Introduction
The word "news" could be simply defined as "new information about anything or information previously unknown". It also refers to the communication of information on current events which is presented by different media. The word "medium" (singular form of media) also means differently. In communication, media is the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data. It is often referred to as synonymous with mass media or news media, but may refer to a single medium used to communicate any data for any purpose.
If you say that someone or something is news, you mean that they are considered to be interesting and important at the moment, and that people want to hear about them.
One etymology interestingly but incorrectly suggests that the word "news" is a contraction of North, East, West and South, signifying that information arrives from all points of the compass. News is all round us, permeating our lives. Whether is is the extraordinary events of September 11, 2001, or everyday occurrences such as the weather, news is an integral part of our modern existence.
Task 1
Listening Aid
discount rate: 贴现率 overnight bank lending rate: 隔夜银行贷款利率
Dow Jones Index: 道●琼斯指数 Dow Jones Industrial Average: 道●琼斯工业股票平均指数
Federal Reserve: 美国联邦储备委员会（美联储） Wall Street: 华尔街
incur (v.): experience (esp. sth. unpleasant) as a result of actions you taken
In this part, you are going to hear four piecesof economic news.
A. Fill in the blanks to complete the news leads.
1) News Item 1: The United States central bank the Federal Reserve has raised ________________
for the ________________ this year.
2) News Item 2: The Commerce Department says the American economy has __________ for the
________________ in eight years.
3) News Item 3: _____________ in the New York market had been widely predicted following
Friday's better than expected US __________ figures.
4) News Item 4: Share prices closed ____________.
B. Fill in the following chart.
| News Items | Figures | Possible Causes or effects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1) The overnight bank lending rate rose by __________. And the current rate was _________. 2) The discount rate increased by ___________. | The increase should reduce the danger of _______________. |
| 2 | The total value of goods and services pro- duced in the US fell by _______________________ between July and September. | |
| 3 | US bonds fell nearly _____________. | ____________ had been created in March than had been expected. |
| 4 | The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly ______________ or _____________ points at ________________. | Some analysts believed some signs indicated the US inflations was __________. |
Task 2
Listening Aids
blast off: (a spacecraft) leave the ground
footage (n.): cinema film showing a particular event
Gobi: 戈壁，戈壁沙漠
Chinese astronaut, Yang Liwei, successfully completed his space mission. The two pieces of news below highlight this historic moment.
A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the tape.
1) The launch was shown live on television. [ ]
2) This launch makes China the third country to send a spacecraft to space. [ ]
3) During the mission, Yang Liwei was the only astronaut on board. [ ]
B. Complete the following summary based on the two news items.
China launched a _________ space flight, making it the world's ________ country after ___________
and United States capable of sending ___________ into space. The Chinese spacecraft named
____________ took off from __________________ and landed in ________________ early __________. It
moved around the Earth _______ times in _______ hours. President Hu Jintao watched the launch.
Analysts say this shows China has attached great _____________ to its space programme. And
many Chinese see this flight as a proud step towards their country's ______________.
Task 10
This is a passage about UN's concerns about hunger problems in the world.
Dictation
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