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托福聽力測驗 -真題 (2-2)

( Women ) 

I hope you've all finished reading the assigned chapter on insurance-so that you're prepared for our discussion today. But, before we start, I'd like to mention a few things your text doesn't go into.   It's interesting to note that insurance has existed in some form for a very long time. The earliest insurance policies were called bottomry contracts. They provided shipping protection for merchants as far back as 3000 B.C.   In general, the contracts were often no more than verbal agreements. They granted loans to merchants with the understanding than if a particular shipment of goods was lost at sea, the loan didn't have to be repaid. Interest on the loans varied according to how risky it was to transport the goods. During periods of heavy piracy at sea, for example, the amount of interest and the cost of the policy went up considerably.   So, you can see how insurance helped encourage international trade. Even the most cautious merchants became willing to risk shipping their goods over long distances-not to mention in hazardous weather conditions-when they had this kind of protection available.    Generally speaking, the basic form of an insurance policy has been pretty much the same since the Middle Ages. There are four points that were salient then and remain paramount in all policies today. There were outlined in chapter six and will serve as the basis for the rest of the of today's discussion. Can anyone tell me what one of those points might be?

單字：

1)     assign (V./ N.)分派，選派，分配； 歸於，歸屬； [法律] 把（財產，權利、利息）從一人轉讓給另一人； 把…編制；[常用複數][法律]受讓人，接受財產等轉讓的人，受託者

例句 1:   Assign the letters of the alphabet their numerical values — A equals 1, B equals 2, etc.

例句 2:　 When teachers assign homework, students usually feel an obligation to do it.

2)     insurance  (N.) 保險，保險業； 保險費； 預防措施

例句 1:　 Police investigating a £10 million car insurance fiddle arrested 16 people yesterday.

例句 2:　 He could walk on a treadmill while being supported.

3)     abottomry contracts 船舶抵押合同

4)     merchant (N./Adj.) 商人； 批發商； 店主； 零售商；商人的； 商業的

例句 1:　 Any knowledgeable wine merchant would be able to advise you.

例句 2:　 There's been a big reduction in the size of the British merchant fleet in recent years.

5)     loan (V./ N.) 貸款； 借款； 借用；借出

例句 1:   The president wants to make it easier for small businesses to get bank loans.

例句 2:   SMany of these are on display in the Museum, but some have been sent out on loan to other museums.

6)     piracy (N.) 海上搶劫； 盜版行為，非法複製

例句 1:   The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.

例句 2:   Seven of the fishermen have been formally charged with piracy.

7)     trade (V./N.) 貿易； 行業； <美>顧客； 買賣；交換； 經營…交易，做…的買賣； 以物易物

例句 1:   The ministry had direct control over every aspect of foreign trade. 

例句 2:   They've completely ruined the tourist trade for the next few years.

8)     cautious (Adj.) 小心的，謹慎的

例句 1:   He has been seen as a champion of a more cautious approach to economic refor.

例句 2:   Plastic bags litter the desolate, lunar landscape.

9)　　salient (Adj./N.) 顯著的，突出的； 重要的，主要的； 跳躍的； （指角）凸出的；凸角，[建]突出部； <軍>進攻或防衛陣地的突出部分；

例句 1:  Chronic fatigue is also one of the salient features of depression.

例句 2:  The policy was rejected in favour of a more cautious approach.

10)      paramount (Adj./N.) 最高的，至上的； 最重要的，主要的； 卓越的； 有最高權力的；最高，至上； 有最高權力的人； 元首，首長；

例句 1:   Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.

例句 2:  She wrote to Paramount Studios and asked if they would audition her.

11)     stride (V./ N.) 大步，闊步； 步幅； 進展； 一跨（的寬度）；跨；從容處理;泰然處之

例句 1:   He turned abruptly and strode off down the corridor.

例句 2:   Beth was struck by how Naomi took the mistake in her stride.

12)     elbow (V./ N.) 肘部； 彎頭，扶手； 肘形管，彎管；用肘推搡著前進； 在拐角處轉彎

例句 1:   He slipped and fell, badly bruising an elbow.

例句 2:   Environmental concerns will elbow their way right to the top of the agenda.