# Biography of Samuel Cunard and his shipping company - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2020.12.12 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/664da79c-ec43-4656-b1ed-91042d3563cc（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:00,920 Now turn to section four. Section four. You will hear part of a lecture about the biography of Samuel Cunard and his shipping company. First, you have some time to look at questions thirty-one to forty. 00:00:58,040 Now listen carefully and answer questions thirty-one to forty. 00:01:06,640 Good morning, class. In the last few lectures, I've talked about the history of technology in the business area. But today, I want to use Samuel Cunard as our case study, who was a shipping magnate that founded the Cunard Line. 00:01:22,940 Now, Cunard was born in Canada. When he first left home, he was still a teenager. Then he came into a US company as a worker and learned how to sail there. During the War of Eighteen Twelve, Cunard volunteered for service in the second battalion of the Halifax Regiment Militia and rose to the rank of captain. He held many public offices, such as volunteer fireman and lighthouse commissioner, and maintained a reputation as not only a shrewd businessman, but also an honest and generous citizen. When he went to England, his friends cooperated with him, and together they coined a shipping company. The company had instant wealth and could deal with more than one cargo, for its major business was in North America and the Atlantic. From then onwards, Cunard became a highly successful entrepreneur in British shipping and one of a group of twelve individuals who dominated the affairs of England. In eighteen thirty-eight, the British government, impressed by the advantages of steam sailing for making regular passages, invited tenders to carry the transatlantic mails by steamer. Back then, mail contact through steamships brought more punctuality, while other types of ships were always delayed. The journey times were flexible, with a transatlantic crossing lasting for six weeks and with no fixed times of departure or arrival. So it was never known when the mail would arrive, or since so many sailing ships founded, whether it would arrive at all. What Cunard wanted, in line with the thrusting new technology of the Victorian age, was a maritime extension of the brand, new timetabled railways on land. 00:03:13,480 Cunard's experience in steamship operation with observations of the growing railway network in England encouraged him to explore the creation of a transatlantic fleet of steamships, which would cross the ocean as regularly as trains crossed land, and that's why he went to the United Kingdom seeking investors in eighteen thirty-seven. He set up a company with several other businessmen to bid for the right to run a transatlantic mail service between the UK and North America for fifty-five thousand pounds annually for ten years. The bid was successful. Almost at the same time, Cunard cooperated with an English businessman and established the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the ancestor of the Cunard Line. In eighteen forty, the company's first steamship sailed from Liverpool to Boston, Massachusetts, with Cunard and sixty-three other passengers on board, marking the beginning of regular passenger and cargo service. Establishing a long, unblemished reputation for speed and safety, Cunard's company made ocean liners a success in the face of many potential rivals who lost ships and fortunes. Cunard's ships proved successful, and he then opened many branches. But the high cost saddled Cunard with heavy debts by eighteen forty-two, so some of them went bankrupt. But what Cunard needed then was a port. After a lot of consideration, he finally opted for Boston because he was very familiar with this city where he had once worked it. Fortunately, by eighteen forty-three, Cunard ships were earning enough to pay off his debts and begin issuing modest but growing dividends. But the city did more than give Cunard silverware. Winters can be tough here in Boston. For example, in the year of eighteen forty-four, one ship sank because of the winter freeze. The ship hit icebergs and caused a heavy loss to the company. Then the board recommended the company to move to New York, and it was a huge success and then became one of the biggest US shipping companies. 00:05:29,560 Cunard himself made safety his priority. And to this day, Cunard has never been responsible for the loss of a single passenger or a single mailbag on the Atlantic run. Cunard's conservative nature enabled his company to see off rivals and to take a measured and steady approach when it came to the introduction of new technologies like radio communication. In the early years of his career, Cunard took a prominent part in community activities and various charitable organizations, as well as mercantile affairs, which extended throughout the Atlantic provinces. Back then, there were hardly any entertainment facilities on board. In order to make sure that the passengers could have a comfortable journey, newspapers were printed on board. Cunard was gratefully remembered for employing his capital in shipbuilding activities in the hard times of the eighteen thirties because this enterprise had circulated money where there would otherwise be poverty and stagnation. His competitiveness and his obsession not to waste time were important characteristics of his personality. Prior to nineteen twelve, the shipping line had focused on speed and soon was renowned for its velocity and safety. Although early in life, Cunard was imperious, he learned diplomacy and became a skillful and persuasive negotiator. His contemporaries admired him for the contribution to transatlantic communication by the line popularly called by his name. After that, for affluent transatlantic passengers, Cunard brought new levels of luxury to ocean travel, lavish suites, a swimming pool, gymnasium, ballroom, electricity, and more, just like that of luxurious hotels. Okay, so does anyone have any... 00:07:29,620 That is the end of section four. You now have half a minute to check your answers. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. 31 Where did he get the shipping experience? 31 Where did he get the shipping experience? - sea voyage - family - first job **答案**：first job 原文定位：When he first left home, he was still a teenager. Then he came into a US company as a worker and learned how to sail there 同义替换：「get the shipping experience」↔「learned how to sail there」 ### 32. 32 The company experienced 32 The company experienced - The immediately profitable business - The business which dealt with one commodity - The business world widely **答案**：The business world widely 原文定位：The company had instant wealth and could deal with more than one cargo, for its major business was in North America and the Atlantic ### 33. 33 Why did he want the mail contract? 33 Why did he want the mail contract? - faster - stronger - more reliable **答案**：more reliable 原文定位：Back then, mail contact through steamships brought more punctuality, while other types of ships were always delayed. The journey times were flexible, with a transatlantic crossing lasting for six weeks and with no fixed times of departure or arrival. So it was never known when the mail would arrive, or since so many sailing ships founded, whether it would arrive at all 同义替换：「mail contract」↔「carry the transatlantic mails by steamer」；「reliable」↔「punctuality」 ### 34. 34 What did he do when he won the bid? 34 What did he do when he won the bid? - reduced the fleet of the ships - opened a new company - appointed a new British agent **答案**：opened a new company 原文定位：The bid was successful. Almost at the same time, Cunard cooperated with an English businessman and established the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the ancestor of the Cunard Line 同义替换：「won the bid」↔「The bid was successful」；「opened a new」↔「established」 ### 35. 35 Why did he choose Boston? 35 Why did he choose Boston? - It was supported by the government - It had a good business environment - He once worked there **答案**：He once worked there 原文定位：After a lot of consideration, he finally opted for Boston because he was very familiar with this city where he had once worked it 同义替换：「choose」↔「opted for」 ### 36. 36 What could be revealed about the 1844 event? 36 What could be revealed about the 1844 event? - Boston had the biggest shipping company - Boston was not a good location for port - The U.S. had bad weather conditions **答案**：Boston was not a good location for port 原文定位：Winters can be tough here in Boston. For example, in the year of eighteen forty-four, one ship sank because of the winter freeze. The ship hit icebergs and caused a heavy loss to the company. Then the board recommended the company to move to New York ### 37. He improved the sail safety by using 37_____ communication. He improved the sail safety by using 37_____ communication. **答案**：radio 原文定位：Cunard's conservative nature enabled his company to see off rivals and to take a measured and steady approach when it came to the introduction of new technologies like radio communication ### 38. 38_____ were produced on the board, so passengers would not feel uneasy during the journey. 38_____ were produced on the board, so passengers would not feel uneasy during the journey. **答案**：newspapers 原文定位：In order to make sure that the passengers could have a comfortable journey, newspapers were printed on board 同义替换：「produced」↔「printed」；「would not feel uneasy」↔「could have a comfortable」 ### 39. Before 1912, shipping companies paid more attention to the 39_____ of the ships. Before 1912, shipping companies paid more attention to the 39_____ of the ships. **答案**：speed 原文定位：Prior to nineteen twelve, the shipping line had focused on speed and soon was renowned for its velocity and safety 同义替换：「Before」↔「Prior to」；「paid more attention to」↔「had focused on」 ### 40. Afterwards, companies poured more money into decoration, which made the ships more like 40_____ . Afterwards, companies poured more money into decoration, which made the ships more like 40_____ . **答案**：hotels 原文定位：After that, for affluent transatlantic passengers, Cunard brought new levels of luxury to ocean travel, lavish suites, a swimming pool, gymnasium, ballroom, electricity, and more, just like that of luxurious hotels 同义替换：「more like」↔「just like that of」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。