听力原文: I am referring to computer literacy. As our society becomes increasingly dependent on computers to take care of our daily needs, it creates a high demand for skilled professionals to maintain as well as take advantage of this technology. The computer job market is like a wave, a technology wave. I had the choice to ride the wave and possibly make a lot of money at the age of only 18. But if I had not decided to go to college, instead of working full time, there is no guarantee that I would have a job when that technology wave breaks.
Last year, at the age of 18, I was working in a computer software company as a network administrator and making more than some people that have a college degree. Some may look at this as a tremendous opportunity, but I saw it as a possible pitfall. At first, I saw taking advantage of my high computer literacy as having no costs whatsoever, but what I was reluctant to see was that I was not taking any college classes to further my education. This would have proved to be a significant mistake if I had not seen the possible negative aspects of not having a college degree to fall back on. The degree and education that I get by going to college may prove to be a very important part of my future. As new technologies are developed, your job in the market may not be in demand. This is the case with network administration.
The speaker is a______now.
A. college student
B. computer operator
C. network administrator
D. professional technician
A.advancedB.upliftedC.boostedD.improved
A. advanced
B. uplifted
C. boosted
D. improved
?Read the article below about the solid growth of Mexico's economy.
?Choose the best word to fill each gap from A, B, C or D on the opposite page.
?For each question 21-30, mark one letter (A, B, C or D ) on your Answer Sheet.
After three years of sluggish or no growth, Mexico's economy is set to expand by 3% to 3.5% in 2004. The US turnaround will be (21) to Mexico's outlook, since the US buys almost 88% of Mexican export.
Progress can be seen in Mexico's industrial (22) Production began growing again in October and is now showing its best performance in nearly four years. A 20% depreciation of the peso against the US dollar over the past two years has helped exporters' competitiveness. The economy has also (23) from lower interest rates, a byproduct of the drop in inflation, which (24) just 3.98% in 2003.
Falling rates have bolstered consumer borrowing. While hank lending to companies has (25) , consumer credit has grown some 30% in the past two to three years, and nonbank mortgage lending has also expanded significantly. Easy credit has (26) retail, auto, and home sales, though unemployment is at its highest rate since 1997.
The 2004 (27) will come none too soon for President Vicente Fox, who took office in 2000 promising that Mexico would enjoy 7% annual growth by the end of his six-year term. But he still faces obstacles to reach that long-term goal. First, the Mexican congress has failed to (28) badly needed fiscal, labor, and energy reforms. That has left the federal government with a tight budget and few resources to generate more (29) growth.
Second, while a limited package of energy reforms may win approval this year, more significant structural overhauls, which could add some stimulus, are unlikely. The sticking point is 11 key gubernatorial elections set for this year. Campaign rhetoric, not serious reform, will (30) Mexico's agenda this year.
(21)
A. crucial
B. critical
C. significant
D. related
听力原文: Unwanted sound, or noises produced by airplanes, traffic, or industrial machinery, is considered a form. of pollution. Noise pollution is at its worst in densely polluted areas. It can cause hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction, and lost productivity.
Most humans can hear sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz, while dogs can hear high-pitched sounds up to 50,000 hertz. While high frequency sounds tend to be more hazardous and more annoying to hearing than low frequency sounds, most noise pollution damage is related to the intensity of the sound. Measured in decibels, noise intensity can range from zero, the quietest sound the human ear can detect, to over 160 decibels. Conversation takes place at around 40 decibels, a subway train is about 80 decibels, and a rock concert is from 80 to 100 decibels. The intensity of a nearby jet taking off is about 100 decibels. The threshold for pain, tissue damage and potential hearing loss in humans is 120 decibels. Long lasting, high intensity sounds are the most damaging to hearing and produce the most stress in humans.
Solutions to noise pollution include adding insulation and sound proofing to doors, walls, and ceilings; using ear protection, particularly in industrial working areas; planting vegetation to absorb and screen out noise pollution; and zoning urban areas to maintain a separation between residential areas and zones of excessive noise.
According to the passage, intense noise pollution may NOT cause ______ .
A. hearing loss
B. high blood pressure
C. lost productivity
D. poor appetite