2000年英语专八真题听力原文

2000年英语专八真题听力原文

　　听力原文

　　PART Ⅰ LISTENING COMPREHENSION?

　　SECTION A TALK?

　　The earliest libraries existed thousands of years agoin China and Egypt where collections of records ontablets of baked clay were kept in temples and royalpalaces. In the western world, libraries were firstestablished is Ancient Greece. For example, Aristotle once had a research library in the 3rdcentury B. C

　　? The first library in the Unites States was a private library, which could only b e used byauthorized readers. In 1633, John Harvard gave money and more than 300 books to a newly-established college in Massachusetts. In return for his generosity, the legislature voted theschool be named Harvard College. The librarian t here set rules for the new library. Only collegestudents and faculty members could use the books. No book could be lent for more than onemonth. ?

　　The earliest public library was established in Philadelphia in 1731. Although this library wasopen to every one, all readers had to pay a membership or subscription fee in order to borrowbooks. Very few subscription libraries exist today. Some book and stationary stores maintainsmall rental libraries, where anyone m ay borrow books for a daily charge. The first truly freepublic library that circulated books to every one at no cost was started at a small New Englandtown in 1833. Today, there are more than 7,000 free public libraries throughout the US. Theycontain about 160 million books which were circulated to over 52 million readers.?

　　Historically, the major purpose of free public libraries was educational. They were expected toprovide adults with the opportunity to continue their education after they left school. So thefunction of public library was once described as “less reservoir than a fountain”. In otherwords, emphasis was to be place d on wide circulation rather than on collecting and storingbooks. Over the year s public library services have greatly expanded. In addition to theircontinuing and important educational role, public libraries provide culture and recreation , andthey are trying to fill many changing community needs. Most libraries offer browsing roomswhere readers can relax on comfortable chairs and read current newspapers and magazines.Many also circulate music records. Library programs of films, lectures, reading clubs, andconcerts also attract library users. In addition to books, records, periodicals, and referencematerial, libraries provide technical information such as books and pamphlets on gardening,carpentry and other specialized fields of interests. The largest public library in the US is theLibrary of Congress. It was originally planned as the reference library f or the federallegislature. Today in addition to that important function, it serves as the reference libraryfor the public, and sends out many books to other libraries on inter-library-loan system.?

　　Unlike free pubic libraries, which open to everyone, private libraries can be used only byauthorized readers. Many industrial and scientific organizations and business firms havecollections of books, journals and research data for their staffs. Several private historicalassociations have research collections of special interest to their members. In addition, manyelementary and secondary schools operate libraries for use by students and teachers. Prisonsand hospitals maintain libraries too. The largest and the most important private libraries areoperated by colleges an d universities, and axe used by students, faculty members, andoccasionally by visiting scholars. Many universities have special libraries for research inparticular fields, such as law, medicine and education. Recent surveys report that me re than300 million books are available in these academic libraries and they are regularly used by over8 million students.?

　　SECTION B INTERVIEW?

　　(I: Interviewer N: Nancy)?

　　I: Hello, Nancy, I know you are one of a few women taxi drivers in the city now, and you drivefor a living.? What made you want to be a common taxi driver in the first place??

　　N: I took pride in driving well, even when I was young for I have to wait until I have a car tolearn to drive. When I finally learned, it was something I really enjoyed and still enjoy. Iremember how smart those taxi drivers have seemed driving so well, and dressed so neatly intheir uniforms. I thought I’d like to do that myself.?

　　I: You really enjoy driving, I see. And how long have you been a taxi driver??

　　N: Eh, altogether 12 years.?

　　I: Mm, it’s been quite some time already, hasn’t it??

　　N: Yeah.?

　　I: Then, what did you find the most difficult about becoming a taxi driver??

　　N: I can still remember when I was first learning to drive. It was scary I didn’ t know yet how tojudge distance. And when a big truck came near, it seemed like a wheel was just coming rightover me. Anyway, soon I learned to judge distance. I began to look ahead, stopped worryingabout trucks and about what was moving on either side.?

　　I: In your opinion, what does it take to become a good taxi driver??

　　N: Eh, besides driving well, the most important thing to a taxi driver needs to know is thestreets and I know the city well because I have lived in it for a long time. I know all the mainstreets, and even the side streets. And of course, you have to keep updating your knowledgeof the streets because the city changes. There might be a new road appearing somewhere oneday.?

　　I: Now, what about annual leaves? Do you have them??

　　N: Oh, yes. When I first started, I had only 10 days. Now I have 3 weeks every year with pay.?

　　I: Just out of curiosity. When you go on vacation to another place or city, do you drive thereas well??

　　N: In most cases, not. I prefer to be driven by others if I go by car. I would also prefer to go bytrain or plane, if there is a choice. I have already had too much driving in my life, so when I’mon holiday, I just want to relax.?

　　I: Oh, I see. Let’s come back to your work. Are there any unpleasant aspects in your job??

　　N: The only serious difficulty in this work is that it’s sometimes dangerous to drive at night. Butyou have choices, and I always choose to work days rather than at night.?

　　I: What’ s the best part of your job??

　　N: I soon found that what I like best about the job was being outdoors, seeing how this citychanges from season to season. And there are places of scene I would probably never haveseen in another job. And I love all kinds of weather. I like to leave the window down in a finerain, and, and when I have a long drive, maybe end-of the day, I sometimes go pass my hometo tell my two little children I’ll be home soon, when they always want to come along in my car.?

　　I: Do they? I guess kids all like to be taken for a ride sometimes.?

　　N: Yes, but you can not take any all along, and thus they pay or you pay for the m. So I’ve topay their fares one of these days, and take them out in my taxi, because I really think it is funout into the country side on the long drive, wit h the fresh air and sun shining. You just seemto want to drive for ever. At least that is how it’s for me.?

　　I: Being a taxi driver, you have to meet all kinds of people. How do you feel about that??

　　N: I enjoy meeting many different people. I might not have met some of them if not for thisjob. I learned a lot how people behave in these years.?

　　I: Can you tell us a bit more about it??

　　N: The biggest advantage is that you come across various characters in your work . Somepeople are interesting, some rushed, some pleasant, some funny, some talkative, some sopressed for time that they change clothes in the taxi. Those who are in greatest rush wouldsometimes forget to pay.?

　　I: Have you ever met some people who don’t like women drivers??

　　N: Yeah. Once a passenger really objected to having a woman driver. That I laugh ed him somuch that he stopped his fussing. Although there has been one or two cases like this, I stillthink most people are nice to woman drivers. So this is really an interesting part of my work.?

　　I: Now my last question. Have you ever thought of changing your job??

　　N: Not yet. I might in a few years time, but not at this moment, because I really enjoy my work.And I do get lots of satisfaction out of it. So why should I??

　　I: Ok. Our interview is coming to the end. I’d like to wind up our interview by wishing yougood luck in your job. Thank you very much for your time, Nancy.?

　　N: Pleasure.?

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