英语四级考试听力文章原文.docx

1、英语四级考试听力文章原文2016年6月英语四级考试听力文章原文英语四级听力文章A卷Part Listening ComprehensionSection ANews Report OneThe International Labor Organization says the number of people without jobs is increasing. In its latest update on global employment trends, the agency says projections of the number of unemployed people thi

2、s year range from 210 million to nearly 240 million people. The report warns that 200 million poor workers are at risk of joining the ranks of people living on less than 2 dollars per day in the past 3 years. The Director General of the International Labor Organization Juan Somavia notes that some c

3、ountries have taken measures to address the effects of the global crisis. However, he points out that many countries have not done so. And based on past experiences, it takes 4 to 5 years after economic recovery for unemployment to return to pre-crisis levels. Mr. Somavia says the International Labo

4、r Organization is proposing a global jobs agreement to deal with unemployment. “Its key objective is to place the center of recovery effortsmeasures that would generate higher levels of employment and provide basic social protection for the most vulnerable.”News Report TwoBig fast food chains in New

5、 York City have started to obey a first-of-its-kind rule requiring them to post calorie counts right on the menu. Cathy Nonas is with the New York City Department of Health.“We wanted to give people an opportunity to actually see the calories before they purchase the food and make a decision, an inf

6、ormed decision that if they want to make the healthier choiceif they want to eat fewer caloriesthey can. And we expect this will have a huge impact on obesity. And of course, if it has an impact on obesity, it will have an impact on diabetes, and heart disease, and high blood pressure.The new rules

7、were introduced as part of an anti-obesity campaign that also includes a recent citywide ban on artificial trans fats in restaurant food. The menu rule only applies to restaurants that serves standardized portion sizes and have 15 or more locations nationwide. Starting last Saturday, chains big enou

8、gh to fall under the rule will face penalties about up to 2,000 dollars for not showing calorie information in a prominent spot on their menus, preferably next to the price.News Report ThreeAlmost all companies recognize the importance of innovation today. But not many are able to integrate innovati

9、on into their business. A commentary in the Shanghai Daily points out that innovation doesnt mean piles of documents. Its something more practical. The article says many people tend to assume that innovation just means creating something new, but actually its more than that. Its an attitude of doing

10、 things. A company should find ways to innovate not just in products but also in functions, business models and processes. The article cites the global giant Procter & Gamble as an example, saying a real innovative company should develop an innovation culture and use it as a primary tool for success

11、. Procter & Gamble has a “Corporate Innovation Fund” which offers big rewards for high-risk ideas that succeed. It also has a special innovation facility for its employees. Sometimes its employees are released from their daily jobs for weeks and spend their time interacting in the innovation facilit

12、y instead. In conclusion, the article says innovative ideas alone do not ensure success. Its pointless unless there is a repeatable process in place to turn inspiration into financial performance.Section BConversation OneM: So, Linzy, do you like to text message on your cell phone?W: Yeah, I text me

13、ssage a lot.M: I dont do it so much. I prefer to make a call if Im in a hurry.W: Yeah, I go both ways. Sometimes I dont really want to talk to the person. I just want to ask them one question, so its much easier for me just to text message. If I call them, Ill have to have a long conversation.M: Yea

14、h, I can see what you mean. But I get off the phone pretty quickly when I call. Im not a big talker.W: Yeah, thats true. You dont talk a lot.M: So are you fast at writing the messages with your thumb?W: Well, when I first got a cell phone, I was so slow. I thought I would never text message. But the

15、n people kept text-messaging me, so I felt obliged to learn how to text message. So now Im pretty fast. What about you?M: Actually I have the opposite problem. When I first got my cell phone, I thought it was so cool to text message all my friends who have one, and I was pretty fast with my thumb th

16、en. But it seems like now I dont use it so much, Ive got slower actually.W: Yeah, I think text messaging actually sort of has to do with your age. For example, people in high school, they text message a lot. But I asked my father if he texted messages, and guess what he said?M: What?W: He said hed n

17、ever text message. He thinks its very childish and unprofessional to text message.M: Yeah, I can see what he means. Its considered pretty informal to text message to someone.Conversation TwoW: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. How can I help you?M: Well, Id like to talk to you about Tim Bond, the departmen

18、t manager.W: What seems to be the problem?M: Well, ever since Sandra left the department, I feel like Ive been targeted to do all her work as well as mine. Im expected to attend too many meetings and I seem to be spending a lot of my time doing unnecessary paper work.W: Im sorry to hear that.M: And,

19、 on top of that, Id specifically asked if I could leave early last Friday as I done a lot of overtime during the week. But that afternoon, even though Id finished my assigned work, I was told to help other colleagues finish their work, too.W: But surely thats a positive sign showing that Mr. Bond ha

20、s a lot of trust in you.M: Yes, but other colleagues get to leave early, and they dont have such a lot of work to do.W: So you feel hes really making unrealistic demands on you?M: Yes, absolutely.W: Have you approached Mr. Bond about this particular problem?M: Ive tried, but it seems like he just ha

21、s no time for me.W: Well, at this stage, it would be better if you approached him directly. If nothing else showing that youve tried to solve the problem yourself before you take it further, makes it clear that youre just not a complainer. Why dont you send an email requesting a meeting with him in

22、private?M: Hmm, Ive been a bit worried about his reaction. But anyway Ill send him an email to request a meeting, and Ill see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice.W: Good luck. And let us know the outcome.Section CPassage OneThe massive decline in sleep happened so slowly and quietly that

23、 few seemed to notice the trend. Was it because of the growing attraction of the Internet, video games and endless TV channels? Never disconnecting from work? No matter how it happened, millions of Americans are putting their health, quality of life and even length of life in danger.New evidence sho

24、ws why getting enough sleep is a top priority. Some 40% of Americans get less than 7 hours of shuteye on week nights. “The link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease is becoming clearer and clearer,” says Lawrence Epstein, a sleep expert at Harvard University. For example, sleep durati

25、on has declined from some 8 hours in the 1950s to 7 in recent years. At the same time, high blood pressure has become an increasing problem. Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep. People who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure, heart attack, diabet

26、es, weight gain and other problems.Sleeping better may help fight off illness. “When people are sleep-derived, there are higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies which can decrease immune function,” says Doctor Felice of Northwestern University in Chicago. A university of Chicago study shows

27、 people who sleep well live longer. So say good night sooner and it may help you stay active and vital to a ripe old age.Passage TwoParents and teachers will tell you not to worry when applying for a place at university. But in the same breath well remind you that it is the most important decision o

28、f your life.The first decision is your choice of course. It will depend on what you want to get out of university, what you are good at and what you enjoy. The next decision is where to apply. Aim high but within reason. Do you have the right combination of subjects and are your expected grades like

29、ly to meet entry requirements? The deadline is January 15th. But it is best to submit your application early because universities begin work as soon as forms start rolling in.The most important part of the application is the much feared personal statement. This is your chance to convey boundless ent

30、husiasm for the subject. So economy of expression is foremost. Omit dull and ineffective generalities and make sure you give concrete examples.Admissions officers read every personal statement that arrives. It is not convincing if you say you have chosen the subject because you enjoy it. You have to

31、 get across what it is about a particular area that has inspired you. They will look for evidence that you have reflected and thought about the subject.Applicants should be honest. There is no point saying you run marathons, if you are going to be out of breath arriving at the interview on the secon

32、d floor.Passage ThreeIt is usually agreed that a German, Karl Benz, built the first motor car in 1885. It was actually a tricycle with a petrol motor at the rear. Soon, members of the royal family and other wealthy people took up motoring as a sport. The early cars had 2 seats. There were no petrol pumps and few garages, so every driver had to be his own engineer for the frequent breakdowns.By 1905, cars began to look like cars of today, with head lamps, wind screen, rubble tires and number plates. Henry Fords Model T introduced in A