Listening Comprehension
News report l
A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although fatalities are rare. the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish, often known as Devil Fire fish, is a highly invasive species. And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life. After being spotted in the Mediterranean, A marine scientist says, “The fish is spreading, and that's a cause for concern.”
Q1: What is reported in the news?
Q2: What is the environmentalists' concern of the spread of Devil Fire fish in the Mediterranean?
News report 2
【Q3】Almost half the center of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day. 【Q4】This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne
Hidalgo promoted the first World Car Free Day last year. Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day. On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road.About400 miles of streets will be closed to cars. It is expected to bring significant rection in pol1tion levels “Last year's car-free day showed a 40% drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city, according to an independent air pollution monitor”. reports the Guardian, and some levels dropped by 50% in the city center.
Q3: What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris
Q4:What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?
News report 3
A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations. Then, a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life. The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago. When he was forced to sell it, the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the 77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world, which was valued at £ 76 million. The pearl of Allah, which is currently on display in a New York museum, only weighs 14 pounds. That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisher man just handed in. The monstrous pearl, measured at 1 foot wide and 2.2 feet long.is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town.
四级 听力Q5: What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?
Q6: What was the fisherman forced to do?
Q7:What did the fisherman lean from the tourist agent?
Section B
Long conversation 1
W: Mr. Smith, It’s a pleasure meeting you!
M: Nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?
W: Wel1, I ’ m here to show you what our firm can do for you. Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries, offering different business services. We’re a global company with 75 years of history. And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies【Q8】 .
M: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astro Consultants is a famous company. But you said you would show me what you could do for me. Well. What exactly can your firm do for my company?
W: We advise businesses on all matters, from market analysis to legal issues. Anything a business like yours could meet. Our firm offers expert advice. Could I ask you, Mr. Smith, to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face? That way, I could better respond as to how we can help you.
M: OK, sure. This is a family business started by my grandfather in 1950. We employ just over 100 people. We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions. Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design. And that’s what we do in our factory 【Q9】. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising. And we’ re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India【Q10】.
W: I see. That’s very interesting. I will suggest that you 1et us first conduct a financial analysis of your company, together with the analysis of your competitors in India.【Q11 】
That way, we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.
Q8: What do we learn about the woman’s company?
Q9: What does the man say about his own company?
Q10: What is the main problem with the man’s company?