听力原文： Good evening. You are listening to Pop World of BCD International. I'm Sally Brown. Today, we are going to hear several current hits of the world's most popular artists.

M: I'm afraid I can't right now. The results probably won't come out before Friday. Q: What is the woman？ (16) A．A patient. B．A student. C．A customer. D．An employee.

M: Well, if you could stop listening to the pop music and give me some peace and quiet, I might have done a bit better, Mum. Q: What is the man suggesting？ (17) A．He suggests his mother stop listening to pop music. B．He suggests his mother stop scolding them. C．He suggests his mother stop listening to his teacher. D．He suggests his mother stop talking too much.

Man: Well, I was thirty and settled at work, but then I came across a report predicting annual internet growth at 2,300%. The figure was like an alarm clock ringing in my head. I started to think about the regrets I might have at eighty. I realised I probably wouldn't even remember the things that seemed important in my thirties (like getting my end-of-year pay bonus. But I'd definitely tell myself I'd been a fool to ignore the internet. Woman: How did you go about choosing a product？ Man: Well, I drew up a list of twenty products, from clothes to gardening tools, and from that I got a shortlist of five, and then I assessed them. I thought about market growth in different countries and I also did some research into suppliers. But there were other important factors as well. I wanted a product that didn't retail for too high a figure. I thought that since many people would be buying from the internet for the first time, they might be afraid to take a risk with large amounts of money. Woman: And what made you decide on books？ Man: Well, basically, I found out that books had an eighty-two billion dollar market world-wide. There's also a high demand for CDs - a product I nearly went for - but with books there's a much wider choice. There're 3 million items in the book category, but only 300,000 in CDs. This choice meant the capabilities of the computer - in organisation and selection - could be put to good use. Woman: Bookstore has certainly been very successful. Why do you think that is？ Man: Well, it's not been easy. For the first five years, it was a struggle raising funds and developing the right software. The ideas weren't the difficult bit. If you and I sat down here for an hour, we'd come up with a hundred good ideas. The hard bit is making those ideas work. There are several key elements, which for me were research, recruiting the right staff, and prioritising. Woman: And you're satisfied with your customer growth？ Man: Well, it was a bit slow at first but then it picked up and from May '97 we started to see our greatest growth. We went from a hundred and twenty million dollars annual sales revenue to two hundred and thirty million dollars by the end of that year, and from 340,000 customers to 15 million. 58% of them were repeat customers. By '98, sales had reached almost three hundred and ten million dollars. Woman: And is Bookstore's success reflected in its profits？ Man: Well, at the moment we're focusing on introducing ourselves to customers and we spend a lot on advertising. Anything else would be a poor management decision. But, of course, it's reflected in our final figures. It's not unusual for a four-year-old company like ours to be in an investment cycle. What is more unusual is for a young company like Bookstore to be sold on the stock market, which happened in July '97. Woman: Bookstore is well-known for its high- quality customer service. What is the secret of your success in this area？ Man: Well, firstly our books are delivered fast and any complaints are dealt with by email and what's important is that the email is always answered in a friendly way, with the emphasis on 'the customer is always fight'. In fact, customers sometimes feel guilty about complaining because Bookstore staff are so helpful! Regular customers are recognised when they go to our website, and we suggest titles to them, based on their previous purchases. Woman: Do you think Bookstore offers a better service than its competitors？ Man: Well, yes. We'd been in the market for about two years before most of our competitors started so we had a head start and although some have caught up now, we're still cheaper. Our book price includes tax and delivery. Most of our competitors' prices don't. But what's more important is that B A．he was earning yep/little in his job. B．he had reached the age for a career change. C．he had to respond to a business opportunity.

M: Yes, it must be three or four years. I haven't visited you since I called about my will. You helped me with that, you remember？ W: Yes, I remember. Do you want to make any changes in your will？ M: I don't think that will be necessary, but you'll tell me if it is. I left everything, you remember, to my wife, and after her death, to my son Jerry. I've about $15,000 in shares of industrial companies. These bring in, after paying tax, about ＄1,125 a year. Well, I'm earning a good salary now, and I shall get a good pension from my employers, so my wife and I can live fairly comfortably with this extra income, I want to buy some land and build a house for my son; he will need a house when he gets married. I'm thinking of building one and giving it to him. W: Your son's lucky. So you want my help buying the land and building the house. M: Yes, that's right. As soon as you've done what's necessary for buying the land, Jerry and I will see an architect. W: Have you found a plot yet？ M: Jerry was in Edinburgh last Saturday and saw a plot he likes. My wife and I went there two days ago, and we liked it, too. I'd like you to make the necessary inquiries for me. W: I'd be pleased to do that. I shall have to write to the Local Authority and inquire whether it is allowed to build a house on your piece of land. You've not allowed to build a house without permission from the Planning Authority. And sometimes the Authority decides that a house must be built of stone, and not of brick, so that it doesn't spoil the surrounding village. How long have they not met each other？ A．Half a year. B．Two years. C．Three or four years. D．More than five years.

M: I remember receiving their calendar of activities in my campus mailbox a week ago. I didn't really look at it though. Isn't that where they organize parties and trips for foreign students？ W: Not just for foreign students. The International Center's activities are intended for all students. They set up conversation tutorials for a variety of languages, and, through the center's Host Family Program, you can visit the home of a local family. M: Now that you mention it, it would be nice to meet more people from this area. I find the customs of this country really confusing sometimes. But also there are times when I need to talk to people who come from other countries as I do. I'll bet a lot of them feel the way I do. W: Of course. You are not the only person who is new around here. Take me. My family lives five hundred miles away from here. That isn't another country, but it is a long distance. The center is a good place for meeting people who can tell you how to get to know this city. And if you ever feel lonely, you can go over there and find someone to talk to. On week nights, they don't close until 11: 30. M: I guess it's worth visiting. Did you say you are going there tonight？ W: Uh-huh, to a coffee hour at eight. M: All right. I'll come, too. I might as well see what the International Center is like. How about meeting me in front of the library and we'll walk there together？ W: Sure. See you then. What does the International Center send out to students？ A．A diagram of their facilities. B．A timetable of events. C．Maps of the city. D．Samples of coffee from other countries.

M：Not yet. I'm still waiting for the letters from other companies. Q：What does the man mean？ (18) A．He will write a letter to another company. B．He has received many job offers. C．He hasn't accepted the job offer. D．He will let the woman have the job.

M：Are you talking to me？ The music in my earphone is so loud． Q：What can be inferred from this conversation？ (13) A．The man is focusing on reading books. B．The man likes reading books. C．The man pretends not hearing the woman. D．The man is listening to the music.

W: I am sorry, Bob. My schedule is just too tight. Next time I come, we must find time together and have a good chat. M: I hope so. What do we learn from the woman's reply？ A．She will find time to meet Bob on her next visit. B．She will call Bob when she comes again. C．She will visit Bob before she leaves. D．She has no interest in chatting with Bob.

W: I like watching kids, and I need the extra money. I'd like to talk to you about my new rate increases. What does the woman mean？ A．She is asking for a higher pay. B．She is introducing a new friend. C．She is too busy. D．She's got some problems.

M: Sure, and I'll arrange for extra chairs. Is there anything else you want me to do？ W: Please get Hari to ensure that all the sound equipment is working fine. Last week we had a problem with the microphones. M: Yes, we need to be extra careful this time. But I'm sure Hari's at his job already. What does the woman want the man to do？ A．Send out the invitations. B．Arrange for accommodations. C．Welcome guests to a show. D．Supervise preparations for an event.

W: Work late？ I... I suppose so, if you really think it's necessary. Q: Who do you think the woman is？ (2) A．The man's wife. B．The man's secretary. C．The man's sister. D．The man's boss.

M：Not at all. I certainly don't want to talk about it during our meal. Q：When will they probably discuss the agenda？ (18) A．Before dinner. B．During dinner. C．Right after dinner. D．The next day.

M: I buy a share in two holiday homes, so I own a week or more at each place. Time-sharing is the way many people afford seemingly expensive holidays. Q: What advice does the man give for people unable to afford expensive holiday homes？ (14) A．To buy only one holiday home. B．To buy at most two holiday homes. C．To buy a week or more at each of two holiday homes. D．To share holiday homes with others by buying a room.

W: Yes, well, um, we've done a survey on local entertainment. Basically, we tried to find out how students feel about the entertainment in the town and how much they use it. So we've called our project "Out and About"... M: Yes, that's a good title! W: We wanted to find out how well students use the entertainment facilities in town... whether they get to see the latest plays, films... that kind of thing. Actually there were a lot of areas to choose from but in the end we limited ourselves to looking at two general categories: cinema and theatre. M: Right. W: OK. Well, first of all the cinema. In the town, there are three main places where you can see films. There's the new multi-screen cinema complex, the old park cinema, and a late-night odeon. In terms of audience size, the multi-screen complex accounts for 75% of all cinema seats, the park cinema accounts for 20% of seats and the late-night odeon has just 5% of seats. M: Yes, as is shown in your chart. W: As you probably know, the complex and the park show all the latest films, while the late-night cinema tends to show cult films. So, when we interviewed the students, we thought the complex would be the most popular choice of cinema... but surprisingly it was the late-night odeon. Most students said that if they wanted to see a film, they waited for it to show at the park because the complex is more expensive and further out of town so you have to pay more to get there as well. M: Yes, and that adds to the cost, of course, and distracts from the popularity, evidently. W: Well, next, we looked at theatres. There's the Stage Theatre in town, which is very old and architecturally quite beautiful. And there's also the large, modem theatre, the Ashtop, that has recently been built. But the thing about the theatres is that there's a whole variety of seat prices. Also, the types of performance vary... so students tend to buy seats at both and like using both for different reasons and if they want cheap seats at the Ashtop, they can just sit further from the front. M: And anything else？ W: Yes. What we did find that was very interesting is that there are periods during the year when students seem to go to the theatre and periods when they go to the cinema and we really think that's to do with the budget. There's a peak around November and December when they go to the theatre more and then a period in April and May when neither is particularly popular and then theatre viewing seems to tail off virtually while the cinema becomes quite popular in June and July. M: Mmm. I think you're probably right about your conclusions... (23) A．The entertainment on campus. B．The entertainment facilities students use in town. C．The kinds of films and plays students enjoy. D．The cinemas and theatres students like to go to.

W: It's simple. I don't mind being married to my career. Q: What's Annie's attitude towards her future？ (14) A．She will live a simple life. B．She will fully focus on her job. C．She will quit her job to get married. D．She will stay with someone unmarried.

W: Yes, I am, and I'm counting the days until retirement. Q: What can we learn about the woman？ (18) A．She loves her present work. B．She is going to open a store. C．She is about to retire. D．She works in a repair shop.

Well, at the beginning, I would like to say a few words to my dear listeners who are not very familiar with this program. Because many people want to listen to and understand pop songs, radio producers at BCD International have made hundreds of programs over the years. We not only have access to the stars of the music world, but also have a vast library of "golden oldie" classics, as well as the "latest releases". For those of you who like a bit of background of your favorite music--there are The History of Pop and The Road to Music. These two series bring you the language of pop music and information about the periods and the artists. If you want to hear from the artists themselves, there's a new series called About the Big Hits. This is based on interviews with popular singers and songwriters. They speak to us about the meanings and ideas behind their songs. If you want to understand the words to the big music hits, Pop Words is the program for you. After all, it's hard enough for native English speakers to understand most pop songs--so, if English isn't your first language, you shouldn't be surprised if the words to many songs leave you in the dark. It was to address exactly this problem that BCD International started broadcasting Pop Words just over 23 years ago... [fade out] Which of the following is covered in BCD International programs？ A．Interviews with radio producers. B．A large variety of pop songs. C．News from the music library. D．Stories about the good old days.

(26) A．Effective self-management skills are key to academic and career success. B．If you spend a lot of time on your school work, you will become a good manager later. C．School work can be time-consuming and is likely to make you feel exhausted after class. D．Good management calls for more time and energy on the part of the academic staff.

W: Thank you. M: Well, we hear it a lot in the news these days: "Recycle newspapers and save a tree. Collect bottles and cans so they can be reused in the manufacturing of new products." But how to promote the recycling movement？ Can you give us some suggestions？ W: I think there are three essential keys. M: What is the first one？ W: The first key is to have a more informed public, that is, to raise public awareness about the recycling process, to explain the kinds of materials that can be recycled, and provide ways on how to properly dispose of them. Local governments should educate the public on how to properly sort reusable materials from those, like waxed paper, carbon paper, plastic material such as fast food wrappers, that can't be recycled very easily. M: Then what is the second key？ W: The second is the development of improved technology. Technological progress has been made on many fronts, but governmental agencies need to step up their support for companies involved in recycling by providing tax incentives, low-cost loans, or even grants to upgrade equipment and to encourage further research. M: So what about the third essential key？ W: The final key is to develop a greater demand for recycled materials. This means increasing demand for the growing surplus of resources waiting to be recycled. M: Recycling is a crucial link protecting our planet. The three keys Mrs. Green mentioned are important ways to achieve this end. Thanks for joining us, Mrs. Green. W: You're welcome. (23) A．Keys to paper recycling. B．Importance of recycling. C．Keys to recycling improvement. D．Technological progress in recycling.

W: Sure. Weren't you in class on Monday？ That's when it was given out. M: No, I missed that class. Was there a handout？ W: No, the instructor just wrote the assignment on the board. M: Could I copy the assignment from your notes？ W: You could, ff I had copied it all down; but I just wrote down the part that I wanted. M: Oh, no. W: You see, there were four choices of topics ior the term paper; but, when I saw them, I knew which one I wanted so I didn't copy the others down. M: Can you remember any o'f the others？ W: Let's see. There was one about World War I, something about it, but I don't remember what, and there was one called "the idea of progress in the nineteenth century." M: And what was the last one？ W: I can't remember. My mind is a complete blank. Maybe you can ask someone else. M: Yes, I will. Anyway, those are certainly broad topics. W: Yes, but you van focus on a special area within them. Which one would you take？ M: Of course, I don't know what the last one is, but of these three, I think I'd take "the idea of progress." W: That's very abstract. M: Yes, but it's one of my interests and I've read a lot on the subject. I've never written a term paper on it though. W: Me neither. I haven't even read about it. Are you going to class on Wednesday？ M: Yes. W: Maybe he'll write it on the board again. M: I hope so. Good luck with your paper. W: Same to you. (23) A．Three. B．Four. C．Five. D．Six.

B: Good Evening! Everybody! A: Eric! We knew you are working in a very successful, multi-million dollar company, could you tell us why this company becomes so successful？ B: Well, I think its success down to corporate culture. This culture is something that's been in place for some time. We're involved in basically every major decision within the company — from setting client expectations to implementing a new dust protection system. As production coordinator, I get to know our customers well, so it was a natural for me to volunteer to call past clients. I loved it and got immediate results. A：Could you tell us more？ B: We also organize anti-bureaucrat weeks, where all the managers have to work in the store showrooms, warehouses or restaurants for at least one week a year. A: So, that really makes SilverMark Inc. Design & Build a fascinating place to work for. You will hear two people talking about corporate culture of company. Name of programme: (5)______ Eric Finucane works as (6)______ in the company. The company organizes (7)______ in the company All the managers have to work (8)______ a year in warehouses or restaurants.

M: I'm so sorry that I didn't realize I was bothering anyone else. I can promise that it won't happen again. Q: Why does the woman complain that the music is quite annoying？ (7) A．Because the man's taste in music is bad. B．Because the man plays the music at night. C．Because the man plays annoying music. D．Because the man plays the music at a high volume.

M: I don't think so, but returning back home was really hard. W: Why？ M: Well, for many students, returning back to their home countries can be a very confusing experience. W: Re-entry Shock! That sounds quite interesting. Can you explain it？ M: For example, many students who come to the United States experience freedoms they have never enjoyed in their country. W: Sure, such as freedom from family, freedom from cultural norms they didn't like and freedom from the pressures of working in a real job. M: However, too much freedom and unstructured life can lead to other problems. Students sometimes skip classes, stay out late, and engage in activities that their families and cultures might not approve of, but students want to enjoy "freedom" while it lasts. W: So when students return back to their countries, they can struggle with fitting back into the cultural norms and family expectations of the past. M: Yes. Naturally, depression is possible and a loss of self can result. W: Then what can students do to minimize this Re-entry Shock？ M: First of all, keep in contact with your family and friends while you are abroad. They will be your first source of advice and support once you return. W: What else？ M: Second, have a clear plan what you will do when you return. Start looking for a job now or apply to enter a school months before you return. Re-entry Shock can be greatest when you have nothing to do when you return. (23) A．How to go abroad for study. B．How to enjoy the freedom abroad. C．How to look for a job after returning back from abroad. D．Re-entry Shock and how to reduce it.

A．He’s going through an operation． B．He’s getting sick． C．He’s had an accident． D．He looks good today．