大学英语四级试题和答案

大学英语四级试卷Part I Writing 30 minutesDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic “Education:Examination-Oriented or Quality-Oriented”. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:1. 应试教育现状及其原因;2. 素质教育的优点;3. 你的观点;Part II Reading Comprehension Skimming and Scanning 15 minutesDirections: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Selling Expertise on the Internet for Extra CashTeresa Estes, a licensed mental-health counselor, watched as business at her private practice decreased last year. Then the single mother turned to her keyboard to boost her income.Ms. Estes applied to become an “expert” on LivePerson Inc., a Web site where clients pay for online chat time with professionals and advisers of all fields. For $1.89 a minute — a rate she set — the 39-year-old from Marianna, Fla., dispenses advice to clients around the globe. She spends about four hours a day online, often at night, when her daughter has gone to bed.“It was the economy,” she says of her move to take her skills online. “Live Person is more profitable than my private practice.” Ms. Estes had charged her private clients up to $75 an hour.As the recession deepens, a small but growing number of people are taking their skills online, offering expertise or performing specified tasks for a fee. Labor-at-the-keyboard sites are gaining popularity as people increasingly turn to the Web in search of work. Internet job-search sites saw a 51% rise in traffic from January 2008 to January 2009, according to comScore Media Metrix, to 26.7 million unique visitors.Among the many fee-for-service Web sites out there, at least three are attracting a significant number of users — though consumers should exercise a healthy degree of skepticism when consulting any of these sites. Live Person seeks out experts on a slew of topics, including mental health, financial services, shopping and fashion, as well as psychics and spiritual advisers. Mechanical Turk, a Web service run by Amazon Inc., pays workers to perform tasks, such as cataloging products online. Associated Content pays contributors to write articles on a wide range of subjects, from organic flower gardening to how to apply for financial aid.Live Person went public in 2001, and the current version of the site was launched in late 2007. Today, the site has 30,000 registered experts, attracting an average of 100,000 people a year who pay for the offered services, says Chief Executive Officer Robert LoCascio. Roughly 3,500 people have made contributing to the site their full-time job, he says.Live Person says it vets contributors’ qualifications, such as medical licenses or financial certification, through a third party, and relies heavily on its community reviews. Some 200 people a day apply to be Live Person experts, up from 120 a year ago, says Mr. LoCascio. Once cleared, advisers work with clients on a cost-per-minute basis set by the adviser. The site takes a commission of between 30% and 35%.Associated Content, by contrast, reviews submissions in house and then decides how much to pay for them. The site, which specializes in how-to pieces and feature stories on news topics, had 237,000 registered contributors and more than one million content pieces as of February, both about double from the same month a year ago.After posting the content, the site sells advertisements against it and distributes it to other companies, such as online shoe retailer Zappos, which use the content on their own Web sites. If Associated Content accepts a submission it says it rejects about 25% of them, the author gets between $5 and $30, plus $1.50 for each 1,000 page views. An ability to write “search-engine-optimized” content, an industry term for generating good Google results, helps, says site founder Luke Beatty.People are not only looki ng for payment but also establishing their credentials “as somebody with experience”, he says. Writing about a specific profession, such as law or real estate, helps raise a person’s profile online, enhancing his job searches, says Mr. Beatty.Sabah Karimi, a 26-year-old from Orlando, Fla., left a career in marketing to become a full-time freelance writer and now spends between 8 and 10 hours a week writing for Associated Content. She has been at it for about three years and says she earns roughly $1,000 a month from her past and current submissions.Ms. Karimi cautions newcomers to Associated Content that it takes time to build up earnings. She says she learned how to write articles that would bring traffic and often looks for newsy ideas that will attract readers.Mechanical Turk, by contrast, is based on “crowd sourcing”, or breaking a task into lots of tiny pieces and giving it to a bi g group of people to complete quickly. Most of these jobs — which the site calls HITs, for human intelligence tasks — pay just a few cents. Efficient MTurkers, as they call themselves, can make more than $100 a week doing things such as finding someone’s email address or labeling images of a particular animal in a photograph.Amazon says that MTurk now has 200,000 w orkers from 100 different countries, but it doesn’t keep track of past figures.The site — named for an 18th-century stunt involving a turbaned chess-playing “machine” with an actual chess master hidden within — began as a way to help Amazon manage its product database, says Sharon Chiarella, vice president of Amazon Mechanical Turk. Amazon uses the site to help sort images and content, paying people a few cents a task. Mechanical Turk also serves a variety of companies who need Web tasks performed, especially those that require a human element. Test-prep startup Knewton Inc., for example, uses it extensively for focus-group-type tasks, as well as enlisting people to take its practice tests.Keri Knutson, a mother of five from Independence, La.Part III Listening Comprehension 35 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.11. A It will be better to say nothing to Paul.B Paul himself will come to talk to them.C The man should be the one to speak to Paul.D The man should replace the radio before she talks to Paul.12. A Not give any suggestions to Jack.B Not see Jack any more.C Not listen to Jack’s words.D Not save his words on Jack.13. A They should give up talking.B They should both make a compromise.C They can meet next time.D They are both halfway.14. A He likes rings very much.B He often burns holes in his new coats.C He’s very extravagant with money.D He is very poor.15. A She missed the bus.B She caught the bus.C She got up five minutes earlier than usual.D She likes getting up early in the morning.16. A In the library.B In the college bookstore.C At a news-stand.D At a department store.17. A Teacher and student.B Doctor and patient.C Manager and office worker.D Travel agent and customer.18. A Move the washing machine to the basement.B Turn the basement into a workshop.C Repair the washing machine.D Finish her assignment.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A She will go to see her brother.B She will go to Hawaii with her family.C She will stay at home with her family.D She will find a part-time job.20. A Very exciting. B Too bad.C Very boring.D Not too bad.21. A A new bicycle. B A new dictionary.C A new computer.D A new cellphone.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A She has a good chance to study abroad but she doesn’t have enough money.B Her parents don’t want her to go too far away from them.C She won’t have as many vacations as she has as a student.D She wants to study abroad but she has been offered a good job.23. A It is not as good as studying abroad.B He thinks being a teacher is boring.C It is a good opportunity.D He thinks the salary for the job is too low.24. A Asking her friends for advice.B Making the choice by herself.C Asking her parents for advice.D Asking her teachers for advice.25. A Choose to be an English teacher.B Give up both opportunities.C Study overseas.D Teach English for a few years before going abroad.■S ection 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.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A About 40%. B About 46%. C About 80%. D About 54%.27. A People in South Korea are no longer interested in Hollywood movies.B It is much cheaper to see a local movie than a Hollywood one.C Hollywood’s films are not as good as before.D South Korea’s film industry has developed a lot.28. A They are releasing the movies first in America and then in other countries.B They are releasing the movies in America and other countries at the same time.C They send people who sell illegally copied movies to court.D They encourage people to buy legal DVDs by giving a high discount.29. A Many people believe that DVDs are not of good quality.B People are more likely to get movies from the Internet.C Some people think that DVDs are very expensive.D People like watching TV better than watching DVDs.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A Once. B Twice.C Three times.D Four times.31. A He was the president with the longest presidency.B He led the American people through the Great Depression.C He led the American people through the First World War.D He was the most influential president in American history.32. A On April 12, 1944. B On April 12, 1945.C On July 12, 1944.D On July 12, 1945.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A Cooking food. B Boiling water.C Killing bacteria.D Generating electricity.34. A The parabolic cooker. B The panel cooker.C The box cooker.D It’s not mentioned.35. A Solar CookersB How to Use Solar OvensC How to Cook MealsD How to Choose Solar Ovens■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 blanksnumbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Some people’s ears produce wax like busy little bees. This can be a problem even though earwax appears to s erve an important purpose. Experts say it protects and cleans the ear. It 36_______ dirt and other matter and keeps 37_______ out. Doctors think it might also help protect against 38_______. And the waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry. So earwax is good. It even has a medical name: cerumen. There are two kinds of cerumen. Most people of 39_______ or African ancestry have the “wet” kind: thick and 40_______. East Asians commonly have “dry” earwax.But you can have too much of a good thing. The glands in the ear canal that produce the wax make too much in some people. Earwax is normally 41_______; it falls out of the ear or gets washed away. But extra wax can 42_______ and form a blockage that 43_______ with sound waves and reduces hearing. 44____________________________________________. Earwax removal is sometimes necessary. But you have to use a safe method or you could do a lot of damage.Experts suggest some ways to treat excessive earwax yourself. 45_________________________. Another way to remove wax is known as irrigation. With the head upright, take hold of the outer part of the ear. Gently pull upward to straighten the ear canal. 46______________________________________________. Then turn the head to the side to let the water out.Part IV Reading Comprehension Reading in Depth 25 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. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its 47 lie mainly in blues, rhythm and blues, country, folk, gospel, and jazz. The style subsequently spread to the rest of the world and developed further, leading ultimately to 48 rock music.The term “rock and roll” now covers at least two different meanings, both in common usage. The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary both 49 rock and roll as synonymous with rock music.50 , Allwords defines the term as referring specifically to the music of the 1950s.Classic rock and roll is 51 played with one or two electric guitars, a string bass or an electric bass guitar, and a drum kit. In the 52 rock and roll styles of the late 1940s, either the piano or saxophone was often the lead instrument, but these were generally 53 or supplemented by the guitar in the middle to late 1950s.The massive popularity and eventual worldwide view of rock and roll gave it a 54 social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll, as seen in movies and in the new medium of television, 55 lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. It went on to spawn various sub-genres, often without the initially 56 backbeat, that are now more commonly called simply “rock music” or “rock”.A define I followedB characteristic J modernC unique K explanationD roots L ConverselyE usually M replacedF Basically N prepareG earliest O seldomH influenced■Section BDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished sentences. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.According to a report, around 30,000 pupils started secondary school last year with the math skills of a seven-year-old. MPs 国会议员warned that many young people would need “expensive” remedial lessons in later life to get a job —posing major problems for the economy. The findings came just months after Ofsted教育标准办公室claimed almost half of math lessons in English schools were not good enough. It said many teachers relied on textbooks and mundane exercises to make sure pupils passed exams at the expense of a proper understanding of the subject. MPs backed the conclusions, saying too many pupils found lessons “boring”. They insisted improvements had been made under Labor but achievement had “leveled off” in recent years.In 2008, 79 percent of pupils met the Government’s expected standard at the end of primary school, well short of the 85 percent target set for 2006. Around five percent moved to secondary school with the math skills of a seven- year-old, said the committee. In 2006, ￡2.3 billion was spent teaching the subject. It equates to around a quarter of the ￡10 billion total budget for primary teaching and support staff.The report said the Department for Children, Schools and Families DCSF needed to “radically rethink its strategy for improving pupil attainment; otherwise we seriously doubt that the department will meet its 2011 target”. The target demands that 84.5 percent of pupils will make the necessary progress between 7 and 11.Last year, the DCSF published a major review of math education in England to boost standards. It called for a math specialist in every primary school within 10 years and more emphasis on mathematical “play” in nursery schools. Mr. Leigh said, “The department’s 10-year program to train 13,000 specialist math teachers will not benefit some primary schools for another decade. That’s far too long; the department needs to look for ways to accelerate the program.” Sarah McCarthy Fry, the Schools Minister, said, “We have already accepted the main recommendati on from a recent independent review of primary math that every school should have a specialist math teacher and have pledged ￡24 million over the next three years for a training program for teachers.”Nick Gibb, the Tory shadow schools secretary, said, “The Government is not getting value for the money they have piled into education and the country is falling behind in international league tables as a result. The Government has failed to replace methods of teaching which have failed with tried and tested methods used in countries that have much higher levels of math achievement.”57. What do we learn from the first paragraphA 30,000 pupils started secondary school with poor math skills.B MPs insist more improvements should be made under Labor.C Young people need medical lessons to get a job.D Half of English schools were not good enough.58. According to the passage, what happened in 2006A 21% of pupils didn’t meet the Government’s expected standard.B The target set for 2006 was 87 percent.C ￡2.3 billion was spent on math teaching.D The total budget for primary teaching and support staff was ￡5 billion in 2006.59. What will people probably do to improve math education in EnglandA Spend money on training specialist math teachers.B Hire a math specialist for every primary school.C Allow pupils to have more mathematical “play”.D Spend more time on math education.60. What do Nick Gibb’s words meanA The British government should put more money into math education.B Britain is falling behind in the international knowledge competition.C The British government should learn from other countries’ failures.D The British government should change their teaching methods every few years.61. What’s the passage mainly talking aboutA There aren’t enough math teachers in British primary schools.B The British government didn’t spend enough money on math education.C British pupils are not good at math.D Math lessons in British primary schools need to be improved.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Bananas, always the fashion victims of the produce section, are wearing another new label this spring. Bananas with “Fair Trade Certified” stickers have been available in the United States since October. They represent the new front of an international effort to help first-world consumers improve the living standards of the third-world farmers who grow much of their food.By expanding its reach to the produce section, Fair Trade is now trying to reach the American supermarket shopper. Fair Trade deals directly with farmer cooperatives. It helps organize, avoiding brokers 代理人and middlemen. It guarantees higher prices for the farmers’ goods and help s them set up schools and health clinics.The Fair Trade movement took root in Europe in the 1990’s as a way of bolstering coffee farmers as prices were collapsing. Since Fair Trade began, more than a million coffee growers and other farmers have joined cooperatives that sell their products through Fair Trade channels instead of directly to a commercial producer.Not everyone is greeting the Fair Trade label with open arms. Several American coffee importers recently pulled out of Fair Trade, citing Tr ansFair’s “corporate friendly” policies that allow large companies to use the Fair Trade logo in their marketing even if only a small amount of the company’s overall purchases are Fair Trade certified.Edmund LaMacchia, the national produce coordinator for Whole Foods, said Fair Trade is only one of many consumer choices. “Whole Foods has its own team of inspectors and has no plans to carry Fair Trade products”, Mr. LaMacchia said. “Our standards are higher than Fair Trade’s, actually.” Fair Trade is onl y one of several labels your bananas might be wearing this year. Another is that of the Rainforest Alliance, which certifies the use of sustainable agriculture methods.So far, though, Fair Trade is the biggest. A Fair Trade label by itself does not guarantee an organic product, but most Fair Trade bananas are also organic, Ms. Bourque said, because pesticides are usually too costly for the small farmers who grow them. If the bananas are organic, they will be labeled as such, and will probably be wearing a sticker to prove it.62. Why are bananas wearing “Fair Trade Certified” stickersA It means bananas are the fashion victims of the produce section.B It means bananas have got a new label.C It means bananas with these stickers are available in the United States.D It represents an international effort to help the third-world farmers.63. What does Fair Trade doA It helps farmers sell their products for a higher profit.B It appoints brokers and middlemen to deal with farmer cooperatives.C It brings down the price of farmers’ goods.D It sets up schools and health clinics for American farmers.64. What was the original purpose of the Fair Trade movementA To cooperate with coffee growers and other farmers.B To help coffee farmers as prices were collapsing.C To prevent farmers from selling their products to commercial producers.D To sell products through coffee growers and other farmers.65. What can we infer from this passageA American coffee importers will never buy their products through Fair Trade channels.B Fair Trade is the only label that bananas might be wearing this year.C Not every consumer considers Fair Trade products the only choice.D Whole Foods and the Rainforest Alliance are more influential than Fair Trade.66. What is the best title for this passageA Helping the Third World: One Banana at a TimeB Consumers Face More ChoicesC Fair Trade — the Best StickerD The Fair Trade MovementPart V Cloze 15 minutesDirections: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage.Everyone knows hand washing is important. But a new study shows how washing your hands 67 , and at the right time, can have a big impact on your family’s risk of getting sick.Most studies on hand washing focus on 68 and food service workers. But this month’s American Journal of Infection Control focuses on washing hands at 69 as a way to stop infections from 70 . Several studies show hands are the single most important 71 route for all types of infections.Even though most people know to wash their hands after using the toilet or handling a diaper 尿布, studies 72 many people are still ending up with germs on their hands.One study looked in homes of 73 recently vaccinated against polio 脊髓灰质炎. After vaccination, the virus is74 to be shed in the baby’s feces 粪便. Researchers found the virus on 13 percent of bathroom, living room and kitchen surfaces. 75 the virus from the vaccine didn’t pose a health risk, feces-borne viruses can 76 through the home.Doorknobs and toilet flush handles are key 77 of germ transmission in the home. That’s why people should focus on cleaning such surfaces 78 and always wash their hands after touching them. In one study, a 79 touched a door handle contaminated with a virus. He then shook hands 80 other volunteers, and spread the virus to six people.The study authors note that the timing of hand washing is key. It’s 81 to wash hands after using the toilet, before eating or handling food. Other crucial times for hand washing are after 82 a diaper or cleaning up after a pet, or after touching garbage cans, dish rags and utensils that may have come 83 contact with raw food.While it may be hard to 84 that something as simple as regular hand washing can make a difference in your family’s health, consider what happened during the 2003 outbreak of SARS. The outbreak 85 extensive public and community health measures, including regular hand washing. Not only was the SARS outbreak contained, 86 other cases of illnesses dropped sharply.67. A occasionally B often C sometimes D repeatedly68. A chemical B physical C medical D mental69. A home B clinics C hospitals D school70. A living B spreading C surviving D going71. A transmit B transfer C transferring D transmission72. A claim B agree C suggest D object73. A parents B teachers C adults D infants74. A known B said C moved D added75. A When B While C Why D Which76. A travel B go C fly D float77. A questions B opportunities C ideas D sources78. A always B frequently C regularly D actually79. A volunteer B baby C worker D person80. A in B on C with D through81. A useless B obvious C interesting D thankful82. A taking B using C changing D bringing83. A of B for C from D into84. A dream B know C figure D believe85. A triggered B started C helped D saved86. A yet B while C but D sincePart VI Translation 5 minutesDirections: Complete the sentences by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.87. It was after the failure of this attempt that he _____________诉诸武力.88. A lot of people nowadays have muscular problems in the neck, the shoulders and the back __________________主要是由于工作中的压力和紧张造成的.89. This occupation ____________________关注于计划和监督the arrangement of exhibitions of collections.90. ____________________ 令学生失望的是, the books they needed were sold out at the bookstore.91. A number of women interviewed found ___________________________获得提升很难.参考答案Part I WritingOne possible version:Education: Examination-Oriented or Quality-OrientedFrom primary school to college, students, teachers and parents all are struggling for high scores. This is because the current education system is not aimed at quality, but only at developing students’ ability to perform well on tests. As a res ult, many students, even those with high scores, often do poorly when it comes to the practical application of what they’ve learned.Therefore, China is challenging examination-oriented education by advocating quality-oriented education. The alternative will focus on the students’ ability as a whole. The exam result s will no longer play a key role in evaluating a student.Personally, I firmly believe in the effectiveness of this new policy. I have seen in my mind’s eye the more dedicated study, the looser environment, yet the more creative minds of the future students. Our education, so to speak, will bring up a new generation.Part III Listening Comprehension11-15 CABCA 16-20 BCDBD21-25 CDCCA 26-30 BDBBD31-35 BBDCA 36. traps37. insects 38. infections 39. European 40. sticky41. expelled 42. harden43. interferes44. People can also cause a blockage when they try to clean out their ears — but only push the wax deeper inside。