

新托福考试听力部分常常考到的另一个场景为办公时间涉及学术讨论的对话,它不会像讲座那样深入讨论学术问题,不过,了解相关学术词汇对我们的听力会更有帮助。考题不会像讲座那样钻研学术问题,它通常的出题形式是列举题,即询问教授讲到了哪些知识点。
我们以TPO24 Conversation2为例,该对话中学生对于地理课期末考试中的大湖效应出现了疑问,教授对于该疑问做出了相应的解答。
首先,掌握相关场景词汇帮助我们更好地听懂听力:
Geography 地理学
the hydrologic cycle 水循环
Transfer 传递
back and forth 来回
the atmosphere 大气层
diagram 图标
Vapor 蒸汽
Precipitation 大气水
be recycled 循环
evaporation 蒸发
The lake-effect snow 大湖效应
Condensation 凝结
topography 地形学
phenomenon 现象
Hemisphere 半球
arctic 北极的
be warmed 被加热
pick up moisture 吸收水分
Shore 海岸
pile up 堆积
Come into the picture 成为其中一部分
cool off 冷却
have a handle on 了解,掌控
【答案解析】
1. 答案:A
解析:学生来找教授是为了询问期末考试相关内容。
原文:You know, I am still not too clear about the hydrologic cycle, um, the transfer of water back and forth between the earth and the atmosphere. I really blew the question about it on the mid-term exam. I want to do better on the final exam. But I am still having trouble with it.
2. 答案:A,D
解析:关于辅导中心,教授说期末考试期间,该中心会延长辅导时间,同时也提供地理课辅导。
原文:You can get tutoring in a lot of subjects. Some graduate students from this department tutor there. Well, they will be extending their hours when final exams begin.
3. 答案:B
解析:学生疑惑的是地形如何影响大气水。
原文:I guess what I am really confused about is how the topography of the land, the mountains and valleys and stuff, affects precipitation.
4. 答案:YNNYY
关于大湖效应提到了:北极空气经过湖面吸收了水分;水凝结变成雪;热空气到达海岸时开始上升。
原文:What happens is that the cold arctic air blows across the lake from the north in winter. And as the air crosses the lake, the lower layer is warmed by the lake water, which is much warmer than the arctic air. And as this air is warmed and picks up moisture, it becomes lighter than the air above it. And clouds begin to form.
5. 答案:D
解析:教授这样说是为了告诉学生这就是地形学对大气水的影响。
原文:When the air gets closer to the shore, it's slowed down by the land and starts to pile up. So it rises even faster because it has nowhere else to go, that's where topography comes into the picture. And then it snows because as the air rises, it cools off and loses its capacity to hold water vapor.