雅思考试听力指南Listening Test 1

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[00:02.46]This is a listening practice test that resembles the International English Language Testing System Listening Test.
[00:12.07]The test consists of four sections. Answer the questions as you listen to the recording.
[00:18.89]Note that the recording will be played once only. Please turn to Section 1.
[00:27.32]Section 1
[00:29.10]You will see that there is an example which has been done for you.
[00:33.46]On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
[00:39.86]Herbie:(running up the street, out of breath) Emma! Emma, hello!
[00:43.15]Emma:Herbie! How are you, I haven't seen you for ages...
[00:47.07]Herbie:Yeah, what's it been, seven years I think. I suppose I haven't seen you since we graduated from university.
[00:54.65]What have you been up to?
[00:56.42]Emma:Oh me? Not much, I went back to Canada for a while to live with my parents in Toronto.
[01:02.82]The job market was extremely good for software programming.
[01:07.08]Herbie:But I thought your major was forensic anthropology.
[01:11.34]Weren't you studying the remains of ancient DOS programs?
[01:15.60]Emma:Very funny! But no, I was only trying to make some money to pay back my student loans.
[01:21.89]The problem with Toronto was there was so much competition and my major wasn't helping me get promoted in the computer field,
[01:30.96]so I applied for graduate school here in England.
[01:34.51]Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time.
[01:43.86]First, you have another chance to look at questions 1 to 6.
[01:50.08]Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.
[01:55.49]Herbie:(running up the street, out of breath) Emma! Emma, hello!
[01:57.34]Emma:Herbie! How are you, I haven't seen you for ages...
[02:00.97]Herbie:Yeah, what's it been, seven years I think. I suppose I haven't seen you since we graduated from university.
[02:07.74]What have you been up to?
[02:09.67]Emma:Oh me? Not much, I went back to Canada for a while to live with my parents in Toronto.
[02:16.20]The job market was extremely good for software programming.
[02:19.91]Herbie:But I thought your major was forensic anthropology.
[02:23.46]Weren't you studying the remains of ancient DOS programs?
[02:27.17]Emma:Very funny! But no, I was only trying to make some money to pay back my student loans.
[02:33.39]The problem with Toronto was that there was so much competition and myt major would not help me get promoted in the computer field,
[02:41.85]so I applied for graduate school here in England.
[02:45.17]Herbie:I bet you already miss the weather in Toronto. I hear it's quite lovely in spring.
[02:50.97]Emma:Right now it's not too bad, but the winter is bitterly cold.
[02:54.99]I like summertime the best by far. This summer my younger sister is getting married there.
[03:01.21]I can't wait to go back for a visit, I plan to swim in the lake near our house and not worry about school for a while.
[03:08.16]Your hometown has better weather than my hometown. Aren't you originally from Australia?
[03:15.34]Herbie:Sydney, to be exact. So what are you studying now?
[03:18.84]Emma:I am working on a master's degree in e-commerce at the University of London.
[03:25.14]Herbie:And to think, in school you were always saying how much you hated to use computers!
[03:32.01]Now you're planning to work on the World Wide Web, what a surprise!
[03:36.35]Emma:I never said I "hated" computers, I just found them hard to use. Now I can't get enough of them.
[03:44.13]Besides, there is good money to be made on the Internet.
[03:47.87]Hey, enough about me. What have you been doing for the last seven years?
[03:52.75]Herbie:I've been all over the world-Egypt, India, and the Far East. You name it, I've been there.
[03:58.47]Emma:That sounds really exciting! Doing what?
[04:01.89]Herbie:I'm a house D.J. I've spun records at discotechs all over the planet.
[04:07.61]Emma:You're a disc jockey? I can't believe it. I thought your major was chemistry.
[04:14.88]Herbie:Molecular chemistry to be precise, but I decided to go in a different direction.
[04:20.55]I wasn't too keen on developing dangerous chemicals for multinational corporations.
[04:26.11]Emma:I bet you have not been to Inner Mongolia.
[04:29.61]Herbie:Actually, you're righ
[04:32.25]Emma goes on to ask Herbie about his hometown. Look at questions 6 to 9.
[04:41.52]Write the answers to questions 6 to 9
[04:47.06]Emma:So, if you are such a world traveler, why are you here in England and not somewhere strange and exotic?
[04:55.44]Herbie:Even though I was born in Sydney, I will always consider London my hom
[05:00.56]Emma:Whatever for? London doesn't have the beautiful weather or cute kangaroos and koala bears that Australia has.
[05:08.64]Herbie:Look, if I want to see animals I go to the zoo.
[05:12.14]London is my home because I've lived here far longer.
[05:15.56]When I was 10 my mum sent me to live with my aunt and uncle in Highgate, a suburb of London, to go to school.
[05:21.88]It was really tough at first. I had no friends, and my schoolmates poked fun at my Aussie accent.
[05:28.20]But after a few years, I really started to fit in.
[05:32.12]Now when I visit my Mum in Sydney I feel like a tourist.
[05:35.86]A lot has changed there in 18 year
[05:38.42]Emma:Sorry. I didn't mean to get you all worked up. I simply meant,
[05:43.04]why are you here instead of somewhere really hip like Tokyo or Beijing.
[05:48.34]Herbie:Well, I was. I mean I've already lived abroad for seven years.
[05:52.65]and I wanted to be somewhere familiar for a while. Then, out of the blue,
[05:57.72]one of my mates called me and offered me a job as a sound engineer for a BBC television show.
[06:03.68]Now I've got good pay and a contract for four years.
[06:08.22]Emma:That's quite impressive! From test tubes to television... what a transformation!
[06:14.20]Herbie:How long are you here for? Do you plan to stay after you finish your degree?
[06:18.91]Emma:That's hard to say. I really like London, but it's so expensive.
[06:24.16]Where I live really depends on what kind of job I can find online.
[06:29.17]I've already started looking. I even applied for a company based in Sydney,
[06:34.42]though I would hate to have to leave London. I have to decide soon, because I complete my degree next term.
[06:41.55]Herbie:Sounds like you still have plenty of time. If you don't mind me asking,
[06:46.80]do you ever have free time after classes?
[06:50.36]Emma:Well I work from Thursday through Sunday evenings as a waitress.
[06:55.71]But during the week I am usually free.
[06:58.30]Herbie:That's great! I keep similar hours. How about meeting for coffee next Monday around 4pm?
[07:04.99]Emma:Alright, meet me at the campus north gate next Monday. See you then.
[07:10.16]Herbie:See you Monday!
[07:11.91]That is the end of Section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[07:20.48]Section 2
[07:22.54]You will hear an announcer giving information about the site of a circus. Look at questions 10 to 14 and the map.
[07:33.72]As you listen, write the appropriate letter from the map next to the facilities stated in questions 10 to 12.
[07:44.07]And write down the answers for questions 13 and 14.
[07:49.79]Good afternoon ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages!
[07:55.66]I am the ringmaster of Barnum and Balley's Circus.
[07:59.63]Before I allow you all to enjoy today's entertainment, permit me to tell you about the fairground.
[08:06.66]The Big Top is the large red and yellow-striped tent you see behind me.
[08:12.30]That is where all of today's featured acts will be performing.
[08:16.74]On my right there are two long trailers.
[08:20.32]That is where you can view human and animal oddities of all sorts - our Freak Show.
[08:28.29]Across from the Freak Show to my left is the Petting Zoo.
[08:33.20]Here both children and adults can enjoy playing with cute little animals.
[08:37.96]We have young goats, lambs and rabbits, as well as ponies for the children to ride.
[08:43.70]Now there's an adorable picture, eh folks? If your camera needs more film,
[08:49.27]remember that you can buy some at the souvenir stalls outside the main entrance.
[08:54.67]Located directly hehind the Big Top are the Ferris Wheel and rollercoasters.
[09:01.10]There rides are sure to give you a thrill. And speaking of thrills,
[09:06.27]in the unlikely event of accident,
[09:08.49]please use the emergency exit located at the back of the park near the Ferris Wheel.
[09:14.84]Refreshments may be purchased at the concession stand to the right of the Petting Zoo,
[09:20.25]in front of the security booth.
[09:23.51]Be advised that on the left-hand side of the Main Entrance can be found public telephones.
[09:29.78]On the right-hand side of the said entrance there is the security and first aid stall.
[09:36.76]If you lose anything while at the fairground be sure to go as soon as possible to security and report it.
[09:44.31]Finally, the restrooms are at the rear left-hand side of the fairground,
[09:49.48]between the Freak Show trailers and the Ferris Wheel. Please bear in mind that these are pay toilets,
[09:56.85]costing 20 pence per use.
[09:59.88]Now the announcer goes on to explain the evening's schedule.
[10:05.60]Look at the entertainment program and questions 15 to 19.
[10:12.57]Answer questions 15 to 19 complete the table.
[10:17.98]Now that all the official announcements are out of the way,
[10:21.40]I will quickly go over today's program. The entertainment will begin at 12 o'clock, with the Great Santini in the Big Top.
[10:30.99]Santini has traveled far from his native land of Romania to amaze you with feats of magic.
[10:38.35]He might even make you disappear! Following Santini at around one o'clock will be the Bozo Brothers.
[10:46.14]These clowns will hit, trip, trick each other and maybe even crash their clown car,
[10:52.96]all for your laughter and amusement. Also at one o'clock at the Petting Zoo there will be a goat milking demonstration.
[11:01.60]This is a fun and educational activity.
[11:05.57]Over at the Freak Show Trailer, the Bearded Lady will take the stage at 2 o'clock.
[11:12.39]Ever wondered what a woman would look like with a full beard?
[11:16.36]Well, here is your chance to find out! Trust me folks, the beard is real,but don't try to pull it,
[11:24.54]or you just might find out what it is like to get hit by a bearded lady!
[11:30.42]If you do not want to see a woman with facial hair,
[11:33.52]then back at the Big Top at two o'clock you can watch Gary the Glass Eater do just what his name implies, eat glass!
[11:44.24]Gary will make you cringe as he chews and swallows all sorts of glass items,
[11:50.74]from shards to entire lightbulbs, all without injuring himself.
[11:56.23]Don't try this at home kids! From 3 to 4 o'clock there will be an intermission.
[12:01.71]This is a great time for you to visit the refreshment bar and take a rest.
[12:06.54]When activities resume at four o'clock you will have two options.
[12:11.79]Down at the Petting Zoo there will a lamb shearing demonstration.
[12:16.78]Want to know how lamb's wool became that beautiful sweater in your closet?
[12:21.46]Just ask Maggie Simpson, Scotland's leading wool expert, how it was done.
[12:27.49]She will demonstrate how to shear the wool from a lamb and then explain the many processes the wool must undergo before it becomes suitable for making clothing and other products.
[12:39.38]If you are really interested, she might even let you have a hand at shaving a sheep yourself!
[12:46.43]At the same time, over at the Big Top, there will be an Elephant Parade.
[12:52.08]Watch as eight massive Indian elephants perform clever tricks with beautiful female acrobats balancing on their backs.
[13:00.72]Immediately following the Elephant Parade, at about five o'clock, the Swan Sisters will perform their world-famous flying trapeze act.
[13:10.62]Watch these two lovely sisters risk life and limb as they fly and tumble through the air 150 meters above the ground-all without a safety net.
[13:22.12]I don't want to say too much, but make sure to stay for their grand finale,
[13:27.99]which is said to be one of the most dangerous trapeze stunts ever performed.
[13:33.11]At 5:30 the Siamese Twins will take center stage at the Freak Show Trailer. Originally from China,
[13:41.60]identical twin brothers Ping and Pong have been attached at the hip and shoulder since birth.
[13:47.79]Talk about family togetherness! If you like, you can even ask them questions about their lives.
[13:54.61]Our concluding act can also be found at the Freak Show Trailer.
[13:59.45]At 6:30 you will be able to witness the World's Fattest Man, Marcoff Chaney.
[14:06.65]Mr. Chaney weighs some 300 kilograms and is truly a sight to see.
[14:13.00]Thank you for coming to Barnum and Bailey's Circus! We hope you have a wonderful time!
[14:20.08]That is the end of section 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[14:30.16]Section 3
[14:31.76]Turn to Section 3 of your question booklet. [pause] Section 3. You will hear a student asking an English person about the differences between Scotland,
[14:46.10]England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Look at questions 20-25.
[14:56.65]Now listen and complete questions 20 to 25.
[15:01.98]Hiro:Excuse me sir, my name is Hiro, and I noticed that your rucksack has a British flag patch on it. May I ask you if you are British?
[15:11.18]Liam:My rucksack? Oh, yes the Union Jack. Well, that's a bit of a joke actually.
[15:17.60]However, yes I am English. Why do you want to know?
[15:21.97]Hiro:I am doing a report on the issue of identity in the U.K.
[15:26.09]I want to know how people from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland see themselves.
[15:32.83]What I mean to say is, being that all four of the countries are part of the United Kingdo
[15:39.26]how different could they possibly be?
[15:42.05]Liam:Well, they are nothing at all alike, really. Culture, ancestry and language all differ quite considerably from region to region.
[15:51.33]Hiro:How so?
[15:52.32]Liam:Let's start with England. The U.K. has a population of about 59 million.
[15:58.28]Of those people, about 49 million live in England.
[16:02.09]London is the capital and a very metropolitan city.
[16:06.14]About a fourth of all those living in England reside in London.
[16:10.42]It is the most multicultural city in the United Kingdom.
[16:15.10]It has many immigrants from all over the world.
[16:18.05]London is very exciting, and there is always something to do day or night.
[16:23.54]The influence that London has on the rest of England makes the capital city unlike the rest of the U.K.
[16:29.65]It is very modern and futureminded.
[16:32.76]Hiro:[laughing] You would of course say this because you are British!
[16:37.51]Liam:Well, what would you expect! By the way, it is quite good of you to say "British".
[16:45.32]When you are talking to people from Britain, it is safest to use 'Britain' when talking about where they live and 'British' to describe their nationality;
[16:55.80]you will be less likely to offend anyone. I mean you can be from England and not consider yourself English.
[17:02.07]Hiro:Why is that? If you are all citizens of England, then why isn't your identity first English and then Scottish or whatever?
[17:11.11]Liam:There has been a long history of emigration to England from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
[17:18.32]As a result, there are millions of people who live in England but who would never describe themselves as English.
[17:24.82]They may have lived in England all their lives, but as far as they are concerned they are Scottish,
[17:30.62]Welsh or Irish. These people support the country of their parents or grandparents rather than England in things such as sporting events.
[17:39.37]Liam and Hiro continue to discuss the United Kingdom. Look at questions 26-29.
[17:50.08]Listen and complete questions 26 to 29.
[17:55.80]Hiro:Doesn't this constant switching of loyalties ever cause problems?
[18:00.09]Shouldn't people who were born or who have lived in one country for a very long time support only that country?
[18:08.10]Liam:Actually, it has caused quite a few problems, especially in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
[18:14.77]Hiro:Yes, I have heard something of the so-called 'Irish Troubles'.
[18:19.68]Isn't there, at this moment, a civil war going on in Northern Ireland?
[18:24.04]I believe it is because some citizens want to remain as part of the United Kingdom,
[18:29.21]but other people want to become part of the Republic of Ireland.
[18:33.10]Liam:That is a subject that is difficult to discuss.
[18:36.84]Some people in Northern Ireland want to be unified with Ireland.
[18:42.01]However over the years many immigrants from Britain as well as Irish loyal to the crown want to continue to be ruled by the British government.
[18:50.06]This is a subject that the British prefer not to talk about.
[18:53.64]Hiro:Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. You aren't Irish are you?
[18:58.08]Liam:No. Actually my hometown is Glasgow in Scotland.
[19:01.50]Hiro:Oh Scottish! Does that mean that sometimes you wear a skirt?
[19:06.98]Liam:I think you mean a kilt, which is not the same as a skirt at all.
[19:12.24]Hiro:Sorry. There is so much about U.K. culture I do not understand.
[19:16.91]If you don't mind me asking, why do the Irish want independence from Britain,
[19:22.79]but the Scottish do not?
[19:24.77]Liam:There are some people from my hometown that would disagree with you,
[19:28.43]but the truth is that Scotland and England have a long history of immigration and communication.
[19:34.15]Perhaps you've heard of Mary Queen of Scots, who once ruled England as well.
[19:40.50]The Irish, on the other hand, partly due to the fact that Ireland is a separate island were always more isolated,
[19:48.28]and had almost no political power.
[19:51.16]Hiro:Oh, that makes a lot of sense to me, I come from a very isolated island country as well.
[19:57.95]Liam:Really, where is that?
[19:59.54]Hiro:Well, I'm Japanese. My hometown is Okinawa.
[20:04.14]Liam:I can't say I've ever been there, but I've always wanted to visit Japan.
[20:09.13]I wonder if it is anything like the U.
[20:12.40]Hiro:Well, because England and Japan are islands importing goods is therefore very expensive.
[20:19.06]Liam:Yeah, and the U.K. and Japan are the only countries where the driver sits on the right side of a car.
[20:25.09]Hiro:Hey, you're right!
[20:26.68]Liam:So, how much longer will you be on holiday here?
[20:29.40]Hiro:Unfortunately, I leave in two days.
[20:32.67]Liam:That's too bad. There is a huge music festival taking place this weekend in Reading.
[20:38.78]If you do decide to stay longer, you really ought to attend it.
[20:43.30]Hiro:That sounds fun!
[20:45.75]That is the end of Section 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[20:54.71]Now listen to the lecture and answer questions 30-35.
[21:01.92]Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
[21:04.46]Today's topic in our series of lectures on the development of British socialism is health care.
[21:11.38]Some believe that the current system is the world's greatest.
[21:15.64]This morning I will present the facts and let you decide if this statement is tru
[21:21.80]The National Health Service Act of 1946-7 was based on the Beveridge Report recommendations.
[21:29.74]It established the NHS to replace the previous private system of payment for health care.
[21:36.67]The NHS now provides a comprehensive range of free medical and some free dental services for the whole country.
[21:45.00]It includes hospitals, doctors, dentists, nurses and other health facilities,
[21:50.20]and is financed out of public taxation and some contributions from the national insurance scheme.
[21:57.12]At first, the NHS was opposed by the medical profession,
[22:01.46]which wished to retain private medicine.
[22:04.54]But such objections were countered by the Labour government.
[22:08.88]In its first years of operation the NHS covered 95 per cent of the population and cost some 400 million pounds a year to run.
[22:18.46]This cost currently stands at 36,000 million pounds, or some 14 per cent of total government expenditure,
[22:28.91]and the NHS is also the biggest single employer of labour in Western Europe.
[22:35.13]Yet total health expenditure in Britain as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) is some six per cent,
[22:44.72]and lower than in other major western industrialized countries.
[22:49.60]The NHS in England is divided into central government,
[22:53.31]regional and district health authorities.
[22:56.78]The Secretary of State for Health has overall responsibility for policy,
[23:01.69]and for supervising the regional and district authorities.
[23:06.19]Secretaries of state do a similar job in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
[23:12.01]The district authorities in England and Wales, health boards in Scotland,
[23:16.27]and health and social service boards in Northern Ireland organize health in their local areas.
[23:22.49]In England, because of its size, the additional 14 regional authorities (which the government wants to abolish) are centered on university medical schools,
[23:33.20]and are a link between the Department of Health and the districts.
[23:37.69]It was originally intended that the NHS would be completely free of charge in its provision of consultations,
[23:45.32]treatment and medicine.
[23:48.48]Before the final part of the lecture, look at questions 36 to 40.
[23:55.09]Answer questions 36 to 40 according to the information given in the lecture.
[24:03.32]But prescriptions, which are written notes from a doctor enabling patients to obtain drugs from a chemist,
[24:10.63]now have to be paid for, as do some dental work, dental checks and eye tests.
[24:18.10]Such payments are, however, dependent upon employment status, age and income, so that children under 16,
[24:26.59]recipients of social security benefits and most old-age pensioners usually receive free health services.
[24:34.46]In practice, some 80 per cent of medical prescriptions are supplied free.
[24:39.84]Similarly, hospital care and treatment under the NHS is free for British and European Union citizens.
[24:47.78]The NHS occupies an ambivalent position in the public imagination.
[24:54.26]On the one hand, it is praised for its work and status as a free service, and for its achievements.
[25:01.10]It is perceived to be a success in terms of consumer demand,
[25:05.75]especially when contrasted with earlier provisions for medical care.
[25:10.40]Today, people in general receive help when they need it, and many who would previously have died or suffered are surviving and being cared for.
[25:21.50]The standards of living and medicine have risen, better diets have been devised and there is a greater health awareness among the population at large.
[25:32.26]On the other hand, the NHS is criticized for its alleged inefficiency,
[25:38.64]inadequate standards and bureaucracy.
[25:42.14]Its objectives are sometimes considered too ambitious for the money spent on it.
[25:47.65]The media are constantly drawing attention to shortcomings and forecasting breakdowns.
[25:54.65]Workers within the NHS, such as doctors, nurses and non-medical staff,
[25:59.46]have frequently complained about low pay, long hours,
[26:03.40]bureaucracy and inadequate levels of staffing.
[26:06.88]They and other critics seem to feel that many of the problems could be solved simply by injecting more finance into the NHS.
[26:16.07]It is also argued that the government is cutting services and resources.
[26:21.66]The NHS is in many ways a victim of its own success,
[26:26.70]and the demands that the British place upon it as of right.
[26:30.57]It is inevitable that a free, consumer-led service will either require increasing levels of expenditure,
[26:37.96]or better management of existing resources. Yet, despite these problems,
[26:44.34]the NHS has worked well and gives great value for money.
[26:49.38]Foreign observers feel that the British do not always appreciate what a good health system they have compared with those of many other countries.
[26:58.65]That is the end of Section 4. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to Section 4.
[27:08.58]You now have one minute to check your answers for the entire test.
[27:14.95]That is the end of the Listening Test. You now have exactly 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the Listening Test Answer Sheet.