Unit Four

Part I. Listening one：Riding a bicycle

Interviewer    Today we are talking to JoeBartts who is trying to save our environment by riding his bicycle. Good afternoon, Joe, thank you for coming here today. Did you come by bicycle?

Joe                             Yes, I did. I go everywhere by bike, so I produce zero CO2 emission.

Interviewer    Is that the only reason?

Joe                    No, I don't need to fill my bike with gas so I am not using up fossil fuel that will soon become rare. Another reason is that if more people go by bicycle, we will need fewer new roads. That would mean we don’t need to cut down so many trees.

Interviewer   What about winter?

Joe    That depends on how far you have to go. If you are not going far, it is better to go by bike and you will get warm quite fast.

Interviewer    Thankyou for coming in today and …

Listening Two：Solar Panels

Interviewer     Yesterday we interviewed a Bob Stonerock in Orlando, Florida, who told us of an unusual wayof finding the money to buy a new car. Can you tell us about how you made enough money to buy your new car?

Bob     I put solar panels on my roof.

Interviewer    How did this help you to make enough money?

Bob      Well, the solar panels produce more electricity than I need. So I sell the electricity I don’t need to the city.

Interviewer   And what kind of car did you buy?

Bob       I bought an electric car. I can run the car almost completely from the electricity from the solar panels on my roof. But those panels were not cheap, and I think it will take 50 years for them to pay for themselves.

Listening Three : Airline Meal

Bob         And afterabout an hour they served food.

Wayne   Ahhu.

Bob         It came on a little plastic tray. I took the fish. It was in a plastic dish sealed with aluminum.

Wayne    Oh?

Bob         Then  there was the plastic bag which has your knife and fork in it.

Wayne   Right.

Bob         I got a piece of butter, individually wrapped in aluminum for the roll that they gave you.

Wayne    Also wrapped in plastic?

Bob         No, that wasn’t wrapped. But we also got some kind of cake that also came wrapped in plastic.

Wayne    Why are you telling me all this?

Bob         When I finished my meal, I had so much rubbish on my table. And so did all the other 560 passengers!

Listening Four : Saving energy at home

Mary      If we use energy saving bulbs we can save energy.

Mother  No, they are more expensive.

Mary       But they last longer.Oh, yes, and we should turn off  the TV when we are not watching it and not leave it on standby. Another thing, we should close the door of the spare bedroom that nobody uses.

Mother  I suppose we should wash our hands in cold water! That will save energy.

Mary       No, but we could wash our clothes in cold water. They get just as clean. And because of the kitchen drips we are wasting, according to our teacher, 7,000 litres in a year.

Mother  Oh, dear. Now I know why our water bill is so high this year. I will get that fixed tomorrow.

viewing  Not good for the environment

MrLessing      …and we need two litres of milk.

Robert             Can I buy that milk in glass bottles? Better for the environment.

MrLessing      Are you sure? We have to use water to wash them before we can use them again.

Robert             Hmm,perhaps you’re right. But I do not want to buy the milk that is sold in plastic bags. That is really not good for the environment.

MrLessing      No, you’re right. But can you buy some water, some beer and some BBQ coal?

Robert             For the surprise party for mum when she gets back from her sister’s on Saturday?

MrLessing      Yes, that’s right.

Robert             But then I will have to go by car. We were just talking about things that are not good for theenvironment. The car is really not good for it.

MrLessing      But you cannot carry everything.

Robert    No, you’re right.  But how about I buy the heavy stuff tomorrow whenTim and I come back from our football match? I have to go by car anyway, because the match is at the other side of town.

MrLessing      Now  that is a good idea. But what about the milk? We need it today.

Robert            I will go by bicycle, OK?