四級聽力跟讀營講義

1606-4WhatisthenewsreportmainlyThebasicsocialprotectionforthemostGlobaleconomicWhatdoesJuanSomavia, eneraloftheInternationalLabouranizationManycountrieshavenottakenmeasurestocreateenoughFewcountriesknowhowtoaddressthecurrenteconomicFewcountrieshaverealisedtheseriousnessofthecurrentManycountriesneedsupporttoimprovetheirpeople’sTheInternationalLabouranizationsaysthenumberofpeoplewithoutjobsisincreasing.InitslatestupdateonGlobalEmploymentTrends,ncysaysprojectionsofthenumberofunemployedpeoplethisyearrangefrom210milliontonearly240millionpeople.Thereportwarnsthat200millionpoorworkersareatriskofjoiningtheranksofpeoplelivingonlessthantwodollarsperdayinthepastthreeyears.TheDirecteneraloftheInternationalLabouranizationJuanSomavianotesthatsomecountrieshavetakenmeasurestoaddresstheeffectsoftheglobalcrisis.However,hepointsoutthatmanycountrieshavenotdoneso.Andbasedonpastexperiences,ittakesfourtofiveyearsaftereconomicrecoveryforunemploymenttoreturntopre-crisislevels.Mr.SomaviasaystheInternationalLabouranizationisproposingaglobaljobsagreementtodealwithunemployment.“Itskeyobjectiveistoplaceatthecenterofrecoveryeffortsmeasuresthatwouldgeneratehigherlevelsofemploymentandprovidebasicsocialprotectionforthemostvulnerable.”WhatarebigfastfoodchainsinNewYorkCityrequiredtodoaccordingtothenewServestandardisedfoodPutcalorieinformationon IncreaseproteincontentintheOfferconvenientfoodtoWhatwillhappentobigrestaurantchainsthatviolatethenewTheywillbeTheywillbeTheywillgetaTheywillloseBigfastfoodchainsinNewYorkCityhavestartedtoobeyaofitskindrule,requiringthemtopostcaloriecountsrightonthe .CathyNursesiswiththeNewYorkCitydepartmentofhealth.“Wewantedtogivepeopleanopportunitytoactuallyseethecaloriesbeforetheypurchasethefoodandmakeadecision,aninformeddecisionthatiftheywanttomakethehealthierchoice,iftheywanttoeatfewercalories,theycan.Andweexpectthiswillhaveahugeimpactonobesity.Andofcourse,ifithasanimpactonobesity,itwillhaveanimpactondiabetesandheartdiseaseandhighbloodpressure.”Thenewruleswillbeintroducedasapartofananti-obesityn.Thatalsoincludesarecentcitywidebanonartificialtrans-fatsinrestaurantfood.The rollonlyappliestorestaurantsthatservestandardisedpotionsizesandhavefiftyormorelocationsnationwide.StartinglastSaturday,chainsbigenoughtofallundertherulewillfacepenaltiesofupto2000dollarsfornotshowingcalorieinformationinaprominentspotontheir preferablynexttotheprice.WhatistheproblemwithmanycompaniesaccordingtothenewsInabilitytoimplementtheirbusinessInabilitytokeepturningoutnovelLackofasuccessfulbusinessmodeloftheirFailuretointegrateinnovationintotheirWhatdomanypeopletendtothinkofItisthesecrettobusinessItisthecreationofsomethingItisamagictooltobringbigItisanessentialpartofbusinessWhatdoesthecompanyProcter&GambleoweitssuccessItsflexiblepromotionItsinnovationItswillingnesstomakeAlmostallcompaniesrecognizetheimportanceofinnovationtoday,butnotmanyareabletointegrateinnovationintotheirbusiness.AcommentaryintheShanghaiDailypointsoutthatinnovationdoesn’tmeanpilesofs.Itissomethingmorepractical.Thearticlesaysmanypeopletendtoassumethatinnovationjustmeanscreatingsomethingnew,butactuallyit’smorethanthat.It’sanattitudeofngthings.Acompanyshouldfindwaystoinnovatenotjustinproductsbutalsoinfunctions,businessmodelsandprocesses.ThearticlecitestheglobalgiantProcter&Gambleasanexample,sayingarealinnovativecompanyshoulddevelopaninnovationcultureanduseitasaprimarytoolforsuccess.Procter&Gamblehasa“CorporateInnovationFund”whichoffersbigrewardsforhigh-riskideasthatsucceed.Italsohasaspecialinnovationfacilityforitsemployees.Sometimesitsemployeesarereleasedfromtheirdailyjobsforweeksandspendtheirtimeinteractingintheinnovationfacilityinstead.Inconclusion,thearticlesaysinnovativeideasalonedonotensuresuccess.It’spointlessunlessthereisarepeatableprocessinplacetoturninspirationintofinancialWhatdoesthemansayaboutHe’sgotaddictedtoHeisnotverygoodatHeiscrazyabouttext-HedoesnottalklongontheWhatdoesthewomantendtodowhilesheisonthe C)GossipaTalkatlength.D) etWhydidthemantextmessageallhisfriendswhen gothisHethoughtitwasHeneededtheHewantedtostayconnectedwithHehadanurgentmessagetoWhatdoesthewoman’sfatherthinkoftext-ItposesachallengetoItsavesbothtimeandItischildishandItiscoolandM:So,Lenzy,doyouliketotextmessageonyourW:Yeah,ItextmessageaM:Idon’ttsomuch.IprefertomakeacallifI’minaW:Yeah,Igobothways.SometimesIdon’treallywanttotalktothe .Ijustwanttoaskthemonequestion,soit’smucheasierformejusttotextmessage.IfIcallthem,I’llhavetohavealongconversation.M:Yeah,Icanseewhatyoumean.ButIgetoffthephoneprettyquicklywhenIcall.I’mnotabigtalker.M:SoareyoufastatwritingthemessageswithyourW:Well,whenIgota,Iwassoslow.IthoughtIwouldnevertextmessage.Butthenpeoplekepttextmessagingme,soIfeltobligedtolearnhowtotextmessage.SonowI’mprettyfast.Whataboutyou?M:ActuallyIhavetheoppositeproblem.WhenIgotmy,Ithoughtitwassocooltotextmessageallmyfriendswhohaveone,andIwasprettyfastwithmythumbthen.ButitseemslikenowIdon’tuseitsomuch,I’vegotsloweractually.W:Yeah,Ithinktext-messagingactuallysortofhastodowithyourage.Forexample,peopleinhighschool,theytextmessagealot.ButIaskmyfatherifhetextedmessages,andguesswhathesaid?M:W:Hesaidhe’dnevertextmessage.Hethinksit’sverychildishandunprofessionaltotextM:Yeah,Icanseewhathemeans.It’sconsideredprettyinformaltotextmessageWhatdowelearnaboutthemanfromtheHewantstochangehisjobHeisunhappywithhisdepartmentHethinkshedeservesextrapayforHeisoftensingledoutforcriticismbyhisWhatistheman’schiefHisworkloadwasmuchtooHisimmediatebossdidnottrustHiscolleaguesoftenrefusedtoHissalarywastoolowforhisHowdoesthewomaninterpretthefactthatthemanwasaskedtohelphiscolleagueswiththeirwork?HeneverknowshowtoHeisalwaysreadytohelpHisbosshasalotoftrustinHisbosshasnosenseofWhatdoesthewomanadvisethemantoPutallhiscomplaintsinWaitandseewhathappensLearntosaynowhenTalktohisboss W:Goodmorning,Mr.Johnson.HowcanIhelpM:Well,I’dliketotalktoyouaboutTimBond,thedepartmentmanager.W:Whatseemstobetheproblem?M:Well,eversinceSandraleftthedepartment,IfeellikeI’vebeenedtodoallherworkaswellasmine.I’mexpectedtoattendtoomanymeetingsandIseemtobespendingalotofmytimengunnecessaryprwork.W:I’msorrytohearM:And,ontopofthat,IspecificallyaskedifIcouldleaveearlylastFridayasI’ddonealotofovertimeduringtheweek.Butthatafternoon,eventhoughI’dfinishedmyassignedwork,Iwastoldtohelpothercolleaguesfinishtheirwork,too.W:Butsurelythat’sapositivesignshowingthatMr.BondhasalotoftrustinM:Yes,butothercolleaguesgettoleaveearly,andtheydon’thavesuchalotofworktoW:Soyoufeelhe’sremakingunrealisticdemandsonW:HaveyouapproachedMr.BondaboutthisparticularM:I’vetried,butitseemslikehejusthasnotimeforW:Well,atthisstage,itwouldbebetterifyouapproachedhimdirectly.Ifnothingelseshowingthatyou’vetriedtosolvetheproblemyourselfbeforeyoutakeitfurther,makesitclearthatyou’rejustnotacomplainer,whydon’tyousendanrequestingameetingwithhiminprivate?M:Hmm,I’dbeabitworriedabouthisreaction.ButanywayI’llsendhimantorequestameeting,andI’llseewhathappensfromthere.Thanksforyouradvice.W:Goodluck.Andletusknow WhatisthespeakermainlytalkingTheimportanceofsleeptoahealthySometipstoimprovethequalityofDiseasesassociatedwithlackofWhatdowelearnfromthetalkabouttoday’sTheyarechangingtheirlivingTheygetlessandlessTheyknowthedangersoflackofWhatdoesthespeakersaywillhappentopeoplewholackTheirweightwillgoTheirmindfunctionwillTheirworkefficiencywillTheirbloodpressurewillThemassivedeclineinsleephappenssoslowlyandquietlythatfewseemtonoticethetrend.WasitbecauseofthegrowingattractionoftheInternet, gamesandendlessTVchannels?Neverdisconnectingfromwork?Nomatterhowithappened,millionsofAmericansareputtingtheirhealth,qualityoflifeandevenlengthoflifeindanger.Newevidenceshowswhygettingenoughsleepisatoppriority.Some40%ofAmericansgetlessthansevenhoursofshut-eyeonweeknights.“Thelinkbetweensleepandhealth,andbadsleepanddiseaseis ingclearerandclearer.”saysLawrenceAlberstaine,asleepexpertatHarvardUniversity.Forexample,sleepdurationhasdeclinedfromsomeeighthoursinthe1950stoseveninrecentyears.Atthesametime,highbloodpressurehas eanincreasingproblem.Bloodpressureandheartratearetypicallyattheirlowestlevelsduringsleep.Peoplewhosleeplesstendtohavehigherbloodpressure,heartattack,diabetes,weightgainandotherSleebettermayhelpfightoffillness.“Whenpeoplearesleep-deprived,therearehigherlevelsofstresshormonesintheirbodieswhichcandecreaseimmunefunction.”saysDoctorFeliceofNorthwesternUniversityinChicago.AuniversityofChicagostudyshowspeoplewhosleepwelllivelonger.Sosaygoodnightsooneranditmayhelpyoustayactiveandvitaltoaripeoldage.Whatis decisionyoushouldmakeinpreparingtoapplyforaplaceataHowmuchyoucanaffordtoWhatcourseyouaregoingtoWhichuniversityyouaregoingtoapplyWhenyouaregoingtosubmityourWhatisthemostimportantpartoftheThelistofcoursesThefullrecordofThereferencesfromThealWhatmust ntheiralSpecifywhattheywouldliketodoafterDescribeindetailhowmuchtheywouldenjoyIndicatetheyhavereflectedandthoughtabouttheEmphasizethattheyadmiretheprofessorsintheParentsandteacherswilllyounottoworrywhenapplyingforaplaceatauniversity，butinthesamebreathwillremindyouthatitisthemostimportantdecisionofyourlife.Thedecisionisyourchoiceofcourse.Itwilldependonwhatyouwanttogetoutofuniversity,whatyouaregoodatandwhatyouenjoy.Thenextdecisioniswheretoapply.Aimhighbutwithinreason.Doyouhavetherightcombinationofsubjectsandareyourexpectedgradeslikelytomeetentryrequirements?ThedeadlineisJanuary15th.Butitisbesttosubmityourapplicationearlybecauseuniversitiesbeginworkassoonasformsstartrollingin.Themostimportantpartoftheapplicationisthemuchfeared alstatement.Thisisyourchancetoconveyboundlessenthusiasmforthesubject.Soeconomyofexpressionisforemost.Omitdullandineffectivegeneralitiesandmakesureyougiveconcreteexamples.Admissionsofficersreadeveryalstatementthatarrives.Itisnotconvincingifyousayyouhavechosenthesubjectbecauseyouenjoyit.Youhavetogetacrosswhatitisaboutaparticularareathathasinspiredyou.Theywilllookforevidencethatyouhavereflectedandthoughtaboutthesubject.Applicantsshouldbehonest.Thereisnopointsayingyourunmarathonsifyouaregoingtobeoutofbreatharrivingattheinterviewonthesecondfloor.Whatdoesthespeakersayabout motorItwasequippedwithrubberItwasbuiltinthelate19thItwaspurchasedbytheRoyalItwasdesignedbyanEnglishWhatwastheproblemwiththeearlycarsinTheyconsumedlotsofTheytooktwopassengersTheyweredifficulttoTheyoftenbrokeWhydidHenryFord’sModelTcarscostTheywereproducedontheassemblyTheywerebuiltwithlesscostlyTheyweremodeledafterBritishTheyweremadeforordinaryWhatdowelearnaboutthePrestonItmadenewsallovertheItwasbuiltfortheRoyalItmarkedanewerainmotorItattractedlargenumbersofItisusuallyagreedthataGermanCarlBenzbuiltthemotorcarin1885.Itwasactuallyatricyclewithtrolmotorattherear.Soon,membersoftheRoyalfamilyandotherwealthypeopletookupmotoringasasport.Manyoftheearlycarshadtwoseats.Therewerenopetrolpumps加油泵andfewgarages,soeverydriverhadtobehisownengineerforthefrequentBy1905,carsbegantolooklikecarsoftoday,withheadlamps,windscreen,rubbertyresandnumberplates.HenryFord’sModelTintroducedinAmericain1909wascherbecauseitwasmadeontheassemblyline.Itbroughtcarsclosertowardsthereachofordinarypeople.Withthepopularityofthecar,registrationbecameamustin1903withtheMotorCarAct.Competencytestswereintroducedin1935.Today,thelegaldrivingageforacarintheUKis17.Youarenotallowedtodriveacarunsuperviseduntilyouhavepassedadrivingtest.In1958,Britaincelebratedtheopeningofitsmotorway—thePrestonBypass普雷斯頓旁道)Untilthen,noonereallyunderstoodwhatamotorwaywas,noteventhelaborerswhowerebuildingit.Thebypassheldanewerainmotortravelandwasgreetedwithexcitementandoptimism.Servicestationscamewiththemotorwayandthelegendofthetransportcafewasborn.Ofcourse,theservicestationhasdiversifiedgreatly.Butwhetherit’sanEnglish-cookedbreakfastoracoffeeandasandwich,onethinghasremainedthesame:theprices.1606-4WhatisthenewsreportmainlyWhycollegestudentsaremorelikelytohavestressWhysufficientsleepisimportantforcollegeHowcollegestudentscanimprovetheirsleepWhatisthefindingofthenewstudypublishedinthejournalLearningandItisnoteasytoimproveone'ssleepItisnotgoodforstudentstoplayMakinglast-minutepreparationsfortestsmaybelesseffectivethansleeStudentswhoarebetterpreparedgenerallygethigherscoresinYouprobablythinkcollegestudentsareexpertsatslee,butparties,preparationsfortests,alproblemsandgeneralstresscanrackastudent'ssleephabits,whichcanbebadthebodyandthemind.TexasTechUniversityisevenofferingaclasscalledImprovingYourSleepHabits.Peoplesufferingfromsleeplossareatanincreasedriskfromobesity,psychologicalproblemsandcarcrashes.Studentswhodon'tgetenoughsleephavepoorattendanceandlowergrades.Ontopofallthat,anewstudypublishedinthejournalLearningandMemoryfindsyouareprobablybetteroffsleethanmakinglast-minutepreparationsforatest.Twohundredcollegekidsweretaughttoplaysomeunfamiliargames.Subjectswholearnedthegamesinthemorninglostsomeskillswhentheyplayedagain12hourslater,buttheydidmuchbetteraftergettingagoodnight'ssleep.Soifyoureallywanttodoyourjobwell,don'tfettogetsomeWhatistheCompetitionCommissiongoingtoWhetheradequateinvestmentisbeingmadetoimproveairportWhethertheBritishAirportsAuthorityshouldselloffsomeofitsWhethertheSpanishcompanycouldofferbetterWhethermoreairportsshouldbebuiltaroundWhatistherootcauseofthepoorserviceatBritishairportsaccordingtotheBritishAirportsAuthority?PoorownershipLackofinnovationandLackofrunwayandterminalLongqueues,delayedflightsandovercrowdingatairportshave ealmostasmuchatopicforconversationinBritainasthetraditionalcomplainingabouttheweather.MeanwhiletherearecomplaintsthatpoorserviceinLondon'smajorairportsisdiscouragingforeignersfromngbusinessinBritain.MuchofthecriticismisdirectedattheBritishAirportsAuthoritywhichrunssevenmajorairports,includingthethreemainonesservinginLondon.TheCompetitionCommissionisnowtoinvestigatewhethertheBritishAirportsAuthorityneedstoselloffsomeofitsassets.Theideaisthecompetitionbetweenrivaloperatorswouldleadtobetterserviceatairports.TheBritishAirportsAuthorityrecentlyboughtbyaSpanishcompany,saystherootcauseoftheproblemisnottheownershipstructurebutalackofrunwayandterminalcapacitywhichisaddressingthroughaprogramofheavyinvestment.WhatdotobaccocompanieshavetodounderthelawinStudytheeffectsofnicotineonyoungSetalimittotheproductionoftheirTakestepstoreducenicotineintheirReportthenicotinecontentoftheirWhatdowelearnfromthestudybytheDepartmentofPublicHealthinThebiggestincreaseinnicotinecontenttendedtobeinbrandsyoungsmokersBrandswhichcontainhighernicotinecontentwerefoundtobemuoreTobaccocompaniesrefusedtodiscussthedetailednicotinecontentoftheirBigtobaccocompanieswerefrankwiththeircustomersaboutthehazardsofWhatdowelearnfromthenewsreportaboutthebigtobaccoTheywillpaymoreattentiontothequalityoftheirTheywerenotpreparedtocommentonthecigaretteTheypromisedtoreducethenicotinecontentinTheyhavenotfullyrealizedtheharmfuleffectofUnderthelawinMassachusetts,tobaccocompanieshavetomeasurethenicotinecontentofeverytypeofcigaretteandreporttheresults.TheDepartmentofPublicHealthinBostongathersandcarefullyexaminesthefiguresandthendrawsitsconclusions.Ahundredandsixteenbrandswerelookedatforthisstudy.Ninety-twowerefoundtohavehighernicotineyieldsthantheydidsixyearspreviously.Thebiggestincreasestendedtobeinbrandsthatwerepopularwithyoungsmokers.Thatworriesthedepartmentbecauseoftheaddictivenatureofnicotine.StandGlance,aprofessorofmedicineinSanFranciscoexplainswhy.“Theamountofnicotinethat'sdeliveredineverycigaretteis10%higherthanitwassixyearsago,whieansthatitiseasiertogethookedandhardertoquit.Thebigtobaccocompanieshavealwaysinsistedthattheyarefrankwiththeircustomersaboutthedangersofsmokingandprovidethemwithenoughdetailtomakeaninformeddecision.However,noneofthemwerepreparedtocommentonthisstudyordiscussthedetailednicotinecontentoftheirproducts.”Wheredoesthewomanliveright C) D)WhatdoesthewomansayistherealTalkingwithherboyfriendinGettingacoachwhocanofferrealAcquiringthenecessaryabilitytoLearningalanguagewhereitisnotWhatdoesthewoman ngtolearntospeakaforeignPracticingreadingaloudasoftenasListeningtolanguageprogramsontheTryingtospeakitasmuchasoneMakingfriendswithnativeWhatdoesthewomansayaboutthestudycirclesinIttrainsyoungpeople'sleadershipItoffersvariouscourseswithcreditItcreatesanenvironmentforM:Andyouknow,onethingthatIwanttoaskyou.It'sgreatthatyouhavehadthisexperienceofteachinginIndonesiaandfollowinguponwhatyoujustmentioned,whatwouldyoumendforstudentswhodonotliveinanEnglishspeakingcountryand,youknow,theywanttolearn.Idon'tknowaboutperfectingbuttheywanttoatleastbeabletocommunicatedecently.Howcantheygoaboutthis?W:Yeah,it'sreallyhard.That'stherealstrugglebecause,rightnow,IdoliveinHolland,butIreallydon'tsocializemuchwithDutchpeopleandmyboyfriend'sEnglishissogoodthatwejustbasicallyspeakEnglishallthetime.SoIhavetomakearealefforttopractice.ThereisasmuchlisteningexposureasIwant—allIhavetosturnontheTV.M:Andreadingalso,W:Yeah,reading.ThereisplentyIcangettoreadandlistento,butforspeaking,therereallyisnosubstitutefortryingtospeakandusethelanguageinarelaxedatmosphere.SoIthinkthat'sreallythechallengeforpeoplewholiveinacountrywheretheirlanguageisn'tspoken.Andforthat,gosh,whatwouldIfIdidn'thavepeoplehere,probablytrytofindaclub.InSweden,theyhaveareallycoolsystemcalledstudycircles,well,it'snot...it'slikeacourse.Butreally,youjusthaveacourseleaderwhoisthere,sortof,asacoachandguideandtohelpout,andyoudon'tgetgrades,andyougojustbecauseyouwanttolearn.WhatarethespeakersmainlytalkingAsenseoffreedomdrivingRulesandregulationsforTherolemenplayintrafficTheimpactofenginedesignonroadWhatdoesthewomanthinkcarmanufacturerscouldMakecarswithautomaticMakecarswithhigherMakecarsthatarelessMakecarsthathavebetterWhatcanwelearnaboutpeopledrivinginTheyfollowtrafficrulesTheykeepwithinspeedTheyliketogoathighTheytendtodriveWhatdoesthewomanthinkofthefiningItisabadItisaseffectiveasspeedItisnotItshouldbecombinedwithW:Okay,Nelson.Sowearetalkingaboutdrivingandarethereanyrulesorregulationsthatyouliketochange?M:I'mnotsureIwanttochangerules,butI'dlikethetobestricterontherules.Likeifpeoplejumptrafficlights,Idon'tknowwhythereisn'tacameraofthetrafficlightstostoppeoplengthat.Orlikespeeding.It'sveryeasytoputspeedcamerasincertainplaces.W:Maybecarmanufacturersshouldhavesomeresponsibilityinlimitingthepoweroftheirengines.What'sthepointinproducinganenginethatisbigandpowerfulenoughtogo,like200km/hwhenthespeedlimitisonly100?M:Right,butdoyouknowtherearenospeedlimitsinW:Peopletheredodriveresponsibly,though.Oftenpeoplebreaklawssimplybecausethelawsarethere.Ifthelawisn'tthere,peoplewilldrivewithintheirabilityrange.Whenyougotspeedlimits,thiscreatessituations tuallypresentdangersontheM:DoyouthinkGermanshavebettereducationabout alresponsibilitywhendriving?W:Possibly.Theyalsohaveverygoodcars.M:W:Ifyougotagoodcarthatcangoatahighspeedthenit'sreallynicetodoM:Butstill,withW:SoIthinkit'stherestrictionsthatcreatethedangersM:W:Obviously,whendrivingthrougharesidentialareaorwherethereisaschool,you'vegottohavespeedmen.M:SpeedW:Yes,speedbumps.Thosespeedbumpsthatforceyoutoslowdown.IthinktheyareagoodM:Soyoudon'tthinkfiningpeopleisW:Notreally,becausethedon'thavetimetoeverysingleWhathappenedwhenSamAzarswipedhiscreditcardtopayforhisThecardgotThecardwasfoundThecardreaderbrokedownThecardreaderfailedtodotheHowdidSamAzarmanagetocompletetheByseekinghelpfromthecardreadermakerBycoveringthecreditcardwithalayerofBycallingthecreditcardcompanyforBytythecreditcardnumberintothecashWhatistoday'sshakyeconomylikelytoProducemanylow-techfixesforhigh-techGivebirthtomanynewtechnologicalChangethelifestyleofmanyAffectthesalesofhigh-techBehindthecashregisteratastoreindowntownSanFrancisco,SamAzarswipedhiscreditcardtopayforapackofcigarettes.Thestore'scardreaderfailedtoscanthecard'smagneticstrip.Azartriedagain,andagain.Noluck.Ascustomersbegantoqueue,Mr.Azarreachedbeneaththecounterforablackplasticbag.Hewrappedonelayeroftheplasticaroundthecardandtriedagain.Success!Thesalewascompleted.“Idon'tknowhowitworks.Itjustdoes.”saidMr.Azarwholearnedthetrickfromanotherclerk.Verifone,thecompanythatmakesthestore'scardreaderwouldnotconfirmordenythattheplasticbagtrickworked.Butit'soneofmanylow-techfixesforhigh-techfailuresthatpeoplewithoutengineeringdegreeshavediscovered,oftenoutofdesperation,andshared.“Today'sshakyeconomyislikelytoproducemanymoresuchtricks.InpostwarJapan,theeconomywasn'tngsogreat,soyoucouldn'tgeteveryday-useitemslikehouseholdcleaners.”saysLisaKatayama,authorofUrawaza,abooknamedaftertheJapanesetermfor“cleverlifestyletipsandtricks.”Sopeoplelookforwaystodowithwhattheyhad.Today,Americansarefindingtheirowntipsandtricksforfixingmal-functioningdeviceswithsassimpleasprandglue.SomelikeMr.Azar'splasticbagareopentoargumentastohowtheyworkorwhethertheyreallyworkatall.Butmanytechhomeremediescanbeexplainedbyalittlescience.WhatdoesthespeakersayabouttheproceduresforassigningacademicTheyvaryamongdifferentTheyleavemuchroomforTheyaredeterminedbytheadvisingTheyaresetbythedeanofthegraduateHowcannewgraduatestudentslearnwhotheiradvisersByconsultingtheexaminingByreadingtheBulletinofByvisitingtheuniversity'sBycontactingthedepartmentalWhatdoesthespeakersayaboutgraduationTheyarehardertomeetthanthoseforTheyspecifythenumberofcreditsstudentsmustTheyhavetobeapprovedbytheexaminingTheyarethesameamongvariousdivisionsoftheIfyouareagraduatestudent,youmaydependonyouradviserformanythings,includinghelpwithimprovinggrades,acquiringfinancialsupport,forminganexaminingcommitteeandgettinglettersof mendation.Ifyou'reagraduateteachingassistant,youradviseralsomaybeyourboss.Academicdepartmentsvaryintheirproceduresforassigningacademicadviserstograduatestudents.Insomedepartments,eitherthechairmanorthedirectorofgraduatestudiesservesforatleastthe semesterasanewstudentadviserThenstudentsselectanadviserbasedonsharedacademicinterests.Inotherdepartments,anewstudentisassignedafacultyadviser指導教師basedonsomesystemofdistributionofthedepartment'sadvisingload.Later,studentsmayhavetheopportunityofselectingtheadviser