华研专四听力答案

专四听写 50 篇
Dictation 1 Superstition 迷信（144 words）
One person in four in Britain is, apparently, superstitious, / and they’ll do everything from hanging horseshoes over their fireplace to crossing their fingers, / touching wood and absolutely never walking under a ladder. / And they’re careful about cats. / Black cats are supposed to be the familiars of witches, / so if one is following you it’s definitely bad luck ? a witch is after you! / On the other hand, if one crosses your path and continues / then it’s good luck because it hasn’t noticed you. / However, in some places the beliefs are different / ? so it pays to know where your black cat comes from! / Old superstitions linger even in today’s modern world. / The author Philip Pullman drew on them / in his award winning novel “His Dark Materials”. / The novel, which appeals to both children and adults, / has been adapted for radio and also the theatre.




Dictation 2 Graduate Student 研究生（157 words）
Graduate students specialize in a particular field of study. / They study to become experts in this field / and to learn new advances in their fields while they earn an M.A. or Ph.D. / Sometimes when they get an M. A. in one field they begin studying another field. / They hope that when they earn their graduate degrees / they will succeed in finding important jobs. / They hope to get jobs that are interesting and high paying. / The life of a graduate student is often difficult. / They are usually too busy studying to make a good living. / Often they have to pay high tuition fees for their education. / Some give up studying before they get their degrees. / But most keep on working at their studies until they graduate. / In today’s world, most graduate students don’t regret spending time with their studies. / They are finding that new developments are occurring in all fields. / For many graduate study has become a necessity. /



Dictation 3 April Fool’s Day 愚人节（157 words）
1st April is a day to be careful, or you could easily get tricked by someone. / It’s April Fool’s Day, a day when people traditionally like to try / to make a fool of someone else and laugh at them. / There are lots of theories surrounding the origins of the day, / but one explanation is
connected with the change in the calendar in the 16th century, / which meant that 1st April was no longer the beginning of the year. / Those who still celebrated the New Year on 1st April were called fools. / So what kind of pranks do people play on April Fool’s Day? / Well, there are lots of simple tricks / that you can play on your friends. / For example, you could wear a black sweater / and pull a piece of white thread through it, / so that people try to pull it off. / You could change the time on someone’s alarm clock / so that they’re late for work. /


Dictation 4 Living Online 网上生活（159 words）
How do you meet new people, make new friends, or

find out about the latest bands? / Here in the UK young people have traditionally done their socializing in bars, pubs and clubs. / However, there is a new generation growing up / that finds it easier to manage their social lives on the net, / using free websites like MySpace, Bebo or MSN Spaces. / Welcome to the social networking website / ? a place where you can present yourself to the digital community and meet other like-minded people. / The most successful social networking website in the UK is https://www.wendangku.net/doc/7b8424243.html,. / As of July 2006, MySpace is the world’s fourth most popular English-language website, / attracting almost 3 million visitors per month. / MySpace claims to have 95 million members / with 500,000 new members joining the community each week. / So how has it become so successful? / Perhaps its secret is in its simplicity. / Each new member can build their own page simply ? uploading photos, videos and MP3 files.



Dictation 5 Mother’s Day 母亲节（160 words）
Does your mother know how much you appreciate her? / Well, Mother’s Day is the time to show her. / It’s a chance to say ‘thank you’, or to tell your mum how much you love her. / In Britain, Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, / falls on a different day each year, / because it takes place a few weeks before the festival of Easter. / But it is always in the early springtime, which seems appropriate, / as the season when new plants emerge, / and baby birds and animals are born. / In the USA, Mother’s Day takes place a little later, in May, / and many other countries also celebrate their mothers on different days of the year. / It began many years ago, when children, / especially girls, as young as 10 would live and work away from home / as housemaids and other types of servant. / Mothering Sunday was a day
when everyone was allowed to go to their home village or town, and visit their mothers.



Dictation 6 Online Shopping 网上购物（159 words）
With only two weeks to go before Christmas, / buying presents is a high priority for a lot of people. / However, this year not so many people are leaving their homes to browse around the shops. / These days lots of people can do their shopping / in the comfort of their own home with the help of the internet. / Online shopping is becoming more and more popular for a number of reasons; / prices are often lower online, / you don’t have to queue up in busy shops / and you can buy almost any product imaginable / with just a few clicks of your mouse. / Computer trends are often male-dominated / but this year women are expected to do more shopping on the internet than men. / It seems women are now more attracted to the convenience of online shopping than they used to be. / Average spending online this Christmas by women will rise to ￡240 / compared to the slightly lower average of ￡233 for men.




Dictation 7 Reality TV 真实电视（155 words）
The latest fashion on British TV is Reality TV. / Rea

lity TV means that shows follow and film ordinary people in an artificial situation. / This could be at work, or in some kind of competition. / One of the first and most popular Reality TV shows is Big Brother. / In this show, 15 complete strangers have to live together in a house for 11 weeks. / They are filmed 24 hours a day, / and shown on television. / Each week, the viewers vote to evict one of the housemates. / Finally, only one is left, / and they win the prize money! / The show was an instant hit, and runs in several countries. / The housemates often become stars as a result of the show, / and appear in national newspapers and on other shows. / Another very popular show is I’m a Celebrity ? Get Me Out Of Here! / In this show, 10 celebrities have to complete tasks each week, such as eating insects.




Dictation 8 School 学校（160 words）
September is traditionally the end of summer / and the beginning of autumn in the UK. / It is also the month when children go back to school after their long summer holidays. / There are two types of school in England. / State-run schools are paid for by the government, so are free to attend. / Independent Schools are private, which means you have to pay to attend. / The school day usually starts at 9 in the morning and finishes around 4, / with breaks for
lunch of course! / In many schools, you have to wear a uniform too. / Children start school when they are 5 years old. / This is called primary school, / and lasts until the child is 11 when he or she will go on to senior school. / Secondary school is compulsory from 11 until 16 years of age. / At 16, students take national examinations called GCSE’s. / After this, students can stay at school for another 2 years and take A Level examinations.



Dictation 9 The Modern Family 现代家庭（154 words)
Father leaves for work in the morning after breakfast. / The two children take the bus to school, / and mother stays home cooking and cleaning / until father and the kids return home in the evening. / This is the traditional picture of a happy family living in Britain. / The past 20 years have seen enormous changes in the lives and structure of families in Britain. / The biggest change has been caused by divorce. / As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce, / leading to a situation where many children live with one parent / and only see the other at weekends or holidays. / There has also been a huge rise in the number of women with children who work. / The large rise in divorces has meant / many women need to work to support themselves and their children. / Even when there is no divorce, / many families need both parents to work in order to survive.




Dictation 10 Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节（146 words）
On 25th September this year, people all over China / will be getting together to eat with their families, / look at the moon and celebrate one of the biggest festivals in the Chinese lunar calendar. / However,

the celebrations stretch far beyond the borders of China. / Here in the UK events are taking place for Chinese people living here, / and to teach the people of Britain more about this popular festival. / The Soho Theatre in London conducted a study / which showed that Chinese Londoners don’t engage much with the arts world. / As a result, ‘Moon walking In China’ has been created to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. / This is no normal theatre production though, / as it doesn’t take place in the theatre. /
Theatre professionals and volunteers from the local community / will take audiences around the streets of Soho / on a magical lantern-lit walk / through the landmarks and backstreets of Chinatown.




Dictation 11 The Dragon 龙（160 words）
When many people in the west think of China, / the animal that they think of is the dragon. / For them, the dragon is an aggressive monster that breathes fire. / Many popular legends tell of how dragons killed brave knights and ate beautiful maidens. / For Chinese people however, the dragon is not an evil monster. / It’s a cultural and spiritual symbol for prosperity and good luck. / The dragon’s main task is to create harmony and bring rain. / Dragons are celebrated in art and architecture, / and of course the dragon dance is a very popular ritual. / Millions of Chinese have the word ‘long’, meaning dragon, as part of their name. / China isn’t the only country to have the dragon as its symbol. / Wales, one of the four countries in the UK, / has a red dragon proudly displayed on its flag. / The only other country in the world with a dragon on its flag is Bhutan, / the tiny country between China and India.





Dictation 12 Rainy Britain 阴雨的英国（153 words)
Britain is famous around the world for its rainy weather, / but many parts of the country this June / are experiencing much more rain than they have ever seen before. / Torrential downpours have caused rivers to burst their banks, / roads have been closed and many people have been evacuated / from their homes because of the floods. / The worst hit area seems to be the north of England. / There have even been fatalities as people got stuck in the rain / or were washed away by the floodwaters. / Flood warnings have been issued in many parts of the UK / and it is said that over a month’s worth of rain has fallen in just the last couple of days. / The rain has also caused chaos at some of Britain’s famous June events. / The Glastonbury festival is a four-day-long outdoor music festival / and while it is traditionally quite rainy and muddy there, / this year was particularly bad.




Dictation 13 Christmas traditions 圣诞节传统（145 words）
There are many ways to celebrate Christmas, / and some British people like to go on holiday, / go out for lunch to a restaurant, or spend the day with friends. / But most people’s idea of a traditional Christmas / involves spending a few days with their fami

ly / ? sometimes their extended family. / The day is the most exciting for the children. / They may have spent weeks or even months
dreaming of the presents they want most. / Since the beginning of December, they may have opened their advent calendars, / finding a new festive picture, chocolate, or small gift, / to count down each day until 25th December. / On Christmas Eve, they hang up stockings, / ready to be filled with presents by Santa Claus. / Often a thank you gift of a mince pie and a glass of sherry will be left, / as well as a carrot for those hungry reindeer.





Dictation 14 Olympic Slogan 奥运口号（140 words）
Beijing unveiled the slogan for the 2008 Olympics as far back as 20
05. / “One World, One Dream” was finally selected / from more than 210,000 entries from around the world. / Beijing’s original bid to host the 2008 games / had a different slogan “New Beijing, Great Olympics”. / The organizers felt the new slogan shifted the focus nicely / from the city of Beijing itself to the spirit of the Olympics /? unity, friendship amongst nations and progress. / It was also felt that the “One World, One Dream” slogan / captured the traditional Chinese values of peace and harmony. / The Olympics hasn’t always had a slogan attached to each host country. / In fact it wasn’t until 1988 at the Seoul Olympics in South Korea / that the first slogan appeared. / “Harmony and Progress” was chosen / and it seems to have been a popular theme over the years.




Dictation 15 Sunbed 太阳床（159 words）
In the UK, a country known for its bad weather and lack of sunshine, / there appears to be an ever increasing number of very tanned young people. / So just how are they achieving their golden tans? / Some are opting for the sun-free option / and are getting their tan from a bottle. / However, it appears that others are turning to tanning salons, / of which there are thousands in the UK. / While in China young people often prefer to remain fair, / in the UK there seems to be a growing desire for tanned skin. / So why do the British prefer to be bronzed? / Often, they are trying to emulate their favorite celebrities, footballers, or footballers’ wives. / Research from the British Sunbed Association suggests that / many people believe a tan makes them feel and look healthier. / This is a belief that is most definitely not shared by Cancer Research UK. / They firmly state that being tanned is not a sign of health. /




Dictation 16 Speechwriting 写演讲稿（143 words）
The success of a speech is often attributed to the skill of the speaker, / with merit being given to speakers who are confident, articulate, / knowledgeable and able to deliver a speech with conviction. / But often it is not the speakers who write these moving speeches, / it is a speechwriter. / And one industry in which this practice is common is that of politics. / So what does it take to be a political speechwriter? /

Well according to a recent job advertisement from the US Embassy in Britain, / a political speechwriter needs to have exceptional interpersonal skills, / be detail oriented and able to demonstrate a deep knowledge of their subject. / They must also work closely with speakers / and be able to relate to their style. / Some believe that the best speechwriters have an inherent talent, / a natural creative instinct, / and that speechwriting is an art form.





Dictation 17 AWalk in the Park 在公园散步（141 words）
Exercising in natural areas is not only good for your physical health / ?it can improve your mood / and sense of well-being in as little as five minutes. / So says research in the journal Environmental Health and Technology. / Exercise alone is known to make you happier. / So is being in a natural setting. / So scientists wanted to see the effect of combining the two. / They evaluated 10 different UK studies involving more than 1,200 people. / Participants had taken part in activities such as gardening, / sailing and country walks, and rated their mood and self-esteem. / The research showed that both areas get a significant boost / with as little as five minutes of outdoor exercise. / And people with mental disorders benefited the most. / The study authors say this is the first study / to quantify the amount of time needed to get a positive effect.






Dictation 18 Fast food Makes Us Less Patient 快餐使我们失去耐性（146 words)
Fast food is a multibillion-dollar industry, / and for some of us, drive-through dinner has become a way of life. / Granted, sometimes we grab something quick because we really don’t have time. / But psychologists got to wondering / whether all this speed eating might actually
make us less patient. / In a series of experiments, the scientists showed volunteers logos / from several fast-food chains or asked them to recall the last time they’d visited. / And they found that folks who had thought about fast food would then read faster, / even though no one told them to hurry. / And they also expressed a preference for time-saving products, / like shampoo plus conditioner. / And they tended to opt for immediate rewards, / like getting a small cash payment right away / rather than waiting a week for a larger sum. / So if you want to ease the pace, forget meditation. Try a slow cooker.





Dictation 19 Light All Night Not Alright 整夜开灯并非好事（159 words）
A nightlight may keep those monsters under the bed. / But it may also open the door to the blues. / If you have access to electricity, you no doubt switch on a lamp, / maybe even watch a little TV, after the sun goes down. / But our bodies use cues about lightness and dark to regulate our hormones / and of course our sleep cycles. / So what might these extra photons be doing to our health? / To find out, scientists housed mice in a room / where the lights were always on. / After three weeks, they found that

mice who lived in the spotlight showed symptoms of depression, / more so than mice who enjoyed eight hours of darkness at night. / Interestingly, mice who could escape the light by ducking into a dark tube / also escaped the worst of the depression. / So flip that light switch at your own risk. / Because the artificial brightness that helps keep us up could also bring us down.




Dictation 20 London 2012 Olympic Games 伦敦 2012 奥运会（154 words）
After a hard-fought campaign, / London has been awarded the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. / The UK capital saw off competition from four rival cities: / Paris, Madrid, Moscow and New York. / Londoners can now look forward to the transformation of their city / in the same way as their counterparts in Beijing. / Indeed, there are many similarities in the two cities’ approach to hosting
the games. / Both cities need to invest in developing their infrastructure / in order to cope with the demands of the event. / However, this kind of investment is far from cheap / ? it is estimated that it will cost around $40 billion to prepare for the 2008 games, / much of which will be spent on transport links. / Nevertheless, the benefits of becoming an Olympic city can be enormous / ? Barcelona, which hosted the 1992 games, / was completely regenerated and has since become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.






Dictation 21 Picnic 野餐（155 words）
As summertime begins in Britain, people start to feel the urge to go outside to eat. / People love to have a picnic whenever the weather is good enough, / especially people with children. / It’s a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. / Even in the centre of London, on a sunny day, / the parks are full of office workers eating their lunch outside on the grass. / That might be a pretty basic picnic / ? a shop-bought sandwich and a bottle of water. / But if people are planning a picnic on the beach or at the park, / they would probably pack a cool bag / with a whole variety of home-made sandwiches, snacks, cake, fruit and soft drinks. / They might have a picnic rug to sit on, and paper plates and cups. / University students enjoy having picnics, / and usually take along some kind of sports equipment, / such as a ball in order to burn off some energy after lunch.






Dictation 22 Changing Name after Marriage 婚后改名（155 words）
Getting married is one of the most important decisions that a person takes in one’s life. / This is because it is a step that has the potential to alter or change one’s life altogether. / Right from the wedding dress to the house / that the couple will live after their wedding, / is decided with utmost care. / An important decision that the person has to make along with the other arrangements for the wedding / is to choose between one’s maiden name and spouse’s name. / Though traditionally, women are expected to change their name / from their maiden name to

their husband’s name, / many women nowadays opt to keep their maiden name after marriage, / mostly for professional reasons. / Apart from this, there are women who adopt their husband’s last name / and keep their
maiden name as their second name. / Also, there are couples who make a new name with both their names, / by separating the names with a hyphen.






Dictation 23 The Compass 指南针（153 words)
A magnetic compass is a device that has been used for centuries now, / and its utility in helping people find their way is undoubted. / Before technology gave us the privilege of GPS navigation systems, / the act of finding out where you are and which side is north / was carried out simply with the help of a compass. / We’ve all seen a compass at some point or the other, / and this has almost always led us to the question “How does a compass work?” / The answer to this question can be explained / through the concept of the earth’s electromagnetism. / Simply speaking, a compass is basically a small magnet / that has a needle attached on one end. / The other end of the magnet is attached to a freely moving pin. / When the compass is held out steadily, / the magnet becomes parallel with the magnetic field of the Earth, / and this causes it to point north.





Dictation 24 Ball Games 球类运动（157 words）
Ball games have become an integral part of modern society. / They give us entertainment providing us a means to safely free ourselves from stress. / There are many different ball games that can do this for us. / Some people enjoy football, while others like basketball. / These two ball games are the most popular in China. / Other games such as baseball are growing in appeal, yet have not become popular. / The development of these games is interesting. / Basketball is one of the few sports with a known date of birth. / Football, or soccer, originally developed from traits found in both China and Europe. / It has grown to become the world’s most popular sport. / In Europe, football clubs have been established, / which in turn has been copied in the rest of the world. / These football clubs train players / who may later go play for their nations in the World Cup. / This is the most watched ballgame championship on the planet.







Dictation 25 Water Sports 水上运动（145 words）
The history of man’s involvement with water sports / stretches back before history was written down. / It is a history of the development of technology as well as human physical
achievement. / Man first took to water in boats that sailed around the world / with nothing but the stars to guide them. / The seas and rivers were a mystery to be feared, / for lurked unknown creatures and death by drowning. / Few actually ventured into the water. / As a sport, however, water sports such as swimming, diving, / and water polo are new comparatively to those on land. / Probably the oldest one is rowing in a rowboat. / This i

s seen in modern games such as competitions / between rowing clubs in British and American universities. / Olympic Water Sports began with swimming but did not end there. / The different kinds of water sports such as diving or water skiing came later.





Dictation 26 Famous Universities 名校（140 words)
Many countries have excellent universities. / There are, however, few world famous ones. / These universities have achieved their fame / through a combination of both their age / and the high levels of quality in their instruction. / Throughout their histories, / each one has been a testing ground for the leadership of the nation. / In the United States, Harvard and Yale attract thousands of foreign students / who would use what they learn for the advancement of their own nations. / In this way, these schools have developed an interesting method of international communication. / Graduates around the world are able to connect with each other / by having graduated from one of the finest universities in the world. / Leaders in every field, whether government officials or ground-breaking scientists, / who graduated from the same school have a direct link to each other / and understand each other much better.






Dictation 27 Ideal Life 理想人生（157 words)
The ideal life is one that many people would like to pursue, yet few achieve. / The balance between dreams and reality is one that is difficult to overcome. / Many people choose a vocation in the hopes / that it would bring them wealth and success. / However, after years of labor in their chosen field, they begin to hate their jobs. / This is mainly because they have neglected other parts of their lives in search of this success. / These people devote their lives to working / and are unable to separate themselves from their work. / They find that it may not be enough. / Some have
jobs where their principles and emotional health / are challenged by dishonesty or bad work environments. / These people can begin to become influenced by the environment in which they work, / leading to personal or health problems. / This choice is not a permanent situation, however, / as many people have chosen to change the values of their lives.




Dictation 28 Reeducation and Employment 再教育和就业（160 words）
During the course of our lives, we must make many choices that we may come to regret. / This is especially true when choosing a career. / Jobs that sound exciting or rewarding become dull or not worth it / as we live our daily existence. / This is where reeducation can help. / Occupational schools have been set up to train people in jobs / that they may be better suited for. / People can adapt their inter
ests and talents through selected courses. / They can learn cooking skills, which are always in great demand. / Gardening is an option for those who enjoy the outdoors or have a green thumb. / If a person is interested in motors or cars, they can get training

as a mechanic. / Even more, the learning of a foreign language / would allow them the opening of a dream life. / The job qualification certificates they earn can also be used too enhance their resumes, / so that they are trained in a variety of skills.







Dictation 29 Made in China 中国制造（160 words）
The label, Made in China, is one that is becoming increasing common / in shopping centers all over the world. / In the United States, shoppers at Wal-Mart the nation’s largest retailer / have a wide selection of products mostly produced in China. / The large amount of Chinese imports have created a large selection of goods in other countries / as people begin to buy more and more products made in China. / These goods are even readily available in other Asian nations, / where Chinese-made goods are quite popular. / Chinese brand names are also becoming more well-known outside of China. / The development of China has amazed the world with its growth. / And also, as China is a developing economy with large amounts of labor, / industries are beginning to relocate in an effort to minimize costs and increase profits. / The results of these relocations are that / nations are beginning to try to limit the flow of Chinese goods / with the use of taxes and import restrictions. /






Dictation 30 Glaciers 冰川（153 words）
Glaciers are formed in places where the temperatures are extremely cold. / This could even include places that are at sea level, / but are mostly places that are high up on mountains. / In such cold places it snows most of the year. / This snow will settle down and when it snows again / the lower layer of snow gets compressed. / Every time it snows, the below layers will compress more, / finally turning into hard ice. / This ice is what forms the glacier. / When the temperature rises slightly, / the outer edges of the formed glacier and fresh snow will melt. / For a glacier to form and sustain itself it is of prime importance / that the amount of snow that falls on it must be more than the amount of glacier that has melted. / This is the only way in which the glacier will be able to maintain itself / and keep increasing in size year after year. /







氧气（ Dictation 31 Oxygen 氧气（157 words） ） Oxygen, that thing you breathe, / that essential gas that keeps the world going round / is really more important than you give it credit for. / Oxygen is what essentially and literally keeps you alive and keeps you going. / Consider this: people can survive for a few days without food and water, / but do you think a person can survive even a few minutes without oxygen? / No, the brain would die and the heart would stop pumping immediately. / This is how essential oxygen is to the human body. / It is used to convert fats and proteins from the food we consume into heat and energy / for the body and its normal functioning. / Oxygen is essential for the production of living cells / and for res

piration of these cells as well. / Oxygen is also used in removing toxic waste from the body. / Quite simply put, the more the oxygen there is in the body, / the more energetic the body will be. / Dictation 32 Purpose of Society 社会的作用（156 words） 社会的作用（ ） One of the primary purposes of society / is the formation of an organized group of individuals, / who can support each other in various ways. / It is in those difficult times that you realize the importance of being a part of society. / It is the members of your social group / who come forward to render all the help you need. / The support given by society can be of the physical, emotional,
financial or medical form. / A society is characterized by social networks. / They form an integral part of society. / Social networks are defined as the maps of relationships between people. / Relationships give rise to social interactions between people of a society. / Individuals belonging to different ethnic groups can come together, thanks to societies. / Their interactions give rise to strong social bonds that result in long-lasting relationships. / A society gives rise to a family system and an organization of relationships, / which form the heart of any social group. / Dictation 33 Mountains 山脉（153 words） 山脉（ ） Mountains are a type of landforms that are characterized by a higher elevation, / in comparison to the surrounding areas. / They are higher than 600 meters, and taller than the hills. / The world’s tallest mountains are located in Asia / and the largest range of mountains is present in the Atlantic Ocean. / Some of the highest mountain peaks are located in the oceans. / Mountains represent varying climatic conditions based on their height. / For example, in case of a tall mountain, / the conditions at the base differ from the top of the mountain. / In comparison to the mountain base, / the top portion is colder and there is less oxygen and less protection from the sun’s rays. / It is estimated that half of the world population depends on mountains for water. / In fact, the major rivers of the world are fed by mountains. / Many mountains have glacial lakes / that are formed due to melting of the glaciers. / Dictation 34 Internet Relationship 网络关系（155 words） 网络关系（ ） Internet relationships are ones that are made through online communication / with a prospective friend or date. / Nowadays, many people are turning towards makings such relationships / as they think these are more reliable than ones that are created by meeting in person. / People have their own individual views regarding such relationships. / Internet relationships can be made / for the purpose of getting a date or just friendship. / There is a debate going on in the online community about these online relationships. / Some say that these kind of bonding is not at all reliable, / as anyone can pose as a person who he is not, in reality. / On the other hand, if you

use the Internet in the best possible manner, / this bonding
can go well further genuinely. / This simply means that, along with emails and chats, / if you use real-time audio and video conversations, / you can be assured that the person online is not faking his identity. / 友谊（ Dictation 35 Friendship 友谊（154 words） ） Friendship is a silent transformer of life; / a relationship that stays alive only till the time it is nourished with love, care, kindness and understanding. / By dictionary terms, it is a compassionate and cooperative relationship between two or more individuals / but it really does not define or speak about the magical power the relationship holds. / Friendship has a strong and enduring power / that can transform the life of all those / who are on their journey with this great feeling. / It is a relationship that blows flowers on the way, / fills laughter in the air when friends are together, / and spreads love around. / It is a feeling that offers support and comfort at every stage in life, / delivers peace of mind when under deep stress, / and also offers a strong level of understanding. / It ties two or more individuals so strongly / that no one can escape from the anguish of losing or breaking the relationship. / Dictation 36 Cultural Heritages 文化遗产（147 words） 文化遗产（ ） Every country has a cultural heritage, / spiritual beliefs and history and their ethnic fashion reflects their artistic vision. / You will find how the market of ethnic gifts has increased at a drastic pace. / People all around the globe appreciate the ethnic art with its unique beautiful designs. / Moreover, it’s natural that ethnic art requires an extra effort / than any other show pieces you get in the market. / Ethnic art requires highly skilled trained craftsmen; / in fact every country creates an environment / where the craftsmen mostly belonging to rural areas / have an opportunity to share their authentic art. / It really helps in uplifting the rural section of the society. / If you want to spread the heritage of your country / then you can go ahead and present ethnic gifts to your friends in other countries. / Ethnic art has a distinctive appeal, / and symbolizes the beliefs of that countries history. / 老年人（ Dictation 37 Seniors 老年人（158 words） ）
Seniors, or elderly men, / are supposed to be already in a state of happiness and enjoying every moments of their life. / But this may not be the case all the time. / Everybody seeks happiness and satisfaction, regardless of the age; / that’s why it’s no surprise that even elderly men are seeking happiness in life. / Enjoyment in life, a sense of purpose, / and happiness can still be hard to achieve for elderly men, / making these all the more important to attain. / It’s not easy growing old. / Most times, depression affects elderly men, / especially because they tend to feel helpless and inactive after retirement, / with their role as primary

provider having been stopped. / But then again, there are the elderly men who still walk with a spring in their step, / enjoy traveling, engage in sporting activities, and even take on easy jobs. / These are the ones who want to live in the present and keep busy despite their golden age. / 眼睛会说话（ Dictation 38 Eyes Can Speak 眼睛会说话（157 words） ） Much meaning can be conveyed, clearly, with our eyes, / so it is often said that eyes can speak. / Do you have such kind of experience? / In a bus you may look at a stranger, but not too long. / And if he is sensing that he is being stared at, / he may feel uncomfortable. / If you are looked at for more than necessary, / you will look at yourself up and down, / to see if there is anything wrong with you. / If nothing goes wrong, you will feel angry toward other’s stare with you that way. / Looking too long at someone may seem to be rude and aggressive. / But things are different when it comes to stare at the opposite sex. / If a man glances at a woman for more than 10 seconds and refuses to avert his gaze, / his intentions are obvious, that is, he wishes to attract her attention, / to make her understand that he is admiring her. / Dictation 39 Elections 选举（155 words） 选举（ ） Surprises often come in boxes. / Birthday presents wrapped in colorful paper, brown paper packages mailed from a friend. / No matter what kind of box it is, people like to open it up and see what’s inside. / In America, and in many other countries, one special kind of box contains the
future. / It’s called a ballot box. / What people put into the box on election day can change the course of history. / Elections are the lifeblood of a democracy. / The word democracy literally means “the people rule,” / an important concept in America’s history. / In the mid-1700s, England began passing laws that made the American colonies angry. / The colonists had to pay more and more taxes / and enjoyed less and less freedom. / They felt the government of England didn’t represent their interests. / On July 4, 1776, the colonies declared their independence from England. / They wanted to establish a democracy where people could have a voice in government. / Dictation 40 Law and Order 法律与秩序（157 words） 法律与秩序（ ） What does it mean to obey the law? / That depends on where you are. / Different cultures have very different views of obeying the law. / In some cultures, law-abiding citizens try to keep the letter of the law. / That is, whatever the law says, they do. / In other cultures, good citizens live by the spirit of the law. / They see the law only as a general guideline. / Often they obey the law only when someone official is looking. / The situation in America fits into the first category. / That doesn’t mean all Americans keep the law. / But American culture teaches people to respect the law ? even to the smallest detail. / Driving habits illustrate American respect fo

r the law. / A driver will usually stop for a red light, even when there are no other cars around. / People treat the lines marking streets and roads as definite boundaries, not just decorations. / Vehicles yield to those with the right of way-particularly pedestrians. / 商务午餐（ Dictation 41 Lunch Meeting 商务午餐（146 words） ） Many business professionals hold meetings during lunch or dinner / with clients, investors, or other business professionals. / What if your meeting seems to be hindered by bad restaurant service? / Should you complain? The answer is yes, always, but with diplomacy. / Proper restaurant social skills in a business setting are a little different / from when you are out dining with your family. / For example, it is okay to ask for a discount on bad service when you are with your family, / but not when you are with a business associate. / If you are meeting someone at a restaurant, / arrive at least five minutes earlier. / Be sure to greet them with a friendly business handshake. /
Never order for your business associate. / If they ask for help ordering or seem uncomfortably indecisive / you can recommend something you may have previously tried / or ask the waiter to help with a suggestion. / Dictation 42 Wednesday 星期三（158 words） 星期三（ ） If you struggled to get up for work on Wednesdays, / there could be a good reason / ? it is the day our mood reaches its lowest point. / Psychologists have found that, on average, / people’s moods remain about the same on each day throughout the week. / Monday has traditionally been thought of as the most depressing day of the week / but according to psychologists, midweek gives more cause for concern in reality. / Wednesday represented the lowest point in the week / as people were furthest away from the weekend that has either just gone or is coming up / and often feel bogged down with work. / To start their research, the scientists asked around 200 people / what they thought their mood would be on each day of the week. / Most said their worst moods were on Monday mornings and evenings / but they became increasingly cheerful as the week wore on, / with their best moods falling on Friday and Saturday mornings and evenings. / 性格可爱的瑞典人（ Dictation 43 The Charming Character of Swedes 性格可爱的瑞典人（158 words） ） All social occasions in Sweden are regulated by rules and traditions. / And these traditions are expressed in a specific ritual / made up of formal bows, handshakes, and greetings. / When a visitor enters a Swedish home, / he is invariably received with a“Welcome”; / when he leaves, his host will tell him “You will be welcome again.” / These charming phrases are an indestructible part of Swedish social life / and they give it an old-world flavor of good manners. /Equally attractive is the Swedish acceptance of modern technological equipment. / A traveler never needs to search for a telephone is Sweden: / telepho

ne booths are placed at regular intervals along the main streets and highways. /And in church, for example, / long benches are fitted with hearing aids for worshippers who may be hard of hearing. / Swedish homes are among the best equipped in the world / and travelers in Sweden find their journeys made easy by the use of the most efficient modern devices. / 奉献与分享（ Dictation 44 Giving and Sharing 奉献与分享（142 words） ） The spirit of giving and sharing is at its peak during the Christmas season. / People are
so generous to dole out gifts, / money and other things to people they care about, / and at times to charity, too. / This innate feeling in us is always there. / It’s not only for special seasons like the holidays / that we should be able to give / and share whatever we have in abundance. / It most likely to be the instinctive feeling in us / that we should be willing to share and give something all year round / especially to those who are in need. / The holiday feeling is all around us. / The malls are all decorated with pretty and shiny Christmas decors all around. / There’s happy Christmas music being heard all over the place. / A lot of people are shopping because there are lots of sales and discounts offered. / Dictation 45 Wealth 财富（140 words） 财富（ ） Owning cars, large houses, or swimming pools / mean different things in different cultures / and may confuse a visitor to the United States. / In many nations, only the rich have such things as cars and swimming pools; / the poor have very little. / By contrast, this is not true in the United States. / The cost of certain things that only the rich can afford in other countries is relatively low. / This means that laborers, farmers, and people who are not / usually regarded as rich nevertheless have many possessions / that only the rich have in other nations. / Understandably a visitor may assume that all Americans / who own cars are as rich as people in his own country who own cars. / Actually, this is not the cases; / secretaries, university students, factory workers or farmers can and do buy cars / and many other “expensive” things. / 个人的进步（ Dictation 46 Personal Progress 个人的进步（140 words） ） In many parts of the world, / personal influence is essential in achieving success. / This is not true in the United States, / where success usually results from hard work, education, skill, and personal initiative. / America is truly a “do-it-yourself” society; / success is not dependent on family origins or the help of an influential person. / Personal progress is the result of individual effort. / Because effort and initiative are so important in America, / there are many customs that may be different from those practiced in other countries. / For example, it is not considered
dishonorable to quit a job, / even if you have had it for only a short time. / Moving from job-to-job, or “job-hopping”, as it is called, / is

quite acceptable in the United States. / Frequently, the opportunity to change jobs / offers workers a chance to move up to a better position. / Dictation 47 Uniform 制服（158 words） 制服（ ） Americans are pound of their variety and individuality, / yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, / whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. / Why are uniforms so popular in the United States? / Among the arguments for uniforms, / one of the first is that in the eyes of most people / they look more professional than civilian clothes. / People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. / The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust / than one who appears in civilian clothes. / Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. / What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter / to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform? / Uniforms also have many practical benefits. / They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible. / 机会（ Dictation 48 Opportunity 机会（141 words） ） The air we breathe is so freely available that we take it for granted. / Yet without it we could not survive more than a few minutes. / For the most part, the same air is available to everyone, / and everyone needs it. / Some people use the air to sustain them / while they sit around and feel sorry for themselves. / Others breathe in the air and use the energy it provides / to make a magnificent life for themselves. / Opportunity is the same way. It is everywhere. / Opportunity is so freely available that we take it for granted. / Yet opportunity alone is not enough to create success. / Opportunity must be seized and acted upon in order to have value. / So many people are so anxious to “get in” on a “ground floor opportunity”, / as if the opportunity will do all the work. / That’s impossible. / Dictation 49 Switch 开关（156 words） 开关（ ） An electric switch is often on a wall near the door of a room. / Two wires lead to the lamp in the room. / The switch is fixed in one of them. / The switch can cause a break in this wire, and
then the light goes. / The switch can also join the two parts of the wire again, then we get a light. / Switch can control many different things. / Small switches control lamps and radio sets because these do not take a large current, / larger switches control electric fires. / Other switches can control electric motors. / Good switches move quickly. They have to stop the current suddenly. / If they move slowly, an electric spark appears. / It jumps across the space between the two ends of the wire. / This is unsafe and it heats the switch. / Very big switches are sometimes placed in oil. / Sparks do not easily jump through oil, so the oil makes the switch safer. / Dictation 50 Typhoon 台风（142 words） Some of

the worst storms are typhoons. / Every year, about 80 typhoons hit different places around the world. / The strongest ones are usually around the Pacific Ocean / and the South China Sea. / Most of them happen in July, August and September. / Why? When lots of seawater gets hot in the summer sun, / it evaporates into the air. / This makes the air hotter, too. / When the air gets warm enough, / it starts to move higher up into the sky. / Then, cooler air around it rushes in to fill the space that is left. / Once the air gets warmer, it starts to move more quickly, making wind. / The wind goes in circles, and it keeps moving higher in the sky. / The warmer the air gets, the quicker the wind moves. / And when the wind moves faster than 30 meters a second, a typhoon begins. /