. UNIT ONE THE TEMPTATION OF A RESPECTABLE WOMAN
UNDERSTANDING SHORT CONVERSATIONS
1．M：What’s your family like，Emma?
W：Well．my parents are separated，but my father lives near us．My mother is a middle aged
woman．She works as a chemical engineer for a drug company． Q：How do Emma’s parents get along?
2．W：I have to go downtown tomorrow morning to have my spring dresses fitted． M：Don’t you have other clothes to wear?
W：No．none of them fit，and I can’t even button up my dresses．I think I need some new
clothes．
M：Maybe you should first think about doing more exercises and losing weight and then worry
about your new clothes．
Q：What does the man suggest the woman do? 3．M：Robert talks a great deal about moving from his present home in New York to a plantation in
the South．
W：But that is the same thing he has been saying since he moved there six years ago． Q：What can we learn from the conversation?
4．W：How long has your friend been at your home? M：About 10 days．
W：Did he have a good time?
M：Yeah．It seemed as if he just got here when it was time for him to say good—bye. W：It is certainly a pleasure to see him again and renew old memories．
M：Well．we talked about college days when we had been best friends，and when we used to
have SO many ambitions．
Q：What can be learned about the man and his friend?
5．W：What happened to you? You look really happy．
M：My wife voluntarily proposed to invite my best friend to our family party. W：Didn’t your wife like your friend?
M：No，at first she found him a terrible nuisance，but she has finally overcome her dislike for
him．
Q：What does the man mean?
6．M：So you have finally decided to end your teaching career，Lucy? W：Yes．It has been driving me crazy．My health doesn’t permit me to cope with such a heavy
workload at the moment．That’s why I decided to go to Australia to take a rest．
M：Oh．I see．So that’s why you’ve been so quiet recently．Your periods of silence were not
your basic nature，but the result of moods．You really need a change． Q：What can we know about the woman?
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. 7．M：I heard just last week that Vicky had got married． W：Vicky married? I can’t believe it! Remember how she always said that marriage wasn’t her
choice?
M：But I also heard that Vicky left her husband，just two days after their marriage． W：What?
M：When her husband arose in the morning，Vicky had already gone，without even saying farewell．A porter had carried her trunk to the station and she had taken all early morning train to another city．
Q：What can we learn about Vicky from the conversation?
8．W：Do you know who that man is? M：Which one?
W：The one in casual clothes．
M：Oh，that’s David Smith．He’s the one who just moved into the apartment． W：Oh，really? He looks kind of interesting． Q：What does the woman think of David Smith?
9．W：Do you know anything about Henry?
M：That name sounds familiar．but I’m not sure． W：He’s from New Zealand．He works for IBM． M：Have you spoken to him? What’s he like?
W：He seems to be a very nice man．He’s very friendly and he’s got a good sense of humor． They say he’s a man of wit．
0：what can be learned about Henry?
10．M：Did you hear that Mr. and Mrs. Brown went to Singapore for a vacation last month? W：Yeah．Did they enjoy themselves?
M：It’s hard to say．When they got there．they couldn’t get a room in a good hotel． W：That’s too bad．But they really should have made a reservation for a room earlier． Q：What can be drawn from the conversation?
11．M：You know Martin? Although we’ve been in the same office for many years．I’ve never been able to figure him out．
silence in which he has unconsciously covered himself, but ... Q: What does the man mean?
12. W: Have you made your peace with your wife yet?
M: I've certainly tried, but she refused to talk to me last night. And when I arose this morning, she had already left for her aunt's. W: When will she return? M: Haven't the slightest idea.
Q: What happened between the man and his wife?
13. M: What is it like to live here?
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. W: It's terrible. It used to be quieter when I went to school here. I still remember that I often sat alone on the bench that stood beneath an oak tree at the edge of the trail. M: And nothing disturbed you?
W: Yeah. Being alone there, my thoughts quickly flew this way and that. Q: What does the woman imply?
14. W: When my husband's friend Bob visited us, I just left them alone for the most part. M: Why?
W: Because he was so different from other people and I couldn't understand him. M: Did he notice your absence?
W: No, he didn't. Sometimes 1 imposed my company upon him, accompanying him in his idle walks to the mill.
M: Did he want you to accompany him?
W: No, that was the last thing he would desire. Q: What does the woman mean?
15. W: Peter is a quiet boy. He seldom says a thing.
M: Well, let me tell you. His brother Tom is just the opposite. Q: What kind of a person is Tom?
16. M: Do you often see our fellow students?
W: I did for a while until I left university, but after that not really.
M: Yeah, I've lost touch with most people as well, but I still see Peggy occasionally. W: Oh, yeah. How's she getting on?
M: Ok, I suppose, but she's had a rough time in the last few years. She got divorced. Q: Whom do the man and woman talk about?
17. M: Did you hear about Mrs. Baroda?
W: Yes, I did. She was a~ upright and respectable woman. She was also very sensible. It's a pity that the world has lost a great modern dancer. Q: What happened to Mrs. Baroda?
18. W: When is your friend going?
M: Not for a week yet, dear. I don't understand why you ask my friend to leave our house. Actually he gives you no trouble.
W: No. I should like him better if he did; if he were more like the others, I could plan somewhat for his comfort and enjoyment.
M: He just came here to take a rest, so please don't make a fuss over him. W: Fuss! Nonsense! How can you say such a thing? Q: What can be concluded from the conversation?
19. M: Oh, it's you, Mrs. Johnson. Come in and sit down. Now, what was it? Oh, yes, your leg. Has there been any improvement since last week?
W: Well, no. I'm afraid not, doctor. It's still the same.
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大学英语新视野听说教程4 听力原文及答案
