UNIT 7
Section one Tactics for Listening
Part 1 Spot Dictation The doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) is a (1) a total functioning (3) and gives special attention to the
The procedures utilized are primarily focused on the (7) The chiropractor is concerned about the spine's relationship to the (8) which controls important body functions. The chiropractor knows that a malfunctioning* also (10) the nerves leading from the spine,
Millions of Americans are chiropractic patients for a wide
A minimum of six years of college study including to certain specialties, such as (18) nutrition, orthopedics or radiology. examination in order to practice.
Part 2 listening for Gist
Like the "Iron Age" volunteers, Paul has also chosen to cut himself off from many aspects of modem life, not, however, as an experiment but because he feels it is a more satisfactory way to live. He is talking about his small cottage in the Welsh mountains:
"And that brings me to say what is primitive about it, namely, it is anything that has to be done, and there are obviously certain basic needs of life, is 'DIY' as they say: Do it yourself. There is no labor to be had nowadays in such a remote part. Er, there are no neighbors for most of the year and so you are on your own entirely. The place itself is extremely primitive. Er, I mentioned the water. I mentioned that we now have got electricity. Er, the
building itself - it's important to keep it clean and it's stupid to try. We try to keep it tidy, and reasonably clean. It is very difficult to keep it warm, warm enough particularly in winter and that we do by an old kitchen range with coal and wood." Exercise
Directions: Listen to the passage and find its topic sentence.
Section Two Listening Comprehension
Part1 Dialogue
Dr Martin Answay writes a column in a popular women's
magazine on health problems. He is also an expert on heart disease.
Q: Is there a secret to good health? I mean, is there some way
we can achieve it which is not generally known?
A: It certainly isn't a secret. However, there is a great deal of
ignorance, even among supposedly educated people, about how to be reasonably healthy.
Q: Well, what advice do you give, then?
A: Vh ... to begin with, take diet. I believe that one of the
greatest dangers to health in Britain and other countries ...
particularly developed countries ... is the kind of food we
tend to prefer.
Q: Such as?
A: Such as that great national institution, the British breakfast,
for example, ham and eggs. Or the kind of lunch so many people in this country have: sausage and chips! Or all the convenience foods like hamburgers. Or even things we regard as "healthy", such as full-fat milk. Or Cheddar cheese. The list is endless.
Q: What's wrong with those things?
A: The excessive consumption of such things leads to the
overproduction of cholesterol, which in turn results in heart attack ...
Q: Excuse me, but what exactly is cholesterol?
A: It's a ... wax-like substance ... yellowish ... and it's produced
naturally in our livers. We all need some cholesterol for
survival.
Q: Well, if we need it, in what way is it bad for us?
A: Too much of it is bad for us. It builds up in our arteries,
causing them to get narrower, so that our blood supply has difficulty in getting through ... and this, of course, can eventually end in a heart attack or stroke. The point I'm
trying to make here is that, even though we all need some cholesterol in order to insulate our nerves, and to produce cell membranes and hormones, the things many of us eat and even consider healthy lead to the overproduction of cholesterol. And this is very dangerous.
Q: How can we avoid this overproduction of cholesterol?
A: By cutting down our consumption of animal fats: things like
red meat, cheese, eggs, and so on. And by increasing our
consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, and also by eating more potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.
Q: Pasta? Potatoes? But ... aren't such things fattening?
A: Nonsense. It isn't pasta, potatoes or bread that makes us fat.
It's what we put on such things! Cheese, Butter, Meat!
Q: So anything we like, anything that's delicious, is bad for us.
Isn't that what you're saying?
A: Rubbish! I'm simply saying we eat too much of these things.
And there are many ways of preparing delicious food without using such large quantities of animal fats.
Q: Last of all, what about exercise? You recently warned
against certain forms of exercise, which you said could be
dangerous.
A: What I said was that if people aren't used to getting regular
and vigorous exercise, they should begin slowly, and not try to do too much at the beginning! I also said that certain games, such as squash, can be dangerous, particularly if you aren't used to playing them. A number of injuries are due to sudden, twisting movements that games like squash involve. Q: What kinds of exercise do you recommend, then?
A: Gentle jogging, swimming, cycling, brisk walking ... exercise
that is rhythmic and gentle, and above all, sustained. That is, done for at least fifteen minutes uninterruptedly at least three times a week. We all need such exercise, and the fact is that far too few of us get enough of it, particularly if we live in large cities and regularly use cars.
Exercise
Directions: Listen to the dialogue and complete the following grids.
A. Cholesterol
B. Exercise
Part 2 Passage 1) T he impending collision between the boomers and the nation's
retirement system is naturally catching the eye of
policymakers and the boomers themselves.
2) R etirement income security in the United States has
traditionally been based on the so-called three-legged stool: Social Security, private pensions, and other personal saving.
3) R etirement planning takes time, and these issues need to be
addressed sooner rather than later.
4) O ne found that in 1991 the median household headed by a
65-69-year-old had financial assets of only $14,000, but
expanding the measure to include Social Security, pensions, housing, and other wealth boosts median wealth to about
$270,000.
5) O nly one or two generations of Americans have had
lengthy retirements, and the crucial retirement issues
keep changing rapidly, making long-term predictions
even harder.
The Baby Boom* generation - the roughly 76
million people born between 1946 and 1964has been
reshaping American society for five decades. From
jamming the nation's schools in the 1950s and 1960s, to
crowding labor markets and housing markets in the
1970s and 1980s, to affecting consumption patterns
almost continuously, boomers have altered economic
patterns and institutions at each stage of their lives. Now
that the leading edge of the generation has turned 50, the
impending collision between the boomers and the
nation's retirement system is naturally catching the eye
of policymakers and the boomers themselves.
Retirement income security in the United States has
traditionally been based on the so-called three-legged
stool: Social Security, private pensions, and other
personal saving. Since World War II the system has
served the elderly well: The poverty rate among elderly
households fell from 35 percent in 1959 to 11 percent in
1995 .
Are the baby boomers making adequate preparations
for retirement? In part, the answer depends on what is
meant by "adequate". One definition is to have enough
resources to maintain pre-retirement living standards in
retirement. A rule of thumb* often used by financial
planners is that retirees should be able to meet this goal
by replacing 60-80 percent of pre-retirement income.
Retired households can maintain their pre-retirement
standard of living with less income because they have
more leisure time, fewer household members, and lower
expenses. Taxes are lower because retirees escape
payroll taxes and the income tax is progressive. And
mortgages have, for the most part, been paid off. On the
other hand, older households may face higher and more
uncertain medical expenses, even though they are
covered by Medicare.
From a public policy perspective, assuring that
retirees maintain 100 percent of pre-retirement living
standards may be overly ambitious. But should
policymakers aim to ensure that they maintain 90
percent of their living standards? Or that they stay out of
poverty? Or use some other criterion? Retirement
planning takes time, and these issues need to be
addressed sooner rather than later.
A second big question is how to measure how well baby
boomers are preparing for retirement. Studies that focus only on
personal saving put aside for retirement yield bleak conclusions. One found that in 1991 the median household headed by a 65-69-year-old had financial asset of only $14,000. But
expanding the measure to include Social Security, pensions, housing, and other wealth boosts median wealth to about
$270,000.
A third issue - crucial but as yet little explored - is
which baby boomers are not provided adequately for
retirement and how big the gap is between what they
have and what they should
have. Some boomers are doing extremely well,
others quite poorly. Summary averages for an entire
generation may not be useful as descriptions of the
problem or as suggestions for policy.
The uncertain prospects for the baby boomers in retirement are particularly troubling because, as a society, we as yet
understand little about the dynamics of retirement. Only one or two generations of Americans have had lengthy retirements, and the crucial retirement issues - health care, asset markets, Social Security, life span - keep changing rapidly, making long-term predictions even harder.
Exercise A Pre-listening Question
As China's aging population is increasing rapidly, there should be a well-funded pension system put in place. However, the country's pension system only covers a fraction of the work force. It predicts that China will have an elderly population of about 400 million by 2040, which will be a large burden on the economy if an effective pension system is not established.
The Chinese government, aware that the old pension system in the planned economy could not keep pace with the market economy, started to reform a purely "pay-as-you-go" pension system in 1997 and introduced one that combines a basic pension with personal savings accounts. The accounts are jointly paid into by employers and employees, as saving to support employees' retirements. The state is considering expanding a reformed pension insurance system nationwide.
China is also accelerating the reform of China's pension
system.
It has been trying to find appropriate ways to invest pension funds in the capital market rather than simply putting them in banks or buying treasury bonds.
It has also been trying to find appropriate ways to invest
pension funds in the capital market overseas.
To ensure the maintenance and appreciation of the pension
pool, more investment tools should be allowed, with sound
governance and parallel reform in the financial sector to ensure returns.
Exercise B Sentence Dictation
Directions: Listen to some sentences and write them down. You will hear each sentence three times.
Exercise C Detailed Listening
Directions: Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences.
l.D 2.D 3. B 4.B 5.C 6.C 7.A 8.C
Exercise D After-listening Discussion
Directions: Listen to the passage again and discuss the following questions.
1) T he boomers have altered economic patterns from jamming the nation's schools in the 1950s and 1960s, to crowding labor markets and housing markets in the 1970s and 1980s, to affecting consumption patterns almost continuously.
2) (Open)
UNIT 7
Section one Tactics for Listening
Part 1 Spot Dictation The doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) is a (1) a total functioning (3) and gives special attention to the
The procedures utilized are primarily focused on the (7) The chiropractor is concerned about the spine's relationship to the (8) which controls important body functions. The chiropractor knows that a malfunctioning* also (10) the nerves leading from the spine,
Millions of Americans are chiropractic patients for a wide
A minimum of six years of college study including to certain specialties, such as (18) nutrition, orthopedics or radiology. examination in order to practice.
Part 2 listening for Gist
Like the "Iron Age" volunteers, Paul has also chosen to cut himself off from many aspects of modem life, not, however, as an experiment but because he feels it is a more satisfactory way to live. He is talking about his small cottage in the Welsh mountains:
"And that brings me to say what is primitive about it, namely, it is anything that has to be done, and there are obviously certain basic needs of life, is 'DIY' as they say: Do it yourself. There is no labor to be had nowadays in such a remote part. Er, there are no neighbors for most of the year and so you are on your own entirely. The place itself is extremely primitive. Er, I mentioned the water. I mentioned that we now have got electricity. Er, the
building itself - it's important to keep it clean and it's stupid to try. We try to keep it tidy, and reasonably clean. It is very difficult to keep it warm, warm enough particularly in winter and that we do by an old kitchen range with coal and wood." Exercise
Directions: Listen to the passage and find its topic sentence.
Section Two Listening Comprehension
Part1 Dialogue
Dr Martin Answay writes a column in a popular women's
magazine on health problems. He is also an expert on heart disease.
Q: Is there a secret to good health? I mean, is there some way
we can achieve it which is not generally known?
A: It certainly isn't a secret. However, there is a great deal of
ignorance, even among supposedly educated people, about how to be reasonably healthy.
Q: Well, what advice do you give, then?
A: Vh ... to begin with, take diet. I believe that one of the
greatest dangers to health in Britain and other countries ...
particularly developed countries ... is the kind of food we
tend to prefer.
Q: Such as?
A: Such as that great national institution, the British breakfast,
for example, ham and eggs. Or the kind of lunch so many people in this country have: sausage and chips! Or all the convenience foods like hamburgers. Or even things we regard as "healthy", such as full-fat milk. Or Cheddar cheese. The list is endless.
Q: What's wrong with those things?
A: The excessive consumption of such things leads to the
overproduction of cholesterol, which in turn results in heart attack ...
Q: Excuse me, but what exactly is cholesterol?
A: It's a ... wax-like substance ... yellowish ... and it's produced
naturally in our livers. We all need some cholesterol for
survival.
Q: Well, if we need it, in what way is it bad for us?
A: Too much of it is bad for us. It builds up in our arteries,
causing them to get narrower, so that our blood supply has difficulty in getting through ... and this, of course, can eventually end in a heart attack or stroke. The point I'm
trying to make here is that, even though we all need some cholesterol in order to insulate our nerves, and to produce cell membranes and hormones, the things many of us eat and even consider healthy lead to the overproduction of cholesterol. And this is very dangerous.
Q: How can we avoid this overproduction of cholesterol?
A: By cutting down our consumption of animal fats: things like
red meat, cheese, eggs, and so on. And by increasing our
consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, and also by eating more potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.
Q: Pasta? Potatoes? But ... aren't such things fattening?
A: Nonsense. It isn't pasta, potatoes or bread that makes us fat.
It's what we put on such things! Cheese, Butter, Meat!
Q: So anything we like, anything that's delicious, is bad for us.
Isn't that what you're saying?
A: Rubbish! I'm simply saying we eat too much of these things.
And there are many ways of preparing delicious food without using such large quantities of animal fats.
Q: Last of all, what about exercise? You recently warned
against certain forms of exercise, which you said could be
dangerous.
A: What I said was that if people aren't used to getting regular
and vigorous exercise, they should begin slowly, and not try to do too much at the beginning! I also said that certain games, such as squash, can be dangerous, particularly if you aren't used to playing them. A number of injuries are due to sudden, twisting movements that games like squash involve. Q: What kinds of exercise do you recommend, then?
A: Gentle jogging, swimming, cycling, brisk walking ... exercise
that is rhythmic and gentle, and above all, sustained. That is, done for at least fifteen minutes uninterruptedly at least three times a week. We all need such exercise, and the fact is that far too few of us get enough of it, particularly if we live in large cities and regularly use cars.
Exercise
Directions: Listen to the dialogue and complete the following grids.
A. Cholesterol
B. Exercise
Part 2 Passage 1) T he impending collision between the boomers and the nation's
retirement system is naturally catching the eye of
policymakers and the boomers themselves.
2) R etirement income security in the United States has
traditionally been based on the so-called three-legged stool: Social Security, private pensions, and other personal saving.
3) R etirement planning takes time, and these issues need to be
addressed sooner rather than later.
4) O ne found that in 1991 the median household headed by a
65-69-year-old had financial assets of only $14,000, but
expanding the measure to include Social Security, pensions, housing, and other wealth boosts median wealth to about
$270,000.
5) O nly one or two generations of Americans have had
lengthy retirements, and the crucial retirement issues
keep changing rapidly, making long-term predictions
even harder.
The Baby Boom* generation - the roughly 76
million people born between 1946 and 1964has been
reshaping American society for five decades. From
jamming the nation's schools in the 1950s and 1960s, to
crowding labor markets and housing markets in the
1970s and 1980s, to affecting consumption patterns
almost continuously, boomers have altered economic
patterns and institutions at each stage of their lives. Now
that the leading edge of the generation has turned 50, the
impending collision between the boomers and the
nation's retirement system is naturally catching the eye
of policymakers and the boomers themselves.
Retirement income security in the United States has
traditionally been based on the so-called three-legged
stool: Social Security, private pensions, and other
personal saving. Since World War II the system has
served the elderly well: The poverty rate among elderly
households fell from 35 percent in 1959 to 11 percent in
1995 .
Are the baby boomers making adequate preparations
for retirement? In part, the answer depends on what is
meant by "adequate". One definition is to have enough
resources to maintain pre-retirement living standards in
retirement. A rule of thumb* often used by financial
planners is that retirees should be able to meet this goal
by replacing 60-80 percent of pre-retirement income.
Retired households can maintain their pre-retirement
standard of living with less income because they have
more leisure time, fewer household members, and lower
expenses. Taxes are lower because retirees escape
payroll taxes and the income tax is progressive. And
mortgages have, for the most part, been paid off. On the
other hand, older households may face higher and more
uncertain medical expenses, even though they are
covered by Medicare.
From a public policy perspective, assuring that
retirees maintain 100 percent of pre-retirement living
standards may be overly ambitious. But should
policymakers aim to ensure that they maintain 90
percent of their living standards? Or that they stay out of
poverty? Or use some other criterion? Retirement
planning takes time, and these issues need to be
addressed sooner rather than later.
A second big question is how to measure how well baby
boomers are preparing for retirement. Studies that focus only on
personal saving put aside for retirement yield bleak conclusions. One found that in 1991 the median household headed by a 65-69-year-old had financial asset of only $14,000. But
expanding the measure to include Social Security, pensions, housing, and other wealth boosts median wealth to about
$270,000.
A third issue - crucial but as yet little explored - is
which baby boomers are not provided adequately for
retirement and how big the gap is between what they
have and what they should
have. Some boomers are doing extremely well,
others quite poorly. Summary averages for an entire
generation may not be useful as descriptions of the
problem or as suggestions for policy.
The uncertain prospects for the baby boomers in retirement are particularly troubling because, as a society, we as yet
understand little about the dynamics of retirement. Only one or two generations of Americans have had lengthy retirements, and the crucial retirement issues - health care, asset markets, Social Security, life span - keep changing rapidly, making long-term predictions even harder.
Exercise A Pre-listening Question
As China's aging population is increasing rapidly, there should be a well-funded pension system put in place. However, the country's pension system only covers a fraction of the work force. It predicts that China will have an elderly population of about 400 million by 2040, which will be a large burden on the economy if an effective pension system is not established.
The Chinese government, aware that the old pension system in the planned economy could not keep pace with the market economy, started to reform a purely "pay-as-you-go" pension system in 1997 and introduced one that combines a basic pension with personal savings accounts. The accounts are jointly paid into by employers and employees, as saving to support employees' retirements. The state is considering expanding a reformed pension insurance system nationwide.
China is also accelerating the reform of China's pension
system.
It has been trying to find appropriate ways to invest pension funds in the capital market rather than simply putting them in banks or buying treasury bonds.
It has also been trying to find appropriate ways to invest
pension funds in the capital market overseas.
To ensure the maintenance and appreciation of the pension
pool, more investment tools should be allowed, with sound
governance and parallel reform in the financial sector to ensure returns.
Exercise B Sentence Dictation
Directions: Listen to some sentences and write them down. You will hear each sentence three times.
Exercise C Detailed Listening
Directions: Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences.
l.D 2.D 3. B 4.B 5.C 6.C 7.A 8.C
Exercise D After-listening Discussion
Directions: Listen to the passage again and discuss the following questions.
1) T he boomers have altered economic patterns from jamming the nation's schools in the 1950s and 1960s, to crowding labor markets and housing markets in the 1970s and 1980s, to affecting consumption patterns almost continuously.
2) (Open)