2020年12月英语四级真题及答案完整版
2020年12月英语四级真题及参考答案(完整版)Part I writingDirections:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a composition on the topic “Changes in the way of Transportation”.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.参考范文：With the social and economic development,our means of transportation have changed a lot over the last few decades,which has brought much convenience to our life.In the1970s and1980s,bicycles were the primary means of public transportation.Families that owned a bicycle were thought to be in relatively good economic conditions.Because of the implementation of the reform and opening policy,the economy and people’s living standards were improved a lot and travelling by private cars became more and more common in1990s and2000s. And thanks to the information technology,we can now enjoy bike-sharing service and online ride-hailing service which help to make our journey more economical and flexible.We have enough reason to believe that our way of transportation could be more and more economically friendly and intelligent.Part II Listening ComprehensionPartⅡListening Comprehension(25minutes)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 Sheet1with a single line through she centre. Questions1and2are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.B)Invasive species are driving away certain native species.C)The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.D)Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.2.A)It could add to greenhouse emissions.B)It could disrupt the food chains there.C)It could pose a threat to other marine species.D)It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.C)Spend a few nights on a small island.D)Sell the pearl he had kept for years.Questions3and4are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A)cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B)About half of its city center will be closed to cars.C)Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.D)Pedestrians will have free access to the city.4.A)The rising air pollution in Paris.B)The worsening global warming.C The ever-growing cost of petrol.D)The unbearable traffic noise.Questions5to7are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)Many of his possessions were stolen.B)His house was burnt down in a fire.C)His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.D)His good luck charm sank into the sea.6.A)Change his fishing locations.B)Find a job in a travel agency.C))Spend a few nights on a small islandD)Sell the pearl he had kept for years7.A)A New Year museumB)The largest pearl in the world weighsC)His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.D)His pearl could be displayed in a museum.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 Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions8to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A)It boasts a fairly long history.B)It produces construction materials.C)It has75offices around the world.D)It has over50business partners.9.A)It has about50employees.B)It was started by his father.C)It has a family business.D)It is over100years old.10.A)Shortage of raw material supply.B)Legal disputes in many countries.C)Outdated product design.D)Loss of competitive edge.11.A)Conducting a financial analysis for it.B)Providing training for its staff members.C)Seeking new ways to increase is exports.D)Introducing innovative marketing strategies.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)She is a real expert at house decorations.B)She is well informed about the design business.C)She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.D)She is really impressed by the man’s house.13.A)From his younger brother Greg.B)From home design magazines.C)From a construction businessman.D)From a professional interior designer.14.A)The effort was worthwhile.B)The style was fashionable.C)The cost was affordable.D)The eft was unexpected.15.A)She’d like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B)She wants him to share his renovation experience with herC)She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D)She’d like to show him around her newly-renovated house.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 your choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark he corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions16to18are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)Providing routine care for small children.B)Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.C)Doing research on ear,nose and throat diseases.D)Removing objects from patients’noses and ears.17.A)Many children like to smell things they find or play with.B)Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.C)Five-to nine-year-olds are the mos likely to put things in their ears.D)Children aged one to four a often more curious than older children.18.A)They tend to act out of impulse.B)They want to attract attentions.C)They are unaware of the potential risks.D)They are curious about these body parts.Questions19to21are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)It paid for her English lessons.B)It gave her a used bicycle.C)It delivered her daily necessities.D)It provided her with physical therapy.20.A)Expanding bike-riding lessons.B)Asking local people for donations.C)Providing free public transport.D)Offering walking tours to visitors.21.A)It is a language school.B)It is a charity organization.C)It is a counseling center.D)It is a sports club.Questions22to25are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A)How mice imitate human behavior a space.B)How low gravity affects the human body.C)How mice interact in a new environment.D)How animals deal with lack of gravity.23.A)They were not use to the low-gravity cnvironment.B)They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C)They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.D)They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A)They tried every thing possible to escape from the cage.B)They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.C)They already felt at home in the new environment.D)They had found a lot more activities to engage in.25.A)They repeated their activities every day.B)They behaved as if they were on Earth.C)They begin to eat less after some time.D)They changed their routines in space.听力原文：Listening ComprehensionSection ANews report1A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature(UICN)has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey,Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean,the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people.Although fatalities are rare,the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing.The fish,often known as Devil Fire fish,is a highly invasive species.And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life.After being spotted in the Mediterranean,a marine scientist says,"The fish is spreading,and that's a cause for concern."Q1:What is reported in the news?Q2:What is the environmentalists'concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?News report2[Q3]Almost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day.[Q4]This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time.Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car FreeDay last year.Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day.On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road.About400miles of streets will be closed to cars.It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels."Last year's car-free day showed a 40%drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city,according to an independent air pollution monitor",reports the Guardian,"and some levels dropped by50%in the city centre.'Q3:What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?Q4:What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?News report3A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations.Then,a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it,the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world,which was valued at f76million.The pearl of Allah,which is currently on display in a New York museum,only weighs14pounds.That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisher man just handed in.The monstrous pearl,measured at1foot wide and2.2feet long,is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town. O5:What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?Q6:What was the fisherman forced to do?Q7:What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?Section BLong conversation1WOMAN:Mr.Smith,It’s a pleasure meeting you!Man:Nice to meet you,too.What can I do for you?WOMAN:Well,I’m here to show you what our firm can do for you.Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries,offering different business services.We’re a global company with75years of history.And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies【8】.MAN:Thank you,Mrs.Houston.I know Astro Consultants is a famous company.But you said you would show me what you could do for me.Well.What exactly can your firm do for my company? WOMAN:We advise businesses on all matters,from market analysis to legal issues.Anything a business like yours could meet.Our firm offers expert advice.Could I ask you,Mr.Smith,to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face?That way,I could better respond as to how we can help you.Man:OK,sure.This is a family business started by my grandfather in1950.We employ just over 100people.We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions.Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design.And that’s what we do in our factory【9】. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising,and we’re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India【10】.WOMAN:I see.That’s very interesting.I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company,together with the analysis of your competitors in India.【11】That way,we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Q8:What do we learn about the woman’s company?Q9:What does the man say about his own company?Q10:What is the main problem with the man’s company?Q11:What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?Long conversation2Woman:Wow,congratulations,Simon!The place looks absolutely amazing!Man:Really?You think so?W:Of course.I love it.It looks like you had a professional interior designer.But you didn’t,did you?M:No.I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother,Greg.He’s actually in the construction business,which was really helpful.W:Honestly,I’m impressed!I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something,but not a full renovation.Where did you get your ideas?I wouldn’t know where to start.[12]M:Well,for a while now,I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines.Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked.Believe it or not,I have a full notebook of magazine pages.[13]Since by overall style was quite minimal,I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough,with Greg’s help,it was very achievable.W:Wasn’t it expensive?I have imagined a project like this could be.M:Actually,it was surprisingly affordable.I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material.[14]Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W:Great!If you don’t mind,I’d like to pick your brain a bit more.Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room,not the whole house,not yet anyway.And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience.[15]Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Q12:What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?Q13:Where did the man get his ideas for the project?）Q14:What did the man say about the project he recently completed?Q15:Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?Section CPassage1Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost E3m year,a study suggests.[Q16]Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases-95%of objects removed from noses and85%from ears.Every year,an average of1,218nose and2,479ear removals took place between2010and2016.According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics,children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors fora foreign object in their nose.Five to nine year old come to the hospital with something in their ear the most.Jewelry items accounted for up to40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children.Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses.Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.[Q17]According to the study,the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears.This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects.[Q18]Any ear,nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults.Batteries can pose a particular danger.In all cases,prevention is better than cure.This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts.Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Q16:What does England spend an annual E3m on?Q17:What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?Q18:What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?Passage2Good morning,I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle.But before that,let me introduce someone.This is Leila Rahimi.She was so scared when she first moved to New Zeal-and that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies.After a few months of being quite down and unhappy,she was invited to join a local bike club.At this time,ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle.[Q19]In weeks,her depression had begun to ease as she cycled.The bicycle totally changed her life,giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date,ReBicycle has donated more than200bikes to those in need,and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars.[Q20]With a bike,you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour.Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers.[Q21]Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult,and this can take days and weeks,rather than hours.So,if any of you have some free time during the weekend,please come join us at Re Bicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Q19:What did Re Bicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?Q20:What is Re Bicycle doing to help those in need?Q21:What do we learn from the passage about the Re Bicycle?Passage3Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body,but NASA scientists want to learn more.To that end,they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity,specifically focusing on mice（22）.The results are both interesting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station.The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video.As you noticed in the video,the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily,drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up,but without success.(23)However,it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on.They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That’s when things really get wild.The11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it.(24)Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth.The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact,including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.(25)Q22What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?Q23What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?Q24What was observed about the mice on the11th day of the experiment?Q25What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?PartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes)Section A（第1套）Directions:In this section,there is a passage with ton blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following thepassage Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choicein the bank is identified by a letter:Please mark the corresponding letter for each itemon Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of thewords in the bank more than once.When my son completes a task,I can’t help but praise him.It’s only natural to give praise where praise is due,right?But is there such a thing as too much praise?According to psychologist Katherine Phillip,children don’t benefit from26praise as much as we’d like to think.“Parents often praise,believing they are building their child’s self-confidence.However,over-praising can have a27effect,”says Phillip.“When we use the same praise28,it may become empty and no longer valued by the child.It can also become an expectation that anything they do must be29 with praise.This may lead to the child avoiding taking risks due to fear of30their parents.”Docs this mean we should do away with all the praise?Phillip says no,“The key to healthy praise is1o focus on the process rather than the31it is the recognition of a child’s attempt,or the process in which they achieved something,that is essential,”she says,“Parents should encourage their child to take the risks needed to learn and grow.”So how do we break the32of praise we’re all so accustomed to?Phillip says it’s important to 33between“person praise”and“process raise”.“Person praise is34saying how great someone is.It’s a form personal approval.Process praise s acknowledgement of the efforts te person has just35.Children who receive person praise are more likely to feel shame after losing,”says Phillip.A)choose B)constant C)disappointing D)distinguishE)exhausting F)experienced G)negative H)outcomeI)pattern J)plural K)repeatedly L)rewardedM)separately N)simply O)undertaken答案：26.B27.G28.K29.L30.C31.H32.I33.D34.N35.OSection BPoverty is a story about us,not them[A]Too often still we think we know the poverty looks like.It's the way we've been taught,the images we’ve been forced-fed decades.The chronically homeless.The undocumented immigrant. The urban poor,usually personified as a woman of color,the"welfare queen"politicians still too often reference.[B]But as income inequality rises to record levels in the United States,even in the midst of a record economic expansions,.those familiar images are outdated,hurtful and counterproductive to focusing attention on solutions and building ladders of opportunity.IC]Today's faces of inequality and lack of opportunity look like all of us.It's Anna Landre,a disabled Georgetown University student fighting to keep health benefits that allow-her the freedom to live her life lt's Tiffanie Standard,a counselor for young women of color in Philadelphia who want to be tech entrepreneurs—but who must work multiple jobs to stay afloat.It's Ken Outlaw,a welder in rural North Carolina whose dream of going back to school at a local community college was dashed by Hurricane Florence-just one of the extreme weather events that have tipped the balance for struggling Americans across the nation,[D]If these arc the central characters of our story about poverty.what layers of perceptions,myths, and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?In pursuit of revealing thiscomplicated reality,Mothering Justice,led by women of color,went last year to the state capital in Lansing,Michigan,to lobby on issues that affect working mothers.One of the Mothering Justice organizers went to the office of a state representative to talk about the lack of affordable childcare-the vestiges(痕迹))of a system that expected mothers to stay home with their children while their husbands worked,A legislative staffer dismissed the activist’s concerns,telling her“my husband took care of that-l stayed home.”[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson.,"was meant to shame"and relied on the familiar trope that a woman of color concemed about income inequality and programs that promote mobility must by definition be a single mom,probably with multiple kids.,In this case.Mothering Justice activist happened to be married.And in most cases in the America of2019, the images that come to mind when we hear the words poverty or income inequality fail miserably in reflecting a complicated reality:poverty touches virtually all of us.The face of income inequality, for all but a very few of us,is the one we each see in the mirror.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?It depends on who you ask.According to the Census Bureau,38million people in the U.S.are living below the official poverty thresholds,Taking into account economic need beyond that absolute measure,the Institute for Policy Studies found that140 million peoplc are poor or low-income.That's almost half the U.S population.[G]Whatever the measure,within that massive group,poverty is extremely diverse.We know that some people are more affected than others,like children,the elderly,people with disabilities,and people of color.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography.It even reaches into the middle classes,as real wages have stagnated(不增长)for all but the very wealthy and temporary spells of financial instability are not uncommon.[I]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it. The big American myth is that you can pull yourself up by your own effort and change a bad situation into a good one.The reality is that finding opportunity without help from families,friends. schools，,and community is virtually impossible.And the playing field is nothing close to level. [J]The Frame Works institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studiedwhat sustains stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom."People view economic success and well being in life as product of choice,willpower,drive,grit,and gumption,"says Nat Kendall-Taylor,CEO of Frame Works.“When we see people who are struggling.”he says,those assumptions“lead us to the perception that people in poverty are lazy.they don’t care,and they haven't made the right decisions.”[K]Does this sound familiar?Similar ideas surround poverty in the U.S.And these assumptions wreak havoc on reality."When people enter into that pattern of thinking,"says Kendall-Taylor,"it's cognitively comfortable to make sense of issues of poverty in that way.It creates a kind of cognitive blindness-all of the factors external to a person's drive and choices that they've made become invisible and fade from view.”Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work ot struetual discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Assumptions get worse when people who are poor use government benefits to help them survive.There is a great tension between"the poor"and those who are receiving what has become a dirty word:"welfare."According to the General Social Survey,7l percent of respondents believe the contry is spending too little on a"welfare":37percent believe we are spending too much,[N]"Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.It's true that black mothers are more affected by poverty than many other groups,yet they are disproportionately the face of poverty.For example，Americans routinely overestimate the share of black recipients of public assistance programs. [O]In reality,most people will experience some form of financial hardship at some point in their lives.Indeed,people tend to dip in and out of poverty,perhaps due to unexpected obstacles like losing a job,or when hours of a low-wage job fluctuate.[P]Something each of us can do is to treat each other with the dignity and sympathy that is deserved and to understand deeply that the issue of poverty touches all of us.答案：36.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"37.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography. 38.[M]According to the General Social Survey,71percent ofrespondents believe the country is spending too little on"assistance to the poor."39.[J]The Frame Works Institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studied what sustains stereo types and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom40.[D]lf these are the central characters of our story about poverty,what layers of perceptions,myths,and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?41.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?42.[N]“Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and”black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.43.[1]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it.44.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Dan-ielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"45.[L]Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work or structural discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Section CPassage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.Boredom has,paradoxically,become quite interesting to academics lately.In early May.Lon don's Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness.At this event.people floc ked to talks about weather,traffic jams and vending-machine sounds.,among other sleep-indu cing topics What,exactly,is everybody studying?One widely accepted definition of boredom i s"the distasteful experience of wanting,but being unable.to engage in satisfying activity." But how can you quantify a person's boredom level and compare it with someone else’s?In1986,psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale,designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored By contrast,the Mulitidimensional State Boredom scale,developed in2008,measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation. Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving.mindless snacking.excessive drinking,and and addictive gambling.In fact,many of us would choose pain over。
2020年12月英语四级真题及参考答案完整版
2020年12月英语四级真题及参考答案完整版听力News report 1( 1 ) A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warn the scientist.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous barbs and an painful sting capable of killing people.Although fatalities are rare, the stings can cause extreme pain, and stop people breathing.The fish, also known as the Devil Firefish, is a highly invasive a species, ( 2 ) and environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life.After being spotted in the Med, a marine scientist says: "The fish is spreading, and that's a cause for concern.”Q1: What is reported in the news?D. A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.Q2: What is the environmentalist concern about the spread of devil fire fish in the Mediterranean?B. It could pose a threat to other marine species.News Report 2( 3 )Almost half the center of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World-Car-Free Day. ( 4 ) This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Ann Ethogo promoted the first World-Car-Free Day last year. Ethogo also has supported a Pairs-briefs-Day on the first Sunday of every month. Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road. About 400 miles of streets will be closed to cars. It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels. ( 4 ) Last year's Car-Free Day showed a 40% drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city.According to an independent air pollution monitor, reports the guardian and sound levels dropped by 50% in the city center.Q3: What will happen on World-Car-Free-Day in Paris?C. About half of its city center will be closed to cars.Q4: What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World-Car-Free Day in her city?D. The rising air pollution in Paris.News Report 3( 5 ) A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations. Then, a good luck charm that he kept under his bed changed his life. The unidentified man fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines 10 years ago. ( 6 ) When he was forced to sell it, ( 7 ) the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Francesca told him that the £77 giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his run-down wooden house was the biggest pile in the world, which was valued at £76 million. The pearl of Allah, which is currently on display in a New York Museum, only weighs 14 pounds. That is 5 times smaller than the pearl that the fisherman just handed in. The monstrous pearl, measured at 1 foot wide and 2.2 feet long, is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town.Question 5. What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?A.His house was burnt down in a fire.Question 6. What was the fisherman forced to do?C. Sell the pearl he had kept for years.Question 7. What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?B. His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.Conversation 1W: Mr. Smith, it's a pleasure meeting you.M: Nice to meet you,too. What can I do for you?W: Well, I'm here to show you what our firm can do for you. Astro Consultant has branches in over 50 countries, offering different business services. ( 8 ) We are a global company with 75 years of history and our clients include some of the world's largest companies.M: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astro Consultant is a famous company, but you said you would show me what you could do for me. Well, what exactly can your firm do for my company?W: We advise businesses on all matters—from market analysis to legal issues.Anything of business like yours could need, our firm offers expert advice. CouldI ask you, Mr. Smith, to tell me a little about your company and the challengesyou face? That way, I could better respond as to how we can help you.M: OK, sure. ( 9 ) This is a family business started by my grandfather in 1950.We employed just over 100 people. We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions. Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design. That's what we do in our factory. ( 10 ) Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising and we're losing competitive advantage to stone producers in India.W: I see. that's very interesting. ( 11 ) I would suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company, together with an analysis of your competitors in India. That way we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Q8. What do we learn about the woman's company?A. It boasts a fairly long history.Q9. What does the man say about his own company?D. It is a family business.Q10. What is the main problem with the man's company?B. Losing the competitive edge.Q11. What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?D. Conducting a financial analysis for it.Conversation 2W: ( 12 ) Wow, Congratulations, Simon. The place looks absolutely amazing.M: Really? You think so?W: Of course, I love it! It looks like you had a professional interior designer.But you didn't, did you?M: No. I did it all by myself—with a little help from my brother Greg. He's actually in the construction business, which was really helpful.W: Well, honestly, I'm impressed. I knew I could probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something, but not a full renovation. Where did you get your ideas? I wouldn't know where to start.M: ( 13 ) Well, for a while now, I've been regularly buying home design magazines every now and then, and say the picture I liked. Believe it or not, I had a full notebook of magazine pages. Since my overall style was quite minimal, I thought and hoped the whole renovation wouldn't be too difficult. And sure enough, with Greg's help,it was very achievable.W: Was it very expensive? I imagine a project like this could be.M: ( 14 ) Actually, it was surprisingly affordable. I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture, and put that extra money towards the new material. Greg was also able to get some discount of materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W: Great. If you don't mind, I'd like to pick your brain a bit more. Jonathan andI are thinking of renovating our sitting room, not the whole house—not yet anyway.( 15 ) And we'd love to get some inspiration from your experience. Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Question 12. What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?B. She is really impressed by the man’s house.Question 13. Where did the man get his ideas for the project?C. From home design magazines.Question 14. What did the man say about the project he recently completed?A. The cost was affordable.Question 15. Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?D. She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.Passage 1( 16 ) Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost￡3 million a year, a study suggests. Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases. 95% of objects removed from noses, and 85% from ears. Every year, an average of 1,218 nose，and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. ( 17 ) According to England's hospital episodes statistics, children aged 1 to 4 were the most likely to need help from doctors for a foreign object in their nose. 5 to 9 -year-olds come to the hospital with something in their ears the most.Jewelry items accounted for up to 40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys for the items removed next most from noses. Cotton buds, and pencils were also found in years.( 18 ) According to the study, the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects. Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular danger. In all cases, prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Question16 What does England spend an annual￡3 million on?C. Removing objects from patients’ noses and ears.Question17 What do we learn from England's hospital episodes statistics?B. Five-to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.Question18 What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?D. They are curious about these body parts.Passage 2( 21 ) Good morning. Today, I would like to talk to you about my charity Re-bicycle.But before that, let me introduce someone. This is Layla Rahimi. She was so scared when she first moved to new Zealand. Does she struggled to leave the house? I would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies. ( 19 ) After a few months of being quite down and unhappy, she was invited to join a local bike club. At this time, Re-bicycle got involved and gave Layla a second-hand bicycle. Within weeks, her depression had begun to ease as she cycled. The bicycle totally changed her life, giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom. ( 20 ) To date, Re-bicycle has donated more than 200 bikes to those in need and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as a demand source. With a bike, new comers here can travel farther but for almost no cost. The 3 hours a day they used to spend walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just 1hour.( 21 ) Our bike riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers, learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult for an adult. And this can take days and weeks rather than hours. So if any of you have some free time during the weekend, please come join us at Re-bicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Question 19. What did Re-bicycle do to help Layla Rahimi?A. It gave her a used bicycle.Question 20. What is Re-bicycle doing to help those in need?A. Expanding bike-riding lessons.Question 21. What do we learn from the passage about Re-bicycle?D. It is a charity organization.Passage 3Thanks to the international space station, ( 22 ) we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body, but NASA scientists want to learn more.To that end, they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity, specifically focusing on mice. The results are both interesting and humorous. The scientists first sent some mice and especially designed cage to the international space station.The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from earth, via video.As you’ll notice in the video, ( 23 ) the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment.They move around clumsily, drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up, but without succ ess. However, it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on.They adapt remarkably well to their new environment, and even use the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage. That’s when things really get wild. ( 24 ) The 11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change, but actually seem to be enjoying it. Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls. The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on earth.( 25 ) The study showed that the mice kept much of the routines intact, including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.Question 22 : What do NASA scientists want to learn about?A. How animals deal with lack of gravity.Question 23: What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?C. They were not used to the low-gravity environment.Question 24: What was observed about the mice on the 11th day of the experiment?B. They already felt at home in the new environment.Question 25: What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?B.They behaved as if they were on Earth.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A ) A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.B ) Invasive species are driving away certain native species.C ) The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.D ) Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.2. A ) It could add to greenhouse emissions.B ) It could disrupt the food chains there.C ) It could pose a threat to other marine species.D ) It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A ) Cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B ) About half of its city center will be closed to cars.C ) Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.D ) Pedestrians will have free access to the city.4. A ) The rising air pollution in Paris.B ) The worsening global warming.C ) The ever-growing cost of petrol.D ) The unbearable traffic noise.Questions 5 and 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A ) Many of his possessions were stolen.B ) His house was burnt down in a fire.C ) His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.D ) His good luck charm sank into the sea.6. A ) Change his fishing locations.B ) Find a job in a travel agency.C ) Spend a few nights on a small island.D ) Sell the pearl he had kept for years.7. A ) A New York museum...B ) The largest pearl in the world...C ) His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.D ) His pearl could be displayed in a museum.Questions 8 and 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A ) It boast a fairly long history.B ) It produces construction materials.C ) It has 75 offices around the world.D ) It has over 50 business partners.9. A ) It has about 50 employees.B ) It was started by his father.C ) It has a family business.D ) It is over 100 years old.10. A ) Shortage of raw material supply.B ) Legal disputes in many countries.C ) Outdated product design.D ) Loss of competitive edge.11. A ) Conducting a financial analysis for it.B ) Providing training for its staff members.C ) Seeking new ways to increase its exports.D ) Introducing innovative marketing strategies.Questions 12 and 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A ) She is a real expert at house decorations.B ) She is well informed about the design business.C ) She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.D ) She is really impressed by the man’s house.13. A ) From his younger brother Greg.B ) From home design magazines.C ) From a construction businessman.D ) From a professional interior designer.14. A ) The effort was worthwhile.B ) The style was fashionable.C ) The cost was affordable.D ) The effect was unexpected.15. A ) She’d like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B ) She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.C ) She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D ) She’d like to show him around her newly-renovated house.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A ) Providing routine care for small childrenB ) Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.C ) Doing research on ear, nose and throat diseases.D ) Removing objects from patients’noses and ears.17. A ) Many children like to smell things they find or play with.B ) Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouth.C ) Five-to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.D ) Children aged one to four are often more curious than older children.18. A ) They tend to act out of impulse.B ) They want to attract attentions.C ) They are unaware of the potential risks.D ) They are curious about these body parts.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A ) It paid for her English lessons.B ) It gave her a used bicycle.C ) It delivered her daily necessities.D ) It provided her with physical therapy.20. A ) Expanding bike-riding lessons.B ) Asking local people for donations.C ) Providing free public transport.D ) Offering walking tours to visitors.21. A ) It is a language school.B ) It is a charity organization.C ) It is a counseling center.D ) It is a sports club.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A ) How mice imitate human behavior in space.B ) How low gravity affects the human body.C ) How mice interact in a new environment.D ) How animals deal with lack of gravity.23. A ) They were not used to the low-gravity environment.B ) They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C )They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.D ) They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A ) They tried everything possible to escape from the cage.B ) They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.C ) They already felt at home in the new environment.D ) They had found a lot more activities to engage in.25.A ) They repeated their activities every day.B ) They behaved as if they were on Earth.C ) They begin to eat less after some time.D ) They changed their routines in space.听力第一套1. D. A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.2. B. It could pose a threat to other marine species.3. C. About half of its city center will be closed to cars.4. D. The rising air pollution in Paris.5. A. His house was burnt down in a fire.6. C. Sell the pearl he had kept for years.7. B. His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.8. A. It boasts a fairly long history.9. D. It is a family business.10. B. Loss the competitive edge.11. D. Conducting a financial analysis for it.12. B. She is really impressed by the man’s house.13. C. From home design magazines.14. A. The cost was affordable.15. D. She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.16. C. Removing objects from patients’noses and ears.17. B. Five-to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.18. D. They are curious about these body parts.19. A. It gave her a used bicycle.20. A. Expanding bike-riding lessons.21. D. It is a charity organization.22. A. How animals deal with lack of gravity.23. C. They were not used to the low-gravity environment.24. B. They already felt at home in the new environment.25. C. They behaved as if they were on Earth.听力第二套1. D ) He did an unusual good deed.2. C ) Give some money to the waiter.3. A ) Whether or not to move to the state’s mainland.4. B ) It costs too much money.5. A ) To investigate whether people are grateful for help.6. C ) They held doors open for people at various places.7. B ) Most people express gratitude for help.8. C ) To enquire about solar panel installations.9. D ) He has a large family.10. B ) The cost of a solar panel installation.11. D ) About five year.12. A ) At a travel agency.13. D ) She wanted to spend more time with her family.14. D ) Two weeks.15. A ) Choosing some activities herself.16. D ) Pay a green tax upon arrival.17. A ) It has not been doing a good job in recycling.18. B ) To ban single-use plastic bags and straws on Bali island.19. D ) Its population is now showing signs of increase.20. C ) Commercial hunting.21. D ) To seek breeding grounds.22. C ) They consume less milk these days.23. A ) It is not as healthy as once thought.24. C ) They lack the necessary proteins to digest it.25. B ) It provides some necessary nutrients.翻译【翻译第一套】鱼是春节前夕餐桌上不可或缺的一道菜，因为汉语中“鱼”字的发音与“余”字的发音相同。
2020年12月英语四级考试真题及答案(图片版)
2020年12月英语四级考试真题及答案（图片版）四级作文参考范文：大学里最难忘的课When talking about the course which impresses me the most, I will certainly choose Basic Chemical Experiment. As astudent of science, I am always fascinated with the magic in test tubes, and from this course I gained more than pure knowledge.To begin with, this course provides us opportunities toput theories into practices. The experiments helped ustestify and better understand what we have learned in books. Besides, by designing experimental procedures of own, we became more flexible and innovative.Moreover, I also developed other skills that required outside labs through this course. For example, to be focused and careful when proceeding a task, to be patient and calm when facing failures, and to communicate properly when you need someone else to cooperate. These can be very valuable assets to your life.Basic Chemical Experiment influenced me not only on academic field but also on daily affairs, therefore it’s the most impressing course to me.四级作文参考范文：使你受益最深的校园活动University is a place that provides a number ofinteresting activities to enrich our life on campus. In thetwo years, I have attended a couple of activities such as football club and reading society. The most benefited one popping into my mind is the sports meeting last month.First of all, sports meeting offers a great opportunityto draw students’ attention from busy studies to the sports field. As students, most of our time is killed in the classroom and library. However, doing sports could be seen as a relaxing ingredient in tedious study life.Secondly, as a member of football club, I attended the football game that day. I enjoyed the feeling of being united. During the game, we encouraged each other when we felt frustrated; we cheered for each other when we scored a goal. All these taught me to be more and more team-oriented.Lastly, doing sports benefits to our physical health. Increasingly sedentary lifestyle causes laziness andpossibility of obesity. Therefore, this sports meeting on campus mobilized our students to enjoy the fun of sports.This is the campus activity that has benefited not onlyme but also most of the students.四级作文参考范文：对你影响的同学Rose is my roommate, classmate and my best friend in my college. She has a round face and a little plump. One can always find a nice smile on her face, which reflects her amiable and pleasant character. Our friendship attributes to her great influence on me.In terms of study, she is good at English, while Englishis not my cup of tea. When I am confused about teacher’s explanation of texts, she always interprets them to me in an explicit way. I really appreciate her help. Besides, she also imparts me a few language learning tips and recommendations which arouse my learning interest.In addition, in the leisure time, she helps me a lot as well. Because I am not the local student and my hometown isfar away from here, sometimes I feel homesick. However, I always have Rose on my side. Her accompany gives me great comfort.I feel so lucky that I could have such a good friend, who teaches me and help me in my study and leisure life, so sheis the classmate that has influenced me most in college.答案：36. N. survey37. O. traces38. I. products39. K. released40. J. ranging41. M. simple42. H. necessarily43. L. shocked44. C. belong45. B. average点评：本次选词填空是一篇关于日常生活化学污染的文章。
2020年12月英语四级阅读真题及答案
2020年12月英语四级阅读真题及答案2020年12月英语四级阅读真题及答案【参考答案】36、N。
saw 第一空显然缺少谓语，优先考虑动词，结合语义并根据Late November and December能够推出应选择过去式动词，故答案锁定saw。
37、F。
decades 根据two，首选复数名词，结合语义，“ for the first time in the two decades”，二十年来头一次。
38、H。
globally 句子为主系表结构，不缺主要成分，所以首选副词和形容词，根据语义，ever表示“一直以来地、向来地”，“十一月向来是世界范围内最温暖的一个月。
”39、D。
chances 缺少主语，并且谓语是are，所以首选复数形式的名词，结合前文Enjoy the snow now，“享受现在的雪吧”，因为“时机是好的”。
40、J。
occurs 空格前方有主语，且是单数形式，而后面由when 引导的时间状语从句的时态是一般现在时，所以主句谓语锁定第三人称单数形式的动词，只能选择occurs。
41、A。
specific空格左为定冠词the，空格右为名词，中间只能选形容词，选择“特定的”符合语义。
42、B。
associated 空格左为be动词，右边为介词with，中间只能是形容词或动词的过去分词形式，be associated with表示“与…有联系”，符合原意。
43、G。
experiences 空格左为主语southern Africa，空格内应该为动词的第三人称单词形式，结合语义，选G，“南非经历着干燥的天气。
44、M。
reduce 空格左为情态动词，空格内必须为动词原形，填reduce“减少”符合原题。
45、K。
populations 空格与左边的large fish 共同构成动词support的宾语，只能选一个名词来作为名词词组，故选K，“大量的鱼群”。
【参考答案及解析】61题，定位到第一段最后一句“varies by culture”，所以答案选A——They are culture-related。
2020年12月大学英语四级考试真题及详解(第三套)
2020年12月大学英语四级考试真题及详解（第三套）一、PartⅠWriting(30minutes)1.Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay on the topic Changes in education.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.输入答案内容...【答案】【参考范文】The changes of education have aroused extensive attention of the society,which can be seen in many aspects in our daily life,such as TV programs,newspapers and university classes.Especially in recent years, Chinese education model has become more diversified and efficient.Many factors contribute to this phenomenon.The most common factor is the economic development and technological advance that have made online education possible.Technological teaching aids such as videoconferencing are widely available,reducing the time and place of classes.Another contributing factor is globalization.As countries become more and more connected,hope to integrate into different cultures by taking more international courses.The progress of education is of vital importance to everyone.It can not only promote the continuous development of individuals,but also promote the exchanges between countries.【行文点评】1．引出主题，说明教育变化的现象具有普遍性，且教育模式变得更多样、更高效。
2020年12月英语四级真题及解析第1套全
Pa t I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Education. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part ll Listening Comprehension ( 25 minutes)Section ADirections: Jn 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 you have just heanl.1.A) Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.B)The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.C)Invasive species are driving away certain native species.D)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.2.A) It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.B)It could pose a threat to other marine species.C)It could disrupt the food chains there.D)It could add to greenhouse emissions.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heanl.3.A) Cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B)Pedestrians will have free access to the city.C)About half of its city center will be closed to cars.D)·B uses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.4.A) The unbearable traffic noise.C)The ever-growing cost of petrol.B)The worsening global warming.D)The rising air pollution in Paris.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A) His house was burnt down in a fire.C)His good luck charm sank into the sea.B)Many of his possessions were stolen.D)His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.6.A) Change his fishing locations.C)Sell the pearl he had kept for years.B)Find a job in a travel agency.D)Spend a few nights on a small island.7.A) His pearl could be displayed in a museum.B)His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.C)The largest pearl in the world weighs 14 pounds.D)A New York museum has the world's biggest pearl.ll9 ti 2020 &¥ 12 J.I 1Section 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) It boasts a fairly long history.C)It has 75 offices around the world.B)It has over 50 business partners.D)It produces construction materials.9.A) It was started by his father.C)It is over 100 years old.B)It has about 50 employees.D)It is a family business.10.A) Outdated product design.C)Shortage of raw material supply.B)Loss of competitive edge.D)Legal disputes in many countries.11.A) Introducing innovative marketing strategies.B)Seeking new ways .t o increase its exports.C)Providing training for its staff members.D)Conducting a financial analysis for it.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) She is a realexpert at house decorations.B)She is really impressed by the man's house.C)She is well informed about the design business.D)She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.13.A) From a construction businessman.C)From home design magazines.B)From his younger brother Greg.D)From a professional interior designer.14.A) The cost was affordable.C)The effort was worthwhile.B)The style was fashionable.D)The effect was unexpected.15.A) She'd like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B)She'd like to show him around her newly-renovated house.C)She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D)She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passa,ge, 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) Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.B)Doing research on ear, nose and throat diseases.C)Removing objects from patients' noses and ears.D)Providing routine care for small children.17.A) Children aged one to four are often more curious than older children.B)Five-to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.C)Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.D)Many children like to smell things they find or play with.lmti 2020 :tt: 12 � . 218.A) They want to attract attention.C)They are unaware of the potential risks.B)They tend to act out of impulse.D)They are curious about these body parts. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard19.A) It gave her a used bicycle.C)It delivered her daily necessities.B)It paid for her English lessons.D)It provided her with physical therapy.20.A) Expanding bike-riding lessons.C)Offering walking tours to visitors.B)Providing free public transport.D)Asking local people for donations.21.A) It is a sports club.C)It is a counseling center.B)It is a langua g e school.D)It is a charity organization. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the p1mage you have just heard22.A) How animals deal with lack of gravity.B)How mice interact in a new environment.C)How low gravity affects the human body.D)How mice imitate human behavior in space.23.A) They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.B)They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C)They were not used to the low-gravity environment.D)They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A) They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.B)They already felt at home in the new environment.C)They had found a lot more activities to engage in.D)They tried everything possible to escape from the cage.25.A) They changed their routines in space.C)They be h aved as if they were on Earth.B)They began to eat less after some time.Part� Section A Reading ComprehensionD)They repeated their activities every day.( 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. F.ach choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the co"esponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the wo r ds in the bank more than once.Trust is fundam e ntal to life. If you can't trust anything, life becomes intolerable. You can't have relationships without trust, let alone good ones.In the workplace, too, trust is 26 . An organization without tru t will be full of fear and27 . If you work for a boss who doesn't trust their employees to do things right, you'll have a28 time. They'll be checking up on you all the time, correcting "mistakes" and �-reminding you to do this or that. Colleagues who don't trust one another w ll need to spend more time30 their backs than doing any useful work.Organizations are always trying to cut costs. Think of all the additional tasks caused by lack of trust. Audit ('iflit) departments only exist because of it. Companies keep large volumes of ____fil_ because they don't trust their suppliers, their contractors or their customers. Probably more than half of alltm�2020� 12�3administrative work is only there because of an ever-existing sense that "you can't trust anyone these days." If even a small part of such valueless work could be 32 , the savings would run into millions of dollars.All this is extra work we 33 onto ourselves because we don't trust people-the checking, following through, doing things ourselves because we don't believe others will do them 34 -or at all. If we took all that away, how much extra time would we suddenly find in our life? How much of our work 35 would disappear?A)constantlyB)credibleC)essentialD)exploringE)gather Section B F)load K)removedG)miserable L)stacksH)pressure M)su spicionI)properly N)tracked J)records0)watchingDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passa.ge 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. Eacft paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 _1The Place Where the Poor Once ThrivedA)This is the land of opportunity. If that weren't already implied by the landscape�rolling green hills,palm trees, sun-kissed flowers-then it's evident in the many stories of people who grew up poor in these sleepy neighborhoods and rose to enormous success. People like Tri Tran, who fled Vietnam on a boat in 1986, showed up in San Jose with nothing, made it to MIT, and then founded the fQOd-delivery start-up Munchery, which is valued at $ 300 million.B)Indeed, data suggests that this is one of the best places to grow up poor fo America. A child born in theearly 1980s into a low-income family in San Jose had a 12. 9 percent chance of becoming a high earner as an adult, according to a landmark study released in 2014 by t_h e economist Raj Chetty and his colleagues from Harvard and Berkel�y. That number-12. 9 percent-may not seem remarkable, but it was: Kids in San Jose whose families fell in the bottom quintile (li.��4t.) of income nationally had the best shot in the country at reaching the top quintile.C)By contrast, just 4. 4 percent of poor kids in Charlotte moved up to_ the top; in Detroit the figure was5.5 percent. San Jose had social mobility comparable to Denmark's and Canada's and higher thanother progressive cities such as Boston and Minneapolis.D)The reasons kids in San Jose performed so well might seem obvious. Some of the world's mostinnovative companies are located here, providing opportunities such as the one seized by a 12-year-old Mountain View resident named Steve Jobs when he called William Hewlett to ask for spare parts and subsequently received a summer job. This is a city of immigrants...,...38 percent of the city's population today is foreign-born-and immigrants and their children have historically experienced significant upward mobility in America. The city has long had a large foreign-born population (26. 5 percent in 1990), leading to broader diversity, which, the Harvard and Berkeley economists say, is a good predictor of mobility.tmtl 2020 ¥ 12 � 4E)Indeed, the streets of San Jose seem, in some ways, to embody the best of America. It's possible to drive in a matter of minutes from sleek ( ;t16 � ) office towers near the airport where people pitch ideas to investors, to· single-family homes with orange trees in their yards, or to a Vietnamese mall.The libraries here offer progr a ms in 17 languages, and there are areas filled with small businesses owned by Vietnamese immigrants, Meacan immigrants, Korean immigrants, and Filipino immigrants, to name a few.F)But researchers aren't sure exactly why poor kids in San Jose did so well. The city has a low prevalenceof children growing up in: single-parent families, and a low level of concentrated poverty, both factors that usually mean a city allows for good intergenerational mobility. But San Jose also performs poorly on some of the measures correlated with good mobility. It is one of the most unequal places out of the 741 that the researchers measured, and it has high degrees of racial and economic segregation (� �).Its schools underperform based on how much money there is in the area, said Ben Scuderi, a predoctoral fellow at the Equality of Opportunity Project at Harvard, which uses big data to study how to improve eco n omic opportunities for low-income children. "There's a lot going on here which we don't totally understand," he said. "It's interesting, because it kind of defies our expectations." G)The Chetty data shows that neighborhoods and places mattered for children born in the San Jose areaof the 1980s. Whether the city still allows for upward mobility of poor kids today, though, is up for debate. Some of the indicators such as income inequality; measured by the Equality of Opportunity Project for the year 2000, have only worsened in the past 16 years.H)Some San Jose residents say that as inequality has grown in recent years, upward mobility has become,nuch more difficult to achieve. As Silicon Valley has become home to more successful companies, the flood of people to the area has caused housing prices to skyrocket. By most measures, San Jose is no longer a place where low-income, or even middle-income families, can afford to live. Rents in San Jose grew 42. 6 percent between 2006 and 2014, which was the largest increase in the country during that time period. The city has a growing homelessness problem, which it tried.to address by shutting down "The Jungle," one of the largest homeless encampments ( 1� QIJ-..fi.Jt) in the nation, in 2014. Inequality is extreme. The Human Development Index-a measure of life expectancy, education and per capita (A.��) income-gives East San Jose a score of 4. 85 out of 10, while nearby Cupertino, where Apple's headquarters sits, receives a 9. 26. San Jose used to have .a happy mix of factors-cheap housing, closeness to a rapidly developing industry, tightly-knit immigrant communities-that together opened up the possibility of prosperity for even its poorest residents. But in recent years, housing prices have skyrocketed, the region's rich and poor have segr e gated, and middle-class jobs have disappeared. Given this, the future for the region's poor doesn't look nearly as bright as it once did.I)Leaders in San Jose are determined to make sure that the city regains its status as a place where evenpoor kids can access the resources to succeed. With Silicon Valley in its backyard, it certainly has the chance to do so. "I think there is a broad consciousness in the Valley that we can do better than to leave thousands of our neighbors behind through a period of extraordinary success," San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said.J)But in today's America-a land of rising inequality, increasing segregation, and stagnating (�:it*-�) middle-class wages-can the San Jose region really once again become a place of opportunity?im• 2020 � 12 � 5K)The idea that those at the bottom can rise to the top is central to America's ideas about itself. That such mobility has become more difficult in San Jose raises questions about, the endurance of that foundational belief. After all, if the one-time land of opportunity can't be fixed, what does that say for the rest of America?36.According to some pe ple living in San Jose, it has become much harder for the poor to get ahead dueto the increased inequality.37.In American history, immigrants used to have a good chance to move upward in society.38.If the problems of San Jose can't be solved, one of America's fundamental beliefs about itself can beshaken.39.San Jose was am o ng the best cities in America for poor kids to move up the social ladder ..40.Whether poor kids in San Jose today still have the chance to move upward is qu�tionable.41.San Jose's officials are resolved to give poor kids access to the resources necessary for success in life.42.San Jose appears to manifest some of the best features of America.43.As far as social mobility is concerned, San Jose beat many other progressive cities in America.44.Due to some changes like increa�s in housing prices in San Jose, the prospects for its poor people havedimmed.45.Researchers do not have a clear idea why poor children in San Jose achieved such great success severaldecades ago.Section CDirections: There are·2 passages in this section. F.ach passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For {!Q,Ch of them there are four choices marked A) , B) , C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the co"esponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. Passage OneQuestions 46 to SO are based on the following passage.Three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition. Half of these are behavioural disorders, while one third are emotional disorders such as stress, anxiety and depression, which often bec m e outwardly apparent through self-harm. There was an astonishing 52 per cent jump in hospital admissions for children and young people who had harmed themselves between 2009 and 2015.Schools and teachers have consistently reported the scale of the problem since 2009. Last year, over half of teachers reported that more of. their pupils experience mental health problems than in the past. But teachers also consistently report how ill-equipped they feel to meet pupils' mental health needs, and often cite a lack of training, expertise and support from the National Health Service ( � � � � f§..1/ .Ii¼#. I).Part of the reason for the increased pressure on .schools is that there are now fewer ' early intervention ( f'-ffi)' and low-level mental health services based in the community. Cuts to local authority ·budgets since 2010 have resulted in a significant decline of these services, despite strong evidence of their effectiveness in preventing crises further down the line.The only way to break the pressures on both mental health services and schools is to reinvest in early intervention services inside schools.There are strong arguments for why schools are best placed to provide me�tal health services. Schools see young peo p le more than any other service, which gives them a unique ability to get to hard-to-reach children and young people and build meaningful relationships with them over time. Recent studies havelmlt 2020 • 12 JJ 6shown that children and young people largely prefer to see a cou sellor in school rather than in an.outside environment. young people have reported that for low-level conditions such as stress and anxiety, a clinical setting can sometimes be daunting (+.A.� -ffe" �).Th e re are already examples of innovative schools which combine mental health and wellbeing provision with a strong academic curriculum. This• will, though, require a huge cultural shift. Politicians, policymakers, commissioners and school leaders must be brave enough to make the leap towards reimagining schools as providers of health as well as education services.46.What are teachers complaining about?A)There are too many students requiring special attention.B)They are under too much stress counselling ·n eedy students.C)Schools are inadequately equipped to implement any intervention.D)They lack the necessary resources to address pupils' mental problems.47.What do we learn from the passage about community health services in Britain?A)They have deteriorated due to budget cuts.,·B)They facilitate local residents' everyday lives.C)They prove ineffective in helping mental patients. ·D)They cover preventative care for the local residents.48.Where does the author suggest mental health services be placed?A)At home.B)At school.C)In hospitals.D)In communities.49.What do we learn from the recent studies?A)Students pref e r to rely on peers to relieve stress and anxiety.B)Young people are keen on building meaningful relationships.C)Students are more comfortable seeking counselling in school.D)Young people benefit from various kinds of outdoor activities.50.What does the author mean by a cultural shift (Line 2, Para. 6)?A)Simplification of schools' academic curriculums.B)Parents' involvement in schools' policy-making.C)A change in teachers' attitudes to mental health.D)A change in the conception of what schools are.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following pmsage. ·Picture this: You're at a movie theater food stand loading up on snacks. You have a choice of a small, medium or large soda. The small is $ 3. 50 and the large is $ 5. 50. It's a tough decision: The small size may not last you-through the whole movie, but $ 5. 50 for some sugary drink seems ridiculous. But there's a third option, a medium soda for $ 5. 25. Medium may be the perfect amount of soda for you, but the large is only a quarter more. If you're like most people, you end up b ying the large ( and taking a bathroom break midshow).If you're wondering who would buy the medium soda, the answer is almost-no one. In fact, there's a good chance the marketing department purposely priced the medium soda as a decoy ( it-tif.) ,making you more likely to b y the large soda rather than the small.I have written about this peculiarity in· human nature before with my friend Dan Ariely, who studied this phenomenon extensively after noticing pricing for subscriptions ( i-T lilt) to The Economist. The digitalmi• 2020 ¥12 J1 7subscription was ·$ 59, the print subscription was $ 125, and the print plus· digital subscription was also $125. No one in their right mind would buy the print subscription when you could get digital as well for the same price, so why was it even an option? Ariely ran an experiment and found that when only the two "real " choices were offered, more people chose the less-expensive digital subscription. But the addition of the bad option made people much more likely to choose the more expensive print plus digital option.Brain scientists call this effect "asymmetric dominance" and it means that people gravitate toward the• choice nearest a clearly inferior option. Marketing professors call it the decoy effect, which is certainly easier to remember. Lucky for consumers, almost no one in the business community understands it.The decoy effect works because of the way our brains. assign value when making choices. Value is almost never absolute; rather, we decide an object's value relative to our other choices. If more options are introduced, the value equation changes.51.Why does the author ask us to imagine buying food in the movie theater?A)To illustrate people's peculiar shopping behavior.B)To illustrate the increa ing variety of snacks there.C)To show how hard it can be to choose a drink there.D)To show how popular snacks are among movie fans.52.Why is the medium soda priced the way it is?A)To attract more customers to buy it.B)To show the price matches the amount.C)To ensure customers drink the right amount of soda.D)To make customers believe they are getting a bargain.53.What do we learn from Dan Ariely's experiment?A)Lower-priced goods attract more customers.B)The Economist 's promotional strategy works.C)The Economist's print edition turns out to sell the best.D)More readers choose th e digital over th e print edition.54.For what purpose is "the bad option" (Line 7, Para. 3) added?.A)To cater to the peculiar needs of some customers.B)To help customers to make more rational choices.C)To· trap customers into buying the more pricey item.D)To provide customers with a greater variety of goods.55.How do we assess the value of a commodity, according to the passage?A)By considering its usefulness.C)By taking its quality into account.B)By comparing it with other choices.D)By examining its value equation.Part 1V 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.!l ;t .(£. t Ill -1' liJ � 1K �-A. -fr Ht-* j ;ft j � o �t :-t A..i.�� iiJt", '*1 :-t A.*. j � ;ft �o .(£. � >* � 1K , >* tY-;t., �,je.,je. ?-& .(£.A.1fl -ft.t-t Ji '1i'" � � * � �t *� ' i1Q ,Jt.Jt:. � � 1K A. i fl �-ft.* t ' ill --= ;t.,-11}-$t) & � ;!J 't Jt 0 1!!1 JI( .. �'*1�,4i��/I; J.t-f-;A:f:�+-.-t-lf#J, ilij )J:.i3:;t.,*)J:.A.�-t-»:.ilt,t-o .tit ilij , lliJ ;!J ;t -t£,:,t �-3-¾, JiiJ --=,t-4#, � 1*il iif ft.*° '1i'" � -1' Ii) 0 im•2020 4= 12 J1 8。
2020年12月英语四级第一套真题及答案
2020年12月英语四级第一套真题及答案2020年12月英语四级第一套真题及答案一、四级听力部分：1 . D)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters2. B)lt could pose a threat to other marine species3. C)About half of its city center will be closed to cars4. D)The rising air pollution in Paris5. A)His house was burnt down in a fire6. C)Sell the pearl he had kept for years7. B) His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.8. A)lt boasts a fairly long history.9. D)lt is a family business.1 0. B) Loss the competitive edge1 1 . D)Conducting a financial analysis for it.1 2. B)She is really impressed by the mans house1 3. C)From home design magazines1 4. A)The cost was affordable1 5. D)She wants him to share his renovation experience with her1 6. C)Removing objects from patients noses and ears.1 7. B)Five*to nineyearolds are the most likely to put things in their ears1 8. D)They are curious about these body parts1 9. A)lt gave her a used bicycle.20. AjExpanding bikeriding lessons21 . D)lt is a charity organization.22. A)How animals deal with lack of gravity.23. C)They were not used to the lowgravity environment.24. B)They already felt at home in the new environment.25. C)They behaved as if they were on Earth.二、四级选词填空部分：The things people make, and the way they make them...26. K. matters27. G. flexible28. M. promised29. C. enormously30.O. spared31 .F. feature32. H. inevitably33. A. automation34. D. fantastic35. N. shape三、四级信息匹配部分：Poverty is a story about us,not them36. [E] That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"37. [H] But the fact that 4 in 1 0 Americans cant come up with$400 in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason： economic instability strerches across race,gen? der,and geography.38. [M]According to the General Social Survey, 71 percent of respondents believe the country is spending too Little on "assistance to the poor."39. [J] The Frame Works Institute^ research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studied what sustains stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom40. [D] If these are the central characters of our story about poverty,what layers of perceptions,myths,and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?41 .[F] How many of us are poor in the U.S.?42. [N] "Poverty has been interchangeable with people of colorspecifically black women and” black mothers, "says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.43. [I] Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it.44. [E] That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"45. [L] Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying lowwage work or structural discrimination based on race,gender,or ability 四、四级仔细阅读部分：P146. C They did not become popular until the emergence of improved batteries.47. B The falling prices of ebike batteries,48. D It will make a difference in people* s daily lives49. A Retailersrefusal to deal in ebikes.50 D The younger generation’ s pursuit of comfortable ridingP251 A To sway public opinion of the impact of human activities on Earth52 C it covers more phenomena53 D Deliberate choice of words54 B For greater precision55 C Human activities have serious effects on Earth五、四级作文部分：WritingDirections： For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Education. You should write at least 1 20 words but no more than 1 80 words.范文：Changes in the way of education As the internet is developing so rapidly, the way of education keeps changing and new forms of education emerge surprisingly. Especially during the pandemic of corona virus, online education has become one of the most important ways of education throughout the world.The changes in the way of education can be listed as follows.First of all, compared with traditional offline teaching activities, online education gives students the opportunity to study wherever they want, at home or in the park.Moreover, the cost of attending online courses is normally lower than that of offline ones. Besides, students can choose the perfect time when they are available to attend classes,instead of stubbornly fixing the time required without the possibility of doing any other important thing.From my perspective, the changes in the way of education mainly lie in the good respects. As one of the fortunate students who live in the age of internet and can get access to online courses, I can’ t help exclaiming: it is the best of times.六、四级翻译部分：生活在中国不同地区的人们饮食多种多样。
2020 年12 月英语四级真题及答案(3 套全)
2020年12月四级真题及答案（全3套）四级写作第一套Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay on the change of communication.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.With the development of science and technology,we have witnessed the various huge changes of our daily life,among which,the change of communication is striking.However, people’s view on it never come to consensus.Concerning it,both communication online and offline have their merits.For one thing,no one denies that communication online brings great convenience to us, especially to those who have friends or relatives in remote areas.Because the change makes it possible for them to have frequent chat.And,the way we contact with others is diverse.Video calls and voice message can both meet modern people’s satisfaction.For another,the change is also making us disconnected.Due to the availability,people are gradually reluctant to have face-to-face communication with surrounding people,which is isolating us from the people we love.Given the factors above,the change of communication,we have to admit,is more like a double-edged sword.Neither do we discard it nor completely rely on it.Instead,we should make reasonable use of it so as to maximize its benefits.随着科学技术的发展，我们见证了我们日常生活中的各种巨大变化，其中沟通方式的变化是引人注目的。
2020年12月大学英语四级CET4真题(第1套)
2020年12月大学英语四级考试真题（一）Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Education. 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 ofeach news report,you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken onlyonce. 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 you have just heard.1. A) Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.B) The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.C) Invasive species are driving away certain native species.D) A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.2. A) It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.B) It could pose a threat to other marine species.C) It could disrupt the food chains there.D) It could add to greenhouse emissions.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A) Cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B)Pedestrians will have free access to the city.C) About half of its city center will be closed to cars.D)Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.4.A)The unbearable traffic noise.B) The worsening global warming.C) The ever-growing cost of petrol.D) The rising air pollution in Paris.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)His house was burnt down in a fire.B) Many of his possessions were stolen.6.A) Change his fishing locations.B) Find a job in a travel agency.C) His good luck charm sank into the sea.D) His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.C)Sell the pearl he had kept for years.D) Spend a few nights on a small island.7.A) His pearl could be displayed in a museum.B)His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.C) The largest pearl in the world weighs 14 pounds.D)A New York museum has the world's biggest pearl.Section BDirections: In this section , you will hear two long conversations. At the end ofeach conversation , you willhear 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) It boasts a fairly long history.B) It has over 50 business partners.9. A) It was started by his father.B) It has about 50 employees.10.A)Outdated product design.B) Loss of competitive edge.C) It has 75 offices around the world.D) It produces construction materials.C) It is over 100 years old.D) It is a family business.C) Shortage of raw material supply.D)Legal disputes in many countries.11.A) Introducing innovative marketing strategies.B) Seeking new ways to increase its exports.C) Providing training for its staff members.D)Conducting a financial analysis for it.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) She is a real expert at house decorations.B) She is really impressed by the man's house.C) She is well informed about the design business.D) She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.13. A)From a construction businessman.B)From his younger brother Greg.14. A) The cost was affordable.B) The style was fashionable.C) From home design magazines.D)From a professional interior designer.C) The effort was worthwhile.D) The effect was unexpected.15. A) She'd like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B) She'd like to show him around her newly-renovated house.C) She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D) She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end ofeach passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken onlyonce. 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)Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.B)Doing research on ear, nose and throat diseases.C) Removing objects from patients' noses and ears.D) Providing routine care for small children.17.A)Children aged one to four are often more curious than older children.B)Five- to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.C) Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.D)Many children like to smell things they find or play with.四级2020年12月 218.A)They want to attract attention.B) They tend to act out of impulse.C) They are unaware of the potential risks.D) They are curious about these body parts.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) It gave her a used bicycle.B)It paid for her English lessons.20. A) Expanding bike-riding lessons.B) Providing free public transport.21. A) It is a sports club.B) It is a language school.C) It delivered her daily necessities.D) It provided her with physical therapy.C) Offering walking tours to visitors.D)Asking local people for donations.C) It is a counseling center.D) It is a charity organization.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) How animals deal with lack of gravity.B) How mice interact in a new environment.C) How low gravity affects the human body.D) How mice imitate human behavior in space.23. A) They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.B) They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C)They were not used to the low-gravity environment.D) They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A) They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.B) They already felt at home in the new environment.C) They had found a lot more activities to engage in.D)They tried everything possible to escape from the cage.25. A) They changed their routines in space.B) They began to eat less after some time.C) They behaved as if they were on Earth.D) They repeated their activities every day.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 ofchoices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified bya 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.Trust is fundamental to life. If you can't trust anything, life becomes intolerable. You can't have relationships without trust, let alone good ones.In the workplace, too,trust is26_.An organization without trust will be full of fear and 27If you work for a boss who doesn't trust their employees to do things right, you'll have a 28t ime. They'll be checking up on you all the time, correcting “mistakes”and29 reminding you to do this or that. Colleagues who don't trust one another will need to spend more time 30their backs than doing any useful work.Organizations are always trying to cut costs. Think of all the additional tasks caused by lack of trust. Audit （审计）departments only exist because of it．Companies keep large volumes of31＿because they don't trust their suppliers, their contractors or their customers. Probably more than half of alladministrative work is only there because of an ever-existing sense that “you can't trust anyone these days.”If even a small part of such valueless work could be _32,the savings would run into millions of dollars.All this is extra work we33onto ourselves because we don't trust people-the checking, following through, doing things ourselves because we don't believe others will do them34-or at all. If we took all thataway, how much extra time would we suddenly find in our life? How much of our work35would disappear?A)constantlyB)credibleC)essentialD)exploringE)gather F)loadG)miserableH)pressureI)properlyJ)recordsK)removedL)stacksM)suspicionN)trackedO)watchingSection BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Place Where the Poor Once ThrivedA) This is the land of opportunity. If that weren't already implied by the landscape-rolling green hills, palm trees, sun-kissed flowers-then it's evident in the many stories of people who grew up poor in these sleepy neighborhoods and rose to enormous success. People like Tri Tran, who fled Vietnam on a boat in 1986, showed up in San Jose with nothing, made it to MIT, and then founded the food-delivery start-up Munchery, which is valued at $ 300 million.B) Indeed, data suggests that this is one of the best places to grow up poor in America. A child born in the early 1980s into a low-income family in San Jose had a 12.9 percent chance of becoming a high earner as an adult, according to a landmark study released in 2014 by the economist Raj Chetty and his colleagues from Harvard and Berkeley.That number-12.9 percent-may not seem remarkable, but it was：Kids in San Jose whose families fell in the bottom quintile（五分位数）of income nationally had the best shot in the country at reaching the top quintile.C) By contrast, just 4. 4 percent of poor kids in Charlotte moved up to the top; in Detroit the figure was 5.5 percent. San Jose had social mobility comparable to Denmark's and Canada's and higher than other progressive cities such as Boston and Minneapolis.D)The reasons kids in San Jose performed so well might seem obvious. Some of the world's most innovative companies are located here, providing opportunities such as the one seized by a 12-year-old Mountain View resident named Steve Jobs when he called William Hewlett to ask for spare parts and subsequently received a summer job. This is a city of immigrants-38 percent of the city's population today is foreign-born-and immigrants and their children have historically experienced significant upward mobility in America. The city has long had a large foreign-born population (26.5 percent in 1990), leading to broader diversity, which, the Harvard and Berkeley economists say, is a good predictor of mobility.E) Indeed, the streets of San Jose seem, in some ways, to embody the best of America. It's possible to drive in a matter of minutes from sleek（光亮的）office towers near the airport where people pitch ideas to investors, to single-family homes with orange trees in their yards, or to a Vietnamese mall. The libraries here offer programs in 17 languages, and there are areas filled with small businesses owned by Vietnamese immigrants, Mexican immigrants, Korean immigrants, and Filipino immigrants, to name a few.F) But researchers aren't sure exactly why poor kids in San Jose did so well. The city has a low prevalence of children growing up in single-parent families, and a low level of concentrated poverty, both factors thatusually mean a city allows for good intergenerational mobility. But San Jose also performs poorly on some of the measures correlated with good mobility. It is one of the most unequal places out of the 741 that the researchers measured，and it has high degrees of racial and economic segregation （隔离）．Its schools underperform based on how much money there is in the area, said Ben Scuderi, a predoctoral fellow at the Equality of Opportunity Project at Harvard, which uses big data to study how to improve economic opportunities for low-income children. “There's a lot going on here which we don't totally understand,”he said. “It's interesting, because it kind of defies our expectations.”G) The Chetty data shows that neighborhoods and places mattered for children born in the San Jose area of the 1980s. Whether the city still allows for upward mobility of poor kids today, though, is up for debate. Some of the indicators such as income inequality, measured by the Equality of Opportunity Project for the year 2000, have only worsened in the past 16 years.H)Some San Jose residents say that as inequality has grown in recent years, upward mobility has become much more difficult to achieve. As Silicon Valley has become home to more successful companies, the flood of people to the area has caused housing prices to skyrocket. By most measures, San Jose is no longer a place where low-income, or even middle-income families, can afford to live. Rents in San Jose grew 42.6 percent between 2006 and 2014, which was the largest increase in the country during that time period. The city has a growing homelessness problem, which it tried to address by shutting down “The Jungle，”one of the largest homeless encampments（临时住地）in the nation，in 2014. Inequality is extreme. The Human Development Index-a measure of life expectancy, education and per capita（人均的）income-gives East San Jose a score of 4.85 out of 10，while nearby Cupertino, where Apple's headquarters sits, receives a 9.26. San Jose used to have a happy mix of factors-cheap housing, closeness to a rapidly developing industry, tightly-knit immigrant communities-that together opened up the possibility of prosperity for even its poorest residents. But in recent years, housing prices have skyrocketed, the region's rich and poor have segregated,and middle-class jobs have disappeared. Given this, the future for the region's poor doesn't look nearly as bright as it once did.I) Leaders in San Jose are determined to make sure that the city regains its status as a place where even poor kids can access the resources to succeed. With Silicon Valley in its backyard, it certainly has the chance to do so.“I think there is a broad consciousness in the Valley that we can do better than to leave thousands of our neighbors behind through a period of extraordinary success,”San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said. J）But in today＇s America-a land of rising inequality，increasing segregation，and stagnating（不增长的）middle-class wages-can the San Jose region really once again become a place of opportunity?K) The idea that those at the bottom can rise to the top is central to America's ideas about itself. That such mobility has become more difficult in San Jose raises questions about:the endurance of that foundational belief. After all, if the one-time land of opportunity can't be fixed, what does that say for the rest of America?36. According to some people living in San Jose, it has become much harder for the poor to get ahead due to the increased inequality.37.In American history, immigrants used to have a good chance to move upward in society.38. If the problems of San Jose can't be solved, one of America's fundamental beliefs about itself can be shaken.39. San Jose was among the best cities in America for poor kids to move up the social ladder..40. Whether poor kids in San Jose today still have the chance to move upward is questionable.41. San Jose's officials are resolved to give poor kids access to the resources necessary for success in life.42. San Jose appears to manifest some of the best features of America.43. As far as social mobility is concerned, San Jose beat many other progressive cities in America.44. Due to some changes like increases in housing prices inSan Jose,the prospects for its poor people have dimmed.45.Researchers do not have a clear idea why poor children in San Jose achieved such great success several decades ago.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition.Half of these are behavioural disorders, while one third are emotional disorders such as stress,anxiety and depression, which often become outwardly apparent through self-harm. There was an astonishing 52 per cent jump in hospital admissions for children and young people who had harmed themselves between 2009 and 2015.Schools and teachers have consistently reported the scale of the problem since 2009. Last year, over half of teachers reported that more of their pupils experience mental health problems than in the past. But teachers also consistently report how ill-equipped they feel to meet pupils' mental health needs, and often cite a lack of training，expertise and support from the National Health Service（英国国家医疗服务体系）.Part of the reason for the increased pressure on schools is that there are now fewer 'early intervention（干预）＇and low-level mental health services based in the community. Cuts to local authority budgets since 2010 have resulted in a significant decline of these services, despite strong evidence of their effectiveness in preventing crises further down the line.The only way to break the pressures on both mental health services and schools is to reinvest in early intervention services inside schools.There are strong arguments for why schools are best placed to provide mental health services. Schools see young people more than any other service, which gives them a unique ability to get to hard-to-reach children and young people and build meaningful relationships with them over time. Recent studies have shown that children and young people largely prefer to see a counsellor in school rather than in an outside environment. Young people have reported that for low-level conditions such as stress and anxiety, a clinical setting can sometimes be daunting（令人却步的）.There are already examples of innovative schools which combine mental health and wellbeing provision with a strong academic curriculum. This will, though, require a huge cultural shift. Politicians, policymakers, commissioners and school leaders must be brave enough to make the leap towards reimagining schools as providers of health as well as education services.46. What are teachers complaining about?A)There are too many students requiring special attention.B)They are under too much stress counselling needy students.C)Schools are inadequately equipped to implement any intervention.D) They lack the necessary resources to address pupils' mental problems.47. What do we learn from the passage about community health services in Britain?A) They have deteriorated due to budget cuts.B) They facilitate local residents' everyday lives.C) They prove ineffective in helping mental patients.D) They cover preventative care for the local residents.48. Where does the author suggest mental health services be placed?A)At home.B)At school.C)In hospitals.D) In communities.49. What do we learn from the recent studies?A) Students prefer to rely on peers to relieve stress and anxiety.B) Young people are keen on building meaningful relationships.C) Students are more comfortable seeking counselling in school.D)Young people benefit from various kinds of outdoor activities.50.What does the author mean by a cultural shift (Line 2,Para.6)?A) Simplification of schools' academic curriculums.B)Parents' involvement in schools' policy-making.C) A change in teachers' attitudes to mental health.D) A change in the conception of what schools are.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Picture this: You're at a movie theater food stand loading up on snacks. You have a choice of a small, medium or large soda. The small is $ 3.50 and the large is $ 5.50. It's a tough decision: The small size may not last you through the whole movie, but $ 5.50 for some sugary drink seems ridiculous. But there's a third option, a medium soda for $5.25. Medium may be the perfect amount of soda for you, but the large is only a quarter more. If you're like most people, you end up buying the large (and taking a bathroom break midshow).If you're wondering who would buy the medium soda, the answer is almost no one. In fact, there's a good chance the marketing department purposely priced the medium soda as a decoy（诱饵），making you more likely to buy the large soda rather than the small.I have written about this peculiarity in human nature before with my friend Dan Ariely, who studied this phenomenon extensively after noticing pricing for subscriptions（订阅）to The Economist.The digital subscription was $ 59, the print subscription was $ 125, and the print plus digital subscription was also $125. No one in their right mind would buy the print subscription when you could get digital as well for the same price, so why was it even an option? Ariely ran an experiment and found that when only the two “real”choices were offered, more people chose the less-expensive digital subscription. But the addition of the bad option made people much more likely to choose the more expensive print plus digital option.Brain scientists call this effect “asymmetric dominance”and it means that people gravitate toward the choice nearest a clearly inferior option. Marketing professors call it the decoy effect, which is certainly easier to remember.Lucky for consumers, almost no one in the business community understands it.The decoy effect works because of the way our brains assign value when making choices. Value is almost never absolute; rather, we decide an object's value relative to our other choices. If more options are introduced, the value equation changes.51.Why does the author ask us to imagine buying food in the movie theater?A)To illustrate people's peculiar shopping behavior.B) To illustrate the increasing variety of snacks there.C) To show how hard it can be to choose a drink there.D) To show how popular snacks are among movie fans.52. Why is the medium soda priced the way it is?A) To attract more customers to buy it.B) To show the price matches the amount.C) To ensure customers drink the right amount of soda.D) To make customers believe they are getting a bargain.53. What do we learn from Dan Ariely's experiment?A) Lower-priced goods attract more customers.B) The Economist's promotional strategy works.C) The Economist's print edition turns out to sell the best.D)More readers choose the digital over the print edition.54.For what purpose is “the bad option”(Line 7, Para.3) added?A) To cater to the peculiar needs of some customers.B) To help customers to make morerational choices.C) To trap customers into buying the more pricey item.D)To provide customers with a greater variety of goods.55. How do we assess the value of a commodity, according to the passage?A) By considering its usefulness.B)By comparing it with other choices.C) By taking its quality into account.D) By examining its value equation.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.生活在中国不同地区的人们饮食多种多样。
2020年12月英语四级真题及答案完整版
2020年12月英语四级真题及参考答案(完整版)Part I writingDirections:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a composition on the topic “Changes in the way of Transportation”.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.参考范文：With the social and economic development,our means of transportation have changed a lot over the last few decades,which has brought much convenience to our life.In the1970s and1980s,bicycles were the primary means of public transportation.Families that owned a bicycle were thought to be in relatively good economic conditions.Because of the implementation of the reform and opening policy,the economy and people’s living standards were improved a lot and travelling by private cars became more and more common in1990s and2000s. And thanks to the information technology,we can now enjoy bike-sharing service and online ride-hailing service which help to make our journey more economical and flexible.We have enough reason to believe that our way of transportation could be more and more economically friendly and intelligent.Part II Listening ComprehensionPartⅡListening Comprehension(25minutes)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 Sheet1with a single line through she centre. Questions1and2are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.B)Invasive species are driving away certain native species.C)The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.D)Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.2.A)It could add to greenhouse emissions.B)It could disrupt the food chains there.C)It could pose a threat to other marine species.D)It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.C)Spend a few nights on a small island.D)Sell the pearl he had kept for years.Questions3and4are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A)cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B)About half of its city center will be closed to cars.C)Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.D)Pedestrians will have free access to the city.4.A)The rising air pollution in Paris.B)The worsening global warming.C The ever-growing cost of petrol.D)The unbearable traffic noise.Questions5to7are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)Many of his possessions were stolen.B)His house was burnt down in a fire.C)His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.D)His good luck charm sank into the sea.6.A)Change his fishing locations.B)Find a job in a travel agency.C))Spend a few nights on a small islandD)Sell the pearl he had kept for years7.A)A New Year museumB)The largest pearl in the world weighsC)His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.D)His pearl could be displayed in a museum.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 Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions8to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A)It boasts a fairly long history.B)It produces construction materials.C)It has75offices around the world.D)It has over50business partners.9.A)It has about50employees.B)It was started by his father.C)It has a family business.D)It is over100years old.10.A)Shortage of raw material supply.B)Legal disputes in many countries.C)Outdated product design.D)Loss of competitive edge.11.A)Conducting a financial analysis for it.B)Providing training for its staff members.C)Seeking new ways to increase is exports.D)Introducing innovative marketing strategies.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)She is a real expert at house decorations.B)She is well informed about the design business.C)She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.D)She is really impressed by the man’s house.13.A)From his younger brother Greg.B)From home design magazines.C)From a construction businessman.D)From a professional interior designer.14.A)The effort was worthwhile.B)The style was fashionable.C)The cost was affordable.D)The eft was unexpected.15.A)She’d like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B)She wants him to share his renovation experience with herC)She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D)She’d like to show him around her newly-renovated house.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 your choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark he corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions16to18are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)Providing routine care for small children.B)Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.C)Doing research on ear,nose and throat diseases.D)Removing objects from patients’noses and ears.17.A)Many children like to smell things they find or play with.B)Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.C)Five-to nine-year-olds are the mos likely to put things in their ears.D)Children aged one to four a often more curious than older children.18.A)They tend to act out of impulse.B)They want to attract attentions.C)They are unaware of the potential risks.D)They are curious about these body parts.Questions19to21are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)It paid for her English lessons.B)It gave her a used bicycle.C)It delivered her daily necessities.D)It provided her with physical therapy.20.A)Expanding bike-riding lessons.B)Asking local people for donations.C)Providing free public transport.D)Offering walking tours to visitors.21.A)It is a language school.B)It is a charity organization.C)It is a counseling center.D)It is a sports club.Questions22to25are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A)How mice imitate human behavior a space.B)How low gravity affects the human body.C)How mice interact in a new environment.D)How animals deal with lack of gravity.23.A)They were not use to the low-gravity cnvironment.B)They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C)They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.D)They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A)They tried every thing possible to escape from the cage.B)They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.C)They already felt at home in the new environment.D)They had found a lot more activities to engage in.25.A)They repeated their activities every day.B)They behaved as if they were on Earth.C)They begin to eat less after some time.D)They changed their routines in space.听力原文：Listening ComprehensionSection ANews report1A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature(UICN)has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey,Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean,the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people.Although fatalities are rare,the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing.The fish,often known as Devil Fire fish,is a highly invasive species.And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life.After being spotted in the Mediterranean,a marine scientist says,"The fish is spreading,and that's a cause for concern."Q1:What is reported in the news?Q2:What is the environmentalists'concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?News report2[Q3]Almost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day.[Q4]This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time.Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car FreeDay last year.Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day.On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road.About400miles of streets will be closed to cars.It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels."Last year's car-free day showed a 40%drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city,according to an independent air pollution monitor",reports the Guardian,"and some levels dropped by50%in the city centre.'Q3:What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?Q4:What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?News report3A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations.Then,a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it,the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world,which was valued at f76million.The pearl of Allah,which is currently on display in a New York museum,only weighs14pounds.That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisher man just handed in.The monstrous pearl,measured at1foot wide and2.2feet long,is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town. O5:What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?Q6:What was the fisherman forced to do?Q7:What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?Section BLong conversation1WOMAN:Mr.Smith,It’s a pleasure meeting you!Man:Nice to meet you,too.What can I do for you?WOMAN:Well,I’m here to show you what our firm can do for you.Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries,offering different business services.We’re a global company with75years of history.And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies【8】.MAN:Thank you,Mrs.Houston.I know Astro Consultants is a famous company.But you said you would show me what you could do for me.Well.What exactly can your firm do for my company? WOMAN:We advise businesses on all matters,from market analysis to legal issues.Anything a business like yours could meet.Our firm offers expert advice.Could I ask you,Mr.Smith,to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face?That way,I could better respond as to how we can help you.Man:OK,sure.This is a family business started by my grandfather in1950.We employ just over 100people.We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions.Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design.And that’s what we do in our factory【9】. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising,and we’re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India【10】.WOMAN:I see.That’s very interesting.I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company,together with the analysis of your competitors in India.【11】That way,we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Q8:What do we learn about the woman’s company?Q9:What does the man say about his own company?Q10:What is the main problem with the man’s company?Q11:What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?Long conversation2Woman:Wow,congratulations,Simon!The place looks absolutely amazing!Man:Really?You think so?W:Of course.I love it.It looks like you had a professional interior designer.But you didn’t,did you?M:No.I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother,Greg.He’s actually in the construction business,which was really helpful.W:Honestly,I’m impressed!I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something,but not a full renovation.Where did you get your ideas?I wouldn’t know where to start.[12]M:Well,for a while now,I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines.Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked.Believe it or not,I have a full notebook of magazine pages.[13]Since by overall style was quite minimal,I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough,with Greg’s help,it was very achievable.W:Wasn’t it expensive?I have imagined a project like this could be.M:Actually,it was surprisingly affordable.I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material.[14]Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W:Great!If you don’t mind,I’d like to pick your brain a bit more.Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room,not the whole house,not yet anyway.And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience.[15]Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Q12:What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?Q13:Where did the man get his ideas for the project?）Q14:What did the man say about the project he recently completed?Q15:Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?Section CPassage1Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost E3m year,a study suggests.[Q16]Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases-95%of objects removed from noses and85%from ears.Every year,an average of1,218nose and2,479ear removals took place between2010and2016.According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics,children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors fora foreign object in their nose.Five to nine year old come to the hospital with something in their ear the most.Jewelry items accounted for up to40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children.Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses.Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.[Q17]According to the study,the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears.This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects.[Q18]Any ear,nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults.Batteries can pose a particular danger.In all cases,prevention is better than cure.This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts.Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Q16:What does England spend an annual E3m on?Q17:What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?Q18:What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?Passage2Good morning,I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle.But before that,let me introduce someone.This is Leila Rahimi.She was so scared when she first moved to New Zeal-and that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies.After a few months of being quite down and unhappy,she was invited to join a local bike club.At this time,ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle.[Q19]In weeks,her depression had begun to ease as she cycled.The bicycle totally changed her life,giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date,ReBicycle has donated more than200bikes to those in need,and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars.[Q20]With a bike,you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour.Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers.[Q21]Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult,and this can take days and weeks,rather than hours.So,if any of you have some free time during the weekend,please come join us at Re Bicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Q19:What did Re Bicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?Q20:What is Re Bicycle doing to help those in need?Q21:What do we learn from the passage about the Re Bicycle?Passage3Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body,but NASA scientists want to learn more.To that end,they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity,specifically focusing on mice（22）.The results are both interesting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station.The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video.As you noticed in the video,the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily,drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up,but without success.(23)However,it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on.They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That’s when things really get wild.The11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it.(24)Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth.The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact,including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.(25)Q22What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?Q23What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?Q24What was observed about the mice on the11th day of the experiment?Q25What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?PartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes)Section A（第1套）Directions:In this section,there is a passage with ton blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following thepassage Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choicein the bank is identified by a letter:Please mark the corresponding letter for each itemon Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of thewords in the bank more than once.When my son completes a task,I can’t help but praise him.It’s only natural to give praise where praise is due,right?But is there such a thing as too much praise?According to psychologist Katherine Phillip,children don’t benefit from26praise as much as we’d like to think.“Parents often praise,believing they are building their child’s self-confidence.However,over-praising can have a27effect,”says Phillip.“When we use the same praise28,it may become empty and no longer valued by the child.It can also become an expectation that anything they do must be29 with praise.This may lead to the child avoiding taking risks due to fear of30their parents.”Docs this mean we should do away with all the praise?Phillip says no,“The key to healthy praise is1o focus on the process rather than the31it is the recognition of a child’s attempt,or the process in which they achieved something,that is essential,”she says,“Parents should encourage their child to take the risks needed to learn and grow.”So how do we break the32of praise we’re all so accustomed to?Phillip says it’s important to 33between“person praise”and“process raise”.“Person praise is34saying how great someone is.It’s a form personal approval.Process praise s acknowledgement of the efforts te person has just35.Children who receive person praise are more likely to feel shame after losing,”says Phillip.A)choose B)constant C)disappointing D)distinguishE)exhausting F)experienced G)negative H)outcomeI)pattern J)plural K)repeatedly L)rewardedM)separately N)simply O)undertaken答案：26.B27.G28.K29.L30.C31.H32.I33.D34.N35.OSection BPoverty is a story about us,not them[A]Too often still we think we know the poverty looks like.It's the way we've been taught,the images we’ve been forced-fed decades.The chronically homeless.The undocumented immigrant. The urban poor,usually personified as a woman of color,the"welfare queen"politicians still too often reference.[B]But as income inequality rises to record levels in the United States,even in the midst of a record economic expansions,.those familiar images are outdated,hurtful and counterproductive to focusing attention on solutions and building ladders of opportunity.IC]Today's faces of inequality and lack of opportunity look like all of us.It's Anna Landre,a disabled Georgetown University student fighting to keep health benefits that allow-her the freedom to live her life lt's Tiffanie Standard,a counselor for young women of color in Philadelphia who want to be tech entrepreneurs—but who must work multiple jobs to stay afloat.It's Ken Outlaw,a welder in rural North Carolina whose dream of going back to school at a local community college was dashed by Hurricane Florence-just one of the extreme weather events that have tipped the balance for struggling Americans across the nation,[D]If these arc the central characters of our story about poverty.what layers of perceptions,myths, and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?In pursuit of revealing thiscomplicated reality,Mothering Justice,led by women of color,went last year to the state capital in Lansing,Michigan,to lobby on issues that affect working mothers.One of the Mothering Justice organizers went to the office of a state representative to talk about the lack of affordable childcare-the vestiges(痕迹))of a system that expected mothers to stay home with their children while their husbands worked,A legislative staffer dismissed the activist’s concerns,telling her“my husband took care of that-l stayed home.”[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson.,"was meant to shame"and relied on the familiar trope that a woman of color concemed about income inequality and programs that promote mobility must by definition be a single mom,probably with multiple kids.,In this case.Mothering Justice activist happened to be married.And in most cases in the America of2019, the images that come to mind when we hear the words poverty or income inequality fail miserably in reflecting a complicated reality:poverty touches virtually all of us.The face of income inequality, for all but a very few of us,is the one we each see in the mirror.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?It depends on who you ask.According to the Census Bureau,38million people in the U.S.are living below the official poverty thresholds,Taking into account economic need beyond that absolute measure,the Institute for Policy Studies found that140 million peoplc are poor or low-income.That's almost half the U.S population.[G]Whatever the measure,within that massive group,poverty is extremely diverse.We know that some people are more affected than others,like children,the elderly,people with disabilities,and people of color.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography.It even reaches into the middle classes,as real wages have stagnated(不增长)for all but the very wealthy and temporary spells of financial instability are not uncommon.[I]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it. The big American myth is that you can pull yourself up by your own effort and change a bad situation into a good one.The reality is that finding opportunity without help from families,friends. schools，,and community is virtually impossible.And the playing field is nothing close to level. [J]The Frame Works institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studiedwhat sustains stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom."People view economic success and well being in life as product of choice,willpower,drive,grit,and gumption,"says Nat Kendall-Taylor,CEO of Frame Works.“When we see people who are struggling.”he says,those assumptions“lead us to the perception that people in poverty are lazy.they don’t care,and they haven't made the right decisions.”[K]Does this sound familiar?Similar ideas surround poverty in the U.S.And these assumptions wreak havoc on reality."When people enter into that pattern of thinking,"says Kendall-Taylor,"it's cognitively comfortable to make sense of issues of poverty in that way.It creates a kind of cognitive blindness-all of the factors external to a person's drive and choices that they've made become invisible and fade from view.”Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work ot struetual discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Assumptions get worse when people who are poor use government benefits to help them survive.There is a great tension between"the poor"and those who are receiving what has become a dirty word:"welfare."According to the General Social Survey,7l percent of respondents believe the contry is spending too little on a"welfare":37percent believe we are spending too much,[N]"Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.It's true that black mothers are more affected by poverty than many other groups,yet they are disproportionately the face of poverty.For example，Americans routinely overestimate the share of black recipients of public assistance programs. [O]In reality,most people will experience some form of financial hardship at some point in their lives.Indeed,people tend to dip in and out of poverty,perhaps due to unexpected obstacles like losing a job,or when hours of a low-wage job fluctuate.[P]Something each of us can do is to treat each other with the dignity and sympathy that is deserved and to understand deeply that the issue of poverty touches all of us.答案：36.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"37.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography. 38.[M]According to the General Social Survey,71percent ofrespondents believe the country is spending too little on"assistance to the poor."39.[J]The Frame Works Institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studied what sustains stereo types and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom40.[D]lf these are the central characters of our story about poverty,what layers of perceptions,myths,and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?41.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?42.[N]“Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and”black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.43.[1]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it.44.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Dan-ielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"45.[L]Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work or structural discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Section CPassage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.Boredom has,paradoxically,become quite interesting to academics lately.In early May.Lon don's Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness.At this event.people floc ked to talks about weather,traffic jams and vending-machine sounds.,among other sleep-indu cing topics What,exactly,is everybody studying?One widely accepted definition of boredom i s"the distasteful experience of wanting,but being unable.to engage in satisfying activity." But how can you quantify a person's boredom level and compare it with someone else’s?In1986,psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale,designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored By contrast,the Mulitidimensional State Boredom scale,developed in2008,measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation. Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving.mindless snacking.excessive drinking,and and addictive gambling.In fact,many of us would choose pain over。
2020年12月英语四级试题及解析答案
2020年12月英语四级试题及答案四级听力：News report 1A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although fatalities are rare, the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish, often known as Devil Firefish, is a highly invasive species. And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life. After being spotted in the Mediterranean, a marine scientist says, “The fish is spreading, and that’s a cause for concern.”Q1: What is reported in the news?Q2: What is the environmentalists’ concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?四级听力：News report 2【Q3】Almost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day. 【Q4】This is inresponse to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car Free Day last year. Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day. On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road. About 400 miles of streets will beclosed to cars. It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels. “Last year’s car-free day showed a 40% drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city, according to an independent air pollution monitor”, reports the Guardian, “and some levels dropped by 50% in the city centre.”Q3: What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?Q4: What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?四级听力：News report 3A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations. Then, a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it, the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the 77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world, which was valued at £76 million.The pearl of Allah, which is currently on display in a New York museum, only weighs 14 pounds. That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisherman just handed in.The monstrous pearl, measured at 1 foot wide and 2.2 feet long, is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town.Q5: What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?Q6: What was the fisherman forced to do?Q7: What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?四级-Conversation 1WOMAN: Mr. Smith, It’s a pleasure meeting you!Man: Nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?WOMAN: Well, I’m here to show you what our firm can do foryou. Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries, offering different business services. We’re a global company with 75 years of history. And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies.MAN: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astro Consultants is a famous company. But you said you would show me what you could do for me. Well. What exactly can your firm do for my company?WOMAN: We advise businesses on all matters, from market analysis to legal issues. Anything a business like yours could meet. Our firm offers expert advice. Could I ask you, Mr. Smith, to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face? That way, I could better respond as to how we can help you.Man: OK, sure. This is a family business started by my grandfather in 1950. We employ just over 100 people. We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions. Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design. And that’s what we do in our factory. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising, and we’re losing competitive advantages to st one produces in India. WOMAN: I see. That’s very interesting. I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company, together with the analysis of your competitors in India. That way, we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Question 8-11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q8: What do we learn about the woman’s company?Q9: What does the man say about his own company?Q10: What is the main problem with the man’s company?Q11: What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?四级-Conversation 2Woman: Wow, congratulations, Simon! The place looks absolutely amazing!Man: Really? You think so?W: Of course. I love it. It looks like you had a professional interior designer. But yo u didn’t, did you?M: No. I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother, Greg. He’s actually in the construction business, which was really helpful.W: Honestly, I’m impressed! I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something, but not a full renovation. Where did you get your ideas? I wouldn’t know where to start.M: Well, for a while now, I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines. Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked. Believe it or not, I have a full notebook of magazine pages. Since by overall style was quite minimal, I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough, with Greg’s help, it was very achievable.W: Wasn’t it expensive? I have imagined a project lik e this could be. M: Actually, it was surprisingly affordable. I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material. Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W: Great! If you don’t mind, I’d like to pick your brain a bit more. Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room, not the whole house, not yet anyway. And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience. Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Q12: What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?Q13: Where did the man get his ideas for the project?Q14: What did the man say about the project he recently completed? Q15: Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?四级-Section CPassage 1Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost £3m a year, a study suggests.[Q16] Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases - 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% from ears. Every year, an average of 1,218 nose and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics, children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors for a foreign object in their nose. Five to nine year olds come to the hospital with something in their ear the most. Jewelry items accounted for up to 40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses. Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.[Q17]According to the study, the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects. [Q18] Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular danger. In all cases, prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Q16: What does England spend an annual £3m on?Q17: What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?Q18: What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?Section CPassage 2Good morning, I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle. But before that, let me introduce someone. This is Leila Rahimi.She was so scared when she first moved to New Zealand that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies.After a few months of being quite down and unhappy, she was invited to join a local bike club. At this time, ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle.[Q19] In weeks, her depression had begun to ease as she cycled. The bicycle totally changed her life, giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date, ReBicycle has donated more than 200 bikes to those in need, and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars.[Q20]With a bike, you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour. Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers. Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult, and this can take days and weeks, rather than hours. So, if any of you have some free time during the weekend, please come join us at ReBicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Q19: What did ReBicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?Q20: What is ReBicycle doing to help those in need?Q21: What do we learn from the passage about the ReBicycle?Passage 3Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body, but NASA scientists want to learn more. To that end, they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity, specifically focusing on miceThe results are both interesting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station. The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video. As you noticed in the video, the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily, drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up, but without success. (23) However, it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on. They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That’s when thin gs really get wild. The 11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it. (24) Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth. The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact, including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry. (25)Q22: What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?Q23 : What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?Q24: What was observed about the mice on the 11th day of the experiment?Q25: What did the scientists find about the mice from theexperiment?答案新闻1.A. A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.2.C. It could pose a threat to other marine species.3.B. About half of its city center will be closed to ears.4.A. The rising air pollution in Paris.5.B. His house was burnt down in a fire.6.D. Sell the pearl he had kept for years.7.C. His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.长对话8.A. It boasts a fairly long history.9.C. It is a family business.10. D. Loss of competitive edge.11. A. Conducting a financial analysis for it.12. D. She is really impressed by the man’s house.13. B. From home design magazines.14. C. The cost was affordable.15. B. She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.短文16. D. Removing objects from patients' noses and ears.17. C. Five- to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in theirears.18. D. They are curious about these body parts.19. B. It gave her a used bicycle.20. A. Expanding bike-riding lessons.21. B. It is a charity organization.22. D How animals deal with lack of gravity23. A. They were not used to the low-gravity environment.24. C. They already felt at home in the new environment.25. B. They behaved as if they were on Earth.听力解析本次听力考试文章来源于每日邮报，卫报，Good News Network，BBC 官网等报纸或网站。