托福听力素材:Conversation1&Conversation2

Conversation1

Narrator：Listen to a conversation between a student and his academic advisor.

Professor Hi, Mark. What can I do for you?

Student I am just filling out this approval for graduation form for the dean's office, and I don't know, I hope I will be able to graduate next semester.

Professor Well, as long as you've met the departmental requirements and you submit the form on time, you shouldn't have any problem. Make sure you include all the classes you will have taken for your degree in finance and the electives too.

Student Yeah, but as I look over the form, I got confused because of the way, um…they've changed the requirements. So now I am not sure I will be qualified to graduate next semester. I know I would, before, under the old requirements.

Professor Well, when the business department changed the curriculum to include more courses in international business, to ... well, because of the increasing globalization of business. We made sure that students who have finished their second year, that is, those who are in their third or fourth year, wouldn't be affected. The new rules only apply to students in their first or second year.

Student That's good to know. Uh... the department's hiring new faculty too I heard, to teach some of the new courses. But I want to...

Professor Yes. One new faculty member has been hired. She will be teaching International Banking as a matter of fact.

Student Actually, that's what I want to ask about - International Banking. I took International Banking l, but I never took International Banking 2. It used to be that the second semester of International Banking was an elective, but now it says it's a required class.

Professor Yes. But that's one of the recent changes. So...

Student Oh, Oh, OK. Oh. And ... and I am planning to take a management course next semester, but I don't know if it's ... if it will count toward my major.

Professor What's the course?

Student Organizational Behavior.

Professor Yes. That will count toward your major. That's a difficult class, you know. But well worth it. So it looks like you will have all the required classes you need. You should be just fine. Uh... I assume you have taken a seminar?

Student Yeah, I took the marketing seminar.

Professor OK. You are looking good. Just to be on the safe side, why don't you talk to someone in the dean's office before you give them the form?

Student OK. So should I just explain to them that even though one of these classes got changed from an elective to a required class, I don't have to take it?

Professor Yes. You've met the requirements for graduation. And if there's something I need to do ... if I need to write a letter or whatever, just let me know.

Student OK. Thanks. I'll let you know if I need that letter.

Conversation2

Narrator Listen to a conversation between a student and his biology professor.

Student Well, you know, I am writing that paper about whales and the path they travel as they swim through the ocean, their migration patterns.

Professor Yes. I remember.

Student And well, I was thinking about it and I realized I don't understand how they hold their breath underwater. lt's a little crazy for me to be writing about migration patterns without actually knowing how they stay underwater for so long.

Professor Did you do any research to find out how they do it?

Student Yeah, I did. I searched on the internet and there was a lot of information about whales, their habitats, the way they communicate, you know, their songs. But if there was anything about whales and how they hold their breath, I missed it. I've got a bunch of books. Actually, I have got so much information, it's a little overwhelming.

Professor I am surprised there is nothing about it in any of those books.

Student Well, to be honest, l've only skimmed them so far. I am still working on finding sources.

Professor OK. I know I encourage everyone in class to look at a substantial number of sources, but I don't want you to get overwhelmed. Looking at a number of sources gives you a good knowledge base, but students only have a limited amount of time to work on each paper. I don't expect you to read a dozen books on whales for this assignment. Focus on just a few.

Student Ok. Thanks.

Professor You know, since you are already here. I can give you a quick summary of how whales hold their breath underwater. lt's just a matter of certain adaptations in their anatomies, specifically in their circulatory system.

Student So the blood flow is what makes the difference?

Professor Yes, and in a couple of ways. First, blood makes up a larger share of a whale's weight than in other mammals.

Student So they can store more oxygen because they have more blood?

Professor Yes, but that's only part of it. They also have a greater capacity than land animals to store oxygen in their blood.

Student So how does having more oxygen in their blood help them stay underwater longer?

Professor It's the way the whale's blood carries oxygen to the rest of its body. Whales carefully conserve their oxygen when underwater in a couple of ways. When a whale dives, its metabolic rate drops, causing its heartbeat to slow down. And the blood flow to its muscles and some of its non-vital organs, like its kidneys, is also cut off. A whale's muscles and non-vital organs are able to function without oxygen for an extended period of time.

Student I see. Well, now I can concentrate on my topic.