Learners of English, especially self-taught learners may have trouble in understanding the speeches made by native speakers. The following ways might help improve your listening skills.

First of all, do things step by step. It is not good to listen to something beyond your level. Better choose a suitable course and start with the first book. Don’t go on to the second book until you are sure you understand the first one.

Secondly, keep studying one course. Don’t change books often. Never let your attention be attracted by another course just because it seems to be more popular.

Thirdly, listen to the English news over the radio from time to time. Better look through the news stories in Chinese-language newspapers first. That will make it easier for you to understand the English news on the radio.

Fourthly, if you have time, listen to some interesting stories in Special English from the V.O.A or other listening materials of the same level as those of your textbook.

76. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. How to speak English correctly.        B. How to read fast.

C. How to improve your writing skills.     D. How to improve your listening skills.

77. What does the underlined part “beyond your level” mean?

A. Easy for you.              B. Too difficult for you.

C. Just all right for you.        D. Neither difficult nor easy for you.

78. What should you do if you want to understand the English news on the radio?

A. Practise speaking very often.    

B. Read the news stories in Chinese-language newspapers first.

C. Listen to some interesting stories in Special English from the V,O.A.

D. Ask others to explain it to you.

79. How many pieces of advice does the writer give?

A. Four           B. Three.          C. Two.          D. Many.

80. Which of the following is NOT right?

A. English learners may have difficulty in understanding native English.

B. To improve our listening skills, we should choose popular courses from time to time.

C. Chinese-language newspapers are good for us to understand the English news on the radio..

D. We can only improve our listening skills step by step.

短文改错(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分)

I’d like to say something about the service in your school   ______

dining hall. In general, the service is satisfactory. The      _______

hall is clean and tidy. The dishes look inviting and tastes     _______

delicious. What’s more, the workers there treat us their          ______

friends, which makes us real happy. However, the price      _______

of the meals was a little too high. Also, we can only        __

have a limited variety of dish with little change every day.  _______

In addition, we often have to stand in line for long time     ________

after we can get the meal. It wastes us a lot of time. I hope _____

something can be done to solve about these problems soon. ______

短文改错(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分)
I’d like to say something about the service in your school  【小题1】______
dining hall. In general, the service is satisfactory. The     【小题2】_______
hall is clean and tidy. The dishes look inviting and tastes    【小题3】_______
delicious. What’s more, the workers there treat us their        【小题4】______
friends, which makes us real happy. However, the price     【小题5】_______
of the meals was a little too high. Also, we can only      【小题6】__
have a limited variety of dish with little change every day. 【小题7】_______
In addition, we often have to stand in line for long time    【小题8】________
after we can get the meal. It wastes us a lot of time. I hope 【小题9】_____
something can be done to solve about these problems soon. 【小题10】______

Apparently，we are safe neither at home nor in the business office．We use water in both places，but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects．These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house．They are released（set free）from water by daily actions like water running out of tap，spraying from garden pipes，or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines．As the water is moving, these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.

    Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that “new smell, ”which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation （通风）, these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.

    These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.

    We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools （carbon dioxide build-up ）, the factory work environment （ an endless list of potentially dangerous substances ）, and even home heating and cooling （the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends） have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that “there is no place like home.”

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

    A．The air we breathe in is harmful.

    B．The water in everyday use is unsafe.

    C．Chemicals are added to the drinking water.

    D．Chemicals are released in the running water.

In Paragraph 2, the underlined sentence means that       .

    A．bathing should be done with caution

    B．homes and offices should be aired often

    C．any pollution should be taken into consideration

    D．we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us

What is the purpose of the passage?

    A．To call on us to guard our water.

    B．To show us that no place is like home.

    C．To make us aware of the pollution around us.

    D．To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe.

     Apparently，we are safe neither at home nor in the business office.We use water in both places，but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects.These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house.They are released(set free)from water by daily actions like water running out of tap，spraying from garden pipes，or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines.As the water is moving.these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.

　　Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that“new smell, ”which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (通风), these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.

　　These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.

　　We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build-up ), the factory work environment ( an endless list of potentially dangerous substances ), and even home heating and cooling (the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that“there is no place like home.”

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

　　A.The air we breathe in is harmful.

B.Chemicals are released in the running water.

C.Chemicals are added to the drinking water.

　　D. The water in everyday use is unsafe.

.In Paragraph 2, the underlined sentence means that .

　　A. homes and offices should be aired often

　　B. any pollution should be taken into consideration

　　C. bathing should be done with caution

　　D.we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us

What is the purpose of the passage?

　　A.To call on us to guard our water.

　　B.To show us that no place is like home.

　　C.To make us aware of the pollution around us.

　　D.To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe.