Transcripts

T TOEFL-Listening 2005.10.13 1:30 PM Page 186
Transcripts
Note: Highlighting indicates a repeated listening sample.
Chapter 1
W: Thanks! OK... it’s 9.1 centimeters tall and 5 centimeters wide.
Just what I need!
Skill A
01 Campus Life
M: I’m worried about my girlfriend.
W: Why is that
M: She thinks she’s too fat.
W: Is she
M: No, but she keeps skipping meals. Then, she only eats chips
and drinks cola.
W: I used to do that. It’s called binging. It was no fun!
M: Why did you stop doing it
W: Well, my doctor told me to eat when I’m hungry. She said, “Eat
till you’re full or you’ll eat too much later.” She said a lot of girls
ruin their health this way.
M: Did she say what to eat
W: She said, “Eat fruit, vegetables, meats, and grains. Have regular
meals and snacks. Get exercise, too.”
02 Music History
M: We know that Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in
Bonn, Germany, but we are uncertain of the month. Beethoven
wrote hundreds of songs. One of his most famous is his Fifth
Symphony. The first four notes go like this: dah dah dah da!
Almost everyone recognizes them.
He was the first to use trombones in a symphony. At age 28,
he began to go deaf. Yet, he kept on writing and conducting.
He never got married. But after he died, friends found some
love letters. We don’t know who he wrote them to. Beethoven
died in 1827.
03 Biology
W: OK...let’s talk about animals we don’t see in the winter. Many
animals hibernate during the cold months of the year. Basically,
they go to sleep. Some animals hibernate in holes in the
ground. Others sleep in caves, under bushes, or at the base of
trees. Bears hibernate. So do cold-blooded animals, like frogs
and snakes.
When animals are hibernating, it seems like they’re dead. They
have slow heartbeats, and they almost stop breathing. They
have stored extra energy and fat to keep them alive. By the end
of winter, they are very weak. They must eat soon after waking
up.
04 Campus Life
M: Hey Julie, what’s up
W: Hi, Brian. Taking a break from studying. I’m surfing the Internet
for an MP3 player.
M: Do you like the iPod
W: Yes, but I need a really small one.
M: Oh, it’s small!
W: Really Someone told me it holds 5,000 songs!
M: It’s 3.6 inches tall and two inches wide. I have one.
W: What’s that in centimeters
M: The math textbook says one inch is 2.54 centimeters.
W: OK, so first I need to multiply 3.6 by 2.54.
M: Here! Use my calculator.
05 Anthropology
W: Track and Field events happened long before they became a
sport. The San people in Africa are one example. They still hold
what’s called a “Persistence” hunt. The men find the tracks of an
antelope herd. They find the antelope and follow them for
several days and nights. During this time, they study the animals
and choose one.
Then, the hunt begins. Only the fastest runner will go after the
chosen animal. He and the animal may run for as long as eight
hours. If the hunter “persists,” the deer will finally get tired and
fall. Then, he’ll slaughter it.
06 Business Writing
W: When you’re writing a business letter, it’s important to be specific.
That is, tell the reader exactly what he or she needs to know. If
something is wrong, list what the problem is and what should be
done to fix it. If you need information, state clearly what you want
to know. Next, um, be positive. Say “no” in a good way.
M: How can we do that
W: Use polite language. For example, “we regret to inform you
that...” or “we’re sorry, but...” Always keep in mind this
golden rule: write the kind of business letter that YOU would
like to receive.
07 Campus Life
M: Come on Holly, we’re going to be late.
W: For what
M: Today’s the day of the parking-space lottery. I want to see if I get
a parking space for next year.
W: What! You mean if they choose your number, you get a place
to park your car
M: Yes. Parking is very limited. Only a few students can bring their
cars. And freshmen are never allowed to park on campus.
W: If your number is chosen, do you get to park for free
M: No. It costs $120 a year.
W: So, you’re hoping to win the privilege of paying money
M: Yes. Now, come on!
08 English
W: Professor Smith, I forget many English words. What’s a good
technique to remember them
M: Try using index cards. Uh, small pieces of heavy paper.
W: What do I do
M: On the front of the card, write the new word. On the back,
write a definition of the word at the top...in English.
W: In English
M: Yes. No native language! Then, divide the bottom part of the back
into two halves. On the left, write a correct English sentence using
the word. On the right, draw some kind of picture...anything that
helps you remember the word.
W: Then what
M: Review the cards every day.
186 Transcripts