Uint6
II. Basic Listening Practice
10. Script
W: What?s that? Is it a toy? Did it get chewed by a dog? M: Hey, that?s my mascot! My uncle gave it to me when I was five, and it?s been with me ever since. It brought me luck in all my college exams. I can?t bring myself to part with it. Q: What does the man say about his lucky charm?
11. Script
W: Wish me luck; I?ve got a job interview this afternoon. I?m really nervous. M: Stay calm, best of luck! I?ve got my finger crossed for you. Q: What does the woman say he has crossed his fingers for the woman?
3. Script
W: Oh no! Did you see that black cat walk right in front of me? That?s unlucky! M: Really? I guess it depends on where you come from. In my hometown it?s the opposite: It?s lucky to see a black cat cross your path. So no need to worry! Q: What do the man and the woman think about a black cat crossing their path?
4. Script
M: Guess what I did this morning? I smashed my mirror. A great way to start the day! W: Oh no, seven years? bad luck, isn?t it? Q: What happened in the morning?
5. Script
M: I can?t believe this rain; it?s been pouring for hours! Where can I dry my umbrella? W: Not in here please! It?s unlucky to open an umbrella indoors. You can put it on the porch. Q: Where does the woman ask the man do to open his umbrella?
Keys: 1.C2.C3. A 4.D 5.B
III. Listening In
Task 1: David Copperfield is coming.
W: M: My brother is going to pick up some tickers for the David Copperfield show. You interested in coming with us? I don?t know. I?ve been card tricks before, and rabbits from hats. I even do tricks myself—watch me change this coin into an ice cream cone. Very funny. David Copperfield is the world?s greatest magician; he?s certainly worth a look. Actually, I have seen him on television. He pulls off some pretty amazing stunts. I wish I knew how he performed his tricks. Then I could also make a person float in the air. I could pull a rabbit out of my hat. I could escape from a straitjacket and handcuffs—all underwater. And I could saw a woman in half. A magician never tells his secrets. David attempts the impossible and no one has any idea how he does it. I saw him on TV when he walked through the Great Wall of China. How could he do that? I have no idea, but I know what I saw: He entered a canvas shelter on one side of the wall, and he came out of a canvas shelter on the other side. yes, bur was he always in full view of the camera, or did they cut to a commercial or something else? Not only was the camera running all the time, but he was hooked up a heart monitor, and you could track his progress as he moved through the wall. It?s difficult to know what to believe. I know it?s not possible for him to do that, but… It sounds to me like it?s a show worth watching. Count me in. Instead of an ice cream cone, I?ll turn my money into a ticket.
W: M:
W:
M: W:
M: W:
M: W: M:
26. What is the dialog mainly about? 27. Which of the following DOESN?T the man mention? 28. What did David Copperfield do at the Great Wall of China, according to the woman? 29. Under what condition did David Copperfield go through the Great Wall? 30. What does the man finally decide to do?
Keys: 1C 2.B 3.A 4.D 5.C
For Reference 1. He could make a person float in the air, pull a rabbit out of his hat, escape from a straitjacket and handcuffs—all underwater, and saw a woman in half. 2. She thinks Davis Copperfield in the world?s greatest magician and he?s certainly worth a look.
Task3: The Status on Easter Island
Script
One of the greatest mysteries on Earth is the statues on Easter Island. The island is one of the most remote places on Earth, located in the southern Pacific Ocean. It was almost uninhabited when it was discovered on Easter Day in 1722 by a Dutch captain, but it is covered with hundreds of giant statues, each weighing several tons and some standing more than 30 feet tall. Who carved these statures, and how and why were they put there? Nobody knows the answer for sure, but many ate trying to find out. There are many theories to explain this mystery. It has even been suggested the space aliens may have played a role regarding these giant statues. Another theory relates to the fact that Easter Island was inhabited by Polynesian seafarers, who traveled thousand of miles in their canoes, guided by the stars, the color of sky and the sun , the shapes of clouds, and the presence of birds making flights out to sea seeking food. The Polynesians first arrived on the island in 499A.D.However, the ocean currents which carried them there would mot take them back. They were trapped and, having arrived there, could not leave. The Polynesians probable cared the statues themselves, perhaps as religious symbols. To date, 887 statues have been discovered on the island. However, only a few statues were carried intended destination. The rest were abandoned along the way. The statues appear to have been carved out of the top edge of walls of a volcano on the island. After a statue was carved, it may have been rolled or dragged down to the base of the volcano. Then it was put upright, and ropes were tied around it. Using a pulley system, the statue was moves to its intended destination. At its peak, the population of Eater Island is believed to have reached 11,000. Eventually, the resources of the island were exhausted, and the people resorted to cannibalism, eating one another. Work on the statues stopped and the statues were knocked over. When the first Europeans finally arrived on the island, most of the people lad died out.
23. When and by whom was the island discovered? 24. Who are mentioned in the passage as possible builders of the statues? 25. What is true of the Polynesians on the island according to the passage? 26. How many statues ere carried to their intended destination? 5. Which of the following would be the most suitable title for the passage?
Keys: 1A 2.B3. D 4.D 5B
For Reference The resources of the island were exhausted, and the people resorted to cannibalism, eating each other. When the first Europeans finally arrived on the island, most of the people lad died out.
VI. Further Listening and Speaking
Task1: Horseshoes as a Sign of Good Luck Script
Horseshoes are a traditional sign of good luck. Most people believe this comes from the fact that the horseshoe is shaped like the crescent moon, a period of prosperity and good fortune. One legend has it that the Devil was in disguise and wandering at large, looking for trouble. He happened to call on St. Dunstan, who ea skilled in shoeing horses. St. Dunstan recognized the Devil and tied him to a wall with only his feet free to move. He then set to work shoeing him as though he were a horse, but with such roughness the Devil cried out for mercy. St. Dunstan stopped his work and released the Devil after making him promise never to enter a home on which a horseshoe was fixed. Witches fear horses, so they are also turned away by a door with a horseshoe mounted on it. The big issue regarding horseshoes is whether they should be hung points up or points down. The original superstition was that the horseshoe is points up to keep the luck from pouring out. Despite this view most buildings with horseshoes in their sign hang them the opposite way. The Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas hangs its horseshoe with the arc on top. They may be hoping their customers? luck runs out, but this is usually not something you advertise in your sign.
Finger rings made of horseshoe nail are said to keep away bad luck. Also, robbing two horseshoes together is said to bring good luck. 22. According to the passage, what does the crescent moon represent? 23. What did St. Dunstan do to the Devil? 24. What did the Devil promise? 25. What is the big issue concerning the horseshoe? 26. Why is the arc of the horseshoe up at the casino in Las Vegas?
Keys: 1.A 2.C 3.D 4.C5.B
Task 2: Superstitions or real bad lucks?
Script
Joan: Pass me that mirror, would you? I?ll see if my makeup is OK. Dick: OOOPS!! Sorry I dropped it…but is it you or me that gets the seven years of bad luck? Joan: You, I hope, but probable neither of us. I wonder where that “old wives? tale” originated anyway. Dick: There used to be a lot of superstitions: black cats, ladders, numbers. My parent and grandparents are full of them. Joan: I agree. People today are much more educated than before. These superstitions are just amusing pieced of history rather than beliefs, don?t you think so? Dick: Perhaps, but some people today still go for them. People whose livelihoods depend more on luck—like professional athletes, or fishermen—often they have superstitious routines. Joan: It?s rue. I have heard of athletes who wear lucky socks or a treasured medal to bring them good fortune. Dick: And let?s not forget lucky numbers. We all know about the number4,6, and 8 in China. Joan: I know 4 is death and 8 is wealth, but what is the significance of 6? Dick: 6 means good luck. Some people include 6 in their e-mail address just for luck. Joan: Maybe we are not as smart as we think we are. Dick: Well, there are many things in the universe that we cannot control, and that?s why people are superstitious.
Keys: TTFFT
