在学英语的四项基本技能“听”、“说”、“读”和“写”中，“听”是排在第一位的，由此可见听力的重要性非同一般。据统计，人们在语言交际中45％的时间用于听，说占30％，读占16％，写占9％。因此要想学好一门外语，不仅要进行阅读和写作能力的训练，更要重视听说能力的培养。
第四课、旅行（Travel)
▶How many places have you traveled to?▶I’ve visited all the provinces throughout my country.▶Who do you usually go with?▶I often go with my family, sometimes with my best friends.▶What’s your favorite tourist attraction?▶That would be Venice city in Italy. I love riding the gondola [ˈɡɒndələ] along the canals while watching Italian people live their daily lives.▶Have you ever been abroad?▶Yes, I have. I came to Italy last year for a business trip.▶What language do you use when traveling?▶English, but sometimes I have to use body language since not all people are good at English.▶What do you usually do during your trip?▶I often go sightseeing, take pictures, mingle with the local people and sample the local cuisine.▶What do you do to prepare for your trip?▶Before the trip, I search for information about the location, weather, famous tourist attractions, transportation, local cuisine [kwɪˈziːn] and prices on the internet.▶What do you usually bring when you travel?▶I usually pack my suitcase with some necessary items such as clothes, medicine, food, a map, and a camera.▶Do you prefer traveling by car, train or plane?▶I prefer planes although it can be a little expensive. Planes are much faster than any other mode of transport.▶Do you prefer traveling alone or joining a guided tour?▶I love backpacking with my friends who share the same interests as me.
▶那就是意大利的威尼斯城。我喜欢沿着运河乘坐平底船，看着意大利人过着他们的日常生活。▶英语，但有时我不得不使用肢体语言，因为不是所有的人都擅长英语。▶我经常去观光，拍照，和当地人交往，品尝当地的美食。▶在旅行之前，我在网上搜索有关地理位置、天气、著名旅游景点、交通、当地美食和价格的信息。▶我通常在手提箱里放一些必要的东西，如衣服、药品、食物、地图和照相机。▶我更喜欢飞机，虽然可能有点贵。飞机比任何其他交通工具都快得多。
