(完整版)老托听力93篇原文

老托Part C精选93篇

1

Community service is an important component of education here at our university. We encourage all students to volunteer for at least one community activity before they graduate. A new community program called "One On One" helps elementary students who've fallen behind. You education majors might be especially interested in it because it offers the opportunity to do some teaching—that is, tutoring in math and English. You'd have to volunteer two hours a week for one semester. You can choose to help a child with math, English, or both. Half-hour lessons are fine, so you could do a half hour of each subject two days a week. Professor Dodge will act as a mentor to the tutors—he'll be available to help you with lesson plans or to offer suggestions for activities. He has office hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. You can sign up for the program with him and begin the tutoring next week. I'm sure you'll enjoy this community service and you'll gain valuable experience at the same time. It looks good on your resume, too, showing that you've had experience with children and that you care about your community. If you'd like to sign up, or if you have any questions, stop by Professor Dodge's office this week.

【生词摘录】

https://www.sodocs.net/doc/026916605.html,ponent: n.［C］one of several parts that together make up a whole

machine or system （机器或系统的）零件；成分；组成部分

2.tutor: n.［C］someone who teaches one pupil or a small group, and is

directly paid by them 家庭教师，私人教师 v. to teach someone as a tutor 给…

当家庭教师；指导

3.mentor: n.［C］an experienced person who advises and helps a less

experienced person 顾问，指导人，教练

2

I hope you've all finished reading the assigned chapter on insurance so that you're prepared for our discussion today. But, before we start, I'd like to mention a few things your text doesn't go into. It's interesting to note that insurance has existed in some form for a very long time. The earliest insurance policies were what we called bottomry contracts. They provided shipping protection for merchants as far back as 3000 B.C. In general, the contracts were often no more than verbal agreements. They granted loans to merchants with the understanding that if a particular shipment of goods was lost at sea, the loan didn't have to be repaid. Interest on the loans varied according to how risky it was to transport the goods. During periods of heavy piracy at sea, for example, the amount of interest and the cost of the policy went up considerably. So, you can see how insurance helped encourage international trade. Even the most cautious merchants became willing to risk shipping their goods over long distances, not to mention in hazardous weather conditions when they had this kind of protection available. Generally speaking, the basic form of an insurance policy has been pretty much the same since the Middle Ages. There are four points that were salient then and remain paramount in all policies today. These were outlined in chapter six and will serve as the basis for the rest of today's discussion. Can anyone tell me what one of those points might be?

【生词摘录】

1.insurance: n.［U］an arrangement with a company in which you pay them

money each year and they pay the costs if anything bad happens to you, such as an illness or an accident 保险；the money that you pay regularly to an insurance company 保险费；the business of providing insurance 保险业

2.bottomry: n.船舶抵押契约（如船舶损失，则债务取消），冒险借贷

3.contract: n.［C］a formal written agreement between two or more

people,which says what each person must do for the other 契约；合同

4.loan: n.［C］an amount of money that you borrow from a bank etc（银行

等的）贷款

5.understanding: n.［C usually singular］a private, unofficial agreement

（私底下、非正式的）协议，协定

6.interest: n.［U］a charge made for borrowing money（借贷的）利息［+on］

7.piracy: n. the crime of attacking and stealing from ships at sea海上抢劫，

海盗行为

8.cautious: adj. careful to avoid danger or risks小心的，谨慎的，慎重的

9.hazardous: adj.危险的

10.s alient: adj.formal the salient points or features of something are the

most important or most noticeable parts of it 【正式】显著的，突出的

11. paramount: adj. more important than anything else 至高无上的，最重要的

3

Located at the NASA Research Center in Iowa is a 5,000-gallon vat of water, and inside the tank is an underwater treadmill designed by Dava Newman, an aerospace engineer. For four years Newman observed scuba divers as they simulated walking on the Moon and on Mars on her underwater moving belt. She wanted to discover how the gravity of the Moon and of Mars would affect human movement. To do this, Newman attached weights to the divers and then lowered them into the tank and onto the treadmill. These weights were carefully adjusted so that the divers could experience underwater the gravity of the Moon and of Mars as they walked on the treadmill. Newman concluded that walking on Mars will probably be easier than walking on the Moon. The Moon has less gravity than Mars does, so at lunar gravity, the divers struggled to keep their balance and walked awkwardly. But at Martian gravity, the divers had greater traction and stability and could easily adjust to a pace of 1.5 miles per hour. As Newman gradually increased the speed of the treadmill, the divers took longer, graceful strides until they comfortably settled into an even quicker pace. Newman also noted that at Martian gravity, the divers needed less oxygen. The data Newman collected will help in the future design of Martian space suits. Compared to lunar space suits, Martian space suits will require smaller air tanks; and, to allow for freer movement, the elbow and knee areas of the space suits will also be altered.

【生词摘录】

1.gallon: n.AmE a unit for measuring liquids, equal to 3.785 litres【美】加

仑（等于3.785升）

2.vat: n.［C］a very large container for storing liquids such as whisky or

dye,when they are being made（酿酒、盛染料用的）大缸，大桶

3.tank: n.［C］a large container for storing liquid or gas（盛放液体或气体的）

大容器

4.treadmill: n.［C］a mill worked in the past by prisoners treading on

steps fixed to a very large wheel（过去用以惩罚犯人的）踏车

5.aerospace: adj. involving the designing and building of aircraft and space

vehicles 航空和航天（器制造）的 n.［U］the industry that designs and builds aircraft and space vehicles 航空和航天工业，航天工业

6.scuba diving: n.［U］the sport of swimming under water while breathing

through a tube connected to a container of air on your back 斯库巴潜泳，水肺潜泳（戴自携式潜水呼吸器潜泳）

7.simulate: v. to make or produce something that is not real but has the

appearance of being real 模仿，模拟

8.Martian: adj. of or relating to the planet Mars火星的

Welcome to Everglades National Park. The Everglades is a watery plain covered with saw grass that's home to numerous species of plants and wildlife. At one and a half million acres, it's too big to see it all today, but this tour will offer you a good sampling. Our tour bus will stop first at Taylor Slough. This is a good place to start because it's home to many of the plants and animals typically associated with the Everglades. You'll see many exotic birds and, of course, our world famous alligators. Don't worry, there's a boardwalk that goes across the marsh, so you can look down at the animals in the water from a safe distance. The boardwalk is high enough to give you a great view of the saw grass prairie. From there we'll head to some other marshy and even jungle like areas that feature wonderful tropical plant life. For those of you who'd like a closer view of the saw grass prairie, you might consider renting a canoe sometime during your visit here. However, don't do this unless you have a very good sense of direction and can negotiate your way through tall grass. We'd hate to have to come looking for you. You have the good fortune of being here in the winter—the best time of year to visit. During the spring and summer, the mosquitoes will just about eat you alive! Right now they're not so bothersome,but you'll still want to use an insect repellent.

【生词摘录】

1.Everglades National Park:大沼泽地国家公园

2.saw grass:克拉莎草；加州砖子苗

3.acre: n.［C］a unit for measuring area, equal to 4,047 square metres英

亩

4.sampling: n. items selected at random from a population and used to

test hypotheses about the population 取样，抽样，采样

5.exotic: adj.approving seeming unusual and exciting because of being

connected with a foreign country 【褒义】异国风情的，外国情调的：exotic birds 外国的奇异鸟类

6.alligator: n.［C］a large animal with a long mouth and sharp teeth that

lies in the hot wet parts of the US and China 短吻鳄

7.boardwalk: n.［C］AmE a raised path made of wood, usually built next

to the sea【美】（常在海滨）用木板铺成的小道

8.prairie: n.［C］a wide open area of land in North America which is

covered in grass or wheat（北美洲的）大草原

9.canoe: n.［C］a long light boat that is pointed at both ends and which

you move along using a paddle 独木舟，小划子

10.n egotiate: v. <口>成功通过，顺利越过

11.m osquito: n.［C］a small flying insect that sucks the blood of people

and animals 蚊子

Thank you. It's great to see so many of you interested in this series on "Survival in Outer Space." Please excuse the cameras; we're being videotaped for the local TV stations. Tonight I'm going to talk about the most basic aspect of survival—the space suit. When most of you imagine an astronaut, that's probably the first thing that comes to mind, right? Well, without space suits, it would not be possible for us to survive in space. For example, outer space is a vacuum—there's no gravity or air pressure; without protection, a body would explode. What's more, we'd cook in the sun or freeze in the shade with temperatures ranging from a toasty300 degrees above to a cool 300 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The space suit that NASA has developed is truly a marvel. This photo enlargement here is a life-size image of an actual space suit worn by astronauts on the last space shuttle mission. This part is the torso. It’s made of seven extremely durable layers. This thick insulation protects against temperature extremes and radiation. Next is what they call a "bladder" of oxygen that's an inflatable sac, filled with oxygen, to simulate atmospheric pressure. This bladder presses against the body with the same force as the Earth's atmosphere at sea level. The innermost layers provide liquid cooling and ventilation. Despite all the layers, the suit is flexible, allowing free movement so we can work. Another really sophisticated part of the space suit is the helmet. I brought one along to show you. Can I have a volunteer come and demonstrate?

【生词摘录】

1.videotape: v. to record a television programme, film etc on a videotape把

（电视节目、电影等）录在录像（磁）带上

2.vacuum: n.［C］a space that is completely empty of all gas, especially

one from which all the air has been taken away 真空

3.shade: n.［U］slight darkness or shelter from the direct light of the sun

made by something blocking it 荫，背阴处

4.toasty: adj.AmE informal warm and comfortable【美，非正式】暖烘烘的，

温暖舒适的

5.Fahrenheit: n.［U］a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 32°

and boils at 212°华氏温度

6.marvel: n.［C］something or someone surprisingly useful or skillful, that

you like and admire very much 十分有用（灵巧）的物（人）

7.enlargement: n.［C］a photograph that has been printed again in a

larger size 放大的照片

8.life-size:又作life-sized，adj. a picture or model of something or someone

that is life-size is the same size as they are in real life 与实物（真人）大小一样的

9.shuttle: n.［C］a spacecraft that can fly into space and return to Earth,

10.m ission: n.［C］an important job done by a member of the airforce,

army etc, especially an attack on the enemy 任务，使命

11.t orso: n.［C］your body, not including your head, arms, or legs（头和四

肢除外的）人体躯干

12.durable: adj. staying in good condition for a long time even if used a lot耐

用的

13.i nsulation: n.［U］material used to insulate something, especially a

building（尤指建筑物的）绝缘材料；the act of insulating something or the state of being insulated 隔绝

14.e xtreme: n.［C］something that goes beyond normal limits, so that it

seems very unusual and unacceptable 极端

15.b ladder: n.［C］a bag of skin, leather, or rubber, for example inside a

football, that can be filled with air or liquid （可充气或充水的）囊；袋

16.i nflatable: adj. an inflatable object has to be filled with air before you can

use it 须充气方可使用的，（需）充气的

17.s ac: n.technical a part inside a plant or animal that is shaped like a bag

and contains liquid or air 【术语】（动物或植物的）囊；液囊

18.i nnermost: adj.formal furthest inside【正式】最里面的

19.v entilation: n.［U］通风（ventilate: v. to let fresh air into a room,

building etc 使通风）

20.h elmet: n.［C］a strong hard hat worn for protection by soldiers,

motorcycle riders, the police etc 头盔，钢盔，安全帽

21.demonstrate: v. to show or prove something clearly证明，论证，证实；to

show or describe how something works or is done 示范，演示；to march through the streets with a large group of people in order to publicly protest about something （为公开抗议某事）游行，示威；to show that you have a particular skill, quality, or ability 展示，表露出（某种技能、品质或能力）

6

Good evening. My name is Pam Jones, and on behalf of the Modern Dance club, I'd like to welcome you to tonight's program. The club is pleased to present the TV version of The Catherine Wheel, Twyla Tharp's rock ballet. This video version of the ballet has been even more successful with audiences than the original theater production. It includes some animation, slow motion, and stop-action freezes that really help the audience understand the dance. The title of the piece refers to Saint Catherine, who died on a wheel in 307 A.D. Nowadays, a Catherine wheel is also a kind of firework. It looks something like a pinwheel. Anyway, the dance is certainly full of fireworks! You'll see how Twyla Tharp explores one family's attempt to confront the violence in modern life. The central symbol of the work is a pineapple, but exactly what it represents has always created a lot of controversy. As you watch, see if you can figure it out. The music for this piece is full of the rhythmic energy of rock music. It was composed by David Byrne. Of the rock band Talking Heads? And the lead dancer in this version was Sara Rudner, who is perfectly suited to Tharp's adventurous choreography. Following the video, dance teacher Mary Parker will lead a discussion about the symbolism Ms. Tharp used. We hope you can stay for that. So, enjoy tonight's video and thank you for your support.

【生词摘录】

1.present: v. to give a performance in a theatre, cinema, etc, or broadcast a

programme on television or radio 上演；演出；表演；播出（电视或广播节目）

2.ballet: n.［C］a performance in which a special style of dancing and

music tell a story without any speaking 芭蕾舞剧；芭蕾舞曲

3.animation: n.［U］the process of making animated films动物片的制作

4.wheel: n.［C］one of the round things under a car, bus, bicycle etc that

turn when it moves （汽车、公共汽车、自行车等的）车轮

5.firework: n.［C usually plural］a small container filled with powder that

burns or explodes to produce coloured lights, noise, and smoke 烟火，烟花，焰火

6.pinwheel: n.［C］a toy consisting of a stick with curved pieces of plastic

at the end that turn around when they are blown 玩具风车（windmill, BrE）7.pineapple: n.［C,U］a large yellow-brown tropical fruit or its sweet juicy

yellow flesh 菠萝，凤梨

8.controversy: n.［C,U］a serious argument or disagreement, especially about

something such as a plan or decision, that continues for a long time 争

论；辩论；争议

9.rhythmic:又作rhythmical, adj. having rhythm有节奏的

10.a dventurous: adj.又作adventuresome,AmE【美】eager to go to new

places and do exciting or dangerous things 喜欢冒险的，有冒险精神的；not afraid of taking risks or trying new things 敢作敢为的，大胆创新的

a performance 编舞（艺术）；舞蹈设计

12.s ymbolism: n.［U］the use of symbols to represent something象征主义

（手法）

In our lab today, we'll be testing the hypothesis that babies can count as early as five months of age. The six babies here are all less than six months old. You'll be watching them on closed circuit TV and measuring their responses. The experiment is based on the well-established observation that babies stare longer if they don't see what they expect to see. First, we're going to let two dolls move slowly in front of the babies. The babies will see the two dolls disappear behind a screen. Your job is to record, in seconds, how long the babies stare at the dolls when the screen is removed. In the next stage, two dolls will again move in front of the babies and disappear. But then a third doll will follow. When the screen is removed, the babies will only see two dolls. If we're right, the babies will now stare longer because they expect three dolls but only see two. It seems remarkable to think that such young children can count. My own research has convinced me that they have this ability from birth. But whether they do or not, perhaps we should raise another question. Should we take advantage of this ability by teaching children mathematics at such a young age? They have great untapped potential, but is it good for parents to pressure young children?

【生词摘录】

1.hypothesis: n.plural hypotheses,［C］an idea that is suggested as a

possible way of explaining a situation, proving an idea etc, which has not yet been shown to be true 假设，假说

2.closed circuit television (TV): a system in which cameras send pictures

to television sets that is used in many public buildings to protect them from crime 闭路电视

3.well-established: adj. established for a long time and respected历史悠久

且享有盛誉的

4.untapped: adj. an untapped resource, market etc has not yet been used

（资源、市场等）未开发的；未利用的

Before starting our tour of Monticello, I'd like to give you some historical facts that might help you appreciate what you see today even more. Monticello was the very much loved home of Thomas Jefferson for over fifty years. Jefferson, who was, of course, President, was also a great reader and language enthusiast. He read widely on different subjects, including architecture. He wasn't formally trained in architecture, but as a result of his study and observation of other buildings, he was able to help design and build the house. He chose the site himself, naming the estate "Monticello," which means "little mountain" in Italian. In fact, many of the ideas behind the design also came from the Italian architect Andrea Palladio, who lived in the sixteenth century and who had a great influence on the architecture of England. Jefferson, however, ignored one of Palladio's principles, that is, not to build in a high place. Monticello's elevation made the transportation of what was needed at the house—for example, food—especially difficult. But the view from the estate would not be as spectacular if Jefferson had followed Palladio's advice; there really is no boundary between the house and the nature around it, and so Jefferson was able to look out on his beloved state of Virginia from his wonderful vantage point. Now we'll go on to Jefferson's library.

【生词摘录】

1.Monticello:蒙提切娄

2.appreciate: v. to understand how good or useful someone or something is

欣赏，赏识，鉴赏

3.enthusiast: n.［C］someone who is very interested in a particular

activity or subject 热衷于…的人

4.estate: n.［C］a large area of land in the country, usually with one large

house on it and one owner （在乡村附有宅地的）一大片私有土地，庄园

5.elevation: n.［singular］a height above the level of the sea海拔

6.spectacular: adj. very impressive and exciting壮观的，精彩的，引人注目的

7.vantage point: a good position from which you can see something（能观

察某物的）有利位置

Now that we've all introduced ourselves to the new members, let's get down to work. As the committee in charge of this year's tree-planting project, we have several items on our agenda. First, we have to review the budget. The president has informed me that the trustees have set aside $3,000 for the purchase of trees and our environmental T-shirt sale netted a profit of $1,500. Second, we have to finalize the choice of trees. As you know, we're working with Richardson's Nursery again this year since everyone seemed pleased with the work he did for us last year. Mr. Richardson has presented us with several choices within our price range that he thinks would meet our needs. He's sent us pictures of the trees for us to look at, but he wanted me to tell you that we're welcome to visit the nursery if we want to see the trees themselves. Lastly, we need to plan some kind of ceremony to commemorate the planting. Several ideas, including a garden party of some sort, have been suggested. So let's get on with it and turn to the first order of business.

【生词摘录】

1.item: n.［C］a single thing, especially part of a list, group, or set（尤指清

单上、一群或一组事物中的）一项；一件；一条

2.trustee: n.［C］a member of a group that controls the money of a

company,college, or other organization（公司、学院等的）理事，董事会成员https://www.sodocs.net/doc/026916605.html,: v.especially AmE to earn a particular amount of money as a profit

after tax has been paid 【尤美】获得净收入，净赚

4.finalize: v. to finish the last part of a plan, business deal etc使（计划、交

易等）确定，最后定下

5.nursery: n.［C］a place where plants and trees are grown and sold苗圃

（garden center,BrE）

Welcome to the Four Winds Historical Farm, where traditions of the past are preserved for visitors like you. Today, our master thatchers will begin giving this barn behind me a sturdy thatched roof, able to withstand heavy winds and last up to a hundred years. How do they do it? Well, in a nutshell, thatching involves covering the beams or rafters, the wooden skeleton of a roof with reeds or straw. Our thatchers here have harvested their own natural materials for the job, the bundles of water reeds you see lying over there beside the barn. Thatching is certainly uncommon in the Untied States today. I guess that's why so many of you have come to see this demonstration. But it wasn't always that way. In the seventeenth century, the colonists here thatched their roofs with reeds and straw, just as they had done in England. After a while, though, they began to replace the thatch with wooden shingles because wood was so plentiful. And eventually, other roofing materials like stone, slate, and clay tiles came into use. It's a real shame that most people today don't realize how strong and long lasting a thatched roof is. In Ireland, where thatching is still practiced, the roofs can survive winds of up to one hundred ten miles per hour. That's because straw and reeds are so flexible. They bend but don't break in the wind like other materials can. Another advantage is that the roofs keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And then, of course, there's the roofs' longevity—the average is sixty years, but they can last up to a hundred. With all these reasons to start thatching roofs again, wouldn't it be wonderful to see this disappearing craft return to popularity?

【生词摘录】

1.thatcher: n.［C］someone skilled in making a roof from plant stalks or

foliage 盖屋顶者

2.barn: n.［C］a large farm building for storing crops, or for keeping

animals in 谷仓，粮秣房，仓库，牲口棚；informal a large, plain building 【非正式】空荡荡的大房子

3.withstand: v. to be strong enough to remain unharmed by something such as

great heat or cold, great pressure etc 耐得住，承受住（酷热、严寒、高压等）

4.in a nutshell:spoken used when you are stating the main facts about

something in a short, clear way 【口】一言以蔽之，简括地说，用一句话概括

5.beam: n.［C］a long heavy piece of wood or metal used in building

houses,bridges etc 梁，横梁

6.rafter: n.［C usually plural］one of the large sloping pieces of wood that

form the structure of a roof 椽

7.skeleton: n.［C］the most important parts of something, to which more

detail can be added later 骨架，框架；梗概，纲要

8.reed: n.［C］a type of tall plant like grass that grows in wet places芦苇

9.straw: n.［U］the dried stems of wheat or similar plants that are used for

（如麦秆等）

10.c olonist: n.［C］someone who settles in a new colony开拓殖民地的居民，

拓殖者

11.s hingle: n.［C］one of many small thin pieces of building materials,

especially wood, used to cover a roof or wall（覆盖屋顶或墙用的）木瓦；屋面板；墙面板

12.slate: n.［U］a dark grey rock that can easily be split into flat thin pieces板

岩，板石

13.clay: n.［U］heavy sticky soil that can be used for making pots, bricks etc

黏土

14.t ile: n.［C］a flat square piece of baked clay or other material, used for

covering roofs, floors etc（屋顶、地板等上用的）瓷砖，地砖

15.l ongevity: n.［U］formal long life【正式】长寿；technical the length of a

person or anima l’s life【术语】（人或动物的）寿命

A lot of people in the United States are coffee drinkers. Over the last few years, a trend has been developing to introduce premium, specially blended coffees, known as "gourmet coffees" into the American market. Boston seems to have been the birthplace of this trend. In fact, major gourmet coffee merchants from other cities like Seattle and San Francisco came to Boston, where today they're engaged in a kind of "coffee war" with Boston's merchants. They are all competing for a significant share of the gourmet coffee market. Surprisingly, the competition among these leading gourmet coffee businesses will not hurt any of them. Experts predict that the gourmet coffee market in the United States is growing and will continue to grow, to the point that gourmet coffee will soon capture half of what is now a 1.5-million-dollar market and will be an 8-million-dollar market by 1999. Studies have shown that coffee drinkers who convert to gourmet coffee seldom go back to the regular brands found in supermarkets. As a result, these brands will be the real losers in the gourmet coffee competition.

【生词摘录】

1.premium: adj. of high quality高级的，优质的

2.blended: adj. combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts

are indistinguishable 混合的

3.gourmet: n.［C］someone who knows a lot about food and wine and

who enjoys good food and wine 美食家

4.birthplace: n.［C usually singular］the place where someone was born,

especially someone famous （尤指名人的）出生地；the place where something first started to happen or exist 发源地，发祥地

You may remember that a few weeks ago we discussed the question of what photography is. Is it art, or is it a method of reproducing images? Do photographs belong in museums or just in our homes? Today I want to talk about a person who tried to make his professional life an answer to such questions. Alfred Stieglitz went from the United States to Germany to study engineering. While he was there, he became interested in photography and began to experiment with his camera. He took pictures under conditions that most photographers considered too difficult. He took them at night, in the rain, and of people and objects reflected in windows. When he returned to the United States he continued these revolutionary efforts. Stieglitz was the first person to photograph skyscrapers, clouds, and views from an airplane. What Stieglitz was trying to do in these photographs was what he tried to do throughout his life: make photography an art. He felt that photography could be just as good a form of self-expression as painting or drawing. For Stieglitz, his camera was his brush. While many photographers of the late 1800's and early 1900's thought of their work as a reproduction of identical images, Stieglitz saw his as a creative art form. He understood the power of the camera to capture the moment. In fact, he never retouched his prints or made copies of them. If he were in this classroom today, I'm sure he'd say, "Well, painters don't normally make extra copies of their paintings, do they?" 【生词摘录】

1.experiment: v. to try various ideas, methods etc to see whether they will

work or what effect they will have 试验；试用

2.skyscraper: n.［C］a very tall modern city building摩天大楼

3.identical: adj. exactly the same完全相同的［+to］

4.capture: v. to succeed in showing or describing a situation or feeling

using words or pictures（用语言或图片）记录下

5.retouch: v. to improve a picture or photograph by painting over marks or

making other small changes 描绘，润色（图画、照片）

So, uh . . . as Jim said, James Polk was the eleventh President, and . . . uh . . . well, my report's about the next President—Zachary Taylor. Taylor was elected in 1849. It's surprising because . . . well, he was the first President that didn't have any previous political experience. The main reason he was chosen as a candidate was because he was a war hero. In the army, his men called him "Old Rough and Ready". I guess because of his . . . "rough edges." He was kind of blunt and he didn't really look like a military hero. He liked to do things like wear civilian clothes instead of a uniform, even in battle. And he was so short and plump he had to be lifted up onto his horse. But he did win a lot of battles and he became more and more popular. So, the Whig party decided to nominate him for the presidency, even though no one knew anything about where he stood on the issues. I couldn't find much about his accomplishments, probably because he was only in office about a year and a half before he died. But one thing, he pushed for the development of the transcontinental railroad because he thought it was important to form a link with the West Coast. There was a lot of wealth in California and Oregon from commerce and minerals and stuff. Also, he established an agricultural bureau in the Department of the Interior and promoted more government aid to agriculture. Well, that's about all I found. Like I said, he died in office in 1850, so his Vice President took over, and that's the next report, so . . . thank you. 【生词摘录】

1.rough and ready: crude but effective for the purpose at hand马虎的（粗

犷而有能力的，大致不差的）

2.rough: adj. having an uneven surface（表面）粗糙的，不平的

3.edge: n.［C］the part of an object that is furthest from its center边，边缘

4.blunt: adj. speaking in an honest way even if this upsets people（说话）不

客气的，直言不讳的

5.civilian: n. anyone who is not a member of the army, navy, airforce, or

police 非军人，文职人员；平民，百姓

6.uniform: n. a particular type of clothing worn by all the members of a group

or organization such as the police, the army etc（警察、军人等穿的）制服

7.plump: adj. a word meaning pleasantly fat, often used when you want to

avoid saying the word fat 丰满的，胖乎乎的

8.nominate: v. to officially suggest someone for an important position,

duty,or prize 提名，推荐

9.presidency: n.［C］the job of president总统（主席，校长等）的职位

10.a ccomplishment: n.［C］something successful or impressive that is

achieved after a lot of effort and hard work; achievement 成就，成绩

11.t ranscontinental: adj. crossing a continent横贯大陆的

12. Oregon: 俄勒冈

13.b ureau: n. especially AmE a government department or a part of a

I want to welcome each and every balloon enthusiast to Philadelphia. Thank you for coming here this morning to commemorate the first balloon voyage in the United States. On January 9, 1793, at ten o'clock in the morning, a silk balloon lifted into the skies above this city, which was, at the time, the capital of the country. According to the original records of the flight, the voyage lasted forty-six minutes, from its departure in Philadelphia to its landing across the Delaware River in New Jersey. Though our pilots today will try to approximate the original landing site, they're at the mercy of the winds, so who knows where they'll drift off to. Even the balloonist in 1793 experienced some uncertain weather that day. There were clouds, fog, and mist in various directions. Our reenactment promises to be nothing less than spectacular. The yellow balloon directly behind me is five stories high. It's inflated with helium, unlike the original, which was filled with hydrogen and,unbeknownst to the pilot, potentially explosive. Gas-filled models are pretty uncommon now because of the extremely high cost, so the eighty other balloons in today's launch are hot air, heated by propane burners. These balloons are from all over the country.

【生词摘录】

1.balloon: n. a large bag of strong light cloth filled with gas or heated air so

that it can float in the air 热气球

2.enthusiast: n.［C］someone who is very interested in a particular

activity or subject 热衷于…的人

3.Philadelphia:费城

https://www.sodocs.net/doc/026916605.html,memorate: v. to do something to show that you remember and respect

someone important or an important event in the past 庆祝，为…举行纪念活

动

5.approximate: v. to be close to a particular number接近

6.at the mercy of: unable to do anything to protect yourself from someone

or something 任凭…的摆布（而无力保护自己）

7.balloonist: n.［C］someone who flies a balloon气球驾驶者

8.reenactment: n.重新制定（法律等），重新颁布（法令等）；再次扮演，再次演

出；再次展现（相同的事件）

9.nothing less than:只不过是，正是，无非是

10.i nflate: v. if you inflate something, or if it inflates, it fills with air or gas

so that it becomes larger（使）充气，（使）膨胀

11.helium: n.［U］a gas that is lighter than air, often used in balloons氦（气）

12.u nbeknownst: adj.又作unbeknown，unbeknownst to somebody, without

that person knowing about it 不为某人所知的

13.propane: n.［U］a colorless gas used for both cooking and heating丙烷（气）

14.b urner: n.［C］AmE the part of an oven or heater that produces heat or

I'm glad you brought up the question of our investigations into the makeup of the Earth's interior. In fact, since this is the topic of your reading assignment for next time, let me spend these last few minutes of class talking about it. There were several important discoveries in the early part of this century that helped geologists develop a more accurate picture of the Earth's interior. The first key discovery had to do with seismic waves. Remember they are the vibrations caused by earthquakes. Well, scientists found that they traveled thousands of miles through the Earth's interior. This finding enabled geologists to study the inner parts of the Earth. You see, these studies revealed that these vibrations were of two types: compression or P waves and shear or S waves. And researchers found that P waves travel through both liquids and solids, while S waves travel only through solid matter. In 1906, a British geologist discovered that P waves slowed down at a certain depth but kept traveling deeper. On the other hand, S waves either disappeared or were reflected back, so he concluded that the depth marked the boundary between a solid mantle and a liquid core. Three years later, another boundary was discovered, that between the mantle and the Earth's crust. There's still a lot to be learned about the Earth. For instance, geologists know that the core is hot. Evidence of this is the molten lava that flows out of volcanoes. But we're still not sure what the source of the heat is. 【生词摘录】

1.makeup: n.［singular］a particularly combination of people or things

that form a group or whole（人或物的）组成，构成

2.seismic: adj.technical connected with or caused by earthquakes or

powerful explorations 【术语】地震的；地震引起的

3.vibration: n.［C,U］a continuous slight shaking movement颤动，振颤，震

动

https://www.sodocs.net/doc/026916605.html,pression: n. an increase in the density of something压缩

5.shear: n.【地】切变

6.boundary: n.［C］the official line that marks the edge of a town, country

etc 分界线，边界［+between］

7.mantle: n.［C］technical the part of the Earth around the central core

【术语】地幔

8.core: n.［C］the central part of the Earth or any other planet地心；（天体

的）核心

9.crust: n.［C,U］a thin hard dry layer on the surface of something（某物

的）硬薄外层（the Earth’s crust地壳）

10.m olten: adj. molten metal or rock has been made into a liquid by being

heated to a very high temperature 溶化的，熔融的（molten lava 熔岩）

11.l ava: n.［U］hot liquid rock that flows from a volcano（火山喷出的）岩浆，

Today we're going to practice evaluating the main tool used when addressing groups—the voice. There are three main elements that combine to create either a positive or negative experience for listeners. They can result in a voice that is pleasing to listen to and can be used effectively. Or they can create a voice that doesn't hold attention, or even worse, causes an adverse reaction. The three elements are volume, pitch, and pace. When evaluating volume, keep in mind that a good speaker will adjust to the size of both the room and the audience. Of course, with an amplifying device like a microphone, the speaker can use a natural tone. But speakers should not be dependent on microphones; a good speaker can speak loudly without shouting. The second element, pitch, is related to the highness or lowness of the sounds. High pitches are, for most people, more difficult to listen to, so in general speakers should use the lower registers of their voice. During a presentation, it's important to vary pitch to some extent in order to maintain interest. The third element, pace, that is how fast or slow words and sounds are articulated, should also be varied. A slower pace can be used to emphasize important points. Note that the time spent not speaking can be meaningful, too. Pauses ought to be used to signal transitions or create anticipation. Because a pause gives the listeners time to think about what was just said or even to predict what might come next, it can be very effective when moving from one topic to another. What I'd like you to do now is watch and listen to a videotape and use the forms I gave you to rate the speaking voices you hear. Then tonight I want you to go home and read a passage into a tape recorder and evaluate your own voice.

【生词摘录】

1.evaluate: v. to carefully consider something to see how useful or

valuable it is 评估，评价

2.address: v.address a meeting/crowd/conference etc to make a

speech to a large group of people 在会上/对人群/在大会上等发表演说

3.adverse: adj. not favorable不利的；反对的；相反的

4.pitch: n.［C］the highness or lowness of a musical note音调；音高

5.register: n.［C］technical the range of musical notes that someone’s

voice or a musical instrument can reach 【术语】（人声或乐器的）音域

6.anticipation: n.［U］the act of expecting something to happen预期，预

料，期望

7.videotape: n.［C,U］a long narrow band of magnetic material in a flat plastic

container, on which films, television programs etc can be recorded 录像（磁）带

8.rate: v. to think that someone or something has a particular quality,

value,or standard 对…作评估，评价

Let's proceed to the main exhibit hall and look at some of the actual vehicles that have played a prominent role in speeding up mail delivery. Consider how long it used to take to send a letter across a relatively short distance. Back in the 1600's it took two weeks on horseback to get a letter from Boston to New York, a distance of about 260 miles. Crossing a river was also a challenge. Ferry service was so irregular that a carrier would sometimes wait hours just to catch a ferry. For journeys inland, there was always the stagecoach, but the ride was by no means comfortable because it had to be shared with other passengers. The post office was pretty ingenious about some routes. In the nineteenth century, in the Southwestern desert, for instance, camels were brought in to help get the mail through. In Alaska, reindeer were used. This practice was discontinued because of the disagreeable temperament of these animals. We'll stop here a minute so that you can enter this replica of a railway mail car. It was during the Age of the Iron Horse that delivery really started to pick up, in fact, the United States transported most bulk mail by train for nearly 100 years. The first airmail service didn't start until 1918. Please take a few moments to look around. I hope you'll enjoy your tour. And as you continue on your own, may I suggest you visit our impressive philatelic collection. Not only can you look at some of the more unusual stamps issues, but there is an interesting exhibit on how stamps are made.

【生词摘录】

1.on horseback: riding a horse骑着马

2.ferry: n.［C］a boat that carries people or goods across a river or a

narrow part of a sea 渡船；渡轮

3.carrier: n.［C］a company that moves goods or passengers from one

place to another 运输公司

4.inland: adv. in a direction away from the coast and towards the center of

a country 向内陆，在内地

5.stagecoach: n.［C］a closed vehicle pulled by horses that in former times

carried passengers who paid to go to a particular place（旧时的）驿站马车

6.by no means: definitely not决不

7.ingenious: adj. an ingenious plan, idea, invention etc is the result of clever

thinking and new ideas, and works well （计划、主意、发明等）巧妙的，精妙的8.route: n.［C］the way from one place to another, especially a way that is

regularly used and can be shown on a map（尤指经常使用，可在地图上显示的）路线

9.reindeer: n.［C］a large deer with long wide horns驯鹿

10.d iscontinue: v. to stop doing or providing something that you have

regularly done or provided until now 中止，中断，终止

11.d isagreeable: adj. not at all enjoyable or pleasant令人不快的，不合意的，