Speaking
Interesting news
1. What? Why?
2. 电视和收音机受欢迎程度，网络会成为news的传播方式吗?
3. 思路：
4. News是从哪里看到的?
5. News的内容是什么?(这点需要大家上网去查一查有趣的新闻，完了以后简要翻译过来)
6. News带给你的思索是什么?(这点决定你的是不是能脱颖而出)
Example：
A piece of interesting news I read several days ago was that a dog from Taipei like picking up the rubbish on the street. Because the first time the dog picked the rubbish his master has given him a piece of meet. From then on, the dog is fond of picking rubbish on the street. When I heard this news, I feel so funny that can’t help laugh. But after laughing, I felt shame for our mankind. Even a dog knows that we must protect our environment. How could we people destroy the environment? The dog was elected as an environment-protect star. I think everybody are supposed to read this news
Reading
Why did a promising heart drug fail?
Doomed drug highlights complications of meddling with cholesterol.
1. The failure of a high-profile cholesterol drug has thrown a spotlight on the complicated machinery that regulates cholesterol levels. But many researchers remain confident that drugs to boost levels of ’good’ cholesterol are still one of the most promising means to combat spiralling heart disease.
2. Drug company Pfizer announced on 2 December that it was cancelling all clinical trials of torcetrapib, a drug designed to raise heart-protective high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). In a trial of 15000 patients, a safety board found that more people died or suffered cardiovascular problems after taking the drug plus a cholesterol-lowering statin than those in a control group who took the statin alone.
3. The news came as a kick in the teeth to many cardiologists because earlier tests in animals and people suggested it would lower rates of cardiovascular disease. "There have been no red flags to my knowledge," says John Chapman, a specialist in lipoproteins and atherosclerosis at the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Paris who has also studied torcetrapib. "This cancellation came as a complete shock."
4. Torcetrapib is one of the most advanced of a new breed of drugs designed to raise levels of HDLs, which ferry cholesterol out of artery-clogging plaques to the liver for removal from the body. Specifically, torcetrapib blocks a protein called cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), which normally transfers the cholesterol from high-density lipoproteins to low density, plaque-promoting ones. Statins, in contrast, mainly work by lowering the ’bad’ low-density lipoproteins.
Under pressure
5. Researchers are now trying to work out why and how the drug backfired, something that will not become clear until the clinical details are released by Pfizer. One hint lies in evidence from earlier trials that it slightly raises blood pressure in some patients. It was thought that this mild problem would be offset by the heart benefits of the drug. But it is possible that it actually proved fatal in some patients who already suffered high blood pressure. If blood pressure is the explanation, it would actually be good news for drug developers because it suggests that the problems are specific to this compound. Other prototype drugs that are being developed to block CETP work in a slightly different way and might not suffer the same downfall.
6. But it is also possible that the whole idea of blocking CETP is flawed, says Moti Kashyap, who directs atherosclerosis research at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California. When HDLs excrete cholesterol in the liver, they actually rely on LDLs for part of this process. So inhibiting CETP, which prevents the transfer of cholesterol from HDL to LDL, might actually cause an abnormal and irreversible accumulation of cholesterol in the body. "You’re blocking a physiologic mechanism to eliminate cholesterol and effectively constipating the pathway," says Kashyap.
Going up
7. Most researchers remain confident that elevating high density lipoproteins levels by one means or another is one of the best routes for helping heart disease patients. But HDLs are complex and not entirely understood. One approved drug, called niacin, is known to both raise HDL and reduce cardiovascular risk but also causes an unpleasant sensation of heat and tingling. Researchers are exploring whether they can bypass this side effect and whether niacin can lower disease risk more than statins alone. Scientists are also working on several other means to bump up high-density lipoproteins by, for example, introducing synthetic HDLs. "The only thing we know is dead in the water is torcetrapib, not the whole idea of raising HDL," says Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore.
(613 words nature)
Questions 1-7
This passage has 7 paragraphs 1-7.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number i-ix in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. How does torcetrapib work?
ii. Contradictory result prior to the current trial
iii. One failure may possibly bring about future success
iv. The failure doesn’t lead to total loss of confidence
v. It is the right route to follow
vi. Why it’s stopped
vii. They may combine and theoretically produce ideal result
viii. What’s wrong with the drug
ix. It might be wrong at the first place
Example answer
Paragraph 1 iv
1. Paragraph 2
2. Paragraph 3
3. Paragraph 4
4. Paragraph 5
5. Paragraph 6
6. Paragraph 7
Questions 7-13
Match torcetrapib，HDLs，statin and CETP with their functions (Questions 8-13)..
Write the correct letter A, B, C or D in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
7.It has been administered to over 10,000 subjects in a clinical trial.
8.It could help rid human body of cholesterol.
9.Researchers are yet to find more about it.
10. It was used to reduce the level of cholesterol.
11. According to Kashyap, it might lead to unwanted result if it’s blocked.
12. It produced contradictory results in different trials.
13. It could inhibit LDLs.
List of choices
A. Torcetrapic
B. HDLS
C. Statin
D. CETP
Suggested Answers and Explanations
1. vi
2. ii
3. vii 本段介绍了torcetrapib和statin的治病原理，但是同时短语“in contrast”与之前第二段后半段的内容呼应，暗示了这两种药在理论上能相辅相成，是理想的搭配。第一个选项无法涵盖整段意义，故选择i是错误的。
4. iii 本段分析了可能导致torcetrapibl临床试验失败的原因，后半段指出如果以上推测正确，那么未来的药物可借鉴这个试验，设法避免torcetrapib的缺陷，研制出有效的药物。viii选项无法涵盖后半段的意思。
5. ix 见首句。
6. v
7. A 见第二段。题目中administer一词意为“用药”，subject一词为“实验对象”之意。
8. B 见第四段“… to raise levels of HDLs, which ferry cholesterol out of artery-clogging plaques to the liver for removal from the body.”即HDLs的作用最终是将choleserol清除出人体：“… for removal from the body”。
9. B 见第四段“But HDLs are complex and not entirely understood.”
10. C 见第二段“… plus a cholesterol-lowering statin”，即statin是可以降低cholesterol的。
11. D 见第六段“So inhibiting CETP, … might actually cause an abnormal and irreversible accumulation of cholesterol in the body.
12. A 见第三段。
13. C 见第四段“Statins, in contrast, mainly work by lowering the ’bad’ low-density lipoproteins.”
Writing
Task : The government is responsible for protecting a nation’s cultural identity. Thus, some people believe new buildings should be built in traditional styles. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
参考范文
We all know that China’s history is a long and complex one which stretches over thousands of years. With such a long and varied history, it’s hard to accurately define our ‘cultural identity’. For example, in the Tang Dynasty, many people thought that fat women were the most beautiful, but now things are different, and most people think that slim girls are prettier. The same is true for building designs; some things that were desirable in the past are no longer popular.
I think that, as a country, we have a responsibility to preserve a piece of our past, but that doesn’t mean that we have to live in the past. Just because my relatives were farmers, doesn’t mean that every future generation has to live in a farmhouse, or even in a house that looks like a farmhouse.
Many modern buildings are safer than old buildings, because we have learned how to make stronger buildings that will last longer. I think that modern buildings that incorporate a subtle traditional style into their design are beautiful, but it’s also good for buildings to have a wild, modern, Chinese flavor. Each period of Chinese history is a little different, so we should leave room for new expression.
In the future, today’s newest designs may well become traditional. Keeping this fact in mind, I agree that some buildings should be built in traditional styles; however, we should also allow young Chinese architects to weave the essence of the current era into their building designs. The government is not only responsible for protecting a nation’s cultural identity; it also has a responsibility to allow for continued growth.
主要内容是讨论了政府有责任保护国家的文化，所以有人认为用传统的形式来建造新的建筑。相信政府和文化相关的话题是同学们在备考中不太注意的话题类型，这篇雅思大作文写作范文也提供了非常不错的思路。
Audio Scripts
SECTION 1
LYNDA: Sara, I’ve heard that you want to move into a homestay family. Is that correct?
SARA: Yes, that’s right. I’ve been staying with my aunt and now my cousin is arriving from Singapore and my aunt needs the room for him.
LYNDA: Oh, that’s bad luck. Well, I’II need to get some particulars first. Sara, what’s your full name?
SARA: Sara Lim, and that’s Sara without the ‘h’ at the end.
LYNDA: Mmm. How old are you, Sara?
SARA: Twenty-three, only just. It was my birthday on the twenty-first of August.
LYNDA: Happy birthday for yesterday. How long have you been in Australia?
SARA: (Q1) A year in Adelaide and six months in Sydney. I prefer Sydney. I’ve got more friends here.
LYNDA: What’s your address at your aunt’s house?
SARA: Flat one, five three nine (Q2) Forest Road, Canterbury. And the post code is two, o, three, six.
LYNDA: OK. What are you studying now?
SARA: I was studying General English in Adelaide and now I’m doing (Q3) Academic English, because I’m trying to get into Medicine next year.
LYNDA: That sounds good, but it’ll take you a long time. When would you like to move out from your aunt’s?
SARA: My cousin arrives on Friday morning, so I’d better be out on (Q4) Thursday.
LYNDA: What, the seventh of September?
SARA: Yes, that’s right.
LYNDA: That doesn’t leave us much time. Right, OK. I need to know what kind of accommodation you’d like, so I can get you something suitable
SARA: Can I (Q5) share a room with someone else? I’ve been alone in my room at my aunt’s and I’ve always shared with my sister and I like that.
LYNDA: Yes, fine. That’ll save you money too. Would you like to live with a family or do you think that a (Q6) single person would be better for you? I have lots of very nice single people on my books.
SARA: Do you have any women living alone, retired women?
LYNDA: Yes, I have quite a few whose children have grown up and left home. In fact, I have some really lovely retired ladies, living by themselves, who just love the company of students. Most of them live in (Q7) flats, but that’s not a problem for you, is it?
SARA: Not at all. I’m used to that. My aunt lives in a flat too, remember. I’m not use to a big house with a garden, swimming pool, pets and all that.
LYNDA: OK, fine. I know quite a bit about what you want now. I should let you know that your rent will be a hundred and sixty dollars per week. You’ll have to pay me three hundred and twenty dollars as a (Q8) deposit before you move in. The deposit is as insurance, in case you break something. You’ll need to pay (Q9) monthly to me, by cash or cheque, I don’t mind. You don’t need to pay for gas, electricity or water, but you will need to pay your proportion of the (Q10) phone bill. Most families do that on an honour system, but you’ll have to wait and see
SARA: Mmm.
LYNDA: Have you got any more questions for me?
SARA: When will you know where I can go?
LYNDA: I’II work on it now, so come and see me tomorrow and I should have some news for you then.
SARA: Thanks a lot.
LYNDA: Goodbye. See you tomorrow – after lunch would be better for me.
SARA: OK, see you then. Bye.
SECTION 2
GEOFFREY: Good evening, and in this week’s edition of ‘Focus on the Arts’, Jane Hemmington is going to fill us in on what’s in store for us at this year’s Summer Festival. Over to you, Jane.
JANE: Thank you, Geoffrey. This year, the Summer Festival is the biggest we’ve ever seen, so there should be something for everybody. This is the third year they’ve run it and the timing’s slightly different: for the last couple of years it’s been around the fifth to seventeenth, but this year they wanted to allow everyone enough time to recover from the first of January celebrations and they’ve put it (Q11) at the end of the month.
The programme has sensational theatre, dance and also a large number of art exhibitions, but the thing the Festival is most famous for is its great street music. For today’s report though, Geoffrey, I’m looking at some of the (Q12) theatrical events that you might like to see; in particular, at this year’s theme – circuses.
I’m going to tell you about two circus performances, but there are (Q13) plenty of others in the progralmme. I’ve chosen these because they represent distinct movements within circus performance. The first is the Circus Romano from Italy. As this is a travelling circus, it follows a long tradition by performing (Q14) in a marquee – which is really like a canvas portable building, usually put up in a green space or car park, rather than in a theatre or stadium.
In spite of this, Circus Romano isn’t at all like the traditional circuses I grew up with. There are no animals – just very talented clowning and acrobatic routines. The show has a lot of very funny moments, especially at the beginning, but the best part is the music and (Q15) lighting. They’re magical. At forty-five dollars it’s very expensive anyway – it’s really for (Q16) adult tastes. In fact, much of it would be wasted on children – so I suggest you leave them at home.
The second circus performance is Circus Electrica at the (Q17) Studio Theatre. The purists are suggesting that this isn’t a circus at all. It’s a showcase for skills in dance and magic, rather than the usual ones you expect in a circus. With only six performers it’s a small production, which suits the venue well – the Studio only seats about two hundred people. For my money it’s the aerial displays which are outstanding as well as the magical tricks – features which are missing from Circus Romano. An interesting feature of the show is that the performers are so young – the youngest is only fourteen. But it’s still well worth seeing: a good one for (Q18) the whole family.
And finally, as it’s summer, you may wish to see some of the Festival performances that are being presented outdoors. Like the famous Mekong Water Puppet Troupe, performing in the (Q19) City Gardens this week. Now, water puppetry is amazing! It’s large puppets on long sticks, controlled by puppeteers standing waist deep in the lake. The puppets do comedy routines and there is some terrific formation dancing. This is a fantastic show and the best moment comes at the end – seeing the puppeteers. When the troupe walks up out of the water, you get this amazing feeling. It’s really hard to believe that what you’ve been watching is lifeless wood and cloth. As an adult, I had a great time, but I did note that other older people in the audience weren’t quite as taken with it as I was. It’s a must for (Q20) young children though, and that’s the audience it’s really aimed at.
Well, that’s all I’ve time for today, but I’II be back next week with more news of what’s worth seeing and what it’s best to miss.
SECTION 3
OFFICER: Hello. Er, I’m Dawn Matthews.
STUDENT: Yes, hello. I’ve been referred to you because I’m enquiring about the refresher courses that you run. I’d like to find out a bit more about them.
OFFICER: OK. Well, we run quite a few different short courses for students who are either (Q21)returning to study or studying part-time. Um, tell me about your situation.
STUDENT: Well, I think that I really need some help in preparing for the coming semester, especially to build up my confidence a bit and help me study effectively because, you see, I’ve been out in the work-force for nearly twelve years now, so it really is a long time since I was last a student.
OFFICER: Yes, it can seem like a long time, can’t it? Um, well, let me start by telling you what courses we have that might suit you. Are you an undergraduate or postgraduate? Arts or Sciences?
STUDENT: Undergraduate, and I’m in the Business faculty.
OFFICER: Right then. First of all, there’s our intensive ‘Study for Success’ seminar on (Q22) the first and second of February. It’s aimed at students like you who are uncertain about what to expect at college, and looks at a fairly wide range of approaches to university learning, to motivate you to begin your study and build on your own learning strategies.
STUDENT: Mm, that sounds good. What are some of the strategies that are presented?
OFFICER: Well, we try to cover all aspects of study. Some of the strategies in writing, for example, would be improving your planning for writing, organising your thinking and building some techniques to help you (Q23) write more clearly. With reading, there’ll be sessions aimed at getting into the habit of (Q24) analysing material as you read it, and tips to help you record and remember what you have read. It really is very important to begin reading confidently right from the beginning.
STUDENT: Mm.
OFFICER: There’s also advice on how to get the most from your lectures and practice in giving confident presentations, as well as how to prepare for exams.
STUDENT: What about the motivational side of things?
OFFICER: Ah. Well, there’s a range of motivational exercises that we do to help the students feel (Q25) positive and enthusiastic about their study. The process of learning and exploring a subject can lead to a whole new way of looking at the world, and the study skills and techniques that you build up can be applied in all sorts of different ways.
STUDENT: Actually, I… I’m very excited about the whole thing of taking up studying again but, you know, I’m a little nervous about whether I’ll manage to get everything done. I suppose it’s the same for all mature students?
OFFICER: Of course it is. Two of the key components of the course are (Q26) time management and overcoming procrastination. People discover that, once they learn to plan their days, all the work can be accomplished and there’ll still be time for leisure.
STUDENT: Is there an enrolment fee?
OFFICER: Well, er, oh, just a minute, let’s see . . . Ah, the cost is thirty pounds, which includes all course materials and morning tea. You have to arrange your own lunch.
STUDENT: That wouldn’t be a problem. I already make sandwiches for my three kids and my wife and myself every day. I won’t have to change my routine.
OFFICER: No. Now, I need to tell you that this is a very popular course and it’s essential that you (Q27) book well ahead of time. In fact, the Course Convenor tells me that there are only five places left.
STUDENT: What other course might be good for me?
OFFICER: There is one other that you could benefit from. It’s simply called ‘Learning Skills for University Study’ and is on (Q28) three consecutive mornings starting on a Monday, from nine to twelve, and costs twenty-five pounds. This is aimed at upgrading the study skills most school-leavers have and help them cope with the increased demands of university study. It focuses mainly on making students more responsible for their own success.
STUDENT: What sort of things are covered in this course?
OFFICER: Well, basically it’s more advanced thinking, note-taking, reading and writing strategies, but also some input about (Q29) stress management.
STUDENT: I think I’d be better off (Q30) starting from the basics and looking at all the strategies, don’t you?
OFFICER: Yes, from what you’ve told me, I think that’s more in line with your situation.
STUDENT: Alright then, um, can I book a place on the ‘Study for Success’ seminar course now?
OFFICER: Yes. Let me just get out a registration form and take down your details.
SECTION 4
We’re very grateful that the Committee has agreed that a representative for the Students’ Union can present students’ suggestions about the design for the proposed new Union building. We appreciate that some of our ideas may not be feasible in the circumstances, but we do feel that it is important that the ultimate beneficiaries of the facilities should have some say in its design.
If I could start by briefly explaining what steps were taken to find out student opinion and how we have arrived at conclusions. Firstly, a meeting was held in the current Union for our SU Committee to explain the options. Then we invited all students to submit written suggestions for the design, placing cards in a suggestion box. These suggestions then provided the basis for the design of a (Q31) questionnaire, which was completed by (Q32) approximately two thousand of the College students over a period of three weeks. Finally, the SU Committee collated the results and drew up a report. If I can just hand around a copy of that report. This presentation is essentially a summary and discussion of the key points of this report.
So, in broad terms, the consensus was as follows. Firstly, regarding the crucial matter of the site, we presented the three options that you have proposed. One: in the city centre, near the Faculty of (Q33) Education; two: on the outskirts of the city, near the park, and three: out of town, near the (Q34) halls of residence. We asked students to cite reasons for and against these sites and, and there was remarkable agreement on all three. Site One was unpopular because of (Q35) traffic and parking problems. Site Two had a number of supporters, mainly because it was close to (Q36) most lecture rooms. And Site Three, out of town, near the halls of residence, was clearly the most popular because of access from living quarters. It was clear that the Union was mainly to be used after lectures. It was also felt that the large site would allow (Q37) more room for a choice of facilities.
Our second area of interest was obviously the facilities: there was minimal interest in having a library on the premises, but one option seemed to be a reading room instead – more useful. We would like the current table games room to be replaced with (Q38) a small gym. And, if possible, a small swimming pool – not, of course, Olympic-sized! There was a large number of respondents in favour of a travel agent’s and insurance centre. We also request that there be the offices of the Student Counselling Centre, moving this from the Refectory. There was, however, much disagreement about whether to build a drama theatre. Just over forty per cent of the respondents were in favour, but a largish minority were strongly against it, claiming that it is (Q39) elitist and a waste of funds. Essentially the jury is out on that.
Finally, given the number of unfortunate incidents in the current Union over the past few months, a strong point was repeatedly made about security. The recommendations would be at least (Q40) video surveillance and security personnel who would check Student Union cards on request. We doubt if it would be feasible in.
Well, this is the summary of the views of the student population. As I say, fuller details are given in our report but I’m happy to take any questions if you have them . . .
