英语初级听力 Lesson34(mp3+lrc字幕)

[00:00.00]Lesson Thirty-Four
[00:02.74]Section One:
[00:04.75]Listen to these people talking about videos.
[00:14.24]1. I borrow videos every week.
[00:18.49]I can watch cartoons or adventures at any time and I can watch them over and over again.
[00:24.45]I never watch children's programs on television any more.
[00:28.29]2. My wife likes the video because she doesn't speak any English.
[00:34.32]But I say, if she doesn't hear English, how can she learn it?
[00:38.79]She needs to learn English to meet people and make friends.
[00:42.61]3. Videos are ruining the cinema, of course.
[00:49.82]Too many people copy films instead of buying or borrowing them.
[00:54.73]There are too many pirates.
[00:56.84]Of course, more people can see their favorite films now.
[01:00.60]Videos are obviously cheaper than the cinema, but they don't have the same effect, do they?
[01:05.54]4. I watch the video every day while I knit--mostly old films, ice skating and pop videos.
[01:17.95]I used to watch television all the time-news, talk shows, soap operas--anything that was on.
[01:24.74]Now I can choose what I watch and when I watch it.
[01:29.42]5. A lot of educational videos are made with government money and video is used by a lot of schools now.
[01:38.19]Videos can be used at any time of the day and they can be stopped and replayed.
[01:44.59]When I was learning to be a teacher we were filmed and we could see our mistakes.
[01:50.37]Of course some teachers just put the video on and let it do the work, but it can be extremely valuable in the classroom.
[02:01.10]6. I use the video for three things: I record programs when I'm not at home and I watch them when I have time.
[02:09.83]At work we use videos for training new employees; and I hire films at weekends and my friends come to watch.
[02:17.30]It makes quite a nice social evening.
[02:19.44]Section Two:
[02:26.44]A. Discussion:
[02:29.68]Speaker A: Well, hunk is a verb. And it means to carry something,
[02:37.52]particularly something that's heavy and difficult to move.
[02:40.34]So you can say something like When I saw the men they were hunking the piano down the stairs.
[02:46.79]Speaker B: Actually, hunk is the cry made by an elephant, especially when it's angry, or it's trying to contact other elephants.
[02:55.33]The word sounds like the noise they make "hunk, hunk."
[03:00.04]So you can say, for example, "The elephants are hunking a lot tonight."
[03:04.32]Speaker C: No, no, the truth is, hunk is a noun. And it means a piece of something, a big thick piece.
[03:11.63]So if you cut a thin piece of bread, that's not a hunk.
[03:15.50]When you tear off a thick piece of bread, that's a hunk.
[03:18.87]Today, for example, I had a big hunk of bread and cheese for my lunch.
[03:23.57]B. Mark:
[03:29.11]Tony: Whew. The disco wasn't bad but I'm glad to escape from the noise. Aren't you?Richard: Ummmmm.
[03:38.72]Tony: Richard, I'd forgotten. You've got a letter. Now where did I put it? There it is. Under the gas bill.
[03:48.94]Richard: From my brother.Tony: Good. How many brothers have you got?Richard: Only one.
[03:55.70]Tony: Name?
[03:56.51]Richard: Mark.
[03:57.45]Tony: Older or younger?Richard: Much older.
[03:59.46]Tony: How much?
[04:00.61]Richard: Five years.
[04:01.66]Tony: Get on all right?
[04:02.81]Richard: Yes, all right.
[04:03.85]Tony: Tell me about Mark. You must have a lot in common. Such as problems.
[04:08.22]Richard: Well, when I have a real problem I usually discuss it with Mark.Tony: And what is a real problem?
[04:14.07]Richard: Money is one. But Mark never minds helping me out.
[04:17.44]Tony: You say money is one problem. I suppose you mean there are others.
[04:21.20]Richard: Well, yes. Of course there are. Friends and possessions.
[04:26.16]He knows who my friends are and I know who his friends are.
[04:26.16]But when we meet we hardly ever speak.
[04:29.66]His friends aren't interested in talking to my friends.
[04:32.98]And my friends think his friends are boring and patronising.
[04:36.27]Tony: Go on, Richard. You mentioned possessions. What about possessions?Richard: I can never find my favorite cassettes.
[04:43.04]Mark and his friends keep borrowing them.
[04:45.10]I suppose Mark has a point when he says he can't find his calculator. I use it whenever I can find it.
[04:52.44]Tony: So ... if you were in real trouble, who would you contact first?
[04:57.04]Richard: Mark, of course.
[04:58.24]C.Gardening:
[05:04.01]Chairman: Now Mr. Grant has a question, I think, on gardening.Mr. Grant?
[05:12.35]Mr. Grant: Can the team please suggest any suitable gardening task that could be given to young children between eight and twelve years old.
[05:23.63]Chairman: I usually get them to wash my car. But a gardening task, well, what do you suggest. Peter?
[05:31.00]Peter: There's a great tendency among some people I know to treat young children like slave labor.
[05:36.88]I don't think you should.
[05:38.73]I think you should give them a job which is going to be useful to you,
[05:43.22]not one that you would object to doing yourself and, if possible, one which is going to be of some educational benefit to them.
[05:50.77]A job I would suggest is hand weeding.
[05:53.36]Chairman: You must have thought about this, Jeff.
[05:55.79]What job would you give them?Jeff: Well, I'd sooner have them eating ice cream.
[05:59.63]No, seriously,I like having young people in the garden.
[06:03.89]One thing that they enjoy doing, because they get very messy, is cleaning tools, you know spades, rakes and things like that.
[06:13.11]I mean you give a little boy an old,rag to clean them with and he is so happy.
[06:18.31]Another job they love and which I hate absolutely is edging.
[06:23.11]You know,trying to give a shape to the lawn.
[06:26.14]They make a horrible mess of it cutting it smaller and smaller and giving it no shape at all, but they thoroughly enjoy it.
[06:34.29]The other thing that I like to give them to do is pot washing.
[06:38.16]They're not so keen on that but I get them to wash the pots. But anything that's going to get them messy, lovely!
[06:45.84]Chairman: What do you say, Susan?
[06:47.56]Susan: Well, I would say heaven help any young boy or girl who came into my garden because their life would be made a misery.
[06:56.50]The only way I would let anybody touch my garden is if I was in the garden with them and working alongside,
[07:03.60]so I think the only thing to do is, whatever you do it.
[07:06.71]Work with them and make sure (a) that it's done properly and (b) that they're happy while they do it.
[07:16.35]D. Violence in Sport:
[07:30.46]Three people are giving their opinions about boxing.
[07:35.89]Speaker 1: When I look at a picture like this I feel ... hmm ... I feel.. I'm not really sure how I feel.
[07:45.79]Interviewer: Disgusted perhaps? Horrified?Speaker 1: No, no, I wouldn't say that.
[07:51.56]Interviewer: Are you excited, perhaps?Speaker 1: Excited? No, no, not at all. What's there to be excited about?
[07:58.77]Interviewer: Well, a lot of people who go to boxing matches seem to be excited.
[08:02.64]Speaker 1: Yes, I know. But I really can't understand why anybody should do that sort of thing at all.
[08:08.46]Interviewer: What? Go to a boxing match? Or box in one?
[08:11.26]Speaker 1: No, the first. I ... I think ... well ... it's hard to understand why people should want to earn their living by fighting, but I think I can.
[08:22.96]I mean, it's the money, isn't it? No, I meant going to a thing like that and watching it.
[08:28.92]I ... I just can't understand it. That's all.
[08:32.16]Speaker 2: Well, before ... I used to be disguested by the idea of this sort of thing.
[08:38.40]Men fighting for money. Blood. All that sort of thing.
[08:41.90]Interviewer: And now?
[08:43.15]Speaker 2: Well, since I've started going to a few boxing matches with my boyfriend, I think I see something ... something else in it.
[08:53.39]Interviewer: What?
[08:54.36]Speaker 2: Well ... perhaps you'll be surprised when I say this ..but I think there's a real element of skill. Yes. Skill.
[09:02.80]Interviewer: What kind of skill?
[09:04.00]Speaker 2: Physical skill. Those men are really ... fit.
[09:12.73]And if you watch two good boxers ... boxers who know what they're doing... you can see the skill.
[09:18.92]The way they ... they ... the way they watch each other and wait for an opening. That sort of thing.
[09:18.99]It's quite exciting, really. A bit like ... a chess game. Yes.
[09:25.78]Speaker 3: To me it's just disgusting. A brutal, disgusting spectacle. It ought to be banned. It sickens me ... the very thought of it sickens me.
[09:40.10]E Films:
[09:46.13]Woman: Well, what did you think of the film, Margaret?
[09:53.03]Margaret: Oh, I enjoyed it actually.
[09:55.14]But I do like musicals and I think Julie Andrews is wonderful.Woman: Lovely voice.Margaret: Oh, beautiful.Woman: And a lovely face.
[10:04.31]Margaret: Oh, she's very very attractive.Woman: I can't think why so many people criticize her.
[10:10.48]Margaret: Oh well, a lot of people do, but I think it's a snob thing with a lot of people.
[10:15.23]Woman: I've always enjoyed her films. Very well produced, too.Margaret: Oh, excellent, yes.
[10:21.29]Woman: Those lovely scenes in the Alps.
[10:24.53]Margaret: Yes, where she was doing that number where she was dancing on the hills.Woman: Mm,
[10:29.47]and that scene in the school. It brought tears to my eyes. What about next week then?
[10:37.96]Margaret: Yes, what are we going to see next week? Do you know what's on? I haven't looked at the local paper to see what's on next week.
[10:45.69]Woman: Well, I'd better give you a ring about it.Margaret: All right. 1 hope there's another musical on.
[10:50.76]Woman: Well, I believe there's Guys and Dolls on, if I remember well.
[10:55.75]Margaret: Really? Are they bringing that back again?
[10:58.65]Woman: I believe so. But it's on at the Odeon, on the other side of town, so it would involve quite a bit of travelling.
[11:05.72]Margaret: Oh, yes, but I'd go anywhere to see Frank Sinatra.
[11:09.12]Woman: I'd forgotten he was in it, so he is. Well, let's try and see that if we can.
[11:16.75]Margaret: I have seen it before, of course, but they're always bringing it back.
[11:20.98]Woman: What do you say, shall we meet for tea and then take in a matinee?
[11:26.15]Margaret: Yes, that's a good idea. Where shall I meet you?
[11:29.60]Woman: Now what about the Odeon cafe. Four o'clock?
[11:33.52]Margaret: Fine. Which day?
[11:34.93]Woman: Tuesday?
[11:36.10]Margaret: No, I can't make it Tuesday. How about Thursday?
[11:40.83]Woman: Yes, Thursday is all right. My husband likes to go off to his club on Thursday.
[11:46.01]Margaret: So Thursday, four o'clock, have tea and then go and see Guys and Dolls.
[11:52.72]Well, that'll be nice because I do like Frank Sinatra. So I'll see you on Thursday. I have to be off now. Goodbye.Woman: Bye.
[12:07.37]Section Three:
[12:12.02]A. Boat Trip:
[12:15.39]Angela Rogers is describing a boat trip which she took with her husband down the Nile.
[12:23.20]It was the summer of last year when we went.
[12:29.21]It was a special package holiday which included three days in Cairo, and a week cruising down the Nile.
[12:35.72]It sounded lovely in the brochure. Relaxing, luxurious, delicious food--all the usual things.
[12:43.08]And the boat looked nice In the picture.
[12:46.09]In fact when we got there, and on the boat, it was exactly the opposite of luxurious.
[12:53.56]It was positively uncomfortable.It was too small to be comfortable. And too hot.
[12:59.62]The only air--conditioning was from the wind, and inside, in the cabins, it was too hot to sleep,
[13:05.52]and the dining room was stifling.
[13:08.32]My husband and I paid the special rate for the best cabin.
[13:12.71]I'm glad we didn't have to stay in the worst one.
[13:15.47]The cabins were very poorly equipped, there wasn't even a mirror, or a socket for a hairdrier, or even a point for the electric razor.
[13:24.28]There was a shower, but the water pressure wasn't high enough to use it.
[13:28.88]The cabin was badly designed as well.
[13:31.67]There wasn't enough room to move. The beds took up three-quarters of the space.
[13:37.50]The brochure also talked about the mouth-watering French cuisine available on board,
[13:43.24]but you could hardly call it food.
[13:45.41]It was boring, and practically inedible. There was nothing to do, really.
[13:51.16]There was a table-tennis table, but one bat was broken.
[13:54.55]In the daytime the decks were so crowded, there wasn't even enough room to sit.
[14:00.27]We did stop now and then for a swim, but who wants to swim in that filthy river? I certainly didn't.
[14:08.61]B. Interview:
[14:14.12]Professor Ernest Taylor is a sociologist and the author of a number of books.
[14:21.49]He was interviewed recently on CBC radio by Norman Blunt.
[14:26.53]Blunt: Now Professor, in your latest book Granny Doesn't Live Here Any More,
[14:32.20]you suggest that Granny is a problem, and she is going to become even more of a problem in the future. Am I correct?
[14:39.69]Taylor: Yes, in fact it's not only Granny who is a problem, it's Grandfather, too, and old people in general.
[14:47.53]Blunt: Now, is this a peculiarly British phenomenon?
[14:51.03]It seems very sad that parents should give so much of their lives to bringin up their children and then, when they become old, be regarded as a problem.
[15:00.15]Taylor: Our research was mainly carried out in Britain.
[15:02.84]In many countries it is still regarded as quite natural that a widowed mother should go to live with one of her married children,
[15:09.92]but in Britain, certainly during the last thirty or forty years, there has been considerable resistance to this idea.
[15:17.78]Blunt: Now why do you think this is? Surely having a Granny about the place to take care of the younger children,
[15:23.63]and give a hand with the housework, can take a lot of pressure off a young wife, can't it?
[15:28.07]Taylor: Yes, I think this is true.
[15:30.08]But remember the old people themselves are often totally opposed to the idea of going to live with the young family.
[15:37.53]And modem houses and flats are very small; much smaller than the sort of homes people used,to live in.
[15:45.00]Blunt: And when Granny gets very old, then the situation becomes even worse, doesn't it?Taylor: Yes,
[15:50.77]as long as old people are able to look after themselves, the system works quite well.
[15:56.31]But as soon as they need anything in the way of care and attention, the situation becomes very difficult indeed.
[16:04.02]Blunt: Well, presumably a point comes when old people have to go into a nursing home or something similar.
[16:09.53]Taylor: Yes, but it's not as simple as that.
[16:12.66]Because of improvements in medical science, life expectancy is increasing all the time.
[16:19.06]The birth rate has fallen.
[16:21.15]This means that an ever smaller working population is having to provide for an ever larger
[16:27.79]number, of old people, in need of care and attention.
[16:31.13]The number of places in old people's homes provided by the State is strictly limited.
[16:37.82]There are private nursing homes, but the cost is way out of reach of the average family.
[16:44.27]Blunt: And how do you see the situation developing in the future?
[16:47.98]Taylor: Well, obviously a lot of money is going to have to be spent.
[16:52.32]But it's difficult persuading people to do this.
[16:55.43]There aren't many votes for policians in providing nursing homes for elderly.
[16:59.87]Blunt: You don't see a reversal of this trend,with Granny going back to live with the family.