In recent years, many Americans of both sexes and various ages have become increasingly interested in improving their bodies. They have become more devoted to physical fitness. Many persons have a strong desire to be more physically fit. By nature, Americans are enthusiastic, and energetic about hobbies or pastimes. And now many of them apply this enthusiasm, optimism, and energy to running. As a result, there are more running clubs to join and numerous books and magazines to read about running. The desire for American people to be physically fit could probably be explained by a “passion“ for good health. The high rate of heart attacks in the 1960s has caused an increase of interest in improving the health condition of human body. Middle-aged men especially suffer from heart attacks. Thus, they are one group strongly interested in taking more physical exercise. [21]In fact, many doctors often encourage their patients to become more physically active, especially those who have inactive jobs. It is quite interesting to note that the rate of heart attacks began to decrease between 1972 and 1974 and it is still decreasing now. It seems that physical fitness has now become a new “love“ of Americans But will it last very long? Nobody knows. Only time will tell—or until another “new passion“ comes along and takes its place. 19. Why are Americans so interested in physical exercise? 20. What happens when American people apply great enthusiasm in running? 21. What kinds of patients are especially encouraged to take part in physical exercise? Because of their hobbies and pastimes. Because of their enthusiasm for sports. Because of their fear of heart attacks. Because of their strong desire for good health.

We know that we have to pay for what we get. If we buy food, we know there will be a bill to pay. These are private bills. But there are also public bills that must be paid. Public bills are paid for by the government. In turn, we get these services through taxes. What would happen if everyone in the city stopped paying taxes? The water supply would stop. Water might even become unclean and impure. The streets might not be cleaned. There would be no police force to protect people and property. Schools would be closed. People would become sick and diseases might spread. We should not want to live in such a city. We all want pure water and food, clean streets and good schools. We want police to prevent us from crime. The chief duty for every government is to protect persons and property. More than three quarters of the money spent by our government is used for this purpose. The next large amount of public money goes to teach and train our citizens. Billions of dollars each year are spent on schools and libraries. Public money is used to pay the teachers and all the public officials. Also, a large amount of public funds is spent on roads. The greatest part of the needed funds is raised by taxes. A tax is money that we all must pay to support the government. The law orders us to pay taxes. We have no choice in the matter-Almost everyone pays some taxes in one form or another. 16. According to the speaker, what will happen if the citizens stop paying taxes? 17. In what way is the next large amount of public money used? 18. What message does the speaker want to convey in this talk? Water might become clean and pure. People will live in a better environment. There will be no police to protect people. People need to spend more money on education.

M: Good morning, class. W: Good morning, sir. M: Today we’ll discuss volcanoes. Can you tell me the most dangerous thing about a volcano? W: I think the most dangerous hazard of a volcano comes from the lava that flows out of it. M: Good guess. Although your answer makes sense, the biggest killer from a volcano comes from the ash, not the lava. In fact, ash causes serious problems and can make humans and animals sick: it can even kill them. Ash also reduces sunlight and can start heavy rainfalls that lead to mudslides. Did you know that it only takes 30 centimeters of dry ash to collapse a roof of a building? Ash also contaminates water supplies, and kills crops. As you can see, ash causes the most destruction. W: Professor, are there different sizes of volcanoes? M: Absolutely. There are ordinary volcanoes that can kill thousands of people and often destroy whole cities, and there are super volcanoes which are highly explosive and can kill billions of people and even destroy an entire continent. W: Are there any super volcanoes in the world today? M: Actually, yes. There are 40 super volcanoes. One is in Yellowstone National Park in the United States and two others in Britain. Super volcanoes are quite rare with the last eruption occurring about 74,000 years ago in Indonesia. W: How do super volcanoes differ from ordinary volcanoes and are they easy to find? M: By and large, most people would not be able to recognize a super volcano. Like an iceberg, the larger part of a volcano is hidden. W: Professor, if the volcano hasn’t erupted then how do scientists know what might happen? M: Well, the scientists are relying on past information from the volcano that erupted in Indonesia and they also forecast their predictions using computer models. 9. What is the most dangerous thing about a volcano? 10. Where did the last eruption of super volcano occur? 11. How can scientists predict the future of volcanoes? The erupted lava. The destructive ash. The unbearable heat. The poisonous gas.

W: Have you managed to assemble the machine yet? M: I’ve been studying the manual for about an hour but I can’t make head or tail of it. I don’t know why they have made it so difficult to read. Q: What does the man mean? The manual is of no use. There are some parts missing. An hour is not enough. He can’t understand the manual.

M: Excuse me, could you please tell me how to get to the tennis courts? W: They are right next to the Sports Complex. M: I am new to the university and I don’t know where the Sports Complex is, either. W: Well, it’s about a five-minute walk. M: Oh. W: Head down this main road for two blocks. Turn right at the clock tower and you will be on Bute Avenue. Walk on Bute for a couple of blocks, maybe 3 blocks. M: You already have me walking about 5 blocks. Are you sure it is only a five-minute walk? W: Maybe, it is longer—actually, it could be more, like ten minutes. I am not sure. M: Do you know if there is a bus stop there? W: Yes, the bus stop is in front of the pool, but bus service is quite slow during the day. M: Are the tennis courts in good condition? W: Yes, this university is very lucky to have such sports facilities. M: That’s what I’ve heard. Did a rich person donate some money? W: Yes, about 5 or 6 years ago, the rumor is that a famous hockey player left millions of dollars to build a new sports complex. It was an anonymous donation actually. I’m sorry to say, I almost never used it after my first year. Besides studying I took up cards—I love playing bridge. M: Well, I hope to get in good shape here. I’m meeting a friend at the tennis courts in fifteen minutes, so I’d better be going. W: Yes, you should Now that I think about it, it may be close to twenty minutes’ walk to get there. 12. What can be inferred about the woman? 13. How did the university probably obtain the new sports facilities? 14. What is the woman’s favorite game? 15. What is the man trying to do? She knows nothing about the tennis courts. She does not have a good sense of distance. She is also a stranger to the university. She can serve as a great tourist guide.

As a result of rising university costs, many students are finding it necessary to take on part-time jobs. To make finding those jobs easier, the placement service has put together a listing of what is available locally. For some students, those part-time jobs could lead to the full time work after graduation, as they may offer experience in their own field, like finance, marketing or even management. For example, national savings bank offers work on a half time basis. That’s 20 hours a week. Retail stores and restaurants have positions requiring fewer hours. Even less time is expected of those providing child-care. We have a number of families registered with us who are looking for baby-sitters for as few as four hours a week. For students who prefer outdoor work there’re seasonal positions right on campus, working with the gardening and landscaping teams. These often require the most time and they are the least flexible in terms of scheduling. To see a complete list of these and other available jobs, including the salary offered in the hours required, stop by our office and be sure to bring a resume with you. When you find something that interests you, we’ll put you in touch with the person offering it. In addition, our counselors will give you hints about successful interviewing. 22. What do we know about the “placement service“ from the passage? 23. Which job requires the most time according to the passage? 24. What should students bring with them to the office? 25. What will the counselors at the office help students do? It interests students in a career in counseling. It recruits counselors to work in the placement office. It facilitates students to find a part-time job easily. It convinces local merchants to hire college students.

Corporations as a group offer a variety of jobs. Most large companies send people to colleges to interview graduating students with the required【B1】______ training. A large university may have more than 500 companies a year【B2】______ its doors. Big firms are the best places for a job because their normal【B3】______, employee retirements and turnover create thousands of job【B4】______ nationwide each year. Corporations, however,【B5】______ the rule that the biggest isn’t always the best. Many small firms with a few hundred employees have positions that may【B6】______ your professional goals, too. Such firms may not have the time, money or need to send people around to your college: you will probably have to contact them yourself either directly or through an employment agency. Don’t ignore these little companies. Their salaries are usually competitive and the chances for advancement and【B7】______ even stronger than those of a big firm. You could become a big fish in a small pond, reaching a high-level position more quickly than you would if you had climbed the more competitive ladder of a corporate【B8】______. For example, a small company may need a bright engineering, accounting or management graduate who report directly to the senior vice-president of engineering, the company controller or the general manager. In large firms it may【B9】______ to reach that level and accumulate similar【B10】______ experience. So big companies might not be the best choices for job seekers. In addition, responsibilities may come faster in a small firm with less specialization and fewer lower-level employees to receive delegated authority.