2021年6月大学英语四级考试真题 第一套(含答案解析)
2021 年 6 月大学英语四级考试真题(第 1 套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled "Do violent video games lead to violence?". You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.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 spokenonly once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A) Enroll him in a Newcastle football club.B)Send him to an after-school art class.C)Forbid him to draw in his workbook.D)Help him post his drawings online.2.A) Contacted Joe to decorate its dining-room.B)Hired Joe to paint all the walls of its buildings.C)Renovated its kitchen and all the dining-rooms.D)Asked Joe for permission to use his online drawings.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A) Get her pet dog back.B)Beg for help from the police.C)Identify the suspect or the security video.D)Post pictures of her pet dog on social media.4.A) It is suffering a great deal from the incident.B)It is helping the police with the investigation.C)It is bringing the case to the local district court.D)It is offering a big reward to anyone who helps.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A) Provide free meals to the local poor.B)Help people connect with each other.C)Help eliminate class difference in his area.D)Provide customers with first-class service.6.A) It does not supervise its employees.B)It donates regularly to a local charity.C)It donates regularly to a local charity.D)It is open round the clock.7.A) They will realise the importance of communication.B)They will come to the café even more frequently.C)They will care less about their own background.D)They will find they have something in common.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 spokenonly once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A) A surprise party for Paul’s birthday.B)Travel plans for the coming weekend.C)Preparations for Saturday’s get-together.D)The new market on the other side of town.9.A) It makes the hostess’s job a whole lot easier.B)It enables guests to walk around and chat freely.C)It saves considerable time and labor.D)It requires fewer tables and chairs.10.A) It offers some big discounts.B)It is quite close to her house.C)It is more spacious and less crowded.D)It sells local wines and soft drinks.11.A) Cook a dish for the party.B)Arrive 10 minutes earlier.C)Prepare a few opening remarks.D)Bring his computer and speakers.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) For commuting to work.B)For long-distance travel.C)For getting around in Miami.D)For convenience at weekends.13.A) They are reliable.B)They are compact.C)They are suspicious.D)They are easy to drive.14.A) Buy a second-hand car.B)Trust her own judgement.C)Seek advice from his friend.D)Look around before deciding.15.A) He sells new cars.B)He can be trusted.C)He is starting a business.D)He is a successful car dealer.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choicesmarked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 witha single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) Many escaped from farms and became wild.B)They were actually native to North America.C)Many got killed in the wild when searching for food.D)They were hunted by Spanish and Russian explorers.17.A) They often make sudden attacks on people.B)They break up nature’s food supply chain.C)They cause much environmental pollution.D)They carry a great many diseases.18.A) They lived peacefully with wild pigs.B)They ran out of food completely.C)They fell victim to eagles.D)They reproduced quickly.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) Taste coffee while in outer space.B)Roast coffee beans in outer space.C)Develop a new strain of coffee bean.D)Use a pressurised tank to brew coffee.20.A) They can easily get burned.B)They float around in the oven.C)They have to be heated to 360 ℃.D)They receive evenly distributed heat.21.A) They charged a high price for their space-roasted coffee beans.B)They set up a branch in Dubai to manufacture coffee roasters.C)They collaborated on building the first space coffee machine.D)They abandoned the attempt to roast coffee beans in space.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) It is the best time for sightseeing.B)A race passes through it annually.C)They come to clean the Iditarod Trail.D)It is when the villagers choose a queen.23.A) Its children’s baking skills.B)Its unique winter scenery.C)Its tasty fruit pies.D)Its great food variety.24.A) The contestants.B)The entire village.C)Jan Newton and her friends.D)People from the state of Idaho.25.A) She owned a restaurant in Idaho.B)She married her husband in 1972.C)She went to Alaska to compete in a race.D)She helped the village to become famous.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Readthe passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank isidentified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in thebank more than once.Most animals seek shade when temperatures in the Sahara Desert soar to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. But for the Saharan silver ants, 26 from their underground nests into the sun’s brutal rays to 27 for food, this is the perfect time to seek lunch. In 2015 these ants were joined in the desert by scientists from two Belgian universities, who spent a month in the 28 heat tracking the ants and digging out their nests. The goal was simple: to discover how the 29 adapted to the kind of heat that can 30 melt the bottom of shoes.Back in Belgium, the scientists looked at the ants under an electronic microscope and foundthat their 31 , triangular hair reflects light like a prism, giving them a metallic reflection and protecting them from the sun’s awful heat. When Ph.D. student Quentin Willot 32 the hair from an ant with 33_ knife and put it under a heat lamp, its temperature jumped.The ants' method of staying cool is 34 among animals. Could this reflective type of hair protect people? Willot says companies are interested in 35 these ants’ method of heat protection for human use, including everything from helping to protect the lives of firefighters to keeping homes cool in summer.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 paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.What happens when a language has no words for numbers?Numbers do not exist in all cultures. There are numberless hunter-gatherers embedded deep in Amazonia, living along branches of the world’s largest river tree. Instead of using words for precise quantities, these people rely exclusively on terms analogous to “a few” or “some.”In contrast, our own lives are governed by numbers. As you read this, you are likely aware of what time it is, how old you are, your checking account balance, your weight and so on. The exact (and exacting) numbers we think with impact everything from our schedules to our self-esteem.But, in a historical sense, numerically fixated people like us are the unusual ones. For the bulk of our species’ approximately 200,000-year lifespan, we had no means of precisely representing quantities. What’s more, the 7,000 or so languages that exist today vary dramatically in how they utilize numbers.Speakers of anumeric, or numberless, languages offer a window into how the invention of numbers reshaped the human experience. In a new book, I explored the ways in which humans invented numbers, and how numbers subsequently played a critical role in other milestones, from the advent of agriculture to the genesis of writing.Cultures without numbers, or with only one or two precise numbers, include the Munduruku and Pirahã in Amazonia. Researchers have also studied some adultsin Nicaragua who were never taught number words.Without numbers, healthy human adults struggle to precisely differentiate and recall quantities as low as four. In an experiment, a researcher will place nuts into a can one at a time, then remove them one by one. The person watching is asked to signal when all the nuts have been removed. Responses suggest that anumeric people have some trouble keeping track of how many nuts remain in the can, even if there are only four or five in total.This and many other experiments have converged upon a simple conclusion: When people do not have number words, they struggle to make quantitative distinctions that probably seem natural to someone like you or me. While only a small portion of the wor ld’s languages are anumeric or nearly anumeric, they demonstrate that number words are not a human universal.It is worth stressing that these anumeric people are cognitively normal, well-adapted to the environs they have dominated for centuries. As the child of missionaries, I spent some of my youth living with anumeric indigenous people, the aforementioned Pirahãwho live along the sinuous banks of the black Maici River. Like other outsiders, I was continually impressed by their superior understanding of the riverine ecology we shared.Yet numberless people struggle with tasks that require precise discrimination between quantities. Perhaps this should be unsurprising. After all, without counting, how can someone tell whether there are, say, seven or eight coconuts in a tree? Such seemingly straightforward distinctions become blurry through numberless eyes.This conclusion is echoed by work with anumeric children in industrialized societies.Prior to being spoon-fed number words, children can only approximately discriminate quantities beyond three. We must be handed the cognitive tools of numbers before we can consistently and easily recognize higher quantities.In fact, acquiring the exact meaning of number words is a painstaking process that takes children years. Initially, kids learn numbers much like they learn letters. They recognize that numbers are organized sequentially, but have little awareness of what each individual number means. With time, they start to understand that a given number represents a quantity greater by one than the preceding number. This "successor principle" is part of the foundation of our numerical cognition, but requires extensive practice to understand.None of us, then, is really a "numbers person." We are not predisposed to handle quantitative distinctions adroitly. In the absence of the cultural traditions that infuse our lives with numbers from infancy, we would all struggle with even basic quantitative distinctions.Number words and written numerals transform our quantitative reasoning as they are coaxed into our cognitive experience by our parents, peers and school teachers. The process seems so normal that we sometimes think of it as a natural part of growing up, but it is not. Human brains come equipped with certain quantitative instincts that are refined with age, but these instincts are very limited. For instance, even at birth we are capable of distinguishing between two markedlydifferent quantities – for instance, eight from 16 things.But we are not the only species capable of such abstractions. Compared to chimps and other primates, our numerical instincts are not as remarkable as many presume. We even share some basic instinctual quantitative reasoning with distant nonmammalian relatives like birds. Indeed, work with some other species, including parrots, suggests they too can refine their quantitative thought if they are introduced to the cognitive power tools we call numbers.So, how did we ever invent "unnatural" numbers in the first place?The answer is, literally, at your fingertips. The bulk of the world's languages use base-10, base- 20 or base-5 number systems. That is, these smaller numbers are the basis of larger numbers. English is a base-10 or decimal language, as evidenced by words like 14 ("four" + "10") and 31 ("three" x "10" + "one").We speak a decimal language because an ancestral tongue, proto-Indo-European, was decimally based. Proto-Indo-European was decimally oriented because, as in so many cultures, our linguistic ancestors' hands served as the gateway to realizations like "five fingers on this hand is the same as five fingers on that hand." Such transient thoughts were manifested into words and passed down across generations. This is why the word "five" in many languages is derived from the word for "hand."Most number systems, then, are the by-product of two key factors: the human capacity for language and our propensity for focusing on our hands and fingers. This manual fixation –an indirect by-product of walking upright on two legs – has helped yield numbers in most cultures, but not all.Cultures without numbers also offer insight into the cognitive influence of particular numeric traditions. Consider what time it is. Your day is ruled by minutes and seconds, but these entities are not real in any physical sense and are nonexistent to numberless people. Minutes and seconds are the verbal and written vestiges of an uncommon base-60 number system used in Mesopotamia millennia ago. They reside in our minds, numerical artifacts that not all humans inherit conceptually.Research on the language of numbers shows, more and more, that one of our species' key characteristics is tremendous linguistic and cognitive diversity. While there are undoubtedly cognitive commonalities across all human populations, our radically varied cultures foster profoundly different cognitive experiences. If we are to truly understand how much our cognitive lives differ cross-culturally, we must continually sound the depths of our species' linguistic diversity.36.I t is worth stressing that these anumeric people are cognitively (在认知方面）normal, well- adapted to the surroundings they have dominated for centuries.pared with other mammals, our numerical instincts are not as remarkable as many assume.38. It is worth stressing that these anumeric people are cognitively(在认知方面）normal, well- adapted to the surroundings they have dominated for centuries.39.But, in a historical sense, number-conscious people like us are the unusual ones.40.Research on the language of numbers shows, more and more, that one of our species' key characteristics is tremendous linguistic(语言的) and cognitive diversity.41.This and many other experiments have led to a simple conclusion: When people do not have number words, they struggle to make quantitative distinctions that probably seem natural to someone like you or me.42.None of us, then, is really a “numbers person.”We are not born to handle quantitative distinctions skillfully.43.Numbers do not exist in all cultures.44.So, how did we ever invent “unnatural” numbers in the first place? The answer is, literally, at your fingertips.45.This conclusion is echoed by work with anumeric children in industrialized societies.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) andD). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Educators and business leaders have more in common than it may seem. Teachers want to prepare students for a successful future. Technology companies have an interest in developing a workforce with the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills needed to grow the company and advance the industry. How can they wok together to achieve these goals? Play may be the answer.Focusing on STEM skills is important,but the reality is that STEM skills are enhanced and more relevant when combined with traditional, hands-on creative activities. This combination is proving to be the best way to prepare today's children to be the makers and builders of tomorrow. That is why technology companies are partnering with educators to bring back good, old-fashioned play.In fact many experts argue that the most important 2lst-century skills aren't related to specific technologies or subject matter, but to creativity; skills like imagination, problem-finding and problem-solving, teamwork, optimism, patience and the ability to experiment and take risks. These are skills acquired when kids tinker (鼓捣小玩意) , High-tech industries such as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have found that their best overall problem solvers were master tinkerers in their youth.There are cognitive (认知的) benefits of doing things the way we did as children — buildingsomething, tearing it down, then building it up again. Research shows that given 15 minutes of free play, four- and five-year-olds will spend a third of this time engaged in spatial, mathematical, and architectural activities. This type of play—especially with building blocks—helps children discover and develop key principles in math and geometry.If play and building are critical to 21st century skill development, that's really good news for two reasons: Children are born builders, makers, and creators, so fostering（培养）21st century skills may be as simple as giving kids room to play, tinker and try things out, even as they grow older; Secondly, it doesn't take 21st century technology to foster 21st century skills. This is especially important for under-resourced schools and communities. Taking whatever materials are handy and tinkering with them is a simple way to engage those important “maker”skills. And anyone, anywhere, can do it.46.W hat does the author say about educators?A)They seek advice from technology companies to achieve teaching goals.B)They have been successful in preparing the workforce for companies.C)They help students acquire the skills needed for their future success.D)They partner with technology companies to enhance teaching efficiency.47.How can educators better develop students’ STEM skills, according to the author?A)By blending them with traditional, stimulating activities.B)By inviting business leaders to help design curriculums.C)By enhancing students’ ability to think in a critical way.D)By showing students the best way to learn is through play.48.How do children acquire the skills needed for the 21 st century?A)By engaging in activities involving specific technologies.B)By playing with things to solve problems on their own.C)By familiarizing themselves with high-tech gadgets.D)By mastering basic principles through teamwork.49.What can we do to help children learn the basics of math and geometry?A)Stimulate their interest as early as possible.B)Spend more time playing games with them.C)Encourage them to make things with hands.D)Allow them to tinker freely with calculators.50.What does the author advise disadvantaged schools and communities to do?A)Train students to be makers to meet future market demands.B)Develop students’ creative skills with the resources available.C)Engage students with challenging tasks to foster their creativity.D)Work together with companies to improve their teaching facilities.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.A recent study revealed the sugar industry’s efforts 50 years ago to shape medical opinion on how sugar affects health. But today, scores of companies continue to fund food and nutrition studies.That describes the reaction of many Americans this week following revelations that, 50 years ago, the sugar industry paid Harvard scientists for research that shifted the focus away from sugar’s role in heart disease — and put the spotlight squarely on dietary fat.What might surprise consumers is just how many present-day nutrition studies are still funded by the food industry.Nutrition scholar Marion Nestle of New York University spent a year informally tracking industry-funded studies on food. “Roughly 90% of nearly 170 studies favored the sponsor’s interest,”Nestle tells us via email. Other, systematic reviews support her conclusions.For instance, studies funded by Welch Foods — the brand behind Welch’s 100% Grape Juice —found that drinking Concord grape juice daily may boost brain function. Another, funded by Quaker Oats, concluded, as a Daily Mail story put it, that “hot oatmeal breakfast keeps you full for longer.”While these examples might induce chuckles, the past year has seen several exposes that have raised serious concerns about the extent of industry’s influence on food and nutrition research outcomes.Last year, The New York Times revealed how Coca-Cola was funding high-profile scientists and organizations promoting a message that, in the battle against weight gain, people should pay more attention to exercise and less to what they eat and drink. In the aftermath of that investigation, Coca-Cola released data detailing its funding of several medical institutions and associations between 2010 and 2015, from the Academy of Family Physicians to the American Academy of Pediatrics. All told, Coca-Cola says it gave $132.8 million toward scientific research and partnerships.And earlier this summer, the Associated Press released an investigation that looked at research funded by the National Confectioners Association, a trade group whose members include the makers of Tootsie Rolls, Hershey’s kisses and Snickers bars. One study the group funded concluded that kids who eat candy tend to weigh less than those who don’t. In an email to her co-author, the AP reported, one of the scientists behind that study wrote that the finding was “thin and clearly padded.”Nonetheless, the paper was published in a journal called Food & Nutrition Research.“It’s definitely a problem that so much research in nutrition and health is funded by industry,”says Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit advocacy group. “When the food industry pays for research, it often gets what it pays for.”And what it pays for is often a pro-industry finding.Michael Moss is an investigative journalist who focuses on the food industry and author of the expose Salt, Sugar, Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us. He says a lot of times, food firms are funding research that they know is going to go their way — a finding they can tout on their packaging to sway consumers to buy their products. The problem is, the findings that get published may be incomplete, highlighting positive outcomes while leaving out negative ones. And then, there are studies that are simply poorly designed.As a researcher, notes Moss, one can tweak the experimental design “in subtle ways that can lead to a desired conclusion — whether you’re taking money from industry or you yourself have a passion or conclusion you want” to see, he says. “There’s just a lot of bad research out there.”And yet, as we’ve reported before, this junk nutrition science frequently gets touted in press releases written to drum up interest, then picked up and disseminated by journalists who lack the wherewithal to spot the bad research methodology. In May 2015, science journalist John Bohannon highlighted exactly how this process plays out: He conducted a real — but really poorly designed — study that concluded eating chocolate can help you lose weight, then watched as media outlets ran with the study.While Bohannon’s study was a deliberate hoax designed to expose the flaws in nutrition science journalism, similarly bad studies get reported on all the time. As Gary Schwitzer of Health News Review, a watchdog group for the media’s coverage of health, told us last year, the problem is extensive. “We have examples of journalists reporting on a study that was never done,” he told us in 2015. “We have news releases from medical journals, academic institutions and industry that mislead journalists, who then mislead the public.”Given this environment, where bad science on what to eat or drink is pervasive, what’s a consumer to do? Be skeptical when reading about the latest finding in nutrition science, says Moss.Ignore the latest study that pops up on your news feed, adds Liebman. “Rely on health experts who’ve reviewed all the evidence,”she says. She points to the official government Dietary Guidelines, which are based on reviews of dozens or hundreds of studies. “Experts are able to sift through the evidence and separate the good from bad,” she says.And that expert advice remains pretty simple, says Nestle. “We know what healthy diets are — lots of vegetables, not too much junk food, balanced calories. Everything else is really difficult to do experimentally.”51.. B)They turned public attention away from the health risks of sugar to fat.52.D) Nearly all of them serve the purpose of the funders.53.A) Exercise is more important to good health than diet.54.. C) It rarely results in objective findings.55.D)Think twice about new nutrition research findings.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.铁观音(Tieguanyin)是中国最受欢迎的茶之一，原产自福建省安溪县西坪镇，如今安溪全县普遍种植，但该县不同地区生产的铁观音又各具风味。
大学英语四级考试2024年6月真题(第一套)及答案解析
大学英语四级考试2024年6月真题(第一套)Part I Writing(30minutes) Directions:Suppose your university is seeking students'opinions on whether university libraries should be open to the public.You are now to write an essay to express your view.You will have30minutesfor the task.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.PartⅡListening Comprehension(25minutes) Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear three news reports.At the end ofeach news report,you will hear two or three questions.Both the news report and the questions will bespoken only once.Afier you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.Questions1and2are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A)Due to a fire alarm in their apartments.B)Because of the smoke and heat damage2.A)Investigating the cause of the incident.B)Helping search for the suspect of the crime.C)Due to the water used to extinguish the flames.D)Becauseof the collapse of the three-story building.C)Rescuing the businessmen trapped in the building.D)Checking town records for the property developer.Questions3and4are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A)It plays a less important role in one's health than nutrient intake.B)It impacts people's health to a lesser degree than sun exposure.C)It is associated with people's mental health conditionsD)It is linked with older adults'symptoms ofdepression4.A)It was indefinite C)It was straightforward.B)It was systematic.D)It was insignificant. Questions5to7are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)It has helped solve several murder cases.B)It has become a star police dog in Beijing6.A)To speed up investigation into criminal cases.B)To test the feasibility of cloning technology.7.A)Cloning is too complicated a processB)The technology is yet to be accepted C)It has surpassed its mother in performance.D)It has done better than naturally born dogs.C)To cut down training expensesD)To reduce their training time.C)Cloning is ethically controversial.D)The technology is too expensive.Section BDirections:In this section,you will hear two long conversations.At the end ofeach conversation,you will hear four questions.Both the conversation and the questions will bespoken only once.After you hear a question,you1·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.Questions8to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A)He read it somewhere online.B)He heard about it from a coworker.9.A)His publications.B)His first book.10.A)Collect a lot more data.B)Relax a bit less often.11.A)Find out the show's most interesting episodesB)Watch the series together with the woman.C)He read an article reviewing it.D)He watched a TV series based on it.C)His addressD)His name.C)Clarify many new conceptsD)Read more reference books.C)Get an e-Copy of the book to read.D)Check to see when the show starts.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)To check the prices of his farm produce.B)To ask the way to the Newcastle City Hall.13.A)Bakers.B)Vendors14.A)The issuing of certificates to vendors.B)The completion of the baking task.15.A)The closing date of submission.C)To inquire about the vegetarian food festival.D)To seekthe man's help with her work on the farm.C)Vegetarians.D)OrganisersC)The festival they are organising.D)The deadline for application.C)The details of the ceremonyB)The website of his company.D)The organiser'saddressSection CDirections:In this section,you will hearthre passages.At the end ofeach passage,you will hear three or four questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.Afteryou hear a question,you must choose the bestanswer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centreQuestions16to18are based on the passage you havejust heard.16.A)Most scenic sites have been closed.B)Access to official campsites is limited17.A)It is strongly opposed by nearby residentsB)It leads to much waste of public money18.A)Look for open land in ScotlandB)Leave no trace of their camping C)Health experts advise going outdoors.D)People have more time during the summer.C)It has caused environmental concernsD)It has created conflicts among campers.C)Avoid getting close to wilderness.D)Ask for permission from authorities.Questions19to21are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)They outcompete mythical creatures.B)They usually mind their own business.·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·C)They truly exist in the AmazonregionD)They resemble alarmingly large snakes 220.A)Scar tissue from dolphins'fighting.B)Skin infection from water pollution.21.A)It has been shrinking at an astonishing pace.C)Unhealed wounds from snake bites.D)Swimming along in seasonal floods.B)It has been placed under international protection.C)It has been appealing to both freshwater and sea dolphinsD)It has been abandoned as a battleground for male dolphins.Questions22to25are based on the passageyou have just heard.22.A)About58%of young adults call parental support the new normal.B)Most adult children enjoy increasing sources of financial supportC)A full70%of the young adults cannot afford to buy a car by themselves.D)Most early adults cannot sustain their lifestyles without parental support23.A)It renders them dependent.C)It makes them mentally immature.B)It causes them to lose dignity.D)It hinders them from getting ahead.24.A)It challenges one's willpower C)It calls for due assistance.B)It results from education.D)It defines adulthood.25.A)Current lifestyles C)College loansB)Poor budgeting.D)Emergency expensesPartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes) Section ADirections:In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one wordfor each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter:Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.It's well known that physical exercise is beneficial not just to physical health but also to mental health.Yet whereas most countries have26evidence-backed guidelines on the type and intensity of exercise27for various physical health benefits,such guidelines do not yet exist for exercise and mood. This is28due to a lack of necessary evidence.However,a new systematic review brings us usefully up-to-date on the current findings in this area.Before29into some of the key take-aways,an important30made in the review is between aerobic exercise and anaerobic.The former31such things as walking,jogging and cycling and means exercising in such a way that your body is able to use oxygen to burn fat for energy.In contrast,anaerobic exercise—such as lifting heavy weights—is of such32intensity that your body does not have time to use oxygen to create energy and so instead it breaksdown glucose(葡萄糖)in your blood or muscles.Beginning first with the influence of exercise intensity on the mood benefits of aerobic exercise,the researchers,led by John Chan at Shenzhen University,found33resultsfrom19relevant studies.Some3·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·favoured higher intensity,others low,while seven studies found that intensity made no34_to mood benefits.In relation to the intensity of anaerobic exercise,however,the results were far clearer—the optimum (最佳选择)for improving mood is35intensity,perhaps because low intensity is too dull while high intensity is too unpleasantA)constitutesB)contradictoryC)decisionD)detailedE)differenceF)dippingG)distinctionH)falling I)involves J)moderate K)notified L)partlyM)required N)traditionally O)vigorousSection 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 markingthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2.Why DoAmericans Work So Much?A)How will we all keep busy when we only have to work15hours a week?That was the question that worriedthe British economist John Maynard Keynes when he wrote his short essay“Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren”in1930.Over the next century,he predicted,the economy would become so productive that people would barely need to work at all.For a while,it looked like Keynes was right.In1930the average working week was47hours in the United States.But by1970,the number of hours Americans worked on average had fallen to slightly less than39.B)But then something changed.Instead of continuing to decline,the duration of the working week remainedstable.It has stayed at just below40hours for nearly five decades.So what happened?Why are people working just as much today as in1970?C)There would be no mystery in this if Keynes had been wrong about the power of technology to increase theeconomy's productivity,which he thought would lead to a standard of living“between four and eight times as high as it is today.”But Keynes got that right:Technology has made the economy massively more productive.According to Benjamin M.Friedman,an economistat Harvard,the U.S.economy is right ontrack to reach Keynes's eight-fold(八倍)multiple by2029.That is a century after the last data Keynes wouldhave had access to.D)In a new paper,Friedman tries to figure out why that increased productivity has not translated into increasedleisure time.Perhaps people just never feel materially satisfied,always wanting more money to buy the next ·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·4new thing.This is a theory that appeals to many economists.“This argument is,at best,far from sufficient,”he writes.If that were the case,why did the duration of the working week decline in the first place?E)Another theory Friedman considers is that,in an era of ever fewer settings that provide effectiveopportunitiesfor personal connections and relationships,people may place more value on the socializing that happens at work.There is support for this theory.Many people today consider colleagues as friends.But Friedman argues that the evidence for this theory is far from conclusive.Many workers report that they would like to spend more time with family,rather than at work.Furthermore,this theory cannot explain the change in trend in the U.S.working week in the1970s.F)A third possibility proves more convincing for Friedman.That is:American inequality means that the gainsof increasing productivity are not widely shared by everyone.In other words,most Americans are too poor to work less.Unlike the other two explanations Friedman considers,this one fits chronologically(按年代).Inequality declined in America during the period following World War II,along with the duration of the working week.But since the early1970s it has risen dramatically.G)Keynes's prediction of a shorter working week rests on the idea that the standard of living would continuerising for everyone.But Friedman says that this is not what has happened.Although Keynes's eight-fold figure holds up for the economy as a whole,it is not at all the case for the median(中位数的)American worker.For them,output by2029is likely to be around3.5times what it was when Keynes was writing.This is a bit below his four-to eight-fold predicted rangeH)This can be seen in the median worker's income over this time period,complete with a shift in1973that fitsin precisely with when the working week stopped shrinking.According to Friedman,between1947and1973 the average hourly wage for normal workers(those who were not in management roles)in private industries other than agriculture nearly doubled in terms of what their money could buy.But by2013the average hourly wage for ordinary workers had fallen5percent from the1973level in terms of actual purchasing power.Thus,though American incomes may have gone up since1973,the amount that American workers can actually buy with their money has gone down.For most Americans,then,the magic of increasing productivity stopped working around1973.Thus,they had to keep working just as much in order to maintain their standard of livingI)What Keynes predicted was a very optimistic version of what economists call technological unemployment.This is the idea that less labor will be necessary because machines can do somuch.In Keynes's vision,the resulting unemployment would be distributed more or less evenly across society in the form of increased leisure.But Friedman says that,for Americans,reality is much darker.Americans now have a labor market in which millions of people—those with fewer skills and less education—are seeking whatever poorly paid work they can get.This is confirmed by a recent poll that found that,for half of hourly workers,their top concern is not that they work too much but that they work too little.This is most likely not because they like their jobs so much.Rather,we can assume it is because they need the money.J)This explanation leaves an important question.If the very rich—the workers who have reaped above-average gains from the increased productivity since Keynes's time—can afford to work less,why do they continue to work so much?(Indeed,research has shown that the highest earners in America tend to work the most.)5·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·Friedman believes that for many top earners,work is a labor of love.They are doing work they care about and are interested in,and doing more of it is not necessarily a burden.For them,it may even be a pleasure.These top earners derive meaning from their jobs and work is an important part of how they think of themselves.And,of course,they are compensated for it at a level that makes it worth their while.K)Friedman concludes that the prosperity(繁荣)Keynes predicted is here.After all,the economy as a whole has grown even more brilliantly than he expected.But for most Americans,that prosperity is nowhere to be seen.And,as a result,neither are those shorter working weeks.36.Some people view socializing at the workplace as a chance to develop personal relationships.37.As ordinary American workers'average hourly pay had decreased despite increasing productivity,they had towork just as manyhours as before to keep their living standards.38.American workers'average weekly workingtime has not changed for nearly half a century.39.Friedman believes inequality in the rgely explains why increasing productivity has not resulted inreduced working hours.40.Many economists assume people's thirst for material things has prevented them from enjoying more leisuretime.41.An economist'sprediction about a shorter average working week seemed to be correct for a time in the20thcentury.42.In the bor market,the primary concern of people with less schooling and fewer skills is to secure anyemployment even if it is low-paid.43.Keynes was right in predicting that technology would make the economy much more productive.44.Many of the highest earners have a keen interest in and love for what they are doing45.According to Keynes,there would be a shorter working week with everyone's standard of living continuingtorise.Section CDirections:There are2passages in this section.Eachpassage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A),B),C)and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.Lao Zi once said,“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”People-pleasing,or seeking self-worth through others'approval,is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life.Why do we allow what others think of us to have so much power over how we feel about ourselves?If it's true that you can't please all people all of the time,wouldn't it make sense to stop trying?Unfortunately,sense often isn't driving our behavior.For social beings who desire love and belonging, wanting to be liked,and caring about the effect we have on others,is healthy and allows us to make connections.·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·6However,where we get into trouble is when our self-worth is dependent upon whether we win someone's approval or not.This need to be liked can be traced back to when we were children and werecompletely dependent on others to take care of us:Small children are not just learning how to walk and communicate,they are alsotrying to learn how the world works.We learn about who we are and what is expected of us based on interactions with others so,to a four-year-old,if Mommy or Daddy doesn't like him or her,there is the danger that they will abandon them.We need to understand that when we desperately want someone to approveof us,it's being driven by that little kid part of us that is still terrified of abandonment.As you become more capable of providing yourself with the approval you seek,your need for external validation will start to vanish,leaving you stronger,more confident,and yes,happier in your life.Imagine how much time we lose each moment we restrainour authentic selves in an effort to be liked.If we base our worth on the opinions of others,we cheat ourselves of the power to shape our experiences and embrace life not only for others but also for ourselves,becauseultimately,there is no difference.So embrace the cliché(老话)and loveyourself as it's highly doubtful that you'll regret it.46.What can we conclude from Lao Zi's quotation?A)We should seethrough otherpeople's attempt to make a prisonerof us.B)We can never really please other people even if we try as hard as we can.C)We can never be truly free if taking to heart others'opinion of us.D)We should care about other people's view as much as they care about our own.47.What will happen if we base our self-worth on other people's approval?A)Our desire to be loved will be fulfilled.C)Our identity as social beings will be affected.B)Our life will be unfruitful and exhausting D)Our sense of self will be sharpened and enhanced.48.What may account for our need to be liked or approved of?A)Our desperate longing for interactions with others.C)Our knowledge about the pain of abandonment.B)Our understanding of the workings of the world.D)Our early childhood fear of being deserted.49.What can we do when we become better able to provide ourselves with the desired approval?A)Enjoy a happier life.C)Receive more external validation.B)Exercise self-restraint.D)Strengthen our power of imagination.50.What does the author advise us to do in the last paragraph?A)Embrace life for ourselves and for others.C)See our experiencesas assets.B)Base our worth on others'opinions.D)Love ourselves as we arePassage TwoQuestions51to55are based on the following passage.Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom.However,a growing body of research suggests that late-in-life learning is possible.In reality,education does an aging brain good.7·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·Throughout life,people's brains constantly renovate themselves.In the late1960s,British brain scientist Geoffrey Raisman spied growth in damaged brain regions ofrats through an electron microscope; their brains were forging new connections.This meant brains may change every time a person learns something new.Of course,that doesn't mean the brain isn't affected by the effects of time.Just as height usually declines over the years,so does brain volume:Humans lose about4percent every decade starting in their40s.But that reduction doesn't necessarily make people think slower;as long as we are alive and functioning,we can alter our brains with new information and experiences.In fact,scientists now suspect accumulating novel experiences,facts,and skills can keep people's minds more flexible.New pathways can strengthen our ever-changing mental structure,even as the brain shrinks.Conventional fixes like word puzzles and brain-training apps can contribute to mental durability.Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.A desire for new life challenges can further boost brainpower.Research about aging adults who take on new enterprises shows improved function and memory as well as a reduced risk of mental disease.Openness—a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge—may also help folks pass brain tests.Some folks are born with this take-in-the-world atitude,but those who aren't as genetically gifted aren't necessarily out of luck.While genes can encourage an interest in doing new things,a2012study in the journal Psychology and Aging found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences,which can,in turn,refresh the brain.That's why brain scientist Richard Kennedy says“It's not that old dogs can't learn new tricks.It's that maybe old dogs don't realize why they should.”51.What do some people think of aging adults?A)Their wisdom grows as time goes by.C)They can benefit from late-in-life learning.B)Their memory gradually deteriorates D)They are likely to have mental health issues.52.What can we conclude from Geoffrey Raisman's finding?A)Brain damage seriously hinders one'slearning.C)Brains can refresh and improve with learning.B)Brain power weakens slower than we imagine D)Brains forge connections under new conditions53.What is one thing that helps maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks?A)Doing daily routines by conventional means.C)Imitating old dogs'way of learning new tricksB)Avoiding worrying about our mental durability.D)Approaching everyday tasks in novel ways.54.What does the author say can contribute to the improvement of brain function?A)Being curious and desiring knowledge.C)Rising to life's challenges and avoiding risks.B)Being eager to pass brain tests at an old age.D)Boosting immunity to serious mental diseases55.What is the finding of the2012study in the journal Psychology and Aging?A)Wishing to solve puzzles enhances one's reasoning power.B)Playingnumber games unexpectedly stimulates one's memory.·2024年6月四级真题(第一套)·8C)Desiring new experiences can help to renovate thebrain.D)Learning new tricks shouldnot beconfined to old dogs only.Part IV Translation(30minutes) Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English.You should write your answer on AnswerSheet2.四合院(siheyuan)是中国一种传统的住宅建筑，其特点是房屋建造在一个院子的四周，将院子合围在中间。
2021年六月英语四级真题答案
2021年英语四级真题翻译写作答案四级写作解析01第一套写作【题目】Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled “Are people becoming addicted to technology?”. The statement given below is for your reference. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Numerous studies claim that addiction to technology is real and it has the same effect on the brain as drug addiction.【破题思路】首段：引出话题和观点中间段：叙述两个科技上瘾的表现，并给出两点解决办法尾段：呼吁人们尽力避免对科技上瘾【范文】Are People Becoming Addicted to Technology?With modern technologies being innovated at a rapid speed, numerous digital gadgets are changing people’s lives in dramatic ways. However, this has indeed led to some people’s addiction to digital products.The people’s addiction to technology is mainly reflected in two ways. First, people depend on digital devices because they bring convenience to daily life. For example, people can make payment on smartphones just by scanning QR codes, which saves them the trouble of carrying a wallet. Second, some video games are too engaging that people with little self-control can hardly drag themselves away from the screen. These people, most of whom are unable to acquire equal level of happiness elsewhere, are more susceptible to technology addiction.As for how to avert such an unwanted trend, we should put forward efficient regulations to encourage a more sensible and controlled use of digital products. Moreover, children should be limited, if not forbidden, to use smartphones and tablets to prevent addiction.In conclusion, over-dependence on digital products is seemingly inescapable yet we should strive to avoid it as much as possible.【范文译文】人们正在对科技上瘾吗？随着现代技术的飞速创新，许多数码设备正在极大程度地改变着人们的生活。
2021年6月大学英语四级考试真题(第一套)
2021年6月大学英语四级考试真题（第一套）答案请戳：2021年6月四级真题答案发布【试卷一】（xx网校版）Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay based on the picture below.You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then comment on the kid's understanding of going to school.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension(30 minutes)听力音频地址：/attached/media/20211113/20211113103125_157 5.mp3Section ADirections : In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.At the end ofeach conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both theconversation and the questions will be spoken only once.After each question there will bea pause.During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A., B), C.and D),and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 1 with a single line through thecentre.1.A.He will give the woman some tips on the game.B.The woman has good reason to quit the game.C.He is willing to play chess with the woman.D.The woman should go on playing chess.2.A.The man can forward the mail to Mary.B.She can call Mary to take care of the mail.C.Mary probably knows Sally's new address.D.She would like to resume contact with Sally.3.A.His handwriting has a unique style.B.His notes are not easy to read.C.He did not attend today's class.D.He is very pleased to be able to help.4.A.The man had better choose another restaurant.B.The new restaurant is a perfect place for dating.C.The new restaurant caught her fancy immediately.D.The man has good taste in choosing the restaurant.5.A.He has been looking forward to spring.B.He has been waiting for the winter sale.C.He will clean the woman's boots for spring.D.He will help the woman put things away.6.A.The woman is rather forgetful.B.The man appreciates the woman's help.C.The man often lends books to the woman.D.The woman often works overtime at weekends.7.A.Go to work on foot.B.Take a sightseeing trip.C.Start work earlier than usual.D.Take a walk when the weather is nice.8.A.The plane is going to land at another airport.B.All flights have been delayed due to bad weather.C.Temporary closing has disturbed the airport's operation.D.The airport's management is in real need of improvement. Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A.It specializes in safety from leaks.B.It is headquartered in London.C.It has a partnership with LCP.D.It has a chemical processing plant.10.A.He is Mr.Grand's friend.B.He is a safety inspector.C.He is a salesman.D.He is a chemist.11.A.Director of the safety department.B.Mr.Grand's personal assistant.C.Head of the personnel department.D.The public relations officer.12. A.Walt for Mr.Grand to call back.B.Leave a message for Mr.Grand.C.Provide details of their products and services.D.Send a comprehensive description of their work.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A.She learned playing the violin from a famous French musician.B.She dreamed of working and living in a European country.C.She read a lot about European musicians and their music.D.She listened to recordings of many European orchestras.14.A.She began taking violin lessons as a small child.B.She was a pupil of a famous European violinist.C.She gave her first performance with her father.D.She became a professional violinist at fifteen.15.A.It gave her a chance to explore the city.B.It was the chance of a lifetime.C.It was a great challenge to her.D.It helped her learn classical French music.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages.At the end of each passage, you will hearsome questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A., B),C.and D ).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A.There are mysterious stories behind his works.B.There are many misunderstandings about him.C.His works have no match worldwide.D.His personal history is little known.17.A.He moved to Stratford-on-Avon in his childhood.B.He failed to go beyond grammar school.C.He was a member of the town council.D.He once worked in a well-known acting company.18. A.Writers of his time had no means to protect their works.B.Possible sources of clues about him were lost in a fire.C.His works were adapted beyond recognition.D.People of his time had little interest in him.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A.Theft.B.Cheating.C.Air crash.D.Road accidents.20. A.Learn the local customs.B.Make hotel reservations.C.Book tickets well in advance.D.Have the right documents.21.A.Contact your agent.B.Get a lift if possible.e official transport.D.Have a friend meet you.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A.Cut down production cost.B.Sell inexpensive products.C.Specialise in gold ornaments.D.Refine the taste of his goods.23.A.At a national press conference.B.During a live television interview.C.During a local sales promotion campaign.D.At a meeting of top British businesspeople.24.A.Insulted.B.Puzzled.C.Distressed.D.Discouraged.25.A.The words of some businesspeople are just rubbish.B.He who never learns from the past is bound to fail.C.There should be a limit to one's sense of humour.D.He is not laughed at, that laughs at himself first.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times.When the passage is read for the firsttime, you should listen carefully for its general idea.When the passage is read for thesecond time, you are required tofill in the blanks with the exact words you have justheard.Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what youhave written.Looking at the basic biological systems, the world is not doing very well.Yet economic indicators show the world is 26 Despite a slow start at the beginning of the eighties, global economic output increased by more than a fifth during the 27 The economy grew, trade increased, and millions of new jobs were created.How can biological indicators show the 28 of economic indicators?The answer is that the economic indicators have a basic fault: they show no difference between resource uses that 29 progress and those uses that will hurt it.The main measure of economic progress is the gross national product (GNP). 30 , this totals the value of all goods and services produced and subtracts loss in value of factories and equipment.Developed a half-century ago, GNP helped 31 a common way among countries of measuring change in economic output.For some time, this seemed to work 32 well, but serious weaknesses are now appearing.As indicated earlier, GNP includes loss in value of factories and equipment, but it does not 33 the loss of natural resources, including nonrenewable resources such as oil or renewable resources such asforests.This basic fault can produce a 34 sense of national economic health.According to GNP, for example, countries that overcut forests actually do better than those that preserve their forests.The trees cut down are counted as income but no subtraction is made for 35 the forests.Part ⅢReading Comprehension ( 40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word foreach 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 Sheet2 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.The U.S.Department of Education is making efforts to ensure that all students have equal access to a quality education.Today it is 36 the launch of the Excellent Educators for All Initiative.The initiative will helpstates and school districts support great educators for the students who need them most."All children are 37 to a high-quality education regardless of their race, zip code or family income.It is 38 important that we provide teachers and principals the support they need to help students reach their full 39 ," U.S.Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said." Despite the excellent work and deep 40 of our nation's teachers and principals, students in high-poverty, high- minority schools are unfairly treated across our country.We have to do better.Local leaders and educators will 41 their own creative solutions, but we must work together to 42 our focus on how to better recruit, support and 43 effective teachers and principals for all students, especially the kids who need them most."Today's announcement is another important step forward in improving access to a quality education, a 44 of President Obama's year of ter today, Secretary Duncan will lead a roundtable discussion with principals and school teachers from across the country about the 45 of working in high-need schools and how to adopt promising practices for supporting great educators in these schools.A.AnnouncingB.beneficialC.challengesmitmentponentF.contestsG.criticallyH.developI.distributingJ.enhanceK.entitledL.potentialM.properlyN.qualifiedO.retainSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs.Identify the 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 thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Changes Facing Fast FoodA.Fast-food firms have to be a thick-skinned bunch.Health experts regularly criticise them severelyfor selling food that makes people fat.Critics even complain that McDonald's, whose logosymbolises calorie excess, should not have been allowed to sponsor the World Cup.These arethings fast-food firms have learnt to cope with.But not perhaps for much longer.The burgerbusiness faces more pressure from regulators at a time when it is already adapting strategies inresponse to shifts in the global economy.B)Fast food was once thought to be recession-proof.When consumers need to cut spending, the logicgoes, cheap meals like Big Macs and Whoppers become even more attractive.Such "trading down"proved true for much of the latest recession, when fast-food companies picked up customers who could no longer afford to eat at casual restaurants.Traffic was boosted in America, the home of fast food, with discounts and promotions, such as $1 menus and cheap combination meals.C)As a result, fast-food chains have weathered the recession better than their more expensive competitors.In 2020 sales at full-service restaurants in America fell by more than 6% , but total sales remained about thesame at fast-food chains.In some markets, such as Japan, France and Britain, total spending on fast food increased.Same-store sales in America at McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food company, did not decline throughout the downturn.Panera Bread, an American fast-food chain known for its fresh ingredients, performed well, too, because it offers higher-quality food at lower prices than restaurants.D)But not all fast-food companies have been as fortunate.Many, such as Burger King, have seen sales fall.In a severe recession, while some people trade down to fast food, many others eat at home more frequently to save money.David Palmer, an analyst at UBS, a bank, says smaller fast- food chains in America, such as Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr., have been hit particularly hard in this downturn because they are competing with the global giant McDonald's, which increased spending on advertising by more than 7% last year as others cut back.E.Some fast-food companies also sacrificed their own profits by trying to give customers better value.During the recession companies set prices low, hoping that once they had tempted customers through the door they would be persuaded to order more expensive items.But in many cases that strategy did not st year Burger King franchisees (特许经营人)sued (起诉)the company over its double-cheeseburgerpromotion, claiming it was unfair for them to be repuired to sell these for $1 when they cost$1.10 to make.In May a judge ruled in favour of Burger King.Nevertheless, the company may still be cursing its decision to promote cheap choices over more expensive ones because items on its "value menu" now account for around 20% of all sales, upfrom 12% last October.F.Analysts expect the fast-food industry to grow modestly this year.But the downturn is makingcompanies rethink their strategies.Many are now introducing higher-priced items to entice (引诱)consumers away from $1 specials.KFC, a division of Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Belland Pizza Hut, has launched a chicken sandwich that costs around $5.And in May Burger Kingintroduced barbecue (烧烤)pork ribs at $7 for eight.panies are also trying to get customers to buy new and more items, including drinks.McDonald's started selling better coffee as a challenge to Starbucks.Its " McCafe" line nowaccounts for an estimated 6% of sales in America.Starbucks has sold rights to its Seattle's Bestcoffee brand to Burger King, which will start selling it later this year.H.As fast-food companies shift from "super size" to "more buys", they need to keep customer traffichigh throughout the day.Many see breakfast as a big opporttmity, and not just for fatty food.McDonald's willstart selling porridge (粥)in America next year.Breakfast has the potential to bevery profitable, says Sara Senatore of Bernstein, a research firm, because the margins can be high.Fast-food companies are also adding midday and late-night snacks, such as blended drinks andwraps.The idea is that by having a greater range of things on the menu, "we can sell to consumersproducts they want all day," says Rick Carucci., the .chief financial officer of Yum ! Brands.I.But what about those growing waistlines? So far, fast-food firms have cleverly avoided governmentregulation.By providing healthy options, like salads and low-calorie sandwiches, they have at leastgiven the impression of doing something about helping to fight obesity (肥胖症).These offeringsare not necessarily loss-leaders, as they broaden the appeal of outlets to groups of diners thatinclude some people who don't want to eat a burger.But customers cannot be forced to ordersalads instead of fries.J.In the future, simply offering a healthy option may not be good enough."Every packaged-food and restaurant company I know is concerned about regulation right now," says Mr.Palmer of UBS.America's health-reform bill, which Congress passed this year, requires restaurant chains with 20 ormore outlets to put the calorie-content of items theyserve on the menu.A study by the NationalBureau of Economic Research, which tracked the effects on Starbucks of a similar calorie-postinglaw in New York City in 2007, found that the average calorie-count per transaction fell 6% andrevenue increased 3% at Starbucks stores where a Dunldn Donuts outlet was nearby--a sign, it issaid, that menu-labelling could favour chains that have more healthy offerings.K.In order to avoid other legislation in America and elsewhere, fast-food companies will have tocontinue innovating (创新).Walt Riker of McDonald's claims the change it has made in its menumeans it offers more healthy items than it did a few years ago."We probably sell more vegetables,more milk, more salads, more apples than any restaurant business in the world," he says.But therecent proposal by a county in California to ban McDonald's from including toys in its high-calorie"Happy Meals", because legislators believe it attracts children to unhealthy food, suggests there isa lot more left to do.46.Some people propose laws be made to stop McDonald's from attaching toys to its food specials for children.47.Fast-food finns may not be able to cope with pressures from food regulation in the near future.48.Burger King will start to sell Seattle's Best coffee to increase sales.49.Some fast-food firms provide healthy food to give the impression they are helping to tackle the obesity problem.50.During the recession, many customers turned to fast food to save money.51.Many people eat out less often to save money in times of recession.52.During the recession, Burger King's promotional strategy of offering low-priced items often proved ineffective.53.Fast-food restaurants can make a lot of money by selling breakfast.54.Many fast-food companies now expect to increase their revenue by introducing higher-priced items.55.A newly-passed law asks big fast-food chains to specify the calorie count of what they serve on the menu.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section.Each passage is followed by some questions orunfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A., B), C.andD ).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.If you think a high-factor sunscreen (防晒霜)keeps you safe from harmful rays, you may be wrong.Research in this week's Nature shows that while factor 50 reduces the number of melanomas(黑瘤)and delays their occurrence, it can't prevent them.Melanomas are the most aggressive skin cancers.You have a higher risk if you have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or sunburn easily, or if a close relative has had one.Melanomas are more common if you have periodic intense exposure to the sun.Other skin cancers are increasingly likely with long-term exposure.There is continuing debate as to how effective sunscreen is in reducing melanomas the evidence is weaker than it is for preventing other types of skin cancer.A 2020 Australian study of 1,621 people found that people randomly selected to apply sunscreen daily had half the rate of melanomas of people who used cream as needed.A second study, comparing 1,167 people with melanomas to 1,101 who didn't have the cancer, found that using sunscreen routinely, alongside other protection such as hats,long sleeves or staying in the shade, did give some protection.This study said other forms of sun protection not sunscreen seemed most beneficial.The study relied on people remembering what they had done over each decade of their lives, so it's not entirelyreliable.But it seems reasonable to think sunscreen gives people a false sense of security in the sun.Many people also don't use sunscreen properly applying insufficient amounts, failing to reapply after a couple of hours and staying in the sun too long.It is sunburn that is most worrying recent research shows five episodes of sunburn in the teenage years increases the risk of all skin cancers.The good news is that a combination of sunscreen and covering up can reduce melanoma rates, as shown by Australian figures from their slip-slop-slap campaign.So if there is a heat wave this summer, it would be best for us, too, to slip on a shirt, slop on (抹上)sunscreen and slap ona hat.56.What is people's common expectation of a high-factor sunscreen?A.It will delay the occurrence of skin cancer.B.It will protect them from sunburn.C.It will keep their skin smooth and fair.D.It will work for people of any skin color.57.What does the research in Nature say about a high-factor sunscreen?A.It is ineffective in preventing melanomas.B.It is ineffective in case of intense sunlight.C.It is ineffective with long-term exposure.D.It is ineffective for people with fair skin.58.What do we learn from the 2020 Australian study of 1,621 people?A.Sunscreen should be applied alongside other protection measures.B.High-risk people benefit the most from the application of sunscreen.C.Irregular application of sunscreen does women more harm than good.D.Daily application of sunscreen helps reduce the incidence of melanomas.59.What does the author say about the second Australian study?A.It misleads people to rely on sunscreen for protection.B.It helps people to select the most effective sunscreen.C.It is not based on direct observation of the subjects.D.It confirms the results of the first Australian study.60.What does the author suggest to reduce melanoma rates?ing both covering up and sunscreen.B.Staying in the shade whenever possible.ing covering up instead of sunscreen.D.Applying the right amount of sunscreen.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Across the rich world, well-educated people increasingly work longer than the less-skilled.Some65% of American men aged 62 -74 with a professional degree are in the workforce, compared with32% of men with only a high-school certificate.This gap is part of a deepening divide between the well-educated well-off and the unskilled poor.Rapid technological advance has raised the incomes of the highly skilled while squeezing those of the unskilled.The consequences, for individuals and society, are profound.The world is facing an astonishing rise in the number of old people, and they will live longer than ever before.Over the next 20 years the global population of those aged 65 or more will almost double, from 600 million to 1.1 billion.The experience of the 20th century, when greater longevity (长寿)translated into more years in retirement rather than more years at work, has persuaded many observers that this shift will lead to slower economic growth, while the swelling ranks of pensioners will create government budget problems.But the notion of a sharp division between the working young and the idle old misses a new trend, the growing gap between the skilled and the unskilled.Employment rates are falling among younger unskilled people, whereas older skilled folk are working longer.The divide is most extremein America, where well-educated baby-boomers (二战后生育高峰期出生的美国人)are putting off retirement while many less-skilled younger people have dropped out of the workforce.Policy is partly responsible.Many European governments have abandoned policies that used to encourage people to retire early.Rising life expectancy (预期寿命), combined with the replacement of generous defmed-benefit pension plans with less generous defined-contribution ones, means that even the better-off must work longer to have a comfortable retirement.But the changing nature of work also plays a big role.Pay has risen sharply for the highly educated, and those people continue to reap rich rewards into old age because these days the educated elderly are more productive than the preceding generation.Technological change may well reinforce that shift: the skills that complement computers, from management knowhow to creativity, do not necessarily decline with age.61.What is happening in the workforce in rich countries?A.Younger people are replacing the elderly.B.Well-educated people tend to work longer.C.Unemployment rates are rising year after year.D.People with no college degree do not easily find work.62.What has helped deepen the divide between the well-off and the poor?A.Longer life expectancies.B.A rapid technological advance.C.Profound changes in the workforce.D.A growing number of the well-educated.63.What do many observers predict in view of the experience of the 20th century?A.Economic growth will slow down.ernment budgets will increase.C.More people will try to pursue higher education.D.There will be more competition in the job market.64.What is the result of policy changes in European countries?A.Unskilled workers may choose to retire early.B.More people have to receive in-service training.C.Even wealthy people must work longer to live comfortably in retirement.D.People may be able to enjoy generous defined-benefits from pension plans.65.What is characteristic of work in the 21st century?puters will do more complicated work.B.More will be taken by the educated young.C.Most jobs to be done will be the creative ones.D.Skills are highly valued regardless of age.Part ⅣTranslation ( 30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English.You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.中国是世界上最古老的文明之一。
2021年06月英语四级考试真题与答案解析：完整版
2021年06月英语四级考试真题与答案解析：完整版————————————————————————————————————————听力W: How about inviting people to come at 6:00 PM then we'll have the afternoon to prepare food and drink and stuff like that?M: Yes. I was thinking that around six would be good too. What food should we provide?W: Well, I had thought about baking a cake and some biscuits, and now I think we should prepare some sandwiches and snacks and some other kinds of food so that people can just help themselves rather than getting everyone to sit down at the table to eat a meal. I think that's a bit too formal. It's better to let people walk around and talk to each other or sit where they like.M: Yes, that sounds good. I'll go to the supermarket to get some drinks. I think I might try that big new supermarket on the other side of town, see what they have. I've not been there before. I think we should get some beer and wine and some fruit juice and other soft drinks. What do you think?W: Sounds great. I think those drinks will be enough. And I heard that the new supermarket offers some big discounts to attract customers, so going there should be a great idea. What should we do about music?M：Maybe we should also ask Pual to bring his computer and speakers so that we can play some music. He has a great collection of different stuff. Yes. All right.Q8. What are the speakers mainly talking about?Q9. Why does the woman say it is a good idea to serve foods that guests can help themselves too?Q10. What does the woman say about the new supermarket?CONVERSATION 2W: I’m thinking of buying a car. I wouldn't need to use it every day, but I think it would be very convenient to have one for the weekends.M: That's exciting. Would this be your first car?W: Nope.M: I actually owned a car for a little while when I lived in Miami. You see, in America, many cities don't have good public transport.So most people need their ownOY car to get around.W: I see.M: So have you got your mindset on a specific model?W: No, not really.Q13. What does the woman say about German cars?Q14. What does the man recommend the woman do?Q15. What do we learn about the Loinbo's friend from the conversation?PASSAGE 1Passage one.Pigs are not native to north America. They were first introduced to California by Spanish and Russian explorers and settlers many centuries ago. In the early times, pigs were allowed to wander freely and search a food. This practice also allowed many pigs to escape from farms and live in the wild, which became a problem.In fact, as one of the most damaging invasive species on the continent, wild pigs caused millions of dollars in crop damage yearly. TheyOY also harbored dozens of diseases that threaten both humans and farm animals. Forest patches with wild pigs have been found to have considerably reduced plant and animal diversity.In addition to either eating other animals or their food supply, wild pigs damaged native habitats by reaching up crosses and rubbing on trees. Their activities may also create opportunities for invasive plants to colonize theseseven-day race called “The Iditarod Trail”. And participants stop at Takotna for the obligatory 24 hour rest.Lucky for them, Takotna is famous OY for its delicious fruit pies. Weeks before the competitors arrive, the residents of Takotna start preparing what is without question their biggest event of the year. The whole village chips in to help, including the kids, who end up developing their baking skills at an early age. Exhausted and hungry racers are greeted with delightful pies of all kinds, such as apple, orange, lemon, or banana.They consume the pies and a stomach warming race fuel. The toughness of the race allows for racers to eat pretty much whatever they want. The more calories, the better. Takotna has gained a reputation for its dessert-based hospitality since the 1970s. It started with one person, Jane Newton. Jane moved from Iditarod with her husband in 1972 and opened a restaurant. A rich and filling fruit pies quickly got the races attention, and the village gained some fame as a result. Proud residents then started to refer to Jane as queen of Takotna.Questions 22 to 25, or based on the passage, you have just heardQ22. Why do a lot of people come to the village of Takotna every March?Q23. What is the village of Takotna famous for?Q24. Who comes to help with the event of the year?Q25. What does the passage say about Jane Newton?第一套答案：SectionA 1.C) Send him to an after-school art class. 2.D) Contacted Joe to decorate its dining-room. 3.A) Get her pet dog back. 4.B) It is offering a big reward to anyone who helps. 5.D) Help people connect with each other. 6.B) It does not use volunteers 7.A)They will find they have something in commonSectionB 8.D) Preparations for Saturday's get-together. 9.A) It enables guests to walk around and chat freely. 10.B) It offers some big discounts. 11.D)Bring his computerand speakers 12.C) For convenience at weekends. 13.B) They are reliable. 14.C) Seek advice from his friend 15.A)He can be trusted.SectionC 16.D) Many escaped from farms and became wild. 17.A)They carry a great many diseases. 18.B) They fell victim to eagles. 19.C) Roast coffee beans in outer space. 20.A) They can easily get burned. 21.B) They collaborated on building the first space coffee machine. 22.C)A race passes through it annually. 23.D)It’s tasty fruit pies. 24.A) The entire village.25.C) She helped the village to become famous.第二套答案SectionA1. A) See the Pope.2.D) He ended up in the wrong place.3. C) Glasgow has pledged to take the lead in reducing carbon emissions in the UK.4.A)Glasgow needs to invest in new technologies to reach its goal.5.B)It permits employees to bring cats into their offices.6. B) Rescue homeless cats.7. C) It has let some other companies to follow suit.SectionB8. A) Find out where is Jimmy.9.B)He was working on a project with Jimmy.10. C) He was involved a traffic accident.11.D)He wanted to conceal something from his parents.12. B) Shopping online.13. D) Getting one's car parked.14. C) The quality of food products.15.A)It saves moneySectionC16. D)They have strong negative emotions towards math.17.B) It affects low performing children only.18.A) Most of them have average to strong math ability.19. C) Addiction to computer games is a disease.20. A)They prioritize their favored activity over what they should do.21.D)There is not enough evidence to classify it as a disease.22.C) They are a shade of red bordering on brown.23.D) They must follow some common standards.24. B) They look more official.25. D) For security.快速阅读1What happens when a language has no words for numbers?36.[E]It is worth stressing that these anumeric people are cognitively（在认知方面）normal，well-adapted to the surroundings they have dominated for centuries.37.[H] Compared with other mammals, our numerical instincts are not as remarkable as many assume.38.[E] It is worth stressing that these anumeric people are cognitively（在认知方面）normal，well-adapted to the surroundings they have dominated for centuries.39.[B]But, in a historical sense,number-conscious people like us are the unusual ones.40.[K]Research on the language of numbers shows, more and more, that one of our species' key characteristics is tremendous linguistic（语言的）and cognitive diversity. 41.[D]This and many other experiments have led to a simple conclusion:When people do not have number words,they struggle to make quantitative distinctions that probably seem natural to someone like you or me.42.[G] None of us, then, is really a"numbers person."We are not born to handle quantitative distinctions skillfully.43.[A]Numbers do not exist in all cultures44. [I] So,how did we ever invent "unnatural"numbers in the first place? The answer is,literally,at your fingertips.45. 45.[F]This conclusion is echoed by work with anumeric children in industrialized societies.快读阅读2The start of high school doesn't have to be stressful36.[E] ln addition, studies find the first year of high school typically shows one of the greatest increases in depression of any year over the lifespan.37.[G] ln one recent study, we examined 360 adolescents' beliefs about the nature of "smartness"- that is, their fixed mindsets about intelligence.38.[J]These findings lead to several possibilities that we are investigating further.39.[C]In the new global economy,students who fail to finish the ninth grade with passing grades in college preparatory coursework are very unlikely to graduate on time and go on to get jobs.40.[H]We also investigated the social side of the high school transition.41.[E]n addition, studies find the first year of high school typically shows one of the greatest increases in depression of any year over the lifespan.42.[D]The consequences of doing poorly in the ninth grade can impact more than students' ability to find a good job.43.[A]This month, more than 4 million students across the nation will begin high school.44.[I]Experiment results showed that students who were not taught that people can change showed poor stress responses.45.[F]Given all that's riding on having a successful ninth grade experience, it pays to explore what can be done to meet the academic, social and emotional challenges of the transition to high school.快读阅读3Science of setbacks:How failure can improve career prospects36.[G]One straightforward reason close losers might outper- form narrow winners is that the two groups have comparable ability.37.[D]Others in the US have found similar effects with National Institutes of Health early-career fellowships launching narrow winners far ahead of close losers.38.[K]ln sports and many areas of life,we think of failures as evidence of something we could have done better.39.[B]one way social scientists have probed the effects of career setbacks is to look at scientists of very similar qualifications.40.[I]He said the people who should be paying regard to the Wang paper are the funding agents who distribute government grant money.41.[F]In a study published in Nature Communications,North- western University sociologist Dashun Wang tracked more than 1,100 scientists who were on the border between getting a grant and missing out between 1990 and 2005.42.[J] For his part,Wang said that in his own experience,losing did light a motivating fire.43.[C]A 2018 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, for example, followed researchers in the Netherlands.44.[I]He said the people who should be paying regard to the Wang paper are the funding agents who distribute government grant money.45.[E]This is bad news for the losers.仔细阅读1-题源What happens when a language has no words for numbers?Numbers do not exist in all cultures. There are numberless hunter-gatherers embedded deep in Amazonia, living along branches of the world’s largest river tree. Instead of using words for precise quantities, these people rely exclusively on terms analogous to “a few” or “some.”In contrast, our own lives are governed by numbers. As you read this, you are likely aware of what time it is, how old you are, your checking account balance, your weight and so on. The exact (and exacting) numbers we think with impact everything from our schedules to our self-esteem.But, in a historical sense, numerically fixated people like us are the unusual ones. For the bulk of our species’ approximately 200,000-year lifespan, we had no means of precisely representing quantities. What’s more, the 7,000 or so languages that exist today vary dramatically in how they utilize numbers.Speakers of anumeric, or numberless, languages offer a window into how the invention of numbers reshaped the human experience. In a 2017 book, I explored the ways in which humans invented numbers, and how numbers subsequently played a critical role in other milestones, from the advent of agriculture to the genesis of writing.Cultures without numbers, or with only one or two precise numbers, include the Munduruku and Pirahã in Amazonia. Researchers have also studied some adults in Nicaragua who were never taught number words.Without numbers, healthy human adults struggle to precisely differentiate and recall quantities as low as four. In an experiment, a researcher will place nuts into a can one at a time, then remove them one by one. The person watching is asked to signal when all the nuts have been removed. Responses suggest that anumeric people have some trouble keeping track of how many nuts remain in the can, even if there are only four or five in total.This and many other experiments have converged upon a simple conclusion: When people do not have number words, they struggle to make quantitative distinctions that probably seem natural to someone like you or me. While only a small portion of the world’s languages are anumeric or nearly anumeric, they demonstrate that number words are not a human universal.It is worth stressing that these anumeric people are cognitively normal, well-adapted to the environs they have dominated for centuries. As the child of missionaries, I spent some of my youth living with anumeric indigenous people, the aforementioned Pirahã who live along the sinuous banks of the black Maici River. Like other outsiders, I was continually impressed by their superior understanding of the riverine ecology we shared.Yet numberless people struggle with tasks that require precise discrimination between quantities. Perhaps this should be unsurprising. After all, without counting, how can someone tell whether there are, say, seven or eight coconuts in a tree? Such seemingly straightforward distinctions become blurry through numberless eyes.This conclusion is echoed by work with anumeric children in industrialized societies.Prior to being spoon-fed number words, children can only approximately discriminate quantities beyond three. We must be handed the cognitive tools of numbers before we can consistently and easily recognize higher quantities.In fact, acquiring the exact meaning of number words is a painstaking process that takes children years. Initially, kids learn numbers much like they learn letters. They recognize that numbers are organized sequentially, but have little awareness of what each individual number means. With time, they start to understand that a given number represents a quantity greater by one than the preceding number. This “successor principle” is part of the foundation of our numerical cognition, but requires extensive practice to understand.None of us, then, is really a “numbers person.” We are not predisposed to handle quantitative distinctions adroitly. In the absence of the cultural traditions that infuse our lives with numbers from infancy, we would all struggle with even basic quantitative distinctions.Number words and written numerals transform our quantitative reasoning as they are coaxed into our cognitive experience by our parents, peers and school teachers. The process seems so normal that we sometimes think of it as a natural part of growing up, but it is not. Human brains come equipped with certain quantitative instincts that are refined with age, but these instincts arevery limited. For instance, even at birth we are capable of distinguishing between two markedly different quantities – for instance, eight from 16 things. But we are not the only species capable of such abstractions. Compared to chimps and other primates, our numerical instincts are not as remarkable as many presume. We even share some basic instinctual quantitative reasoning with distant nonmammalian relatives like birds. Indeed, work with some other species, including parrots, suggests they too can refine their quantitative thought if they are introduced to the cognitive power tools we call numbers.The birth of numbersSo, how did we ever invent “unnatural” numbers in the first place?The answer is, literally, at your fingertips. The bulk of the world’s languages use base-10, base-20 or base-5 number systems. That is, these smaller numbers are the basis of larger numbers. English is a base-10 or decimal language, as evidenced by words like 14 (“four” + “10”) and 31 (“three” x “10” + “one”).We speak a decimal language because an ancestral tongue, proto-Indo-European, was decimally based. Proto-Indo-European was decimally oriented because, as in so many cultures, our linguistic ancestors’ hands served as the gateway to realizations like “five fingers on this hand isthe same as five fingers on that hand.” Such transient thoughts were manifested into words and passed down across generations. This is why the word “five” in many languages is derived from the word for “hand.”Most number systems, then, are the by-product of two key factors: the human capacity for language and our propensity for focusing on our hands and fingers. This manual fixation – an indirect by-product of walking upright on two legs – has helped yield numbers in most cultures, but not all.Cultures without numbers also offer insight into the cognitive influence of particular numeric traditions. Consider what time it is. Your day is ruled by minutes and seconds, but these entities are not real in any physical sense and are nonexistent to numberless people. Minutes and seconds are the verbal and written vestiges of an uncommon base-60 number system used in Mesopotamia millennia ago. They reside in our minds, numerical artifacts that not all humans inherit conceptually.Research on the language of numbers shows, more and more, that one of our species’ key characteristics is tremendous linguistic and cognitive diversity. While there are undoubtedly cognitive commonalities across all human populations, our radically varied cultures foster profoundly different cognitive experiences. If we are to truly understand how much our cognitive lives differcross-culturally, we must continually sound the depths of our species’ linguistic diversity.答案Educators and business leaders have more in common than it may seem46.C)They help students acquire the skills needed for their future success.47.A)By blending them with traditional, stimulating activities.48.B) By playing with things to solve problems on their Own.49. C) Encourage them to make things with hands.50.B)Develop students′ creative skills with the resources available.Being an information technology,or IT,worker is not a job I envy.51.B) It does not appeal to him.52. C) Many employees are deeply frustrated by IT.53.D) Employees become more confident in their work.54.D) Think about the possible effects on their employees.55.A)By designing systems that suit their needs.仔细阅读2-题源Sugar shocked.That describes the reaction of many Americans this week following revelations that, 50 years ago, the sugar industry paid Harvard scientists for research thatdownplayed sugar's role in heart disease — and put the spotlight squarely on dietary fat.What might surprise consumers is just how many present-day nutrition studies are still funded by the food industry.Nutrition scholar Marion Nestle of New York University spent a year informally tracking industry-funded studies on food. "Roughly 90% of nearly 170 studies favored the sponsor's interest," Nestle tells us via email. Other, systematic reviews support her conclusions.For instance, studies funded by Welch Foods — the brand behind Welch's 100% Grape Juice — found that drinking Concord grape juice daily may boost brain function. Another, funded by Quaker Oats, concluded, as a Daily Mail story put it, that "hot oatmeal breakfast keeps you full for longer."While these examples might induce chuckles, the past year has seen several exposes that have raised serious concerns about the extent of industry's influence on food and nutrition research outcomes.Last year, The New York Times revealed how Coca-Cola was funding high-profile scientists and organizations promoting a message that, in the battle against weight gain, people should pay more attention to exercise and less to what they eat and drink. In the aftermath of that investigation, Coca-Cola released data detailing its funding of several medical institutions and associations between 2010 and 2015, from the Academy of FamilyPhysicians to the American Academy of Pediatrics. All told, Coca-Cola says it gave $132.8 million toward scientific research and partnerships.And earlier this summer, the Associated Press released an investigation that looked at research funded by the National Confectioners Association, a trade group whose members include the makers of Tootsie Rolls, Hershey's kisses and Snickers bars. One study the group funded concluded that kids who eat candy tend to weigh less than those who don't. In an email to her co-author, the AP reported, one of the scientists behind that study wrote that the finding was "thin and clearly padded." Nonetheless, the paper was published in a journal called Food & Nutrition Research."It's definitely a problem that so much research in nutrition and health is funded by industry," says Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit advocacy group. "When the food industry pays for research, it often gets what it pays for." And what it pays for is often a pro-industry finding.Michael Moss is an investigative journalist who focuses on the food industry and author of the expose Salt, Sugar, Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us. He says a lot of times, food firms are funding research that they know is going to go their way — a finding they can tout on their packaging to sway consumers to buy their products. The problem is, the findings that get published may be incomplete, highlighting positive outcomes while leaving out negative ones. And then, there are studies that are simply poorly designed.As a researcher, notes Moss, one can tweak the experimental design "in subtle ways that can lead to a desired conclusion — whether you're taking money from industry or you yourself have a passion or conclusion you want" to see, he says. "There's just a lot of bad research out there."And yet, as we've reported before, this junk nutrition science frequently gets touted in press releases written to drum up interest, then picked up and disseminated by journalists who lack the wherewithal to spot the bad research methodology. In May 2015, science journalist John Bohannon highlighted exactly how this process plays out: He conducted a real — but really poorly designed — study that concluded eating chocolate can help you lose weight, then watched as media outlets ran with the study.While Bohannon's study was a deliberate hoax designed to expose the flaws in nutrition science journalism, similarly bad studies get reported on all the time. As Gary Schwitzer of Health News Review, a watchdog group for the media's coverage of health, told us last year, the problem is extensive. "We have examples of journalists reporting on a study that was never done," he told us in 2015. "We have news releases from medical journals, academic institutions and industry that mislead journalists, who then mislead the public."Given this environment, where bad science on what to eat or drink is pervasive, what's a consumer to do?Be skeptical when reading about the latest finding in nutrition science, says Moss.Ignore the latest study that pops up on your news feed, adds Liebman. "Rely on health experts who've reviewed all the evidence," she says. She points to the official government Dietary Guidelines, which are based on reviews of dozens or hundreds of studies. "Experts are able to sift through the evidence and separate the good from bad," she says.And that expert advice remains pretty simple, says Nestle. "We know what healthy diets are — lots of vegetables, not too much junk food, balanced calories. Everything else is really difficult to do experimentally."答案Sugar shocked. That describes the reaction of many Americans this week following revalations46.B)They turned public attention away from the health risksof sugar to fat47. D)Nearly all of them serve the purpose of the funders48. A) Exercise is more important to good health than diet49. C)It rarely results in objective findings50.D)Think twice about new nutrition research findings51. C)How people viewed success in his fathers time52. B)It was a way to advance in their career53. A)They are often regarded as most treasured talents54.C)What kind of people can contribute more to them55.D)It will bring about radical economic and social changes.仔细阅读3-题源Boredom has become trendy. Studies point to how boredom is good for creativity and innovation, as well as mental health. For example, a 2014 study published in the Creativity Research Journal found that people were more creative following the completion of a tedious task. Another piece of research published in the same year by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that when people were bored, they had an increase in “associative thought”—the process of making new connections between ideas, which islinked to innovative thinking. These studies are impressive, but in reality, the benefits of boredom may be related to having time to clear your mind, be quiet, or daydream.The truth is, pure boredom isn’t pleasant. One study published in Science found that participants (67% of men and 25% of women) chose to administer an electric shock to themselves rather than to sit and think quietly for 6 to 15 minutes. In addition, a Washington State University study shows boredom is on the rise, especially in adolescent girls. This is a problem, since boredom can have negative consequences that lead to everything from overeating to issues with drugs, drinking, or gambling.In our stimulation-rich world, it seems unrealistic that boredom could occur at all. Yet, there are legitimate reasons boredom may feel so painful. As it turns out, boredom might signal the fact that you have a need that isn’t being met. Our always-on world of social media may result in more connections, but they are superficial and can get in the way of building a real sense of belonging. Feeling bored may signal the desire for a greater sense of community and the feeling that you fit in with others around you. So take the step of joining a club, organization, or association to build face-to-face relationships and create new friendships. You’ll find depth that you won’t get from your screen no matter how many likes you get on your post.Similar to the need for belonging, bored people often report that they feel a limited sense of meaning. It’s a fundamental human need to have a largerpurpose and to feel like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. A 2007 University of Mississippi study found that when people are bored, they’re more likely to feel less meaning in their lives and vice versa. Conversely, a 2016 study by the University of Southampton found that when people volunteered, their happiness increased. If you want to reduce boredom and increase your sense of meaning, seek work that matters to you where you can make a unique contribution, or find a cause you can support with your time and talents.People have varying needs for stimulation and adrenaline rushes, but in general, boredom may be a signal that you need to push yourself a bit. This could be a stretch at work or in your leisure activities. After all, happiness is correlated with being challenged and developing new skills, and scrolling through your social media accounts doesn’t meet this requirement. So find opportunities to try new things, whether it’s skydiving, taking on a tough project at work, or starting a hobby that provides a fun outlet.One of the aspects of boredom is feeling like things are the same from day to day and week to week. Some predictability is good for mental health, but you may also need some variety in your life. Invite people of different backgrounds into your friend group, join the unexpected interest group at work, or read more widely on unusual topics. The key is to broaden your perspective and change what you’re exposed to regularly.In The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, journalist Nicholas Carr makes a strong case for the ways our brains have been rewired to glaze the。
2021年6月大学英语四级真题及答案(全套详解)
2021年6月大学英语四级真题及答案（全套详解）2021年6月大学英语四级真题及答案(多套题及翻译）CET4Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the following topic. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.题目一：Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your campus, what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?假设你的一位外国朋友来参观你的校园，你最感兴趣的地方想带他/她去看?为什么?题目二：Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your hometown, what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?假设你的一位外国朋友来参观你的家乡，你最感兴趣的地方想带他/她去看?为什么?题目三：Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit China, whatis the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?假设你的一位外国朋友来参观中国，你最感兴趣的地方想带他/她去看?为什么?Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questionswill be asked about what was said. Both theconversation 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 1 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
大学英语四级真题及参考答案(第一套)
大学英语四级真题解析及参考答案Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a news report to your campus newspaper on a volunteer activity organized by your Student Union to assist elderly people in the neighborhood. You should write at least 120 words but no more than180 words.【参考范文】On June 14, Friday, a volunteer activity where many students took an active part in visiting the local Nursing House was organized by the Student Union and it turns out to be a big success.The activity was aimed at encouraging students to visit the elderly at the Nursing House and help elderly people deal with their troubles both physical and psychological. Many students volunteered to participate in this good deed and were engaged in helping the elderly here out by making their meals, washing their clothes and chatting with them. When asked about those volunteers’ feelings about such an experience, all of them responded with a smile, saying “what a wonderful practice and I really appreciate this experience, for it makes me learn to care more for others in need.”All in all, the activity turns out to be a success not only for the visited elderly but for those students involved.【参考范文译文】6月14日，星期五，学生会组织了一个参观当地敬老院的志愿活动，许多学生都积极参与其中，该活动取得了巨大的成功。
2021年6月《大学英语四级》考试(翻译、写作)真题与参考解析(共3套)
2021年6月《大学英语四级》考试真题（3套汇总）听力部分原文Listening ComprehensionSection ANews report 1And finally in tonight's news, a 9-year-old boy named Joe, told not to draw in class, lends a jobs decorating a restaurant with his drawings. Rather than shutting down the habit of drawing in his school's workbook, Joe's parents decided to encourage his creativity by sending their son to an after-school art class[Q1]. His teacher recognized Joe's talent and posted all his works online, which led to something pretty wonderful. A restaurant named Number4 in New Castle contacted Joe's teacher to ask if the 9-year-old could come and decorate the dining room with his drawings[Q2]. Every day after school, Joe's dad drives him to the restaurant so he can put his ideas straight on the wall. Once he's all done,the work would remain there permanentlyQ2]. Joe's dad said Joe is a really talented little boy. He's excellent at school, he's great at football,but drawing is definitely what he is most passionate about.Q1: What did Joe's parents decide to do?Q2: What will the restaurant Number 4 do?New report 2Christine Marshall, a 30 years old mom of one, posted a tearful video on social media Wednesday,begging for a safe return of her beloved pet dog[Q1].After combing through the security video outside a global shop, Christine has now posted an image of a man suspected of stealing the dog. The image appears to show a man carrying the dog in his arms. Christine also believes the video obtained from the shop shows the dog stolen by a man before driving off in a car which had been waiting nearby. The family is now offering a5000 pound reward for the safe return of the dog after launching a social media campaign to find the thief[[Q2].The dog is 6anda half years old and was last seen wearing a red collar. Christine said that"We'll pay that to anyone who brings him home as long as they are not responsible for his disappearance." Police are investigating the incident.Q3: What is Christine Marshall trying to do?Q4: What did the news report say about Christine Marshall's family?New report 3:London's Eggs &Bread café offers boiled eggs, toast,jam and bacon,as wells as tea,coffee and orange juice.But at the end of the meal, customers don't have to worryabout the bill. Hungry customers can pay whatever amount they can afford to eat at the café or nothing at all.Owner,Guy Wilson,says his café aims to build community rather than profits.He wants to provide a bridge for people to connect in an area that has been divided by class and wealth by providing affordable breakfasts[Q5]. The cafe is opened in the mornings every day of the year and has two members of staff or supervisors on shift every day.The café doesn't use volunteers but pays its staff to ensure consistency of its service.It doesn't take donations and doesn't want to be seen as charity[Q6].Mr Wilson says when people starts to know other people around them, they realize they are not that different, and whatever their financial background or their educational background. Most people will have something in common with each other[Q7]. He says it's important that his café can offer his customers security and permanence.Q5: What does Guy Wilson say his café aims to do?Q6: What does the news report say about Eggs & Bread café?Q7: What happens when people start to know each other according to Guy Wilson? Section BLong conversation 1M:So what time do you think we should have the party on Saturday?(8)W: How about inviting people to come at six PM. Then we'll have the afternoon to prepare food and drink and stuff like that?M: Yes, I was thinking that around six would be good,too.What food should we provide?W: Well, I had thought about baking a cake and some biscuits. And now, I think we should prepare some sandwiches and snacks and some other kinds of food,so that people can just help themselves rather than getting everyone to sit down at the table to eat a meal.I think that's a bit too formal. It's better to let people walk around and talk to each other or sit where they like. (9)M: Yes, that sounds good.Ill go to the supermarket to get some drinks.I think I might try that big new supermarket on the other side of town and see what they have.I've not been there before.I thin we should get some beer and wine, and some fruit juice and other soft drinks. What do you think?W: Sounds great!I think those drinks will be enough. And I heard that the new supermarket offers some big discounts to attract customers,so going there should be a great idea(10)What shall we' do about music?M: Maybe we should ask Paul to bring his computer and speakers,so that we can play some music.(11)He has a great collection of different stuff.。
2023年6月全国大学英语CET四级真题和答案解析(第一套)
2023年6月全国大学英语CET四级真题和答案解析（第一套）第一部分：听力理解Section 1题目： What does the man imply? 选项： a. He could lend the woman some money. b. The woman should ask her brother for money. c. The woman should lend him some money. d. He could help the woman with her financial problem.解析：通过对对话内容的理解和推断，答案为b. The woman should ask her brother for money.Section 2题目： What does the woman suggest working on? 选项： a. The presentation slides. b. The design concept. c. The marketing strategy. d. The budget plan.解析：通过对对话内容的理解和推断，答案为d. The budget plan.…第二部分：阅读理解Passage 1题目：What is the main purpose of the passage? 选项： a. To encourage people to explore different cultures. b. To inform readers about the benefits of learning a second language. c. To analyze the impact of globalization on language learning. d. To introduce various language learning methods.解析：通过阅读全文内容的理解，答案为b. To inform readers about the benefits of learning a second language.Passage 2题目：What can be inferred about the ongoing research mentioned in the passage? 选项： a. It focuses on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. b. It has not been successful so far.c. It may provide new insights into the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.d. It mainly involves the use of pharmaceutical drugs.解析：通过阅读全文内容的推断，答案为c. It may provide new insights into the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.…第三部分：完形填空题目：文章主要描述了什么？选项： a. 作者对人生象征的探讨。
2021年6月英语四级真题及答案解析(第一套)
2021年6月英语四级真题及答案解析（第一套）Part I Writing ( 30 minutes)Directions: For this pa.rt, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled ''Are people becoming addicted to technology?". The statement given below is for your reference. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Numerous studies claim that addiction to technology is real and it has the same eff ect on the brain as drug addiction.Part Il 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.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report yon have just heard.1.A) Enrolhim in a Newcastle football club.C)Forbid him to draw in his workbook.B)Send him to an after-school art class.D)Help him post his drawings online.2.A) Contacted Joe to decorate its dining-room.B)Hired Joe to paint all the walls of its buildings.C)Renovated its kitchen and all the dining-rooms.D)Asked Joe for permission to use his online drawings.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report yon have just heard.3.A) Get her pet dog back.C)Identify the suspect on the security video.B)Beg for help from the police.D)Post pictures of her pet dog on social media.4.A) It is suffering a great deal from the incident.B)It is helping the police with the investigation.C)It is bringing the case to the local district court.D)It is offering a big reward to anyone who helps.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report yon have just heard.5.A) Provide free meals to the local poor.C)Help eliminate class difference in his area.B)Help people connect with each other.D)Provide customers with first-class service.6.A) It does not supervise its employees.C)It does not use volunteers.B)It donates regularly to a local charity.D)It is open round the clock.7.A) They will realise the importance of communication.B)They will come to the cafe even more frequently.C)They will care less about their own background.D)They will find they have something in common.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 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A) A surprise party for Paul's birthday.C)Preparations for Saturday's get-together.B)Travel plans for the coming weekend.D)The new market on the other side of town.9.A) It makes the hostess's job a whole lot easier.B)It enables guests to walk around and chat freely.C)It saves considerable time and labor.D)It requires fewer tables and chairs.10.A) It offers some big discounts.C)It is more spacious and less crowded.B)It is quite close to her house.D)It sells local wines and soft drinks.11.A) Cook a dish for the party.C)Prepare a few opening remarks.B)Arrive 10 minutes earlier.D)Bring his computer and speakers. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) For commuting to work.B)For long-distance travel.13.A) They are reliable.B)They are compact.14.A) Buy a second-hand car. -�t T lll_s! her ownjudg�e_!lt.15.A) He sells new cars.B)He can be trusted. Section C C)For getting around in Miami.D)For convenience at weekends.C)They are spacious.D)They are easy to drive.C)Seek advice from his friend.D)Look around before deciding.------C)He is starting a business.D)He is a successful car dealer.Directions: In this section , you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage , you will hear three or four 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 centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) Many escaped from farms and became wild.B)They were actually native to North America.C)Many got killed in the wild when searching for food.D)They were hunted by Spanish and Russian explorers.17.A) They often make sudden attacks on people.B)They break up nature's food supply chain.C)They cause much environmental pollution.D)They carry a great many diseases.18.A) They lived peacefully with wild pigs.C)They fell victim to eagles.B)They ran out of food completely.D)They reproduced quickly. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) Taste coffee while in outer space.C)Develop a new strain of coffee bean.B)Roast coffee beans in outer space.D)Use a pressurised tank to brew coffee.20.A) They can easily get burned.C)They have to be heated to 36D°C.B)They float around in the oven.D)They receive evenly distributed heat.21.A) They charged a high price for their space-roasted coffee beans.B)They set up a branch in Dubai to manufacture coffee roasters.C)They collaborated on building the first spacC;! coffee machine.D)They abandoned the attempt to roast coffee beans in space.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) It is the best time for sightseeing.C)They come to clean the Iditarod Trail.B)A race passes through it annually.23.A) Its children's baking skills.B)Its unique winter scenery.24.A) The contestants.B)The entire village.25.A) She owned a restaurant in Idaho.'B) She married her husband in 1972.Part ][ Section A Reading ComprehensionD)It is when the villagers choose a queen.C)Its tasty fruit pies.D)Its great food variety.C)Jan Newton and her friends.D)People from the state of Idaho.C)She went to Alaska to compete in a race.D)She helped the village to become famous.( 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 .Most animals seek shade when temperatures in the Sahara Desert soar to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. But for the Saharan silver ant, ___1L from their underground nests into the sun's brutal rays to _JJ__ for food, this is the perfect time to seek lunch. In 2015 these ants were joined in the desert by scientists from two Belgian universities, who spent a month in the � heat tracking the ants and digging out their nests. The goal was simple, to discover how the� adapted to the kind of heat that can� melt the bottom of shoes.Back in Belgium, the scientists looked at the ants under an electronic microscope and found that their _l!_, triangular hair reflects light like a prism (�4.t), giving them a metallic reflection and protecting them from the sun's awful heat. When Ph.D. student Quentin Willot 32 the hair from an ant with a � knife and put it under a heat lamp, its temperature jumped.The ants' method of staying cool is _l!_ among animals. Could this reflective type of hair protect people? Willot says companies are interested in _lL these ants' method of heat protection for human use, including everything from helping to protect the lives of firefighters to keeping homes cool in summer.A)adaptingB)consciouslyC)crawlingD)crowdedE)extreme Section B F)huntG)literallyH)moderateI)remoteJ)removedK)speciesL)specimensM)thickN)tiny0)uniqueDirections: In this section, you are going to reaa a passage with ten statements attached to it. &eh 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. &eh paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The start of high school doesn't have to be stressfulA)This month, more than 4 million students across the nation will begin high school. Many will do well.But many will not. Consider that nearly two-thirds of students will experience the "ninth-grade shock," which refers to a dramatic drop in a student's academic performance. Some students cope with this shock by avoiding challenges. For instance, they may drop difficult coursework. Others may experience a hopelessness that results in failing their core classes, such as English, science and math.B)This should matter a great deal to parents, teachers and policymakers. IBtimately it should matter tothe students themselves and society at large, because students' experience of transitioning (lii./t) to the ninth grade can have long-term consequences not only for the students themselves but for their home communities. We make these observations as research psychologists who have studied how schools and families can help young people thrive.C)In the new global economy, students who fail to finish the ninth grade with passing grades. in collegepreparatory coursework are very unlikely to graduate on time and go on to get jobs. One study has calculated that the lifetime benefit to the local economy for a single additional student who completes high school is half a million dollars or more. This is based on higher earnings and avoided costs in health care, crime, welfare dependence and other things.D)The consequences of doing poorly in the ninth grade can impact more than students' ability to find agood job. It can also impact the extent to which they enjoy life. Students lose many of the friends they turned to for support when they move from the eighth to the ninth grade. One study of ninth-grade students found that 50 percent of friendships among ninth graders changed from one month to the next, signaling striking instability in friendships.E)In addition, studies find the first year of high school typically shows one of the greatest increases indepression of any year over the lifespan. Researchers think that one explanation is that ties to friends are broken while academic demands are rising. Furthermore, most adult cases of clinical depression first emerge in aaolescence ( -t $-J.Jl) . The World Health Organization reports that depression has the greatest burden of disease worldwide, in terms of the total cost of treatment and the loss of productivity.F)Given all that's riding on having a successful ninth grade experience, it pays to explore what can bedone to meet the academic, social and emotional challenges of the transition to high school. So far, our studies have yielded one main insight: Students' beliefs about change-their beliefs about whether people are stuck one way forever, or whether people can change their personalities and abilities-arerelated to their ability to cope, succeed academically and maintain good mental health. Past research has called these beliefs "mindsets ( ,'� if!:tl�)," with a "fixed mindset" referring to the belief that people cannot change and a "growth mindset" referring to the belief that people can change.G)In one recent study, we examined 360 adolescents' beliefs about the nature of "smartness"-that is,their fixed mindsets about intelligence. We then assessed biological stress responses for students whose grades were dropping by examining their stress hormones ( 1if t �) .Students who believed that intelligence is fixed-that you are stuck being "not smart" if you struggle in school-showed higher levels of stress hormones when their grades were declining at the beginning of the ninth grade. If students believed that intelligence could improve-that is to say, when they held more of a growth mindset of intelligence-they showed lower levels of stress hormones when their grades were declining. This was an exciting result because it showed that the body's stress responses are not determined solely by one's grades. Instead, declining grades only predicted worse stress hormones among students who believed that worsening grades were a permanent and hopeless state of affairs. H)We also investigated the social side of the high school transition. In this study, instead of teachingstudents that their smartness can change, we taught them that their social standing-that is, whether they are bullied or excluded or left out-can change over time. We then looked at high school students' stress responses to daily social difficulties. That is, we taught them a growth mindset about their social lives. In this study, students came into the laboratory and were asked to give a public speech in front of upper-year students. The topic of the speech was what makes one popular in high school. Following this, students had to complete a difficult mental math task in front of the same upper-year students.I)Experiment results showed that students who were not taught that people can change showed poorstress responses. When these students gave the speech, their blood vessels contracted and their hearts pumped less blood through the body-both responses that the body shows when it is preparing for damage or defeat after a physical threat. Then they gave worse speeches and made more mistakes in math. But when students were taught that people can change, they had better responses to stress, in part because they felt like they had the resources to deal with the demanding situation. Students who got the growth mindset intervention ( f-f»i) showed less-contracted blood vessels and their hearts pumped more blood-both of which contributed to more oxygen getting to the brain, and, ultimately, better performance on the speech and mental math tasks.J)These findings lead to several possibilities that we are investigating further. First, �e are working to replicate (i.. 11i tJ) these findings in more diverse school communities. We want to know in which types of schools and for which kinds of students these growth mindset ideas help young people adapt to the challenges of high school. We also hope to learn how teachers, parents or school counselors can help students keep their ongoing academic or social difficulties in perspective. We wonder what would happen if schools helped to make beliefs about the potential for change and improvement a larger feature of the overall school culture, especially for students starting the ninth grade.36.The number of people experiencing depression shows a sharp increase in the first year of high school.37.According to one study, students' academic performance is not the only decisive factor of their stressresponses.38.Researchers would like to explore further how parents and schools can help ninth graders by changingtheir mindset.39.According to one study, each high school graduate contributes at least 500, OOO dollars to the localeconomy.40.In one study, students were told their social position in school is not unchangeable.41.It is reported that depression results in enormous economic losses worldwide.42.One study showed that friendships among ninth graders were far from stable.43.More than half of students will find their academic performance declining sharply when they enter theninth grade.44.Researchers found through experiments that students could be taught to respond to stress in a morepositive way.45.It is beneficial to explore ways to cope with the challenges facing students entering high school.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. &eh passage is followed by some questions or unfinishedstatements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on thebest choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Educators and business leaders have more in common than it may seem. Teachers want to prepare students for a successful future. Technology companies have an interest in developing a workforce with theSTEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills needed to grow the company and advance theindustry. How can they work together to achieve these goals? Play may be the answer.Focusing on STEM skills is important, but the reality is that SIBM skills are enhanced and more relevant when combined with traditional, hands-on creative activities. This combination is proving to bethe best way to prepare today's children to be the makers and builders of tomorrow. That is whytechnology companies are partnering with educators to bring back good, old-fashioned play.In fact many experts argue that the most important 21st-century skills aren't related to specific technologies or subject matter, but to creativity; skills like imagination, problem-finding and problemsolving, teamwork, optimism, patience and the ability to experiment and take risks. These are skills-------acquired-when-kids-tinker (-it.fib 11 •-fu-;f;-};--High 4ech industries-such-as-NASA's-Jet-Propulsion-Laboratory -----have found that their best overall problem solvers were master tinkerers in their youth.There are cognitive ( -iA � {JI.;) benefits of doing things the way we did as children-building something, tearing it down, then building it up again. Research shows that given 15 minutes of free play,four-and five-year-olds will spend a third of this time engaged in spatial, mathematical, and architecturalactivities. This type of play-especially with building blocks-helps children discover and develop keyprinciples in math and geometry.If play and building are critical to 21st-century skill development, that's really good news for two reasons: Children are born builders, makers, and creators, so fostering (;J:.g-$f.) 21st-century skills may beas simple as giving kids room to play, tinker and try things out, even as they grow older. Secondly, itdoesn't take 21st-century technology to foster 21st-century skills. This is especially important for underresourced schools and communities. Taking whatever materials are handy and tinkering with them is asimple way to engage those important "maker" skills. And anyone, anywhere, can do it.46.What does the author say about educators?A)They seek advice from technology companies to achieve teaching goals.B)They have been successful in preparing the workforce for companies.C)They help students acquire the skills needed for their future success.D)They partner with technology companies to enhance teaching efficiency.47.How can educators better develop students' SIBM skills, according to the author?A)By blending them with traditional, stimulating activities.B)By inviting business leaders to help design curriculums.C)By enhancing students' ability to think in a critical way.D)By showing students the best way to learn is through play.48.How do children acquire the skills needed for the 21st century?A)By engaging in activities involving specific technologies.B)By playing with things to solve problems on their own.C)By familiarizing themselves with high-tech gadgets.D)By mastering basic principles through teamwork.49.What can we do to help children learn the basics of math and geometry?A)Stimulate their interest as early as po.s sible.B)Spend more time playing games with them.C)Encourage them to make things with hands.D)Allow them to tinker freely with calculators.50.What does the author advise disadvantaged schools and communities to do?A)Train students to be makers to meet future market demands.B)Develop students' creative skills with the resources available.C)Engage students with challenging tasks to foster their creativity.D)Work together with companies to improve their teaching facilities.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to SS are based on the following passage.Being an information technology, or IT, worker is not a job I envy. They are the ones who, right in the middle of a critical meeting, are expected to instantly fix the projector that's no longer working. They have to tolerate the bad tempers of colleagues frustrated at the number of times they've had to call the help desk for the same issue. They are also the ones who know there are systems that are more powerful, reliable and faster, but their employer simply will not put up the funds to buy them.According to a recent survey, employees who have a job reliant on IT support consider IT a major source of job dissatisfaction. Through no fault of their own, they can suddenly find their productivity deteriorating or quality control non-existent. And there's little they can do about it.The experience of using IT penetrates almost the entire work field. It has become a crucial part of employees' overall work experience. When IT is operating as it should, employee self-confidence swells. Their job satisfaction, too, can surge when well-functioning machines relieve them of dull tasks or repetitive processes. But if there's one thing that triggers widespread employee frustration, it's an IT transformation project gone wrong, where swollen expectations have been popped and a long list of promised efficiencies have been reversed. This occurs when business leaders implement IT initiatives with little consideration of how those changes will impact the end user.Which is why managers should appreciate just how influential the IT user experience is to their employees, and exert substantial effort in ensuring their IT team eliminates programming errors and application crashes. Adequate and timely IT support should also be available to enable users to cope withtechnological issues at work. More importantly, IT practitioners need to understand what employees experience mentally when they use IT.Therefore, businesses need to set up their IT infrastructure so that it is designed to fit in with their employees' work, rather than adjust their work to fit in with the company's IT limitations.51.What does the author say about working in IT?A)It is envied by many.C)It is financially rewarding.B)It does not appeal to him.D)It does not match his abilities.52.What is the finding of a recent survey on employees who have a job reliant on IT support?A)IT helps boost productivity.B)IT helps improve quality control.C)Many employees are deeply frustrated by IT.D)Most employees rely heavily on IT in their work.53.What is said to happen when IT is functioning properly?A)There is a big boost in employees' work efficiency.B)Employees become more dependent on machines.C)There are no longer any boring or repetitive tasks.D)Employees become more confident in their work.54.What should business leaders do before implementing new IT initiatives?A)Consider the various expectations of their customers.B)Draw up a list of the efficiencies to be promised.C)Assess the swollen cost of training the employees.D)Think about the possible effects on their employees.55.How can a business help improve its employees' experience in using IT?A)By designing systems that suit their needs.B)By ensuring that their mental health is sound.C)By adjusting their work to suit the IT system.D)By offormg tliem regular· m-serv1ce trammg.Part N Translation ( 30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. 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2021年6月大学英语四级考试真题
2021年6月大学英语四级考试真题第一套Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled “Are people becoming addicted to technology?”. The statement given below is for your reference. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Numerous studies claim that addiction to technology is real and it has the same effect on the brain as drug addition.【参考范文】Are people becoming addicted to technology?With technology advancing daily, there has been an increase in the number of people who become addicted to technological inventions, such as computers and cellphones. From my point of view, this trend can harmfully influence individuals in many ways.The negative consequences of technology addiction can be illustrated from two aspects. For one thing, being indulged in technological gadgets is detrimental to students’ academic performance. For example, many university students stay up allnight to play video games and thus feel drowsy and distracted in class. In addition, many psychological researchers found that the excessive use of technological devices can have an adverse effect on individuals’ mental well-being and interpersonal relationship. For instance, modern people, especially youngsters, are reluctant to interact face to face with their friends and families because of the indulgence in online social media platforms or computer games.In conclusion, it is of utmost importance to take actions to counteract the negative effects mentioned above. Perhaps the first step is that students should be educated to use technological devices in a rational way.【解析】本次四级作文考查的是现象影响类的论说文。