Level 6 Unit 2 Part 1 Listening
Planning for Retirement
Walter wants to retire within the next few years. He's been working at the same company for over fifteen years as an accountant. During that time he's been saving his money and paying off his debts. However, even with his savings and investments, he isn't sure that he'll have enough money for retirement. If he doesn't, he'll have to keep on working, which depends on the company. For now, the company is okay, but it's no longer growing as fast as it used to.
Whether or not he can keep on working will also depend on his health. Fortunately, he's in good health, but he knows that that could change at any time. If he fell down or had a stroke, it could force him to stop working. If that happened, he would have to rely on his savings and other assets to survive. Sooner or later, he knows his health will decline and he'll have to stop working. So he needs to prepare.
Most of his wealth is in the form of company stock and the value of his home. Both of these are at risk. The company stock may go down, and the value of his home may also fall. The company he works for is a pharmaceutical company. It develops new drugs, which is a risky business, and sells them worldwide. It's expensive to develop new drugs, and it can take a very long time to get a new drug approved. Without government approval, it can't be sold, which can result in a huge loss.
Another threat to the company comes from foreign competition, which is getting stronger. The company has also started to move some of its research and production facilities overseas. Salary levels are lower there, and the quality of foreign workers is getting better. As a result, the company has reduced its local hiring and is no longer giving large bonuses.
One thing he is considering is to sell his shares in the company. He could begin to sell a little at a time and reinvest the money somewhere else. But where would he invest? He doesn't know much about investing, and several of his friends have lost a lot by making bad investments. Investing in real estate or the stock market could be very risky.
In the best case he would make a lot of money. If that happened, he could finally retire and enjoy a comfortable life. On the other hand, in the worst case, his investments could result in a huge loss. If that happened, he wouldn't be able to enjoy his retirement. He wouldn't be able to travel or do any of the things he has dreamed about doing.
So, now he has to decide what he should do. Should he begin to sell his stock in the company, or should he wait until he actually needs the money? If he sold now, he would have to decide what to do with the money. His investments could turn out well, or they could turn out to be a disaster. On the other hand, if he decides to wait, everything will depend on the company. The one advantage he has with this option is his being on the inside of the company.
With his insider information, he can predict the company's short-term future. This is especially true because, as an accountant, he has access to the company's financial data. If things start to go badly, he can begin to sell his stock and avoid a big loss. Otherwise, it's probably safer to keep his stock and hope that the company does well, even if its growth rate declines. So for now, that's probably what he should do. If you were he, what would you do?
Level 6 Unit 2 Part 1 Dialogue
Vocation Plans
W: So, where should we go on a vacation? What about Africa?
M: Africa? No, that's not for me. Why do you want to go to Africa?
W: I'd like to get out and see the wildlife, the drama of nature. We could see some of the great migrations.
M: Wow, you are an adventurer. What about food and diseases? What about terrorism?
W: Sure, something bad could happen, but if we never take any risks we won't have an interesting life. I don't want to have a boring life.
M: So, you think I'm boring then, right?
W: Well, you're certainly not the most exciting person. You play things safe and secure.
M: I don't mind taking a few risks, but it's got to be worth it. Watching animals migrate is something I can see in a documentary. And I don't like the idea of being around predators like lions and hyenas.
W: OK, my brave man. What would YOU like to do?
M: Well, I've been thinking about it. I think it would be nice to go to Paris in the fall and visit some museums. We could go to a concert and maybe see a ballet.
W: Uh! We've been to Paris before. There's nothing exciting about it and I'm tired of museums.
W: Any other ideas?
M: One place that might be interesting is in south America, Machu Picchu. It's an abandoned city way up in the mountains of Peru.
W: Yes, I've heard of it. That might be interesting.
M: Should we look into it?
W: Sure, you look into it, and I'll get some information about trips to Africa.
M: So, your heart is really set on Africa, isn't it?
W: Yes, it really is. I need something exciting in my life now. All I do is work and be with you. I need a change. Don't you ever feel that way?
M: OK, I hear you. Let's go to Africa! And don't blame me if you get sick along the way.
W: Great, you are not so bad after all. I can always depend on you.
M: Be careful! Maybe one of these days I'll surprise you.
Level 6 Unit 2 Part 1 Reading 1
Is Online Dating Killing Love?
A fair maiden is guarded by a dragon. A handsome prince must slay the dragon to save her. Then, magically, they fall in love and live happily ever after.
Traditional stories tend to emphasize the fantastic, magical side of love. Fate plays matchmaker. Strangers see each other from across a room and instantly know that they are destined to be together. It isn't difficult to imagine two strangers coming together and falling in love despite their differences. It suggests that love is challenging, uncertain, and incomprehensible.
But with more people using online dating services, a very different kind of love has emerged: one that is scientific, convenient, and self-directed. It minimizes risk and provides a choice, like on a menu. There is anonymity and the avoidance of immediate rejection. Meeting terms are negotiated online.
Online dating also allows the setting of preconditions. Computer algorithms exclude undesirable traits such as the wrong hair color, race, or age. But they also exclude randomness. They reduce the chances of meeting someone different, or someone who could challenge one's romantic ideals. Instead, they find the partner we think we want and exclude everyone else. As a result, we could be missing the opportunity of a lifetime, to meet someone we would never have expected to fall in love with.
Perhaps this new way represents a more efficient form of romance. Traditional ideas of love may be enchanting - but are they useful? Loneliness and boredom are less exciting than chance encounters, but they represent the more realistic side of love. All too often people have suffered through bad dates and humiliations. If they could just choose what they wanted, wouldn't it save time and reduce suffering?
However, by choosing partners based on our preconceived ideas, we may be indulging in our illusions. Instead of letting ourselves grow with someone, love becomes more about looking for ourselves in the other. What if we don't know ourselves as well as we think? Perhaps love isn't about knowing what we want. Perhaps it's about being open to unimagined possibilities.
anonymity [ˌænəˈnɪməti]
n.匿名; 不知姓名; 名字不公开; 无特色; 无个性特征;
algorithm [ˈælɡərɪðəm]
n.算法; 计算程序;
indulge [ɪnˈdʌldʒ]
v.沉湎，沉迷，沉溺(于…); 满足(欲望、兴趣等); 放纵; 听任;
译文：美少女由一条龙守护。英俊的王子必须杀死龙来救她。然后，他们竟奇迹般地坠入爱河，从此幸福地生活在一起。
传说中的故事往往强调爱情美妙且神奇的一面。命运扮演媒人。陌生男女隔着房间看到彼此，瞬间就知道他们注定要在一起。不难想象两个陌生人不顾分歧走到一起并坠入爱河。这意味着爱是具有挑战性的、不确定的和难以理解的。
但随着越来越多的人使用在线约会服务，出现了一种截然不同的爱情，即一种科学、便捷、自我导向的爱情。它可以最大限度地降低风险并提供一个像是在菜单上的选择。可以匿名且避免立即被拒，会面条款在网上协商。
网上约会也允许设置前提条件。计算机算法排除了不合需要的特征，如不合适的发色、种族或年龄。但它们也排除了随机性。他们减少了遇到不同的人的机会，或者那些可以挑战一个人的浪漫理想的人。相反，他们找到了我们认为自己想要的伴侣，却把其他人排除在外。因此，我们可能会错过一生难得的机会，去遇见一个我们从未想过会爱上的人。
也许这种新的方式代表了一种更有效率的恋情。传统的爱情观念也许很迷人，但它们有用吗？孤独和无聊不及偶遇那么令人兴奋，但它们代表了爱情更现实的一面。人们经常经历糟糕的约会和羞辱，如果他们可以选择他们想要的，不是可以节省时间和减少痛苦吗
然而，根据我们先入为主的想法选择伴侣，我们可能沉溺于我们的幻想中。爱不是让我们和某人一起成长，而是更多地在对方身上寻找自己。如果我们不像自己想的那样了解自己呢？也许爱不是知道我们想要什么，也许它是对无法想象的可能性的开放。
Level 6 Unit 2 Part 1 Reading 2
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are injuries that happen to athletes participating in sporting events. In many cases, these types of injuries are due to overuse of a part of the body. For example, runner's knee is a painful condition associated with running, while tennis elbow is a form of repetitive stress injury at the elbow. Other types of injuries, such as a broken bone, can be caused by hard contact with something.
Injuries are a common occurrence in professional sports, and most teams have a staff of trainers and close connections to the medical community. Controversy has arisen at times when teams have made decisions that could threaten a player's long-term health for short-term gain.
Sports injuries can be classified as either traumatic or overuse injuries. Traumatic injuries account for most injuries in contact sports such as soccer, rugby and American football. This is of course due to the dynamic and high collision nature of these games. These injuries range from bruises and muscle strains to fractures and head injuries.
A bruise is damage to small blood vessels which causes bleeding within the tissues. A muscle strain is a small tear of muscle fibers and a ligament sprain is a small tear of ligament tissue. The body's response to these injuries is the same in the initial five-day period immediately following the incident-inflammation. Inflammation is characterized by pain, localized swelling, heat, redness and a loss of function Inflammation is the first phase of healing, and typically lasts for around five days. However, too much of an inflammatory response can mean that the healing process will take longer, and a return to activity is delayed. Sports injury treatments are intended to minimize the inflammatory phase of an injury so that the overall healing process is accelerated.
controversy [ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi] n.(公开的) 争论，辩论，论战;
traumatic [traʊˈmætɪk] adj.痛苦的; 极不愉快的; 创伤的; 外伤的; 损伤的;
fracture [ˈfræktʃər] n.(指状态) 骨折，断裂，折断，破裂; (指事实) 骨折; v.(使) 断裂，折断，破裂; (使) 分裂;
tissue [ˈtɪʃuː] n.(人、动植物细胞的) 组织; (尤指用作手帕的) 纸巾，手巾纸; (用于包装易碎物品的) 薄纸，绵纸;
fiber [ˈfaɪbər] n.（动植物的） 纤维; 纤维质;
ligament [ˈlɪɡəmənt]n.韧带;
sprain [spreɪn] v.扭伤(关节); n.扭伤;
inflammation [ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃn] n.发炎; 炎症;
inflammatory [ɪnˈflæmətɔːri] adj.煽动性的; 使人发怒的; 发炎的; 炎性的;
译文：运动损伤是指运动员在参加运动项目时发生的损伤。在很多情况下，这些类型的伤害是由于过度使用身体的一部分。例如，跑步膝是一种与跑步有关的疼痛状况，而网球肘是一种肘部重复性应力损伤的形式。其他类型的损伤，如骨折，可能是由与某物的剧烈接触引起的。
受伤在职业运动中是很常见的，大多数球队都有训练人员和与医学界的密切联系。当球队为了短期利益做出可能威胁球员长期健康的决定时，有时就会引发争议。
运动损伤可分为创伤性损伤和过度使用性损伤。在足球、橄榄球和美式足球等接触性运动中，创伤性损伤占多数。这当然是由于这些比赛的动态性和高碰撞性。这些损伤包括瘀伤、肌肉拉伤、骨折和头部损伤。
瘀伤是对小血管的损伤，会导致组织内出血。肌肉拉伤是肌肉纤维的一种小撕裂，关节扭伤是韧带组织的一种小撕裂。身体对这些损伤的反应在损伤事件发生后的头5天内是相同的，也就是炎症。炎症的特点是疼痛、局部肿胀、发热、发红和功能丧失。炎症是愈合的第一阶段，通常持续5天左右。然而，过多的炎症反应可能意味着愈合过程将需要更长的时间，活动的恢复将被推迟。运动损伤治疗的目的是尽量减少损伤的炎症期，从而加速整个愈合过程。
participate in= 参与，参加
overuse= n. 过度使用
runner's knee= 跑者膝，跑步膝（跑步等运动造成的膝盖伤）
associate with= 与…联系在一起，与……有关
tennis elbow= 网球肘【(因玩网球等造成的)肘部发炎】
repetitive= 重复的
controversy= n. 争论；论战；辩论[ 复数：controversies]
classify= 把…分类[ 过去式：classified，过去分词：classified，现在分词：classifying ]
be classified as= 被归类为…
traumatic= adj. 创伤的
account for= （比例）占
dynamic= 动态的
collision= n. 碰撞；冲突
bruise= n. 擦伤；挫伤；青肿 [复数：bruises]
muscle strains= 肌肉拉伤，肌肉劳损（strain= 扭伤，损伤）
fracture= 骨折
tissues= 组织（tissue的复数）
ligament= 韧带
incident= 事件
inflammation= 炎症，发炎
localized swelling= 局部肿胀
phase= 阶段
inflammatory= 炎症性的
be intended to= 意图是…，是为了…
