长对话1

Long Conversation 1

W: Jack, sit down and listen. This is important. We have to tackle the problems of exporting step by step. And the first move is to get an up-to-date picture of where we stand now.

M: Why don't we just concentrate on expanding here at home?

W: Of course we should hold on to our position here, but you must admit the market here is limited.

M: Yes, but it's safe. The government keeps out foreigners with import controls. So I must admit I feel sure we could hold our own against the foreign bikes.

W: I agree. That’s why I'm suggesting exporting, because I feel we can compete with the best of them.

M: What you are really saying is that we'd make more profit by selling bikes abroad, where we have a cost advantage and can charge higher prices.

W: Exactly.

M: But…Wait a minute! Packaging, shipping, financing, etc. will push up our costs and we could end up no better-off. Maybe worse-off.

W: Okay. Now there are extra costs involved. But if we do it right, they can be built into the price of the bike, and we can still be competitive.

M: How sure are you about our chances of success in the foreign market?

W: Well, that's the sticky one. It's going to need a lot of research. I'm hoping to get your help. Oh, come on Jack! Is that worth it or not?

M: There'll be a lot of problems.

W: Nothing we can't handle.

M: Um… I'm not that hopeful. But… yes, I think we should go ahead with the feasibility study.

W: Marvelous, Jack. I was hoping you be on my side.

Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

9. What does the woman intend to do?

10. Why does the man think it’s safe to focus on the home market?

11. What is the man's concern about selling bikes abroad?

12. What do the speakers agree to do?

长对话二

W: What does the term alternative energy source mean?

M: When you think of energy or fuel for our homes and cars, we think of petroleum or fossil fuel processed from oil removed from the ground of which there is a limited supply. But alternative fuels can be many things, wind, sun and water can all be used to create fuel.

W: Is the threat of running out of petroleum real?

M: It has taken thousands of years to create the natural stores of petroleum we have now. We are using what is available at a much faster rate than it has been produced over time. The real controversy surrounding the amounts of petroleum we have is how much we need to keep in reserve for future use. Most experts agree that by around 2025 the amount of petroleum we use will reach a peak then production and availability will begin to seriously decline. This is not to say there will be no petroleum at this point, but it willbecome very difficult and therefore expensive to extract.

W: Is that the most important reason to develop alternative fuel and energy sources?

M: There're two very clear reasons to do so. One is that whether we have 60 or 600 years of fossil fuels left, we have to find other fuel sources eventually, so the sooner we start, the better off we will be. The other big argument is that when you burn fossil fuels, you release substances trapped in the ground for a long time, which leads to some long term negative effects like global warming and greenhouse effect.

13. What do we usually refer to when we talk about energy according to the man?

14. What do most experts agree on according to the man?

15. What does the man think we should do now?

短文一

Passage One

Karen Smith is a buyer for a department store in New York. Department store buyers purchase the goods that their stores sell. They not only have to know what is fashionable at the moment, but also have to guess what will become fashionable next season or next year.

Most buyers work for just one department in a store, but the goods that Karen finds may be displayed and sold in several different sections of the store. Her job involves buying handicrafts from all over the world.

Last year, she made a trip to Morocco, and returned with rugs, pots, dishes, and pans. The year before, she visited Mexico, and brought back hand-made table cloths, mirrors with frames of tin, and paper flowers. The paper flowers are bright and colorful, so they were used to decorate the whole store. This year, Karen is traveling in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Many of the countries that Karen visits have government offices that promote handicrafts. They officials are glad to cooperate with her, by showing her the products that are available.

Karen especially likes to visit markets and small towns and villages whenever she can arrange for it. She’s always looking for interesting and unusual items. Karen thinks she has the best job she could have found. She loves all the traveling that she has to do,because she often visits markets and small out-of-the-way places. She sees much more of the country she visits than an ordinary tourists would. As soon as she gets back to New York from one trip, Karen begins to plan another.

16. What is said to make a good department store buyer?

17. What does Karen’s job involve?

18. Why does Karen think she has got the best job?