JOHN: Erm … hello Professor, I’m John Wishart. I’m working on my entry for the Global Design Competition. My tutor said you might be able to help me with it.
PROFESSOR: Ah, yes, I got a copy of your drawings. Come in and tell me about it. What sort of competition is it?
JOHN: Well, it’s an international design competition and we have to come up with a new design for a typical domestic kitchen appliance. 【Q21】
PROFESSOR: I see, and are there any special conditions? Does it have to save energy for example?
JOHN: Actually that was the focus in last year’s competition. This year’s different. We have to adopt an innovative approach to existing technology, using it in a way that hasn’t been thought of before.
PROFESSOR: I see, that sounds tricky. And what kitchen appliance have you chosen?
JOHN: Well, they’re an everyday kitchen appliance in most Australian houses but they’re all pretty boring and almost identical to each other. I think some people will be prepared to pay a little extra for something that looks different. 【Q22】
PROFESSOR: That’s a nice idea. I see you’ve called your design ‘the Rockpool’; why is that?
JOHN: Basically because it looks like the rock pools you find on a beach. The top is made of glass so that you can look down into it.
PROFESSOR: And there’s a stone at the bottom. Is that just for decoration?
JOHN: Actually it does have a function. Instead of pushing a button, you turn the stone. 【Q23】
PROFESSOR: So it’s really just a novel way of starting the dishwasher.
JOHN: That’s right.
PROFESSOR: It’s a really nice design, but what makes it innovative?
JOHN: Well, I decided to make a dishwasher that uses carbon dioxide.
PROFESSOR: In place of water and detergent? How will you manage that?
JOHN: The idea is to pressurize the carbon dioxide so that it becomes a liquid. The fluid is then released into the dishwasher where it cleans the dishes all by itself.
PROFESSOR: Sounds like a brilliant idea! Your system will totally do away with the need for strong detergents. So what happens once the dishes are clean?
JOHN: Well, to allow them to dry, the liquid carbon dioxide and the waste materials all go to an area called the holding chamber. That’s where the liquid is depressurised and so it reverts to a gas 【Q24】. Then the oil and grease are separated out and sent to the waste system.
PROFESSOR: It sounds like you’ve thought it all out very thoroughly. So, what happens to the carbon dioxide once the process is complete? Not wasted I hope.
JOHN: Actually, that’s where the real savings are made. The carbon dioxide is sent back to the cylinder and can be used again and again. 【Q25】
PROFESSOR: What a terrific idea. Do you think it will ever be built?
JOHN: Probably not, but that’s OK.
PROFESSOR: Well, I’m sure a lot of positive things will come out of your design.
PROFESSOR: Now, you seem to have thought about everything so what exactly did you need me to help you with?
JOHN: Well, my design has made it to the final stage of the competition and, in a few months’ time. I have to give a presentation, and that’s the part I was hoping you could help me with. 【Q26】
PROFESSOR: Right, well that should be easy enough. What have you managed to do so far?
JOHN: Well, I’ve got detailed drawings to show how it will work and I’ve also written a 500-word paper on it.
PROFESSOR: I see. Well, if you want to stand a good chance of winning you really need a model of the machine. 【Q27】
JOHN: Yes, I thought I might but I’m having a few problems.
PROFESSOR: What is the main difficulty so far? Let me guess – is it the materials?
JOHN: Yes. I want it to look professional but everything that’s top quality is also very expensive. 【Q28】
PROFESSOR: Look, projects like this are very important to us. They really help lift our profile. So why don’t you talk to the university about a grant? 【Q29】 I can help you fill out the application forms if you like.
JOHN: That would be a great.
PROFESSOR: You’d better show me this paper you’ve written as well. For a global competition such as this you need to make sure the technical details you’ve given are accurate and thorough. 【Q30】
JOHN: That would be a great help.
PROFESSOR: Is there anything else I can do?
JOHN: Well, I’m really …
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
听前预测：定位词为design competition。
题目解析：根据定位词，找到相应的句子“...we have to come up with a new design for a typical domestic kitchen appliance（我们得想出一个典型家用厨房器具的新设计）”，这与选项C（对现有科技的新应用）的意思相同，因此答案为C。此外，因A 选项中的“energy-efficient design”和B 选项中的“energy-saving appliance”意思几乎差不多，使用排除法也可得到答案。
听前预测：定位词为dishwasher。
题目解析：此题首先要听到定位词dishwasher，随后教授问：“...what made you choose that?” 学生答：“I think some people will be prepared to pay a little extra for something that looks different.”其中“looks different”恰好为“appealing”一词的同义替换，故选A。
听前预测：定位词为stone，‘Rockpool’。
题目解析：此题谈到设计品Rockpool 上石头的作用。教授也曾问“Is that just for decoration?” 不听下面的对话，我们也大致能猜到这很显然不只是decoration 那么简单。听下去，学生解释说“Actually it does have a function. Instead of pushing a button, you turn the stone.”这与B 选项表达的意思吻合，因此选B。
听前预测：定位词为holding chamber，carbon dioxide。
题目解析：本题问的是在气压保持器中，二氧化碳会怎样。A 选项是“变回气体”，B 选项是“干燥餐具”，C 选项是“使冷却下来”。定位到“Well, to allow them to dry, the liquid carbon dioxide and the waste materials all go to an area called the holding chamber. That’s where the liquid is depressurised and so it reverts to a gas.（为了使它们变干燥，液态二氧化碳和废弃物都会被输送到一个叫气压保持器的地方，在那液体被解压，因此会恢复成气体）”，因此答案为A。
听前预测：定位词为end，cleaning process。
题目解析：本题三个选项的关键词分别为A—released（释放），B—disposed of（清除），C— re-used（再利用）。定位词的同义替换表达出现在了教授的提问中：“...what happens to the carbon dioxide once the process is complete?”其中complete 与end 对应。解答此题的句子则在学生的回答中“The carbon dioxide is sent back to the cylinder and can be used again and again”，其中“cylinder”意为“气缸”，整句话的意思是：二氧化碳被送回气缸中，可以被重复利用。be used again and again 是re-used 的同义替换，因此选C。