[音频]Almost every child, on the first day he (1) foot in a school building, is smarter, more curious, less afraid of what he doesn't know, better at finding and figuring things out, more confident, resourceful, persistent and independent, than he will ever be again in his schooling or, unless he is very unusual and very lucky, for the rest of his life.Already, by paying close attention to and interacting with the world and people around him, and without any school-type formal instruction, he has done a task far more difficult, (2) and abstract than any thing he will be (3) to do in school, or than any of his (4) has done for years.He has (5) the mystery of language.He has (6) it - babies don't even know that language exists - and he has found out how it (7) and learnt to use it appropriately.He has done it by exploring, by experimenting, by developing his own model of the grammar of language, by trying it out and seeing whether it works, by gradually changing it and refining it until it does work.And while he has been doing this, he has been learning other (8) as well, including many of the (9) that the (10) think only they can teach him, and many that are more complicated than the ones they do try to teach him.
[音频]Writing (1)us in touch with other people.We write to communicate with (2).We write to preserve our family(3)so our children and grandchildren can learn and appreciate their heritage.With (4)and Internet connections in so many (5), colleges, and businesses, people are e-mailing friends and relatives all the time— or talking to them in writing in online chat rooms.It is cheaper than calling long distance, and a lot more convenient than waiting until Sunday for the telephone (6)to drop.Students are e-mailing their (7)to receive and discuss their classroom assignments and to submit them.They are e-mailing (8) to discuss and collaborate on homework.They are also sharing information about (9) events, as well as jokes and their philosophies of life.Despite the growing importance of computers, however, there will always be a place and need for the personal letter.A hand-written note to a friend or a family member is the best way to communicate important thoughts.No matter what the content of the message, its real point is, "I want you to know that I care about you."This writing practice brings rewards that can't be seen in bank accounts, but only in the success of (10).
[音频]Students have been complaining more and more about stolen property. Radios, cell phones, bicycles, pocket (1), and books have all been reported stolen. Are there enough campus police to do the job?There are 20 officers in the campus security division. Their job is to handle crime, accidents, lost and found (2), and traffic problems on campus. More than half of their time is spent directing traffic and writing parking tickets. Responding promptly to accidents and other (3)is important, but it is their smallest job.Dealing with crime takes up the rest of their time. Very rarely did any (4) actually occur. In the last five years there have been no (5) , seven robberies, and about sixty other violent (6), most of these involving fights at parties. On the other hand, there have been hundreds of (7)and cases of deliberate damaging of public property, which usually involves breaking windows or lights, or writing on walls. The thefts are not the carefully(8)that you see in movies. Things get stolen when it is just easy to steal them because they are left lying around (9).Do we really need more police? Hiring more (10)would cost money, possibly making our tuition go up again. A better way to solve this problem might be for all of us to be more careful with our things.
[音频]Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, (1)seem to be more concerned with getting things (2) on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. (3), for the American, are meant to be planned and then (4)in the smallest detail. It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines they wear on their (5), cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time. Americans’ language is filled with(6)to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “(7),” “gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.” The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America. Time is so (8)in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has (9) Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American (10)stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.