Unit 4
Ⅳ. Class Presentation
Listening & Speaking
The Language for Expressing Curiosity
1. Directions: You are going to listen to an instructor talking about expressing
curiosity. Listen carefully and fill in the blanks with the missing words.
Instructor: Everybody is born with curiosity. It is an innate(天性的) desire to know.
Out of this curiosity grows a strong desire to learn. Put in other words, it is our curiosity that pushes us to explore the unknown. To express curiosity is to satisfy our inquisitive(好奇的) interest in the world around us.
Pick up the following language to express your curiosity: — Do you happen to know what’ going on?
— I’m most curious about global warming.
— I’m very keen to know where human curiosity comes from. — I’d give a lot to know more about this interesting fact.
— I wonder how the law of gravity works. — I wonder if you could tell me the secret.
— I’d be most interested to discover why people behave this way. — I wouldn’t mind knowing about the real reason behind this. — If only I knew what’s in your mind.
— I hope you don’t mind my asking, but how does it work? 2. Directions: Now come up with some questions reflecting your curiosity about a
particular aspect of your specialty, using the language you learned in Exercise 1. The questions are supposed to be specific.
Expressing Curiosity
1) Directions: Before you listen to the first conversation, read the following
words and expressions which may be new to you.
impressionism 印象主义，（绘画、文学、音 乐等的）印象派
message 思想, 寓意 simulate 模仿 dab 轻涂 stroke 一笔 imagination 想象
Listen to the conversation twice and fill in the blanks with the missing Words.
Wang Ying: Look at this picture. You’ve got to be smart enough to understand this. It’s really beyond me.
Li Ming: I seem to know little about impressionism. I’m struggling to get its message. Wang Ying: Are you? I’m most curious about it, too. Is this a French painter
or a Chinese one?
Li Ming: It must be a French painter. Wang Ying: How do you know that? Li Ming: By the name.
Wang Ying: Ah. Do you happen to know what these natural appearing objects in unmixed colors mean?
Li Ming: I don’t know. Maybe they’re meant to simulate actual reflected
light.
Wang Ying: Wow. I hope you don’t mind my asking, but what are these dabs
and strokes trying to tell us? Li Ming: Use your imagination.
Wang Ying: Mmm-hmm… their open possibilities probably reflect the beauty
of impressionism. Right?
Li Ming: I didn’t know you have so much curiosity about impressionism. Wang Ying: Now you know I’m a really inquisitive person!
Now listen to the conversation again and answer the following questions. 1. Where did this conversation most probably take place?
In an art gallery.
2. What were they talking about?
They were talking about an impressionistic picture. 3. What did Wang Ying want to know?
She was keen to know about the meaning of the colors, dabs and strokes. 4. What did Li Ming ask Wang Ying to do?
He asked her to use her imagination. 5. What did Li Ming say about Wang Ying? He said that she is an inquisitive person.
2) Directions: Before you listen to the second conversation, read the following
words and expressions which may be new to you.
fare 车费 fare card 交通卡 store 存储 subway 地铁 scanner 扫描仪
beep 电子装置发出的声音
Listen to the conversation twice, and then complete the passage according to the conversation you have heard.
This was the first time for Kathy to visit the city of Shanghai. She took a bus and paid the exact fare. The bus driver advised her to get herself a fare card. She wondered what it was, whether it could be used on the subway and how it worked on the bus. The bus driver answered her questions and explained the use of the card, satisfying her inquisitive needs.
Directions: Listen to the conversation again, and complete the form as the
speaker recounts it. After that, act it out in class.
Kathy: Excuse me. Do I have to pay the exact fare for the bus?
Bus Driver: Yes, you do. It’s two yuan. Put the coins into the slot of the box. The passenger sits near the bus driver
Bus Driver: You ought to get yourself a fare card. Kathy: What’s that? Bus Driver: It’s a stored value card. You can use it on the bus. Kathy: I wonder whether I can use it on the subway. Bus Driver: Sure can. And also on a taxi.
Kathy: This is my first time to visit the city of Shanghai. Bus Driver: Welcome to Shanghai.
Kathy: Thanks. I hope you don’t mind my asking, but how does the fare card work on the bus? Bus Driver: There’s a scanner by the door. Did you see it? Kathy: Yes. Bus Driver: You just place your card on the device. When you hear the beep,
you’ve paid.
Kathy: Thank you. Bus Driver: Don’t mention it.
4. Express your curiosity about a particular mystery and ask the class to answer your question. Try to use the language you picked up in Exercise 1.
Listening Practice
5. Directions: Listen to the following people talking and figure out the best response
to each conversation’s implication.
1. M: Just give me your driver’s license, Miss. W: But what did I do? Just tell me that.
Q: What’s the relationship between these two speakers?
A) A policeman and a thief. B) A judge and a liar(说谎者).
C) A policeman and a driver.
D) A lawyer and a defendant(被告).
2. M: Sure, Anna, come on in. What can I do for you?
W: This is a little difficult, so I guess I’ll just speak directly. I’ve been offered
another job, and I think I’m going to accept it.
Q: What’s the relationship between these two speakers? A) An employer and an employee. B) A manager and a client. C) A professor and a student.
D) An examiner and an examinee(参加考试者).
3. W: Can you give me anything for the pain?
M: Yes, I’ll give you some painkillers. Come back in a week. Q: What’s the relationship between these two speakers?
A) A teacher and a pupil. B) A painter and a buyer.
C) A doctor and a patient. D) A mechanic(机修工) and a driver.
4. W: Can I pay for sale goods by credit card?
M: No, it’s cash sale only.
Q: What’s the relationship between these two speakers? A) A boss and an assistant.
B) A cashier and a businessman. C) A teller(出纳员) and a customer. D) A shop assistant and a customer.
5. W: So first I look under ML, then the numbers, then the other letters.
M: That’s it. After you find your books, come back to me and We’ll continue
your search for periodicals.
Q: What’s the relationship between these two speakers?
A) A boss and a secretary. B) A librarian and a student. C) A mayor and a citizen(市民).
D) A manager and bookkeeper (簿记员).
6. Directions: Listen to the following five short dialogues and choose the
appropriate answers.
1. W: I can’t decide whether to take classes this summer or to find a summer job. M: I think you learn more by working, and you’ll also make money for next
semester if you do.
Q: What does the man mean?
A) Waiting until later to decide. B) Taking summer classes.
C) Working and studying. D) Finding a summer job.
2. M: I have no idea if they will come to the party or not.
W: Don’t worry, we have enough food for all of them. Q: What does the woman mean?
A. She will cancel(取消) the party since nobody called.
B. She is sure that people will come to the party. C) There is plenty of food for all the people. D) They won’t come if they don’t call.
3. W: Mr. Day, I’ve just checked this apartment; the bathroom sink is leaking.
M: OK, I’ll have a maintenance man come over to fix it. Q: What will the man do?
A) He will ask someone to do the work. B) He will move into the apartment.
C) He will buy a new sink. D) He will fix the sink.
4. W: I’m going to give away these books. You can have them if you want.
M: Are you sure?
Q: What is the man implying?
A) He is disappointed. B) He is surprised.
C) He is anxious. D) He is nervous.
5. W: Does this bus go to the Science Museum?
M: No, but the next one does. Just wait for a few minutes. Q: What does the man suggest?
A) Walk to the Science Museum.
B) Wait for the next bus. C) Ask someone else. D) Get on this bus.
7. Directions: Listen to the following short story twice. Listen carefully and decide
whether the statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the story you have heard.
cylinder 汽缸 spot 发现 bike 摩托车 garage 汽车修理部 straighten up 伸直 rag 抹布
valve 活门；瓣膜 how come… ［口］为什么… pittance 少量工资 whisper 耳语
21世纪大学实用英语综合教程第二册听力答案及原文(unit4)
