Part B Listening Comprehension
Directions: In this part of the test there will be some short talks and conversations. After each one, you will be asked some questions. The talks, conversations and questions will be spoken ONLY ONCE. Now listen carefully and choose the right answer to each question you have heard and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
听力原文:Man: Sharon Harper. Now you're a Canadian and you live in Helsinki.
Woman: That's right.
Man: Well, can you tell me why did you come to Finland?
Woman: Well I came to Finland—it was right after I finished university in Toronto where I studied literature—I always wanted to be journalist—and the reason I came to Finland was just for a summer job.
Man: Oh, really?
Woman: Yes—um—some friends of my parents are offering a small summer job. I thought well that would be an interesting experience. I must have really liked it because I've lived in Helsinki now for nine years. I'm a foreign correspondent for a business magazine and I really like Finland. I guess originally the attraction was, you know Finland is off the beaten track—a little less obvious than, say, going to Paris or Rome, and that makes it somewhat exotic and not many Americans some don't even know Finland exists, of course. They don't seem to come here and it's so beautiful, they don't know how beautiful it is.
Man: I'm sure. What do you think the differences are really between life in Canada and in Finland?
Woman: Well, I suppose there is quite a big cultural difference. That would apply really between any European country and America, I suppose. But Finland has a very old and rich culture which they want to preserve, that beautiful of part old Helsinki, which has been preserved as an original Finnish village with all the wooden buildings, the sloping roofs for the snow. It's quite beautiful. Now North America had a culture which I suppose was the culture of the native Americans but that was largely destroyed by the Europeans. So, to that extent, America's a very new country and I love the sense of history that the Finns have as a nation and they can look back on. But at the same time they're very outward looking. That's a strange thing. At the same time they love their history but they're more outward looking than Americans, I would say.
Man: That's interesting.
Woman: Yeah. I think that Americans, and Canadians too, are egocentric, inward looking, they're not very concerned with life outside their continent. That's a fault really, isn't it?
Man: I suppose so, yes.
Woman: There are some things... in some ways Finland resembles Canada. The physical appearance of it, the... the woods, and rock, Northern Ontario, particularly, which reminds me of home. I like that side of it.
Man: So what would you say really were the positive aspects of Finland?
Woman: Well, there's always the sauna. Though I confess I wouldn't be too keen on the rolling in the snow after the sauna, which I guess Finns are keen on. But it's certainly a wonderful invention, isn't it? You feel great after you've had a sauna. The Finns like the simple pleasures in life, and that appeals to me, of course, too. I like trekking in the forests and mushroom picking and all the water sports are wonderful because the water's so pure and clear.
Man: What about the people?
Woman: Well the people are... they're very genuine. Now, there is a lot of talk about how friendly Americans are, but you know.., that "have a nice day" with the smile... there's a lot of phoniness behind that you know... you look in the eyes they're a bit cold... they'll put on the surface charm. However, you feel if a Finn appears to like you and smiles at you, then it's genuine, it's true.
Man: So what would you say were the negative aspects of Finland?
Woman: Well, the Finnish people can be blunt to the point of rudeness, sometimes, and I did say I know, that Americans
A.She finished university in Finland.
B.She was a journalist.
C.She came to Finland to work during her vacation.
D.She has heard Finland a very beautiful country.