2014年12月英语四级考试真题及答案(第2套)
2014年12月四级真题(第2套)Part IWriting(30minutes)Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a short essay about a course thathas impressed you most in college.You should state the reasons and write at least120words but no more than180words.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Part IIListening Comprehension(30minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear8short conversations and2long conversations.At the end of each conversation,one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.After each question there will be a pause.During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A．,B．,C．and D．,and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
1.A．She used to be in poor health.B．She was popular among boys.C．She was somewhat overweight.D．She didn't do well at high school.2.A．At the airport.B．In a restaurant.C．In a booking office.D．At the hotel reception.3.A．Teaching her son by herself.B．In a restaurant.C．Asking the teacher for extra help.D．Telling her son not to worry.4.A．Have a short break.B．Take two weeks off.C．Continue her work outdoors.D．Go on vacation with the man.5.A．He is taking care of his twin brother.B．Take two weeks off.C．He is worried about Rod's health.D．He has been in perfect condition.6.A．She sold all her furniture before she moved house.B．She still keeps some old furniture in her new house.C．She plans to put all her old furniture in the basement.D．She bought a new set of furniture from Italy last month.7.A．The woman wondered why the man didn't return the book.B．The woman doesn't seem to know what the book is about.C．The woman doesn't find the book useful any more.D．The woman forgot lending the book to the man.8.A．Most of the man's friends are athletes.B．Few people share the woman's opinion.C．The man doesn't look like a sportsman.D．The woman doubts the man's athletic ability.Questions9to12are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A．She has packed it in one of her bags.B．She is going to get it at the airport.C．She has probably left it in a taxi.D．She is afraid that she has lost it.10.A．It ends in winter.B．It will cost her a lot.C．It will last one week.D．It depends on the weather.11.A．The plane is taking off soon.B．The taxi is waiting for them.C．There might be a traffic jam.D．There is a lot of stuff to pack.12.A．At home.B．At the airport.C．In the man's car.D．By the side of a taxi.Questions13to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A．She is thirsty for promotion.B．She wants a much higher salary.C．She is tired of her present work.D．She wants to save travel expenses.14.A．Translator.C．Language instructor.B．Travel agent.D．Environmental engineer.15.A．Lively personality and inquiring mind.B．Communication skills and team spirit.C．Devotion and work efficiency.D．Education and experience.Section BDirections:In this section,you will hear3short passages.At the end of each passage,you will hear some questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A．,B．,C．and D．.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Passage OneQuestions16to19are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A．They care a lot about children.B．They need looking after in their old age.C．They want to enrich their life experience.D．They want children to keep them company.17.A．They are usually adopted from distant places.B．Their birth information is usually kept secret~C．Their birth parents often try to conceal their birth information.D．Their adoptive parents don't want them to know their birth parents.18.A．They generally hold bad feelings towards their birth parents.B．They do not want to hurt the feelings of their adoptive parents.C．They have mixed feelings about finding their natural parents.D．They are fully aware of the expenses involved in the search.19.A．Early adoption makes for closer parent-child relationship.B．Most.people prefer to adopt children from overseas.C．Understanding is the key to successful adoption.D．Adoption has much to do with love.Passage TwoQuestions20to22are based on the passage you have just heard.20.A．He suffered from mental illness.B．He bought The Washington Post.C．He turned a failing newspaper into a success.D．He was once a reporter for a major newspaper.21.A．She was the first woman to lead a big U.S.publishing company.B．She got her first job as a teacher at the University of Chicago.C．She committed suicide because of her mental disorder.D．She took over her father's position when he died.22.A．People came to see the role of women in the business world. B．Katharine played a major part in reshaping Americans'mind.C．American media would be quite different without Katharine.D．Katharine had exerted an important influence on the world.Passage ThreeQuestions23to25are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A．It'll enable them to enjoy the best medical care.B．It'll allow them to receive free medical treatment.C．It'll protect them from possible financial crises.D．It'll prevent the doctors from overcharging them.24.A．They can't immediately get back the money paid for their medical cost. B．They have to go through very complicated application procedures.C．They can only visit doctors who speak their native languages.D．They may not be able to receive timely medical treatment.25.A．They don't have to pay for the medical services.B．They needn't pay the entire medical bill at once.C．They must send the receipts to the insurance company promptly.D．They have to pay a much higher price to get an insurance policy.Section CDirections:In this section,you will hear a passage three times.When the passage is read for the first time,you should listen carefully for its general idea.When the passage is read for the second time,you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard.Final-ly,when the passage is read 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。
2017年12月英语四级真题答案及解析（第二套）
2017年12⽉英语四级真题答案及解析（第⼆套）2017 年12 ⽉⼤学英语四级考试真题答案与详解（第2 套）Part I Writing审题思路：此次话题师⽣关系贴近学⽣⽣活，因此写起来并不难。
简单开篇之后，考⽣应该将重点放在第⼆段，给出处理好师⽣关系的⼀些建议。
当然，这个话题还可以从不同的⾓度⼊⼿，⽐如⽼师应该如何做，或者师⽣共同努⼒，等等。
考⽣应结合⾃⼰的实际情况，从⾃⼰最擅长的⾓度写，这样容易做到⾔之有物。
本⽂仅从学⽣⾓度给出了三条处理好师⽣关系的建议。
⾼分范⽂：Teacher-student Relationship Is Never C omplexThe relationship between teachers and students has been hotly discussed in recent years in China for more and more attention has been paid to education. Today I would like to share some tips on how to get along well with teachers from students’ perspective.First and foremost, leave a good first impression on your teacher. As the saying goes, well begun is half done. A good first impression is important for teachers to remember your name among your fellow students. Secondly, study hard and be active in class. A student who loves study can definitely impress teachers deeply. Finally, keep contact with your teacher after.To conclude, teacher-student relationship is never complex if you could have an excellent academic performance, be cooperative in class or make friends with your teacher.全⽂翻译：师⽣关系并不复杂由于⼈们对教育越来越关注，师⽣关系近⼏年来中国引起热议。
2014年12月英语四级考试真题(第1套)
2014年12月四级真题（第1套）注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph fromwhich the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Eachparagraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the correspondingletter on Answer Sheet 2.Ban sugary drinks--that will add fuel to the obesity war[A] On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. Hewas pale and disfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity (肥胖症) leads tomany nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him, includinga couple of fatty children with swollen cheeks pressing against their eyes. These people are part ofwhat is without exaggeration an epidemic (流行病) of obesity.[B] But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea--far from new--that could spare millions of suchpeople a lifetime of chronic (长期病 ) ill health, and at the same time save the National HealthService (NHS) at least ￡14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, beconsiderable public interest in it. This simple idea is that sugar is as good--or as bad--as poisonand should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 yearsago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us.[C] In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction(瘾), to hormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic (新陈代谢的) maffunctions and obesity andfrom there to type 2 d/abetes (糖尿病) and its many horrible complications, ff people really graspedthat, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the "fat man of Europe". They mighteven feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadlystuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance.[D] It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests (既得利益集团) lined up against any sugar control--all the food and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easypickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normallyside, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in ourlives.[E] That is true, but people should realise that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state(保姆国家), to some degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another's health insurance,through socialised medicine, then' we are all closely involved in one another's health, includingeveryone's eating and drinking. That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yetto be admittedwith overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and thatnumber is predicted to double by the year 2050. Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripplethe NHS.[F] Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the st month the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC．published a report saying that obesity isthe greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something.[G] The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of20 percent on sugarydrinks for at least a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be'an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. AsProfessor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are "the ultimate badfood. You are just consuming neat sugar. Your body didn't evolve to handle this kind of thing."[H] Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt(which are very different) pale into insignificancecompared with the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere.[I ] It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, fish or vegetables,that doesn't have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailingscientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as thereally serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity.[J] The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not veryappetising, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavour enhancer, often in theforms of syrups (糖浆) that had recently been developed from corn, and put it generously into mostprepared foods and soft drinks.[K] This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body's metabolism, possibly viathe activity of an appetite-controlling hormone. There's plenty of evidence for this, for those who willaccept the troth.[L] Theoretically, people ought to make"healthy choices" and avoid overeating. But sugar additives arenot easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, over-drinldng and over-eating that makespeople fat is not really their own fault: obesity is in large part something that is being done tothem. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it.[M] Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all thepoisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They arepoisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving smallchildren sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse.[N] Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation,But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools andbanning vending machines (自动售货机) here and there--as suggested by the AMRC report--is notgoing to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning highlevels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks.[O] In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the foodindustry and had not ruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However,nothing has happened yet. Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2017年12月英语四级真题和答案解析（第二套）
2017年12⽉英语四级真题和答案解析（第⼆套）2017年12⽉⼤学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be 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 1with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) It tries to entertain its audience. C) It wants to catch people’s attention.B) It tries to look into the distance. D) It has got one of its limbs injured.2. A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.B) It was filmed by a local television reporter.C) Its videos were posted on social media.D) Its picture won a photography prize.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) The distance travelled C) The spending on gas.B) The incidence of road accidents. D) The number of people travelling.4. A) Fewer people are commuting. C) Job growth is slowing down.B) Gas consumption is soaring. D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B) He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C) He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.D) He washed a stranger’s ca r in return for some food.6. A) He ordered a lot of food for his family. C) He raised a large sum of money for him.B) He gave him a job at his own company. D) He offered him a scholarship for college.7. A) He works hard to support his family. C) He is very good at making up stories.B) He is an excellent student at school. D) He has been disabled since boyhood.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) Attended an economics lecture. C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.9. A) Treat a college friend to dinner. C) Attend his brother’s birthday party.B) Make preparations for a seminar. D) Visit some of his high school friends.10. A) Gather statistics for his lecture.B) Throw a surprise birthday party.C) Meet with Jonathan’s friends on the weekend.D) Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration.11. A) By car. B) By train. C) By taxi. D) By bus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Taking a vacation abroad. C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.B) Reviewing for his last exam. D) Finding a better way to earn money.13. A) Preparing for his final exams. C) Working part time as a waiter.B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise. D) Helping the woman with her courses.14. A) Finish her term paper. C) Learn a little bit of Spanish.B) Save enough money. D) Ask her parent’s permission.15. A) He has rich sailing experience. C) He is also eager to go to Spain.B) He speaks Spanish fluently. D) He is easy to get along with.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 mast 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) She went to the same university as her mother.B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.17. A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C) She helped to set up several military hospitals.D) She made donations to save wounded soldiers.18. A) Both died of blood cancer. C) Both won military medals.B) Both fought in World War I. D) Both married their assistants.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They were the first settlers in Europe.B) They were the conquerors of Norway.C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D) They settled on a small island north of England.B) It was covered with green most time of the year.C) It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21. A) The Vikings, ocean explorations. C) The Vikings’ everyday life.B) The making of European nations. D) The Europeans’ Arcti c discoveries. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) Work hard for a better life. C) Dream about the future.B) Make mistakes now and then. D) Save against a rainy day.23. A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life.B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.C) Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.D) Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.24. A) Criminal law. C) Oriental architecture.B) City planning. D) International business.25. A) Dream and make plans. C) Be content with what you have.B) Take things easy in life, D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.Technological changes brought dramatic new options to Americans living in the 1990s. During this decade new forms of entertainment, commerce, research, and communication became commonplace in the U. S. The driving force behind much of this change was a (n) 26 popularly known as the Internet.The Internet was developed during the 1970s by the Department of Defense. In the case of an attack, military advisers suggested the 27 of being able to operate one computer from another terminal. In the early days, the Internet was used mainly by scientists to communicate with other scientists. The Internet 28 under government control until 1984.One early problem faced by Internet users was speed. Phone lines could only transmit information at a 29 rate. The development of fiber-optic (光纤)cables allowed for billions of bits of information to be received every minute. Companies like Intel developed faster microprocessors, so personal computers could process the 30 signals at a more rapid rate.In the early 1990s, the World Wide Web was developed, in large part, for 31 purposes. Corporations created home pages where they could place text and graphics to sell products. Soon airline tickets, hotel 32 , and even cars and homes could be purchased online. Universities 33 research data on the Internet, so students could find 34 information without leaving their dormitories. Companies soon discovered that work could be done at home and 35 online, so a whole new class of telecommuters began to earn a living from home offices unshavenSection 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 Health Benefits of KnittingA) About 15 years ago, I was invited to join a knitting group. I agreed to give it a try.B) My mother had taught me to knit at 15, and I knitted in class throughout college and for a few years thereafter. Then decades passed without my touching a knitting needle. But within two Mondays in the group, I was hooked, not only on knitting but also on crocheting (钩织), and I was on my way to becoming a highly productive crafter.C) I’ve made countless baby blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, caps for newborns. I take a knitting project with me everywhere, especially when I have to sit still and listen. As I discovered in college, when my hands are busy, my mind stays focused on the here and now.D) It seems, too, that I’m part of a national renewal of interest in needle and other handicrafts (⼿⼯艺).The Craft Yam Council reports that a third of women ages 25-35 now knit or crochet. Ev en men and schoolchildren are swelling the ranks, among them my Mend’s three small grandsons. Last April, the council created a Stitch Away Stress” campaign in honor of National Stress Awareness Month. Dr. Herbert Benson, a pioneer in mind/body medicine and author of The Relaxation Response, says that the repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation (沉思) and yoga. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve, knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure.E) But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem. I keep photos of my singular accomplishments on my cellphone to boost my spirits when needed.F) Since the 1990s, the council has surveyed hundreds of thousands of knitters and crocheters, who routinely list stress relief and creative fulfillment as the activities’ main benefits. Among them is the father of a prematurely born daughter who reported that during the baby’s fi ve weeks in the intensive care unit, “learning how to knit infant hats gave me a sense of purpose during a time that I felt very helpless. It’s a hobby that I’ve stuck with, and it continues to help me cope with stress at work, provide a sense of order in hectic (忙乱的) days, and allow my brain time to solve problems.”G) A recent email from the yam (纺纱) company Red Heart titled “Health Benefits of Crocheting and Knitting” prompted me to explore what else might be known about the health value of activities like knitting. My research revealed that the rewards go well beyond replacing stress and anxiety with the satisfaction of creation.H) For example, Karen Hayes, a life coach in Toronto, conducts knitting therapy programs,including Knit to Quit to help smokers give up the habit, and Knit to Heal for people coping with health crises, like a cancer diagnosis or serious illness of a family member. Schools and prisons with craft programs report that they have a calming effect and enhance social skills. And having to follow instructions on complex craft projects can improve children’s math skills.I) Some people find that craftwork helps them control their weight. Just as it’s challenging to smoke while knitting, when hands are holding needles and hooks, there’s le ss snacking and mindless eating out of boredom.J) I’ve found that my handiwork with yam has helped my arthritic (患关节炎的)fingers remain more dexterous (灵巧的) as I age. A woman encouraged to try knitting and crocheting after developing an autoimmune disease that caused a lot of hand pain reported on the Craft Yam Council site that her hands are now less stiff and painful.K) A 2009 University of British Columbia study of 38 women with an eating disorder who were taught to knit found that learning the craft led to significant improvements. Seventy-four percent of the women said the activity lessened their fears and kept them from thinking about their problem.who were clinically depressed said that knitting made them feel happy or very happy. In a study of 60 self-selected people with persistent pain, Ms. Corkhill and colleagues reported that knitting enabled them to redirect their focus, reducing their awareness of pain. She suggested that the brain can process just so much at once, and that activities like knitting and crocheting make it harder for the brain to register pain signals. Perhaps most exciting is research that suggests that crafts like knitting and crocheting may help to keep off a decline in brain function with age. In a 2011 study, researchers led by Dr. Yonas Geda at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester interviewed a random (随机的) sample of 1,321 people ages 70-89, most of whom were cognitively (在认知⽅⾯) normal, about the cognitive activities they engaged in late in life. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, found that those who engaged in crafts like knitting and crocheting had a diminished chance of developing mild cognitive disorder and memory loss.M) Although it is possible that only people who are cognitively healthy would pursue such activities, those who read newspapers or magazines or played music did not show similar benefits. The researchers speculate that craft activities promote the development of nerve pathways in the brain that help to maintain cognitive health.N) In support of that suggestion, a 2014 study by Denise C. Park of the University of Texas at Dallas and colleagues demonstrated that learning to knit or do digital photography enhanced memory function in older adults. Those who engaged in activities that were not intellectually challenging, either in a social group or alone, did not show such improvements.O) Given that sustained social contacts have been shown to support health and a long life, those wishing to maximize the health value of crafts might consider joining a group of like-minded folks.I for one try not to miss a single weekly meeting of my knitting group.36. When the author was a college student, she found that knitting helped her concentrate.37. Knitting can help people stay away from tobacco.38. Even men and children are now joining the army of knitters.39. Being a member of a crafts group enhances one’s health and prolongs one’s life.40. Knitting diverts people’s attention from their pain.41. The author learnt to knit as a teenager, but it was not until she was much older that she became keenly interested.42. When people are knitting, they tend to eat fewer snacks.43. Survey findings show that knitting can help people relieve stress.44. According to a study, knitters and crocheters are less likely to suffer mild cognitive damage.45. The products of knitting can increase one’s sense of self-respect.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 2with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Nobody really knows how big Lagos is. What’s indisputable is that it’s growing very quickly. Between now and 2050, the urban population of Africa could triple. Yet cities in sub-Saharan Africa are not getting richer the way cities in the rest of the world have. Most urban Africans live in slums (贫民窟); migrants are often not much better off than they were in the countryside. Why?The immediate problem is poverty. Most of Africa is urbanising at a lower level of income than other regions of the worl d did. That means there’s little money around for investment that would make cities liveable and more productive. Without upgrades and new capacity, bridges, roads and power systems are unable to cope with expanding populations. With the exception of South Africa, the only light rail metro system in sub-Saharan Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Traffic jam leads to expense and unpredictability, things that keep investors away.In other parts of the world, increasing agricultural productivity and industrialization went together. More productive farmersmoney. Most urban Africans work for a small minority of the rich, who tend to be involved in either cronyish (有裙带关系的)businesses or politics. Since African agriculture is still broadly unproductive, food is imported, consuming a portion of revenue.So what can be done? Though African countries are poor, not all African cities are. In Lagos, foreign oil workers can pay as much as $65,000 per year in rent for a modest apartment in a safe part of town. If that income were better taxed, it might provide the revenue for better infrastructure. If city leaders were more accountable to their residents, they might favour projects designed to help them more. Yet even as new roads are built, new people arrive. When a city’s popul ation grows by 5% a year, it is difficult to keep up.46. What do we learn from the passage about cities in sub-Saharan Africa?A) They have more slums than other cities in the world.B) They are growing fast without becoming richer.C) They are as modernised as many cities elsewhere.D) They attract migrants who want to be better off.47. What does the author imply about urbanisation in other parts of the world?A) It benefited from the contribution of immigrants.B) It started when people’s income was relatively high.C) It benefited from the accelerated rise in productivity.D) It started with the improvement of people’s livelihood.48. Why is sub-Saharan Africa unappealing to investors?A) It lacks adequate transport facilities.B) The living expenses there are too high.C) It is on the whole too densely populated.D) The local governments are corrupted.49. In what way does the author say African cities are different?A) They have attracted huge numbers of farm labourers.B) They still rely heavily on agricultural productivity.C) They have developed at the expense of nature.D) They depend far more on foreign investment.50. What might be a solution to the problems facing African cities?A) Lowering of apartment rent. C) More rational overall planning.B) Better education for residents. D) A more responsible government.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.For the past several decades, it seems there’s been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America: Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home. But do Americans still believe in that path, and if they do, is it attainable?The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what it takes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today, the idea of the American dream—and what it takes to achieve it—looks quite different than it did in the lateBy and large, people felt that their actions and hard work—not outside forces—were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out. But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy.In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority—52 percent—think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.Miguel Maeda, 42, who has a master’s degree and works in public health, was the first in his family to go to college, which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did.While some, like Maeda, emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself, others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences.Sixty-year-old Will Fendley, who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree, thinks “personal drive” is far more important than just going to college. To Fendley, a sense of drive and purpose, as well as an effective high-school education, and basic life skills, like balancing a checkbook, are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America.51. It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America, one had to have ______.A) an advanced academic degree C) a firm belief in their dreamB) an ambition to get ahead D) a sense of drive and purpose52. What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?A) More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.B) It remains alive among the majority of American people.C) Americans’ idea of it has changed over the past few decades.D) An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.53. What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?A) It still remains open to debate.B) It has proved to be beyond doubt.C) It is no longer as important as it used to be.D) It is much better understood now than ever.54. How do some people view college education these days?A) It promotes gender equality. C) It adds to cultural diversity.B) It needs to be strengthened. D) It helps broaden their minds.55. What is one factor essential to success in America, according to Will Fendley?A) A desire to learn and to adapt. C) A willingness to commit oneself.B) A strong sense of responsibility. D) A clear aim and high motivation.Part IV Translation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed SO minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.华⼭位于华阴市，距西安120公⾥。
2017年12月英语四级真题答案与解析(第二套)
2017 年12 月大学英语四级考试真题答案与详解（第2 套）Part I Writing审题思路：此次话题师生关系贴近学生生活，因此写起来并不难。
简单开篇之后，考生应该将重点放在第二段，给出处理好师生关系的一些建议。
当然，这个话题还可以从不同的角度入手，比如老师应该如何做，或者师生共同努力，等等。
考生应结合自己的实际情况，从自己最擅长的角度写，这样容易做到言之有物。
本文仅从学生角度给出了三条处理好师生关系的建议。
高分范文：Teacher-student Relationship Is Never ComplexThe relationship between teachers and students has been hotly discussed in recent years in China for more and more attention has been paid to education. Today I would like to share some tips on how to get along well with teachers from students’ perspective.First and foremost, leave a good first impression on your teacher. As the saying goes, well begun is half done. A good first impression is important for teachers to remember your name among your fellow students. Secondly, study hard and be active in class. A student who loves study can definitely impress teachers deeply. Finally, keep contact with your teacher after.To conclude, teacher-student relationship is never complex if you could have an excellent academic performance, be cooperative in class or make friends with your teacher.全文翻译：师生关系并不复杂由于人们对教育越来越关注，师生关系近几年来中国引起热议。
2015年12月英语四级考试真题及答案(第二套)
2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. " You can cite examples to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words._______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Part II Listening Comprehension ( 30 minutes )听力音频地址：/media//173301_3840.mp3Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will bea pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C. and D), and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.1. A. The agenda for the board of directors' meeting.B. The details of the meeting to be held next week.C. The reason for the man's absence from the meeting.D. The time for the man's visit to the woman's company.2.A. At a travel agency.B. At a department store.C. In a library.D. In a post office.3.A. He cannot hear the woman's call.B. He cannot get through to New York.C. He cannot recall the phone number.D. He cannot find a public phone nearby.4.A. Watch a movie with the woman.B. Revise his thesis in the office.C. Do some shopping with Jane.D. Discuss his thesis with Prof. Hudson.5. A. He just cannot work properly without a watch.B. He has no idea where he can buy a gold watch.C. He still does not know where he left his watch.D. He is not sure what went wrong with his watch.6.A. He forgot all about what he said.B. He slipped and hurt his head.C. He was sorry for being off sick last week.D. He thought the woman's car had been sold.7.A. She should try to catch an earlier bus.B. She is absent from his class too often.C. She is always making excuses for being late.D. She should come up with a better excuse.8.A. He is going to help the woman out.B. He has to move out of the building soon.C. He is on his way to see a real estate agent.D. He will stay with the woman's brother.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A. From the wanted cohunn.B. From some of her friends.C. From a telephone directory.D. From a television commercial.10.A. She received full-time education abroad.B. She graduated from an open university.C. She fmished her secondary school.D. She studied in a vocational college.11.A. She is a shorthand-typist.B. She works as a tour guide.C. She is a policewoman.D. She teaches an evening class.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A. It provides him with career opportunities.B. It helps enlarge his customer network.C. It has been off and on for ten years.D. It was interrupted for four years.13.A. Individualized service.B. Traditional setting.C. Home-made beer.D. Social games.14.A. The quality of beer.B. The atmosphere.C. The owner's attitude.D. The right location.15.A. It is a rather tough job.B. It is a profitable business.C. It helps old people kill time.D. It makes retirees feel useful.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A , B ,C. and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A. It is becoming increasingly popular.B. It helps the user to escape reality.C. It gives rise to serious social instability.D. It hurts a person and those around them.17.A. They use drugs just for fun.B. They take drugs to get high.C. They use drugs as medicine.D. They keep drug use a secret.18. A. It is quite common in entertainment circles.B. It is the cause of various social problems.C. It is hard to get rid of.D. It is fatal to the user.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A. Taking up exercises after recovery.B. Producing tasty healthy frozen food.C. Finding new ways to cure heart disease.D. Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital.20.A. Itwas carefully tested with consumers.B. It was promoted by health organizations.C. It was disapproved by many diet experts.D. It was highly expected by the general public.21.A. Competitive price.B. Low expectations.C. Vigorous promotion.D. Unique ingredients.22. A. It was suggested by the firm's vice-president.B. It matches the food's dark green packaging.C. It has a positive implication for consumers.D. It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A. It is practiced in most of the states.B. It will be abolished sooner or later.C. It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas.D. It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.24. A. Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future.B. Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution.C. What type of criminals should receive it.D. What effect it might have on youngsters.25. A. The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends.B. The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison.C. He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina.D. He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with, the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Some people borrow money and "forget" to pay it back.Large loans are seldom the issue; they are usually treated as business26, with the terms spelled out on paper. But many women suffer27over problems like Carol's "My friend Ginny is always28cash," she says. "I hate to recall how often I've ' loaned' her a dollar or two for a drink or a movie. Each loan is so small I'd feel really cheap making a big deal out of it; still, I do29the fact that she never pays me back. "Carol admits to being "too30or something" to demand repayment, but she has resolved tostop lending money to Ginny. "The last time she asked for five dollars to pay for her dry cleaning, I just told her I couldn't31it. "Another woman suggests a bolder32. "When somebody refuses to repay a loan, I33byrequesting one myself," she says. "'I left home without my wallet,' I'll say. 'Can you lend meenough to cover lunch?' Then, when the money is safely in hand, I am struck by a sudden34Why, this is exactly the amount I loaned you last week ! How35! Now you won't have to repay me'" She says it works like a charm.Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank isidentified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For many Americans,2013 ended with an unusually bitter cold te November and December36early snow and bone-chilling temperatures in much of the country, part of a year when, for the first time in two37, record-cold days will likely turn out to have oumumbered record-warm ones. But the U. S. was the exception: November was the warmest ever38, and current data indicates that 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year on record. Enjoy the snow now, because39are good that 2014 will be even hotter, perhaps the hottest year since records have been kept. That's because, scientists are predicting,2014 will be an El Nifio Year. El Nino, Spanish for "the child",40when surface ocean waters in the southern Pacific become abnormally warm. So large is the Pacific, covering 30% of the planet's surface, that the41energy generated by its warming is enough to touch off a series of weather changes around the world. El Ninos are42with abnormally dry conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia. They can lead to extreme rain in parts of North and South America, evenas southern Africa43dry weather. Marine life may be affected too: E1 Ninos can44the rising of the cold, nutrient-rich ( 营养丰富的） water that supports large fish45, and the unusually warm ocean temperatures can destroy coral ( 珊瑚).A. Additional I. logicallyB. Associated J. occursC. bore K. populationsD. Chances L. realizeE. Communicated M. reduceF. Decades N. SawG. experiences O. SpecificH. globallySection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. How to Eat WellA. Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾. and should really carry warning labels?B. It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the U. S. as there were 20 years ago. nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smartphone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming.C. And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your dally calories (卡路里. outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of our dally calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down－or we do, but we hurry.D. Shouldn't preparing－and consuming－food be a source of comfort, pride, health, weli－being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource(外包. this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is so harmful?E. When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three－day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends.F. Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% "love it" ; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home five or more times per week;only a third of young people do.G. Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Morn cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise.H. Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts ( 催化剂), but the big food companies--which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking－made the home cook an endangered species.I. Still, I fmd it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well－being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs.J. There have been haft－hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy,mostly plant－based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: bynot cooking athome, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate.K. To help quantify (量化). the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消） by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm.L. Cooldng real food is the best defense－not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant.M. To those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple: Buy what you can afford,and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store, since that's where fresh produce, meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores.N. The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozen produce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense: you want to buy food,not unidentifiable foodlike objects.O. You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than haft of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooldng skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysteriousabout cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving.P. Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your prioritiesto find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead.46. Cooking benefits people in many ways and enables them to connect with one another.47. Abundant information about cooking is available either online or on TV.48. Young people do less cooking at home than the elderly these days.49. Cooking skills can be improved with practice.50. In the mid-20th century, most families ate dinner at home instead of eating out.51. Even those short of time or money should be encouraged to cook for themselves and their family.52. Eating food not cooked by ourselves can cause serious consequences.53. To eat well and still save money, people should buy fresh food and cook it themselves.54. We get a fairly large portion of calories from fast food and snacks.55. The popularity of TV led to the popularity of frozen food.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C. andD ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential, it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping－where you hand over notes and count out change in return－now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters, like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a comer shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher up the scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores－Victoria Beckham on Dover Street, for instance －you don't go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa. Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I'm just old－fashioned. But earning money isn't quick or easy for most of us. Isn't it a bit weird that spending it should happen in haft a blink (眨眼). of an eye? Doesn't a wallet－that time－honoured Friday－night feeling of pleasing, promisingfatness －represent something that matters?But I'll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is thechange it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet－theway the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold andsilver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets－is the very opposite of what ourworld is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smartphone or an iPad..The rounded edges, coolglass, smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石). Instead of digging through pieces of paper andpeering into corners, we move our fingers left and right. No more counting out coins. Show yourwallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer.56. What is happening to the wallet?A. It is disappearing.B. It is being fattened.C. It is becoming costly.D. It is changing in style.57. How are business transactions done in big modern stores?A. Individually.B. Electronically.C. In the abstract.D. Via a cash register.58. What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A. Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B. The pleasing Friday－night feeling is fading.C. Earning money is getting more difficult.D. Spending money is so fast and easy.59. Why does the author choose to write about what's happening to the wallet?A. It represents a change in the modern world.B. It has something to do with everybody's life.C. It marks the end of a time－honoured tradition.D. It is the concern of contemporary economists.60. What can we infer from the passage about the author?A. He is resistant to social changes.B. He is against technological progress.C. He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D. He feels insecure in the ever－changing modern world.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch－or wake up early in order not to miss－varies by culture. From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays.Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time. Russians, for example, began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to "winter time" starting on October 26.Russia's other late nights and early mornings generallycorrespond to public holidays. On New Year's Eve, Russians have the world's latest bedtime, hitting the hay at around 3:30 am. Russians also get up an hour later on International Women's Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives. Similarly, Americans' late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three －day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey (冰球. final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation (剥夺). The worst night for sleep in the U. K. was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half－hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a haft later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it's likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that's the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the most health-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleeg are the rest of us losing?61. What does the author say about people's sleeping habits?A. They are culture－related.B. They affect people's health.C. They change with the seasons.D. They vary from person to person.62, What do we learn about the Russians regarding sleep?A)They don't fall asleep until very late.B. They don't sleep much on weekends.C. They get less sleep on public holidays.D. They sleep longer than people elsewhere.63. what is the major cause for Europeans' loss of sleep?A. The daylight savings time.B. The colorful night life.C. The World Cup.D. The summertime.64. what is the most probable reason for some rich people to use a device to record their sleeppatterns?A)They have trouble falling asleep.B. They want to get sufficient sleep.C. They are involved in a sleep research.D. They want to go to bed on regular hours.65. what does the author imply in the last paragraph?A. Sleeplessness does harm to people's health.B. Few people really know the importance of sleep.C. It is important to study our sleep patterns.D. Average people probably sleep less than the rich.Part TV 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.云南省的丽江古镇是中国著名的旅游目的地之一。
2017年12月大学英语四级真题参考答案(第二套)
2017年12月大学英语四级真题参考答案Part I WritingAs we widely know that the relationship between parents and children plays a significant role in the domestic relationship, which not only serves as crucial bridge to build trust and connection between two generations but also exerts a profound and subtle influence toward to children’s personal growth.In order to strengthen the relationship, it is imperative to cultivate the respect between generations, which not only includes the respect to parents from children but also the other way around. Furthermore, it is sensible for the parents to spend more time on the company with their children, enhancing the affection between each other. Finally, it is wise for the parents to set an example rather than make demands, enabling the children to follow and achieve spiritual development.To sum up, the sound relationship between two generations requires the integration of numerous measures derived from the joint effort of parents, children and schools.Part II Listening Comprehension1.B) Her little brother.2.C) By selling lemonade and pictures.3.C) Providing clean energy to five million people.4.B) They can be laid right on top of existing highways.5.A) Endless fighting in the region.6.D) To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.7.B) Lions’ tracks.8.D) A special gift from the man.9.D) Threw her a surprise party.10.B) The trip her husband has planned.11.C) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.12.A) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.13.B) They know when to stop.14.C) They learn quickly.15.D) Get to know the other side.16.D) How space research benefits people on Earth.17.B) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.18.A) They are extremely accurate.19.C) It marked the beginning of something new.20.A) They believed in working for goals.21.D) Doing needlework by the fire.22.C) Sit down and try to calm yourself.23.B) You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.24.D) Walk uphill.25.A) Inform somebody of your plan.Part ⅢReading Comprehension26. G)exposure27. L)levels28. F)enroll29. O)participated30. C)championships31. E) developing32. M)local33. N)operates34. I)feeding35. B)career36 H)to be curious, we need to realize first of all that there are many things we don' t know.37. D). according to leslie, curiosity is essential to one s success.38. O)we should feel happy when we pursue knowledge for knowledge s sake39 M)political leaders' lack of curiosity will result in bad consequences.40. B) there are often accusations about.politicians and the media s lack of curiosity to find out the truth41. L)the less curious a child is , the less knowledge the child may turn out to have.42. k) it is widely accepted that academic accomplishment lies in both intelligence and diligence.43. J) a bookshop as curiosity eads us can be a good way to entertain ourselves.44. G)both the rise of the internet and reduced appetite for literary fiction contribute to people' s declining curiosity.45. F)mankind wouldn' t be so innovative without curiosity.46-50: BADCA51-55: CCBDD46. what do believe about aging ?b)they just cannot do anything about It47. how do many scientists view aging now?a) might be prevented and treated48. what does alex zhavoronkov think of describing aging as a disease ?d)it will motivate doctors and pharmacists to find ways to treat aging.49. what do we learn about the medical community?c)they can contribute to people's health only to a limited extend,50. what does professor leonard hayflick believea)the human lifespan cannot be pro-longed51. what do we learn about applicants postdoctoral positions in geosciences?c)more males than females are likely to get outstanding letters of recommendafion52. what do studies about men and women in scientific research show?C)Men are believed to be better able to excel in stem disciplines53. what do the studies find about the recommendation letters for women appli cants?b). they contain nothing that distinguishes the application.54. what did dutt and her colleagues do with the more than 1, 200 letters of recommendationd) they deleted all information about gender.55. what does dutt aim to do with her study?d) start a public discussion on how to raise women's status in academic circles.Part ⅣTranslationMountain Tai, 2,700 m above sea level and 400 square kilometers, which is located in the western part of China. It enjoys not only the magnificent sight, but the high reputation for its historical culture. Mountain Tai is a place of worship for pilgrims for 3,000 thousand years.According to the record, it was visited by 72 emperors in total. Many writers obtain inspiration and compose poems and compositions by visiting Mountain Tai. Besides, artists also draw paintings here. Consequently, there are a lot of cultural relics and historic sites. Nowadays, Mountain Tai has become one of the most well-known tourist attractions in China.。
【英语真题】2021年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第二套)
2021年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第二 套）PartⅠWriting(30 minutes)Directions:Suppose you have just participated in a school project of collecting used books on campus.You are now to write a report about the project,which may include its aim,organizers, participants and activities.You will have30minutes to write the report.You should write at least 120words but no more than180words.PartⅡListening Comprehension(30minutes) 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 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.Questions1and2are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A)It found a pet dog on board a plane to a city in Texas.B)It had one of its cargo planes land at a wrong airportC)It sent two dogs to the wrong destinations.D)It had two of its domestic flights mixed up2.A)Correct their mistake as soon as possible.B)Give the two pets a physical checkup.C)Hire a charter jet to bring the pets back.D)Send another plane to continue the flight.Questions3and4are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A)She weighs130kilograms B)She has had babies beforeC)She was brought from Africa.D)She has a big family of six.4.A)It took22hours.B)It had some complicationsC)It was smooth.D)It was monitored by Dr.Sue Tygielski Questions5to7are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)It enjoyed great popularity.B)It started business three years ago.C)It was frequented by newly-weds D)It was built above the sea-water.6.A)Expand his business on the beach.B)Replace the restaurant’s wooden deck.C)Post a picture of his restaurant online.D)Celebrate his silver wedding anniversary.7.A)She sold it for two thousand dollarsB)She took it to the restaurant managerC)She posted its picture on FacebookD)she returned it to its owner right awaySection 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)The number of ducks has declined sharply in recent years.B)Climate change has little effect on the lives of wild ducks.C)Duck meat is not eaten in Australia,Canada and the U.S.D)Duck hunting remains legal in many parts of the world.9.A)Droughts.B)Bushfires.C)Farming.D)Hunting.10.A)They are not easy to domesticate.B)Their meat is not that popular.C)It is not environmentally friendly D)It is not considered cost-effective11A)They hunted ducks as a traditional sport.B)They killed wild ducks and geese for food.C)They raised ducks and geese for their eggs.D)They poisoned wild ducks in large numbers Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)Have her house repainted B)Replace some of her old furnitureC)Move into a newly-painted house D)Calculate the cost of the paint job13.A)How long the work will take B)How much the work will cost.C)How the paint job is to be done.D)How many workers are needed14.A)Cover up her furniture B)Ask some friends for helpC)Stay somewhere else D)Oversee the work herself15.A)She could have asked a friend for help with the paint jobB)Painting a house involves more trouble than she thoughtC)she should have repainted her house much earlierD)Moving her furniture is harder than the paint jobSection CDirections:In this section,you will hear three passages.At the end of each passage,you will hear three or four questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions16to18are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)To cultivate good habits.B)To prepare for secondary school.C)To review what is learned in classD)To stimulate interest in learning.17.A)Discuss their academic achievements with themB)Create an ideal study environment for themC)Allow them to learn independentlyD)Check their homework promptly18.A)Finish them before they get tiredB)Tackle the most difficult task firstC)Start with something they enjoyD)Focus on the most important onesQuestions19to21are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)Workers who meet its body weight standardsB)Workers who can lose30pounds in a yearC)Workers who try the hardest to lose weightD)Workers who are in the top10%of the slimmest20.A)ImpracticalB)InconsistentC)UnmanageableD)Unfair21.A)Offer them much fatter bonuses.B)Improve working environment.C)Encourage healthy behaviorsD)Provide free lunch and snacksQuestions22to25are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A)It has not done enough to help left-handed children.B)It has treated left-handed children as being disabled.C)It has not built facilities specially for the left-handed.D)It has ignored campaigns on behalf of the left-handed.23.A)They are as intelligent as other children.B)They have a distinctive style of handwritingC)They sometimes have psychological problems.D)They tend to have more difficulties in learning.24.A)Punish teachers discriminating against left-handed studentsB)Lay more emphasis on improving children’s mental healthC)Encourage students to develop various professional skillsD)Keep track of left-handed children’s school performance,25.A)How they can be reduced in number.B)Why their numbers are so highC)What percentage they account forD)If their percentage keeps increasingPartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes) Section ADirections:In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter:Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.It is commonly believed that the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on-Avon on April23,1564.But it is impossible to know the26day on which he was born.Church records show he was baptized(施洗礼)on April26,and three days was a customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newly born baby.Shakespeare’s date of death is27known,however:it was April23,1616.He was52and had retired to Stratford three years before.Although few plays have been performed or analyzed as extensively as the38plays Shakespeare wrote,there are few surviving details about his life.This28of biographical information is due primarily to his social29;he was not a noble,but the son of a leather trader.Shakespeare30attended the grammar school in Stratford,where he would have studied Latin and read31literature.He did not go to university and at age18married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his32.They had four children,including the twins,Hamnet and Judith. Nothing is known of the period between the birth of the twins and Shakespeare’s33as a dramatist in London in the early1590sIn a million words written over20years,he34the full range of human emotions and conflicts with a35that remains sharp today.As his great contemporary the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson said,“He was not of an age,but for all time.”A)captured I)precisionB)classical J)probablyC)conclusively K)qualityD)emergence L)scarcityE)exact M)seniorF)generated N)separatedG)particular O)systematicallyH)positionSection 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 Sheet2.How to not be boring[A]Humans are creatures of habit.We love to establish a routine and stick with it.Then we often put ourselves on auto-pilot.Routines can be incredibly useful in helping you get things done. However,too much of a routine can also make you incredibly boring.Nevertheless,many people live lives that are boringly predictable,or live a life where everything is outlined or planned. [B]To tell the truth,interesting people are more popular among their friends.If you don’t arouse someone's curiosity or brighten someone’s day,you probably come across as being a little bit dull. But that doesn’t mean your life has ended and you can't do anything to change it.If you find yourself searching for something to say beyond small talk,try these tactics to find more interesting approaches to conversation.[C]Recently,I was at a gathering of colleagues when someone turned to me and asked,"So, what's new with you?”Ordinarily,I think I’m a good conversationalist.After all,it's literally my job to talk to people and tell their stories or share their advice.And that's not exactly an unexpected question.Still,the only“new-lo-me”topics that came to mind were my daughter’s basketball tournament（锦标赛）and my feelings about that morning’s political headlines----neither amusing nor appropriate topics at that moment.[D]Oh,no,I thought.Have I become boring?But sharing our experiences in an authentic way to connect with other people is what makes us interesting,says associate professor Michael Pirson.The hesitation I felt in not sharing the ordinary things that were happening in my life,and the wild mental search for something more interesting,may have backfired and made me seem less interesting.[E]“If someone is making up some conversation that might be interesting,it’s probably not going to land well,”says Pirson,whose expertise includes trust and well-being,mindfulness,and humanistic management.“It’s going to feel like a made-up conversation that people don’t necessarily want to tune in to.”[F]The most interesting people aren’t those who've gone on some Eat,Pray,Love journey to find themselves.Instead,Pirson says,they’re those who examine the ordinary.”Often,the‘boring things’may not be boring at all.Maybe they are actually little miracles,"he says.Share yourobservations about the world around you---interesting stories you heard or things you noticed---and you may be surprised by the universal connection they inspire.[G]This is essentially how Jessica Hagy starts her day.The author of How to Be Interesting:An Instruction Manual,Hagy spends a lot of time thinking about what's interesting to her.People who are interesting are persistently curious,she says.[H]Think about the everyday things around you and ask questions about them.What is that roadside monument I sec on my way to work every day?Who built that interesting building in my city?What nearby attractions haven’t I visited?Why do people do things that way?Use what you find to ask more questions and learn more about the world around you.“Having that sort of curiosity is almost like a protective gear from getting into boredom,”she says.And when you find things that are truly interesting to you,share them.[I]Television veteran Audrey Morrissey,executive producer of NBC’s The Voice,is always looking for what will make a person or story interesting to viewers.It’s usually a matter of individuality.“Having a strong point of'view,signature style,or being a super-enthusiast in a particular field makes someone interesting,"she says.That means embracing what is truly interesting or unique about yourself.“Many people are‘not boring’in the way that they can carry a conversation or can be good at a social gathering,etc.To be interesting means that you have lived life,taken risks,traveled,sought out experience to learn for yourself and share with others," she says.[J]Of course,it’s possible to be a fountain of knowledge and a boring person,says public relations consultant Andrea Pass,Paying attention to the listener is an important part of having a conversation that’s interesting to both parties.Talking on and on about what’s interesting to you isn’t going to make you an interesting person,she says.[K]“If the listener is not paying attention,it’s your sign to shorten the story or change direction. Make sure to bring the audience into the conversation so that it is not one-sided,”Pass says.Be a better listener yourself,and give others opportunities to participate in the conversation by inviting them with questions or requests to share their own experiences or thoughts.(e.g.,“Now,tell me about your favorite book,”or“Have you ever been to that attraction?”)Questions are a powerful tool,especially when they encourage others to disclose information about themselves.A2012 study from the University of California,Santa Barbara,found that roughly40%of the time we are talking,we’re disclosing subjective information about our experience.And when we’re doing so, our brains are more engaged.So one strategy to leave others with the impression that you’re a sparkling conversation partner is to get others to talk.about themselves.[L]Being relatable is also essential,Morrissey says."The best entertainment and storytelling comes from people who are relatable---those who don’t shy away from opening up but freely share who they are and what they care about.These are the people viewers most relate to and find interesting.Being authentic,honest,and vulnerable is always interesting."[M]I have now come to realize that being boring,in actuality,is not only about who you are as aperson,but also how you present yourself.No matter what,make sure you are having fun in life. Because when you are enjoying,people around you will begin to enjoy as well.Show some interest in them and they will definitely show some in you.If'you are a very reserved person,this could be a little difficult at first.But with a little effort,you can definitely improve.36.Pirson claims that some ordinary things may often prove to be miraculously interesting.37.To make a conversation interesting,it is important that you listen to the other party attentively.38.A person who is unable to stimulate others’curiosity or make their life enjoyable may appear somewhat boring.39.Interesting people usually possess certain unique qualities,according to a TV program producer.40.Be interested in others and they are sure to be interested in you.41.The author considers himself usually good at conducting conversations.42.Interesting people are always full of curiosity.43.Falling into a routine can turn a person into an utter bore.44.One strategy to be a good conversationalist is to morivate your partner to tell their own stories.45.lnteresting as it might appear,a made-up conversation will probably turn out to be dull. Section CDirections:There are2passages 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 Sheet2with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.With obesity now affecting2%of the population in England,and expected to rise to35%by 2030,should we now recognise if as a disease?Obesity,in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely affected,meets the dictionary definition of disease, argues Professor John Wilding.He points out that more than200genes influence weight.“Thus body weight is strongly influenced by biology----it is not an individual’s fault if they develop obesity."Yet the widespread view is that obesity is self-induced and that it is entirely the individual's responsibility to do something about it.Recognising obesity as a chronic disease with severe complications rather than a lifestyle choice“should help reduce the stigma(耻辱）and discrimination experienced by many people with obesity.”he adds.Professor Wilding disagrees that labelling a high proportion of the population as having a disease removes personal responsibility or may overwhelm health services,pointing out that other common diseases,such as high blood pressure and diabetes,require people to take action to manage their condition.He suggests that most people with obesity will eventually develop complications.“But unless we accept that obesity is a disease,we are not going to be able to tackle it.”he concludes.But Dr.Richard Pile,a physician with a special interest in diabetes,argues that adopting this approach"could actually result in worse outcomes for individuals and society.”He believes that he dictionary definition of disease“is so vague that we can classify almost anything as a disease”and says the question is not whether we can,but whether we should,and to what end.If labelling obesity as a disease was harmless then it wouldn’t really matter,he writes.But labelling obesity as a disease“risks reducing autonomy,disempowering and robbing people of the intrinsic(内在的)motivation that is such an important enabler of change.”What’s more,making obesity a disease“may not benefit patients,but it will benefit healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical(制药的)industry when health insurance and clinical guidelines promote treatment with drugs and surgery,”he warns.46.What does Professor John Wilding argue about obesity?A)Its impact on society is expected to rise.B)It is now too widespread to be neglected.C)It should be regarded as a genetic disease.D)Its dictionary definition should be updated.47.What is the popular view of obesity?A)It is difficult to define.B)It is a modem disease.C)It has much to do with one’s genes.D)It results from a lack of self-control.48.Why are some people opposed to labelling obesity as a disease?A)Obese people would not feel responsible to take any action.B)Obese people would not be able to afford the medical costs.C)Obese people would be overwhelmed with anxiety.D)Obese people would be discriminated against.49.What does Dr.Richard Pile think of the dictionary definition of disease?A)It is of no use in understanding obesity.B)It is too inclusive and thus lacks clarity.C)It helps little to solve patients’problems.D)It matters little to the debate over obesity.50.What is Dr.Richard Pile's concern about classifying obesity as a disease?A)It may affect obese people’s quality of life.B)It may accelerate the spread of obesity.C)It may cause a shortage of doctors.D)It may do little good to patients.Passage TwoQuestions51to55are based on the following passage.Nationwide,only about three percent of early childhood teachers are male in the U.S.Expertssay this can have an impact on young children whose understanding of gender roles and identity are rapidly forming.Research has found that having access to diverse teachers is beneficial for children.For the youngest learners,it means they are more likely to get exposed to different varieties of play and communication.It also helps them develop healthy ideas around gender.“In our world and our society,we have very specific stereotypes（模式化形象）of gender roles,”said Mindi Reich-Shapiro,an assistant professor in the teacher education department of the Borough of Manhattan Community College,and one of the authors of a recent study.”It’s important for children to see other possibilities and other paths they can take.”Despite mostly feeling supported by colleagues and family members,many of the male educators surveyed in the study reported facing social or cultural resistance in their careers as early education teachers.Some also reported that there were parents surprised or concerned that their child had a male teacher.And they had been advised by colleagues or other staff not to hug children.Reich-Shapiro and fellow researchers made several recommendations lo increase male representation in the field.Low pay has long been acknowledged as a major issue in the early childhood field.Over70%of male educators who said they intended to stay in the early education workforce noted an increased salary was a major motivating factor for them to commit to the career long-term.The report suggests paying all early childhood educators the way elementary school teachers are paid.Cities and programs should establish support groups for male early childhood educators and provide mentoring and professional development advice for male educators and their program leaders.The authors also suggest that traditional recruitment approaches for early childhood educators“do not address the gender gap in the field.”They recommend providing young men opportunities to work with children through training and volunteer programs,targeting groups of men who are considering a career change,such as fathers.51.What do we learn from the first paragraph about early childhood education in the U.S.?A)It helps raise children’s awareness of gender roles.B)It exposes children to different ways of interaction.C)It is negatively impacted by a lack of male teachers.D)It clearly aims to form children’s identity through play.52.What does Mindi Reich-Shapiro emphasize in her comment on childhood education?A)The importance of broadening children’s horizons.B)The responsibilities of fathers for children’s growth.C)The urgency of creating teacher education programs.D)The role of teachers in motivating children to learn.53.What do we learn about male teachers from their responses in the study?A)Some of them find it awkward when hugging children.B)They feel pressured to keep up with female colleagues.C)They find it hard to meet the expectations of kids’parents.D)Many of them feel prejudiced against socially and culturally.54.What is needed for men to commit to early childhood education?A)Higher pay.B)Job security.C)Social recognition.D)Better working conditions.55.What do the authors of the study recommend to bridge the gender gap in early childhood education?A)Recruiting young men who have a passion for educating young children.B)Taking measures to attract prospective male teachers to work in the field.C)Persuading prospective fathers to consider a change in their career.D)Providing male teachers with more opportunities for advancement.PartⅣTranslation(30minutes)Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English.You should write your answer on Answer Sheet2.大运河(Grand Canal)是世界上最长的人工河，北起北京，南至杭州。
2020年12月大学英语四级真题及答案(第二套)
2020年12月大学英语四级真题及答案（第二套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Transportation. You should write at least 120 words but not more than 180 words.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection 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 bespoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer fromthe four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter onAnswer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.【听力原文】News Report One(1) A waiter has returned a check worth nearly $ 424,000 to the retired social worker who lost it. The waiter found a bank envelope while cleaning off a table last Saturday at a restaurant. He ran outside but the customer was gone. He opened the envelope and got a shock. After an unsuccessful search, the restaurant's owner called the Daily News for help. The "relieved" customer was reunited with her check on Wednesday. It contained money from her apartment sale, already planned for a down payment on a new home. The customer did not tip the waiter after her meal. (2) She tried to give him money later on, but he graciously declined. The waiter, who's working his way through school, did accept the customer's apology and gratitude and said he was happy to have helped her.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1.What does the news report say about the waiter?A. He wanted to buy a home.B. He suffered from a shock.C. He lost a huge sum of money.D. He did an unusual good deed.2. What did the customer try to do when she got her check back?A. Invite the waiter to a fancy dinner.B. Tell her story to the Daily News.C. Give some money to the waiter.D. Pay the waiter's school tuition.【听力原文】News Report Two(3) The village of Maref in Alaska voted on Tuesday to move to the state's mainland. The move is due to global warming and rising sea levels. Most of the village's 169 registered voters took part in the town hall meeting. They decided in a vote of 89 to 78 to move from their land on Sarichef Island, near the Arctic Circle. (4) Maref Council Secretary Donna Barr said the vote was largely symbolic. It will be costly financially to the community. "About 15 years ago, they estimated the cost at $ 180 million. I would figure it's much higher now," Barr said. "We don't seethe move happening in our lifetime because of the funding." The village's roughly 650 residents have seen warming temperatures melt sea ice and permanently frozen land. This has resulted in houses falling into the water. At least 31 villages in Alaska face "immediate threats" due to climate change, the Government Accountability Office reported in 2009.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. What is Maref's vote on Tuesday about?A. Whether or not to move to the state's mainland.B. How to keep the village from sinking into the sea.C. Where to get the funds for rebuilding their village.D. What to do about the rising level of the seawater.4. Why did Donna Barr say they wouldn't see the plan carried out any time soon?A. It takes too long a time.B. It costs too much money.C. It has to wait for the state's final approval.D. It faces strong opposition from many villagers.【听力原文】News Report Three(5) A man in Halifax, Canada, wanted to find out if people were thankful for someone holding the door open for them. (7) The social experiment showed that 99 out of 100 people expressed gratitude. "I didn't think we were going to get 99. I don't know why, but I was pleasantly surprised because it went beyond just 'thank you.' People got into conversations with us," said Steve Foran, CEO of Gratitude at Work. "What we know from research is that from grateful people come good things," he said. (6)"A simple way to induce gratitude in people is opening doors and so we went to six places and opened the doors for people."For the experiment, Foran's team went to a shopping center, a mall, two office buildings, and a coffee shop. The door was held for 15 to 20 people at a time at each location. "We did have one that didn't say thank you. We're not here to judge them because on any given day, that could be me or you. I suspect out of the 100 people, there were probably a bunch of them having a bad day, but grateful people make people grateful," said Foran.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. What is the purpose of the social experiment?A. To investigate whether people are grateful for help.B. To see whether people hold doors open for strangers.C. To explore ways of inducing gratitude in people.D. To find out how people express gratitude.6. What did Steve Foran and his teams do in the experiment?A. They induced strangers to talk with them.B. They helped 15 to 20 people in a bad mood.C. They held doors open for people at various places.D. They interviewed people who didn't say thank you.7. What do we learn from the news report?A. People can be educated to be grateful.B. Most people express gratitude for help.C. Most people have bad days now and then.D. People are ungrateful when in a bad mood.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 fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet I with a single line through the centre.【听力原文】Conversation OneW: Rays Solar. Lisa's speaking. How can I help?M: Hi, my name is Winston. (8) I wish to enquire about solar panel installations.W: Yes. What would you like to know?M: Well. My neighbor installed panels on his roof about a year ago in order to power his hot water. He tells me it has saved him over $ 500 thus far. Does that sound about right to you?W: Well. I'm not familiar with your neighbor or his particular setup, but that amount is definitely possible. I can tell you that the average four-bedroom house may typically have a roof with50 square meters of surface area. Four panels on one side of that roof could save a family offour around $ 300 a year.M: OK. That sounds about right then. My house is about the size you described, but my neighbor's is bigger. I'm not sure how many panels he has up there, (9) but he does have alarge family of six.W: Are you interested in installing some solar panels on your roof, sir?M: Yes, I'm considering it.W: If you wish to come into our office, we could show you the different solutions we offer.M: OK. I might do that. (10) But just quickly, if you don't mind, could you tell me approximately how much a typical installation costs, like, say, four panels?W: Prices do vary depending on different factors, but as a rough estimate, it's around $ 2,000.(11) But you know a typical household will make back that initial investment in about fiveyears.M: OK. I see. Thank you.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. What is the man's purpose for calling the woman?A. To order a solar panel installation.B. To report a serious leak in his roof.C. To enquire about solar panel installations.D. To complain about the faulty solar panels.9. What do we learn about the man's neighbor from the conversation?A. He plans to install solar panels.B. He owns a four-bedroom house.C. He saves $ 300 a year.D. He has a large family.10. What is one of the man's chief concerns?A. The service of the solar panel company.B. The cost of a solar panel installation.C. The maintenance of the solar panels.D. The quality of the solar panels.11. How long will it take typical household to make back the initial investment?A. One year and a half.B. Less than four years.C. Roughly six years.D. About five years.【听力原文】Conversation TwoW: M: Good afternoon. Sorry to have kept you waiting. How can I help you?W: Oh, no problem. (12) I'm interested in booking a holiday to Australia and wonder if you could tell me what deals you have.M: Sure. Are you only looking for flights or a package holiday with everything included?W: When you say "everything," what do you mean?M: Well, a package holiday would include your flights, hotels, meals, day trips to different places of interest and transport to and from the airport.W: Yeah, that sounds pretty good. (13) I'm going with my family, so it would be nice to have everything taken care of. So, what sort of deals do you have for package holidays then?M: All sorts, really. How long do you want to go for and what dates?W: (14) Two weeks around Christmas time would be great.M: Okay, let me check that for you. Here's one, 14 nights in southeastern Australia. Five nights in Sydney and five nights in Melbourne, and then for the other four nights you can choose from a list of trips to other places nearby. You could visit Canberra, for example, or the Blue Mountains, or you could go for a drive down the Great Ocean Road. Also, if you' re interested in wine, you could go on a tour of the places where they grow grapes and make wine.W: That sounds great. (15) It's good we can choose some activities ourselves.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. Where is the conversation taking place?A. At a travel agency.B. At an Australian airport.C. At an airline transfer service.D. At a local transportation authority.13. Why is the woman interested in package holidays?A. She would be able to visit more scenic spots.B. She wanted to save as much money as possible.C. She would like to have everything taken care of.D. She wanted to spend more time with her family.14. How long does the woman want to go for the holiday?A. Four days.B. Five days.C. One week.D. Two weeks.15. What does the woman say she likes about the holiday package?A. Choosing some activities herself.B. Spending Christmas with Australians.C. Driving along the Great Ocean Road.D. Learning more about wine making.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choicesmarked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the centre.【听力原文】Passage One(16) Tourists taking a holiday in the Indonesian island of Bali are facing a new $ 14-per-person tax when they arrive on the holiday island from next year. But this is a green tax, which Bali Governor Wayan Koster has been working on for months, and which is designed to help clean up the island's natural environment, and with good reason, too. Indonesia is drowning in plastics. (17) Recycling is not one of the country's strong points. It's not uncommon to be offered many more plastic bags than one could ever need when visiting supermarkets and shopping malls. But, slowly, things are starting to change for the better. Back in 2016, the medium-sized city of Banjarmasin banned-single-use plastic bags. The city of Bogor followed suit in 2018. (18) A few months ago, Koster announced a plan that would not . only ban single-use plastic bags from supermarkets and convenience stores, but plastic bags and straws across the island. The regulation will come into full effect next month. "We received a fast and quick response from the Balinese people. Not only positive responses from the Balinese, we received good responses from the central government, other local governments and even from overseas." Koster told the Sydney Morning Herald this week during an interview. The governor is a determined environmentalist and he has more laws planned to protect the island's waterways, in particular, and to support the introduction of electric vehicles too.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. What would tourists have to do when they visit Indonesia's Bali Island?A. Bring their own bags when shopping.B. Use public transport when traveling.C. Dispose of their trash properly.D. Pay a green tax upon arrival.17. What does the passage say about Indonesia?A. It has not been doing a good job in recycling.B. It has witnessed a rise in accidental drowning.C. It has not attracted many tourists in recent years.D. It has experienced an overall decline in air quality.18. What is the new plan Governor Koster recently announced?A. To charge a small fee on plastic products in supermarkets.B. To ban single-use plastic bags and straws on Bali Island.C. To promote the use of paper bags for shopping.D. To impose a penalty on anyone caught littering.【听力原文】Passage Two(19) An endangered species of whale is experiencing a small-baby boom off the coast of America. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest species of whale on the planet, numbering only about 411. But the Center for Coastal Studies said Friday that its aerial survey team spotted a mum with two babies in Cape Cod Bay a day earlier. That brings the number seen in nearby waters alone this year to three. That's big news because the whale population has been falling, and no baby whales were seen last year. In all, seven baby whales have been spotted so far this year. (20-1) The whale population has become endangered due to commercial whaling activities in recent years. This is because they are sometimes hunted for their meat or their skin. (20-2) Over-hunting could lead to the disappearance of the whale population, possibly causing major problems to the global food chain. (21) The whales give birth off the Southeast Coast of America in the winter and travel to feeding grounds off the Northeast Coast in the early spring. The Northeast Coast is a critically important source of food. The animals often feed close to shore. This provides watchers on land with "unbeatable views of one of the rarest of marine mammals. "It's illegal to get within 1,500 feet of the animals without a federal research permit, so whale watchers are discouraged from attempting to get close to the whales.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. What do we learn from the passage about the North Atlantic right whale?A. It gives birth to several babies at a time.B. It is the least protected mammal species.C. Its breeding grounds are now better preserved.D. Its population is now showing signs of increase.20. What has caused the decline of the whale population in recent years?A. Global warming.B. Polluted seawaters.C. Commercial hunting.D. Decreasing birthrates.21. Why do the whales travel to the Northeast Coast of America in the early spring?A. To mate.B. To look for food.C. To escape hunters.D. To seek breeding grounds.【听力原文】Passage ThreeAn average person consumes 144 pints of milk a year, but 40% of that is poured onto cereal.. And 60% of those people are children. But what was once advertised as nutritious is becoming unpopular. (22) Americans drink 37% less milk than they did in the 1970s. And in the UK, dairy consumption overall has fallen by a third in the past 20 years. (23) Milk is increasingly being described in a negative light. A recent blog suggested maybe people are drinking less milk because it is poisonous to many of us. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and dairy products. It needs a series of complex proteins to break it down. (24) Without enough of these proteins, the lactose is broken down by bacteria in the human body. This can cause physical pain and produce gas in the stomach. However, after we have finished breast or formula feeding, most of us don't continue producing the complex proteins in our body, which are necessary to break down the lactose. Despite the problems in digesting milk, it does provide many benefits. (25) Milk is nutritious. It contains vitamins A and D, as well as protein and isn't full of calories. You can test yourself by drinking a large glass of milk. If you get sick in your stomach within the next 24 hours, you are lacking in the proteins to digest milk.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What does the passage say about Americans?A. They prefer to drink low-fat milk.B. They think milk is good for health.C. They consume less milk these days.D. They buy more milk than the British.23. How do Americans and British people think of milk nowadays?A. It is not as healthy as once thought.B. It is not easy to stay fresh for long.C. It benefits the elderly more.D. It tends to make people fat.24.Why does drinking milk cause pain in some people?A. They drink too many pints every day.B. They are sensitive to certain minerals.C. They lack the necessary proteins to digest it.D. They have eaten food incompatible with milk.25. What does the passage say is a a benefit of milk?A. It is easier for sick people to digest.B. It provides some necessary nutrients.C. It is healthier than other animal products.D. It supplies the body with enough calories.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read thepassage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter: Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passageWhen 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 from 26 praise 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 a 27 effect," says Phillip, "When we use the same praise 28 it may become empty and no longer valued by the child. It can also become an expectation that anything they do must be 29 with praise. This may lead to the child avoiding taking risks due to fear of 30 their parents."Does this mean we should do away with all the praise? Phillip says no. "The key to healthy praise is to focus on the process rather than the 31 . It 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 the 32 of praise we're all so accustomed to? Phillip says it's important to 33 between "person praise" and "process praise". "Person praise is 34 saying how great someone is. It's a form of personal approval. Process praise is acknowledgement of the efforts the person has just 35 . Children who receive person praise are more likely to feel shame after losing," says Phillip.A. chooseB. constantC. disappointingD. distinguishE. exhaustingF. experiencedG. negativeH. outcomeI. patternJ. pluralK. repeatedly L. rewarded M. separately N. simply O. undertaken Section BDirections：In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs Identify theparagraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraphmore than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter：Answer the questions bymarking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Poverty is a story about us, not themA) Too often still, we think we know what poverty looks like. It's the way we've been taught, theimages we've been force-fed for 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 arecord economic expansion, those familiar images are outdated, hurtful, and counterproductive to focusing attention on solutions and building ladders of opportunity.C) Today's faces of income inequality and lack of opportunity look like all of us. It's AnnaLandre, a disabled Georgetown University student fighting to keep health benefits that allowher the freedom to live her life. It'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 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? In pursuit of revealing this complicated 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 (n) 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-I stayed home.E) That comment, says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson, "was meant to shame"andrelied on the familiar notion that a woman of color concerned about income inequality and programs that promote mobility must by definition be a single mom, probably with multiple kids. In this case, the Mothering Justice activist happened to be married. And in most cases in the America of 2019, 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 CensusBureau, 38 million 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 that 140 million people 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 thatsome people are more affected than others, like children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and people of color.H) But the fact that 4 in 10 Americans can't come up with S 400 in an emergency is a commonlycited statistic for good reason: economic instability stretches across race, gender, and geography-. It even reaches into the middle classes, as real wages have stagnated (T) 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 ofit. The big American myth is that you can pull yourself up by your own efforts 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 studied what sustains stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom. "People view economic success and wellbeing in life as a product of choice, willpower, and drive,"says Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO of Frame Works. "When we see people who are struggling," hesays, 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 give a false picture of 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. "L) Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work or structural 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."M) According to the General Social Survey, 71 percent of respondents believe the country is spending too little an "assistance to the poor."On the other hand, 22 percent think we are spending too little on "welfare": 37 percent 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.36. One legislative staffer assumed that a woman of color who advocated affordable childcaremust be a single mother.37. People from different races, genders, and regions all suffer from a lack of financial security.38. According to a survey, while the majority believe too little assistance is given to the poor,more than a third believe too much is spent on welfare.39. A research group has found that Americans who are struggling are thought to be lazy and tohave made the wrong decisions.40. Under the old system in America, a mother was supposed to stay home and take care of herchildren.41. It was found that nearly 50% of Americans are poor or receive low pay.42. Americans usually overestimate the number of blacks receiving welfare benefits.43. It is impossible for Americans to lift themselves out of poverty entirely on their own.44. Nowadays, it seems none of us can get away from income inequality.45. Assumptions about poor people become even more negative when they live on welfare. 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.。
2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第一套)
2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案（第一套）Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage。
The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history, comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph。
Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly , often using Web—connected mobile devices they carry everywhere。
But the Internet’s tremendous impact has only just begun。
"Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural，and political transformations in history，and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global，" Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book The New Digital Age.Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online。
2017年12月四级英语听力真题第二套（含答案及原文）
2017年12月四级英语听力真题第二套Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1.A) It tries to entertain its audience.C) It wants to catch people’s attention.B)It tries to look into the distance.D) It has got one of its limbs injured. 2.A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.C) Its videos were posted on social media. B)It was filmed by a local television reporter.D) Its picture won a photography prize. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. 3.A) The distance travelled.B) The incidence of road accidents. C) The spending on gas.D) The number of people travelling. 4.A) Fewer people are commuting.B) Gas consumption is soaring. C) Job growth is slowing down.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. 5.A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself. B)He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car. C)He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves. D)He washed a stranger’s car in return for some food.6.A) He ordered a lot of food for his family. B)He gave him a job at his own company. C)He raised a large sum of money for him. D)He offered him a scholarship for college. 7.A) He works hard to support his family.C) He is very good at making up stories. B) He is an excellent student at school.D) He has been disabled since boyhood. Section B Directions：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 single line through the centre. Answer Sheet 1 with a with a single Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 8.A) Attended an economics lecture.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria. B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant. 9.A) Treat a college friend to dinner.C) Attend his brother’s birthday party.B) Make preparations for a seminar.D) Visit some of his high school friends. 10.A)Gather statistics for his lecture. B)Throw a surprise birthday party. C)Meet with Jonathan’s friends on the weekend.D)Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration.11.A) By car.B) By train.C) By taxi.D)By bus. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12.A) Taking a vacation abroad.B) Reviewing for his last exam. C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.D) Finding a better way to earn money. 13.A) Preparing for his final exams.C) Working part time as a waiter. B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.D) Helping the woman with her courses. 14.A) Finish her term paper.C) Learn a little bit of Spanish. B) Save enough money.D) Ask her parent’s permission.15.A) He has rich sailing experience.C) He is also eager to go to Spain. B) He speaks Spanish fluently.D) He is easy to get along with. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), 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) She went to the same university as her mother. B)She worked as a nurse in the First World War. C)She won the Nobel Prize two times. D)She was also a Nobel Prize winner. 17.A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations. B)She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals. C)She helped to set up several military hospitals. D)She made donations to save wounded soldiers. 18.A) Both died of blood cancer.C) Both won military medals. B) Both fought in World War I.D) Both married their assistants. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19.A) They were the first settlers in Europe. B)They were the conquerors of Norway. C)They discovered Iceland in the ninth century. D)They settled on a small island north of England. 20.A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway. B)It was covered with green most time of the year. C)It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.D)It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice. everyday life. 21.A) The Vikings’ ocean explorations.C) The Vikings’ B) The making of European nations.D) The Europeans’ Arctic discoveries. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22.A) Work hard for a better life.C) Dream about the future. B) Make mistakes now and then.D) Save against a rainy day. 23.A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life. B)Change what he has for his past imaginary world. C)Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage. D)Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young. 24.A) Criminal law.C) Oriental architecture. B) City planning.D) International business. 25.A) Dream and make plans.C) Be content with what you have. B)Take things easy in life.D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.答案1. D2. C3. A4. D5. B6. C7. B8. A9. C10. D11. B12. A13. C14. B15. A16. D17. B18. A19. C20. D21. A22. C23. B24. D25. C2017年12月四级英语听力原文第二套Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. News Report One legs and has two back legs and has A New Jersey black bear that walks upright on its darling has re-emerged and has been captured on become a social media darling has re-emerged and has been captured on The bear named Pedals was video months after its its last sighting. The spotted in the town of Oak Ridge. In a video posted to Facebook featuring the bear, it appeared to be in relatively good health and was moving quickly. (1)Pedals apparently has an injured leg or paw that doesn’t allow it to walk comfortably on all fours according to experts. Lawrence Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said officials expect the bear to make it through next winter. (2)The bear first gained fame after it was spotted wandering around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and shown on national television. Last year, supporters pushed for Pedals to be moved to a shelter, but New Jersey officials have said they won’t allow the bear to be captured and transferred to the facility “The bear would do better in its natural habitat and the agency would step in if its condition deteriorated,” they said. 1.What is the probable reason the bear walks upright on its back legs? 2. How is the bear first known to the public? News Report Two worse. It’s not your imagination. Traffic in the US is actually getting (3)Americans drove more miles last year than any other year on record. The US Department of Transportation says Americans drove nearly 3,150 billion miles last year. That’s about the same distance as 337 round trips from Earth to 2007, before the Pluto. The previous record was 3,003 billion miles in economic recession and high gas prices. The traffic increase comes at the same time as gas prices drop significantly. The current average gas price in the US is $1.71 per gallon. A year ago it was $2.31 per gallon and was often much higher in recent years. (4)A transportation expert told growth likely plays a part as well, part as well, along with the reporter that job growth some people driving longer distances to and from work. And so all this means more traffic jams on the road. The Texas A&M Travel Institute found that rush-hour travelers spent an extra 42 hours on the road last year because of travel delays. Now, that is depressing. 3.What new record did the American drivers set last year? 4.What is depressing according to the speaker? News Report Three （5）A 16-year-old asked a stranger at a grocery store to buy him and his mother some food in exchange for carrying man’s groceries to his car. heartstrings. (6)A wonderful What happened next will pull at your bond formed between the two, and within a couple of weeks, the stranger, named White, helped raise $190,000 on a website to support the Memphis teenager and his disabled mother. “When Chauncy approached me, it just pulled at my heart,” White said. “Here comes Chauncy, just trying to get food for him and his mom off the grace of other people. When I looked at him and what he was asking for, I said he he was my saw what he was doing and best to make it who is doing his best hero.” (7) “Chauncy is a top student who White explained on in a world with no money and very few resources,” the crowd funding site. He wants to work and help his mother financially. “It’s so rare that we get an opportunity to affect so much change on one life,” White wrote. “I cannot thank you enough for caring about Chauncy. This is his big chance, and you’re making it possible.”5.What did teenager Chauncy do at the grocery store to get some food? 6.What did the stranger do for Chauncy? 7.What do we learn about Chauncy? Conversation One M:(8)That was my last economics lecture of the week. And here is the weekend again. W:What are you up to tonight? I was just wondering if we could try out the new restaurant on Charles Street, then go on to Queen Victoria for a drink. M:Sorry, (9)I am heading home this weekend for my brother’s 18th birthday. W:Oh, that’s great.M:All my relatives are gonna be there, as well as my brother’s horrible friends be absolutely of course. (10) Listen, why don’t you come along? Mom woulddelighted to see you again. She is always asking after you. W:Yes, I’d love to see her too.M:So please, do come. It would be great. Besides, with Jonathan’s wild game to contain with, I would really welcome an ally. W:That sounds tempting. But I won’t be ready till 5:00, as I’ve got my statistics seminar now. What time are you heading off? M:Well, I was going to leave right away. However, I can hang around for you if my ticket. you like. It just means that I’ll need to change W:But would that be too much trouble for you? M:No, not at all. (11-1)I’ll go to the station first, and see if I can get tickets for us I’ll text you when it’s done. on the 6:30 train. Then, you can drive me there. wouldn’t want to impose.W:Brilliant. Are you absolutely positive it’s okay? IM:Don’t worry. You are most welcome to join our party. And as I always say, -2)So I’ll meet the more, the merrier. W:Look, I’d better go, or I’ll be late. (11you down at the station around 6:00? M:Fine, see you later. Questions 8 and 11 are based on the news report you have just heard. 8.What has the man just done? 9.What is the man going to do this weekend? 10.What does the man ask the woman to do? 11.How would they go to the man’s home?Conversation Two M:Hi, Jane. How is everything going? W:So far so good. I’ve just finished my last exam. a M:Good, the term is coming to an end. (12)Do you think we should take holiday overseas to relax and have fun? fun? (13)I’ve saved my tips for my waiter job these past few months and I should have enough by July. W:Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. (14)I’ve got a little put-aside for a rainy day, but By the way, way, what’s I might need to earn a little more before we go. a restaurant? it like working in a restaurant? n-hour shift is like hell. I am not sure if M:Well, it’s really tough, as working a teit’ll suit you, but it’s pretty cool if your bosses are right. Do you think we should invite some others to come along? W:Yes. We could ask Tom and Tracy if they are interested. I haven’t been abroad for a long while. And it would be great to go somewhere by the sea. I can’t wait. (15)And, if Tom goes, we could go sailing. He has a lot of experience with boats. And it’ll work out a lot cheaper to hire one if there’s more of us to share the cost. lan. We will save as much as we can and go sailing next July. M:So, that’s a p l an. We will save as much as we can and go sailing next July. Let’s say Spain, or anywhere cheap we’ll find. W:OK. But, first we’d better contact Tom and Tracy and see if they are up for it. If not, it will be better to join board. Questions 12 and 15 are based on the news report you have just heard. 12.What does the man think of doing? 13.What has the man been doing for the past few months? 14.What does the woman say she needs to do before departure? 15.Why does the woman want to invite Tom? Section C Passage One Most people know Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. (16)However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner. Irene’s talents Irene Curie was born on September 12,1987. At the age of 10, apparent. Irene entered Sevigne and interest in mathematics were apparent. Irene entered Sevigne degree in mathematics and University in October,1914, to prepare for her War I began, she left Sevigne University to help her physics. When World War mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. (17)Irene continued this work by developing X-ray facilities for military in France and Belgium. After the war she received a Military Medal for her work. In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot visited the Institute where he met Marie Curie. Frederic became one of her assistants and Irene taught him the techniques required to work with radioactivity. Irene and Frederic soon fell in love and got married on October 29,1926. Their daughter was born in 1927 and their son in 1932. Like her mother, Irene combined family with career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, Frederic, in 1935, for producing new radioactive elements. (18)Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed blood cancer because of her exposure to March17,1956. radiation. Irene Joliot-Curie died on March17,1956. Marie Curie’s daughter?16.What does the speaker say about 17.For what was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal? 18.In what way were Marie and Irene similar? Passage Two Have you ever heard of the Vikings? They were sea travelers from Norway. More than a thousand years ago, they made three important geographical discoveries (19)The Vikings’ first major discovery occurred in the ninth century. A man called Naddod was on his way from Norway to the Faroe Islands, north of England, when his ship was caught in a storm. The storm blew the ship west for several days. When the weather cleared, Naddod it found himself on the coast of a new land. Later, Viking travelers named Iceland. In 982, a Viking called Eric the Red sailed west in search of new land. (20)Five hundred miles west of Iceland, he and his men reached an icy rocky mass of land. They sailed around it until they reached the western side. Here, they found some green areas, so they named the island Greenland. Then, in 1001, the Vikings made their most important discovery. The son of Eric the Red, named Leif Ericson, had heard rumors about land west of Greenland. He sailed west and soon found it. He and his men landed in three places. They called the first one Helluland, which means land of flat stones. The Vikings then sailed south and made their second landing. They named this place Markland. The third landing was at a place they called Vinland. Leif Ericson and his men were the first Europeans to walk on the shores of North America, almost 500 years earlier than Columbus. 19.What do we learn about the Vikings? 20.What does the passage say about Greenland? talk about? 21.What does the speaker mainly talk about? Passage Three Where do you think you will be in ten years? It’s difficult to know exactly where you will be and what you will bedoing. (22)But everyone dreams about the future. You might imagine the job you will get when you finish school. You may daydream about meeting your life partner or live in a big house by the sea. In my dreams, I would have twins, a boy and a girl. We would live in a large two-story house with floors and the staircase made of wood. Now, at the age of 46, I look back on those dreams and exactly as I imagined. (23)But I smile. Things haven’t turned out exactly inary world. (24)In college, I wouldn’t change what I have now for that imagstudied international business, and planned to enter a law school. In my third year of university, I realized that I didn’t want to become a lawyer. I chose to become a language teacher. I did get married, but had more than two children. Do I live in the dream house with wooden floors? No, I We had five. Do I live don’t. But I love my home and I wouldn’t want to live in any other place. I believe that as a young person, it’s important to dream and make plans. However, it’s also important to realize that not all of your plans will turn out exactly as you wish. (25)One of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is this: Be happy with what you have. 22.What does the speaker think everyone tends to do? 23.What does the speaker say he would refuse to do? speaker say he would refuse 24.What did the speaker major in during the first two years of college? 25.What is one of the biggest lessons the speaker has learned in life? 。