What does the speaker mainly talking about?The sense of hearing is one of our most important means of knowing what is going on around us. We are warned of danger by sound. Sounds serve to please us in music. It has a waste product, too, in the form of noise. Noise has been called unwanted sound. Noise is growing and it may get much worse before it gets any better. Automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, factories, bands—all these things make noise. They bother not only our ears but our minds and bodies as well. There is a saying about it being so noisy that you can’ t hear yourself think. Doctors who study noise believe that we must sometimes hear ourselves think. If we don’t, we may have headaches, other aches and pains, or even worse mental problems. Noise adds stress to our society that already faces enough. There are two ways to cut down on the harm caused by noise. One is to cut down on the amount of noise. The other is to protect ourselves against the noise we can’t stop. Ways of making less noise are now being tested. There are groups for the prevention of noise in this country. There is even a law controlling noise. We cannot return to the “good old days“ of peace and quiet. But we can reduce noise—if we shout loudly enough about it. Pollution. Human voice. Good old days. None of the above.

Where are the two speakers?M: May I help you? W: Yes, I’ d like to try on some sports jackets. I prefer something like the one I’ m wearing. In a department store. In a restaurant. In a clothes factory. On a playground.

What was the woman doing these days?W: Hey, Tom. I wonder if you can help me. I’ ve been so busy sightseeing these days and I haven ’ t done any shopping. Now it’ s almost the end of my tour and I’ m leaving tomorrow. I need to buy some presents for my family members but I don’ t know where to get them. M: I’m glad to be of any help. Do you have anything particular in mind? W: Well, I need to buy a warm jumper for my mother so that she can wear it in winter. My sister likes perfume. And then some wine or aftershave for my brother. M: Can we stop for a moment so I can tell you where you may get those things. Have you got a map there? Well, there’ s a Scorch Wale shop here on the left side as you go down Regent Street from the hotel you are staying. They have all kinds of jumpers and tartan skirts and... W: Oh, tartan skirts? That’ s what I want for myself. I love those skirts. And do they also sell socks? I’d like to buy some too. M: I’m not sure, but there is a sock shop on the opposite side of the street in fact. Now, as to perfume... W: No. I’ ve changed my mind. I think a book for sister and a record for my brother may be better. Can I get those near Piccadilly? M: Oh, yes. There is big record shop. And not far from there, you will find a good selection of books at Harcher’ s. W: Ah, I see. Well, that’ s about everything then. Thank you, Tom. Now let’ s go to have a cup of coffee first. My treat. She was doing nothing. She was going shopping. She was studying. She was going sightseeing.

Persons who are overweight should watch their diet carefully in order to lose pounds. The best way to do this is to start a weight control program. At first, it is wise to talk with your doctor. He can advise you of the number of calories you should have in your meals each day. He can tell you about exercising while on your diet. A good rule is to lose slowly. A loss of a pound or two is plenty. Plan meals around foods you know. This means that it is wise to include foods that you are used to and that are part of your regular eating habits. When you have lost the weight you wish, simple items can be added to your diet so that you can maintain the weight you want. While you are dieting, try to build a pattern of eating that you can follow later to maintain your desired weight. When dieting, choose low-calorie foods. Avoid such items as fats, fried food, sweets, cakes, cream and soft drinks. Try to take coffee and tea without sugar or cream. Snacks can be part of your diet. For example, a piece of fruit or a simple dessert saved from mealtime can be eaten between meals. Keep busy! This way you will not be tempted to go off the die. Make full use of opportunities to exercise. Try walking instead of riding whenever possible. Happy dieting!

Read the text below. Write an essay in about 120 words, in which you should summarize the key points of the text and make comments on them. Try to use your own words. A 23-year-old Chinese woman has died after her mobile phone exploded while it was being charged. Miss Zhao was found dead in Shijiazhuang, the capital city of northeast China’ s Hebei province. She was talking to her boyfriend on her mobile phone, but suddenly went silent. After the boyfriend failed to get a response in a prolonged period of time, he rushed to Zhao’ s home. It was already too late, as the phone had clearly exploded in her hands, and her entire chest had been burned. This piece of news draws public attention to the using safety of electronic devices, especially the most commonly used mobile phone, and provides information that will be of great value in assessing the safety of cell phone use. Liang Guangchuan, a researcher from Hebei University of Technology, says the tragedy could be caused by a faulty charger and electric leakage of the lithium battery. He suggests that to be on the safe side, one should avoid using his or her mobile phone while it is being charged. This accident caused great response in the population of cell phone users. A cell phone user replied in an interview, “ I swear, after I post this comment, I will never play with my mobile phone a-gain when the battery is still being charged. “ A sample of comments on Weibo: “ Should the cell phone producer be responsible for this accident and make effort to broadcast the knowledge of cell phone using safety?“

The whole of the United States cheered its latest hero, Ashley Smith, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying it was planning to give a big reward to her for having a brave heart and wise mind. 【C1】______She was moving into her apartment in Adanta, Georgia early on the morning of March 12, when a man followed her to her door and put a gun to her side. “I started walking to my door, and I felt really, really afraid,“ she said in a TV interview last week. The man was Brian Nichols, 33. He was suspected of killing three people at an Atlanta courthouse on March, 11 and later of killing a federal agent. 【C2】______ Nichols tied Smith up with tape, but released her after she repeatedly begged him not to take her life. “I told him if he hurt me, my little girl wouldn’ t have a mummy,“ she said. In order to calm the man down, she read to him from The Purpose-Driven Life, a best-selling religious boot. He asked her to repeat a paragraph “about what you thought your purpose in life was—what talents were you given. 【C3】______ “I basically just talked to him and tried to gain his trust,“ Smith said. Smith said she asked Nichols why he chose her. “He said he thought I was an angel sent from God, and we were Christian sister and brother,“ she said. “And that he was lost, and that God led him to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of people. “【C4】______She said Nichols was surprised when she made him breakfast and that the two of them watched television coverage of the police hunt for him. “I cannot believe that’ s me,“ Nichols told the woman. Then, Nichols asked Smith what she thought he should do. She said, “I think you should turn yourself in. If you don’t, lots more people are going to get hurt. “ Eventually, he let her go.【C5】______A $ 60,000 reward had been posted for Nichols’ capture. Authorities said they did not yet know if Smith would be eligible for that money. [A]She even cooked breakfast for the man before he allowed her to leave. [B]Smith thanked the man for his kindness. [C]Then she called the police. [D]The local police were searching for him. [E]And the two of them discussed this topic. [F]Smith tried very hard to kill Nichols. [G]Smith is a 26-year-old single mother with a daughter.

One in six. Believe it or not, that’ s the number of Americans who struggle with hunger. To make tomorrow a little better, Feeding America, the nation’ s largest【C6】______hunger relief organization, has chosen September as Hunger Action Month. As part of its 30 days in 30 days program, it’ s asking【C7】______across the country to help the more than 200 food banks and 61 ,000 agenda in its network provide low income individuals and families with the fuel they need to【C8】______ It’ s the kind of work that’ s done every day at St. Andrew’ s Episcopal Church in San Antonio. People who【C9】______at its front door on the first and third Thursdays of each month aren’ t looking for God—they’ re there for something to eat. St. Andrew’ s runs a food pantry that【C10】______the City and several of the【C11】______towns. Janet Drane is its manager. In the wake of the【C12】______, the number of families in need of food assistance began to grow, It is【C13】______that 49 million Americans are unsure of where they will find their next meal. What’s the most surprising is that 36% of them live in【C14】______where at least one adult is working. “ It used to be that one job was all you needed,“ says St. Andrew’ s Drane. “The people we see now have three or four part-time jobs and they’ re still right on the edge【C15】______“ [A]accumulate[B]recession[C]domestic [D]competition[E]communities[F]households [G]formally[H]gather[I]financially [J]circling[K]reported[L]serves [M]reviewed[N]surrounding[O]survive

Some time ago, I discovered that one of the chairs in my front hall had a broken leg. I didn’ t foresee any great difficulty in getting it mended, as there are a whole lot of antique shops on Pimlico Road which is three minutes’ walk from my flat, so I set forth one morning carrying the chair with me. I went into the first shop confidently expecting a friendly reception, with a kindly man saying, “What a charming chair! Yes, that’ s quite a simple job. When would you want it back?“ I was quite wrong. I wasn’ t too concerned: after all, it was only the first to try and there are many more shops on both sides of the road. The reaction at the second shop, though slightly politer, was just the same, and at the third and the fourth—so I decided that my approach must be wrong. I entered the fifth shop with some confidence because I had thought of a plan. I placed the chair gently on the floor, then the rather fierce shop owner looked it over carefully and said, “ Yes, not a bad little chair, how much do you want for it?“ “￡20,“ I said. “It’ s got a slightly broken leg,“ I said. “Yes, I saw that. It’ s nothing: don’t worry about it. “ “What will you do with it?“ I asked. “Oh, it will be very saleable once the repair is done, I like the bit of old green velvet on the top, I shall leave that, yes, very saleable. “ “I’ll buy it,“ I said. “Yes, I know, but I’ ve changed my mind: as a matter of fact, it is just what I’ m looking for. I’ ve got a pair to it at home: I’ll give you ￡27 for it. “ “You must be crazy,“ he said: then suddenly the penny dropped and he smiled and said, “ I know what you want, you want me to mend your chair. “And what would you have done if I had walked in and asked you to repair it for me?“ “I wouldn’ t have done it,“ he said. “We don’t do repairs, not enough money in it and too much of a nuisance, but I’ll mend this for you. “

What’ s the probable relationship between the two speakers?W: Need I take some medicine? M: Yes. And I strongly advise you to go on a low-fat diet. W: Do you really think that’s really important? M: Of course. If you don’ t, you might have a heart attack some day. W: Well, I think I should follow your advice. You have been very helpful. Thanks. Husband and wife. Father and daughter. Doctor and patient. Doctor and nurse.

What is the present condition of hotline like today?M: Hotlines are very common in today’s life, do you think so? W: Of course. M: Most of them are about amusement, in my opinion. But some of them are very important in our daily life. W: Is that true? M: Certainly. A free hotline offering help to teenagers was opened in Guangdong. W: Can you tell me something more about it? M: It is the first part of the national hotline system to help to protect teens’ rights. Young people who have psychological problems or questions on legal issues can call for help. More than 100 experts are ready to offer help. W: Then what is the telephone number? M: Call 12355 if you are in Guangzhou and 020-12355 if you are outside. W: Oh, it will be a help to teenagers. Poor. Popular. Rare. Not mentioned.

How long will Anna still have to stay in London?M: Er, Anna, tell me, how long have you been here in London? W: I arrived ten days ago. M: I understand you are taking an English course at this school. W: Yes, that’s right. M: When did the course start? W: It started...er, five days ago. M: How long does it last? W: It lasts a month, and there are three hours of classes every morning. In the afternoon there are trips to places of interest in London. M: I see. Why did you decide to take this course? W: For two reasons, really. You see, I work in the Sales Department of a computer company, and I often have to speak English to customers, so I wanted to improve my spoken English. M: You speak very well. W: Thank you. M: And the second reason? W: It was a good excuse to see London. M: Is this the first time you’ ve been here? W: Yes. M: And are you living with an English family here in London? W: No, I’m living in a hotel, but I think it’ s better to live with a family. There are five French people staying at the hotel, so we speak French together. I haven’ t met many English people yet! At least 40 days. At least 35 days. At least 30 days. At least 25 days.

What does the speaker mainly talking about?The sense of hearing is one of our most important means of knowing what is going on around us. We are warned of danger by sound. Sounds serve to please us in music. It has a waste product, too, in the form of noise. Noise has been called unwanted sound. Noise is growing and it may get much worse before it gets any better. Automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, factories, bands—all these things make noise. They bother not only our ears but our minds and bodies as well. There is a saying about it being so noisy that you can’ t hear yourself think. Doctors who study noise believe that we must sometimes hear ourselves think. If we don’t, we may have headaches, other aches and pains, or even worse mental problems. Noise adds stress to our society that already faces enough. There are two ways to cut down on the harm caused by noise. One is to cut down on the amount of noise. The other is to protect ourselves against the noise we can’t stop. Ways of making less noise are now being tested. There are groups for the prevention of noise in this country. There is even a law controlling noise. We cannot return to the “good old days“ of peace and quiet. But we can reduce noise—if we shout loudly enough about it. Pollution. Human voice. Good old days. None of the above.

Martin: I work not because I like it but that I have to, so I often count the minutes until stopping work or holidays. However, my sister is totally different. She enjoys her work so much that she often spends extra time on her job even takes work home with her. I think she is so crazy about work just as some people are about drugs or alcohol. I could hardly understand it. Joseph: Work is a core element of our lives. It gives us a sense of identity in the larger world outside the personal circle of family and friends. However, there are some people for whom work occupies an even more central place in their lives. Workaholics are a stereotype of modern life, and they are both praised and criticized. On the one hand, it may be the accepted way of earning promotion. On the other hand, workaholics are often viewed as neglecting aspects of life such as family and leisure that are important for maintaining a healthy equilibrium. Malcolm: In cities, workaholism is so common that people do not regard it as unusual. I think workaholics prefer to work rather than do anything else because they don’ t know how to kill time if they don’ t work. They can only get pleasure from work. Work is everything for them. Emily: Workaholism is dangerous in a sense because it can cause some problems. First of all, workaholics often have health problems because they don’ t have time to relax and keep themselves occupied all the time. Secondly, their family life is not happy since they spend little time with their family. Their marriage may even end in divorce. Linda: Being a workaholic can mean you achieve great things, but more people achieve great things without being addicted to work. Workaholics need time away from work and when I say “away from“ I mean psychologically distanced from it as well as physically. If you are still obsessing about work when you should be focused on your loved ones or an outside of work activity then you are still basically working. Now match the name of each person(36 - 40)to the appropriate statement. Note: there are two extra statements. Statements [A]If you don’t get rid of workaholism, you may get ill. [B]To get promotion, you need to be a workaholic. [C]Workaholics’ behaviors are hard to understand. [D]Workaholics had better have some time with no work. [E]Workaholics don’ t know how to enjoy themselves except working. [F]It’ s hard for workaholics to be away from work psychologically. [G]Some people appreciate those who pay almost all their attention on work.

You are preparing for an English test and are in need of some reference books. Write a letter to the sales department of a bookstore to ask for: 1)detailed information about the books you want: 2)methods of payment: 3)time and way of delivery. You should write about 100 words. Do not sign your own name at the end of your letter. Use “Wang Lin“ instead.

What does the saying “you can’t hear yourself think“ mean?

How many ways of reducing harm are mentioned?

What is the main purpose of the speech?