【thatll】iBT备考日志

thatllUID: 2538832

314# DriftKing

我暂时休息下，呵呵

thatllUID: 2538832

【听力---SSS---August 13, 2009】

Facial Expressions: East Doesn't Meet West
A study in the journal Current Biology finds that Eastern and Western facial expressions related to emotional states may differ enough for possible nonverbal miscommunication.

Westerners traveling to Asia may expect（没听出来，感觉像make 什么东西） some language barriers. Perhaps enthusiastic（这个词完全没听出来） facial expressions will help them（这个连读太快了） be understood（这里的连读有点像beyonderstood）. Well, not so fast. According to research published August 13th in the journal Current Biology, Easterners and Westerners might not speak the same facial language.

University of Glasgow researchers enlisted 13 Western Caucasians（这个词我都不认识当然没听出来，呵呵，高加索人，白种人，呵呵，好像前面我有提到过，忘记了，这个单词还是得记住，因为是很一般的白种人） and 13 East Asians. They had（连读没听出来） everyone examine pictures of expressive faces that were labeled according to a recognized western system called the Facial Action Coding System. The faces were purported（没听出来） to be happy, sad, surprised, fearful, disgusted, angry or neutral, and the participants categorized them as such. Turns out the East Asians were less likely（like） to categorize the faces by western standards.

purport：
noun: meaning conveyed, professed, or implied  : IMPORT;  also   : SUBSTANCE, GIST
transitive verb：
1 : to have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming (something implied or inferred)  *a book that purports to be an objective analysis*;  also   : CLAIM  *foreign novels which he purports to have translated---Mary McCarthy*
2 : INTEND, PURPOSE
purported：: REPUTED, ALLEGED  *took gullible tourists to purported ancient sites* 传说的

By tracking the subject’s eye movements, researchers concluded that Westerners look at whole faces. But Easterners kept their focus mainly on the eye region. So while Westerners may use their whole faces to show that they’re elated（这个elated中的首字母e就似乎不发，所以听起来就是lated）, Easterners may express that feeling mainly around their eyes. Which means that facial expressions are not a universal language. That’s a fact that international travelers are sooner or later forced to face.

thatllUID: 2538832

实在对不住自己，也对不住大家，我荒废了半个月，一点都没学，都没脸回来了
这次8.22的考试就算了，算作第一次模考，我到现在为止没有做过一套模拟题，什么OG，delta等等都没做过，OG就看过题型，没做过里面的题。我就去裸考算了，真的是彻底的裸考。
真的是愧疚！
这个帖子真的是表面文章，我什么都没学过来，就是贴在这里安慰自己而已。。。

thatllUID: 2538832

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Why We Need Health Care Reform
By BARACK OBAMA
Published: August 15, 2009

OUR nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future of health care in America. And over the past few weeks, much of the media attention has been focused on the loudest voices. What we haven’t heard are the voices of the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly struggle every day with a system that often works better for the health-insurance companies than it does for them.

These are people like Lori Hitchcock, whom I met in New Hampshire last week. Lori is currently self-employed and trying to start a business, but because she has hepatitis C, she cannot find an insurance company that will cover her. Another woman testified that an insurance company would not cover illnesses related to her internal organs because of an accident she had when she was 5 years old. A man lost his health coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because the insurance company discovered that he had gallstones, which he hadn’t known about when he applied for his policy. Because his treatment was delayed, he died.

I hear more and more stories like these every single day, and it is why we are acting so urgently to pass health-insurance reform this year. I don’t have to explain to the nearly 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance how important this is. But it’s just as important for Americans who do have health insurance.

There are four main ways the reform we’re proposing will provide more stability and security to every American.

First, if you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of high-quality, affordable coverage for yourself and your family — coverage that will stay with you whether you move, change your job or lose your job.

Second, reform will finally bring skyrocketing health care costs under control, which will mean real savings for families, businesses and our government. We’ll cut hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and inefficiency in federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid and in unwarranted subsidies to insurance companies that do nothing to improve care and everything to improve their profits.

Third, by making Medicare more efficient, we’ll be able to ensure that more tax dollars go directly to caring for seniors instead of enriching insurance companies. This will not only help provide today’s seniors with the benefits they’ve been promised; it will also ensure the long-term health of Medicare for tomorrow’s seniors. And our reforms will also reduce the amount our seniors pay for their prescription drugs.

Lastly, reform will provide every American with some basic consumer protections that will finally hold insurance companies accountable. A 2007 national survey actually shows that insurance companies discriminated against more than 12 million Americans in the previous three years because they had a pre-existing illness or condition. The companies either refused to cover the person, refused to cover a specific illness or condition or charged a higher premium.

We will put an end to these practices. Our reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of your medical history. Nor will they be allowed to drop your coverage if you get sick. They will not be able to water down your coverage when you need it most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. And we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. No one in America should go broke because they get sick.

Most important, we will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups, preventive care and screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies. There’s no reason that we shouldn’t be catching diseases like breast cancer and prostate cancer on the front end. It makes sense, it saves lives and it can also save money.

This is what reform is about. If you don’t have health insurance, you will finally have quality, affordable options once we pass reform. If you have health insurance, we will make sure that no insurance company or government bureaucrat gets between you and the care you need. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. You will not be waiting in any lines. This is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. I don’t believe anyone should be in charge of your health care decisions but you and your doctor — not government bureaucrats, not insurance companies.

The long and vigorous debate about health care that’s been taking place over the past few months is a good thing. It’s what America’s all about.

But let’s make sure that we talk with one another, and not over one another. We are bound to disagree, but let’s disagree over issues that are real, and not wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that anyone has actually proposed. This is a complicated and critical issue, and it deserves a serious debate.

Despite what we’ve seen on television, I believe that serious debate is taking place at kitchen tables all across America. In the past few years, I’ve received countless letters and questions about health care. Some people are in favor of reform, and others have concerns. But almost everyone understands that something must be done. Almost everyone knows that we must start holding insurance companies accountable and give Americans a greater sense of stability and security when it comes to their health care.

I am confident that when all is said and done, we can forge the consensus we need to achieve this goal. We are already closer to achieving health-insurance reform than we have ever been. We have the American Nurses Association and the American Medical Association on board, because our nation’s nurses and doctors know firsthand how badly we need reform. We have broad agreement in Congress on about 80 percent of what we’re trying to do. And we have an agreement from the drug companies to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. The AARP supports this policy, and agrees with us that reform must happen this year.

In the coming weeks, the cynics and the naysayers will continue to exploit fear and concerns for political gain. But for all the scare tactics out there, what’s truly scary — truly risky — is the prospect of doing nothing. If we maintain the status quo, we will continue to see 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance every day. Premiums will continue to skyrocket. Our deficit will continue to grow. And insurance companies will continue to profit by discriminating against sick people.

That is not a future I want for my children, or for yours. And that is not a future I want for the United States of America.

In the end, this isn’t about politics. This is about people’s lives and livelihoods. This is about people’s businesses. This is about America’s future, and whether we will be able to look back years from now and say that this was the moment when we made the changes we needed, and gave our children a better life. I believe we can, and I believe we will.

奥巴马：为什么我们需要医疗改革

简介
奥巴马在去年竞选时曾承诺实现全民医疗保险。然而在他上台推动全民医疗保险这一宏伟的计划时，却遭遇到了来自传统自由经济理念，医药行业及保险公司等利益集团的重重阻碍。面对这一举步维艰的状况，这位雄心勃勃的总统将如何通过在《纽约时报》上发表的这篇文章来陈述利弊，说服他的人民来接受这一宏伟的计划呢？

目前，我国正在就医疗改革的未来展开一场大辩论。过去的几周里，媒体将大部分的注意力放在了最嘈杂的声音上。我们没有听到的却是每天在医疗体系下默默挣扎的数千万美国人的呼声。这个医疗体系的受惠者往往是那些医疗保险公司，而不是他们。
上周，我在新罕布什尔州遇到的一位名叫罗莉-希契科克的人便是其中的一员。罗莉目前是一个个体户，她一直试图创业。然而，由于她患有丙型肝炎，没有一家保险公司会给她提供医疗保险。另一位女士证实，她在五岁时的一次事故造成了她的内脏器官受损，保险公司却不肯为与此相关的疾病提供保险。一位男士在化疗期间失去了医疗保险，原因是保险公司发现他曾经患有胆结石，而这位患者在申请保单时却对此毫不知情。由于耽误了治疗，他过世了。
我每天都会听到越来越多的此类事情在我们身边发生，这就是为什么我们要马上行动，在本年度内通过医疗改革的原因。我不需要向近4600万没有医疗保险的美国人民解释这一改革的重要性。但是，对于拥有医疗保险的美国人民来说，医疗改革也是同样重要的。
我们提出的医疗改革会为每一位公民提供更为稳定和安全的服务，这主要体现在四个方面。
第一，如果你现在没有医疗保险，你可以为你自己和你的家人选择一个高质量、可负担的医疗保险---无论搬家，换工作或是失业，这个医疗保险都会伴随着你。
第二，医疗改革最终会使得高昂的医疗成本得到控制，这就意味着家庭、企业和政府能够实实在在地节省一笔。我们会避免浪费数千亿美元，克服在施行联邦医疗项目（如老年医疗保障和公共医疗补助）上的低效率，对于在改善医疗质量上无所作为，但却想方设法提高自身利润的保险公司，我们会减少给与他们的多余补贴。
第三，提高老年医疗保障的效率能够确保有更多的税金直接用于老年人的医疗，而非充实保险公司的腰包。这不仅有助于让今天的老年人得到过去曾向他们允诺的保险金，而且还能确保为将来的老年人提供的医疗保障方案得到长期健康的发展。同样，我们的改革也会减少老年人为他们的处方药所支付的费用。
最后一点，医疗改革会为每一位美国公民提供一些基本的消费者保护措施，这些措施最终能让保险公司担负起责任。2007年的一份国家调查显示：在过去三年里，保险公司歧视了超过1200万美国人，原因是这些人都有着既往病史。这些保险公司要么拒绝为个人和特定的疾病投保，要么收取更高的保费。
我们不会再让这些事情发生了。我们的医疗改革会禁止保险公司以你的既往病史为由拒绝为你投保。医疗改革也不允许他们在你生病时撤保。他们无法在你最需要保险的时候减少保险金。他们再也不能对你在某一年或一生中所得到的保费进行随意的限制。我们还会控制你所支付的现金额。美国的任何一个公民都不会因为生病而破产。
最重要的是，我们将要求保险公司为常规体检、预防医疗以及筛查检测支付费用，比如乳房透视，结肠镜透视检查。我们没有理由不会在前期患上像乳腺癌和前列腺癌这样的疾病。这样的措施是合情合理的，它挽救了生命，同时又能节省金钱。
这就是医疗改革的内容。如果你现在没有医疗保险，一旦我们通过了这项改革，一个高质量、 可支付的医疗保险就可最终供你选择。如果你现在已经有了医疗保险，我们保证没有任何一家保险公司或政府机构人员会干涉你所需要的医疗。如果你喜欢你的医生，你就让他给你看病。如果你喜欢你的医疗保健方案，你就坚持你的方案。你再也不会排队就医了。这一改革并不是让政府来负责你的医疗保险。我相信，除了你和你的医生以外，任何人都不应在你的医疗问题上作出决定---政府机构的人员不行，保险公司也不行。
过去几个月在医疗保健问题上发生的漫长而又激烈的辩论是件好事。这些辩论展现出一个真实的美利坚。
但是，让我们彼此交流，而不是去说服对方吧。我们注定会存在分歧，但是让我们在真实的事件上争论吧，不要去争论那些道听途说的事情。这些道听途说的事情与任何人所实际提出的东西风马牛不相及。医疗改革是一个复杂而又关键的议题，它值得对此进行一场严肃的辩论。
尽管我们已经在电视上看到了，但是我认为，每一个家庭的餐桌上都在对这一问题进行着严肃的讨论。过去几年来，我曾经收到过无数有关医疗保健的信件和问题。一些人赞同进行改革，而另一些人心存疑惑。但是几乎所有的人都明白，医疗问题不改不行了。几乎每个人都知道，我们必须着手让保险公司担负起责任，在医疗保健问题上，我们必须让美国人民的心中更加稳定、安全。
我有信心最后能达成我们所需要的共识来实现这一目标。与以往任何时候相比，我们离实现医疗保险改革的目标更近了。我们让全国护士协会和全国医药协会加入到这场改革中，因为我国的护士和医生最了解我们是多么的需要这场改革。在国会，我们试图完成的计划中有80%的内容已经得到了广泛的认同。我们与医药公司达成了一致，让老年人更能负担起处方药的价格。美国退休人员协会支持了这项政策，并且同意我们关于必须在今年进行医疗改革的观点。
在接下来的几周里，犬儒主义者和老爱唱反调的人依旧会出于政治利益来掀起恐慌和担忧，但是，尽管他们会使出这些恐吓的伎俩，真正让我们感到恐惧---并且真正的危险---却是无所作为。如果我们保持现状，每天仍然会有14000个美国人失去自己的医疗保险。保险金额依旧会高速上涨。我们的赤字依旧会增加。同样，那些保险公司依旧会通过歧视患者来盈利。
这并不是我想为我的子女，或是为你们所设计的未来。同样，这也不是我想为美利坚合众国所设计的未来。
最后我想说的是，医疗改革与政治无关，医疗改革是关乎人民生命和生活的大事。医疗改革与人们的切身利益攸关。医疗改革关乎着美国的未来，关乎着我们是否能够在多年以后回过头来说---这是我们曾经做出的最需要变革的时刻，这也是曾经让我们的子孙后代过上更好生活的时刻。我相信我们能够做到，我也相信我们一定会做到。

leader2050UID: 2591145

实在对不住自己，也对不住大家，我荒废了半个月，一点都没学，都没脸回来了
这次8.22的考试就算了，算作第一次模考，我到现在为止没有做过一套模拟题，什么OG，delta等等都没做过，OG就看过题型，没做过里面的题。我 ...
thatll 发表于 2009-8-19 23:16

really??

thatllUID: 2538832

320# leader2050

yes！

thatllUID: 2538832

【听力---SSS---August 14, 17, 18, 2009】

Hot Rocks Were Technology Revolution
A study in the journal Science suggests that early humans were fire-treating stone more than 70,000 years ago to make better stone tools.

Early modern humans didn’t just chip away at stones to create their tools. They treated stone with fire in a sophisticated fashion, according to research published August 14th in the journal Science.

chip away at: remove or withdraw gradually: "These new customs are chipping away at the quality of life"
就是从某物上不断出去小块，一点一点解决的意思，比如chip away at sb's reputation, chip away the hopes等

About 72,000 years ago, our ancestors along coastal South Africa made tools from silcrete, a cement-like layer of soil. The silcrete found at archaeological sites was glossy with（这里其实不是一个词组，而是glossy，这个with是一种伴随状态，这个后面的grain除了我们熟知的颗粒谷物以外还有其他意思，这里就是纹理的意思） a fine grain（纹理） and a reddish color. It didn’t match stones in local outcroppings（露出的地表）. Researchers from the University of Cape Town couldn’t find big enough pieces to learn more, until a couple of years ago. Then a colleague from Arizona State University remarked that a piece of silcrete reminded him of heat-treated tools in the Southwest.

So the researchers set up a fire pit and buried a silcrete sample at high temperature. The next day, the stone looked like ones used by early humans. It flaked（这个flake我们熟知的是雪花，但其实他的本意应该是薄片，作为动词讲这里的意思是使成薄片） easily and provided the basic material for complex tools. Until now, heat treatment was thought to have started in Europe 25,000 years ago. This discovery pushes it back tens of thousands of years into Africa—and suggests that the southern African coast may have been the site of a truly Promethean revolution.



Paper Money Tainted with Cocaine
A study presented at the meeting of the American Chemical Society finds that the vast majority of paper money has trace amounts of cocaine.

You’re not under arrest, despite the fact that you probably have some drugs in your pocket. Because there’s a good chance your paper money contains trace amounts of cocaine. According to a study presented August 16th at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting, up to 90 percent of American paper bills are contaminated with cocaine. In Washington, D.C., it’s as high as 95 percent.

Some bills had as much as 1,200 micrograms of coke, about equal in size to 50 grains of sand. But most money had much less. The finding doesn’t mean that all money has directly touched cocaine, although some bills were doubtless used to snort the drug. Other bills may have picked up coke during drug sales, while most probably just got traces transferred from other bills in banks.

snort：作为及物动词的时候
To express by snorting: He snorted his disapproval.
Slang. To ingest by sniffing: snorted cocaine.

A similar study was conducted two years ago, and at that time about two thirds of American paper money had traces of cocaine. Researchers aren’t sure why there’s been a jump, but the new data indicate that cocaine is still a problem. And the paper clues may reveal which cities have the most users. Because as any good investigative reporter can tell you, always follow the money.


Phone Networks Reveal Relationships
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that researchers deduce social networks with great accuracy simply by analyzing mobile phone use.

How do you know if someone’s your friend? Ask your cell. Because your phone knows who your friends are. Sometimes even before you do. Or so says a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists who study social networks have long been hampered by one thing: their subjects are not always reliable reporters. They don’t lie about their associations, but their ability to recall how much time they spent with Tom, Dick or Cody last month is not always accurate.

So scientists have been searching for a better way to track relationships. Which is where mobile phones come in. Researchers handed nearly a hundred subjects souped-up（soup是增加马力的意思，soup up也是这个意思，所以souped-up就是加大马力了的） cell phones that recorded information about calls, text messages and even how physically close callers were to those they contacted. Analyzing calling patterns, the investigators were able to infer which contacts were friends with 95 percent accuracy. In some cases, the patterns revealed a friendship in the making months before people declared someone a pal（好朋友，伙伴）.

The data could also predict job satisfaction: people who spend all day on the phone with friends, it seems, are generally not stoked（我们知道stoke是添加燃料的意思，但是他还有其他意思，就是激起兴趣等等） about their work. So remember—keep your friends close. And your cell phone even closer.

stoke：
transitive verb  
1 : to poke or stir up (as a fire)  : supply with fuel
2 : to feed abundantly
3 : to increase the activity, intensity, or amount of  *limiting the number of cars availableTwill help stoke demand for the car ?Keith Naughton*
intransitive verb   : to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace)  : supply a furnace with fuel

thatllUID: 2538832

A contract with yourself

It is always so easy to comprise to desire. Maybe it is the nature of human being. We could not achieve any accomplishment if we comply with the desire. The development of the society is resulted from people’s perseverance, creativity, and cooperation with each other. If a person act in arbitrary and reckless manner, he/she is not doing society any favor, what’s worse, he/she also ruins his/her own life. No one likes the people who can not control themselves at all. In fact, lack of self-control results in most of the crimes in society. Thus self-control becomes an indispensable part of excellent personality. Self-control is just like to make a contract with you. The only thing you need to remember is never to break it till it is expired.


送给自己和大家！

thatllUID: 2538832

鬼门关变凯旋门——新托福口语的信心   ---蜀漢諸葛武侯


      如今，托福iBT考试已将口语能力的考核加入，而且分值和阅读、听力、写作对等。这就使得以前只关注读写听的考生不得不花时间和精力来准备口语部分。据调查统计，考生各部分的成绩排列从阅读、听力、写作到口语依次降低，口语的分数在各部分中通常是最低的。这个现象在考生中引起的巨大的恐慌。 另一种状况是，即便是平时自认为口语能力不错，听力能力也很好的同学，也会对自己最后较低的口语成绩感到不解。于是口语部分的考核就变得更加令人琢磨不透了。ETS 对口语部分的评判标准定得也相对模糊，从某种意义说，不能提供给考生清晰的指导。这样一来，口语能力差的同学怕考试，口语能力好的同学也对之没有太大信心，口语部分的考核似乎成了考生们的“鬼门关”。

　　笔者在执教托福口语课程的过程中发现，目前大多数考生对“口语好”的定义似乎都是“说得相对流利，发音比较准确，语速不会太慢”。这无可厚非。然而，刚才提到的准则仅仅只是“口语好”的外包装，大家需要关注的更重要的是说话的“实效性”，即思维逻辑，语言组织和词句质量。

　　我觉得没有必要过多提醒大家关于语言“外包装”的问题，因为这绝对是大家注重的方面，所以在口语强化班里的同学基本都有练习过或是系统学习过发音，这很叫人欣慰。可是，大家一定要注意，iBT的口语是电脑录音，评判者是通过听录音来做分数评估的，所以，“说得快”未必是件好事，说得清楚才是重点。考虑到评卷者的“听觉疲劳”，说话的“断句”和重点词汇在重音和语调上的突出，则是有效传达信息的关键。所以同学们不要一味求快，而要注意断句，语调和重音。看看下面的例子： The Great Wall was the greatest man-made military defense structure in ancient China.

　　这是一个在口语表述当中很上档次的句子，但如果大家把他一口气读完的话，这个句子的美感就体现不出来了，而且在录音的情况下很可能还会让评卷者无法听清楚。于是我们需要借助短句和重音来表达，下面我用/作为断句的标志，用〉来点明重音，于是我们可以这样来处理这个句子：

　　The Great Wall〉/was the greatest /man-made military defense structure〉/in ancient China.

　　大家可以试着读一读这个句子。断句并可以是稍稍停顿，或者是拉长词的读音， 我们在wall 的时候拉长读音，在greatest和structure后稍作停顿，于是这个句子听起来就更加容易理解，因为我们把句子的意群The Great Wall、was the greatest、man-made military defense structure、in ancient China划开了。补充一点，这样的口语听来更上档次。 所以在这里，笔者想提醒大家是，为了使表达效果更好，是语言听起来更加悦耳，我们不但要注意发音，还要注意说话时的断句和重音。

　　这是语言的外包装，但做好了这一切是绝对不够的。正如每个人在打开美丽的包装盒时所期待的是盒子里面更加诱人的礼物一样，每个考官在悦耳的声音背后更想想吸纳入耳的绝对是有组织，有意义的词句。所以另一重对语言的要求也接踵而至，即说话的 “实效性”：思维逻辑，语言组织和词句质量。

　　在第一和第二题的独立口语任务中，大家需要作的是就自己的经历或向法来回答一些问题。题目主要涉及日常生活和一些社会现象，准备时间15秒，答题时间45秒。这类型考试的形式和面试很相似。15秒的准备时间形如虚设，根本无法让考生绘制一个好的答案。大家都知道，要想在面试中表现得好，事先必须有所准备，同理，要想在这两个题目上得高分，预先的素材准备时必不可少的。正所谓：

　　有备无患，胸有成竹。
　　信心百倍，微笑说话。

　　我们先来看看关于如下题目的两种答案：

　　What is you favorite place for reading?

　　Answer 1：
　　I think my favorite place for reading is the library. First because in the library, many students are reading and you will read with them. Second because in the library, you can get many books easily, so you can get to the information quickly. En … so I like to read in the library.

　　Answer 2：
　　Unlike many people, my favorite place for reading is the park. I just like the atmosphere. Reading is tiring, and when I feel tired, I can look up from the book and see people jogging on the path and boating on the lake. Then I feel relaxed. Still, when your eyes feel tired, there are many green trees and lawns to give them a good rest. In the park, you can see many old people taking their beloved birds and dogs for a walk. This gives me inspirations. Indeed, I like to read in parks rather than in libraries or classrooms.

　　大家一比较就会觉得，前者了无生趣，机械死板，内容单薄；而后者新颖独特，语言丰富，内容翔实。我要求学学员在学习完毕之后能答出类似后者质量的答案，但在15秒的时间内准备出后面的答案对大多数同学来说是不现实的，而如果提前有所准备，情况就大为不同。于是第一和第二题的信心来自提前的准备。 但考生又会有疑问，题目范围如此之广，涉题领域如此之大，怎么下手去准备呢？题目有无数，准备题目自然不是上策，而准备“资料库”，学会“借题发挥”则不一样，定会事半功倍，效果非凡。于是第一和第二题的成败关键就在于资料库的搭建和“转话”技巧的培养。

　　第三题和第五题比较类似，都是听对话之后回答相关的问题。听懂对话是成功的一半，而如何不失重点，合理有效的组织答案则是成功的另一半。对于听力好的同学而言，学习组织答案的技巧是关键。如果连声累述而没有重点，或是词不达意缺少亮点，岂不白白浪费了好的听力。对于听力能力欠佳的同学而言，如何把握对话的节奏，关注重要的信息，用说话结构的完整来弥补听力的不足都是重要的技巧。这些都是课堂上讲述的重点，也是备考信心的来源。正所谓：

　　第三题：火眼金睛读材料，熟门熟路记重点。
　　对话模式心有数，有效信息尽入耳。

　　第五题：对话结构我知道，信息丢失不重要。
　　答题要点我抓到，说话结构都知晓。

　　第四和第六题类似，是通过听一段课堂讲座来答题。生僻词汇，快速语流给同学们造成了听力上的巨大障碍。于是大家首要解决的问题是如何对待听力材料，如何最好的利用听到何读到的信息，如何在合理的答题结构中来隐藏听力的缺失。这样的题目对说话的技巧要求是非常高的，而掌握这些技巧就是考试信心的源泉。正是：

　　第四题：火眼金睛读材料，熟门熟路记重点。
　　讲座要点听于耳，答题套路埋于心。

　　第六题：听懂讲演是重点，记下信息是关键。
　　巧妙避开不利点，结构完美撑门面。

thatllUID: 2538832

【听力---SSS---August 19, 2009】

Bite Back on World Mosquito Day
August 20th is World Mosquito Day, an effort to remind the public about the continuing threat of malaria（疟疾） and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

About 10 years ago, I followed some researchers waist deep into the waters（齐腰深进入水中） of the Everglades. In the middle of the night. We kept a vigilant eye out for alligators（短皮鳄鱼） and for venomous snakes. But the animals that actually posed the greatest danger were mosquitoes. Which were transmitting encephalitis（脑炎） that season.

I’m telling that story because August 20th is World Mosquito Day. (party horn sound) Actually, it’s not a day to celebrate. More like an awareness day. Ronald Ross of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine originated World Mosquito Day in 1897. He’s the guy who figured out that mosquitoes carried the malaria parasite. He got one of the first Nobel Prizes for it in 1902.

But mosquitoes and the diseases they carry remain huge problems. Malaria alone kills more than a million people every year, mostly kids. Anybody can help in the fight by making sure there’s no standing water（死水） around, where mosquitoes love to breed. For more info, check out the American Mosquito Control Association, at www.mosquito.org

DriftKingUID: 2664045

我终于明白为什么有好多人 考好了 然后说自己是裸考了
不做模拟就是裸考。。。

老大 你还没改我作文了

thatllUID: 2538832

326# DriftKing

我这不是刚玩回来么？都脱离组织好长时间了，呵呵，等我这一次模考完，然后回家呆一个星期回来后再说哈

DriftKingUID: 2664045

326# DriftKing  

我这不是刚玩回来么？都脱离组织好长时间了，呵呵，等我这一次模考完，然后回家呆一个星期回来后再说哈
thatll 发表于 2009-8-20 11:40

没问题哈
你也可以等到从美国转一圈回来再说哈
记得你老早开始就开始背叛组织了，7月份就有次口语作业你没评我的，其实你是去进军美利坚小组活动去了;P
反正你都脱离组织了，也没人管得了你了哈

thatllUID: 2538832

综合写作攻略：
一、题型分析
1、要点分析
时间：在新托福写作考试的前二十分钟进行，虽然写作是新托福考试的最终部分，但万万不可掉以轻心，否则自毁长城，前功尽弃。
工具：新托福写作只有键盘输入一种选择，打字速度慢者吃亏不少。建议考生熟练操作键盘，提高打字速度并减少打字错误。
字数：有明确要求，150~225字。建议考生平常练习时利用word工具，计算文章字数，做到心中有数。
文体：正规书面文体。不可使用诸如“doesn’t”等非正规文体和口语词汇，可模仿阅读中的遣词造句。
题目：共分三个部分，阅读，听力，写作。


2、评分标准

5	A response at this level Effectively addresses the task by conveying relevant information from the lecture; and accurately relates key information from the lecture to information in the reading; and Is well organized and coherent; and Contains appropriate grammar and vocabulary, with only occasional minor language errors. 文章切题，包含听力中的相关信息；将听力主要信息与阅读材料信息准确对应；段落组织有序，衔接紧密；用词确切，语法规范，有少量拼写错误
4	A response at this level Generally conveys relevant information from the lecture, but may have minor omissions; and Is generally good in relating information from the lecture to information in the reading, but may have minor inaccuracies or vagueness of some content or connections among ideas; and Is generally well organized; and Contains appropriate grammar and vocabulary, but may have noticeable minor language errors or occasional lack of clarity. 文章基本切题，基本包含了听力中的相关信息，但有少许遗漏；信息组织基本合理，但有少许不准确之处或某些内容或观点间的衔接不清晰；段落组织基本有序；用词确切，语法规范，有明显的拼写错误或偶尔表述不清。
3	A response at this level Contains some relevant information from the lecture, but may omit one key point; or Conveys some connections between the lecture and the reading, but some content or connections among ideas may be incomplete, inaccurate, or vague; or Contains errors in grammar or usage that result in vagueness of some content or connections among ideas 包含了听力中的某些相关信息，但遗漏了一个要点；阐述了听力与阅读的某些联系，但某些内容或观点间的联系不完整，不准确或含糊不清；包含语法错误影响了某些内容或观点间联系的表达
2	A response at this level Contains some relevant information from the lecture, but may have significant omissions or inaccuracies of key points; or Omits or largely misrepresents the connections between the lecture and the reading; or Contains language errors that obscure meaning of key ideas or connections among ideas.   包含听力材料中的某些相关信息，但有重大遗漏或要点表述错误；遗漏或嵌解了听力与材料间的联系；语法错误严重影响内容表达
1	A response at this level Contains little or no relevant content from the lecture; or Fails to connect points from the lecture and reading; or Contains language errors that greatly obscure meaning; or Is too brief to allow evaluation of writing proficiency. 没有或有很少听力中的相关信息；没能将听力与阅读建立起联系；语法错误严重影响表达；篇幅太小影响评分
0	A response at this level Only copies sentences from the reading; or Is not related to the given topic; or Is written in a language other than English; or Is blank. 仅从阅读材料中抄袭句子；与主题无关；用除英语外的其它语言写作；空白卷

通过对评分标准进行分析，我们知道了ETS对于一篇好的综合写作作文的要求：
细节缺一不可
(example, reason, detail)
不能跑题（unity）
结构紧凑
（organization）
段落过渡流畅
(coherent)
用词多样化，丰富
(variety)

3、如何准备
1
良好的语法知识
2
充足的词汇量
3
基本的文体知识
4
良好的阅读习惯
5
良好的听力水平
6
高超的语言衔接手段
7
多种表达方法综合运用的能力
8
高超的记笔记能力

在平时备考过程中要注意：
1.
强化语法知识和学术论文写作的文体格式；掌握常用时态，语态，语气和句式，熟练运用语法知识写出通顺的句子。
2.
千方百计强化词汇，多读学术性文章，熟悉写作格式和常用语言表达，熟悉英文写作思路。
3.
多听学术性强的英语讲座，熟悉英语口头表达方式，听懂大意，总结归纳。
4.
熟悉常用句型，多练

写作原则
归纳起来共有七条：
1）正式文体
2）完整结构
3)
明确观点
4)条理内容
5）重视句式
6)通顺联贯
7)
扬长避短

二、出题方式
1）3分钟阅读，字数300左右
2）1~2分钟听力，长度与阅读相当
3）20分钟写作，长度150~225字

三、要点
如何确定要点：
1.      
主题句
2.      
重复的语意（同根，同义，同一词）
3.      
原因和结果
4.      
被解释的词汇
5.      
带有倾向性的名词，形容词，副词，动词等。
6.      
被强调的语意（比较，最高级，绝对词）
7.      
问题与答案
8.      
重要例子
9.      
比较/对比&比喻
10.   表转折的词（其后的内容很重要）

四、动笔写作前的注意事项
1.      
Read the question carefully and think about what it wants you to do.
2.      
review the notes you took during the lecture
3.      
plan what facts to present, and in what order
4.      
select main points and write a paragraph about each
5.      
develop the ideas with examples and reasons

五、如何结构全文：
总分式
分总式
总分总式

六、写作中的注意事项：
State the key point clearly in the first sentence of the paragraph with minimum detail. (每段第一句阐明主要观点，尽量少谈细节)

Each paragraph should convey one major point and support it with relevant details or explanation. (每段包含的主要观点必须有相关的细节说明或解释)

作文主体完成后的注意事项：
Allow time to correct grammar and vocabulary errors. (留出时间检查语法与单词拼写)

考生易犯的错误
Problem 1: no subject-verb agreement

Incorrect	Correct
More than one reason are expressed in the reading passage.	More than one reason is expressed in the reading passage.
One idea is that the size of the brain indicate a person’s intelligence.	One idea is that the size of the brain indicates a person’s intelligence.

Problem 2: no pronoun agreement

Incorrect	Correct
The best way to prevent a car accident is to prevent them from happening.	The best way to prevent a car accident is to prevent it from happening.
Mary is a salesperson which does a good job.	Mary is a salesperson who does a good job.

Problem 3: duplicate subject

Incorrect	Correct
Martha Graham she made her debut in 1920 with the Denishawn School.	Martha Graham made her debut in 1920 with the Denishawn School.
Although Christopher Columbus he failed in his original goal, the discovery he did make were more important than the route to Asia he expected to find.	Although Christopher Columbus failed in his original goal, the discovery he did make were more important than the route to Asia he expected to find.

Problem 4: incorrect verb form

Incorrect	Correct
These new drugs as wonder drugs saving many people who are very sick.	These new drugs as wonder drugs save many people who are very sick.

Problem 5: incomplete sentence

Incorrect	Correct
As a result, reduction in the number of death.	As a result, reduction in the number of death has been achieved.

Problem 6: incorrectly joined clause

Incorrect	Correct
Surface irrigation wastes a lot of water, this water cannot be used for other purposes.	Surface irrigation wastes a lot of water, and this water cannot be used for other purposes.

Practice

Check the sentence structure of the following paragraphs. Cross out errors and write corrections above them. There may be more than one way to correct an error.

1.   
In the past, people use geothermal energy in several ways. For example, hot springs for bathing, treating disease, and heating buildings. Different tribes in North America they call hot springs places of peace, everybody could share the hot water for bathing. In European history, the Romans they also use the water of hot springs for their healing power. For example, eye and skin diseases. Geothermal energy was also heat homes in Rome and other places who are geologically active.

Keys: In the past, people used geothermal energy in several ways. For example, hot springs were used for bathing, treating disease, and heating buildings. Tribes in North America called hot springs places of peace, and everybody could share the hot water for bathing. In European history, the Romans used hot spring to cure eye and skin diseases. They even used the water of hot springs as their healing power. Geothermal energy heated homes in Rome and other places where geothermal energy is geologically active.

2.   
The professor made many points about the motivation and needs of workers they support points made in the reading. First, the professor say the small work group important for workers about 3 to 15 people with one leader. The work group fill needs of workers the reason is they can participate and a sense of respect. The small work group also give workers the ability for make decisions. This point agreed with the reading it said the most satisfying jobs are those with a high level of autonomy this gave workers a voice can make their own decisions.

Keys: The professor made many points about the motivation and needs of workers. First, the professor said that the small work group is important for workers about 3 to 15 people with one leader. The work group fills needs of workers that they can fully participate in each task and enjoy a sense of respect. The small work group also gives workers the possibility to make decisions. This point agreed with the reading in the point that the most satisfying jobs are those with a high level of autonomy which gave workers a voice to make their own decisions.

七、拓展观点
总结听力材料summarize the lecture:
The speaker talks about
The lecture discusses/is mainly discussing
The professor made the point that

引出要点introduce key points:
First/second/third
First/then/another point is that
Or express the key point directly in a topic sentence.

引出例子introduce examples or reasons:
For example (instance)/one example is/such as/that is

增加例子add examples or reasons:
Next/Furthermore/another example is/in addition

对比观点Shw contrast between ideas:
However/In contrast/on the contrary/on the other hand/but

精彩opening:
1) The lecture discusses…which differs from the main idea in the reading that…

2) The professor made the point that…. The reading does not discuss this point.

Another important point is that…, but the reading does not discuss the point.

Finally, the Professor stated that….


In general, the Professor discusses problems of…that the reading does not include.

3) According to the lecture, ….On the other hand/while the reading stated that…

The professor made the point that…. On the contrary/however/in contrast, the writer demonstrated an idea that…

The lecture supports/illustrates the idea that…

The lecture contradicts/refutes/is in contrary to/is the opposite of the idea that…

对材料的指称：
The speaker/lecturer/professor/listening material/lecture

The writer/narrator/reading material/writing

八、总体写作模式
Paragraph 1         first key point from the lecture
                    Examples from the lecture
                    Explanation or connection to the reading
Paragraph 2        second key point from the lecture
                    Examples from the lecture
                    Explanation or connection to the reading
Paragraph 3        third key point from the lecture
                    Examples from the lecture
                    Explanation or connection to the reading
示例模板：
The lecture is mainly discussing ______, ________ and ___________ by _________, challenging what are stated in the reading passage that _________, _________ and _______.

First of all, the speaker thinks that ___________. In contrast, the reading passage believes that _____________. So, the lectures totally disagree with the view made in the reading.

Second, the speaker discusses ___________, Contradicting what is stated in the reading that _____________________.

Finally, the speakers raises the issue that ___________. This point disagrees with the point that ________________ demonstrated in the reading.

So, the contents in the reading passage are totally jeopardized by the speaker and the speaker has totally different ideas on the topics made in the reading.

九、范文分析
READING (Time-3 minutes)

The discovery of penicillin and other antibiotic drugs is the most dramatic medical development of the twentieth century. These new drugs quickly became known as “wonder drugs” because they saved so many lives that were threatened by major forms of infection. The research that led to their development rested on the belief that chemicals could be found that would destroy specific microorganisms without injuring the human body at the same time. Advances in chemistry and in the knowledge of bacteria quickened the discovery of such chemicals. In 1933, the first of the sulfa drugs, prontosil, was tested clinically on humans and was found to cure blood infections that would otherwise have been fatal. In 1941, the first successful human tests of penicillin were conducted on cases of streptococcus infections. The discovery of penicillin laid the foundation for even more powerful weapons against specific diseases. Within the nest decade, researchers identified some 200 antibiotic substances that were effective against one or another type of bacteria. One of the most important was streptomycin, found to be potent against tuberculosis and other infections that were not affected by penicillin. Antibiotics gave the medical profession powerful tools that could directly fight a very wide range of specific diseases. They made possible the survival of patients during and after surgery. No longer was it necessary to depend largely on the body’s own immune system to fight off major infections; these infections could be attacked directly with drugs. Among the most spectacular effects of antibiotics were reductions in the number of deaths from pneumonia and tuberculosis.

thatllUID: 2538832

Now listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.
As soon as we developed antibiotics, new strains of bacteria appeared that were resistant to some or all of the drugs. Hospitals started using antibiotics regularly in the 1950s, but resistance started appearing within a few years. Today, one-third of the patients in hospitals are on antibiotics, but antibiotic resistance is increasing the danger of hospital infections——to the point where people are almost safer staying home than going to hospital.
In the forties, penicillin really was a wonder drug. Back then, you could give a patient with bacterial pneumonia then thousand units of penicillin four times a day and cure the disease. Today, you could give 24 million units of penicillin a day, but the patient might still die. Why? Well, in a way, bacteria are smarter than us. They evolve to counteract any drug we attack them with. A lot of bacteria are now completely resistant to penicillin.
Bacteria can evolve very effective weapons against antibiotics. Some of them develop enzymes to match every antibiotic we throw at them. All these weapons and counter-weapons match one another——just like the weapons in real military warfare. So, no matter what antibiotic we use, the bacteria will come up with a way to make it useless.

How does this happen? Well, if you douse a colony of bacteria with an antibiotic the colony will be killed——that is, all except for a few cells. A few cells will survive because they carry a resistance gene for that particular antibiotic. The surviving cells quickly multiply and they pass along this lucky gene to their offspring. And soon you have a new strain of bacteria that’s resistant to that drug.
One consequence of antibiotic resistance is the reappearance of tuberculosis as a major illness. Twenty years ago, doctors thought tuberculosis was a defeated disease. Since then, however, new cases of tuberculosis have increased by 20 percent. And several strains of the disease are resistant to any drug we can attack them with.

Summarize the main points made in the lecture, explaining how they differ from points made in the reading.

Examples of responses to this writing question:

Response by student 1
The lecture discusses the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, which differs from the main idea in the reading that antibiotics are “wonder drugs”. When antibiotics were developed in the 1940s, they were successful in curing many diseases. However, bacteria quickly became resistant to some drugs. Today, many people in hospital take antibiotics, but there is the serious danger of hospital infections. Penicillin used to cure diseases such as pneumonia, but today people still die because bacteria are resistant to the drug.
Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics because they evolve weapons against the drugs. They can evolve strategies to fight any drug we give them. This situation is similar to the weapons of two armies use in a war. When you treat a disease with an antibiotic, it will kill the bacteria. However, a few cells will survive. Soon the new type of bacteria will appear, and resistant to the antibiotic. Therefore, we should not consider antibiotics as wonder drugs because the bacteria also have strong weapons.
One result of antibiotic resistance is the increase in new cases of tuberculosis. Doctors used to believe that antibiotics were powerful weapons against diseases such as tuberculosis. However, today several types are resistant to antibiotics. So it is a new and serious problem. This is another reason why antibiotics are not wonder drugs.

Response by student 2
In general, the lecture contradicts the idea that antibiotics are “wonder drugs” as the reading states. On the contrary, antibiotics are not wonder drugs because the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
According to the reading, the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotic drugs saved many lives that were threatened by dangerous diseases such a pneumonia and tuberculosis. In the twentieth century, penicillin was first a wonder drug because it can cure streptococcus infections. Furthermore, streptomycin found to be potent against tuberculosis. However, the lecture made the point that this is not true in the present. Today tuberculosis is a major illness again because the new strain of bacteria is resistant to antibiotics.
According to the lecture, bacteria have developed effective weapons against some drugs, for example, penicillin. They evolve to counteract antibiotics. It happens when a few cells of bacteria survive because they have the resistance gene. Then new strains of bacteria appeared. After that, antibiotics may attack but they do not kill all disease infections. This serious problem today is the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
In the past, antibiotic drugs could attack and kill diseases, but this is not true today. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new wonder drugs to fight disease.

Response by student 3
I will describe how the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. First, it’s big problem in the hospitals. Hospitals used antibiotics in 1950, but resistance appearing a problem. The reason is danger of hospital infection is very bad so people had better stay home a hospital.
Second, penicillin was a wonder drug in 1940. You gave a man in hospital 10000 penicillin and he cured the disease. But today you give 24 penicillin but he might die. The reason is bacteria smart so very difficult treat pneumonia and other disease in a hospital. Several people die—— because the reason is the resistance of the bacteria to antibiotics.
Third, how does this happen is you dose a colony of bacteria with an antibiotic. The colony killed except a few cells. This is a dangerous problem in a hospital because people may die. Doctors think tuberculosis was a defeated disease but the increase is by 20%.
The changes the view of antibiotics as “wonder drugs” by resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. It’s a bit problem today and doctors can’t find drugs to cure the disease such as tuberculoses. Penicillin and other antibiotic drugs were wonder drugs in 1940-so it’s necessary to have a different view of antibiotics today.

Response by student 4
The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics changes the view of wonder drugs. One example is penicillin. It is wonder drug in 1941, when the first successful human tests of penicillin. The discovery of penicillin the foundation for even more powerful drugs, for example, antibiotics. Another example is streptomycin, found against tuberculosis and other infections that were not affected by penicillin.
The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics to some of the drugs. First example is pneumonia. In the past penicillin cure him, however today he still die. Second example is tuberculosis. The most effects of antibiotics were reductions in the number of deaths, however, since tuberculosis increase 20 percent deaths. It describes the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. In the past, it was no problem, however, today it is serious problem. It’s changes the view of antibiotics as wonder drugs which saved so many lives. Because today people can still die.

Response by student 5
I discuss a biology professor talk about antibiotics. These new drugs as wonder drugs saving many people who very sick the diseases. Professor he describe penicillin as wonder drug it causing many people well after sick. The discovery of penicillin and other antibiotic drugs is the most dramatic medical development of the twentieth century quickly become known as ‘wonder drugs’. Antibiotics gave the medical profession powerful tools that could fight a very wide range of specific diseases. Professor he gave example the antibiotics make the survival of patients. For example, blood infections, pneumonia and tuberculosis. As a result, reductions in the number of death.

Exercise 1

Read the passage and then listen to the recording. To make this practice more like the real test, cover the passage and question during the lecture. Listen for important information. Take notes about examples or reasons that will help you remember the key points. When you hear the question, uncover the passage and question. Then allow 20 minutes to plan and write a response.

Reading time-3 minutes
The international style is the name given to the functional style of architecture that evolved in Europe and the United States shortly before the First World War and prevailed during most of the twentieth century. The international style is characterized by an emphasis on function and rejection of traditional decoration. It is also known as the Bauhaus style because it was refined at the famous German design school, the Bauhaus, during the 1920s. The directors of the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, reduced the urban building to a basic framework of steel, a skin of glass, and an open interior in which “curtain walls” could be moved around to suit the purposes of the user. Supporters of the Bauhaus idiom promoted a utilitarian simplicity in such phrases as “form follows function” and “less is more”.
The international style inspired both architects and ordinary citizens, and greatly influenced the mid-century building boom in the united states, particularly in New York. The beauty and simplicity of the Bauhaus idiom was evident in New York structures such as the Rockefeller center complex. Perhaps the best known New York example is the office building of the United Nations secretariat, completed in 1952. A Swiss-born architect known as Le Corbusier led the international group of architects that designed it. The UN secretariat is a slab only 72 feet thick, but its blue-tinted glass walls are 287 feet wide by 544 feet high. The building has a simplicity and elegance worthy of the most prominent international organization, the United Nations. The sleek utilitarian beauty of the international style succeeded in reshaping the city, making it one of the most successful architectural movements in history.

Now cover the passage and question. Listen to the recording. When you hear the question, uncover the passage and question and begin your response.

Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

The international style dominated commercial architecture for most of the twentieth century. The international style was the style of the modern city. We can see the results in New York City today. Most of New York’s skyline is made up of tall, straight, severe, glass-and–steel towers. These towers so completely dominate the cityscape that they shade the city streets. A person walking on the street is completely overpowered.
Strict simplicity is the defining feature of the international style, but it takes the idea that “form must follow function”---it takes this idea to an extreme. In the hands of a true master, the style has creative potential. However, there aren’t that many true masters. And starting almost immediately, what we saw was the uglification of the office building…to the point where the glass box became not only ugly but also ridiculous.
The international style started an explosion of cheap imitations. Take the un secretariat building. It’s a beautiful building on its own. It has an elegance that commands respect. But this type of beauty was turned into something cheap and vulgar because we saw too much of it. It lost its elegance and became, well, a little boring.
The philosophy of the international style is summed up in the familiar phrase “less is more.” But is less really more? “Less is more” inspired thousands of starkly simple buildings. In large numbers, and especially when they dominate a city’s skyline, these buildings can be ugly and uninspiring, even cold and unfriendly—more machine than human.
Critics of the international style saw its ugliness very early on. The glass box received a great deal of negative criticism—not only from the public but also from professional architects. One of the greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, said, “less is more…where more is no good.” Robert Venturi was even harsher when he said, “less is a bore.”

Summarize the points made in the lecture, explaining how they agree or disagree with points made in the reading.

Key points for exercise 1:
1.               
The international style dominated the architecture of the modern city; this agrees with the points in the reading that the style reshaped the city and was one of the most successful architecture movements in history.
2.               
The international style takes simplicity and “form follows function” to an extreme, leading to office buildings that are ugly, ridiculous, cheap, vulgar, and boring; this disagrees with the point in the reading that utilitarian simplicity is beautiful an elegant.
3.               
The international style received much negative criticism from architects and the public; this disagrees with the point in the reading that the style inspired both architects and ordinary citizens.

Exercise 2

Read the passage and then listen to the recording. To make this practice more like the real test, cover the passage and question during the lecture. Listen for important information. Take notes about examples or reasons that will help you remember the key points. When you hear the question, uncover the passage and question. Then allow 20 minutes to plan and write a response.
Reading time-3 minutes
Geothermal energy is derived from the heat contained within the earth. In some places the heat is so intense that it melts mantle rock to create liquid magna. Geologists believe that the ultimate source of geothermal energy is radioactive decay occurring deep within the planet. A renewable energy resource, geothermal heat is produced primarily when water descends from the earth’s surface and meets hot magna rising toward it. Some of this geothermal water circulates back up through faults and cracks in the earth’s crust and reaches the surface as hot springs or geysers. However, most geothermal water remains deep underground, trapped in cracks and porous rock.
In most regions of the world, geothermal heat reaches the earth’s surface in a very diffuse state, having lost much of its energy potential. However, in some areas, including significant portions of western North America, geothermal reservoirs exist close to the surface and are thus easily tapped for power generation. Geographic regions that possess well-developed geothermal systems are located in geologically active areas. Such favored regions with continuous, concentrated heat flow to the surface include Iceland, Japan, and the Philippines.
Now cover the passage and question. Listen to the recording. When you hear the question, uncover the passage and question and begin your response.

Now listen to a geology professor talk about geothermal energy.

The first use of geothermal energy in North America probably took place more than ten thousand years ago. This is when aboriginal people settled around mineral hot springs. The hot springs served as a source of warmth, also cleansing and healing. Hot springs were so important to aboriginal North Americans that they were considered neutral zones—places where members of warring tribes could bathe together in peace. In European history, people also valued hot springs for their healing powers. For example, the Romans used geothermal water to treat eye and skin disease and also to heat buildings at Pompeii.
Today, humans benefit in a much different way from this important natural resource. Ever since the world’s first geothermal-generated electricity was produced in Italy in 1904, we’ve tapped geothermal heat as a power source. Geothermal heat can generate electricity without the harmful fossil-fuel emissions that cause pollution and climate change. In geothermal power plants, the physical force that spins turbine blades is steam, heat, or hot water from within the earth.
Another use of geothermal energy today is direct use of hot water. Direct use involves taking heated water—without a heat pump or power plant—and using if for industrial processes, or to heat buildings and greenhouses, or to supply heated mineral water for health resorts.
The concentration of geothermal energy has to be very high in order to make heat extraction economical for a nation. Geothermal sites around the world aren’t all equal in their power potential. The best places for developing geothermal energy systems are regions that are volcanically active, like places around the Pacific Rim and in certain parts of Europe for example, Iceland is a geological hot spot, where geothermal energy is used to heat almost every home in the nation.

Describe past and present uses of geothermal energy, and explain why some regions have better potential than others for developing geothermal systems.

Key points for exercise 2:
1.      
Past uses of geothermal energy include using hot water for bathing and cleansing, to treat diseases, to heat buildings, and to generate electricity.
2.      
Present uses of geothermal energy include the generation of electricity and the direct use of hot water for industrial processes, to heat buildings and greenhouses, and to supply heated mineral water for health resorts.
3.      
Some regions have better potential for developing geothermal systems because they are geologically or volcanically active, the concentration of geothermal energy is very high, and geothermal reservoirs exist close to the surface.