202 Useful Exercises for IELTS Side2-12-AudioTrack12

　　Narrator: Exercise 5.2. Lecture 5:
     Today, I wish to give you a look at the first day or two in London as seen through the eyes of a young visitor to the country on a temporary student visa. For most visitors, the first taste of England is touchdown at HeathrowInternational Airport which is only a ￡20 taxi fare from the heart of the city. As soon as one gets off the plane,the busy, commercial atmosphere of London immediately becomes apparent¹. The traffic is dense², and movesslowly. The buildings are old and the weather is usually cloudy. Many students arrange to stay with an Englishfamily while they study at an English language college, and are therefore met at the airport.
Having met the family and settled into his or her new home - most families in the city live in semi-detached houses- a visitor is usually tired after the trip and takes a day or two to recover from jet lag. But it isn't long before thedesire to look around and discover the sights and sounds of London overcomes the shock of being in a foreigncountry. First on the list is a trip to the college chosen while overseas as the place to study English in Britain.
Most colleges are located close to the city and are surprisingly modern and welcoming. They are always easy travel distance of a bus route or a tube station, and the buses are modern and comfortable, although it is moreexpensive than taking a train. Most commuters to the city prefer the tube because the system is extensive and alot faster and cheaper.
On intake³ day, students gather in the common room of their chosen college and are given an orientation⁴ to theprogramme they are about to embark⁵ upon. After they have been welcomed to the college, and know a little moreabout how the school works, it is time to take a short test to determine the best class for them to begin their studies.
Come lunchtime, of course, it is necessary to find a place to eat. Some students sensibly bring their own lunchor else find a restaurant nearby that suits their palate. Of course, London has a vast number of restaurants at whichto choose food from countries all over the world, and prices are generally quite acceptable⁶.
In the afternoon, a student usually discovers that the way in which the language is taught in a British environmentis different to what they are used to in their home country. Some students might be surprised at the differencein teaching methods. Students in English colleges are always treated as adults and the onus⁷ to perform is thereforeon the student. Attending their first lesson of the course, they meet their classmates for the next few weeks. Itis time to get to know each other and the opportunity for an exchange of personal information. After class, studentsmake their way home, enlightened⁸ and sometimes a little confused about what is expected of them. But most agreethat the experience they have had on their first day of college is worth all the hardship of leaving the comfort ofhome.

1 apparent   

adj.表面上的，貌似真实的，显然的，明明白白的

参考例句：

• The apparent truth was really a lie.表面上看似实话，实际上是个谎言。
• His guilt is apparent to all.他的罪恶尽人皆知。

2 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

3 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

4 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

5 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

6 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。

7 onus   

n.负担；责任

参考例句：

• The onus is on government departments to show cause why information cannot bedisclosed.政府部门有责任说明不能把信息公开的理由。
• The onus of proof lies with you.你有责任提供证据。

8 enlightened   

a.开明的，有知识的

参考例句：

• The teacher's words made me at once become enlightened. 老师的一席话使我顿开茅塞。
• What she said enlightened all of us. 她一讲，大家心里都亮堂了。