大学英语四级(2013年12月考试改革适用)模拟试卷31(题后含答案及解析)

大学英语四级（2013年12月考试改革适用）模拟试卷31(题后含答
案及解析)
题型有：1. Writing 2. Listening Comprehension 3. 4. Reading Comprehension 5. Translation
Part I Writing
1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the chart and then express your views on the college students’ choice of reading materials. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Write your essay on Answer Sheet 1.
正确答案：College Students’Choice of Reading Materials The pie chart above illustrates the proportion of four kinds of reading materials chosen by college students. Newspapers account for 44% of their reading material, twice as much as magazines which constitute 22%, while fictions and textbooks only make up 18% and 16% respectively. It is evident that college students spend the majority of their time on newspapers, but much less on the rest of reading materials. There are two main reasons for it. First, compared with other reading materials, newspapers can help college students learn what is happening in the world every day. Second, all kinds of newspapers, ranging from foreign language newspapers, sports newspapers to entertainment newspapers, can cater to different needs of college students. Along with the increased amount of time spent on newspapers, some problems arise. The most serious one is that college students spend less and less time reading classics, which are the essence of literature. Therefore, it is urgent that college students choose reading materials in a proper way.
Part II Listening Comprehension
Section A
听力原文：M: I don’t know what to do with Timmy. This morning I found orange juice spilled all over the kitchen floor.W: Don’t be so hard on him. He’s only four.Q: What does the woman mean?
2．
A．Children should be taught to be more careful.
B．Children shouldn’t drink so much orange juice.
C．There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.
D．Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.
正确答案：C
解析：弦外之音题。

对话中男士抱怨说他都不知道该拿Timmy怎么办了，早上，他发现桔子汁洒了厨房一地；女士则说，别对Timmy太严厉，他只不过才四岁。

由此可见，女士认为男士不用对Timmy闯的祸太在意。

听力原文：W: Excuse me, sir. I would like to know about the fitness training program in your club.M: I’ll have you speak with the director in charge of new accounts.Q: What is the woman interested in?
3．
A．Fitness training.
B．The new job offer.
C．Computer programming.
D．Directorship of the club.
正确答案：A
解析：信息明示题。

对话中女士向男士询问俱乐部健身训练项目的事情，男士说他会带着女士去找专门负责新客户的主管。

由此可知，女士是对俱乐部中的健身训练感兴趣。

听力原文：W: It’s really cold in this apartment. Can we turn up the heat a little bit?M: Sorry. I’ve run out of money and can hardly pay the fuel bill. Maybe you’d better put on a sweater.Q: What does the man mean?
4．
A．He needs to buy a new sweater.
B．He has got to save on fuel bills.
C．The fuel price has skyrocketed.
D．The heating system doesn’t work.
正确答案：B
解析：语义理解题。

对话中女士说她觉得很冷，问男士能不能把暖气开足一点；男士则表示抱歉，说自己已经没钱了，都快付不起燃气费了，建议女士穿上毛衣。

由此可知，男士得节省燃料费了。

听力原文：M: I’m sorry, Miss. But you have to come with me to the security office. The video cameras in our shop have recorded everything you did.W: No. No.
I... I didn’t do anything. I’ll call the police if you dare insult me.Q: What does the man think the woman was doing?
5．
A．Committing theft.
B．Taking pictures.
C．Window shopping.
D．Posing for the camera.
正确答案：A
解析：推理判断题。

对话中，男士要求女士跟自己去保安室，并说商店里的
摄像头已经把女士所做的事都录下来了，而女士则表示自己什么都没有做，如果男士胆敢对她无礼，她就报警。

由此可知，男士认为女士可能偷了商店的东西。

听力原文：M: I think you ought to see a doctor right away about that cough.W: Well, I’ll wait a few more days. I’m sure I’ll get over it soon.Q: What do we learn about the woman?
6．
A．She is taking some medicine.
B．She has not seen a doctor yet.
C．She does not trust the man’s advice.
D．She has almost recovered from the cough.
正确答案：B
解析：推理判断题。

男士说女士应该马上去看医生，而女士则说再等几天，她相信自己的咳嗽很快就会好起来的。

由此可知，女士还没有去看医生。

听力原文：M: I’ve heard that Pamela made quite a few mistakes in her lab report.W: Well, she wouldn’t have if she hadn’t been in such a hurry to get it done.Q: What does the woman imply?
7．
A．Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.
B．Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.
C．Pamela is not good at writing research papers.
D．Pamela’s mistakes could have been avoided.
正确答案：D
解析：语义理解题。

对话中男士说他听说Pamela的实验报告出了很多错，而女士则说，如果她不是那么急着做完的话，不会出这么多错的。

由此可知，Pamela的实验报告中的错误本来是可以避免的。

听力原文：M: We’d better check out before 12 o’clock, Mary. And now there are only 30 minutes left.W: Let’s hurry up. You go pay the bill and I’ll call the reception to have our luggage taken downstairs.Q: Where did this conversation most probably take place?
8．
A．In the left-luggage office.
B．At the hotel reception.
C．In a hotel room.
D．At an airport.
正确答案：C
解析：场景推断题。

对话中男士说他们最好能在中午12点之前退房，现在只剩半小时了，女士建议加快速度，让男士去付账，自己会给前台打电话，叫人把行李送到楼下。

由此可知，对话发生时，两人还没有开始办理退房手续，还在
宾馆的房间里。

听力原文：W: Have you ever heard this speaker before?M: Yeah. She’s excellent. She gets her point across and is entertaining at the same time.Q: What does the man say about the speaker?
9．
A．She was an excellent student at college.
B．She works in the entertainment business.
C．She is fond of telling stories in her speech.
D．She is good at conveying her message.
正确答案：D
解析：语义理解题。

对话中女士问男士是否听过这位演讲者的讲座，男士说他听过，这位做讲座的女士很棒，不仅将自己的观点表达得清清楚楚，还能让人感到很有趣。

由此可知，这位做讲座的女士擅于表达自己想要表达的信息。

听力原文：M: So, are you planning on living on campus this year, or are you going to go for an apartment?W: Well, housing is included in my scholarship, so I have to live on campus. The food is terrible, but there are other things I like.M: What are the good things about living in a college dorm?W: There are lots of advantages of living in the dorms. For example, I like studying and hanging out with my roommates. We all go out to parties together,M: Wow, it sounds like the people in your dorm are pretty close.W: Yeah, we really are. I love the dorms because I can make friends. How about you? Are you living on campus?M: Right now I live in an apartment off campus.
I didn’t like living on campus because the people in my dorm always had their doors closed and were studying. It wasn’t much funny.W: That’s too bad. It sounds like the people in your dorm weren’t as close as the people in my dorm.M: You’re right. Living off campus is OK, but I feel like I miss out on all of the funny stuff that happens on campus.W: Yeah. By the way, my friend is having a party this Saturday night at his apartment. Do you want to come?M: Sure! That sounds funny!W: Great. Bring all of your friends!M: Wait a minute. Are you inviting me just so that I will bring lots of friends to the party?W: What? Of course not! I’m inviting you because I need a designated driver!9. What is the advantage of living in dorms according to the woman?10. Why does the man dislike to live on campus?11. What may happen to the man when living off the campus?12. Why does the woman invite the man to her friend’s party?
10．
A．People can easily get scholarship.
B．People can know the news on campus.
C．People can make close friends.
D．People can share opinions with each other.
正确答案：C
解析：事实细节题。

对话开始，女士提到住宿舍的好处：可以与室友一起学习和玩耍，能够交到好朋友。

11．
A．Because the dorm is too dirty.
B．Because life in the dorm is dull.
C．Because someone may bring friends there.
D．Because they often hold parties there.
正确答案：B
解析：目的原因题。

男士说自己住在校外公寓里，他不喜欢住学校宿舍，原因是室友都各自关门学习，没有任何乐趣。

即男士不喜欢住宿舍是因为宿舍里的气氛太沉闷，生活很无趣。

12．
A．He can’t follow fashion in school.
B．He can’t make any new friend.
C．He misses his friends sometimes.
D．He misses many funny things on campus.
正确答案：D
解析：细节推断题。

对话中男士说住在校外的确不错，但总感觉错过了学校里有趣的事情。

13．
A．Because she wants someone to drive her there.
B．Because she wants to know the man’s friends.
C．Because she enjoys being with many people.
D．Because she loves living on campus.
正确答案：A
解析：目的原因题。

对话末尾两人转到关于参加晚会的话题，女士提到她邀请男士参加朋友的聚会的目的是想让男士做她的司机。

听力原文：W: Dr. Stone, many experts see family meetings as an ideal opportunity to open the doors of communication between parents and children. But how do you go about holding a meeting?M: In my opinion, family meetings should be handled around the kitchen table instead of the board room table. They should be held at a regular time that everybody agrees on. Meetings should be short and never an unhappy experience. People can express things that are bothering them, but should never attack others because it’s a time when everyone gets to talk and has an opinion.W: Should kids be included for family meetings?M: Sure. Kids of all ages have a lot to gain from such meetings. They learn how to speak up in meetings and their opinions mean something. They learn the democratic process and are more likely
to take responsibility for the decision being made. If they participate in decision-making, they are more likely to follow through.W: Then why do some people fail in family meetings?M: That’s just because they always focus on what’s wrong. The most successful ones offer compliments to each other and acknowledge ways someone has contributed.W: Can you summarize the value of family meetings?M: Overall, family meetings can strengthen the bonds between parents and children. They are the most important meetings in life.W: Thank you very much.13. What does Dr. Stone think of a family meeting?14. What can kids learn from family meetings?15. Why do some people fail in family meetings according to Dr. Stone?
14．
A．It should be held around the broad room table.
B．It offers a chance for family members to show opinions.
C．Its time should be decided by parents.
D．It is a time to show unhappy experiences.
正确答案：B
解析：事实细节题。

女士问男士对家庭会议的看法，男士说家庭会议是阐述问题及表达观点的地方，而不是攻击别人的地方，而且时间应该由大家商定。

由此可知，Stone博士认为家庭会议给家庭成员提供了一个表达个人观点的机会。

15．
A．How to express opinions and make decisions.
B．How to respect other members in the family.
C．How to speak for themselves in a meeting.
D．How to make people follow their decisions.
正确答案：A
解析：事实细节题。

男士提到，孩子通过家庭会议能学到很多东西。

例如：怎样表达自己的思想、感受民主氛围和为最后的决定承担责任等。

16．
A．Because they don’t agree with each other’s opinions.
B．Because they offer compliments only to themselves.
C．Because they pay more attention to others’ mistakes.
D．Because they don’t acknowledge their faults.
正确答案：C
解析：目的原因题。

女士问有些家庭会议没有达到预期效果的原因，男士说这是因为他们总是关注错误的问题及观点。

Section B
听力原文：There is probably no area of human activities in which our
values and lifestyles are reflected more vividly than they are in the clothes that we choose to wear. The dress of an individual is a kind of “sign language”that communicates a complex set of information and is usually the basis on which immediate impressions are formed. Traditionally, a concern for clothes was considered to be a feminine preoccupation, while men took pride in the fact that they were completely lacking in clothes consciousness. Time has changed as masculine dress takes on greater variety and color. As early as 1955, a research revealed that men attached high importance to the value of clothing in daily life. White-collar workers in particular viewed dress as a symbol capable of manipulation(控制), which could be used to impress or influence others, especially in work situations. Although blue-collar workers were less aware that they might be judged on the basis of their clothing, they recognized that any difference from the accepted pattern of dress would draw scoff from fellow workers. Since that time, the pattern has changed: The typical office workers may now be wearing the blue shirt, and the laborers the white shirt; but the importance of dress has not diminished.16. What can our clothes do according to the passage?17. What can we know about men in the past?18. What can we learn about blue-collar workers according to the research of 1955?19. What is this passage mainly about?
17．
A．Indicate our lifestyles and values.
B．Improve our communicative skills.
C．Cultivate our values.
D．Determine our lifestyles and values.
正确答案：A
解析：事实细节题。

短文开篇便提到，我们选择的着装比其他任何人类活动都更能反映出我们的价值观和生活方式。

18．
A．They cared little about clothing.
B．They had poor taste in clothing.
C．They were very conscious of clothing.
D．They were proud of women’s clothes.
正确答案：A
解析：推理判断题。

短文中提到，以前，人们认为注重着装是女士们的特权。

男士完全缺乏穿着意识，并引以为豪。

由此可知，以前，男士并不关心穿着。

19．
A．They cared more about clothing than white-collar workers.
B．They were manipulated by white-collar workers.
C．They scoffed white-collar workers for their clothing.
D．They conformed to the accepted pattern of clothing.
解析：推理判断题。

短文中提到，虽然蓝领工人没怎么意识到人们会对他们以貌取人，但是他们知道任何不同于常规的衣着打扮都会被工友们嘲笑。

由此可以推断，蓝领工人事实上已经接受了一定的着装模式。

20．
A．Dressing patterns of workers.
B．Man’s attitude towards dress.
C．The importance of clothing.
D．The styles of clothing.
正确答案：C
解析：主旨大意题。

短文开篇便提到，我们选择的着装比其他任何人类活动都更能反映出我们的价值观和生活方式。

下文分别讲了不同时期、不同性别、不同职业的人对着装的态度的转变。

综合理解可知，本文主要讲了着装的重要性。

听力原文： A government report says climate change is already affecting American agriculture. The new report is from the Climate Change Science Program, which brings together the research efforts of 13 federal agencies. President George Bush launched the program six years ago. Here are some of the findings by scientists: The growing season has increased by 10 to 14 days in northern parts of the United States over the last 19 years. Much of the East and South now get more rain than a century ago. But the report says there is some evidence of increased drought conditions in the West and Southwest. Western states have less snow and ice on the mountains and earlier melting in the spring. Fewer animals will die during warmer winters, but greater numbers will die during hotter summers. And temperature extremes reduce animal production of meat or milk products. The Department of Agriculture was the lead agency for the new report. Thirty-eight scientists from universities, national laboratories, nongovernmental organizations and federal service wrote it. They considered more than 1 000 scientific publications. The report was the strongest statement yet by the Bush administration that human activities are the main cause of climate change in the last 50 years. Carbon dioxide from the burning of oil, natural gas and coal is the main gas blamed for trapping heat in the atmosphere. The report says warming is very likely to continue in the United States during the next 25 to 50 years. And it says this is so even if future greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.20. What’s the main idea of this passage?21. What can we learn from the scientists’ findings?22. What did the Bush administration declare strongly in the new report?
21．
A．American economy is influenced by climate change.
B．American industry is influenced by climate change.
C．American agriculture is influenced by climate change.
D．American environment is influenced by climate change.
解析：主旨大意题。

短文开篇便提到，一份政府报告称，气候变化正在影响美国农业，接下来的内容均围绕气候对农业的影响展开。

因此，本文谈论的主题就是气候变化对美国农业的影响。

22．
A．There is more rain in the West and Southwest.
B．More and more animals will survive the summers.
C．Meat products aren’t affected by temperature change.
D．Snow is melting on western mountains in advance.
正确答案：D
解析：细节辨认题。

短文中在讲科学家的发现时提到，西部各州高山上的冰雪数量减少，春季冰雪融化的时间提前。

23．
A．Human activities contributed to the climate change.
B．Vehicle emissions led to global warming.
C．Greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced.
D．Global warming would continue in the future.
正确答案：A
解析：事实细节题。

短文中提到，这份报告是布什政府最强烈的声明——人类活动是导致过去50年里气候变化的主要原因。

听力原文：Some young engineers from the United States have brought the Internet to several areas of rural Kenya. Their idea was to connect the communities to the Web by satellite. But there was a problem—the areas are not even connected to Kenya’s electric power supply. However, the young engineers offered the answer: solar panels. Energy from the sun powers the satellite dishes and computers that link the areas with the world outside. Kelly Moran, Joan Ervin and Tricia Donajkowski spent ten days in Kenya in November. The three women recently earned master’s degrees in space systems engineering from the University of Michigan. People now have access to educational, medical and all kinds of other information. Farmers, for example, can easily find weather, crop and price information online. The project began back at the college of engineering in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2007. That was when 25 students in a class taught by Thomas Zurbuchen first talked about the idea. The goal was to test whether Internet stations could be set up, how much they would cost, and how long they could operate. But the engineers also had to consider other things such as social needs. Students from the public health and business schools offered advice. The young engineers also had to design the equipment to survive the heat in Africa. Prof. Zurbuchen praised his former students for “making something work in a different climate far away from home.” Just 5% of Africans have Internet connections. The International Telecommunication Union says 1/3 of Kenyans have
mobile phones. But mobile phones may or may not work well with the Internet.23. What was the solution to the connection to Kenya’s Internet?24. What is the advantage of connecting the communities to the Web?25. Why did Prof. Zurbuchen speak highly of the young engineers?
24．
A．Providing electric power to the satellite dishes and computers.
B．Providing solar power to the satellite dishes and computers.
C．Providing advanced satellite dishes to connect the Internet.
D．Providing computer technology to connect the Internet.
正确答案：B
解析：事实细节题。

短文中提到，通过卫星为肯尼亚地区连通网络存在的一个问题是这些地区与肯尼亚电力供应系统之间没有连接。

工程师的解决方法是使用太阳能电池板，因为太阳能为卫星接收器和电脑提供能量，从而将这些地区与外界联系起来。

25．
A．Students can surf the Internet at home.
B．Schools can develop more classes online.
C．People can get all kinds of information online.
D．People can work an extra shift at home.
正确答案：C
解析：综合理解题。

短文中提到，人们目前可以获得教育、医学等各种信息。

例如：农民可以很容易地在线获得关于天气、作物和价格方面的信息。

这就是社区连通网络的优点。

26．
A．Because they had overcome troubles to achieve some fruits in Africa.
B．Because they had invented new equipment to complete the project in Africa.
C．Because they had completed connecting the communities to the Web in Africa beforehand.
D．Because they had succeeded in helping the African people solve the network problems.
正确答案：A
解析：目的原因题。

短文中提到，这些年轻的工程师们也要设计一些设备对付非洲的炎热天气，Zurbuchen教授称赞了他的这些学生，因为她们在一个与家乡气候差别很大的地方作出了成绩。

可见，Zurbuchen教授称赞他的学生是因为她们在非洲克服了困难，作出了成绩。

Section C
Disappointment, as uncomfortable and even painful as it can be for us, is
essential and important on our journey of growth. Making peace with disappointing others allows us to【B1】______our erroneous demands for perfection. Letting go of our fear of being disappointed gives us the ability to take more【B2】______and ask for what we truly want. When we’re able to embrace disappointment, we create a sense of【B3】______and space that frees us up to be who we truly are and let go of our attachment with others’ opinions. This is not always easy, but is so powerful and can be【B4】______. Here are a few things you can consider and do to expand your capacity to【B5】______disappointment: First, take inventory(详细目录). Take【B6】______at some of the most important relationships and activities in your life. How many of your actions, thoughts, conversations have to do with your【B7】______of disappointing others or being disappointed? Second, practice saying “no.” This is a great practice, especially for those “people pleasers” who find saying “yes”to stuff they don’t really want to do. While there is great value in being someone who is【B8】______”yes” in life, there is also power in owning our “no” as well. Third, expand and express your desires. Make a list of some of the most important and【B9】______desires you currently have—the things you really want, but maybe have been【B10】______. When you allow yourself to express your authentic desires, you give yourself the freedom to ask, dream and create.
27．【B1】
正确答案：release
解析：句意推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入动词。

结合上下文，此处应指“平和对待令别人失望这件事使得我们放弃追求错误的完美”。

根据录音，填入release。

28．【B2】
正确答案：risks
解析：语义推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入名词。

根据录音，填入risks，意为“冒险”。

29．【B3】
正确答案：liberation
解析：语境推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入名词。

根据下文that frees us up可知此处应填入一个表示“自由”的名词。

结合录音，填入liberation。

30．【B4】
正确答案：transformational
解析：语义推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入形容词。

结合录音，填入transformational，意为“转换的，改变的”。

31．【B5】
正确答案：embrace
解析：句意推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入动词。

结合上下文，此处应指“接受失望”。

结合录音，填入embrace。

32．【B6】
正确答案：an honest look
解析：语义推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入名词。

结合上下文，此处应指“诚实地检查一下自己生活中最重要的人际关系和事务”。

结合录音，填入an honest look。

33．【B7】
正确答案：avoidance
解析：语境推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入名词。

结合上下文，此处意在表达罗列一下哪些做法或想法可以使我们不再感到失望。

结合录音，填入avoidance，意为“避免”。

34．【B8】
正确答案：willing to say
解析：语境推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处缺少谓语部分。

结合上下文，此处意在表达在生活中总是愿意说yes的人也应该有能力说no。

结合录音，填入willing to say。

35．【B9】
正确答案：vulnerable
解析：同类列举题。

分析句子结构可知此处应填入形容词。

结合上下文，此处指的是我们目前拥有的最重要最“脆弱的”需求。

结合录音，填入vulnerable。

36．【B10】
正确答案：afraid to admit
解析：句意推断题。

分析句子结构可知此处缺少谓语部分。

结合上下文，我们目前拥有的最重要最脆弱的需求也是我们最不敢承认的需求。

结合录音，填入afraid to admit。

Part III Reading Comprehension
Section A
In the cause of equal rights, feminists(女权主义者)have had much to complain about. But one striking piece of inequality has been【C1】______: lifespan. In this area, women have the【C2】______hand. All round the world, they live longer than men. Why they should do so is not【C3】______obvious. But the same is true in many other【C4】______From lions to antelope and from sea lions to deer, males, for some reason, simply can’t go the distance. One theory is that males must【C5】______for female attention. Females are not subject to such pressure. If this theory is correct, the effect will be especially【C6】______in those varieties where males rival for the attention of lots of females. Conversely, it will be reduced or absent where they do not. That obviously takes its toll directly. But a more delicate effect may also be at work. Most scholars of ageing agree that an animal’s【C7】______lifespan is set by how long it can reasonably expect to escape predation(捕食), disease, accident and damaging【C8】______by others of its kind. If it will be killed quickly anyway, there is not much reason for evolution to divert scarce resources into keeping the machine in excellent condition. Those resources should, instead, be【C9】______to reproduction. And the more【C10】______the outside world is, the shorter the lifespan should be.A)overlooked F)threatening K)spontaneousB)upper G)undoubtedly L)devotedC)aggression H)species M)combineD)immediately I)evident N)uprightE)clumsy J)compete O)maximum
37．【C1】
正确答案：A
解析：动词辨析题。

空格处位于has been之后，本句缺少谓语动词。

该句意为“但一种惊人的男女不平等现象却常常被——：寿命”。

由But可知，惊人的男女不平等现象应该是没有被人重视，overlooked“忽略，忽视”符合句意。

38．【C2】
正确答案：B
解析：固定搭配题。

空格处位于定冠词the和名词hand之间，因此需填入形容词。

结合下文“从世界范围内来看，女性比男性更长寿”可知，女性在长寿方面有优势，因此upper“上面的”符合题意。

upper hand为周定搭配，意为“优势，有利地位”。

39．【C3】
正确答案：D
解析：副词辨析题。

空格处位于be动词和表语obvious之间，因此需填副词修饰obvious。

该句意为“女性为什么能比男性寿命长，原因尚不能——确定。

”由此推断，immediately“立即，马上”符合题意。

40．【C4】
正确答案：H
解析：名词辨析题。

空格处位于形容词other之后，所以需要填入一个名词。

该句意为“其他很多——也存在同样情况”，结合下文提到的各种动物可推知，species“种类”符合题意。

41．【C5】
正确答案：J
解析：动词辨析题。

空格处位于must之后，缺少谓语动词．并且该词与介词for连用，因此需要填入不及物动词。

该句想表达的句意为“一种理论认为，雄性为了吸引雌性的注意不得不相互——”，结合各选项，只有compete“竞争；比赛”符合题意。

compete for”为……而竞争”。

42．【C6】
正确答案：I
解析：形容词辨析题。

空格处位于be动词和副词especially之后，因此需要形容词作表语。

根据上下文可知，此句要表达的句意为“如果这种理论正确，那么在那些雄性为赢得众多雌性青睐而争夺的种群中，这种影响就会特别——”，形容词选项中只有evident“明白的，明显的”符合题意。

43．【C7】
正确答案：O
解析：形容词辨析题。

空格处位于所有格animal’s和名词lifespan之间，因此需要填入形容词。

结合上下文，本句是说“大多数研究衰老的学者认为，动物的——寿命取决于它能否逃避其他动物的捕食……”，maximum“最高的，最多的”符合题意。

44．【C8】
正确答案：C
解析：名词辨析题。

空格处位于形容词damaging之后，所以需要填入一个名词，并且该词应与predation，disease和accident一样，表达负面意义。

该句意为“大多数研究衰老的学者认为动物的最长寿命取决于它能否逃避其他动物的捕食、自身的疾病、意外伤亡和同类——”，结合各选项，只有aggression“进攻，侵略”符合题意。

45．【C9】
正确答案：L
解析：动词辨析题。

空格处位于be之后，介词to之前，需要填入动词的被
动语态。

上一句说“没有必要把有限的资源运用到保持良好的身体状况上去”，这句应该顺承上一句的意思，表达这些资源应该被用于哪一方面，所以devoted “用于”符合题意。

46．【C10】
正确答案：F
解析：形容词辨析题。

空格处缺少形容词修饰the outside world。

结合上下文可知，该句的句意为“外界的环境越——，这种动物的寿命也就越短”，各选项中只有threatening“带有威胁的”符合题意。

Section B
Preparing for More Expensive Degrees in EnglandA)Balancing a tight budget is one of the most difficult aspects of being a student. A recent survey from the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers found that money issues are the most critical concerns for young researchers in Europe, ahead of working conditions, training, and supervision.B)Starting in 2012, money is likely to become an even more important concern for students as universities in England are allowed to charge undergraduates up to ￡9 000 per year in tuition fees as a way of dealing with government funding cuts. That’s a nearly threefold increase from the current fees, which are capped at ￡3 375.C)The funding cuts are set to affect postgraduate education, too, with most English universities expected to increase postgraduate tuition to cover any remaining shortfall. Just how severe the changes will be for postgraduates is uncertain, but many experts advise caution. “All universities are trying to encourage students to think more seriously about how they’re going to manage,” says Sheila King, financial support coordinator at Cardiff University in Wales. So, what do students need to know about the changes?Details and debtD)The details are complicated. Universities in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales will be allowed to raise tuition to the same extent as in England, but in those places the new fees will apply only to students coming from the rest of the United Kingdom. For example, Scottish students do not currently pay tuition and will not be expected to do so after 2012—unless they attend universities in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.E)A further inequity is that under EU regulations, universities must charge students from the rest of the European Union the same amount as home students. This means that fees for EU students will be heavily subsidized(补贴)by universities in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales(but not England), while English students in these three countries will pay more than EU students attending the same universities.F)Whatever the tuition bill, full-time undergraduates in England will have to either pay up front or apply for a loan from the government, which they need not begin paying back until they have completed their degree and are earning more than ￡21 000 per year. Full-time undergraduates can apply, in addition, for a maintenance loan to contribute to accommodation, food, and travel costs. Part-time students will be able to apply for a tuition loan but not a maintenance loan.G)The
main concern of career advisers and student-support workers is the substantial debt that most students in England will face after graduation. For a standard 3-year degree charged at ￡9 000 per year—science courses are among the most expensive to run —the average debt from student loans, including maintenance, is expected to be around ￡43 000. The British Medical Association estimates that medical students could graduate more than ￡70 000 in debt.The benefits of part-time workH)One way of dealing with the new financial burden would be to work part time. According to the 2010 Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey, more than one-quarter of all undergraduate students in the United Kingdom worked part time during their studies that year—a percentage that is now expected to rise. For those doing a second undergraduate degree, a job may be the only option, as they will not be eligible for government loans.I)Juggling part-time work and studies can be tough—but a job or paid internship can have benefits beyond the financial. “There is a recognition and a demand for students to be as employable as possible when they finish their degree, and part of that is gaining relevant work experience,”King says. “My internships helped me during my master’s as I had already had 3 months of experience using different equipment and writing a lab book,” says Mike Stock, who began a Ph. D. in geology this year after doing internships with the Atomic Weapons Establishment, the international oil and natural gas company Petro-Canada, and a research assistantship at the University of Southampton. Planning for postgraduate studiesJ)Ongoing uncertainty over the impact of the funding cuts means that many universities haven’t yet set their postgraduate charges for 2012. According to a recent National Survey of UK Tuition Fees, the average cost of a taught master’s degree program across 147 UK higher education institutions rose 24% in just 1 year, from ￡4 989 in 2010-2011 to the current ￡6 184. The fee is expected to increase even more dramatically in 2012. “Ultimately, the decision on postgraduate fees will depend on calculations about what they need to do to survive as a university,” says a University of Southampton Student Services representative who prefers not to be named.K)In the United Kingdom, approximately 19 000 Ph. D. s are partly or fully funded by the research councils. Universities and industry partners also offer funded postgraduate positions and a range of bursaries(助学金), scholarships, and awards. However, many universities are now unsure how many positions they will be able to support in 2012. This could leave some Ph. D. students struggling for funding, since the government does not provide loans to support postgraduate study. One view held by careers specialists is that an increasingly competitive job market, paired with difficult economic times, might encourage more students to pursue postgraduate degrees. “If there are fewer funding opportunities available for postgraduate study and more applicants, each available position will become very competitive,”says the Southampton University Student Services representative. L)This makes it all the more important for aspiring postgraduate students to seek funding early, especially if they have financial commitments such as a mortgage(抵押)or a family. One approach is to apply for funding as broadly as possible. “After my undergraduate degree in mathematics, I was awarded a ￡4 000 scholarship from the Society for Underwater Technology,” says Graeme MacGilchrist, who began a Master of Science in oceanography this year. As。