2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题听力原文及参考答案(第2套)
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题答案及详解（第2套）PART ⅠWriting思维导图学习应该是一个终生的过程Learning Should Be a Lifelong Process第一段结合谚语，引出话题：终身学习的重要性(the importance of lifelong learning)。
第二段分析终身学习对于现代社会的我们如此重要的原因。
在快速发展的信息时代，我们必须通过不断学习来紧跟时代潮流(keep pace with the times)，否则将会失去很多机会(too outdated to seize any opportunities)。
作者通过出租车司机使用打车软件增加收入和家庭主妇开网店赚钱两个例子来进一步支持自己的论点，避免说理空洞。
第三段引用谚语“活到老学到老”(it is never too old to learn)进一步呼应和深化主题、总结全文：学习无关乎年龄。
只有不断学习，才能在迅猛发展的社会中发挥自身潜能(achieve our potential)、生活得更好。
〇高分范文Learning Should Be a Lifelong Process①It is often said that learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. ②The saying indicates the importance of lifelong learning, which we have been lectured over and over again.③Lifelong learning is crucial to our life and career in modern society. ④Living in the Information Age, we have to keep pace with the times through ceaseless learning; otherwise, we'll be too outdated to seize any opportunities. ⑤For example, a taxi driver who learns to use a Taxi App such as Didi can make much more money than those who don't; a housewife who opens a shop online can even out-earn a white-collar worker. ⑥All of their success can be attributed to their constant learning in addition to the progress of technology.⑦As an old saying goes, it is never too old to learn. Thus, learning is an attitude regardless of age. ⑧Only through learning ceaselessly can we achieve our potential and live a better life in this rapidly developing society.〇精彩点评①开门见山，引出谚语。
②点明话题：终身学习的重要性。
③④⑤⑥分析终身学习为何重要，并举例进行具体论证。
⑦恰当引用谚语，深化主题。
⑧使用倒装句，强调不断学习的重要性。
〇加分亮点lecture 教育，说教the Information Age 信息时代keep pace with the times 与时俱进ceaseless 不断的，持续的seize opportunities 抓住机遇out-earn... 比……挣钱多拓展空间主题词汇update 更新informative 资料丰富的，增进知识的promote 提升，升职knowledge economy 知识经济cultivate 培养，培育boundless 无边无际的horizon 眼界；地平线self-taught 自学的autonomous 自主的句式拓展1. Learning can no longer be regarded as... Instead, learning can be seen as something that takes place on an ongoing basis from our daily interaction with others and with the world around us. 学习不能再被视为……相反，学习可以被看作是一项我们与他人以及周围世界在不断进行日常互动的基础上发生的活动。
2. With the development of..., the lifelong education enjoys an increasing... 随着……的发展，终身教育变得越来越……PART ⅡListening ComprehensionSection A1. A) The agenda for the board of directors' meeting.B) The details of the meeting to be held next week.C) The reason for the man's absence from the meeting.D) The time for the man's visit to the woman's company.W:Hello, Mr. Harrison, thanks for calling. Now, when would it be good for you to visit our company?M: Well. In fact, I can come almost any time next month. And probably toward the end of a week would be best for me.Q: What are the speakers talking about?听前猜测四个选项均为描述事实状况的短语，结合选项中多次出现的meeting一词以及details，next week和the man's visit等可以推断，对话内容与男士的出访和会面有关，而且此次会面尚未达成。
详解女士询问男士什么时候方便拜访她所在的公司，男士说下个月几乎任何时间都行，可能接近周末的时间最好。
由此可知，两人在谈论男士拜访女士所在公司的时间，故答案为D)。
2. A) At a travel agency.B) At a department store.C) In a library.D) In a post office.W: Can you help me find a book on South America?M: What specifically would you like to know about? We catalogue our books in many different ways.Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?听前猜测四个选项均为表示场所的短语，可以推测本题考查地点，听对话时注意捕捉提示对话发生场所的关键词。
详解女士请男士帮助她寻找一本关于南美洲的书，男士反问女士具体想要哪方面的书籍，因为他们通过多种不同的方式对书籍进行归类。
由此可知，对话发生在图书馆，故答案为C)。
3. A) He cannot hear the woman's call.B) He cannot get through to New York.C) He cannot recall the phone number.D) He cannot find a public phone nearby.M: I'm trying to make a call to New York and haven't been able to get through. Can you help me? W: Sure. Try my phone.Q: What is the man's problem?听前猜测四个选项均以he cannot开头，可以推断对话中男士一定是遇到了某种问题，结合选项中出现的call，get through，phone number和public phone等词，可以进一步确定男士遇到的问题与电话有关。
详解男士说他在尝试打电话到纽约，但一直没打通，询问女士能否帮助他，女士很爽快地答应，并让男士试试她的手机。
由此可知，男士没办法打电话到纽约，故答案为B)。
4. A) Watch a movie with the woman.B) Revise his thesis in the office.C) Do some shopping with Jane.D) Discuss his thesis with Prof. Hudson.M: I have to go to Prof. Hudson's office to discuss my thesis. If time allows, I'd like to go to the movies with you when I come back.W: I don't think I can make it. I'm going shopping with Jane right now.Q: What is the man going to do first?听前猜测四个选项均为表示行为的动词短语，可以推断本题考查的内容与行为动作有关。
结合选项中出现的with the woman和his thesis等词，可以进一步判定本题考查的是男士的行为动作，因此男士的话为听音重点。
详解男士说他必须去哈德森教授的办公室讨论他的论文，如果时间允许的话，他希望回来后能和女士一起去看电影，而女士却说她不一定能赶得及，因为她现在要和简去购物。
由此可知，男士首先要做的事情是与哈德森教授讨论他的论文，故答案为D)。
2015年12月英语四级考试真题及答案(第二套)
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. " You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words._______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Part II Listening Comprehension ( 30 minutes )听力音频地址：/media//173301_3840.mp3Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will bea pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C. and D), and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.1. A. The agenda for the board of directors' meeting.B. The details of the meeting to be held next week.C. The reason for the man's absence from the meeting.D. The time for the man's visit to the woman's company.2.A. At a travel agency.B. At a department store.C. In a library.D. In a post office.3.A. He cannot hear the woman's call.B. He cannot get through to New York.C. He cannot recall the phone number.D. He cannot find a public phone nearby.4.A. Watch a movie with the woman.B. Revise his thesis in the office.C. Do some shopping with Jane.D. Discuss his thesis with Prof. Hudson.5. A. He just cannot work properly without a watch.B. He has no idea where he can buy a gold watch.C. He still does not know where he left his watch.D. He is not sure what went wrong with his watch.6.A. He forgot all about what he said.B. He slipped and hurt his head.C. He was sorry for being off sick last week.D. He thought the woman's car had been sold.7.A. She should try to catch an earlier bus.B. She is absent from his class too often.C. She is always making excuses for being late.D. She should come up with a better excuse.8.A. He is going to help the woman out.B. He has to move out of the building soon.C. He is on his way to see a real estate agent.D. He will stay with the woman's brother.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A. From the wanted cohunn.B. From some of her friends.C. From a telephone directory.D. From a television commercial.10.A. She received full-time education abroad.B. She graduated from an open university.C. She fmished her secondary school.D. She studied in a vocational college.11.A. She is a shorthand-typist.B. She works as a tour guide.C. She is a policewoman.D. She teaches an evening class.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A. It provides him with career opportunities.B. It helps enlarge his customer network.C. It has been off and on for ten years.D. It was interrupted for four years.13.A. Individualized service.B. Traditional setting.C. Home-made beer.D. Social games.14.A. The quality of beer.B. The atmosphere.C. The owner's attitude.D. The right location.15.A. It is a rather tough job.B. It is a profitable business.C. It helps old people kill time.D. It makes retirees feel useful.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A , B ,C. and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A. It is becoming increasingly popular.B. It helps the user to escape reality.C. It gives rise to serious social instability.D. It hurts a person and those around them.17.A. They use drugs just for fun.B. They take drugs to get high.C. They use drugs as medicine.D. They keep drug use a secret.18. A. It is quite common in entertainment circles.B. It is the cause of various social problems.C. It is hard to get rid of.D. It is fatal to the user.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A. Taking up exercises after recovery.B. Producing tasty healthy frozen food.C. Finding new ways to cure heart disease.D. Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital.20.A. Itwas carefully tested with consumers.B. It was promoted by health organizations.C. It was disapproved by many diet experts.D. It was highly expected by the general public.21.A. Competitive price.B. Low expectations.C. Vigorous promotion.D. Unique ingredients.22. A. It was suggested by the firm's vice-president.B. It matches the food's dark green packaging.C. It has a positive implication for consumers.D. It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A. It is practiced in most of the states.B. It will be abolished sooner or later.C. It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas.D. It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.24. A. Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future.B. Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution.C. What type of criminals should receive it.D. What effect it might have on youngsters.25. A. The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends.B. The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison.C. He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina.D. He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with, the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Some people borrow money and "forget" to pay it back.Large loans are seldom the issue; they are usually treated as business26, with the terms spelled out on paper. But many women suffer27over problems like Carol's "My friend Ginny is always28cash," she says. "I hate to recall how often I've ' loaned' her a dollar or two for a drink or a movie. Each loan is so small I'd feel really cheap making a big deal out of it; still, I do29the fact that she never pays me back. "Carol admits to being "too30or something" to demand repayment, but she has resolved tostop lending money to Ginny. "The last time she asked for five dollars to pay for her dry cleaning, I just told her I couldn't31it. "Another woman suggests a bolder32. "When somebody refuses to repay a loan, I33byrequesting one myself," she says. "'I left home without my wallet,' I'll say. 'Can you lend meenough to cover lunch?' Then, when the money is safely in hand, I am struck by a sudden34Why, this is exactly the amount I loaned you last week ! How35! Now you won't have to repay me'" She says it works like a charm.Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank isidentified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For many Americans,2013 ended with an unusually bitter cold te November and December36early snow and bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country, part of a year when, for the first time in two37, record-cold days will likely turn out to have oumumbered record-warm ones. But the U. S. was the exception: November was the warmest ever38, and current data indicates that 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record. Enjoy the snow now, because39are good that 2014 will be even hotter, perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept. That's because, scientists are predicting,2014 will be an El Nifio Year. El Nino, Spanish for "the child",40when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm. So large is the Pacific, covering 30% of the planet's surface, that the41energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world. El Ninos are42with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia. They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America, evenas southern Africa43dry weather. Marine life may be affected too: E1 Ninos can44the rising of the cold, nutrient-rich ( 营养丰富的） water that supports large fish45, and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral ( 珊瑚).A. Additional I. logicallyB. Associated J. occursC. bore K. populationsD. Chances L. realizeE. Communicated M. reduceF. Decades N. SawG. experiences O. SpecificH. globallySection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. How to Eat WellA. Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾. and should really carry warning labels?B. It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the U. S. as there were 20 years ago. nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smartphone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming.C. And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your dally calories (卡路里. outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of our dally calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down－or we do, but we hurry.D. Shouldn't preparing－and consuming－food be a source of comfort, pride, health, weli－being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource(外包. this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is so harmful?E. When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three－day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F. Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% "love it" ; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home five or more times per week;only a third of young people do.G. Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Morn cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H. Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts ( 催化剂), but the big food companies--which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking－made the home cook an endangered species.I. Still, I fmd it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well－being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs.J. There have been haft－hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy,mostly plant－based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: bynot cooking athome, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate.K. To help quantify (量化). the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消） by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm.L. Cooldng real food is the best defense－not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant.M. To those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple: Buy what you can afford,and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store, since that's where fresh produce, meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores.N. The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozen produce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense: you want to buy food,not unidentifiable foodlike objects.O. You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than haft of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooldng skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysteriousabout cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving.P. Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your prioritiesto find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead.46. Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another.47. Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV.48. Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days.49. Cooking skills can be improved with practice.50. In the mid-20th century, most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out.51. Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family.52. Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences.53. To eat well and still save money, people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves.54. We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks.55. The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C. andD ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential, it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping－where you hand over notes and count out change in return－now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters, like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a comer shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher up the scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores－Victoria Beckham on Dover Street, for instance －you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa. Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I'm just old－fashioned. But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us. Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in haft a blink (眨眼). of an eye? Doesn't a wallet－that time－honoured Friday－night feeling of pleasing, promisingfatness －represent something that matters?But I'll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is thechange it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet－theway the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold andsilver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets－is the very opposite of what ourworld is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smartphone or an iPad..The rounded edges, coolglass, smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石). Instead of digging through pieces of paper andpeering into corners, we move our fingers left and right. No more counting out coins. Show yourwallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer.56. What is happening to the wallet?A. It is disappearing.B. It is being fattened.C. It is becoming costly.D. It is changing in style.57. How are business transactions done in big modern stores?A. Individually.B. Electronically.C. In the abstract.D. Via a cash register.58. What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A. Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B. The pleasing Friday－night feeling is fading.C. Earning money is getting more difficult.D. Spending money is so fast and easy.59. Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet?A. It represents a change in the modern world.B. It has something to do with everybody's life.C. It marks the end of a time－honoured tradition.D. It is the concern of contemporary economists.60. What can we infer from the passage about the author?A. He is resistant to social changes.B. He is against technological progress.C. He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D. He feels insecure in the ever－changing modern world.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch－or wake up early in order not to miss－varies by culture. From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays.Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time. Russians, for example, began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to "winter time" starting on October 26.Russia's other late nights and early mornings generallycorrespond to public holidays. On New Year's Eve, Russians have the world's latest bedtime, hitting the hay at around 3:30 am. Russians also get up an hour later on International Women's Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives. Similarly, Americans' late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three －day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey (冰球. final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation (剥夺). The worst night for sleep in the U. K. was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half－hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a haft later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it's likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that's the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the most health-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleeg are the rest of us losing?61. What does the author say about people's sleeping habits?A. They are culture－related.B. They affect people's health.C. They change with the seasons.D. They vary from person to person.62, What do we learn about the Russians regarding sleep?A)They don't fall asleep until very late.B. They don't sleep much on weekends.C. They get less sleep on public holidays.D. They sleep longer than people elsewhere.63. what is the major cause for Europeans' loss of sleep?A. The daylight savings time.B. The colorful night life.C. The World Cup.D. The summertime.64. what is the most probable reason for some rich people to use a device to record their sleeppatterns?A)They have trouble falling asleep.B. They want to get sufficient sleep.C. They are involved in a sleep research.D. They want to go to bed on regular hours.65. what does the author imply in the last paragraph?A. Sleeplessness does harm to people's health.B. Few people really know the importance of sleep.C. It is important to study our sleep patterns.D. Average people probably sleep less than the rich.Part TV Translation( 30 minutes )Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.云南省的丽江古镇是中国著名的旅游目的地之一。
2015年12月英语四级考试真题(第二套)
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. " You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________Part II Listening Comprehension ( 30 minutesSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C. and D), and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.1. A. The agenda for the board of directors' meeting.B. The details of the meeting to be held next week.C. The reason for the man's absence from the meeting.D. The time for the man's visit to the woman's company.2.A. At a travel agency. B. At a department store.C. In a library.D. In a post office.3.A. He cannot hear the woman's call. B. He cannot get through to New York.C. He cannot recall the phone number.D. He cannot find a public phone nearby.4.A. Watch a movie with the woman. B. Revise his thesis in the office.C. Do some shopping with Jane.D. Discuss his thesis with Prof. Hudson.5. A. He just cannot work properly without a watch.B. He has no idea where he can buy a gold watch.C. He still does not know where he left his watch.D. He is not sure what went wrong with his watch.6.A. He forgot all about what he said. B. He slipped and hurt his head.C. He was sorry for being off sick last week.D. He thought the woman's car had been sold.7.A. She should try to catch an earlier bus.B. She is absent from his class too often.C. She is always making excuses for being late.D. She should come up with a better excuse.8.A. He is going to help the woman out.B. He has to move out of the building soon.C. He is on his way to see a real estate agent.D. He will stay with the woman's brother.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A. From the wanted cohunn. B. From some of her friends.C. From a telephone directory.D. From a television commercial.10.A. She received full-time education abroadB. She graduated from an open university.C. She finished her secondary school.D. She studied in a vocational college.11.A. She is a shorthand-typist. B. She works as a tour guide.C. She is a policewoman.D. She teaches an evening class. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A. It provides him with career opportunities.B. It helps enlarge his customer network.C. It has been off and on for ten years.D. It was interrupted for four years.13.A. Individualized service. B. Traditional setting.C. Home-made beer.D. Social games.14.A. The quality of beer. B. The atmosphere.C. The owner's attitude.D. The right location.15.A. It is a rather tough job. B. It is a profitable business.C. It helps old people kill time.D. It makes retirees feel useful. Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choicesmarked A , B ,C. and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A. It is becoming increasingly popular. B. It helps the user to escape reality.C. It gives rise to serious social instability.D. It hurts a person and those around them.17.A. They use drugs just for fun. B. They take drugs to get high.C. They use drugs as medicine.D. They keep drug use a secret.18. A. It is quite common in entertainment circles.B. It is the cause of various social problems.C. It is hard to get rid of.D. It is fatal to the user.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A. Taking up exercises after recovery. B. Producing tasty healthy frozen food.C. Finding new ways to cure heart disease.D. Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital.20.A. It was carefully tested with consumers.B. It was promoted by health organizations.C. It was disapproved by many diet experts.D. It was highly expected by the general public.21.A. Competitive price. B. Low expectations.C. Vigorous promotion.D. Unique ingredients.22. A. It was suggested by the firm's vice-president.B. It matches the food's dark green packaging.C. It has a positive implication for consumers.D. It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A. It is practiced in most of the states.B. It will be abolished sooner or later.C. It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas.D. It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.24. A. Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future.B. Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution.C. What type of criminals should receive it.D. What effect it might have on youngsters.25. A. The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends.B. The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison.C. He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina.D. He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage isread for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with, the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Some people borrow money and "forget" to pay it back.Large loans are seldom the issue; they are usually treated as business26, with the terms spelled out on paper. But many women suffer27over problems like Carol's "My friend Ginny is always28cash," she says. "I hate to recall how often I've ' loaned' her a dollar or two for a drink or a movie. Each loan is so small I'd feel really cheap making a big deal out of it; still, I do29the fact that she never pays me back. "Carol admits to being "too30or something" to demand repayment, but she has resolved to stop lending money to Ginny. "The last time she asked for five dollars to pay for her dry cleaning, I just told her I couldn't31it. "Another woman suggests a bolder32. "When somebody refuses to repay a loan, I 33 by requesting one myself," she says. "'I left home without my wallet,' I'll say. 'Can you lend me enough to cover lunch?' Then, when the money is safely in hand, I am struck by a sudden 34 Why, this is exactly the amount I loaned you last week ! How 35! Now you won't have to repay me'" She says it works like a charm.Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice inthe bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage. For many Americans,2013 ended with an unusually bitter cold spell. Late November and December36early snow and bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country, part of a year when, for the first time in two37, record-cold days will likely turn out to have oumumbered record-warm ones. But the U. S. was the exception: November was the warmest ever38, and current data indicates that 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record. Enjoy the snow now, because39are good that 2014 will be even hotter, perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept. That's because, scientists are predicting,2014 will be an El Nifio Year. El Nino, Spanish for "the child",40when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm. So large is the Pacific, covering 30% of the planet's surface, that the41energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world. El Ninos are42with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia. They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America, even as southern Africa43dry weather. Marine life may be affected too: E1 Ninos can44the rising of the cold, nutrient-rich ( 营养丰富的）water that supports large fish45, and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral ( 珊瑚).A. Additional I. logicallyB. Associated J. occursC. bore K. populationsD. Chances L. realizeE. Communicated M. reduceF. Decades N. SawG. experiences O. SpecificH. globallySection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.How to Eat WellA. Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾. and should really carry warning labels?B. It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the U. S. as there were 20 years ago. nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smart phone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming.C. And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your daily calories (卡路里. outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of ourdally calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down－or we do, but we hurry.D. Shouldn't preparing－and consuming－food be a source of comfort, pride, health, well－being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource(外包. this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is so harmful?E. When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three－day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F. Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% "love it"; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home five or more times per week; only a third of young people do.G. Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Morn cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H. Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-preparedmeals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts ( 催化剂), but the big food companies--which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking－made the home cook an endangered species.I. Still, I find it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well－being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs.J. There have been haft－hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy, mostly plant－based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: by not cooking at home, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate.K. To help quantify (量化). the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消）by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm.L. Cooling real food is the best defense－not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant. M. T o those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple: Buy what you can afford, and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop thegrocery store, since that's where fresh produce, meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores.N. The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozen produce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense: you want to buy food, not unidentifiable food like objects. O. You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than haft of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooling skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysterious about cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving.P. Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your prioritiesto find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead.46. Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another.47. Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV.48. Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days.49. Cooking skills can be improved with practice.50. In the mid-20th century, most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out.51. Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family.52. Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences.53. To eat well and still save money, people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves.54. We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks.55. The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C. and D ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential, it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping－where you hand over notes and count out change in return－now happens only in the most minor of our retailencounters, like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a comer shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher up the scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores－Victoria Beckham on Dover Street, for instance－you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa.Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I'm just old－fashioned. But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us. Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in haft a blink (眨眼). of an eye? Doesn't a wallet－that time －honoured Friday－night feeling of pleasing, promising fatness－represent something that matters?But I'll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is the change it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet－the way the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold and silver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets－is the very opposite of what our world is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smart phone or an iPad..The rounded edges, cool glass, smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石). Instead of digging through pieces of paper and peering into corners, we move our fingers left and right. No more counting out coins. Show your wallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer.56. What is happening to the wallet?A. It is disappearing.B. It is being fattened.C. It is becoming costly.D. It is changing in style.57. How are business transactions done in big modern stores?A. Individually.B. Electronically.C. In the abstract.D. Via a cash register.58. What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A. Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B. The pleasing Friday－night feeling is fading.C. Earning money is getting more difficult.D. Spending money is so fast and easy.59. Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet?A. It represents a change in the modern world.B. It has something to do with everybody's life.C. It marks the end of a time－honoured tradition.D. It is the concern of contemporary economists.60. What can we infer from the passage about the author?A. He is resistant to social changes.B. He is against technological progress.C. He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D. He feels insecure in the ever－changing modern world.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch－or wake up early in order notto miss－varies by culture. From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays. Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time. Russians, for example, began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to "winter time" starting on October 26.Russia's other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays. On New Year's Eve, Russians have the world's latest bedtime, hitting the hay at around 3:30 am. Russians also get up an hour later on International Women's Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives. Similarly, Americans' late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three－day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey (冰球) final. The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation (剥夺). The worst night for sleep in the U. K. was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half－hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a haft later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it's likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that's the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the most health-conscious among ushave such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleep are the rest of us losing?61. What does the author say about people's sleeping habits?A. They are culture－related.B. They affect people's health.C. They change with the seasons.D. They vary from person to person.62, What do we learn about the Russians regarding sleep?A)They don't fall asleep until very late.B. They don't sleep much on weekends.C. They get less sleep on public holidays.D. They sleep longer than people elsewhere.63. what is the major cause for Europeans' loss of sleep?A. The daylight savings time.B. The colorful night life.C. The World Cup.D. The summertime.64. what is the most probable reason for some rich people to use a device to record their sleep patterns?A)They have trouble falling asleep.B. They want to get sufficient sleep.C. They are involved in a sleep research.D. They want to go to bed on regular hours.65. what does the author imply in the last paragraph?A. Sleeplessness does harm to people's health.B. Few people really know the importance of sleep.C. It is important to study our sleep patterns.D. Average people probably sleep less than the rich.Part TV Translation( 30 minutes )Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.云南省的丽江古镇是中国著名的旅游目的地之一。
2015年12月英语四级听力原文及答案
2015年12月英语四级听力原文及答案DQuestion 4- W: Would you like to come to Susan's birthday party tomorrow evening?- M: I'm going to give a lecture tomorrow. I wish I could be in two places at the same time.Q:What does the man mean?Question 5- W: Aren't you discouraged by the slow progress your staff is making?- M: Yes. I think I will give them a deadline and hold them to it.Q:What is the man probably going to do?Question 6- W: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the visitors' parking is? I left my car there.- M: Sure. It's in Lot C. Over that way.Q:What does the woman want to know?Question 7- W: You look great! Now that you've taken those fitness classes.- M: Thanks. I've never felt better in my life.Q:What does the man mean?Question 8- W: I really admire the efficiency of your secretaries.- M: Our company selects only the best. They have a heave workload and we give them a lot of responsibilities.Q:What are the speakers talking about?Part 2 长对话Conversion 1W: Hi Leo, why do you say English would become the world language?M: Well. For one thing, it's so commonly used, the only language that is used by more people is Chinese.W: Why is English spoken by so many people?M: It's spoken in many countries of the world because of the British empire. And now of course is the influence of America as well.W: Many students find English a difficult language to learn.M: Oh, all languages are difficult to learn. But English does have two greatest advantages.W: What are they?M: Well, first of all, it has a very international vocabulary. It has many German, Dutch, French, Spanish and Italian words in it. So speakers of those languages will find many familiar words in English. In fact, English has words for many other languages as well.W: Why is that?M: Well, partly because English speakers have travelled a lot, they bring back words with them. So English really does have an international vocabulary.W: And what is the other advantage of English?M: It that English grammar is really quite easy. For example, it doesn't have dozens of different endings for its nouns, adjectives and verbs, not like Latin, Russian and German for example.W: Why is that?M: Well, it's quite interesting actually, it's because of the French. When the French ruled England, French was the official language, and only the common people spoke English. They tried to make their language as simple as possible. So they made the grammar easier.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you've just heard.Q9: What does the man say about Chinese?Q10: What made English a widely used language?Q11: What is said to be special about English vocabulary?Conversation 2Man: Hello. Yes?Woman: Hello. Is that the sales department?M: Yes, it is.W:Oh, well. My name is Jane Kingsbury of GPF limited. We need some supplies for our design office.M: Oh, what sort?W:Well, first of all, we need one complete new drawing board.M: DO44 or DO45?W:Ah, I don't know. What's the difference?M: Well, the 45 costs 15 pounds more.W:So what's the total price then?M:It's 387 pounds.W:Dose that include valued-added tax?M: Oh, I'm not sure. Most of the prices do. Yes, I think it does.W:What are the boards actually made of?M: Oh, I don't know. I think it‘s a sort of plastic stuff these days. It's white anyway.W:And how long does it take to deliver?M: Oh, I couldn't really say. It depends on how much work we've got and how many other orders there are to send out, you know.W:Ok, now we also want some drawing pens, ink and rulers, and some drawing paper.M: Oh dear. The girl who takes all those supplies isn't here this morning. So I can't take those orders for you. I only do the equipment you see.W:Ok, well, perhaps I'll ring back tomorrow.M: So do you want the drawing board then?W:Oh, I have to think about it. Thanks very much. I'll let you know. Good-bye.M: Thank you. Good-bye.Question 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you just heard.Question 12: What is the woman's purpose in making the phone call?Question 13: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?Question 14: What does the man say about delivery?Question 15: What does the woman say she will possibly do tomorrow?Part 3 短文短文 1No one knows for sure just how old kites are. In fact, they have been in use for centuries. 25 centuries ago, kites were well-known in China. These first kites were probably made of wood. They may even have been covered with silk, because silk were used a lot at that time. Early kites were built for certain uses. In ancient China, they will use to carry ropes to cross rivers. Once across, the ropes were tear down and wooden bridges would hang for them. Legend tells of one General who flew musical kites over the enemies' camp. The enemy fled, believing the sounds to be the warming voices of angels. By the 15th century, many people flew kites in Europe. Marco Polo may have brought the kite back from his visit to China. The kite has been linked to great names and events. For instance, Benjamin Franklin used kite to prove the lightening electricity. He flew the kite in the storm. He did this in order to draw lightening from the clouds. He tied a metal key and a strip of silk to the kite line. The silk ribbon would stop the lightening from passing through his body. Benjamin's idea was first laughed at. But later on, it enlightened theinvention of the lightening rod. With such grand history, kite flying is short remain an entertaining and popular sport.Question 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 16: What does the speaker say about kite?Question 17: What did ancient Chinese use cats to do?Question 18: Why did BF flied a kite in the storm?短文2I have learnt many languages, but I'm not mastered them the way the professional interpreter or translator has. Still, they have open doors for me. They have allowed me the opportunity to seek jobs in international contexts and help me get those jobs. Like many people who have lived overseas for a while, I simply got crazy about it.I can't image living my professional or social life without international interactions. Since 1977, I have spent much more time abroad than in the UnitedStates. I like going to new places, eating new foods and experiencing new cultures. If you can speak the language, it's easier to get to know the country and its people. If I had the time and money. I would live for a year in as many countries as possible. Beyond my career, my facility with languages has given me a few rare opportunities. Once, just after I returned my year in Vienna. I was asked to translate for a German judge at Olympic level horse event and learned a lot about the sport.In Japan, once when I was in the studio audience of a TV cooking show, I was asked to go up on the stage and taste the beef dish that was being prepared and tell what I thought. They asked” Was it as good as American beef?” It was very exciting for me to be on Japanese TV, speaking in Japanese about how delicious the beef was.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you've just heard.Question 19 What does the speaker say about herself?Question 20 What does the speaker say about many people who have lived overseas for a while?Question 21 How did the speaker experience of living in Vienna benefit her?Question 22 What was the speaker asked to do in the Japanese studio?短文3Dr. Ben Carsen grew up in a poor single parent house-hold in Detroit. His mother, who had only a 3rd grade education helds two jobs cleaning bathrooms. To his classmates and even to his teachers he was thought of as the dummest kid in his class. According to his own not so fond memories.He had a terrible temper, and once threatened to kill another child. Dr. Carsen was headed down part of seld distraction until a critical moment in his youth. His mother convinced that he had to do something dramatic preventing leading a life of failure laid down some rules. He could notwatch television except for two programs a week, could not play with his friends after school until he finished his homework. And had to read two books a week, and write book reports about them. His mother's strategy worked. “Of course, I didn't know she couldn't read. So there I was submitting these reports.” he said. She would put check marks on them like she had been reading them. As I began to read aboutscientists,economists and philosophers. I started imaging myself in their shoes. As he got into the hobbit of hard work, his grade began to soar. Ultimately he received a scholarship to attending YaleUniversity, and later he was admitted to the University of Michigan Medical School.He is now a leading surgeon at Johns Hopkins Medical School and he is also the author of the three books.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you've just heard.Q23 What do we learn about Ben Carsen ?Q24 What did Ben Caren's classmates and teachers think of him whenhe was first at school?Q25 What did Ben Carsen's mother tell him to do when he was a school boy?Part 4 听写题When you look up at the night sky, what do you see? There are other (26) heavenly bodies out there besides the moon and stars. One of the most (27) fascinating of these is a comet.Comets were formed around the same time the Earth was formed. They are (28) made up of ice and other frozen liquids and gases. (29) Now and then these "dirty snowballs" begin to orbit the sun, just as the planets do.As a comet gets closer to the sun, some gases in it begin to unfreeze. They (30) combine with dust particles from the comet to form a huge cloud. As the comet gets even nearer to the sun, a solar wind blows the cloud behind the comet, thus forming its tail. The tail and the (31) generally fuzzyatmosphere around a comet are (32) characteristics that can help identify this (33) phenomenon in the night sky.In any given year, about a dozen known comets come close to the sun in their orbits. The average person can’t see them all, of course. Usually there is only one or two a year bright enough to be seen with the (34) naked eye. Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered in 1995, was an unusually bright comet. Its orbit brought it (35) relatively close to the Earth, within 122 million miles of it. ButHale-Bopp came a long way on its earthly visit. It won’t be back for another four thousand years or so.参考答案1. B. They enjoyed the movie on space exploration.2. A. At a gift shop.3. C. He declined a job offer from the art gallery.4. D. He will be unable to attend the birthday party.5. B. Set a deadline for the staff to meet.6. A. They way to the visitor's parking.7. D. He has benefited from exercise.8. D. The secretaries in the man's company.9. B. It is used by more people than English.10. C. The influence of the British Empire.11.It includes a lot of words from other languages.12.To place an order13.He is not familiar with the exact details of goods.14.It depends on a number of factors.15.Ring back when she comes to a decision.16. No one knows for sure when they came into being.17.Carry ropes across river.18.To prove the lighting is electricity.19.She can speak several languages.20.They have an intense interest incross-cultural interactions.21.She was able to translate for a German sports judge.22.Taste the beef and give her comment.23.He grew up in a poor single parent household.24.Stupid25.Write two book reports a week.。
2015年12月大学英语四级真题及解析第二套(1)
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. " You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words._______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________Part II Listening Comprehension ( 30 minutes )Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At theend of each conversation, one or more questions will be askedabout what was said. Both the conversation and the questions willbe spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause.During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B),C. and D), and decide which is the best answer.Then mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line throughthe center.1. A. The agenda for the board of directors' meeting.B. The details of the meeting to be held next week.C. The reason for the man's absence from the meeting.D. The time for the man's visit to the woman's company.2.A. At a travel agency.B. At a department store.C. In a library.D. In a post office.3.A. He cannot hear the woman's call.B. He cannot get through to New York.C. He cannot recall the phone number.D. He cannot find a public phone nearby.4.A. Watch a movie with the woman.B. Revise his thesis in the office.C. Do some shopping with Jane.D. Discuss his thesis with Prof. Hudson.5. A. He just cannot work properly without a watch.B. He has no idea where he can buy a gold watch.C. He still does not know where he left his watch.D. He is not sure what went wrong with his watch.6.A. He forgot all about what he said.B. He slipped and hurt his head.C. He was sorry for being off sick last week.D. He thought the woman's car had been sold.7.A. She should try to catch an earlier bus.B. She is absent from his class too often.C. She is always making excuses for being late.D. She should come up with a better excuse.8.A. He is going to help the woman out.B. He has to move out of the building soon.C. He is on his way to see a real estate agent.D. He will stay with the woman's brother.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A. From the wanted cohunn.B. From some of her friends.C. From a telephone directory.D. From a television commercial.10.A. She received full-time education abroad.B. She graduated from an open university.C. She finished her secondary school.D. She studied in a vocational college.11.A. She is a shorthand-typist.B. She works as a tour guide.C. She is a policewoman.D. She teaches an evening class.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A. It provides him with career opportunities.B. It helps enlarge his customer network.C. It has been off and on for ten years.D. It was interrupted for four years.13.A. Individualized service.B. Traditional setting.C. Home-made beer.D. Social games.14.A. The quality of beer.B. The atmosphere.C. The owner's attitude.D. The right location.15.A. It is a rather tough job.B. It is a profitable business.C. It helps old people kill time.D. It makes retirees feel useful.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A , B ,C. and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the center.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A. It is becoming increasingly popular.B. It helps the user to escape reality.C. It gives rise to serious social instability.D. It hurts a person and those around them.17.A. They use drugs just for fun.B. They take drugs to get high.C. They use drugs as medicine.D. They keep drug use a secret.18. A. It is quite common in entertainment circles.B. It is the cause of various social problems.C. It is hard to get rid of.D. It is fatal to the user.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A. Taking up exercises after recovery.B. Producing tasty healthy frozen food.C. Finding new ways to cure heart disease.D. Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital.20.A. It was carefully tested with consumers.B. It was promoted by health organizations.C. It was disapproved by many diet experts.D. It was highly expected by the general public.21.A. Competitive price.B. Low expectations.C. Vigorous promotion.D. Unique ingredients.22. A. It was suggested by the firm's vice-president.B. It matches the food's dark green packaging.C. It has a positive implication for consumers.D. It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A. It is practiced in most of the states.B. It will be abolished sooner or later.C. It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas.D. It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.24. A. Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future.B. Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution.C. What type of criminals should receive it.D. What effect it might have on youngsters.25. A. The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends.B. The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison.C. He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina.D. He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with, the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Some people borrow money and "forget" to pay it back.Large loans are seldom the issue; they are usually treated as business26, with the terms spelled out on paper. But many women suffer27over problems like Carol's "My friend Ginny is always28cash," she says. "I hate to recall how often I've ' loaned' her a dollar or two for a drink or a movie. Each loan is so small I'd feel really cheap making a big deal out of it; still, I do29the fact that she never pays me back. "Carol admits to being "too30or something" to demand repayment, but she has resolved to stop lending money to Ginny. "The last time she asked for five dollars to pay for her dry cleaning, I just told her I couldn't31it. "Another woman suggests a bolder32. "When somebody refuses to repay a loan, I33byrequesting one myself," she says. "'I left home without my wallet,' I'll say. 'Can you lend me enough to cover lunch?' Then, when the money is safely in hand, I am struck by a sudden34Why, this is exactly the amount I loaned you last week ! How35! Now you won't have to repay me'" She says it works like a charm.Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For many Americans,2013 ended with an unusually bitter cold te November and December36early snow and bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country, part of a year when, for the first time in two37, record-cold days will likely turn out to have outnumbered record-warm ones. But the U. S. was the exception: November was the warmest ever38, and current data indicates that 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record. Enjoy the snow now, because39are good that 2014 will be even hotter, perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept. That's because, scientists are predicting,2014 will be an El Nifio Year. El Nino, Spanish for "the child",40when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm. So large is the Pacific, covering 30% of the planet's surface, that the41energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world. El Ninos are42with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia. They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America, even as southern Africa43dry weather. Marine life may be affected too: E1 Ninos can44the rising of the cold, nutrient-rich ( 营养丰富的）water that supports large fish45, and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral ( 珊瑚).A. Additional I. logicallyB. Associated J. occursC. bore K. populationsD. Chances L. realizeE. Communicated M. reduceF. Decades N. SawG. experiences O. SpecificH. globallySection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. How to Eat WellA. Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾. and should really carry warning labels?B. It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the U. S. as there were 20 years ago. nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smart phone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming.C. And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your dally calories (卡路里. outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of our dally calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down－or we do, but we hurry.D. Shouldn't preparing－and consuming－food be a source of comfort, pride, health, well－being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource(外包. this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is so harmful?E. When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three－day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F. Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% "love it" ; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home fiveor more times per week; only a third of young people do.G. Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Morn cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H. Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts ( 催化剂), but the big food companies--which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking－made the home cook an endangered species.I. Still, I find it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well－being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs. J. There have been haft－hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy,mostly plant－based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: by not cooking at home, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate.K. To help quantify (量化). the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消）by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm.L. Cooking real food is the best defense－not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant.M. To those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple: Buy what you can afford,and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store, since that's where fresh produce, meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores.N. The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozenproduce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense: you want to buy food,not unidentifiable food like objects.O. You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than haft of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooking skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysterious about cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving.P. Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your prioritiesto find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead.46. Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another.47. Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV.48. Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days.49. Cooking skills can be improved with practice.50. In the mid-20th century, most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out.51. Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family.52. Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences.53. To eat well and still save money, people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves.54. We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks.55. The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions orunfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C. And D ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential, it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping－where you hand over notes and count out change in return－now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters, like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a comer shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher up the scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores－Victoria Beck ham on Dover Street, for instance－you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa.Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I'm just old－fashioned. But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us. Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in haft a blink (眨眼). of an eye? Doesn't a wallet－that time－honoured Friday－night feeling of pleasing, promising fatness－represent something that matters?But I'll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is the change it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet－the way the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold and silver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets－is the very opposite of what our world is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smart phone or an iPad..The rounded edges, cool glass, smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石). Instead of digging through pieces of paper and peering into corners, we move our fingers left and right. No more counting out coins. Show your wallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer.56. What is happening to the wallet?A. It is disappearing.B. It is being fattened.C. It is becoming costly.D. It is changing in style.57. How are business transactions done in big modern stores?A. Individually.B. Electronically.C. In the abstract.D. Via a cash register.58. What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A. Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B. The pleasing Friday－night feeling is fading.C. Earning money is getting more difficult.D. Spending money is so fast and easy.59. Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet?A. It represents a change in the modern world.B. It has something to do with everybody's life.C. It marks the end of a time－honoured tradition.D. It is the concern of contemporary economists.60. What can we infer from the passage about the author?A. He is resistant to social changes.B. He is against technological progress.C. He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D. He feels insecure in the ever－changing modern world.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch－or wake up early in order not to miss－varies by culture. From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays.Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time. Russians, for example, began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to "winter time" starting on October 26.Russia's other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays. On New Year's Eve, Russians have the world's latest bedtime, hitting the hay at around 3:30 am. Russians also get upan hour later on International Women' s Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives. Similarly, Americans' late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three－day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey (冰球. final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation (剥夺). The worst night for sleep in the U. K. was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half－hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a haft later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it's likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that's the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the most health-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleep are the rest of us losing?61. What does the author say about people's sleeping habits?A. They are culture－related.B. They affect people's health.C. They change with the seasons.D. They vary from person to person.62, What do we learn about the Russians regarding sleep?A)They don't fall asleep until very late.B. They don't sleep much on weekends.C. They get less sleep on public holidays.D. They sleep longer than people elsewhere.63. what is the major cause for Europeans' loss of sleep?A. The daylight savings time.B. The colorful night life.C. The World Cup.D. The summertime.64. what is the most probable reason for some rich people to use a device to record their sleeppatterns?A)They have trouble falling asleep.B. They want to get sufficient sleep.C. They are involved in a sleep research.D. They want to go to bed on regular hours.65. what does the author imply in the last paragraph?A. Sleeplessness does harm to people's health.B. Few people really know the importance of sleep.C. It is important to study our sleep patterns.D. Average people probably sleep less than the rich.Part TV Translation( 30 minutes )Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.云南省的丽江古镇是中国著名的旅游目的地之一。
2015年12月大学英语四级真题第2套听力原文
2015年12月大学英语四级真题第2套听力原文There are more than 400 museums in the US that celebrate the history of the military. But not a single one devoted to American diplomacy. That’s about to change. A new museum celebrating the history of American diplomacy is being built at the US Department of State. The US Diplomacy Center (USDC) will feature 238 years of American diplomatic history, as well as an education area for students interested in diplomatic careers. The USDC has collected over 6 200 objects to display in the new, 20 000-square-foot museum.Building started on the museum in 2014. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with five former Secretaries of State, was present for the ceremony. Once all the funding and design plans are completed, the museum is projected to open in 2017, said a spokesman for the project.1. What is the news report mainly about?2. What can we learn about the project from the news report?A conflict is forming on the streets of New York City between legal and illegal food trucks and carts. The city grants 5 100 food vending permits every two years. The permit is issued by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Most of the permit holders pay $200 to renew their permit every two years. Some permit holders rent their license, or permit, for a profit. Some cart or truck operators pay more than $20 000 for a food vending permit.Because there is greater demand than supply of permits, a black market for the licenses has emerged. It is reported that transferring or renting these permits to another vendor is illegal. But many vendors have turned to this illegal black market forpermits. The vendors say getting a cart or truck permit can take 10 to 15 years. Some vendors work the street unlicensed.3. How much should the permit holders pay to renew the permit?4. Why has a black market for the licenses emerged?A burial place in Washington, DC is using goats instead of poison to remove weeds. Congressional Cemetery is near Capitol Hill. There are more than 65 000 graves there.In recent years, many weeds have grown in the cemetery. Officials did not want to usepoisons, to kill the weeds. The cemetery is near the Anacostia River. Officials have worked for many years to remove pollutants from the river, which runs through the city. So cemetery officials decided to use goats. The animals are less costly than chemicals and do not hurt the environment. And the goats eat a lot of weeds.The animals are owned by Mary Bowen, a farmer. She operates a company called Browsing Green Goats. The cemetery pays her company more than $11 000 to have the goats remove unwanted plants from each hectare of the cemetery. But Mary Bowen says that is about half the cost of using herbicides. She hopes the goats will help more people understand that they can keep their property free of weeds without hurting the environment.5. What new measure is taken to kill the weeds in Congressional Cemetery?6. Why is the new measure taken?7. What does Mary Bowen do?Section BConversation OneM: Ace Employment Agency. Good morning.W: Good morning. I wonder if you can help me. I’m looking for a job.M: I’ll see what we can do. Uh...Have you been to us before?W: No. But you’ve managed to get jobs for some of my friends. So I thought, perhaps, you know...M: Yes, I see. First of all, could you give me your full name?W: Yes, of course. Susan Hollies.M: Good. And could I have your phone number?W: Yes. 7788992.M: Fine. And your date of birth, please?W: Feb. 3rd, 1980.M: Thank you. Now, education. Which school did you go to?W: I went to a secondary school in South T own.M: And have you been to college?W: No. I left full-time education when I was 18.M: I see. Any qualifications?W: Yes. I gained a shorthand and typing diploma at evening classes.M: That’s good. Now, where are you working at the moment?W: Well, I’ve got a job as a shorthand-typist. But I’m not enjoying it very much and it doesn’t pay very well.M: I see. Have you applied for any other jobs?W: Y es. I thought I’d like to be a policewoman. But they turned me down because I was too short.M: What would you like to do now, then?W: Well, I think I’d like to work in a travel agency.M: I see. I think the best thing is for me to see what we might find for you. And then... Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. How did the woman get to know about the man’s company?9. What formal education did the woman receive?10. What do we learn about the woman’s occupation?11. What will the man probably do next?Conversation TwoW: Steve, can you tell me how long you’ve been a pub owner?M: Well, four years, I suppose. I’ve been involved with pubs off and on for ten years. I’ve sort of done hotel work and I’ve also run a restaurant pub. And now I’ve got what you call a good old-fashioned pub. That is a public bar, with all the social games going with it, which is what we’ve always wanted to have, you know.W: It sounds like you’ve always worked in pubs, but not always in this one.M: No, no. I worked in quite a variety of pubs.W: What makes a good pub? I mean, you said, you know, it has got a good variety of things.M: Well, I think having the right customers to start with, selling the right beer, keeping it good, and most of all, keeping a good attitude yourself, even though you probably feel very tired. But the idea is, if you generate from your side, it’s got to affect the other side, if you’re getting the right customers in.W: Yeah. I must say that’s one thing that has always str uck me about being a pub owner. I mean, a lot of people seem to think that it’s a nice job, you know. Everybody says, “Oh, I’d love to retire and get a country pub.” But it seems to me that it’s actually very hard work.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you havejust heard.12. What does the man say about his involvement with pubs?13. What characterizes the old-fashioned pub according to the man?14. What does the man say is the most important in makinga good pub?15. What does the woman think of running a country pub?Section CPassage OneTo help ourselves and others, it’s important to know something about drugs. A drug is a chemical substance. It can bring about a physical, emotional, or mental change in people. Alcohol and tobacco are drugs. Caffeine, a substance found in coffee and some soft drinks, is also a drug.Drug abuse is the use of a drug, legal or illegal, that hurts a person or someone close to him. A drug user is the person who takes the drug. There are many kinds of drug users. Experimental users may try drugs once or twice. They want to see what the effects will be. Recreational users take drugs to get high. They use drugs with friends or at parties to get into the mood of things. Regular users take drugs all the time. But they are often able to keep up with the normal routine of work. Dependent users can’t relate to anything but drugs. Their whole life centers around drugs. They feel extreme mental or physical pain without drugs. It’s not always easy to tell that someone is u sing drugs. In the early stages, drug use is often hard to see. Sometimes, people like drugs or need drugs so much that they can’t do without them. They are dependent upon drugs. Only a few kinds of drugs can cause physical dependence. But almost any drug, when it’s misused, can make a person think he needs it all the time. By thistime, it’s too late and the person is hooked. Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. What does the speaker say about drug abuse?17. What does the speaker say about recreational drug users?18. What does the speaker say about drug dependence?Passage TwoAccording to Charles Harper, Chairman of ConAgra, the Healthy Choice line of frozen dinners began with his own heart attack. It has been brought on by years of eating anything he could get his hands on. As he lay in the hospital recovering, Harper imagined the line of healthy frozen foods that tasted good. The Healthy Choice product line was carefully tested with consumers before being introduced to the general public. ConAgra’s research and development staff spent a year working under the instruction “Whatever the cost, don’t sacrifice taste.” The first test market results surprised even the ConAgra team. The low-sodium, low-fat frozen dinners sold much better than expected. According to the firm’s vice-president of marketing and sales,“We benefited from low expectations. The products were much better than people thought they would be.” This finding supported ConAgra’s decision to position the product against other high-quality frozen dinners rather than as a diet or health food. The new product’s brand name and packaging were an important part of the development process. The name Healthy Choice was chosen for the positive implication it held for consumers. Because ConAgra felt the product would be an impulse purchase, it was important to make the item stand out in the freezer case. This was accomplished through the dark green packaging that not only differed from the competitors but also suggested freshness and richness in vitamins.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. What did Charles Harper think of while he was in hospital?20. What does the passage say about the Healthy Choice product line before it went to market?21. What is said to contribute to ConAgra’s business success?22. What does the speaker say about the name Healthy Choice?Passage ThreeIn the United States, 36 states currently allow capital punishment for serious crimes such as murder. Americans have always argued about the death penalty. Today, there is a serious question about this issue: Should there be a minimum age limit for executingcriminals? In other words, is it right for convicted murderers who kill when they are minors—that is, under the age of 18—to receive the death penalty? In most other countries of the world, there is no capital punishment for minors. In the United States, though, each state makes its own decision. Of the 36 states that allow the death penalty, 30 permit the execution of minors. In the state of South Carolina, a convicted murderer was given the death penalty for a crime he committed while he was a minor. In 1977, when he was 17 years old, James Terry Roach and two friends cruelly murdered three people. Roach’s lawyer fought the decision to execute him. The young murderer remained on Death Row for ten years while his lawyer appealed to the governor. The lawyer argued that it is wrong to execute a person for a crime he committed while he was a minor. In the United States, the governor of a state has the power to change asentence from the death penalty to life in prison. Nonetheless, the governor of South Carolina refused to stop the execution. Roach was finally executed in 1986.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. What does the speaker say about the death penalty in the United States?24. What is the focus of the debate around the death penalty?25. What does the speaker say about James Terry Roach? This is the end of listening comprehension.。
15年12月四级真题答案第二套
15年12月四级真题答案第二套Directions:Write an essay commenting on the saying “Learning is a daily experience and a life mission.”You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning.CET420151202.mp3 来自GDUTICE 00:0026:24 Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will bea pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C. and D), and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre. 1. A. The agenda for the board of directors' meeting. B. The details of the meeting to be held next week. C. The reason for the man's absence from the meeting. D. The time for the man's visit to the woman's company. 2.A. At a travel agency. B. At a department store. C. In a library. D. In a post office. 3.A. He cannot hear the woman's call. B. He cannot get through to New York. C. He cannot recall the phone number. D. He cannot find a public phone nearby. 4.A. Watch a movie with the woman. B. Revise his thesis in the office. C. Do some shopping with Jane. D. Discuss his thesis with Prof. Hudson. 5. A. He just cannot work properly without a watch. B. He has no idea where he can buy a gold watch. C. He still does not know where he left hiswatch. D. He is not sure what went wrong with his watch. 6.A. He forgot all about what he said. B. He slipped and hurt his head. C. He was sorry for being off sick last week. D. He thought the woman's car had been sold. 7.A. She should try to catch an earlier bus. B. She is absent from his class too often. C. She is always making excuses for being late. D. She should come up with a better excuse. 8.A. He is going to help the woman out. B. He has to move out of the building soon. C. He is on his way to see a real estate agent. D. He will stay with the woman's brother. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 9.A. From the wanted cohunn. B. From some of her friends. C. From a telephone directory. D. From a television commercial. 10.A. She received full-time education abroad. B. She graduated from an open university. C. She fmished her secondary school. D. She studied in a vocational college.11.A. She is a shorthand-typist. B. She works as a tour guide. C. She is a policewoman. D. She teaches an evening class. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12.A. It provides him with career opportunities. B. It helps enlarge his customer network. C. It has been off and on for ten years. D. It was interrupted for four years.13.A. Individualized service. B. Traditional setting. C. Home-made beer. D. Social games. 14.A. The quality of beer. B. The atmosphere. C. The owner's attitude. D. The right location. 15.A. It is a rather tough job. B. It is a profitable business. C. It helps old people kill time. D. It makesretirees feel useful. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A , B ,C. and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Passage One Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16.A. It is becoming increasingly popular. B. It helps the user to escape reality.C. It gives rise to serious social instability.D. It hurts a person and those around them. 17.A. They use drugs just for fun. B. They take drugs to get high. C. They use drugs as medicine. D. They keep drug use a secret.18. A. It is quite common in entertainment circles. B. It is the cause of various social problems. C. It is hard to get rid of. D. It is fatal to the user. Passage Two Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19.A. Taking up exercises after recovery. B. Producing tasty healthy frozen food. C. Finding new ways to cure heart disease. D. Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital. 20.A. Itwas carefully tested with consumers. B. It was promoted by health organizations. C. It was disapproved by many diet experts. D. It was highly expected by the general public. 21.A. Competitive price. B. Low expectations. C. Vigorous promotion. D. Unique ingredients. 22. A. It was suggested by the firm's vice-president. B. It matches the food's dark green packaging.C. It has a positive implication for consumers.D. It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing. Passage Three Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 23.A. It is practiced in most of the states. B. It will be abolished sooner or later. C. It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas. D. It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.24. A. Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future. B. Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution. C. What type of criminals should receive it. D. What effect it might have on youngsters. 25. A. The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends. B. The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison. C. He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina. D. He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with, the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Some people borrow money and "forget" to pay it back. Large loans are seldom the issue; they are usually treated as business（26）, with the terms spelled out on paper. But many women suffer（27）over problems like Carol's "My friend Ginny is always28cash," she says. "I hate to recall how often I've ' loaned' her a dollar or two for adrink or a movie. Each loan is so small I'd feel really cheap making a big deal out of it; still, I do（29）the fact that she never pays me back. "Carol admits to being "too（30）or something" to demand repayment, but she has resolved tostop lending money to Ginny. "The last time she asked for five dollars to pay for her dry cleaning, I just told her I couldn't（31）it. "Another woman suggests a bolder（32）. "When somebody refuses to repay a loan, I（33）byrequesting one myself," she says. "'I left home without my wallet,' I'll say. 'Can you lend meenough to cover lunch?' Then, when the money is safely in hand, I am struck by a sudden（34）Why, this is exactly the amount I loaned you last week ! How（35）! Now you won't have to repay me'" She says it works like a charm.Section A Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank isidentified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage. For many Americans,2013 ended with an unusually bitter cold te November and December（36）early snow and bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country, part of a year when, for the firsttime in two（37）, record-cold days will likely turn out to have oumumbered record-warm ones. But the U. S. was the exception: November was the warmest ever（38）, and current data indicates that 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record. Enjoy the snow now, because（39）are good that 2014 will be even hotter, perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept. That's because, scientists are predicting,2014 will be an El Nifio Year. El Nino, Spanish for "the child",（40）when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm. So large is the Pacific, covering 30% of the planet's surface, that the（41）energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world. El Ninos are（42）with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia. They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America, even as southern Africa（43）dry weather. Marine life may be affected too: E1 Ninos can（44）the rising of the cold, nutrient-rich ( 营养丰富的）water that supports large fish（45）, and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral ( 珊瑚). A. Additional B. Associated C. bore D. Chances E. Communicated F. Decades G. experiences H. globally I. logically J. occurs K. populations L. realize M. reduce N. Saw O. Specific Section B Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. How to Eat Well A. Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾. and should really carry warning labels? B. It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the U. S. as there were 20 years ago. nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smartphone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming.C. And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your dally calories (卡路里. outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of our dally calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down－or we do, but we hurry.D. Shouldn't preparing－and consuming－food be a source of comfort, pride, health, weli－being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource(外包. this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is soharmful? E. When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three－day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F. Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% "love it" ; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home five or more times per week; only a third of young people do.G. Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Morn cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H. Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts ( 催化剂), but the big food companies--which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking－made the home cook an endangered species.I. Still, I fmd itstrange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well－being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs. J. There have been haft－hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy,mostly plant－based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: bynot cooking athome, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate. K. To help quantify (量化). the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消）by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm. L. Cooldng real food is the best defense －not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant. M. To those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple: Buy what you can afford,and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store, since that's where fresh produce,meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores. N. The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozen produce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense: you want to buy food,not unidentifiable foodlike objects. O. You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than haft of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooldng skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysterious about cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving. P. Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your priorities to find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen andwatch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead. 46. Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another. 47. Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV. 48. Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days. 49. Cooking skills can be improved with practice. 50. In the mid-20th century, most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out. 51. Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family. 52. Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences. 53. To eat well and still save money, people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves. 54. We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks. 55. The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food. Section C Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C. and D ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Passage One The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential, it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping－where you hand over notes and count out change in return－now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters, like buying a bar of chocolateor a pint of milk from a comer shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher up the scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores－Victoria Beckham on Dover Street, for instance－you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa. Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I'm just old－fashioned. But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us. Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in haft a blink (眨眼). of an eye? Doesn't a wallet－that time－honoured Friday－night feeling of pleasing, promisingfatness－represent something that matters? But I'll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is thechange it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet－theway the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold andsilver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets－is the very opposite of what ourworld is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smartphone or an iPad..The rounded edges, coolglass, smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石). Instead of digging through pieces of paper andpeering into corners, we move our fingers left and right. Nomore counting out coins. Show yourwallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer. 56. What is happening to the wallet? A. It is disappearing. B. It is being fattened. C. It is becoming costly. D. It is changing in style. 57. How are business transactions done in big modern stores? A. Individually. B. Electronically. C. In the abstract. D. Via a cash register. 58. What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays? A. Saving money is becoming a thing of the past. B. The pleasing Friday－night feeling is fading. C. Earning money is getting more difficult. D. Spending money is so fast and easy. 59. Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet? A. It represents a change in the modern world. B. It has something to do with everybody's life. C. It marks the end of a time－honoured tradition. D. It is the concern of contemporary economists. 60. What can we infer from the passage about the author? A. He is resistant to social changes. B. He is against technological progress. C. He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet. D. He feels insecure in the ever－changing modern world. Passage Two Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch－or wake up early in order not to miss－varies by culture. From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays. Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time. Russians, for example, began to wake upabout a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to "winter time" starting on October 26.Russia's other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays. On New Year's Eve, Russians have the world's latest bedtime, hitting the hay at around 3:30 am. Russians also get up an hour later on International Women's Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives. Similarly, Americans' late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three－day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey (冰球. final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation (剥夺). The worst night for sleep in the U. K. was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half－hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a haft later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup. It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it's likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that's the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the mosthealth-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleeg are the rest of us losing? 61. What does the author say about people's sleeping habits? A. They are culture－related. B. They affect people's health. C. They change with the seasons. D. They vary from person to person.。
2015年12月四级真题(第2套)
2015年12月四级真题(第2套)新题型2015年12月四级真题(第2套)Part Ⅰ Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying "Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission." You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.____________注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then markthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015年12月四级真题(第2套)
[ti:][ar:][al:][by:][00:04.17]College English Test Band Four[00:07.05]Part Two Listening Comprehension[00:10.45]Section A[00:13.49]Directions: In this section,[00:16.08]you will hear three news reports.[00:19.11]At the end of each news report,[00:21.52]you will hear two or three questions.[00:23.64]Both the news report and the questions[00:27.00]will be spoken only once.[00:30.03]After you hear a question,[00:32.13]you must choose the best answer from the four choices [00:35.61]marked A), B), C) and D).[00:39.41]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 [00:43.92]with a single line through the centre.[00:47.25]Questions 1 and 2 will be based[00:49.56]on the following news item.[00:53.60]There are more than 400 museums in the US[00:56.52]that celebrate the history of the military.[00:59.13]But not a single one devoted to American diplomacy. [01:02.98]That’s about to change.[01:05.10]A new museum celebrating the history[01:07.45]of American diplomacy is being built[01:10.19]at the US Department of State.[01:12.59]The US Diplomacy Center (USDC) will feature 238 years [01:19.10]of American diplomatic history,[01:21.30]as well as an education area[01:22.85]for students interested in diplomatic careers.[01:26.79]The USDC has collected over 6 200 objects[01:30.86]to display in the new,[01:32.19]20 000-square-foot museum.[01:34.97]Building started on the museum in 2014.[01:39.40]Secretary of State John Kerry,[01:41.92]along with five former Secretaries of State,[01:44.34]was present for the ceremony.[01:46.18]Once all the funding and design plans are completed, [01:49.67]the museum is projected to open in 2017,[01:53.24]said a spokesman for the project.[01:56.19]1. What is the news report mainly about?[02:15.40]2. What can we learn about the project[02:19.22]from the news report?[02:35.56]Questions 3 and 4 will be based[02:37.33]on the following news item.[02:39.94]A conflict is forming on the streets[02:42.77]of New York City between legal[02:44.89]and illegal food trucks and carts.[02:48.02]The city grants 5 100 food vending permits every two years. [02:54.43]The permit is issued by the Department[02:56.31]of Health and Mental Hygiene.[02:58.73]Most of the permit holders pay $200[03:02.09]to renew their permit every two years.[03:05.43]Some permit holders rent their license, or permit,[03:09.05]for a profit.[03:11.43]Some cart or truck operators pay more than[03:14.24]$20 000 for a food vending permit.[03:17.67]Because there is greater demand than supply of permits, [03:21.62]a black market for the licenses has emerged.[03:25.03]It is reported that transferring or renting these permits [03:27.97]to another vendor is illegal.[03:30.61]But many vendors have turned[03:32.79]to this illegal black market for permits.[03:35.44]The vendors say getting a cart or[03:37.31]truck permit can take 10 to 15 years.[03:41.58]Some vendors work the street unlicensed.[03:45.18]3. How much should the permit holders pay[03:48.65]to renew the permit?[04:04.94]4. Why has a black market for the licenses emerged? [04:24.76]Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item. [04:31.04]A burial place in Washington,[04:32.51]DC is using goats instead of poison to remove weeds. [04:37.49]Congressional Cemetery is near Capitol Hill.[04:40.97]There are more than 65 000 graves there.[04:44.31]In recent years,[04:45.61]many weeds have grown in the cemetery.[04:48.58]Officials did not want to use poisons,[04:50.85]to kill the weeds.[04:52.78]The cemetery is near the Anacostia River.[04:56.21]Officials have worked for many years[04:58.09]to remove pollutants from the river,[05:00.14]which runs through the city.[05:02.24]So cemetery officials decided to use goats.[05:06.00]The animals are less costly than chemicals[05:08.14]and do not hurt the environment.[05:10.82]And the goats eat a lot of weeds.[05:13.98]The animals are owned by Mary Bowen, a farmer.[05:18.30]She operates a company called Browsing Green Goats. [05:22.45]The cemetery pays her company more than[05:24.27]$11 000 to have the goats remove unwanted plants [05:28.36]from each hectare of the cemetery.[05:31.24]But Mary Bowen says that is[05:33.02]about half the cost of using herbicides.[05:36.01]She hopes the goats will help[05:37.31]more people understand that[05:38.86]they can keep their property free of weeds[05:41.48]without hurting the environment.[05:45.53]5. What new measure is taken to kill the weeds[05:50.73]in Congressional Cemetery?[06:07.66]6. Why is the new measure taken?[06:26.47]7. What does Mary Bowen do?[06:45.65]Section B[06:47.14]Directions: In this section,[06:49.89]you will hear two long conversations.[06:52.86]At the end of each conversation,[06:54.66]you will hear four questions.[06:56.78]Both the conversation and the questions[06:59.23]will be spoken only once.[07:01.74]After you hear a question,[07:03.89]you must choose the best answer from the four choices [07:06.68]marked A), B), C) and D).[07:10.49]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 [07:14.37]with a single line through the centre.[07:17.68]Conversation One[07:20.54]M: Ace Employment Agency. Good morning.[07:23.04]W: Good morning. I wonder if you can help me. [07:25.89]I’m looking for a job.[07:27.56]M: I’ll see what we can do.[07:29.44]Uh...Have you been to us before?[07:31.56]W: No. But you’ve managed to get jobs[07:33.98]for some of my friends.[07:35.73]So I thought, perhaps, you know...[07:37.75]M: Yes, I see. First of all,[07:40.55]could you give me your full name?[07:42.39]W: Yes, of course. Susan Hollies.[07:44.86]M: Good. And could I have your phone number? [07:47.60]W: Yes. 7788992.[07:51.41]M: Fine. And your date of birth, please?[07:53.94]W: Feb. 3rd, 1980.[07:56.57]M: Thank you. Now, education.[07:59.18]Which school did you go to?[08:01.36]W: I went to a secondary school in South Town. [08:04.10]M: And have you been to college?[08:06.27]W: No. I left full-time education when I was 18. [08:09.96]M: I see. Any qualifications?[08:12.86]W: Yes. I gained a shorthand and typing diploma [08:15.96]at evening classes.[08:17.46]M: That’s good.[08:18.49]Now, where are you working at the moment?[08:21.54]W: Well, I’ve got a job as a shorthand-typist. [08:24.38]But I’m not enjoying it very much[08:26.73]and it doesn’t pay very well.[08:28.59]M: I see.[08:29.70]Have you applied for any other jobs?[08:31.72]W: Yes. I thought I’d like to be a policewoman. [08:34.81]But they turned me down because I was too short. [08:38.43]M: What would you like to do now, then?[08:40.94]W: Well, I think I’d like to work[08:43.45]in a travel agency.[08:45.11]M: I see. I think the best thing is for me[08:48.53]to see what we might find for you.[08:51.13]And then...[08:53.87]Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation[08:56.99]you have just heard.[09:00.00]8. How did the woman get to know about the man’s company? [09:20.54]9. What formal education did the woman receive?[09:41.03]10. What do we learn about the woman’s occupation? [10:01.09]11. What will the man probably do next?[10:20.55]Conversation Two[10:23.01]W: Steve, can you tell me[10:24.29]how long you’ve been a pub owner?[10:26.83]M: Well, four years, I suppose.[10:29.42]I’ve been involved with pubs off and on for ten years.[10:33.20]I’ve sort of done hotel work and[10:35.81]I’ve also run a restaurant pub.[10:37.88]And now I’ve got what you call a good old-fashioned pub. [10:41.91]That is a public bar,[10:43.62]with all the social games going with it,[10:46.01]which is what we’ve always wanted to have, you know. [10:48.67]W: It sounds like you’ve always worked in pubs,[10:51.13]but not always in this one.[10:53.37]M: No, no. I worked in quite a variety of pubs.[10:56.81]W: What makes a good pub?[10:58.37]I mean, you said, you know,[10:59.88]it has got a good variety of things.[11:02.47]M: Well, I think having the right customers to start with,[11:07.28]selling the right beer,[11:08.56]keeping it good,[11:09.95]and most of all,[11:10.93]keeping a good attitude yourself,[11:13.15]even though you probably feel very tired.[11:15.92]But the idea is,[11:17.81]if you generate from your side,[11:19.82]it’s got to affect the other side,[11:21.58]if you’re getting the right customers in.[11:23.50]W: Yeah.[11:24.29]I must say that’s one thing that has always[11:26.36]struck me about being a pub owner.[11:28.54]I mean, a lot of people seem to think[11:30.46]that it’s a nice job, you know.[11:32.50]Everybody says,[11:33.34]“Oh, I’d love to retire and get a country pub.”[11:36.56]But it seems to me that it’s actually very hard work.[11:40.86]Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation[11:44.16]you have just heard.[11:46.18]12. What does the man say about his involvement with pubs?[12:06.03]13. What characterizes the old-fashioned pub[12:10.69]according to the man?[12:27.14]14. What does the man say is the most important[12:31.29]in making a good pub?[12:48.30]15. What does the woman think of running a country pub? [13:06.71]Section C[13:08.66]Directions: In this section,[13:11.49]you will hear three passages.[13:14.01]At the end of each passage,[13:15.60]you will hear some questions.[13:17.72]Both the passage and the questions[13:19.93]will be spoken only once.[13:23.30]After you hear a question,[13:24.87]you must choose the best answer from the four choices [13:28.01]marked A), B), C) and D).[13:31.81]Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 [13:35.09]with a single line through the centre.[13:39.64]Passage One[13:42.18]To help ourselves and others,[13:44.33]it’s important to know something about drugs.[13:47.95]A drug is a chemical substance.[13:50.38]It can bring about a physical,[13:52.56]emotional, or mental change in people.[13:56.35]Alcohol and tobacco are drugs.[13:59.30]Caffeine, a substance found in coffee[14:02.01]and some soft drinks, is also a drug.[14:05.60]Drug abuse is the use of a drug,[14:07.88]legal or illegal,[14:09.73]that hurts a person or someone close to him.[14:13.29]A drug user is the person who takes the drug.[14:16.46]There are many kinds of drug users.[14:19.43]Experimental users may try drugs once or twice.[14:23.71]They want to see what the effects will be.[14:26.41]Recreational users take drugs to get high.[14:30.10]They use drugs with friends or at parties[14:32.44]to get into the mood of things.[14:35.23]Regular users take drugs all the time.[14:38.55]But they are often able to keep up[14:40.35]with the normal routine of work.[14:43.52]Dependent users can’t relate to anything but drugs. [14:48.35]Their whole life centers around drugs.[14:51.64]They feel extreme mental or physical pain without drugs. [14:56.67]It’s not always easy to tell that someone is using drugs. [15:00.86]In the early stages,[15:02.27]drug use is often hard to see.[15:04.63]Sometimes, people like drugs or need drugs[15:07.40]so much that they can’t do without them.[15:10.18]They are dependent upon drugs.[15:13.04]Only a few kinds of drugs can cause physical dependence. [15:16.93]But almost any drug,[15:18.39]when it’s misused,[15:19.67]can make a person think he needs it all the time. [15:23.50]By this time,[15:24.88]it’s too late and the person is hooked.[15:29.30]Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage[15:32.38]you have just heard.[15:34.39]16. What does the speaker say about drug abuse? [15:53.94]17. What does the speaker say[15:57.41]about recreational drug users?[16:14.82]18. What does the speaker say about drug dependence? [16:34.34]Passage Two[16:36.39]According to Charles Harper,[16:38.03]Chairman of ConAgra,[16:39.81]the Healthy Choice line of frozen dinners[16:42.22]began with his own heart attack.[16:44.99]It has been brought on by years of[16:46.76]eating anything he could get his hands on.[16:49.83]As he lay in the hospital recovering,[16:52.33]Harper imagined the line of healthy frozen foods [16:55.54]that tasted good.[16:57.77]The Healthy Choice product line was carefully[17:00.02]tested with consumers before being introduced[17:03.02]to the general public.[17:05.34]ConAgra’s research and development staff[17:07.83]spent a year working under the instruction[17:10.82]“Whatever the cost, don’t sacrifice taste.”[17:14.98]The first test market results surprised[17:17.22]even the ConAgra team.[17:19.48]The low-sodium, low-fat frozen dinners[17:22.07]sold much better than expected.[17:24.84]According to the firm’s vice-president[17:27.01]of marketing and sales,[17:28.77]“We benefited from low expectations.[17:31.94]The products were much better than people[17:33.94]thought they would be.”[17:35.98]This finding supported ConAgra’s decision[17:38.35]to position the product against other high-quality [17:41.36]frozen dinners rather than as a diet or health food. [17:45.39]The new product’s brand name and packaging [17:47.61]were an important part of the development process. [17:51.36]The name Healthy Choice was chosen[17:53.80]for the positive implication it held for consumers. [17:57.48]Because ConAgra felt the product[17:59.82]would be an impulse purchase,[18:01.78]it was important to make the item stand out[18:04.25]in the freezer case.[18:06.22]This was accomplished through the dark green packaging [18:08.69]that not only differed from the competitors[18:11.34]but also suggested freshness and richness in vitamins.[18:16.62]Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage[18:20.54]you have just heard.[18:23.40]19. What did Charles Harper think of[18:28.07]while he was in hospital?[18:44.58]20. What does the passage say[18:47.77]about the Healthy Choice product line[18:49.99]before it went to market?[19:07.04]21. What is said to contribute[19:10.63]to ConAgra’s business success?[19:27.94]22. What does the speaker say[19:31.33]about the name Healthy Choice?[19:49.17]Passage Three[19:51.87]In the United States,[19:53.33]36 states currently allow capital punishment[19:56.70]for serious crimes such as murder.[20:00.01]Americans have always argued about the death penalty. [20:03.45]Today, there is a serious question about this issue:[20:07.42]Should there be a minimum age limit for executing criminals? [20:11.75]In other words,[20:12.70]is it right for convicted murderers[20:14.94]who kill when they are minors—that is,[20:17.34]under the age of 18—to receive the death penalty?[20:21.15]In most other countries of the world,[20:23.32]there is no capital punishment for minors.[20:26.33]In the United States,[20:27.37]though, each state makes its own decision.[20:30.92]Of the 36 states that allow the death penalty,[20:33.88]30 permit the execution of minors.[20:37.06]In the state of South Carolina,[20:39.28]a convicted murderer was given the death penalty[20:41.85]for a crime he committed while he was a minor.[20:45.50]In 1977, when he was 17 years old,[20:49.34]James Terry Roach and two friends[20:51.98]cruelly murdered three people.[20:54.82]Roach’s lawyer fought the decision to execute him. [20:58.92]The young murderer remained on Death Row[21:01.73]for ten years while his lawyer appealed to the governor. [21:05.57]The lawyer argued that it is wrong[21:07.61]to execute a person for a crime[21:09.97]he committed while he was a minor.[21:12.98]In the United States,[21:14.48]the governor of a state has the power[21:16.63]to change a sentence from the death penalty to life in prison. [21:21.37]Nonetheless, the governor of South Carolina[21:24.11]refused to stop the execution.[21:26.89]Roach was finally executed in 1986.[21:31.70]Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage[21:35.11]you have just heard.[21:37.15]23. What does the speaker say about the death penalty [21:41.49]in the United States?[21:58.06]24. What is the focus of the debate around the death penalty? [22:18.39]25. What does the speaker say about James Terry Roach? [22:38.78]This is the end of listening comprehension.。
2015.12 英语四级考试真题试卷第2套
Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For many Americans, 2013 ended with an unusually bitter cold spell. Late November and December __36__ early snow arid bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country, part of a year when, for the first time in two __37__ , record-cold days will likely turn out to have outnumbered record-warm ones. But the U. S. was the exception; November was the warmest ever __38__ , and current data indicates that 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record.Enjoy the snow now, because __39__ are good that 2014 will be even hotter, perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept. That's because, scientists are predicting, 2014 will be an El Nino year.El Nino, Spanish for "the child" , __40__ when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm. So large is the Pacific, covering 30% of the planet's surface, that the __41__ energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world. El Ninos are __42__ with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia. They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America, even as southern Africa __43__ dry weather. Marine life may be affected too: El Ninos can __44__ the rising of the cold, nutrient-rich (营养丰富的) water that supports large fish __45__ , and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral (珊瑚).A) additionalB) associatedC) boreD) chancesE) communicatedF) decadesG) experiencesH) globallyI) logicallyJ) occursK) populationsL) realizeM) reduceN) sawO) specific参考答案：NFHDJ ABGMKHow to Eat WellA) Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾) should really carry warning labels?B) It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the U. S. as there were 20 years ago. Nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smartphone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming.C) And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your daily calories (卡路里) outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of our daily calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down-or we do, but we hurry.D) Shouldn't preparing-and consuming-food be a source of comfort, pride, health, well-being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource(外包) this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is so harmful?E) When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three-day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F) Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% "love it" ; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home five or more times per week; only a third of young people do.G) Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Mom cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H) Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts (催化剂), but the big food companies—which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking—made the home cook an endangered species.I) Still, I find it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craftcooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well-being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs.J) There have been half-hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy, mostly plant-based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: by not cooking at home, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate.K) To help quantify (量化) the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消) by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm. L) Cooking real food is the best defense—not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant.M) To those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple; Buy what you can afford, and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store, since that's where fresh produce, meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores.N) The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozen produce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense; you want to buy food, not unidentifiable foodlike objects.O) You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than half of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooking skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysterious about cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving.P) Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your priorities to find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead.46. Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another.47. Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV.48. Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days.49. Cooking skills can be improved with practice.50. In the mid-20th century, most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out.51. Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family.52. Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences.53. To eat well and still save money, people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves.54. We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks.55. The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food.参考答案：DBFOG EJMCHPassage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential, it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping-where you hand over notes and count out change in return-now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters, like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a corner shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher up the scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores-Victoria Beckham on Dover Street, for instance-you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa.Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned. But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us. Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in half a blink (眨眼) of an eye? Doesn't a wallet-that time-honoured Friday-night feeling of pleasing, promising fatness-represent something that matters?But I'll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is the change it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet-the way the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold and silver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets-is the very opposite of what our world is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smartphone or an iPad. The rounded edges, cool glass, smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石). Instead of digging through pieces of paper and peering into comers, we move our fingers left and right. No more counting out coins. Show your wallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer.56. What is happening to the wallet?A) It is disappearing.B) It is being fattened.C) It is becoming costly.D) It is changing in style.57. How are business transactions done in big modern stores?A) Individually.B) Electronically.C) In the abstract.D) Via a cash register.58. What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A) Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B) The pleasing Friday-night feeling is fading.C) Earning money is getting more difficult.D) Spending money is so fast and easy.59. Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet?A) It represents a change in the modern world.B) It has something to do with everybody's life.C) It marks the end of a time-honoured tradition.D) It is the concern of contemporary economists.60. What can we infer from the passage about the author?A) He is resistant to social changes.B) He is against technological progress.C) He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D) He feels insecure in the ever-changing modern world.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch-or wake up early in order not to miss?varies by culture.From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays.Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time. Russians, for example, began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to "winter time" starting on October 26. Russia's other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays. On New Year's Eve, Russians have the world's latest bedtime, hitting the hay at around 3:30 a. m. Russians also get up an hour later on International Women's Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly, Americans' late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey (冰球) final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation (剥夺). The worst night for sleep in the U. K. was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summernights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a half later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it's likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that's the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the most health-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleep are the rest of us losing?注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
英语四级真题2015年12月英语四级考试真题(第2套)大学英语四级(CET-4)真题试卷及参考答案
2015年12月英语四级考试真题试卷（第二套）Part I Writing(30minutes)Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying "Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission."You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上_______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ PartⅡListening Comprehension(30minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear8short conversations and2long conversations.At the end of each conversation,one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.After each question there will be a pause.During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A,B,C,and D.and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer.Sheet I with a single line through the center.1.A)The agenda for the board of directors'meeting.B)The details of the meeting to be held next week.C)The reason for the man's absence from the meeting.D)The time for the man's visit to the woman's company.2.A)At a travel agency.B)At a department store.C)In a library.D)In a post office.3.A)He cannot hear the woman's call.B)He cannot get through to New York.C)He cannot recall the phone number.D)He cannot find a public phone nearby.4.A)Watch a movie with the woman.B)Revise his thesis in the office.C)Do some shopping with Jane.D)Discuss his thesis with Prof.Hudson.5.A)He just cannot work properly without a watch.B)He has no idea where he can buy a gold watch.C)He still does not know where he left his watch.D)He is not sure what went wrong with his watch.6.A)He forgot all about what he said.B)He slipped and hurt his head.C)He was sorry for being off sick last week.D)He thought the woman's car had been sold.7.A)She should try to catch an earlier bus.B)She is absent from his class too often.C)She is always making excuses for being late.D)She should come up with a better excuse.8.A)He is going to help the woman out.B)He has to move out of the building soon.C)He is on his way to see a real estate agent.D)He will stay with the woman's brother. Questions9to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A)From the wanted column.B)From some of her friends.C)From a telephone directory.D)From a television commercial.10.A)She received full-time education abroad.B)She graduated from an open university.C)She finished her secondary school.D)She studied in a vocational college.11.A)She is a shorthand-typist.B)She works as a tour guide.C)She is a policewoman.D)She teaches an evening class.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)It provides him with career opportunities.B)It helps enlarge his customer network.C)It has been off and on for ten yearsD)It was interrupted for four years.13.A)Individualized service.B)Traditional setting.C)Home-made beer.D)Social games.14.A)The quality of beer.B)The atmosphere.C)The owner's attitude.D)The right location.15.A)It is a rather tough job.B)It is a profitable business.C)It helps old people kill time.D)It makes retirees feel useful.Section BDirections：In this section,you will hear3short passages.At the end of each passage,you will hear some questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A,B,C.and D.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the center. Passage OneQuestions16to18are based on the conversation you have just heard.16.A)It is becoming increasingly popular.B)It helps the user to escape reality.C)It gives rise to serious social instability.D)It hurts a person and those around them.17.A)They use drugs just for fun.B)They take drugs to get high.C)They use drugs as medicine.D)They keep drug use a secret.18.A)It is quite common in entertainment circles.B)It is the cause of various social problems.C)It is hard to get rid of.D)It is fatal to the user.Passage TwoQuestions19to22are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)Taking up exercises after recovery.B)Producing tasty healthy frozen food.C)Finding new ways to cure heart disease.D)Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital.20.A)It was carefully tested with consumers.B)It was promoted by health organizations.C)It was disapproved by many diet experts.D)It was highly expected by the general public.21.A)Competitive price.B)Low expectations.C)Vigorous promotion.D)Unique ingredients.22.A)It was suggested by the firm's vice-president.B)It matches the food's dark green packaging.C)It has a positive implication for consumers.D)It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing.Passage ThreeQuestions23to25are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A)It is practiced in most of the states.B)It will be abolished sooner or later.C)It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas.D)It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.24.A)Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future.B)Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution.C)What type of criminals should receive it.D)What effect it might have on youngsters.25.A)The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends.B)The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison.C)He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina.D)He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor.Section CDirections:In this section,you will hear a passage three times.When the passage is read for the first time,you should listen carefully for its general idea.When the passage is read for the second time,you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard.Finally,when the passage is read for the third time,you should check what you have written.Some people borrow money and"forget"to pay it back.Large loans are seldom the issue;they are usually treated as business__26__,with the terms spelled out on paper.But many women suffer__27__over problems like Carol's"My friend Ginny is always__28__cash,"she says."I hate to recall how often I've'loaned'her a dollar or two for a drink or a movie.Each loan is so small I'd feel really cheap making a big deal out of it; still.I do__29__the fact that she never pays me back."Carol admits to being"too__30__or something"to demand repayment,but she has resolved to stop lending money to Ginny."The last time she asked for five dollars to pay for her dry cleaning, I just told her I couldn't__31__it."Another woman suggests a bolder__32__."When somebody refuses to repay a loan,I__33__ by requesting one myself,"she says.I left home without my wallet,'I'll say.'Can you lend me enough to cover lunch?'Then,when the money is safely in hand,I am struck by a sudden__34__. 'Why,this is exactly the amount I loaned you last week!How__35__!Now you won't have to repay me!"'She says it works like a charm.PartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet2with a single line through the center.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions36to45are based on the following passage.For many Americans,2013ended with an unusually bitter cold te November and December__36__early snow arid bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country,part of a year when,for the first time in two__37__,record-cold days will likely turn out to have outnumbered record-warm ones.But the U.S.was the exception;November was the warmest ever__38__,and current data indicates that2013is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record.Enjoy the snow now,because__39__are good that2014will be even hotter,perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept.That's because,scientists are predicting,2014will be an El Nino year.El Nino,Spanish for"the child",__40__when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm.So large is the Pacific,covering30%of the planet's surface,that the __41__energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world.El Ninos are__42__with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia.They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America,even as southern Africa__43__dry weather.Marine life may be affected too:El Ninos can__44__the rising of the cold,nutrient-rich(营养丰富的)water that supports large fish__45__,and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral(珊瑚).A)additional B)associated C)bore D)chances E)communicatedF)decades G)experiences H)globally I)logically J)occursK)populations L)realize M)reduce N)saw O)specificSection BDirections:In this section,you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs.Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2.How to Eat WellA)Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food,the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾)should really carry warning labels?B)It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by.Supermarkets offer more variety than ever,and there are over four times as many farmers'markets in the U.S.as there were20years ago.Nor is it for lack of available information.There are plenty of recipes(食谱),how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer,smartphone or television.If anything,the information is overwhelming.C)And yet we aren't cooking.If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans,you probably get at least a third of your daily calories(卡路里)outside the home.Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week,and we get almost25%of our daily calories from snacks.So we're eating out or taking in,and we don't sit down-or we do,but we hurry.D)Shouldn't preparing-and consuming-food be a source of comfort,pride,health,well-being, relaxation,sociability?Something that connects us to other humans?Why would we want to outsource(外包)this basic task,especially when outsourcing it is so harmful?E)When I talk about cooking,I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three-day science projects.I'm talking about simple,easy,everyday meals.My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves.That means we need modest, realistic expectations,and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F)Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off.A recent Harris poll revealed that79%of Americans say they enjoy cooking and30%"love it";14%admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just7%won't go near the stove at all.But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking,and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone:52%of those65or older cook at home five or more times per week;only a third of young people do.G)Back in the1950s most of us grew up in households where Mom cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal.Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H)Although frozen dinners were invented in the'40s,their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later.Since then,packaged,pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner.The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts(催化剂), but the big food companies—which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking—made the home cook an endangered species.I)Still,I find it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking?And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well-being of the planet?If these are truly the values of many young people,then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs.J)There have been half-hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods,but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy,mostly plant-based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough,the picture is clear:by not cooking at home,we're not eating the right things,and the consequences are hard to overstate.K)To help quantify(量化)the costs of a poor diet,I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food,the burger(汉堡包).I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset(抵消)by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm.L)Cooking real food is the best defense—not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about200fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant.M)To those Americans for whom money is a concern,my advice is simple;Buy what you can afford,and cook it yourself.The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store,since that's where fresh produce,meat and seafood,and dairy are.And to save money and still eat well you don't need local,organic ingredients;all you need is real food.I'm not saying local food isn't better;it is.But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores.N)The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods.Frozenproduce is still produce;canned tomatoes are still tomatoes.Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar.Ask yourself,would Grandma consider this food?Does it look like something that might occur in nature?It's pretty much common sense;you want to buy food,not unidentifiable foodlike objects.O)You don't have to hit the grocery store daily,nor do you need an abundance of skill.Since fewer than half of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only20%describe their cooking skills as advanced,the crisis is one of confidence.And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysterious about cooking the evening meal.You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner.Like any skill,cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook,you advance your level of skills.Someday you won't even need recipes.My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients,because they can be deceiving.P)Time,I realize,is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people.You must adjust your priorities to find time to cook.For instance,you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink.No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV,try cooking instead.46.Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another.47.Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV.48.Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days.49.Cooking skills can be improved with practice.50.In the mid-20th century,most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out.51.Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family.52.Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences.53.To eat well and still save money,people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves.54.We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks.55.The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food.Section CDirections:There are2passages in this section.Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A,B,C.And D.You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer.Sheet2with a single line through the center.Passage OneQuestions56to60are based on the following passage.The wallet is heading for extinction.As a day-to-day essential,it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers.The kind of shopping-where you hand over notes and count out change in return-now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters,like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a corner shop.At the shops where you spend any real money,that money is increasingly abstracted.And this is more and more true,the higher up the scale you go.At the most cutting-edge retail stores-Victoria Beckham on Dover Street,for instance-you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay.The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa.Which is nothing more or less than excellent service,if you have the money.But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy.Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us.Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in half a blink(眨眼)of an eye?Doesn't a wallet-that time-honoured Friday-night feeling of pleasing, promising fatness-represent something that matters?But I'll leave the economics to the experts.What bothers me about the death of the wallet is the change it represents in our physical environment.Everything about the look and feel of a wallet-the way the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age,the plastic and paper and gold and silver,and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets-is the very opposite of what our world is becoming.The opposite of a wallet is a smartphone or an iPad.The rounded edges,cool glass,smooth and unknowable as a pebble(鹅卵石).Instead of digging through pieces of paper and peering into comers,we move our fingers left and right.No more counting out coins.Show your wallet,if you still have one.It may not be here much longer.56.What is happening to the wallet?A)It is disappearing.B)It is being fattened.C)It is becoming costly.D)It is changing in style.57.How are business transactions done in big modern stores?A)Individually.B)Electronically.C)In the abstract.D)Via a cash register.58.What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A)Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B)The pleasing Friday-night feeling is fading.C)Earning money is getting more difficult.D)Spending money is so fast and easy.59.Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet?A)It represents a change in the modern world.B)It has something to do with everybody's life.C)It marks the end of a time-honoured tradition.D)It is the concern of contemporary economists.60.What can we infer from the passage about the author?A)He is resistant to social changes.B)He is against technological progress.C)He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D)He feels insecure in the ever-changing modern world.Passage TwoQuestions61to65are based on the following passage.Everybody sleeps,but what people stay up late to catch-or wake up early in order not to miss?varies by culture.From data collected,it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep,on average,are sporting events,time changes,and holidays.Around the world,people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time.Russians,for example,began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to"winter time"starting on October26.Russia's other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays.On New Year's Eve,Russians have the world's latest bedtime,hitting the hay at around3:30a.m.Russians also get up an hour later on International Women's Day,the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly,Americans'late nights,late mornings,and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends.Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey(冰球) final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation(剥夺).The worst night for sleep in the U.K.was the night of the England-Italy match on June14.Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it,and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime.That was nothing,though,compared to Germans,Italians,and the French,who stayed up around an hour and a half later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns;in some of these nations,it's likely that only the richest people do.And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person.Even if that's the case,though,the above findings are still striking.If the most health-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year,how much sleep are the rest of us losing?注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。