现代大学英语听力3 课堂听力unit8

现代大学英语听力3 课堂听力unit8 Unit 8 Task 1 ??Ô,ÎÄ?? 1) Now that we're making every effort to keep criminals from getting guns through the front door of a gun shop, we're turning our attention to locking the back door, too. We have started to crack the code of the black market in illegal weapons. We are tracing the guns, targeting the traffickers, taking more of our children out of harm's way. (Bill Clinton) 2) We will be marching today for common sense gun laws, but we will not stop with just marching. We will keep walking; we will keep running; we will keep marching; we will keep fighting and we will keep organizing until we are successful in our fight to keep our children safe. (Hillary Clinton) 3) Police officers of course, are not the only people who die. Ten thousand other Americans are dead because of the misuse of our right to bear arms. People who argue for guns are fond of saying that guns don't kill; people do. But guns do kill. (Robert di Grazia) 4) Registration of cars has nothing to do with the incidence of car accidents which, of course, is the greatest killer of people in the United States, including children. And you don't see anyone turning around and say, "Let's outlaw automobile." (Victoria Bingham) Task 2 ???ð???? News Item 1 A.1) F 2) F 3) T 4) T 5) F 6) F News Item 2 B. WHO: more than one hundred thousand mothers across the United States WHAT: gathered to push for tougher gun control laws WHERE: Washington WHEN: Sunday C. 1) b) 2) a) 3) c) 4) b) D. 1) Gun control, Now 2) shed, river of votes, raging, out of, stricter gun control ??Ô,ÎÄ?? News Item 1 British police say thousands of gun owners have surrendered their small calibre weapons as part of legislation banning some types of handgun. The deadline to hand in the weapons which has just passed is the final stage in the clampdown on gun ownership following the massacre of 16 school children and a teacher at Dunblane in Scotland in 1996. The police estimate that 40,000 weapons have been surrendered, meaning that the vast majority of legally held guns have been given up. But as Inspector Paul Brightwell, a policeman from southern England, points out, many owners are still angry about the bans. Although Britain now has some of the strictest firearms laws in the world, correspondents say the government may still look to introduce further restrictions. News Item 2 More than one hundred thousand mothers across the United States gathered here in Washington Sunday to push for tougher gun control laws. Organizers of the so-called Million Mom March are hoping to harness growing outrage at the number of children killed by handguns here in the United States. "What do we want? Gun control! When do we want? Now! What do we want? Gun control! When do we want? Now! What do we want? Gun control! When do we want? Now! What do we want? Gun control!..." The protesters?ªmothers, victims of gun violence and families?ªcame from across the United States to hear heartbreaking stories of children who had been gunned down. One mother described the pain she felt after her young son received a crippling gunshot wound to the chest. In an emotional appeal, she urged the crowd to vote for members of Congress who support gun control. "Mothers, we have shed tears for our children. Let's make our tears the river of votes. Let's make our tears become a raging river of votes, and we need to get our legislators out of office if they do not want stricter gun control." Organizers of the Washington rally and others held in cities across the United States say at least 12 children a day are killed by guns. They want Congress to enact laws that will require registration of handguns and some type of licensing system. US gun control laws vary from state to state. Ant nationwide registration is strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association, a wealthy and powerful nationwide group of firearms owners who reject any type of gun control. Task 3 ???ð???? A. 1) a) 2) a) 3) b) 4) b) 5) c) B. Column 1 Column 2 Soccer Roland Garros Equestrian events Longchamp racetrack Tennis Stade de France C. 1) The dossier will show locations of sporting events, media centers, and an Olympic village. 2) The tried and tested quality of Paris?? famous sporting infrastructure is a big advantage. Moreover, it??s been many years since France hosted the Olympic Games in 1924. ??Ô,ÎÄ?? The last time Paris had the honor of hosting the Olympic Games was way back in 1924. Having lost out to Beijing for the right to stage the Games in 2008, the French capital is now optimistic it can win the bid for the 2012 Olympics. The nine cities in contention have until mid-January to give details of their proposed venues. And the organizers in Paris can point to the fact that most of their facilities are already in place. Competition is fierce among the nine cities bidding for the 2012 Games who all have until January the 15th to give the IOC a dossier showing locations of sporting events, media centers, and an Olympic village. London, New York, Moscow, Madrid, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Leipzig and Havana are all hopeful of staging the world's greatest sporting festival. But experts reckon that Paris is the early favorite. Preparation is key when it comes to hosting the Olympic Games. Barcelona and Sydney both proved how to stage one. It's been almost 70 years since the summer Olympic experience took place on French soil. Having lost out to host the Games in 2008, the organizers within Paris are optimistic about their chances for hosting the 2012 Olympics. Integral to Paris' bid is the tried and tested quality of its renowned sporting infrastructure. Soccer matches, for instance, would be held in the northeast suburb of Saint-Denis, home of the 78,000-seat Stade de France, where France beat Brazil three nil in 1998 to win the World Cup. The stadium is also the likely setting for the Olympic track and field events, with the media center being erected alongside it. Tennis matches would be well catered for at the famous red clay courts of Roland Garros, home to the French Open, the most likely location. Whilst the equestrian events could be held within the famous Longchamp Racetrack, which hosts the prestigious Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe each year. With around 150 acres of Pads real estate available in the city's Seventeenth District, the Athletes' Village could easily be adapted, not far from Longchamp. Paris city authorities estimate the cost of hosting the 2012 Games at $6.9 billion. That??s nearly twice as much as estimated for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But if that generates just a fraction of the enthusiasm?ªand money?ªraised when France won the European Championships in 2000, it??ll be money well spent. Task 4 ???ð???? A. 1) c) 2) a) 3) b) 4) a) 5) b) B.1) 2,200, two thirds, confrontation 2) appreciate, foundation, cooperation, trust, Russia ??Ô,ÎÄ?? Darren Jordon: A new era of relations has been declared between the United States and Russia. This morning, Presidents Bush and Putin met in Moscow to sign a nuclear arms treaty. Mr. Bush said suspicions of the Cold War had been cast aside. The two Presidents met inside the Kremlin to approve what they both called a historic agreement. They promised to reduce their nuclear stockpiles by two thirds so that each would be down to below 2,200 over the next ten years. President Bush said the agreement marked the end of a long chapter of confrontation between the two countries. Well, our Moscow Correspondent Caroline Wyatt has been following the morning's events. Caroline. Caroline Wyatt: Well, it's taken us ten long years for Russia and America to reach this stage. But it does seem that at the Kremlin here behind me in Moscow, that Vladimir Putin and George Bush have finally managed to banish the mistrust of the Cold War era, and start a new chapter in relations. The day began with a sombre ceremony as President Bush paid his respects at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, honoring Russia's sacrifice as an ally in the Second World War. The American President looked slightly awestruck as he entered the Kremlin to praise Russia's contribution in the new war, the fight against terror. Vladimir Putin's support for Mr. Bush since September 11th has cemented an unexpectedly warm relationship between their two countries, turning cold war enemies into friends. Amid the splendor of St. Catherine's Hall, both leaders prepared to sign the treaty they say will make the world a safer place, the solemnity of the moment only slightly dented when the cameras caught Mr. Bush removing his boiled sweat. Then the two men put their names to a deal agreeing to scrap two-thirds of their nuclear arsenals over the next decade. Yet it??s not a treaty Russia's military leaders are happy with. They complain Washington will simply store the weapons for later use. So Mr. Bush tried to reassure his audience here. George Bush: I appreciate the fact that we have now laid the foundation for not only our governments, but future governments to work in a spirit of cooperation and a spirit of trust. It's good. It's good for the people of Russia. It's good for the people of the Untied States. Caroline Wyatt: For his part, Mr. Putin said he has no doubt they were entering a new era in relations. Despite the smiles, much still divided their two nations. America fears Russia is selling nuclear technology to Iran. But at least now they say they can address those issues as friends and allies. The two men do have the rest of the day and then a relaxing weekend in Mr. Putin's hometown, St. Petersburg, to iron out of all those issues. Task 5 ???ð???? A. 1) The US military sent an interceptor into space to hit a missile with a mock warhead 2) 60 billion dollars. 3) It was the first test of new technology that could become a key component of the Missile Defense Network. After the test, the pentagon would likely recommend that US President order deployment of the Missile Defense System. 4) Earlier tests produced mixed results: Two failed and one succeeded. 5) He said the nature of the security threats facing the United States has changed since the end of the Cold War, and old treaties just don??t fit any more. B. Responses from Parties Concerned Parties Concerned Relations to the Test US President Pleased with the result, President Bush said he was convinced the system should and could be built. US Congress It criticized the plan for its high cost. Russia and some NATO member states They disagreed with the US position and warned of the danger of a new arms race. Greenpeace Its activists tried to disrupt the test. ??Ô,ÎÄ?? News Item 1 A crucial test of the US Missile Defense System is set to begin within hours as the US military tries to destroy a dummy warhead in space over the Pacific Ocean. An interceptor missile fired from an island in the Pacific Ocean will try to hit the warhead launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. If the intercept succeeds, the Pentagon will likely recommend that the President Clinton order deployment of the 60-billion-dollar Missile Defense System. In a bid to disrupt today's test, the environmental group Greenpeace has sent a ship to an off limits zone near Vandenberg. Spokesman Steve Shohan says its activists had infiltrated the facility. "It is the objective of the Greenpeace activists on the base to chain themselves to the apparatus immediately adjacent to the missile silo, so that the missile could not be launched," Greenpeace says, with people in the part of the base, the missile cannot be fired. But the Pentagon insists it has the means to deal with such attempted disruptions. News Item 2 President Bush's hopes for a missile defense system got a big boost this weekend when the Pentagon staged a successful test of key technology. A missile interceptor successfully hit a mock nuclear warhead over the Pacific Ocean. White House officials say Mr. Bush was pleased with the result. Mr. Bush was at his presidential retreat outside Washington when a flash of light faraway over the Pacific signaled the successful test. An interceptor sent into space from a tiny Pacific island neatly hit its target, an intercontinental range missile with a mock warhead launched minutes earlier from an air force base in California. It was the first test of new technology that could become a key component of the Missile Defense Network. Earlier tests of other elements produced mixed results. Two failed and one succeeded. The president said he is convinced the system can and should be built. He says the nature of the security threats facing the United States has changed since the end of the Cold War, and old treaties just don??t fit any more. But Russia and some NATO allies think otherwish and warn of a new arms race. And the notion of spending billions to develop Missile Defense has drawn some criticism on Capitol Hill. Task 6 ???ð???? 1) We will try to avoid a worldwide nucleate war, for there are no winners in such a war. 2) The US and other countries should refrain from tests, and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. 3) The US is withdrawing from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. 4) We should start a new arms race by deploying Missile Defense System. ??Ô,ÎÄ?? 1) We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the cause of worldwide nuclear war, in which even the fruits of victory will be ashes in our mouth. (J. F. Kennedy) 2) Today I say again, on behalf of the United States, we will continue the policy we have maintained since 1992 of not conducting nuclear test. I call on Russia, China, Britain, France and all other countries to continue the refrain from testing. I call on nations that have not done so to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. (Bill Clinton) 3) We reviewed what I've discussed with my friend President Vladimir Putin over the course of many meetings and many months, and that is the need for America to move beyond the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Today, I have given formal notice to Russia, in accordance with the Treaty, that the United States of America is withdrawing from this almost 30-year-old treaty. (G. W. Bush) 4) Are we really prepared to raise the starting-gun in a new arms race in a potentially more dangerous world? Because, make no mistakes about it, folks, if we deploy Missile Defense System as being contemplated, we could do just that. Step back from the ABM treaty, go full steam ahead and deploy Missile Defense System, then we'll be raising the starting-gun. Let's stop this nonsense before we end up pulling the trigger. (Senator Biden) Task 7 ???ð???? A. 1) They had hoped to settle an agenda ahead of the WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle next week. But they failed to achieve that goal. 2) They were disputes over agricultural issue between major trading nations, and demands from developing countries for more time to implement existing trade accords. 3) They have heavily subsidized their agricultural products. Farmers benefit a lot from these policies. 4) They pressed the EU and Japan to remove the subsidies. 5) Yes, he was confident that some agreement could be reached in Seattle. B. 1) c) 2) a) 3) b) 4) a) 5) d) C. 1) Developing countries demand more access to the European market for their agricultural products, but the EU still wants to maintain its subsidies for exports and barriers to imports. 2) Yes. Because their markets are also flooded with cheap goods from other countries. 3) On the whole, the rich countries benefit more from the WTO rules. ??Ô,ÎÄ?? News Item 1 Ambassadors to the World Trade Organization have failed to agree on a common text for the next global trade round of talks. During three months of negotiations in Geneva, the ambassadors had hoped to settle an agenda ahead of the WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle next week. From Geneva Claire Doole reports. The major sticking point is agriculture, pitting the big trading nations against each other. The US and major agricultural countries such as Australia wanted the EU and Japan to slash their export subsidies, which they say prices their producers out of the market. But this is unpopular with both trading powers, reluctant to incur the rows of their heavily subsidized but politically influential farmers. The other problem area is the demand from developing countries for more time to implement existing trade accords. The WTO Director-General remains confident that the agreement will be found in Seattle, but trade envoys are not so optimistic. News Item 2 Trade ministers from 18 nations and political entities are meeting behind closed doors in Mexico City to seek consensus on the agenda for a new round of world trade talks. The meeting is taking place in a luxury hotel under tight security. Around two dozen anti-globalization protesters tried to demonstrate near the hotel, but they were outnumbered by Mexican riot police, who kept them far from the site. The goal of the meeting is to work out a framework for talks to be held in Qatar in November. The last round of world trade talks ended in 1994 and led to the creation of the World Trade Organization the next year. But efforts to launch a new round of talks in the city of Seattle in 1999 ended in failure. The trade ministers meeting here are trying to work out basic agreements on such divisive issues as antidumping rules and agricultural subsidies. Developing nations are demanding more access to Europe for such commodities as beef and grain, but European Union nations have maintained subsidies for exports and barriers to imports. The developing nations also want rules against dumping, whereby their markets are flooded with cheap goods from other nations. Poorer nations say the benefits of free trade have mostly been seen in the rich countries and they are looking for a new round of trade talks to address the current inequalities. Although the gap remains wide, World Trade Organization officials say they are hopeful that these informal discussions here in Mexico City will lead to an agreement that can be embraced at the larger meeting in November. The representatives at this meeting are only a small fraction of the organization's 142 members, but they are thought to be representative of the various points of view within the larger body. The meeting is to conclude on Saturday. Task8: ???ð???? A. 1) Working with UNICEF?ªone of the most direct and effective ways to help children who need it 2) Top issue on the agenda?ªmobilizing artists and other intellectuals in the efforts for child survival and health in Africa 3) How and why artists can help the campaign for universal child immunization. 4) How and why artists enjoy high esteem in Africa B. 1) b) 2) a) 3) c) 4) b) 5) c) C. 1) society, governments, political, economic processes 2) the mobilization of entertainers/artists 3) immunize, the six major child-killing diseases 4) immunized ??Ô,ÎÄ?? Extract 1 Narrator: As we heard in a previous edition of this programme, Harry Belafonte has become the latest goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. In the tradition of Danny Kaye, Liv Ullmann, Peter Ustinov and others, the popular entertainer who has worked with UNICEF in the past will tour the world in support of UNICEF initiatives for child survival. According to Mr. Belafonte, working with UNICEF is one of the most direct and expedient ways to get help to children who need it. Belafonte: It has been over the last four years that I have become more intensely aware of the whole role of children in the global process as it affects society and as it affects governments and as it affects the political process and as it affects the economic process. And also, with USA for Africa, UNICEF became a very, very important conduit for the dissemination and distribution of our resources. When we looked around as a non-governmental organization for how to ensure that much of the $52 million that we raised and?,certainly all of the other areas that were stimulated with financial returns based upon our effort. UNICEF was always at the center of everyone's choice for who to rely on and what to do when we went into places for which we knew very little about in order to meet head on the problems of the drought and the famine and the death and the pestilence and all of the various health problems. Extract 2 Narrator: One of the first projects Mr. Belafonte will work on as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador is the mobilization of entertainers for child survival and health in Africa. During the United Nations General Assembly's special session on the critical situation in Africa in May of last year, African nations discussed the state of health care on the continent and its importance to the economic and social well-being of each country. According to Mr. Belafonte, this is a topic high on the agenda of UNICEF as well. Belafonte: One of the first things that Jim and I talked about was how to in fact define methodologies and ways in which we can begin to engage artists in particular, intellectuals in general, to be able to have some on-going understanding, on-going programme, to help change the course of human history as it relates to children and as it relates to children particularly in the Third World, and on this first leg of our journey, specifically in Africa. Extract 3 Narrator: UNICEF has set the goal of universal child immunization to encourage nations to immunize their young against the six major child-killing diseases. While many countries are making steady progress toward these goals, Mr. Grant points out that the campaign can be greatly aided by the support of artists and the entertainment community. Grant: Our dilemma with immunization is that the easiest part almost is to get the vaccines out. Granted, we need refrigeration?ªwhat we call the cold chain?ªyou've got to get the vaccinators. But the really difficult thing is how you convince somebody who has never had immunization before, is illiterate, never gone to school, that they should bring their children to be immunized three times, a month apart. Usually most children will run a fever after the first round. So a mother who's brought the child in healthy then has got to be convinced to come back the second time. And here's where the intellectuals, the artists, the singers?ªthere's a massive communication job to tell parents that they do have this power, symbolized in the vaccination appeal by bringing their children in. But it's really the artists, the intellectuals, the people who set the ambiance of all this that determines really what people do. Extract 4 Narrator: And Mr. Belafonte adds that artists are held in high esteem throughout Africa. Belafonte: I think that in Africa, where communication vis-a-vis radio and television is far less than it is in industrialized nations and therefore there is a greater community involvement almost directly with artists, one on one. When artists walk through the streets of any major city or any village in Africa, the pied piper role they play?ªthe way people follow them down the streets, the love and the reverence with which they??re held?ªis something to be envied. I think most American artists think we have it made because we have the Mercedes, the swimming pool and Beverly Hills. But they miss an awful lot when they don??t understand how that direct relationship to the community and to the people, what that direct relationship means. Task 9 ??Ô,ÎÄ?? The British government has said that Queen Elizabeth has no objection to plans to overturn the tradition of the eldest-born son succeeding to the throne by giving equal rights to whoever is the oldest prince or princess. The announcement in the Upper House of Parliament, the House of Lords, is part of the Labour Government's moves to modernize the British constitution. The change, if approved, will make no difference to the right of Prince Charles and his eldest son to succeed to the throne. The Queen herself took over as monarch only because her father King George VI died without sons.