2013年6月英语四级冲刺试题及答案(三)-5
2013年6月全国大学英语四级考试真题及参考答案
2013年6月全国大学英语四级考试真题Part I Writing (30 minutes)注意:此部分试题在答题卡1上。
Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short easy entitled How Will Our Life Go on without Internet. You should write at least 120wordsfollowing the outline given below in Chinese:1. 网络提供给了人们丰富多彩和便捷的生活2. 很多人开始感觉离开网络寸步难行3. 你对网络依赖症的看法How Will Our Life Go on without Internet_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Part II Reading Comprehension (skimming and scanning)(15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answerfrom the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, completethe sentences with the information given in the passage.Time Off from Work Gains in ImportanceAmerican workers are saying they need a break. As their number of hours clocked on the job has crept higher, more time off has become a bigger priority. In the past few years, human resources experts say time off has consistently placed among the top three employee concerns, along with compensation and staffing levels, whereas it used to be farther down the list. In a poll taken online in November 2004, 39% of workers said if giventhe choice, they would choose time off over the equivalent in additional base salary. Of course, most of the 4,600 respondents are still opting for the bigger paycheck, but the desire for time off is up almost 20% from just three years ago when conducted a similar poll.The reasons for this shift are many and varied. Some have to do with the way a new generation is thinking about work, while others are driven by how companies are responding to recent economic pressures.A New GenerationThe results may in part represent the needs of a new breed of workers. The average American is working one month (160 hours) more each year than a generation ago. According to recruiting and human capital management expert John Sumser, younger workers work for meaning first and money second. He goes on to warn employers that these are the people who are the foundation for the next workforce and they may not buy the existing paradigm (范例). A study released in late 2004 by the New York-based Families and Work Institute concludes that the new brand of young workers is rejecting thework-centric style of their parents’ generation. The study, which examines changes in the workforce over the past 25 years, found that younger workers are more likely to be “family-centric” or “dual-centric” (with equal priorities on both career and family) rather than “work-centric” when compared to members of the Boomer Generation.September 11th and the End of the Roaring NinetiesThe impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11th cut across all age groups of the workforce. We collectively entered a new era, reevaluating life’s priorities and making changes in our attitude toward time spent at work versus hobbies and family. “I started looking a t things completely differently. I’ve been far less willing to put in the 14-hour days necessary to get noticed and climb the corporate ladder,” said Tony Jackson, a 43-year-old employee of a New York City-based financial services company. “Frankly, I can’t see that changing.”Even before September 11th, some experts say the slow shift in worker attitudes was already underway due to the end of the roaring 1990’s, when hours were long and significant personal wealth was created. For those who fared well financially, some opted for careers of contract work where they could call more of the shots pertaining to (与……有关的) time off, or new occupations with greater personal rewards. For others, even if their bank accounts were not spilling over from America’s econ omic heyday (全盛时期), their own energy had been depleted due to unrelenting (毫不松懈的) years of work hours and high stress. They were ready for something less taxing.Families and Work Institute President and co-founder Ellen Galinsky agrees. She says the poll numbers show evidence of an increase in need for time off and a shift in thinking due to the fact that workers have been pushed to their limit in recent years. “This new generation of workers is at the edge of how long they can work. It just feels like too much. They are not slackers (懒虫); they just don’t want more,” says Galinsky.Monetary Needs Less Intense Due to Dual Income Households“We’ve decided we prefer to have more time to ourselves,” says Carol Kornhaber, a New England software programmer in her late twenties. Kornhaber and her husband are both working but have sought out jobs where they are not pressed to put in long hours. Instead, they have insisted upon eight-hour days and having enough vacation time to travel, a major interest they share. Financial pressures are eased by both of them working and keeping a careful watch on their expenses. “We are lucky in a lot of ways to have found bosses who understand our needs.”BurnoutTrying to squeeze more productivity out of workers may be nothing new, but it has become particularly acute in recent years. This has been due in large measure torecession-induced layoffs and other trends such as the rising cost of healthcare benefits. After a layoff, workers who remain behind are often asked to pick up most or even all the load of the people who were let go, requiring more and more hours at the office. As new corporate initiatives are planned, the inverse is also true. As Sumser observes, “the additional workload, which runs across the economy from the office worker to the manufacturing line, seems to be a function of the cost of benefits. The regulations make it cheaper to add workload for existing employees than to hire new players.” The Families and Work Institute reports that nearly one third of U.S. employees often or very often feel overworked or overwhelmed by how much work they have to do. Nearly three out of four report that they frequently dream about doing something different from their current job.Show Me the MoneyOverworked or not, the majority in the poll still chose to fatten their paycheck if given the choice. For many, it was a practical matter. Says Peggy Jones, an accountant in a Boston area business services company, “I already get three weeks a year that I c an’t use up because I’m so busy. I’d definitely go for the extra money to pay some bills or make a big purchase I’ve been holding off on.” For Jones, the realities of running a household and saving up for college for her children simply need to take precedence over extra free time.Companies Are Already RespondingTo many human resources experts it is inevitable that, given the growing health of the economy and the upcoming population-driven labor shortages as the Boomer Generation moves into retirement, the pendulum of control in the employee-employer relationship will swing back to the employee side. That is expected to begin in just a few years. According to human resources expert, Larry Schumer, at , “since most companies succeed based on a motivated and capable workforce, they have offered and will continue to offer more paid flexibility, whether it be through tried and tested time-off programs or the next great idea.” Where will that new balance of employer versus employee needs lie? Time, or perhaps time off, surely will tell.1. Which of the following has been rising in importance in the past few years?A) Compensation. B) Time off. C) Right to vote. D) Staffing levels.2. According to the passage, we know that the Boomer Generation is concerned ________.A) about family and work equally B) more about workC) more about family D) about neither work nor family3. What can be inferred about Tony Jackson?A) He is 43 years old.B) He works in a financial services company.C) He has changed his life and work attitude.D) He spends 14 hours a day on his work.4. When did American workers gradually begin to change their attitudes towards work?A) After September 11. B) In November 2004.C) In late 2004. D) At the end of the roaring 1990’s.5. According to Ellen Galinsky, why did workers change their mind about work?A) They have been pushed to the limit of their working hours.B) They increased their need to enjoy life.C) They have more rights than before.D) They don’t want to work for a living.6. Carol Kornhaber and her husband don’t have too much financial pressure because ___________.A) they have parents who are richB) they don’t have children to feedC) they both have a high salaryD) they both have work and they are thrifty7. After a layoff, the employees who keep their jobs usually have to ___________.A) find another job in case they are firedB) do what their bosses tell them toC) work longer hours to avoid being firedD) do the work left by the laid-off workers8. According to , compared with three years ago, the desire for time off is up almost ________________________.9. According to the poll from , the majority of employees preferred to ________________________ if they had the choice.10. Larry Schumer said that most companies succeeded based on a motivated and capable __________________________.Part ⅢListening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section A注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2013年6月英语四级真题及答案详解
2013年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案详解Total score: 710 Total time allowed: 125 minutes特注:2013年6月大学四级考试采用多题多卷形式,本试卷含两套写作题,考生可以任选其一。
Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题1) (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题2) (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of reading literature. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Can Digital Textbook Truly Replace the Print Kind?The shortcomings of t raditional print edition textbooks are obvious: For starters they’re heavy, with the average physics textbook weighing 3.6 pounds. They’re also expensive, especially when you factor in the average college student’s limited budget, typically costing hundred s of dollars every semester.But the worst part is that print version of textbooks are constantly undergoing revisions. Many professors require that their students use only the latest versions in the classroom, essentially rendering older texts unusable. For students, it means they’re basically stuck with a four pound paper-weight that they can’t sell back.Which is why digital textbooks, if they live up to their promise, could help ease many of these shortcomings. But till now, they’ve been something lik e a mirage(幻影)in the distance, more like a hazy(模糊的)dream than an actual reality. Imagine the promise: Carrying all your textbooks in a 1.3 pound iPad? It sounds almost too good to be true.But there are a few pilot schools already making the transition(过渡)over to digital books. Universities like Cornell and Brown have jumped onboard. And one medical program at the University of California, Irvine, gave their entire class iPads with which to download textbooks just last year.But not all were eager to jump aboard.“People were tired of using the iPad textbook besides using it for reading,” says Kalpit Shah, who will be going into his second year at Irvine’s medical program this fall. “They weren’t using it as a source of communication because they couldn’t read or write in it. So a third of the people in my program were using the iPad in class to take notes, the other third were using laptops and the last third were using paper and pencil.”The reason it hasn’t caught on yet, he tells me, is that the func tionality of e-edition textbooks is incredibly limited, and some students just aren’t motivated to learn new study behavior.But a new application called Inkling might change all that. The company just released an updated version last week, and it’ll be u tilized in over 50 undergraduate and graduate classrooms this coming school year.“Digital textbooks are not going to catch on,” says Inkling CEO Matt Maclnnis as he’s giving me a demo(演示)over coffee. “What I mean by that is the current perspective of the digital textbook is it’s an exact copy of the print book. There’s Course Smart, etc., these guys who take any image of the page and put it on a screen. If that’s how we’re defining digital textbooks, there’s no hope of that becoming a mainstream product.”He calls Inkling a platform for publishers to build rich multimedia content from the ground up, with a heavy emphasis on real-world functionality. The traditional textbook merely serves as a skeleton.At first glance Inkling is an impressive experience. After swiping(敲击)into the iPad app (应用软件), which you can get for free here, he opens up a few different types of textbooks.Up first is a chemistry book. The boot time is pretty fast, and he navigates through (浏览) afew chapters before swiping into a fully rendered 3D molecule that can be spun around to view its various building blocks. “Publishers give us all of the source media, artwork, videos,” he says, “We help them think through how to actually build something for this platform.”Next he pulls up a music composition textbook, complete with playable demos. It’s a learning experience that attacks you from multiple sensory directions. It’s clear why this would be something a music major would love.But the most exciting part about Inkling, to me, is its notation(批注)system. Here’s how it works!When you purchase a used print book, it comes with its previous owner’s highlights and notes in the margins. It uses the experience of someone who already went through the class to help improve your reading (how much you trust each notation is obviously up to you).But with lnkling, you can highlight a piece of content and make notes. Here’s where things get interesting, though: If a particularly important passage is highlighted by multiple lnkling users, that information is stored on the cloud and is available for anyone reading the same textbook to come across. That means users have access to notes from not only their classmates and Facebook friends, but anyone who purchased the book across the country. The best comments are then sorted democratically by a voting system, meaning that your social learning experience is shared with the best and brightest thinkers.As a bonus, professors can even chime in (插话) on discussions. They’ll be able to answer the questions of students who are in their class directly via the interactive book.Of course, Inkling addresses several of the other shortcomings in traditional print as well. Textbook versions are constanly updated, motivating publishers by minimizing production costs (the big ones like McGraw-Hill are already onboard). Furthermore, students will be able to purchase sections of the text instead of buying the whole thing, with individual chapters costing as little as $2.99.There are, however, challenges.“It takes efforts to build each book,” Maclnnis tells me. And it’s clear why.Each interactive textbook is a media-heavy experience built from the ground up, and you can tell that it takes a respectable amount of manpower to put together each one.For now the app is also iPad-exclusive, and though a few of these educational institutions are giving the hardware away for free, for other students who don’t have such a luxury it’s an added layer of cost — and an expensive one at that.But this much is clear. The traditional textbook model is and has been broken for quite some time. Whether digitally interactive ones like Inkling actually take off or not remains to be seen, and we probably won’t have a definite answer for the next few years.However the solution to any problem begins with a step in a direction. And at least for now, that hazy mirage in the distance? A little more tangible (可触摸的), a little less of a dream.1. The biggest problem with traditional print textbooks is that _____.A) they are not reused once a new edition comes outB) they cost hundreds of dollars every semesterC) they are too heavy to carry aroundD) they take a longer time to revise2. What does the author say about digital textbooks?A) It’s not likely they will replace traditional textbooks.B) They haven’t fixed all the shortcomings of print books.C) Very few of them are available in the market.D) Many people still have difficulty using them.3. According to Kalpit Shah, some students still use paper and pencil because _____.A) they find it troublesome to take notes with an iPadB) they are unwilling to change their study behaviorC) they have get tired of reading on the iPadD) they are not used to reading on the screen4. Inkling CEO Ma tt Maclnnis explains that the problem with Course Smart’s current digital textbooks is that _____.A) they have to be revised repeatedlyB) they are inconvenient to use in classC) they are different from most mainstream productsD) they are no more than print versions put on a screen5. Matt Maclnnis describes the updated version of lnkling as _____.A) a good example of the mainstream productsB) a marvelous product of many creative ideasC) a platform for building multimedia contentD) a mere skeleton of traditional textbooks6. The author is most excited about lnkling’s notation system because one can _____.A) share his learning experience with the best and brightest thinkersB) participate in discussions with classmates and Facebook friendsC) vote for the best learners democraticallyD) store information on the cloud7. One additional advantage of the interactive digital textbook is that _____.A) students can switch to different discussions at any pointB) students can download relevant critical commentsC) professors can join in students’ online discussionsD) professors can give prompt feedback to students’ homework8. One of the challenges to build an interactive digital textbook from the ground up is that is takesa great deal of _____.9. One problem for students to replace traditional textbooks with interactive digital ones is the high ______ of the hardware.10. According to the author, whether digital textbooks will catch on still _____.Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A) Children should be taught to be more careful.B) Children shouldn’t drink so much orange juice.C) There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.D) Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.12. A) Fitness training. B) The new job offer.C) Computer programming. D) Directorship of the club.13. A) He needs to buy a new sweater. B) He has got to save on fuel bills.C) The fuel price has skyrocketed. D) The heatin g system doesn’t work.14. A) Committing theft. B) Taking pictures.C) Window shopping. D) Posing for the camera.15. A) She is taking some medicine. B) She has not seen a doctor yet.C) She does not trust the man’s advice. D) She has almost recovered from the cough.16. A) Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.B) Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.C) Pamela is not good at writing research papers.D) Pamela’s mistakes could have bee n avoided.17. A) In the left-luggage office. B) At the hotel reception.C) In a hotel room. D) At an airport.18. A) She was an excellent student at college. B) She works in the entertainment business.C) She is fond of telling stories in her speech. D) She is good at conveying her message.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) Arranging the woman’s appointment with Mr. Romero.B) Fixing the time for the designer’s latest fas hion show.C) Talking about an important gathering on Tuesday.D) Preparing for the filming on Monday morning.20. A) Her travel to Japan.B) The awards ceremony.C) The proper hairstyle for her new role.D) When to start the makeup session.21. A) He is Mr. Romero’s agent.B) He is an entertainment journalist.C) He is the woman’s assistant.D) He is a famous movie star.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) Make an appointment for an interview.B) Send in an application letter.C) Fill in an application form.D) Make a brief self-introduction on the phone.23. A) Someone having a college degree in advertising.B) Someone experienced in business management.C) Someone ready to take on more responsibilities.D) Someone willing to work beyond regular hours.24. A) Travel opportunities.B) Handsome pay.C) Prospects for promotion.D) Flexible working hours.25. A) It depends on the working hours.B) It’s about 500 pound a week.C) It will be set by the Human Resources.D) It is to be negotiated.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) To give customers a wider range of choices.B) To make shoppers see as many items as possible.C) To supply as many varieties of goods as it can.D) To give space for more profitable products.27. A) On the top shelves.B) On the bottom shelves.C) On easily accessible shelves.D) On clearly marked shelves.28. A) Many of them buy things on impulse.B) A few of them are fathers with babies.C) A majority of them are young couples.D) Over 60% of them make shopping lists.29. A) Sales assistants promoting high margin goods.B) Sales assistants following customers around.C) Customers competing for good bargains.D) Customers losing all sense of time.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) Teaching mathematics at a school.B) Doing research in an institute.C) Studying for a college degree.D) Working in a high-tech company.31. A) He studied the designs of various choices.B) He did experiments to different materials.C) He bought an alarm clock with a pig face.D) He asked different people for their opinions.32. A) Its automatic mechanism.B) Its manufacturing pattern.C) Its way of waking people up.D) Its funny-looking pig face.Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) It’s often caused by a change of circumstances.B) It usually doesn’t require any special attention.C) It usually appears all of a sudden.D) It usually lasts for several years.34. A) They can’t mix well with others.B) They emotionally receive their friends.C) They depend severely on family members.D) They share similar interests with friends.35. A) They lack consistent support from peers.B) They doubt their own popularity.C) They were born psychologically weak.D) They focus too much attention on themselves.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.There was a time when any personal information that was gathered about us was typed on a piece of paper and (36) ________ away in a file cabinet. It could remain there for years and, often (37) ________, never reach the outside world.Things have done a complete about-face since then. (38) ________ for the change has been the astonishingly (39) ________ development in recent years of the computer. Today, any data that is(40) ________ about us in one place or another — and for one reason or another — can be stored in a computer bank. It can then be easily passed to other computer banks. They are owned by (41) ________ and by private businesses and corporations, lending (42) ________, direct mailing and telemarketing firms, credit bureaus, credit card companies, and government (43) ________ at the local, state, and federal level.A growing number of Americans are seeing the accumulation and distribution of computerized date as a frightening invasion of their privacy. (44) ___________ _________________________________________________________ as the computer becomesincreasingly efficient, easier to operate, and less costly to purchase and maintain. In 1970, a national survey showed that (45) ___________________________________________________ _________________. Seven years later, 47 percent expressed the same worry. (46) ____________ ________________________________________________________.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 on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Walking, if you do it vigorously enough, is the overall best exercise for regular physical activity. It requires no equipment, everyone knows how to do it and it carries the 47 risk of injury. The human body is designed to walk. You can walk in parks or along a river or in your neighborhood. To get 48 benefit from walking, aim for 45 minutes a day, an average of five days a week.Strength training is another important 49 of physical activity. Its purpose is to build and 50 bone and muscle mass, both of which shrink with age. In general, you will want to do strength training two or three days a week, 51 recovery days between sessions.Finally, flexibility and balance training are 52 important as the body ages. Aches and pains are high on the list of complaints in old age. The result of constant muscle tension and stiffness of joints, many of them are 53 , and simple flexibility training can 54 these by making muscles stronger and keeping joints lubricated (润滑). Some of this you do whenever you stretch. If you watch dogs and cats, you’ll get an idea of how natural it is. The gene ral 55 is simple: whenever the body has been in one position for a while, it is good to 56 stretch it in an opposite position.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 and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Junk food is everywhere. We’re eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we’re doing and yet we do it anyway.So here’s a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation: Why not take a lesson from alcohol con trol policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it’s displayed?“Many policy measures to control obesity(肥胖症)assume that people consciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more a ccess to healthier foods,” note the two researchers.“In contrast,” the researchers continue, “many regulations that don’t assume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance — like food — of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems.”The research references studies of people’s behavior with food and alcohol and results of alcohol restrictions, and then lists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them:Density restrictions: licenses to sell alcohol aren’t handed out unplanned to all comers but are allotted(分配)based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich in empty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren’t primarily food stores?Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can’t buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At super markets, food companies pay to have their wares in places where they’re easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of the store and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.57. What does the author say about junk food?A) People should be educated not to eat too much.B) It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C) Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D) It causes more harm than is generally realized.58. What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A) They should be implemented effectively.B) They provide misleading information.C) They are based on wrong assumptions.D) They help people make rational choices.59. Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A) Few people are able to resist alcohol’s temptations.B) There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C) Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D) Easy access leads to customers’ over-consumption.60. What is the purpose of California’s rule about alcohol display in gas stations?A) To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B) To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C) To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D) To get alcohol out of drivers’ immediate sight.61. What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A) Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B) Enhancing people’s awareness of their own health.C) Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D) Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy(破产)protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak’s downfall to “complacency(自满) ,” that explanation doesn’t acknow-ledge the lengths to which the company went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film — and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975 — but in a fateful decision, the company chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on its traditional film business.It wasn’t that Kodak was blind t o the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor at Harvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the company realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large companies have a difficult time switching into new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate(企业的)culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a company stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has become a liability.Kodak’s downfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the company commanded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new competition from Japanese film company Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak’s decision not to pursue the role of official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.62. What do we learn about Kodak?A) It went bankrupt all of a sudden.B) It is approaching its downfall.C) It initiated the digital revolution in the film industry.D) It is playing a dominant role in the film market.63. Why does the author mention Kodak’s invention of the first digital camera?A) To show its early attempt to reinvent itself.B) To show its effort to overcome complacency.C) To show its quick adaptation to the digital revolution.D) To show its will to compete with Japan’s Fuji photo.64. Why do large companies have difficulty switching to new markets?A) They find it costly to give up their existing assets.B) They tend to be slow in confronting new challenges.C) They are unwilling to invest in new technology.D) They are deeply stuck in their glorious past.65. What does the author say Kodak’s history has become?A) A burden.B) A mirror.C) A joke.D) A challenge.66. What was Kodak’s fatal mistake?A) Its blind faith in traditional photography.B) Its failure to see Fuji photo’s emergence.C) Its refusal to sponsor the 1984 Olympics.D) Its overconfidence in its corporate culture.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. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Whether you think you need daytime rest or not, picking up a nap(午睡)habit is a smart, healthy move. The Mayo Clinic says naps 67 relaxation, better mood and alertness, and a sharper working 68 . A 2008 British study found that compared to getting more nighttime sleep, a mid-day nap was the best way to cope 69 the mid-afternoon sleepiness.According to the Harvard Health Letter, several studies have shown that people 70 new information better when they take a nap shortly after learning it. And, most 71 , a 2007 study of nearly 24,000 Greek adults in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who napped 72 had a 37 percent reduced risk of dying 73 heart disease compared to people who didn’t nap.Of course, napping isn’t 74 for everyone. If you’re suffering from inability to sleep, naps that are too long or taken too late in the day can 75 with your ability to fall or stay asleep at night.But for most, naps can make you feel sharper and happier. Naps provide different benefits 76 on how long they are. A 20-minute nap will boost alertness and concentration; a 90-minute snooze (小睡)can 77 creativity.According to , you 78 a natural dip in body temperature 79 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. A short nap at this time can boost alertness 80 several hours and, for most people, shouldn’t 81 being able to fall asleep at night.Pick a dark, cozy place that’s not too warm or too chilly. 82 snapping。
2013年6月英语四级冲刺试题及答案(二)-5
最牛英语口语培训模式:躺在家里练口语,全程外教一对一,三个月畅谈无阻!洛基英语,免费体验全部在线一对一课程:/wenkxd.htm(报名网址)Part ⅢReading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)【参考译文】【答案解析】1.B线索词:the purpose of building the Great Wall system定位处:文章第二段开头。
解析:原文提到:“调查研究表明,中国历代王朝都在不问断地修筑长城以抵御北部蒙古部落的入侵。
”A项“避免派遣驻军的麻烦”、C项“划清与蒙古国的界线”、D项“与成吉思汗城墙一争高下”均不正确。
应选B。
2.A线索词:William Lindesay定位处:文章第三段。
解析:原文提到:“本次探险队的领队、长城研究专家威廉•林赛说,蒙古境内残留的一系列城墙被称做‘成吉思汗城墙”’。
可见,他是一名研究长城的专家,而不单单是研究这段不为人所知的城墙的专家。
故选A。
3.C线索词:the newly discovered section of the Great Wall定位处:文章第六段。
解析:原文提到:“而且,该小组的发现表明,这不是成吉思汗或者其后人建造的,事实上却是长期以来中国万里长城不为人知的一段。
”可见,这段新发现的长城是中国万里长城的一部分。
4.A线索词:Lindesay and his expedition team,the first group定位处:第一个小标题First to Investigate New Great Wall?下的第二段。
解析:原文提到,林赛说,他们是第一批研究这处遗迹的人。
下一段提到他们是第一批获准进入该地区的外国人;可能有当地蒙古人曾来过该地区;林赛他们是否是首先在“谷歌地球”上发现这段长城的人在文中找不到依据;故只有A项正确。
remaining walls是ruins 的同义转述。
2013年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案
2013年6月大学英语四级考试真题Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening prehension (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 mustread the four choices marked A), B), C)and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1.A)Children should be taught to be more careful.B)Children shouldn’t drink so much orange juice.C)There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.D)Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.2.A)Fitness training. C)puter programming.B)The new job offer.D)Directorship of the club.3.A)He needs to buy a new sweater. C)The fuel price has skyrocketed.B)He has got to save on fuel bills. D)The heating system doesn’t work.4.A)mitting theft. C)Window shopping.B)Taking pictures.D)Posing for the camera.5.A)She is taking some medicine. C)She does not trust the man’s advice. B)She has not seen a doctor yet. D)She has almost recovered from the cough.6.A)Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.B)Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.C)Pamela is not good at writing research papers.D)Pamela’s mistakes could have been avoided.7.A)In the left-luggage office. C)In a hotel room.B)At the hotel reception.D)At an airport.8.A)She was an excellent student at college.B)She works in the entertainment business.C)She is fond of telling stories in her speech.D)She is good at conveying her message.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A)Arranging the woman’s appointment with Mr. Romero.B)Fixing the time for the designer’s latest fashion show.C)T alking about an important gathering on Tuesday.D)Preparing for the filming on Monday morning.10.A)Her travel to Japan. C)The proper hairstyle for her new role. B)The awards ceremony.D)When to start the makeup session. 11.A)He is Mr. Romero’s agent. C)He is the woman’s assistant. B)He is an entertainment journalist. D)He is a famous movie star.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)Make an appointment for an interview.B)Send in an application letter.C)Fill in an application form.D)Make a brief self-introduction on the phone.13.A)Someone having a college degree in advertising.B)Someone experienced in business management.C)Someone ready to take on more responsibilities.D)Someone willing to work beyond regular hours.14.A)Travel opportunities. C)Prospects for promotion.B)Handsome pay.D)Flexible working hours.15.A)It depends on the working hours. C)It will be set by the Human Resources. B)It is about 500 pounds a week. D)It is to be negotiated.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 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)To give customers a wider range of choices.B)To make shoppers see as many items as possible.C)To supply as many varieties of goods as it can.D)To save space for more profitable products.17.A)On the top shelves. C)On easily accessible shelves.B)On the bottom shelves.D)On clearly marked shelves.18.A)Many of them buy things on impulse. C)A majority of them are young couples.B)A few of them are fathers with babies. D)Over 60% of them make shopping lists.19.A)Sales assistants promoting high margin goods.B)Sales assistants following customers around.C)Customers peting for good bargains.D)Customers losing all sense of time.Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20.A)Teaching mathematics at a school. C)Studying for a college degree.B)Doing research in an institute. D)Working in a high-tech pany.21.A)He studied the designs of various clocks.B)He did experiments on different materials.C)He bought an alarm clock with a pig face.D)He asked different people for their opinions.22.A)Its automatic mechanism. C)Its way of waking people up.B)Its manufacturing process.D)Its funny-looking pig face.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A)It is often caused by a change of circumstances.B)It actually doesn’t require any special treatment.C)It usually appears all of a sudden.D)It generally lasts for several years.24.A)They cannot mix well with others.B)They incidentally annoy their friends.C)They depend severely on family members.D)They blame others for dissatisfying their needs.25.A)They lack consistent support from peers. C)They were born psychologically weak.B)They doubt their own popularity. D)They focus too much on themselves.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.There was a time when any personal information that was gathered about us was typed on a piece of paper and (26)__________ away in a file cabinet. It could remain there for years and, often (27)__________, never reach the outside world.Things have done a plete about-face since then. (28)__________ the change hasbeen the astonishingly swift development in recent years of the puter. Today, any data that is (29)__________ about us in one place or another—and for one reason or another—can be stored in a puter bank. It can then be easily passed to other puter banks. They are owned by (30)__________ and by private businesses and corporations, lending institutions, direct mailing and telemarketing firms, credit bureaus, credit card panies, and (31)__________ at the local, state, and federal level.A growing number of Americans are seeing the accumulation and distribution of puterized data as a (32)__________ invasion of their privacy. Surveys show that the number of worried Americans has been steadily growing over the years as the puter bees (33)__________ efficient, easier to operate, and less costly to purchase and maintain. In 1970, a (34)__________ survey showed that 37 percent of the people questioned felt their privacy was being invaded. Seven years later, 47 percent (35)__________. A recent survey by a credit bureau reviewed that the number of alarmed citizens had shot up to 76 percent.Part III Reading prehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not useany of the words in the banks more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Walking, if you do it vigorously enough, is the overall best exercise for regular physical activity. It requires no equipment, everyone knows how to do it and it carries the ___36___ risk of injury. The human body is designed to walk. You can walk in parks or along a river or in your neighborhood. To get ___37___ benefit from walking, aim for 45 minutes a day, an average of five days a week.Strength training is another important ___38___ of physical activity. Its purpose is to build and ___39___ bone and muscle mass, both of which shrink with age. In general, you will want to do strength training two or three days a week, ___40___ recovery days between sessions.Finally, flexibility and balance training are ___41___ important as the body ages. Aches and pains are high on the list of plaints in old age. The result of constant muscle tension and stiffness of joints, many of them are ___42___, and simple flexibility training can ___43___ these by making muscles stronger and keeping joints lubricated(润滑). Some of this you do whenever you stretch. If you watch dogs and cats, you’ll get an idea of how natural it is. The general ___44___ is simple: whenever the body has been in one position for a while, it is good to ___45___ stretch it in an opposite position.A)allowing I)maintainB)avoidable J)maximumC)briefly K)preventD)ponent L)principleE)determined M)provokeF)helping N)seriouslyG)increasingly O)topicH)lowestSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Seven Steps to a More Fulfilling JobA)Many people today find themselves in unfulfilling work situations. In fact, one in four workers is dissatisfied with their current job, according to the recent “Plans for 2004”survey. Their career path may be financially rewarding, but it doesn’t meet their emotional, social or creative needs. They’re stuck, unhappy, and have no idea what to do about it, except move to another job.B)Mary Lyn Miller, veteran career consultant and founder of the Life and CareerClinic, says that when most people are unhappy about their work, their first thought is to get a different job. Instead, Miller suggests looking at the possibility of a different life. Through her book, 8 Myths of Making a Living, as well as workshops, seminars and personal coaching and consulting, she has helped thousands of dissatisfied workers reassess life and work.C)Like the way of Zen, which includes understanding of oneself as one really is, Miller encourages job seekers and those dissatisfied work or life to examine their beliefs about work and recognize that “in many cases your beliefs are what brought you to where you are today.”You may have been raised to think that women were best at nurturing and caring and, therefore, should be teachers and nurses. So that’s what you did. Or, perhaps you were brought up to believe that you should do what your father did, so you have taken over the family business, or bee a dentist “just like dad”. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time to look at the new possibilities for your future.D)Miller developed a 7-step process to help potential job seekers assess their current situation and beliefs, identify their real passion, and start on a journey that allows them to pursue their passion through work.E)Step 1: Willingness to do something different. Breaking the cycle of doing what you have always done is one of the most difficult tasks for job seekers. Many find it difficult to steer(行驶)away from a career path or make a change, even if it doesn’t feel right. Miller urges job seekers to open their minds to other possibilities beyond what they are currently doing.F)Step 2: mitment to being who you are, not who or what someone wants you to be. Look at the gifts and talents you have and make a mitment to pursue those things that you love most. If you love the social aspects of your job, but are stuck inside an office or “chained to your desk”most of the time, vow to follow your instinct and investigate alternative careers and work that allow you more time to interact with others. Dawn worked as a manager for a large retail clothing store for several years. Though she had advanced within the pany, she felt frustrated and longed to be involved with nature and the outdoors. She decided to go to school nights and weekends to pursue her true passion by earning her master’s degree in forestry(林业学). She now works in the biotech forestry division of a major paper pany.G)Step 3: Self-definition. Miller suggests that once job seekers know who they are, they need to know how to sell themselves. “In the job market, you are a product. And just like a product, you must know the features and benefits that you have to offer a potential client, or employer.”Examine the skills and knowledge that you have and identify how they can apply to your desired occupation. Your qualities will exhibit to employers why they should hire you over other candidates.H)Step 4: Attain a level of self-honoring. Self-honoring or self-love may seem like an odd step for job hunters, but being able to accept yourself, without judgment, helps eliminate insecurities and will make you more self-assured. By accepting who you are—all your emotions, hopes and dreams, your personality, and your unique way of being—you’ll project more confidence when networking(沟通)and talking with potential employers. The power of self-honoring can help to break all thefalsehoods you were programmed to believe—those that made you feel that you were not good enough, or strong enough, or intelligent enough to do what you truly desire.I)Step 5: Vision. Miller suggests that job seekers develop a vision that embraces the answer to “What do I really want to do?”One should create a solid statement in a dozen or so sentences that describe in detail how they see their life related to work. For instance, the secretary who longs to be an actress describes a life that allows her to express her love of Shakespeare on stage. A real estate agent, attracted to his current job because he loves fixing up old homes, describes buying properties that need a little tender loving care to make them more saleable.J)Step 6: Appropriate risk. Some philosophers believe that the way to enlightenment(启迪)es through facing obstacles and difficulties. Once people discover their passion, many are too scared to do anything about it. Instead, they do nothing. With this step, job seekers should assess what they are willing to give up, or risk, in pursuit of their dream. For one working mom, that meant taking night classes to learn new puter-aided design skills, while still earning a salary and keeping her day job. For someone else, it may mean quitting his or her job, taking out a loan and going back to school full time. You’ll move one step closer to your ideal work life if you identify how much risk you are willing to take and the sacrifices you are willing to make.K)Step 7: Action. Some teachers of philosophy describe action in this way, “If one wants to get to the top of a mountain, just sitting at the foot thinking about it willnot bring one there. It is by making the effort of climbing up the mountain, step by step, that eventually the summit is reached.”All too often, it is the lack of action that ultimately holds people back from attaining their ideals. Creating a plan and taking it one step at a time can lead to new and different job opportunities. Job-hunting tasks gain added meaning as you sense their importance in your quest for a more meaningful work life. The plan can include researching industries and occupations, talking to people who are in your desired area of work, taking classes, or accepting volunteer work in your targeted field.46. Mary Lyn Miller suggests that job hunters imagine how they could answer the question “What do I really want to do?”47. Many people find it difficult to make up their minds to change their career path, even if it doesn’t feel good now.48. Mary Lyn Miller is an experienced consultant whose job is to advise people on their life and career.49. People should know their gifts and talents and mit themselves to the pursuit of those things that they love most.50. During an interview with potential employers, self-honoring may help a job seeker to show more confidence.51. The job seeker should examine skills and knowledge that he has, and know how they can be used in the ideal job.52. What ultimately prevents people from attaining their own ideals is the lack ofaction.53. Miller suggests that after knowing themselves, job seekers need to know how to sell themselves.54. Though they have discovered their passion, many people are so frightened of obstacles and difficulties that they can’t pursue their dreams.55. People may have been taught to believe that they should follow in their fathers’footsteps, so they have taken over the family business.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C)and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Junk food is everywhere. We’re eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we’re doing and yet we do it anyway.So here’s a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation: Why not take a lesson from alcohol control policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it’s displayed?“Many policy measures to control obesity (肥胖症)assume that peopleconsciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more access to healthier foods,”note the two researchers.“In contrast,”the researchers continue, “many regulations that don’t assume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance—like food—of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems.”The research references studies of people’s behavior with food and alcohol and results of alcohol restrictions, and then lists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them: Density restrictions: licenses to sell alcohol aren’t handed out unplanned to all ers but are allotted (分配)based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich in empty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren’t primarily food stores?Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can’t buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At supermarkets, food panies pay to have their wares in places where they’re easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of thestore and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.56. What does the author say about junk food?A)People should be educated not to eat too much.B)It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C)Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D)It causes more harm than is generally realized.57. What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A)They should be implemented effectively.B)They provide misleading information.C)They are based on wrong assumptions.D)They help people make rational choices.58. Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A)Few people are able to resist alcohol’s temptations.B)There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C)Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D)Easy access leads to customers’over-consumption.59. What is the purpose of California’s rule about alcohol display in gas stations? A)To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B)To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C)To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D)To get alcohol out of drivers’immediate sight.60. What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A)Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B)Enhancing people’s awareness of their own health.C)Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D)Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy (破产)protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak’s downfall to “placency (自满),”that explanation doesn’t acknowledge the lengths to which the pany went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film —and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975—but in a fateful decision, the pany chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on its traditional film business.It wasn’t that Kodak was blind to the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor at Harvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the pany realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large panies have a difficult time switching to new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate (企业的)culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a pany stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has bee a liability.Kodak’s downfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the pany manded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new petition from Japanese film pany Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak’s decision not to pursue the role of official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.61. What do we learn about Kodak?A)It went bankrupt all of a sudden.B)It is approaching its downfall.C)It initiated the digital revolution in the film industry.D)It is playing the dominant role in the film market.62. Why does the author mention Kodak’s invention of the first digital camera? A)To show its early attempt to reinvent itself.B)To show its effort to overe placency.C)To show its quick adaptation to the digital revolution.D)To show its will to pete with Japan’s Fuji Photo.63. Why do large panies have difficulty switching to new markets?A)They find it costly to give up their existing assets.B)They tend to be slow in confronting new challenges.C)They are unwilling to invest in new technology.D)They are deeply stuck in their glorious past.64. What does the author say Kodak’s history has bee?A)A burden. B)A mirror.C)A joke.D)A challenge.65. What was Kodak’s fatal mistake?A)Its blind faith in traditional photography.B)Its failure to see Fuji Photo’s emergence.C)Its refusal to sponsor the 1984 Olympics.D)Its overconfidence in its corporate culture.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage fromChinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.古时风筝被称为”鹞(sparrow hawk)”,在中国北方也称为”鸢(glede)”。
2013年6月四级英语真题与听力原文及答案解析
2013年6月大学英语四级考试真题Total score: 710 Total time allowed: 125 minutes特注:2013年6月大学四级考试采用多题多卷形式,本试卷含两套写作题,考生可以任选其一。
Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题1) (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题2) (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of reading literature. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Can Digital Textbook Truly Replace the Print Kind?The shortcomings of tradit ional print edition textbooks are obvious: For starters they’re heavy, with the average physics textbook weighing 3.6 pounds. They’re also expensive, especially when you factor in the average college student’s limited budget, typically costing hundreds of dollars every semester.But the worst part is that print version of textbooks are constantly undergoing revisions. Many professors require that their students use only the latest versions in the classroom, essentially rendering older texts unusable. For s tudents, it means they’re basically stuck with a four pound paper-weight that they can’t sell back.Which is why digital textbooks, if they live up to their promise, could help ease many of these shortcomings. But till now, they’ve been something like a mirage(幻影)in the distance, more like a hazy(模糊的)dream than an actual reality. Imagine the promise: Carrying all your textbooks in a 1.3 pound iPad? It sounds almost too good to be true.But there are a few pilot schools already making the transition(过渡)over to digital books. Universities like Cornell and Brown have jumped onboard. And one medical program at the University of California, Irvine, gave their entire class iPads with which to download textbooks just last year.But not all were eager to jump aboard.“People were tired of using the iPad textbook besides using it for reading,” says Kalpit Shah, who will be going into his second year at Irvine’s medical program this fall. “They weren’t using it as a source of communication because they couldn’t read or write in it. So a third of the people in my program were using the iPad in class to take notes, the other third were using laptops and the last third were using paper and pencil.”The reason it hasn’t caught on yet, he tells me, is that the functionality of e-edition textbooks is incredibly limited, and some students just aren’t motivated to learn new study behavior.But a new application called Inkling might change all that. The company just released an updated version last week, and it’ll be utilized in over 50 undergraduate and graduate classrooms this coming school year.“Digital textbooks are not going to catch on,” says Inkling CEO Matt Maclnnis as he’s giving me a demo(演示)over coffee. “What I mean by that is the current perspective of the digital t extbook is it’s an exact copy of the print book. There’s Course Smart, etc., these guys who take any image of the page and put it on a screen. If that’s how we’re defining digital textbooks, there’s no hope of that becoming a mainstream product.”He calls Inkling a platform for publishers to build rich multimedia content from the ground up, with a heavy emphasis on real-world functionality. The traditional textbook merely serves as a skeleton.At first glance Inkling is an impressive experience. After swiping(敲击)into the iPad app (应用软件), which you can get for free here, he opens up a few different types of textbooks.Up first is a chemistry book. The boot time is pretty fast, and he navigates through (浏览) afew chapters before swiping into a fully rendered 3D molecule that can be spun around to view its various building blocks. “Publishers give us all of the source media, artwork, videos,” he says, “We help them think through how to actually build something for this platform.”Next he pulls up a music c omposition textbook, complete with playable demos. It’s a learning experience that attacks you from multiple sensory directions. It’s clear why this would be something a music major would love.But the most exciting part about Inkling, to me, is its notation(批注)system. Here’s how it works!When you purchase a used print book, it comes with its previous owner’s highlights and notes in the margins. It uses the experience of someone who already went through the class to help improve your reading (how much you trust each notation is obviously up to you).But with lnkling, you can highlight a piece of content and make notes. Here’s where things get interesting, though: If a particularly important passage is highlighted by multiple lnkling users, that information is stored on the cloud and is available for anyone reading the same textbook to come across. That means users have access to notes from not only their classmates and Facebook friends, but anyone who purchased the book across the country. The best comments are then sorted democratically by a voting system, meaning that your social learning experience is shared with the best and brightest thinkers.As a bonus, professors can even chime in (插话) on discussions. They’ll be able to answer the questions of students who are in their class directly via the interactive book.Of course, Inkling addresses several of the other shortcomings in traditional print as well. Textbook versions are constanly updated, motivating publishers by minimizing production costs (the big ones like McGraw-Hill are already onboard). Furthermore, students will be able to purchase sections of the text instead of buying the whole thing, with individual chapters costing as little as $2.99.There are, however, challenges.“It takes efforts to build each book,” Maclnnis tells me. And it’s clear why.Each interactive textbook is a media-heavy experience built from the ground up, and you can tell that it takes a respectable amount of manpower to put together each one.For now the app is also iPad-exclusive, and though a few of these educational institutions are giving the hardware away for free, for other students who don’t have such a luxury it’s an added layer of cost — and an expensive one at that.But this much is clear. The traditional textbook model is and has been broken for quite some time. Whether digitally interactive ones like Inkling actually take off or not remains to be seen, and we probably won’t have a definite answer for the next few years.However the solution to any problem begins with a step in a direction. And at least for now, that hazy mirage in the distance? A little more tangible (可触摸的), a little less of a dream.1. The biggest problem with traditional print textbooks is that _____. A)A) they are not reused once a new edition comes outB) they cost hundreds of dollars every semesterC) they are too heavy to carry aroundD) they take a longer time to revise2. What does the author say about digital textbooks?A) It’s not likely they will replace traditional textbooks.B) They haven’t fixed all the shortcomings of print books.C) Very few of them are available in the market.D) Many people still have difficulty using them.3. According to Kalpit Shah, some students still use paper and pencil because _____.A) they find it troublesome to take notes with an iPadB) they are unwilling to change their study behaviorC) they have get tired of reading on the iPadD) they are not used to reading on the screen4. Inkling CEO Matt Maclnnis explains that the problem with Course Smart’s current digital textbooks is that _____.A) they have to be revised repeatedlyB) they are inconvenient to use in classC) they are different from most mainstream productsD) they are no more than print versions put on a screen5. Matt Maclnnis describes the updated version of lnkling as _____.A) a good example of the mainstream productsB) a marvelous product of many creative ideasC) a platform for building multimedia contentD) a mere skeleton of traditional textbooks6. The author is most excited about lnkling’s notation system because one can_____.A) share his learning experience with the best and brightest thinkersB) participate in discussions with classmates and Facebook friendsC) vote for the best learners democraticallyD) store information on the cloud7. One additional advantage of the interactive digital textbook is that _____.A) students can switch to different discussions at any pointB) students can download relevant critical commentsC) professors can join in students’ online discussionsD) professors can give prom pt feedback to students’ homework8. One of the challenges to build an interactive digital textbook from the ground up is that is takesa great deal of _____.9. One problem for students to replace traditional textbooks with interactive digital ones is the high ______ of the hardware.10. According to the author, whether digital textbooks will catch on still _____.Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A) Children should be taught to be more careful.B) Children shouldn’t drink so much orang e juice.C) There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.D) Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.12. A) Fitness training. B) The new job offer.C) Computer programming. D) Directorship of the club.13. A) He needs to buy a new sweater. B) He has got to save on fuel bills.C) The fuel price has skyrocketed. D) The heating system doesn’t work.14. A) Committing theft. B) Taking pictures.C) Window shopping. D) Posing for the camera.15. A) She is taking some medicine. B) She has not seen a doctor yet.C) She does not trust the man’s advice. D) She has almost recovered from the cough.16. A) Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.B) Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.C) Pamela is not good at writing research papers.D) Pamela’s mistakes could have been avoided.17. A) In the left-luggage office. B) At the hotel reception.C) In a hotel room. D) At an airport.18. A) She was an excellent student at college. B) She works in the entertainment business.C) She is fond of telling stories in her speech. D) She is good at conveying her message.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) Arranging the woman’s appointment with Mr. Romero.B) Fixing the time for the designer’s latest fashion show.C) Talking about an important gathering on Tuesday.D) Preparing for the filming on Monday morning.20. A) Her travel to Japan.B) The awards ceremony.C) The proper hairstyle for her new role.D) When to start the makeup session.21. A) He is Mr. Romero’s agent.B) He is an entertainment journalist.C) He is the woman’s assistant.D) He is a famous movie star.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) Make an appointment for an interview.B) Send in an application letter.C) Fill in an application form.D) Make a brief self-introduction on the phone.23. A) Someone having a college degree in advertising.B) Someone experienced in business management.C) Someone ready to take on more responsibilities.D) Someone willing to work beyond regular hours.24. A) Travel opportunities.B) Handsome pay.C) Prospects for promotion.D) Flexible working hours.25. A) It depends on the working hours.B) It’s about 500 pound a week.C) It will be set by the Human Resources.D) It is to be negotiated.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) To give customers a wider range of choices.B) To make shoppers see as many items as possible.C) To supply as many varieties of goods as it can.D) To give space for more profitable products.27. A) On the top shelves.B) On the bottom shelves.C) On easily accessible shelves.D) On clearly marked shelves.28. A) Many of them buy things on impulse.B) A few of them are fathers with babies.C) A majority of them are young couples.D) Over 60% of them make shopping lists.29. A) Sales assistants promoting high margin goods.B) Sales assistants following customers around.C) Customers competing for good bargains.D) Customers losing all sense of time.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) Teaching mathematics at a school.B) Doing research in an institute.C) Studying for a college degree.D) Working in a high-tech company.31. A) He studied the designs of various choices.B) He did experiments to different materials.C) He bought an alarm clock with a pig face.D) He asked different people for their opinions.32. A) Its automatic mechanism.B) Its manufacturing pattern.C) Its way of waking people up.D) Its funny-looking pig face.Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) It’s often caused by a change of circumstances.B) It usually doesn’t require any special attention.C) It usually appears all of a sudden.D) It usually lasts for several years.34. A) They can’t mix well with others.B) They emotionally receive their friends.C) They depend severely on family members.D) They share similar interests with friends.35. A) They lack consistent support from peers.B) They doubt their own popularity.C) They were born psychologically weak.D) They focus too much attention on themselves.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.There was a time when any personal information that was gathered about us was typed on a piece of paper and (36) ________ away in a file cabinet. It could remain there for years and, often (37) ________, never reach the outside world.Things have done a complete about-face since then. (38) ________ for the change has been the astonishingly (39) ________ development in recent years of the computer. Today, any data that is(40) ________ about us in one place or another — and for one reason or another — can be stored in a computer bank. It can then be easily passed to other computer banks. They are owned by (41) ________ and by private businesses and corporations, lending (42) ________, direct mailing and telemarketing firms, credit bureaus, credit card companies, and government (43) ________ at the local, state, and federal level.A growing number of Americans are seeing the accumulation and distribution of computerized date as a frightening invasion of their privacy. (44) ___________ _________________________________________________________ as the computer becomesincreasingly efficient, easier to operate, and less costly to purchase and maintain. In 1970, a national survey showed that (45) ___________________________________________________ _________________. Seven years later, 47 percent expressed the same worry. (46) ____________ ________________________________________________________.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 on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Walking, if you do it vigorously enough, is the overall best exercise for regular physical activity. It requires no equipment, everyone knows how to do it and it carries the 47 risk of injury. The human body is designed to walk. You can walk in parks or along a river or in your neighborhood. To get 48 benefit from walking, aim for 45 minutes a day, an average of five days a week.Strength training is another important 49 of physical activity. Its purpose is to build and 50 bone and muscle mass, both of which shrink with age. In general, you will want to do strength training two or three days a week, 51 recovery days between sessions.Finally, flexibility and balance training are 52 important as the body ages. Aches and pains are high on the list of complaints in old age. The result of constant muscle tension and stiffness of joints, many of them are 53 , and simple flexibility training can 54 these by making muscles stronger and keeping joints lubricated (润滑). Some of this you do whenever you stretch. If you watch dogs and cats, you’ll get an idea of how natural it is. The general55 is simple: whenever the body has been in one position for a while, it is good to 56 stretch it in an opposite position.A) allowing F) helping K) preventB) avoidable G) increasingly L) principleC) briefly H) lowest M) provokeD) component I) maintain N) seriouslyE) determined J) maximum O) topicSection BDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Junk food is everywhere. We’re eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we’re doing and yet we do it anyway.So here’s a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation: Why not take a lesson from alcohol control policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it’s displayed?“Many policy measures to control obesity(肥胖症)assume that people consciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more access to healthier foods,” note the two researchers.“In contrast,” the researchers continue, “many regulations that don’t as sume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance — like food — of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems.”The research references studies of people’s behavior with food and alcohol an d results of alcohol restrictions, and then lists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them:Density restrictions: licenses to sell alcohol aren’t handed out unplanned to all comers but are allotted(分配)based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich in empty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren’t primarily food stores?Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can’t buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At supermarkets, food companies pay to have their wares in places where they’re easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of the store and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.57. What does the author say about junk food?A) People should be educated not to eat too much.B) It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C) Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D) It causes more harm than is generally realized.58. What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A) They should be implemented effectively.B) They provide misleading information.C) They are based on wrong assumptions.D) They help people make rational choices.59. Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A) Few people are able to resist alcohol’s temptations.B) There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C) Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D) Easy access leads to customers’ over-consumption.60. What is the purpose of California’s rule about alcohol display in gas stations?A) To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B) To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C) To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D) To get alcohol out of drivers’ immediate sight.61. What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A) Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B) Enhancing people’s awareness of their own health.C) Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D) Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy(破产)protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak’s downfall to “complacency(自满) ,” that explanation doesn’t acknow-ledge the lengths to which the company went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film — and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975 — but in a fateful decision, the company chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on its traditional film business.It wasn’t that Kodak was blind to the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor at Harvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the company realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large companies have a difficult time switching into new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate(企业的)culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a company stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has become a liability.Kodak’s do wnfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the company commanded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new competition from Japanese film company Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak’s decision not to pursue the role of official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.62. What do we learn about Kodak?A) It went bankrupt all of a sudden.B) It is approaching its downfall.C) It initiated the digital revolution in the film industry.D) It is playing a dominant role in the film market.63. Why does the author mention Kodak’s invention of the first digital camera?A) To show its early attempt to reinvent itself.B) To show its effort to overcome complacency.C) To show its quick adaptation to the digital revolution.D) To show its will to compete with Japan’s Fuji photo.64. Why do large companies have difficulty switching to new markets?A) They find it costly to give up their existing assets.B) They tend to be slow in confronting new challenges.C) They are unwilling to invest in new technology.D) They are deeply stuck in their glorious past.65. What does the author say Kodak’s history has become?A) A burden.B) A mirror.C) A joke.D) A challenge.66. What was Kodak’s fatal mistake?A) Its blind faith in traditional photography.B) Its failure to see Fuji photo’s emergence.C) Its refusal to sponsor the 1984 Olympics.D) Its overconfidence in its corporate culture.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. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Whether you think you need daytime rest or not, picking up a nap(午睡)habit is a smart, healthy move. The Mayo Clinic says naps 67 relaxation, better mood and alertness, and a sharper working 68 . A 2008 British study found that compared to getting more nighttime sleep, a mid-day nap was the best way to cope 69 the mid-afternoon sleepiness.According to the Harvard Health Letter, several studies have shown that people 70 new information better when they take a nap shortly after learning it. And, most 71 , a 2007 study of nearly 24,000 Greek adults in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who napped 72 had a 37 percent reduced risk of dying 73 heart disease compared to people who didn’t nap.Of course, napping isn’t74 for everyone. If you’re suffering from i nability to sleep, naps that are too long or taken too late in the day can 75 with your ability to fall or stay asleep at night.But for most, naps can make you feel sharper and happier. Naps provide different benefits 76 on how long they are. A 20-minute nap will boost alertness and concentration; a 90-minute snooze (小睡)can 77 creativity.According to , you 78 a natural dip in body temperature 79 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. A short nap at this time can boost alertness 80 several hours and, for most people, shouldn’t81 being able to fall asleep at night.Pick a dark, cozy place that’s not too warm or too chilly. 82 snapping。
2013年6月份英语四级题目和答案
Part III Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and2 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 center.11.W: What are you doing in here, Sir? Didn't you see the private sign over there?M: I'm sorry. I didn't notice it when I came in. I'm looking for the manager's office.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?12.W: Mike, what's the problem? You've known from month the report is due today.M: I know, but I'm afraid I need another few days. The data is hard to interpret than I expected.Q: What does the man mean?13.W: Excuse me, Tony. Has my parcel from New York arrived?M: Unfortunately, it's been delayed due to the bad weather.Q: What is the woman waiting for?14.W: Pam said we won't have the psychology test until the end of next week.M: Ellen, you should know better than to take Pam's words for anything.Q: What doesthe man imply about Pam?15.W: Tom, would you please watch my suitcase for a minute? I need to go make a quick phone call.M: Yeah, sure. Take your time. Our train doesn’t leave for another twenty minutes.Q: What does the man mean?16.M: Frankly, Mary is not what I'd called easy-going.W: I see. People in our neighborhood find it hard to believe she's my twin sister.Q: What does the woman imply?17.M: How soon do you think this can be cleaned?W: We have same day service, sir. You can pick up your suit after five o'clock.Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?18.W: I really enjoy that piece you just play on the piano. I bet you get a lot of requests for it.M: You said it. People just can't get enough of it.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?Section BQuestions 19-22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.W: Good afternoon, Mr. Jones. I am Teresa Chen, and I’ll be interviewing you. How are you today?M: I am fine, thank you. And you, Miss Chen?W: Good, Thanks. Can you tell me something about your experience in this kind of work?M: Well, for several years, I managed a department for the Brownstone Company in Detroit, Michigan. Now I work part time because I also go to school at night. I’m getting a business degree.W: Oh, how interesting. Tell me, why do you want to leave your present job?M: I’ll finish school in a few months, and I’d like a full-time position with more responsibility.W: And why would you like to work for our company?M: Because I know your company’s work and I like it.W: Could you please tell me about your special skills and interests?M: Of course, I’m good at computers and I can speak Spanish. I used to take classes in Spanish at the local college. And I like travelling a lot.W: Can you give me any references?M: Yes, certainly. You can talk to Mr. McCaw, my boss, at the Brownstone Company. I could also give you the names and numbers of several of my teachers.W: All right, Mr. Jones, and would you like to ask me any questions?M: Yes, I wonder when I’ll be informed about my application for the job.W: Well, we’ll let you know as soon as possible. Let’s stay in touch. Thank you very much for coming this afternoon.M: Thank you.Questions 19-22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. What does the man say about his working experience?20. Why does the man want to leave his present job?21. What is the man interested in?22. What question did the man ask the woman?Questions 23-25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.M: Lisa, Lisa! Over here, darling! It's wonderful to see you. Oh, Lisa, you look marvelous.W: Oh, Paul, you look tired. Two months away in the capital? Paul, I think you've been working too hard.M: I'm fine. The city is very hot this time of the year. It's good to get back to some fresh air. You know, Lisa, what they say about pregnant women really is true.W: What's that Paul?M: They say they look beautiful.W: Well, I had a lot of tension while you've been studying hard on your course in D.C.M: Oh?W: Oh, don't worry, all from a man over 50. Father has told all his business friends the good news about the baby. And the phone hasn't stopped ringing.M: Oh, look, darling. There's a taxi.W: Paul, tell me about the special project you mentioned on the phone. You sounded very excited about it!M: You know, I've learned a lot from the project. I'm surprised that was still in business.W: That's because we have a wonderful sales manager ——you!M: Thanks. But that's not the problem at all. Lisa, our little company, and it is little compared to the giants in the city. Our little company's in danger. We are out of date.We need to expand. If we don't, we will be swallowed up by one of the giants.Questions 23-25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. What do we learn about Lisa?24. What do we learn about the man from the conversation?25. What does the man say about his company?Section CPassage 1Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.Farmington, Utah, is a more pleasant community since a local girls' 4-H club improved Main Street. Six 4-H girls worked to clean the 72 foot curbside that was covered with weeds, rocks and trash. Each member volunteered to clean up and to dig in plot, five flats of flowers. They also took terms in watering, weeding and maintaining the plot. Participation in this project helped the girls developed a new attitude towards their parents of their own homes; they've learned how to work with tools, and improve their work habits. One mother said that before her daughter was involved in this project, she would not even pour a weed. The experience on Main Street stimulated self-improvement, and encouraged members to take pride in their home grounds and the total community. City officials cooperated with the 4-H members in planting trees, building cooking facilities, pick-me tables, swings and public rest rooms. The 4-H girls planted trees and took care of them during the early stages of growth. The total park project needed more plantings in the following years. Members of the 4-H club agreed to follow the project through to completion, because they receive satisfaction from the results of constructive work. The project is a growing one and is spread from the park to the school and the shopping center. Trees and flowers have all been planted in the shopping center, making the atmosphere pleasant.Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. What do we learn about Main Street in Farmington?27. What do the 4-H club members do about the curbside?28. What have the 4-H girls learned from the project?29. Why do the 4-H girls agree to follow the park project through to complete.Question 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.Passage 2According to a survey on reading conducted in 2001 by the U.S. National Education Association (NEA), young Americans say reading is important, more important than computers and science. Over 50% of the 12 to 18 years old interviewed say they enjoy reading a lot. 79% find it stimulating and interesting. And 87% think it is relaxing. About 68% of those surveyed disagreed with the opinion that reading is boring or old-fashioned.Over half teenagers interviewed said they read more than ten books a year. The results also show that middle school students read more books than high schoolers. Over 66% of teens like to read fiction, such as novels and stories. Over 26% are interested in non-fiction, such history books.64% of students listed reading stories about people my own age. That's a favorite topic. Mysteries and detective stories came second on the list at 53%. Just under 50% said they were interested in reading about their own culture in tradition. Of the teenagers who participated in the survey, 49%said that libraries are where they get most of their books. However, many complain that their school libraries do not have enough up-to-date interesting books and magazines. Even though many teenagers in the US enjoy reading, they still have other interests. When asked which activity would be the most difficult to give up for a week, 48% said listening to music. TV would be difficult to give up for 25% of those surveyed.Question 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. What does the survey on teenager reading show?31. What books are most popular among teenagers according to the survey?32. What activity do teenagers find the most difficult to give up for a week?Questions 33-35 are based on the passage you have just heard.Passage 3Thank you for coming, everyone. Today’s presentation will show how we see the development of the motor car in the short to medium term, and that is why we have invited all of you here today. Let’s start with power. It’s clear that petrol-driven engines have no future. Already there are many alternative fuel vehicles on the market, powered by anything from solar power to natural gas. Some independent thinkers have even produced cars that run on vegetable oil. But as we all know, of all these alternative fuel vehicles, the most practical are electric vehicles. Sure, in the past electric vehicles have their problems, namely, a limited driving range, and very few recharging points, which limited their use. Now, however, recent developments in electric vehicle technology mean they can match conventional petrol engines in terms of performance and safety. Let’s not forget that electric vehicles ar e cleaner. Plus, importantly, the power source is rechargeable, so this does not involve using any valuable resources. Moving on to communications, very soon, cars will be linked to GPS satellites, so they’ll do all the driving for you. What controls remain for the users will be audio-based, so, for example, you’ll just have to say “a bit warmer”, and the air conditioning will adjust automatically. You’ll also be able to receive email, music and movies, all via an internet link. So just type in the destination you want, sit back, sleep, watch your movie, whatever.Questions 33-35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. What is the presentation mainly about?34. What used to restrict the use of electric vehicles?35. What does the speaker say about electric vehicles of today?2013年6月大学英语四级考试Part III Listening Comprehension长对话答案+解析Conversation 1【听力原文】W: Good afternoon, Mr. Jones. I am Teresa Chen, and I’ll be interviewing you. How are you today?M: I am fine, thank you. And you, Miss Chen?Good, Thanks.W: Can you tell me something about your experiences in this kind of work?M: Well, for several years, I managed a department for the Brownstone Company in Detroit, Michigan. Now I work part time because I also go to school at night. I’m getting a business degree.W: Oh, how interesting. Tell me, why do you want to leave your present job?M: I’ll finish school in a few months, and I’d like a full-time position with more responsibility.W: And why would you like to work for our company?M: Because I know your company’s work, and I like it.W: Could you please tell me about your special skills and interests?M: Of course, I’m good at computers and I can speak Spanish. I used to take classes in Spanish at the local college. And I like travelling a lot.W: Can you give me any references?M: Yes, certainly. You can talk to Mr. McCaw, my boss, at the Brownstone Company. I could also give you the names and numbers of several of my teachers.W: All right, Mr. Jones, and would you like to ask me any questions?M: Yes, I wonder when I’ll be informed about my application for the job?W: Well, we’ll let you know as soon as possible. Let’s stay in touch. Thank you very much for coming this afternoon.M: Thank you.Questions 19-22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. What does the man say about his working experience?20. Why does the man want to leave his present job?21. What is the man interested in?22. What question did the man ask the woman?【总评】这是一篇以面试为场景的听力对话。
2013年6月英语四级真题
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 Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11.A) Children should be taught to be more careful.B) Children shouldn’t drink so much orange juice.C) There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.D) Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.12.A) Fitness training. B) The new job offer.C) Computer programming. D) Directorship of the club.13. A) He needs to buy a new sweater. B) He has got to save on fuel bills.C) The fuel price has skyrocketed. D) The heating system doesn’t work.14. A) Committing theft. B) Taking pictures.C) Window shopping. D) Posing for the camera.15. A) She is taking some medicine. B) She has not seen a doctor yet.C) She does not trust the man’s advice. D) She has almost recovered from the co ugh.16. A) Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.B) Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.C) Pamela is not good at writing research papers.D) Pamela’s mistakes could have been avoided.17. A) In the left-luggage office. B) At the hotel reception.C) In a hotel room. D) At an airport.18. A) She was an excellent student at college. B) She works in the entertainment business.C) She is fond of telling stories in her speech. D) She is good at conveying her message.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) Arranging the woman’s appointment with Mr. Romero.B) Fixing the time for the designer’s latest fashion show.C) Talking about an important gathering on Tuesday.D) Preparing for the filming on Monday morning.20. A) Her travel to Japan.B) The awards ceremony.C) The proper hairstyle for her new role.D) When to start the makeup session.21. A) He is Mr. Ro mero’s agent.B) He is an entertainment journalist.C) He is the woman’s assistant.D) He is a famous movie star.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) Make an appointment for an interview.B) Send in an application letter.C) Fill in an application form.D) Make a brief self-introduction on the phone.23. A) Someone having a college degree in advertising.B) Someone experienced in business management.C) Someone ready to take on more responsibilities.D) Someone willing to work beyond regular hours.24. A) Travel opportunities.B) Handsome pay.25. A) It depends on the working hours.B) It’s about 500 pound a week.C) It will be set by the Human Resources.D) It is to be negotiated.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) To give customers a wider range of choices.B) To make shoppers see as many items as possible.C) To supply as many varieties of goods as it can.D) To save space for more profitable products.27. A) On the top shelves.B) On the bottom shelves.C) On easily accessible shelves.D) On clearly marked shelves.28. A) Many of them buy things on impulse.B) A few of them are fathers with babies.C) A majority of them are young couples.D) Over 60% of them make shopping lists.29. A) Sales assistants promoting high margin goods.B) Sales assistants following customers around.C) Customers competing for good bargains.D) Customers losing all sense of time.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) Teaching mathematics at a school.B) Doing research in an institute.C) Studying for a college degree.D) Working in a high-tech company.31. A) He studied the designs of various choices.B) He did experiments on different materials.C) He bought an alarm clock with a pig face.D) He asked different people for their opinions.32. A) Its automatic mechanism.B) Its manufacturing process.C) Its way of waking people up.D) Its funny-looking pig face.Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) It’s often caused by a change of circumstances.B) It usually doesn’t require any special treatment.C) It usually appears all of a sudden.D) It generally lasts for several years.34. A) They can’t mix well with others.B) They incidentally annoy their friends.C) They depend severely on family members.D) They blame others for dissatisfying their friends.35. A) They lack consistent support from peers.B) They doubt their own popularity.C) They were born psychologically weak.D) They focus too much attention on themselves.There was a time when any personal information that was gathered about us was typed on a piece of paper and (36) ________ away in a file cabinet. It could remain there for years and, often (37) ________, never reach the outside world.Things have done a complete about-face since then. (38) ________ for the change has been the astonishingly (39) ________ development in recent years of the computer. Today, any data that is (40) ________ about us in one place or another — and for one reason or another —can be stored in a computer bank. It can then be easily passed to other computer banks. They are owned by (41) ________ and by private businesses and corporations, lending (42) ________, direct mailing and telemarketing firms, credit bureaus, credit card companies, and government (43) ________ at the local, state, and federal level.A growing number of Americans are seeing the accumulation and distribution of computerized date as a frightening invasion of their privacy. (44) ___________ _________________________________________________________ as the computer becomes increasingly efficient, easier to operate, and less costly to purchase and maintain. In 1970, a national survey showed that (45) ___________________________________________________ _________________. Seven years later, 47 percent expressed the same worry. (46) ____________ ________________________________________________________.Walking, if you do it vigorously enough, is the overall best exercise for regular physical activity. It requires no equipment, everyone knows how to do it and it carries the 47 risk of injury. The human body is designed to walk. You can walk in parks or along a river or in your neighborhood. To get 48 benefit from walking, aim for 45 minutes a day, an average of five days a week.Strength training is another important 49 of physical activity. Its purpose is to build and 50 bone and muscle mass, both of which shrink with age. In general, you will want to do strength training two or three days a week, 51 recovery days between sessions.Finally, flexibility and balance training are 52 important as the body ages. Aches and pains are high on the list of complaints in old age. The result of constant muscle tension and stiffness of joints, many of them are 53 , and simple flexibility training can 54 these by making muscles stronger and keeping joints lubricated (润滑 ). Some of this you do whenever you stretch. If you watch dogs and cats, you’ll get an idea of how natural it is. The general 55 is simple: whenever the body has been in one position for a while, it is good to 56 stretch it in an opposite position.A) allowing F) helping K) preventB) avoidable G) increasingly L) principleC) briefly H) lowest M) provokeD) component I) maintain N) seriouslyE) determined J) maximum O) topicA)Ancient peoples only loosely related to modern Asians crossed the Arctic land bridge to settle America about 15,000 years ago, according to a study offering new evidence that the Western Hemisphere had a more genetically diverse population at a much earlier time than previously thought. The early immigrants most closely resembled the prehistoric Jomon people of Japan and their closest modern descendants, the Ainu, from the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the study said. Both the Jomon and Ainu have skull and facial characteristics more genetically similar to those of Europeans than those of mainland Asians.B)The immigrants settled throughout the hemisphere, and were in place when a second Migration —from mainland Asia—came across the Bering Strait beginning 5,000 years ago and swept southward as far as modern -day Arizona and New Mexico, the study said, The second migration is the genetic origin of today’s Eskimos, Aleuts and the Navajo of the US southwest. The study in today’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences adds new evidence to help settle one of anthropology’s(人类学)most controversial debates: Who were the first Americans? And when did they come?C)“When this has been done before, it’s been done from one point of view,” said University of Michigan physical anthropologist C. Loring Brace, who led the team of researchers from the United States, China and Mongolia who wrote the new report. “We try to put together more aspects.” For decades, anthropologists held that the Americas were populated by a single migration from Asia about 11,200 year ago—the supposed age of the earliest of the elegantly crafted, grooved arrowheads first found in the 1930s in Clovis, N. M. By the end of the 1990s, however, the weight of evidence had pushed back the date of the first arrivals several thousand years. A site at Cactus Hill, near Richmond, may be 17,000 years old. In Chile, scientists discovering a 12,500-year-old settlement at Monte Verde have found evidence of a human presence that may extend as far as 30,000 years. But as the migration timetable went on, additional questions have arisen. The 1996 discovery in Kennewick, Washington, of the nearly complete skeleton of a 9,300-year-old man with “apparently Caucasoid” features stimulated interest in the possibility of two or more migrations—including the possible incoming from Europe.D)The new study attempted to answer this question by comparing 21 skull and facial characteristics from more than 10,000 ancient and modern populations in the Western Hemisphere and the Old World. The findings provide strong evidence supporting earlier work suggesting that ancient Americans, like Kennewick Man, were descended from the Jomon, who walked from Japan to the Asian mainland and eventually to the Western Hemisphere on land bridges as the Earth began to warm up about 15,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age.E)Brace described these early immigrants as “hunters and gatherers” following herds of mastodon(乳齿象)first into North America, and eventually spreading throughout the hemisphere. Because the North—in both Siberia and Canada—was still extremely cold, only a limited number of people could make the trek(长途跋涉) and survive. So immigration slowed, Brace said, for about 10 millennia(一千年). Then, about 5,000 years ago, agriculture developed on mainland Asia, enabling people to grow, store and carry food in more lonely areas. Movement resumed, but the newcomers were genetically Asians—“distinct racially” from the first wave, Brace added.F)The second wave spread across what is now Canada and came southward, cohabiting(同居) with the earlier settlers and eventually creating the mixed population found by the Spaniardsi n the 15th century. While many researchers agree on the likelihood of two migrations, both their timing and origin are matters of dispute. Brace’s team suggests that both movements occurred after the last Ice Age began to moderate between 14,000 and 15,000 years ago.G)But University of Pennsylvania molecular anthropologist Theodore Schurr said genetic data inAmerican populations suggest that humans may have been in the Western Hemisphere muchearlier —25,000 to 30,000 year ago. This would mean that the first wave came before the “glacial maximum” between 14,000 and 20,000 years ago, when the Ice Age was at its fiercestand “human movement was practically impossible,” Schurr said. “Were there people here beforethe last glacial maximum?” he asked. “The suggestion is ‘Yes’”.H)The third wave arose in the American continent around the year 1000, when a small number ofVikings arrived. Five hundred years later, the great European migration began. In some cases,the co-existence of Europeans and Native Americans was peaceful. In other cases, there werecultural clashes, leading to violence and disease. Many people from Africa, however, werebought here against their will to work as forced laborers in the building of a new nation. Asearly as 1619, slaves from Africa and the Caribbean were brought forcibly to America. Later,102 English colonists (later referred to as the “Pilgrims”) set sail in 1620 on the Mayflower.They landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This is generally considered by many to be the“s t a r t”of planned European migration! In 1638, just 18 years after the Mayflower, the Swedes begantheir migration to America. Unlike the Pilgrim Fathers, the Swedes were not religiousopponents—they were an organized group of colonizers sent by the Swedish Government toestablish a colony in Delaware. In 1655, the colony was lost to the Dutch. In the mid-1840s, awave of Swedish migration began with the landing of a group of migrant farmers in New York and continued up to World War I.I)During the colonial era most of the immigrants to the US came from Northern Europe. Theirnumbers declined during the 1770s, but picked up during the mid-1800s.New arrivals camefrom several countries, but mostly from Germany and Ireland where crop failures caused manyto leave their homelands. Other groups also arrived from the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, the Scandinavian countries, and Eastern Europe.46.The anthropologists’ earlier work believes that the Jomon are the ancestors of KennewickMan.47.Only small numbers of early immigrants survived in Canada in that the extreme cold weatherwasn’t suitable for their survival.48.According to a study, Jomon people’s facial features have more genetic similarities toEuropeans’.49.Cultural clashed made people in the American continent sometimes not co-exist in peaceduring the third wave of immigration.50.Before the end of the 1990s, anthropologists held the opinion that the migration from Asiapopulated the Americas about 11,200 years ago.51.Many Irish people immigrated to America because of crop failures in their homeland.52.Many researchers have different opinions about the first two migrations in the aspect of origin and timing.53.The second migration includes the ancestors of today’s Eskimos and the Navajo of the USsouthwest.54.According to Brace, the new immigrants and the first immigrants are totally different in race.55.According to Theodore Schurr, human movement was impossible during the fiercest period ofthe Ice Age.。
2013年6月英语四级模拟试卷及答案
2013年6月英语四级模拟试卷及答案Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic." One Way to Solve the Problem. You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below in Chinese."1.机动车被看作是空气污染的首要原因2.提出解决这一问题的方法3.并说明原因Part ⅠWritingOne Way to Solve the ProblemTo deal with the air pollution caused by vehicles in cities is a challenging job. My suggestion is to produce vehicles powered by solar energy.Compared with mineral fuels such as gasoline, solar energy is inexhaustible in supply. The growth of cities and increase of vehicles call for more supply of energy, but there is a limit to the reserve of mineral fuels. So solar energy with its endless supply is one of our solutions to energy crisis. The second advantage of solar energy is its cleanliness. Traditional vehicles operating on gasoline give of exhaust, causing damage to human health and polluting the air. From the perspective of environmental protection, solar energy is a much better choice. After the new technology becomes economically feasible, the sky over cities will be brighter, and the air will no longer be a threat to our health.Because of the two benefits of using solar energy as a new fuel, we should spend more money on the research which can make our dream come true.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked E A I, I B 3, I C I and IDa. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.About Story ReaderParents dearly hope their children learn to read well. They also hope their children learn to read quickly and easily, so that they’re ready for the demands put on them by school and the world.Kids want to learn how to read, but they also crave entertainment, whether it’s quiet and passive or dynamic and interactive. The aims of the Story Reader line of electronic books are to entertain children and to introduce them to the processof learning how to read in a gentle and enjoyable way. In this article, we’ll show you how Story Reader works and if it accomplishes that goal.Story Reader is a compact, roughly 12-inch-by-12-inch plastic case (with a carrying handle ) that opens to reveal an actual book that fits snugly into the Reader itself. Story Reader’s core feature is that it "reads" the book aloud to a child as he follows along. The child turns the pages when prompted by the Story Reader or at his own pace.Books have both text and illustrations. The electronic book responds to the child’s wishes. The Story Reader speaks the text for the current page. If the child turns back a few pages, the Reader recognizes that page and reads it again. Kids react well to this interactivity because it instills a sense of cuntrol over the story.There are Three Story Reader ProductsThe basic Story Reader, introduced in 2003, is as described above and is intended for kids three years of age and older.Each book has a small companion cartridge that slides into a port on the case and contains the audio encoded into its memory for the story.The device has a volume control but no on/off switch--a deliberate choice so kids can simply open it up and begin reading. It takes four AAA batteries (or operates on household current with an optional adaptor) and retails for around $20.Find out more information about the more than 60 titles at the Story Reader website.Early in 2006, Publications International, Ltd.--Story Reader’s publisher--introduced My First Story Reader, designed for newborns to kids up to age three. As with the original, a narrator reads the story aloud, this time from a 12-page book made from a heavier paperstock that includes sound effects and music to enliven the experience.My First Story Reader features two play modes, one with narration, the other that asks questions about the images on each page. The child can press any of three buttons to answer basic questions about shapes and colors. The last two pages ofeach My First Story Reader book features a sing-along rhyming melody. My First Story Reader retails for about $20.Late in 2006, Publications International introduced a video version of Story Reader called Story Reader Video Plus for kids up to the age of seven. Retailing for about $35, it combines a stand-alone Story Reader with an "Animated Story Mode"that plays through your television and includes a "Learning Game Mode".The Animated Story Mode works just as it sounds--when you connect it to your television through color-coded cables, the story appears on screen and changes as your child turns the pages. Kids get to the Learning Game Mode by turning to thelast page of the book. There, they can choose from five educational games. While it depends on the story, generally there are pattern games, memory games, and platform games. Similar to Nintendo games like Super Mario Brothers, in a platform game the child uses the included controller to guide him through the environment and conquer obstacles.Story Reader Video Plus isn’t a video game, technically, and Publications International bills the Story Reader line more as electronic books than toys. This reassures many parents, and it’s why Story Reader is sold in bookstores and in the book section of major retailers.What about the Educational Underpinnings of Story Reader?Studies show an alarming decline in reading rates among all age groups in America, especially among the young.Children are bombarded on a daily basis with multiple forms of entertainment that compete with traditional learning.Kids naturally emulate the adults in their lives, and seeing their parents and other family members enjoy reading is a powerful motivator. Establishing and keeping a Read-At-Home Night helps families spend time together and helps form lifelong reading habits in children.Here’s how you do it:· Set aside one night a week in your household and call it "Read-At-Home Hour"--or anything you prefer. Establish a time allotment that works for your family, for example, 30 minutes or an hour.· Minimize interruptions from the TV, computer, and video games--and turn on the telephone answering machine.· Choose one book for the entire family to read aloud together, or encourage individual family members to choose their own books to read quietly. Electronic books can work in this context, as well.· Finally, sit down, relax, and read.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答;8-10题在答题卡1上。
2013年6月英语四级冲刺试题及答案(三)
最牛英语口语培训模式:躺在家里练口语,全程外教一对一,三个月畅谈无阻!洛基英语,免费体验全部在线一对一课程:/wenkxd.htm(报名网址)Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Food Contamination following the outline given below. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.1.食品污染事件频发2.食品污染事件的危害3.解决问题的办法Food ContaminationPart ⅡReading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.James Cameron: Earth's Deepest Spot Desolate, Foreboding“The last frontier on Earth is out—of-this—world,desolate(荒芜的),foreboding(有不祥预感的),and moon—like", James Cameron said after diving to the deepest part of the ocean.And he loved it."My feeling was one of complete isolation from all of humanity," Cameron said Monday, shortly after returning from the strange cold dark place 7 miles below the western Pacific Ocean that only two men have been to. "I felt like I literally, in the space of one day, had gone to another planet and come back. It' s been a very surreal day. "Cameron, whose imagination of alien worlds yielded the blockbuster ( 大片) movie Avatar, said there was one thing he promised to himself: He wanted to drink in how unusual it is.He didn't do that when he first dove to the watery grave of the Titanic, and Apollo astronauts have said they never had time to savor ( 品尝)where they were."There had to be a moment where I just stopped, and took it in, and said, 'This is where I am; I'm at the bottom of the ocean, the deepest place on Earth. What does that mean?'" Cameron told reporters during a Monday conference call after spending three hours at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, nearly 7 miles down."I just sat there looking out the window, looking at this barren (贫瘠的), desolate lunar plain, appreciating,"Cameron said.He also realized how alone he was, with that much water above him."It's really the sense of isolation, more than anything, realizing how tiny you are down in this big vast black unknown and unexplored place," Cameron said.Cameron said he had hoped to see a strange deep sea monster like a creature that would excite the storyteller in him and seem like out of his movies, but he didn't.He didn't see tracks of small primitive sea animals on the ocean floor as he did when he dove more than 5 miles deep weeks ago. All he saw were voracious (贪吃的)shrimp-like critters that weren't bigger than an inch.In future missions, Cameron plans to bring "bait"--like chicken---to set out. Cameron said the mission was all about exploration, science and discovery. He is the only person to dive there solo, using a sub (潜水艇) he helped design. He is the first person to reach that depth-- 35,576 feet –since it was initially explored in 1960. There had been race to the bottom among rich and famous adventurers. Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Industries has been building his own one-man sub to explore the depths of the ocean. Branson told the Associated Press that Cameron's dive was "a fantastic achievement. "Branson said he hoped to explore a different deep place first now, instead of the Mariana Trench. He planned later this year to dive to the deepest part of the Atlantic, the Puerto Rican trench, which is only five miles from his home. That area is just of six miles deep and has not been explored yet.Branson said he hopes to take his one-man sub and join Cameron in a tandem(一前一后的)dive of solo subs: "Together, we'll make a formidable team. "Cameron spent more than three hours at the bottom, longer than the 20 minutes Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard spent in the only other visit 52 years ago. But his time there was shorter than the six hours he had hoped for and he didn't reach the trench walls, because he was running low on power. He said he would return, as would the sub's Australian co-designer, Ran Allure."I see this as the beginning," Cameron said. "It's not a one-time deal and then moving on. This is the beginning of opening up this new frontier. ""To me, the story is in the people in their quest and curiosity and their attempt to understand," Cameron said.He spent time filming the Mariana Trench, which is about 200 miles southwest of the Pacific island of Guam.The trip down to the deepest point took two hours and 36 minutes.His return aboard his 12-ton, lime-green(浅黄绿色的)sub called Deepsea Challenger was a "faster-than-expected 70-minute ascent," according to National Geographic, which sponsored the expedition. Cameron is a National Geographic explorer-in-residence.The only thing that went wrong was the hydraulics(液压装置on the system to collect rocks and critters to bring them back’to land. Just as he was about to collect his first sample, a leak in the hydraulic fluid sprayed into the water and he couldn't bring anything back.When Cameron climbed into his sub, it was warm because it was near the equator and his cramped ( 狭窄) vehicle--his head hit one end and his feet the other--was toasty ( 温暖舒适的) because of the heat given off by electronics. It felt "like a sauna (桑拿浴)" with temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, he said.But as he plunged into the deep, the temperature outside the sub dropped to around 36 degrees Fahrenheit, he said.The pressure on the sub was immense--comparable to three SUVs resting on a toe. The super-strong sub shrank three inches under that pressure, Cameron said."It's a very weird environment," Cameron said. "I can't say it's very comfortable. Andyou can't stretch out. "1. According to this passage, the blockbuster movie Avatar was __________.A) inspired by Cameron's trip to the Earth's deepest spotB) the result of Cameron's imagination of alien worldsC) inspired by Cameron's dive to the watery grave of the TitanicD) the result of Cameron's extensive reading2. Cameron stopped for a while during the trip __________.A) so he could save the power and dive deeperC) because he wanted to collect rocks and crittersB) to meditate on the meaning of lifeD) just to feel the amazing moment3. When staying at the dark and mysterious bottom of the ocean, Cameron's strongest feeling was that __________.A) he was out of the worldC) he was moon-walkingB) he was totally isolatedD) everything was quite huge except himself4. During Cameron's stay at the bottom of the 7-mile-deep sea, the only thing he saw was __________.A) various strange fishes he had never seenC) some small creatures that ate a lotB) some unknown small primitive sea animalsD) many sunken wrecks5. Why is Cameron's diving a significant one?A) He is the first person to reach that depth.B) He is the person who stays for the longest time down there.C) Many important discoveries are made by him.D) He is the only diver who designs his own sub.6. Sir Branson hopes to explore a sea area __________.A) where no one has ever visitedB) different from the area Cameron has been toC) which belongs to the Atlantic OceanD) which is near his home7. What kept Cameron from reaching the trench walls?A) He didn't bring any bait.B) The sub was too cramped.C) He was afraid of running out of the power.D) Ron Allum advised him not to do that.8. The sponsor of Cameron's trip down to the Mariana Trench was______________.9. Before the diving began, the sub was warm and comfortable because it was near the equator and the electronics______________.10. In deep ocean, the pressure was immense, and even Cameron's strongly-built sub______________.“成千上万人疯狂下载。
2013年6月大学英语四级真题(含答案)
2013年 6月大学英语四级考试真题(标准卷)Total score: 710 Total time allowed: 125 minutes特注: 2013年 6月大学四级考试采用多题多卷形式,本试卷含两套写作题,考生可以任选其一。
Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题 1) (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题 2) (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of reading literature. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Can Digital Textbook Truly Replace the Print Kind?The shortcomings of traditional print edition textbooks are obvious: For starters they’re heavy, with the average physics textbook weighing 3.6 pounds. They’re also expen sive, especially when you factor in the average college student’s limited budget, typically costing hundreds of dollars every semester.But the worst part is that print version of textbooks are constantly undergoing revisions. Many professors require that their students use only the latest versions in the classroom, essentially rendering older texts unusable. For students, itmeans they’re basically stuck with a four pound paper-weight that they can’t sell back.Which is why digital textbooks, if they live up to their promise, could help ease many of these shortcomings. But till now, they’ve been something like a mirage(幻影)in the distance, more like a hazy(模糊的)dream than an actual reality. Imagine the promise: Carrying all your textbooks in a 1.3 pound iPad? It sounds almost too good to be true.But there are a few pilot schools already making the transition(过渡)over to digital books. Universities like Cornell and Brown have jumped onboard. And one medical program at the University of California, Irvine, gave their entire class iPads with which to download textbooks just last year.But not all were eager to jump aboard.“People were tired of using the iPad textbook besides using it for reading,” says Kalpit Shah, who will be going into his second year at I rvine’s medical program this fall. “They weren’t using it as a source of communication because they couldn’t read or write in it. So a third of the people in my program were using the iPad in class to take notes, the other third were using laptops and the last third were using paper and pencil.”The reason it hasn’t caught on yet, he tells me, is that the functionality of e-edition textbooks is incredibly limited, and some students just aren’t motivated to learn new study behavior.But a new application called Inkling might change all that. The company just released an updated version last week, and it’ll be utilized in over 50 undergraduate and graduate classrooms this coming school year.“Digital textbooks are not going to catch on,” says Inkling CEO Ma tt Maclnnis as he’s giving me a demo(演示)over coffee. “What I mean by that is the current perspective of the digital textbook is it’s an exact copy of the print book. There’s Course Smart, etc., these guys who take any image of the page and put it on a scre en. If that’s how we’re defining digital textbooks, there’s no hope of that becoming a mainstream product.”He calls Inkling a platform for publishers to build rich multimedia content from the ground up, with a heavy emphasis on real-world functionality. The traditional textbook merely serves as a skeleton.At first glance Inkling is an impressive experience. After swiping(敲击)into the iPad app(应用软件 ), which you can getfor free here, he opens up a few different types of textbooks.Up first is a chemistry book. The boot time is pretty fast, and he navigates through(浏览 ) a few chapters before swiping into a fully rendered 3D molecule that can be spun around to view its various building blocks. “Publishers give us all of the source media, artwork, videos,” he says, “We help them think through how to actually build something for this platform.”Next he pulls up a music composition textbook, complete with playable demos. It’s a learning experience that attacks you from multiple sensory directions. It’s clear why this would be something a music major would love.But the most exciting part about Inkling, to me, is its notation(批注)system. Here’s how it works!When you purchase a used print book, it comes with its previous owner’s highlights and notes in the margins. It uses the experience of someone who already went through the class to help improve your reading (how much you trust each notation is obviously up to you).But with lnkling, you can highlight a piece of content and make notes. Here’s where things get interesting, though: If a particularly important passage is highlighted by multiplelnkling users, that information is stored on the cloud and is available for anyone reading the same textbook to come across. That means users have access to notes from not only their classmates and Facebook friends, but anyone who purchased the book across the country. The best comments are then sorted democratically by a voting system, meaning that your social learning experience is shared with the best and brightest thinkers.As a bonus, professors can even chime in(插话) on dis cussions. They’ll be able to answer the questions of students who are in their class directly via the interactive book.Of course, Inkling addresses several of the other shortcomings in traditional print as well. Textbook versions are constanly updated, motivating publishers by minimizing production costs (the big ones like McGraw-Hill are already onboard). Furthermore, students will be able to purchase sections of the text instead of buying the whole thing, with individual chapters costing as little as $2.99.There are, however, challenges.“It takes efforts to build each book,” Maclnnis tells me. And it’s clear why.Each interactive textbook is a media-heavy experience built from the ground up, and you can tell that it takes a respectable amount of manpower to put together each one.For now the app is also iPad-exclusive, and though a few of these educational institutions are giving the hardware away for free, for other students who don’t have such a luxury it’s an added layer of cost — and an expensive one at that.But this much is clear. The traditional textbook model is and has been broken for quite some time. Whether digitally interactive ones like Inkling actually take off or not remains to be seen, and we probably won’t have a definite answer for the next few years.However the solution to any problem begins with a step in a direction. And at least for now, that hazy mirage in the distance? A little more tangible (可触摸的 ), a little less of a dream.1. The biggest problem with traditional print textbooks is that _____. A) A) they are not reused once a new edition comes outB) they cost hundreds of dollars every semesterC) they are too heavy to carry aroundD) they take a longer time to revise2. What does the author say about digital textbooks?A) It’s not likely they will replace traditional textbooks.B) They haven’t fixed all the shortcomings of print books.C) Very few of them are available in the market.D) Many people still have difficulty using them.3. According to Kalpit Shah, some students still use paper and pencil because _____.A) they find it troublesome to take notes with an iPadB) they are unwilling to change their study behaviorC) they have get tired of reading on the iPadD) they are not used to reading on the screen4. Inkling CEO Matt Maclnnis explains that the problem with Course Smart’s current digital textbooks is that _____.A) they have to be revised repeatedlyB) they are inconvenient to use in classC) they are different from most mainstream productsD) they are no more than print versions put on a screen5. Matt Maclnnis describes the updated version of lnkling as_____.A) a good example of the mainstream productsB) a marvelous product of many creative ideasC) a platform for building multimedia contentD) a mere skeleton of traditional textbooks6. The author is most excited about lnkling’s notation system because one can _____. A) share his learning experience with the best and brightest thinkersB) participate in discussions with classmates and Facebook friendsC) vote for the best learners democraticallyD) store information on the cloud7. One additional advantage of the interactive digital textbook is that _____.A) students can switch to different discussions at any pointB) students can download relevant critical commentsC) professors can join in students’ online discussionsD) professors can give prompt feedback to students’ homework8. One of the challenges to build an interactive digital textbook from the ground up is that is takes a great deal of _____.9. One problem for students to replace traditional textbooks with interactive digital ones is the high ______ of the hardware.10. According to the author, whether digital textbooks willcatch on still _____.Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A) Children should be taught to be more careful.B) Children shouldn’t drink so much orange juice.C) There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.D) Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.12. A) Fitness training. B) The new job offer.C) Computer programming. D) Directorship of the club.13. A) He needs to buy a new sweater. B) He has got to saveon fuel bills.C) The fuel price has skyrocketed. D) The heating system doesn’t work.14. A) Committing theft. B) Taking pictures.C) Window shopping. D) Posing for the camera.15. A) She is taking some medicine. B) She has not seena doctor yet.C) She does not trust the man’s advice. D) She has almost recovered from the cough.16. A) Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.B) Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.C) Pamela is not good at writing research papers.D) Pamela’s mistakes could have been avoided.17. A) In the left-luggage office. B) At the hotel reception.C) In a hotel room. D) At an airport.18. A) She was an excellent student at college. B) She worksin the entertainment business.C) She is fond of telling stories in her speech. D) She is good at conveying her message.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) Arranging the woman’s appointment w ith Mr. Romero.B) Fixing the time for the designer’s latest fashion show.C) Talking about an important gathering on Tuesday.D) Preparing for the filming on Monday morning.20. A) Her travel to Japan.B) The awards ceremony.C) The proper hairstyle for her new role.D) When to start the makeup session.21. A) He is Mr. Romero’s agent.B) He is an entertainment journalist.C) He is the woman’s assistant.D) He is a famous movie star.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) Make an appointment for an interview.B) Send in an application letter.C) Fill in an application form.D) Make a brief self-introduction on the phone.23. A) Someone having a college degree in advertising.B) Someone experienced in business management.C) Someone ready to take on more responsibilities.D) Someone willing to work beyond regular hours.24. A) Travel opportunities.B) Handsome pay.C) Prospects for promotion.D) Flexible working hours.25. A) It depends on the working hours.B) It’s about 500 pound a week.C) It will be set by the Human Resources.D) It is to be negotiated.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 2with a single line through the centre. Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) To give customers a wider range of choices.B) To make shoppers see as many items as possible.C) To supply as many varieties of goods as it can.D) To give space for more profitable products.27. A) On the top shelves.B) On the bottom shelves.C) On easily accessible shelves.D) On clearly marked shelves.28. A) Many of them buy things on impulse.B) A few of them are fathers with babies.C) A majority of them are young couples.D) Over 60% of them make shopping lists.29. A) Sales assistants promoting high margin goods.B) Sales assistants following customers around.C) Customers competing for good bargains.D) Customers losing all sense of time.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) Teaching mathematics at a school.B) Doing research in an institute.C) Studying for a college degree.D) Working in a high-tech company.31. A) He studied the designs of various choices.B) He did experiments to different materials.C) He bought an alarm clock with a pig face.D) He asked different people for their opinions.32. A) Its automatic mechanism.B) Its manufacturing pattern.C) Its way of waking people up.D) Its funny-looking pig face.Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) It’s often caused by a change of circumstances.B) It usually doesn’t require any special attention.C) It usually appears all of a sudden.D) It usually lasts for several years.34. A) They can’t mix well with others.B) They emotionally receive their friends.C) They depend severely on family members.D) They share similar interests with friends.35. A) They lack consistent support from peers.B) They doubt their own popularity.C) They were born psychologically weak.D) They focus too much attention on themselves.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.There was a time when any personal information that was gathered about us was typed on a piece of paper and (36) ________ away in a file cabinet. It could remain there for years and, often (37) ________, never reach the outside world.Things have done a complete about-face since then. (38) ________ for the change has been the astonishingly (39) ________ development in recent years of the computer. Today, any data that is(40) ________ about us in one place or another — and for one reason or another — can be stored in a computer bank. It can then be easily passed to other computer banks. They are owned by (41) ________ and by private businesses and corporations, lending (42) ________, direct mailing and telemarketing firms, credit bureaus, credit card companies, and government (43) ________ at the local, state, and federal level.A growing number of Americans are seeing the accumulation and distribution of computerized date as a frightening invasion of their privacy. (44) ___________ _________________________________________________________ as the computer becomes increasingly efficient, easier to operate, and less costly to purchase and maintain. In 1970, a national survey showed that (45) ____________________________________________________________________. Seven years later, 47 percent expressed the same worry. (46) ____________ ________________________________________________________.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 Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Walking, if you do it vigorously enough, is the overall best exercise for regular physical activity. It requires no equipment, everyone knows how to do it and it carries the 47 risk of injury. The human body is designed to walk. You can walkin parks or along a river or in your neighborhood. To get 48 benefit from walking, aim for 45 minutes a day, an average of five days a week.Strength training is another important 49 of physical activity. Its purpose is to build and 50 bone and muscle mass, both of which shrink with age. In general, you will want to dostrength training two or three days a week, 51 recovery days between sessions.Finally, flexibility and balance training are 52 important as the body ages. Aches and pains are high on the list of complaints in old age. The result of constant muscle tension and stiffness of joints, many of them are 53 , and simple flexibility training can 54 these by making muscles stronger and keeping joints lubricated (润滑 ). Some of this you do whenever you stretch. If you watch dogs and cats, you’ll get an idea of how natural it is. The general 55 is simple: whenever the body has been in one position for a while, it is good to 56 stretch it in an opposite position.Section BDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. Foreach of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre. Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Junk food is everywhere. We’re eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we’re doing and yet we do it anyway.So here’s a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation: Why not take a lesson from alcohol control policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it’s displayed?“Many policy measures to control obesity(肥胖症)assume that people consciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more access to healthier foods,” note the two researchers.“In contrast,” the researchers continue, “many regulations that don’t assume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance —like food —of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems.”The research references studies of people’s behavior with food and alcohol and results of alcohol restrictions, and thenlists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them:Density restrictions: licenses to sell alcohol aren’t handed out unplanned to all comers but are allotted(分配)based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich in empty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren’t primarily food stores?Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can’t buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At supermarkets, food companies pay to have their wares in places where they’re easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of the store and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.57. What does the author say about junk food?A) People should be educated not to eat too much.B) It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C) Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D) It causes more harm than is generally realized.58. What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A) They should be implemented effectively.B) They provide misleading information.C) They are based on wrong assumptions.D) They help people make rational choices.59. Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A) Few people are able to resist alcohol’s temptations.B) There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C) Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D) Easy access leads to customers’ over-consumption.60. What is the purpose of California’s rule about alcohol display in gas stations?A) To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B) To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C) To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D) To get alcohol out of drivers’ immediate sight.61. What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A) Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B) Enhancing people’s awareness of their own health.C) Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D) Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means. Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy(破产)protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak’s downfall to “complacency(自满) ,” that explanation doesn’t acknow-ledge the lengths to which the company went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film —and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975 —but in a fateful decision, the company chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on itstraditional film business.It wasn’t that Kodak was blind to the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor at Harvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the company realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large companies have a difficult time switching into new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate(企业的) culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a company stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has become a liability.Kodak’s downfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the company commanded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new competition from Japanese film company Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak’s de cision not to pursue the roleof official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.62. What do we learn about Kodak?A) It went bankrupt all of a sudden.B) It is approaching its downfall.C) It initiated the digital revolution in the film industry.D) It is playing a dominant role in the film market.63. Why does the author mention Kodak’s invention of the first digital camera?A) To show its early attempt to reinvent itself.B) To show its effort to overcome complacency.C) To show its quick adaptation to the digital revolution.D) To show its wil l to compete with Japan’s Fuji photo.64. Why do large companies have difficulty switching to new markets?A) They find it costly to give up their existing assets.B) They tend to be slow in confronting new challenges.C) They are unwilling to invest in new technology.D) They are deeply stuck in their glorious past.65. What does the author say Kodak’s history has become?A) A burden.B) A mirror.C) A joke.D) A challenge.66. What was Kodak’s fatal mistake?A) Its blind faith in traditional photography.B) Its failure to see Fuji photo’s emergence.C) Its refusal to sponsor the 1984 Olympics.D) Its overconfidence in its corporate culture.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. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Whether you think you need daytime rest or not, picking up a nap(午睡)habit is a smart, healthy move. The Mayo Clinic says naps 67 relaxation, better mood and alertness, and a sharper working 68 . A 2008 British study found that comparedto getting more nighttime sleep, a mid-day nap was the best way to cope 69 the mid-afternoon sleepiness.According to the Harvard Health Letter, several studies have shown that people 70 new information better when they takea nap shortly after learning it. And, most 71 , a 2007 study of nearly 24,000 Greek adults in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who napped 72 had a 37 percent reduced risk of dying 73 heart disease compared to people who didn’t nap.Of course, napping isn’t 74 for everyone. If you’re suffering from inability to sleep, naps that are too long or taken too late in the day can 75 with your ability to fall or stay asleep at night.But for most, naps can make you feel sharper and happier. Naps provide different benefits 76 on how long they are. A 20-minute nap will boost alertness and concentration; a 90-minute snooze(小睡)can 77 creativity.According to , you 78 a natural dip in body temperature 79 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. A short nap at this time can boost alertness 80 several hours and, for most people, shouldn’t 81 being able to fall asleep at night.Pick a dark, cozy place that’s not too warm or too chilly.。
2013年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第3套)
2013年6月英语四级考试真题试卷(3)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of learning basic skills. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.注意:此部分试题在答题卡1上_______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Surviving the RecessionAmerica's recession began quietly at the end of 2007. Since then it has evolved into a global crisis. Reasonable people may disagree about whom to blame. Financiers who were not as clever as they thought they were? Regulators falling asleep at work? Consumers who borrowed too much? Politicians who thoughtlessly promoted home-ownership for those who could not afford it? All are guilty; and what a mess they have created.Since 2007 America has shed 5 million jobs. More than 15% of the workforce are jobless or underemployed - roughly 25 million workers. The only industries swelling their payrolls are health care, utilities and the federal government. The value of listed shares in American firms collapsed by 57% from its peak in October 2007 to a low in March this year, though it has since bounced back somewhat. Industrial production fell by 12. 8% in the year to March, the worst slide since the Second World War. Mark Zandi, and economist at Moody's Economy, com, predicts that the recession will shrink America's economy by 3.5% in total. For most executives, this is the worstbusiness environment they've ever seen.Times are so tough that even bosses are taking pay cuts. Median (中位数的) pay for chief executives of S&P 500 companies fell 6.8% in 2008. The overthrown business giants of Wall Street took the biggest knock, with average pay cuts of 38% and median bonuses of zero. But there was some pain for everyone; median pay for chief executives of non-financial firms in the S&P 500 fell by 2.7%.Nearly every business has a sad tale to tell. For example, Arne Sorenson, the president of Marriott hotels, likens the crisis to the downturn that hit his business after September 11th, 2001. When the twin towers fell, Americans stopped travelling. Marriott had its worst quarter ever, with revenues per room falling by 25%. This year, without a terrorist attack, the hotel industry is "putting the same numbers on the board", says Mr. Sorenson.The hotel bust (不景气), like most busts, was preceded by a breathtaking boom. Although many other big firms resisted the temptation to over-borrow, developers borrowed heavily and built bigger and fancier hotels as if the whole world were planning a holiday in Las Vegas. When the bubble burst, demand collapsed. Hotel owners found themselves with a huge number of empty rooms even as a lot of unnecessary new hotels were ready to open.Other industries have suffered even more. Large numbers of builders, property firms and retailers have gone bankrupt. And a disaster has hit Detroit. Last year the American car industry had the capacity to make 17 million vehicles. Sales in 2009 could be barely half of that. The Big Three American carmakers - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler - accumulated ruinous costs over the post-war years, such as gold-plated health plans and pensions for workers who retired as young as 48. All three are desperately restructuring. Only Ford may survive in its current form.Hard times breed hard feelings. Few Americans understand what caused the recession. Some are seeking scapegoats (替罪羊). Politicians are happy to take advantage. Bosses have been summoned to Washington to be scolded on live television. The president condemns their greed.Extravagance (奢侈) is outBusinessfolk are bending over backwards to avoid seeming extravagant. Meetings at resorts are suddenly unacceptable. Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, cancelled a conference in Las Vegas at the last minute and rebooked it in San Francisco, which cost more but sounded less fun. Anyway, the pain will eventually end. American business will regain its shine. Many firms will die, but the survivors will emerge leaner and stronger than before. The financial sector's share of the economy will shrink, and stay shrunk for years to come. The importance of non-financial firms will accordingly rise, along with their ability to attract the best talent. America will remain the best place on earth to do business, so long as Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress resist the temptation to interfere too much, and so long as organised labour does not overplay its hand.The crisis will prove hugely disruptive (破坏性的) , however. Bad management techniques will be exposed. Necessity will force the swift adoption of more efficient ones. At the same time, technological innovation (创新) will barely pause for breath- and two big political changes seem likely.Mr. Obama's plan to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (排放), though necessary, will be far from cost-free, whatever his sunny speeches on the subject might suggest. The shift to a low-carbon economy will help some firms, hurt others and require every organisation that usesmuch energy to rethink how it operates. It is harder to predict how Mr. Obama's proposed reforms to the failing health-care system will turn out. If he succeeds in curbing costs - a big if - it would be a huge gain for America. Some businesses will benefit but the vast bulk of the savings will be captured by workers, not their employers.In the next couple of years the businesses that thrive will be those that are tight with costs, careful of debt, cautious with cash flow and extremely attentive to what customers want. They will include plenty of names no one has yet heard of.Times change, and corporations change with them. In 1955 Time's Man of the Year was Harlow Curtice, the boss of GM. His firm was leading America towards " a new economic order" , the magazine wrote. Thanks to men like Curtice, "the bonds of scarcity" had been broken and America was rolling "to an all-time high of prosperity". Soon, Americans would need to spend "comparatively little time earning a living".Half a century later GM is a typical example of poor management. In March its chief executive was fired by Time's current Man of the Year, Mr Obama. The government now backs up the domestic car industry, lending it money and overseeing its turnaround plans. With luck, this will be short-lived. But there is a danger that Washington will end up micromanaging not only Detroit but also other parts of the economy. And clever as Mr Obama's advisers are, history suggests they will be bad at this.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2013年6月英语四级冲刺试题及答案05
最牛英语口语培训模式:躺在家里练口语,全程外教一对一,三个月畅谈无阻!洛基英语,免费体验全部在线一对一课程:/wenkxd.htm(报名网址)Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversationsand 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or morequestions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and thequestions 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), anddecide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.点击播放听力:下载听力mp311. A) The team has to travel far for every game.B) The new coach has been very effective.C) The new coach knows the team very well.D) The team shouldn't recruit any more players.12. A) The concert was very well attended.B) The crowd didn't understand the music.C) The only good seats were near the right aisle.D) Not many people went on such a cloudy night.13. A) She doesn't understand it either.B) She can't see the writing on the board.C) She thinks the room is too dark.D) She didn'.t really notice the mark.1.4. A) She gave a lecture to the psychology class.B) She advised the man to see a psychologist.C) She persuaded the man not to take the course.D) She convinced the man to apply to graduate school.15. A) It is not very good.B) It will be held the following week.C) The woman probably won't attend it.D) There will be two seminars instead of four.16. A) She doesn't understand how Judy got her job.B) She's surprised Judy is working in management.C) She thinks Judy should not have taken a computer course.D) She wonders how Judy does so many things.17. A) Get out of the car.B) Pay the parking fine.C) Take his coat off.D) Make a tight turn.18. A) It's hard to know what to believe about it.B) He doesn't believe it's hard for everybody.C) It's even harder than people say.D) It's not as hard as he'd thought.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have justheard.19. A) Speed limits were the same in all areas.B) She had told him what Iris speed was.C) There were signs along the road.D) He had just received his driving license.20. A) He was on his way to work.B) His speedometer wasn't working.C) He lived on Fleet Street.D) He didn't realize he was speeding.21. A) She took away the man's license.B) She gave the man a warning.C) She gave the man a speeding ticket.D) She asked the man to become more familiar with the area.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have justheard.22. A) A popular television program.B) A breakthrough in technology.C) A recent purchase.D) A new electronics store.23. A) Because the old one didn't work well.B) Because the new TV set was on sale.C) Because he had moved into a bigger house.D) Because he wanted to surprise the woman.24. A) She would prefer a more expensive model.B) She' s confused by the remote controls.C) She's eager to use it.D) She thinks it unwise to buy it.25. A) Research what television is best for him.B) Ask for a cheaper price on the television.C) Try a different store.D) Be satisfied with what he has.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. Atthe end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and thequestions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose thebest answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) She buys many clothes.B) She buys a lot of chocolate.C) She eats a lot of things.D) She sleeps a great deal.27. A) Problems with the teachers.B) Problems with family members or friends.C) Problems with classmates' making fun of her.D) Problems with a part-time job.28. A) Substituting water with diet coke.B) Talking to someone over the phone.C) Playing a video game.D) Drinking extra tea.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A) American Indians and corn.B) The planting techniques of corn.C) The joy of harvest.D) Various ways to prepare corn.30. A) It was first boiled and then dried.B) It was braided in bundles and steamed.C) It was dried and then ground into flour.D) It was roasted and wrapped in husks.31. A) They braided them with animal hair for clothing.B) They bundled them together for fuel.C) They used them to insulate their homes.D) They made various items with them.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. A) The strength of its shipbuilding industry.B) The physical features of the river itself.C) The abundance of fruit, vegetables, and livestock.D) The similarity of its climate to that in Europe.33. A) Them are no rapids or waterfalls.B) There is a constant, strong wind.C) Navigation is rather difficult.D) Frequent storms cause problems for riverboats.34. A) Big waves pose a threat to commercial navigation.B) The river current never flows faster than ten miles per hour.C) The river reverses its flow several times a day.D) High tides can create sudden and unexpected rapids.35. A) To allow several sails to be rigged.B) To catch winds coming from over the hills.C) To add to the beauty of the basic design.D) To allow the sails to be raised more quickly.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times.When the passage isread for the first time, you should listen carefully forits general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you arerequired to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words youhave just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill inthe missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact wordsyou 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 havewritten.Fast food, for the first time ever, now makes up more than half ofall the meals eaten outside of the home in the United Kingdom.The recession, and the subsequent squeeze on (36)__________.income, has encouraged millions of families to cut back on spendingon (37) __________., especially on meals in restaurants. This has encouragedmany to(38) __________.down to cheaper meals, especially burgers and friedchicken. According to NPD, the market research company which (39)__________.consumerspending, 5.54 billion visits were made to a fast food (40) __________.in theyear 2011, out of the 11 billion meals eaten in (41) __________.out of thehome--be it at a work (42) __________, restaurant, pub or sandwich shop.This means that 50.4 percent of all (43) __________.eaten out ofthe home are now at a so-called quick service restaurant, up from 47.3 percentjust two years ago. The term "quick service restaurant" (44)__________.so this does include coffee shops.Guy Fielding at NPD said: "It's a lot about trading down.Because fast food has become so cheap,(45) __________. "Families want to know what they are getting. And (46)__________.“成千上万人疯狂下载。
2013.6 英语四级考试真题试卷(共3套)阅读理解
2013.6 英语四级考试真题试卷(第一套)阅读理解Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Junk food is everywhere. We're eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we're doing and yet we do it anyway.So here's a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation: Why not take a lesson from alcohol control policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it's displayed?"Many policy measures to control obesity (肥胖症) assume that people consciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more access to healthier foods," note the two researchers."In contrast," the researchers continue, "many regulations that don't assume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance - like food - of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems."The research references studies of people's behavior with food and alcohol and results of alcohol restrictions, and then lists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them:Density restrictions: licenses to sell alcohol aren't handed out unplanned to all comers but are allotted (分配) based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich inempty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren't primarily food stores? Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can't buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At supermarkets, food companies pay to have their wares in places where they're easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of the store and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答57. What does the author say about junk food?A) People should be educated not to eat too much.B) It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C) Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D) It causes more harm than is generally realized.58. What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A) They should be implemented effectively.B) They provide misleading information.C) They are based on wrong assumptions.D) They help people make rational choices.59. Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A) Few people are able to resist alcohol's temptations.B) There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C) Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D) Easy access leads to customers' over-consumption.60. What is the purpose of California's rule about alcohol display in gas stations?A) To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B) To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C) To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D) To get alcohol out of drivers' immediate sight.61. What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A) Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B) Enhancing people's awareness of their own health.C) Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D) Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Kodak's decision to file for bankruptcy (破产) protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak's downfall to "complacency (自满) , " that explanation doesn't acknowledge the lengths to which the company went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film - and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975 - but in a fateful decision, the company chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on its traditional film business.It wasn't that Kodak was blind to the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor atHarvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the company realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large companies have a difficult time switching to new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a company stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has become a liability.Kodak's downfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the company commanded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new competition from Japanese film company Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak's decision not to pursue the role of official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
201306-3cet4听力真题+答案
Part III Listening Comprehension (30minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear 8 shortconversations and 2 long c onversations.At the endof each conversation,one or more questions will beasked 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 bestanswer,Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer S heet 1 with a single line through thecentre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
11.A) The man hates to lend his tools to other people.B) The man hasn't finished working on the bookshelf.C) The tools have already been returned to the woman.D) The tools the man borrowed from the woman are missing.12.A) Save time by using a computer.B) Buy her own computer.C) Borrow Martha's computer.D) Stay home and complete her paper.13.A) The man doesn't have money for his daughter's graduate studies.B) The man doesn't think his daughter will get a business degree.C) The man insists that his daughter should pursue her studies in scie nce.D) The man advises his daughter to think carefully before making her decision.14.A) The cinema is some distance away from where they are.B) He would like to read the film review in the newspaper.C) They should wait to see the movie at a later time.D) He'll find his way to the cinema.15.A) He's been to Seattle many times.B) He has chaired a lot of conferences.C) He has a high position in his company.D) He lived in Seattle for many years.16.A) Teacher and student.B) Doctora nd patient.C) Manager and office worker.D) Travel agent and customer.17.A) She knows the guy who will give the lecture.B) She thinks the lecture might be informative.C) She wants to add something to her lecture.D) She'llfinish her report this weekend.18.A) The houses for sale are of poor quality.B) The houses are too expensive for the couple to buy.C) The housing developers provide free trips for potential buyers.D) The man is unwilling to take a look at the houses forsale. Questions19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A) How to study English well.B) Whichc ourses to choose.C) How to write computer games.D) Which books to read.20.A)Physical sciences.B) Mathsand physics.C) Art anddesign.D)Electronics and computer-programming.21.A) Her English is very good.B) She isinterested in English.C) Her English writing is poor.D) Her oralEnglish is bad.Questions22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22.A)Applying for a work experience.B)Applying for a part-time job.C) Takingan exam.D)Visiting an old friend.23.A)Students in the first half of their courses.B)Students who will graduate soon.C)Students in the second half of their courses.D)Students who have just graduated from universities.24.A) Explain the procedures to the students.B) Work regular hours.C) Write acomprehensive report.D) Send areport about the woman's work.25.A) In twoweeks.B) In three weeks.C) In the second half of her course.D) Not decided yet.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 shortpassages. At the end of ea ch passage, you will hearsome questions. Both the passage and thequestio ns will be spoken only once. After you hear aquestion, you must choose t he best answer from thefour choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mar kthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through th e centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2013年6月英语四级考试真题及答案(第3套)
2013年6⽉英语四级考试真题及答案(第3套)2013年6⽉四级真题(第3套)Part I Writing(30minutes) Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a short essay.You should start youressay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on theimportance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write atleast120words but no more than180words.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
PartⅡListening Comprehension(30minutes) Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear8short conversations and2long conversations.At the end ofeach conversation,one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both theconversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be apause.During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),anddecide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
大学英语四六级考试真题:2013年6月大学英语六级考试真题(三)答案与详解
2013年6月大学英语六级考试真题(三)答案与详解Part ⅠWritingThe Impact of the Information ExplosionAs is known to us all, we are now living in the age of “information explosion”. That is, we are surrounded by much information. It is true that information explosion brings convenience to our life, but it also leads to the distraction of our attention.Just as the famous saying goes, “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” .For example, there are so many advertisements on the Internet that we are easily distracted by the irrelevant information of the target website. In addition, the information itself is of various kinds, either healthy or violent. The bad information may even arouse violent crimes.Therefore, it is high time we adopted proper methods to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information. For one thing, we can make a list of key words about what we will search on the Internet. For another, we can set a time limit for the search of the target information. Thus, the search is more effective and time is saved greatly at the same time.PartⅢReading ComprehensionSection A答案详解:36、H)。
2013年6月英语四级真题及答案详解-推荐下载
2013年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案详解Total score: 710 Total time allowed: 125 minutes特注:2013年6月大学四级考试采用多题多卷形式,本试卷含两套写作题,考生可以任选其一。
Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题1) (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part I Writing (多题多卷写作题2) (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of reading literature. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Can Digital Textbook Truly Replace the Print Kind?The shortcomings of traditional print edition textbooks are obvious: For starters they’re heavy, with the average physics textbook weighing 3.6 pounds. They’re also expensive, especially when you factor in the average college student’s limited budget, typically costing hundreds of dollars every semester.But the worst part is that print version of textbooks are constantly undergoing revisions. Many professors require that their students use only the latest versions in the classroom, essentially rendering older texts unusable. For students, it means they’re basically stuck with a four pound paper-weight that they can’t sell back.Which is why digital textbooks, if they live up to their promise, could help ease many of these shortcomings. But till now, they’ve been something like a mirage(幻影)in the distance, more like a hazy(模糊的)dream than an actual reality. Imagine the promise: Carrying all your textbooks in a 1.3 pound iPad? It sounds almost too good to be true.But there are a few pilot schools already making the transition(过渡)over to digital books. Universities like Cornell and Brown have jumped onboard. And one medical program at the University of California, Irvine, gave their entire class iPads with which to download textbooks just last year.But not all were eager to jump aboard.“People were tired of using the iPad textbook besides using it for reading,” says Kalpit Shah, who will be going into his second year at Irvine’s medical program this fall. “They weren’t using it as a source of communication because they couldn’t read or write in it. So a third of the people in my program were using the iPad in class to take notes, the other third were using laptops and the last third were using paper and pencil.”The reason it hasn’t caught on yet, he tells me, is that the functionality of e-edition textbooks is incredibly limited, and some students just aren’t motivated to learn new study behavior.But a new application called Inkling might change all that. The company just released an updated version last week, and it’ll be utilized in over 50 undergraduate and graduate classrooms this coming school year.“Digital textbooks are not going to catch on,” says Inkling CEO Matt Maclnnis as he’s giving me a demo(演示)over coffee. “What I mean by that is the current perspective of the digital textbook is it’s an exact copy of the print book. There’s Course Smart, etc., these guys who take any image of the page and put it on a screen. If that’s how we’re defining digital textbooks, there’s no hope of that becoming a mainstream product.”He calls Inkling a platform for publishers to build rich multimedia content from the ground up, with a heavy emphasis on real-world functionality. The traditional textbook merely serves as a skeleton.At first glance Inkling is an impressive experience. After swiping(敲击)into the iPad app (应用软件), which you can get for free here, he opens up a few different types of textbooks.Up first is a chemistry book. The boot time is pretty fast, and he navigates through (浏览) afew chapters before swiping into a fully rendered 3D molecule that can be spun around to view its various building blocks. “Publishers give us all of the source media, artwork, videos,” he says, “We help them think through how to actually build something for this platform.”Next he pulls up a music composition textbook, complete with playable demos. It’s a learning experience that attacks you from multiple sensory directions. It’s clear why this would be something a music major would love.But the most exciting part about Inkling, to me, is its notation(批注)system. Here’s how it works!When you purchase a used print book, it comes with its previous owner’s highlights and notes in the margins. It uses the experience of someone who already went through the class to help improve your reading (how much you trust each notation is obviously up to you).But with lnkling, you can highlight a piece of content and make notes. Here’s where things get interesting, though: If a particularly important passage is highlighted by multiple lnkling users, that information is stored on the cloud and is available for anyone reading the same textbook to come across. That means users have access to notes from not only their classmates and Facebook friends, but anyone who purchased the book across the country. The best comments are then sorted democratically by a voting system, meaning that your social learning experience is shared with the best and brightest thinkers.As a bonus, professors can even chime in (插话) on discussions. They’ll be able to answer the questions of students who are in their class directly via the interactive book.Of course, Inkling addresses several of the other shortcomings in traditional print as well. Textbook versions are constanly updated, motivating publishers by minimizing production costs (the big ones like McGraw-Hill are already onboard). Furthermore, students will be able to purchase sections of the text instead of buying the whole thing, with individual chapters costing as little as $2.99.There are, however, challenges.“It takes efforts to build each book,” Maclnnis tells me. And it’s clear why.Each interactive textbook is a media-heavy experience built from the ground up, and you can tell that it takes a respectable amount of manpower to put together each one.For now the app is also iPad-exclusive, and though a few of these educational institutions are giving the hardware away for free, for other students who don’t have such a luxury it’s an added layer of cost — and an expensive one at that.But this much is clear. The traditional textbook model is and has been broken for quite some time. Whether digitally interactive ones like Inkling actually take off or not remains to be seen, and we probably won’t have a definite answer for the next few years.However the solution to any problem begins with a step in a direction. And at least for now, that hazy mirage in the distance? A little more tangible (可触摸的), a little less of a dream.1. The biggest problem with traditional print textbooks is that _____.A) they are not reused once a new edition comes outB) they cost hundreds of dollars every semesterC) they are too heavy to carry aroundD) they take a longer time to revise2. What does the author say about digital textbooks?A) It’s not likely they will replace traditional textbooks.B) They haven’t fixed all the shortcomings of print books.C) Very few of them are available in the market.D) Many people still have difficulty using them.3. According to Kalpit Shah, some students still use paper and pencil because _____.A) they find it troublesome to take notes with an iPadB) they are unwilling to change their study behaviorC) they have get tired of reading on the iPadD) they are not used to reading on the screen4. Inkling CEO Matt Maclnnis explains that the problem with Course Smart’s current digital textbooks is that _____.A) they have to be revised repeatedlyB) they are inconvenient to use in classC) they are different from most mainstream productsD) they are no more than print versions put on a screen5. Matt Maclnnis describes the updated version of lnkling as _____.A) a good example of the mainstream productsB) a marvelous product of many creative ideasC) a platform for building multimedia contentD) a mere skeleton of traditional textbooks6. The author is most excited about lnkling’s notation system because one can _____.A) share his learning experience with the best and brightest thinkersB) participate in discussions with classmates and Facebook friendsC) vote for the best learners democraticallyD) store information on the cloud7. One additional advantage of the interactive digital textbook is that _____.A) students can switch to different discussions at any pointB) students can download relevant critical commentsC) professors can join in students’ online discussionsD) professors can give prompt feedback to students’ homework8. One of the challenges to build an interactive digital textbook from the ground up is that is takesa great deal of _____.9. One problem for students to replace traditional textbooks with interactive digital ones is thehigh ______ of the hardware.10. According to the author, whether digital textbooks will catch on still _____.Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At theend 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 isthe best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line throughthe centre.11. A) Children should be taught to be more careful.B) Children shouldn’t drink so much orange juice.C) There is no need for the man to make such a fuss.D) Timmy should learn to do things in the right way.12. A) Fitness training. B) The new job offer.C) Computer programming. D) Directorship of the club.13. A) He needs to buy a new sweater. B) He has got to save on fuel bills.C) The fuel price has skyrocketed. D) The heating system doesn’t work.14. A) Committing theft. B) Taking pictures.C) Window shopping. D) Posing for the camera.15. A) She is taking some medicine. B) She has not seen a doctor yet.C) She does not trust the man’s advice. D) She has almost recovered from the cough.16. A) Pamela’s report is not finished as scheduled.B) Pamela has a habit of doing things in a hurry.C) Pamela is not good at writing research papers.D) Pamela’s mistakes could have been avoided.17. A) In the left-luggage office. B) At the hotel reception.C) In a hotel room. D) At an airport.18. A) She was an excellent student at college. B) She works in the entertainment business.C) She is fond of telling stories in her speech. D) She is good at conveying her message.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) Arranging the woman’s appointment with Mr. Romero.B) Fixing the time for the designer’s latest fashion show.C) Talking about an important gathering on Tuesday.D) Preparing for the filming on Monday morning.20. A) Her travel to Japan.B) The awards ceremony.C) The proper hairstyle for her new role.D) When to start the makeup session.21. A) He is Mr. Romero’s agent.B) He is an entertainment journalist.C) He is the woman’s assistant.D) He is a famous movie star.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) Make an appointment for an interview.B) Send in an application letter.C) Fill in an application form.D) Make a brief self-introduction on the phone.23. A) Someone having a college degree in advertising.B) Someone experienced in business management.C) Someone ready to take on more responsibilities.D) Someone willing to work beyond regular hours.24. A) Travel opportunities.B) Handsome pay.C) Prospects for promotion.D) Flexible working hours.25. A) It depends on the working hours.B) It’s about 500 pound a week.C) It will be set by the Human Resources.D) It is to be negotiated.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) To give customers a wider range of choices.B) To make shoppers see as many items as possible.C) To supply as many varieties of goods as it can.D) To give space for more profitable products.27. A) On the top shelves.B) On the bottom shelves.C) On easily accessible shelves.D) On clearly marked shelves.28. A) Many of them buy things on impulse.B) A few of them are fathers with babies.C) A majority of them are young couples.D) Over 60% of them make shopping lists.29. A) Sales assistants promoting high margin goods.B) Sales assistants following customers around.C) Customers competing for good bargains.D) Customers losing all sense of time.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) Teaching mathematics at a school.B) Doing research in an institute.C) Studying for a college degree.D) Working in a high-tech company.31. A) He studied the designs of various choices.B) He did experiments to different materials.C) He bought an alarm clock with a pig face.D) He asked different people for their opinions.32. A) Its automatic mechanism.B) Its manufacturing pattern.C) Its way of waking people up.D) Its funny-looking pig face.Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) It’s often caused by a change of circumstances.B) It usually doesn’t require any special attention.C) It usually appears all of a sudden.D) It usually lasts for several years.34. A) They can’t mix well with others.B) They emotionally receive their friends.C) They depend severely on family members.D) They share similar interests with friends.35. A) They lack consistent support from peers.B) They doubt their own popularity.C) They were born psychologically weak.D) They focus too much attention on themselves.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.There was a time when any personal information that was gathered about us was typed on a piece of paper and (36) ________ away in a file cabinet. It could remain there for years and, often (37) ________, never reach the outside world.Things have done a complete about-face since then. (38) ________ for the change has been the astonishingly (39) ________ development in recent years of the computer. Today, any data that is(40) ________ about us in one place or another — and for one reason or another — can be stored in a computer bank. It can then be easily passed to other computer banks. They are owned by (41) ________ and by private businesses and corporations, lending (42) ________, direct mailing and telemarketing firms, credit bureaus, credit card companies, and government (43) ________ at the local, state, and federal level.A growing number of Americans are seeing the accumulation and distribution of computerized date as a frightening invasion of their privacy. (44) ___________ _________________________________________________________ as the computer becomesQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Junk food is everywhere. We’re eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we’re doing and yet we do it anyway.So here’s a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation: Why not take a lesson from alcohol control policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it’s displayed?“Many policy measures to control obesity(肥胖症)assume that people consciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more access to healthier foods,” note the two researchers.“In contrast,” the researchers continue, “many regulations that don’t assume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance — like food — of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems.”The research references studies of people’s behavior with food and alcohol and results of alcohol restrictions, and then lists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them:Density restrictions: licenses to sell alcohol aren’t handed out unplanned to all comers but are allotted(分配)based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich in empty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren’t primarily food stores?Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can’t buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At supermarkets, food companies pay to have their wares in places where they’re easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of the store and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.57. What does the author say about junk food?A) People should be educated not to eat too much.B) It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C) Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D) It causes more harm than is generally realized.58. What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A) They should be implemented effectively.B) They provide misleading information.C) They are based on wrong assumptions.D) They help people make rational choices.59. Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A) Few people are able to resist alcohol’s temptations.B) There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C) Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D) Easy access leads to customers’ over-consumption.60. What is the purpose of California’s rule about alcohol display in gas stations?A) To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B) To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C) To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D) To get alcohol out of drivers’ immediate sight.61. What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A) Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B) Enhancing people’s awareness of their own health.C) Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D) Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy(破产)protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak’s downfall to “complacency(自满) ,” that explanation doesn’t acknow-ledge the lengths to which the company went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film — and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975 — but in a fateful decision, the company chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on its traditional film business.It wasn’t that Kodak was blind to the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor at Harvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the company realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large companies have a difficult time switching into new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate(企业的)culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a company stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has become a liability.Kodak’s downfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the company commanded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new competition from Japanese film company Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak’s decision not to pursue the role of official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.62. What do we learn about Kodak?A) It went bankrupt all of a sudden.B) It is approaching its downfall.C) It initiated the digital revolution in the film industry.D) It is playing a dominant role in the film market.63. Why does the author mention Kodak’s invention of the first digital camera?A) To show its early attempt to reinvent itself.Part I Writing对白子:Dad, I'm a bit worried about disposing of nuclear waste(处理核废料)父:If you can empty the dustbin(垃圾筒) here, you can do anything范文:The picture shows us a dialogue between a father and a son. The son told his father, “Dad, I’m a bit worried about disposing of nuclear waste”. While his father told him, “If you can empty the dustbin here you can do anything”. It reveals the importance of doing small things well before undertaking something big. There is also an old Chinese saying to go with this that a person can’t sweep the world before he can sweep his own room.Unquestionably, doing small things is the first step of success and will layroot for doing something big. By doing something small, we are enabled to accumulate experience, master skills and train ourselves to be more patient. In other word, we can be well prepared for further challenges in the course of fulfilling small things. By contrast, those who set out to do something big will be constantly haunted by disappointment, frustrations or even failures. As when opportunity “something big” appears, they can hardly seize them because of the lack of experience and confidence stems from doingsmall things.Taking the picture presented above as a case in point, how can the little boy succeed in disposing of nuclear weapons if he even doesn’t know how to empty the dustbin?From my perspective, under no circumstances should we undervalue the power of doing small things. Instead, we should regard small things as the source of experience, skills and the prerequisite of success. “Great achievement only belongs to those who can do small things perfectly.” Aristotle once said.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)1. A. they are not rescued once a new edition comes out2. B. They haven’t fixed all the shortcomings of print books.3. A. they find it troublesome to take notes with an iPad.4. D. they are no more than print versions put on a screen5. C. a platform for building multimedia content6. A. share his learning experience with the best and brightest thinkers7. C. professors can join in students’ online discussions8. manpower to put together each one9. cost10. remains to be seen【整体点评】这是一篇讨论电子课本能否取代纸质课本的议论文。
2013年6月份四级考试真题(附带答案解析、听力原文)
2013年6月份四级考试真题(附带答案解析、听力原文)2013年6月份四级考试真题(附带答案解析及听力原文)考试时间安排:一般在6月18日和12月17日左右大学英语四级考试流程?8:50---9:00试音时间?9:00---9:10播放考场指令,发放作文考卷?9:10取下耳机,开始作文考试?9:35发放含有快速阅读的试题册(但9:40才允许开始做)?9:40---9:55做快速阅读?9:55---10:00收答题卡一(即作文和快速阅读)?9:55---10:00重新戴上耳机,试音寻台,准备听力考试?10:00开始听力考试,电台开始放音?听力结束后完成剩余考项。
?11:20全部考试结束。
Part ⅠWriting (30minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Excessive Packaging following the outline given below. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.1.目前许多商品存在过度包装的现象2.出现这一现象的原因3.我对这一现象的看法和建议On Excessive PackagingPart Ⅱ Reading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning)(15minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer sheet 1. For questions 1-7,choose the best answer from the fourchoices marked A),B),C)and D). For questions 8-10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Small Schools RisingThis year’s list of the top 100 high schools shows that today, those with fewer students are flourishing.Fifty years ago, they were the latest thing in educational reform: big, modern, suburban high schools with students counted in the thousands. As baby boomers(二战后婴儿潮时期出生的人) came of high-school age, big schools promised economic efficiency. A greater choice of courses, and, of course, better football teams. Only years later did we understand the trade-offs this involved: the creation of excessive bureaucracies(官僚机构),the difficulty of forging personal connections between teachers and students.SAT scores began dropping in 1963;today,on average,30% of students do not complete high school in four years, a figure that rises to 50% in poor urban neighborhoods. While the emphasis on teaching to higher, test-driven standards as set in No Child Left Behind resulted in significantly better performance in elementary(and some middle)schools, high schools for a variety of reasons seemed to have made little progress.Size isn’t everything, but it does matter, and the past decade has seen a noticeable countertrend toward smaller schools. This has been due ,in part ,to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested $1.8 billion in American high schools, helping to open about 1,000 small schools-most of them with about 400 kids each with an average enrollment of only 150 per grade, About 500 more are on the drawing board. Districts all over the country are taking notice, along with mayors in cities like New York, Chicago and San Diego. The movement includesindependent public charter schools, such as No.1 BASIS in Tucson, with only 120 high-schoolers and 18 graduates this year. It embraces district-sanctioned magnet schools, such as the Talented and Gifted School, with 198 students, and the Science and Engineering Magnet,with383,which share a building in Dallas, as well as the City Honors School in Buffalo, N.Y., which grew out of volunteer evening seminars for students. And it includes alternative schools with students selected by lottery(抽签),such as H-B Woodlawn in Arlington, Va. And most noticeable of all, there is the phenomenon of large urban and suburban high schools that have split up into smaller units ofa few hundred, generally housed in the same grounds that once boasted thousands of students all marching to the same band.Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, Calif, is one of those, ranking No.423—among the top 2% in the country—on Newsweek’s annual ranking of America’s top high schools. The success of small schools is apparent in the listings. Ten years ago, when the first Newsweek list based on college-level test participation was published, only three of the top 100 schools had graduating Classes smaller than 100 students. This year there are 22. Nearly 250 schools on the full ,Newsweek list of the top 5% of schools nationally had fewer than 200 graduates in 2007.Although many of Hillsdale’s students came from wealthy households, by the late 1990 average test scores were sliding and it had earned the unaffectionate nickname (绰号) “Hillsjail. ” Jeff Gilbert. A Hillsdale teacher who became principal last year, remembers sitting with other teachers watching students file out of a graduation ceremony and asking one another in a stonishment, “How did that student graduate?”So in 2003 Hillsdale remade itself into three “houses,” romantically named Florence, Marrakech and Kyoto. Each of the 300 arriving ninth graders are randomly(随机地) assigned to one of the houses. Where they will keep the same four core subject teachers for two years, before moving on to another for 11th and 12th grades. The closeness this system cultivates is reinforced by the institution of “advisory”classes Teachers meet with students in groups of 25, five mornings a week, for open-ended discussions of everything from homework problems to bad Saturday-night dates. The advisers also meet with students privately and stay in touch with parents, so they are deeply invested in the students’ success.“We’re constantly t alking about one another’s advisers,” says English teacher Chris Crockett. “If you hear that yours isn’t doing well in math, or see them sitting outside the dean’s office, it’s like a personal failure.” Along with the new structure came a more demanding academic program, the percentage of freshmen taking biology jumped from 17 to 95.“It was rough for some. But by senior year, two-thirds have moved up to physics,”says Gilbert “Our kids are coming to school in part because they know there are adults here who know them and care for them.”But not all schools show advances after downsizing, and it remains to be seen whether smaller schools will be a cure-all solution.The Newsweek list of top U.S. high schools was made this year, as in years past, according to a single metric, the proportion of students taking college-level exams.Over the years this system has come in for its share of criticism for its simplicity. But that is also its strength: it’s easy for readers to understand, and to do the arithmetic for their own schools if they’d like.Ranking schools is always controversial, and this year a group of 38 superintendents(地区教育主管)from five states wrote to ask that their schools be excluded from the calculation.“It is impossible to know which high schools are ‘the best’ in the nation, ”their letter read. in part. “Determining whether different schools do or don’t offer a high quality of education requires a look at man different measures, including students’ overall academic accomplishments and their subsequent performance in college. And taking into consideration the unique needs of their communities.”In the end, the superintendents agreed to provide the data we sought, which is, after all, public information. There is, in our view, no real dispute here, we are all seeking the same thing, which is schools that better serve our children and our nation by encouraging students to tackle tough subjects under the guidance of gifted teachers. And if we keep working toward that goal, someday, perhaps a list won’t be nec essary.注意:此部分试题请在答卡1上作答.1. Fifty years ago. big. Modern. Suburban high schools were established in the hope of __________.A) ensuring no child is left behindB) increasing economic efficiencyC) improving students’ performance on SATD)providing good education for baby boomers2. What happened as a result of setting up big schools?A)Teachers’ workload increased.B)Students’ performance declined.C)Administration became centralized.D)Students focused more on test scores.3.What is said about the schools forded by the Bill andMelinda Gates foundation?A)They are usually magnet schools.B)They are often located in poor neighborhoods.C)They are popular with high-achieving students.D)They are mostly small in size.4.What is most noticeable about the current trend in high school education?A)Some large schools have split up into smaller ones.B)A great variety of schools have sprung up in urban and suburban areas.C)Many schools compete for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funds.D)Students have to meet higher academic standards.5.Newsweek ranked high schools according to .A)their students’ academic achievementB)the number of their students admitted to collegeC)the size and number of their graduating classesD)their college-level test participation6.What can we learn about Hillsdale’s students in the late 1990s?A)They were made to study hard like prisoners.B)They called each other by unaffectionate nicknames.C)Most of them did not have any sense of discipline,D)Their school performance was getting worse.7.According to Jeff Gilbert, the “advisory” classes at Hillsdale were set up so that students could .A)tell their teachers what they did on weekendsB)experience a great deal of pleasure in learningC)maintain closer relationships with their teachersD)tackle the demanding biology and physics courses8. is still considered a strength of Newsweek’s school ranking system in spite of the criticism it receives.9.According to the 38 superintendents, to rank schools scientifically, it is necessary to use .10.To better serve the children and our nation, schools students totake .Part Ⅲ Listening Comprehension (35minutes)Section ADirections: in this section you will hear 8 short conversations, 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:此部分试题请在答案卡2上作案。
2013年6月英语四级真题及答案【全】
2013年6月英语四级真题及答案【全】Part I Writing对白:儿子: Dad, I'm a bit worried about disposing of nuclear waste(处理核废料)爸爸: If you can empty the dustbin(垃圾筒) here, you can do anything!范文:The picture shows us a dialogue between a father and a son. The son told his father, “Dad, I’m a bit worried about disposing of nuclear waste”. While his father told him, “If you can empty the dustbin here you can do anything”. It reveals the importance of doing small things well before undertaking something big. There is also an old Chinese saying to go with this that a person can’t sweep the world before he can sweep his own room.Unquestionably, doing small things is the first step of success and will layroot for doing something big. By doing something small, we are enabled to accumulate experience, master skills and train ourselves to be more patient. In other word, we can be well prepared for further challenges in the course of fulfilling small things. By contrast, those who set out to do something big will be constantly haunted by disappointment, frustrations or even failures. As when opportunity “something big” appears, they can hardly seize them because of the lack of experience and confidence stems from doing small things.Taking the picture presented above as a case in point, how can the little boy succeedin disposing of nuclear weapons if he even doesn’t know how to empty the dustbin?From my perspective, under no circumstances should we undervalue the power of doing small things. Instead, we should regard small things as the source of experience, skills and the prerequisite of success. “Great achievement only belongs to those who can do small things perfectly.”Aristotle once said.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)1.A. they are not rescued once a new edition comes out2. B. They haven’t fixed all the shortcomings of print books.3. A. they find it troublesome to take notes with an iPad.4. D. they are no more than print versions put on a screen5. C. a platform for building multimedia content6. A. share his learning experience with the best and brightest thinkers7. C. professors can join in students’ online discussions8. manpower to put together each one9. cost10. remains to be seen【整体点评】这是一篇讨论电子课本能否取代纸质课本的议论文。
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最牛英语口语培训模式:躺在家里练口语,全程外教一对一,三个月畅谈无阻!洛基英语,免费体验全部在线一对一课程:/wenkxd.htm(报名网址)Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States? Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform?Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible ( 可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.62. It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality __________.A) still judge a man by his clothesB) hold the uniform in such high regardC) enjoy having a professional identityD) will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform63. People are accustomed to thinking that a man in uniformA) suggests quality workB) discards his social identityC) appears to be more practicalD) looks superior to a person in civilian clothes64. The chief function of a uniform is to __________.A) provide practical benefits to the wearerB) make the wearer catch the public eyeC) inspire the wearer's confidence in himselfD) provide the wearer with a professional identity65. According to the passage, people wearing uniforms __________.A) are usually helpfulB) have little or no individual freedomC) tend to lose their individualityD) enjoy greater popularity66. The best title for this passage would be __________.A) Uniforms and SocietyB) The Importance of Wearing a UniformC) Practical Benefits of Wearing a UniformD) Advantages and Disadvantages of UniformsPart V Cloze (15 minutes) Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B),C) and D) on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.It has always been difficult for me to decide whether "popular music" means music written for the people or is simply music that the people like. The sameproblem of definition 67 with jazz. So many different 68 of "music have been called jazz at one time or another that it is 69 to say what it really is.Jazz has always been 70 to be black music but when I first 71 an interest in it, I used to hear white bands playing music that was like Louis Armstrong's inthe 1920s. I found out 72 that they learnt to do this by playing his records 73 until their style was close enough to his for them to 74 him.Since then white singers 75 Bob Dylan have rediscovered their own folk 76 , instead of borrowing from black roots. But the main changes 77 1960 have been social and technical. One is that young people have more money to spend on 78 at an earlier age than they 79 , so Tin Pan Alley, the "pop" music industry, 80 at teenage audience. 81 is that electronic equipment has developed to such an 82 that technicians are now capable of mixing sound to produce recordings that are quite different from a 83 performance.But the real problem with "pop" music is that Tin Pan Alley has always worked against its being a 84 music of the people. It 85 everything original and natural out of it and 86 it with cheap commercial imitations. As the American folk singer, Woody Guthrie, said: "They've always preferred the second rate songs. They've never wanted to play the good ones. "67. A) takesB) existsC) startsD) correlates68. A) groupsB) fieldsC) typesD) definitions69. A) simpleB) freeC) interestingD) hard70. A) advisedB) regardedC) consideredD) agreed71. A) beganB) startedC) tookD) had72. A) afterwardsB) henceC) thereforeD) however73. A) once againB) over and over againC) more and more timesD) the most times possible74. A) followB) imitateC) honourD) remember75. A) asB) likeC) for exampleD) for instance76. A) achievementB) gloryC) traditionD) customs77. A) beforeB) afterwardsC) sinceD) during78. A) televisionB) moviesC) booksD) records79. A) usedB) used toC) usually hadD) would80. A) aimsB) agreesC) shootsD) flies81. A) The latestB) AnotherC) The nextD) The following82. A) extantB) extensionC) expanseD) extent83. A) aliveB) livelyc) liveD) living84. A) genuineB) artificialC) trueD) original85. A) getsB) takesC) drawsD) makes86. A) alternatesB) changesC) providesD) substitutes“成千上万人疯狂下载。