听力原文：A newspaper reports Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah has canceled a visit to

W: I’m really lucky you stopped and offered me a lift. I’ve been waiting for about two hours but no one seemed to be going my way. M: Are you a student？ W: Yes, I’m a biology student in London University. I’m going up to Edinburgh for the festival, but it’s so expensive on the train that I decided to try and hitch a lift. M: Well, you are lucky because I should have been going yesterday, but something happened to delay me so I postponed my trip until today. W: Is it all right if I put my bag on the back seat？ M: Yes, of course. W: It started to rain just as I left the house this morning and my clothes and shoes are wet through. Would you mind if I take off my shoes？ M: No, of course not. I don’t mind. Go ahead. W: Thanks. M: Oh, don’t forget to put your seat belt on! You can get fined nowadays, you know, for not wearing your seat belt. W: Yes, sorry, I forgot. Could I open this window？ M: Well, I’d rather you don’t if you don’t mind. It gets very draughty when you open that window. But you can open the back window. W: Is it all right if I go to sleep for a while？ M: Yes, of course. I’ll wake you up when we reach the next service station. I’ll need some coffee then. (23) A．Because she has a company for the drive. B．Because she can attend the festival. C．Because the man stopped and offered her a lift. D．Because the man provided a shelter from the rain.

Six pairs will compete in the Aug. 20 "Black OPS: Hack Attack Challenge 2004," organized by the government-funded National Infocomm Competency Center, said its marketing manager Yvonne Choo. They will "penetrate, exploit, gain access and obtain privileged information from the other teams' servers, for the purpose of corporate espionage," the center said on its Web site. Teams will also have to defend their organization's networks against hacking from other teams in the daylong event, it added. Choo said he hoped the contest would help shed light on ways to prevent actual computer attacks. The prize for the best hacker will be a DVD burner and free computer classes. Asia has been the root of some of the worst attacks by hackers in recent years. In May 2000, the so-called Love Bug virus, released in the Philippines, overwhelmed e mail systems worldwide and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. Close to 80 percent of Singapore's 4 million citizens own personal computers and the island is largely considered to be the most technologically advanced in Southeast Asia. Hackers can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to S$10,000 (US$5,810) under the city-state's Computer Misuse Act. According to the report, the contest will last ______ days. A．one B．two C．four D．six

M：Yeah, it's a huge increase. How are you managing your budget？ W：Well, (23)I got a student loan, which is just over ￡3 000, but also I get some money from my parents as well. They're happy to help out because it's towards an education；as long as we're not just wasting it all in drinking it all away. I am in the 3rd year.1 went to the end of my overdraft a couple of times and I'm lucky to have middle class parents who can help me out really. M：But mostly your finances have been poor! W：(24)That's because of the summer. If I just 1ived as a normal student and then worked during the summer it wouldn't be so bad—but I go on big holidays and things. This year I went to the Philippines and then came back overland from Singapore, which is a wicked experience, but eats into your finances obviously. What about you？ M：My parents came to the arrangement that first of all they paid the fees for me；secondly they paid my hall fees； and thirdly they gave me an allowance. W：That's quite practical. But can you manage？ M：Yeah, I did excellently. I decided first of all I was going to get a first, which I did, and secondly 1 was not going to have any debts.(25)I put the money in a high interest account, so I came out with no debts at all. But I did live on Marmite sandwiches almost for three years. (20) A．She earned a scholarship which covers all her studies. B．She got both a student loan and support from parents. C．She received a student loan and had a part-time job. D．She had overdrawn her loan and let parents help out.

W: I know. And she has been doing nothing else ever since. Q: What is Mary's occupation now？ (15) A．Secretary. B．Reporter. C．Teacher. D．Shop assistant.

M: Well; Mr. Smith seems to be the wrong person to head that department. One more wrong step and he will be removed from that office. Q: What can we learn from the conversation？ (16) A．Mr. Smith will be replaced if he makes another mistake. B．Mr. Smith is an admirable chief of the Asian department. C．Mr. Smith's department is more successful than ail the others. D．Mr. Smith is seldom in his office.

W: Well, it's not done. But it's not due till next week. Q: What can be inferred about the woman？ (19) A．She wants to hand in her report early. B．She is sorry the man has to cancel the plan. C．She would like to go to the symphony with the man. D．She can't go to the symphony because of her unfinished report.

(30) A．The committee voted against the proposed project. B．The committee approved against the proposed project. C．The committee considered the short report well written. D．The committee was convinced by the documented report.

听力原文： Reports say Japan and US have reached an agreement on a dispute over air-cargo transport rights in Asia. The agreement means Washington and Tokyo will re-negotiate 1952 Aviation Treaty which allowed American airlines to fly on from Tokyo to other places of Asia but didn't allow Japanese airlines the same way to fly on from America to other destinations. Tokyo has always said that the treaty was unfair and Japan has always wanted it changed. According to the agreement, Japan will allow American airlines carrier Federal Express to fly on through Tokyo to seven other destinations in Asia. Now Japan has always said it was happy to allow that if the treaty was re-negotiated. It does seem very clear that Japan will come out of this one on top. This is certainly not the first dispute and certainly won't be the last dispute, either. There are several outstanding areas of friction between Japan and US. At the moment, they are negotiating about photographic film and photographic paper. It could take a year to resolve. But even where the two countries do reach an agreement, there is still room for argument. They reach the famous car agreement about a month ago. They are still bickering about it. Japan and the United States are now A．negotiating about photographic material. B．negotiating an automobile agreement. C．facing serious problems in trade. D．on the verge of a large-scale trade war.

Why was I so late in getting home？ A．My boss was working on the reports. B．I would have to finish the reports before the end of next month. C．I was directed to stay late and finish some work.

听力原文： A United Nations report says sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where extreme poverty continues to grow over a recent twenty-year period. In its annual report Tuesday, the UN Industrial Development Organization says forty-seven percent of all people living in sub-Saharan Africa subsist on less than one dollar a day. The group said that figure increased by five percentage points in the years between 1981 and 2001. In contrast, the group said the number of people worldwide living in absolute poverty fell from forty percent to twenty-one percent during that same time. How many people lived in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa in 1981？ A．37% of all the people there. B．42% of all the people there. C．45% of all the people there. D．47% of all the people there.

"I am studying the report, and I will make a recommendation to the Security Council very shortly. And I am likely to indicate that we proceed with status talks," he said. When asked when he might make his recommendation, Mr. Annan replied, "maybe sooner than you think." The secretary-general appointed senior Norwegian diplomat Kal Eide last June to study progress on the U.N. standards. Diplomats who have seen the report say it sharply criticizes both majority ethnic Albanians and minority Serbs in the province for the slow pace of progress, but nevertheless concludes that future status negotiations should begin. The Security Council is expected to take up the Kosovo question the last week of October. If the 15-member body agrees, talks on Kosovo's future status could begin in November. According the news, the UN has set standards for Kosovo on ______. A．minority rights and democracy B．minority rights and publicity C．economy and politics D．justice and democracy

M: Thanks Mary. Unfortunately, based on the general response, you and I are definitely in the minority. Q: What does the man mean？ (15) A．He doesn't expect the article to be published. B．The woman doesn't fully understand the article. C．Few readers agreed with his ideas. D．Very few people have read his article.

(22) A．The editor in chief didn't know that the figures were accurate. B．The editor in chief expressed doubt about the accuracy of the figures. C．The editor in chief questioned the reporter about the accuracy of his article. D．The editor in chief had telephoned someone and requested for a draft report.

W：It’s pretty reasonable．It never took me more than five hours a week to do all the grading and another thirty to fourty minutes to record the grades on the computer． M：That sounds manageable．I think you can do the work when it fits into your own schedule, too,can't you？ W:Oh, yeah, you can do the grading in your room or in the library. You just need to get each set back for the next class, but that means you always have at least two days and sometimes four. M: It sounds great. W:Good luck with your interview. Why was the woman able to give the man so much information about the job？ A．She is Professor Jamison's daughter. B．She works part-time as Profess or Jamison's secretary. C．She used to do the job herself.

W: Only two and a half. But it does seem longer. Q: What does the woman say about the report？ (18) A．It's the longest report she's ever written. B．She's only half way done with it. C．She'll finish it in two weeks. D．She has spent less time on it than the man thinks.

A．The weather． B．The newspaper． C．The whether． D．The rain．

I was told that you lived there for quite a long time. W: Oh, I wish I could help. But I was only a child then. Q: What does the woman imply？ (6) A．She doesn't remember much about the city. B．She's never been to the city. C．She would find someone else to help. D．She would talk to the man later.

"Based on what we know now, we are retracting our original story that an internal military investigation had uncovered Koran abuse at Guantanamo Bay," Newsweek Editor Mark Whitaker said in a statement, a day after apologizing for the report. The retraction came as the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department all heavily criticized the report and said it had damaged the U.S. image abroad. White House spokesman Scott McClellan had said it was "puzzling" that Newsweek had not retracted the story a day after apologizing for it. The original report in Newsweek reported ______ A．that 16 Afghanistan prisoners were killed at Guantanamo Bay B．that interrogators dishallowed the Koran at Guantanamo Bay C．that interrogators heavily criticized U.S. policy at Guantanamo Bay D．that prisoners of war were abused at Guantanamo Bay

M: I do have a lot of papers and magazines down on the basement. Volunteers used to come by these apartments regularly to collect waste paper. I still save it but people seldom ask for it nowadays and I' ve never gone over to the recycling center myself. W: That’s typical. A few years ago people were really enthusiastic about musing waste paper. Unfortunately, interest has been decreasing lately. Manufacturers now use waste paper for things, like paper bags, towels, napkins and boxes. But the demand is down. I think they need to find new commercial uses for recycled paper. M: I suppose things like greeting cards, calendars and writing paper could be made from it too. But recycled paper usually has a dingy color, doesn't it？ W: Well, it wouldn’t be suitable for art books or high-quality magazine paper. But who cares about the drab color if waste paper can take place of virgin wood pulp and so help to preserve forests. M: You are right. I'll bring my waste paper over to your apartment in a little while. Thanks for offering to take it. According to the speakers, what products are now made from recycled paper？ A．Paper towels, napkins, bags and boxes. B．Insulation for basements. C．Art books and other high-quality printed matter. D．Imitation wood.

M: Thank you, Miss Carlyle, I'm in bad need of such suggestions because, to be frank, my company, although small, is rapidly expanding. And please, call me Len. So, what are your recommendations for my new organizational structure？ W: Call me Mary. First, let's start with your operation here. You should set up separate Administrative, Clerical, Back office, and Support functions. There's too much work for your personnel to wear more than one hat any more. M: Yes, they're already overworked. But that will entail more Managerial functions, won't it？ W: That's right, Lea, and you'll need at least two new managers for separate Marketing and Product Development departments. M: OK, Mary. What else？ W: I think you'll need an Executive assistant to help you deal with corporate affairs. That should do it for your headquarters here, but since your business is no longer just local, I also suggest setting up a regional office in the south. M: What about personnel there？ W: You'll need the same basic functionality as here, on a reduced scale. Product Development is only needed at headquarters for now. Your regional head can manage all functions there initially, but will probably need an assistant, also. And that's it! M: Thanks for your advice, Mary. You do help a lot. Looks like I'll need that assistant right away to help me set all this up! (23) A．A personnel manager. B．A business consultant. C．A secretary. D．An assistant.

W: There are about a thousand protein receptors in the nose that tell the brain what it's smelling. Each receptor can detect one or more odors but scientists have never before linked a specific odor molecule to a particular receptor. Writing in the journal Science, researchers at New York's Columbia University report doing just that with a meat odor and a receptor in the noses of rats. Steward Fairstine led the team of investigators. He says humans arc capable of discerning something like ten thousand different odors. Mrs. Fairstine says the research might also tell scientists more about brain chemicals and hormones which are part of the same family as odor receptors. Jessica Bermon, VOA news, Washington. The research was done by scientists at ______. A．New York University B．Columbia University in New York C．Washington University D．Harvard University

U.N. officials the country say RUF commanders have handed over rifles and other weapons, vehicles, equipment and uniforms at a U. N. ceremony in the northern town of Makeni, a rebel strong hold that U. N. troops moved in to earlier this year. A U.N. statement says the leader of the rebel delegation, Colonel Ngulu Kpakai, told the U. N. commander that logistical problems had prevented the return of all the U.N. equipment. He promised to hand over more in the future. The rebels seized the military equipment when they surrounded and seized hundreds of U. N. peacekeepers. The U. N. troops were later released through negotiations and the rebels pledged to return the equipment during peace talks. Which one of the following is NOT mentioned in the llst of the military equipment handed over？ A．Rifles. B．Vehicles. C．Uniforms. D．Fuel.

The report acknowledges great progress has been made in the eradication of certain childhood diseases such as polio and measles. However, it emphasizes that for millions of the world' s children, armed conflicts, disease and forced labor continue to take a heavy toll. Susan Surandon, the American film actress who is recently appointed UNICEF special representative, told reporters that 3 main factors are endangering the lives and futures of the world' s children. "Poverty is killing our children; HIV is killing our children, disproportionately in sub-Saharan Africa; armed conflict is killing our children. And when I say killing, I mean their bodies and their souls their futures, our futures." Ms. Surandon cited statistics which show that in the last decade 2 million children died in wars, 6 million were disabled as the result of armed conflicts, and 14 million have been orphaned by the disease AIDS. A special focus in this year' s UNICEF report is on the rights of adolescents. No longer children in the traditional sense, the report says adolescents still need positive support and guidance and the opportunity to finish school. Breck Ardery, VOA News, at the United Nations. According to the UNICEF report, great progress has been made in the protection of world' s children from______. A．some childhood diseases B．AIDS C．wars D．forced labor

How does it feel to finally get the deal？ I’m very happy, of course, but it would have been better if it were a few years ago, otherwise cable wouldn’t have made those investments and would have been more vulnerable. How are you going to win customers away from cable？ To a certain extent, we’re just going to give better service — cable and satellite both have had reputations for service — and if we want to get customers, we’d better have someone on the phone in 30 seconds rather than 20 minutes. And we will be investing a lot in research and development to get the most advanced technology for our set-top boxes and to get a lot of more interactivity. Will you be giving set-top boxes for free？ Well, Jack Lonergan, Echo Star Communications Corp. Chairman, is already giving away some of the boxes. We will be matching him. But if we are manufacturing boxes with more features than he is giving, then we will charge something. But we will be subsidizing to the extent that he does. Do you intend to undercut cable’s prices to start a price war？ We are not going into a price war with anyone. But overall, digital satellite today is getting about $54 a month per customer, and cable is averaging about $66 at the moment. People want digital offerings, because cable is just too expensive. What about broadband？ Cable offers it; satellite can’t. I am inclined to think that broadband will be a commodity. I am not sure about that, but it’s certainly physically possible to get first-class broadband service by satellite. People genuinely seem to fear you. Why is that？ Ah, "the crazy people who will change the world". This company has always been a stimulus for change — Fox News is a stimulus for change, BSKYB was. Someone told me that there Were two crazy people in the media business — Ted Turner and me — and now there is only one. And that’s not a bad thing to keep people guessing. Still, in Britain, you forced MTV to lower its rates for your BSKYB service. Will you force US programmers to lower their rates to get carried on Direct TV？ I hope to have a good relation and compromise. But they want give us more and more channels — and charge us for them. So if they want us to carry one of their channels, they have to promise it will get an audience. You have said you would use sports as battering ram. Will Fox TV or the Fox Sports Network bid against ESPN for Sunday Night NEL football when it comes up in 2006？ It is too early to say. I would be happy to leave things as they are. but the NFL may try to do something with cable to expand their revenues. To try to take on ESPN would be too expensive. I am not committing myself, but at current prices we are to keep what we have. Your sons, Lachlan and James. are both in top jobs, Who will succeed you？ They will both learn and develop. And my daughter may be coming back into the company. But the board will decide. I won’t be around. I’ll probably drop dead on the job. ？You will hear an interview with Peter Smith, CEO of Direct TV. ？For questions 23-30, mark one letter (A, B or C) for the correct answer. ？You will hear the recording twice. Mr. Smith believed that his promotion came A．too early. B．a bit late. C．just in time.