听力原文: Here is a story. A participant in the long-distance race got his shoes filled with sand when he was crossing a beach. He had to stop to get the sand out hastily before he resumed running. Unfortunately a grain of sand remained rubbing the sole so that his steps became increasingly painful. Reluctant to halt and get rid of the sand, he continued to run in spite of the pain until he could stand no more. He dropped out of the contest just a few yards from the finishing line. As he managed to get out of the shoe painfully, he was surprised to find the cause of his lasting pain was only a grain of sand.
It seems that the greatest obstacle on one's way forward may not be a high mountain or a deep valley but a grain of sand that is hardly visible. To avoid blame on a minor fault one may tell a lie. That adds a burden to a heavy heart and weighs it down. In the days to come he will have to make up one story after another to cover the lie he told and the fault he committed. Thus he will never be able to free himself from lasting anxiety, worry and regret, to the ignorance that all his sufferings come from only a grain of sand -- the first lie he told.
(30)
A. He got injured.
B. He was exhausted.
C. He was knocked down.
D. He could no longer stand the pain.
Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D.
听力原文: Microwave cooking is probably the best cooking discovery since fire. In fact, it might be better than fire, since microwaves, instead of a flame or an electric element, cook the food.
Microwaves are short radio waves, similar to heat and light waves. They work by motion. They cause the molecules in food to move, which produces heat in the food rather than in the oven, and the heat cooks the food. It's similar to rubbing your hands together when they're cold.
There is a legend behind the use of microwaves for cooking.
Percy Le Spencer was employed by the Raytheon Company during World War II. One day in 1942 he was working with magnetic materials, which produced microwaves. When he pulled a candy bar from his pocket, it was a melted mess. Although Spencer was working on scientific experiments, not trying to invent a new way of cooking, he realized that it was the microwaves that had melted the candy.
Spencer knew that if microwaves melted candy, they would cook other foods as well. The Raytheon Company agreed, and in 1947 it introduced its first microwave ovens to the public.
The first ovens were suspected of causing health problems, but the new models are safe when the when the factory's instructions are followed. Microwave cooking now can be found in many homes all over the world.
(27)
A. It is not as good as fire.
B. It might cause health problems.
C. It is safe when the factory's instructions are followed.
D. It is the most widely-used way of cooking in the world.
Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer.
听力原文:M: Do you take sugar in your coffee?
W: I used to, but now I'm on a diet. I'm trying to lose weight.
Q: Why doesn't the woman take sugar in her coffee?
(12)
A. Because she doesn't like sugar.
Because she is not used to it.
C. Because she doesn't like to be fat.
D. Because she used to do that.
听力原文:W: Do you know where Bill is? He is supposed to be at the meeting at 3:00.
M: Oh, he went out for lunch at noon and will not come back until 3:30, I think.
Q: When do you think the meeting will start?
(17)
At noon.
B. 3:30.
C. 3:25.
D. 3:00.