新视野大学英语听说教程第三册unit8
Flying there is not half the fun
II·Basic Listening Practice
1 Script
M：would you prefer a window or an aisle seat，madam?
W：Aisle，please．If there's none 1eft，then a wind。w seat is OK．But I don't like middle seats。
Q: what is the order of the woman’s preference?
C: aisle-wingdow-minddle
2 Script
M：I’d like to fly economy to Thailand on October 8th．1 want to book two tickets．
W：we have only one seat left in economy，but we will give you two business class seats for the same price as one economy and，one business class seat．
Q：What can the man get?
B: Two business class tickets at a reduced price
3 Script
M：Excuse me，where do I check in for British Airways to London? I can’t find the
right check-in counter．
W：You should go to Counter 26 on the left-hand side．sir．It's just next to Thai Air．You’d better hurry, though. There’s a long queue
Q：What does the woman say? ”
C)The British Airways counter is counter26.
4．Script
W：Airport security checks always make me nervous．I’m afraid I’11 set off the alarm
because of the jewelry I’m wearing． ’
M：I know. I’ll set off the security alarm. I have a steel plate in my arm from a rugby
Injury.
Q：Why will the man set of the alarm?
D)Because he has a metal plate in his body
5．Script
M：Welcome home! Here，let me take your suitcase．The car is out in the parking lot．
your plane was two hours late：you must be exhausted．
W：Yes，we have to check in three hours before take-off time；secufity guards take
ages searching carry_0n stuff, but they ignore check-in baggage．Strange system．
Q：What is the woman NOT complaining about?
A)Security guards search her check-in suitcase
III．Listening In
Task 1: the smaller the airport, the bigger the checkup
Paul：The airport security checks sometimes seem very strange to me．
Sylvia：What do you mean?
Paul：I just completed an international flight．And with all the threats to security of travel today I expected to have my luggage searched．
Sylvia：that’s understandable．I mean, with all the fear that’s out there about terrorism, of course they’re going to check your baggage—especially your carry—ons．
Paul：I don’t mind them checking my baggage．In fact，I expect it．But there seems to be an inverse ratio at work．
Sylvia：What on earth do you mean? They check everyone’s baggage，don’t they?
Paul：Yes，but here’s what’s funny：The smaller the airport，the greater the security．The less likely a plane is to be hijacked，the more precautions they take．
Sylvia：Are you serious? Why should a small airport be more aware of security than a large one?
Paul：Here’s what I’ve experienced：Once at a small airport，they seized a roll of adhesive tape and argued that it could be used in hijacking．Then they asked me to remove my digital camera from its case and demonstrate that it could take pictures．
Sylvia：And is this different from a large airport?
Paul：According to my experience，it is．When I flew from Vancouver to Paris，they simply ran my bags through the scanner, and 1 was on my way
Sylvia：If that’s the case，the baggage checking system is really strange．
Paul finds the airport security checks sometimes very strange．In an international flight he did expect to have his luggage searched．Sylvia agrees, knowing that with a11the fear that’s out there about terrorism，they will check passengers’ baggage—especially their carry-ons．In fact, Paul does not mind them checking his baggage but there seems to be an inverse ratio—at work：The smaller the airport, the greater the security. The less likely a plane is to be hijacked, the more precautions they take．Paul further says that once at a small airport, they seized a roll of adhesive tape to prevent hijacking．They also asked him to remove his digital camera from its case and demonstrate that it could take pictures．On the other hand，a large airport is different．When Paul—flew from Vancouver to Paris，they simply ran his bags through the scanner, and he was on his way. Finally, Sylvia admits that the baggage checking system is strange
Task 2: jet lag
Jet 1ag is the feeling of tiredness that comes after crossing time zones in an airplane．People get jet lag often，especially if they travel far．For example，a flight from New York to Beijing is a tong trip．Passengers will cross many time zones and may have a bad case of jet lag．However, there are some things that can help reduce jet lag．First．drink a lot of liquids．Water is the best liquid to drink．Also，eat low—fat foods during the flight．Noodles are always a good choice．Next，try to do some exercise on the plane．Walk around or stretch your muscles．Also，try to adjust your schedule to correspond with the local time as soon as you can．For instance, if you usually go to sleep at 10 p.m., then when the local time is 10 p．m．，go to bed．Finally，when you arrive at your destination．get some exercise．Ask the front desk clerk where the hotel’s gym is．Remember that if you adjust your schedule to correspond with the local time，your jet lag will not be too bad. In general, your body takes only a few days to reset its biological clock，and you’ll soon overcome jet lag．
1．T 2.F 3.F 4.F 5.T
Task 3: $10 is $10
One day，an old man named Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the Illinois State Aviation Fair A man was selling plane tides for$10 per person．Stumpy was fascinated and said to，Martha，“I think we really should try that．”Martha replied，“I know you want to，Stumpy，but we have a lot of bills．You know the money is tight，and$10 is$10.” So Stumpy went without．Over the next few years they returned every year to the fair, and the same thing happened：Stumpy wanted a ride，but Martha said they couldn’t afford it．Finally，when Stumpy and Martha were both about 70 years old，Stumpy fixed his eyes on Martha and said，“Martha，I’m 70 now，and I don’t know if I’11 ever get the chance again，SO I just have to have a ride in that airplane．’’Martha replied in the same old fashion，and Stumpy became depressed．The pilot standing nearby overheard the conversation and he cut in，“Excuse me folks，I have a deal for you．I’11 take both of you up together，and if you can both make the entire trip without uttering a word．I’11 give you the ride for free．But if either of you makes a sound，it’s $1 0 each．”Martha and Stumpy looked at each other and agreed．The pilot took them up，and started to climb，spin，dive，climb and spin again．There was no sound．After the pilot landed the plane，he praised the old man，“1 want to congratulate you for not making a sound．You are a brave man．“Maybe SO，”said Stumpy，“but I got to tell you，I almost screamed when my wife fell out，but$10 is$10
1. A)what did the old man want?
B)He wanted to have a ride in the plane．
2．What reason did the old woman give for not riding in the plane?
A)They had to pay a lot of bills．
3．What happened when the old man and woman were about 70 years old?
C)The man wanted to fly but the woman did not want him to．
4．What deal did the pilot offer?
C)The couple could have a flee ride if neither of them made a sound during the trip．
5．What happened to the old woman finally?
D) She fell out of the plane
IV. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 I'd like to book hotel and airline reservations.
Travel agent: Horizon Travel, how may I help you?
Helen: This is Helen Parker. I'd like to book hotel and airline reservations.
Travel agent: And what's your destination. Ms. Parker?
Helen: I'm headed for Las Vegas to attend an electronics trade show.
Travel agent: OK. Can you spell your name, please?
Helen: My last name is Parker, P-A-R-K-E-R, and my first name is Helen.
Travel agent: Will you be traveling alone?
Helen: Yes, I'll be traveling by myself.
Travel agent: Will that be a one-way or a round-trip ticket?
Helen: Return. I plan on leaving July 21st and coming back on the 30th.
Travel agent: Will you be flying first class or business class?
Helen: No, no, not a chance. Economy class, the cheapest. If there's a three-star hotel located downtown, that would be great. If it has a pool, that's better still.
Travel agent: OK, let me check the computer. I can book your flight immediately. I'll have to inquire about the hotel reservation and call you back.
Helen: No problem. I'm at 658-0266, extension 513. I'll be expecting your call.
Travel agent: OK, Ms. Parker. Thank you for your call. I'll get back to you soon. Bye bye.
Helen: Bye
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: Globe Travel Agency, can I help you?
B: This is Linda Carter. I'd like to book hotel and airline reservations.
A: Where are you going, Ms. Carter?
B: I'm headed for Toronto to attend an industrial exhibition.
A: Could you spell your name, please?
B: My surname is Carter, C-A-R-T-E-R, and my given name is Linda.
A: Will you be traveling by yourself?
B: No, Ill be traveling with my boss, James Adams. So I need two tickets and two rooms.
A: Would you like to have one-way or round-trip tickets?
B: Return tickets. But since we re not sure when we can come back, I prefer open tickets for the return journey.
A: Will you fly economy class or business class?
B: Business class, please. My boss always flies business class. If there's a five-star hotel located downtown, that would be great.
A: Well, let me check the computer. I can book your tickets right now. I'll have to check the hotel reservation and call you back.
B: No problem. I'm at 58855200. I'll be expecting your call.
A: OK. Thank you.
MODEL 2 Last week I flew non-stop to Sa~Francisco.
Script
Nora: Hey John.
John:hey Nora: I took a course on how the airport runs, and I don't suffer from fear of flying any more. Last week I flew nonstop to San Francisco.
John: Congratulations! Which flight did you take?
Nora: United Airlines, Flight UA858.
John: How did it go? Everything smooth sailing?
Nora: Not everything. Since I hadn't traveled by air for a long time, I wasn't familiar with the airport. It took me quite a while to find the United Airlines check-in counter.
John: Then how did you find it?
Nora: In fact, it was displayed on the monitor: "Flight UA858 c~/Counter 45."
John: And was everything OK once you found it?
Nora: No, there was a terrible line-up. I had to wait there for an hour.
John: I see. You must have been burned out waiting before you even boarded the plane.
Nora: That still wasn't the end of my troubles. When I finally got to the counter and handed in my passport and ticket, the airline agent looked at my passport and at me again and again.
John: Why? Did she think your passport was a fake?
Nora: I don't know. I just told her my photo did not flatter me at all.
John: Your photo certainly doesn't do justice to your beauty.
Nora: She didn't say anything like that. Fortunately, when I asked for an aisle seat, she said she had one. You know, I wouldn't dare take a window seat and look out the window.
John: I prefer an aisle seat, too. Then I can stretch my legs and occasionally stand up in the aisle.
Nora: Finally she gave me a boarding pass, and it said that my flight would be boarding at Gate 33 in just minutes. So I had to run!
John: That's bad luck. But you made it! Good for you.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: Hey, good to see you back. How was your trip? Everything smooth sailing?
B: Not bad, though I had a little trouble before boarding.
A: What was wrong?
B: I was caught in a traffic jam and almost missed the flight. But I managed to get to the airport in time
A: Congratulations! Which flight did you take?
B: British Airways, Flight BA 554.
A: Was it easy for you to find the right counter?
B: Yes, the information was displayed on the monitor.
A: Since there was not much time left for you, I hope there wasn't a terrible line-up at the counter.
B: Luckily, no. The queue was quite short. But I had another problem.
A: What was that?
B: When I handed in my passport, the airline agent looked at it for a long time.
A: Why? Did the agent think your passport was a fake?
B: No, she didn't, but she told me that my passport was going to expire in a week. So you see, I had to fly back quickly.
A: I hope that was the end of your troubles.
B: Not completely. I still had trouble with my baggage.
A: What was the problem?
B: It was overweight. It took me a while to go through the procedure.
A: Any good news before you boarded the plane?
B: Yes, when I asked for a window seat, I got one. You know, I wouldn't like to take an aisle or middle seat where I couldn't enjoy the view.
A: I prefer an aisle seat, though. So that I can stretch my legs and occasionally stand up.
B: Finally the agent gave me the boarding pass, and it said that my flight would be boarding at Gate 24 in just minutes. So I had to run!
A: But you made it! Good for you
MODEL 3 I've got jet lag.
Script
Susan: Wow! What happened? You look like something the cat dragged in.
John: You would too if you’d been through what I have. I've got jet lag.
Susan: Jet lag's not for real, is it? It's like a "broken heart"-a figure of speech
John: It’s for real. See my eyes? They’re all bloodshot. I can’t eat; I can’t sleep.
Susan: How long does this jet lag last after you’re home again and walking round?
John: I don’t know exactly. It can be a day for each hour’s difference in time.
Susan: Ouch! At that rate it’ll take you twelve days to recover from the flight.
John: Maybe a drink on the plane can ease your jet lag.
Susan: That's not a very good idea. Alcohol dries you out when it's combined with altitude and stale dry air in the cabin.
John: I wonder whether a long flight like that is worth the high cost.
Susan: Take my advice. Go by boat. Arrive rested and ready to enjoy your holiday.
John: No, it'll take too long-longer than the time for me to reset my biological clock after a flight.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: Wow! What's wrong with you? You look dead tired ~
B: You would too if you'd been through what I have. I've got jet lag. See my eyes: they're bloodshot. I can't eat; I can't sleep.
A: How long will this jet lag last?
B: I don't know exactly. It can be a day for each hour's difference in time.
A: Ouch! At that rate it'll take you twelve days to recover. Maybe a drink on the plane can save you from jet lag.
B: That's not a good solution, I'm afraid. Alcohol dries you out when it's combined with altitude and stale dry air in the cabin. But if you drink a lot of water, it helps.
A: let's check on the Internet to see how we can overcome jet lag quickly.
B: Look, here's an article. So you need to get some exercise. You can go to the gym to work out.
A: You should try to match your schedule with the local time. When it's time to go to bed but you don't feel sleepy, you might as well take sleeping pills.
B: When you feel sleepy in broad daylight, you can drink strong coffee to stay awake.
A: In this way you can reset your biological clock quickly.
V. Let' Talk
Script
Before I conclude my talk, I'd like to summarize what we have covered.
Air travel has its inherent advantages. Airplanes fly fast, and they are now flying faster than before. Now supersonic passenger planes can fly across the Atlantic Ocean in just a couple of hours. It is reported that new models are being designed. In the future they may carry people from New York to London in less than an hour.
In the past not many people traveled by air because of the high fares. Now owing to the market competition, the fare has dropped a great deal, so more people are traveling by air. In the 1990s, the United States witnessed an explosive growth in demand for air travel. Many millions who had never, or rarely flown before, became regular passengers. They even joined frequent flyer loyalty programs, receiving free flights and other such benefits.
Flying has become increasing convenient. The introduction of new services and more frequent flights has meant that business flyers can fly to another city, do business, and return on the same day. This applies to almost any two points in the country.
Some passengers worry about safety in flying. In a crash there are usually no survivors. However, to prevent tragic accidents and serious financial loss, airlines are especially cautious in checking the conditions of aircraft to reduce the possibility of accidents to the minimum. It is sometimes claimed that flying involves fewer accidents than any other modes of travel.
Airplanes do have their disadvantages. For example, they are incapable of transporting large quantities of cargo.
Also, an airport can be quite far away from the city center. But the advantages of flying outweigh these small drawbacks, and flying remains an efficient kind of transportation.
That's the end of my lecture. Now may I take your questions if you have any?
Pros and Cons of Flying
Pro 1 An airplane flies fast
(1) Supersonic passenger planes can fly across the Atlantic Ocean in just a couple of hours;
(2) In future they may carry people from Now York to London in less than an hour.
Pro 2 The fare has dropped a great deal, so more people are traveling by air: Many millions became regular passengers, and even joined frequent flyer loyalty programs.
Pro 3 Flying has become increasingly convenient: Business fliers can fly to another city, do business, and return on the same day.
Pro 4 Airlines are cautious about checking the conditions of aircraft to reduce the possibility of
accidents to the minimum
Con 1 The plane is incapable of transporting large quantities of cargo.
Con 2 An airport can be quite far away from the city center.
Dissussion
SAMPLE
A: I like flying better than any other way of traveling. It's so fast and convenient that you can fly to another city, do business, and return on the same day, between almost any points in the country.
B: But land transport is not slow, thanks to superhighways. What's more, it's often cheaper.
A: I'll admit air fare is a bit high, but it's dropped a lot. The high speed and great convenience are worth the money.
B: Land transport is often safer. In case of accidents like a fire, you can jump out of the car. Can you jump our of a plane?
A: It's true that in a crash there are often no survivors. However, airlines are especially cautious in checking the conditions of aircraft. It's sometimes believed that flying involves fewer accidents than other kinds of travel.
B: The problem with a plane is that it can't transport large quantities of cargo.
A: I agree, but certainly a plane can carry perishable goods like fresh vegetables to a distant city quickly and safely.
B: But an airport is often quite far away from the city center. So that will add to your traveling time. You can’t fly directly to your final destination.
A: You have a point there. I know trucks can provide door-to-door delivery service, but buses and trains can't.
B: OK, let's come to this conclusion: each type of transport has its own advantages and disadvantages.
A: Yes, that's why none of them has been phased out.
VI. Further Listening and Speaking
Task1:An Overview of Airlines
Script
An airline is an organization which provides aviation services for passengers and cargo. It owns or leases airliners to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for reasons of mutual benefits.
The scale and scope of airline companies range from those with a single airplane carrying mail or cargo, to full-service international airlines operating many hundreds of airplanes of various types. Airline services can be categorized as intercontinental, intra-continental, regional or domestic and may be operated as scheduled services or charters. These variations in the types of airline companies, their operating scope, and the routes they serve, make analysis of the airline industry complex. But one thing is certain: The industry is heavily influenced by the market now. In the past 50 years or so, the general trend of ownership has gone from government-owned or government-supported to independent, for-profit companies. This is a result of the government permit greater freedom. This trend is not yet consistent across all airlines in all regions. The demand for air travel services depends on other things: needs for cargo transportation, business passenger demand, leisure passenger demand, which are all influenced by macroeconomic activity in the market. These trends are highly seasonal, and often depend on day-of-week, or time-of-day. The industry is cyclical. Four or five years of poor performance are followed by five or six years of gradual improvement in performance.
1.D 2 C 3.D 4.A 5.B
Task2:Results of Damage Testing
Script:
Birds often cause accidents when they strike aircraft. To date no reliable method of avoiding birds has been discovered. But scientists at the NASA space center have developed a gun built to launch dead chickens at the windshields of airliners, military jets and the space shuttle, all traveling at their top speed. The idea is to reproduce the frequent incidents of collisions with birds to test the strength of the windshields.
Trains sometimes encounter similar problems with birds. It was not surprising that when British engineers heard about the gun, they were eager to test it on the windshields of their new high-speed trains.
Arrangements were made to borrow the gun. It was flown across the Atlantic and set up with great care near London. But when the gun was fired, the engineers stood shocked as the chicken flew into the shield, smashed it, went through the engineer's chair, and landed on the back of the car.
Horrified, the British sent NASA the results of the disastrous experiment, along with the designs of the new windshield. They begged the U.S. scientists to send them their suggestions for avoiding smashed windshields. NASA reviewed the test thoroughly and had one recommendation: "Thaw the chicken.”
Task3: Funny Flight Announcements
Script:
Occasionally, airline crews try to make their announcements entertaining. Here are some examples that have been reported. One pilot delivered this welcome message: "We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately none of them are on this flight."
One pilot said, "Folks, we have reached our cruising altitude now, so I'm going to switch the seatbelt sign off. Feel free to move about as you wish, but please stay inside the plane till we land. It's a bit cold outside, and if you walk on the wings, it affects the flight pattern."
A Southwest Airlines employee said, "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have small children traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with two small children, decide now which one you love more."
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing goes like this: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
Still another attendant said, “As you exit the plane, please be sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses. Last one off the plane must clean it.”
News Report
Paragliding for a Publishing Deal
Script
An Australian writer-and paraglider-tried landing in front of Buckingham Palace last December to help him land a publishing deal.
In what looked like a scene from a James Bond movie, the paraglider, 36-year-old Brett de la Mare, was followed through the skies of central London by a police helicopter as he headed toward the palace-the London home of Queen Elizabeth II.
The royal family was not present at the time, but police took the incident seriously, all the same. The helicopter tried to force the paraglider away, but in the end, he succeeded in landing on the palace grounds. Police there promptly arrested him.
This was no terrorist, however, as Police had feared. He was, rather, a writer trying to gain publicity to help publish a book, called “Canine Dawn”. Unable to get publishers interested in the book, he tried some new ways to get attention.
After the incident, de la Mare explained what happened to reporters. "I came in over the fence, and I landed in the forecourt here, and the crowd started cheering. And I was arrested and dragged off." De la Mare said police had difficulty deciding what to charge him with: "They initially… they arrested me for attempted burglary.. of ...Buckingham Palace... and of course, they dropped that. I mean, attempted burglary! I mean, it's hardly a discreet method of burglary..." They later charged him with breaches of the Air Navigation Order.
De la Mare left a humorous message on his cell phone for callers: "Hi, this is Brett. I'm sorry you missed me. I am incarcerated right now or something. Please leave me a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I am free."
