2008年12月大学英语四级考试听力原文

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2008年12月大学英语四级听力原文及答案

2008年12月大学英语四级听力原文及答案Short Conversations11．M: I just received an Email from one of my former classmates. I was surprised, I hadn’t heard from him for ages.W: Well, I’ve been out of touch with most of my old friends, only one or two stil l drop me a line occasionally,Q: What does the woman mean?12. M: If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week.W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the w alls, but I’ll let you know tomorrow.Q: Who is the woman talking to?13. W: Excuse me, do you have any apartments available for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts.M: The only vacant one I have is 600 dollars, have you inquired at the apartment complex down the street?Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?14. W: Y ou bought a pair of jeans yesterday, didn’t you? What are they like?M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones, except with a larger wai st. I guess I haven’t spent much time exercising lately.Q: What can we infer from the conversation about the man?15. W: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think?M: I guess it’s something I haven’t acquired a taste fo r yet.Q: What does the man imply?16. W: Y ou haven’t seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn’t leave it in the reading room. M: Did you check that pile of journals you’ve borrowed from the library the other day?Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman?17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee?W: I’d love to, but I’m exhausted. I was up till 3 this morning, writing a paper for my literature class.Q: Why does the woman decline the man’s invitation?18. W: Y ou had a job interview yesterday, didn’t you? How did it go?M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates competing for the sales manager’s job. And finally it was down to three of us, but the other two seemed better qualified.Q: What does the man imply?听力长对话1F: Simon, how does it feel to be retired?M: Well, not so bad.F: How have you been spending your time?M: I have been spending more time with my family. I’ve also travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less.F: Great.M: Y ou know I ha ven’t stopped work completely.F: Yes, could you tell us more about this?M: I’m on a scheme that’s called phased retirement; I had a six-month break from work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for.F: How does the scheme work?M: Well, it’s a trial at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary stuff, the company advertises posts on its website that retired employees like myself can access.F: What sort of works advertised?M: Well, all sorts of things, really. Administrative work and more specialized work, the sort of thing I can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work. So I can manage my own time.F: I can see it’s good for you. What is your company get out of this?M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job’s over, that’s it. I’m not on their books any more. Questions 19-21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable?20. How does Simon get to know about the company’s available posts?21. Why does the company adopt the phased retirement scheme?长对话2W: Oh, where are we going?M: I want to show you something.W: I know, but what is it?M: A farm. It’s just down this road. It’s a small place, but at least it would be our own.W: A farm? How can we afford to buy a farm?M: It isn’t very large, only 40 acres. We wouldn’t have to pay very much right now.W: Is there a house on the place?M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up a little. I can do the job myself.W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden?M: There is about half an acre around the house. That’s plenty of space.W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe kee p a few chickens, couldn’t we? M: Y es, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food.W: What are you thinking about growing, if we do take this place?M: Well, it really isn’t big enough for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop of potatoes. W: Potatoes? There are a lot of work.M: We are used to hard work, aren’t we?W: Yes, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream.M: I think we’ve saved enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor, too.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q 22:What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation?Q 23:What does the man say about the farm?Q 24:Why does the man intend to grow potatoes rather than corn on the farm?Q 25:What is the woman’s greatest concern about the man’s plan?Passage OneMembers of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today Mr. Robert Washington, chief of our city’s police force. He will address us on the subject of the Community Policing Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program 8 years ago. The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies, such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working: crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about this program. Now let’s welcome Mr. Robert Washington.26. What is the purpose of the speaker’s remarks?He will address us on the subject of community policing program.27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington?Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the community policing program 8 years ago.28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program?The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city.29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be?And the program seems to be working, crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure.四级篇章2There are between 3000 and 6000 public languages in the world, and we must add approximately 6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns in communication seem infinite in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious process. For a long time, people thought that we learned a language only by imitation and association. For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, “Hot, hot!” And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother and says, “Hot, hot!” However, Noam Chomsky, a famous expert in language, pointed out that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because youngchildren can make sentences they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants are born with the ability to learn language. Chomsky meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal language mechanism that makes it possible for us, as infants, to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential that human infants have for learning language. But it does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns?There are numerous public and private languages.Question 31. What is Chomsky’s point on th e ability to learn a language?Human infants are born with the ability to learn language and the potential to learn any language in the world.Question 32. What does Chomsky’s theory fail to exp lain according to the speaker?It does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.四级听力Passage ThreeWhen US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving a speech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago and became an engineer before joining NASA, that is the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen speeches a year. Each speech is different because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners' educational level and what information they want to know. On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat, drin k, and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is “the spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water-containers, and a waste-collection system.” To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. “Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?” Her answer is "No". To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the design of spacesuits that protects spacemen from the deadly temperature extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it’s important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different.33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining in NASA?34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speech on space walks?35. What does the high school audience want to know about space travel?Compound Dictation:Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue through the next few decades. Crime rates have always been high in multi-cultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new phenomenon has appeared on the world scene: rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few offences. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, murder and auto theft are clearly rising, particularly in Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, and in Western European nations, such as the Untied Kingdom. What is driving this crime explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there are certain conditions associated withrising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of population, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, changing national borders, greater economic growth and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong. These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogenous, such as Japan, Denmark and Greece, are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history. Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century, and failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.11. D) She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. A) A painter.13. C) Make inquires elsewhere.14. C) He has gained some weight lately.15. D) He doesn't like abstract paintings.16. B) She may have put her notebook amid the journals.17. A) She wants to get some sleep.18. B) His chance of getting the job is slim.19. A He can manage his time more flexible.20. D Searching its website.21. D To utilize its retired employee's resources.22 C See a piece of property.23. B It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.24. C It may now be big enough for raising corn.25. A Finances.26. A) To introduce the chief of the city' police force.27. D) He holds a master's degree in criminology.28. B) To get police officers closer to the local people.29. C) Effective.30. B) There are numerous languages in existence.31. C) It is something we are born with.32. D) How children learn to use language.33. B) She was an engineer.34. C) Adjusting them to different audiences.35. A) Whether spacemen carry weapons.36. trend 37. phenomenon 38. scene 39. offenses 40. murder 41. particularly 42. explosion43.associated44. changing national borders, greater economic growth, and the lack of accepted social ideasof right and wrong45. are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most ofits history46. failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems。

2008年12月大学英语四级考试听力真题及答案

2008年12月大学英语四级考试听力真题及答案Part III Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

11.A) Only true friendship can last long.B) Letter writing is going out of style.C) She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D) She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. A) A painter. C) A porter.B) A mechanic. D) A carpenter.13. A) Look for a place near her office. C) Make inquiries elsewhere.B) Find a new job down the street. D) Rent the $600 apartment.14.A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely busy recently.C) He has gained some weight lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15.A)The woman possesses a natural for art.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn’t good at abstract thinking.D) He doesn’t like abstract paintings.16.A) She couldn’t have left her notebook in the library.B) she may have put her notebook amid the journals.C) she should have made careful notes while doing reading.D) she shouldn’t have read his notes without his knowing it.17. A)she wants to get some sleep C) she has a literature class to attendB) she needs time to write a paper D)she is troubled by her sleep problem18.A)He is confident he will get the job.B)His chance of getting the job is slim.C)It isn’t easy to find a qualified sales manager.D)The interview didn’t go as well as he expected.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A)He can manage his time more flexibly.B)He can renew contact with his old friends.C)He can concentrate on his own projects.D)He can learn to do administrative work.20.A)Reading its ads in the newspapers.B)Calling its personnel department.C)Contacting its manager.D)Searching its website.21.A)To cut down its production expenses.B)To solve the problem of staff shortage.C)To improve its administrative efficiency.D)To utilize its retired employees’resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22.A)Buy a tractor.B)Fix a house.C)See a piece of property.D)Sing a business contract.23.A)It is only forty miles form where they live.B)It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C)It was a large garden with fresh vegetables.D)It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24.A)Growing potatoes will involve less labor.B)Its soil may not be very suitable for corn.C)It may not be big enough for raising corn.D)Raising potatoes will be more profitable.25 A)FinancesB)EquipmentC)LaborD)ProfitsSection BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One26 A)To introduce the chief of the city’s police forceB)To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC)To address the issue of community securityD)To explain the functions of the city council27 A)He has distinguished himself in city managementB)He is head of the International Police ForceC)He completed his higher education abroadD)He holds a master’s degree in criminology28 A)To coordinate work among police departmentsB)To get police officers closer to the local peopleC)To help the residents in times of emergencyD)To enable the police to take prompt action29 A)PopularB)discouragingC)effectiveD)controversialPassage Two30 A)people differ greatly in their ability to communicateB)there are numerous languages in existenceC)Most public languages are inherently vagueD)Big gaps exist between private and public languages31 A)it is a sign of human intelligenceB)in improves with constant practiceC)it is something we are born withD)it varies from person to person32 A)how private languages are developedB)how different languages are relatedC)how people create their languagesD)how children learn to use languagePassage Three33 A)she was a tailorB)she was an engineerC)she was an educatorD)she was a public speaker34.A)Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection CDirections : In this section .you will hear a passage three time. When the passage is read for first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. when the passage is read for the first time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36to43 with the exact words you have just heard. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

大学英语四级考试(CET4)历年真题听力2008年12月大学英语四级听力真题

Part III Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

11．A)Only true friendship can last long.B)Letter writing is going out of style.C)She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D)She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. A) A painter. C) A porter.B) A mechanic. D) A carpenter.13. A) Look for a place near her office. C) Make inquiries elsewhere.B) Find a new job down the street. D) Rent the $600 apartment.14.A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely busy recently.C) He has gained some weight lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15.A)The woman possesses a natural for art.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn’t good at abstract thinking.D) He doesn’t like abstract paintings.16.A) She couldn’t have left her notebook in the library.B) she may have put her notebook amid the journals.C) she should have made careful notes while doing reading.D) she shouldn’t have read his notes without his knowing it.17. A)she wants to get some sleep C) she has a literature class to attendB) she needs time to write a paper D)she is troubled by her sleep problem18.A)He is confident he will get the job.B)His chance of getting the job is slim.C)It isn’t easy to find a qualified sales manager.D)The interview didn’t go as well as he expected.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A)He can manage his time more flexibly.B)He can renew contact with his old friends.C)He can concentrate on his own projects.D)He can learn to do administrative work.20.A)Reading its ads in the newspapers.B)Calling its personnel department.C)Contacting its manager.D)Searching its website.21.A)To cut down its production expenses.B)To solve the problem of staff shortage.C)To improve its administrative efficiency.D)To utilize its retired employees’ resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22.A)Buy a tractor.B)Fix a house.C)See a piece of property.D)Sing a business contract.23.A)It is only forty miles form where they live.B)It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C)It was a large garden with fresh vegetables.D)It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24.A)Growing potatoes will involve less labor.B)Its soil may not be very suitable for corn.C)It may not be big enough for raising corn.D)Raising potatoes will be more profitable.25A)FinancesB)EquipmentC)LaborD)ProfitsSection BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One26 A)To introduce the chief of the city’s police forceB)To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC)To address the issue of community securityD)To explain the functions of the city council27 A)He has distinguished himself in city managementB)He is head of the International Police ForceC)He completed his higher education abroadD)He holds a master’s degree in criminology28 A)To coordinate work among police departmentsB)To get police officers closer to the local peopleC)To help the residents in times of emergencyD)To enable the police to take prompt action29 A)PopularB)discouragingC)effectiveD)controversialPassage Two30 A)people differ greatly in their ability to communicateB)there are numerous languages in existenceC)Most public languages are inherently vagueD)Big gaps exist between private and public languages31 A)it is a sign of human intelligenceB)in improves with constant practiceC)it is something we are born withD)it varies from person to person32 A)how private languages are developedB)how different languages are relatedC)how people create their languagesD)how children learn to use languagePassage Three33 A)she was a tailorB)she was an engineerC)she was an educatorD)she was a public speaker34.A)Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection CDirections : In this section .you will hear a passage three time. When the passage is read for first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. when the passage is read for the first time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36to43 with the exact words you have just heard. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

英语四级200812听力原文

Short Conversations11．M: I just received an Email from one of my former classmates. I was surprised, I hadn’t heard from him for ages.W: Well, I’ve been out of touch with most of my old friends, only one or two still drop me a line occasionally,Q: What does the woman mean?12. M: If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week.W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the walls, but I’ll let you know tomorrow.Q: Who is the woman talking to?13. W: Excuse me, do you have any apartments available for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts.M: The only vacant one I have is 600 dollars, have you inquired at the apartment complex down the street?Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?14. W: You bought a pair of jeans yesterday, didn’t you? What are they like?M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones, except with a larger waist. I guess I haven’t spent much time exercising lately.Q: What can we infer from the conversation about the man?15. W: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think?M: I guess it’s something I haven’t acquired a taste for yet.Q: What does the man imply?16. W: You haven’t seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn’t leave it in the reading room.M: Did you check that pile of journals you’ve borrowed from the library the other day?Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman?17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee?W: I’d love to, but I’m exhausted. I was up till 3 this morning, writing a paper for my literature class.Q: Why does the woman decline the man’s invitation?18. W: You had a job interview yesterday, didn’t you? How did it go?M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates competing for the sales manager’s job. And finally it was down to three of us, but the other two seemed better qualified.Q: What does the man imply?F: Simon, how does it feel to be retired?M: Well, not so bad.F: How have you been spending your time?M: I have been spending more time with my family. I’ve also travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less.F: Great.M: You know I haven’t stopped work completely.F: Yes, could you tell us more about this?M: I’m on a scheme that’s called phased retirement; I had asix-month break from work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for.F: How does the scheme work?M: Well, it’s a trial at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary stuff, the company advertises posts on its website that retired employees like myself can access.F: What sort of works advertised?M: Well, all sorts of things, really. Administrative work and more specialized work, the sort of thing I can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work. So I can manage my own time.F: I can see it’s good for you. What is your company get out of this?M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job’s over, that’s it. I’m not on their books any more.Questions 19-21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable?20. How does Simon get to know about the company’s available posts?21. Why does the company adopt the phased retirement scheme? 长对话2W: Oh, where are we going?M: I want to show you something.W: I know, but what is it?M: A farm. It’s just down this road. It’s a small place, but at least it would be our own.W: A farm? How can we afford to buy a farm?M: It isn’t very large, only 40 acres. We wouldn’t have to pay very much right now.W: Is there a house on the place?M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up a little. I can do the job myself.W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden?M: There is about half an acre around the house. That’s plenty of space.W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe keep a few chickens, couldn’t we?M: Yes, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food.W: What are you thinking about growing, if we do take this place?M: Well, it really isn’t big enough for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop of potatoes.W: Potatoes? There are a lot of work.M: We are used to hard work, aren’t we?W: Yes, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream.M: I think we’ve saved enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor, too.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q 22:What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation?Q 23:What does the man say about the farm?Q 24:Why does the man intend to grow potatoes rather than corn on the farm?Q 25:What is the woman’s greatest concern about the man’s plan?2008年12月大学四级Passage One20分11秒——23分36秒Members of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today Mr. Robert Washington, chief of our city’s police force. He will address us on the subject of the Community Policing Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program 8 years ago. The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies, such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working: crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about this program. Now let’s welcome Mr. Robert Washington.26. What is the purpose of the speaker’s remarks?He will address us on the subject of community policing program.27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington?Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the community policing program 8 years ago.28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program?The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city.29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be?And the program seems to be working, crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure.四级篇章2There are between 3000 and 6000 public languages in the world, and we must add approximately 6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns in communication seem infinite in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious process. For a long time, people thought that we learned a language only by imitation and association. For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, “Hot, hot!” And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother and says, “Hot, hot!” However, Noam Chomsky, a famous expert in language, pointed out that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because young children can make sentences they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants are born with the ability to learn language. Chomsky meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal language mechanism that makes it possible for us, as infants, to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential that humaninfants have for learning language. But it does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns?There are numerous public and private languages.Question 31. What is Chomsky’s point on the ability to learn a language?Human infants are born with the ability to learn language and the potential to learn any language in the world.Question 32. What does Chomsky’s theory fail to explain according to the speaker?It does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.四级Passage ThreeWhen US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving aspeech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago and became an engineer before joining NASA, that is the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen speeches a year. Each speech is different because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners' educational level and what information they want to know. On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat, drink, and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is “the spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water-containers, and awaste-collection system.” To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. “Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?” Her answer is "No". To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the design of spacesuits that protects spacemen from the deadly temperature extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it’s important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different.33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining in NASA?34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speech on space walks?35. What does the high school audience want to know about space travel?Compound Dictation: (31’43’’-33’55’’)Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue through the next few decades. Crime rates have always been high in multi-cultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new phenomenon has appeared on the world scene: rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few offences. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, murder and auto theft are clearly rising, particularly in Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, andin Western European nations, such as the Untied Kingdom. What is driving this crime explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there are certain conditions associated with rising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of population, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, changing national borders, greater economic growth and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong. These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. Forinstance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogenous, such as Japan, Denmark and Greece, are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history. Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century, and failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.。

2008年12月四级听力试题及答案

11.
A)Only true friendship can last long.
B)Letter writing is going out of style.
C)She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.
D)She has lost contact with most of her old friends.
Crime is increasing world wide. There is every reason to believe the (36)____will continue through the next few decades.Crime rates have always been high in multicultural, industrialized societies such as the United States, but a new(37)____has appeared on the world(38)____rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few(39)____. Street crimes such as robbery, rape (40)___and auto theft are clearly rising(41)___in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the united Kingdom.What is driving this crime (42)____?There are no simple answers. Still，there are certain conditions(43) _______with rising crime increasing heterogeneity (混杂) of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of government,(44) ________________________________________________________________________These conditions are increasingly observable around the world . For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous(同种类的) ,such as Japan, Denmark and Greece (45)________________________________________________________________________Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the twenty-first century, and (46)_______________________________________________

(完整版)08年英语专四听力原文和答案

2008年专四听力答案PART I DICTATIONChoosing a CareerWhen students graduate from college, / many of them do not know how they want to spend their working lives, / and they sometimes move from job to job / until they find something that suits them / and of equal importance to which they are suited. Others never find a job in which they are really happy. / They remain all their lives square pegs in round holes. /When we choose our careers, we need to ask ourselves two questions. / First, what do we think we would like to be?/ Second, what kind of people are we? / The idea, for example, of being a painter or a musician may seem very attractive, / but unless we have great talent and are willing to work very hard, / we are certain to fail in these occupations, / and failure will lead to unhappiness in life. /So it is important to assess our suitability for a certain career in job search.PART ⅡLISTENING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A CONVERSATIONSQuestions I to 3 are based on the following conversation.M: Is that Anne Shaw?W:Yes, speaking?M: Hello, it is Eric from London.W: Hello, Eric. How can I help you?M;l'm fixing up on next project team meeting, and I just want to check some possible dates with you,W: Fine, let me just get my diary. Ok, which dates are you looking at?M: I've spoken to the others, (1) and they prefer either the third week of May or the second week of June.W: Yeah, (1) both of the weeks are pretty clear at the moment except for the 11th of June.M: Right, I've got that.W:So where is the meeting taking place this time?M: (2)lt was going to be in London. But I spoke to Carlos in Mexico City, and he suggested Chicago. He thinks it will be more convenient for most of the team.W:(2)He's probably right. It'll certainly be much easier for me as well. Because I can fly from Toronto, and I'm sure you can find a meeting room somewhere near the airport.M:(2) That's a good idea. I'll check up some hotels in that area and get back to you towards the end of the week.W: Fine, but I'm not in the office on Friday.M: Ok, (3) I'll call you later in the afternoon on Thursday.W:No problem, bye.Key:1.A 2. D 3.AQuestions 4 to 6 are based on the following conversation.M: We are having a debate on advertising Thursday evening, and I have to take part. W: That's interesting. I should like to hear what people think about advertising.M: What's there to say? We must have advertising, mustn't we?W:Why?M: Well, we wouldn't know what there was to buy if we didn't have advertisements. W: Yes, that's true. Up to a point, advertisements provide information that we need. If someone has produced a new article, naturally, the seller wants to tell us about it.M:Yes, and the advertisements tell us which product is the best.W:Do they? I don't think so. (4) Every manufacturer says that his product is the best, or at least tries to give the impression. Only one can be the best, so the others are misleading, aren't they?M: Well, in a way, I suppose, but we don't have to believe them, do we?W:Are you saying that advertisements aren't effective? I don't think that intelligent businessmen will spend millions of dollars on advertising if nobody believes the advertisements, do you?M: Perhaps not, but after all, it's their money that they are spending.W: (5) Is it? I think not. The cost of advertising is added to the price of the article. You and I and all the other people who buy the article pay for the advertising.M: Well, I suppose we get something for our money, some information.W:Yes, (6)but don't forget it is often misleading information, and sometimes harmful. M: Harmful?W:What about the advertisements designed to persuade young people to smoke cigarettes? Wouldn't you say they are harmful?M: You've given me a lot to think about. I'm quite looking forward to the debate now. Key: 4.D 5.B 6.DQuestions 7 to 10 are based on the following conversation.W:So Mr. Brown, this is your bed, and as you can see, there are three other beds in the ward. Have you got everything you need?M: Yes, nurse, I think so. (7) I followed the hospital's advice, and I've only brought a few belongings with me.W: Good, you can see the reasons why we ask you to do that, (7)the cupboard is really very small.M:Yes. Nurse, can you tell roe what the visiting hours are?W:Yes, of course. (8) They are in the afternoon from 2:30 to 4:30 and in the evening from 7:00 to 8:00, but remember that only two people can see you at the same .time. M:l see. What other rules are there?W:Yes. We start pretty early. (9) We wake you at 6 o'clock, and breakfast is at 8 o'clock, lunch is at noon, there is tea at 3 :30, and supper is at 6 o'clock.M:0h, that's very different from what I have been used to. You'd better tell me the rest of the rules here.W:Yes. Well, you can see the no smoking sign. (9)We don't allow smoking in the wards, and the same goes for alcohol. However, if you do need to smoke, there are special lounges.M: Oh, I don't smoke, so it doesn't affect me.W:Good.Key: 7.A 8.C 9.C 10.ASECTION B PASSAGESQuestions II to 13 are based on the following passage.In my opinion, the most important thing when choosing a hotel for an international conference is the meeting room or rooms. (11) For example, you may need a large room where everyone can be together for keynote speeches or presentations, and smaller meeting rooms for informal group discussions. Then, if people are coming from different countries, you need to find out about the rooms for them to stay in. (13) They should be spacious and comfortable, and have facilities for using email and laptops, as people have to keep in touch with their offices or headquarters even when they are away.(12)My next point is facilities for hotel 'guests, things like a bar, a good quality restaurant, preferably offering local food and fitness and sport centers. These are important, because delegates need to be able to relax after a long day of meet-ings and get to know each other in informal situations.Finally, for an international conference where delegates are coming from different countries, it can be very useful to choose a hotel that (13) has good transport connections with the nearest airport and all places of interest. This can save everybody a lot of time.Key: 11.D 12.B 13.BQuestions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage.(17) Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It's a great pleasure that I welcome you to the new Museum of Industrial and Rural life. (14) The museum provides us with a unique historical record of industrial and agricultural life in the area. Here, you find a wonderful collectiop of industrial and agricultural exhibits. Some of them date back 200 years which reflect the history of our area over the last two centuries. Until recently, the area was mainly agricultural, and the world industries and traditions were all associated with agriculture. The museum's collections bring this heritage back to life, with the fascinating blend of working and static displays. From early times, good communications with the rest of the country have lead to the industrial prosperity for the area. One example of such communications was (15) the Roman Road, Portsmouth Street which passed nearby. Later, canals came to bring new prosperity, and then the railways. Good transport systems encouraged local industries, especially those related to agriculture, and the museum has collections of national significance from many of these.Local people, too, have changed the history, and the museum will introduce you to these and other local celebrities. (16) The displays with all items collected locallyshow what local life used to be like. Many displays of local items are in context and show, for example printer's and cobbler's workshops. Whatever you are interested, we hope the museum will have something for you.Key: 14.C 15.A 16.D 17.BQuestions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage.Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you very much for inviting me here to talk about safety in dormitory and personal security.First, a few points to bear in mind. You'll notice the doors of your dorm have two types of locks, a Yale lock and a Chubb lock. Make sure you double (18) lock your door, not just one lock, both of them, however long you are going out for. Make sure when you go out, all the windows are closed. Those of you in the ground and first-floor rooms will notice that you are locking windows, make sure you use them. Lock them every time you go out; (18) lock them at night. If you have got expensive equipmenis in your room, first of all, insure it. So many people lose things and haven't got insurance. Make sure you insure it.This brings me onto personal security. Wherever possible, avoid working alone late at night, especially girl students. Avoid dark streets, and try to stick to the well-lit streets whenever possible. (19) Also if you know you are going to be up late, make sure you've got enough money for a taxi to get home again, or arrange to stay with friends for the night. It may sound absurd, but don't forget the university actually offers free self-defense classes. I hope it something you'd never have to use, but (20)it certainly was going along to a few self-defense sessions.Key: 18.D 19.B 20.ASECTION C NEW BROADCASTNews Item IThe New Year celebration in Thailand was shattered by violence, (21) when 9 bombs exploded across Bangkok around midnight. Three Thai citizens were killed and more than 30 injured. No terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombings by Tuesday. Some believe the explosions were the work of Muslim separatists. Bombings and shootings occur almost daily in Thailand's three southernmost provinces: Yala, Narathiwat and Purtonia have a dominant Muslim population and have long complained of neglect and discrimination in the largely Buddhist nation. (22) They have asked for independence and a separate Islamic state. Since 2004, the insurgences have carried out numerous attacks in the south, and more than I , 900 people have been killed. The Thai government has been unable to curb the violence, though thousands of troops have been sent to the south.Key：21.D 22.ANews Item 2U, S. President George W. Bush will layout his new policy for Iraq Wednesday night in a TV speech. However, some details of the policy have been leaked to themedia.National oil law: a date is to be announced for the release of a national oil law in Iraq. (23) The law will give the Iraqicentral government the power to distribute current and future oil revenues to provinces and regions, based on their population size. The achievement of a fair distribution of oil revenue is seen as a corner stone of Iraqi security.More troops.-the U. S. now has 132 000 troops in Iraq. The number will temporarily be increased by 20 000. A renewed construction package costing up to I billion U. S. dollars is also to be announced. (24) The money is to help create jobs and boost the Iraqi economy. Young Iraqis are to be encouraged to participate in the country's reconstruction by cleaning the streets and repairing schools.Key：23.C 24.BNews Item 3A joint committee will soon seek further cooperation between Egypt and Spain in(25) industry, trade, investment and science and technology. (26) Egyptian economic sources said the two sides will discuss the possibility of setting up a joint business council when the Egyptian-Spanish Higher Committee meets in the first half of September in Madrid, Spain. The business council is aimed at balancing bilateral trade by expanding trade volume.Key：25.A 26.DNews Item 4(27) "Japanese teenage women have grown increasinsly violent in the last 20 years. " A criminologist said yesterday." The ratio of women in their teens inflicting bodily injury has risen to more than 20 per 100,000 of the total Japanese population , more than 7 times the level 20 years ago, " said Jinsuki Kajiyama, a professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology." Japanese males have shifted increasingly to aggression previously linked with women, such as bullying others by excluding them from conversation, " he said.Key：27.C 28. BNews Item 5Despite reports of intimidation, (28) Zimbabweans swarmed to polling stations on the final day of voting in the most competitive parliamentary election in Zimbabwe's history. On the first day of voting, lines of hundreds of voters sneaked around some of the country's 4,000 polling stations. A total of 120 seats were being contested, and Mugabe appoints another 30 law makers giving him and his party a built-in advantage.Key: 28. BNews Item 6"About 40,000 Indian telecom workers called off their work to rule yesterday after reaching an agreement with the government" , officials and union leaders said. The employees of the department of telecommunication services launched their actionon Friday (29) in protest against plans to covert the department into a company, and the recent appointment of a nontechnical official as a department head. ( 30 ) Banks, major companies and long-distance customers were hit by the work to rule which involves obeying minor regulations only so as to slow down the workflow.Key：29.B 30.D。

2008年12月大学英语四级考试真题、答案及听力原文

2008年12月大学英语四级考试真题Part I Writing （30 minutes）Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Limiting the Use of Disposable Plastic Bag.You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1.一次性塑料袋的使用2.使用一次性塑料袋带来的问题3.限制一次性塑料袋的意义Limiting the Use of Disposable Plastic Bag______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D].For questions 8 -10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.That’s enough, kidsIt was a lovely day at the park and Stella Bianchi was enjoying the sunshine with her two children when a young boy, aged about four, approached her two-year-old son and pushed him to the ground.“I‘d watched him for a little while and my son was the fourth or fifth child he‘d shoved,‖ she says.‖ I went over to them, picked up my son, turned to the boy and said, firmly, ‘No, we don‘t push,‖ What ha ppened next was unexpected.“The boy‘s mother ran toward me from across the park,‖ Stella says,‖ I thought she was coming over to a pologize, but instead she started shouting at me for disciplining her child, All I did was let him know his behavior was unacceptable. Was I supposed to sit back while her kid did whatever he wanted, hurting other children in the process?‖Getting your own children to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people‘s children has become a minefield.In my house, jumping on the sofa is not allowed. In my sister‘s house it‘s encouraged. For her, it‘s about kids being kids: ―If you can‘t do it at three, when can you do it?‖Each of these philosophies is valid and, it has to be said, my son loves visiting his aunt‘s house. But I find myself saying ―no‖ a lot when her kids are over at mine. That‘s OK between sisters but becomes dangerous territory when y ou‘re talking to the children of friends or acquaintances.“Kids aren‘t all raised the same,‖ agrees Professor Naomi White of Monash University.‖ But there is still an idea that they‘re the property of the parent. We see our children as an extension of our selves, so if you‘re saying that my child is behaving inappropriately, then that‘s somehow a criticism of me.‖In those circumstances, it‘s difficult to know whether to approach the child directly or the parent first. There are two scho ols of thought.“I’d go to the child first,”says Andrew Fuller, author of Tricky Kids. Usually a quiet reminder that ’we don‘t do that here‘ is enough. Kids nave finely tuned antennae (直觉) for how to behave in different settings.”He points out bringing it up with the parent first may make them feel neglectful, which could cause problems. Of course, approaching the child first can bring its own headaches, too.This is why White recommends that you approach the parents first. Raise your concerns with the parents if they‘re there and ask them to deal with it,‖ she says.Asked how to approach a parent in this situation, psychologist Meredith Fuller answers: ―Explain your needs as well as stressing the importance of the friendship. Preface your remarks with something like: ‘I know you‘ll think I‘m silly but in my house I don’t want…‘‖When it comes to situations where you‘re caring for another child, white is straightforward: ―common sense must prevail. If things don‘t go well, then have a chat.‖There‘re a couple of new grey areas. Physical punishment, once accepted from any adult, is no longer appropriate. ―A new set of considerations has come to the fore as part of the debate about how we handle children.‖For Andrew Fuller, the child-centric nature of our society has affecte d everyone:‖ The rules are different now from when today‘s parents were growing up,‖ he says, ―Adults are scared of saying: ‘don‘t swear‘, or asking a child to stand up on a bus. They‘re worried that there will be conflict if they point these things out –either from older children, or their parents.‖He sees it as a loss of the sense of common public good and public courtesy (礼貌), and says that adults suffer form it as much as child.Meredith Fuller agrees: ―A code of conduct is hard to create when you‘re living in a world in which everyone is exhausted from overwork and lack of sleep, and a world in which nice people are percei ved to finish last.‖“I t‘s about what I‘m doing and what I need,‖ Andrew Fuller says. ‖the days when a kid came home from school and said, ―I got into trouble‖. And dad said, ‗you probably deserved it‘. Are over. Now the parents are charging up to the school to have a go at teachers.‖This jumping to our children‘s defense is part of what fuels the “walking on eggshells”feeling that surrounds our dealings with other people‘s children. You know that if you remonstrate(劝诫) with the child, you’re going to have to deal with the parent. It‘s admirable to be protective of our kids, but is it good?“Children have to learn to negotiate the wo rld on their own, within reasonable boundaries,‖ White says. ―I suspect that it‘s only certain sectors of the population doin g the running to the school –better –educated parents are probably more likely to be too involved.‖White believes our notions of a more child-centered, it‘ a way of talking about treating our children like commodities(商品). We‘re centered on them but in ways that reflect positively on us. We treat them as objects whose appearance and achievements are something we can be proud of, rath er than serve the best interests of the children.‖One way over-worked, under-resourced parents show commitment to their children is to leap to their defence. Back at the park, Bianchi‘ intervention(干预) on her son‘ behalf ended in an undignified exchange of insulting words with the other boy‘ mother.As Bianchi approached the park bench where she‘d been sitting, other mums came up to her and congratulated her on taking a stand. ―Apparently the boy had a longstanding reputation for bad behaviour and his mum for even worse behaviour if he was challenged.”Andrew Fuller doesn‘t believe that we should be afraid of dealing with other people‘s kids. ―look at kids that aren‘t your own as a potential minefield,‖ he says. He recommends that we don‘t stay silent over inappropriate behaviour, particularly with regular visitors.1. What did Stella Bianchi expect the young boy‘s mother to do when she talked to him?A) make an apologyB) come over to interveneC) discipline her own boyD) take her own boy away2. What does the author say about dealing with other people‘s children?A) it‘s important not to hurt them in any wayB) it‘s no use trying to stop their wrongdoingC) it‘s advisable to treat them as one‘s own kidsD) it‘s possible for one to get into lots of trouble3. According to professor Naomi white of Monash university, when one‘s kids are criticized, their parents will probably feel___________________________A) discouragedB) hurtC) puzzledD) overwhelmed4. What should one do when seeing other people‘s kids m isbehave according to Andrew fuller?A) talk to them directly in a mild wayB) complain to their parents politelyC) simply leave them aloneD) punish them lightly5. Due to the child-centric nature of our society, ______________________A) parents are worried when their kids swear at themB) people think it improper to criticize kids in publicC) people are reluctant to point our kids‘ wrongdoingsD) many conflicts arise between parents and their kids6. In a world where everyone is exhausted from over work and lack of sleep,____________________________A) it‘s easy for people to become impatientB) it‘s difficult to create a code of conductC) it‘s important to be friendly to everybodyD) it‘s hard for people to admire each other7. How did people use to respond when their kids got into trouble at school?A) they‘d question the teachersB) they‘d charge up to the schoolC) they‘d tell the kids to clam downD) They‘d put the blame on their kids8. Professor white believes that the notions of a more child-centred society should be____________________9. According to professor white, today‘s parents treat their children as something they___________________10. Andrew fuller suggests that , when kids behave inappropriately, people should not______________________Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D], and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A)Only true friendship can last long.B)Letter writing is going out of style.C)She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D)She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. A) A painter. C) A porter.B) A mechanic. D) A carpenter.13. A) Look for a place near her office. C) Make inquiries elsewhere.B) Find a new job down the street. D) Rent the $600 apartment.14. A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely busy recently.C) He has gained some weight lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15. A)The woman possesses a natural for art.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn‘t good a t abstract thinking.D) He doesn‘t like abstract paintings.16. A) She couldn‘t have left her notebook in the library.B) she may have put her notebook amid the journals.C) she should have made careful notes while doing reading.D) she shouldn‘t have read his notes without his knowing it.17. A)she wants to get some sleep C) she has a literature class to attendB) she needs time to write a paper D)she is troubled by her sleep problem18. A)He is confident he will get the job.B)His chance of getting the job is slim.C)It isn‘t easy to find a qualified sales manager.D)The interview didn‘t go as well as he expected.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A)He can manage his time more flexibly.B)He can renew contact with his old friends.C)He can concentrate on his own projects.D)He can learn to do administrative work.20. A)Reading its ads in the newspapers.B)Calling its personnel department.C)Contacting its manager.D)Searching its website.21. A)To cut down its production expenses.B)To solve the problem of staff shortage.C)To improve its administrative efficiency.D)To utilize its retired employees‘ resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A)Buy a tractor.B)Fix a house.C)See a piece of property.D)Sing a business contract.23. A)It is only forty miles form where they live.B)It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C)It was a large garden with fresh vegetables.D)It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24. A)Growing potatoes will involve less labor.B)Its soil may not be very suitable for corn.C)It may not be big enough for raising corn.D)Raising potatoes will be more profitable.25. A)Finances B)Equipment C)Labor D)ProfitsSection BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26 A) To introduce the chief of the city‘s police forceB)To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC)To address the issue of community securityD)To explain the functions of the city council27 A)He has distinguished himself in city managementB)He is head of the International Police ForceC)He completed his higher education abroadD)He holds a master‘s degree in criminology28 A)To coordinate work among police departmentsB)To get police officers closer to the local peopleC)To help the residents in times of emergencyD)To enable the police to take prompt action29 A)PopularB)discouragingC)effectiveD)controversialPassage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30 A)people differ greatly in their ability to communicateB)there are numerous languages in existenceC)Most public languages are inherently vagueD)Big gaps exist between private and public languages31 A)it is a sign of human intelligenceB)in improves with constant practiceC)it is something we are born withD)it varies from person to person32 A)how private languages are developedB)how different languages are relatedC)how people create their languagesD)how children learn to use languagePassage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33 A)she was a tailorB)she was an engineerC)she was an educator D)she was a public speaker34.A)Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Crime is increasing world wide. There is every reason to believe the (36)____will continue through the next few decades.Crime rates have always been high in multicultural, industrialized societies such as the United States, but a new (37) ____has appeared on the world (38)____rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few(39)____. Street crimes such as robbery, rape (40) ___and auto theft are clearly rising (41)___in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the united Kingdom.What is driving this crime (42)____?There are no simple answers. Still，there are certain conditions(43) _______with rising crime increasing heterogeneity (混杂) of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of government,(44) _________________________________________________.These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous(同种类的) ,such as Japan, Denmark and Greece (45)_______________________.Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the twenty-first century, and (46)_______________________Part IV Reading Comprehension （Reading in Depth）（25 minutes）Section AQuestion 47-56A bookless life is an incomplete life. Books influence the depth and breadth of life. They meet the natural______47_____for freedom, for expression, for creativity and beauty of life. Learners, therefore, must have books, and the right type of book, for the satisfaction of their need. Readers turn______48_____ to books because their curiosity concerning all manners of things, their eagerness to share in the experiences of others and their need to ____49 _____ from their own limited environment lead them to find in books food for the mind and the spirit. Through their reading they find a deeper significance to life as books acquaint them with life in the world as it was and it is now. They are presented with a __50 _____ of human experiences and come to ___51 ____ other ways of thought and living. And while ____52 ____ their own relationships and responses to life , the readers often find that the ___53__ in their stories are going through similar adjustments, which help to clarify and give significance to their own.Books provide ___54 ____ material for readers‘ imagination to grow. Imagination is a valuable quality and a motivating power, and stimulates achievement. While enriching their imagination, books __55 ____their outlook, develop a fact-finding attitude and train them to use leisure ___56 ___. The social and educational significance of the readers‘ books can not be overestimated in an academic library.A. AbundantB. CharactersC. CommunicatingD. CompletelyE. DeriveF. DesireG. DiversityH. Escape I. Establishing J. Narrow K. Naturally L. Personnel M. Properly N. Respect O. WidenSection BDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.If you are a male and you are reading this ,congratulations: you are a survivor .According to statistics .you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke but perhaps more importantly, men don‘t go t o the doctor.“Men aren‘t seeing doctors as often as they should, ‖ says Dr. Gullotta, ―This is particularly so for the ove r-40s,when diseases tend to strike.‖Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year.Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old ma who had delayed doing anything about his smoker‘s cough for a year.“When I finally saw him it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer‖ he says, ―Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but it would have prolonged this life‖According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“A lot of men think they are invincible （不可战胜的）”Gullotta says “They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think”Geez, if it could happen to him.Then there is the ostrich approach,‖ some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ‖ says Dr. Ross Ca rtmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,‖ Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.‖ But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.‖57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. men drink and smoke much more than womenB. men don‘t seek medical care as often as womenC. men aren‘t as cautions as women in face of dangerD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59. Which of the following best completes the sentence ―Geez, if it could happen to him…‘(line2,para,8)?A. it could happen to me, tooB. I should avoid playing golfC. I should consider myself luckyD. it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by ―the ostrich approach‖(line q para.9)A. a casual attitude towar ds one‘s health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involvedD. unwillingness to find out about one‘s disease because of fear61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?A.They may increase public expensesB.They will save money in the long runC.They may cause psychological strains on menD.They will enable men to live as long as womenPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than doneShoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school “Storytelling hur ts retailers and entertains consumers,‖ said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.‖ the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.‖On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four other, and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting ―snowball effect‖ can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered the most problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting（业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople should be diplomatic and polite with angry customers.“Retailers who‘re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren‘t so friendly.‖ said Profe ss or Stephen Hoch. ―Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.‖Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答62. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?A Most customers won‘t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying ― … the shopper must also find a replacement‖ (Line 2, Para. 4)?A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers_____A can stay longer browsing in the storeB won‘t have trouble parking their carsC won‘t have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeopleB Hiring of efficient employeesC Huge supply of goods for saleD Design of the store layout.66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _________.A exert pressure on stores to improve their serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between storesPart V Cloze （15 minutes）Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C]and [D] on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Playing organized sports is such a common experience in the United States that many children and teenagers that them for granted. This is especially true__67__children from families and communities that have the resources needed to organize and__68__sports programs and make sure that there is easy__69__to participation opportunities. Children in low-income families and poor communities are__70__likely to take organized youth sports for granted because they often__71__the resources needed to pay for participation__72__, equipment, and transportation to practices and games__73__ their communities do not have resources to build and__74__sports fields and facilities.Organized youth sports__75__appeared during the early 20th century in the United States and other wealthy nations. They were originally developed__76__some educators and developmental experts__77__that the behavior and character of children were__78__influenced by their social surrounding and everyday experiences. This__79__many people to believe that if you could organize the experiences of children in__80__ways, you could influence the kinds of adults that those children would become.This belief that the social__81__influenced a person‘s overall development was very__82__to people interested in progress and reform in the United States__83__the beginning of the 20th century. It caused them to think about__84__they might control the experiences of children to__85__responsible and productive adults. They believed strongly that democracy depended on responsibility and that a__86__capitalist economy depended on the productivity of worker.67. A. among B. within C. on D. towards68. A. spread B. speed C. spur D. sponsor69. A. access B. entrance C. chance D. route70 A. little B. less C. more D. much。

四级听力短对话200812

四级听力短对话Short Conversations11．M: I just received an Email from one of my former classmates. I was surprised, I hadn’t heard from him for ages.W: Well, I’ve been out of touch with most of my old friends, only one or two still drop me a line occasionally,Q: What does the woman mean?12. M: If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week.W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the walls, but I’ll let you know tomorrow.Q: Who is the woman talking to?13. W: Excuse me, do you have any apartments available for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts.M: The only vacant one I have is 600 dollars, have you inquired at the apartment complex down the street?Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?14. W: You bought a pair of jeans yesterday, didn’t you? What are they like?M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones, except with a larger waist. I guess I haven’t spent much time exercising lately.Q: What can we infer from the conversation about the man?15. W: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think?M: I guess it’s something I haven’t acquired a taste for yet.Q: What does the man imply?16. W: You haven’t seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn’t leave it in the reading room.M: Did you check that pile of journals you’ve borrowed from the library the other day?Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman?17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee?W: I’d love to, but I’m exhausted. I was up till 3 this morning, writing a paper for my literature class.Q: Why does the woman decline the man’s invitation?18. W: You had a job intervi ew yesterday, didn’t you? How did it go?M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates competing for the sales manager’s job. And finally it was down to three of us, but the other two seemed better qualified.Q: What does the man imply?2008年12月大学英语四级听力真题MP3下载(含文本)Source: Onion 2009-02-04 我要投稿恒星英语学习论坛Favorite 听力长对话1 F: Simon, how does it feel to be retired?M: Well, not so bad.F: How have you been spending your time?M: I have been spending more time with my family. I’ve a lso travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less.F: Great.M: You know I haven’t stopped work completely.F: Yes, could you tell us more about this?M: I’m on a scheme that’s called phased retirement; I had a six-month break from work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for.F: How does the scheme work?M: Well, it’s a trial at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary stuff, the company advertises posts on its website that retired employees like myself can access.F: What sort of works advertised?M: Well, all sorts of things, really. Administrative work and more specialized work, the sort of thing I can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work. So I can manage my own time.F: I can see it’s good for you. What is your company get out of this?M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job’s over, that’s it. I’m not on their books any more.Questions 19-21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable?20. How does Simon get to know about the company’s available posts?21. Why does the company adopt the phased retirement scheme?长对话2W: Oh, where are we going?M: I want to show you something.W: I know, but what is it?M: A farm. It’s just down this road. It’s a small place, but at least it would be our own.W: A farm? How can we afford to buy a farm?M: It isn’t very large, only 40 acres. We wouldn’t have to pay very much right now.W: Is there a house on the place?M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up a little. I can do the job myself.W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden?M: There is about half an acre around the house. That’s plenty of space.W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe keep a few chickens, couldn’t we?M: Yes, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food.W: What are you thinking about growing, if we do take this place?M: Well, it really isn’t big enough for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop of potatoes.W: Potatoes? There are a lot of work.M: We are used to hard work, aren’t we?W: Yes, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream.M: I think we’ve saved enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor, too.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q 22:What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation?Q 23:What does the man say about the farm?Q 24:Why does the man intend to grow potatoes rather than corn on the farm?Q 25:What is the woman’s greatest concern about the man’s pla n?2008年12月大学英语四级听力Passage One20分11秒——23分36秒Members of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today Mr. Robert Washington, chief of our city’s police force. He will address us on the subject of the Community Policing Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the internat ional police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program 8 years ago. The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies, such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working: crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about th is program. Now let’s welcome Mr. Robert Washington.26. What is the purpose of the speaker’s remarks?He will address us on the subject of community policing program.27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington?Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the community policing program 8 years ago.28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program?The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city.29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be?And the program seems to be working, crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure.四级篇章2There are between 3000 and 6000 public languages in the world, and we must add approximately 6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns in communication seem infinite in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious process. For a long time, people thought that we learned a language only by imitation and association. For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, “Hot, hot!” And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother and says, “Hot, hot!” However, Noam Chomsky, a famous expert in la nguage, pointed out that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because young children can make sentences they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants are born with the ability to learn language. Chomsky meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal language mechanism that makes it possible for us, as infants, to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential that human infants have for learning language. But it does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns?There are numerous public and private languages.Question 31. What is Chomsky’s point on the ability to learn a language?Human infants are born with the ability to learn language and the potential to learn any language in the world.Question 32. What does Chomsky’s theory fail to explain according to the speaker?It does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.四级听力Passage ThreeWhen US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving a speech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago and became an engineer before joining NASA, that is the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen speeches a year. Each speech is different because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners' educational level and what information they want to know. On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat, drink, and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is “the spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water-containers, and a waste-collection system.” To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. “Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?” Her answe r is "No". To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the design of spacesuits that protects spacemen from the deadly temperature extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it’s important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different.33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining in NASA?34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speech on space walks?35. What does the high school audience want to know about space travel?2008.12 CET-4 Listening ScriptCompound Dictation: (31’43’’-33’55’’)Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue through the next few decades. Crime rates have always been high in multi-cultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new phenomenon has appeared on the world scene: rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few offences. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, murder and auto theft are clearly rising, particularly in Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, and in Western European nations, such as the Untied Kingdom. What is driving this crime explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there are certain conditions associated with rising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of population, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, changing national borders, greater economic growth and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong. These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogenous, such as Japan, Denmark and Greece, are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has beencommon in America for most of its history. Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century, and failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.From: /englishlistening/cet4/zhenti/2009-02-04/67512_3.html。

2008年12月大学英语四级真题解析+听力原文(1)

2008年12月大学英语四级考试试题解析Part I Writing* 解题思路1. 审解题目：本文为问题解决类作文。

首先提出一种社会现象；然后对这一现象所带来的问题进行分析和阐述；最后对解决这一问题的方法进行论述：赞成或反对。

2. 写作步骤：本文为提纲式作文，写作应按照试卷上给出的汉语提纲进行，分三段将所涉及内容论述清楚：第一段：引出一次性塑料袋在人们生活中广泛使用的现象；第二段：列举使用一次性塑料袋带来的问题；第三段：对限制使用一次性塑料袋这一政策阐述自己的观点：可以支持以上观点，并进行总结强调；也可以否定以上观点，并提出反对理由。

范文：Limiting the Use of Disposable Plastic BagsPlastic bags have been an indispensable part of our daily life for many years. But recently the problems of using disposable plastic bags have been brought into people’s concern.Although plastic bags have brought great convince to people, it has also caused a lot of problems. First of all, the use of disposable plastic bags causes great harm to our environment. As these bags can not be discomposed, they pollute the field and water. Besides, plastic bags do harm to people’s health as well, because they are made of chemical materials which may contamin ate our food. What’s more, the over use of plastic bags is also a kind of waste of resources.Therefore, limiting the use of disposable plastic bags is of great significance. This policy not only enhances people’s awareness of environmental protection, but also reduce the waste of resources. In short, we should do our best to limit the use of plastic bags for ourselves and for the next generation.经典句式:1. Recently, the problem of … has become the focus of the public concern.2. It is important to poin t out that…3. On one hand, … . On the other hand, …4. Obviously, if we don’t control the problem, the chances are that …5. First of all, … . Besides, …. What’s more, …6. … is of great significance.7. It is high time that we put an end to …Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)* 解题思路1. 【答案】 A【解析】本题的定位信息是Stella Bianchi, 答案来自第三段第一句Stella says, “I thought she was coming over to apologize, but instead she started shouting at me for ‘disciplinin g her child’”. 意思是：Stella说：“我原以为她是过来是要道歉的，但是相反由于我“教育她的孩子”，她却冲我大喊大叫。

2008年12月大学英语四级考试听力真题及答案

2008年四级听力原题

Section AShort Conversations:11 M: Today‟s a bad day for me! I fell off a step and twisted my ankle.W: Don‟t worry. Usually ankle injuries heal quickly if you stop regular activities for a while.Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?12 W: May I see your ticket please? I think you‟re sitting in my seat.M: Oh, you‟re right! My seat is in the balcony. I‟m terribly sorry!Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?13 W: Did you hear Jay Smith died in his sleep last night?M: Y es, it‟s very sad. Please let everybody know that whoever wants to may attend the funeral.Q: What are the speakers talking about?14 M: Have you taken Prof. Y ang‟s exam before? I‟m kind of nervous.W: Y e s. Just concentrate on the important ideas she‟s talked about in class and ignore the detailsQ: How does the woman suggest the man prepare for Prof. Y ang‟s exam?15W: I‟m so sorry, sir. And you‟ll let me pay to have your jacket cleaned, won‟t you?M: That‟s all right. It could happen to anyone. And I‟m sure that coffee doesn‟t leave lasting marks on clothing.Q: What can we infer from the conversation?16W: Have you seen the movie …The Departed‟? The plot wa s so complicated that I really got lost.M: Y eah, I felt the same. But after I saw it a second time, I could put all the pieces together.Q: How did the two speakers find the movie?17M: I‟m really surprised you got an A on the test. Y ou didn‟t seem to have done a lot of reading.W: Now you know why I never missed a lecture.Q: What contributes to the woman‟s high score?18W: Have you heard about a new digital television system? It lets people get about 500 channels.M: Y eah. But I doubt they have anything different from what we watch now.Q: What does the man mean?Long Conversations:Conversation OneW: Gosh! Have you seen this, Richard?M: Seen whatW: In the paper. It says there is a man going around pretending he is from the electricity board. He‟s been calling at people‟s homes, saying he is come to check that all their appliances are safe. Then he gets around them to make him a cup of tea. While they are out of their room, he steals their money, handbag, whatever and makes off with it.M: But you know, Jane. It is partly their own fault, you should never let anyone like that in unless you are expecting them.W: It‟s all very well to say that. Bu t someone comes to the door and says electricity or gas, and you automatically think they are ok. Especially if they flash a card to you.M: Does this man have an ID then?W: Y es, that‟s just it. It seems he used to work for the electricity board a t one time. According to the paper, the police are warning people especially pensioners not to meet anyone unless they have an appointment. It‟s a bit sad one old lady told them she just been to the post office to draw her pension when he called, she said he must follow to her home. He stole the whole lot.M: But what does he look like? Surely they must have a descriptionW: Oh yes they have .let‟s see. In his 30s, tall, bushy dark hair, a slight northern accent. Sounds a bit like you actually.Questions 19~22 are based on the long conversation you‟ve just heard.19 What does the woman want the man to read in the newspaper20 How did the man mentioned in the newspaper try to win further trust from the victims?21 What is the warning from the police?22 What does the woman speaker tell us about the old ladyConversation TwoM: Ms. Jones, could you tell me more about your fist job with hotel marketing conceptsW: Y es, certainly. I was a marketing consultant, responsible for marketing ten UK hotels. They were all luxury hotels in the leisure sector. All of a very high standardM: which market were you responsible for?W: For Europe and Japan.M: I see from your resume that you speak Japanese, have you ever been to Japan?W: Y es, I have. I spent a month In Japan in 2006. I met all the key people in the tourist industry, the big tour operators, and the tourist organizations. As I speak Japanese, I had a very big advantage.M: Y es, of course. Have you has any contact with Japan in your present job.W: Y es, I‟ve had a lot. The truth is I‟ve become very popular with the Japanese both for holidays and for business conferences. In fact the market for all types of luxury holidays for the Japanese has increased a lot recently.M: Really? I am interested to hear more about that, but first tell me have you ever traveled on a luxury train, the orient express for example?W: No, I haven‟t. But I have traveled in the glacier exp ress to Switzerland and I traveled across China by train about 8 years ago. I love train travel. That‟s why I am very interested in this jobQuestions 23-25 are based on the long conversation you‟ve just heard.23 What did the woman do in her first job24 What gives the woman an advantage during her business trip in Japan?25Why is the woman applying for the new job?Section BPassage OneTime! I think a lot about time. And not just because it‟s the name of the news organi zation I work for. Like most working people, I find time or the lack of it a never ending frustration and an unwinnable battle. My everyday is a race against the clock that I never ever seem to win. This is hardly a lonesome complaint. According to the families and work institutes national study of the changing workforce, fifty-five percent of employees say they don‟t have enough time for themselves, sixty-three percent don‟t have enough time for their spouses or partners, and sixty-seven percent don‟t have enough time for their children. It‟s also not a new complaint. I bet our ancestors returned home from hunting wild animals and gathering nuts and complained about how little time they had to pay in battle scenes on their cave wars. The difference is that the boss of animal-hunting and the head of nut-gathering probably told them to shut up or no survival for you. Today‟s workers are still demanding control of their time. The difference is today‟s bossesare listening. I‟ve been reading a report issued today called …When Work Works‟ produced jointly by three organizations. They set out to find and award the employers who employ the most creative and most effective ways to give their workers flexibility. I found this report worth reading and suggest every boss should read it for ideas.Questions 26~28 are based on the passage you‟ve just heard.26. What is the speaker complaining about?27. What does the speaker say about our ancestors?28. Why does the speaker suggest all bosses read the report by the three organizations?Passage Two"Loving a child is a circular business. The more you give, the more you get, the more you want to give." Penelope Leach once said. What she said proves to be true of my blooded family. I was born in 1931. As the youngest of six children, I learned to share my parents' love. Raising six children during the difficult times of the Great Depression took its toll on my parents' relationship and resulted in their divorce when I was 18 years old. Daddy never had very close relationships with his children and drifted even farther away from us after the divorce. Several years later a wonderful woman came into his life, and they were married. She had two sons, one of them still at home. Under her influence, we became a “blended family” and a good relationship developed between the two families. She alwaystreated us as if we were her own children.It was because of our other mother -- Daddy's second wife -- that he became closer to his own children. They shared over twenty-five years together before our father passed away. At the time of his death, death, the question came up of my mother -- Daddy's first wife -- attending his funeral.I will never forget the unconditional love shown by my stepmother when I asked her if she would object to mother attending Daddy's funeral. Without giving it a second thought, she immediately replied.“Of course not, Honey-she's the mother of my children.”Questions 29~31 are based on the passage you‟ve just hear d.29. According to the speaker, what contributed to her parents' divorce?30. What brought the father closer to her own children?31. What message does the speaker want to convey in this talk?Passage ThreeIn February last year, my wife lost her job. Just as suddenly, the owner of the greenhouse where I worked as manager died at heart attack. His family announced that they were going to close the business because no one in the family wanted to run it. Things looked pretty gloomy. My wife and I read the want ads each day.Then one morning, as I was hanging out the “going out of business” sign at the greenhouse, the door opened, and in walked a customer. She was an office manager whose company had just moved into the new office park on the edge of town. She was looking for pots and plants to place in the reception areas in the offices. “I don‟t know anything about plants,” she said, “I‟m sure in afew weeks they‟ll all be dead.”While I was helping her select her purchases, my mind was raising. Perhaps as many as a dozen firms have recently opened offices in the new office park, and there were several hundred more acres with construction under-way. That afternoon, I drove out to the office park. By 6 o‟clock that evening, I had signed contracts with seven companies to rent plants from me and pay me a fee to maintain them. Within a week, I had worked out an agreement to lease the greenhouse from the owner‟s family. Business is now increasing rapidly, and one day, we hope to be the proud of the greenhouseQuestions 32~35 are based on the passage you‟ve just heard.32. What do we learn about the greenhouse?33. What was the speaker doing when the customer walked in on morning?34. What did the speaker think of when serving the office manager?35. What was the speaker‟s hope for the future?Section CCompound DictationWe are now witnessing the emergence of an advanced economy based on information and knowledge. Physical labor, raw materials, and capital are no longer the key ingredients in the creation of wealth. Now the vital raw material in our economy is knowledge. Tomorrow's wealth depends on the development and exchange of knowledge. And individuals entering the work force offer their knowledge not their muscles. Knowledge workers get paid for their education and their ability to learn. Knowledge workers engage in mind work. They deal with symbols, words, figures and data. What does all this mean for you? As a future knowledge worker, you can expect to be generating, processing, as well as exchanging information. Currently, three out of four jobs involve some form of mind work, and that number will increase sharply in the future. Management and employees alike will be making decisions in such areas as product development, quality control, and customer satisfaction. In the new world of work, you can look forward to being in constant training to acquire new skills that will help you keep up with improved technologies and procedures. Y ou can also expect to be taking greater control of your career. Gone are the nine-to-five jobs like time security, predictable promotions, and even the conventional work place as you are familiar with. Don't expect the companies will provide you with a clearly defined career path, and don't wait for someone to enpower you -- you have to enpower yourself。

2008年12月大学英语四级考试试题及答案(附听力原文)

2008年12月大学英语四级考试试题及参考答案Part I Writing (30minutes)The Use of Disposable Plastic Bags1.一次性塑料袋曾被广泛的使用2.造成的问题3.限制使用的意义Part V ClozePlaying organized sports is such a common experience in the United States that many children and teenagers that them for granted. This is especially true 67 children from families and communities that have the resources needed to organize and 68 sports programs and make sure that there is easy 69 to participation opportunities. Children in low-income families and poor communities are 70 likely to take organized youth sports for granted because they often 71 the resources needed to pay for participation 72, equipment, and transportation to practices and games 73 their communities do not have resources to build and 74 sports fields and facilities.Organized youth sports 75 appeared during the early 20th century in the United States and other wealthy nations. They were originally developed 76 some educators and developmental experts 77 that the behavior and character of children were 78 influenced by their social surrounding and everyday experiences. This 79 many people to believe that if you could organize the experiences of children in 80 ways, you could influence the kinds of adults that those children would become.This be lief that the social 81 influenced a person’s overall development was very 82 to people interested in progress and reform in the United States 83 the beginning of the 20th century. It caused them to think about 84 they might control the experiences of children to 85 responsible and productive adults. They believed strongly that democracy depended on responsibility and that a 86 capitalist economy depended on the productivity of worker.67. A. among B. within C. on D. towards68. A. spread B. speed C. spur D. sponsor69. A. access B. entrance C. Chance D. route70 A. little B. less C. more D. much71. A. shrink B. tighten C. limit D. lack72. A. bill B accounts C. fees D. fare73. A. so B. as C. and D. but74. A. Maintain B. sustain C. contain D. entertain75.A. last B. first C. later D. finally76.A. before B. while C. until D. when77.A. realized B. recalled C. expected D. exhibited78.A. specifically B. excessively C. strongly D. exactly79. A. moved B. conducted C. put D. led80. A. precise B. precious C. particular D. peculiar81.A. engagement B. environment C.state D. status82.A. encouraging B. disappointing C. upsetting D. surprising83.A. for B. with C. over D. at84.A. what B. how C. whatever D. however85.A. multiply B. manufacture C. produce D. provide86.A. growing B. breeding C. raising D. flyingPart VI Translation87.Medical researchers are painfully aware that there are many problems (他们至今还没有答案).88. (大多数父母所关心的) is providing the best education possible for their children.89.You’d better take a sweater with you(以防天气变冷).90.Throught the project, many people have received training and (决定自己创业)91.the anti-virus agent was not known 直到一名医生偶然发现了它).2008年12月20日大学英语四级考试参考答案Part I Writing范文：Disposable plastic bags were once widely used in China. When we went shopping at supermarkets and departments stores, shopping assistants often provided free plastic bags for our convenience. For a while, life without them seemed unimaginable for most of us.However, disposable plastic bags do bring severe damage to our environment. Costumers usually threw them away after use, and because they are thin and hard to decompose, these plastic products will exist for a long time. This is an immediate threat to our earth and water.Nowadays, the government has passed relevant regulations for limiting the use of disposable plastic bags: they are not free any more. In some shopping places, in order to invoke the public awareness of environmental protection, plastic bags are offered in a much higher price. As a result, people are changing their behavior: paper and clothing bags that vanished for a long time come back to our daily life. It is true that by limiting its usage, everyone in this society contributes some effort to the improvement of the environment.Part V Cloze67-86 ADABD CCABD ACDCB A DBCAPart VI Translation87. that they haven’t found answers to88.What most parents are concerned about89. in case it turn(s) cold90. decided to start their own business91. until it was accidentally found by a doctor。

2008年12月大学英语四级考试听力真题及答案

2008年12月英语四级真题听力原文

2008年12月英语四级真题听力原文Short Conversations11．M: I just received an Email from one of my former(以前的) classmates.I was surprised, I hadn’t heard from him for ages(很长时间).W: Well, I’ve been out of touch with(失去联系)most of my old friends, only one or two still drop me a line(写信给某人) occasionally(有时候),Q: What does the woman mean?A) Only true friendship can last long.B) Letter writing is going out of style(不时髦的，不流行的).C) She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D) She has lost contact (接触，联系)with (与某人……交往，与某人……联系)most of her old friends.12. M: If you can make up your mind (决定，下决心) about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week.W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the walls, but I’ll let you know tomorrow.Q: Who is the woman talking to (与某人谈话)?A) A painter.B) A porter(搬运工人，门童).C) A mechanic (技工，机修师).D) A carpenter (木工).13. W: Excuse me, do you have any apartments (公寓式房屋) available (可用的或可得到的)for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts.M: The only vacant (未被占用的, 空的)one I have is 600 dollars, have you inquired (打听, 询问)at the apartment complex down the street?Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?A) Look for a place near her office.B) Find a new job down the street.C) Make inquiries elsewhere.D) Kent the $600 apartment.14. W: You bought a pair of jeans (牛仔裤)yesterday, didn’t you? What are they like?M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones, except with a larger waist (腰, 腰部, 腰围). I guess I haven’t spent much time exercising lately. Q: What can we infer from(从…中推导出) the conversation about the man?A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely (极端; 极其; 非常)busy recentlyC) He has gained some weight (增加了一些体重)lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15. W: I really like those abstract (抽象的, 抽象派的)paintings(抽象画)we saw yesterday. What do you think?M: I guess it’s something I haven’t acquired a taste (爱好,嗜好)for yet.Q: What does the man imply(暗示, 暗指)?A) The woman possesses (具有, 占据)a natural talent (天资, 才能；人才)for an.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn’t good at abstract thinking.D) He doesn’t like abstract paintings.16. W: You haven’t seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn’t leave it in the reading room.M: Did you check that pile of journals(杂志, 期刊; 日志, 日记)you’ve borrowed from the library the other day?Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman?A) She couldn’t have left her notebook in the library.B) She may have put her notebook amid ((表示位置)在…中间, 处于…之中, 为…所环绕)the journals.C) She should have made careful notes while doing reading.D) She s houldn’t have read his notes without his knowing it.17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee?W: I’d love to, but I’m exhausted(耗尽的,疲惫的). I was up (起床) till 3 this morning, writing a paper for my literature class.Q: Why does the woman decline (辞谢; 谢绝(邀请等);n.下降, 减少, 衰退; 太阳)落下)the man’s invitation(邀请)?A) She wants to get some sleep.B) She needs time to write a paper.C) She has a literature class to attend.D) She is troubled (困惑的; 骚乱的, 不安的)by her sleep problem.18. W: You had a job interview yesterday, didn’t you? How did it go? M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates (申请求职者, 候选人; 报考者)competing for(为夺取…比赛)the sales manager’s job(营业[销售]主任). And finally it was down to three of us, but the other two seems better qualified(有资格的, 适合的, 胜任的).Q: What does the man imply?A) He is confident he will get the job.B) His chance of getting the job is slim (微小的; 渺茫的, 苗条的; 修长的, 减肥)C) It isn’t easy to find a qualified sales manager.D) The interview didn’t go as well as he expected.Long conversation 1F: Simon, how does it feel to be retired?M: Well, not so bad.F: How have you been spending your time?M: I have been spending more time with my family. I’ve also travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less.F: Great.M: You know I haven’t stopped work completely.F: Yes, could you tell us more about this?M: I’m on a scheme(计划, 方案)that’s called phased(定相的)retirement; I had a six-month break from (决裂)work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for.F: How does the scheme work?M: Well, it’s a trial(测试, 试验, 考验)at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary (临时的, 暂时的, 短时间的)stuff(材料; 东西), the company advertises posts on (把…张贴在…上)its website that retired employees like myself can access(存取(计算机文件)).F: What sort of works advertised?M: Well, all sorts of things, really. Administrative (行政的, 管理的)work and more specialized (专门的,专科的)work, the sort of thing I can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work. So I can manage my own time.F: I can see it’s good for y ou. What is your company get out of this?M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job’s over, that’s it. I’m not on their books any more.Questions 19-21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable?20. How does Simon get to know about(知道, 了解)the company’s available posts?21. Why does the company adopt(采用, 采纳, 采取; 收养; 正式接受, 通过)the phased retirement scheme?19 A) He can manage his time more flexibly.B) He can renew contact with (与…有交往〔联系〕)his old friends.C) He can concentrate on (专心于, 把思想集中于)his own projects.D) He can learn to do administrative work.20A) Reading its ads in the newspapers.B) Calling its personnel department.C) Contacting its manager.D) Searching its website.21A) To cut down (减少, 降低)its production expenses(费用,开支).B) To solve the problem of staff (全体职员; 教职员)shortage.C) To improve its administrative efficiency.D) To utilize (利用, 使用)its retired employees resources.Long conversation 2W: Oh, where are we going?M: I want to show you something.W: I know, but what is it?M: A farm. It’s just down this road. It’s a small place, but at least (至少)it would be our own.W: A farm? How can we afford (买得起; 提供, 给予)to buy a farm?M: It isn’t very large, only 40 acres(英亩). We wouldn’t have to pay very much right now.W: Is there a house on the place?M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up (修理, 修补)a little. I can do the job myself.W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden(菜园)?M: There is about half an acre around the house. That’s plenty of space.W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe keep a few chickens(鸡), couldn’t we?M: Yes, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food.W: What are you thinking about growing, if we do take this place?M: Well, it really isn’t big eno ugh for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop of potatoes.W: Potatoes? There are a lot of works.M: We are used to hard work, aren’t we?W: Yes, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream.M: I think we’ve save d enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor(拖拉机, 牵引机), too.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22: What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation? 23: What does the man say about the farm?24: Why does the man intend (意欲, 打算)to grow potatoes rather than corn on the farm?25: What the woman’s greatest concern (焦虑的原因)about the man’s plan?22.A) Buy a tractor.B) Fix a house.C) See a piece of property(财产; 资产; 所有物).D) Sign a business contract(签一份商业合同).23.A) It is only forty mile s(签约) from where they live.B) It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C) It was bought at a price lower than expected.D) It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24.A) Growing potatoes will involve (需要, 使参与, 牵涉)less labor(劳动,努力,工作,劳工,分娩,阵痛).B) Its soil (泥土, 土壤, 土地)may not be very suitable for corn.C) It may not be big enough for raising corn.D) Raising potatoes will be more profitable(有利可图的; 有益的).25. A) Finances (财源, 资金, 财务情况)B) Labor C) Equipment D) Profits Section BPassage OneMembers of the city council (市议会)and distinguished (卓越的; 著名的; 受人尊敬的)guests, it is my privilege(特殊荣幸)to introduce to you today Mr.Robert Washington, chief of our city’s police force(警察部门,警察机关). He will address (演讲; 地址; 向…讲话, 向…发表演说; 写信给…)us on the subject of (关于,论及)the Community Policing(社区配备警察制)Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record (经历, 履历; 功过; 记录, 记载) as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology (犯罪学)and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program 8 years ago. The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhood when they can talk directly to merchants(商人)and residents(居民)about the real dynamics(动力学、力学)of our city. These officers do more than make arrests(逮捕, 拘留). They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies, such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working: crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about this program. Now let’s welcome Mr. Robert Washington.26. What is the purpose of the speaker’s remarks?He will address us on the subject of community policing program.27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington?Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the community policing program 8 years ago.28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program?The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhood when they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city.29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be?And the program seems to be working, crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure.26A) To introduce the chief of the city’s police forceB) To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC) To address the issue (问题, 议题; 争论点)of community securityD) To explain the functions of the city council27A) He has distinguished himself in city managementB) He is head of the International Police ForceC) He completed his higher education abroadD) He holds a master’s degree in criminology28A) To coordinate (使协调; 使调和)work among police departmentsB) To get police officers closer to the local peopleC) To help the residents in times of emergency(紧急情况, 不测事件, 非常时刻)D) To enable the police to take prompt (立刻的, 迅速的, 准时的)action(采取行动, 行动起来)29A) PopularB) DiscouragingC) effectiveD) Controversial(有争议的, 引起争议的)Passage TwoThere are between 3000 and 6000 public languages in the world, and we must add approximately (近似地,大约)6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns(损坏, 故障) in communication seem infinite (无限的, 无穷的, 无边无际的)in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious (神秘的; 难以理解的)process. For a long time, people thought that we learned a language only by imitation (模仿, 仿效)and association(联合, 结合, 交往). For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, “Hot, hot!” And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother and says, “Hot, hot!” However, Noam Chomsky, a famous ex pert in language, pointed out(指出; 把注意力引向…)that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because young children can make sentences(句子)they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants(婴儿, 幼儿)are born with theability to learn language. Chomsky meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal (广泛的, 普遍的)language mechanism (办法, 技巧, 途径)that makes it possible for us, as infants, to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential(潜力, 潜势, 可能性) that human infants have for learning language. But it does not really explain(讲解, 解释)how children come to use language in particular ways.Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns?There are numerous public and private languages.31. What is Choms ky’s point on the ability to learn a language?Human infants are born with the ability to learn language and the potential to learn any language in the world.32. What does Chomsky’s theory fail to explain according to the speaker?It does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.30A) People differ greatly in their ability to communicateB) There are numerous languages in existence(存在)C) Most public languages are inherently (固[特、常、原]有的, 本来的, 先天的, 内在的)vague(不具体的; 不精确的)D) Big gaps (不足, 缺陷)exist between private and public languages31A) It is a sign of human intelligenceB) In improves with constant practiceC) It is something we are born with(生而具有)D) It varies (呈现不同)from person to person32A) How private languages are developedB) How different languages are relatedC) How people create their languagesD) How children learn to use language参考答案：26. A) to introduce the chief of the city police force.27. D) He holds a master s degree in criminology.28. B) to get police officers closer to the local people.29. C) Effective.30. B) there are numerous languages in existence.31. C) It is something we are born with.32. D) how children learn to use language.Passage ThreeWhen US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving a speech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago and became an engineer before joining NASA, which is the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen(一打) speeches a year. Each speech is different because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners educational level and what information they want to know. On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat,drink, and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is “t he spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water-containers, and a waste-collection system.” To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. “Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?” Her answer is "No". To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it’s important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different.33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining in NASA?34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speech on space walks?35. What does the high school audience(观众, 听众; 读者) want to know about space travel?33.A) She was a tailor(裁缝)B) She was an engineerC) She was an educatorD) She was a public speaker34.A) Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection CCrime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the (36) trend will continue through the next few decades.Crime rates have always been high in multicultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new (37) phenomenon has appeared on the world (38) scene-rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few (39) offenses. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, (41) murder and auto theft are clearly rising, (41) particularly in easternEuropean countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the United Kingdom.What is driving this crime (42) explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there’re certain conditions (43) associated with rising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, (44) changing national borders, greater economic growth, and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong.These conditions are increasing observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous(同种类的) such as Japan, Denmark, and Greece (45)are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history.Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century and (46) failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.。

2008年12月大学英语四级听力试题版

CET4 2008.12Part III Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

11.A) Only true friendship can last long.B) Letter writing is going out of style.C) She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D) She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12.A) A painter. C) A porter.B) A mechanic. D) A carpenter.13.A) Look for a place near her office. C) Make inquiries elsewhere.B) Find a new job down the street. D) Rent the $600 apartment.14.A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely busy recently.C) He has gained some weight lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15.A)The woman possesses a natural for art.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn’t good at abstract thinking.D) He do esn’t like abstract paintings.16.A) She couldn’t have left her notebook in the library.B) she may have put her notebook amid the journals.C) she should have made careful notes while doing reading.D) she shouldn’t have read his notes without his knowin g it.17.A)she wants to get some sleep C) she has a literature class to attendB) she needs time to write a paper D)she is troubled by her sleep problem18.A)He is confident he will get the job.B)His chance of getting the job is slim.C)It isn’t easy to find a qualified sales manager.D)The interview didn’t go as well as he expected.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A) He can manage his time more flexibly.B) He can renew contact with his old friends.C) He can concentrate on his own projects.D) He can learn to do administrative work.20.A) Reading its ads in the newspapers.B) Calling its personnel department.C) Contacting its manager.D) Searching its website.21.A) To cut down its production expenses.B) To solve the problem of staff shortage.C) To improve its administrative efficiency.D) To utilize its retired employees’ resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22.A) Buy a tractor.B) Fix a house.C) See a piece of property.D) Sign a business contract.23.A) It is only forty miles form where they live.B) It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C) It was a large garden with fresh vegetables.D) It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24. A)Growing potatoes will involve less labor.B) Its soil may not be very suitable for corn.C) It may not be big enough for raising corn.D) Raising potatoes will be more profitable.25A) FinancesB) EquipmentC) LaborD) ProfitsSection BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One26A) To introduce the chief of the city’s police forceB) To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC) To address the issue of community securityD) To explain the functions of the city council27A) He has distinguished himself in city managementB) He is head of the International Police ForceC) He completed his higher education abroadD) He holds a master’s degree in criminology28A) To coordinate work among police departmentsB) To get police officers closer to the local peopleC) To help the residents in times of emergencyD) To enable the police to take prompt action29A) PopularB) discouragingC) effectiveD) controversialPassage Two30A) people differ greatly in their ability to communicateB) there are numerous languages in existenceC) Most public languages are inherently vagueD) Big gaps exist between private and public languages31A) it is a sign of human intelligenceB) in improves with constant practiceC) it is something we are born withD) it varies from person to person32A) how private languages are developedB) how different languages are relatedC) how people create their languagesD) how children learn to use languagePassage Three33A) she was a tailorB) she was an engineerC) she was an educatorD) she was a public speaker34.A) Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection CDirections: In this section .you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the first time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36to43 with the exact words you have just heard. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

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2008年12月大学英语四级考试听力原文Section A短对话11. M: I just received an email from one of my former classmates. I was surprised, I hadn't heard from him for ages.W: Well, I've been out of touch with most of my old friends, only one or two still drop me a line occasionally.Q: What does the woman mean?12. M: If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week.W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the walls. But I'll let you know tomorrow.Q: Who is the woman talking to?13. W: Excuse me. Do you have any apartments available for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts.M: The only vacant one I have is 600 dollars. Have you inquired the apartment complex down the street?Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?14. W: Y ou bought a pair ofjeans yesterday, didn't you? What are they like?M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones except with a larger waist. I guess I haven't spent much time exercising lately.Q: What can we infer from the conversation about the man?15. W: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think? M: I guess it's something I haven't acquired a taste for yet.Q: What does the man imply?16. W: Y ou haven't seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn't leave it in the reading room.M: Did you check that pile of journals you've borrowed fiord the library the other day?Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman?17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee?W: I'd love to, but I'm exhausted. I was up till 3 this morning writing a paper for my literature class.Q: Why does the woman decline the man's invitation?18. W: Y ou had a job interview yesterday, didn't you? How did it go?M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates competing for the sales manager's job. And finally it was down to 3 of us, but the other two seemed better qualified.Q: What does the man imply?长对话Conversation OneW: Simon, how does it feel to be retired?M: Well, not so bad.W: How have you been spending your time?M: I've been spending more time with my family. I've also travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less.W: Great.M: Y ou know I haven't stopped work completely,W: Y es, could you tell us more about this?M: I'm on a scheme that's called phased retirement. I had a six-month break from work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for. W: How does the scheme work?M: Well, it's a trial at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary staff, the company advertises posts on its website that retired employees like myself can access.W: What sort of works advertised?M: Well, all sorts of things, really.Administrative work and more specialized work, the sort of thing 1 can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work, so I can manage my own time.W: I can see it's good for you. What does your company get out of this?M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job's over, that's it. I'm not on their books any more.19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable?20. How does Simon get to know about the company's available posts?21. Why does the company adopt the phased retirement scheme?Conversation TwoW: Oh, where are we going?M: I want to show you something.W: I know, but what is it?M: A farm. It's just down this road. It's a small place, but at least it would be our own, W: A farm? How can we afford to buy a farm?M: It isn't very large, only 40 acres. We wouldn't have to pay very much right now. W: Is there a house on the place?M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up a little. I can do the job myself.W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden?M: There is about halfa acre around the house. That's plenty of space.W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe keep a few chickens, couldn't we?M: Y es, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food.W: What are you thinking about growing, ifwe do take this place?M: Well, it really isn't big enough for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop ofpotatoes.W: Potatoes? There are a lot of work.M: We are used to hard work, aren't we?W: Y es, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream.M: I think we've saved enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor, too.22. What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation?23. What does the man say about the farm?24. Why does the man intend to grow potatoes rather than com on the farm?25. What is the woman's greatest concern about the man's plan?Section BPassage OneMembers of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today--Mr. Robert Washington--chief of our city's police force. He'll address us on the subject of the Community Policing Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master's degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force, which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program eight years ago. The idea behind the program is to get police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often, that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working. Crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today, Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about this program. Now let's welcome Mr. Robert Washington.26. What is the purpose of the speaker's remarks?27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington?28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program?29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be?Passage TwoThere are between 3,000 and 6,000 public languages in the world. And we must add approximately 6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns in communication seem infinite in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious process. For a long time, people thought that we learned language only by imitation and association. For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, "Hot! Hot!" And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother andsays "Hot! Hot!'; However, Noam Chomsky, a famous expert in language, pointed out that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because young children can make sentences they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants are born-with the ability to learn language. Chomsky. meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal language mechanism that makes it possible for us as infants to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential that human infants have for learning language, but it doesnot really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns?31. What is Chomsky's viewpoint on the ability to learn language?32. What does Chomsky's theory fail to explain according to the speaker?Passage ThreeWhen US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving a speech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago, and became an engineer before joining NASA, that is, the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen speeches a year. Each speech is different, because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and emails, she finds out in advance her listeners' educational level and what information they want to know~ On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat, drink and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is, "The spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water containers and a waste collection system." To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. "Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?" Her answer is, "No!" To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the design of spacesuit that protects spacemen from the deadly temperature extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it's important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different.33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining NASA?34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speeches on space walks?35. What does the high school audience want to know about space travel?Section C复合式听写Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue through the next few decades.Crime rates have always been high in multicultural industrialized societies suchas the United States, but a new phenomenon has appeared on the world scene---rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few offenses. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, murder, and auto theft are clearly rising, particularly in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the United Kingdom.What is driving this crime explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there're certain conditions associated with rising crime: increasing heterogeneity of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, changing national borders, greater economic growth, and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong.These conditions are increasing observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous such as Japan, Denmark, and Greece, are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history.Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the twenty-first century, and failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.。