Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer.
听力原文:W: Are Betty and Mary still here?
M: Yes, the storm prevented them from leaving yesterday.
Q: Why are Betty and Mary still here?
(12)
A. They want to stay for more days.
B. The weather has kept them here.
C. Yesterday they were too busy to leave.
D. The story hasn't been finished yet.
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听力原文:M: Sandy hasn't said many words today.
W: That's not like Sandy, she is certainly in a bad mood.
Q: What do we learn about Sandy?
(17)
A. She is a shy girl.
B. She is talkless.
C. She does not like to speak much.
D. She is not herself today.
听力原文:M: What seems to be the problem with your VCD, Madam?
W: Well, the light switch is broken and the plug needs repairing.
Q: What is the man's most probable occupation?
(18)
A. He is a driver.
B. He is an electrician.
C. He is a carpenter.
D. He is a bricklayer.
听力原文:W: John, what game shall we arrange for the children to play?
M: Why don't we leave that up to themselves?
Q: What does the man advise the woman to do?
(19)
A. Leave the children at home.
B. Arrange some games for the kids.
C. Let the kids make their own amusement.
D. Tell them to take some toys with them.
听力原文: There are big cultural differences between British shoppers and shoppers in continental Europe when it comes to credit cards.
Shopping by credit card in Britain is rising: it increased by £ 400 million last month. But shoppers in France and other continental European countries still prefer cheques, cash or store cards to credit cards.
Two-thirds of all credit cards spending in the European Union takes place on British cards.
But this picture is starting to change in continental European countries. In 2002, Visa in- creased the number of its credit cards in the EU by 10.6 percent. The number of transactions rose by 12 percent. In France, many shoppers are learning that store cards charge higher interest rates than credit cards.
There are still many difficulties for credit card companies that want to expand in continental Europe. Many continental European consumers don't like to spend on credit cards: they prefer to negotiate a loan with their bank branch. So their local bank remains the main source of credit.
But many US-and UK-owned credit card companies see the possibility of growth in continental Europe and have ambitious plans to expand.
(30)
A. The British and other Europeans use credit cards in the same way.
B. The British use credit cards more than other Europeans.
C. The British use credit cards less than other Europeans.
D. The British and the French use credit cards in the same way.