2017年专业四级考试英语听力文本素材1
2017年6月大学英语四级短文阅读听力原文
Passage OneWild c arrots probably evolved with the other flowering plants about 360 million years ago.Like apples, carrots are native to Central Asia. That's why horses,which also come from Central Asia, like both apples and carrots so much. With wild carrots,the roots are white, small and skinny, so you'd have to pick a lot of wild carrots to get enough to eat.Doctors used carrot seeds and roots as medicine, on the theory that foods that taste bad must be good for you.Around 800 AD, people in Central Asiamanaged to develop a new kind of carrot—a purple carrot—that attracted more interest from international traders. Then, in the late1500s,food scientists in the Netherlandscultivated large, straight, sweet, red carrots like the ones we eat today.But people still mostly fed carrots to horses,donkeys and pigs, and didn't eat them themselves.In the 1600s,people in China used carrots as medicine, but they also ate carrots boiledin soup. The red color was popular for Chinese New Year celebrations. But carrots got their biggest boost during the two world wars,when food shortages forced people to eat them, and governments told everyone how healthy carrots were. Today, cooler countriesgrow most of the world's carrots.Machines do most of the planting and picking, and carrots are easy to store and ship, so they are cheap almost everywhere.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. What do we learn from the talk about wild carrots?17. What does the speaker say about carrots in the late 1500s?18. Why did people turn to carrots for food during the two world wars?Passage TwoKatherine loved Facebook. With Facebook,she could stay connected with her family no matter how far away they were. She could see their photos and read their status updates. With Facebook,she could keep her relatives up-to-date on what she was doing.Another thing Katherine loved about Facebook was that she didn't have to think about time zones when updating family.Whenever she called her parents or other relatives, she always had to think about the time difference so that she wouldn't wake someone up or call when she knew they were at church. Facebook was so convenient.When Katherine joined Facebook, some of her classmates at high school started to add her as a friend. At first, this didn't bother her.She loved learning about the success of people she knew when she was just a teenager.She loved finding out people were getting married, having babies, and traveling. Soon, however, Katherine found herself comparing herself with the people she was reading about on Facebook. It began to make her feel badthat some people seemed to be doing so much better than she was.She was also spending a lot of time on Facebook. It took a lot of time and energyto keep up with everyone's status updates. Katherine started to think.She looked at the list of over 500 friends she had on Facebook and realizedsome of them were not really friends at all. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. What was one particular convenience Katherine loved about Facebook? 20. How did Katherine feelwhen her classmates added her as a Facebook friend?21. What made Katherine feel bad about herself later on? Passage ThreeDo you know where a mule comes from? It is the child of a donkey and a horse. Mules have strong muscles like horses, but they eat less, can work longer, and are gentler, like donkeys.George Washington was the first person in the United States to own mules.He had heard that mules made good farm animals and he contacted the U.S. ambassador in Spain to ask about them.In 1785, King Charles Ⅲof Spainsent Washington a male donkey as a gift. That male donkey becamethe father of the mule industry in the U.S. Every April,Maury County holds a Mule Day celebration. Held in Columbia, Tennessee,Mule Day had its beginnings as "Breeder's Day" in the 1840s.Farmers and farm animal breederswould bring their animals to market every April to show, buy, and trade.This was an important business before the days of tractors,when many families made a living from farming and mules were used as work animals. Eventually, tractors began to replace mules,making them less in demand.A parade was added to Mule Day in 1934 to attract more people.Over the years other activities have been added, and today more than 200,000 people show up each year to watch and participate.If you visit during Mule Day celebrations, you might see mule-driving contests, square dances, horse showsor even tree-cutting competitions.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What does the speaker say about mules? 23. What do we learn about the donkey which is said to bethe father of the U.S. mule industry?24. What did farmers usually do on Mule Day in the 1840s?25. What made mules less in demand in America? This is the end of listening comprehension.Team spirit[A] Teams have become the basic building blocks of organizations.Recruitment advertisements routinely call for “team players”.Business schools grade their students in part on their performance in group projects. Office managers knock down walls to encourage team building. Teams are as old as civilization, of course: even Jesus had 12 co-workers. But a new report by Deloitte, “Global Human Capital Trends”,based on a survey of more than 7,000 executives in over 130 countries, suggests that the fashion for teamwork has reached a new high. Almost half of those surveyed said their companies were either in the middle of restructuring or about to embark on (开始）it; and for the most part, restructuring meant putting more emphasis on teams.[B] Companies are abandoning conventional functional departments and organising employees into cross-disciplinary teams that focus on particular products, problems or customers. These teams are gaining more power to run their own affairs. They are also spending more time working with each other rather than reporting upwards. Deloitte argues that a new organisational form is on the rise:a network of teams is replacing the conventional hierarchy (等级体制).[C] The fashion for teams is driven by a sense that the old way of organising people is too rigid for both the modem marketplace and the expectations of employees. Technological innovation places greater value on agility (灵活性).John Chambers, chairman of Cisco Systems Inc., a worldwide leader in electronics products,says that “we compete against market transitions (过渡)，not competitors. Product transitions used to take five or seven years; now they take one or two. ”Digital technology also makes it easier for people to co-ordinate their activities without resorting to hierarchy. The “millennials”(千禧一代) who will soon make up half the workforce in rich countries were raised from nursery school onwards to work in groups.[D] The fashion for teams is also spreading from the usual corporate suspects (such as GE and IBM) to some more unusual ones. The Cleveland Clinic, a hospital operator, has reorganised its medical staff into teams to focus on particular treatment areas; consultants, nurses and others collaborate closely instead of being separated by speciality (专业)and rank. The US Army has gone the same way. In his book, “Team of Teams' General Stanley McChrystal describes how the army’s hierarchical structure hindered its operations during the early stages of the Iraq war. His solution was to learn something from the insurgents it was fighting: decentralise authority to self-organising teams.[E] A good rule of thumb is that as soon as generals and hospital administrators jumpon a management bandwagon, it is time to ask questions. Leigh Thompson of Kellogg School of Management in Illinois warns that, ‘Teams are not always the answer—teams may provide insight, creativity and knowledge in a way that a person working independently cannot; but teamwork may also lead to confusion, delay and poor decision-making.”The late Richard Hackman of Harvard University once argued, “I have no question that when you have a team, the possibility exists that it will generate magic, producing something extraordinary... But don’t count on it.”[F] Hackman (who died in 2013) noted that teams are hampered by problems ofco-ordination and motivation that chip away at the benefits of collaboration. High-flyers forced to work in teams may be undervalued and free-riders empowered. Groupthink may be unavoidable. In a study of 120 teams of senior executives, he discovered that less than 10% of their supposed members agreed on who exactly was on the team. If it is hard enough to define a team’s membership, agreeing on its purpose is harder still.[G] Profound changes in the workforce are making teams trickier to manage. Teams work best if their members have a strong common culture.This is hard to achieve when, as is now thecase in many big firms, a large proportion of staff are temporary contractors. Teamwork improves with time: America’s National Transportation Safety Board found that 73% of the incidents in its civil-aviation database occurred on a crew’s first day of flying together. However, as Amy Edmondson of Harvard points out, organisations increasingly use “team”as a verb rather than a noun: they form teams for specific purposes and then quickly disband them.[H] The least that can be concluded from this research is that companies need to think harder about managing teams. They need to rid their minds of sentimentalism (感情用事)：the most successful teams have leader s who are able to set an overall direction and take immediate action. They need to keep teams small and focused: giving in to pressure to be more “inclusive”is a guarantee of dysfunction. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s boss, says that “If I see more than two pizzas for lunch, the team is too big.”They need to immunize teams against group-think: Hackman argued that the best ones contain “deviants”(离经叛道者）who are willing to do something that maybe upsetting to others.[I] A new study of 12,000 workers in 17 countries by Steelcase, a furniture-maker which also does consulting, finds that the best way to ensure employees are “engaged”is togive them more control over where and how they do their work―which may mean liberating them from having to do everything in collaboration with others.[J] However, organisations need to learn something bigger than how to manage teams better: they need to be in the habit of asking themselves whether teams are the best tools for the job. Teambuilding skills are in short supply: Deloitte reports that only 12% of the executives they contacted feel they understand the way people work together in networks and only 21% feel confident in their ability to build cross-functional teams. Loosely managed teams can become hotbeds of distraction―employees routinely complain that they can’t get their work done because they are forced to spend too much time in meetings or compelled to work in noisy offices. Even in the age ofopen-plan offices and social networks some work is best left to the individual.36.Successful team leaders know exactly where the team should go and are able to take prompt action.37.Decentralisation of authority was also found to be more effective in military operation s.38.In many companies, the conventional form of organisation is giving way toa network of teams.39.Members of poorly managed teams are easily distracted from their work.40.Teamwork is most effective when team members share the same culture.41.According to a report by Deloitte, teamwork is becoming increasingly popular among companies.42.Some team members find it hard to agree on questions like membership and the team’s purpose.43.Some scholars think teamwork may not always be reliable, despite its potential to work wonders.44.To ensure employees’commitment, it is advisable to give them more flexibility as to where and how they work.45.Product transitions take much less time now than in the past.。
专业英语四级真题2017年_真题无答案-交互
专业英语四级真题2017年(总分100, 做题时间130分钟)PART I DICTATIONDirections: Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work.SSS_TEXT_QUSTI1.PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [20 MIN]SECTION A TALKIn this section you will hear a talk. You will hear the talk ONCE ONLY. While listening, you may look at ANSWER SHEET ONE and write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap. Make sure the word (s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may use the blank sheet for note-taking.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the gap-filling task.SSS_FILL1.SSS_FILL2.SSS_FILL3.SSS_FILL4.SSS_FILL5.SSS_FILL6.SSS_FILL7.SSS_FILL8.SSS_FILL9.SSS_FILL10.SECTION B CONVERSATIONSIn this section you will hear two conversations. At the end of each conversation , five questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken ONCE ONLY. After each question there will be a ten-second pause. During the pause, you should read the four choices of [A], [B], [C] and [D], and mark the best answer to each question on ANSWER SHEET TWO.You have thirty seconds to preview the questions.SSS_SINGLE_SEL1.A It can't read data from the flash drive.B It has wiped the data from the flash drive.C The files stored in it have got lost.D The files in it can't be opened.SSS_SINGLE_SEL2.A Get a total refund.B Get a partial refund.C Get a **puter.D Get a new hard disk.3.A Indifferent.B Surprised.C Anxious.D Dissatisfied.SSS_SINGLE_SEL4.A By 8:30 tomorrow morning.B After 8:30 tomorrow morning.C At 8:30 this evening.D Anytime tomorrow.SSS_SINGLE_SEL5.A 6574-3205.B 6547-2305.C 6457-2035.D 6475-3025.SSS_SINGLE_SEL6.A Hold a party at home.B Introduce ourselves first.C Avoid meeting them.D Wait for them to visit us.SSS_SINGLE_SEL7.A Do nothing about it.B Tell him to stop.C Give him a reason to stop.D Call the police immediately.SSS_SINGLE_SEL8.A Don't answer their questions.B Don't appear to be friendly.C Try to be sympathetic.D Try to be patient.9.A No more than five minutes.B Five to ten minutes.C About half an hour.D About an hour.SSS_SINGLE_SEL10.A Family Circle Magazine.B Morning radio programs.C Betty's website.D CBS news website.PART III LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGEThere are twenty sentences in this section. Beneath each sentence there are four words, phrases or statements marked [A], [B], [C] and[D]. Choose one word, phrase or statement that **pletes the sentence.11._____ combination of techniques authors use, all stories—from the briefest anecdotes to the longest novels—have a plotSSS_SINGLE_SELA RegardingB WhateverC In so far asD No matter12.She followed the receptionist down a luxurious corridor to a closed door, _____ the woman gave a quick knock before opening itSSS_SINGLE_SELA whereinB on whichC but whenD then13.Ms Ennab is one of the first Palestinian_____ with seven years' racing experience.SSS_SINGLE_SELA woman driversB women driverC women driversD woman driver14."I wondered if I could have a word with you." The past tense used in the sentence refers to a ______.SSS_SINGLE_SELA past event for exact time referenceB present event for tentativenessC present event for uncertaintyD past event for politeness15."If I were you, I wouldn't wait to propose to her." The subjective mood in the sentence is used to______.SSS_SINGLE_SELA alleviate hostilityB express unfavorable feelingsC indicate uncertaintyD make a suggestion16."It's a shame that the city official should have gone back on his word." The modal auxiliary SHOULD expresses _____.SSS_SINGLE_SELA obligationB disappointmentC future in the pastD tentativeness17.Timothy Ray Brown, the first man cured of HIV, initially opted against the stem cell transplant that _____ history.SSS_SINGLE_SELA could have later madeB should have made laterC might make laterD would later make18.Some Martian rock structures look strikingly like structures on Earth that are known_____ by microbes.SSS_SINGLE_SELA having been createdB being createdC to have been createdD to be created19.At that moment, with the crowd watching me, I was not afraid in the ordinary sense, as I_____ if I______alone.SSS_SINGLE_SELA would have been... had beenB should be... had beenC could be... wereD might have been... were20.You must fire _____ incompetent assistant of yours.SSS_SINGLE_SELA theB anC thatD whichever21.Some narratives seem more like plays, heavy with dialogue by which writers allow their_____ to reveal themselves.SSS_SINGLE_SELA charactersB characteristicsC charismaD characterizations22.If you intend to melt the snow for drinking water, you can _____ extra purity by running it through a coffee filter.SSS_SINGLE_SELA assureB insureC reassureD ensure23.The daisy-like flowers of chamomile have been used for centuriesto_____ anxiety and insomnia.SSS_SINGLE_SELA declineB relieveC quenchD suppress24.Despite concern about the disappearance of the album in popular music, 2014 delivered a great crop of album _____.SSS_SINGLE_SELA publicationsB appearancesC releasesD presentations25.The party's reduced vote in the general election was _____of lack of support for its policies.SSS_SINGLE_SELA revealingB confirmingC indicativeD evident26.He closed his eyes and held the two versions of La Mappa to his mind's_____ to analyze their differences.SSS_SINGLE_SELA visionB eyeC viewD sight27.Twelve pupils were killed and five _____ injured after gunmen attacked the school during lunchtime.SSS_SINGLE_SELA criticallyB enormouslyC greatlyD hard28.A 15-year-old girl has been arrested_____ accusations of using Instagram to anonymously threaten her high school.SSS_SINGLE_SELA overB withC onD for29.It was reported that a 73-year-old man died on an Etihadflight_____to Germany from Abu Dhabi.SSS_SINGLE_SELA boundedB bindedC boundaryD bound30.It's _____the case in the region: a story always sounds clear enough at a distance, but the nearer you get to the scene of event the vaguer it becomes.SSS_SINGLE_SELA unchangeablyB invariablyC unalterablyD immovablyPART IV CLOZEDecide which of the words given in the box below would **plete the passage if inserted in the corresponding blanks. The words can be used ONCE ONLY.A. alwaysB. barelyC. demiseD. emergenceE. gainedF. implicationsG. leafH. lostI. naturallyJ. objectK. one L online M. rising N. single O. valueMillions of people now rent their movies the Netflix way. They fill out a wish list from the 50,009 titles on **pany's web site and receive the first few DVD's in the mail: when they mail each one back, the next one on the list is sent. The Netflix model has been exhaustively analyzed for its disruptive, new-economy【31】______. What will it mean for video stores like Blockbuster? What will it mean for movie studios and theaters? What does it show about "long tail" businesses—ones **bine many markets into a【32】______ target audience? But one other major implication has【33】______ beenmentioned: what this and similar Internet-based businesses mean for the United States Postal Service.Every day, some two million Netflix **e and go as firstclass mail. They are joined by millions of other shipments from【34】______ pharmacies, eBay vendors, and other businesses that did not exist before the Internet.The【35】______ of "snail mail" in the age of **munication has been predicted at least as often as **ing of the paperless office. But the consumption of paper keeps【36】______. It has roughly doubled since 1980. On average, an American household receives twice as many pieces of mail a day as it did in the 1970's.The harmful side of the Internet's impact is obvious but statistically less important than many would guess. People【37】______ write fewer letters when they can send e-mail messages. To 【38】______ through a box of old paper correspondence is to know what has been【39】______ in this shift: the pretty stamps, the varying look and feel of handwritten and typed correspondence, the tangible【40】______ that was once in the sender's hands.SSS_SIMPLE_SIN31.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN32.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN33.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN34.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN35.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN36.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN37.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN38.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN39.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OSSS_SIMPLE_SIN40.A B C D E F GH I J K L M N OPART V READING COMPREHENSIONSECTION AIn this section there are several passages followed by tenmultiple-choice questions. For each question, there are four suggested answers marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. Choose the one that you think is the best answer.(1)When I was a young girl living in Ireland, I was always pleased when it rained, because that meant I could go treasure hunting.What's the connection between a wet day and a search for buried treasure? Well, it's quite simple. Ireland, as some of you may already know, is the home of Leprechauns—little men who possess magic powers and, perhaps more interestingly, pots of gold.(2)Now, although Leprechauns are interesting characters, I have to admit that I was more interested in the stories of their treasure hoard. This, as all of Ireland knows, they hide at the end of the rainbow. Leprechauns can be fearsome folk but if you can discover the end of the rainbow, they have to unwillingly surrender their gold to you. So whenever it rained, I would look up in the sky and follow the curve of the rainbow to see where it ended. I never did unearth any treasure, but I did spend many happy, showery days dreaming of what I could do with the fortune if I found it.(3)As I got older, and started working, rainy days came to bejust another nuisance and my childhood dreams of finding treasurefaded. But for some people the dream of striking it lucky never fades, and for a fortunate few, the dream **es true! Such is the case of Mel Fisher. His dream of finding treasure also began in childhood, while reading the great literature classics "Treasure Island" and "Moby Dick". However, unlike me, he chased his dream and in the end managed to become one of the most famous professional treasure hunters of all time, and for good reason. In 1985, he fished up the priceless cargo of the sunken Spanish ship Atocha, which netted him an incredible 400 million dollars!(4)After the ship sank in 1622 off the coast of Florida, its murky waters became a treasure-trove(埋藏的宝藏)of precious stones, gold bars and silver coins known as "pieces of eight". The aptly-named Fisher, who ran a commercial salvaging operation, had been trying to locate the underwater treasure for over 16 years when he finally hit the jackpotl His dreams **e true but finding and keeping the treasure wasn't all plain sailing. After battling with hostile conditions at sea, Fisher then had to battle in the courts. In fact, the State of Florida took Fisher to court over ownership of the find and the Federal government soon followed suit. After more than 200 hearings, Fisher agreed to donate 20% of his findings for public display, and so now there is a museum in Florida which displays hundreds of the objects which were salvaged from the Atocha.(5)This true story seems like a modern-day fairytale: a man pursues his dream through hardship and in the end, he triumphs over the difficulties—they all live happily ever after, right? Well, not exactly. Archaeologists object to the fact that **mercial salvaging operations like Fisher's, the objects are sold and dispersed, and UNESCO are also worried about protecting our underwater heritage from what it describes as "pillaging"(抢劫、掠夺).(6)The counter-argument is that in professional, well-run operations such as Fisher's, each piece is accurately and minutely recorded and that it is this information which is more important than the actual object, and that such operations help increase our wealth of archaeological knowledge. Indeed, as in Fisher's case, they make history more accessible to people through museum donations and information on web sites.(7)The distinction of whether these treasure hunters are salvaging or pillaging our underwater heritage may not be clear, but what is clear is that treasure hunting is not just innocent child's play anymore but profitable big business. I have learnt that the end of the rainbow is beyond my reach, but in consolation, with just a click of the mouse, I too can have a share in the riches that the Atocha has revealed. As Friedrich Nietzsche so wisely said: "Our treasure lies in the beehive of our knowledge. "SSS_SINGLE_SEL41.In Para. 4, the phrase "hit the jackpot" means _____ according to the context.A discovered the jackpotB found the treasureC broke one of the objectsD ran a salvaging operationSSS_SINGLE_SEL42.It can be concluded from Paras. 5 and 6 that _____.A People hold entirely different views on the issueB UNESCO's view is different from archaeologists'C all salvaging operations should be prohibitedD attention should be paid to the find's educational valueSSS_SINGLE_SEL43.How did the author feel about the treasure from the Atocha(Para. 7)?A She was unconcerned about where the treasure came from.B She was sad that she was unable to discover and salvage treasure.C She was angry that treasure hunters were pillaging heritage.D She was glad that people can have a chance to see the treasure.(1)Paul was dissatisfied with himself and with everything. The deepest of his love belonged to his mother. When he felt he had hurt her, or wounded his love for her, he could not bear it. Now it was spring and there was battle between him and Miriam, his girlfriend. This year he had a good deal against her. She was vaguely aware of it. Theold feeling that she was to be sacrifice to this love, which she had had when she prayed, was mingled in all her emotions. She did not at the bottom believe she ever would have him. She did not believe in herself primarily: doubted whether she could ever be what he would demand of her. Certainly she never saw herself living happily through a lifetime with him. She saw tragedy, sorrow, and sacrifice ahead. And in sacrifice she was proud, in renunciation she was strong, for she did not trust herself to support everyday life. She was prepared for the big things and the deep things, like tragedy. It was the sufficiency of the small day-life she could not trust.(2)The Easter holidays began happily. Paul was his own frank self. Yet she felt it would go wrong. On the Sunday afternoon she stood at her bedroom window, looking across at the oak-trees of the wood, in whose branches a twilight was tangled, below the bright sky of the afternoon. Grey-green rosettes of honeysuckle leaves hung before the window, some already, she fancied, showing bud. It was spring, which she loved and dreaded.(3)Hearing the clack of the gate she stood in suspense. It was a bright grey day. Paul came into the yard with his bicycle, which glittered as he walked. Usually he rang his bell and laughed towards the house. Today he walked with shut lips and cold, cruel bearing, that had something of a slouch and a sneer in it. She knew him well by now, andcould tell from keen-looking what was happening inside him. There was a cold correctness in the way he put his bicycle in its place, that made her heart sink.(4)She came downstairs nervously. She was wearing a new net blouse that she thought became her. It had a high collar with a tiny ruff, making her, she thought, look wonderfully a woman, and dignified. At twenty she was full-breasted and luxuriously formed. Her face was still like a soft rich mask, unchangeable. But her eyes, once lifted, were wonderful. She was afraid of him. He would notice her new blouse.(5)He, being in a hard, ironical mood, was entertaining thefamily to a description of a service given in the Primitive Methodist Chapel. He sat at the head of the table, his mobile face, with the eyes that could be so beautiful, shining with tenderness or dancing with laughter, now taking on one expression and then another, in imitation of various people he was mocking. His mockery always hurt her: it was too near the reality. He was too clever and cruel. She felt that when his eyes were like this, hard with mocking hate, he would spare neither himself nor anybody else. But Miriam's mother was wiping her eyes with laughter, and her father, just awake from his Sunday nap, was rubbing his head in amusement. The three brothers sat with ruffled, sleepy appearance intheir shirt-sleeves, giving a guffaw from time to time. The whole family loved a "take-off" more than anything.SSS_SINGLE_SEL44.It can be learned from the beginning that Miriam's attitude towards love between her and Paul is_____.A indifferentB desperateC pessimisticD ambiguousSSS_SINGLE_SEL45.The narration in Para 3 tells us that Miriam had all the following feelings EXCEPT _____.A delightB expectationC uncertaintyD forebodingSSS_SINGLE_SEL46.Which of the following statements is CORRECT about the family's response to Paul's mockery?A Only the parents found it entertaining.B Every member except Miriam was amused.C The brothers found it hard to appreciate.D Miriam also thought it was amusing.(1)I've written this article and you're reading it. So we are members of the same club. We're both literate—we can read and write. And we both probably feel that literacy is essential to our lives. But millions of people all over the world are illiterate. Even in industrialised Western countries, such as the UK and the USA, approximately 20% of the population have "low literacy levels". But what exactly does that mean?(2)My parents both left school at 14. They could read and write, but except for a quick look at the daily newspaper, reading and writing didn't play a big part in their lives. There were very few books in the house. My mother was amazed because the woman who lived next door always wrote a list of what she needed before she went to the supermarket. Why couldn't she remember? We laughed about that for weeks. Our familydidn't write lists! And when I was only 14 years old my father gave me an important letter that he'd written to the bank and asked me to check it for grammar and spelling mistakes. And there were quite a lot. He never usually wrote letters or postcards or even Christmas cards. So when he had to write he wasn't comfortable or confident. Does that mean that my father had a "low level of literacy"? I don't think so.(3)There are lots of different definitions of literacy. Some experts define it as having the reading and writing skills that youneed to be independent in your everyday life. So, for example, if you can read instructions, write a cheque, fill in a form,—anything that you need to do in everyday life—then you are "functionally literate".(4)Other people say that you are illiterate if you think that you are illiterate. In other words, if you feel that you can't read or write as well as you would like to.(5)If you live in a society where most people are literate, then you will feel ashamed or embarrassed and avoid situations in which you have to read or write. The father of a friend of mine finally admitted to his family that he couldn't read when he was 45 years old. He bought the newspaper every day and pretended to read it—and believe it or not, his family had no idea.(6)We often forget that writing is a recent invention. Many years ago, the word "literate" meant being able to communicate well in speaking, in other words what we now call "articulate". Story telling was an important activity in the past and still is today in some societies. Reading was often a co-operative activity—someone would readaloud to a group, often from a religious text such as the Koran or the Bible.(7)Only a hundred years ago, in the United States, you were considered to be literate if you could sign your name to a piece of paper. It was an important skill. You were not allowed to vote if you couldn't sign the voting register, so literacy was connected with political rights, and many people were excluded from the democratic process.(8)Nowadays we see reading and writing as being connected, but that wasn't so in the past Many people could read, but not write. Writing was a skilled profession. If you needed something written then you paid an expert to write it for you.(9)And of course, rich and important people have always employed people to write things for them. **pany bosses dictated letters to their secretaries or personal assistants. And now with **puter software you can dictate directly to **puter.(10)Being illiterate can have a big effect on people's lives. For example, a study in the UK showed that people who write and spell badly are seen as careless, immature and unreliable, and often unintelligent. So it is more difficult for them to find jobs, even when reading and writing are not necessary for the work.(11)World-wide statistics show that literacy problems are associated with poverty and a lack of political power. More women than men are illiterate. Illiterate people have worse health, bigger families and are more likely to go to prison. So literacy campaignsmust be a good thing. But don't forget that an illiterate person, or someone with a low level of literacy, isn't necessarily stupid or ignorant, and may not be unhappy at all. Knowledge and wisdom isn't only found in writing.SSS_SINGLE_SEL47.Why does the author give examples in Para. 2?A To show that literacy is interpreted in different ways.B To show that Father was more literate than Mother.C To indicate how important reading and writing are.D To compare the level of literacy between neighbours.SSS_SINGLE_SEL48.According to the author, the following are some of the defining features of literacy EXCEPT_____.A psychologicalB functionalC socialD independentSSS_SINGLE_SEL49.Which of the following statements about reading and writing is CORRECT?A Reading and writing have always been regarded as equally difficult.B People had to read and write well in order to be allowed to vote.C Reading often requires more immediate interaction than writing.D Reading and writing have always been viewed as being connected.SSS_SINGLE_SEL50.What do the last two paragraphs mainly focus on(Paras. 10 and 11)?A Effects of illiteracy and employment problems.B Effects of illiteracy and associated problems.C Effects of illiteracy on one's personality development.D Effects of illiteracy on women's career development.SECTION B SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONSIn this section there are five short answer questions based on the passages in Section A. Answer the questions with No more than TEN words in the space provided.PASSAGE ONESSS_TEXT_QUSTI51.What does This in Para. 2 refer to?SSS_TEXT_QUSTI52.Why did Fisher have to battle in the courts after he found the treasure(Para. 4)?PASSAGE TWOSSS_TEXT_QUSTI53.Why did Miriam wear a new net blouse on Sunday afternoon?SSS_TEXT_QUSTI54.What is the meaning of the sentence "... he would spare neither himself nor anybody else" in Para. 5?PASSAGE THREESSS_TEXT_QUSTI55.Explain the meaning of the last sentence of Para. 11 according to the context.PART VI WRITING56.Read carefully the following excerpt and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 200 WORDS, in which you should:1)summarize the main message of the excerpt, and then2)comment on whether our brains will get lazy in a world run by intelligent machinesYou can support yourself with information from the excerpt.Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result tit a loss of marks.Write your response on ANSWER SHEET THREE.With intelligent machines to do the thinking, will our brains get lazy?Changing technology stimulates the brain and increases intelligence. But that may only be true if the technology challenges us. In a world run by intelligent machines, our lives could get a lot simpler. Would that make us less intelligent?Artificial intelligence is taking over many human jobs. For instance, planes are being flown much of the time by automatic pilots. And **plex problem of controlling air traffic around large modern airports is also achieved by artificial intelligence that operates well beyond the capability of mere human air traffic controllers.Artificial intelligence is embedded in many features of modern life for the simple reason that intelligent machines can already outperform humans, including some aptitudes where there was once thought to be a human advantage, such as playing chess, and writing poetry, or even novels.As machines get smarter, they will do more of our thinking for us and make life easier. In the future, the electronic assistant will develop to the point that it serves similar functions as a realliving butler, fulfilling requests such as: "Organize a dinner parly for six on Thursday, Jeeves, and invite the usual guests."At that point, our long struggle with challenging technologies is at an end. like Bertie Wooster, we can take it easy knowing that the hard work of planning and organizing is being done by a better brain—the electronic assistant. Starved of mental effort, our brains will regress.SSS_TEXT_QUSTI1。
CET4听力真题原文
CET4听力真题原文2017年CET4听力真题原文学而时习之，不亦说乎?以下是店铺为大家搜索整理的2017年CET4听力真题原文，希望能给大家带来帮助!Short Conversations11. W: There were more than a hundred people at Kate's birthday party. How come she's got so many friends?M: It's really no surprise. You know she was popular even when she was a childQ: What does the man imply about Kate?12. M: They say there'll be a snow-storm tonight, and the cold weather will last quite a few days.W: Oh! We're so lucky, we'll be getting away for a while, and having a holiday in Florida. But let's call right now to confirm our flight.Q: What do we learn about the two speakers?13. W: Tony was awarded a medal for rescuing several families from the forest fire.M: I really admire his courage.Q: What do we learn about Tony from the conversation?14. M: My washing machine is more than fifteen years old and it has worked just fine until last night.W: You’ll never be able to get parts for it, even from Japan. So it might be time to invest a more recent model.Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?15. W: I heard about your promotion, you must be thrilled.M: Not really, the new office is huge, but the word load has doubled.Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?16. W: I can’t decide what to do about the party tomorrow.M: You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but I’ll be glad to give you a ride if you do.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?17. M: Now if you have any questions about the contract. I’ll be happy to answer them.W: Nothing comes to mind right now, but I’d like to go over all the articles of the contract once more before signing it.Q: What are the speakers doing right now?18. M: We are out of paper for the printer. Can you please order some?W: I completed the order form online yesterday and it will be here by noon. I’ll let you know when it comes in.Q: What did the woman do?Long ConversationConversation OneW: Bob, do you know who I saw the other day? Old Jake, looking terribly depressed. Did he get pensioned off at last?M: Yes. They made him retire after 50 years at sea. He is pretty upset about it, but what can you do? He really is pasted.W: He is all alone, isn’t he?M: Yes, his wife has been dead for years. They had one daughter, Dories. But she went off to town as soon as she left school. And he hasn’t heard from her since. I hear she is making good money as a model.W: Maybe someone could get in touch with her. Get her to come back for a while to help?M: I do n’t suppose she come. She never got on with her father. He is bit of a tough character and she is rather selfish. Oh, I expect old Jake will get by. He is healthy at least, comes into aclinic for a check regularly.W: Are you his doctor?M: No, my partner doctor Johnson is.W: That bad-tempered old thing?M: Oh, he isn’t bad-tempered. He just looks it. He is an excellent doctor, taught me a lot, and he has a very nice family. His wife invites me over there to supper every week. Very pleasant.W: yes. I teach their daughter Pen at school. She is a bit careless and lazy about her school work, but a bright little thing and very popular with her age group.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard.19. Why does old Jake look terribly depressed?20. What do we learn about Jake’s wife?21. What does the man say about Jake’s daughter?22. What does the man say about Jake’s doctor?Conversation TwoW: Hello, Mr. Summerfield. How are you today?M: Very well. Thank you, Ms. Green.W: What can I do for you?M: Well, unfortunately, there is a problem with the order we received from you yesterday. It seems we haven’t seen the right quantity of manuals to support the telephone system.W: Oh, dear, that’s bad news. I’m very sorry to hear that, and y ou don’t know how many packs are without manuals?M: No, because we haven’t opened every pack. But in several of those that have been opened there are none, no manuals.W: I’m very sorry about this inconvenience, Mr.Summerfield. We’ll send out the manuals this afternoon by express mail entirely at our cost, and the manuals should arrive tomorrow or the day after at the latest.M: All of them, right?W: Yes. It maybe that some have them already, but we cannot be sure. So the best thing is to send out the manual for every pack.M: Yes. Yes, I see. That would be great.W: Please accept our apologies for this mix-up. I assure you we will do everything possible to find out why the mistake happenedM: Right. Thanks for your swift action.W: Not at all. Thank you and goodbye for now. Do call if there is anything else.M: All right. Thank you. Goodbye, Ms Green.W: Goodbye.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard.23. What problems are the speakers discussing?24. What does the woman promise to do?25. What does the man think of the solution?PassagePassage 1Attracting and feeding wild birds are entertaining activities that have long been enjoyed by people all over the world. Feeding birds has become so popular that prepared feed mixtures are readily available. We feed birds for many reasons. Many pleasant hours can come from watching birds. A hobby often develops into a serious study of their habits. Accurate identification of birds is usually the first goal. But observationsthat an amateur bird-watcher can make are really limitless. There is, however, responsibility associated with bird feeding, including a disease hazard. Attracting numbers of birds continually to the same spot can be harmful to them, particularly species that pick food from the ground contaminated by the droppings of other birds. In winter feeding efforts are most satisfying to people and are of greatest benefit to birds. During this time when fewer natural foods are available and air temperatures are lower, extra feeding can keep a bird warm and well. Once begun, feeding should never stop during these lean months. If you start a local increase of birds, be prepared to do what may be required to eliminate hazards to those you want to befriend. A constant supply of food should be given until the cold is over and spring has come. If feeding is stopped during severe weather, birds used to relying upon the feeders must starve.Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q26 What does the speaker say about bird watching?Q27 What does the speaker say about birds fed continually on the same spot?Q28 What does the speaker suggest we do in feeding birds in winter?Passage 2My friend Leo makes up weak and poor excuses whenever there is something he doesn’t want to do. Just two weeks ago, he was at my house when he decided he didn’t want to go into work. He called his boss and said he had to get a new set of tires put on his truck. Then he sat down and watched TV with me. Not only had he lied but his excuse wasn’t a very convincing one. Another time, he cancelled a date with his girlfriend at the lastminute telling her he had to get a new battery for his truck. She was angry and refused to go out with him again until he apologized. Last weekend, Leo offered the poorest excuse yet. He’d promised he’d help me move some furniture, from my parents’ house to my new apartment. He was supposed to bring his truck over about 8 o’clock Saturday morning. I waited, and then called and left a message on his machine. About 11:30, he called and said he was sorry but he’d been getting a new set of tires put on his truck. I guess he’d forgotten he used the same excuse when he called his boss from my house. I think I need a new set of friends. I’m beginning to get tired of Leo’s exc uses.Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q29 What does the speaker tell us about her friend Leo?Q30 What did his girlfriend do when Leo canceled a date with her at the last minute?Q31 What favor did the speaker ask Leo to do last weekend?Passage 3In Hollywood, everybody wants to be rich, famous and beautiful. Nobody wants to be old, unknown and poor. For Hollywood kids, life can be difficult because they grow up such an unreal atmosphere. Their parents are ambitious and the c hildren are part of the parents’ ambitions. Parents pay for wasteful grand parties, expensive cars and designer clothes. When every dream can come true, kids don’t learn the value of anything because they have everything. A thirteen-year-old boy, Trent Maguire, has a driver, credit cards and unlimited cash to do what he wants when he wants to. “One day, I’ll earn more than my dad!” he boasts. Parents buy care and attention for their children because they have no time to give it themselves.Amender’s mother employs a personal trainer, a bodyguard, a singing coach and a councilor to look after all her fifteen-year-old daughter’s needs. Often, there is no parent at home most days, so children decide whether to make their own meals or go out to restaurants, when to watch television or do homework. They organize their social life. They play no childhood games. They become adults before they’re ready. Hollywood has always been the city of dreams. The kids there live unreal lives where money, beauty and pleasure are the only gods. Will children around the world soon start to think the same? Or do they already?Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q32 Why is life said to be difficult for Hollywood kids?Q33 What does the speaker say about Trent Maguire, a thirteen-year-old boy?Q34 Why does Amender’s mother employ other people to look after her needs?Q35 What will probably have negative effects on the lives of Hollywood kids?Compound DictationAround 120 years ago, Ebbinghaus began his study of memory. He concentrated on studying how quickly the human mind can remember information. One result of his research is known as the total time hypothesis, which simply mean the amount you learn depends on the time you spend trying to learn it. This can be taken as our first rule of learning. Although it is usually true that studying for 4 hours is better than studying for 1, there is still the question of how to use the 4 hours. For example, is it better to study for 4 hours straight or to study for1 hour a day for 4 days in a row? The answer, as you may have suspected, is that it is better to spread out the study times. This phenomenon through which we can learn more efficiently by dividing our practice time is known as the distribution of practice eff ect. Thus, our second rule of learning is this. It’s better to study fairly briefly but often. But we are not finished yet. We haven’t considered how we should study over very short periods of time. Let’s say you are trying to learn some new and rather difficult English vocabulary using a stack of cards. Should you look at the same word in rapid succession or look at the word and then have some delay before you look at it again? The answer is it is better to space up the presentations of the word you are to learn.。
12月英语四级听力原文
2017年12月英语四级听力原文-CAL-FENGHAI.-(YICAI)-Company One12017年12月PartⅡ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D) .Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.News 1：A 9-year-old girl in New Mexico has raised more than $500 for her little brother who needs heart surgery in Houston Texas this July. Addison Witulski's grandmother Kim Allred said Addison probably overheard a conversation between family members talking about the funds needed to get her little brother to treatment." I guess she overheard her grandfather and me talking about how we’re worried about how we’re going to get to Houston, for my grandson’s heart surgery,” said Allred. She decided to go outside and have a lemonade stand and make some drawings and pictures and sell them.”That’s when Addison and her friends Erika and Emily Borden decided to sell lemonade for 50 cents a cup and sell pictures for 25 cents each.Before Allred knew it, New Mexico State Police Officers were among the many stopping by helping them reach a total of $568.The family turned to social media expressing their gratitude saying, “From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to deeply thank each & every person that stopped by!Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.Q1: Who did Addison raise money for?A）Her friend Erika.B）Her little brother.C）Her grandfather.D）Her grandmother.Q2: How did Addison raise money?A）By taking pictures for passers-by.B）By working part time at a hospital.C）By selling lemonade and pictures.D）By asking for help on social media.News 2：Last week, France announced that the country will pave 621 miles of road with solar panels over the next five years, with the goal of providing cheap, renewable energy to five million people.Called “the Wattway,” the roads will be built through joint efforts with the French road-building company Colas and the National Institute of Solar Energy. The company spent the last five years developing solar panels that are only about a quarter of an inch thick and are strong enough to stand up to heavy highway traffic without breaking or making the roads more slippery. The panels are also designed so that they can be installed directly on top of existing roadways, making them relatively cheap and easy to install.France isn’t the first country to kick around the idea of paving its roads with solar panels. In November 2015, the Netherlands completed a 229-foot-long bike path paved with solar panels as a test for future projects. However, this is the first time apanel has been designed to be laid directly on top of existing roads and the first project to install the panels on public highways.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.Q3: What was France's purpose of constructing the Wattway?A）Finding cheaper ways of highway construction.B）Generating electric power for passing vehicles.C）Providing clean energy to five million people.D）Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel.Q4: What is special about the solar panels used in the Wattway?A）They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements.B）They can be laid right on top of existing highways.C）They can only about half an inch thick.D）They are made from cheap materials.News 3：Lions have disappeared from much of Africa, but for the past few years scientists have wondered if the big cats were hanging on in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia. Continuous fighting in the region has made surveys difficult.But scientists released a report Monday documenting, with hard evidence, the discovery of "lost lions."A team with Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, supported by a charity organization, spent two nights in November camping in the National Park in northwest Ethiopia, on the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The researchers set out six camera traps capturing images of lions, and they identified lion tracks.The scientists concluded that lions are also likely to live in the neighbouring National Park across the border in Sudan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature had previously considered the area a "possible range" for the species, and local people had reported seeing lions in the area, but no one presented convincing evidence.Questions 5 and 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.Q5: What has made it difficult to survey lions in remote parts in Sudan and Ethiopia? A）Endless fighting in the region.B）The hazards from the desert.C）Inadequate funding for research.D）The lack of clues about the species.Q6: What was the main purpose of the research?A）To observe the wildlife in the two national parks.B）To identify the reasons for the lions’ disappearance.C）To study the habitat of lions in Sudan and Ethiopia.D）To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.Q7: What did the researchers find in the National Park?A) Lions walking. C) Some camping facilities.B) Lion’s tracks. D) Traps set by local hunters.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.Passage 1M: I bet you're looking forward to the end of this month. Are you?W: Yes, I am. How did you know?M: David told me you had a special birthday coming up.W: Oh…yeah that's right. This year will be my golden birthday.M: What does that mean I've never heard of a golden birthday.W: I've actually just learnt this concept myself. Fortunately, just in time to celebrate.A golden or lucky birthday is when one turns the age of their birth date. So, for example, my sister's birthday is December 9th and her golden birthday would have been the year she turned nine years old. Come to think of it, my parents did throw her a surprise party that year.M: Interesting. Too bad I missed mine. My golden birthday would've been four years ago. I assume you got big plans then.W: Actually yes. My husband is planning a surprise holiday for the two of us next week. I have no idea what he's got in mind, but I'm excited to find out. Has he mentioned anything to you?M: He might have.W: Anything you'd like to share I'm dying to know what kind of trip he has planned on where we're going.M: You know nothing at all?W: Not a clue. Hard to imagine, isn’t it Thou gh I must say I think he's been having even more fun keeping the secret from me in the past few weeks.M: I'm sure both of you will have a fantastic time. Happy golden birthday! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q8. What is the woman looking forward to?A) Her ‘lucky birthday’ C) Her wedding anniversary.B) A call from her dad. D) A special gift from the man.Q9. What did the woman's parents do on her sister's lucky birthday?A) Gave her a big model plane. C) Took her on a trip overseas.B) Bought her a gold necklace. D) Threw her a surprise party.Q10. What is the woman eager to find out about?A) The gift her husband has bought.B) The trip her husband has planned.C) What has been troubling her husband.D) What her husband and the man are up to.Q11. What does the man say at the end of the conversation?A) He will be glad to be a guide for the co uple’s holiday trip.B) He will tell the woman the secret if her husband agrees.C) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.D) He wants to find out about the couple’s holiday plan.Passage 2W: Mr. Green, what do you think makes a successful negotiator?M: Well, that’s hard to define. But I think successful negotiators have several things in common. They are always polite and rational people. They are firm but flexible. They can recognize power and know how to use it. They are sensitive to the dynamics of the negotiation. The way of rises and falls and how it may change direction. They project the image of confidence, and perhaps most importantly, they know when to stop.W: And, what about an unsuccessful negotiator?M: Well, this is probably all of us when we start out. We are probably immature and over-trusting. Too emotional or aggressive. We are unsure of ourselves and we want to be liked by everyone. Good negotiators learn fast. Poor negotiators remain like that and go on losing negotiations.W: In your opinion, can the skills of negotiation be taught?M: Well, you can teach someone how to prepare for a negotiation. There are perhaps six stages in every negotiation. Get to know the other side. State your goals. Start the process. Clarify areas of disagreement or conflict. Reassess your position. Making acceptable compromises. And finally, reach some agreement in principle. These stages can be studied. And strategies to be used in each can be planned beforehand. But I think, the really successful negotiator is probably born with six sense about responding appropriately to the situation at hand.W: The artistic sense you’ve just described?M: Yes. That’s right.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q12: What does the man say about good negotiators?A) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.B) They see the importance of making compromises.C) They know when to adopt a tough attitude.D) They take the rival’s attitude into account.Q13: What does the man say may be the most important thing to a successful negotiator?A) They know how to adapt. C) They know when to make compromises.B) They know when to stop. D) They know how to control their emotion.Q14: How is a good negotiator different from a poor one?A) They are patient. C) They learn quickly.B) They are good at expression. D) They uphold their principles.Q15: What is the first stage of negotiation according to the man?A) Make clear one’s intentio ns. C) Formulate one’s strategy.B) Clarify items of negotiation. D) Get to know the other side.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 fromthe four choices marked A), B), C), D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage 1Some people wonder why countries spend millions of dollars on space projects. They want to know how space research helps people on Earth. Actually space technology helps people on Earth every day. This is called "spin-off technology."Spin-off technology is space technology that is now used on Earth.In early space programs, such as the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, and in the Space Shuttle missions today, scientists developed objects for the astronauts to use on the moon and in space. We now use some of these objects every day.For example, we have Quartz crystal clocks and watches accurate to within one minute a year. We purify the water we drink with a water filter designed for the astronauts' use in space.The cordless, hand-held tools we use in our homes, such as vacuum cleaners, flashlights, drills and saws came from the technology of these early space programs.On cold winter days we can stay warm with battery-operated gloves and socks, and specially made coats and jackets. All of these clothes are similar to the spacesuit designs that kept astronauts comfortable in the temperatures of the moon, and are spin-offs from space technology.These products are only a few examples of the many ways space technology helps us in our everyday lives. No one knows how new spin-off technology from the International Space Station will help us in the future.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q16: What do some people want to know about space exploration?A) When America’s earliest sp ace program started.B) When the International Space Station was built.C) How many space shuttle missions there will be.D) How space research benefits people on Earth.Q17: What did scientists do for the space shuttle missions?A) They accurately calculated the speed of the orbiting shuttles.B) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.C) They tried to meet astronauts’ specific requirements.D) They tried to make best use of the latest technology.Q18: What does the speaker say about Quartz crystal clocks and watches?A) They are extremely accurate. C) They were first made in space.B) They are expensive to make. D) They were invented in the 1970s.Passage 2Well, if I could go back in history and live, I'd like to go back to the 18th century and perhaps in colonial America in Yankee, New England, where one of my ancestors lived, because it was the beginning of something.By the 18th century, there was a feeling of community that had grown. My ancestor was a preacher, traveling around the countryside. People lived in small communities. There were fishermen and farmers who provided fresh food that tasted and looked like food, unlike that in today's supermarkets, and there were small towns, and New York wasn't that far away. I'm deeply attached to the Puritan tradition, not in areligious sense, but they believed in working for something, working for goals, and I like that.They worked hard at whatever they did, but they had a sense of achievement. They believed in goodness in community and helping one another. I love the colonial fabrics, all the silver work, the furnishings, the combination of elegance and simplicity. I love it. The printing, the books, I'm very attached to all that kind of thing that may not all be very entertaining in the modern sense of the world. But I would have enjoyed spending my evenings in that environment, discussing new ideas, building a new world. And I can see myself sitting on a small chair by the fire doing needlework.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q19: Why does the speaker say she would like to go back and live in the 18th century America?A) It was when her ancestors came to America.B) People had plenty of land to cultivate then.C) It marked the beginning of something new.D) Everything was natural and genuine then.Q20: What does the speaker say about the Puritans?A) They believed in working for goals. C) They had all kinds of entertainment.B) They enjoyed living a life of ease. D) They were known to be creative.21.What would the speaker like doing if she could go back to the past?A）Chatting with her ancestors.B）Furnishing her country house.C）Polishing all the silver work.D）Doing needlework by the fire.Passage 3If you are lost in the woods, a little knowledge can turn what some people call a hardship into an enjoyable stay away from the troubles of modern society. When you think you are lost, sit down on a log, or a rock, or lean against a tree, and recite something that you have memorized, to bring you mind to a point where it’s under control. Don’t run blindly. If you must move, don’t follow a stream unless you know it, and in that case, you are not lost. Streams, normally flow through wetland before they reach a lake or a river. Though there are more eatable plants, there may also be wild animals, poisonous snakes, and other hazards. Many experts feel that it’s wisest to walk uphill. At the top of most hills and mountains, are trails leading back to civilization. If there are no trails, you are much easier to be seen on top of a hill, and you may even spot a highway, or a railroad from this point. Nowadays, the first way someone will search for you is by air. In a wetland, or in dense growth, you are very hard to spot. Anytime you go into the woods, somebody should know where you are going, and when you expect to return. Also, when someone comes looking, you should be able to signal to them.Questions 22-25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What does the speaker advise you to do first if you are lost in the woods?A）Use a map to identify your location.B）Call your family or friends for help.C）Sit down and try to calm yourself.D）Try to follow your footprints back.23. What will happen if you follow an unknown stream in the woods?A）You may find a way out without your knowing it.B）You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.C）You may get drowned in a sudden flood.D）You may end up entering a wonderland.24. What do many experts think is the wisest thing to do if you are lost in the woods? A）Look for food.B）Wait patiently.C）Start a fire.D）Walk uphill.25. What should you do before you go into the woods?A）Inform somebody of your plan.B）Prepare enough food and drink.C）Check the local weather.D）Find a map and a compass.。
2017年6月大学英语四级听力真题和答案
2017年6月大学英语四级听力真题和答案2017 年 6 月大学英语四级真题及答案（第一套）Listening Comprehension Part II(30 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 questions will be spoken only once. After you hear questions, 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.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。
Questions 1 to 2 are based on the conversation you have just heard.1.A) The man in the car was absent-minded.B)The test driver made a wrong judgment.C)The self-driving system was faulty.D)The car was moving at a fast speed.2.A) They have done better than conventional cars.B)They have caused several severe crashes.C)They have posed a threat to other drivers.D)They have generally done quite well.Questions 3 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.3.A) He works at a national park.B)He is a queen been specialist.C)He removed the beyond from the boot.D)He drove the bees away from his car.4.A) They were looking after the queenB)They were making a lot of noise第2页共18 页C)They were looking for a new box to live in第3页共18 页第 4 页 共 18 页D) They were dancing in a unique wayA) The discovery of a new species of snakeB) The second trip to a small remote islandC) The finding of 2 new species of frogD) The latest test on rare animal speciesA) A poisonous snake attacked him on his field tripB) He discovered a rare fog on a desertedC) A snake crawled onto his head in his sleepD) He fell from a tall palm tree by accidentA) From its genesB) From its lengthC) From its originD) From its colorection BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end 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 b answer from the four choices markedA), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding tter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.uestions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. A) The security check takes timeB) He has to check a lot of luggageC) His flight is leaving in less than 2 hoursD) The airport is a long way from the hotel 9. A) In cashB) By credit cardQuestions 5 to 7 are based on the conversation you havejust heard. 5.6. 7. of est le8.第 5页 共 18 页C) With a traveler ' s checkD) With his smart phone 10. A) Give him a receiptB) Confirm his flightC) Look after his luggageD) Find a porter for himA) Signing up for membership of S Hotel B) Staying in the same hotel next time he comesC) Loading her luggage onto the airport shuttleD) Posting a comment on the hotel ' s webpageQuestions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12.A) He is the only boy in his familyB) He becomes tearful in windC) He has stopped making terrible facesD) He is his teacher's favorite studentA) Tell him to play in her backyardB) Do something funny to amuse himC) Give him some cherry stones to play withD) Warn him of danger by making up a story 14. A) They could breakpp's legsB) They could sometimes terrify adultsC) They could fly against a strong windD) They could knock pp unconscious15. A) One would get a spot on their tongues if they told a liedeliberatelyB) One would have to shave their head to remove a bat in their hairC) One would go to prison if they put a stamp on upside downD) One would have curly hair if they ate too much stale bread11 .13.第 6 页 共 18 页Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The recordings will be played only once. After you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. ), Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. A) Everything seemed to be changing.B) People were formal and disciplined.C) People were excited to go travellingoverseas. D) Things from the Victorian eracame back alive.17. A) Watching TV at home. B) Meeting people.C) Drinking coffee. D) Trying new foods.18. A) He was interested in stylishdresses. B) He was able to take alot of money.C) He was a student in the 1960s.D) He was a man full ofimagination.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. A) They avoid looking at them.B) They run away immediately.C) They show anger on theirfaces. D) They makethreatening sounds.20. A) It turns to its owner for help. B) It turns away to avoidconflict. C) It looks away and gets angry, too. D) It focusesits eyes on their mouths.21. A) By observing their facial features carefully.第 7页 共18 页B) By focusing on a particular body movement.C) By taking in their facial expressions as a whole.D) By interpreting different emotions in different ways.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.A) They have to look for food and shelter underground.B) They take little notice of the changes in temperature.C) They resort to different means to survive the bitter cold.D) They have difficulty adapting to the changed environment.23. A) They have their weight reduced to minimum.B) They consume the energy stored before the long sleep.C) They can maintain their heart beat at the normal rate.D) They can keep their body temperature warm and stable.24. A) By staying in hiding places and eating very little.B) By seeking food and shelter in people 's houses.C) By growing thicker hair to stay warm.D) By storing enough food beforehand.22. 25. A) To stay safe. C) To keep company. B) To save energy.D) To protect theyoung.2017年6月英语四级考试真题及答案整理一.新闻听力【News Report 1 】Oneo f Google's self-driving cars crashed into a bus in California last month. There were no injuries.It is not the first time one of Google's famed self-driving cars has been involved in a crash, but it may be the first time it has caused one.On February 14th the self-driving car, travelling at 2mph (3km/h), pulled out in front of a public bus going 15mph (24km/h).The man in the Google vehicle reported that he assumed the bus would slow down to let the car第8 页共18 页out, and so he did not switch to the manual mode.In a statement, Google said: "Weclearly bear some responsibility, becauseif our car hadn't moved, there wouldn'thave been a crash."That said, our test driver believedthe bus was going to slow or stop toallow us to merge into the traffic, andthat there would be sufficient space todo that."The company's self-driving cars havedone well over a million miles acrossvarious states in the US, and until nowhave only reported minor accidents.Q1: According to Google, what was thecause of the accident?B The test driver made a wrong judgement 解析：根据新闻第一句话，这篇新闻主要报道的是谷歌无人自动驾驶汽车与一辆公交车发生碰撞这一事故。
2017年度12月英语四级听力原文
2017年12月PartⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D) .Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.News 1：A 9-year-old girl in New Mexico has raised more than $500 for her little brother who needs heart surgery in Houston Texas this July. Addison Witulski's grandmother Kim Allred said Addison probably overheard a conversation between family members talking about the funds needed to get her little brother to treatment." I guess she overheard her grandfather and me talking about how we’re worried about how we’re going to get to Houston, for my grandson’s heart surgery,” said Allred. She decided to go outside and have a lemonade stand and make some drawings and pictures and sell them.”That’s when Addison and her friends Erika and Emily Borden decided to sell lemonade for 50 cents a cup and sell pictures for 25 cents each.Before Allred knew it, New Mexico State Police Officers were among the many stopping by helping them reach a total of $568.The family turned to social media expressing their gratitude saying, “From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to deeply thank each & every person that stopped by!Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.Q1: Who did Addison raise money for?A）Her friend Erika.B）Her little brother.C）Her grandfather.D）Her grandmother.Q2: How did Addison raise money?A）By taking pictures for passers-by.B）By working part time at a hospital.C）By selling lemonade and pictures.D）By asking for help on social media.News 2：Last week, France announced that the country will pave 621 miles of road with solar panels over the next five years, with the goal of providing cheap, renewable energy to five million people.Called “the Wattway,” the roads will be built through joint efforts with the French road-building company Colas and the National Institute of Solar Energy. The company spent the last five years developing solar panels that are only about a quarter of an inch thick and are strong enough to stand up to heavy highway traffic without breaking or making the roads more slippery. The panels are also designed so that they can be installed directly on top of existing roadways, making them relatively cheap and easy to install.France isn’t the first country to kick around the idea of paving its roads with solar panels. In November 2015, the Netherlands completed a 229-foot-long bike path paved with solar panels as a test for future projects. However, this is the first time a panel has been designed to be laid directly on top of existing roads and the first project to install the panels on public highways.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.Q3: What was France's purpose of constructing the Wattway?A）Finding cheaper ways of highway construction.B）Generating electric power for passing vehicles.C）Providing clean energy to five million people.D）Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel.Q4: What is special about the solar panels used in the Wattway?A）They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements.B）They can be laid right on top of existing highways.C）They can only about half an inch thick.D）They are made from cheap materials.News 3：Lions have disappeared from much of Africa, but for the past few years scientists have wondered if the big cats were hanging on in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia. Continuous fighting in the region has made surveys difficult.But scientists released a report Monday documenting, with hard evidence, the discovery of "lost lions."A team with Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, supported by a charity organization, spent two nights in November camping in the National Park in northwest Ethiopia, on the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The researchers set out six camera traps capturing images of lions, and they identified lion tracks.The scientists concluded that lions are also likely to live in the neighbouring National Park across the border in Sudan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature had previously considered the area a "possible range" for the species, and local people had reported seeing lions in the area, but no one presented convincing evidence.Questions 5 and 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.Q5: What has made it difficult to survey lions in remote parts in Sudan and Ethiopia?A）Endless fighting in the region.B）The hazards from the desert.C）Inadequate funding for research.D）The lack of clues about the species.Q6: What was the main purpose of the research?A）To observe the wildlife in the two national parks.B）To identify the reasons for the lions’ disappearance.C）To study the habitat of lions in Sudan and Ethiopia.D）To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.Q7: What did the researchers find in the National Park?A) Lions walking. C) Some camping facilities.B) Lion’s tracks.D) Traps set by local hunters.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.Passage 1M: I bet you're looking forward to the end of this month. Are you?W: Yes, I am. How did you know?M: David told me you had a special birthday coming up.W: Oh…yeah that's right. This year will be my golden birthday.M: What does that mean? I've never heard of a golden birthday.W: I've actually just learnt this concept myself. Fortunately, just in time to celebrate. A golden or lucky birthday is when one turns the age of their birth date. So, for example, my sister's birthday is December 9th and her golden birthday would have been the year she turned nine years old. Come to think of it, my parents did throw her a surprise party that year.M: Interesting. Too bad I missed mine. My golden birthday would've been four years ago. I assume you got big plans then.W: Actually yes. My husband is planning a surprise holiday for the two of us next week. I have no idea what he's got in mind, but I'm excited to find out. Has he mentioned anything to you?M: He might have.W: Anything you'd like to share? I'm dying to know what kind of trip he has planned on where we're going.M: You know nothing at all?W: Not a clue. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Though I must say I think he's been having even more fun keeping the secret from me in the past few weeks.M: I'm sure both of you will have a fantastic time. Happy golden birthday! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q8. What is the woman looking forward to?A) Her ‘lucky birthday’ C) Her wedding anniversary.B) A call from her dad. D) A special gift from the man.Q9. What did the woman's parents do on her sister's lucky birthday?A) Gave her a big model plane. C) Took her on a trip overseas.B) Bought her a gold necklace. D) Threw her a surprise party.Q10. What is the woman eager to find out about?A) The gift her husband has bought.B) The trip her husband has planned.C) What has been troubling her husband.D) What her husband and the man are up to.Q11. What does the man say at the end of the conversation?A) He will be glad to be a guide for the couple’s holiday trip.B) He will tell the woman the secret if her husband agrees.C) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.D) He wants to find out about the couple’s holiday plan.Passage 2W: Mr. Green, what do you think makes a successful negotiator?M: Well, that’s hard to define. But I think successful negotiators have several things in common. They are always polite and rational people. They are firm but flexible. They can recognize power and know how to use it. They are sensitive to the dynamics of the negotiation. The way of rises and falls and how it may change direction. They project the image of confidence, and perhaps most importantly, they know when to stop.W: And, what about an unsuccessful negotiator?M: Well, this is probably all of us when we start out. We are probably immature and over-trusting. Too emotional or aggressive. We are unsure of ourselves and we want to be liked by everyone. Good negotiators learn fast. Poor negotiators remain like that and go on losing negotiations.W: In your opinion, can the skills of negotiation be taught?M: Well, you can teach someone how to prepare for a negotiation. There are perhaps six stages in every negotiation. Get to know the other side. State your goals. Start the process. Clarify areas of disagreement or conflict. Reassess your position. Making acceptable compromises. And finally, reach someagreement in principle. These stages can be studied. And strategies to be used in each can be planned beforehand. But I think, the really successful negotiator is probably born with six sense about responding appropriately to the situation at hand.W: The artistic sense you’ve just described?M: Yes. That’s right.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q12: What does the man say about good negotiators?A) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.B) They see the importance of making compromises.C) They know when to adopt a tough attitude.D) They take the rival’s attitude into account.Q13: What does the man say may be the most important thing to a successful negotiator?A) They know how to adapt. C) They know when to make compromises.B) They know when to stop. D) They know how to control their emotion.Q14: How is a good negotiator different from a poor one?A) They are patient. C) They learn quickly.B) They are good at expression. D) They uphold their principles.Q15: What is the first stage of negotiation according to the man?A) Make clear one’s intentions.C) Formulate one’s strategy.B) Clarify items of negotiation. D) Get to know the other side.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 choices marked A), B), C), D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage 1Some people wonder why countries spend millions of dollars on space projects. They want to know how space research helps people on Earth. Actually space technology helps people on Earth every day. This is called "spin-off technology."Spin-off technology is space technology that is now used on Earth.In early space programs, such as the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, and in the Space Shuttle missions today, scientists developed objects for the astronauts to use on the moon and in space. We now use some of these objects every day.For example, we have Quartz crystal clocks and watches accurate to within one minute a year. We purify the water we drink with a water filter designed for the astronauts' use in space.The cordless, hand-held tools we use in our homes, such as vacuum cleaners, flashlights, drills and saws came from the technology of these early space programs.On cold winter days we can stay warm with battery-operated gloves and socks, and specially made coats and jackets. All of these clothes are similar to thespacesuit designs that kept astronauts comfortable in the temperatures of the moon, and are spin-offs from space technology.These products are only a few examples of the many ways space technology helps us in our everyday lives. No one knows how new spin-off technology from the International Space Station will help us in the future.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q16: What do some people want to know about space exploration?A) When America’s earliest space program started.B) When the International Space Station was built.C) How many space shuttle missions there will be.D) How space research benefits people on Earth.Q17: What did scientists do for the space shuttle missions?A) They accurately calculated the speed of the orbiting shuttles.B) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.C) They tried to meet astronauts’ specific requirements.D) They tried to make best use of the latest technology.Q18: What does the speaker say about Quartz crystal clocks and watches?A) They are extremely accurate. C) They were first made in space.B) They are expensive to make. D) They were invented in the 1970s.Passage 2Well, if I could go back in history and live, I'd like to go back to the 18th century and perhaps in colonial America in Yankee, New England, where one of my ancestors lived, because it was the beginning of something.By the 18th century, there was a feeling of community that had grown. My ancestor was a preacher, traveling around the countryside. People lived in small communities. There were fishermen and farmers who provided fresh food that tasted and looked like food, unlike that in today's supermarkets, and there were small towns, and New York wasn't that far away. I'm deeply attached to the Puritan tradition, not in a religious sense, but they believed in working for something, working for goals, and I like that.They worked hard at whatever they did, but they had a sense of achievement. They believed in goodness in community and helping one another. I love the colonial fabrics, all the silver work, the furnishings, the combination of elegance and simplicity. I love it. The printing, the books, I'm very attached to all that kind of thing that may not all be very entertaining in the modern sense of the world. But I would have enjoyed spending my evenings in that environment, discussing new ideas, building a new world. And I can see myself sitting on a small chair by the fire doing needlework.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q19: Why does the speaker say she would like to go back and live in the 18th century America?A) It was when her ancestors came to America.B) People had plenty of land to cultivate then.C) It marked the beginning of something new.D) Everything was natural and genuine then.Q20: What does the speaker say about the Puritans?A) They believed in working for goals. C) They had all kinds of entertainment.B) They enjoyed living a life of ease. D) They were known to be creative.21.What would the speaker like doing if she could go back to the past?A）Chatting with her ancestors.B）Furnishing her country house.C）Polishing all the silver work.D）Doing needlework by the fire.Passage 3If you are lost in the woods, a little knowledge can turn what some people call a hardship into an enjoyable stay away from the troubles of modern society. When you think you are lost, sit down on a log, or a rock, or lean against a tree, and recite something that you have memorized, to bring you mind to a point where it’s under control. Don’t run blindly. If you must move, don’t follow a stream unless you know it, and in that case, you are not lost. Streams, normally flow through wetland before they reach a lake or a river. Though there are more eatable plants, there may also be wild animals, poisonous snakes, and other hazards. Many experts feel that it’s wisest to walk uphill. At the top of most hills and mountains, are trails leading back to civilization. If there are no trails, you are much easier to be seen on top of a hill, and you may even spot a highway, or a railroad from this point. Nowadays, the first way someone will search for you is by air. In a wetland, or in dense growth, you are very hard to spot. Anytime you go into the woods, somebody should know where you aregoing, and when you expect to return. Also, when someone comes looking, you should be able to signal to them.Questions 22-25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What does the speaker advise you to do first if you are lost in the woods? A）Use a map to identify your location.B）Call your family or friends for help.C）Sit down and try to calm yourself.D）Try to follow your footprints back.23. What will happen if you follow an unknown stream in the woods?A）You may find a way out without your knowing it.B）You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.C）You may get drowned in a sudden flood.D）You may end up entering a wonderland.24. What do many experts think is the wisest thing to do if you are lost in the woods?A）Look for food.B）Wait patiently.C）Start a fire.D）Walk uphill.25. What should you do before you go into the woods? A）Inform somebody of your plan.B）Prepare enough food and drink.C）Check the local weather.D）Find a map and a compass.。
6月英语四级CET4听力原文
6月英语四级CET4听力原文2017年6月英语四级CET4听力原文业精于勤，荒于嬉;行成于思，毁于随。
以下是店铺为大家搜索整理的2017年英语四级CET4听力原文，希望能给大家带来帮助!Short Conversations11. W: There were more than a hundred people at Kate's birthday party. How come she's got so many friends?M: It's really no surprise. You know she was popular even when she was a childQ: What does the man imply about Kate?12. M: They say there'll be a snow-storm tonight, and the cold weather will last quite a few days.W: Oh! We're so lucky, we'll be getting away for a while, and having a holiday in Florida. But let's call right now to confirm our flight.Q: What do we learn about the two speakers?13. W: Tony was awarded a medal for rescuing several families from the forest fire.M: I really admire his courage.Q: What do we learn about Tony from the conversation?14. M: My washing machine is more than fifteen years old and it has worked just fine until last night.W: You’ll never be able to get parts for it, even fr om Japan. So it might be time to invest a more recent model.Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?15. W: I heard about your promotion, you must be thrilled.M: Not really, the new office is huge, but the word load has doubled.Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?16. W: I can’t decide what to do about the party tomorrow.M: You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but I’ll be glad to give you a ride if you do.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?17. M: Now if you have a ny questions about the contract. I’ll be happy to answer them.W: Nothing comes to mind right now, but I’d like to go over all the articles of the contract once more before signing it.Q: What are the speakers doing right now?18. M: We are out of paper for the printer. Can you please order some?W: I completed the order form online yesterday and it will be here by noon. I’ll let you know when it comes in.Q: What did the woman do?Long ConversationConversation OneW: Bob, do you know who I saw the other day? Old Jake, looking terribly depressed. Did he get pensioned off at last?M: Yes. They made him retire after 50 years at sea. He is pretty upset about it, but what can you do? He really is pasted.W: He is all alone, isn’t he?M: Yes, his wife has been dead for years. They had one daughter, Dories. But she went off to town as soon as she left school. And he hasn’t heard from her since. I hear she is making good money as a model.W: Maybe someone could get in touch with her. Get her to come back for a while to help?M: I don’t suppose she come. She never got on with her father. He is bit of a tough character and she is rather selfish. Oh, I expect old Jake will get by. He is healthy at least, comes into aclinic for a check regularly.W: Are you his doctor?M: No, my partner doctor Johnson is.W: That bad-tempered old thing?M: Oh, he isn’t bad-tempered. He just looks it. He is an excellent doctor, taught me a lot, and he has a very nice family. His wife invites me over there to supper every week. Very pleasant.W: yes. I teach their daughter Pen at school. She is a bit careless and lazy about her school work, but a bright little thing and very popular with her age group.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard.19. Why does old Jake look terribly depressed?20. What do we learn about Jake’s wife?21. What does the man say about Jake’s daughter?22. What does the man say about Jake’s doctor?Conversation TwoW: Hello, Mr. Summerfield. How are you today?M: Very well. Thank you, Ms. Green.W: What can I do for you?M: Well, unfortunately, there is a problem with the order we received from you yesterday. It seems we haven’t seen the right quantity of manuals to support the telephone system.W: Oh, dear, that’s bad news. I’m very sorry to hear that, and you don’t know how many packs are without manuals?M: No, because we haven’t opened every pack. But in several of those that have been opened there are none, no manuals.W: I’m very sorry about this inconvenience, Mr.Summerfield. We’ll s end out the manuals this afternoon by express mail entirely at our cost, and the manuals should arrive tomorrow or the day after at the latest.M: All of them, right?W: Yes. It maybe that some have them already, but we cannot be sure. So the best thing is to send out the manual for every pack.M: Yes. Yes, I see. That would be great.W: Please accept our apologies for this mix-up. I assure you we will do everything possible to find out why the mistake happenedM: Right. Thanks for your swift action.W: Not at all. Thank you and goodbye for now. Do call if there is anything else.M: All right. Thank you. Goodbye, Ms Green.W: Goodbye.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard.23. What problems are the speakers discussing?24. What does the woman promise to do?25. What does the man think of the solution?PassagePassage 1Attracting and feeding wild birds are entertaining activities that have long been enjoyed by people all over the world. Feeding birds has become so popular that prepared feed mixtures are readily available. We feed birds for many reasons. Many pleasant hours can come from watching birds. A hobby often develops into a serious study of their habits. Accurate identification of birds is usually the first goal. But observationsthat an amateur bird-watcher can make are really limitless. There is, however, responsibility associated with bird feeding, including a disease hazard. Attracting numbers of birds continually to the same spot can be harmful to them, particularly species that pick food from the ground contaminated by the droppings of other birds. In winter feeding efforts are most satisfying to people and are of greatest benefit to birds. During this time when fewer natural foods are available and air temperatures are lower, extra feeding can keep a bird warm and well. Once begun, feeding should never stop during these lean months. If you start a local increase of birds, be prepared to do what may be required to eliminate hazards to those you want to befriend. A constant supply of food should be given until the cold is over and spring has come. If feeding is stopped during severe weather, birds used to relying upon the feeders must starve.Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q26 What does the speaker say about bird watching?Q27 What does the speaker say about birds fed continually on the same spot?Q28 What does the speaker suggest we do in feeding birds in winter?Passage 2My friend Leo makes up weak and poor excuses whenever there is something he doesn’t want to do. Just two weeks ago, he was at my house when he decided he didn’t want to go into work. He called his boss and said he had to get a new set of tires put on his truck. Then he sat down and watched TV with me. Not only had he lied but his excuse wasn’t a very convincing one. Another time, he cancelled a date with his girlfriend at the lastminute telling her he had to get a new battery for his truck. She was angry and refused to go out with him again until he apologized. Last weekend, Leo offered the poorest excuse yet. He’d promised he’d help me move some furniture, from my parents’ house to my new apartment. He was supposed to bring his truck over about 8 o’clock Saturday morning. I waited, and then called and left a message on his machine. About 11:30, he called and said he was sorry but he’d been getting a new set of tires put on his truck. I guess he’d forgotten he used the same excuse when he called his boss from my house. I think I need a new set of friends. I’m beginning to get tired of Leo’s excuses.Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q29 What does the speaker tell us about her friend Leo?Q30 What did his girlfriend do when Leo canceled a date with her at the last minute?Q31 What favor did the speaker ask Leo to do last weekend?Passage 3In Hollywood, everybody wants to be rich, famous and beautiful. Nobody wants to be old, unknown and poor. For Hollywood kids, life can be difficult because they grow up such an unreal atmosphere. Their parents are ambitious and the children are part of the parents’ ambitions. Parents pay for wasteful grand parties, expensive cars and designer clothes. When every dream can come true, kids don’t learn the value of anything because they have everything. A thirteen-year-old boy, Trent Maguire, has a driver, credit cards and unlimited cash to do what he wants when he wants to. “One day, I’ll earn more than my dad!” he boasts. Parents buy care and attention for their children because they have no time to give it themselves.Amender’s mother employs a personal trainer, a bodyguard, a singing coach and a councilor to look after all her fifteen-year-old daughter’s needs. Often, there is no parent at home most days, so children decide whether to make their own meals or go out to restaurants, when to watch television or do homework. They organize their social life. They play no childhood games. They become adults before they’re ready. Hollywood has always been the city of dreams. The kids there live unreal lives where money, beauty and pleasure are the only gods. Will children around the world soon start to think the same? Or do they already?Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q32 Why is life said to be difficult for Hollywood kids?Q33 What does the speaker say about Trent Maguire, a thirteen-year-old boy?Q34 Why does Amender’s mother employ other people to look after her needs?Q35 What will probably have negative effects on the lives of Hollywood kids?Compound DictationAround 120 years ago, Ebbinghaus began his study of memory. He concentrated on studying how quickly the human mind can remember information. One result of his research is known as the total time hypothesis, which simply mean the amount you learn depends on the time you spend trying to learn it. This can be taken as our first rule of learning. Although it is usually true that studying for 4 hours is better than studying for 1, there is still the question of how to use the 4 hours. For example, is it better to study for 4 hours straight or to study for1 hour a day for 4 days in a row? The answer, as you may have suspected, is that it is better to spread out the study times. This phenomenon through which we can learn more efficiently by dividing our practice time is known as the distribution of practice effect. Thus, our second rule of learning is this. It’s better to study fairly briefly but often. But we are not finished yet. We haven’t considered how we should study over very short periods of time. Let’s say you are trying to lear n some new and rather difficult English vocabulary using a stack of cards. Should you look at the same word in rapid succession or look at the word and then have some delay before you look at it again? The answer is it is better to space up the presentations of the word you are to learn.。
2017年12月英语四级听力新闻及长对话真题及答案解析第一套【新东方在线版】
【导语】2017年12⽉英语四级考试于12⽉16⽇进⾏，考后⽆忧考将为您带来第⼀⼿2017年12⽉英语四级真题及答案。
以下为2017年12⽉英语四级听⼒新闻及长对话真题及答案解析【新东⽅在线版】，仅供参考。
News report 1Q1: Who did Edison raise money for?答案：B. Her little brother.解析：细节题。
重点听⼈物，运⽤听⼒技巧中的开头原则，直接解决问题，选出答案。
Q2: How did Edison raise money?答案：C. By selling lemonade and pictures.解析：细节题。
重点听⾏为动作，按照顺序原则及视听⼀致原则解题，两次提及答案内容。
News report 2Q3: What was France’s purpose of constructing the Wattway?答案：C. Providing clean energy to five million people.解析：细节题。
开头原则，听到goal这个单词确定核⼼内容。
Q4:What is special about the solar panels used in the Wattway?答案：B. They can be laid right on top of existing highways.解析：细节题。
顺序原则，后半部分，视听⼀致，答案确定。
News report 3Q5: What has is made difficult to survey lions in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia?答案：A. Endless fighting in the region.解析：细节题。
开头原则，视听⼀致原则。
出现了continuous fighting in the region…与选项信息⼀致，确定答案。
2017年6月大学英语四级短文阅读听力原文
Passage OneWild carrots probably evolved with the other flowering plants about 360 million years ago.Like apples, carrots are native to Central Asia. That's why horses,which also come from Central Asia, like both apples and carrots so much. With wild carrots,the roots are white, small and skinny, so you'd have to pick a lot of wild carrots to get enough to eat.Doctors used carrot seeds and roots as medicine, on the theory that foods that taste bad must be good for you.Around 800 AD, people in Central Asiamanaged to develop a new kind of carrot—a purple carrot—that attracted more interest from international traders. Then, in the late 1500s,food scientists in the Netherlandscultivated large, straight, sweet, red carrots like the ones we eat today.But people still mostly fed carrots to horses,donkeys and pigs, and didn't eat them themselves. In the 1600s,people in China used carrots as medicine, but they also ate carrots boiled in soup. The red color was popular for Chinese New Year celebrations. But carrots got their biggest boost during the two world wars,when food shortages forced people to eat them, and governments told everyone how healthy carrots were. Today, cooler countriesgrow most of the world's carrots.Machines do most of the planting and picking, and carrots are easy to store and ship, so they are cheap almost everywhere.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. What do we learn from the talk about wild carrots?17. What does the speaker say about carrots in the late 1500s?18. Why did people turn to carrots for food during the two world wars?Passage TwoKatherine loved Facebook. With Facebook,she could stay connected with her family no matter how far away they were. She could see their photos and read their status updates. With Facebook,she could keep her relatives up-to-date on what she was doing.Another thing Katherine loved about Facebook was that she didn't have to think about time zones when updating family.Whenever she called her parents or other relatives, she always had to think about the time difference so that she wouldn't wake someone up or call when she knew they were at church. Facebook was so convenient.When Katherine joined Facebook, some of her classmates at high school started to add her as a friend. At first, this didn't bother her.She loved learning about the success of people she knew when she was just a teenager.She loved finding out people were getting married, having babies, and traveling. Soon, however, Katherine found herself comparing herself with the people she was reading about on Facebook. It began to make her feel badthat some people seemed to be doing so much better than she was.She was also spending a lot of time on Facebook. It took a lot of time and energyto keep up with everyone's status updates. Katherine started to think.She looked at the list of over 500 friends she had on Facebook and realizedsome of them were not really friends at all. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. What was one particular convenience Katherine loved about Facebook? 20. How did Katherine feelwhen her classmates added her as a Facebook friend?21. What made Katherine feel bad about herself later on? Passage ThreeDo you know where a mule comes from? It is the child of a donkey and a horse. Mules have strong muscles like horses, but they eat less, can work longer, and are gentler, like donkeys.George Washington was the first person in the United States to own mules.He had heard that mules made good farm animals and he contacted the U.S. ambassador in Spain to ask about them.In 1785, King Charles Ⅲof Spainsent Washington a male donkey as a gift. That male donkey becamethe father of the mule industry in the U.S. Every April,Maury County holds a Mule Day celebration. Held in Columbia, Tennessee,Mule Day had its beginnings as "Breeder's Day" in the 1840s.Farmers and farm animal breederswould bring their animals to market every April to show, buy, and trade.This was an important business before the days of tractors,when many families made a living from farming and mules were used as work animals. Eventually, tractors began to replace mules,making them less in demand.A parade was added to Mule Day in 1934 to attract more people.Over the years other activities have been added, and today more than 200,000 people show up each year to watch and participate.If you visit during Mule Day celebrations, you might see mule-driving contests, square dances, horse showsor even tree-cutting competitions.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What does the speaker say about mules? 23. What do we learn about the donkey which is said to bethe father of the U.S. mule industry?24. What did farmers usually do on Mule Day in the 1840s?25. What made mules less in demand in America? This is the end of listening comprehension.。
2017年6月大学英语四级听力真题及参考答案
2017年6月大学英语四级听力真题及参考答案2017年06月17日11:21新浪教育2017年全国大学英语四六级考试于6月17日进行，新浪教育24小时直播报道，为你带来第一手四六级考试资讯。
以下为英语四级听力录音材料：SectionA News1 B The test driver made a wrong judgement2 D They have generally done quite well.3 A He works at a national park.4 B They were making a lot of noise.5 A The discovery of a new species of snake.6 C A snake crawled onto his head in his sleep.7 D From its colour.SectionB Conversationconversation18 C His flight is leaving in less than 2 hours.9 B By credit card.10 A Give him a receipt.11 D Posting a comment on the hotel’s webpage.conversation212 C He has stopped making terrible faces.13 D Warn him of danger by making up a story.14 A They could break pp’s legs.15 B One would have to shave their head to remove a bat in their hair. SectionC PassagePassage116 C Everything seemed to be changing.17 A Meeting people.18 D He was a young student in the 1960s.Passage219 B They avoid looking at them.20 C It focuses its eyes on their mouths.21 B By taking in their facial expressions as a whole.Passage322 D They resort to different means to survive the bitter cold.23 C They consume the energy stored before the long sleep.24 A By storing enough food beforehand25 C To stay safe。
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2017年专业四级考试英语听力文本素材1The media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has told a British parliamentary committee that he was not responsible for the phone-hacking scandal at one of his newspapers, the now defunct News of the World. He said he may have lost sight of what was happening there but the paper had represented less than 1% of his worldwide business. Mr Murdoch said he’d been shocked and ashamed when he learnt that the News of the World had hacked the phone of a murdered schoolgirl, and in his closing address, he gave this apology."I would like all the victims of phone hacking to know how completely and deeply sorry I am. Apologising cannot take back what has happened. Still, I want them to know the depth of my regret for the horrible invasions into their lives. I fully understand their ire. And I intend to work tirelessly to merit their forgiveness."Mr Murdoch gave evidence alongside his son James, who is a senior executive in the media empire. Robert Pestonfollowed the day’s events.The Murdochs’evidence to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee had its moments of drama but few moments of revelation. There were elements of both when James Murdoch, the chairman of News International, confirmed that his company has been continuing to pay the legal expenses of Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective hired by the News of the World to illegally hack the phones of individuals. There are News Corporation investors who believe that at the age of 80, it might now be time for Rupert Murdoch to hand over the executive reins of the global media empire he created, and his performance today probably won’t dissuade them that the moment may have come. Although Mr Murdoch himself insisted he’s the right man to correct the News of the World’s sins of the past - sins that went on for years, but which Mr Murdoch didn’t notice in their enormity till the revelations a fortnight ago that the most vulnerable individuals’phones had been hacked.The parliamentary hearing had to be suspended for a time when a member of the public threw what appeared to be a plate of shaving foam at Mr Murdoch. Police arrested the man, and when the hearing resumed, members of the public wereexcluded. A member of parliament, Chris Bryant, was there. He described what he saw."Somebody suddenly appeared round from the left and had some kind of plastic plate with some shaving foam on it, and shoved it in Rupert Murdoch’s face. I think it’s just despicable. You know, there’s a really serious set of questions that people are answering and the whole country wanted to hear answered."Earlier, Britain’s two most senior police officers, who both resigned over the hacking scandal, faced questions from another parliamentary committee. Assistant Commissioner John Yates said he could confidently predict that only a very small number of police officers would be jailed as a result of investigations into alleged illegal payments by journalists. The head of the Metropolitan Police Paul Stephenson said nearly a quarter of the force’s public affairs department once worked for Rupert Murdoch’s News International.World News from the BBCThe United Nations is preparing to declare a famine in parts of Somalia. Across East Africa, an estimated 10 million people have been affected by the worst drought in more than half a century. Multiple sources say the UN will announce onWednesday that conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that famine has returned to the region for the first time in 19 years.The International Monetary Fund has warned that the European debt crisis could have major global consequences if it’s not dealt with quickly. The IMF said decisive action was critical to prevent the financial problems in countries, such as Greece, from spreading to major European economies. Our economics correspondent Andrew Walker reports.The IMF paints a picture of striking contrast: the recovery in the core of the euro area, countries such as Germany, is resilient; other member countries are in what the report calls "dire shape". There was a call for decisive action including clarity about the role of private sector creditors of governments. Europe [has] been wrangling inconclusively for weeks about whether banks should help with a second bailout of Greece. The IMF also says countries should press ahead with reducing their borrowing needs, and that Europe should increase the size of its rescue loan facility.A team of international experts has concluded that the former President of Chile, Salvador Allende, killed himself during the 1973 military coup led by General AugustoPinochet. A detailed report was released two months after Mr Allende’s body was exhumed as part of an inquiry into his death.Judicial officials in France say they’ve questioned family members of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former IMF chief, over allegations that he tried to rape a young writer. Those questioned were the Socialist politician’s ex-wife and their daughter Camille, both of whom were once close to the complainant Tristane Banon. Mr Strauss-Kahn denies the allegation that an assault took place in 2003.。