In addition to the inherent operational hazards of water scooters, they are proving to be an environmental nuisance. Beach residents complain of the noise of the scooters. The Pacific Whale Foundation on the west coast expressed concern that the scooters are frightening away an endangered species of whale that migrates to Hawaii for breeding. Regulations such as minimum operating age, restricted operating areas and compulsory classes in water safety are essential. Without such regulations, tragedies involving water scooters are sure to multiply, which makes many beaches unsafe for recreation.
26. What does the speaker say about water scooters?
27. What was mentioned as one of the causes of water accident?
28. In what way are water scooters said to be an environmental nuisance?
29. What does the speaker propose to ensure the safety of beaches for recreation?
Passage 2
It seems to me that neighbors are going out of style in America. The friend next door from whom you borrowed for eggs or a ladder has moved and people in there now are strangers. Some of the traditional stories of neighborliness are impractical or silly and maybe just as well that our relations with our neighbors are changing. The saying in the Bible "Love thy neighbor" was probably a poor translation, of what must have originally been, "respect thy neighbor". Love can be called up on order. Fewer than half of the people in U.S. live in the same house they lived in five years ago. So there is no reason to love the people who live next door to you, just because they happen to wander into a real estate office that listed the place next door to yours. The only thing neighbors have in common, to begin with, is proximity and unless something more develops that isn't reason enough to be best friends. It sometimes happens naturally, but the chances are very small that your neighbors will be your choice friends or that you will be theirs either. The best relationship with neighbors is one of friendly distance. You say "hello", use small talk if you see them in the yard, you discuss problems as they arise and you help each other in an emergency. The drive way or the fence between you is not really a cold shoulder but a clear boundary. We all like clearly-defined boundaries for ourselves.
30. What does the speak say about the relations among neighbors nowadays?
31. Why does the speak say it may be difficult for people to love their neighbors?
32. What should neighbors do in the speaker's opinion?
Passage 3
Articles in magazines and newspapers and special reports on radio and television reflect the concern of many Americans about the increasing drop-out rate in our junior and senior high schools. Coupled with this fact is the warning that soon we will no longer have a work force to fill the many jobs that require properly educated personnel. The high student drop-out rate is not a recent development. Ten years ago, many urban schools were reporting drop-out rates between 35 and 50 percent. Some administrators maintain that drop-outs remain the single greatest problem in their schools. Consequently, much effort has been spent on identifying students with problems in order to give them more attention before they become failures. Since the drop-out problem doesn't start in senior high school, special programs in junior high school focus on students who show promise but have a record of truancy, that is staying away from school without permission. Under the guidance of counselors, these students are placed in classes with teachers who have had success in working with similar young people. Strategies to motivate students in a high school include rewarding academic excellence by designating scholars of the month, or by issuing articles of clothing, such as school letter jackets formerly given only to athletes. No one working with these students claims to know how to keep all students in schools. Counselors, teachers and administrators are in the frontlines of what seems at times to be a losing battle. Actually, this problem should be everyone’s concern since uneducated, unemployed citizens affect us all.
33. Why are many Americans concerned with the increasing drop-out rate in school?
34. What do we learn about the student drop-out problem in America?
35. What is mentioned as one of the strategies used to motivate students?
Compound Dictation
I'm interested in the criminal justice system of our country. It seems to me that something has to be done if we are to survive as a country. I certainly don't know what the answers to our problems are. Things certainly get complicated in a hurry when you get into them. But I wonder if something couldn't be done to deal with some of these problems.
One thing I'm concerned about is our practice of putting offenders in jail who haven't harmed anyone. Why not work out some system whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of incurring another debt by going to prison, and of course, coming under the influence of hardened criminals? I'm also concerned about the short prison sentences people are serving for serious crimes. Of course, one alternative to this is to restore capital punishment, but I'm not sure I would be for that. I'm not sure it's right to take an eye for eye.
The alternative to capital punishment is longer sentences, but they would certainly cost
the tax payers much money.
I also think we must do something about the insanity plea. In my opinion, any one who takes another person's life intentionally is insane. However, that does not mean that the person isn't guilty of the crime, or that he shouldn't pay society the debt he owes.
It's sad, of course, that a person may have to spend the rest of his life, or a large part of it, in prison for acts that he committed while not in full control of his mind.
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