上外中级口译第三版听力教程原文及讲解--Unit1

1AAnintermediatecourseofEnglishlisteningThirdeditionUnitone.Partone.Shoppingovertheinternet.3.Exercises.1.Listentoapassageaboutanewmodeofshopping,andthenchoosethecorrectanswertoeachquestionyouhear.In2005consumerscouldpurchasevirtuallyanythingovertheinternet,books,compactdiscs,andevenstockswereavailablefromWorldWideWebsitesthatseemtospringupalmostdaily.Afewyearsearliersomepeoplehadpredictedthatconsumersaccustomedtoshoppinginstoreswouldbereluctanttobuythingsthattheycouldnotseeortouchinperson.Forgrowingnumberoftimestarvedconsumershowever,shoppingfromtheirhomecomputerwasprovingtobeaconvenientalternativetodrivingtothestore.Aresearchestimatedthatin2008USconsumerswouldpurchase7.3billiondollarsofgoodsovertheinternet,doublethe2006total.Findingabargainwasgettingeasierowingtotheriseofonlineauctions,andwebsitesthatdidcomparisonshoppingontheinternetforthebestdeal.Foralltheconsumerinterest,retailingincyberspacewasstillalargelyunprofitablebusinesshowever.InternetpioneerAmazon.comwhichbegansellingbooksin1995andlaterbranchedintorecordedmusicandvideospostedrevenueof153.7milliondollars,inthethirdquarterofthisyear,upfrom37.9milliondollarsinthesameperiodof2002.Overallhowever,thecompanyslosswidenedto45.2milliondollarsfrom9.6milliondollars.Ananalystdidnotexpectthecompanytoturnaprofituntil2006.Despitethegreatloss,Amason.comhasastockmarketvalueofmanybillions,reflectinginvestorsoptimismofotherfutureindustry.Internetretailingappealtoinvestorsbecauseitprovidedanefficientmeansofreachingmillionsofconsumerswithouthavingthecostofoperatingconventionalstoreswiththeirarmiesofsalespeople.Sellingonlinecarriesitsownriskshowever.Withsomanycompaniescompetingforconsumersattentionpricecompetitionwasintenseandprofitmarginsthinornon-existent.OnevideoretailersoldthehitmovieTitanicfor9dollarsand99cents.Undercuttingthe19dollarsand99centssuggestitretailpriceandlosingabout6dollarsoneachcopysold.Withinternetretailingstillinitsinitialstagecompaniesseemwillingtoabsorbsuchlossesinanattempttoestablishadominatemarketposition.Questions.1).Thepassagegivesexamplestoshowthatalmostanythingcouldbepurchasedontheinternet.Whichofthefollowingisnotoneofthoseexamples?2).Whathadsomepeoplepredictedafewyearsearliercustomerswouldliketodo?3).HowmuchworthofgoodswouldUSconsumersbuyin2008accordingtoaresearchestimate?4).Whichofthefollowingstatementsistrueaboutretailingincyberspace?5).Whichofthefollowingfactorsexplainstherisksofsellingonline?2.Listenagainandthensupplythemissinginformationinthefollowingpassage.Part2.Statements.2.Exercises.Listenandthenchoosetheanswerwhichistheclosestinmeaningtoeachstatementyouhear.1.Mr.BlownandMr.Whiteareoldfriends.ActuallytheystartedtoknoweachotherwhentheywereinprimaryschoolinScotland.2.AfterteachingEnglishandlinguisticsatApolytechniquefor2semesters,RalphremainedinHongKongforthesummer.3.Iamtoldthatyouhavealreadygotajobbutawell-knowntradingcompanydowntownandstarttoworknextmonth.ButIamstillwaitingtohear.4.Areyousayingyouliketoapplyfortheparttimejob?Fine,justfilloutthisform.Someonewillbewithyouinamoment.5.Thereseemsalwaystobeadifficulttimeinthekitchenbeforeameal.Jenneyrefusestoeatvegetablesunlesshermotheralsopreparesbacon.6.AfterahecticdayintheofficewithhermindturninglikeamachineMarthawatchTVfor2hourswithacupofcoffeeinfront.7.AffectedbytwosuccessivehurricaneshittingtheeastcoasttherainfloodedmostareasofsouthFloridaleavingalmostallthehighwaysimpossible.8.Youdontlikethesoundofthatcarengine.Itsnothingtoworryabout.Ijusthaditservicedafewdaysago.9.Youneedntnotifythehousingofficeaboutthefixingofthefaucetinthebathroom.IllgetAllantotakecareofit.Heisreallyhandy.10.ImaginewhattrafficislikeeveryMondaymorningduringtherushhour.Althoughwecaughttheearlybuswewerelateforclass.11.Wehaveaheavyloadofworktoday.Andletsleavefortheofficerightnow.Theearlierwegetherethemoreworkingtimewewillhave.12.Garyinsistsonbuyingthefoodforthepicnictobeheldthiscomingweekend.Butshouldntweatleastoffertosharetheexpense?13.TheissueofwomensrightshasbeenpartoftheAmericanscenesincetheendofthe19thcenturyanditsstillistoday.14.Itsarealscorchingdaytoday,andtheforecastersaresayingthatthereisnoendinsight.Itseemswedbetterstayindoorsforthenextfewdays.15.Althoughithasgotsuchagreatreview,themovieisawful.Itshardlyworththepriceofadmission.Noonewouldliketoseeitagain.16.AlicehasdreamedofvisitingLondonandParisforsomanyyears.IfsheweresingleshewouldtravelinEuropethissummer.17.Sandywasreallyangryduringthemeetingthismorning.Iamnotgoingtoapproachheruntilshecoolsoff.18.EdwardhurriedhomefromLosAnglestoseehismotherovertheweekend.Hewasdrivingsofastthathecouldhavehadanaccident.19.Youseemtobequiteoptimisticaboutwhatthiscountryisfacedwith.Asfarasyouexplainthefinancialsituationitdoesntsoundtoobad.20.Comparedwiththeothercountrieswehavevisitedonthistrip,Italyisreallyacharmingcountrytotourists.IwishGeorgehadcometoItalywithus.Part3.3.Exercises.1.Inastore.Listentotheconversationwhichtakesplaceinastoreandthenchoosethecorrectanswertoeachquestionyouhear.M:MayIhelpyou?W:Yes.IwanttobuysomeshoestoreplacetheonesIamwearing.M:Whatswrongwitht