Listening
- 00:00:41 - report 1
- 00:02:39 - report 2
- 00:04:56 - report 3
- 00:07:44 - con 1
- 00:10:47 - con 2
- 00:14:17 - long con 1
Passage 1
Six people had to move away from their home to another place after a fire broke out in a building on Main Street Saturday, officials said. Firefighters responded to the three-story building shortly after 1 p.m. for a reported structure fire, according to Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Adam Markowitz.
story = storey(bre):a level of a building; a floor 楼层
the upper/lower storey of the house
房子的上面／下面一层
a single-storey/two-storey building
单层建筑物；两层楼房
Markowitz said crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the second floor when they arrived. A team of about 25 firefighters then spent about 25 minutes extinguishing the flames.Officials described the structure as a mixed-use building that features commercial businesses on the first floor and residential on the second and third floors.
Town records list four apartments in the building. [1] Due to smoke and heat damage, the four apartments were declared uninhabitable, and the six residents had to move to another place, officials said. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire. [2] The Norwalk Fire Marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
Passage 2
A new study has cast doubt on historic research suggesting that the season or month of someone’s birth is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health conditions. The study looks at symptoms of anxiety and depression among more than 70,000 older adults in Europe. [3] A number of past studies have found the link between season of birth and mental health diagnoses.
[T]~ doubt/aspersions (on/upon sth)to say, do or suggest sth that makes people doubt sth or think that sb is less honest, good, etc. 使人怀疑；造谣中伤
This latest evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.
最新的证据使人们十分怀疑他对事件的说法。
Researchers have suggested that such links could arise from various things. These include nutrient intake, sun exposure, climate, and disease exposure varying across the course of the year. However, evidence has been mixed. More recent studies have suggested that factors such as social class or economic background have more to do with these diagnoses than month of birth.
[4] Overall, the new study found no significant relationship between participants’ month of birth and symptoms of depression or anxiety. There was some variability in some countries. In Poland, depressive symptoms fluctuated a little depending on birth month. In the Czech Republic, the same was true of anxiety symptoms. But on the whole, there was no systematic pattern.
Passage 3
Genetic researchers in China have made a clone of a star police dog. The clone was born in a laboratory in Beijing in December. Tests show that the clone and her mother are almost identical genetically. The mother dog helped solve multiple murders and many other crimes. [5] The clone has already performed better than traditionally bred dogs on several tests.
[6] If the clone continues to perform as well as expected, it could mean a huge reduction in the training time for police dogs, which usually takes about five years. The ultimate goal of scientists is to produce clones of talented police dogs that can be trained in months instead of years. [7] However, this goal is not yet possible due to the current costs of the technology.
This is not the first time a clone has been made of a star police dog. In South Korea, six clones began working with the police in 2008.
6.What is the scientists’purpose in cloning police dogs?
A)To speed up investigation into criminal cases.
B)To test the feasibility of cloning technology.
C)To cut down training expenses.
D)To reduce their training time.
Long con 1
Supporters call it “wild camping”; opponents call it “illegal camping”. What both sides accept is that there has been a boom in the past few months, with increasing numbers of visitors pitching their tents on any bit of land they fancy in the UK.
[T] ~ sthto set up a tent or a camp for a short time 搭（帐篷）；扎（营）
We could pitch our tent in that field.
我们可以临时把帐篷搭在那块地上。
They pitched camp for the night near the river.
他们靠河边扎营过夜。
[16] In part, this reflects the fact that official campsites have been wholly or partially closed, or are overflowing in a summer when fewer people are going abroad. It is also cheap, at a time when many are worried about what the economic future holds. But it may also be an expression of a desire for going outdoors—a response to the months of lockdown.
If you say that the future holds something, you mean that that thing will happen:
Who can tell what the future holds?
Most of the coverage of the boom in wild camping has been negative. [17] Camping in public parks has now been banned for August and the early part of September because campers dump litter, human waste, and even their tents on the grassland. Similar action has been taken even in Scotland, where camping is usually permitted on most of its open land.
Clearly there have to be rules. It would make sense that wild campers need to ask for permission to camp from landowners, especially outside Scotland, where the law is far more restrictive. [18] It would be common sense for people to use small tents and leave no trace of their visit. They have been attracted by a patch of land this close to wilderness, and it is their responsibility to keep it that way.
Writing
Directions: Suppose your university is seeking students’ opinions on whether university libraries should be open to the public. You are now to write an essay to express your view. You will have 30 minutes for the task. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
It is essential to figure out whether university libraries should be open to the public. Some suppose it should, some not. Here are my opinions about the subject related to it.
I fully agree with the view that libraries should open to the public. THIS is because universities are built by the residents who are actually making contributions to them and giving their own money to them every single year. In addition, letting people enter the campus can actually make the environment more active and interesting.
But there comes another problem that whether people outside would disturb and bother students on campus when they are studying. To prevent the issue, I think it is vital to create an application that gathers people’s information and requires to be filled before they enter college.
All in all, it is a complicated situation that deserves public’s attention. With the development of university, I gather that we can make significant progress in the future.
It is essential to figure out whether university libraries should be open to the public. Some suppose they should, while others do not. Here are my opinions about this subject.
I fully agree with the view that libraries should be open to the public. This is because universities are supported by local residents who make contributions and pay taxes every single year. In addition, letting the public enter the campus can actually make the environment more active and vibrant.
However, another problem arises: whether visitors would disturb students on campus when they are studying. To prevent this issue, I think it is vital to create an application that requires people to register their information before entering the university.
All in all, it is a complicated situation that deserves the public’s attention. With the development of universities, I believe that we can make significant progress in the future.