听力录音稿

Unit 1 The communications industry is warning computer users to guard against a new way to steal private information. They say this kind of theft is increasing. Thieves are linking their computers with other computers and stealing information that can cost honest computer users a great deal of money. They are doing this by using the most modern computer communications method -- wi-fi. Wi-fi is a short way of saying wireless fidelity. Wi-fi permits computer users to link with the Internet communications system without using wires and a telephone. Computer industry experts say wi-fi is the fastest growing part of the computer industry. The experts say there are about twenty thousand wi-fi Internet places in the United States. Unit 2 Artificial intelligence is technology designed to perform jobs that require higher-level thinking skills.  In other words, skills like those of human intelligence.  Al systems have many different uses.  They are used in economics, to study things like stock market activity.  They are used in medicine -- for example, to help doctors recognize disorders and choose the best treatments.  And they are used in the military, to develop systems like self-guiding vehicles and so-called smart bombs that look for their targets.  Robotic systems with artificial intelligence can perform many industrial duties. These robots can also help doctors operate on patients.  They can even pilot spacecraft. Unit 3 The new report says severe __climate change__ can be stopped.  It calls for immediate action to _reduce the release _ of carbon dioxide.  The report says governments around the world already have the ability to __slow or stop__ this pollution. It says policy makers should support increased use of ___natural gas__ and ___less dependence on coal for fuel.  The report supports increased use of __wind power and other kinds of renewable energy_ .  The report suggests other ways to reduce carbon dioxide __emissions .  They include ___developing vehicles that use less fuel and speeding the use of energy efficient lighting.  The report says governments must __provide support for such changes.  This will help industries develop ___new technologies and improve __present methods of energy use.  Unit 4 Beijing has pledged to increase its use of renewable energies from the current 7 percent of total energy to 15 percent by 2020. The state-run media say China will invest up to $184 billion in such renewable energy sources as wind, solar, and water power. Most of China's energy currently comes from fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, which have contributed to high levels of air pollution as energy consumption has increased. The pledge came at an international conference on renewable energy held in the Chinese capital this week. China's Vice Premier, Zeng Peiyan, read a statement from President Hu Jintao at the conference.   Zeng Peiyan: Strengthening the development and use of renewable energies is a must for us to address the increasingly serious energy and environmental issues. Unit 5 Nanotechnology uses matter at the level of molecules and atoms. Researchers are finding different uses for particles with a length of one nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter. These include things like beauty products and dirt-resistant clothing. But one area where many experts believe nanotechnology holds great promise is medicine. Last week, speakers at a program in Washington discussed using nanotechnology to improve health care in developing countries. The program took place at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Peter Singer at the University of Toronto says a nanotechnology called quantum dots could be used to confirm cases of malaria. He says it could offer a better way than the traditional process of looking at a person's blood under a microscope. Unit 6 Scientists Get Skin Cells to Act Like Stem Cells, but Much Work Remains American and Japanese scientists have reported a major discovery in the creation of human stem cells. The scientists say they have found a way to make human skin cells act like embryonic stem cells. Two groups of scientists performed similar experiments in different parts of the world. They reported their findings in the scientific publications Cell and Science. Both teams did generally the same thing.  They injected skin cells with four kinds of retroviruses. Each retrovirus carried a different gene that helps control embryo development. The scientists say the four genes "reprogrammed" the skin cells. The genes turned other genes on or off and caused the skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells.  Scientists can make stem cells grow into any kind of cell of the body, such as nerve or heart cells. Scientists believe stem cells could be used in future treatments for many diseases.  Unit 7 China has launched its first ever "Public Transport Week." The campaign is aimed at easing traffic and improving air quality. It includes a car-free day encouraging people to leave their private cars at home and use public transport. The campaign has gained much support nationwide. Over 10-thousand people have signed commitment boards, vowing to make their daily trips by public transport. Unit 8 Ten years ago, few people bought things over the Internet.  Few thought it was safe.  Amazon-dot-com changed many people's minds. Today people can buy not just books and music but also many other products through Amazon.  It competes with eBay, which celebrates its tenth birthday in September.    EBay calls itself "the world's online marketplace."  It does not sell anything.  Instead, it provides a way for others to sell goods and services.  People who want to buy something make competing offers through online auctions.  EBay has grown to include several other businesses.  These include PayPal, a company that processes online payments. As online sellers grew, traditional stores saw the future.  Today, stores from the smallest to the biggest sell on the Internet.  These include the biggest of all, Wal-Mart.  PAGE 1