Part A
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. After you have heard each sentence or paragraph, interpret it into Chinese. Start interpreting at the signal…and stop it at the signal…You may take notes while you are listening. Remember you will hear the passages only once. Now let us begin Part A with the first passage.
Passage 1:
In most cultures, meals may have certain form that makes people know what to expect. When the English see tea, or when Americans see coffee, they know dinner is over.//
While American Chinese food may have been adapted to American tastes, it has not been adapted to American form. Americans who are accustomed to a main course topped off by a big dessert often do not know when the Chinese meal is over.//
Generally speaking, dinners are much less formal and elaborate in the United States than in China. In China, the number of different dishes served at each meal is really impressive. It is impossible to finish everything.//
In the United States, when guests come to a home for dinner, the host or hostess usually serves one main dish, and one dessert. Guests may very likely consume all that is offered.
(参考答案)
在众多文化中，饮食会有都 一定的规律 / 结构 / 形式，让人知道下一道菜是什么。当英国人风觥筹交错茶或美国人见到咖啡时，他们就知道饭菜已经上完了。//
虽然美式中餐迎合了美国人的口味，但并未按照美国人的用餐形式。那些习惯于主菜以一大份甜食为高潮 / 结束的美国人往往不知道中餐什么时候结束。//
美国的晚餐一般远不如中国的晚餐那么正式和复杂。在中国，每顿饭端上来的不同菜肴的数目令人印象深刻，要吃完所有的菜是不可能的。//
在美国，如果客人到家里吃晚餐，主人通常是一套主菜和一份甜点。客人很可能会吃完给他的全部食物。
Passage 2:
We are here to observe one of the great traditions of our nation. I want to thank all the entertainers for making the night such a special evening. Thank you all for taking time off your tight schedule to participate in this fine event.//
For so many years in times of calm and in times of challenge, Americans have gathered for this ceremony. For over two millennia, Christmas has carried the message that we can always live in hope.//
In this season, we celebrate with our families, and deeply miss family members no longer with us. Thousands of families are still grieving over the terrible losses that came to them from the September 11 attack on New York.//
My wife and I wish every American family the blessings of the season. And now we have the honor of lighting the National Christmas Tree. Now, please join us in the countdown.//
(参考答案)
我们在此共度祖国的一个重要传统节日。感谢所有的演艺人员，感谢你们使这个夜晚如此特别。感谢你们所有人在百忙中抽空参加这个节日。//
多年来，不论是在安定的生活中还是在遇到挑战的时候，美国人都要为这个节日欢聚一堂。两千多年来，圣诞节一直传递着一个信息，我们能永远生活在希望之中。//
我们与家人同庆佳节，并深切缅怀那些离我们而去的亲人。数以千计的家庭仍在为9月11日纽约袭击事件中所遭受的巨大损失而哀伤。//
我和我的夫人祝愿所有的美国家庭节日好运，现在，我们非常荣幸地来点亮这棵国家圣诞树。请大家和我们一起倒计数。
