1. W: The deadline for the sociology and computer courses is the day after
tomorrow.
M: But I haven’t decided which courses to take yet.
Q: What are the man and woman talking about？
（A）
2. M: I’m looking for an apartment with a monthly rent to around 200
dollars in this neighborhood. Can you give me some advice on that?
W: Well, it’s rather hard to find anything for less than 300 dollars around
here. Rents are lower in the suburbs, but you’ll need transportation if you
choose to live there.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
（D）
3. W: Well, tonight we have Professor Brown in the studio to talk about his
recent book Fashion Images. Good evening, professor.
M: Good evening, and thank you for inviting me here this evening.
Q: What is the woman doing?
（B）
4. M: Have you run up against any problems in getting your passport
renewed?
W: I haven’t started applying yet.
Q: What do we know from the conversation?
（C）
5. M: I must point out that trials of new medicine are expensive and you
can never guarantee success.
W: But there’s a very good chance in this case. I do hope you’ll go ahead
in the view of the potential benefit to mankind.
Q: What are the two speakers talking about?
（B）
6. W: What’s the difference between a lesson and a lecture?
M: Well, they are both ways of imparting knowledge. But the main difference
is that you participate in a lesson whereas you just listen to a lecture. A
lecture is generally given to a much larger group.
Q: What does the man mean?
（A）
7. W: It’s awfully dark for 4 O’clock. Do you think it’s going to rain?
M: You’d better do something about that watch of yours. It must have
stopped hours ago. Mine says 7.
Q: What conclusion can we draw from this conversation?
（B）
8. M: You’re looking a little overwhelmed.
W: Exactly. You know I got a million things to do and all of them have to
be finished within 3 hours.
Q: What does the woman mean?
（D）
9. M: Ah-Ah. Looks like I’m going to be a little late for class. I hope
Professor Clark doesn’t start on time today.
W: Are you kidding? You count such a watch by the time he starts his
class.
Q: What can be inferred about Professor Clark?
（C）
10. M: I’m both excited and nervous about the job interview this
afternoon.
W: Take it easy. Just wear tidy and clean clothes and response truthfully
to inquiries. Remember, honesty is the best policy.
Q: What do we learn about the wan?
（B）
Section B
Passage 1
Jean Brown has been married for 12 years. She has 3 children, and lives in
the suburb outside Columbus, Ohio. When her youngest child reached school age,
Jean decided to go back to work. She felt that she should contribute to the
household financies. Her salary can make a difference between the financial
struggle and secure financial situation for her family. Jean also felt bored and
frustrated in her role as a homemaker and wanted to be more involved in life
outside her home. Jean was worried about her children’s adjustment to this new
situation. But she arranged for them to go stay with the woman nearby after
school each afternoon. They seem to be happy with the arrangement. The problem
seem to be between Jean and her husband, Bill. When Jean was at home all day,
she was able to clean the house, go grocery shopping, wash the clothes, take
care of the children and cook 2 or 3 meals each day. She was very busy of
course. But she succeeded in getting everything done. Now the same things need
to be done, but Jean has only evenings and early mornings to do them. Both Jean
and Bill are tired when they arrive home at 6 P.M. Bill is accustomed to sitting
down and reading the paper or watching TV until dinner is ready. This is exactly
what Jean feels like doing. But some one has to fix the dinner and Bill expects
it to be Jean. Jean has become very angry at Bill’s attitude. She feels that
they should share the household jobs. But Bill feels that everything should be
the same as it was before Jean went back to work.
11. Why did Jean want to go back to work?
12. How did Jean spend her days before she went back to work? （C）
13. What problem arose when Jean went back to work? （A）
14. What does the story try to tell us？（B）
Passage 2
The decade for natural disaster reduction is a program designed to reduce
the impact of natural disasters throughout the world. With support from the
United Nations, countries will be encouraged to share information about disaster
reduction. For instance, information about how to plan for and cope with
hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. One of the most important
things the program plans to do is to remind us of what we can do to protect
ourselves. For example, we can pack a suitcase with flashlights, a radio, food,
drinking water and some tools. This safety may help us survive a disaster until
help arrives. Besides, the program will encourage governments to establish
building standards, emergency response plans, and training programs, These
measures can help to limit the destruction by natural disasters. The
comparatively mild effects of the northern California earthquake in 1989 are
good evidence that we do have the technology to prevent vast destruction. The
recent disasters, on the other hand, prove that people will suffer if we don’t
use that technology. When a highway collapsed in northern California, people
were killed in their cars. The highway was not built according to today’s strict
standards to resist earthquakes. Individuals and governments have to be
far-sighted. We should take extra time and spend extra money to build disaster
safety into our lives. Although such a program can’t hold back the winds or stop
earthquakes, they can save people’s lives and homes.
15. What is the purpose of the program mentioned in this passage? （）
16. What can we learn from the northern California earthquake in 1989?
17. Why did the highway in northern California collapse?
Passage 3
Living at the foot of one of the world’s most active volcanoes might not
appeal to you at all. But believe it or not, the area surrounding Mount Etna in
Italy is packed with people. In fact, it is the most densely populated region on
the whole island of Sicily. The reason is that rich volcanic soil makes the land
fantastic for forming. By growing and selling a variety of crops, local people
earn a good living. For them, the economic benefit they reap surpasses the risk
of dying or losing property in one of the volcano’s frequent eruptions. People
everywhere make decisions about risky situations this way. That is, by comparing
the risks and the benefits. According to the experts, the side of the risk
depends on both its probability and seriousness. Let’s take Mount Etna for
example. It does erupt frequently, but those eruptions are usually minor. So the
overall risk for people living nearby is relatively small. But suppose Mount
Etna erupted everyday, or imagine that each eruption there kills thousands of
people. If that were the case, the risk would be much larger. Indeed, the risk
would be too large for many people to live with. And they would have to move
away.
18. How do people make decisions about risky situations?
19. What do we know about Mount Etna from the passage?
20. What will people living near Mount Etna do in the face of its
eruptions?
精彩生活 
