Part B
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. After you have heard each paragraph, interpret it into Chinese. Start interpreting at the signal……and stop it at the singal……You may take notes while you are listening. Remember you will hear the passages ONLY ONCE. Now let's begin Part A with the first passage.
Passage 1:
Canadians have a strong and increasing involvement in a wide range of cultural activities throughout the country. The performing arts are well established, with professional and amateur companies active in music, drama and dance. Canadian writing and painting have achieved growing international recognition in recent years. The educational system in Canada strongly encourages music, drama and the visual arts at all levels.
Canada has a comprehensive social security system for the aged, disabled, sick and unemployed. The federal and provincial health-care services, mostly supported by the government, are available to all Canadians. Public hospital treatment, prenatal and maternity service, and many medicines are government subsidized, as is dental treatment for children.
Passage 2 :
Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of New Zealand, I take the pleasure in welcoming you to the cultural, administrative, economic and financial center of New Zealand. I would like to extend my warmest greeting to all of you, delegates and representatives of international organizations involved in environmental protection, upon the opening of the Second Informal Meeting of the Environment Ministers.
Environmental protection is very crucial. It is the priority of the government's agenda, In this sense, the Government of New Zealand has increased budget allocations for environmental management and provided opportunity to the Ministry of Environment to mobilize international support for the sector. Only during the last four years, government's budget for environmental protection has more than tripled.
Passage 3
我承认,要编写我们国家的历史,追溯到罗马建立伊始,这一任务让我顾虑重重。即使我对这项工作的价值充满信心,要这么说还是犹豫再三。我很明白史学家们爱唱高调,这向来司空见惯。每一位史学编写者往往对前人的工作嗤之以鼻,认为他们缺乏素养,心里暗自得意自己会在风格上有所突破,或取得新的历史发现。关于国家历史这一主题的作品不胜枚举,而我的作品可能湮没其中,不为人知。果真如此,前人巨著的伟大和精彩也会令我倍感欣慰。
此外,这项任务异常繁重。我要回顾到700多年前,从最初开始,一直追溯到近代,而这部分盘根错节,几乎无法详尽描述。现代社会问题重重,如果今世的作家对此过于心焦,即便不对真相有所掩盖,也难免受困于此。而如果我在潜心于古代研究时,能够不受这些问题的困扰,那恰恰体现了古代研究的价值所在。