新编大学英语视听说教程第五册听力原文Unit_2

Unit 2

Listen1-1 If you're invited to an American friend's home for dinner, keep in mind these general rules for

polite behavior. First of all, arrive approximately on time (but not early). Americans expect promptness. Being a few minutes late might give the host more time to get dressed or finish preparing the dinner, so it's OK to be 10 or 15 minutes late but not 45 minutes late. overcooked and ruined by then.

Dinner might be When you're

invited to someone's home for a meal, it's polite to bring a small gift. Flowers or candies are always appropriate. If you have an attractive item made in your native country, your host would certainly enjoy receiving that as a gift.

If you are served some food that you don't like or can't eat, don't make a fuss about it.

If your host doesn't say anything about what you aren't eating, then you shouldn't, either. Simply eat what you can and hope that no one notices what you left. If you are questioned, you may have to admit that you don't eat meat (or whatever), but you can also say that you've enjoyed the other foods and have had \than enough\compliment the host on the food that you enjoyed.

Don't leave immediately after dinner, but don't overstay your welcome, either. When your friend seems to be getting tired and running out of conversation, take their behavior as a cue to leave. The next day, call or write a thank-you note to say how much you enjoyed the evening.

Listen2-1

Americans are usually tolerant of non-native speakers who have some trouble understanding English. But they become annoyed when a person pretends to understand but doesn't really. This creates problems when he misunderstands what is said. No one wants soap when he asks for soup. So if you don't

understand what is said to you, admit it and politely ask the person to repeat or explain. All you have to say is, \

Second, it is quite rude to converse with a companion in your native language and leave

your American friends standing there feeling uncomfortable because they can't understand the conversation. The Americans may also feel that you are talking about them or saying something you don't want them to hear. If you have to switch to your native language to explain something to a non-English-speaking companion, then at least translate for your American friends so they don't feel left out.

Statements:

1. Americans will get impatient if a person can't understand English.

2. Sometimes it is wise to pretend to understand what one actually doesn't in order to avoid

embarrassment.

3. Asking for repetition or explanation is not considered good manners when talking with Americans. 4. It is impolite for people to talk in their native language in the presence of Americans. 5. America ns may feel un comfortable non-En glish speakers.

whe n they can't

un dersta nd the con versati on of

Mliste n1-1

One win ter day in San Fran cisco, a woma n in a red car drove up to a tollbooth. The back seat of her car had a pile of colorful Christmas gifts on it. She smiled at the tollbooth operator and said, \

myself, and for the six cars behi nd me.\next six cars arrived at the tollbooth, the operator told each driver, \nice day.\

Why did the lady do this? As she told her husba nd later, \It said, 'Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.' I liked that phrase and copied it for myself. Paying the tolls was a little kindn ess I could do.\

Now all over the U.S., it is becoming a popular phrase. One can see it on car bumper stickers, on walls, and eve n on bus in ess cards. Ran dom acts of kindn ess are easy to

perform if one is looking for opportunities. In Portland, a man might put a coin in a

stranger's parking meter just in time to save that person from getting fined for overtime park ing. In Chicago, a tee nage boy may shovel snow not only from his driveway but also his n eighbor's driveway. Un doubtedly thousa nds of ran dom acts of kindn ess occur every day.

What are some sen seless acts of beauty? A pers on might pla nt flowers along a highway.

Ano ther might clea n graffiti from a city park ben ch. Yet ano ther might pick up litter from the street and put it in a trash can.

You should remember this phrase and put it into acti on. Not only will you help others, but you will feel better yourself since you have helped the world to become a better place. And who kno ws? The people you help might well be in spired to help some one else later. It's a \Stateme nts:

1. The woman paid for the six cars behind her as a Christmas gift.

2. The woman taped a card on her refrigerator that reads: Practice random kindness and sen seless acts of beauty.

3. Ran dom acts of kindn ess are not difficult to perform. 4. One can see graffiti everywhere in the U.S. 5. People sometimes do good uncon sciously.

6. The world can become a better place because of the little acts of kindness and beauty. 7. The people you help may well help some one else later.

8. Ran dom acts of kindn ess and beauty do good to all parties in volved.

act of random

Mliste n2-1

Don't talk with your mouth full. Keep your elbows off the table. Say \

Any of those sou nd familiar?

Chan ces are, if you observe a pare nt, he or she has repeated at least one of those lines a few thousand times. Etiquette experts and people who work with children tend to agree that teachi ng the childre n good mann ers is more tha n worth the effort. Good mann ers can defi nitely beg in at home. Ver onica tries to teach her 5-year-old son Matthew about the importa nee of the Golde n Rule in words that he can un dersta nd. \

Accord ing to etiquette experts, teach ing by example is the best approach. By using good manners, parents can be role models for their children, who often leann by imitation. \

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ng,\their toddlers to simple words like \

\start.\

By teach ing childre n good mann ers and the n help ing them practice, pare nts are doing their childre n a great service. It's not just about being polite and well-ma nn ered in the short run. Ultimately, as they grow and they're better-behaved, they'll go on to greater success in their lives and be better liked.

But home is not the only teachi ng en vir onment whe n it comes to mann ers and etiquette. More and more schools are look ing for ways to in still good mann ers in their stude nts. Stateme nts:

1. All pare nts try to teach their childre n good mann ers. 2. You n eed to treat people the way you want to be treated. 3. Mon keys are especially good at imitati ng small childre n.

4. Pare nts should set an example to their childre n whe n teach ing them good mann ers. 5. Pare nts are help ing their childre n in the long run by teach ing them good mann ers. 6. Both pare nts and teachers are resp on sible for the teachi ng of etiquette.

Questi ons:

1. What manners do pare nts teach their childre n? 2. What is the Golden Rule?

3. What is the best way for pare nts to teach their childre n good mann ers? 4. What's the appropriate time to start teachi ng childre n mann ers? 5. What is the ultimate goal of teach ing childre n good mann ers?

Mliste n3-1

(Four stude nts are sitt ing in a dorm loun ge, casually watch ing TV.

)

Wayne : You know, people lie to us all the time! That advertiser on TV just told me that

all I have to do to be attractive is to drink the right kind of beer. I don't even like beer!

Celia : And I've see n the same kind of ads for differe nt clothi ng bra nds. I don't see how anyone can

believe all of that stuff.

Heather : It's not just TV ads. Religious leaders tell us that if we attend their church

we'll be happy and politicians tell us if we vote for their party members the nation's problems will disappear. Not true!!

Randy : I think most of us are smart eno ugh to figure out that these things are lies.

But it really irritates me when people have the arroganee to start their senten ces to others by

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say ing \That's a kind of lying too.

Celia : You're right. In fact it's really rude because it implies that other people lack

the in tellige nee to determ ine for themselves where their in terests are and to act accord in gly.

Heather : My dad has talked about a person in his office who does this a lot. He's creating a bad work

environment and it's obvious that the co-workers are

getting tired of being ordered around like this. They know what they should do and want to do it their way.

Wayne : I imagine that even the boss should be careful in this respect. If he's rude to

his employees by impl ying they don't know what they're doing, they won't put forth their best effort.

Celia : Since we started talking now, I've been thinking about a friend I had in high school. She kept

telling me what I \me to do what she wan ted. Needless to say, our

frie ndship en ded. And it was a kind of lying on her part because she was n't saying that what I \

Randy : I guess there are all sorts of ways to lie. We'd better watch out, right? Others : Right.

Mliste n4-1

(Paul and Joyce are going to a movie. )

Paul: Hurry up, Joyce. We n eed to leave now if we're going to get to the theater a

half hour before the feature begi ns.

Joyce : Why on earth do we need to be there that early? The theater is never even

half full. I've also been wondering if we should take the kids with us, even though Mom is here with them.

Paul: Leave the kids at home. We're not going to a kid's movie like

Harry Potter

When I went to the movies that night you went to play bridge it looked like a day care center in the theater. Strollers were flying down the aisle, kids were restless and obviously bored, so started whining for can dy, and there was eve n a fight.

Joyce : My goodness! What happened?

Paul: One other patro n who was trying to enjoy the movie told the pare nts of some no isy childre n

behi nd him to shut their kids up. The father of the no isy kids hit the compla iner and that led to a fight. The police had to be brought in.

Joyce : I'm ready to go, but you still have n't told me why we n eed to be so early. Paul: Actually I like to watch the people. For some just choos ing a seat is a major

decision. They stand in the middle of the aisle juggling coats, popcorn and Cokes, almost overwhelmed by having to choose. You can almost read their thoughts. Should I sit dow n in front, or will that be too close? Is this too far back? That man is tall. I won't be able to see the movie if I sit behind him. I'd love to sit close to the middle, but then I'd have to sit close to that big group

of tee nagers. Oh, dear! The lights are dim ming and I have n't made up my mind.

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I won't be able to see where I'm going.

Joyce : You aren't the only one to notice such things. Many people choose their seats,

find they are unsatisfied, so move.

rve watched a few couples go from one

spot to another four or five times before settling down.

Paul: While we're on the topic, my other pet peeve is people who won't be quiet during the movie. They

comment on everything. \

when they see a dog appear. \

Joyce : I don't like the people behind me to sit and chew popcorn noisily. It's possible

to be quiet but they don't try. They just keep on chew ing and the n start on a big box of can dy. Paul: So let's go! We'll try to find a good seat, look around us a bit, and then we'll sit dow n and shut up.

Questi ons:

1. Why does Paul decide not to take kids to the movie? 2. Why was there a fight the other ni ght?

3. Why do some people find it difficult to decide which seat to take?

4. What problem troubles the couple at the theater? 5. Which of the following is true according to the dialog?

Quiz1-1

China is known as a state of etiquette and ceremonies.

Many proverbs have been

passed down from generation to generation such as \reciprocity\a long tour to visit his friend with a swan as a gift. But it escaped from the cage on the way and in his effort to catch it, he got hold of nothing but a feather. Instead of returning home, he continued his journey with the swan feather.

When his friend received this unexpected gift, he was deeply moved by the story as well as the sincerity. And the saying \cou nts\

Chin ese used to cup one hand in the other before the chest as a salute. This traditi on

has a history of more than 2,000 years and nowadays it is seldom used except in the Spring Festival. And shaking hands is more popular and appropriate on some formal occasions. Bowing, to convey respect to the higher level, was often used by the lower like subord in ates and atte ndan ts.

But at prese nt,

things are quite

differe nt.

Chin ese

much, but it's the thought that

youngsters tend to simply nod as a greeting. To some extent this evolution reflects the ever- in creas ing pace of moder n life.

Quiz2-1

Writ ing a tha nk-you letter after an in terview does n't just show a can didate's mann ers — it can also make or break their cha nces of la nding a job. Nearly 15 perce nt of hir ing man agers say they would not hire some one who failed to send a tha nk-you letter after the in terview. 32 perce nt say they would still con

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