听写16-30篇文本

16. The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty represents a woman holding a torch of fire. It stands on an

island at the entrance to the New York City harbor. It is almost 93 meters tall, one of the

tallest statues ever built. Its complete name is "Liberty Enlightening the World".

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of

France. It was an expression of friendship and the goal of liberty shared by the people of

both countries.

The statue was designed and built in France. France officially presented the statue to

the United States Minister to France in Paris on July 4th, 1884. The statue was then taken

apart and sent to the United States. New York City celebrated with a huge parade. Since

then, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of freedom for people all over the world.

17. Universities' Grading Systems

Most American colleges and universities use the grading system of A, B, C, D and F.

An A is worth four points, a B three points, a C two points and a D one point. Getting a

grade like a B-plus or a C-minus adds or subtracts a few tenths of a point. An F is a

failing grade worth zero toward a student's grade point average.

A small number of colleges reject the traditional grading system. They are organized

into programs taught by teams of professors. Each program brings together different

subjects and extends in length over 2 or 3 quarters. Students are required to do a major

research project at the end of each program.

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The professors write detailed evaluations of the students. These are combined with

evaluations written by the students themselves.

Most teachers would probably agree that traditional grades are sometimes unfair.

But professors at big schools say there is not enough time to write evaluations for each

student in large classes.

18. Strange Festivals

Every country has its strange festivals. Cheese Rolling is a much-loved event

traditionally held in Britain. Participants chase an eight-pound cheese down a long slope,

hoping to catch it and become the champion. In Spain, baby jumping is a famous ritual,

in which local men jump over all the babies born that year. It is believed to rid the babies

of sin and serves as a kind of baptism. There is a naked festival held at various times in

Japan. Wearing just a small piece of cloth, the freezing participants run around a city,

competing for lucky charms. From chasing cheeses to running naked, it is hard to

explain where most of these ideas came from and what they mean to us now. However,

they are part of our cultures. Despite our different traditions, languages and histories,

we do seem to have one thing in common: our love of celebrations.

19. Teaching Assistants

Foreign students at American colleges and universities may earn money after they

successfully complete an entry-level study program. Those wishing to continue their

education could work as a teaching assistant, or T.A.

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A teaching assistant usually works about twenty hours each week. Teaching

assistants are paid to help professors teach students in entry-level study programs.

Generally, the professor gives a talk, or lecture, to a large group of students one or

two times a week. The teaching assistant meets with smaller groups of students during

the week. The T.A. gives tests and reads any homework or reports the students may be

required to write.

Teaching assistants also meet with students who seek help. They attend teaching

meetings. And some working with science professors help to organize laboratory

equipment.

Most American colleges and universities must honor legal requirements when

employing foreign students as teaching assistants. One of these is that the T.A. must

speak English well.

20. American Education System

The education system in the United States is controlled by state and local

governments. But education laws are similar in each state. For example, in all 50 states

and 6 territories, all children must attend school from the age of 6 or 7 to the age of 16.

Public schools are free of charge for grades 1 through 12. Private schools also operate in

all states and territories. Some private schools are operated by churches and religious

groups. Other private schools are not linked to any religious organization. Private

schools must be approved by the state in which they operate. Most private schools do

not receive government money. The parents of private school students pay the school.

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The school year usually begins in September and continues until June. Most states

require a school year of 180 days. Some schools have changed this schedule and require

students to attend school throughout the year.

21. Thanksgiving

The American Thanksgiving, by law on the fourth Thursday of November, has a long

tradition in the United States. The first American Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, with

early North American settlers celebrating their first harvest after a harsh winter in the

new world. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made it an official holiday. Today,

Thanksgiving serves as a day for family gatherings with luxurious turkey feasts,

accompanied by a wide array of side dishes and pies. So this holiday is one of the busiest

times for travel in America. Millions of people travel by car, train, or air, to feast with

family. Besides, other traditional Thanksgiving events are prominent in the United States

as well, including religious services and key youth and professional football games.

What's more, the US president pardons a single turkey every year on this holiday. It is a

tradition begun by former president Harry Truman in 1947.

22. Music in British Schools

Music plays a big part in British schools. Pupils can learn an instrument at school.

Traditionally, school children learn classical instruments. Younger children often learn

the recorder. As they get older, they start to play the violin or piano. In fact, nearly one

out of five music students is learning the violin. The piano, or keyboard, is more popular

with older children at secondary school. However, more pupils than ever before are now

learning the guitar, as they think playing the guitar is cool. British schools do not just

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offer lessons for instruments, but they have music classes for all pupils. In the past, the

focus of classes was very much Western classical music. But the classes now cover a far

wider range of styles, including folk music and world music. Many schools have

orchestras and put on concerts each term. It is also common for pupils themselves to

form their own bands.

23. University Days

British universities start in September or October. Courses normally last 3 years, but

some, such as languages, engineering or medicine, can take much longer to complete.

Students usually go to university in a different town, so they need to get used to living

alone, paying bills and washing their own clothes! For many, this is a difficult time, but

everyone soon becomes used to it!

Universities in Britain used to be free, but many students now have to pay for part of

their course. Similarly, students used to receive a grant from the government. Nowadays,

they have to apply for student loans or take part-time jobs. Either way, it can be difficult

and many students have money problems.

University life is not just about studying, however. Many students take part in drama

productions or play music. Others, of course, take part in a wide range of sports, such as

football, rugby and cricket.

24. Test of English as a Foreign Language

It is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by

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more than 8,000 colleges and universities in more than 130 countries. It is called TOEFL,

which stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL is an important test for

foreign students who want to study in America. More than 4,000 American universities

and other schools require students seeking admission to take the test. Each year, nearly

a million individuals of all ages take the TOEFL test to demonstrate their

English-language proficiency. It measures your ability to use and understand English at

the university level. And it evaluates how well you combine your four skills, listening,

reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks.

There are two formats for the TOEFL test. The format you take depends on the

location of your test center. Nowadays, most test takers take the Internet-based Test.

Test centers that do not have Internet access offer the Paper-based Test.

25. In-service Education and Vocational Development

Many people feel that finding a job successfully is the end of their schooling.

This idea is rarely true, however, as each field of work requires a thorough

knowledge of it. This may go beyond what could be learned in high school or university.

Universities, with their complete curriculum, are intended to first teach us about

everything. Later studies fill in the gap of knowledge by offering more specialized

courses. Universities, however, are meant to teach the theories of any particular field,

not the practical knowledge needed to do our jobs. Vocational schools has risen to fill

this gap of practical knowledge. Vocational schools can aid us in this by teaching us to

be especially good at one thing. If a person has enough health and energy, as well as

determination, he may go to night school to take a self-teaching program.

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26. Dictionary

A dictionary is a reference book that focuses on defining words and phrases,

including multiple meanings. The most frequently used dictionary is a language

dictionary that includes the majority of frequently used words in a language. Language

dictionaries are made for different types of users: scholars, office workers, schools, and

second language learners. There are many competing dictionaries put out by different

companies. Not only do they have different forms - paperback, hardback, and online

editions - but they differ in other ways.

Each company, for example, uses its own version of phonetic respelling based on the

research done by its experts. Other differences between dictionaries show up in other

features. Many dictionaries include their experts' guidance on grammar, usage, and the

history of the language. Definitions differ slightly, and sample sentences may be the

work of the editorial staff or taken from real-world usage, perhaps the first known

written use.

27. The Graduation Ceremony

In American high schools and colleges, the last day of the school year is graduation

day. The students who finish their last year in the school will graduate. The graduation

ceremony is often in the school gymnasium. The people who come to watch the

graduation are teachers, parents and friends of the graduates. Those students who will

graduate will wear long robes and caps with square tops. The graduate who has the best

record in school will make a speech. The school principal and other officials will also

make speeches. Then each graduate will receive a diploma or a degree, which has his

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name and the name of the school. After the ceremony, students often chat with their

teachers, friends and relatives who come to congratulate them. They take pictures of

each other and will show each other these pictures a few nights later at the graduation

party. Graduation is a memorable event.

28. The International Student Exchange Program

The International Student Exchange Program, or ISEP, was started in 1979. ISEP is a

group of colleges and universities around the world. They cooperate to provide

international educational experiences for their students.

Students can study for up to one year in the United States or any of the other

countries involved. They do not have to go through the usual application process to get

into a school. And they pay only what they would have to pay for a term at their own

school at home.

To take part in the ISEP program, students must attend a member college or

university. Each school has an ISEP coordinator, who helps students apply to the ISEP

office in Washington, D.C. To be accepted, students must have good grades. They are

asked to list up to ten choices of American schools they would like to attend. Officials at

the ISEP office then place students in the openings offered in colleges and universities.

29. On-campus Housing

Housing policies differ from school to school in American universities. Some schools

have limited housing or none at all.

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Dormitory buildings might house a small number of students or many hundreds.

Some dorms have suites. A suite has several bedrooms, a common area and a bathroom.

Other dorms have rooms along a common hallway. Two, three or four students might

share a room.

Males and females often live on different floors of the same building. Or they might

live on the same floor, or in some cases even share a suite if permitted. But single-sex

housing is usually also available.

Different groups and organizations such as fraternities might have their own houses

where their members live. And there is often housing for married students.

Some dorms are nice, others are not so nice. But many students say they like the

chance to make friends and be near their classes.

30. Working While Studying in the US

International students are permitted to work for the college or university they

attend or for a business at the school. But the business must directly provide a service to

students. You could work at the bookstore, for example, but not for a construction

company that is building something on campus. Also, a foreign student cannot displace

an American citizen in a job.

Foreign students normally cannot take a job that has no connection to their school.

But the government may give permission if students are suddenly faced with a situation

that is out of their control. Examples include large medical bills, the loss of financial aid

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or an unexpected change in the financial condition of their source of support.

Students must also meet other conditions. They must have attended their American

school for at least one year. Government approval is given on a case-by-case basis.

Students must re-apply after a year if they want to continue an off-campus job.

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