3. What do we learn about the job market in China from the news report?

Task 2 Understanding Long Conversations

Conversation One

1. C 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. C

Conversation Two

1. D 2. C 3. A 4. B

■ Script

Conversation One

M: Connie, do you have any plans to get married?

W: You know, Bill. I’m so busy with my job at the law firm that I never have much time left for a social life.

M: Well, we aren’t getting any younger. You have to make time for things like that.

W: But, for the time being, I’m focusing on my work. My career is really starting to blossom. I’m sure I’ll meet someone when the time is right.

M: You know, it’s harder to have kids after a certain age. Also, most men are married by the time they’re in their thirties.

W: I’m not sure I want to get married.

M: You’re not one of those feminists, are you? The kind that says “women belong in the office and not the kitchen”?

W: I wouldn’t put it like that. But, I am a feminist in that I believe a woman has a right to choose what to do with her life.

M: Sure, but everyone should get married sooner or later, don’t you think? W: Not necessarily. It isn’t for everyone. M: It’s the normal thing to choose.

W: Speaking of choices, I’d like to change the subject.

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. Does the woman want to get married? Why? 2. How is the woman’s work going?

3. Which of the following statements will the man most probably object to?

4. What is the woman’s attitude towards the idea “women belong in the office and not the kitchen”?

5. What does the woman think of Bill’s advice?

Conversation Two

M: Now, Shona, you said that you jog. W: Yeah, I do.

M: I’m a jogger too.

W: Oh, are you? Fantastic. How often do you do it? M: Well, I actually try to go every day.

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W: OK. How long for?

M: Between thirty minutes and an hour, depending on the day. And you?

W: It depends on the day as well. Today it was only like half an hour, but I try to get out for an hour, maybe like four or five times a week. I used to be a lot fitter and I just realized today that I’m not as healthy as I used to be, so I’m probably gonna pump it up a little bit and do a little bit more.

M: So you said you’re not fit. What happened? Did you stop running?

W: Yeah, I guess I’ve not been doing as much as I used to recently because I used to do more than just jogging. I went to the gym as well. I did yoga. But when you just stick to one exercise alone, it tends to make your fitness drop a little bit. M: Right.

W: So I need to vary it a little more.

M: Well, actually, where do you run? Do you run on the river?

W: Yeah, I run down the river. Just along it, to the right-handed side. Just as far as, like fifteen or twenty minutes, and then back.

M: Actually, there’s a really nice park near here that has a really nice running trail. W: Oh, really.

M: I highly recommend it. Yeah. But you’re gonna take the train, and it’s four stops. You have to pay a little money, but it’s worth it.

W: Wow. Cool. You’ll have to tell me where it is. M: Sure. I can draw you a map. W: OK, cool.

Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. How long does the man usually jog? 2. How often does the woman jog? 3. Where does the woman usually run?

4. How will the woman get to the park that the man recommends?

Task 3 Understanding Passages Passage One

Listening for general information

1. you love to hate 2. our attitude is everything Listening for specific information 1. C 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. D

■ Script

Listening for general information

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to ask him, “I don’t get it. You can’t be positive all the time. How do you do it?”

Michael replied: “Each morning I wake up and say to myself ‘Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.’ I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to

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learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.”

“Yeah, right. It isn’t that easy. ” I protested.

“Yes, it is,” Michael said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is: It’s your choice how you live life.” I reflected on what Michael said. Finally, I 1earned from him that every day we have a choice to live fully and our attitude is everything. Listening for specific information

1. Which of the following descriptions about Michael is NOT true? 2. What is the speaker’s attitude towards Michael’s behavior? 3. When something bad happens, what will Michael do? 4. When someone complains to him, what will Michael do? 5. What is the bottom line of life?

Passage Two

Listening for general information

1. The passage is about how to eat smart. 2. Four. Listening for specific information 1. D 2. D 3. A 4. B 5. A

■ Script

Listening for general information

Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. It’s not just what you eat, but how you eat. Paying attention to what you eat and choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable helps support an overall healthy diet.

Take time to chew your food: Chew your food slowly. We tend to rush through our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths.

Avoid stress while eating: Avoid eating while working, driving, arguing, or watching TV. Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Listen to your body: Ask yourself if you are really hungry, and stop eating when you feel full. Eating just enough to satisfy your hunger will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best.

Eat early, eat often: Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jump-start your metabolism. Also, eating small, healthy meals throughout the day, rather than the standard three large meals, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks. Listening for specific information

1. How can people eat smart according to the speaker?

2. Which of the following eating habits is correct according to the passage? 3. Why should one stop eating when one feels full? 4. What is the advantage of eating breakfast? 5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

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Passage Three

Listening for general information

1. Most Americans do not do everything they can to lead a healthy lifestyle.

2. No, not very popular.

Listening for specific information 1. D 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. A

■ Script

Listening for general information

A study performed in 2005 by an epidemiologist at Michigan State University found that most Americans do not do everything they can to lead a healthy lifestyle. The study that was published in journal Archives of Internal Medicine looked at four basic characteristics that are part of a healthy lifestyle:

First, being a non-smoker.

Second, exercising 30 minutes or more five days per week.

Third, eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Fourth, maintaining a healthy weight with a BMI under 25.

The researcher was quite surprised with his findings: of 153,000 adults, only three percent followed all four steps for a healthy lifestyle. “I was really quite surprised at how low that number was,” said Mathew Reeves, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Michigan State University. “These results illustrate the extraordinary low prevalence of healthy lifestyles in the United States adult population.”

This is really a bad news, because an unhealthy lifestyle means more illnesses and more expense to treat those illnesses. This means a bigger burden on an already challenged healthcare system. Poor health also means more time lost at work, less quality recreational time, and even shorter lifespan. The good news is that all of these lifestyle changes are reversible and not at a great cost. Remember that changing your unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one will lower your risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. Listening for specific information

1. Which of the following is not the characteristic of a healthy lifestyle? 2. How does the researcher feel about the findings of the study?

3. How many adults in America followed all four steps for a healthy lifestyle? 4. According to the passage, what does leading an unhealthy lifestyle mean? 5. What is the good news suggested by the research?

V. Radio Program

1. came from a survey 2. mental or emotional stress 3. dropped sharply 4. the youngest adults 5. report feeling negative emotions

6. grow more thankful 7. be linked to 8. brain chemistry 9. being unemployed or being single 10. well-being related to age

■ Script

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