1、Unit 1Listening 1 A LectureOK, everyone, what I want to do today is continue our discussion about cities and the challenges they face, and, Id like to focus on the city of Venice, in Italy, which is an extraordinary example. So, to begin with, lets review a few of the points weve discussed so far. R
2、emember that, for centuries, the city has been struggling with the problem of flooding. As you know, the regular floodwaterscalled the acqua altaare a big problem in the city. You may also recall that the government has started the innovative MOSE project to build water barriers and stop flooding fr
3、om the ocean. Now, flooding is an important issue, but many Venetians say that the city has more serious problems than the acqua alta or the MOSE project. And most of these problems have to do with tourism. Of course, tourism has both the positive and negative sidetourism is extremely profitable. Bu
4、t the problem in Venice is too many tourists.For example, in 2007 the number of Venetian residents was 60,000. And what do you think the number of visitors to Venice was in that year? Twenty-one million! Recently, on a single holiday weekend in May, 80,000 tourists visited the city. Public parking l
5、ots filled up and were closed. And tourists walked through the streets eating and drinking and leaving a lot of trash behind. The result is that Venices city services just cant handle so many people. The city has to pay more and more money for garbage collection to clean up all of the trash. In addi
6、tion, public transportation on the famous boats and gondolas is so crowded that Venetian residents can barely find room to get on.Along with trash and crowded transportation, city residents also have to deal with higher prices for food and for housing. Food prices continue to rise around the city. S
7、ome cafs charge as much as 13 U.S. dollars for a soft drink! In the Rialto Marketan area with many shops and storessome of the grocery stores have been replaced by souvenir shops, which means that Venetians have fewer places to buy their groceries. In popular tourist areas, rent has almost tripled,
8、and many small local businessesfor example, toy stores and hardware storescant afford to pay.Let me add that there is a serious housing problem in Venice. At one time, there were regulations making it illegal to convert residential buildings into hotels. But a law in 1999 removed those regulations,
9、and the housing problem got even worse. Since then, the number of hotels and guesthouses has increased by 600 percent, and the number of houses that are available for local residents has gone down.These days, housing is only affordable for the very rich or for people who already own houses because t
10、heyve been passed down by family. Young Venetians simply cant afford to buy any property in the city. This has forced a huge number of Venetian residents to move out of the city. Thirty years ago, the population of Venice was around 120,000. Now its less than 60,000. So, why does Venice continue to
11、encourage tourism when it causes so many problems? Mainly its because tourism in Venice generates more than two billion U.S. dollars a year in revenueand many think that the amount is much higher.Also, theres a lot of financial pressure on Venice. The cleaning of canals, restoration of old structure
12、s, and the MOSE project are all very expensive. Tourism brings in money to help the city solve these problems. Another point I want to make is that many people in Venice have jobs related to tourism. As more tourists come to the city, hotels, restaurants, and museums need to hire more workers. In fa
13、ct, the city of Venice has a lower unemployment rate than the rest of Italy, and its likely a result of the tourism industry. Some people think that Venice is to blame for its own problemsthat these problems are the result of greed for tourists money. Theres a lot of talk about limiting tourists, ta
14、xing tourists, and even asking tourists to avoid the busy seasons of Easter and Carnival. However, as you can see, maximizing the number of tourists in Venice is also necessary. So, there seem to be no simple solutions to Venices tourism problem.好，大家，我今天要做的就是继续讨论城市和他们面临的挑战，我想把重点放在意大利的威尼斯市，这是一个非常好的例子
15、。所以，首先回顾一下我们迄今为止讨论过的几点。请记住，几个世纪以来，这座城市一直在为洪水问题而苦苦挣扎。正如你所知道的那样，定期的洪水称为“获得” - 在这个城市是个大问题。你也许还记得，政府已经启动了创新的MOSE 项目来建造水屏障，并阻止海洋的洪水。现在，洪水是一个重要的问题，但是很多威尼斯人认为，这个城市比俄罗斯联邦和莫斯科项目有更严重的问题。而这些问题大部分都与旅游有关。当然，旅游既有正面的也有负面的，副旅游是非常有利可图的。但在威尼斯的问题是太多的游客。例如，2007 年威尼斯居民的人数是 6 万人。你认为那年威尼斯的游客人数是多少？二千一百万！最近在五月的一个假期周末，有 8 万游
16、客参观了这座城市。公共停车场已满，关闭。游客在街上走着吃喝，留下了很多垃圾。结果是威尼斯的城市服务不能处理这么多人。这个城市不得不支付越来越多的垃圾回收资金来清理所有的垃圾。此外，着名的小船和吊船上的公共交通如此拥挤，威尼斯人居民几乎找不到空间。随着垃圾和交通挤塞，城市居民也不得不面对更高的食物和住房价格。全市食品价格继续上涨。一些咖啡馆收取高达 13 美元的软饮料！在里亚托市场这个拥有许多商店和商店的地区，一些杂货店已经被纪念品商店所取代，这意味着威尼斯人没有购买杂货的地方。在受欢迎的旅游地区，租金几乎增加了两倍，许多小型的当地企业（如玩具店和五金店）也无力支付。让我补充一点，威尼斯有一个严
17、重的住房问题。有一段时间，有规定将住宅改建为宾馆是非法的。但 1999 年的法律删除了这些规定，住房问题变得更糟。从那以后，宾馆和宾馆的数量增加了 600，可供当地居民居住的房屋数量下降了。这些日子里，住房只有为富人或者已经拥有住房的人才买得起，因为他们是被家庭遗弃的。年轻的威尼斯人根本买不起这个城市的任何财产。这迫使很多威尼斯人居住在这个城市。三十年前，威尼斯人口约为十二万人。现在还不到 6 万。那么，为什么威尼斯在引发这么多问题的时候继续鼓励旅游呢？主要是因为威尼斯的旅游业每年的收入超过 20 亿美元，而且很多人认为这个数字要高得多。而且，威尼斯有很大的经济压力。运河清理，旧建筑修复和 M
18、OSE 项目都非常昂贵。旅游业带来资金帮助城市解决这些问题。我想说的另一点是，威尼斯的许多人都有旅游相关的工作。随着更多的游客来到这个城市，酒店，餐馆和博物馆需要雇用更多的工人。事实上，威尼斯市的失业率比意大利其他地区要低，这可能是旅游业的结果。有人认为威尼斯是自己的问题，这些问题是贪婪游客钱的结果。关于限制游客，征税游客，甚至要求游客避开复活节和嘉年华的繁忙季节，人们谈论很多。但是，正如你所看到的，最大化威尼斯游客的数量也是必要的。所以，威尼斯的旅游问题似乎没有简单的解决办法。Listening 2 A Conversation between ClassmatesM: Hi, Linda.
19、 Ive been looking for you. I wanted to return your notes from the lecture on Singapore. Thanks for letting me borrow them.F: No problem. Sorry that you missed class. Are you feeling better?M: Yes, a lot better, thanks. Do you have time to answer a few questions for me? There were a few things in you
20、r notes that I didnt understand.F: Sure.M: OK. So first, you wrote here “Singapuralion”. What did you mean by that?F: Oh, thats an easy one. Singapura is the original name for Singapore. It means “lion city”. And the symbol of the country is the Merlionits a unique creature with the head of a lion a
21、nd the body of a fish. The head of the lion relates to the name Singapura. And the body of the fish is because Singapore started off as a fishing village.M: Interesting. Do you remember when modern Singapore was founded? I couldnt really read your handwriting here.F: Um, I think it was 18 something
22、. maybe 1819? So, you know, its still a young country.M: OK. I dont really understand the section of your notes about Singapores challenges. Could you explain that a bit more?F: Sure. For one thing, Singapore doesnt really have much land, oil, wood, or other natural resources. Oh, and another thing
23、. um, theres also a mix of people from different ethnic groups and with different religions and languages. Theyre all trying to conform to the laws and live together in a small space.M: I didnt know that.F: Its also a really small countryabout 270 square miles, which is the size of the state of Hawa
24、ii.M: Uh-huh.F: And its 100 percent urbanizedall the people live in built-up areas. You probably read in my notes that Singapore has a very powerful economy for such a small country.M: Yes, I remember that part. Your notes said that Singapore was ranked second in the world for having an innovative e
25、conomy. So, its economy is compatible with the economy of many larger countries.F: It definitely is. And a lot of people think that Singapore couldnt have achieved that kind of success without Lee Kuan Yew.M: He was the first prime minister, right?F: Right. He was prime minister for, uh, 30 years, o
26、r something. And he stayed active in politics until he retired. It was recently, maybe 2011? So, his ideas dominated Singapore politics for over 50 years.M: You know, the Singaporeans Ive met all work very hard. They seem to want to be number one in everything.F: I think youre right. Its probably go
27、t to do with the spirit of kiasu. M: Kiasu?F: Yes, it means “afraid to lose”. Its an idea that some people have internalized, and it makes them work hard to be the best. For example, Singapore has one of the worlds busiest shipping ports, and it has one of the worlds best health care systems.M: That
28、s impressive. What about the laws in Singapore? What did you write about chewing gum?F: Well, you cant sell chewing gum in Singapore. Its illegal, and the police enforce that law. Spitting on the street can also get you a huge fine. And then theres a fine for forgetting to flush the toilet in a publ
29、ic place.M: I think that the laws seem way too strict, dont you?F: Actually, no. I dont think so. Those laws make Singapore one of the cleanest and safest places to live in the world. In my opinion, Id rather have strict laws and safe streets than lenient laws and more crime.M: Hmmm. Im not so sure
30、about that. I think its a debatable point. But I agree that Singapore is an interesting place.F: Definitely.M: OK, I think youve answered all my questions.F: Good.M: Thanks again for your notes. See you next class.F: Yes, see you then.男：嗨，琳达。我一直在找你。我想从新加坡的演讲回来你的笔记。谢谢你让我借。F：没问题。对不起，你错过了上课。你感觉好些了吗？M：好
31、的，谢谢。你有时间为我回答几个问题吗？你的笔记里有一些我不明白的东西。F：好的。男：好的。所以首先，你在这里写了“新加坡狮子” 。你是什么意思？F：哦，这很简单。新加坡是新加坡的原名。意思是“狮城” 。这个国家的象征是鱼尾狮 - 它是一头独一无二的狮子头和鱼身。狮子的头与新加坡的名字有关。而鱼的身体是因为新加坡是作为一个渔村而开始的。M：有趣。你还记得现代新加坡何时成立？我在这里无法真正阅读你的笔迹。F：呃，我认为是 18 点，也许是 1819 点？所以，你知道，这还是一个年轻的国家。男：好的。我不太了解你们有关新加坡挑战的部分。你能解释一下吗？F：好的。一方面，新加坡的土地，石油，木材和其他
32、自然资源并不多。哦，还有另一件事呢，那里也有来自不同民族，不同宗教和语言的人。他们都试图遵守法律，在狭小的空间里共同生活。M：我不知道。F：这也是一个非常小的国家，约 270 平方英里，这是夏威夷州的规模。男：嗯。F：百分之百城市化 - 所有的人都住在建筑区。你可能在我的笔记中读到，新加坡对于这样一个小国来说经济非常强大。M：是的，我记得那一部分。你的笔记说新加坡因创新型经济而位居世界第二位。所以它的经济和许多大国的经济是一致的。F：肯定是的。许多人认为没有李光耀，新加坡就不可能取得这样的成就。M：他是第一任总理，对吗？F：对。他是 30 年的总理，还是什么的。他一直活跃在政坛，直到退休。最近
33、，也许是2011 年？所以，他的观点在新加坡政治上统治了五十多年。M：你知道，我遇到的新加坡人都很努力。他们似乎想要成为所有的第一。F：我认为你是对的。这可能与 kiasu 的精神有关。M：Kiasu？F：是的，这意味着“害怕失去” 。这是一些人内化的想法，使他们努力成为最好的。例如，新加坡是世界上最繁忙的航运港口之一，也是世界上最好的医疗保健系统之一。M：真令人印象深刻。新加坡的法律呢？你是怎么写口香糖的？F：那么你不能在新加坡卖口香糖。这是非法的，警方执行该法律。在街上随地吐痰也会给你带来巨大的罚款。然后忘记在公共场所冲洗厕所是可以的。M：我认为法律看起来太严格了，不是吗？F：其实没有。我
34、不这么认为。这些法律使新加坡成为世界上最干净，最安全的地方之一。在我看来，宁愿有严格的法律和安全的街道，而不是宽松的法律和更多的罪行。M：嗯。我不太确定。我认为这是一个有争议的问题。但我同意新加坡是一个有趣的地方。F：肯定。M：好的，我想你已经回答了我所有的问题。F：好。M：再次感谢你的笔记。见下一堂课。F：是的，那就见。Viewing the WorldNarrator: The Tuareg people have a proud tradition as nomads. But a long drought forced some to settle along the lake and
35、 try farming. Here, on the edge of Lake Gossi in Mali, theyve made the Sahel bloom, and in turn attracted a group of giants. In the dry season, Omar Sowadou has come to expect these visitors.Omar Sowadou (Farmer): We are living here in this area, just beside the water. Of course, we use the water fo
36、r our garden, and for our animals. But elephants, they come to drink water, of course, and they want to cool down their body, so all of us, we share the same Water.Narrator: During the day, an uneasy peace settles over the lake. People fill their goatskins. The elephants drink. But when night falls,
37、 the truce will be broken.Omar Sowadou: After drinking they come straight away to the garden because they smell foodtrees and crops. So we have to protect our garden.Narrator: It takes more than brush fences to keep out three tons of hungry elephant.Omar Sowadou: If an elephant spends just half an h
38、our in a garden, he will eat at least 30 percent of it, and this is the big danger for farmers.Narrator: To lose a third of their crop is a catastrophe for any farmer, especially here. And this is not your average garden pest. As the sun sets the battle line are drawn.Omar Sowadou: The farmer digs h
39、oles to keep the elephant away from the farm, to not damage the farm, but it is not enough. They come all the time, spoil a lot of things, and you cannot even get to sleep during the night. It becomes like a nightmare.Narrator: Tonight, the nightmare appearsand the farmers are ready. At first light,
40、 Omar finds hes had a near disaster.Omar Sowadou: I discovered that there were two elephants in the garden. I followed their footprints to the next garden. I found out that they damaged a lot of crops and trees. I do remember since I was a kid we are doing the same things every year, and for sure I
41、will do it in the future, every year, and this is the daily fight among us and elephant. Every time we are facing the same problem with elephant, every year.Narrator: Throughout Africa, elephants and people do battle. For now, the elephants have headed south to search for fresh food. But in six mont
42、hs, theyll be back, and once again Omar Sowadou will not sleep. 旁白：图阿雷格人作为游牧民族有着骄傲的传统。但是长时间的干旱迫使一些人在湖边定居，尝试耕作。在这里，在马里的戈西湖边，他们使萨赫尔盛开，反过来又吸引了一批巨人。在旱季，奥马尔索瓦杜期待这些游客。Omar Sowadou（农民）：我们住在这个地方，就在水边。当然，我们使用水为我们的花园，为我们的动物。但是，大象，当然他们来喝水，他们要冷静自己的身体，所以我们所有人，我们共享相同的水。旁白：白天，一个不安的和平定居在湖面上。人们填满他们的山羊皮。大象喝。但是，当夜幕降临，
43、休战将被打破。Omar Sowadou：喝完后，他们直接到花园去，因为他们闻到食物和作物。所以我们必须保护我们的花园。旁白：除了刷篱笆外，还有三吨饥饿的大象。Omar Sowadou：如果一只大象在花园里呆了半个小时，他至少会吃掉 30，这对农民来说是一个很大的危险。旁白：失去三分之一的农作物对任何农民来说都是一场灾难，尤其是在这里。这不是你的平均园林害虫。当太阳落下时，战线被画出来。Omar Sowadou：农民挖洞让大象远离农场，不要破坏农场，但这是不够的。他们一直来，糟 a 了很多东西，甚至连夜间都不能入睡。它变得像一场噩梦。旁白：今天晚上，噩梦出现了，农民们准备好了。乍一看，奥马尔发现
44、他有一场灾难。Omar Sowadou：我发现花园里有两只大象。我跟着他们的脚印到了下一个花园。我发现他们破坏了很多庄稼和树木。我记得自从我小时候起，我们每年都在做同样的事情，而且我确信我将来每年都会这样做，这就是我们和大象之间的日常斗争。每一次，我们每年都面临与大象同样的问题。旁白：整个非洲，大象和人民都在战斗。现在，大象已经向南寻找新鲜食物。但六个月后，他们会回来的，奥马尔索瓦杜不会再睡了。Unit2Listening 1 Tour Guide: OK, everyone, heres our next exhibit. Do you see the body of the little
45、bird in that bottle? That is a dusky seaside sparrow. It was an old male that died on June 16, 1987. Its kind of sad because he was the very last dusky seaside sparrow in the world. Theyre now extinct. Yes, you have a question?Male: Do you know why they became extinct?Tour Guide: Basically, they los
46、t their habitat. See, the dusky seaside sparrow lived only in one placeon Merritt Island in Florida. The island had a lot of mosquitoes and wetlands. The people on Merritt Island used chemicals to kill the mosquitoes.Tour Guide: Those chemicals were also very harmful to the sparrows, and many died.
47、In addition, the people on Merritt Island tried to control and exploit the wetlands. As they altered them, the wetlands were no longer a good habitat for the sparrows. The birds died one by one until there werent any left.Female: So, if people were to blame, cant we make sure something like that nev
48、er happens again?Tour Guide: Were trying. The situation with the dusky seaside sparrow makes one thing very clear. We need to protect endangered animals. However, its a better strategy to protect the animals andtheir habitats, too. After all, if an animals habitat is destroyed, the animal will likel
49、y become extinct.Tour Guide: Were trying. The situation with the dusky seaside sparrow makes one thing very clear. We need to protect endangered animals. However, its a better strategy to protect the animals andtheir habitats, too. After all, if an animals habitat is destroyed, the animal will likely become extinct. Thats why the Endangered Species Act, which was passed in the United States in 1973, protects both endangered animals and their habitats. For example, the steelhead trout lives in rivers an
