2015年12月四级真题(第1套)
新题型2015年12月四级真题(第1套)Part Ⅰ Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying "Listening is more important than talking." You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of paying attention to others' opinions. 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 mark the 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。
Questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.1. A) There were shootings. C) Moscow troops killed terrorists.B) There was an explosion. D) Several international flights delayed.2. A) He closed the airport's customs. C) He found out those who were responsible.B) He called for ambulances and fire engines. D) He changed his schedule.Questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item.3. A) The U.S. charity, Save the Children, in Vietnam.B) Improving the health of mothers and babies in the world.C) Reducing the number of childhood deaths in South Asia.D) High death rates of mothers and babies in developing countries.4. A) South Asia. B) Vietnam. C) Africa. D) South America.Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item.5. A) Hold the constitutional vote. C) Accept international aid right away.B) Allow in foreign search and rescue teams. D) Adopt John Holmes' suggestions.6. A) Naive. B) Feasible. C) Open. D) Flexible.7. A) The UN can't impose help on Burma without its government's agreement~B) It is reasonable for Burma to refuse foreign aid.C) It is useless to offer air-dropping supplies to Burma.D) The constitutional vote can't improve the current situation.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hoar two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hoar four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hoar 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.Conversation OneQuestions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) It is used by more people than English. C) It will be as commonly used as English.B) It is more difficult to learn than English. D) It will eventually become a world language.9. A) Its popularity with the common people. C) The influence of the British Empire.B) The effect of the Industrial Revolution. D) Its loan words from many languages.10. A) It has a growing number of newly coined words.B) It includes a lot of words from other languages.C) It is the largest among all languages in the world.D) It can be easily picked up by overseas travellers.11. A) They have two great advantages.B) They have quite easy grammar.C) They have many different endings for certain words.D) They are very interesting.Conversation TwoQuestions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) To place an order. C) To return some goods.B) To apply for a job. D) To make a complaint.13. A) He works on a part-time basis for the company.B) He has not worked in the sales department for long.C) He is not familiar with the exact details of the goods.D) He has become somewhat impatient with the woman.14. A) It is not his responsibility. C) It depends on a number of factors.B) It will be free for large orders. D) It costs ￡15 more for express delivery.15. A) Make inquiries with some other companies. C) Pay a visit to the saleswoman in charge.B) Report the information to her superior. D) Ring back when she comes to a decision.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hoar three 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 hoar 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.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(三套全)
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题（三套卷）一、在答题前，请认真完成以下内容：1. 请检查试题册背面条形码粘贴条、答题卡的印刷质量，如有问题及时向监考员反映，确认无误后完成以下两点要求。
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Section A Litstening Comprehension (30 minutes)Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation. one or more questions willbe asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions willbe spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. Duringthe pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), anddecide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter onAnswer 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1. A) They admire the courage of space explorersB) They enjoyed the movie on space explorationC) They were going to watch a wonderful movieD) They like doing scientific exploratron very much2. A)At a gift shopB) At a graduation ceremony.C) In the office of a travel agencyD) In a school library3. A) He used to work in the art galleryB) He does not have a good memoryC) He declined a job offer from the art galleryD) He is not interested in any part-time jobs4. A) Susan has been invited to give a lecture tomorrowB) He will go to the birthday party after the lectureC) The woman should have informed him earlierD) He will be unable to attend the birthday party5. A) Reward those having made good progressB) Set a deadline for the staff to meetC) Assign more workers to the project.D) Encourage the staff to work in Small groups6. A) The way to the visitor's parkingB) The rate for parking in Lot CC) How far away the parking lot is.D) Where she can leave her car.7. A) He regrets missing the classesB) He plans to take the fitness classes.C) He is looking forward to a better lifeD) He has benefited from exercise8. A) How to raise work efficiency.B) How to select secretariesC) The responsibilities of secretanesD) The secretaries in the man’s company.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9 A) It Is more difficult to learn than EnglishB) It is used by more people than English.C) It will be as commonly used as EnglishD) It will eventually become a world language10. A) Its loan words from many languagesB) Its popularity with the common people.C) The influence of the British EmpireD) The effect of the Industrial Revolution11. A) It includes a lot of words from other languagesB) It has a growing number of newly coined wordsC) It can be easily picked up by overseas travellersD) It is the largest among all languages in the worldQuestions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) To return some goodsB) To apply for a job.C) To place an order.D) To make a complaint13. A) He has become somewhat impatient with the womanB) He is not familiar with the exact details of the goodssC) He has not worked in the sales department for long.D) He works on a part-time basis for the company14. A) it is not his responsibilityB) It will be free for large ordersC) It costs ￡15 more for express deliveryD) It depends on a number of factors15. A) Report the information to her superiorB) Pay a visit to the saleswoman in chargegeC) Ring back when she comes to a decisionD) Make inquiries with some other companiesSection 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 questionswill be spoken only once.After you hear a queslion, you must choose thebest answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark thecorresponding leltert on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through thecentre注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1 上作答。
2015年12月英语四级真题试卷一完整版(文字版)(3)
2015年12月英语四级真题试卷一完整版(文字版)(3)C) My mother, who is just shy of five feet tall, is normally incredibly soft-spoken, but on the rare occasion when she got angry, she was terrifying. I am not sure if she was more upset by my hubris(得意忘形)or by the fact that my English teacher had let my ego get so out of hand. In and event. My mother and her red pen showed me how deeply flawed a flaw less essay could be. At the time, I am sure she thought she was teaching me about mechanics, transitions(过渡), structure, style and voice. But what I learned, and what stuck with me through my time teaching writing at Harvard, was a deeper lesson about the nature of creative criticism.D) First off, it hurts. Genuine criticism, the type that leavesa lasting mark on you as a writer, also leaves an existential imprint(印记)on you as a person. I have heard people say that a writer should never take criticism personally.I say that we should never listen to these people.E) Criticism, at its best, is deeply personal, and gets to the heart of why we write the way we do. The intimate nature of genuine criticism implies something about who is able to give it, namely, someone who knows you well enough to show you how your mental life is getting in the way of good writing. Conveniently, they are also the people who care enough to see you through this painful realization. For me it took the form of my first, and I hope only, encounter with writer s block I was not able to produce anything for three years.F) Franz Kafka once said; Writing is utter solitude(独处), the descent into the cold abyss(深渊)of oneself. My mother s criticism had shown me that Kafka is right about the coldabyss, and when you make the introspective(内省的)descent that writing requires you are not always pleased by what you find. But, in the years that followed, her sustained tutoring suggested that Kafka might be wrong about the solitude, I was lucky enough to find a critic and teacher who was willing to make the journey of writing with me. It is a thing of no great difficulty. according to Plutarch, to raise objections against another man s speech. it is a very easy matter, but to produce a better in its place is a work extremely troublesome. I am sure I wrote essays in the later years of high school without my mother s guidance, but I can t recall them. What I remember, however, is how she took up the extremely troublesome work of ongoing criticism.G) There are two ways to interpret Plutarch when he suggests that a critic should be able to produce a better in its place. In a straightforward sense, he could mean that a critic must be more talented than the artist she critiques(评论).My mother was well covered on this count. But perhaps Plutarch is suggesting something slightly different, something a bit closer to Marcus Cicero s claim that one should criticize by creation,not by finding fault. Genuine criticism creates a precious opening for an author to become better on his own terms a process that is often extremely painful, but also almost always meaningful.H) My mother said she would help me with my writing, but first I had to help myself. For each assignment, I was to write the best essay I could. Real criticism is not meant to find obvious mistakes, so if she found any the type I could have found on my own I had to start from scratch. From scratch. Once the essay was flawless, she would take an evening to walk me through my errors. That was when true criticism, the type that changed me as a person, began.I) She criticized me when I included little-known references and professional jargon(行话). She had no patience for brilliant but irrelevant figures of speech. Writers can t bluff(虚张声势)their way through ignorance. That was news to me I would need to find another way to structure my daily existence.J) She trimmed back my flowery language, drew lines through my exclamation marks and argued for the value of restraint in expression. John, she almost whispered. I leaned in to hear her: I can t hear you when you shout at me. So I stopped shouting and bluffing, and slowly my writing improved.K) Somewhere along the way I set aside my hopes of writing that flawless essay. But perhaps I missed something important in my mother s lessons about creativity and perfection. Perhaps the point of writhing the flawless essay was not to give up, but to never willingly finish. Whitman repeatedly reworked song of Myself between 1855 and 1891. Repeatedly. We do our absolute best with a piece of writing, and come as close as we can to the ideal. And, for the time being, we settle. In critique, however, we are forced to depart, to give up the perfection we thought we had achieved for the chance of being even a little bit better. This is the lesson I took from my mother: If perfection were possible, it would not bemotivating.。
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题及详解(第一套)【圣才出品】
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题及详解（第一套）[视频讲解]Part I Writing(30minutes)Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying “Listening is more important than talking”.You can cite examples to illustrate theimportance of paying attentions to other’s opinions.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.【审题构思】本篇作文为引语评论型作文。
题目要求对“倾听比倾诉更重要”进行评论，并需要通过例子来阐述“倾听”的重要性。
考生在写作时，首先应引出话题，阐明论点，指出“倾听比倾诉更重要”；然后应给出具体原因，从而解释“倾听为什么比倾诉更重要？”；最后，应对文章进行总结，并进行展望：倾听让生活更美好。
【参考范文】Listening Is More Important Than Talking(1)Nowadays an old saying that listening is more important than talking(2)comes into vogue. The saying stresses the essence of communication with others in society,which means paying attention to others’opinions is much more important than expressing one’s own ideas.Two reasons can(3)account for the correctness of this principle.To start with,listening shows our respect to others.In a society full of fierce competition,willingness to listen enables us to gain trust and friendship,which(4)lays the foundation for interpersonal communication.A talkative person without the patience to listen to others is inclined to be alienated.Furthermore, listening can really benefit us in that we can embrace different points of view via listening.(5)There is no denying the fact that we ourselves are the people who have the capability of making decisions in our own life.(6)Nevertheless,a variety of ideas from others will definitelyAccording to what is said above,listening truly outweighs talking on many occasions.(7)Trying to understand what others say and paying attention to others’needs through listening might make a difference to others’life as well.Only when we realize the importance of listening can we lead a better life.【行文点评】(1)开门见山，描述现象，点明“倾听比倾诉更重要”这个论点。
2015年12月四级真题第1套
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第一套）Part I Writing(30minutes) Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying“Listening is more important than talking.”You can citeexamples to illustrate the importance of paying attention to others’opinions.You should write at least120words,but no more than180words.Part II Listening Comprehension(25minutes) Section ADirection: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 thequestions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you mustchoose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C).and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single linethrough the centre.Questions1and2will be based on the following news item.1.A)Dismissing employees without giving advance notice.B)Checking employees’online private messages at work.C)Monitoring employees’performance on weekends.D)Closing employees’social media during work hours.2.A)He did well in handling his clients’queries.B)He created a private account for his fiancée.C)He won the case against his employer recently.D)He was fired because of breaking company rules.Questions3and4will be based on the following news item.3.A)It is widely used in Kenya.B)It has been increasing in value.C)It makes poor people’s life easier.D)It lowers the buying power of the rich.4.A)It is a non-profit group located in Nairobi,Kenya.B)It works hard on replacing the national currency system.C)It introduced a community currency to a village in Kenya.D)It makes a series of investigations on trade and jobs in Kenya.Questions5and6will be based on the following news item.5.A)Several states declared an economic emergency.B)Many women are too old to get pregnant.C)Some babies were born with brain defects.D)Birth rates have fallen down greatly.6.A)10B)29C)2,400D)3,1007.A)A mosquito-borne virus.B)A severe chest infection.C)The shortage of medicine.D)Bacteria from Latin America.Section BDirections:In this section,you will hear two long conversations.At the end of each conversation,you will hear four questions.Both the conversation and thequestions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you mustchoose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C),and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single linethrough the centre.Conversation OneQuestions8to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A)It is used by more people than English.B)It is more difficult to learn than English.C)It will be as commonly used as English.D)It will eventually become a world language.9.A)Its popularity with the common people.B)The effect of the Industrial Revolution.C)The influence of the British Empire.D)Its loan words from many languages.10.A)It has a growing number of newly coined words.B)It includes a lot of words from other languages.C)It is the largest among all languages in the world.D)It can be easily picked up by overseas travelers.11.A)The English grammar is quite easy.B)It is greatly influenced by French.C)It could be pronounced easily.D)It is attractive to England beginners.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)To place an order.B)To apply for a job.C)To return some goods.D)To make a complaint.13.A)He works on a part-time basis for the company.B)He has not worked in the sales department for long.C)He is not familiar with the exact details of the goods.D)He has become somewhat impatient with the woman.14.A)It is not his responsibility.B)It will be free for large orders.C)It depends on a number of factors.D)It costs￡15more for express delivery.15.A)Make inquiries with some other companies.B)Report the information to her superior.C)Pay a visit to the saleswoman in charge.D)Ring back when she comes to a decision.Section CDirections:In this section,you will hear three passage.At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions.Both the passage and the questions will bespoken only once.After you hear a question,you must choose the bestanswer from the four choices marked A),B),C),and D).Then mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through thecentre.Passage OneQuestions16to18are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)No one knows for sure when they came into being.B)No one knows exactly where they were first made.C)No one knows for what purpose they were invented.D)No one knows what they will look like in the future.17.A)Measure the speed of wind.B)Give warnings of danger.C)Pass on secret messages.D)Carry ropes across rivers.18.A)To find out the strength of silk for kites.B)To test the effects of the lightning rod.C)To prove that lightning is electricity.D)To protect houses against lightning.Passage TwoQuestions19to22are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)She was born with a talent for languages.B)She was tainted to be an interpreter.C)She can speak several languages.D)She enjoys teaching languages.20.A)They want to learn as many foreign languages as possible.B)They have an intense interest in cross-cultural interactions.C)They acquire an immunity to culture shock.D)They would like to live abroad permanently.21.A)She became an expert in horse racing.B)She learned to appreciate classical music.C)She was able to translate for a German sports judge.D)She got a chance to visit several European countries.22.A)Take part in a cooking competition.B)Taste the beef and give her comment.C)Teach vocabulary for food in English.D)Give cooking lessons on Western food.Passage ThreeQuestions23to25are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A)He had only a third-grade education.B)He once threatened to kill his teacher.C)He often helped his mother do housework.D)He grew up in a poor single-parent family.24.A)Careless.B)Stupid.C)Brave.D)Active.25.A)Watch educational TV programs only.B)Write two book reports a week.C)Help with housework.D)Keep a diary.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 wordbank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully beforemaking 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 wordsin the bank more than once.Questions26to35are based on the following passage.Scholars of the information society are divided over whether social inequality decreases or increases in an information-based society.However,they generally agree with the idea that inequality in the information society is26different from that of an industrial society.As information progresses in society,the cause and structural nature of social inequality changes as well.It seems that the information society27the quantity of information available to the members of a society by revolutionizing the ways of using and exchanging information.But such a view is a28analysis based on the quantity of information supplied by various forms of the mass media.A different29is possible when the actual amount of information30by the user is taken into account.In fact,the more information31throughout the entire society,the wider the gap becomes between“information haves”and“information have-mots”,leading to digital divide.According to recent studies,digital divide has been caused by three major32 class,sex,and generation.In terms of class,digital divide exists among different types of workers and between the upper and middle classes and the lower class.With 33to sex,digital divide exists between men and women.The greatest gap,however, is between the Net-generation,34with personal computers and the Internet,and the older generation,35to an industrial society.A)accustomedB)acquiredC)assemblyD)attribute I)flowsJ)fundamentally K)interpretation L)passiveE)championsF)elementsG)expandsH)familiar M)regard N)respectively O)superficialSection 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 theparagraphs.Identify the paragraph from which the information isderived.You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraphis marked with a letter.Answer the question by marking thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet2.Joy:A Subject Schools LackBecoming educated should not require giving up pleasure.[A]When Jonathan Swift proposed,in1729,that the people of Ireland eat theirchildren,he insisted it would solve three problems at once:feed the hungry masses,reduce the population during a severe depression,and stimulate the restaurant business.Even as a satire(讽刺),it seems disgusting and shocking in America with its child-centered culture.But actually,the country is closer to his proposal than you might think.[B]If you spend much time with educators and policy makers,you'll hear a lot of thefollowing words:“standards”,“results”,“skills”,“self-control”,“accountability”, and so on.I have visited some of the newer supposedly“effective”schools,where children shout slogans in order to learn self-control or must stand behind their desk when they can’t sit still.[C]A look at what goes on in most classrooms these days makes it abundantly clearthat when people think about education,they are not thinking about what it feels like to be a child,or what makes childhood an important and valuable stage of life in its own right.[D]I’m a mother of three,a teacher,and a developmental psychologist.So I’vewatched a lot of children-talking,playing,arguing,eating,studying,and being young.Here’s what I’ve come to understand.The thing that sets children apart from adults is not their ignorance,nor their lack of skills.It’s their enormous capacity for joy.Think of a3-year-old lost in the pleasures of finding out what hecan and cannot sink in the bathtub,a5-year-old beside herself with the thrill of putting together strings of nonsensical words with her best friends,or an 11-year-old completely absorbed in a fascinating comic strip.A child’s ability to become deeply absorbed in something,and derive intense pleasure from that absorption,is something adults spend the rest of their lives trying to return to. [E]A friend told me the following story.One day,when he went to get his7-year-oldson from soccer practice,his kid greeted him with a downcast face and a sad voice.The coach had criticized him for not focusing on his soccer drills.The little boy walked out of the school with his head and shoulders hanging down.He seemed wrapped in sadness.But just before he reached the car door,he suddenly stopped, crouching(蹲伏)down to peer at something on the sidewalk.His face went down lower and lower,and then,with complete joy he called out,“e here.This is the strangest bug I’ve ever seen.It has,like,a million legs.Look at this.It’s amazing.”He looked up at his father,his features overflowing with energy and delight.Can’t we stay here for just a minute?I want to find out what he does with all those legs.This is the coolest ever.[F]The traditional view of such moments is that they constitute a charming butirrelevant byproduct of youth-something to be pushed aside to make room for more important qualities,like perseverance(坚持不懈),obligation,and practicality.Yet moments like this one are just the kind of intense absorption and pleasure adults spend the rest of their lives seeking.Human lives are governed by the desire to experience joy.Becoming educated should not require giving up joy but rather lead to finding joy in new kinds of things:reading novels instead of playing with small figures,conducting experiments instead of sinking cups in the bathtub,and debating serious issues rather than stringing together nonsense words, for example.In some cases,schools should help children find new,more grown-up ways of doing the same things that are constant sources of joy:making art,making friends,making decisions.[G]Building on a child’s ability to feel joy,rather than pushing it aside,wouldn't bethat hard.It would just require a shift in the education world’s mindset(思维模式).Instead of trying to get children to work hard,why not focus on getting them to take pleasure in meaningful,productive activity,like making things,working with others,exploring ideas,and solving problems?These focuses are not so different from the things in which they delight.[H]Before you brush this argument aside as rubbish,or think of joy as anunaffordable luxury in a nation where there is awful poverty,low academic achievement,and high dropout rates,think again.The more horrible the school circumstances,the more important pleasure is to achieving any educational success.[I]Many of the assignments and rules teachers come up with,often because they arepressured by their administrators,treat pleasure and joy as the enemies of competence and responsibility.The assumption is that children shouldn’t chat in the classroom because it hinders hard work;instead,they should learn to delay gratification(快乐)so that they can pursue abstract goals,like going to college.[J]Not only is this a boring and awful way to treat children,it makes no sense educationally.Decades of research have shown that in order to acquire skills and real knowledge in school,kids need to want to learn.You can force a child to stay in his or her seat,fill out a worksheet,or practice division.But you can’t force the child to think carefully,enjoy books,digest complex information,or develop a taste for learning.To make that happen,you have to help the child find pleasure in learning-to see school as a source of joy.[K]Adults tend to talk about learning as if it were medicine:unpleasant,but necessary and good for you.Why not instead think of learning as if it were food—something so valuable to humans that they have evolved to experience it asa pleasure?[L]Joy should not be trained out of children or left for after-school programs.The more difficult a child’s life circumstances,the more important it is for that child to find joy in his or her classroom.“Pleasure”is not a dirty word.And it doesn’t run counter to the goals of public education.It is,in fact,the precondition.36.It will not be difficult to make learning a source of joy if educators change theirway of thinking.37.What distinguishes children from adults is their strong ability to derive joy fromwhat they are doing.38.Children in America are being treated with shocking cruelty.39.It is human nature to seek joy in life.40.Grown-ups are likely to think that learning to children is what medicine is topatients.41.Bad school conditions make it all the more important to turn learning into a joyfulexperience.42.Adults do not consider children’s feelings when it comes to education.43.Administrators seem to believe that only hard work will lead children to theireducational goals.44.In the so-called“effective”schools,children are taught self-control under a set ofstrict rules.45.To make learning effective,educators have to ensure that children want to learn. Section CDirections:There are2passages in this section.Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are fourchoices marked A),B),C)and D).You should decide on the best choiceand mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.When it’s five o’clock,people leave their office.The length of the workday,for many workers,is defined by time.They leave when the clock tells them they’re done.These days,the time is everywhere:not just on clocks or watches,but on cell-phones and computers.That may be a bad thing,particularly at work.New research shows that clock-based work schedules hinder morale(士气)and creativity.Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours.For example:a meeting from9a.m.to10a.m.research from10a.m.to noon,etc.On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish.They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed.It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.What,then,are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways?Does one make us more productive?Better at the tasks at hand?Happier?In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier,they had participants organize different activities-from project planning,holiday shopping,to yoga-by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under“clock time”vs“task tinge.”They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives.Task timers are happier and more creative,but less productive.They tendto enjoy the moment when something good is happening,and seize opportunities that come up.The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in business culture.Smart companies,they believe,will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office,but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy:work organized by clock time.While most people will still probably need,and be,to some extent,clock-timers,task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity.It’ll make those tasks easier,and the task-doers will be happier.46.What does the author think of time displayed everywhere?A)It makes everybody time-conscious.B)It is a convenience for work and life.C)It may have a negative effect on creative work.D)It clearly indicates the fast pace of modern life.47.How do people usually go about their work according to the author?A)They combine clock-based and task-based planning.B)They give priority to the most urgent task on hand.C)They set a time limit for each specific task.D)They accomplish their tasks one by one.48.What did Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier find in their experiments aboutclock-timers?A)They seize opportunities as they come up.B)They always get their work done in time.C)They have more control-over their lives.D)They tend to be more productive.49.What do the researchers say about today’s business culture?A)It does not support the strategies adopted by smart companies.B)It does not attach enough importance to task-based practice.C)It places more emphasis on work efficiency than on workers’lives.D)It aims to bring employees’potential and creativity into full play.50.What do the researchers suggest?A)Task-based timing is preferred for doing creative work.B)It is important to keep a balance between work and life.C)Performing creative jobs tends to make workers happier.D)A scientific standard should be adopted in job evaluation.Passage TwoQuestions51to55are based on the following passage.Martha Stewart was charged,tried and convicted of a crime in2004.As she neared the end of her prison sentence,a well-known columnist wrote that she was “paying her dues,”and that“there is simply no reason for anyone to attempt to deny her right to start anew.”Surely,the American ideal of second chances should not be reserved only for the rich and powerful.Unfortunately,many federal and state laws impose post-conviction restrictions on a shockingly large number of Americans,who are prevented from ever fully paying their debt to society.At least65million people in the United States have a criminal record.This can result in severe penalties that continue long after punishment is completed.Many of these penalties are imposed regardless of the seriousness of the offense or the person’s individual ws can restrict or ban voting,access to public housing,and professional and business licensing.They can affect a person’s ability to get a job and qualification for benefits.In all,more than45,000laws and rules serve to exclude vast numbers of people from fully participating in American life.Some laws make sense.No one advocates letting someone convicted of pedophilia(恋童癖)work in a school.But too often collateral(随附的) consequences bear no relation to public safety.Should a woman who possessed a small amount of drugs years ago be permanently unable to be licensed as a nurse?These laws are also counterproductive,since they make it harder for people with criminal records to find housing or land a job,two key factors that reduce backsliding.A recent report makes several recommendations,including the abolition of most post-conviction penalties,except for those specifically needed to protect public safety. Where the penalties are not a must,they should be imposed only if the facts of a case support it.The point is not to excuse or forget the crime.Rather,it is to recognize that in America’s vast criminal justice system,second chances are crucial.It is in no one’s interest to keep a large segment of the population on the margins of society.51.What does the well-known columnist’s remark about Martha Stewart suggest?A)Her past record might stand in her way to a new life.B)Her business went bankrupt while she was in prison.C)Her release from prison has drawn little attention.D)Her prison sentence might have been extended.52.What do we learn from the second paragraph about many criminals in America?A)They backslide after serving their terms in prison.B)They are deprived of chances to turn over a new leaf.C)They receive severe penalties for committing minor offenses.D)They are convicted regardless of their individual circumstances.53.What are the consequences for many Americans with a criminal record?A)They remain poor for the rest of their lives.B)They are deprived of all social benefits.C)They are marginalized in society.D)They are deserted by their family.54.What does the author think of the post-conviction laws and rules?A)They help to maintain social stability.B)Some of them have long been outdated.C)They are hardly understood by the public.D)A lot of them have negative effects on society.55.What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?A)To create opportunities for criminals to reform themselves.B)To appeal for changes in America’s criminal justice system.C)To ensure that people with a criminal record live a decent life.D)To call people’s attention to prisoners’conditions in America.PartⅣTranslation(30minutes) Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English.You should,write your answer on Answer Sheet2.中国父母往往过于关注孩子的学习，以至于不要他们帮忙做家务。
2015年12月英语四级考试真题(第1套)
2015年12月英语四级考试真题试卷（第一套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying "Listening is more important than talking?" You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of paying attention to others' opinions. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上_______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________Part ⅡListening Comprehension ( 30 minutes)Section 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 center.1.A) They admire the courage of space explorers.B)They were going to watch a wonderful movie.C)They enjoyed the movie on space exploration.D)They like doing scientific exploration very much.2.A) In a school library.B)At a gift shop.C)In the office of a travel agency.D)At a graduation ceremony.3.A) He used to work in the art gallery.B)He does not have a good memoiy.C)He is not interested in any part-time jobs.D)He declined a job offer from the art gallery.4.A) He will be unable to attend the birthday party.B)The woman should have informed him earlier.C)He will go to the birthday party after the lecture.D)Susan has been invited to give a lecture tomorrow.5.A) Set a deadline for the staff to meet.B)Assign more workers to the project.C)Reward those having made good progress.D)Encourage the staff to work in small groups.6.A) Where she can leave her car.B)The rate for parking in Lot C.C)How far away the parking lot is.D)The way to the visitor's parking.7.A) He regrets missing the classes. B) He has benefited from exercise.C) He plans to take the fitness classes. D) He is looking forward to a better life.8. A) How to select secretaries. B) How to raise work efficiency.C) The responsibilities of secretaries. D) The secretaries in the man's company. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) It is used by more people than English. B) It is more difficult to learn than English.C) It will be as commonly used as English. D) It will eventually become a world language.10.A) Its popularity with the common people. B) The effect of the Industrial Revolution.C) The influence of the British Empire. D) Its loan words from many languages.11.A) It has a growing number of newly coined words.B) It includes a lot of words from other languages.C) It is the largest among all languages in the world.D) It can be easily picked up by overseas travellers.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) To place an order. B) To apply for a job.C) To return some goods. D) To make a complaint.13.A) He works on a part-time basis for the company.B) He has not worked in the sales department for long.C) He is not familiar with the exact details of the goods.D) He has become somewhat impatient with the woman.14.A) It is not his responsibility. B) It win be free for large orders.C) It depends on a number of factors. D) It costs ￡15 more for express delivery.15.A) Make inquiries with some other companies.B) Report the information to her superior.C) Pay a visit to the saleswoman in charge.D) Ring back when she comes to a decision.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 conversation you have just heard.16.A) No one knows for sure when they came into being.B) No one knows exactly where they were first made.C) No one knows for what purpose they were invented.D) No one knows what they will look like in the future.17.A) Measure the speed of wind. B) Give warnings of danger.C) Pass on secret messages. D) Carry ropes across rivers.18.A) To find out the strength of silk for kites. B) To test the effects of the lightning rod.C) To prove that lightning is electricity. D) To protect houses against lightning.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) She was born with a talent for languages. B) She was trained to be an interpreter.C) She can speak several languages. D) She enjoys teaching languages.20.A) They want to learn as many foreign languages as possible.B) They have an intense interest in cross-cultural interactions.C) They acquire an immunity to culture shock.D) They would like to live abroad permanently.21.A) She became an expert in horse racing.B) She learned to appreciate classical music.C) She was able to translate for a German sports judge.D) She got a chance to visit several European countries.22.A) Take part in a cooking competition. B) Taste the beef and give her comment.C) Teach vocabulary for food in English. D) Give cooking lessons on Western food.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A) He had only a third-grade education. B) He once threatened to kill his teacher.C) He often helped his mother do housework. D) He grew up in a poor single-parent family.24.A) Stupid. B) Active. C) Brave. D) Careless.25.A) Watch educational TV programs only. B) Write two book reports a week.C) Help with housework. D) Keep a diary.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.When you look up at the night sky, what do you see? There are other __26__ bodies out there besides the moon and stars. One of the most __27__ of these is a comet (彗星).Comets were formed around the same time the Earth was formed. They are __28__ ice and other frozen liquids and gases. __29__ 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__ 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__ fuzzy (模糊的) atmosphere around a comet are __32__ that can help identify this __33__ 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__ eye. Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered in 1995, was an unusually bright comet. Its orbit brought it __35__ close to the Earth, within 122 million miles of it. But Hale-Bopp came a long way on its earthly visit. It won't be back for another four thousand years or so.Part ⅢReading 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 2with 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.Scholars of the information society are divided over whether social inequality decreases or increases in an information-based society. However, they generally agree with the idea that inequality in the information society is __36__ different from that of an industrial society. As informatization progresses in society, the cause and structural nature of social inequality changes as well.It seems that the information society __37__ the quantity of information available to the members of a society by revolutionizing the ways of using and exchanging information. But such a view is a __38__ analysis based on the quantity of information supplied by various forms of the mass media. A different __39__ is possible when the actual amount of information __40__ by the user is taken into account. In fact, the more information __41__ throughout the entire society,the wider the gap becomes between "information haves" and "information have-nots" , leading to digital divide.According to recent studies, digital divide has been caused by three major __42__: class, sex, and generation. In terms of class, digital divide exists among different types of workers and between the upper and middle classes and the lower class. With __43__ to sex, digital divide exists between men and women. The greatest gap, however, is between the Net-generation, __44__ with personal computers and the Internet, and the older generation, __45__ to an industrial society.A) accustomed B) acquired C) assembly D) attribute E) championsF) elements G) expands H) familiar I) flows J) fundamentallyK) interpretation L) passive M) regard N) respectively O) superficialSection 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.Joy: A Subject Schools LackBecoming educated should not require giving up pleasure.A) When Jonathan Swift proposed, in 1729, that the people of Ireland eat their children, he insisted it would solve three problems at once: feed the hungry masses, reduce the population during a severe depression, and stimulate the restaurant business. Even as a satire (讽刺), it seems disgusting and shocking in America with its child-centered culture. But actually, the country is closer to his proposal than you might think.B) If you spend much time with educators and policy makers, you'll hear a lot of the following words: "standards," "results," "skills," "self-control," "accountability," and so on. I have visited some of the newer supposedly "effective" schools, where children shout slogans in order to leam self-control or must stand behind their desk when they can't sit still.C) A look at what goes on in most classrooms these days makes it abundantly clear that when people think about education, they are not thinking about what it feels like to be a child, or what makes childhood an important and valuable stage of life in its own right.D) I'm a mother of three, a teacher, and a developmental psychologist. So I've watched a lot of children—talking, playing, arguing, eating, studying, and being young. Here's what I've come to understand. The thing that sets children apart from adults is not their ignorance, nor their lack of skills. It's their enormous capacity for joy. Think of a 3-year-old lost in the pleasures of finding out what he can and cannot sink in the bathtub, a 5-year-old beside herself with the thrill of puttingtogether strings of nonsensical words with her best friends, or an 11-year-old completely absorbed in a fascinating comic strip. A child's ability to become deeply absorbed in something, and derive intense pleasure from that absorption, is something adults spend the rest of their lives trying to return to.E) A friend told me the following story. One day, when he went to get his 7-year-old son from soccer practice, his kid greeted him with a downcast face and a sad voice. The coach had criticized him for not focusing on his soccer drills. The little boy walked out of the school with his head and shoulders hanging down. He seemed wrapped in sadness. But just before he reached the car door, he suddenly stopped, crouching (蹲伏) down to peer at something on the sidewalk. His face went down lower and lower, and then, with complete joy he called out, "Dad. Come here. This is the strangest bug I've ever seen. It has, like, a million legs. Look at this. It's amazing. " He looked up at his father, his features overflowing with energy and delight. "Can't we stay here for just a minute? I want to find out what he does with all those legs. This is the coolest ever. "F) The traditional view of such moments is that they constitute a charming but irrelevant byproduct of youth—something to be pushed aside to make room for more important qualities, like perseverance (坚持不懈), obligation, and practicality. Yet moments like this one are just the kind of intense Absoiption and pleasure adults spend the rest of their lives seeking. Human lives are governed by the desire to experience joy. Becoming educated should not require giving up joy but rather lead to finding joy in new kinds of things: reading novels instead of playing with small figures, conducting experiments instead of sinking cups in the bathtub, and debating serious issues rather than stringing together nonsense words, for example. In some cases, schools should help children find new, more grown-up ways of doing the same things that are constant sources of joy: making art, making friends, making decisions.G) Building on a child's ability to feel joy, rather than pushing it aside, wouldn't be that hard. It would just require a shift in the education world's mindset (思维模式). Instead of trying to get children to work hard, why not focus on getting them to take pleasure in meaningful, productive activity, like making things, working with others, exploring ideas, and solving problems? These focuses are not so different from the things in which they delight.H) Before you brush this argument aside as rubbish, or think of joy as an unaffordable luxury in a nation where there is awful poverty, low academic achievement, and high dropout rates, think again. The more horrible the school circumstances, the more important pleasure is to achieving any educational success.I) Many of the assignments and rules teachers come up with, often because they are pressured by their administrators, treat pleasure and joy as the enemies of competence and responsibility. The assumption is that children shouldn't chat in the classroom because it hinders hard work; instead, they should leain to delay gratification (快乐) so that they can pursue abstract goals, like going to college.J) Not only is this a boring and awful way to treat children, it makes no sense educationally.Decades of research have shown that in order to acquire skills and real knowledge in school, kids need to want to learn. You can force a child to stay in his or her seat, fill out a worksheet, or practice division. But you can't force the child to think carefully, er\joy books, digest complex information, or develop a taste for learning. To make that happen, you have to help the child find pleasure inlearning—to see school as a source of joy.K) Adults tend to talk about learning as if it were medicine; unpleasant, but necessary and good for you. Why not instead think of learning as if it were food—something so valuable to humans that they have evolved to experience it as a pleasure?L) Joy should not be trained out of children or left for after-school programs. The more difficult a child's life circumstances, the more important it is for that child to find joy in his or her classroom. "Pleasure" is not a dirty word. And it doesn't run counter to the goals of public education. It is, in fact, the precondition.46. It will not be difficult to make learning a source of joy if educators change their way of thinking.47. What distinguishes children from adults is their strong ability to derive joy from what they are doing.48. Children in America are being treated with shocking cruelty.49. It is human nature to seek joy in life.50. Grown-ups are likely to think that learning to children is what medicine is to patients.51. Bad school conditions make it all the more important to turn learning into a joyful experience.52. Adults do not consider children's feelings when it comes to education.53. Administrators seem to believe that only hard work will lead children to their educational goals.54. In the so-called "effective" schools, children are taught self-control under a set of strict rules.55. To make learning effective, educators have to ensure that children want to leam.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 center.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.When it's five o'clock, people leave their office. The length of the workday, for many workers, is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they're done.These days, the time is everywhere-, not just on clocks or watches, but on cell-phones and computers. That may be a bad thing, particularly at work. New research shows that clock-basedwork schedules hinder morale (士气) and creativity.Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours. For example: a meeting from 9 a. m. to 10 a. m. , research from 10 a. m. to noon, etc. On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish. They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed. It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.What, then, are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier, they had participants organize different activities—from project planning, holiday shopping, to yoga—by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under "clock time" vs "task time. " They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control Over their lives. Task timers are happier and more creative, but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening, and seize opportunities that come up.The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in business culture. Smart companies, they believe, will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office, but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time. While most people will still probably need, and be, to some extent, clock-timers, task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity. It'll make those tasks easier, and the task-doers will be happier.56. What does the author think of time displayed everywhere?A) It makes everybody time-conscious.B) It is a convenience for work and life.C) It may have a negative effect on creative work.D) It clearly indicates the fast pace of modem life.57. How do people usually go about their work according to the author?A) They combine clock-based and task-based planning.B) They give priority to the most urgent task on hand.C) They set a time limit for each specific task.D) They accomplish their tasks one by one.58. What did Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier find in their experiments about clock-timers?A) They seize opportunities as they come up.B) They always get their work done in time.C) They have more control over their lives.D) They tend to be more productive.59. What do the researchers say about today's business culture?A) It does not support the strategies adopted by smart companies.B) It does not attach enough importance to task-based practice.C) It places more emphasis on work efficiency than on workers' lives.D) It aims to bring employees' potential and creativity into full play.60. What do the researchers suggest?A) Task-based timing is preferred for doing creative work.B) It is important to keep a balance between work and life.C) Performing creative jobs tends to make workers happier.D) A scientific standard should be adopted in job evaluation.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Martha Stewart was charged, tried and convicted of a crime in 2004. As she neared the end of her prison sentence, a well-known columnist wrote that she was " paying her dues," and that " there is simply no reason for anyone to attempt to deny her right to start anew. "Surely, the American ideal of second chances should not be reserved only for the rich and powerful. Unfortunately, many federal and state laws impose post-conviction restrictions on a shockingly large number of Americans, who are prevented from ever fully paying their debt to society.At least 65 million people in the United States have a criminal record. This can result in severe penalties that continue long after punishment is completed.Many of these penalties are imposed regardless of the seriousness of the offense or the person's individual circumstances. Laws can restrict or ban voting, access to public housing, and professional and business licensing. They can affect a person's ability to get a job and qualification for benefits.In all, more than 45,000 laws and rules serve to exclude vast numbers of people from fully participating in American life.Some laws make sense. No one advocates letting someone convicted of pedophilia(恋童癖) work in a school. But too often collateral (附随的) consequences bear no relation to public safety. Should a woman who possessed a small amount of drugs years ago be permanently unable to be licensed as a nurse?These laws are also counterproductive, since they make it harder for people with criminal records to find housing or land a job, two key factors that reduce backsliding.A recent report makes several recommendations, including the abolition of most post-conviction penalties, except for those specifically needed to protect public safety. Where the penalties are not a must, they should be imposed only if the facts of a case support it.The point is not to excuse or forget the crime. Rather, it is to recognize that in America's vast criminal justice system, second chances are crucial. It is in no one's interest to keep a large segment of the population on the margins of society.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2015年12月英语四级真题试卷一完整版(文字版)(4)
2015年12月英语四级真题试卷一完整版(文字版)(4)注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
46. The author was advised against the improper use of figures of speech.47. The author s mother taught him a valuable lesson by pointing out lots of flaws in his seemingly perfect essay.48. A writer should polish his writing repeatedly so as to get closer to perfection.49. Writers may experience periods of time in their life when they just can t produce anything.50. The author was not much surprised when his school teacher marked his essay as flawless .51. Criticizing someone s speech is said to be easier than coming up with a better one.52. The author looks upon his mother as his most demanding and caring instructor.53. The criticism the author received from his mother changed his as a person.54. The author gradually improved his writing byavoiding fancy language.55. Constructive criticism gives an author a good start to improve his writing.Section CPassage 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 comer shop. At the shops where youspend 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 feelof 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 of an iPad. The rounded edges, cool glass, smooth and unknowable as 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. C) it is becoming costly.B) It is being fattened. D) It is changing in style.57. How are business transactions done in big modernstores?A) Individually. C) In the abstract.B) Electronically. 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 againsttechnological progress.C)He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D)He fells 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 catchor 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.。
2015年12月大学英语四级阅读真题及答案(一套)
2015年12月大学英语四级阅读真题及答案（一套）答案：GMBOI，DFJHNICKEB，FAHJGABACC，CBADDGMBOI，DFJHNICKEB，FAHJGABACC，CBADD2015年12月四级考试如期进行。
从笔者拿到的套题的阅读部分来看，整体难度适中，较往年趋于平稳。
选词填空部分(关于《children s cognitive abilities儿童认知能力》)首先从选项设计上看，四大词性(名、动、形、副)考查数量分布均匀(3233)，不确定形式(Ving 和Ved)共4个，另外只有advocate一个词属于一词多性的情况，相对选项设计总体难度属于中等偏易。
再看文章部分，谈论的是关于儿童认知(children s cognitive abilities)方面的知识的话题，属于小冷门，但文章语言表达适中，且短句占主体，平衡了话题生僻对考试带来的解题障碍。
其中cognitive还给出了中文注解，也正好应验了我们反复强调的中文重要性的应试知识要点。
同时，空格设置处的词性相对比较容易判断，例如，名词前给出了单复数的区别的代词those作为提示，又例如，非谓语动词只考查了一个正在进行时，而做后置定语或状语的高难度应用本篇没有涉及。
段落匹配部分(The Perfect Essay)首先看备选的十个小标题，均无长难句，同时出现大量重复信息，例如除了与文章title 本身密切相关的essay ，flaw，flawless，perfection以外，还有mother，criticism，从而能顺利预测出文章谈及的是通过母亲的有建设性的批评，提升作者的写作能力。
这也是我们要求的先题后文解决段落匹配的技巧。
从长文章的段落设计上看，一共11段(K)，属于段落数量适中的情况，也为匹配选择降低难度。
但对于所谓长阅读文章只看开头结尾的谬论，用真题再次给予回击，十道匹配中至少3题涉及段落中间部分，2题涉及对全段进行总结。
2015年12月英语四级真题试卷一完整版(文字版)(5)
2015年12月英语四级真题试卷一完整版(文字版)(5)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 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。
12月四级真题及谜底第1套
Section BDirections: 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.The Gatais used to frown when they received power bills that routinely topped $200. Last September the couple moved into a 1,500-square-foot home in Premier Gardens, a subdivision of 95 "zero-energy homes"(ZEH)just outside town. Now they're actually eager to see their electricity bills. The grand total over the 10 months they've lived in the three-bedroom house: $ 75. For the past two months they haven't paid a cent.ZEH communities are the leading edge of technologies that might someday create houses that produce as much energy as they consume. Premier Gardens is one of a half-dozen subdivisions in California where every home cuts power consumption by 50% , mostly by using low-power appliances and solar panels.Aside from the panels on the roof, Premier Gardens looks like a community of conventional homes. But inside, special windows cut power bills by blocking solar heat in summer and retaining indoor warmth in winter.The rest of the energy savings comes from the solar units. They don't just feed the home they serve. If they generate more power than the home is using, the excess flows into the utility's power grid(电网). The residents are billed by "net metering" : they pay for the amount of power they tap off the grid, less the kilowatts(千瓦)they feed into it. If a home generates more power than it uses, the bill is zero.That sounds like a bad deal for the power company, but it's not. Solar homes produce the most power on the hot sunny afternoons when everyone rushes home to turn up the air conditioner. " It helps us lower usage at peak power times," says solar expert Mike Keesee. " That lets us avoid building costly plants or buying expensive power at peak usage time. "What's not to like? Mostly the costs. The special features can add $ 25,000 or more to the purchase price of a house. Tax breaks bring the cost down, especially in California, but in many states ZEHs can be prohibitively expensive. For the consumer, it's a matter of paying now for the hardware to save later on the utilities.58．Why are the Gatais eager to see their electricity bills now?A．They want to see how much they have saved.B．They want to cut down their utility expenses.C．They want to know if they are able to pay.D．They want to avoid being overcharged.59．What is special about the ZEH communities?A．They have created cutting-edge technologies.B．They aim to be self-sufficient in power supply.C．They are subdivided into half a dozen sections.D．They are built in harmony with the environment.60．How are the residents in the ZEH communities billed for electricity use?A．They are only charged for the amount of power they consume on rainy days.B．They needn't pay a single cent for their power consumption on sunny days.C．They only pay for the excess power that flows into the utility's power grid.D．They pay for the electricity from the grid less their home-generated power.61．What does the "net metering" practice mean to the power company?A．More pressure at peak time.B．Less profits in the short term.C．Increased electricity output.D．Reduced operational costs.62．The author believes that buying a house in a ZEH community______.A．is but a dream for average consumersB．gives the owner substantial tax benefitsC．is a worthy investment in the long runD．contributes to environmental protectionRomantic love has clear evolutionary roots but our views about what makes an idealromantic relationship can be swayed by the society we live in. So says psychologist Maureen O'Sullivan from the University of San Francisco. She suggests that humans have always tried to strengthen the pair-bond to maximise(使最大化)reproductive success.Many societies throughout history and around the world today have cultivated strong pressures to stay married. In those where ties to family and community are strong, lifelong marriages can be promoted by practices such as the cultural prohibition of divorce and arranged marriages that are seen as a contract between two families, not just two individuals. In modern western societies, however, the focus on individuality and independence means that people are less concerned about conforming to(遵守)the dictates of family and culture. In the absence of societal pressures to maintain pair-bonds, O'Sullivan suggests that romantic love has increasingly come to be seen as the factor that should determine who we stay with and for how long. " That's why historically we see an increase in romantic love as a basis for forming long-term relationships," she says.According to O'Sullivan culture also shapes the sorts of feelings we expect to have, and actually do experience, when in love. Although the negative emotions associated with romantic love—fear of loss, disappointment and jealousy—are fairly consistent across cultures, the positive feelings can vary. " If you ask Japanese students to list the positive attributes they expect in a romantic partner, they rate highly things like loyalty, commitment and devotion," says O'Sullivan. " If you ask American college women, they expect everything under the sun: in addition to being committed, partners have to be amusing, funny and a friend. "We judge a potential partner according to our specific cultural expectations about what romantic love should feel like. If you believe that you have found true romance, and your culture tells you that this is what a long-term relationship should be based on, there is less need to rely on social or family pressures to keep couples together, O'Sullivan argues.63．What does the author say about people's views of an ideal romantic relationship?A．They vary from culture to culture.B．They ensure the reproductive success.C．They reflect the evolutionary process.D．They are influenced by psychologists.64．We can infer from the passage that strong family and community ties______.A．largely rely on marriage contractsB．can contribute to stable marriagesC．often run counter to romantic loveD．make divorces virtually unacceptable65．Without social pressures to keep pair-bonds, romantic love______.A．will be a substitute for marriage in human relationshipsB．plays a key role in maintaining long-term relationshipsC．is likely to replace the dictates of family and societyD．is a way to develop individuality and independence66．O'Sullivan believes that when people from different cultures fall in love, ______. A．they expect different things from their partnerB．they tend to exaggerate each other's positive qualitiesC．they often fail to see each other's negative qualitiesD．they lay more emphasis on commitment and devotion67．We can conclude from the passage that______.A．cultural differences often tear apart a family built on romantic loveB．marriages are hard to sustain without social or family pressuresC．romantic love is becoming increasingly important in family relationshipsD．romantic love tends to yield where family or social pressures are strongPassage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that our appetite and food intake are influenced by a large number of factors besides our biological need for energy, including our eating environment and our perception of the food in front of us.Studies have shown, for instance, that eating in front of the TV (or a similar distraction) can increase both hunger and the amount of food consumed. Even simple visual cues, like plate size and lighting, have been shown to affect portion size and consumption.A new study suggested that our short-term memory also may play a role in appetite. Several hours after a meal, people’s hunger levels were predictednot by how much they’d eaten but rather by how much food they’d seen in front of them—in other words, how much they remembered eating.This disparity (差异) suggests the memory of our previous meal may have a bigger influence on our appetite than the actual size of the meal, says Jeffrey M. Brunstrom, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Bristol.“Hunger isn’t controlled solely by the physical characteristics of a recent meal. We have identified an independent role for memory for that meal,” Brunstrom says. “This shows that the relationship between hunger and food intake is more complex than we thought.”These findings echo earlier research that suggests our perception of food can sometimes trick our body’s response to the food itself. In a 2011 study, for instance, people who drank the same 380-calorie (卡路里) milkshake on two separate occasions produced different levels of hunger-related hormones (荷尔蒙), depending on whether the shake’s label said it contained 620 or 140 calories. Moreover, the participants reported feeling more full when they thought they’d consumed a higher-calorie shake.What does this mean for our eating habits? Although it hardly seems practical to trick ourselves into eating less, the new findings do highlight the benefits of focusing on our food and avoiding TV and multitasking while eating.The so-called mindful-eating strategies can fight distractions and help us control our appetite, Brunstrom says.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
201512月大学英语四级考试真题(1+答案解析)
Part I Writing（30 minutes）Directions: For this part，you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying “Listening is more important than talking.” You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of paying attention to others' opinions. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension（25 minutes）Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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 centre. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) It is used by more people than English.B) It is more difficult to learn than English.C) It will be as commonly used as English.D) It will eventually become a world language.10. A）一Its popularity with the common people. C) The influence of the British Empire.B) The effect of the Industrial Revolution. D) Its loan words from many languages.11. A) It has a growing number of newly coined words.B) It includes a lot of words from other languages.C) It is the largest among all languages in the world.D) It can be easily picked up by overseas travellers.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) To place an order. C) To return some goods.B) To apply for a job. D) To make a complaint.13. A) He works on a part-time basis for the company.B) He has not worked in the sales department for long.C) He is not familiar with the exact details of the goods.D) He has become somewhat impatient with the woman.14. A) It is not his responsibility. C) It depends on a number of factors.B) It will be free for large orders. D) It costs￡15 more for express delivery.15. A) Make inquiries with some other companies.B) Report the information to her superior.C) Pay a visit to the saleswoman in charge.D) Ring back when she comes to a decision.Section CDirections: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. 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 centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) No one knows for sure when they came into being.B) No one knows exactly where they were first made.C) No one knows for what purpose they were invented.D) No one knows what they will look like in the future.17. A) Measure the speed of wind. C) Pass on secret messages.B) Give warnings of danger. D) Carry ropes across rivers.18. A) To find out the strength of silk for kites. C) To prove that lightning is electricity.B) To test the effects of the lightning rod. D) To protect houses againstPassage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) She was born with a talent for languages. C) She can speak several languages.B) She was trained to be an interpreter. D) She enjoys teaching languages.20. A) They want to learn as many foreign languages as possible.B) They have an intense interest in cross-cultural interactions.C) They acquire an immunity to culture shock.D) They would like to live abroad permanently.21. A) She became an expert in horse racing.B) She learned to appreciate classical music.C) She was able to translate for a German sports judge.D) She got a chance to visit several European countries.22. A) Take part in a cooling competition. C) Teach vocabulary for food in English.B) Taste the beef and give her comment. D) Give cooking lessons on Western food.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) He had only a third-grade education.B) He once threatened to kill his teacher.C) He often helped his mother do housework.D) He grew up in a poor single-parent family.24. A) Stupid. B) Active. C) Brave. D) Careless.25. A) Watch educational TV programs only. C) Help with housework.B) Write two book reports a week. D) Keep a diary.Part IIII Reading Comprehension（40 minutes）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 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.Scholars of the information society are divided over whether social inequality decreases or increases in an information-based society. However, they generally agree with the idea that inequality in the information society is 36 different from that of an industrial society. As informatization progresses in society, the cause and structural nature of social inequality changes as well.It seems that the information society 37 the quantity of information available to the members of a society by revolutionizing the ways of using and exchanging information. But such a view is a 38 analysis based on the quantity of information supplied by various forms of the mass media. A different 39 is possible when the actual amount of information 40 by the user is taken into account. In fact，the more information 41 throughout the entire society, the wider the gap becomes between "information haves" and "information have-nots"，leading to digital divide.According to recent studies, digital divide has been caused by three major 42：class, sex, and generation. In terms of class, digital divide exists among different types of workers and between the upper and middle classes and the lower class. With 43 to sex, digital divide exists between men and women. The greatest gap, however, is between the Net-generation，44 with personal computers and the Internet, and the older generation，45 to an industrial society.Section 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.Joy: A Subject Schools LackBecoming educated should not require giving up pleasure.A) When Jonathan Swift proposed, in 1729，that the people of Ireland eat theirchildren, he insisted it would solve three problems at once：feed the hungry masses, reduce the population during a severe depression，and stimulate the restaurant business. Even as a satire（讽刺），it seems disgusting and shocking in America with its child-centered culture. But actually, the country is closer to his proposal than you might think.B) If you spend much time with educators and policy makers，you'll hear a lot ofthe following words："standards，”" results,”" skills，”" self-control，”"accountability,”and so on. I have visited some of the newer supposedly “effective" schools，where children shout slogans in order to learn self-control or must stand behind their desk when they can't sit still.C) A look at what goes on in most classrooms these days makes it abundantly`clear that when people think about education, they are not thinking about what it feels like to be a child, or what makes childhood an important and valuable stage of life in its own right.D) I'm a mother of three，a teacher, and a developmental psychologist. So I'vewatched a -lot of children-talking，playing, arguing, eating, studying, and being young. Here's what I've come to understand. The thing that sets children apart from adults is not their ignorance，nor their lack of skills. It's their enormous capacity for joy. Think of a 3-year-old lost in the pleasures of finding out what he can and cannot sink in the bathtub，a 5-year-old beside herself with the thrill of putting together strings of nonsensical words with her best friends, or an 11-year-old completely absorbed in a fascinating comic strip. A child's ability to become deeply absorbed in something，and derive intense pleasure from that absorption, is something adults spend the rest of their lives trying to return to.E) A friend told me the following story. One day, when he went to get his7-year-old son from soccer practice，his kid greeted him with a downcast face and a sad voice. The coach had criticized him for not focusing on his soccer drills. The little boy walked out of the school with his head and shoulders hanging down. He seemed wrapped in sadness. But just before he reached the car door, he suddenly stopped, crouching（蹲伏）down to peer at something on the sidewalk. His face went down lower and lower, and then，with complete joy he called out，“Dad. Come here. This is the strangest bug I've ever seen. It has, like, a million legs. Look at this. It's amazing.” He looked up at his father, his features overflowing with energy and delight.“Can't we stay here for just a minute? I want to find out what he does with all those legs. This is the coolest ever.”F) The traditional view of such moments is that they constitute a charming butirrelevant byproduct of youth-something to be pushed aside to make room for more important qualities, like perseverance（坚持不懈），obligation, and practicality. Yet moments like this one are just the kind of intense absorption and pleasure adults spend the rest of their lives seeking. Human lives are governed by the desire to experience joy. Becoming educated should not require giving up joy but rather lead to finding joy in new kinds of things：reading novels instead of playing with small figures, conducting experiments instead of sinking cups in the bathtub，and debating seriousissues rather than stringing together nonsense words, for example. In some cases, schools should help children find new, more grown-up ways of doing the same things that are constant sources of joy; making art，making friends，making decisions.G) Building on a child's ability to feel joy, rather than pushing it aside, wouldn'tbe that hard. It would just require a shift in the education world's mindset（思维模式）．Instead of trying to get children to work hard，why not focus on getting them to take pleasure in meaningful，productive activity, like making things，working with others, exploring ideas, and solving problems? These focuses are not so different from the things in which they delight.H) Before you brush this argument aside as rubbish, or think of joy as anunaffordable luxury in a nation where there is awful poverty, low academic achievement，and high dropout rates, think again. The more horrible the school circumstances, the more important pleasure is to achieving any educational success.1) Many of the assignments and rules teachers come up with，often becausethey are pressured by their administrators, treat pleasure and joy as the enemies of competence and responsibility. The assumption is that children shouldn't chat in the classroom because it hinders hard work; instead, they should learn to delay gratification（快乐）so that they can pursue abstract goals，like going to college.J) Not only is this a boring and awful way to treat children，it makes no sense educationally. Decades of research have shown that in order to acquire skills and real knowledge in school, kids need to want to learn. You can force a child to stay in his or her seat, fill out a worksheet, or practice division. But you can't force the child to think carefully，enjoy books, digest complex information, or develop a taste for learning. To make that happen, you have to help the child find pleasure in learning-to see school as a source of joy. K) Adults tend to talk about learning as if it were medicine: unpleasant, but necessary and good for you. Why not instead think of learning as if it were food-something so valuable to humans that they have evolved toexperience it as a pleasure?L) Joy should not be trained out of children or left for after-school programs.The more difficult a child's life circumstances, the more important it is for that child to find joy in his or her classroom. “Pleasure" is not a dirty word.And it doesn't run counter to the goals of public education. It is, in fact，the precondition.46. It will not be difficult to make learning a source of joy if educators change their way of thinking.47. What distinguishes children from adults is their strong ability to derive joy from what they are doing.48. Children in America are being treated with shocking cruelty.49. It is human nature to seek joy in life.50. Grown-ups are likely to think that learning to children is what medicine is to patients.51. Bad school conditions make it all the more important to turn learning into a joyful experience.52. Adults do not consider children's feelings when it comes to education.53. Administrators seem to believe that only hard work will lead children to their educational goals.54. In the so-called “effective" schools, children are taught self-control under a set of strict rules.55. To make learning effective，educators have to ensure that children want to learn.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。