新编四级听力练习 第224期

Passage Three
[32]May and June are the months when most American colleges and universities hold their graduation ceremonies. These ceremonies are a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate a student's completion of an academic degree. Most ceremonies are traditional. The students wear caps and gowns over their clothing. One by one, their names are called. They go to the front, shake hands with school officials and receive a document of some kind. But first they must sit and listen to speeches. Colleges and universities often invite famous guests or former students who have been successful. Schools often want speakers to comment on world events. This Saturday, for example, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak at the graduation ceremony at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. [33]News people are often invited to speak at graduations. So are entertainers. [34]Actor John Lithgow, a 1967 graduate of Harvard, will speak at the university on June 9th. Then there are speakers like Jon Stewart. He entertains by making fun of the news. His popular program, "The Daily Show," appears on Comedy Central on cable television. Last year, Jon Stewart spoke at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He graduated from there in 1984. He did offer some serious advice. He said: "College is something you complete. Life is something you experience. [35]So don't worry about your grade, or the results or success. Success is defined in various ways, and you will find it... Love what you do. Get good at

it."

答案解析：
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
32. When do most American universities hold their graduation ceremonies?
[C]解析：短文开头说：“5、6月是大多数美国大学举行毕业典礼的月份”。故答案为C。细节题，问月份。短文开头处的信息。听到什么选什么。
33. Who are often invited to speak at the graduation ceremonies?
[C]解析：文中谈到，“常常会邀请新闻人物和艺人在毕业典礼上致辞”，故选C。由选项知本题问到某一类人物。可以边听边做笔记。根据“听到什么选什么”的原则，可以得到正确选项。
34. Which university did the actor John Lithgow graduate from?
[A]解析：文中提到“演员John Lithgow是哈佛大学1967届毕业生”，根据问题，选A。
35. What advice did Jon Stewart give at the ceremony of the College of William and Mary?
[A]解析：短文最后引用了Jon Stewart的忠告：“不要为成绩、分数、成功担心。成功有着不同的定义，你们会获得成功的。”其含义是要乐观向上，故选A。B、D与Jon的话无关，C说“使你的校园生活丰富多彩”，与本文主旨不符。本文讨论毕业典礼而不是入学典礼，所以来宾的话重点不会谈大学生活，而是谈毕业后的人生。