英语周报：2008年12月六级听力模拟试题(四)

　　Section B

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　Passage one

　　In America, where labor costs are so high, “do-it-yourself” is a way of life. Many people repair their own cars, build their own garages, and even remodel their own houses. Soon they may also be writing their own books. In Hollywood there is a company that publishes children’s books with the aid of computers. Although other book companies also publish that way, this particular company is very unusual. It “personalizes” the books by having the computer make the reader the leading character in the story. Here is how they do it. Let us say your child is named Jenny. She lives on Oak Drive in St. Louis, has a dog named Spot, a cat named Tabby, and three playmates whose names are Betsy, Sandy, and Jody. The computer uses this information to fill out a story that has already been prepared and illustrated. The story is then printed with standard equipment as a hardcover book. The child who receives such a book might say, “This book is about me”, the company therefore calls itself the “Me-Books Publishing Company.”

　　Children like the Me-Books because they like to see in print their own names and the names of their friends and their pets. But more important, “personalization” has been found to be an important tool in developing enthusiasm for reading. Me-Books thus help a child to learn how to read, by appealing to the natural desire to see his or her own name in print.

　　Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　26 In what way is the Me-Books Publishing Company different from other book companies?

　　27. What is the reason that children like the Me-Books?

　　28. What do the Me-Books help the children to learn?

　　Passage Two

　　Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated on March 4, 1801. He was the first President to take the oath of office in the nation’s permanent capital, Washington D. C.. Although Washington D. C. was a new city it was already familiar to President Jefferson. In fact Jefferson had helped plan the capital’s streets and public buildings. Besides being a city planner and architect, the new President was a writer, a scientist, and the inventor of several gadgets and tools.

　　After his inauguration, Jefferson moved into the Presidential Palace. The Palace was more than a home; it contained offices for the president and some of his staff and advisors. It also included dining and reception rooms, where the President could entertain Congressmen. However, President Jefferson did not give many formal parties. This was partly because there was no First Lady; Jefferson’s wife had died in 1782. But it was also because Jefferson liked to live in simple fashion. Once, he showed up for an important meeting wearing old clothes and down-at-the-heels slippers! Neither Washington nor Adams would ever have dressed so casually.

　　Jefferson was different from the first two Presidents in other ways, too. He disagreed with them about how the country should be run, and about what part a President should play in running it.

　　Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　29. Which one is implied about Washington D. C.?

　　30. What can be one reason why Jefferson didn’t give formal parties?

　　31. What can be inferred from the passage?

　　Passage Three

　　What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show the strengths that you can use in your work. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work, so it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any special strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. Knowledge of history is not required for most jobs. But if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs. Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at mental work or cooking and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you have gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get along with older workers. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career by seeing it from the inside in a part-time job.

　　Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic about it, but recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.