全新版大学英语听说教程第二册 Unit07（在线收听）

2-7-A

Dialogue

M: Excuse me, do you have a T-shirt of this kind in a larger size?

W: What size do you want?

M: Medium.

W: Pardon?

M: I want a medium.

W: Here's a medium in black. Do you like it?

M: Well, I like the picture on the front, but I'd prefer a white one with a slogan on the front.

W: Here's a white one in medium. And it's 100% cotton.

M: Perfect. I'll take it.

2-7-B

Fashion -- Image or Reality?

Why do people spend so much money on fashion? Do they want to create an image or make sure they are not old-fashioned? Do people really judge each other by the clothes they wear? The billion-dollar fashion industry certainly tries to convince consumers that such judgements are made.

Unfortunately, they may be right. A recent study using elementary school students was interesting. They said that people wearing Calvin Klein designer jeans were more handsome and successful than those wearing Wranglers. Levi-wearers were seen as sporty, fashionable and fun! Obviously we learn early that "Clothes make the man." In other words, clothes show age, outlook, status and income. However, clothes that look great on professional models may look terrible on the average buyer.

Although beautiful clothes don't help physically, they are important for social and psychological effects. Expensive clothes can make the wearer feel like part of the high status group that sets taste and style. So you are buying an image of success. You may really live a routine life, waking up in the morning feeling dull and ordinary. But when you dress in these expensive clothes, your mood brightens. You feel good, ready to face another day with energy. Sound crazy? People who love clothes say it's true.

Of course, a lot of people don't like high fashion. They'd rather spend their money on something practical. Which would you prefer -- the image or the reality?

2-7-C

Platform Shoes

If you have been thinking that platform shoes are the newest fashion trend on the planet, then it is about time you found out something about these height boosters. Not only were they wildly popular during the noisy disco days of the 1970's, but they were also all the rage during the late 1400's to 1600's.

The platform shoes that were the sign of high fashion in the 1600's were more practical than today's style symbols. They were worn over delicate shoes to protect them from getting dirty when walking in muddy or dusty streets.

After going out of fashion in the 1600's, platforms returned to the style scene in the 1930's when designers such as Salvatore Ferragamo began breaking the rules of fashion. They re-emerged again towards the end of the 1960's and by 1975 were so common that men were also trying to balance on their massive heels.

No matter how fashionable platforms are, they also have a reputation for creating problems. It is very easy to twist your ankle while wearing platforms and the damage this can do to your foot can be serious. In Japan, they have also brought about traffic problems as women wearing them while driving have been unable to brake quickly enough and as a result caused accidents!

2-8-A

Nowadays, dieting is a popular practice in many countries. However, of the nearly 50 American adults currently dieting, only less than 10% will be able to maintain their weight loss for at least a year. Researchers in the Framingham Heart Study pointed out that losing and gaining weight again might be harmful to your heart. Over a 14-year period, they analyzed the weight changes and health of 3,130 people. They found that those adults whose weight shifted the most had about a 50% increased risk of developing heart disease than those whose weight remained more stable. For now the researchers are not sure how weight changes are linked to health problems, but they think that people who diet frequently may prefer high-fat foods. Losing and regaining weight may also cause an unhealthy distribution of body weight. Dieters may lose pounds from their legs only to regain weight in an area such as their stomach, which increases the risk of developing heart disease.