2012年12月四级听力试题另一版本
2012年12月英语听力答案及原文
2012年12月英语听力答案及原文短对话：11. Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12. She cannot attend the presentation.13. He is a very successful businessman.14. She has every confidence in Susan.15. It is worth the money taking a train to Miami.16. The old furniture should be replaced.17. The man got home late due to the storm.18. The woman’s sons might enjoy team sports.长对话：Conversation One19. Take orders over the phone.20. Customers’questions could not be answered on the same day.21. They each take a week.Conversation Two22. Near a school.23. He did not notice it.24. It is no longer valid.25. He got a ticket.听力短文：Passage 126. They behave as if their memories have failed totally.27. Those with 15 items or less.28. Go back and pick up more items.29. It requires tolerance.Passage 230. A natural and spontaneous style of speech.31. Differences in style between writing and speaking.32. The key to becoming a good speaker.Passage 333. By comparing his performance with others.34. Children cannot detect their own mistakes.35. It is unhelpful to students’learning.复合式听写：36. foreign37. accomplished38. interpersonal39. detail.40. controlled41. abruptly42. references43. indication44. it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.45. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America.46. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.2012年12月英语四级考试听力原文汇总完整版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.11.W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom.M: Why don’t we walk over there and see for ourselves?Q: What will the speakers probably do?12.M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall. I hope to see you there.W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with my dentist at 9:00 o’clock tomorrow.Q: What do we learn about the woman?13.W: How long have you been running this company?M: Twenty years if you can believe that. I brought it from a small operation to what it is today. Q: What do we learn about the man?14.M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for next year.W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! She certainly deserves it.Q: What does the woman mean?15.W: Taking a bus to Miami, it’s cheaper than going by train.M: That’s true. But I’d rather pay a little more for the added comfort and convenience.Q: What does the man mean?16.M: I think it’s time we got rid of all this old furniture.W: Y ou’re right. We need to promote our image besides it’s not a real antique.Q: What do the speakers mean?17.M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afraid I couldn’t make it home.W: Y eah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn’t get home from the lab until midnight.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?18.W: My boys are always complaining that they’re bored.M: Why don’t you get them into some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both look forward to it all week.Q: What does the man mean?Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.W: I don’t know what to do. I can’t seem to get anyone in the hospital to listen to my complaints and this outdated equipment is dangerous. Just look at it.M: Hmm, uh, are you trying to say that it presents a health hazard?W: Y es, I am. The head technician in the lab tried to persuade the hospital administration to replace it, but they are trying to cut costs.M: Y ou are pregnant, aren’t you?W: Y es, I am. I made an effort to get my supervisor to transfer me to another department, but he urged me not to complain too loudly. Because the administration is more likely to replace me than an X-ray equipment, I’m afraid to refuse to work. But I’m more afraid to expose my unborn child to the radiation.M: I see what you mean. Well, as your union representative, I have to warn you that it would take quite a while to force management to replace the old machines and attempt to get you transferred may or may not be successful.W: Oh, what am I supposed to do then?M: Workers have the legal right to refuse certain unsafe work assignments under two federal laws, the Occupation or Safety and Health Act and the National Labor Relations Act. But the requirements of either of the Acts may be difficult to meet.W: Do you think I have a good case?M: If you do lose your job, the union will fight to get it back for you along with back pay, your lost income. But you have to be prepared for a long wait, maybe after two years.Q19. What does the woman complain about?Q20. What has the woman asked her supervisor to do?Q21. What does the man say about the two federal laws?Q22. What will the union do if the woman loses her jobQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.W: Mr. Green, is it fair to say that negotiation is an art?M: Well, I think it’s both an art and science. Y ou can prepare for a negotiation quite scientifically, but the execution of the negotiation has quite a lot to do with one’s artistic quality. The scientific part of a negotiation is in determining your strategy. What do you want out of it? What can you give? Then of course there are tactics. How do you go about it? Do you take an opening position in a negotiation which differs from the eventual goal you are heading for? And then of course there are the behavioral aspects.W: What do you mean by the behavioral aspects?M: Well, that’s I think where the art comes in. In your behavior, you can either be an actor. Y ou can pretend that you don’t like things which you are actually quite pleased about. Or you can pretend to like things which you are quite happy to do without. Or you can be the honest type negotiator who’s known to his partners in negotiation and always plays everything straight. But the artistic part of negotiation I think has to do with responding immediately to cues one gets in the process of negotiation. These can be verbal cues or even body language. This is where the artistic quality comes in.W: So really, you see two types of negotiator then, the actor or the honest one.M: That’right. And both can work. I would say the honest negotiator can be quite effective in some circumstances. In other circumstances you need an actor.Q23. When is a scientific approach best embodied in a negotiation according to the man?Q24. In what way is a negotiator like an actor according to the man?Q25. What does the man say about the two types of negotiator?Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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 center.Passage 1Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer is more thansomeone who buys something. To me, a customer is a person whose memory fails entirely once he or she starts to push a shopping cart. One of the first things customers forget is how to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line, which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items. Customers also forget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customer will say, “Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don’t mind waiting while I go get it.”Five minutes later, he is back with the bread, a bottle of milk, and three rolls of paper towels. Strange as it seems, customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for their groceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up the groceries, my customers will wait until I announce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, “Oh no, what did I do with my check book?”After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrows my pen because she’s forgotten hers. But I have to be tolerant of customers because they pay my salary, and that’s something I can’t afford to forget.Q26. What does the speaker say about customers’entering the grocery store?Q27. Which customers are supposed to be in the express line?Q28. What does the speaker say some customers do when they arrive at the check-out counter?Q29. What does the speaker say about his job at the end of the talk?Passage 2Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.The speech delivery style of Europeans and Asians tends to be very formal. Speakers of these cultures often read oral presentations from carefully written manuscripts. On the other hand, American speakers are generally more informal relative to speakers in other cultures. American audiences prefer natural, spontaneous delivery that conveys a lively sense of communication. They don’t relate well to speakers who read from a manuscript. If you use an outline of your ideas instead of a prepared text, your speech will not only sound more natural, but you will also be able to establish better relationship with your listeners and keep their attention. The language and style you use when making an oral presentation should not be the same as the language and style you use when writing. Well-written information, that is meant to be read, does not work as well when it is heard. It is, therefore, important for you to adapt written texts or outlines for presentations. Good speakers are much more informal when speaking than when writing. They also use their own words and develop their own speaking styles. Whenever possible, they use short words. Listeners appreciate it when speakers use simple, everyday words in a presentation. One advantage is that it’s much easier for speakers to pronounce short words correctly. Another is that long and sophisticated vocabulary choices make listening more difficult.Question 30 to 3230. What does the speaker say American audiences prefer?31. What should one pay attention to when making an oral presentation?32. What does the speaker focus on in the talk?Passage 3Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by beingcorrected all the time. If corrected too much, he will stop talking. He compares a thousand times a day the difference between language as he uses it and language as those around him use it. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people’s. In the same way, kids learning to do all the other things they learn without adult teachers, to walk, run, climb, ride a bike, play games, compare their own performance with what more skilled people do, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to detect his mistakes. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him. Soon he becomes dependent on the expert. We should let him do it himself. Let him figure out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what is the answer to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or that. If right answers need to be given, as in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such tedious work? Our job should be to help children when they tell us that they can’t find a way to get the right answer.Question 33 to 3533. How does a child learn to do something according to the speaker?34. What belief do teachers commonly hold according to the speaker?35. What does the speaker imply about the current way of teaching?Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to43 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.Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail. It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time. Americans’language is filled with references to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,”to be “kept,”“filled,”“saved,”“wasted,”“gained,”“planned,”“given,”“made the most of,”even “killed.”The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America. Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes”time and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.。
2012年12月4级考试真题(3)
2012年12月四级考试真题(3)Part II Reading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning)(15minutes)Directions:In this part,you will have15minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet1.For questions1–7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked[A],[B],[C]and[D].For questions8–10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Suffering in silenceDespite a law designed to protect them,many people with disabling conditions are unaware of their rights. Carole Concha-Bell tells of her experiences.Being diagnosed with a disabling condition is always a shock.Learning to live without the guarantee of health is like having to unlearn a previous life.The implications for your working life may seem intimidating.There is the Disability Discrimination Act(DDA),of course.But does it really provide the protection in the workplace that parliament intended?Are employers merely paying lip service to the DDA?Or are they even aware of an employer’s legal duties and responsibilities?In my experience,it is the latter.I have received little support from employers to whom I have revealed my condition.This has often left me feeling at a disadvantage and wondering why I bothered doing so in the first place.I had been struggling with illness long before I was diagnosed.In practical terms the diagnosis did little to aid me.Of course,it enabled me to understand my body,my limitations and set me on a course to stabilise my symptoms.But it brought a new dilemma.Where I had previously struggled to work while ill,ignorant of why my body was misbehaving,I now had a name for my daily struggle:Lupus(狼疮).This is a chronic(慢性的), auto-immune disorder that can affect virtually any system in the body.It also leaves a huge,dark question hanging over my head when seeking employment:should I tell my employers I have a condition?It is a dilemma that continues to be a root cause of anxiety both for myself and for thousands of other UK employees.The rocky road to my unfortunate enlightenment about work and disability began just after graduation when I’d set my sights on a career in communications and landed my dream job with a respected public relations consultancy(咨询公司)in Bristol.But while I was learning the art of media relations,my body wasn’t quite making it in health terms.I often went to work with swollen limbs and fevers.At my first and last performance review,my boss was amazed that,despite my many capabilities,I hadn’t quite taken control of my responsibilities.A few months later,my contract wasn’t renewed and I plunged further into new depths of ill health.However,I was determined not to be beaten and returned to the interview trail.My next job was in publishing.But despite a shining performance at the interview,I felt like a fraud.How long would it be before I sank into ill health and depression again?The job was to end with a monumental bang when I became so poorly I could no longer function.A few feverish weeks in bed ended in a specialist appointment,where I was diagnosed with Lupus and rushed into hospital for fear that it may have attacked my internal organs.The next12months were filled with confusion.I had no idea about benefits,felt alienated(被视为另类)by the medical establishment and lived off my savings until I was broke.I realised I needed help from my family and moved to London.As soon as I felt better,I marched into a marketing recruitment consultancy and,within10minutes,I had impressed the interviewer enough to be offered a job with the agency.We agreed on a decent salary and I told him I had arthritis(关节炎)and would need to work a four-day week.Things went well at the start but soon the client meetings began to fall on my day off,and I rarely left theoffice on time.I began to slip both in health and professional terms.The10-hour days crashed around my head; no amount of make-up could disguise my ill health as I battled against the odds to prove to myself that I could still make it in the business world.I often cried on the bus on the way back from work.Not long before my contract was due to be made permanent,I was called to the boss’s office and given the“talk”about how my performance was slipping,how awful I looked.I felt too weak to fight back and agreed to leave.No attempts to offer adjustments to my job,such as being able to work from home,were ever made.I had a case for unfair dismissal under the DDA,but was ignorant of this at the time.An estimated10million people in the UK,or17%of the population,qualify for disability status under the DDA.I have encountered a number of them:the liver-diseased boss;the co-worker with a heart condition;and my asthmatic(哮´ 的)trainee-teacher friend.None had disclosed(透露)their conditions to employers,and all were feeling the strain of not doing so.To access your rights under the DDA and to request“reasonable adjustments”to your working conditions or your workplace requires disclosure.I had warned my former employer about my condition but it served little purpose.They were ignorant about their obligations to their disabled staff.However,there are plenty of forward-thinking organisations that have inclusive recruitment policies;are more likely to employ a worker with a disability;and are more aware of their legal duties.The public sector out-performs the private,but not always the voluntary,according to studies for the Disabilities Rights Commission.I decided to give the voluntary sector a go and was surprised to be offered flexible working conditions and other solutions to meet my needs as an employee.But given the choice,I would still prefer a career in the private sector,which for me is more dynamic,has more attractive salaries and offers better prospects than the voluntary or public sectors.Despite the advances of the DDA,there will always be an army of workers who will soldier on,maybe aware of their rights but choosing to remain silent for personal reasons.It is important,though,to recognise the significance of the act,the protection it affords and the obligations that employers have to us as employees and as human beings.1.What is people’s immediate response when they are first diagnosed with a disabling condition?[A]They report the situation to their employers.[B]They come to realise the value of good health.[C]They feel nervous about their work prospects.[D]They try to seek protection from the DDA.2.When the author revealed her condition to her employers,they______.[A]were quite sympathetic toward her[B]did not give her the support she needed[C]made adjustments to meet her needs[D]were annoyed not to be informed earlier3.When the author was diagnosed with Lupus,she was in a dilemma whether she should______.[A]ask for assistance from her fellow workers[B]find employment at a different company[C]ignore her limitations and struggle to work[D]inform her employers of her disability status4.The author lost her job at the public relations consultancy in Bristol because______.[A]her boss had found a much better replacement[B]she was in no mood at all to discharge her duties[C]her performance was disappointing to her boss[D]she failed to show up for her performance review5.Why did the author feel like a fraud when she got her second job?[A]She knew she would fall ill any time again.[B]She was not as competent as she appeared to be.[C]She concealed the fact that she had just been fired.[D]She pretended to be very keen on the job.6.Why did the author move to London?[A]To get help from her family.[B]To receive better medical care.[C]To start a consulting business.[D]To seek a more suitable job.7.The author worked hard at the marketing recruitment consultancy in order to______.[A]earn the boss’s appreciation and clients’recognition[B]demonstrate her strong willpower to conquer illness[C]provide for herself without protection from the DDA[D]prove herself capable of success in the business world8.Although many people qualify for disability status in the UK,they would rather not tell their employersabout___________________.9.The author was offered flexible working conditions in the voluntary sector,but if she had a choice,she wouldstill like to work in___________________.10.The author stresses that it is important to recognise employers’___________________to their disabledemployees.Part IV Reading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25minutes) Section ADirections:In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the wordsQuestions47to56are based on the following passage.So many people use the cell phone so frequently every day.But47little is certain about the health effects of its use.Manufactures that cell phones meet government standards for safe radio-frequency radiation emission,but enough studies are beginning to document a possible49in rare brain tumors(肿瘤),headaches and behavioral disorders in children to cause concern.So far,the evidence isn’t50on whether the use of cell phones51to any increased risk of cancer.In a new trial,researchers asked47volunteers to52in a project to measure glucose(葡萄糖)consumption in the brain by scanning the brain to see how cells use energy. For both50-minute scans,the volunteers had a cell phone53to each ear.During the first scan,the devices were turned off,but for the second scan,the phone on the right ear was54on and received a recorded-message call,although the volume was muted(消音)so the noise wouldn’t bias the results.The results of the second scan showed that the55of the brain nearest to the device had higher rates of glucose consumption than the rest of the brain.The study shows that cell phones can change brain activity,and56a whole new avenue for scientific inquiry,though it doesn’t say anything about whether cell-phone radiation can cause cancer.[A]conclusive[F]immensely[K]particular[B]contributes[G]increase[L]provides[C]derive[H]maintain[M]regions[D]expresses[I]mission[N]surprisingly[E]fixed[J]participate[O]switchedSection BDirections:There are2passages in this section.Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked[A],[B],[C]and[D].You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions57to61are based on the following passage.It’s no secret that some of the resolutions that many of us vowed to pursue in the new year—eat healthy,lose weight,quit smoking,save more money—have already fallen by the wayside.Many of them are likely the same resolutions that we abandoned last January.And it’s a good thing for those who sell health club memberships,quit-smoking programs and other products that help us think we can improve our lives.Many gyms see new memberships double in January,making up for the third of their members who do not renew each year.And many who sign up in January will be no-shows by February.“If I try one quick fix and it doesn’t work,I may be more likely to try the next quick fix,”Lisa Lahey,who coaches executives how to sustain behavior change,told The Times.The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge doesn’t offer any quick fixes,just a12-hour schedule full of exercise, a1,200-calories-a-day diet and a fee of$2,000a week.The resort teaches its clients that“weight management”is a combination of fitness,diet and emotional health.“Given my recent weight gain,and the fact that I was turning50,”Jennifer Conlin wrote in The Times,“I wanted to start a program that would make2012the year I finally got in shape.”“For years,the advice to the overweight people has been that we simply need to eat less and exercise more,”Tara Parker-Pope wrote.“While there is truth to this guidance,it fails to take into account that the human body continues to fight against weight loss long after dieting has stopped.This translates into a sobering(令人清醒的) reality:once we become fat,most of us,despite our best efforts,will probably stay fat.”Of course this revelation(揭示),if proven true by further study,is not good news for the weight-loss industry.But chances are it won’t have much impact on the human tendency to resolve to get to the gym more and avoid chocolate cake when the clock strikes midnight on December31.57.What do we learn from the first paragraph about new year resolutions?[A]They are hard to sustain.[B]They test one’s strength.[C]They help shed bad habits.[D]They promise a good year.58.Who do new year resolutions eventually benefit?[A]Society in general.[B]Business executives.[C]Health club members.[D]Health industries.59.What is special about the Biggest Loser Resort’s weight management program?[A]It gives top priority to emotional health.[B]It does not resort to any quick fixes.[C]It focuses on one’s behavior change.[D]It is not cheap but extremely effective.60.What happens when people stop dieting?[A]They regain their appetite.[B]They usually stay in shape.[C]Their weight bounces back.[D]Their health is likely to fail.61.What do people tend to do about new year resolutions?[A]They keep making them year after year.[B]They abandon them once progress is made.[C]They keep trying until they finally succeed.[D]They make them for the sake of making them.Passage TwoQuestions62to66are based on the following passage.When University of California-Berkeley released a study this month showing alarmingly high teacher turnover(人员流动)rates at Los Angeles charter schools,I wasn’t surprised.That’s not a slam at local charter schools.It’s just that the study echoed something I’d observed many times, starting with my niece.Bright and cheerful,my niece longed to teach high-needs children.She started out in the San Franciscopublic schools,where she was assigned to the district’s toughest elementary school.Fifth-graders threw chairs across the room—and at her.Parents refused to show up for conferences.She wasn’t willing to deal with this level of indifference and teacher abuse,so she switched to a highly regarded charter elementary school in the Bay Area where she poured her energy into her job and it showed.Her students’test scores were as high as those in a nearby wealthy school district,despite the obstacles these children faced.Yet by her fourth year,my niece was worn out,depleted(耗尽)of the energy it took to work with a classroom of sweet but deeply needy children who pleaded to stay in her classroom when it was time to leave.The principal’s offer of a$10,000raise couldn’t stop her from giving notice.She went to work at that wealthy school district next door—for less money.Over the years,I’ve met many impassioned(充满激情的)teachers at charter schools,only to call them the next year and find they’ve left.The authors of the Berkeley study theorize that the teachers leave because of the extraordinary demands:long hours,intense involvement in students’complicated lives, continual searches for new ways to raise scores.Even the strongest supporters of the reform movement concede that the task of raising achievement among disadvantaged students is hard work.It’s unlikely that we can build large-scale school reform on a platform of continual new demands on teachers—more time,more energy,more devotion,more responsibility—even if schools find ways to pay them better.This is the bigger challenge facing schools.We need a more useful answer to the Berkeley study than“Yeah,it’s really hard work.”62.Why wasn’t the author surprised at the high teacher turnover rates at Los Angles charter schools?[A]She had participated in the Berkeley study.[B]She had noticed the phenomenon repeatedly.[C]She had been involved in the local school reform.[D]She had been informed of the problem by her niece.63.What do we learn about the students in the public school the author’s niece taught?[A]They were undisciplined.[B]They were tough and strong.[C]Many of them enjoyed less parental care.[D]Many of them dropped out of school halfway.64.What does the author say about her niece’s work in the charter elementary school?[A]It won high praise from her school and colleagues.[B]It was cited by the Berkeley study as an example.[C]It contributed to the success of the school reform.[D]It was well received by the disadvantaged children.65.Why were the teacher turnover rates so high according to the Berkeley study?[A]The students were indifferent to learning.[B]Teachers’salary was not high enough.[C]Teachers’work was too demanding.[D]Jobs elsewhere were more meaningful.66.What is the author’s comment on the current school reform movement?[A]It will give rise to more problems.[B]It is not likely to be successful.[C]It will have a positive impact on education.[D]It demands the local authorities’support.Part V Cloze(15minutes) Directions:There are20blanks 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 Sheet2with a single line through the centre.Like many of the protesters at Occupy Wall Street in New York,Amanda Vodola is young,underemployed 67.[A]organize[B]establish[C]integrate[D]assembleand loaded with student debt.She spends her days running around,helping67the movement,and her evenings waiting tables at a restaurant in st spring,she graduated from Fordham University68a degree in English.“I grew up with this narrative that to get a good job I need to go to school,”she says.But the job she has‘‘is not enough to pay the bills.”And the bills she’s69most about are the ones tied to that narrative:the$30,000she70in college loans.In November,when their six-month grace period runs71,Vodola and millions of other students who graduated in May have to start72their loans. Repayment requirements for private loans kick in regardless of whether73have found jobs.Since employment rates for recent college graduates have74 in the past two years,as have starting salaries,the75 of a sharp rise in student-loan delinquencies(到期未付) h a s l e d some economists to76that this could be the next financial crisis,rippling(波及)into the wider economy. Total U.S.student-loan debt,which exceeded credit-card debt77the first time last year,is on track to78 $1,000billion this year.That’s a nearly8%79over last year.But neither these80nor the voices of students, 81by debt,at protests in cities and on campuses82 the nation are likely to keep the families of high school seniors83seeing a brand-name education as a84 to a better life.They’ve long been told that higher education is an85in the future—even as the cost of college has86538%over the past30years.68.[A]under[B]on[C]over[D]with69.[A]puzzled[B]interrupted[C]worried[D]distracted70.[A]collects[B]owes[C]costs[D]accounts71.[A]down[B]up[C]off[D]out72.[A]raising[B]repaying[C]rearranging[D]rating73.[A]lenders[B]owners[C]borrowers[D]holders74.[A]dropped[B]reversed[C]collapsed[D]slimmed75.[A]possibility[B]stability[C]publicity[D]security76.[A]command[B]predict[C]appreciate[D]instruct77.[A]in[B]to[C]of[D]for78.[A]blow[B]knock[C]hit[D]pound79.[A]advance[B]increase[C]transfer[D]progress80.[A]statistics[B]graphs[C]diagrams[D]abstracts81.[A]rejected[B]cleared[C]revealed[D]burdened82.[A]among[B]amid[C]throughout[D]beyond83.[A]towards[B]from[C]against[D]into84.[A]sign[B]label[C]brick[D]ticket85.[A]investment[B]instrument[C]indication[D]inspiration86.[A]intensified[B]flown[C]soared[D]brokenPart VI Translation(5minutes)Directions:Complete the sentences by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.Please write your translation on Answer Sheet2.87.Only when you have passed the tests required(你才能申请驾驶执照).88.Working mothers today feel it is difficult to(保持事业和家庭之间的平衡).89.We(本来可以避免犯这个愚蠢的错误),but we didn’t follow his advice.90.He is well into his thirties.It’s about time he(安顿下来，开始创业).91.If you(发现自己在排长队等候)at a supermarket checkout counter,areyou likely to get impatient?。
2012年12月英语四级完整版真题版
2012年12月英语四级完整版真题:第二套Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) Make phone calls to promote sales.B) Arrange business negotiations.C) Handle complaints from customers.D) Take orders over the phone.20. A) They had different business strategies.B) Customers often mistook one for the other.C) Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.D) Customers' questions could not be answered on the same day.21. A) They each take a week.B) They like to spend it together.C) They have to take it by turns.D) They are given two weeks each.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) At a road crossing.B) Outside a police station.C)D) In front of a kindergarten.23. A) He drove too fast to read it.B) He did not notice it.C) It says 45 miles an hour.D) It is not clearly visible. 24. A) It should have been renewed two months ago.B) It actually belongs to somebody else.C) It is no longer valid.D) It is not genuine.25. A) He got a ticket.B) He was fined $35.C) He had his driver's license canceled.D) He had to do two weeks' community service.Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the conversation you have just heard.26. A) They care more about an item's price than its use.B) They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.C) They become excited as if they had never been there.D) They behave as if their memories have failed totally.27. A) Those with a VIP card. C) Those needing assistance.B) Those with 15 items or less. D) Those paying in cash.28. A) Go back and pick up more items. C) Change the items they have picked up.B) Take out some unwanted purchases. D) Calculate the total cost of the groceries...29. A) It calls for carefulness. C) It needs a good knowledge of math.B) It requires tolerance. D) It involves communication skills.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) A package of ideas formally presented.B) A short presentation clearly delivered.C) A natural and spontaneous style ot speech.D) A clever use of visual aids in presentation.31. A) The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.B) Differences in style between writing and speaking.C) Different preferences of audiences.D) The importance of preparation.32. A) The differences between American and Asian cultures.B) The significance of cross-cultural communication.C) The increasing importance of public speaking.D) The key to becoming a good speaker.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) By comparing his performance with others'.B) By being repeatedly .C) By observing what their teachers do. D) By being given constant praise.34. A) The best students are usually smart by nature.B) It is only natural for children to make errors.C) Children cannot detect their own mistakes.D) All children should have equal opportunities.35. A) It is favorable to knowledge accumulation.B) It is beneficial to independent children.C) It is unhealthy to students' upbringing.D) It is unhelpful to students' learning.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.I've worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer since I graduated from high school. but making the transition（转变）between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be uncivilized, getting to a factory by 6 o'clock each morning is torture. My friends never seem to understand why I'm so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation.There're few people as self-confident as a college student who has never been out in the real world. People my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine 1 ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward .The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job..could disappear overnight. Issues like downsizing（裁员）and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the unit I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents an hour.After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other options have become only too clear. When I'm back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy re-writes seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.These lessons I'm learning, however valuable, are always tinged（带有）with a sense of guilt. Many people pass their lives in the places I briefly work, spending 30 years where I spend only two months at a time. "This job pays well, but it's hell on the body," said one co-worker. "Study hard and keep reading," she added.My experiences in the factories have inspired me to make the most of my college years before I enter the real world for good.57. How did the author look back on his summer days while at college?A) They brought him nothing but torture.B) They were no holiday for him at all.C) They were a relief from his hard work at school.D) They offered him a chance to know more people.58. What does the author say about college students?A) They expect too much from the real world.B) They have little interest in blue-collar life.C) They think too highly of themselves. D) They are confident of their future.59. What, according to the author, is most frustrating for blue-collar workers?A) They do not get decent pay.B) They do not have job security.C) They have to work 12-hour shifts.D) They have to move from place to place.60. In what important way has the author's work experience changed him?A) He learned to be more practical.B) He acquired a sense of urgency.C) He came to respect blue-collar workers.D) He came to appreciate his college education61. Why does the author feel somewhat guilty?A) He realizes there is a great divide between his life and that of blue-collar workers.B) He looks down upon the mechanical work at the assembly line.C) He has not done much to help his co-workers at the factory.D) He has stayed at school just for the purpose of escaping from the real world.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Are people suffering from gadget（小器具）overload? Are they..exhausted by the consumer equivalent of the brain fatigue-information overload that is caused by constant updates of devices and online media?Underwriters Laboratories issued a report last week that found 48% of consumers "feel high-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them."There are two possible explanations. The first, obvious one is that the pace of innovation（创新）is too fast for consumers. The second less obvious one is that, in fact, innovation is too slow. That is, the new offerings companies are pushing out the door every six months or so are me-too products or ones with just a couple of new features. Marketing schedules, not product innovation, are driving the corporate（公司的）train. Manufacturers in America valued "speed to market" more than in other countries, the report found.Sara Greenstein, Underwriters Laboratories' chief strategy officer, offered her interpretation of the survey results. "Innovation is too fast only if corners are cut."For the high-tech sector, there are a few other interesting findings. Consumers are less concerned about safety in high-tech products than categories like fresh and processed food. But their top safety concerns are emissions and wireless radio waves. Many people, it seems, are uneasy living in a thickening cloud of radio waves from mobile phone towers and the gadgets they communicate with.A finding that was a hit surprising is that to consumers, the inner parts of high-tech devices do apparently matter. Some 55% of consumers, according to the report, said they are "more concerned about where high-tech components come from than where the product was assembled."The report doesn't really say how that information would affect consumer buying decisions. It could be complicated. Manufacturing companies on average rely on more than 35 contract suppliers around the world to create a single product. That number would be higher for a laptop.But maybe some sort of supply-chain labeling showing where parts come from in a product? "We're working on it," Ms. Greenstein said.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2012年12月四级考试真题汇总版真题+听力原文+答案详解
2012年12月四级考试真题汇总版Part I Writing汀仁业弔分试!ML 聲题匸T I'.DirectionFor this part, you are allowed 30 minu tes to write a short essayentitled Education PaysYou should write at least 120 words but no more than Education PaysPart II Readi ng Comprehe nsion (Skim ming and Scanning)Why In tegrity MattersWhat is In tegrity?"Integrity" is defined as "adherenee to moral and ethical principles; The key to in tegrity is con siste ncy--not only sett ing high pers onal sta ndards for on eself (hon esty, resp on sibility, respect for others, fair ness) but also to those sta ndards each day. One who has in tegrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptati on.What happe ns if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical sta ndards? We feeldisappo in ted in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of in tegrity also affects our relati on ships with others. Trust is esse ntial in any importa nt relati on ship, whether pers onal or professi on al. Whoca n trust some one who is dish on est Thus, in tegrity must be one of our most importa nt goals.Risky Businesswwkiy gmi 叩t In IQll (in 沖 DwistAl A H }** U** Sanw nddhqvw I h4k>Mf > -1 謝 180 words.hon esty." livi ng up or unfair?We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of characteris whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future.Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense."But Everybody Does It"Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they ' re taking by using excuses: "Everyone else doesit," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keepmy eyes on myown paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking myanswers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions.To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.Evaluating RisksTo decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; Suspension or Dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category.Getting Away With It--Or NotThose who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learnfrom the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is fartherbehind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works.Cheating Hurts Others, TooCheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30%or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; allI care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hardfor their degree.Why Integrity MattersIf cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education.In sum, we all have a commonstake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also .A) sticks to them in their daily lifeB) makes them known to othersC) understands their true valuesD) sees that others also follow them2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships?A) It helps to create team spiritB) It facilitates communicationC) It is the basis of mutual trustD) It inspires mutual respect3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take ？A. To ensure we make responsible choices.B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress.C. so that we don ' t break any rules.D. so that we don t run into trouble.4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if ____ ?A. it has caused no harm.B. it is claimed to be unintentional.C. it has gone unnoticed.D. it is committed with good intentions.5. What should one do if he doesn ' t wish to fool himself?A. Avoid making excuses.B. Listen to other people ' s advice.C. Make his intensions public.D. Have others watch over his shoulder.6. Those who take risks they regret later on ____ .A. will often become more cautiousB. are usually very aggressiveC. value immediate benefits most.D. may lose everything in the end7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn ' t get caught right away willA) pay more dearlyB) become more confidentC) be widely admiredD) feel somewhat lucky8. Cheaters at exam don ' t care about their education, all they care about is how to9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people ' s _______10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of .Part III Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 longconversations. 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.W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom.M: Why don ' t we walk over there and see for ourselves?Q: What will the speakers probably do?12.M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall.I hope to see you there.W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with my dentist at 9:00 o ' clock tomorrow.Q: What do we learn about the woman?13.W: How long have you been running this company?M: Twenty years if you can believe that. I brought it from a small operationto what it is today.Q: What do we learn about the man?14.M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for next year.W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! She certainly deserves it.Q: What does the woman mean?15.W: Taking a bus to Miami, it ' s cheaper than going by train.M: That 's true. But I ' d rather pay a little more for the added comfort and convenience.Q: What does the man mean?16.M: I think it ' s time we got rid of all this old furniture.W: You' re right. Weneed to promote our image besides it 's not a real antique.Q: What do the speakers mean?17.M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afraid I couldn ' t make it home.W: Yeah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn ' t get home fromthe lab until midnight.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?18.W: My boys are always complaining that they ' re bored.M: Whydon't you get them into some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both look forward to it all week.Q: What does the man mean?Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.W: I don ' t know what to do. I can ' t seem to get anyone in the hospital tolisten to my complaints and this outdated equipment is dangerous. Just look at it.M: Hmm, uh, are you trying to say that it presents a health hazard?W: Yes, I am. The head technician in the lab tried to persuade the hospital administration to replace it, but they are trying to cut costs.M: You are pregnant, aren ' t you?W: Yes, I am. I made an effort to get my supervisor to transfer me to another department, but he urged me not to complain too loudly. Because the administration is more likely to replace me than an X-ray equipment, I ' m afraid to refuse to work. But I ' m more afraid to expose my unborn child to the radiation.M: I see what you mean. Well, as your union representative, I have to warn you that it would take quite a while to force management to replace the old machines and attempt to get you transferred may or may not be successful.W: Oh, what am I supposed to do then?M: Workers have the legal right to refuse certain unsafe work assignments under two federal laws, the Occupation or Safety and Health Act and the National Labor Relations Act. But the requirements of either of the Acts may be difficult to meet.W: Do you think I have a good case?M: If you do lose your job, the union will fight to get it back for you along with back pay, your lost income. But you have to be prepared for a long wait, maybe after two years.Q19. What does the woman complain about?Q20. What has the woman asked her supervisor to do?Q21. What does the man say about the two federal laws?Q22. What will the union do if the woman loses her jobQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.W: Mr. Green, is it fair to say that negotiation is an art?M: Well, I think it ' s both an art and science. You can prepare for a negotiation quite scientifically, but the execution of the negotiation has quite a lot to do with one' s artistic q uality. The scientific part of a negotiation is in determiningyour strategy. What do you want out of it? What can you give? Then of course there are tactics. Howdo you go about it? Do you take an opening position in a negotiation which differs from the eventual goal you are heading for? And then of course there are the behavioral aspects.W: What do you mean by the behavioral aspects?M: Well, that ' s I think where the art comes in. In your behavior, you can either be an actor. You can pretend that you don' t like things which you are actually quite pleased about. Or you can pretend to like things which you are quite happy to do without. Or you can be the honest type negotiator who ' s known to his partners in negotiation and always plays everything straight. But the artistic part of negotiation I think has to do with responding immediately to cues one gets in the process of negotiation. These can be verbal cues or even body language. This is where the artistic quality comes in.W: So really, you see two types of negotiator then, the actor or the honest one.M: That ' right. And both can work. I would say the honest negotiator can be quite effective in some circumstances. In other circumstances you need an actor.Q23. When is a scientific approach best embodied in a negotiation according to the man?Q24. In what way is a negotiator like an actor according to the man?Q25. What does the man say about the two types of negotiator?Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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 center.Passage 1Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer is more than someonewho buys something. To me, a customer is a person whose memory fails entirely once he or she starts to push a shopping cart. One of the first things customers forget is how to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line, which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items. Customers also forget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customer will say, “ Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don' t mind waiting while I go get it. ” Five minutes later, he is back with the bread, a bottle of milk, and three rolls of paper towels. Strange as it seems, customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for their groceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up the groceries, my customers will wait untilI announce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, “ Oh no, what did I do with my check book?” After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrows my pen because she' s forgotten hers. But I have to be tolerant of customers because they pay my salary, and that ' s something I can ' t afford to forget.Q26. What does the speaker say about customers ' entering the grocery store?Q27. Which customers are supposed to be in the express line?Q28. What does the speaker say some customers do when they arrive at the check-out counter?Q29. What does the speaker say about his job at the end of the talk?Passage 2Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.The speech delivery style of Europeans and Asians tends to be very formal.Speakers of these cultures often read oral presentations from carefully written manuscripts. On the other hand, American speakers are generally more informal relative to speakers in other cultures. American audiences prefer natural, spontaneous delivery that conveys a lively sense of communication. They don't relate well to speakers who read from a manuscript. If you use an outline of your ideas instead of a prepared text, your speech will not only sound more natural, but you will also be able to establish better relationship with your listeners and keep their attention. The language and style you use when making an oral presentation should not be the same as the language and style you use when writing. Well-written information, that is meant to be read, does not work as well when it is heard. It is, therefore, important for you to adapt written texts or outlines for presentations.Good speakers are much more informal when speaking than when writing. They also use their own words and develop their own speaking styles. Whenever possible, they use short words. Listeners appreciate it when speakers use simple, everyday words in a presentation. One advantage is that it' s much easier for speakers to pronounceshort words correctly. Another is that long and sophisticated vocabulary choices make listening more difficult.Question 30 to 3230. What does the speaker say American audiences prefer?31. What should one pay attention to when making an oral presentation?32. What does the speaker focus on in the talk?Passage 3Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does notlearn by being corrected all the time. If corrected too much, he will stop talking. He compares a thousand times a day the difference between language as he uses it and language as those around him use it. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people 's. In the same way, kids learning to do all the other things they learn without adult teachers, to walk, run, climb, ride a bike, play games, compare their own performance with what more skilled people do, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to detect his mistakes. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought he would never noticea mistake unless it was pointed out to him. Soon he becomes dependent on the expert. Weshould let him do it himself. Let him figure out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what is the answer to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or that. If right answers need to be given, as in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such tedious work? Our job should be to help children when they tell us that they can ' t find a way to get the right answer.Question 33 to 3533. How does a child learn to do something according to the speaker?34. What belief do teachers commonly hold according to the speaker?35. What does the speaker imply about the current way of teaching?Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to43 with the exact words you have just heard. Fo r blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing inform ation. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just hear d or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage i s read for the third time, you should check what you have written.(听力原文)Time is, for the average American, of utmost importanee. To theforeig n visitor, America ns seem to be more concerned with gett ing things accomplished on time (accord ing to a predeterm ined schedule) tha n they are with developing deep interpersonalrelations. Schedules, for the American, are meant tobe pla nned and the n followed in the smallest detail. It may seem to you that most America ns are completely con trolled by the little mach ines they wear on their wrists,cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time. America ns ' Ian guage is filled with refere nces to time, givi ng a clear in dicati onof how muchit is valued. Time is something to be “on, ” to be “kept, ”“filled, ”saved, wasted, gain ed, pla nn ed, give n, made the most of,even “ killed. ” The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America. Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “ wastes ” time and doesn ' t keep busy. This philosophyhas prove n its worth. It has en abled America ns to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. America ns believe in spe nding their time and en ergy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.Part IV Read ing Comprehe nsion (Readi ng in Depth)Sectio n ADirections: In this sect ion, there is a passage with ten bla nks. You are required to select one word for each bla nk from a list of choices give n in a wordbank follow ing the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making yourchoices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the correspondingletter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may notuse any of the words in the bank more tha n once.Questi ons 47 to 56 is based on the follow ing passage.So many people use the cell phones so freque ntly every day. But 47 little _________is certa in about the health effects of its use. Manufacturers 48 that cell ___________phones meet gover nment sta ndards for safe radio-freque ncy radiati on emissi on, but eno ugh studies are begi nning to docume nt a possible 49 in rare brain tumors (脑瘤),headaches and behavioral disorders in children to cause concern. So far, theevide nee isn ' t 50 on whether the use of cell phones 51 to any in creasedrisk of can cer . In a new trial, researchers asked 47 volun teers to 52 in a _______ project to censure glucose (葡萄糖)consumption in the brain by scanning the brain to see how cells use energy. For both 50-minute scans, the volunteers had a cellphone 53 to each ear. During the first scan, the devices were turned off, but for the sec ond sca n, the phone on the right ear was 54 on and received arecorded-message call, although the volume was muted (消音) so the no ise would n 't bias the results. The results of the second scan showed that the 55 of the brain n earest to the device had higher rates of glucose con sumpti on tha n the restof the brain. The study shows that cell phones can cha nge brain activity,and 56 a whole new avenue for scientific inquiry, though it doesn ' t say anything about whether cell-ph one radiati on can cause cancer.Section B ( 略)Part V Cloze (略)Part W Tran slati onDirections: Complete the sentences by tran slat ing into En glish the Chin esegive n in brackets. Please write your tran slati on on An swer Sheet 2注意：此部分试题清在答题卡2上作答，只需写出译文部分。
2012年12月英语四级听力真题
2012年12⽉英语四级听力真题College English Test (Band 4)⼤学英语测试（4级）Part III Listening Comprehension听⼤理解Section AA章节Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.提示：在这个部分，你将听到8段短对话和2段⼤对话。
At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said.在每段对话的结尾，会有⼤个或者多个关于所说内容的问题。
Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. 问题和对话都将只读⼤遍。
在每个问题后会有⼤个停顿。
During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A) , B) , C) , and D) , and decide which is the best answer.在这个停顿期间，你必须阅读四个标了A、B、C和D的选项，并决定哪个是最佳答案。
Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.然后，在答题卡2上⼤⼤条线在相应字⼤的中间做记号。
Now let's begin with the 8 short conversations.现在让我们从8段短对话开始。
Question 11. W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom.问题11. W: 我听说城镇的最东部有⼤个美丽的花园，⼤⼤有很多盛开的玫瑰花。
2012年12月大学英语四级考试试题
2012年12月大学英语四级考试试题COLLEGE ENGLISH TEST—Band Four —Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Part II Listening Comprehension (30 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.1. A) She can count on the man for help.B) She can lend the man a sleeping bag.C) She has other plans for this weekend.D) She has got camping gear for rent.2. A) The man should keep his words.B) Karen can take her to the airport.C) Karen always supports her at work.D) She regrets asking the man for help.3. A) His trip to Hawaii has used up all his money.B) He usually checks his brakes before a trip.C) His trip to Hawaii was not enjoyable.D) He can’t afford to go traveling yet.4. A) There was nothing left except some pie.B) The woman is going to prepare the dinner.C) The man has to find something else to eat.D) Julie has been invited for dinner.5. A) Send Professor Smith a letter.B) Apply to three graduate schools.C) Present a new letter of reference.D) Submit no more than three letters.6. A) He is a professional gardener in town.B) He declines to join the gardening club.C) He prefers to keep his gardening skills to himself.D) He wishes to receive formal training in gardening.7.A) Many people do not appreciate modern art.B) The recent sculpture exhibit was not well organized.C) Modern art cannot express people’s true feelings.D) Sculpture is not a typical form of modern art.8.A) Bob cannot count on her vote.B) She will vote for another candidate.C) Bob does not have much chance to win.D) She knows the right person for the position.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) Poor management of the hospital.B) The outdated medical testing procedures.C) Decisions made by the head technician.D) The health hazard at her work place.10. A) Cut down her workload.B) Repair the x-ray equipment.C) Transfer her to another department.D) Allow her to go on leave for two months.11.A) They are virtually impossible to enforce.B) Neither is applicable to the woman’s case.C) Their requirements may be difficult to meet.D) Both of them have been subject to criticism.12.A) Organize a mass strike.B) Try to help her get it back.C) Compensate for her loss.D) Find her a better paying job.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A) In the preparatory phase.B) In the concluding part.C) In stating your terms.D) In giving concessions.14.A) He uses lots of gestures to help make his points clear.B) He presents his arguments in a straightforward way.C) He responds readily to the other party’s proposals.D) He behaves in a way contrary to his real intention.15. A) Both can succeed depending on the specific situation.B) The honest type is more effective than the actor type.C) Both may fail when confronting experienced rivals.D) The actor type works better in tough negotiations.Section BPassage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) The weight of the boxes moving across the stage.B) The number of times of repeating the process.C) The size of the objects shown.D) The shape of the cubes used.17. A) Girls seem to start reasoning earlier than boys.B) Girls tend to get excited more easily than boys.C) Boys enjoy playing with cubes more than girls.D) Boys pay more attention to moving objects than girls.18. A) It is a breakthrough in the study of the nerve system.B) Its findings are quite contrary to previous research.C) Its result helps understand babies’language ability.D) It may stimulate scientists to make further studies.19. A) They talk at an earlier age.B) Their bones mature earlier.C) They are better able to adapt to the surroundings.D) The two sides of their brain develop simultaneously.Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20. A) The city’s general budget for the coming year.B) The blueprint for the development of the city.C) The controversy over the new office regulations.D) The new security plan for the municipal building.21. A) Whether the security checks were really necessary.B) Whether the security checks would create long queues at peak hours.C) How to cope with the huge crowds of visitors to the municipal building.D) How to train the newly recruited security guards.22. A) Confrontational. B) Straightforward. C) Ridiculous. D) Irrelevant.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) He considers himself a blessed man. C) He used to work as a miner in Nevada.B) He works hard to support his five kids. D) He once taught at a local high school.24. A) To be nearer to Zac’s school. C) To look after her grandchildren.B) To cut their living expenses. D) To help with the household chores.25. A) Skeptical. C) Indifferent. B) Realistic. D) OptimisticSection CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Mountain climbing is becoming a popular sport, but it is also a (26) ____________ dangerous one. People can fall; they may also become ill. One of the most common dangers to climbers is altitude sickness, which can affect even very (27) ____________ climbers.Altitude sickness usually begins when a climber goes above 8,000 or 9,000 feet. The higher one climbs, the less oxygen there is in the air. When people don’t get enough oxygen, they often begin to (28) ____________. They may also feel (29) ____________. Besides these symptoms of altitude sickness, others such as headache and (30) ____________ may also occur. At heights of over 18,000 feet, people may be climbing in a (31) ____________ daze (恍惚). This state of mind can have an (32) ____________ effect on their judgment.A few (33) ____________ can help most climbers avoid altitude sickness. The first is not to go too high too fast. If you climb to 10,000 feet, stay at that height for a day or two. Your body needs to (34) ____________ a high altitude before you climb to an even higher one. Or if you do climb higher sooner, come back down to a lower height when you sleep. Also, drink plenty of liquids and avoid tobacco and alcohol. When you reach your top height, do light activities rather than sleep too much. You breathe less when you sleep, so you get less (35) ____________.。
2012年12月大学英语四级听力原文+答案
Section A11.W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom. M: Why don’t we walk ov er there and see for ourselves?Q: What will the speakers probably do?答案：C. Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12.M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall. I hope to see you there. W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with my de ntist at 9:00 o’clock tomorrow. Q: What do we learn about the woman?答案：C. She cannot attend the presentation.13.W: How long have you been running this company?M: Twenty years if you can believe that. I brought it from a small operation to what it is today.Q: What do we learn about the man?答案：B. He is a very successful businessman.14.M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for next year.W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! She certainly deserves it. Q: What does the woman mean?答案：D. She has every confidence in Susan.15.W: Taking a bus to Miami, it’s cheaper than going by train.M: That’s true. But I’d rather pay a little more for the added comfort and convenience.Q: What does the man mean?答案：D. It is worth the money taking a train to Miami.16.M: I think it’s time we got rid of all this old furniture.W: You’re right. We need to promote our image besides it’s not a real antique.Q: What do the speakers mean?答案：C. The old furniture should be replaced17.M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afraid I couldn’t make it home.W: Yeah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn’t get home from the lab until midnigh t.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?答案：B. The man got home late due to the storm.18.W: My boys are a lways complaining that they’re bored.M: Why don’t you get them into some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both look forward to it all week.Q: What does the man mean?答案：A. The woman’s sons might enjoy team sports.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heardW: So John, I hear you and Arthur share a job, don’t you?M: Yes. We’ve shared a sales job at S onatechfor about two years now.W: Well, how do you divide up your schedule?M: You know we are both sales representatives, and we take orders over the phone. When we started job sharing it was difficult, because we both worked all day Monday. I worked Tuesday and Thursday and Arthur worked Wednesday and Friday. The problem was that when I was in the office on Tuesday. I would talk to people, then they would call back on Wednesday with a question. But Arthur couldn’t answer the question and he couldn’t ask me about it because I wasn’t in the office. So he had to ask the people to call me back the n ext day, Thursday. Of course, they didn’t like to wait until the next day to have their questions answered.W: Yes, that sounds like a problem.M: So, finally we decided that Arthur would work in the mornings and I would work in the afternoons. Now if someone calls with the question for me in the morning, Arthur tells them to call me in the afternoon. This way, people get their questions answered the same day.W: What do you do about vacations?M: Well,Sonatechgives the usual two weeks of vacation to full-time employees, I take a week and Arthur takes a week.W: It sounds like job sharing has worked out well for you.M: Yes, it has. We are both happy with it.Q19. What do John and author do at Sonatech?答案：C. Take orders over the phone.Q20. What problem did John and Arthur have when they started job sharing?答案：A. Customers’ questions could n ot be answered on the same day.Q21. What does John say about their annual vacation?答案：D. They each take a week.对话中围绕工作的话题词汇有：schedule：（工作）计划，安排；sales representative：销售代表；vacation：假期，休假；full-time employee：全职员工。
2012年12月四级真题听力原文
2012年12月大学英语四级考试真题听力原文Section A Conversations Short Conversations 1.- W:Have you finished that painting for the new student center? M: Just this morning, I’ve been working extra hours all week, you know the building opens tomorrow. Q: What does the man mean? 2. M: Do you sell camping gear? W: Yes, we have tents, sleeping bags, just about everything you might need, including stoves. Q: What is the man probably going to do? 3. M: Hi Jenny have you talked to Mr Wright about the new sports program? W: well, I contacted his office half an hour ago, and his secretary said he was out for lunch until 2:00. Q: What does the woman mean? 4．M：Bill says he’s not working so hard on his biology project.n’t he?W: But he spends a lot of time in the lab, doesQ: What does the woman imply about Bill? 5.M: I have to say I find the new smoking regulations too strict. W: Well, they are for everyone’s health. I have no complaints. W: Well, they are for everyone’s health. I have no complaints.Q: What are the speakers talking about? Q: What are the speakers talking about? 6.W: Jack asked me to drop off this report. He’s ti ed up in meetings all morning. M: I was hoping he brings it in himself, I need to talk with him about M: I was hoping he brings it in himself, I need to talk with him about it. Q: Why can’t Jack come in person? Q: Why can’t Jack come in person?7.M: Should we invite Mr. Smith to join us for dinner this weekend, he has just come back from England. W: You can have a try, but as far as I know, he seldom accepts W: You can have a try, but as far as I know, he seldom accepts invitations from his employees Q: What can we infer about Mr. Smith8.W: This place doesn’t look familiar at all, we must be lost.I’m filling in the tank, M：Yes，it seems so. Let’s pull in here, while you go ask the way and get me something to drink please. Q: What does the man going to do first? Long Conversation 1 M: Well, did you enjoy it? W: Yes, I enjoy it much more that I thought I would. M: Really? I don’t think they are W: Yes, I don’t usually go to science fiction films.much better than comics on film, if you know what I mean. M : Yes, sure. And a few years ago, they were certainly like that. 9. But they’ve got a lot better now.W: Yes, and historical films, that’s what I really like. I never miss a good film set in middle ages. Oh, and love stories, I never miss one on TV. M: Fondly enough, I don’t like those kinds of films at all. But to come think it was very good. It certainly back to this one, I personally didn’t think it was very good. It certainly wasn’t as good as other science fiction films I’ve ever seen.W: Wasn’t it?M: No, not at all. Oh, 10. the effects were very good. W: Yes, I thought they were marvelous, especially the battle in space, incredible. M: Yes, but I was going to say I thought the acting was terrible. W: Yes. 11. I suppose Jason was too good to be true. And what was the name of the Baddy? M: Cargon? W: 11. Yea h. Cargon was really evil, wasn’t he? But I suppose that’s —good triumphing over evil. And the what these films are all aboutcharacters have to be black and white. M: Well , yes, but not always. Worth the well wasn’t like for example. Anyway, you enjoy the film. That’s the most important.W: Yes, I did. Thanks for taking me. Q: 9. What does the man say about the science fiction films? 10. What opinion did the speakers share about the film they just seen? 11. What to be learned about Jason and Cargon? Long Conversation 2 M: Can I ask you about your evening class? What class do you go to? W: Car maintenance. M: 12. What night of the week it on? W: Wednesday night. M: And how long does it last? em because M: Well, it supposed to start at 6, but that’s a bit of problpeople have difficulty getting through the traffic. So we start at 6: 30 and then it goes on until the 9 o’clock.M: And what was your reason for wanting to do the class? Well, I just bought my first car and I don’t know anything about W: 13. W ell, I just bought my first car and I don’t know anything about cars. So I thought it was a good opportunity to learn. I guess most of the people in the class are in the same situation. M: Um, and what do you actually do? Do you bring the car along to the class? W: Yes, we do. 14. And in the first part of the lesson, the first half hour, the man who runs the class will go though some particular part of the car, and we’ll learn about it. And then we spend the rest of the time, actually working on my own cars, the same problem. M: And how many people are there in the class? W: Mm, I think 16, 15. but 3 quarters of them are women. It’s quite interesting because the man is obviously used to teaching man. And he always starts his sentence by saying, ” Wow, your chops were slow.” And then he stops and says “Oh, any woman, you ladies, but...ur..” M: Mm..sounds funny. Q: 12. What does the woman say about her evening class? 13. Why did the woman want to attend to the class? 14. What do the people who attend the class do in the first part of the lesson? 15. What do we learn about participants in the class? Section B Passages Passage 1 19.19.We don’t choose friends on the basis of how much money they have, We don’t choose friends on the basis of how much money they have, of course, but lots of differences can be disturbing to both sides. Aaron, for example, was single, and earns a very good salary. 16. Her friend, Pat, the divorced mother of three, is struggling to make ends meet. 17.“We “We are are both frequent theater-goers,” Aaron explains, “ and I’ll gladly pay for two tickets, just to have pass company it plays in concerts , but she won’t go anywhere unless she can pay her own way. I hate to go alone, so we both stay home. It all seems so silly.” Pat sees the situation differently. After her unhappy marriage to a man who was trying to control her without considering her wishes and feelings, she says, “ it’s very important to me to carry my own weight. I’m not comfortable in any relationship where all I do is take. ”The difficult situation finally changed when Aaron moved recently. Pat’s children were with their father, so she took a picnic lunch to her friends new place, then spend the day helping her unpack and get settled. 18. “ I was so grateful, ”Aarons says, “ but I persuaded Pat to let me return the favor in my own way with season tickets to our little theater group. I think she’s beginning to recognize that she contributes as much to our friendship, but I do”16. What do we learn about Pat? 17. What draws Aaron and Pat together? 18. What does Aaron do to return Pat’s favor?19. What do we learn friendship from the passage? Passage 2 Sun School in the town of Ashburton, England, is a day school for children aged 10 to 18. 20. It is based on the value of social equality between students and staff, and has few rules. Sun School believes that the healthy growth of the child is more important than academic success. It offers a variety of lessons and activities for students to choose from and free time for children to follow their own interests. Classes are small, and based on the individual needs of each child. The timetable is fixed, but democratically decided and students are expected to attend. The weekly school meeting is at the center of the way sun school is organized. It makes all the decisions that affect the school, including rules, the timetable and accepting or rejecting new students and teachers. 21. Participating in these meetings gives children an understanding of democratic decision-making and helps them develop their skills of argument and persuasion. The most import advantage of the school meeting is that it shows the children that the school is really theirs. They ’s success or failure have the right to decide on changes. And the schooldepends on their decisions and their behavior. Sun School employs no cooking or cleaning staff, these jobs are done by students and teachers. Decorating and simple repairs are also done by students. 22.It is believed that school truly belongs to who use it, they must take responsibility for its maintenance. 20. What value is Sun School based on? 21.What is characteristic of the school decision-making process ? 22. Why does sun school ask the students to do the maintenance? Passage 3 23. Well, to continue, as I mentioned earlier, there is also research that demonstrates that individuals perform worse, not better on tasks when other people are there. R.W.Harburt did an interesting experiment. He had his subjects learn a finger maze. This is a game in which you indicate with your finger the way through a complex system of passages or paths. The subjects who had an audience did worse than the subjects who did alone. Now how can we explain these very different results? It seemed very confusing for a long time. Social psychologist, John Roberts, finally cleared up the confusion about why people sometimes perform better and sometimes worse in front of an audience. 24. Roberts found that the presence of an audience facilitates what you already know how to do. That is, if you know what you are doing, having an audience helps you do But if you don’t already know how to do something, you will it better. B ut if you don’t already know how to do something, you will probably make some mistakes and you will make mistakes for a longer time if you have an audience. That’s exactly what happened to the subjects who were learning the finger maze. So, if you were doing well, having an audience increases the chances that you will continue to do well. If you were doing badly, having an audience increases the chances that you will continue to do badly. 25. Roberts cleverly pointed out that when you are first learning something, you are better off working alone than practicing with other people. 23. What did the speaker probably discuss before coming to this part of the talk? 24. When does the presence of an audience facilitate your performance according to Roberts? 25. What does Roberts think as a better way to learn new things? Section C Compound Dictation Americans today have different eating habits than they had in the past. There is a wide selection of food available. They have a broader knowledge of nutrition, so they buy more fresh fruit and vegetables than ever before. At the same time, Americans purchase increasing quantities of sweets and sodas. Statistics show that the way people live determines the way they eat. American life-styles have changed. There are now growing numbers of people who live alone, single parents and children, and double-income families. These changing life styles are responsible for the incresing number of people who must rush meals or sometimes simply go without them. Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food. Partly as a consequence of this limited time, over half of all American homes now have microwave ovens. Moreover, Americans eat out nearly four times a week on average. It is easy to study the amounts and kinds of food that people consume. The United States Department of Agriculture and the food industry collect sales statistics and keep accurate records. This information not only tells us what people are eating but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes. Red meat, which used to be the most popular choice for dinner, is no longer an American favorite. Instead, chicken, turkey, and fish have become more popular. Sales of these foods have greatly increased in recent years. 26. selection 27. vegetables 28. determines 29. growing numbers of 30. responsible 31. rush 32. spend preparing food 33. keep accurate records 34. attitudes 35. favorite 。
2012年12月四级听力真题原文(第2套)
2012年12月四级英语听力真题原文（第一套）College English Test Band 4Short Conversation11.W: Have you finished that painting for the new student center?M: Just this morning. I’ve been working extra hours all week. You know, the building opens tomorrow.Q: What does the man mean?12.M: Do you sell camping gear?W: Yes, we have tents, sleeping bags, just about everything you might need, including stoves.Q: What is the man probably going to do?13.M: Hi Jenny. Have you talked to Mr. Wright about the new sports program?W: Well, I contacted his office half an hour ago, and his secretary said he was out for lunch until 2:00.Q: What does the woman mean?14.M: Bill says he’s not working so hard on his biology project.W: But he spends a lot of time in the lab, doesn’t he?Q: What does the woman imply about Bill?15.M: I have to say I find the new smoking regulations too strict.W: Well, they are for everyone’s health. I have no complaints.Q: What are the speakers talking about?16.W: Jack asked me to drop off this report. He’s tied up in meetings all morning.M: I was hoping he brings it in himself. I need to talk with him about it.Q: Why can’t Jack come in person?17.M: Should we invite Mr. Smith to join us for dinner this weekend? He’s just come backfrom England.W: You can have a try, but as far as I know, he seldom accepts invitations from his employees.Q: What can we infer about Mr. Smith?18.W: This place doesn’t look familiar at all. We must be lost.M: Yeah, it seems so. Let’s pull in here. While I’m filling the tank, you g o ask the way and get me something to drink, please.Q: What is the man going to do first?Long Conversation 1M: Well, did you enjoy it?W: Yes, I enjoy it much more than I thought I would.M: Really?W: Yes, I don’t usually go to science fiction films. I don’t think they are much better than comics on film, if you know what I mean.M: yes, sure. And a few years ago, they were certainly like that. But they’ve got a lot better now. W: Yes, and historical films–that’s what I really like. I never miss a goo d film set in the Middle Ages. Oh, and love stores—I never miss one on TV.M: Funnily enough, I don’t like those kinds of films at all. But to come back to this one, I personally didn’t think it was very good. It certainly wasn’t as good as other science f iction filmsI’ve seen/W: Wasn’t it?M: No, not at all. Oh, the effects were very good.W: Yes, I thought they were marvelous, especially the battle in space, incredible.M: Yes, but I was going to say I thought the acting was terrible.W: Yes, I suppose Jason was too good to be true. And what was the name of baddy?M: Cargon?W: Yeah, Cargon was really evil, wasn’t he? But I suppose that’s what these films are all about—good triumphing over evil. And the characters have to be black and white.M: Well, yes, but not always. War of worlds wasn’t like that, for example. Anyway, you enjoyed the film. That’s most important.W: Yes, I did. Thanks for taking me.19. What does the man say about science fiction films?20. What opinion do the speakers share about the film they have just seen?21. What do we learn about Jason and Cargon?Long Conversation 2M: Can I ask you about your evening class? What class do you go to?W: Car maintenance.M: What night of the week is it on?W: Wednesday night.M: And how long does it last?W: Well, it's supposed to start at 6:00, but that's a bit of problem because people have difficulty getting through the traffic. So we start at 6:30 and then it goes on until 9 o'clock.M: And what was your reason for wanting to do the class?W: Wel, I just bought my first car and I don't know anything about the cars. So I thought it was a good opportunity to learn. I guess most people in the class are in the same situation.M: Um, and what do you actually do? Do you bring the car along to the class?W: Yes, we do. And in the first part of the lesson, the first half hour, hte man who runs the class will go though some particular part of the car, and we'll learn about it. And then we spend the rest of the time, actually working on our own cars, the same problem.M: And how many peope are there in the class?W: Um, I think 16, but three quarters of them are women. It's quite interesting because the man is obviously used to teaching men. And he always starts his sentence by saying, "Wow, you chaps will know..." And then he stops and says,"Oh, and you women, you ladies, but...er..."M: Um, sounds funny.22. What does the woman say about her evening class?23. Why did the woman want ot attend the class?24. What do the peopl who attend the class do in the first part of the lesson?25. What do we learn about the participants in the class?Passage OneWe don't choose friends on the basis of how much money they have, of course, but vast differences can be disturbing to both sides. Erin, for example, is single, and earns a very good salary. Her friend, Pat, a divorced mother of three, is struggling to make ends meet. " We are both frequent theater-goers," Erin explains, " and I'd glady par for two tickets, just to have Pat'scompany at plays in concerts, but she won't go anywhere unless she can pay her own way.I hate to go alone, so we both stay home. It all seems so silly." Pat sees the situation differently. After an unhappy marriage to a man who tried to control her without considering her wishes and feelings, she says, "it's very important to me to carry my own weight. I'm not comfortable in any relationship where all I do is take."The difficult situation finally changed when Erin moved recently. Pat's children were with their father, so she took a picnic lunchto her friend's new place, then spent the day helping her unpack and get settled."I was so grateful," Erin says, "that I persuaded Pat to let me return the favour in my own way with season tickets to our little theater group. I think she's beginning to recognize that she contributes as much to our friendship as I do."26. What do we learn about Pat?27. What draws Erin and Pat together?28. What does Erin do to return Pat's favor?29. What do we learn about friendship from the passage?Passage TwoSun school in the won of Ashbert in England is a day school for children aged 10 to 18. It is based on the value of social equality between students and staff, and has few rules. Sun School believes that the healthy growth of a child is more important than academic success. It offers a variety of lessons and activities for students to choose from and free time for children to follow their own interests. Classes are small, and based on the individual needs of each child. The imetable is fixed, but democratically decided, and students makes all the decisions that affect the school, including rules, the timetable adn accepting or rejecting new stuents and teachers.Participating in these meetings gives the children an understanding of democratic decision-making and helps them develop their skills of augument and persuation. The most important advantage of the school meeting is that it shows the children that the school is really theirs. They have the right to decide on changes. And the school's success or failure depends on their decisions and their behavior.Sun School employs no cooking or cleaning staff. These jobs are done by students and teachers. Decorating and simple repairs are also done by the students. It is believed that for the school to truly belong to those who use it, they must take responsibility for its maintenance.30. What value is Sun Scholl based on?31. What is characteristic of the school's decision-making process?32. Why does Sun School ask students to do its maintenance?Passage ThreeWell, to continue, as I mentioned earlier, there is also research that demonstrates that individuals perform worse, not better, on tasks when other people are there. R. W. Harburt did an interesting experiment. He had his subjects learn a finger maze. Thi is a game in which you indicate with your finger the way through a complex system of passages or paths. The subjects who had an audience did worse than the subjects who did alone.Now how can we explain these very different results? It seemed very confusing for a long time. Social psychologist, John Roberts, finally cleared up the confusion about why people sometimes perform better and sometimes worse in front of an audience. Roberts found that the presence of an audience facilitates what you already know how to do. That is, if you know what you are doing,having an audience helps you do it better. But if you don't already know how to do something, you will probably make some mistakes and you will make mistakes for a longer time if you have an audience. That's exactly what happened to the subjects who were learning the finger maze.So, if you are doing well, having an audience increases the chances that you will continue to do well. If you are doing badly, having an audience increase the chances that you will continue to do badly. Roberts cleverly pointed out that when you are first learning something, you are better off working alone than practicing with other people.33. What did the speaker probably discuss before coming to this part of the talk?34. When does the presence of an audience facilitate your performance according to Roberts?35. What does Roberts think is a better way to learn new things?。
2012年12月四级听力试题
PartⅢListening ComprehensionSection A11A. Find a shortcut to the park B. Buy some roses from the marketC. Go to the park to enjoy the flowersD. Plant trees in the east end of town12 A. She has been invited to give a talkB. She cannot work because of her toothacheC. She cannot attend the presentationD. She is going to meet the man at 9:3013 A. He has changed his business strategyB. He is a very successful businessmanC. He is making plans to expand his operationD. He was twenty when he took over the company14 A. She is not as bright and diligent as SusanB. She is a little bit surprised at the newsC. She has not read the news on the NetD. She has every confidence in Susan15 A. It is not always cheaper going by busB. It is more comfortable and convenient to take a busC. It is faster to go to Miami by trainD. It is worth the money taking a train to Miami16 A. Antiques can improve their imageB. They should move into a new officeC. The old furniture should be replacedD. Preservation of antiques is important17 A. The storm continued until midnightB. The man got home late due to the stormC. The man stayed at the lab the whole nightD. All roads were closed because of the flood18 A. The woman’s sons might enjoy team spiritsB. The woman’s kids can play soccer with his wonC. Children should play sports at least once a weekD. Many children feel bored when left aloneQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard19 A. Make phone calls to promote salesB. Arrange business negotiationsC. Take orders over the phoneD. Handle complaints from customers20 A. Customers’ questions could not be answered on the same dayB. Conflicts between them could not be properly solvedC. Customers often mistook one for the otherD. They had different strategies21 A. They are given two weeks each B. They like to spend it togetherC. They have to take it by turnsD. They each take a weekQuestions 22to 25are based on the conversation you have just heard22 A. At a road crossing B. Near a schoolC. Outside a police stationD. In front of a kindergarten23 A. He did not notice it B. He drove too fast to read itC. It says 45 miles an hourD. It is not clearly visible24 A. It should have been renewed two months agoB. It actually belongs to somebody elseC. It is no longer validD. It is not genuine25 A. He was fined 35 dollarsB. He got a ticketC. He had his driver’s license canceledD. He had to do two weeks’ community serviceSection BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the conversation you have just heard26 A. They behave as if their memories have failed totallyB. They grab whatever they think is a good bargainC. They become excited as if they had never been thereD. They care more about an item’s price than its use27 A. Those with a VIP card B. Those paying in cashC. Those needing assistanceD. Those with 15 items or less28 A. Change the items they have picked upB. Go back and pick up more itemsC. Take out some unwanted purchasesD. Calculate the total cost of the groceries29 A. It requires tolerance B. It calls for carefulnessC. It involves communication skillsD. It needs a good knowledge of math Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the conversation you have just heard30 A. A short presentation clearly deliveredB. A package of ideas formally presentedC. A clever use of visual aids in presentationD. A natural and spontaneous style of speech31 A. The skillful use of gestures and facial expressionsB. Differences in style between writing and speakingC. The importance of preparationD. Different preferences of audiences32 A. The key to becoming a good speakerB. The increasing importance of public speakingC. The significance of cross-cultural communicationD. The differences between American and Asian cultures.Passage ThreeQuestions 33to 35 are based on the conversation you have just heard33 A. By being given constant praiseB. By observing what their teachers doC. By being repeatedly corrected by adultsD. By comparing his performance with others’34 A. All children should have equal opportunitiesB. It is only natural for children to make errorsC. Children cannot detect their own mistakesD. The best students are usually smart by nature35 A. It is unhelpful to students’ learningB. It is unhealthy to students’ upbringingC. It is beneficial to independent childrenD. It is favorable to knowledge accumulationSection CTime is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36)＿＿＿＿＿visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things (37)＿＿＿＿on time ( according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep(38)＿＿＿＿relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest(39)＿＿＿＿.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40)＿＿＿＿by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off (41)＿＿＿＿to make it to their next appointment on time.Americans’ language is filled with (42)＿＿＿＿to time, giving a clear (43)＿＿＿＿of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on”, to be “kept”, “filled”, “saved”, “wasted”, “gained”, “planned”, “given”, “made the most of”, even “killed”.The international visitor soon learns that(44)＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿.Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve bore than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. (45)＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿.Many American proverbs(谚语) stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals. (46)＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿.。
2012年12月英语四级听力及答案
听录音，回答11-47题：Part Ⅲ Listening Comprehension：11-3511、A．He needs another week for the painting．B．The painting was completed just In time．C．The building won’t open until next week．D．His artistic work has been well received．12、A．Go camping．B．Decorate his house.C．Rent a tent．D．Organize a party．13、A．She talked with Mr．Wright on the phone．B．She is about to call Mr．Wright’s secretary．C．She will see Mr．Wright at lunch time．D．She failed to reach Mr．Wright．14、A．He is actually very hardworking．B．He has difficulty finishing his project．C．He needs to spend more time in the lab．D．He seldom tells the truth about himself．15、A．Rules restricting smoking．B．Ways to quit smoking．C．Smokers’ health problems．D．Hazards of passive smoking．16、A．He is out of town all morning．B．He is tied up in family matters．C．He has been writing a report．D．He has got meetings to attend．17、A．He is not easy—going．B．He is the speakers’boss．C．He is not at home this weekend．D．He seldom invites people to his home．18、A．Take a break．B．Refuel his car．C．Ask the way．D．Have a cup of coffee．19、Questions l9 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard．A．They are as good as historical films．B．They give youngsters a thrill．C．They have greatly improved．D．They are better than comics on film．20、A．The effects were very good．B．The acting was just so—so．C．The plot was too complicated．D．The characters were lifelike．21、A．They triumphed ultimately over evil in the battle．B．They Flayed the same role in War of the Worlds．C．They are popular figures among young people．D．They are two leading characters in the film．22、Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard．A．It is scheduled on Thursday night．B．It is supposed to last nine weeks．C．It takes place once a week．D．It usually starts at six．23、A．To make good use of her spare time in the evening．B．To meet the requirements of her in—service training．C．To improve her driving skills as quickly as possible．D．To get some basic knowledge about car maintenance．24、A．Partic pate in group discussions．B．Take turns to make presentations．C．Listen to the teacher’s explanation．D．Answer the teacher’s questions．25、A．Most of them are female．B．Some have a part—time job．C．They plan to buy a new car．D．A few of them are old chaps．26、Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard．A．She is not good at making friends．B．She is not well off．C．She enjoys company．D．She likes to go to concerts alone．27、A．Their similar social status．B．Their interdependence．C．Their common interest．D．Their identical character．28、A．Invite Pat to a live concert．B．Buy some gifts for Pat’s kids．C．Help take care of Pat’s kids．D．Pay for Pat’s season tickets．29、A．It can develop between people with a big difference in income．B．It can be maintained among people of different age groups．C．It cannot last long without similar family background．D．It cannot be sustained when friends move far apart．30、Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard．A．Priority of students’academic achievements．B．Equal education opportunities to all children．C．Social equality between teachers and students．D．Respect for students’individuality．31、A．EfficientB．ComplicatedC．LengthyD．Democratic32、A．To help them acquire hands—on experience．B．To try to cut down its operational expenses．C．To provide part—time jobs for needy students．D．To enable them to learn to take responsibility．33、Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard．A．The best way to work through a finger maze．B．Individuals doing better in front of an audience．C．Researchers having contributed greatly to psychology．D．Improvements on the classification of human behavior．34、A．When you feel encouraged by the audience．B．When you try to figure out a confusing game．C．When you already know how to do something．D．When you complete with other people in a group．35、A．Practicing constantly．B．Working by oneself．C．Learning by doing．D．Using proven methods．Part ⅢListening Comprehension：36-4636、Americanstoday have different eating habits than they had in the past．There is awide(36)______ offood available．They have a broader(37)______ of nutrition(营养)，so they buy more fresh fruitand(38)______than ever before．At the same time，Americans(39)______increasing quantities of sweetsand sodas．Statisticsshow that the way people live(40)______the way they eat．American lifestyles havechanged．There are now growing numbers of people wholive alone，(41)______parents and children，and double-income families．These changinglifestyles are(42)______ for the increasing number of people who must(43)______mealsor sometimes simply go without them．Many Americans haveless time than ever before to spend preparingfood．(44)_____________________weekon average．It iseasy to study the amounts and kinds of food that peopleconsume．(45)________________uswhat people are eatin9，but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes．(46)____________．Instead，chicken，turkey and fish have become morepopular．Sales of these foods have greatly increased inrecent years．第(36)题_________37、第(37)题_________38、第(38)题_________39、第(39)题_________40、第(40)题_________41、第(41)题_________42、第(42)题_________43、第(43)题_________44、第(44)题_________45、第(45)题_________46、第(46)题_________听力参考答案听力AB11. B12. A13. D14. A15. A16. D17. B18. B19. C20. A21. D22. C23. D24. C25. A26. B27. C28. D29. A30. C31. D32. D33. C34. C35. B听力C36. selection37. Knowledge38. vegetables39. purchase40. determines41. single42. responsible43. rush44. Partly as a consequence of this limitedtime,over half of all American homes now have microwave ovens．45. The United States t of Agriculture and the food industry collect sales statistics and keep accurate records．46. Red meat,which used to be the most popular choice for dinner,is no longer an American favorite．。
2012年全国英语四级考试听力真题、答案及原文(12月)
2012年全国英语四级考试听力真题、答案及原文（12月）听力试题Part III Listening Comprehension (30minutes)Section A注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
11.A) He needs another week for the painting.B) The painting was completed just in time.C) The building won’t open until next week.D) His artistic work has been wellreceived.12.A) Go camping. B) Decorate his house.C) Rent a tent. D) Organize a party.13.A) She talked with Mr. Wright on the phone.B) She is about to call Mr. Wright’ssecretary.C) She will see Mr. Wright at lunch time.D) She failed to reach Mr. Wright.14.A) He is actually very hardworking.B) He has difficulty finishing his project.C) He needs to spend more time in the lab.D) He seldom tells the truth about himself.15.A) Rules restricting smoking.B) Ways to quit smoking.C) Smokers’ health problems.D) Hazards of passive smoking.16.A) He is out of town all morning.B) He is tied up in family matters.C) He has been writing a report.D) He has got meetings to attend.17.A) He is not easy-going.s.B) He is the speakers’ bosC) He is not at home this weekend.D) He seldom invites people to his home.18.A) Take a break.B) Refuel his car.C) Ask the way.D) Have a cup of coffee.Questions19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A) They are as good as historical films.B) They give youngsters a thrill.C) They have greatly improved.D) They are better than comics on film.20.A) The effects were very good.B) The acting was just so-so.C) The plot was too complicated.D) The characters were lifelike.21.A) They triumphed ultimately over evil inthe battle.B) They played the same role inWar of the Worlds.C) They are popular figures among youngpeople.。
2012年12月四级听力真题第一套
听力短对话11W: Have you finished that painting for the new student center?M: Just this morning, I've been working extra hours all week. You know the building opens tomorrow.Q: What does theman mean?12M: Do you sell camping gear?W: Yes, we have tents, sleeping bags, just about everything you might need, including stoves.Q: What is the man probably goingto do?13M: Hi, Jenny! Have you talked to Mr. Wright about the new sports program?W: Well, I contacted his office half an hour ago, and his secretary said he was out for lunch until 2:00.Q: What does the woman mean?14M：Bill says he's not working so hard on his biology project.W: But he spends a lot of time inthe lab, doesn't he?Q: What does the woman imply about Bill?15M: I have to say I find the newsmoking regulations too strict.W: Well, they are for everyone'shealth. I have no complaints.Q: What are the speakers talking about?16W: Jack asked me to drop off this report. He's tied up in meetings all morning.M: I was hoping he'd bring ithimself. I need to talk with him about it.Q: Why can't Jack come in person?17M: Should we invite Mr. Smith tojoin us for dinner this weekend? He's just come back from England.W: You can have a try. But as faras I know, he seldom accepts invitations from his employees.Q: What can we infer about Mr.Smith?18W: This place doesn't look familiar at all. We must be lost.M：Yeah，it seems so. Let's pull in here. WhileI'm filling in the tank, you go ask the way and get me something to drinkplease.Q: What is the man going to do first?Conversation OneM: Well, did you enjoy it?W: Yes, I enjoy it much more that I thought I would.M: Really?W: Yes, I don't usually go to science fiction films; I don't think they are much better than comics on film,if you know what I mean.M: Yes, sure. And a few years ago, they were certainly like that. But they've got a lot better now.W: Yes, and historical films,that's what I really like. I never miss a good film set in the middle ages. Oh,and love stories, I never miss one on TV.M: Funnily enough, I don't likethose kinds of films at all. But to come back to this one, Ipersonally didn'tthink it was very good. It certainly wasn't as good as other science fictionfilms I've seen.W: Wasn't it?M: No, not at all. Oh, theeffects were very good.W: Yes, I thought they weremarvelous, especially the battle in space, incredible.M: Yes. But I was going to say Ithought the acting was terrible.W: Yes, I suppose Jason was toogood to be true. And what was the name of the baddy?M: Cargon?W: Yeah, Cargon was really evil,wasn't he? But I suppose that's what these films are all about—good triumphingover evil. And the characters have to be black and white.M: Well, yes, but not always.Warof the Worldswasn't like that, for example. Anyway, you enjoy the film.That's the most important.W: Yes, I did. Thanks for taking me.Questions 19-21 are based on theconversation you have just heard.19. What does the man say aboutscience fiction films?20. What opinion do the speakersshare about the film they have just seen?21. What to be learned about Jason and Cargon?听力长对话原文2Conversation TwoM: Can I ask you about yourevening class? What class do you go to?W: Car Maintenance.M: What night of the week is iton?W: Wednesday night.M: And how long does it last?W: Well, it supposed to start at6:00, but that’s a bit of problem because people have difficulty gettingthrough the traffic. So we start at 6: 30 and it goes on until 9 o'clock.M: And what was your reason forwanting to do the class?W: Well, I just bought my firstcar and I don't know anything about cars. So I thought it was a goodopportunity to learn. I guess most people in the class are in the samesituation.M: Um, and what do you actuallydo? Do you bring the car along to the class?W: Yes, we do. And in the firstpart of the lesson, the first half hour, the man who runs the class will gothough some particular part of the car, and we'll learn about it. And then wespend the rest of the time actually working on our own cars, the same problem.M: And how many people are therein the class?W: Mm, I think 16, but 3 quartersof them are women. It's quite interesting because the man is obliviously usedto teaching man. And he always starts his sentence by saying, "Wow, youchaps, hello." And then he stops and says "Oh, and you woman, ur, youladies, but...ur..."M: Huh huh... sounds funny.Questions 22-25 are based on theconversation you have just heard.22. What does the woman say abouther evening class?23. Why did the woman want toattend the class?24. What do the people who attendthe class do in the first part of the lesson?25. What do we learn about theparticipants in the class?听力短文原文Passage 1We don't choose friends on thebasis of how much money they have, of course, but vast differences can bedisturbing to both sides. Aaron, for example, is single, and earns a very goodsalary. Her friend, Pat, a divorced mother of three, is struggling to make endsmeet. "We are both frequent theatergoers," Aaron explains, "andI'll gladly pay for two tickets, just to have Pat's company at plays andconcerts. But she won't go anywhere unless she can pay her own way. I hate togo alone. So we both stay home. It all seems so silly." Pat sees thesituation differently. After an unhappy marriage to a man who tried to controlher without considering her wishes and feelings, she says, "It's very importantto me to carry my own weight. I'm not comfortable in any relationship where allI do is take."The difficult situation finally changed when Aaron moved recently. Pat's childrenwere with their father, so she took a picnic lunch to her friend's new place,and then spent the day helping her unpack and get settled. "I was sograteful," Aaron says, "but I persuaded Pat to let me return thefavor in my own way with season tickets to our little theater group. I thinkshe's beginning to recognize that she contributes as much to our friendship asI do.".Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passageyou have just heard.26. What do we learn about Pat?27. What draws Aaron and Pat together?28. What does Aaron do to return Pat's favor?29. What do we learn aboutfriendship from the passage?Passage 2Sun School, in the town of Ashburton,England, is a day school for children aged 10 to 18. It is based on the valueof social equality between students and staff, and has few rules. Sun Schoolbelieves that the healthy growth of a child is more important than academicsuccess. It offers a variety of lessons and activities for students to choosefrom and free time for children to follow their own interests. Classes aresmall and based on the individual needs of each child. The timetable is fixed,but democratically decided and students are expected to attend. The weeklyschool meeting is at the center of the way. Sun school is organized. It makesall the decisions that affect the school, including rules, the timetable andaccepting or rejecting new students and teachers. Participating in thesemeetings gives the children an understanding of democratic decision-making andhelps them develop their skills of argument and persuasion. The most importantadvantage of the school meeting is that it shows the children that the schoolis really theirs. They have the right to decide on changes. And the school'ssuccess or failure depends on their decisions and their behavior. Sun Schoolemploys no cooking or cleaning staff, these jobs are done by the students andteachers. Decorating and simple repairs are also done by the students, it isbelieved that for the school to truly belong to those who use it, they musttake responsibility for its maintenance.Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passageyou've just heard.30. What value is Sun Schoolbased on?31. What is characteristic of theschool’s decision-making process?32. Why does Sun School askstudents to do the maintenance?Passage 3Well, to continue, as I mentionedearlier, there is also research that demonstrates that individuals performworse, not better on tasks when other people are there. R.W.Hubbert did aninteresting experiment. He had his subjects learn a finger maze. This is a gamein which you indicate with your finger the way through a complex system ofpassages or paths. The subjects who had an audience did worse than the subjectswho did alone.Nowhow can we explain these very different results? It seemed very confusing for along time. Social psychologist John Roberts finally cleared up the confusionabout why people sometimes perform better and sometimes worse in front of anaudience. Roberts found that the presence of an audience facilitates what youalready know how to do. That is, if you know what you are doing, having anaudience helps you do it better. But if you don’t already know how to dosomething, you will probably make some mistakes and you will make mistakes fora longer time if you have an audience. That’s exactly what happened to thesubjects who were learning the finger maze.Soif you are doing well, having an audience increases the chances that you willcontinue to do well. If you are doing badly, having an audience seem increasesthe chances that you will continue to do badly. Roberts cleverly pointed outthat when you are first learning something, you are better off working alonethan practicing with other people.Question 33 to 35 are based on the passageyou have just heard.33. What did the speaker probablydiscuss before coming to this part of the talk?34. When does the presence of anaudience facilitate your performance according to Roberts?35. What does Roberts think is abetter way to learn new things?。
2012.12四级真题 听力与阅读
2012.12 四级真题听力与阅读Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section A11 .A) Find a shortcut to the park. C) Plant trees in the east end of town.B) Buy some roses from the market. D) Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12. A) She has been invited to give a talk. C) She cannot attend the presentation.B) She is going to meet the man at 9:30. D) She cannot work because of her toothache.13. A) He is a very successful businessman. C) He is making plans to expand his operation.B) He has changed his business strategy. D) He was twenty when he took over the company14. A) She has every confidence in Susan. C) She is a little bit surprised at the newsB) She has not read the news on the Net. D) She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.15. A) It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus.B) It is worth the money taking a train to MiamiC) It is not always cheaper going by bus. D) It is faster to go to Miami by train.16. A) Antiques can improve their image. C) The old furniture should he replaced.B) Preservation of antiques is important. D) They should move into a new office.17. A) All roads were closed because of the flood. C) The man got home late due to the stormB) The man stayed at the lab the whole night. D) The storm continued until midnight.18.A)Many children feel bored when left alone. B)The woman’s sons might enjoy team sports.C)The woman'5 kids can play soccer with his son.D)Children should play sports at least once a week.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A)Make phone calls to promote sales. C)Handle complaints from customers.B)Arrange business negotiations. D)Take orders over the phone.20.A)They had different business strategies. B) Customers often mistook one for the other.C)Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.D)Customers’ questions could not be answered on the same day.21.A)They each take a week. C)They have to take it by turns.B)They like to spend it together.D)They are given two weeks each·Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22.A)At a road crossing.B)outside a police station.C)Near a school. D)In front of a kindergarten.23 .A)He drove too fast to read it. B)He did not notice it.C)It says 45 miles an hour. D)It 15 not clearly visible.24.A)It should have been renewed two months ago. C)It is no longer valid.B)It actually belongs to somebody else. D) It 15 not genuine.25.A)He got a ticket. C)He had his driver's license canceled·B)He was fined$35. D) He had to do two weeks, community service.Section B Passage One Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26.A)They care more about an item’s price than its use.B)They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.C)They become excited as if they had never been there.D)They behave as if their memories have failed totally.27.A)Those with a VIP card. C)Those needing assistance·B) Those with 15 items or less. D)Those paying in cash.28.A)Go back and pick up more items. C)Change the items they have picked up·B)Take out some unwanted purchases. D)Calculate the total cost of the groceries·29 .A)It calls for carefulness. C)It needs a good knowledge of math.B)It requires tolerance. D)It involves communication skills.Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30.A)A package of ideas formally presented. C) A natural and spontaneous style of speech.B)A short presentation clearly delivered. D) A clever use of visual aids in presentation.31.A)The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.B)Differences in style between writing and speaking.C)Different preferences of audiences, D)The importance of preparation·32.A)The differences between American and Asian cultures.B)The significance of cross 一cultural communication.C)The increasing importance of public speaking D)The key to becoming a good speaker. Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33.A) By comparing his performance with others'. C) By observing what their teachers do.B) By being repeatedly corrected by adults. D) By being given constant praise.34.A) The best students are usually smart by nature.B) It is only natural for children to make errors.C) Children cannot detect their own mistakes.D) All children should have equal opportunities.35.A) It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. C) It is unhealthy to students' upbringing.B) It is beneficial to independent children. D) It is unhelpful to students' learning.Section CTime is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36) ________ visitor. Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things(37) ________on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38) ________ relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39) ________.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40) ________ by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off(41) ________ to make it to their next appointment on time.Americans' language is filled with(42) ________ to time, giving a clear(43) ________of how much it is valued. Time is something to be "on," to be "kept," "filled," "saved," "wasted," "gained,""planned," "given," "made the most of, "even "killed."The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an (44) ______ in America.Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one "wastes" time and doesn't keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has (45) _______ Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs（谚语）stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the (46) ______ of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.Part IVReading Comprehension (Reading in Depth)Section A Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.When Carly Fiorina became Hewlett-Packard's first female chief executive officer, the existence of her househusband, Frank Fiorina, who had retired early from AT&T to support her career, was a mini-sensation（小轰动）; now this arrangement isn't__47__at all. Seven of the 18 women who are__48__CEOs of Fortune 500 companies-including Xerox's Ursula Burns and PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi-have, or at some point have had, a stay-at-home husband. So do scores of__49__ CEOs of smaller companies and women in other senior executive jobs.This role change is__50__more and more as women edge past men at work. Women now__51__a majority of jobs in the US. including 51.4 percent of managerial and professional__52__，according to US Census Bureau data. Some 23 percent of wives now earn more than their husbands. And this earnings trend is more dramatic among younger people. Women 30 and under make more money. on__53__,than their male counterparts（年龄相当的人）in many large cities in the US.During the recent__54__，three men lost their jobs for every woman. Many unemployed fathers have ended up caring for their children full-time while their wives are the-__55__wage earners. The number of men in the US who__56__care for children under age five increased to 32 percent in 2010 from 19 percent in 1988, according to Census figures.A) appealing B) average C) conflict D) currently E) elementaryF) ensure G) female H) fill I) occupations J) occurringK) positions L) primary M) recession N) regularly O) unusualSection B Passage One Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.I've worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer since I graduated from high school. but making the transition （转变）between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be uncivilized, getting to a factory by 6 o'clock each morning is torture. My friends never seem to understand why I'm so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation.There're few people as self-confident as a college student who has never been out in the real world. People my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine 1 ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward or upside down.The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job could disappear overnight. Issues like downsizing（裁员）and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the unit I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents an hour.After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other options have become only too clear. When Fm back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy re-writes seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the adv ice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.These lessons I'm learning, however valuable, are always tinged（带有）with a sense of guilt. Many people pass their lives in the places I briefly work, spending 30 years where I spend only two months at a time. "This job pays well, but it's hell on the body," said one co-worker. "Study hard and keep reading," she added.My experiences in the factories have inspired me to make the most of my college yearsbefore I enter the real world for good.57.How did the author look back on his summer days while at college?A )They brought him nothing but torture.B )They were no holiday for him at all.C) They were a relief from his hard work at school.D) They offered him a chance to know more people.58. What does the author say about college students?A )They expect too much from the real world. C) They think too highly of themselves.B)They have little interest in blue-collar life. D) They are confident of their future.59. What, according to the author, is most frustrating for blue-collar workers?A )They do not get decent pay. C) They have to work 12-hour shifts.B )They do not have job security. D) They have to move from place to place.60. In what important way has the author's work experience changed him?A )He learned to be more practical. C) He came to respect blue-collar workers.B)He acquired a sense of urgency. D) He came to appreciate his college education61. Why does the author feel somewhat guilty?A )He realizes there is a great divide between his life and that of blue-collar workers.B )He looks down upon the mechanical work at the assembly line.C )He has not done much to help his co-workers at the factory.D )He has stayed at school just for the purpose of escaping from the real world. Passage Two Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Are people suffering from gadget（小器具）overload? Are they exhausted by the consumer equivalent of the brain fatigue-information overload that is caused by constant updates of devices and online media?Underwriters Laboratories issued a report last week that found 48% of consumers "feelhigh-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them."There are two possible explanations. The first, obvious one is that the pace of innovation（创新）is too fast for consumers. The second less obvious one is that, in fact, innovation is too slow. That is, the new offerings companies are pushing out the door every six months or so are me-too products or ones with just a couple of new features. Marketing schedules, not product innovation, are driving the corporate （公司的）train. Manufacturers in America valued "speed to market" more than in other countries, the report found.Sara Green stein, Underwriters Laboratories' chief strategy officer, offered her interpretationof the survey results. "Innovation is too fast only if corners are cut."For the high-tech sector, there are a few other interesting findings. Consumers are less concerned about safety in high-tech products than categories like fresh and processed food. But their top safety concerns are emissions and wireless radio waves. Many people, it seems. are uneasy living in a thickening cloud of radio waves from mobile phone towers and the gadgets they communicate with.A finding that was a hit surprising is that to consumers, the inner parts of high-tech devices do apparently matter. Some 55% of consumers, according to the report, said they are "more concerned about where high-tech components come from than where the product was assembled."The report doesn't really say how that information would affect consumer buying decisions. It could be complicated. Manufacturing companies on average rely on more than 35 contractsuppliers around the world to create a single product. That number would be higher for a Smart phone or laptop.But maybe some sort of supply-chain labeling showing where parts come from in a product? "We're working on it," Ms. Green stein said.62. What is the finding in Underwriters Laboratories' report about many consumers?A)They are exhausted by the information overload.B)They are tired of the constant updating of devices.C)They feel products are updated faster than needed.D)They have difficulty following high-tech innovations.63. What does the author mean by "me-too products"?A)Products with no substantial difference. C) Products everyone is eager to possess.B)Products tailored to individual users. D) Products companies compete to make.64. What do American businesses give priority to when marketing their products?A)The constant updating of their technology. C) The quality of their new products.B)The speed of putting them on the market. D) The pace of product innovation.65. What is the consumers' chief concern about high-tech products?A) User-friendliness. B) Product quality. C) Place of assembly. D) Radio emissions.66. Why does the author suggest supply-chain labeling?A)It guarantees the safe shipping of products.B)It promotes the competitiveness of the supplier.C)Consumers care about where components are made.D)Consumers tend to buy products they are familiar with.。
2012年12月四级考试听力真题、原题、及答案
2012年12月四级考试真题（第二套）作文及听力试题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 AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. [A] Find a shortcut to the park. [B] Buy some roses from the market.[C] Plant trees in the east end of town. [D] Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12. [A] She has been invited to give a talk. [B] She is going to meet the man at 9:30.[C] She cannot attend the presentation. [D] She cannot work because of her toothache.13. [A] He is a very successful businessman. [B] He has changed his business strategy.[C] He is making plans to expand his operation. [D] He was twenty when he took over the company.14. [A] She has every confidence in Susan. [B] She has not read the news on the Net.[C] She is a little bit surprised at the news. [D] She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.15. [A] It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus. [B] It is worth the money taking a train to Miami.[C] It is not always cheaper going by bus. [D] It is faster to go to Miami by train.16. [A] Antiques can improve their image. [B] Preservation of antiques is important.[C] The old furniture should be replaced. [D] They should move into a new office.17. [A] All roads were closed because of the flood. [B] The man stayed at the lab the whole night.[C] The man got home late due to the storm. [D] The storm continued until midnight.18. [A] Many children feel bored when left alone. [B] The woman‟s sons might enjoy team sports.[C] The woman‟s kids can play soccer with his son.[D] Children should play sports at least once a week. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. [A] Make phone calls to promote sales. [B] Arrange business negotiations.[C] Handle complaints from customers. [D] Take orders over the phone.20. [A] They had different business strategies. [B] Customers often mistook one for the other.[C] Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.[D] Customers‟ questions could not be answered on the same day.21. [A] They each take a week. [B] They like to spend it together.[C] They have to take it by turns. [D] They are given two weeks each.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. [A] At a road crossing. [B] Outside a police station.[C] Near a school. [D] In front of a kindergarten.23. [A] He drove too fast to read it. [B] He did not notice it.[C] It says 45 miles an hour. [D] It is not clearly visible.24. [A] It should have been renewed two months ago. [B] It actually belongs to somebody else.[C] It is no longer valid. [D] It is not genuine.25. [A] He got a ticket. [B] He was fined $ 35.[C] He had his driver‟s license canc eled [D] He had to do two weeks‟ community service.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After 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] They care more about an item‟s price than its use. [B] They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.[C] They become excited as if they had never been there. [D] They behave as if their memories have failed totally.27. [A] Those with a VIP card. [B] Those with 15 items or less.[C] Those needing assistance. [D] Those paying in cash.28. [A] Go back and pick up more items. [B] Take out some unwanted purchases.[C] Change the items they have picked up. [D] Calculate the total cost of the groceries.29. [A] It calls for carefulness. [B] It requires tolerance.[C] It needs a good knowledge of math. [D] It involves communication skills.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. [A] A package of ideas formally presented. [B] A short presentation clearly delivered.[C] A natural and spontaneous style of speech. [D] A clever use of visual aids in presentation.31. [A] The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.[B] Differences in style between writing and speaking.[C] Different preferences of audiences. [D] The importance of preparation.32. [A] The differences between American and Asian cultures.[B] The significance of cross-cultural communication.[C] The increasing importance of public speaking. [D] The key to becoming a good speaker.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. [A] By compari ng his performance with others‟.[B] By being repeatedly corrected by adults.[C] By observing what their teachers do. [D] By being given constant praise.34. [A] The best students are usually smart by nature. [ B] It is only natural for children to make errors.[C] Children cannot detect their own mistakes. [D] All children should have equal opportunities.35. [A] It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. [B] It is beneficial to independent children.[C] It is unhealthy to stude nts‟ upbringing.[D] It is unhelpful to students‟ learning.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46you 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.Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36) _______ visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things (37) _______ on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38) _______ relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39) _______.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40) _______ by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off (41) _______ to make it to their next appointment on time.Americans‟ language i s filled with (42) _______ to time, giving a clear (43) _______ of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” …gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even …killed. “The international visitor soon learns that (44) ____________________________________________________________________________________.Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn‟t keep bus y. This philosophy has proven its worth. (45) ____________________________________________________________________________________. Many American proverbs (谚语) stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals. (46) ____________________________________________________________________________________.Part III Listening ComprehensionSection A11. W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in theeast end of the town. There are a lot of rosesin bloom.M: Why don‟t we walk over there and see for ourselves?Q: What will the speakers probably do? 11.【听前预测】选项描述的都是人的行为动作，由重复出现的to the park推测，本题可能考查去公园做某事。
2012年12月大学英语四级真题试卷(第2套)(题后含答案及解析)
2012年12月大学英语四级真题试卷（第2套）(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1. Writing 2. Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) 3. Listening Comprehension 4. Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) 5. Cloze 8. TranslationPart I Writing (30 minutes)1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Education Pays based on the statistics provided in the chart below (Unemployment rate in 2010). Please give a brief description of the chart first and then make comments on it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Education Pays正确答案：Education Pays The bar chart given by US Bureau of Labor Statistics reflects the unemployment rate in 2010 among people with different educational background. From these statistics, it can be seen that the higher degree one possesses, the less likely he is to be unemployed. Generally speaking, two factors have contributed to this phenomenon. For one thing, the advancement of technology and the adjustment of industrial structure lead to a dramatic demand of workforces with high educational degrees. Therefore, it is natural for people with higher educational degrees to enjoy a more steady and well-paid job. For another, those with lower educational degrees tend to be dismissed and substituted more frequently because their jobs usually feature low technologies which can be done by anybody. As far as I am concerned, education is always a worthy investment. So, as individuals, first we should attach great importance to education. Second, the government and authorities should adopt relevant measures to ensure the equity of education. Only in this way can more people get the tickets to a much more comfortable life.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 attached to the passage. For questions 1-7, mark：Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN)if the information is not given in the passage.Should Sugar Be Regulated like Alcohol and Tobacco? Sugar poses enough health risks that it should be considered a controlled substance just like alcohol and tobacco, argue a team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In an opinion piece called “The Toxic (毒性的) Truth About Sugar”published Feb. 1 in Nature, Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis argue that it’s wrong to consider sugar just “empty calories. “They write:“ There is nothing empty about these calories. A growing body of scientific evidence is showing that fructose (果糖) can trigger processes that lead to liver toxicity and a host of other chronic diseases. A little is not a problem, but a lot kills—slowly. “Almost everyone’s heard of—or personally experienced—the well-known sugar high, so perhaps the comparison between sugar and alcohol or tobacco shouldn’t come as a surprise. But it’s doubtful that Americans will look favorably upon regulating their favorite vice. We’re a nation that’s sweet on sugar: the average US adult downs 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the American Heart Association, and surveys have found that teens swallow 34 teaspoons. To counter our consumption, the authors advocate taxing sugary foods and controlling sales to kids under 17. Already, 17% of US children and teens are obese (肥胖的), and across the world the sugar intake (摄入) has increased three times in the past 50 years. The increase has helped create a global obesity plague that contributes to 35 million annual deaths worldwide from noninfectious diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Linda Matzigkeit, a senior vice president at Children’s Healthcare, said “ We have to do something about this or our country is in danger. It’s not good if your state has the second-highest obesity rate. Obese children turn into obese adults. ““ There are good calories and bad calories, just as there are good fats and bad fats, good amino acids (氨基酸) and bad amino acids,” Lustig, director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health program at UCSF, said in a statement. “But sugar is toxic beyond its calories. “The food industry tries to imply that “a calorie is a calorie,” says Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. “But this and other research suggests there is something different about sugar,”says Brownell. The UCSF report emphasizes the metabolic (新陈代谢的) effects of sugar. Excess sugar can alter metabolism, raise blood pressure, affect the signaling of hormones and damage the liver—outcomes that sound suspiciously similar to what can happen after a person drinks too much alcohol. Schmidt, co-chair of UCSF’s Community Engagement and Health Policy program, noted on CNN: “ When you think about it, this actually makes a lot of sense. Alcohol, after all, is simply made from sugar. Where does vodka come from? Sugar. “But there are also other areas of impact that researchers have investigated: the effect of sugar on the brain and how liquid calories are interpreted differently by the body than solids. Research has suggested that sugar activates the same reward pathways in the brain as traditional drugs of abuse like morphine or heroin. No one is claiming the effect of sugar is quite that strong, but, says Brownell, “ it helps confirm what people tell you sometimes, that they hunger for sugar and have withdrawal symptoms when they stop eating it. “There’s also something particularly tricky about sugary drinks. “ When calories come in liquids, the body doesn’t feel as full,” says Brownell. “People are getting more of their calories than ever before from sugared drinks. “Other countries, including France, Greece and Denmark, impose soda taxes, and the concept is being considered in at least 20 US cities and states. Last summer, Philadelphia came close to passing a 2-cents-per-ounce soda tax. The Rudd Center has been a strong advocate of a more modest 1 -cent-per-ounce tax. But at least one study, from 2010, has raised doubts that soda taxes would result in significant weight loss:apparently people who are determined to eat—and drink—unhealthily will find ways to do it. Teens—no surprise—are good at finding ways to get the things they can’t have, so state policies banning all sugar-sweetened drinks from public schools and providing only water, milk or 100% fruit juices haven’t had the intended effect of steering kids away from drinking sugared drinks: the average teen consumes about 300 calories per day—that’s nearly 15% of his daily calories—in sweetened drinks, and the food and drink industry is only too happy to feed this need. Ultimately, regulating sugar will prove particularly tricky because it goes beyond health concerns; sugar, for so many people, is love. A plate of cut-up vegetables just doesn’t pack the same emotional punch as a tin of home-made chocolate chip cookies (饼干) , which is why I took my daughter out for a cupcake and not an apple as an after-school treat today. We don’t do that regularly—it’s the first time this school year, actually—and that’s what made it special. As a society, could we ever reach the point where we’d think apples—not a cupcake—are something to get excited over? Says Brindis, one of the report’s authors and director of UCSF’s Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies: “We recognize that there are cultural and celebratory aspects of sugar. Changing these patterns is very complicated. “For inroads (进展) to be made, say the authors in their statement, people have to be better educated about the hazards of sugar and agree that something’s got to change: Many of the interventions (干预) that have reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for addressing the sugar problem, such as imposing special sales taxes, controlling access, and tightening licensing requirements on vending machines (自动售货机) and snack-bars that sell high sugar products in schools and workplaces. “ We’re not talking prohibition,”Schmidt said. “We’re not advocating a major imposition of the government into people’s lives. We’re talking about gentle ways to make sugar consumption slightly less convenient, thereby moving people away from the concentrated dose. What we want is to actually increase people’s choices by making foods that aren’t loaded with sugar comparatively easier and cheaper to get. “2．Why do some researchers think sugar should be considered “a controlled substance” ?A．It contains nothing but empty calories.B．It is as harmful as morphine and heroin.C．It works the same way as alcohol and tobacco in the human body.D．Excessive intake of sugar results in liver toxicity and various diseases,正确答案：D解析：文章第一段提出将糖归为管制品，是因为其会造成健康风险，第二段引用评论文章来列举糖带来的健康风险：果糖会诱发肝毒性和许多其他慢性疾病的进程，少量的糖不会出问题，但是大量的糖会慢慢导致死亡。
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案(二)
201212Part Writing(30minutes)11上作答。
Direction:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a composition entitled E ducation Pays based on the statistics provided in the chart below(Weekly earnings of2010).Please write at least120words but no more than180words.Education:A Worthy InvestmentWeekly earnings in2010($)Doctoral degree 1,550Master’s degree 1,272Bachelor’s degree 1,038 Some college, no degree 712High school diploma 626Less than high school degree 444Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEducation PaysPartIn this part,you will have15minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer thequestions on Answer sheet1.For questions1-7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).For questions8-10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.The MagicianThe revolution that Steve Jobs led is onlyjust beginningWhen it came to putting on a show,nobody else in the computer industry,or any other industry for that matter,could match Steve Jobs.His product launches,at which he would stand alone on a black stage and produce as if by magic an “incredible” new electronic gadget (小器具) in front of an amazed crowd,were the performances of a master showman.All computers do is fetch and work with numbers,he once explained,but do it fast enough and “the results appear tobe magic” . Mr Jobs, who died recently aged 56, spent his life packaging that magic into elegantly designed, easy-to-use products.The reaction to his death,with people leaving candles and flowers outside Apple stores and politicians singing praises on the internet,is proof that Mr Jobs had become something much more significant than just a clever money-maker.He stood out in three ways-as a technologist,as a corporate ( 公司的) leader and as somebody who was able to make people love what had previously been impersonal,functional gadgets.Strangely,it is this last quality that may have the deepest effect on the way people live. The era of personal technology is in many ways just beginning.As a technologist,Mr Jobs was different because he was not an engineer-and that was his great strength.Instead he was keenly interested in product design and aesthetics(美学),and in making advanced technology simple to use. He repeatedly took an existing but half-formed idea-the mouse-driven computer,the digital music player,the smartphone,the tablet computer(平板电脑) —and showed the rest of the industry how to do it properly. Rival firms competed with each other to follow where he led.In the process he brought about great changes in computing, music,telecoms and the news business that were painful for existing firms but welcomed by millions of consumers.Within the wider business world,a man who liked to see himself as a hippy(嬉皮士), permanently in revolt against big companies,ended up being hailed by many of those corporate giants as one of the greatest chief executives of his time.That was partly due to his talents: showmanship,strategic vision,an astonishing attention to detail and a dictatorial management style which many bosses must have envied.But most of all it was the extraordinary trajectory(轨迹)of his life.His fall from grace in the 1980s,followed by his return to Apple in 1996after a period in the wilderness,is an inspiration to any businessperson whose career has taken a turn for the worse. The way in which Mr Jobs revived the failing company he had co-founded and turned it into the world’s biggest tech firm (bigger even than Bill Gates’s Microsoft,the company that had outsmarted Apple so dramatically in the 1980s), sounds like something from a Hollywood movie.But what was perhaps most astonishing about Mr Jobs was the absolute loyalty he managed to inspire in customers.Many Apple users feel themselves to be part of a community,with Mr Jobs as its leader.And there was indeed a personal link.Apple’s products were designed to accord with the boss’s tastes and to meet his extremely high standards.Every iPhone or MacBook has his fingerprints all over it.His great achievement was to combine an emotional spark with computer technology,and make the resulting product feel personal.And that is what put Mr Jobs on the right side of history,as technological innovation(创新)has moved into consumer electronics over the past decade.As our special report in this issue (printed before Mr Jobs’s death)explains,innovation used to spill over from military and corporate laboratories to the consumer market, but lately this process has gone into reverse.Many people’s homes now have more powerful,and more flexible, devices than their offices do;consumer gadgets and online services are smarter and easier to use than most companies’ systems. Familiar consumer products are being adopted by businesses, government and the armed panies are employing in-house versions of Facebook and creating their own “app stores”to deliver software to employees.Doctors use tablet computers for their work in hospitals.Meanwhile,the number of consumers hungry for such gadgets continues to swell.Apple’s products are now being snapped up in Delhi and Dalian just as in Dublin andDallas.Mr Jobs had a reputation as a control freak(怪人),and his critics complained that the products and systems he designed were closed and inflexible,in the name of greater ease of use. Yet he also empowered millions of people by giving them access to cutting-edge technology.His insistence on putting users first,and focusing on elegance and simplicity,has become deep-rooted in his own company,and is spreading to rival firms too. It is no longer just at Apple that designers ask: “What would Steve Jobs do?”The gap between Apple and other tech firms is now likely to narrow. This week’s announcement of a new iPhone by a management team led by Tim Cook,who replaced Mr Jobs as chief executive in August,was generally regarded as competent but uninspiring.Without Mr Jobs to shower his star dust on the event,it felt like just another product launch from just another technology firm.At the recent unveiling of a tablet computer by Jeff Bezos of Amazon,whose company is doing the best job of following Apple’s lead in combining hardware,software,content and services in an easy-to-use bundle, there were several attacks at Apple. But by doing his best to imitate Mr Jobs, Mr Bezos also flattered (抬举)him. With Mr Jobs gone, Apple is just one of many technology firms trying to arouse his uncontrollable spirit in new products.Mr Jobs was said by an engineer in the early years of Apple to emit a “reality distortion(扭曲)field”,such were his powers of persuasion.But in the end he created a reality of his own, channeling the magic of computing into products that reshaped entire industries.The man who said in his youth that he wanted to “put a ding in the universe” did just that.注意: 1上作答。
2012年12月大学英语四级真题试卷(第2套)
2012年12月大学英语四级真题试卷（第2套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Education Pays based on the statistics provided in the chart below (Unemployment rate in 2010). Please give a brief description of the chart first and then make comments on it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Education PaysPart 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 attached to the passage. For questions 1-7, mark：Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.Should Sugar Be Regulated like Alcohol and Tobacco?Sugar poses enough health risks that it should be considered a controlled substance just like alcohol and tobacco, argue a team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).In an opinion piece called "The Toxic (毒性的) Truth About Sugar"published Feb. 1 in Nature, Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis argue that it's wrong to consider sugar just " empty calories. " They write: " There is nothing empty about these calories. A growing body of scientific evidence is showing that fructose (果糖) can trigger processes that lead to liver toxicity and a host of other chronic diseases. A little is not a problem, but a lot kills—slowly. "Almost everyone's heard of—or personally experienced—the well-known sugar high, so perhaps the comparison between sugar and alcohol or tobacco shouldn't come as a surprise. But it's doubtful that Americans will look favorably upon regulating their favorite vice. We're a nation that's sweet on sugar: the average US adult downs 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the American Heart Association, and surveys have found that teens swallow 34 teaspoons.To counter our consumption, the authors advocate taxing sugary foods and controlling sales to kids under 17. Already, 17% of US children and teens are obese (肥胖的), and across the world the sugar intake (摄入) has increased three times in the past 50 years. The increase has helped create a global obesity plague that contributes to 35 million annual deaths worldwide fromnoninfectious diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Linda Matzigkeit, a senior vice president at Children's Healthcare, said " We have to do something about this or our country is in danger. It's not good if your state has the second-highest obesity rate. Obese children turn into obese adults. "" There are good calories and bad calories, just as there are good fats and bad fats, good amino acids (氨基酸) and bad amino acids," Lustig, director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health program at UCSF, said in a statement. "But sugar is toxic beyond its calories. "The food industry tries to imply that " a calorie is a calorie," says Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. " But this and other research suggests there is something different about sugar," says Brownell.The UCSF report emphasizes the metabolic (新陈代谢的) effects of sugar. Excess sugar can alter metabolism, raise blood pressure, affect the signaling of hormones and damage the liver—outcomes that sound suspiciously similar to what can happen after a person drinks too much alcohol. Schmidt, co-chair of UCSF's Community Engagement and Health Policy program, noted on CNN: " When you think about it, this actually makes a lot of sense. Alcohol, after all, is simply made from sugar. Where does vodka come from? Sugar. "But there are also other areas of impact that researchers have investigated: the effect of sugar on the brain and how liquid calories are interpreted differently by the body than solids. Research has suggested that sugar activates the same reward pathways in the brain as traditional drugs of abuse like morphine or heroin. No one is claiming the effect of sugar is quite that strong, but, says Brownell, " it helps confirm what people tell you sometimes, that they hunger for sugar and have withdrawal symptoms when they stop eating it. "There's also something particularly tricky about sugary drinks. " When calories come in liquids, the body doesn't feel as full," says Brownell. " People are getting more of their calories than ever before from sugared drinks. "Other countries, including France, Greece and Denmark, impose soda taxes, and the concept is being considered in at least 20 US cities and states. Last summer, Philadelphia came close to passing a 2-cents-per-ounce soda tax. The Rudd Center has been a strong advocate of a more modest 1 -cent-per-ounce tax. But at least one study, from 2010, has raised doubts that soda taxes would result in significant weight loss: apparently people who are determined to eat—and drink—unhealthily will find ways to do it. Teens—no surprise—are good at finding ways to get the things they can't have, so state policies banning all sugar-sweetened drinks from public schools and providing only water, milk or 100% fruit juices haven't had the intended effect of steering kids away from drinking sugared drinks: the average teen consumes about 300 calories per day—that's nearly 15% of his daily calories—in sweetened drinks, and the food and drink industry is only too happy to feed this need.Ultimately, regulating sugar will prove particularly tricky because it goes beyond health concerns; sugar, for so many people, is love. A plate of cut-up vegetables just doesn't pack the same emotional punch as a tin of home-made chocolate chip cookies (饼干) , which is why I took my daughter out for a cupcake and not an apple as an after-school treat today. We don't do that regularly—it's the first time this school year, actually—and that's what made it special. As a society, could we ever reach the point where we'd think apples—not a cupcake—are something to get excited over? Says Brindis, one of the report's authors and director of UCSF's Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies: " We recognize that there are cultural and celebratory aspectsof sugar. Changing these patterns is very complicated. "For inroads (进展) to be made, say the authors in their statement, people have to be better educated about the hazards of sugar and agree that something's got to change:Many of the interventions (干预) that have reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for addressing the sugar problem, such as imposing special sales taxes, controlling access, and tightening licensing requirements on vending machines (自动售货机) and snack-bars that sell high sugar products in schools and workplaces." We're not talking prohibition," Schmidt said. " We're not advocating a major imposition of the government into people's lives. We're talking about gentle ways to make sugar consumption slightly less convenient, thereby moving people away from the concentrated dose. What we want is to actually increase people's choices by making foods that aren't loaded with sugar comparatively easier and cheaper to get. "2．Why do some researchers think sugar should be considered "a controlled substance" ?A．It contains nothing but empty calories. B．It is as harmful as morphine and heroin. C．It works the same way as alcohol and tobacco in the human body. D．Excessive intake of sugar results in liver toxicity and various diseases,3．What might be Americans' attitude towards government regulation of sugar consumption? A．Ehusiastic. B．Indifferent. C．Disapproving. D．Supportive.4．What is a consequence of excessive sugar intake worldwide?A．It contributes to 35 million noninfectious disease-related deaths a year. B．It has increased the death toll nearly three times in the past 50 years. C．It contributes to the rise of prices of sugar and sugary foods. D．It has increased the global obesity rate to some 17 percent.5．The food industry tries to relieve the public worry about sugar intake by suggesting that______.A．sugar is no more than a source of energy B．sugar is not harmful like alcohol or tobacco C．the hazard of sugar to the body is exaggerated D．the consumption of sugar is easily controllable 6．According to Brownell, liquid sugar______.A．is especially attractive to young children B．is much easier and quicker to absorb than solid sugar C．effectively stimulates people's appetite D．increases your calorie intake without your knowing it7．What does the author think of the practice of imposing sugar taxes?A．It will harm the food and drink industry. B．It is unlikely to yield the intended effect. C．It is likely to alter people's eating habits. D．It can steer kids away from sugary foods. 8．Regulating sugar will prove tricky because______.A．people consume sugar in large quantities B．nothing has been found to replace sugar C．sugar may convey a sense of love D．many foods will become tasteless9．In order to reduce sugar consumption, education should be conducted to raise people's awareness of its______.10．To address the sugar problem, the author suggests that the licensing requirements on vending machines and snack-bars selling high sugar products be______.11． A gentle way to steer people away from sugar is to make inexpensive, low-sugar foods______.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.12．A．Find a shortcut to the park. B．Buy some roses from the market. C．Plant trees in the east end of town. D．Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.13．A．She has been invited to give a talk. B．She is going to meet the man at 9:30. C．She cannot attend the presentation. D．She cannot work because of her toothache.14．A．He is a very successful businessman. B．He has changed his business strategy. C．He is making plans to expand his operation. D．He was twenty when he took over the company. 15．A．She has every confidence in Susan. B．She has not read the news on the Net. C．She is a little bit surprised at the news. D．She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.16．A．It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus. B．It is worth the money taking a train to Miami. C．It is not always cheaper going by bus. D．It is faster to go to Miami by train. 17．A．Antiques can improve their image. B．Preservation of antiques is important. C．The old furniture should be replaced. D．They should move into a new office.18．A．All roads were closed because of the flood. B．The man stayed at the lab the whole night. C．The man got home late due to the storm. D．The storm continued until midnight. 19．A．Many children feel bored when left alone. B．The woman's sons might enjoy team sports. C．The woman's kids can play soccer with his son. D．Children should play sports at least once a week.20．A．Make phone calls to promote sales. B．Arrange business negotiations. C．Handle complaints from customers. D．Take orders over the phone.21．A．They had different business strategies. B．Customers often mistook one for the other. C．Conflicts between them could not be properly solved. D．Customers' questions could not be answered on the same day.22．A．They each take a week. B．They like to spend it together. C．They have to take it by turns. D．They are given two weeks each.23．A．At a road crossing. B．Outside a police station. C．Near a school. D．In front of a kindergarten.24．A．He drove too fast to read it. B．He did not notice it. C．It says 45 miles an hour. D．It is not clearly visible.25．A．It should have been renewed two months ago. B．It actually belongs to somebody else. C．It is no longer valid. D．It is not genuine.26．A．He got a ticket. B．He was fined $35. C．He had his driver's license canceled. D．He had to do two weeks' community service.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D.27．A．A package of ideas formally presented. B．A short presentation clearly delivered. C．A natural and spontaneous style of speech. D．A clever use of visual aids in presentation.28．A．The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions. B．Differences in style between writing and speaking. C．Different preferences of audiences. D．The importance of preparation. 29．A．The differences between American and Asian cultures. B．The significance of cross-cultural communication. C．The increasing importance of public speaking. D．The key to becoming a good speaker.30．A．By comparing his performance with others'. B．By being repeatedly corrected by adults. C．By observing what their teachers do. D．By being given constant praise.31．A．The best students are usually smart by nature. B．It is only natural for children to make errors. C．Children cannot detect their own mistakes. D．All children should have equal opportunities.32．A．It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. B．It is beneficial to independent children. C．It is unhealthy to students' upbringing. D．It is unhelpful to students' learning. 33．A．They care more about an item's price than its use. B．They grab whatever they think is a good bargain. C．They become excited as if they had never been there. D．They behave as if their memories have failed totally.34．A．Those with a VIP card. B．Those with 15 items or less. C．Those needing assistance. D．Those paying in cash.35．A．Go back and pick up more items. B．Take out some unwanted purchases. C．Change the items they have picked up. D．Calculate the total cost of the groceries.36．A．It calls for carefulness. B．It requires tolerance. C．It needs a good knowledge of math. D．It involves communication skills.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks 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.Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the【B1】______visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things【B2】______on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep【B3】______relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest【B4】______.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely【B5】______by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off【B6】______to make it to their next appointment on time.Americans' language is filled with【B7】______ to time, giving a clear【B8】______of how much it is valued. Time is something to be "on," to be "kept," "filled," "saved," "wasted," "gained," "planned," "given," "made the most of," even "killed. "The international visitor soon learns that【B9】______.Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one "wastes" time and doesn't keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth.【B10】______. Many American proverbs (谚语) stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals.【B11】______.38．【B2】39．【B3】40．【B4】41．【B5】42．【B6】43．【B7】44．【B8】45．【B9】46．【B10】47．【B11】Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.When Carly Fiorina became Hewlett-Packard's first female chief executive officer, the existence of her househusband, Frank Fiorina, who had retired early from AT&T to support her career, was a mini-sensation (小轰动); now this arrangement isn't【S1】______at all. Seven of the 18 women who are【S2】______CEOs of Fortune 500 companies—including Xerox's Ursula Burns and PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi—have, or at some point have had, a stay-at-home husband. So do scores of【S3】______CEOs of smaller companies and women in other senior executive jobs.This role change is【S4】______more and more as women edge past men at work. Women now【S5】______a majority of jobs in the US, including 51.4 percent of managerial and professional【S6】______, according to US Census Bureau data. Some 23 percent of wives now earn more than their husbands. And this earnings trend is more dramatic among younger people. Women 30 and under make more money, on【S7】______, than their male counterparts (年龄相当的人) in many large cities in the US.During the recent【S8】______, three men lost their jobs for every woman. Many unemployed fathers have ended up caring for their children full-time while their wives are the【S9】______wage earners. The number of men in the US who【S10】______care for children under age five increased to 32 percent in 2010 from 19 percent in 1988, according to Census figures.A) appealing I) occupationsB) average J) occurringC) conflict K) positionsD) currently L) primaryE) elementary M) recessionF) ensure N) regularlyG) female O) unusualH) fill48．【S1】49．【S2】51．【S4】52．【S5】53．【S6】54．【S7】55．【S8】56．【S9】57．【S10】Section 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.I've worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer since I graduated from high school, but making the transition (转变) between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be uncivilized, getting to a factory by 6 o'clock each morning is torture. My friends never seem to understand why I'm so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation.There're few people as self-confident as a college student who has never been out in the real world. People my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine I ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward or upside down.The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job could disappear overnight. Issues like downsizing (裁员) and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the unit I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents an hour.After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other options have become only too clear. When I'm back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy re-writes seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.These lessons I'm learning, however valuable, are always tinged (带有) with a sense of guilt. Many people pass their lives in the places I briefly work, spending 30 years where I spend only two months at a time. "This job pays well, but it's hell on the body," said one co-worker. "Study hard and keep reading," she added.My experiences in the factories have inspired me to make the most of my college years before I enter the real world for good.58．How did the author look back on his summer days while at college?A．They brought him nothing but torture. B．They were no holiday for him at all. C．They were a relief from his hard work at school. D．They offered him a chance to know more people. 59．What does the author say about college students?A．They expect too much from the real world. B．They have little interest in blue-collar life. C．They think too highly of themselves. D．They are confident of their future.60．What, according to the author, is most frustrating for blue-collar workers?A．They do not get decent pay. B．They do not have job security. C．They have to work 12-hourshifts. D．They have to move from place to place.61．In what important way has the author's work experience changed him?A．He learned to be more practical. B．He acquired a sense of urgency. C．He came to respect blue-collar workers. D．He came to appreciate his college education.62．Why does the author feel somewhat guilty?A．He realizes there is a great divide between his life and that of blue-collar workers. B．He looks down upon the mechanical work at the assembly line. C．He has not done much to help his co-workers at the factory. D．He has stayed at school just for the purpose of escaping from the real world.Are people suffering from gadget (小器具) overload? Are they exhausted by the consumer equivalent of the brain fatigue—information overload—that is caused by constant updates of devices and online media?Underwriters Laboratories issued a report last week that found 48% of consumers " feel high-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them. "There are two possible explanations. The first, obvious one is that the pace of innovation (创新) is too fast for consumers. The second, less obvious one is that, in fact, innovation is too slow. That is, the new offerings companies are pushing out the door every six months or so are me-too products or ones with just a couple of new features. Marketing schedules, not product innovation, are driving the corporate (公司的) train. Manufacturers in America valued " speed to market" more than in other countries, the report found.Sara Greenstein, Underwriters Laboratories' chief strategy officer, offered her interpretation of the survey results, " Innovation is too fast only if corners are cut. "For the high-tech sector, there are a few other interesting findings. Consumers are less concerned about safety in high-tech products than categories like fresh and processed food. But their top safety concerns are emissions and wireless radio waves. Many people, it seems, are uneasy living in a thickening cloud of radio waves from mobile phone towers and the gadgets they communicate with.A finding that was a bit surprising is that to consumers, the inner parts of high-tech devices do apparently matter. Some 55% of consumers, according to the report, said they are "more concerned about where high-tech components come from than where the product was assembled. "The report doesn't really say how that information would affect consumer buying decisions. It could be complicated. Manufacturing companies on average rely on more than 35 contract suppliers around the world to create a single product. That number would be higher for a smartphone or laptop.But maybe some sort of supply-chain labeling showing where parts come from in a product? "We're working on it," Ms. Greenstein said.63．What is the finding in Underwriters Laboratories' report about many consumers?A．They are exhausted by the information overload. B．They are tired of the constant updating of devices. C．They feel products are updated faster than needed. D．They have difficulty following high-tech innovations.64．What does the author mean by "me-too products"?A．Products with no substantial difference. B．Products tailored to individual users. C．Products everyone is eager to possess. D．Products companies compete to make.65．What do American businesses give priority to when marketing their products?A．The constant updating of their technology. B．The speed of putting them on the market. C．The quality of their new products. D．The pace of product innovation.66．What is the consumers' chief concern about high-tech products?A．User-friendliness. B．Product quality. C．Place of assembly. D．Radio emissions. 67．Why does the author suggest supply-chain labeling?A．It guarantees the safe shipping of products. B．It promotes the competitiveness of the supplier. C．Consumers care about where components are made. D．Consumers tend to buy products they are familiar with.Part 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. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage.Strong emotional bonds between mothers and infants increase children's willingness to explore the world—an effect that has been observed【C1】______the animal kingdom, in people, monkeys and even spiders. The more secure we are in our【C2】______to Mom, the more likely we are to try new things and take risks. Now researchers are discovering that this effect continues into adulthood. A【C3】______reminder of Mom's touch or the sound of her voice on the phone is【C4】______to change people's minds and moods,【C5】______their decision making in measurable ways.In a study【C6】______online in April in Psychological Science, undergraduate business students had to choose between safe bets and risky gambles—a bond with a guaranteed 4 percent yearly【C7】______or a riskier stock option, for example. In half the cases, the experimenters patted the students【C8】______on the back of the shoulder for about one second【C9】______providing verbal (口头的) instructions about the study. Both male and female students who were touched by a female experimenter were【C10】______more likely to choose the risky alternative【C11】______were those who had not been touched or were patted by male experimenters. The reassuring (宽慰的) touch of a woman may have induced early associations,【C12】______the same openness to exploration that is observed in young children of【C13】______mothers, explains Jonathan Levav, a business professor at Columbia University and lead author of the study.To further【C14】______that a woman's touch links feelings of security【C15】______risk taking, the researchers asked a【C16】______group of undergraduates to make financial decisions after a writing exercise. Half of them wrote about a time they felt secure and supported, whereas the【C17】______half wrote about feeling insecure and alone. Evoking (唤起) a【C18】______of insecurity made students in the latter group【C19】______receptive to the gentle shoulder pats from female experimenters and much more willing to take a risk—just as a child leaving for a field trip might steal one last reassuring hug【C20】______Mom before stepping on the bus.68．【C1】A．by B．up C．above D．acrossA．concern B．attachment C．treatment D．appeal70．【C3】A．bare B．unique C．mere D．just71．【C4】A．enough B．ready C．easy D．quick。
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2012年12月英语四级考试听力试题另一版本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.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
11. A) He needs another week for the painting.B) The painting was completed just in time.C) The building won’t open until next week.D) His artistic work has been well received.12. A) Go camping. B) Decorate his house.C) Rent a tent. D) Organize a party.13. A) She talked with Mr. Wright on the phone.B) She is about to call Mr. Wright’s secretary.C) She will see Mr. Wright at lunch time.D) She failed to reach Mr. Wright.14. A) He is actually very hardworking.B) He has difficulty finishing his project.C) He needs to spend more time in the lab.D) He seldom tells the truth about himself.15. A) Rules restricting smoking.B) Ways to quit smoking.C) Smokers’health problems.D) Hazards of passive smoking.16. A) He is out of town all morning.B) He is tied up in family matters.C) He has been writing a report.D) He has got meetings to attend.17. A) He is not easy-going.B) He is the speakers’boss.C) He is not at home this weekend.D) He seldom invites people to his home.18. A) Take a break.B) Refuel his car.C) Ask the way.D) Have a cup of coffee.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) They are as good as historical films.B) They give youngsters a thrill.C) They have greatly improved.D) They are better than comics on film.20. A) The effects were very good.B) The acting was just so-so.C) The plot was too complicated.D) The characters were lifelike.21. A) They triumphed ultimately over evil in the battle.B) They played the same role in War of the Worlds.C) They are popular figures among young people.D) They are two leading characters in the film.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) It is scheduled on Thursday night.B) It is supposed to last nine weeks.C) It takes place once a week.D) It usually starts at six.23. A) To make good use of her spare time in the evening.B) To meet the requirements of her in-service training.C) To improve her driving skills as quickly as possible.D) To get some basic knowledge about car maintenance.24. A) Participate in group discussions.B) Take turns to make presentations.C) Listen to the teacher’s explanation.D) Answer the teacher’s questions.25. A) Most of them are female.B) Some have a part-time job.C) They plan to buy a new car.D) A few of them are old chaps.Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) She is not good at making friends.B) She is not well off.C) She enjoys company.D) She likes to go to concerts alone.27. A) Their similar social status.B) Their interdependence.C) Their common interest.D) Their identical character.28. A) Invite Pat to a live concert.B) Buy some gifts for Pat’s kids.C) Help take care of Pat’s kids.D) Pay for Pat’s season tickets.29. A) It can develop between people with a big difference in income.B) It can be maintained among people of different age groups.C) It cannot last long without similar family background.D) It cannot be sustained when friends move far apart.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) Priority of students’academic achievements.B) Equal education opportunities to all children.C) Social equality between teachers and students.D) Respect for students’individuality.31. A) Efficient.B) Complicated.C) Lengthy.D) Democratic.32. A) To help them acquire hands-on experience.B) To try to cut down its operational expenses.C) To provide part-time jobs for needy students.D) To enable them to learn to take responsibility.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) The best way to work through a finger maze.B) Individuals doing better in front of an audience.C) Researchers having contributed greatly to psychology.D) Improvements on the classification of human behavior.34. A) When you feel encouraged by the audience.B) When you try to figure out a confusing game.C) When you already know how to do something.D) When you complete with other people in a group.35. A) Practicing constantly.B) Working by oneself.C) Learning by doing.D) Using proven methods.Section CAmericans today have different eating habits than they had in the past. There is a wide (36) ______ of food available. They have a broader (37) ______ of nutrition (营养), so they buy more fresh fruit and (38) _______ than ever before. At the same time, Americans (39)______ increasing quantities of sweets and sodas.Statistics show that the way people live (40) ______ the way they eat. American lifestyles have changed. There are now growing numbers of people who live alone, (41) ______ parents and children, and double-income families. These changing lifestyles are (42) ______ for the increasing number of people who must (43) ______ meals or sometimes simply go without them. Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food. (44) ______________ _______________________________________. Moreover, Americans eat out nearly four times a week on average.It is easy to study the amounts and kinds of food that people consume. (45) _____________ ________________________________________________________. This information not only tells us what people are eating, but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes. (46)____________________________________________________________. Instead, chicken, turkey and fish have become more popular. Sales of these foods have greatly increased in recent years.。