2015年6月英语四级真题(第2套)

2015年6月英语四级真题(第2套)

Part 1 Writing (30 minutes)

(请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay based on the picture below. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and them comment on this kind of modern life. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

Part II Listening Comprehension (30minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will bear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each questions there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B),C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer sheet 1 with a single line through the center.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答

1. A) He is pleased to sit on the committee

B) He is willing to offer the woman a hand

C) He will tell the woman his decision later

D) He would like to become a club member

2. A) Their planned trip to Vancouver is obviously overpriced

B) They should borrow a guide book instead of buying one

C ) The guide books in the library have the latest information

D) The library can help order guide books about Vancouver

3. A) He regrets having taken the history course

B) He finds little interests in history books

C) He has trouble finishing his reading assignments

D) He has difficulty in writing the weekly book report

4. A) The man had better choose another restaurant

B) The new restaurant is a perfect place for dating

C) The new restaurant caught her fancy immediately

D) The man has good taste in choosing the restaurant

5. A) He has been looking forward to spring

B)He will clean the woman’s boots for spring

C) He has been waiting for the winter sale

D) He will help the woman put things away

6. A) At a tailor’s

B) At Bob’s home

C) In a cloth store

D) In a theatre

7. A) His guests favors Tibetan drinks

B) His water is quite extraordinary

C) Mineral water is good for health

D) Plain water will serve the purpose

8. A) Report the result of a discussion

B) Raise some environmental issues

C) Submit an important documentation

D) Revise an environmental report

Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you just heard

9. A) They pollute the soil used to cover them

B) They are harmful to nearby neighborhoods

C) The rubbish in them takes long to dissolve

D) The gas they emit is extremely poisonous

10. A) Growing populations

B) Packaging materials

C) Changed eating habits

D) Lower production cost

11. A) By saving energy

B) By using less aluminum

C) By reducing poisonous wastes

D) By making the most of materials

12. A) We are running out of natural resources soon

B) Only combined efforts can make a difference

C) The waste problem will eventually hurt all of us

D) All of us can actually benefit from recycling

Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

13. A) Miami

B) Vancouver

C) Bellingham

D) Boston

14. A) To get information on one-way tickets to Canada

B) To inquire about the price of “Super saver ” seats

C) To get advice on how to fly as cheaply as possible

D) To inquire about the shortest route to drive home

15. A) Join a tourist group

B) Choose a major airline

C) Avoid trips in public holidays

D) Book tickets as early as possible

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four

choices marketed A), B),C) and D). Then marked the correspond letter on Answer sheet I with a single line through the centre.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Passage one

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A) There are mysterious stories behind his works

B) There are many misunderstandings about him

C) His works have no match worldwide

D) His personal history is little known

17. A) He moved to Stratford-on-Avon in his childhood

B) He failed to go beyond grammar school

C) He was a member of the town council

D) He once worked in a well-know acting company

18. A) Writers of his time had no means to protect their works

B) Possible sources of clues about him were lost in a fire

C) His works were adapted beyond recognition

D) People of his time had little interest in him

Passage Two

Questions 19-21 are based on the passage you have just heard

19. A) It shows you have been ignoring your health

B) It can seriously affect your thinking process

C) It is an early warning of some illness

D) It is a symptom of two much pressure

20. A) Reduce our workload

B) Control our temper

C) Use painkillers for relief

D) Avoid masking symptom

21. A) Lying down and having some sleep

B) Rubbing and pressing one’s back

C) Going out for a walk

D) Listening to light music

Passage Three

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22. A) Depending heavily on loans

B) Having no budget plans at all

C)Spending beyond one’s means

D) Leaving no room for large bills

23. A) Many of them can be cut

B) All of them have to be covered

C) Their payment cannot be delayed

D) They eat up most of the family income

24. A) Rent a house instead of buying one

B) Discuss the problem in the family

C) Make a conversation plan

D) Move to a cheaper place

25. A) Financial issues plaguing a family

B) Difficulty in making both ends meet

C) Family budget problems and solutions

D) New ways to boost family income

Section C

Directions: in this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is reaf for the third time, you should check what you have written.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Perhaps because going to college is so much a part of the American dream, many people go for no(26)_____reason. Some go because their parents expect it, others because it’s what their friends are doing. Then, there’s the belief that a college degree will(27)____ensure a good job and high pay.

Some students (28)____ through for years ,attending classes, or skipping(逃课) them as the case may be, reading only what can’t be avoided, looking for

less(29)_____courses, and never being touched or changed in any important way. For a few of these people, college provides no(30)____，yet because of parental or peer pressure, they cannot voluntarily leave. They stop trying in the hope that their teachers will make the decision for them by(31)____ them.

To put it bluntly(直截了当地)，unless you’re willing to make your college years count, you might be(32)_____ doing something else. Not everyone should attend college, nor should everyone who does attend begin right after high school. Many college students(33)_____ taking a year or so off. A year out in the world helps some people to(34)_____their priorities and goals. If you’re really going to get something

out of going to college, you have to make it mean something, and to do that you must have some idea why you’re there, what you hope to get out of it, and (35)_____even what you hope to become.

Part ⅢReading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

The U.S. Department of Education is making efforts to ensure that all students have equal access to a quality education. Today it is __36___the launch of the Excellent Educators for All Initiative. The initiative will help states and school districts support great educators for the students who need them most.

“All children are _37_ to a high-quality education regardless of their race, zip code or family income. It is __38__ important that we provide teachers and principals the support they need to help students reach their full __39__ ,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “Despite the excellent work and deep __40__ of our nation's teachers and principals, students in high-poverty, high-minority schools are unfairly treated across our country. We have to do better. Local leaders and educators will __41__ their own creative solutions, but we must work together to __42__ our focus on how to better recruit, support and __43__ effective teachers and principals for all students, especially the kids who need them most.”

Today’s announcement is another important step forward in improving access to quality education, a __44__ of President Obama’s year of action. Later today, Secretary Duncan will lead a roundtable discussion with principals and school teachers from across the country about the __45__ of working in high-need schools and how to adapt promising practices for supporting great educators in these schools. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

A）announcing

B）beneficial

C）challenges

D）commitment

E）component

F）contests

G）critically

H）develop

I）distributing

J）enhance

K）entitled

L）potential

M) properly

N) qualified

O) retain

Section B

The Changes Facing Fast Food

[A] Fast-food firms have to be a thick-skinned bunch. Health experts regularly criticize them severely for selling food that makes people fat. Critics even co mplain that McDonald's, whose logo symbolizes calorie excess, should not hav e been allowed to sponsor the World Cup. These are things fast-food firms ha ve learnt to cope with. But not perhaps for much longer. The burger business faces more pressure from regulators at a time when it is already adapting strat egies in response to shifts in the global economy.

[B] Fat food was once thought to be recession-proof. When consumers need to cut spending, the logic goes, cheap meals like Big Macs and Whoppers beco me even more attractive. Such "trading down" proved true for much of the lat est recession, when fast-food companies picked up customers who could no lon ger afford to eat at casual restaurants. Traffic was boosted in America, the ho me of fast food, with discounts and promotions, such as $1 menus and cheap combination meals.

[C] As a result, fast-food chains have weathered the recession better than their more expensive competitors. In 2009 sales at full-service restaurants in Ameri ca fell by more than 6%, bur total sales remained about the same at fast-food chains. In some markets, such as Japan, France and Britain, total spending on fast food increased. Same-store sales in America at McDonald's, the world's l argest fast-food company, did not decline throughout the downturn, Panera Bre ad, an American fast-food chain known for its fresh ingredients, performed wel l, too, because it offers higher-quality food at lower prices than restaurants. [D] But not all fast-food companies have been as fortunate. Many, such as Bu rger King, have seen sales fall. In a severe recession, while some people trade down to fast food, many others eat at home more frequently to save money. David Palmer, an analyst at UBS, a bank, says smaller fast-food chains in Am erica, such as Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr., have been hit particularly hard i n this downturn because they are competing with the global giant McDonald's, which increased spending on advertising by more than 7% last year as others cut back.

[E] Some fast-food companies also sacrificed their own profits by trying to giv e customers better value. During the recession companies set prices low, hopin g that once they had tempted customers through the door they would be persu aded to order more expensive items. But in many cases that strategy did not work. Last year Burger King franchisees sued the company over its double-che eseburger promotion, claiming it was unfair for them to be required to sell the se for $1 when they cost $1.10 to make. In May a judge ruled in favour of Burger King. Nevertheless, the company may still be cursing its decision to pr omote cheap choices over more expensive ones because items on its "value me nu" mow account for around 20% of all sales, up from 12% last October. [F] Analysts expect the fast-food industry to grow modestly this year. But the downturn is making companies rethink their strategies. Many are now introduci ng higher-priced items to entice(引诱) consumers away from $1 specials. KFC, a division of Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, has l aunched a chicken sandwich that costs around $5. And in May Burger King in troduced barbecue(烧烤)pork ribs at $7 for eight.

[G] Companies are also trying to get customers to buy new and more items, i ncluding drinks, McDonald's started selling better coffee as a challenge to Star bucks. Its "McCafe" line now accounts for an estimated 6% of sales in Ameri ca. Starbucks has sold rights to its Seattle's Best coffee brand to Burger King, which will start selling it later this year.

[H] As fast-food companies shift from "super size" to "more buys", they need to keep customer traffic high throughout the day. Many see breakfast as a big

opportunity, and just for fatty food. McDonald's will start selling porridge(粥)i n America next year. Breakfast has the potential to be very profitable, says Sa ra Senatore of Bernstein, a research firm, because the margins can be high. Fa st-food companies are also adding midday and late-night snacks, such as blend ed drinks and wraps. The idea is that by having a greater range of things on the menu. "we can sell to consumers products they want all day," says Rick C arucci, the chief financial offers of Yun! Brands.

[I] But when about those growing waistlines? So far, fast-food firms have clev erly avoided government regulation. By providing healthy options, like salads a nd low-calorie sandwiches, they have at least given the impression of doing so mething about helping to fight obesity(肥胖症). These offerings are not necessa rily loss-leaders, as they broaden the appeal of outlets to groups of diners that include some people who don't want to eat a burger. But customers cannot b e forced to order salads instead of fries.

[J] In the future, simply offering a healthy option may not be good enough. " Every packaged-food and restaurant company I know is concerned about regula tion right now," says Mr. Palmer of UBS. America's health-reform bill, which Congress passed this year, requires restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets t o put the calorie-content of items they serve to the menu. A study by the Nat ional Bureau of Economic Research, which tracked the effects on Starbucks of a similar calorie-posting law in New York City in 2007, found that the avera ge calorie-amount per transaction fell 6% and revenue increased 3% at Starbuc ks stores where a Dunkin Donuts outlet was nearby—a sign, it is said, that m enu-labelling could favour chains that have more healthy offerings.

[K]In order to avoid other legislation in America and elsewhere, fast-food com panies will have to continue innovating(创新), Wait Riker of McDonald's claim s the change it has made in its menu means it offers more healthy items than it did a few years ago, "We probably sell more vegetables, more milk, more salads, some apples than any restaurant business in the world, "he says. But th e recent proposal by a county in California to ban McDonald's from including toys in its high-calorie "Happy Meals", because legislators believe it attracts c hildren to unhealthy food, suggest there is a lot more left to do.

46. Some people propose laws be made to stop McDonald's from attaching toys to its food its food spec ials for children.

47.Fast-food firms may not be able to cope with pressures from food regulation in the near future.

48.Burger King will start to sell Seattle's Best coffee to increase sales.

49.Some fast-food firm provide healthy food to give the impression they are helping to tackle the obesity problem.

50.During the recession, many customers turned to fast food to save money.

51.Many people eat out less often to save money in times of recession.

52.During the recession, Burger King's promotional strategy of offering low-priced items often proved inef fective.

53.Fast-food restaurants can make a lot of money by selling breakfast.

54.Many fast-food companies now expect to increase their revenue by introducing higher-priced items.

55.A newly-passed law asks big fast-food chains to specify the calorie count of what they serve on the menu.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B),C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.

Question 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.

The endless debate about "work-life balance" often contains a hopeful footnote about stay-at-home dads. If American society and business won’t make it easier on future female leaders who choose to have children, there is still the ray of hope that increasing numbers of full-time fathers will. But based on today’s socioeconomic trends, this hope is, unfortunately, misguided.

It’s true that the number of men who have left work to do their thing as full-time parents has doubled in a decade, but it’s still very small: only 0.8% of married couples where the stay-at-home father was out of the labor force for a year. Even that percentage is likely inflated by men thrust into their caretaker role by a downsizing. This is simply not a large enough group to reduce the social stigma（污名）and force other adjustments necessary to supporting men in this decision, even if only for a relatively short time.

Even shorter times away from work for working fathers are already difficult. A study found that 85% of new fathers take some time off after the birth of a child一but for all but a few, it's a week or two at most. Meanwhile, the average for women who take leave is more than 10 weeks.

Such choices impact who moves up in the organization. While you’re away, someone else is doing your work, making your sales, taking care of your customers. That can't help you at work. It can only hurt you. Women, of course, face the same issues of returning after a long absence. But with many more women than men choosing to leave the workforce entirely to raise families, returning from an extended parental leave doesn’t raise as many eyebrows as it does for men.

Women would make more if they didn't break their earning trajectory（轨迹）by leaving the workforce, or if higher-paying professions were more family-friendly. In the foreseeable future, stay-at-home fathers may make all the difference for individual families, but their presence won't reduce the numbers of high-potential women who are forced to choose between family and career.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

56. What gives women a ray of hope to achieve work-life balance?

A) More men taking an extended parental leave.

B) People's changing attitudes towards family.

C) More women entering business management.

D) The improvement of their socioeconomic status.

57. Why does the author say the hope for more full-time fathers is misguided?

A) Women are better at taking care of children.

B) Many men value work more than their family.

C) Their number is too small to make a difference.

D) Not many men have the chance to stay at home.

58. Why do few men take a long parental leave?

A) A long leave will have a negative impact on their career.

B) They just have too many responsibilities to fulfill at work.

C) The economic loss will be too much for their family to bear.

D) They are likely to get fired if absent from work for too long.

59. What is the most likely reaction to men returning from an extended parental leave?

A) Jealousy.

B) Surprise.

C) Admiration.

D) Sympathy.

60. What does the author say about high-potential women in the not-too-distant future?

A) They will benefit from the trend of more fathers staying at home.

B) They will find high-paying professions a bit more family-friendly.

C) They are unlikely to break their career trajectory to raise a family.

D) They will still face the difficult choice between career and children. Section C

Passage Two

Question 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

If you think a high-factor sunscreen(防晒霜)keeps you safe from harmful rays, you may be wrong. Research in this week's Nature shows that while factor 5 0 reduces the number of melanomas(黑瘤)and delays their occurrence, it can't prevent them. Melanomas are the most aggressive skin cancers. You have a hi gher risk if you have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or sunb

urn easily, or if a close relative has had one. Melanomas are more common if you have periodic intense exposure to the sun. Other skin cancers are increasi ngly likely with long-term exposure.

There is continuing debate as to how effective sunscreen is in reducing melano mas—the evidence is weaker than it is for preventing other types of skin canc er. A 2011 Australian study of 1,621 people found that people randomly select ed to apply sunscreen daily had half the rate of melanomas of people who use d cream as needed. A second study, comparing 1,167 people with melanomas t o 1,101 who didn't have the cancer, found that using sunscreen routinely, alon gside other protection such as hats, long sleeves or staying in the shade, did g ive some protection. This study said other forms of sun protection—not sunscr een—seemed most beneficial. The study relied on people remembering what th ey had done over each decade of their lives, so it's not entirely reliable. But i t seems reasonable to think sunscreen gives people a false sense of security in the sun.

Many people also don't use sunscreen properly-applying insufficient amounts, fa iling to reapply after a couple of hours and staying in the sun too long. It is sunburn that is most worrying-recent shows five episodes of sunburn in the tee nage years increases the risk of all skin cancers.

The good news is that a combination of sunscreen and covering up can reduce melanoma rates, as shown by Australian figures from their slip-slop-slap camp aign. So if there is a heat wave this summer, it would be best for us, too, to slip on a shirt, slop on(抹上)sunscreen and slap on a hat.

61.What is people's common expectation of a high-factor sunscreen?

A. It will delay the occurrence of skin cancer.

B. It will protect them from sunburn.

C. It will keep their skin smooth and fair.

D. It will work for people of any skin color.

62.What does the research in Nature say about a high-factor sunscreen?

A. It is ineffective in preventing melanomas.

B. It is ineffective in case of intense sunlight.

C. It is ineffective with long-term exposure.

D. It is ineffective for people with fair skin.

63. What do we learn from the 2011Australian study of 1,621 people?

A. Sunscreen should be applied alongside other protection measures.

B. High-risk people benefit the most from the application of sunscreen.

C. Irregular application of sunscreen does women more harm than good.

D. Daily application of sunscreen helps reduce the incidence of melanomas.

64.What does the author say about the second Australian study?

A. It misleads people to rely on sunscreen for protection.

B. It helps people to select the most effective sunscreen.

C. It is not based on direct observation of the subjects.

D. It confirms the results of the first Australian study.

65.What does the author suggest to reduce melanoma rates?

A. Using both covering up and sunscreen.

B. Staying in the shade whenever possible.

C. Using covering up instead of sunscreen.

D. Applying the right amount of sunscreen.

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 Sheet2.

据报道，今年中国快递服务(courier service)将递送大约120亿件包裹。这将使中国有可能超越美国成为世界上最大的快递市场。大多数包裹里装着网上订购的物品。中国给数百万在线零售商以极具竞争力的价格销售商品的机会。仅在11月11日，中国消费者就从国内最大的购物平台购买了价值90亿美元的商品。中国有不少这样的特殊购物日。因此，快递业在中国扩展就不足为奇了。

参考答案

作文：

Using Computer Wisely

The comic reflects the image of our modern world in which technology has been an inseparable part of people’s daily life. As is shown, the man in the picture uses a laptop at work and home, for business and entertainment, so obsessed that he even dreams about bending over his laptop.

It is undeniable that this has been a common scene and the overuse of computers has aroused great concern. In my opinion, people should be cautious of the excessive use of computers for the following reasons. In the first place, it will inevitably affect people’s heal th if they sit before computers and stare at the screens for long hours, which may result in muscle pain and visual impair. Secondly, playing computers alone isolates people from others. Relationships in the real world are maintained through human contact and spending time with each other instead of chitchatting online. In summary, people should cut down their computer use for health and social reasons. Computers are not controllers but tools in our life.

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.A

5.A

6.D

7.B

8.D

9.A

10.B

11.A

12.B

13.C

14.C

15.D

16.D

18.B

19.C

20.D

21.A

22.B

23.A

24.D

25.C

26.particular

27.automatically

28.drag

29.demanding

30.satisfaction

31.failing

32.better off

33.profit from

34.sort out

35.probably

36.A

37.K

38.G

39.L

40.D

41.H

42.J

43.O

44.E

45.C

47.A

48.G

49.I

50.B

51.D

52.E

53.H

54.F

55.J

56.A

57.C

58.A

59.B

60.D

61.B

62.A

63.D

64.C(14.2分)

65.A(14.2分)

翻译：

It is reported that China's express courier service will deliver about 12 billion packages this year. China could overtake the United States as the world's largest express market. Most package are for items ordered online. China provides opportunities to millions of online retailers to sell goods at very competitive prices. Only on November 11th, Chinese consumers bought $ 9 billion worth of goods from the nation's largest shopping platform. There are many such special shopping days in China. Therefore, the expansion of express industry is not surprising at all.