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Part I DICTATION (15MIN)
Limiting the Growth of Technology
Throughout history man has changed his physical environment to improve his way of life.With the tools of technology man has altered many physical features of the earth.He has transformed woodland into farmland.He has modified the face of the earth by cutting through mountains to build roads and railways.However,these changes in the physical environment have not always had beneficial results.Today,pollution of the air and water is a danger to the health of the planet.Each day thousands of tons of gases come out of vehicles.Smoke from factories pollutes the air of industrialized areas and the surrounding countryside.The air in cities is becoming increasingly unhealthy.The pollution of water is equally harmful.In the sea pollution from oil is killing a lot of sea plants and fish.It is now necessary for man to limit the growth of technology in order to survive on earth.
PART Ⅱ LISTENING COMPREHE (20 MIN)
SECTION A CONVERSATIONS
Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation.
M: We have to move the company to a new office.
W: I think that's a great idea, Tim.
M: Good.
W: We should be in the centre of town.We'll be nearer to our customers.
M: Jane, I...
W: The transport is better...
M: Jane, I...
W: ... and there are lots of good restaurants.
M: Jane, I think we should move to the country.
W: Oh!
M: For... against.For: cheaper rent,cheaper houses,cleaner air.It's quieter.There's not so much noise.And parking's easier.Do you agree that these are all good reasons for moving?
W: Yes, I agree.But let's talk about the things against moving.Number one.A long way from some clients.
M: Yes, but that's not a problem.
W: What about communications?
M: There's an airport near the new location as well as a motorway.And there are fast trains to everywhere from there.
W: So communications are better than they are from here?
M: I think so.
W: But what do we do with our spare time?I know we can go for walks in the country.Perhaps go horse-riding.But we can only do that in summer.What do we do in winter? When it's cold and wet.It's not like here in the city, is it?
M: I agree.But in the town over there---twenty minutes by car---there are cinemas,theatres, good restaurants and there's a jazz club.So, I think our company should move to the country.Do you agree?
W: I am afraid I don't.
Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following conversation.
M: So, Miss Parkinson,you organize fitness training and beauty treatments for working women?
W: That's right, Mr. Cruise.
M: Could you tell me how you first got the idea for the business?
W: Certainly. I suppose it all started about 5 years ago.I was on holiday and had a very bad skiing accident.I found that the only thing that helped the pain was massage and gentle exercise,like yoga or stretching exercises.So I used to go to therapists and classes after work.
M: Where did you work at that time?
W: In the training department of a media company.
M: I see.
W: But then I got a promotion to training manager.That meant I worked longer hours and was difficult to get to classes.I asked some of my teachers if they would come to my house instead,and most of them agreed.It was more expensive but I thought it was worth it.Lots of my friends loved the idea too.So I recommended people to them.That's when I began to realize that maybe I could make a business out of it.
M: Did you give up your job then?
W: No, not immediately.The idea was too scary.I had a good job with a good salary,and starting my own business seemed a bit risky.So I just did it at a hobby really.
M: So why did you leave your job in the end?
W: Well, the decision was made for me really.My company decided to relocate to a different town.They offered me the choice of relocating with themor quite a large sum of money if I preferred to leave.I know an opportunity when I see it.So I took the money!
M: Good for you.
Questions 8 to 10 are based on the following conversation.
M: Good afternoon, madam.
W: Good afternoon.I'd like to buy a camera.
M: We have all kinds of cameras here, madam.What sorts of camera are you thinking you are buying?
W: Well, I don't know anything about cameras.But my friend tells me that 35-millimeter cameras are the best.
M: Well, they are certainly the much popular.Would you like a rangefinder type or a single-lens reflex?
W: What's the difference?
M: With a single-lens reflex,you actually look through the lens when you're taking a photo.So you can see exactly what you are taking.
W: That seems a good idea.
M: Yes, focusing is easier, too.Try this one.It's a good mate.
W: Yes, I see what you mean.The image is very clear and bright.
M: That's right.Moreover,you can use a number of different lenses.Let me put a telephoto lens on for you to try.
W: My world! That's very good.I can see the people across the street as if they are inside the shop!
M: Being able to change the lens is very important,in my opinion.You can't do that with most rangefinder cameras though they smaller and cheaper.
W: How much is this camera?
M: The list price is 5,000.But I can let you have it for 4,500.
W: That's far too much! Did you say that rangefinder cameras are cheaper?
M: Yes, they are much cheaper.
W: Good! Show me some, please.
SECTION B PASSAGES
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage.
This is a picture.In the foreground there's a house built into the side of a bare hill.The house is actually cut out of the rock,and the front is painted white.There's a single window with a pink curtain across it and a wooden door.This rock house is clearly inhabited because in front of the housethere is washing hanging on a washing line in what looks like the front yard.Then, above the painted front of the house,they've built a chimney.It's quite possible that at the back of this same hill there's another door---or the front of another house, perhaps.At the side of the house,to the left there's a flat area.They've got chairs there and one person appears to be serving food.They're wearing casual summer clothes.Further to the left is another chimney,which probably belongs to a different house.In the background of the picture,a long way from this particular bare hill,there's another hill.Then, in between there's a relatively flat plain,and then there's a small town.It looks like a town because there are a lot of white housesand each one is quite close to the next building.This must be a hot country because the sky is blue and there isn't much vegetation.I should think that rock houses are actually really cool and pleasant to live in.
Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage.
Ben became interested in Mongolia early in life.When he was nine years old he read a book about Marco Polo,about how Marco Polo traveled with his uncles on the ultimate business tripto the Mongol Empire at its height.Marco Polo's trip lasted almost a quarter of a century,during which he grew up,mastered Mongolian,gained the confidence of the Mongol emperor,and then eventually returned home with fantastic tales of strange lands and stranger people.The story of Marco Polo fascinated Ben.Ben tried to save money from his first job delivering newspaperswith an eye toward a $3,000 trip to Mongolia.But in those days it would take him years to have the money ready.So he continued to read about Mongolia in the meantimebut spent most of his teenage years in the Arab world,where he learned the language and became interested in journalism.He took courses in classical and modern Mongolianwhile studying for his master's degree and found it very difficult.But he still wants to visit Mongolia in the spring or summer, he said."Mongolian winters,when temperatures drop to -30 °C are not for me."The price today with an upscale company is reasonable, Ben said,"compared to the $3,000 it was back in 1971.Today the same trip is around $5,000,which though still a large sum,is, in terms of inflation,a good bargain."
Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage.
Less than 20 miles from Singapore's skyscrapers is a completely different set of high-rise towers.Much smaller in scale but with a big ambition,over 100 nine-meter tall towers at Sky Greens vertical farmoffer a new vision of urban sustainability.Green vegetables like Chinese cabbage are grown,stacked in greenhouses,and sold at local supermarkets.The farm was built in 2009 and since October this yearthe fully operating farm has been supplying one of city's supermarketswith weekly deliveries of its greens.The Sky Greens produce costs around 40% more than an imported equivalent.However, the small amount of energy and water needed to grow the vegetables,and the close proximity to the consumer,means that carbon dioxide emitted in production and transportation is kept to a minimum.The Sky Greens venture is supported by the Singaporean governmentand has another advantage over other urban farms around the world:abundant natural heating and light.Singapore has year-round temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsiusand the farm is set in an open area designated by the government as an agro-technology park,miles away from the shadow of city skyscrapers.And there are plans for the current site to expand to produce up to two tons of greensa week next year and build over 2,000 towers in the next few years.
