# Eyewitness reliability - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 3） - 考频：高频 - 最近考试：2016.1.23/2015.2.7 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/d7887f3a-eb90-4e73-a39e-a04d3323bd2b（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 00:00:01,940 Now turn to section three on page five. 00:00:10,600 Section three. 00:00:13,020 You will hear two law students called Eleanor and Jamie discussing their work on whether the evidence given by people who witness crimes is reliable. 00:00:25,360 First, you have some time to look at questions twenty-one to twenty-six on page five. 00:01:17,200 Now listen carefully and answer questions twenty-one to twenty-six. 00:01:25,320 Hi, Jamie. I've just been reading this book about eyewitness testimonies. It really goes into how much we can actually rely on what the people who witness crimes actually say and what things influence eyewitness reliability. 00:01:40,360 Oh, I've read a couple of case studies on that too. Can we compare notes? 00:01:45,580 Good idea. It's fascinating to learn that eyewitness identification is such compelling evidence in both civil and criminal trials. 00:01:55,380 You mean if a witness says something, generally they're believed? 00:01:59,210 And reading between the lines, I'd say that when a witness gives evidence in a very self-assured way, everyone takes them at their word, whether they're a doctor who speaks with an assumed authority or the average person in the street, it doesn't seem to matter as much as their manner. 00:02:17,520 Right. So is that textbook worth reading? 00:02:21,200 Yes, it's a good book, divided into user-friendly sections. It refers to case studies, and the conclusions are clearly underlined. But actually, some of the cases are more than ten years old now. 00:02:34,960 Well, it's the same problem with the survey reports our tutor gave us, but at least they draw on a representative sample. 00:02:42,640 That's good. 00:02:43,780 All the books point out that eyewitness statements are very often unreliable. 00:02:48,440 But there can be good reasons for that, like an incident may happen at night in the dark. 00:02:54,600 Or it happens some way away, but it's the fact that it can happen in just a split second that makes the witness's account so unreliable. 00:03:03,700 That point's made very strongly in what I've read too. 00:03:07,080 Yeah. 00:03:08,140 Have you read anything about photo identifications? 00:03:11,400 Yes, about the procedure and the reliability of witnesses looking at photos of different people and picking out the suspect. The case studies all clearly show how easy it is to sway a witness's choice of photo, even just by the flicker of an eye. But steps have been taken now to avoid this happening. 00:03:31,440 And are the witnesses told exactly what they have to do? 00:03:34,760 Mostly. But the trouble is, most people focus on the photos and choose the most likely suspect from the bunch and forget about the actual incident and who they saw at the time. 00:03:46,480 And I read something about a naive observer. Do you know what that is? Is it a witness who's never been in a court before? 00:03:54,280 Oh, I understood it to mean someone who's had nothing to do with the event, and they're asked to look at the photos and pick out the potential suspect. 00:04:02,880 That figures. Then they can see if the photos are a good set and make sure one person doesn't stand out. 00:04:09,960 Another thing I read was that witnesses don't like to change their minds once they've made a particular statement. I thought people might worry about the fact that they told a lie in court and think they might be punished in some way, but it's simply that they're afraid of seeming unintelligent or lightweight. 00:04:28,720 Yeah. People are reluctant to lose face. Imagine if a case had been going on for weeks and you suddenly realized you'd got something wrong right at the beginning. 00:04:42,320 Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions twenty-seven to thirty on page six. 00:05:10,440 Now listen and answer questions twenty-seven to thirty. 00:05:17,500 Changing the topic slightly, can I just check with you what you've understood about the problems of interviewing child witnesses when they've witnessed, for example, a robbery? 00:05:28,040 Yes. Did you get the handout about the stages that should be followed when children are interviewed? 00:05:33,360 Yes. The rapport stage, when a relationship between the child and the interviewer is built up, seems to be crucial. 00:05:41,000 But many children fail to say anything that provides any real information. It must be hard for them not to feel a bit scared about being in a formal setting like a court building. Still, it's a good lead in to open-ended questions where the interviewer carefully sticks to their prepared questions in order to remain neutral. 00:06:00,000 I can see the point of that, but the handout discusses the issue of children simply not understanding the specialist language used, so the whole interview just gets more puzzling for them. I think the stage called closed questions is easier for children to handle. They just have to answer yes or no. 00:06:19,080 But everything's not so clear cut in a child's world, and abstract concepts such as honesty haven't been fully grasped by young children. 00:06:28,480 You mean they make things up? 00:06:30,400 Apparently. And in the final stage, closure, where the interviewer has to check anything that hasn't been made clear to them by repeating previous questions, children often become suspicious of the questioner. 00:06:43,840 It must require lots of training to be able to interview children successfully. 00:06:48,360 Yes, I think... 00:06:52,420 That is the end of section three. You now have half a minute to check your answers. ## 题目与答案 ### 21. 21 Eleanor thinks eyewitnesses are believed when 21 Eleanor thinks eyewitnesses are believed when - they are respected members of the community - they make their statements with confidence - they use sophisticated language in their accounts **答案**：they make their statements with confidence 原文定位：And reading between the lines, I'd say that when a witness gives evidence in a very self-assured way, everyone takes them at their word, whether they're a doctor who speaks with an assumed authority or the average person in the street, it doesn't seem to matter as much as their manner. 同义替换：「make their statements with confidence」↔「gives evidence in a very self-assured way」；「believed」↔「takes them at their word」 ### 22. 22 What concerns Duckie Eleanor and Jamie about the texts they have read so far? 22 What concerns Duckie Eleanor and Jamie about the texts they have read so far? - no clear conclusion are reached - the studies involved comparatively few people - some of the data were gathered some time ago **答案**：some of the data were gathered some time ago 原文定位：Yes, it's a good book, divided into user-friendly sections. It refers to case studies, and the conclusions are clearly underlined. But actually, some of the cases are more than ten years old now;Well, it's the same problem with the survey reports our tutor gave us, but at least they draw on a representative sample 同义替换：「some of the data were gathered some time ago」↔「some of the cases are more than ten years old now」；「concerns」↔「problem」；「the texts they have read so far」↔「the survey reports our tutor gave us」 ### 23. 23 They agree that the most significant factor affecting eyewitness reliability is 23 They agree that the most significant factor affecting eyewitness reliability is - how good the lighting is - how long the event lasts - how far away the witness is **答案**：how long the event lasts 原文定位：But there can be good reasons for that, like an incident may happen at night in the dark;Or it happens some way away, but it's the fact that it can happen in just a split second that makes the witness's account so unreliable;That point's made very strongly in what I've read too 同义替换：「how long the event lasts」↔「happen in just a split second」；「affecting eyewitness reliability」↔「makes the witness's account so unreliable」 ### 24. 24 Jamie criticises photo-identifications, saying witnesses 24 Jamie criticises photo-identifications, saying witnesses - fail to compare the photos with their memory of the event - are not properly briefed about the produce - become easily influenced by a figure of authority **答案**：fail to compare the photos with their memory of the event 原文定位：And are the witnesses told exactly what they have to do;Mostly. But the trouble is, most people focus on the photos and choose the most likely suspect from the bunch and forget about the actual incident and who they saw at the time 同义替换：「photo-identifications」↔「looking at photos of different people and picking out the suspect」；「fail to compare the photos with their memory of the event」↔「forget about the actual incident and who they saw at the time」 ### 25. 25 They agree that the term “naive observer” means a person who 25 They agree that the term “naive observer” means a person who - has no experience of a police investigation - did not realise they were witnessing a crime - was not present at the incident **答案**：was not present at the incident 原文定位：And I read something about a naive observer. Do you know what that is? Is it a witness who's never been in a court before;Oh, I understood it to mean someone who's had nothing to do with the event, and they're asked to look at the photos and pick out the potential suspect;That figures 同义替换：「was not present at the incident」↔「had nothing to do with the event」 ### 26. 26 They have learned that witnesses are reluctant to change their opinions because 26 They have learned that witnesses are reluctant to change their opinions because - they do not want to appear foolish - they fear the legal consequences - they are keen for the case to be concluded **答案**：they do not want to appear foolish 原文定位：Another thing I read was that witnesses don't like to change their minds once they've made a particular statement. I thought people might worry about the fact that they told a lie in court and think they might be punished in some way, but it's simply that they're afraid of seeming unintelligent or lightweight;Yeah. People are reluctant to lose face 同义替换：「reluctant to change their opinions」↔「don't like to change their minds once they've made a particular statement」；「do not want to appear foolish」↔「afraid of seeming unintelligent or lightweight」 ### 27. Rapport Rapport - frightened by the unfamiliar environment - influenced by the interviewer Duckie - not understanding the different between truth and lies - unwillingness to say they don`t know - confused by the terminology - distrust of the interviewer **答案**：frightened by the unfamiliar environment 原文定位：The rapport stage, when a relationship between the child and the interviewer is built up, seems to be crucial;But many children fail to say anything that provides any real information;It must be hard for them not to feel a bit scared about being in a formal setting like a court building 同义替换：「frightened」↔「feel a bit scared」；「the unfamiliar environment」↔「a formal setting」；「problem」↔「fail to」 ### 28. Open-ended questions Open-ended questions - frightened by the unfamiliar environment - influenced by the interviewer Duckie - not understanding the different between truth and lies - unwillingness to say they don`t know - confused by the terminology - distrust of the interviewer **答案**：unwillingness to say they don`t know 原文定位：Still, it's a good lead in to open-ended questions where the interviewer carefully sticks to their prepared questions in order to remain neutral;I can see the point of that, but the handout discusses the issue of children simply not understanding the specialist language used, so the whole interview just gets more puzzling for them 同义替换：「unwillingness to say they don`t know」↔「not understanding the specialist language used, so the whole interview just gets more puzzling for them」 ### 29. Closed questions Closed questions - frightened by the unfamiliar environment - influenced by the interviewer Duckie - not understanding the different between truth and lies - unwillingness to say they don`t know - confused by the terminology - distrust of the interviewer **答案**：distrust of the interviewer 原文定位：I think the stage called closed questions is easier for children to handle. They just have to answer yes or no. But everything's not so clear cut in a child's world, and abstract concepts such as honesty haven't been fully grasped by young children. You mean they make things up? Apparently. And in the final stage, closure;children often become suspicious of the questioner 同义替换：「distrust of the interviewer」↔「become suspicious of the questioner」 ### 30. Closure Closure - frightened by the unfamiliar environment - influenced by the interviewer Duckie - not understanding the different between truth and lies - unwillingness to say they don`t know - confused by the terminology - distrust of the interviewer **答案**：confused by the terminology 原文定位：I can see the point of that, but the handout discusses the issue of children simply not understanding the specialist language used, so the whole interview just gets more puzzling for them. I think the stage called closed questions is easier for children to handle. They just have to answer yes or no;But everything's not so clear cut in a child's world, and abstract concepts such as honesty haven't been fully grasped by young children;You mean they make things up;Apparently. And in the final stage, closure, where the interviewer has to check anything that hasn't been made clear to them by repeating previous questions, children often become suspicious of the questioner 同义替换：「confused by the terminology」↔「not understanding the specialist language used」；「problem may there be with」↔「gets more puzzling for them」 --- 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。