英语听力教程第二版 第二册-1

Part Ⅰ Getting ready
The family, being the basic living unit of society, is the social group with which every individual is most closely connected. On the whole, families in the world can basically be divided into four types: joint¹ families, nuclear families, enlarged families and incomplete² families, among which nuclear families are becoming more and more popular with the rapid economic development in most countries.

A  The following words and phrases will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.
   1. kindergarten: a school or class for young children, usually four to six years old, that prepares them for first grade
   2. nursery school: a school for very young children, usually three to five years of age
   3. kid: a child or young person
   4. stability³: steadiness, the state of being not likely to separate, break down or fall apart
   5. discipline: n. strict control to enforce obedience⁴; punishment
                  v. control, train, punish
   6. divorce: legal ending of a marriage
   7. care for: look after, take charge of b
   8. coo: speak gently and lovely
   9. wedding: the act or ceremony of becoming married
  10. bride: a woman who has just been married or is about to be married

B  You are going to hear some people talking about pictures of their families. Listen carefully and identify which one of the following pictures each person is talking about.
 
Part Ⅱ A birthday present
Nothing in life is as good as the marriage of true minds between man and woman, but it requires great care to keep this tender plant alive. Remember, happiness is a perpetual⁵ rejoicing⁶ in small events ?a gift, a gentle smile, a small sticky kiss.

A  John has just opened his birthday present from his wife, Mary. Before listening to the following dialogue, you will hear several questions about it on the tape. Write down the questions.
   Question 1: ____________________________________________________
   Question 2: ____________________________________________________
   Question 3: ____________________________________________________
   Question 4: ____________________________________________________
 
B  Now listen to the dialogue. While listening for the first time, take down key points in the left-hand column. After the second listening, give brief answers to the above questions.
   Answers
   Answer 1: ____________________________________________________
   Answer 2: ____________________________________________________
   Answer 3: ____________________________________________________
   Answer 4: ____________________________________________________

C  Now listen to the dialogue again. Pay special attention to the names of people and places and all the telephone numbers. Complete the following chart.
   Names of People/Places       Telephone Numbers
   the bank                     ______________________  
   _________________________    76763
   the dentist                 ______________________     
   __________________________   757412
   the station                 ______________________
   the flower shop/the florist  ______________________ 
   John and Jane         ______________________
   ______________________ 675645

Part Ⅱ Family life then and now
As one gets on in years, he/she is always inclined⁷ to remember the good old days: how delicious the food was, how cheap things were, how obedient⁸ children were and how unsophisticated people were.
Josephine Davies and Gertrude Smith, two members of the older generation, are talking about their childhood in Britain 70 years ago.

A  Now listen to the following conversation. While listening for the first time, add more key words in the left-hand column. After the second listening, answer the questions.
   Questions
   1. Why does Josephine feel that there was more stability in family life 70 years ago? Fill in the blank.
      Because in those days, nobody expected the families to ______________.
   2. According to Gertrude, people also did some things not so good years ago. What were they?
      _____________, _________ and drug-taking.
   3. Josephine's mother did a great deal of work outside. What was she interested in? Fill in the blank.
      She was interested in the Nursing Association ______________ money for it.
   4. Where did Gertrude's father work?
      ___________________ at Victoria Station.
   5. Why did Gertrude's mother go out so much with her friends? Fill in the blank.
      Because life at that time was not ____________ and it was a relief for her to go out.
   6. According to Josephine, since there was neither television nor radio in those days, what did children use to do in the evenings?
   7. How does Josephine explain that there were more discipline in families 70 years ago? Fill in the blanks.
      She says, at that time, she couldn't ____________ with any friends of her own until she was about _________.

B  Now try this: listen to a more authentic⁹ version of the conversation and decide whether the statements after the conversation are True or False. Put "T" or "F" in the brackets¹⁰.
   1. (    )   2. (    )   3. (    )   4. (    )   5. (    )   6. (    )

Part Ⅳ More about the topic: Father's Day
American fathers have lots of different opinions about being a father. Some say they would like to spend more time caring for their children, but are afraid to do so. They say it might prevent them from getting a better job or earning more money. Other fathers would never think of staying at home. They believe an important part of being a man is to go to work and earn money. Do American men today spend enough time with their children?
The following passage is about the father's role in the family. Supply the missing words while listening.

   Father is a very formal word today. Most people use the word "__________" or "______________" instead. On Father's Day children might take their dad out for a ______________。They might send him a ______________ or call on the telephone, or they might buy him a present.
   Not all children however will ____________ or speak with their dad on Father's Day. Studies say about __________ of American children live in a family without a father. This is three times more than in ________. Back then only __________ of children lived in a family without a father.
   One reason is the increasing children born to women who are not ___________. Studies show the children growing up without a father are more likely to be __________. They are more likely to __________ before completing their education, and they are more likely to become involved in __________ or illegal drugs.
   Another reason for the __________ number of American families without fathers is the increasing of the number of people who have _________ their marriage. The divorce rate in the US has increased sharply¹¹ in recent years. Today more than ___________ of all marriages end in divorce. In __________ the rate was only _________. After a divorce, a judge decides which parent will care for the children. In about __________ of cases, the judge decides that the children will live with their mother. In about __________ of the cases, children live with their father after a divorce and in about __________ of the cases children live with each parent at ___________ times.
   The image of fathers in America has changed especially since the _________. Before then, many people felt that fathers were not supposed to become ____________ with their children or to show ________ for them. This was not a part of father's image as a strong and ____________ man. Fathers were the ____________ of the family. They earned the money. They made the rules. They ___________ the children when they were bad. Back then fathers did not always spend a lot of time with their children. __________ mothers stayed at home to care for them. They also did all the shopping, __________ and cooking.
   During the __________ and __________, however, more American women began to work outside the home. As a result, more and more fathers became ____________ in taking care of their children and helping¹² their ________. Yet, most studies today show that women still spend more time caring for their children and doing ___________. This is true even if the wife works and _________ the same amount of money as her husband. _________ studies show that fathers who are involved with their children are usually more happy and in better_________than fathers who are not involved. So celebrating ____________is important for men not only on Father's Day but throughout the year.

Part Ⅴ Memory test: Brothers and Sisters
When your little brother or sister is brought to the world, are you happy, jealous, or even hateful?
You are going to hear a young lady talking about the relationship between brothers and sisters. After that several questions will be asked. Find the right answers as quickly a possible according to the notes you have taken while listening.
   Notes
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   1. a. 1      b. 2      c. 3     d. 4
   2. a. happy    b. calm    c. hateful   d. jealous
   3. a. He got very angry.
      b. He laughed a lot.
      c. He beat his daughter.
      d. He asked his wife to punish the girl.
   4. a. 16     b. 17    c. 15     d. 50
   5. a. In England.
      b. In Brazil.
      c. In France.
      d. In Australia.
   6. a. the bride's brother
      b. the young lady's brother
      c. the bride's father
      d. the bride1 s good friend
 
Part Ⅵ  Reminder¹³ of key points in this unit
           Verb & Verb Phrase    Noun & Noun Phrase      Other
   Part Ⅰ be married            kindergarten            be involved in
                                 nursery school          Time really flies.
                                 kid
                                 soccer
   Part Ⅱ hunt around           calculator               super
           look up               solicitor                in a panic
                                 contract                 Great minds think
                                 the telephone directory  alike!
   Part Ⅲ separate              stability                tremendous
           keep sth / sb quiet   drug-taking
           look after            flat
           do the cooking        wage
           do the cleaning       an easy life
           be close to           relief
           discipline            discipline
   Part Ⅳ end in                crime                     formal
           care for              drug
           be supposed to        divorce
           become involved with  image
    PartⅤ be jealous of sb      curl
           coo over sb           travel agent
           ignore                wedding
           lose contact with     bride

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 incomplete   

adj.不完全的，不完善的

参考例句：

• The building was left incomplete.那座楼没有完工就停下来了。
• His novel was incomplete when he died.他死的时候他的小说没有写完。

3 stability   

n.稳定，稳固

参考例句：

• The situation is tending towards stability.局势趋于稳定。
• She lacks emotional stability.她的情绪不稳定。

4 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

5 perpetual   

adj.永久的，长期的，无休止的

参考例句：

• He is on a perpetual search for truth.他毕生在寻求真理。
• The wind and the water were carrying on their perpetual quarrel.风和海水正进行着它们那永无休止的争吵。

6 rejoicing   

n.欢乐，狂喜

参考例句：

• a time of great rejoicing 尽情欢庆的时光
• The bridge was completed in 1811 amidst much rejoicing. 大桥于1811 年竣工，当时大家欢欣鼓舞。

7 inclined   

a.有…倾向的

参考例句：

• She was inclined to trust him. 她愿意相信他。
• He inclined towards the speaker to hear more clearly. 他把身体倾向发言人，以便听得更清楚些。

8 obedient   

adj.服从的，顺从的

参考例句：

• She is an obedient woman.她是位温顺的女人。
• We're absolutely obedient to the superior.我们绝对服从上级。

9 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

10 brackets   

n.括弧( bracket的名词复数 )；等级；类别层次；壁架v.把…括在括弧内( bracket的第三人称单数 )；把…归为一类

参考例句：

• Publication dates are given in brackets after each title. 出版日期括于书名后面。
• Put your name in brackets at the top of each page. 把你的名字填在每页上端的括弧内。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。