Reading passage
｡｡｡｡Robert E. Peary was a well-known adventurer and arctic explorer who in 1909 set out to reach the North Pole. When he returned from the expedition, he claimed to have reached the pole on April 7, 1909. This report made him into an international celebrity. Though some historians have expressed doubts that Peary did in fact reach the North Pole, three arguments provide strong support for the truth of Peary’s claim.
｡｡｡｡First, the National Geographic Society put together a committee that was instructed to conduct a thorough investigation of Peary｡ｯs records and equipment. At the end of the investigation, the committee concluded that Peary｡ｯs accounts were consistent and persuasive and declared that he had indeed reached the North Pole.
｡｡｡｡Second, a recent expedition provides support for Peary｡ｯs claim that he reached the North Pole in only 37 days after setting out from Ellesmere Island off the coast of Greenland. Skeptics used to argue that Peary could not have traveled that fast. Since even modern snowmobiles take longer to cover the same distance. However, a British explorer named Tom Avery recently made the same trek in less than 37 days. In fact, Avery used the same kind of dogsled and the same number and breed of dogs as Peary had. Thus, Peary’s claims are not impossible, and he very well might have been telling the truth.
Third, there are photographs taken by Peary that support his claim to have reached the North Pole. Measuring the shadows in Peary｡ｯs photographs makes it possible to calculate the Sun｡ｯs position in the sky. The Sun｡ｯs position established from the photographs corresponds exactly to the Surf s position as it should have been at the North Pole on that day. This provides strong evidence that Peary reached the North Pole and took the photographs there.
Listening script
There’s no solid evidence that Robert Peary reached the North Pole. The arguments cited in the reading selection are not convincing. First, it is true that the National Geographic Society committee declared that Peary had indeed reached the North Pole, but the committee was not completely objective. In fact, the committee was composed of Peary’s trip. Moreover, the investigation lasted only two days. And according to Peary himself, the committee did not examine his records carefully. So the committee’s conclusion seem biased and therefore are not trustworthy.
Second, the speed issue. Tom Avery’s journey was different from Peary’s in important ways. For example, Avery’s sled was similar to Peary’s sled, but Avery carried much less weight than Peary did, because Avery did not transport his food on the sled. Avery’s food was dropped along the way by airplane. Moreover, Avery encountered highly favorable weather conditions, unlike Peary who travelled in very unfavorable conditions. So Avery’s speedy trip was too different from Peary’s to provide support for Peary’s claims.
Third, the photographs do not prove anything. The techniques scientists use to determine the Sun’s position depend on measuring the shadows in the photographs very precisely. Without a precise measurement of the shadows, we cannot establish the Sun’s exact position. Now, Peary’s pictures were photographed a hundred years ago using a primitive camera that took fuzzy, slightly unfocused photographs. Moreover, the photos have become faded and worn over time. As a result, the shadows in Peary’s photographs look blerredand faded. Those shadows cannot be used to calculate the position of the Sun with great accuracy. So we cannot be confident the photos were really taken at the North Pole.
Sample answer｣ｺ
In the reading material, the author raises three strong arguments to support his claim that Peary indeed reached the North Pole. The lecturer, however, disputes that those reasons are not convincing at all.
Firstly, it is says that the National Geographic Society Committee conducted a thorough investigation which proved the truth of Peary’s claim. However, the speaker casts doubt on the objectivity of the claim.He argues that the committee was composed of Peary’s friends and actually Peary was one of the donators. Moreover the investigation lasted for a short period and thus was not valid at all.
Second, the writer points out that Avery reached the North Pole under similar conditions as Peary but in a shorter time period than Peary did, which indicates the possibility of Peary’s success. The lecturer, yet, argues that Avery took advantage of the good weather condition and supply of food. Thus Avery’s speedy trip could not provide strong support for Peary’s claims.
Last but not least, in view of the author, photographs taken by Peary should be valid evidence. But to the lecturer, admittedly, the techniques used to determine the sun’s position based on those photographs was untrustworthy, the quality of the pictures is doubtful not only because of the primitive camera he used but also due to the faded and worn photos. Thus the pictures cannot prove Peary’s trip at all.
一、阅读听力要点概括
Reading Passage
1. First, the National Geographic Society put together a committee that was instructed to conduct a thorough investigation of Peary’s records and equipment.
2. Second, a recent expedition performed by Avery under the similar conditions provides support for Peary’s claim that he reached the North Pole in only 37 days
3. The Sun’s position established from the photographs corresponds exactly to the Surf s position as it should have been at the North Pole on that day.
Lecture
1. The committee was not completely objective due to the fact that it was composed of Peary’s close friend who funded the trip and it was not careful during the investigation.
2. Avery’s food was dropped along the way by airplane but not transported on the sled. Avery encountered highly favorable weather conditions, unlike Peary who travelled in very unfavorable conditions.
3. Peary’s pictures were photographed a hundred years ago using a primitive camera that took fuzzy, slightly unfocused photographs. Moreover, the photos have become faded and worn over time. Without a precise measurement of the shadows, we cannot establish the Sun’s exact position.
二、范文逐段赏析
Paragraph 1
In the reading material, the author raises three strong arguments to support his claim that Peary indeed reached the North Pole. The lecturer, however, disputes that those reasons are not convincing at all.
此段功能
首段提出问题，指出双方的矛盾点，为下面的论述做好了铺垫。
此段结构
此段是并列结构，分别概括介绍了双方的观点。
Paragraph 2
Firstly, it is says that the National Geographic Society Committee conducted a thorough investigation which proved the truth of Peary’s claim. However, the speaker casts doubt on the objectivity of the claim.He argues that the committee was composed of Peary’s friends and actually Peary was one of the donators. Moreover the investigation lasted for a short period and thus was not valid at all.
此段功能
提出了文章与演讲中的第一个矛盾点。文章指出国际地理协会经过调查证实了Peary到达北极的论断。而演讲指出，这一协会的权威性应受到质疑，因为它主要由Peary 的朋友组成并且Peary本人就是赞助者之一。同时这一调查持续的时间很短，真实性存在疑问。
此段结构
此段并列结构，就文章中的证据演讲一一反驳。
Paragraph 3
Second, the writer points out that Avery reached the North Pole under similar conditions as Peary but in a shorter time period than Peary did, which indicates the possibility of Peary’s success. The lecturer, yet, argues that Avery took advantage of the good weather condition and supply of food. Thus Avery’s speedy trip could not provide strong support for Peary’s claims.
此段功能
提出文章与演讲中的第二个矛盾点。文章指出相似条件下Avery到达北极点的时间比Peary更短，所以Peary有可能成功。然而演讲中指出Avery能够取得成功得益于好的天气和充足的食物，所以Avery的例子不能作为Peary可能成功的证据。
此段结构
此段并列结构，就文章中的证据演讲一一反驳。
Paragraph 4
Last but not least, in view of the author, photographs taken by Peary should be valid evidence. But to the lecturer, admittedly, the techniques used to determine the sun’s position based on those photographs was untrustworthy, the quality of the pictures is doubtful not only because of the primitive camera he used but also due to the faded and worn photos. Thus the pictures cannot prove Peary’s trip at all.
此段功能
指出了文章第三个矛盾点，文章认为Peary的照片能够证明他成功到达了北极点。然而演讲者指出仅仅依据这些照片来定位太阳的位置是不可信的，同时因为Peary的相机比较原始，照片也褪色磨损，所以照片不足为信。
此段结构
此段并列结构，就文章中的证据演讲一一反驳。
三、范文全篇总评
1、逻辑结构
文章是总分的结构，在首段指出文章与演讲观点相悖，接下来分三个方面阐述了演讲中的证据以此来反驳文章观点。
2、语言表达
文章表达得很有层次，firstly, second, last but not least，层层递进，有条有理。同时文章有些词组表达值得借鉴学习，比如cast doubt on, take advantage of, in view of, not only because of but also due to等。