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听力原文:Woman: Good morning, Richard. Now, in 1994 you were a computer science graduate with a good job working for an investment company . . . and then you started Bookstore. Why?
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.
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听力原文:Our prices are lower than those of any of our competitors by 5% to 10%. Besides, we have our products right here for immediate delivery.
(26)
A.We offer a five to ten percent discount unless you require immediate delivery.
B.We promise to refund the money if we cannot send our products in time.
C.If you order our products right now, we will give you certain commission in cash.
D.Buying our products will save not only your money, but also your time.
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听力原文:W: Manager, I have to inform. you that there is an error in our invoice to Mr. Smith for the shoes he ordered on May 25.
M: OK, just change "carriage forward" to "carriage paid". We can't lose this customer.
Q: What did the customer order on May 25?
(12)
A.Invoice.
B.Shoes.
C.Carriage.
D.Error.
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听力原文:M: The washing machine in our apartment is more than seventeen years old, and it worked just fine until last night. Now, I can't for the life of me get it to work.
W: You'll never be able to get spare parts for it. It might be time to invest in a more recent model.
Q: What can be inferred from the conversation about the washing machine?
(16)
A.It should have lasted longer.
B.The man should buy new parts for it.
C.The man should consider buying a new one.
D.It wasn't a good investment.
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听力原文:W: I hope you liked the novel I lent you. I wasn't sure whether it was the kind of book you'd be interested in.
M: I had the same doubt first, but once I started it I simply couldn't put it down.
Q: What does the man mean?
(15)
A.He doubts the woman will like the novel.
B.He'll lend the woman the novel after he has read it.
C.He enjoyed reading the novel.
D.He hasn't started reading the novel yet.
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听力原文:W: Our teacher encourages us to watch the news in English on TV. She says it is a good way to learn a language.
M: I think so. It’ll be especially helpful if you can check the same story in the newspaper.
Q: What does the man mean?
(18)
A.Watching TV is better than reading a newspaper.
B.The newspaper may give more information.
C.TV is more interesting than a newspaper.
D.A combination of reading and listening is more effective.
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听力原文:W:Our company is now running in the red.So,we would really appreciate if your team could cut the budget.
M:Why not cancel Bob's program? His project never brings in any profit.
Q:What can we learn from the conversation?
(14)
A.Their company has a good profit.
B.The man will cut the budget for his project.
C.The woman wants the man to reduce his expenditure.
D.Bob's projects are always profitable.
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听力原文:WOMAN: Good afternoon, Mr Gray. Thanks for coming to our university to talk about the problem in the Darlinghurst area to our new international students.
MAN: Yes. Thank the university to allow me to come to talk to you all afternoon. The reason for my visit here is to outline a problem that female international visitors and students have been having in the Darlinghurst area.
WOMAN: We all heard that for the last month or so, thieves have targeted the area snatching handbags and backpacks from unsuspected women. Why in the Darlinghurst area?
MAN: As you probably know. Darlinghurst is very popular with tourists for shopping and sightseeing and it's also a popular meeting meeting place for students. There are lots of cafes and coffee shops and unfortunately, we have had some thieves taking advantage of these conditions.
WOMAN: Can you tell us about the thieves more specifically?
MAN: Sure. The thieves are young and fit. They grab the bag from the woman's shoulder or out of her hand when she's involved with something else, you know, deep in conversation or window-shopping, so they grab the bag and then run away very quickly. By the time the victims realize what's happened, the young man's out of sight and there's little hope of catching him.
WOMAN: You mean the thieves usually attack female by themselves?
MAN: They used to. But now it seems they're becoming braver arid targeting women in groups. Age doesn't seem to matter to the thieves, it's just a matter of opportunity. They look for someone who isn't consciously protecting their bag and for a place with an easy getaway, you know, not too crowded.
WOMAN: Are any of these thieves caught?
MAN: We've only had two of these bag-snatchers almost caught when the victims chased after them. Unfortunately, on both occasions, as soon as the women reached the thief, he threw the bag right at them and then escaped.
WOMAN: Mr. Gray, can you give the students some suggestions to protect themselves from these brazen thieves?
MAN: Yeah. We don't encourage you to chase these thieves because we don't want to see anyone get hurt. So, what can you do? Well, unfortunately, not much but we are asking that you be aware of this danger. If possible, hang onto your bags carefully and never leave your bags on the ground at one of the many cafes when you have a coffee or a meal and don't leave it on a chair or table-top even if you think it is in your sight. We also caution you about carrying anything too valuable in your bags. It seems like the thieves arc not only after cash. They've been using credit cards illegally on the Internet m purchase goods or access pornographic sites. So it is vital that you keep your credit card details and report to the police if it is stolen.
Questions:
19.What is the problem that Mr. Gray describes to the students?
20.Why is it difficult to chase the thieves?
21.How many thieves have the police caught?
22.Which of the following does Mr. Gray suggest the students to do?
(39)
A.Women being robbed.
B.Thieves stealing bags from international tourists.
C.Darlinghurst residents being robbed.
D.Burglaries happening in Darlinghurst.
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听力原文:M: What are those things in our suitcase? There aren't any clothes at all. Where have you put them?
W: Oh, no. This is not our suitcase.
M: What do you mean?
W: The old lady must have taken ours by mistake. Just now she was sitting next to us at the restaurant.
What can we infer from the conversation?
A.An old lady took the couple's suitcase by mistake.
B.An old lady stole the couple's suitcase at the restaurant.
C.The old lady took their clothes by mistake.
D.The woman forgot to put clothes in their suitcase.
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听力原文:W: Do you know whether the super girl of last week was promoted to the state competition or got eliminated?
M: Actually, I haven't been following her progress this week.
Q: What does the man imply?
(16)
A.He is not interested in the competition.
B.He doesn't know if the super girl was successful.
C.He can't follow the state competition.
D.He thinks the super girl of last week was eliminated.
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听力原文:F: Last year, 20% of our expenditure went to our overseas investment and about 50% were used in establishing new enterprises. I think we should invest more on overseas enterprises and reduce a little bit on the domestic enterprises.
? For questions 1-8 you will hear eight short recordings.
? For each question, mark one letter (A, B or C) for the correct answer.
? You will hear the eight recordings twice.
Which pie chart is correct?
<img src='https://img2.soutiyun.com/ask/uploadfile/1311001-1314000/6a4f3bf5cb12f4adaa1f2590465c8946.jpg' />
A.
B.
C.
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听力原文:The fact is that no matter how nicely we dress, or how beautifully we decorate our homes, we can't be truly elegant without good manners because elegance and good manners always go hand in hand.
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听力原文:Woman: I haven’t seen you for ages! Where have you been Man: Actually, I have bee
听力原文:Woman: I haven’t seen you for ages! Where have you been Man: Actually, I have been doing research recent
A.He is doing research.
B.He works long hours in the laB
C.He is making progress.
D.He was unhappy until recently.
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听力原文:M: We've got three women researchers in our group: Mary, Betty and Helen. Do you know them?
W: Sure. Mary is active and sociable. Betty is the most talkative woman I've ever met. But guess what? Helen's just the opposite.
Q: What do we learn from the woman's remark about Helen?
(14)
A.Helen is quiet.
B.Helen is talkative.
C.Helen is sociable.
D.Helen is active.
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听力原文:Woman: Thank you for calling Finchester Zoo. The zoo is open on six days and closed on Mondays. The opening hours are from ten a.m. until it gets dark. This is half past nine in the summer and four o'clock in the winter.
There is a guided tour of the zoo every hour. Visitors for the tour should wait at the entrance which is where the tour begins. Our guide will meet you there. The tour finishes at the cafe.
You should not feed the animals but you can watch when we give them something to eat. Every day at two o'clock the lions are given their food and the elephants get theirs at three o'clock.
There is a shop in the zoo where you can buy books and games. All the family will like playing these. There is also a cafe which sells snacks.
Tickets for adults cost six pounds eighty-five and children's tickets are four pounds sixty-five. A family ticket, for two adults and three children, is eighteen pounds seventy-five.
For more information ...
You will hear some information about Finchester Zoo.
Listen and complete questions 21-25.
You will hear the information twice.
<img src='https://img2.soutiyun.com/ask/uploadfile/10860001-10863000/a140385fc38d239210b73bd08456c09c.jpg' />
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听力原文:Woman: I tried this pair of shoes and I think I like this colour and style. Please pack them. By the way, I notice that all the goods in your shop are at 20% discount. And this price tag says 20 pounds a pair. So how much will I have to pay?
(14)
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听力原文:M: Good evening and welcome to our program. Our guest is Mrs. Green, who is an expert in the field of environ mental protection. Welcome to our program, Mrs. Green.
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.
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听力原文:The bank must consider carefully whether the loan is to be used in any illegal activity or for speculative purpose.
(4)
A.The bank must take the purpose of loan into consideration carefully.
B.The bank wonders if the loan is used for illegal or speculative purpose.
C.The bank worries that the loan is used for illegal or speculative purpose.
D.The bank must consider a way for the loan to be used for speculative purpose.
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听力原文:M: Good morning. Say, do you know what the assignment is for our term paper in history?
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.
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听力原文:W: Tomorrow we are having our first test in history class. I'm really worried about it. You've taken one of Dr. Parker's tests, haven't you? I hear they're impossible to pass.
M: I don't know who you've been talking to. My experience was just the opposite.
Q: What does the man mean?
(14)
A.He thought Dr. Parker's tests were easy.
B.Dr. Parker is no longer teaching history.
C.The woman's source of information is reliable.
D.He didn't enjoy taking history tests of Dr. Parker's.
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听力原文:In an age of fast communication via telephone and computer, face-to-face meetings might seem like wasting our time and energy. However, they are still an important part of doing business.
(53)
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听力原文:The fact is no matter how nicely we dress, or how beautifully we decorate our homes, we can't be truly elegant without good manners because elegance and manners always go hand in hand.
______
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听力原文: Each night we alternate between two kinds of sleep: active sleep and passive sleep. The passive sleep gives our body the rest that is needed, and prepares us for active sleep, in which dreaming takes place. And we arc beginning to understand the importance of the dream period in our sleep cycles.
In passive sleep the body is at rest. We move very little. And the brain becomes very inactive, ff a person continues to sleep, she or he enters anew period, a more active period. The body goes through several changes: the brain temperature rises, blood in the brain increases, the body becomes very still and the brain goes into active state. And as the brain goes active, the eyes begin to move rapidly. And that is the sign of another change---the person is dreaming. Throughout the night, people alternate between passive and active sleep. Doctors have studied the sleep cycle and have found that everyone dreams---in fact, that everyone needs to dream in order to stay healthy. It appears we need both kind of sleep. We need passive sleep in order to rest our bodies. We need active sleep in order to dream. And dreaming helps us to rest our minds,
What does not happen in the brain in the active sleep?
A.The brain becomes very active.
B.The brain becomes very inactive.
C.The brain temperature rises.
D.The brain blood rises.
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听力原文:M: How does your son like his new school W: Great. He seems to have some new frie听力原文:M: How does your son like his new school W: Great. He seems to have some new friends in no time. Q: What can be inferred about the woman’s son ()
A.He doesn’t like his new school.
B.He feels very lonely now.
C.He has no time to make new friends.
D.He has adapted easily to his new school.