[00:00.00]Questions 14-16 are based on the following talk
[00:06.79]about the new marketing drive of Microsoft Corp.
[00:12.43]You now have 15 seconds to read Questions 14--16.
[00:19.70]Microsoft Corp.said today
[00:24.03]it would offer a free computer to customers
[00:28.58]if they sign up forthree years of its Internet service,
[00:33.83]the latest move in a competitive game of driving down the price of hardware
[00:39.78]Just two weeks ago Microsoft. America Online Inc.and other companies
[00:47.93]began offering $400 refund on computer purchases
[00:54.49]as a way to tempt users to make a three-year commitment
[00:59.64]to their Internetservices.
[01:03.09]The America Online deal included a base model available for $399,
[01:10.95]meaning the computer was free
[01:14.68]for the price of the Internet service,about $20.a month.
[01:20.54]Microsoft said it no longer is offering the refund after a one-week trial.
[01:27.41]At the same time computer makers ranging from tiny business companies
[01:34.15]to such big firms as Micron Electronics Inc.
[01:39.29]are attacking the market from the other end.
[01:43.65]They offer free or cheap computers
[01:48.02]to users,who sign up for their Internet service
[01:52.74]or agree to other promotional terms.
[01:57.08]Under the latest deal from Microsoft,
[02:01.34]if users prepay $647.64
[02:08.89]for three years of Microsoft's MSN Internet access,
[02:15.55]which works out to $ 17.99.a month,
[02:21.51]they will get a Lan Plus PC
[02:26.23]with an Advanced Micro Device 400-megahertz microchip.
[02:32.37]A monitor and printer are available for an extra charge.
[02:37.41]Microsoft has struggled since launching its MSN service in 1995,
[02:45.07]while America Online
[02:48.93]has become the leading online service with more than 16 million subscribers.
[02:55.57]MSN is No.2 with about 1.8 million subscribers,
[03:02.10]according to statistics,
[03:05.76]although AT&T Corp.and several other providers are close behind.
[03:13.12]Separately Microsoft announced it would no longer charge a $9.95 monthly fee
[03:21.17]for premium services tied to its MSN Money Central personal finance Web site,
[03:29.11]which offers news,portfolio management tools,
[03:34.36]online trading and bill paying.
[03:38.83]You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to Questions 14--16.
[03:47.58]Question 14-16 according to Part B (2).
[03:49.62]14.What will be the possible effect of Microsoft's free offer of computers?
[03:51.63](A)The price of computers will come down.
[03:53.72](B)The price of computers will go up.
[03:55.76](C)Microsoft will have a one-week trial of free offer
[03:57.77](D)It will lead to a three-year commitment of free offer
[03:59.78]15.According to the report,which of statements is true?
[04:01.84](A)American Online is the first largest
[04:03.93]online service with 16 million subscribers.
[04:05.97](B)American Online will only charge about $20 for its base model computer
[04:07.98](C)Tie free computer offer by Microsoft doesn't include a monitor and printer
[04:10.04](D)A customer can get a free computer
[04:12.08]if he agrees to other promotional terms of Microsoft.
[04:14.20]16.From the report, it can be inferred that
[04:16.24](A)Microsoft Corp will adjust its service price.
[04:18.30](B)Other computer makers will join in the Internet service.
[04:20.28](C)AT&T Corp.will outnumber Microsoft in its service subscribers.
[04:22.43](D)The competition for customers will become more fierce and heated
[04:24.44]Questions 17--20 are based on the following report
[04:30.24]about the new development in computer technology.
[04:35.30]You now have 20 seconds to read Questions 17--20.
[04:41.44]Researchers have developed a chemical process
[04:46.30]that could lead to computer components no thicker than a single molecule,
[04:53.75]an important step toward the creation of new,ultrafast machines.
[05:01.11]The team from the Hewlett-Packard Co.
[05:05.66]and the University of California at Los Angeles
[05:11.22]say their work could ultimately lead to computers
[05:16.97]100 billion times faster than today's most powerful personal computers.
[05:25.41]Their findings were published today in Science magazine.
[05:31.36]Until now,integrated circuits--
[05:36.22]the on-off switches that are the basis for computing--
[05:41.68]have been made by etching silicon wafers with beams of light.
[05:48.42]The ability to shrink those circuits
[05:53.28]is limited by the wavelength of light.
[05:57.93]But the researchers said
[06:01.38]they found a way to construct the circuits using a chemical process,
[06:08.64]making the switches as small as a molecule.
[06:14.28]They believe the process could lead to components
[06:19.43]much smaller than today's smallest transistors.
[06:24.65]Smaller transistors consume less power
[06:29.80]and generally switch on and off more quickly.
[06:35.23]They also can be produced in greater quantities
[06:40.56]without raising production costs.
[06:44.82]The technology "holds the promise of vast data storage capability,
[06:51.38]" Phil Kuekes,a physicist and computer designer at Hewlett-Packard,
[06:57.72]said in today's New York Times,
[07:02.48]which reported the study along with The Wall Street Journal,
[07:07.94]The team used chemicals to coax molecules
[07:13.58]with the necessary electrical characteristics into specific positions,
[07:21.03]much like getting puzzle pieces into the right positions.
[07:27.06]The researchers said their findings are only a first step.
[07:33.41]For example,
[07:36.36]the current device can switch only from one state to another
[07:42.71]and cannot switch repeatedly,
[07:47.04]which it must do if it is to replace silicon-based chips.
[07:53.29]Still,computer researchers lauded the advance,
[07:58.43]calling it a sign of the rapid acceleration of a new field
[08:04.78]known as moletronics or molecular electronics,
[08:11.73]James Heath,a UCLA chemistry professor
[08:16.88]who worked on the project,said the technology
[08:22.13]might eventually replicate the power of 100 computer work stations
[08:29.28]in a space the size of a grain of salt.
[08:34.43]The technology also is promising
[08:39.08]as a means of prolonging the electronics boom
[08:44.33]As advances in silicon chip technology approach its physical limit
[08:51.46]--expected within 15 years--
[08:55.51]molecular electronics could continue the steady rise in computing power
[09:03.35]You now have 40 seconds to check your answers to Questions 17--20.
[09:10.30]Question 17-20 according to Part B (3).
[09:12.36]17.According to the report,what will be the result of the new technology?
[09:14.34](A)More production of computers (B)More important step in science
[09:16.41](C)Computers with faster speed (D)Computers with thicker shape
[09:18.45]18.From the report, it can be inferred that ( ).
[09:20.48](A)the new technology will raise production cost.
[09:22.55](B)the new technology will turn out smaller computers.
[09:24.58](C)the new technology will get more puzzle pieces into right position
[09:26.65](D)the new technology will construct a new integrated circuit.
[09:28.69]19.What is the general attitude toward the new findings?
[09:30.75](A)Hopeful (B)Reserved (C)Unconvinced (D)Puzzled
[09:32.79]20.The new technology is not applicable at present because
[09:34.82](A)the new device is smaller than a grain of salt.
[09:36.97](B)the new device does not have vast data storage capacity.
[09:39.00](C)the new device is limited by the wavelength of light.
[09:41.04](D)the new device can not switch on and off repeatedly.
[09:43.08]That is the end of Part B.
[09:46.84]Part C
[09:49.69]You will hear a talk given by a doctor.
[09:54.23]As you listen,you must answer questions 21-30.
[10:00.58]by writing NOT MORE THAN THREE words
[10:05.75]in the space provided on the right.
[10:10.09]You will hear the talk TWICE.
[10:14.14]You now have 60 seconds to read Questions 21--30.
[10:21.19]Traveler's diarrhea is a kind of abdomen disorder
[10:26.65]you might get when you're traveling in less developed countries.
[10:31.69]Many countries in Africa,
[10:35.74]Asia and Central and South America are risky places for travelers' diarrhea
[10:42.69]It's usually caused by eating food or drinking water
[10:47.94]that is contaminated with bacteria.
[10:52.28]The illness may also cause nausea and vomiting.
[10:57.24]Fortunately,travelers' diarrhea is usually mild,
[11:03.38]and recovery is usually quick.
[11:07.11]If you're planning a trip to a developing country,
[11:11.71]talk to your family doctor first
[11:15.87]about what you can do to stay healthy on your trip.
[11:20.83]Your doctor can give you advice
[11:24.49]about things you can do to help prevent illnesses like travelers diarrhea
[11:30.73]Your doctor also may prescribe some medicine for you to take along with you
[11:36.69]in case you get travelers diarrhea.
[11:40.63]You can help prevent traveler's diarrhea
[11:44.99]by being very careful about the foods you eat
[11:49.64]and the beverages you drink when you're traveling.
[11:53.98]You may do these things:Tie a ribbon around the water tap handle
[12:01.82]so you'll remember not to use tap water
[12:06.57]Keep safe,bottled water by the sink to use for drinking and toothbrushing
[12:13.83]Always clean your hands before you eat,
[12:18.48]but use prepackaged hand wipes to clean your hands,not just tap water.
[12:25.33]You should not do these things:Don't drink tap water.
[12:31.88]Don't even use it for brushing your teeth.
[12:36.14]Don't use ice unless you know it was made from boiled or filtered water.
[12:42.49]Don't eat raw vegetables or salads.
[12:47.03]Don't eat any fruits unless you peel them yourself.
[12:52.60]Don't buy food and drinks from street sellers.
[12:57.43]Coffee and tea made with boiled water are safe.
[13:02.08]Carbonated soft drinks (without ice),beer and wine are safe.
[13:09.32]Tap water that has been boiled,filtered or purified is safe to use.
[13:16.08]Most of the time,though,
[13:19.42]it's easier to buy purified bottled water for drinking
[13:25.07]than to purify the tap water.
[13:29.04]It's safe to eat foods that are thoroughly cooked and served piping hot.
[13:35.39]Fresh breads and most dry foods are safe to eat.
[13:40.53]When you're packing for your trip,
[13:44.08]take along some medicine Just in case you get travelers' diarrhea.
[13:50.14]This medicine usually stops diarrhea quickly.
[13:55.50]You may know this drug by its brand name--Indium A-D.
[14:01.53]Take two tablets right after your first bout of diarrhea.
[14:07.49]Then take one tablet after each episode of diarrhea.
[14:12.85]Don't take more than four tablets a day.
[14:16.61]If the drug doesn't stop your diarrhea,
[14:20.94]you may need to take an antibiotic to get rid of the infection.
[14:27.00]Your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic for you
[14:31.65]to take with you on your trip, just in case.
[14:36.30]Several antibiotics can be used to treat travelers diarrhea.
[14:42.47]One antibiotic commonly used for traveler's diarrhea is Cipro,
[14:49.00]Often,only a few doses are needed to clear up the infection.
[14:54.43]You shouldn't take Cipro if you're pregnant or under 18.
[14:59.89]If the diarrhea stops 12 hours
[15:04.75]after you took the first dose of the antibiotic,
[15:09.30]you probably don't need to take any more of the medicine.
[15:14.55]But see a doctor if your diarrhea hasn't stopped
[15:19.69]after you've been taking antibiotics for three days.
[15:24.66]One of the biggest problems caused by diarrhea is dehydration.
[15:30.51]you can prevent dehydration by drinking lots of clear liquids,
[15:36.15]such as water,juices and soft drinks.
[15:41.22]Remember to keep drinking safe,purified water.
[15:46.36]You can also drink a product that's made Just to prevent and treat
[15:51.61]the dehydration caused by diarrhea.
[15:55.87]It's called "oral dehydration" mix.
[16:00.31]You can buy it in drug stores. It comes in a powder.
[16:05.77]You mix it with safe water and drink it.
[16:09.93]You can take some packets of oral dehydration mix
[16:14.47]with you on your trip,just in case.
[16:18.62]If you're having diarrhea and you notice blood in your stool
[16:23.77]or you also have a high fever,you may have a severe infection.
[16:29.73]Start taking an antibiotic immediately.
[16:34.27]See a doctor if you don't get better in a day or two.
[16:39.31]Traveler's diarrhea can turn a great vacation into a bad vacation.
[16:46.05]But taking a few simple precautions
[16:50.31]and knowing what to do if travelers' diarrhea strikes
[16:55.07]can make the difference in your trip.
[16:59.01]Now you are going to hear the talk a second time.
[17:03.66]You now have 100 seconds to check your answers to Questions 21--30.
[17:11.39]That is the end of Part C. |