losses are expected to be heavy. The mountains of Europe, part of California and the northwest Andes in South America are among the most threatened mountain areas in the world and should be given priority in conservation.
The UN is anxious to raise awareness of the problem facing mountain areas because they are inhabited by some of the most vulnerable people. These people could lose their culture and their livelihood with even the smallest shifts in climate. At the same time, many mountain regions are losing people. Thousands of villages in Europe are deserted most of the year. In other areas like Nepal, people are drifting to the cities in search of work.
Task3: Digging a Hole
Script
A fellow stopped at a rural gas station and, after filling his tank, he bought a soft drink. He stood by his car to drink his cola ad watched two men working along the roadside. One worker would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other worker came along behind and filled in the hole. While one was digging a new hole,
the other was about 25 feet behind filling in the old hole.
“Hold it, hold it,” the fellow said to the men. “Can you tell me what‟s going on here with this digging?”
“Well, we work for the country government,” one of the men said.
“But one of you is digging a hole and the other is filling it up. You‟re not accomplishing anything. Aren‟t you wasting the country‟s money?”
“You don‟t understand, mister,” one of the men said, learning on his shovel and wiping his brow. “Normally, there‟s three of us, me, Joe, and Mike. I dig the hole, Joe sticks in the tree and Mike here puts the dirt back.”
“Yeah,” piped up Mike. “Now Joe is sick but that doesn‟t mean we can‟t work, does it?”
For Reference
1. One worker would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other worker came along behind and filled in the hole.
2. He asked them, “Can you tell me what‟s going on here with this digging?”/He asked them what was going on there with that digging. 5. Because one of them was digging a hole and the other was filling it up. They were not accomplishing anything.
6. Normally there were three of them, the worker who answered him, Joe and Mike. The first man dug the hole, Joe stuck in the tree, and Mike put the dirt back.
News Report
Santa’s Hometown in Danger Script
Weather experts may have found a new problem caused by global warming, one which many people will pay attention to: There are signs that Santa‟s home in the North may be in trouble because of warmer temperatures. The Finnish town of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, which many Europeans say is the home of Santa Claus, has had its warmest winter in 40 years. As a result, there has been much less snow than usual—meaning no snowmen, no snowballs and possible not enough snow for Santa to ride his sleigh on.
More important for local residents, it may mean fewer tourists, as well. Santa‟s wintry hometown normally attracts thousands of visitors each year, and millions of dollars. Anne Pelttari-Bergman, the town‟s tourist director, worries that the town could be in trouble if snow levels do not return to normal. She explains: “Snow is really important for us, of course. For Santa Claus, for Christmas tourism, and also for our winter tourism because winter is our best season. It is really important for us.”
Weather experts and town residents are hoping this warm winter is a one-time thing. Few people can imagine a holiday when even Santa does not have a white Christmas.
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