Unit4

II. Listening Skills

Listening for Telephone Numbers

1. W: I’m wondering if the weather will be good for us to go cycling on Saturday.

M: Let’s call the weather office. I know the phone number. It’s 661-3047. If the weather is going to be bad, we’ll have to wait for another week.

Q: What’s the phone number for the weather office?

The phone number for the weather office is 6613047.

 

2. W: I’m so sorry, but the general manager isn’t back yet. Can I take a message for him?

  M: Yes. Please ask him to call me 843-2057.

Q: At what number will the general manager return the call?

The general manager will return the call at 8432057.

 

3. M: Do you have Simon’s mobile phone number? A well-known scientist from the States is giving a speech on global warming in the Science Museum. I’m sure Simon would be interested.

W: Let me see… His number is 13032108585.

Q: What is Simon’s mobile phone number?

Simon’s mobile phone number is 13032108585.

 

4. M: Hello, I’m calling to check on the school sports meet.

  W: Yes, sir, how can I help you?

  M: There’s been so much rain lately; I was wondering if it’s postponed.

  W: It has been postponed because of the weather, but for further information, please contact 54362163, extension 205.

  Q: What number should be the man dial for the further information about the sports meet?

The man could dial 54362163, extension 205 for further information about the sports meet.

 

5. M: Hello. I’m calling form Beijing. I’ve learned from the Internet that a hurricane is approaching Miami. I’d like to call one of my friends there immediately. Can you tell me how to make an international call?

  W: What number are you calling, sir?

  M: His number in Florida is 511-0897.

  W: Well, first, dial 011, then dial 1, the area code for North America, and then the area code 305 for Miami. After that, dial your friend’s number.

  Q: What is the complete number the man should dial to reach his friend in Miami?

The an should dial 01113055110897 to reach his friend in Miami.

III. Listening In

Task 1: Weather Forecasting

We all know that it’s not possible for man to control the weather. But we can tell what important changes there will be in the weather in the short term. This is called weather forecasting. Many people rely on the weatherman to provide that information, but one method of weather forecasting is simply to use your eyes and brains. For example, if you see a rainbow in rainy weather in the evening, this is a sign that the weather will soon be clear and fine. Sometimes distant objects such as hills and tall trees seem to be very clear and near; this is a sign of much water vapor in the air, and then rain will probably come. If a fog appears just about sunrise in the morning, then the day will be arm. If the sunset is mostly red in color, then the following day will be fine. If the stars twinkle at night, then fine weather will come the next day.

 

Task 2: Wrong Weather Forecast

M: Hey, Jane! Does everyone know what time to meet us this weekend for the picnic?

W: Yeah. They’ll all be here at eleven sharp! I’ve got all the food and drinks for the barbecue, and Tom is bringing the grill.

M: OK. I’ve got that old net; we can use that for beach volleyball.

W: Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’ve invited Class 2 and 3 as well. We’ll be able to have a volleyball match, one class against another; that’ll be great fun.

M: Did you check the weather? I hope it’s going to stay nice for the weekend; we can’t have a picnic in the rain.

W: No worries! I watched the weather forecast last night, and the weatherman said it’s going to be fine—maybe a little cloudy, but DEFINITELY no rain!

(next morning)

M: There’s terrible weather! It’s raining buckets!

W: There’s no way we can go out in that. Those weatherman are useless—I hope they had a picnic today too.

M: I don’t know what’s happened to the weather these days. When I was little, we never had this much rain in the summer.

W: I AGREE. And have you noticed that winter is warmer now as well? We always used to get snow in January. Now winter is more like spring!

M: You’re telling me. I bet it’s all the pollution and the hole in the ozone layer that’s changing the weather.

W: Oh, global warming and all that.

M: I guess we’ll have to take a rain check on the picnic.

 

Task 3: The radio broke!

A film crew was on location deep in the desert. One day an old man went up to the director and said, “Tomorrow, rain.” The next day it rained. A week later, the old man went up to the director and said, “Tomorrow, storm.” The next day there was a hailstorm. “this old man is incredible,” said the director. He told his secretary to hire the old man to predict the weather. However, after several successful predictions, the man didn’t show up for two weeks. Finally the director sent for him. “I have to shoot a big scene tomorrow,” said the director, “and I’m depending on you. What will the weather be like?” the old man shrugged his shoulders. “don’t know,” he said. “The radio broke!”

 

Task 4: An Announcement

Friday looks really good. Sunny all day with a daytime temperature of 70 degrees. But bundle up Friday night, as the temperature will drop sharply. On Saturday, it will be cold and cloudy in the morning with strong winds. In the afternoon, there’s a good chance of snow flurries, and the temperature will only reach 37 degrees! On Sunday morning it will be cloudy, with some rain showers in the afternoon. But temperatures will rise to 50 degrees.

V. Let’s Talk

Emma:  Michael, whereabouts in China are you from?

Michael: I was born in Beijing, but I live in Shanghai now. How about you?

Emma:  I’m from Scotland.

Michael: Oh? What’s it like?

Emma:  Well, the weather is pretty cold there. Actually, most of Scotland is cols and often wet. I’m sure it’s the coldest part of the British Isles.

Michael: Beijing is very cold in winter too, although it’s more of a dry cold, if you know what I mean. However, I like winter; it’s my favorite season. Summer is just too hot!

Emma: Well ,I think you’re lucky to have a hot summer. Scotland’s summer is pretty miserable, wet and cold.

Michael: Do you think people’s personalities are defined by the climate they live in?

Emma: Well, that’s an interesting idea. I think there’s definitely something in it, because when the weather is hot, I easily lose my temper, but when it’s cooler, I feel much calmer.

Michael: If it’s raining I always feel depressed. I cry along with the weather!

Emma: Spring always makes me feel happy; the birds are singing and the whole atmosphere seems cheerful.

Michael: Hmm, I agree. I think spring is my favorite season too.

Emma: What about the winter blues? What are they?

Michael: Well, that means you’re down in the dumps, because the weather’s so gloomy and cold. You feel all sad and blue! I often get them.

Emma: Oh, I don’t. I love winter, but I suppose you could say I get the summer reds! I always see red in the hot weather and get into arguments and stuff.

 

VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking

Task 1: Mental Energy and Season

You may not believe that our mental energy varies from season to season. But some people think that it does. Research has shown that climate and temperature have a definite effect on our mental abilities. Scientists have discovered that cool weather is much more favorable for creative thinking than is summer heat. Spring spears to be the best period of the year for thinking. People seem to be a lot sharper in spring than they are in any other season. One reason may be that in spring people’s mental abilities are affected by the same factors that bring about great changes in nature. Fall is the next-best season, then sinter. Summer seems to be the best time to take a long vacation from thinking. This does not mean that all people are less intelligent in summer than they are during the rest of the year. It does mean, however, that the mental abilities of most people tend to be lowest in summer. Be aware of these facts, and you will bring your talent into full play.

 

Task 2: A qualified meteorologist

Although he was a qualified meteorologist, Hopkins ran up a terrible record of forecasting for the TV news program. He became something of a local joke when a newspaper began keeping a record of his predictions and showed that he’d been wrong almost three hundred times in a single year. That kind of notoriety was enough to get him fired. He moved to another part of the country and applied for a similar job. One blank on the job application asked the reason for leaving his previous position. Hopkins wrote, “ the climate didn’t agree with me.”