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听力原文：Although it is a normal part of banking, excessive interest rate risk can pose a significant threat to a bank's earnings and capital base.
(4)
A．Interest rate risk is a normal part of banking operations.
B．Interest rate risk is a terrible threat to banking operations.
C．A bank's earnings and capital base is a normal part of banking.
D．A bank's earnings and capital base can pose a significant threat to banking.
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听力原文：The Coast Guard does what its name says; it guards the coasts of the United State
听力原文： The Coast Guard does what its name says; it guards the coasts of the United States. During a war, the Coast Guard becomes part of the United States Navy, and helps to protect against enemy attacks. In times of peace, however, The Coast Guard is part of the United States Department of Transportation. It has responsibility for many different duties. The Coast Guard can be found at many large lakes in America, as well as in coastal waters. It enforces laws controlling navigation, shipping, immigration, and fishing. It enforces other laws that affect the thousands of privately-owned boats in the United States. Coast Guard planes, boats and helicopters search for missing boats and rescue people in dangerous situations. Last year, Coast Guards men saved the lives of almost 7,000 people.
The Coast Guard does scientific research on the ocean. It also uses ice-breaking boats to clear ice from rivers or lakes, so boats can travel safely. One of The Coast Guard's most important duties now is helping to keep illegal drugs out of the United States. Coast Guard boats, armed with guns, use radios and radar to find boats that may be carrying drugs. They stop the boats suspected of carrying drugs and search them, They seize the drugs and arrest the people on the boats. Last year, Coast Guardsman seized more than 800,000 kilo grams of marijuana and cocaine. And-they arrested more than 700 persons trying to bring illegal drugs into the United States.
This kind of action is exiting. Most of the time, however, Coast Guardsman say they see nothing more exciting than the ocean.
(33)
A．Guarding the coasts of the United States.
B．Being part of the United States Navy.
C．Guiding people along the coast.
D．Protecting people from army attack.
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听力原文：W: I'm going to the bank, then to the jewelry store, and after that, I have to prepare a presentation for my linguistics seminar.
M: I'd say you have a pretty busy afternoon, Ann.
Q: What does the man mean？
(16)
A．Ann can go with him this afternoon.
B．Ann's almost as busy as he is.
C．Ann has a lot to do today.
D．Ann might be finished by noon.
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听力原文： Israel is speeding up construction of its controversial West Bank barrier. The Palestinians say it's a land grab.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered quicker work to complete construction of Israel's West Bank separation barrier, especially in the area of Jerusalem. Israel began building the nearly 700 kilometer long barrier two years ago, but only a third has been completed. Israeli officials say that's way too slow.
"Let's just get it done," said Cabinet Minister and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."This is a security fence, it is not a political border, it is not meant to keep people in like the Berlin Wall, it is meant to keep terrorists out."
It is not clear how the government will speed up construction of the barrier in light of previous rulings by the Israeli Supreme Court. In the past, the Court has ruled that the government is illegally confiscating West Bank land and creating hardship for Palestinians.
Israeli analyst Dan Schueftan told VOA that many Israelis believe the court is favoring the Palestinians over Israeli security.
"And the more they take decisions in this direction, the more Israelis will question the wisdom of the Supreme Court."
So by ordering rapid construction of the barrier, Mr. Sharon is responding to public opinion. But the Palestinians say it's a land grab.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat: "The only thing that's growing on the ground now is more Israeli settlements, more walls, and more dictations and more harming of the Palestinian people."
The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled last year that the barrier is illegal and must be torn down. But after more than a hundred suicide bombings during the past four-and-a-half years of conflict, Israel is determined to build the barrier as quickly as possible.
The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that ______.
A．building West Bank barrier is legal
B．building West Bank barrier is illegal
C．building West Bank barrier is reasonable
D．building West Bank barrier is welcomed
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听力原文：M: Good morning! I've lost my traveler's cheques. I wonder if you could get in touch with the issuing bank to claim refund for me.
W: Don't worry, Sir. But I need some detailed information before I contact your issuing bank.
Q: What did the man lost？
(17)
A．Credit card.
B．Passport.
C．Traveler's cheques.
D．Ｉ.Ｄ.card.
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听力原文：Each month the cardholder receives a statement from the bank, which lists the details of all the transactions in the month, together with the total amount outstanding.
(4)
A．Each month the cardholder receives a statement and the amount of all the transactions.
B．Each month the bank gives the cardholder a statement showing the total amount outstanding.
C．Each month the bank gives the cardholder a statement showing the compound interest.
D．Each month the bank gives the cardholder a statement showing any minimum amount that needs to be paid.
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听力原文：For the second consecutive summer, the community center will-be offering American
听力原文： For the second consecutive summer, the community center will-be offering American sign language and performing arts. The series of classes, seminars and workshops are de signed to develop special skills needed to use American sign language on the stage. Beginning and advanced students will learn acting and main techniques. The course last four weeks, credit is awarded by the state college upon completion of program. Classes are also offered for deaf children and adults. For more information on this program, please call 5553080.
What's the main topic of the course？
A．How to teach arts and crafts to children and adults.
B．How to perform. in front of a large audience.
C．How to use sign language in the theater.
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听力原文：M. Mrs. Harrison, thanks very much for coming down here at the station. I, I know you've been through a terrible situation here today. Mm, I, I'd just like to go over some of the things you told Surgeon Clark at the bank.
W. All right.
M: Ah, ah. Would you like a cup of tea？
W. No, no, I'm fine.
M. All right.
W: Thanks.
M. Well, could you describe the two people who robbed the bank for this report we're filling out here？ Now anything at all that you could remember would be extremely helpful to US.
W. Well, just, I tell you I remember basically what I said before.
M: That's all right.
W: The man was tall, about six feet, and he had dark hair.
M. Dark hair.
W: And he had a mustache.
M. Very good. All right. Did he have any other distinguishing marks, I mean, scars for example, anything like that？
W: Scars, no, none of that I can remember.
M. Do you remember how old he was by any chance？
W. Eh, well, I, I guess around thirty.
M. Around thirty.
W. Maybe younger, give a take of a few years.
M. All right. Do you remember anything about what he might be wearing？
W: Yes, he, he had on a dark sweater, solid color. You know, the kind of color young people fancy nowadays.
M: Anything else that strikes you at the moment？
W: I, I remember he was wearing a light shirt under the sweater, a cotton one with dark, I think, dark stripes. It looks like a good brand.
M: Ah, very good.
W: Yes, yes.
M. Mm, now, all right. Can you tell us anything about the woman robber, Mrs. Harrison？
W: Well, I remember that she did most of the talking. She had a gun pointed at us and she told us to lie down on the floor and not to move if we knew what was good for us. I, I remember I've just thought like she was pointing the gun right at me and my little daughter was sitting right next to me and she, she was just so frightened.
M. Um, Mrs. Harrison, could you describe her for us？
W: She was wearing a wool sweater.
M: Ah, very good.
W: I remember it was a dark color, navy blue or dark gray.
M: Dark gray？
W: And I guess she was in her late twenties. Her hair was short, very short and curly.
M: Do you remember how tall she was？
W: Ah, about the same as myself, around five four.
M: Five four. All right. Do you, uh, remember anything else about this woman？
W: Yes, I remember the woman was wearing a pendant or a locket around her neck. I remember it specifically because I was then near the counter next to the bank manager and my little daughter started to cry.
M: Ah.
W: And this woman came up and said: "Shut your damn kid up, lady!" So I got a good look at her and she was pulling on the chain and playing with it, a pendant.
M: Oh？
W: It was gold, well, anyway, lookes like gold. And it had a strange shape.
M: Mm, ah, now, did either of them have any other noticeable characteristics, Mrs. Harrison？ Now, just take a minute.
W: Eh, no, I don't.
M: Think about this.
W: No, no, this is really all I can remember.
M: Well, did either of them wear glasses？
W: No, no, I'm sure of that.
M: All right, Mrs. Harrison. I really appreciate what you've been through today. I'm just going to ask you to look at some photographs before you leave if you don't mind. It won't take very long. Could you do that for me？
W: Ah, all right.
M. Would you like to step this way with me, please？
W. OK, sure.
M. Thank you.
What strikes the woman most about the male robber is his
A．clothes.
B．age.
C．physique.
D．appearance.
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听力原文：The balance in your bank account is 15,000 dollars only, and so this check in the amount of 20,000 dollars has to be bounced.
(30)
A．The figure on the check exceeds the balance in the bank account, so it's worthless.
B．If you cash the check in the amount of 15;000, we can do that for you.
C．You have plenty of money in your bank account, so we'll cash your check right now.
D．Your check can still be cashed if you deposit another 50,000 dollars now.
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听力原文：By the mid-nineteenth century, the term "icebox" had entered the American languag
听力原文： By the mid-nineteenth century, the term "icebox" had entered the American language, but ice was still only beginning to affect the diet of ordinary citizens in the United States. The ice trade grew with the growth of cities. Ice was used in hotels, taverns, and hospitals, and by some forward-looking city dealers in fresh meat, fresh fish, and butter. After the Civil War (1861- 1865), as ice was used to refrigerate freight cars, it also came into household use. Even before 1880, half of the ice sold in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and one-third of that sold in Boston and Chicago, went to families for their own use. This had become possible because a new household convenience, the icebox -- a precursor of the modem refrigerator, had been invented.
Making an efficient icebox was not as easy as we might now suppose. In the early nineteenth century, the knowledge of the physics of heat, which was essential to a science of refrigeration, was rudimentary. The common sense notion that the best icebox was one that prevented the ice from melting was of course mistaken, for it was the melting of the ice that performed the cooling. Nevertheless, early efforts to economize ice included wrapping up the ice in blankets, which kept the ice from doing its job. Not until near the end of the nineteenth century did inventors achieve the delicate balance of insulation and circulation needed for an efficient icebox.
But as early as 1803, an ingenious Maryland farmer, Thomas Moore, had been on the right track. He owned a farm about twenty miles outside the city of Washington, for which the village of Georgetown was the market center. When he used an icebox of his own design to transport his butter to market, he found that customers would pass up the rapidly melting stuff in the tubs of his competitors to pay a premium price for his butter, still fresh and hard in neat, one-pound bricks. One advantage of his icebox, Moore explained, was that farmers would no longer have to travel to market at night in order to keep their produce cool.
Which of the following led to the growth of ice trade according to the passage？
A．The growth of the American population.
B．The expansion of cities.
C．The change of the diet of ordinary citizens.
D．The increasing need for food.
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听力原文： Could you tell me where the talk on International Banking is going to take place？ It says in the programme that it's in Room 121 but I've just been up there and it's empty. I hope it hasn't been cancelled.
？You will hear another five short recordings. Each speaker is talk about his job.
？For each recording, decide who the speaker is.
？Write on letter (A—H) next to the number of the recordings.
？Do not use any letter more than once.
？After you have listend once, replay each recording.
A waiter
B conference delegate
C builder
D bank manager
E hotel receptionist
F security guard
G telephone engineer
H secretary
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听力原文： Lecturer: In the last lecture, we looked...
听力原文： Lecturer: In the last lecture, we looked at the adverse effects of desert dust on global climate. Today we're going to examine more closely what causes dust storms and what other effects they can have. As you know, dust storms have always been a feature of desert climates, but what we want to focus on today is the extent to which human activity is causing them. And it is this trend that I want to look at, because it has wide-ranging implications. So, what are these human activities？ Well, there are two main types that affect the wind erosion process, and thus the frequency of dust storms. There are activities that break up naturally wind-resistant surfaces such as off-road vehicle use and construction and there are those that remove protective vegetation cover from soils, for example, mainly farming and drainage. In many cases the two effects occur simultaneously which adds to the problem.
Let's look at some real examples and see what I'm talking about. Perhaps the best-known example of agricultural impact on desert dust is the creation of the USA's 'dust bowl' in the 1930s. The dramatic rise in the number of dust storms during the latter part of that decade was the result of farmers' mismanaging their land. In fact, choking dust storms became so commonplace that the decade became known as the 'Dirty Thirties'.
Researchers observed a similar, but more prolonged, increase in dustiness in West Africa between the 1960s and the 1980s when the frequency of the storms rose to 80 a year and the dust was so thick that visibility was reduced to 1,000 metres. This was a hazard to pilots and road users. In places like Arizona, the most dangerous dust clouds are those generated by dry thunderstorms. Here, this type of storm is so common that the problem inspired officials to develop an alert system to warn people of oncoming thunderstorms. When this dust is deposited it causes all sorts of problems for machine operators. It can penetrate the smallest nooks and crannies and play havoc with the way things operate because most of the dust is made up of quartz which is very hard. Another example - the concentration of dust originating from the Sahara has risen steadily since the mid-1960s.
This increase in wind erosion has coincided with a prolonged drought, which has gripped the Sahara's southern fringe. Drought is commonly associated with an increase in dust-raising activity but it's actually caused by low rainfall which results in vegetation dying off.
One of the foremost examples of modern human-induced environmental degradation is the drying up of the Aral Sea in Central Asia. Its ecological demise dates from the 1950s when intensive irrigation began in the then Central Asian republics of the USSR. This produced a dramatic decline in the volume of water entering the sea from its two major tributaries. In 1960, the Aral Sea was the fourth-largest lake in the world, but since that time it has lost two-thirds of its volume, its surface area has halved and its water level has dropped by more than 216 metres. A knock-on effect of this ecological disaster has been the release of significant new sources of wind-blown material, as the water level has dropped.
And the problems don't stop there. The salinity of the lake has increased so that it is now virtually the same as sea water. This means that the material that is blown from the dry bed of the Aral Sea is highly saline. Scientists believe it is adversely affecting crops around the sea because salts are toxic to plants.
This shows that dust storms have numerous consequences beyond their effects on climate, both for the workings of environmental systems and for people living in drylands ...
SECTION 4 Questions 31-40
Questions 31-32
Complete the notes using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer
Main focus of lecture: the impact of 【31】______ on the occurrence of dust st
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听力原文：Please pass me the book.（）
A．Yes, please
B．Here you are
C．Be careful．
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听力原文：M: So your division in the bank is to ensure that your customers receive payment for the goods they expect.
W: That's where we can help an exporter like your corporation. We often hear people say that exporting is easy, but to get paid is hard work.
Q: What is the relationship between the speakers？
(15)
A．Husband and wife.
B．Teacher and student.
C．Banker and his customer.
D．Employer and employee.
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听力原文：The main policy-making bodies of the EU are the Commission, the Council of Minist
听力原文： The main policy-making bodies of the EU are the Commission, the Council of Ministers, and the European Parliament. The Commission has 17 members appointed by EU countries for four-year terms. It is an executive body with the right of proposing initiatives to the Council of Ministers. This Council is made up of the foreign ministers from the member nations. Although the Commission represents community interests, the Council represents the national interests of the members. Members of the Council rotate the presidency with each holding the office for six-month terms.
The European Parliament had 626 members in 1995. The representatives are elected by citizens of member nations. The number of representatives differs according to the size of each country. Germany for example, has 99 representatives, while Luxembourg has six. When the Parliament meets, the representatives sit in political groups, not by nation. Some of the political groups are: the Socialists, the European People's party (or Christian Democrats), the Liberal Democratic and Reform. Group, the European Democrats, and the Greens (an environmental group).
Other EU institutions are the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Committee, and the European Investment Bank. The Court of Justice, founded in 1958, reviews the legality of acts of the Commission and Council. The Court of Auditors, founded in 1977, monitors the revenues and expenditures of the EU. Since 1958 the Economic and Social Committee has revised the Commission and the Council on general economic policy. The Committee has 189 members representing employers, labor unions, farmers, professions, consumers, and small businesses. The European Investment Bank, founded in 1958, is an independent public institution that oversees long-term investment.
Whose interests does the Council of Ministers represent？
A．The community interests.
B．The interests of the foreign ministers from the member nations.
C．The interests of the Council members.
D．The national interests of the members.
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听力原文： Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza face the prospect of another fuel crisis.
Israel suspended fuel supplies to those areas in the wake of the suicide bombing that killed 20 Israelis a week ago. The government lifted the ban on Wednesday. Now, the Israeli company that is the sole supplier of fuel to the Palestinians says it may be forced to stop pumping oil to those areas because of Israel's refusal to pay for the fuel with tax money collected on behalf of the Palestinians under the interim peace deals.
The Israeli Company, Dor Energy, said the Israeli government had canceled an earlier arrangement to pay the company for fuel out of the taxes collected.
Israel stopped transferring customs and tax funds to the Palestinian Authority shortly after the current conflict began last September in order to keep the Palestinians from using the money to support the uprising against Israel.
What caused the death of 20 Israelis a week ago？
A．Battle between Israel and Palestine.
B．A suicide bombing.
C．A car bombing.
D．A plane crashing accident.
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听力原文：Donating blood plasma has always been a noble pursuit to help those in need. Since last September, there has been an upsurge in blood donations, as the need has become more emphasized and more empathized. But if you've had a tattoo or piercing within the last year, you will more than likely be turned away from any blood bank.
When you go to a blood bank to give plasma, they ask you a series of questions to determine if you are eligible to donate. Obviously, they don't want to risk accepting contaminated blood, so they will ask about your sexual history, current health status and other related questions, including whether or not you have gotten a tattoo or piercing within the last 12 months.
All blood that is donated is screened for disease such as HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis and other common blood- born ailments.
However, it goes without saying that it is a waste of the blood bank's and the donor's time to harvest blood that is tainted and thus worthless.
So, in order to avoid wasted time, they ask these questions to screen the potential donor. And although even I would be quick to say that tattooing and piercing are much safer than some medical professionals like to indicate, there is still always a chance of getting and carrying a disease unknowingly from a tattoo or piercing, especially Hepatitis. That has been the object of many heated arguments and stringent regulations.
If you should happen to contract a disease from a tattoo or piercing, it should show up in a screening after 12 months, which is the reason for the waiting period. Yes, maybe it's a little over-precautious, but would you want to be the one on the receiving end of dirty blood？ If there, is even a chance, it is better to be safe than sorry.
(37)
A．Swim in public pools.
B．Give blood.
C．Over exert yourself.
D．Expose your skin to the sun.
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听力原文：The bank must consider carefully whether the loan is to be used in any illegal activity or for speculative purpose.
(4)
A．The bank must take the purpose of loan into consideration carefully.
B．The bank wonders if the loan is used for illegal or speculative purpose.
C．The bank worries that the loan is used for illegal or speculative purpose.
D．The bank must consider a way for the loan to be used for speculative purpose.
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听力原文：Actually, in China by now, the dominant users of smart cards are not banks, but governments and commercial organizations.
(6)
A．The majority of smart cards users are governments and commercial organizations.
B．Many users of smart cards are powerful in governments and commercial organizations.
C．The dominant users of smart cards are banks in China by now.
D．The dominant users of smart cards used to he banks in China.
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听力原文： Palestinians continued to attack Israeli targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Friday, undermining efforts by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, to end the violence that has continued for nine months. Mr. Powell announced that there must be seven days of quiet to assess whether the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire agreement is holding and the two sides can take steps to return to peace talks. Violence flared just hours after Mr. Powell' s departure from Israel Friday.
Palestinian militants fired mortar bombs at Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. And in the divided West Bank town of Hebron, Palestinian youths hurled rocks and petrol bombs at Israeli soldiers. The Israeli troops, who are there to protect the small community of Jewish settlers, fired on the Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets.
Israeli leaders say that unless all such incidents are halted, they will not adopt the next steps in a plan promoted by Secretary of State Colin Powell to get the two sides back to the negotiating table.
How long has the violence continued？
A．Nine months.
B．One year.
C．Since last Friday.
D．A week.
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听力原文： The World Bank says air pollution is one of the worst environmental problems in large cities around the world. Air pollution causes breathing problems. It also threatens crop production in farm areas near huge cities.
The United Nations Environment Program says that air pollution reduces the amount of crops produced, h also reduces the nutrient level of crops. As a result, both the buyer and the seller of crops are hurt by air pollution.
The UN says dirty air is a major source of metal in crops. These metals include lead, zinc and copper. These metals can build up to dangerously high levels in the parts of plants that people eat. The German Appropriate Technology Exchange, GATE, reports that eating these metals can cause developmental problems and low intelligence levels among children. Some kinds of cancers and kidney damage have also been linked to metals in crops.
Who is hurt by air pollution？
A．The buyer.
B．The seller.
C．Both the buyer and the seller.
D．None.
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听力原文： Britain has finally won a medal at the a...
听力原文： Britain has finally won a medal at the athletics World Championships in Helsinki. The UK team came in third in the men's 4×100 metres relay to take a bronze medal. France came first and Trinidad & Tobago won silver. Britain's Jason Gardener, Marion Devonish, Mark Lewis-Francis and Christian Malcolm had been hoping for a gold after the U.S. team crashed out. The defending champions had failed to qualify after Mardy Scales and Leonard Scott made a mess of the first changeover. Britain's failure until now to win a single medal has been a major embarrassment for UK athletics.
Which country won the goal medal in the men's 4×100 metres relay？
A．Britain.
B．France.
C．Trinidad & Tobago.
D．The United States.
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听力原文：M: Good morning. Customer Banking Service...
听力原文：M: Good morning. Customer Banking Services. Can I help you？
F: Hello, can I speak to Mr Wright, please？
M: I am sorry he is in a meeting right now. I am his assistant, Tony. Is there anything I can do for you？
F: Oh, yes, maybe you can be of help. This is Ms Spencer. You see, I have found a teaching post in Korea, and I am going to stay there for at least 5 or 6 years, so I'd like to cancel my current account at your bank.
M: OK, Ms Spencer. But I'll need some details. Your initials, please.
F: D.Y.
M: Is that B for baby？
F: No, D for difficult.
M: Right. And what is your current account number？
F: It's 1807 5497
M: Would you give your date of birth？ I need to go through security procedures.
F: 17 December, 1956.
M: And your password, please.
F: Well, I haven't used this account for sometime. I am not quite sure. It's maybe 5415 or 4515. Would you try both？
M: Yes, it's the fast one. Uh, you still have $100 in your account. Do you want to pick it up here personally or do you want it sent to you by mail？
F: By mail, please. I am extremely busy these days.
M: Fine, Ms Spencer, your current account is cancelled.
F: Thanks a lot, Tony.
M: You are welcome. Bye-bye.
&8226;There are thirty questions on this question paper.
&8226;Instructions are given on the tape.
&8226;You can write on this Question Paper.
&8226;At the end of the test, you will be given 10 minutes to copy your answers onto the Answer Sheet.
&8226;You must write all your answers in pencil.
PART ONE
&8226;You will hear three telephone conversations or messages.
&8226;Write one or two words or a number in the numbered spaces on the notes or forms below.
&8226;You will hear each recording twice.
Conversation One
&8226;Look at the form. below.
&8226;You will hear a woman calling about banking service.
Customer Banking Service
From: (1) ___________________
Initials: D.Y.
Bank service required: (2) ___________________
Reason: shall stay in (3) ___________________ for 5 or 6 years
Date of birth: 17 Dec., 1956
Account number: 18075497
Password: 5415
Send (4) ___________________ of money by mail
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听力原文: The traditional American Thanksgiving Da...
听力原文： The traditional American Thanksgiving Day celebration goes back to 1621. In that year a special feast was prepared in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The colonists who had settled there had left England because they felt denied of religious freedom. They came to the new land and faced difficulties in coming across the ocean. The ship which carried them was called the Mayflower. The North Atlantic was difficult to travel. There were bad storms. They were assisted in learning to live in the new land by the Indians who in habited the region. The Puritans, as they were called, had much to be thankful for. Their religious practices were no longer a source of criticism by the government. They learned to adjust their fanning habits to the climate and soil. When they selected the fourth Thursday of November for their Thanksgiving celebration, they invited their neighbors, the Indians, to join them in dinner and a prayer of gratitude for the new life. They recalled the group of 102 men, women, and children who left England. They remembered their dead who did not live to see the shores of Massachusetts. They reflected on the 65 days' journey which tested their strength.
What is the best title for this passage？
A．First Settlers in Plymouth.
B．Puritans and Indians.
C．Mayflower.
D．American Thanksgiving Day.
