全新版大学英语听说教程2原文(4)

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.

2-8-B Lottery Winners

Do you dream of winning the lottery? So have millions of other people. Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets. They are hoping to win $100,000, $1,000,000 or more. What happens after you win the lottery?

When you win a million dollars, you don't receive a check for the total amount. You receive $50, 000 a year for twenty years. Also, you must pay taxes. After taxes, you receive from $25,000 to $40,000 a year for twenty years. This is a lot of extra spending money.

What have some people done with their money? Let's look at three past winners.

Lisa K wanted to be an artist, but she didn't have enough money to go to art school. She was working at a job she didn't enjoy. In August, Lisa bought one ticket and won two million dollars. She quit her job three weeks later and is now attending art school.

好

Mark L was a car salesman. He worked seven days a week and had little time for family life. After he won the lottery, he quit working. Now he spends his time bowling, working in the garden, and fixing things in his house. But, he's bored. He doesn't want to sell cars again, but he isn't sure what he wants to do with his life.

Jack B is one of the small number of winners who did not quit his job. Jack still teaches at a school near his home. But now he and his wife take their children on an interesting vacation every year. And they don't worry about sending their children to college. They say that money brings security and gives a person opportunities, but it doesn't bring happiness.

2-8-C

An Abandoned Newborn Baby

A healthy newborn girl was discovered in Central Park yesterday morning. The baby was abandoned on the top of a rock shortly before dawn after the mother gave birth to her there.

The police said that the baby was healthy and weighed 7 pounds. Now they were searching for the mother. A policeman said that they had never had anything like this before. They really didn't get babies left in the park. But they were just happy the baby was all right.

The police rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. Fortunately she was OK. The police believed the baby was born less than half an hour before she was discovered. They also believed judging from the amount of blood found on the rock, that the mother might have given birth there. It was 70 degrees when the baby was found.

Detectives were investigating whether the mother was a homeless woman who called a baby rescue hotline early yesterday. The head of Hope Foundation said that his hotline received a call about 5:30 a.m. from a young homeless woman in Manhattan. The caller asked, "How do I get rid of my baby?" She was apparently in labor. Then she was told to go to either a hospital or a fire station. But the woman was afraid she would be recognized there. The head also said that the woman wouldn't even tell him where he could possibly meet her since they had two teams that could help with the delivery, if necessary.

2-9-A

Jack was a six-year-old dog. It ate up two 100-dollar bills but returned them to his master Paul the natural way. The first bill was found the next morning, smelly and undamaged, followed by the second during an evening walk. When Paul got all the money back, he said: “The bills are slightly yellow and I think I'll clean them.”

2-9-B

A Belated Postcard

A postcard carrying a George V stamp has mysteriously arrived at its destination at least 63 years after it was first posted. The card was sent to a baker named Richard Price of South Wales, before the outbreak of the Second World War. it was delivered to a van hire company last week, which is the current owner of the High Street house formerly used by the baker. After an appeal in the local newspaper to discover who the Mr. Richard Price of the address really was, a puzzled Mrs. Meyrick came forward.

Pam Meyrick, who is 66 years old, is a granddaughter of the baker. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the address and …… 此处隐藏：5901字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……