Directions: Different listening strategies which are associated with either top-down or bottom-up processing. Decide which strategies they use: top-down or bottom-up. Listening attentively to try and

ttom-up processing. Decide which strategies they use: top-down or bottom-up. Listening to a series of short conversations in order to understand where the conversation is taking place.

ttom-up processing. Decide which strategies they use: top-down or bottom-up. Listening in order to do a dictation activity.

th either top-down or bottom-up processing. Decide which strategies they use: top-down or bottom-up processing. Listening carefully to football results.

th either top-down or bottom-up processing. Decide which strategies they use: top-down or bottom-up. 2. Predicting the content of a lecture or short talk on a subject that the listener knows something about.

Summer is winding down, but it's still not too late to put the top down and hit the road. For those of us who can't spring for a Corvette or a BMW, here's some good news: Two of the coolest convertibles on the road are also more affordable-- Volkswagen's New Beetle and Chrysler's PT Cruiser.

Both start at about $20,000, seat four, and get between 22 and 24 miles per gallon from their four-cylinder engines. Each has fully insulated cloth tops with rear windows made of real glass, which makes them comfort- able to use in winter. Front-wheel drive helps make them safer to drive over snow and ice. Both also offer high- performance turbocharged models starting at about $25,000. Both have bulging fenders and cool, retro personalities.

Beyond that, they're very different. The PT Cruiser focuses on practicality, while the Beetle is more fun to drive.

That fun comes from the car's chassis, suspension, and overall structure. Crank the steering into a turn and the Car follows like an eager puppy. The engine isn't powerful, but loves to rev, so you can downshift to accelerate.

The New Beetle Convertible has developed an unfortunate reputation as a "chick car" for its cute looks and the lack of power in the standard model. But for an extra $1,600, VW offers its turbocharged version, with a 150 horsepower, 1.8 liter engine, which gives the car some snap.

Even so, the convertible top eliminates what little practicality the New Beetle hatchback offers. To fit the folding top, the back seat was narrowed and angled so upright it's uncomfortable. And the folded top sits above a tiny trunk, with only five cubic feet of capacity and accessible through a smaller porthole.

Weekend trippers had better not have kids --or plan to rough it with more than a backpack or two. Interior storage is also minuscule. As with the New Beetle hatchback, the windshield is disconcertingly far away, and the wipers clear only a small slit of a view in front. Compared with the profile of the hatchback, however, the convertible sports a top that' s lower and a little less cartoonlike.

The PT Cruiser, on the other hand, looks its sinister best with the top up. Peeling the top off reveals its cutesy "roll hoop". (Chrysler denies the hoop offers rollover protection and calls it a light bar.) But the Cruiser, like its four-door brethren, offers all the year-round practicality the original Beetle convertible did in its day. The back seat is comfortable for two people, and the trunk is roomy.

Unfortunately, it's also hard to access because the big trunk lid gets in the way when open. So instead of standing to load or unload the car, you have to squat or kneel. But the storage space is huge --the biggest I've seen in any convertible. And the back seats fold forward in case you need to carry some long cargo. The interior offers four cup holders and several large storage bins.

The 220-horsepower turbocharged engine in the GT model makes the Cruiser seriously quick, which backs up its hot-rod looks. But after that, the driving experience falls apart. Like its hot-rod inspirations, the Cruiser is best on a straight, smooth road. Over bumps, its floppy chassis wobbles like jello. On the highway, the Cruiser I tested needed continual corrections to stay in its lane. The manual shifter on the GT proved sloppy; it was hard to be sure which gear the car was about to engage. Several times I hit fifth gear when aiming for third. Chrysler apparently anticipated this problem, as a brief warning chimes to let you know when you're in reverse.

Neither the PT Cruiser convertible nor the New Beetle is perfect. But for fun in the sun or even the fall -- what could be better? Both cars brought constant waves, smiles, and stories from passersby.

What's a convertible about if it isn't looking good on the road and brightening your day?

Those who choose Volkswagen's Ne

A．practicality

B．fun to drive

C．prices

D．style

Summer is winding down, but it's still not too late to put the top down and hit the road. For those of us who can't spring for a Corvette or a BMW, here's some good news: Two of the coolest convertibles on the road are also more affordable --Volkswagen's New Beetle and Chrysler's PT Cruiser.

Both start at about $20,000, seat four, and get between 22 and 24 miles per gallon from their four-cylinder engines. Each has fully insulated cloth tops with rear windows made of real glass, which makes them comfortable to use in winter. Front-wheel drive helps make them safer to drive over snow and ice. Both also offer high-performance turbocharged models starting at about $25,000. Both have bulging fenders and cool, retro personalities.

Beyond that, they're very different. The PT Cruiser focuses on practicality, while the Beetle is more fun to drive.

That fun comes from the car's chassis, suspension, and overall structure. Crank the steering into a turn and the car follows like an eager puppy. The engine isn't powerful, but loves to rev, so you can downshift to accelerate.

The New Beetle Convertible has developed an unfortunate reputation as a "chick car" for its cute looks and the lack of power in the standard model. But for an extra $1,600, VW offers its turbocharged version, with a 150 horsepower, 1.8 liter engine, which gives the car some snap.

Even so, the convertible top eliminates what little practicality the New Beetle hatchback offers. To fit the folding top, the back seat was narrowed and angled so upright it's uncomfortable. And the folded top sits above a tiny trunk, with only five cubic feet of capacity and accessible through a smaller porthole.

Weekend trippers had better not have kids -- or plan to rough it with more than a backpack or two. Interior storage is also minuscule. As with the New Beetle hatchback, the windshield is disconcertingly far away, and the wipers clear only a small slit of a view in front. Compared with the profile of the hatchback, however, the convertible sports a top that's lower and a little less cartoonlike.

The PT Cruiser, on the other hand, looks its sinister best with the top up. Peeling the top off reveals its cutesy "roll hoop". (Chrysler denies the hoop offers rollover protection and calls it a light bar.) But the Cruiser, like its four-door brethren, offers all the year-round practicality the original Beetle convertible did in its day. The back seat is comfortable for two people, and the trunk is roomy.

Unfortunately, it's also hard to access because the big trunk lid gets in the way when open. So instead of standing to load or unload the car, you have to squat or kneel. But the storage space is huge -- the biggest I've seen in any convertible. And the back seats fold forward in case you need to carry some long cargo. The interior offers four cup holders and several large storage bins.

The 220-horsepower turbocharged engine in the GT model makes the Cruiser seriously quick, which backs up its hot-rod looks. But after that, the driving experience falls apart. Like its hot-rod inspirations, the Cruiser is best on a straight, smooth road. Over bumps, its floppy chassis wobbles like jello. On the highway, the Cruiser I tested needed continual corrections to stay in its lane. The manual shifter on the GT proved sloppy; it was hard to be sure which gear the car was about to engage. Several times I hit fifth gear when aiming for third, Chrysler apparently anticipated this problem, as a brief warning chimes to let you know when you're in reverse.

Neither the PT Cruiser convertible nor the New Beetle is perfect. But for fun in the sun or even the fall-- what could be better? Both cars brought constant waves, smiles, and stories from passersby.

What's a convertible about if it isn't looking good on the road and brightening your day?

Those who choose Volkswagen's New Beetle or Chrysler's PT

A．practicality

B．fun to drive

C．prices

D．style

Summer is winding down, but it's still not too late to put the top down and hit the road. For those of us who can't spring for a Corvette or a BMW, here's some good news: Two of the coolest convertibles on the road are also more affordable—Volkswagen's New Beetle and Chrysler's PT Cruiser.

Both start at about $20,000, seat four, and get between 22 and 24 miles per gallon from their four- cylinder engines. Each has fully insulated cloth tops with rear windows made of real glass, which makes them comfortable to use in winter. Front-wheel drive helps make them safer to drive over snow and ice. Both also offer high-performance turbocharged models starting at about $25,000．Both have bulging fenders and cool, retro personalities.

Beyond that, they're very different. The PT Cruiser focuses on practicality, while the Beetle is more fun to drive.

That fun comes from the car's chassis, suspension, and overall structure. Crank the steering into a turn and the car follows like an eager puppy. The engine isn't powerful, but loves to rev, so you can downshift to accelerate.

The New Beetle Convertible has developed an unfortunate reputation as a "chick car" for its cute looks and the lack of power in the standard model. But for an extra $1,600, VW offers its turbocharged version, with a 150 horsepower, 1.8 liter engine, which gives the car some snap.

Even so, the convertible top eliminates what little practicality the New Beetle hatchback offers. To fit the folding top, the back seat Was narrowed and angled so upright it's uncomfortable. And the folded top sits above a tiny trunk, with only five cubic feet of capacity and accessible through a smaller porthole.

Weekend trippers had better not have kids — or plan to rough it with more than a backpack or two. Interior storage is also minuscule. As with the New Beetle hatchback, the windshield is disconcertingly far away, and the wipers clear only a small slit of a view in front. Compared with the profile of the hatchback, however, the convertible sports a top that's lower and a little less cartoonlike.

The PT Cruiser, on the other hand, looks its sinister best with the top up. Peeling the top off reveals its cutesy "roll hoop". (Chrysler denies the hoop offers rollover protection and calls it a light bar.) But the Cruiser, like its four-door brethren, offers all the year-round practicality the original Beetle convertible did in its day. The back seat is comfortable for two people, and the trunk is roomy.

Unfortunately, it's also hard to access because the big trunk lid gets in the way when open. So instead of standing to load or unload the car, you have to squat or kneel. But the storage space is huge — the biggest I've seen in any convertible. And the back seats fold forward in case you need to carry some long cargo. The interior offers four cup holders and several large storage bins.

The 220-horsepower turbocharged engine in the GT model makes the Cruiser seriously quick, which backs up its hot-rod looks. But after that, the driving experience falls apart. Like its hot-rod inspirations, the Cruiser is best on a straight, smooth road. Over bumps, its floppy chassis wobbles like jello. On the highway, the Cruiser I tested needed continual corrections to stay in its lane. The manual shifter on the GT proved sloppy; it was hard to be sure which gear the car was about to engage. Several times I hit fifth gear when aiming for third. Chrysler apparently anticipated this problem, as a brief warning chimes to let you know when you're in reverse.

Neither the PT Cruiser convertible nor the New Beetle is perfect. But for fun in the sun or even the fall what could be better? Both cars brought constant waves, smiles, and stories from passersby.

What's a convertible about if it isn't looking good on the road and brightening your day?

Those who choose Volkswagen's New Beetle or Ch

A．practicality

B．fun to drive

C．prices

D．style

Don't Let Depression Ruin a Good Thing

Feeling down? Got the blues? You're not alone. Everyone gets. sad (yes, everyone you've ever met). Some people have sad feelings just once in a while, and others may have sad feelings pretty often. More than half of teenagers go through a sad period at least once a month and plenty of younger kids do, too.

When you're in a sad mood, it may feel like it will last forever, but usually feelings of sadness don't last very long a few hours, or maybe a day or two. A deeper, more intense kind of sadness that lasts a lot longer is called depression. Each year millions of people are estimated to suffer from depression, a condition so widespread that it has been dubbed "the common cold of mental illness. "

Symptoms of Depression

Depression is associated with many symptoms and not everyone has the same ones. Some people have many symptoms, while others may only have a few. The symptoms below may signal that you or someone you love may be depressed:

Appearance—sad face, slow movements, absent-minded look

Unhappy feelings—feeling sad, hopeless, discouraged, or listless

Negative thoughts—"I'm a failure," "I'm no good," "No one cares about me. "

Reduced activity—"I just sit around and mope," "Doing anything is just too much of an effort."

Reduced concentration.

People problems—"I don't want anybody to see me," "I feel so lonely."

Guilt and low self-esteem—"It's all my fault," "I should be punished."

Physical problems—Sleeping problems, weight loss or gain, decreased sexual interest, or headaches.

Suicidal thoughts or wishes—"I'd be better off dead," "I wonder if it hurts to die."

Causes of Depression

The exact cause of depression remains unclear. The most probable explanation is that it is an imbalance in neurotransmitters (神经传递素) in the brain. But what triggers it in the first place?

First, genetic factors. There is growing interest in genetic approaches t6 understanding a variety of diseases and depression is no exception. Some people certainly seem to be more vulnerable to depression than others and there is growing evidence that some genes could make individuals susceptible to the disease. Some studies have shown that people who have relatives with depression have a one in four chance of developing it themselves, compared with only one in fourteen for the general population.

Secondly, external triggers. In most cases just having these genes is probably not enough to cause depression on its own. Depression can be triggered by a number of factors such as unemployment, bereavement (丧亡), social isolation or even a severe physical illness.

Victims of Depression

Anyone may suffer from depression, regardless of age, gender, race and belief. It is "normal" for certain people to feel depressed-such as women, older people, employees with work-related stress, or people with chronic illness.

Women are more than twice as' likely as men to experience depression. Although the reasons for this difference are not known, research suggests that biological differences in women such as hormonal(荷尔蒙) changes and genetics-may contribute to depression. Additionally, social reasons, such as greater stresses from work and family responsibilities, and even the increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty among women, may lead to higher rates of clinical depression.

Depression affects employees at all levels of the corporate ladder. One in every 20 employees experiences the illness. An estimated 200 million workdays are lost each year due to employee depression. Depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and if left untreated may last a lifetime.

Clinical Depression and

A．Y

B．N

C．NG

听力原文： Plants are adapted to the climate they live in for the most part. Trees in rainforests have broad leaves, shaped to encourage the heavy rain to run off the leaves. The large leaves encourage transpiration so the plants don't overheat. In very dry climates plants may develop an ability to store water, such as the cactus, which also has its leaves reduced into tiny spines which reduce transpiration to almost nothing so its precious water is conserved. At the first sign of drought, plants close their leaf pores to prevent wilting and slowing down growth so that they need less water. Coniferous plants also have small spiky leaves so that they don't lose too much water during the frozen winters. Grasses roll their leaves into tubes to protect their leaf pores from the drying effect of the wind. Tropical air plants have moisture sensitive plugs attached to their leaf pores which are pulled down over the pores, sealing them to hold in moisture, by the contraction of the stalks in dry weather.

Plants are affected by strong winds which make them grow thicker and more stunted stems to strengthen and prevent themselves from being blown over. A special sort of strong wood called "reaction wood" grows on the leeward side of tile wind. Plants are also susceptible to waterlogging and freezing and many plants have developed complex mechanisms and adaptations to protect themselves from disasters.

Trees in rainforests have broad leaves. The advantage is______.

A．to accept more sun light

B．to encourage the heavy rain to run off the leaves

C．to shade their roots

D．to hide their trunk