# Natural rubber production - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：高频 - 最近考试：2026.7.11/2024.1.6/2013.3.9/2010.5.15 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/80749937-ac49-4aa2-98be-996ff7f3fc32（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 00:00:00,380 Good morning. In this module, we've been looking at the production of some of the world's most important raw materials, and today it's the turn of rubber. Traditionally, natural rubber was produced on small holdings, and in case you're not familiar with the process, I'll just describe it briefly. The first stage in the process, known as tapping, involves making an incision in the rubber tree and removing a thin layer of bark. This procedure has to be done very carefully with a special knife, because if the incision is too deep, the tree will be damaged and a white liquid known as latex starts to ooze out. Next, the tapper attaches a cup to the tree made out of something simple like a coconut shell to collect it. 00:00:47,520 Tapping is usually started in the early morning because the coolness encourages the latex to flow easily. 00:00:55,260 Later in the day, the tapper goes back to each tree to get the latex and take it to what you might call the factory. Although the procedures that take place in it are relatively simple. 00:01:07,740 Here, it is poured into a mould, and then formic acid is added to it, and the mixture is left for a few hours. The purpose of the formic acid is to thicken the liquid latex. So after some time, the latex is transformed into a solid block of rubber. 00:01:26,880 This block of rubber is then pressed manually to turn it into a thin sheet. And then when it's thin enough, the rubber sheet is fed through a mangle. And I should point out that apart from this, no other machinery is used in the process. It's fairly simple. Just a frame with two rollers and a handle to turn them. The procedure is repeated several times to get rid of as much water as possible. And finally, these sheets are taken to a special smoke room where they are dried. 00:02:01,580 And you're then left with what are by now sheets of brown rubber. 00:02:06,450 These are then sold to traders who collect them from villages and sell them on in turn. 00:02:17,580 Well, that's the process then. Now, just a little bit about the history of rubber. Rubber was in use in America long before it became commercially important. The rubber tree was a native of Brazil, and there's an account from as long ago as fifteen twenty-five of people in Mexico playing with rubber balls. 00:02:39,740 But it wasn't until the nineteenth century that Europeans recognized the usefulness of the substance, chiefly for clothing. 00:02:48,380 Various attempts were made to improve the properties of rubber. One of the key discoveries was of a process known as vulcanization, which involved heating the rubber and adding sulfur to it. And the result was a substance that had a lot more strength and was also more elastic, making it suitable for a variety of uses. 00:03:11,240 But the thing that gave demand for rubber a real boost was the expanding automobile industry at the end of the nineteenth century and the invention of car tires. 00:03:24,080 During the twentieth century, rubber became so important that there were various attempts to develop a synthetic version, but none of them resulted in a product that was able to compete with natural rubber until Germany developed a successful substitute when its supplies of the natural substance were cut off during the First World War. Later, this was accelerated when the American government built its own rubber factories. 00:03:50,680 So, in economic terms, rubbers had an outstanding position in the global market for more than a hundred years. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. “tapping” - tree is cut and a layer of back is removed ↓ cup (e.g. made of a 31_____ shell) is attached to collect latex “tapping” - tree is cut and a layer of back is removed ↓ cup (e.g. made of a 31_____ shell) is attached to collect latex **答案**：coconut 原文定位：Next, the tapper attaches a cup to the tree made out of something simple like a coconut shell to collect it ### 32. ↓ latex is transferred to the “factory” ↓ Latex is poured into a 32_____ ↓ latex is transferred to the “factory” ↓ Latex is poured into a 32_____ **答案**：mould 原文定位：Here, it is poured into a mould, and then formic acid is added to it, and the mixture is left for a few hours ### 33. ↓ Formic acid is added to thicken the latex ↓ Rubber is 33_____ by hand, to make it into a thin sheet ↓ Formic acid is added to thicken the latex ↓ Rubber is 33_____ by hand, to make it into a thin sheet **答案**：pressed 原文定位：This block of rubber is then pressed manually to turn it into a thin sheet 同义替换：「by hand」↔「manually」 ### 34. ↓ Rubber sheets is put through a mangle (N.B. the only 34_____ in the process ↓ Rubber sheets is put through a mangle (N.B. the only 34_____ in the process **答案**：machinery 原文定位：And I should point out that apart from this, no other machinery is used in the process 同义替换：「only」↔「no other」 ### 35. ↓ Rubber sheets are taken to be 35_____ in a special room ↓ Rubber sheets are taken to be 35_____ in a special room **答案**：dried 原文定位：And finally, these sheets are taken to a special smoke room where they are dried ### 36. ↓ Rubber sheets are purchased by 36_____ ↓ Rubber sheets are purchased by 36_____ **答案**：traders 原文定位：These are then sold to traders who collect them from villages and sell them on in turn 同义替换：「purchased by」↔「sold to」 ### 37. History of Rubber Earliest use Rubber tree - originally from Brazil 1525 - rubber 37_____ were used in Mexico History of Rubber Earliest use Rubber tree - originally from Brazil 1525 - rubber 37_____ were used in Mexico **答案**：balls 原文定位：there's an account from as long ago as fifteen twenty-five of people in Mexico playing with rubber balls ### 38. 19th century European interest in rubber Key discovery - “vulcanisation” made rubber stronger and 38_____ . 19th century European interest in rubber Key discovery - “vulcanisation” made rubber stronger and 38_____ . **答案**：elastic 原文定位：And the result was a substance that had a lot more strength and was also more elastic, making it suitable for a variety of uses 同义替换：「stronger」↔「a lot more strength」 ### 39. Increase in demand when rubber 39_____ were invented Increase in demand when rubber 39_____ were invented **答案**：car tires 原文定位：But the thing that gave demand for rubber a real boost was the expanding automobile industry at the end of the nineteenth century and the invention of car tires 同义替换：「Increase in」↔「a real boost」 ### 40. 20th century Substitute for natural rubber was first developed in 40_____ during First World War 20th century Substitute for natural rubber was first developed in 40_____ during First World War **答案**：Germany 原文定位：but none of them resulted in a product that was able to compete with natural rubber until Germany developed a successful substitute when its supplies of the natural substance were cut off during the First World War --- 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。