Section C Compound dictation:
You probably have noticed that people express similar ideas in different ways depending on the situation they are in.
This is very __36___. All languages have two general levels of __37___: a formal level and an informal level. English is
no __38___. The difference in these two levels is the situation in which you use a __39___ level. Formal language is the
kind of language you find in textbooks, __40___ books and in business letters. You would also use formal English in
compositions and __41___ that you write in school. Informal language is used in conversation with __42___, family
members and friends, and when we write __43___ notes or letters to close friends. Formal language is different from informal
language in several ways. First, formal language tends to be more polite. ____________44_____________. For example,
I might say to a friend or a family member “Close the door, please”, ____________45_____________. Another difference
between formal and informal language is some of the vocabulary. ______46________. Lets say that I really like soccer.
If I am talking to my friend, I might say “I am just crazy about soccer”, but if I were talking to my boss, I would probably say “I really enjoy soccer”.
2006-12-23四级短对话原文
11.
M: Christmas is round the corner and I’m looking for a gift for my girlfriend. Any suggestions?
W: Well, you have to tell me something about your girlfriend first. Also, what’s your budget?
Q: What does the woman want the man to do?
B. Give her more information.
12.
M: What would you like for dessert? I think I’ll have apple pie and ice cream.
W: The chocolate cake looks great. But I have to watch my weight, you go ahead and get yours.
Q: What will the woman most probably do?
C. She’ll go without dessert.
13.
W: Having visited so many countries, you must be able to speak several different languages!
M: I wish I could. But Japanese and, of course English are the only languages I can speak.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
A. The man can speak a foreign language.
14.
M: Prof. Smith asked me to go to his office after class. So it is impossible for me to make it to the bar at 10：00.
W: Then it seems we’ll have to meet an hour later at the library.
Q: What will the man do first after class?
C. See Prof. Smith
15.
M: It’s already 11：00 now. Do you mean I ought to wait until Prof. Bloom comes back from class?
W: Not really. You can just leave a note. I’ll give it to her later.
Q: What does the woman mean?
D. She can pass on the message for the man.
16.
M: How’s John now? Is he feeling any better?
W: Not yet. It still seems impossible to make him smile. Talking to him is really difficult. And he gets upset easily over little things.
Q: What do we learn about John from the conversation?
B. He’s got emotional problems.
17.
M: Do we have to get the opera tickets in advance?
W: Certainly! Tickets at the door are usually sold at a higher price.
Q: What does the woman imply?
D. It’s better to buy the tickets beforehand.
18.
M: The taxi driver must have been speeding.
W: Well, not really! He crashed into the tree because he was trying not to hit a box that had fallen off the truck ahead of him.
Q: What do we learn about the taxi driver?
A. He turned suddenly and ran into a tree.
23日四级长对话原文
Conversation One
W: Hey, Bob, guess what? I’m going to visit Quebec next summer. I’m invited to go to a friend’s wedding, but while I’m there, I’d also like to do some sightseeing.
M: That’s nice, Sherry. But do you mean the province of Quebec or Quebec City?
W: I mean the province. My friend’s wedding is in Montreal, so I’m going there first. I’ll stay for 5 days. Is Montreal the capital city
of the province?
M: Well, many people think so because it’s the biggest city, but it’s not the capital. Quebec City is, but Montreal is great. The Santa Lawrence River runs right through the middle of the city.
It’s beautiful in summer.
W: Wow, and do you think I can get by in English? My French is okay, but not that good. I know most people there speak
French, but can I also use English?
M: Well, people speak both French and English there, but you’ll hear French most of the time and all the street signs are in French. In fact, Montreal is the third largest French-speaking city
in the world. So you’d better practice your French before you go.
W: Good advice, what about Quebec City? I’ll visit a friend from college who lives there now. What’s it like?
M: It’s a beautiful city, very old. Many old buildings have been nicely restored. Some of them were built in the 17th and
18th centuries. You’ll love it there.
W: Fantastic, I can’t wait to go.
19. What’s the woman’s main purpose of visiting Quebec? D. To attend a wedding in Montreal.
20. What does the man advise the woman to do before the trip? C. Brush up on her French.
21. What does the man say about Quebec City? B. It has many historical buildings.
Conversation Two
M: Hi, Ms. Rowling. How old were you when you started to write, and what was your first book?
W: I wrote my first finished story when I was about 6. It was about a small animal, a rabbit I mean, and I’ve been writing ever since.
M: Why did you choose to be an author?
W: If someone asked me how to achieve happiness, step one would be finding out what you love doing most and step two would be finding
someone to pay you to do it. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be able to support myself by writing.
M: Do you have any plans to write books for adults?
W: My first two novels were for adults. I suppose I might write another one, but I never really imagine a target audience when I’m writing. The ideas come first, so it really depends on the idea that grabs me next!
M: Where did the ideas for the Harry Potter books come from?
W: I’ve no idea where ideas come from and I hope I never find out, it would spoil my excitement if it turned out I just have a funny little wrinkle on the
surface of my brain which makes me think about invisible train platforms.
M: How do you come up with the names of your characters?
W: I invented some of the names in the Harry books, but I also collect strange names. I’ve gotten them from medieval saints, maps, dictionaries, plants, war memorials, and people I’ve met!
M: Oh, you are really resourceful.
22. What do we learn from the conversation about Ms. Rowling’s first book? A. It was about a little animal.
23. Why does Ms. Rowling consider herself very luck? D. She can make a living by doing what she likes.
24. What dictates Ms. Rowling’s writing? B. Her ideas.
25. According to Ms. Rowling, where did she get the ideas for the Harry Potter books? A. She doesn’t really know where they originated. |
