新编大学英语4视听说材料unit9
玛丽莲梦兔
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2020年07月28日 20:19
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的得地用法-臂膊的读音
Mom: Well, there are no "ifs", "ands", or "buts" about it. Anna is completely at home with all this technology.
Dad: Isn't it great? She doesn't have the fear of technology that so many of us have. It's amazing to think that her generation has grown up with VCRs, answering machines, cordless phones, computer games... They take all that stuff for granted.
Mom: That's for sure. To think there are kids her age who have never changed a TV channel without a remote control! Can you imagine?
Dad: I'm sure you're right. Hey, remember our old computer?
Mom: How could I forget it? I don't ever want to see that old dinosaur again.
Dad: Oh, come on.
Mom: Really. It made me so frustrated.
Dad: Well, it's true that new computers are much, much better than the old ones. But still, it's hard for me to learn how to use programs even on the new computers.
Mom: I know what you mean. You know, I've been thinking that maybe we should take an evening class. What do you think? We could get a babysitter.
Dad: Wow...I'm really glad to hear you say that because I've thought a lot about taking a class, but I've always dragged my feet. I don't know why, really.
Part II
Mom: Look at you! You're really working hard at that computer!
Dad: Nothing could tear me away. You know, if it weren't for our class, I'd be in a bind right now trying to figure out what to do. But I'm doing OK. The class really helps.
Mom: That's the truth. I prefer a teacher to an instruction manual. Hey, did I tell you that I want to get a modem? I want to get online. Don't you think we've held off long enough? I want to have email.
Dad: That teacher sure won you over. A few months ago you didn't even know what email was!
Mom: Well, I have to admit, this whole world of computers is growing on me.
Dad: Sounds like you might go back to school and get some sort of degree in computers.
Mom: You never know...
Questions:
1. What are the two speakers talking about?
2. What is the probable relationship between the two speakers?
3. What changed the two speakers' attitude toward computers?
My favorite question, lately, is why scientific research? The most basic answer is because I want to contribute something to the society that I have been taking from all my life, and I want to help animals somehow. But then the answers become the question. What could I possibly contribute, and how will my research help animals?
I had an experience last spring where I was involved in a research project in which we were trying to determine more about the gut size of lactating voles. Of course, I was really excited to be participating in something like that—that could possibly result in a publication. We all know how good it looks for an undergraduate to be published. Anyway everything went along very well until I realized that I was going to have to kill about 20 female voles and their pups. Every time I had to kill an animal, I felt the tear
s burning in my eyes. But I had to fight them back because scientists don't cry about silly things like that. After all, we're doing SCIENCE here! Well, I managed to get through the experiment, and, yes, my name will be on that publication, but the questions keep puzzling me. Was I helping animals or just killing them to obtain data we could use in our publication? And what about the publication—was it really going to contribute something, or would other scientists just use it as a reference for their publications?
Questions:
1. What is the speaker?
2. Why was the speaker excited to be involved in a research project?
3. What did the speaker have to do in the research project?
4. How did the speaker feel about his experience?
traditional way of guarding against unwanted callers is to fit your door with a door chain. These chains are often hard to operate and can be broken by only a little force.
Yale Security Products have solved this problem with the "Checklock". Unlike ordinary door chains, the restraint on the "Checklock" operates automatically.
When the door is opened from the inside, a steel restraint bar automatically engages. The door can then be opened only about 8 cm. Callers can be identified safely from the inside. If it's somebody you want to let in, you just close the door, move a lever around, and open the door as normal. If it's somebody you don't want to let in, just shut the door and it will lock automatically.
For added security, the "Checklock" can be double-locked when you leave the house. This means that even if intruders manage to break a brass panel, they still cannot open the door. Also, if intruders get into the house from elsewhere, they cannot open the door from the inside to get out. This deters them from stealing heavy or bulky items such as televisions and microwave ovens. In both these ways "Checklock" is better than a door chain.
The "Checklock" costs about 20 pounds in the UK and is available in a metallic, silver or brass finish.
Questions:
1. What is the traditional way of guarding against unwanted callers?
2. Which of the following is one disadvantage of the traditional way of guarding against unwanted callers?
3. What is the "Checklock" used for?
4. Why is the "Checklock" double-locked when you leave the house?
5. Which of the following is mentioned as a function of the "checklock"?
About four million people in the United States wear soft contact lenses. These lenses, made of water-absorbing plastic, were developed in Czechoslovakia and were introduced into the United States in 1964. The first soft lenses were approved by the FDA in 1971. In recent years, soft lenses have become more popular than hard lenses. There are several reasons for this increasing popularity. Many wearers find the soft lenses more comfortable. Also, unlike the case with hard lenses, no break-in period is necessary. But there are drawbacks as well. The so
ft lenses cost more than the hard lenses. In addition, the life of soft lenses is often measured in months compared to years for hard lenses. They tear easily and become worn by handling. Also, soft contact lenses correct only a limited range of visual problems. Nevertheless, for those who can afford them, soft contact lenses are a safe, simple, and attractive solution to the problem of poor vision.
Questions:
1. Where were soft contact lenses first developed?
2. When did the first soft lenses win approval from the FDA?
3. What material are soft lenses made of?
4. What seems to be the biggest problem that hinders the popularization of soft lenses?
Man: Good morning, Miss. Can I help you?
Woman: I'd like to buy a spirometer to detect illnesses like asthma and other lung problems.
Man: Yes, we've got a portable micro-spirometer designed by Micro Medical Ltd.
Woman: Mm, it's really portable. Its rectangular box is pocket-sized, but what's the use of the mouthpiece protruding from one end?
Man: It's for patients to blow the air in their lungs into the machine so that the machine can measure how well the lungs are working.
Woman: How can a machine measure whether the lungs are working well?
Man: Just by measuring the volume of air that a person can breathe out.
Woman: Can you show me how to operate the machine?
Man: It's very easy. First, you turn the machine on. Second, you take a deep breath to fill your lungs up completely. Then you place the mouthpiece in your mouth, blowing out as long as possible. The digital display unit of the machine records the volume of air that you blow out in one second. Then you simply move a switch on the machine and the total volume of air that you have blown out will be shown. These two numbers will provide a good indication of how well the lungs are working.
Woman: How much is the micro-spirometer?
Man: It's relatively inexpensive. It costs under 200 pounds. Since it's portable, it can be taken home by a patient or carried around the hospital by a doctor.
Woman: Well, I'll take one.
If you give plants blue light from one side, they bend toward it, whereas all other colors of light elicit no response whatsoever. Another totally different photo-sensing system in plants causes the leaves to expand and the stem to grow at different rates. But leaves do not expand unless they are exposed to light. In this case red is the important color, not blue. So, according to Professor Wilkins, these two photo-receptors show that plants have effective color vision. Plants can also "count". One little plant, the Venus flytrap, has to catch insects in order to get enough nitrogen. There are a number of little sensory hairs on the surface of the trap. If you touch it once, it does not shut. However, if you touch it a second time, it shuts. The fact that it responds to two stimuli and not one shows it can distinguish between no stimulus, one stimulus and two stimuli. The plant c