英语四级新闻听力20191205

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2019年12月大学英语四级听力VOA慢速英语(34)

2019年12月大学英语四级听力VOA慢速英语(34)WASHINGTON— Washington is refocused on aviation security after last week’s EgyptAir disaster over the Mediterranean that killed all 66 on board the flight from Paris to Cairo. Although the cause of the deadly crash has yet to be determined, U.S. lawmakers are renewing demands that airport screening be both thorough and speedy.The EgyptAir disaster raises questions and concerns at a time when U.S. air travelers already experience record lines and delays passing through security. Some lawmakers arepoint ing a finger at Islamic State for last week’s crash.“We know they successfully took down an airliner flying from Egypt to Russia,” said Republican Congressman Ed Royce on ABC-TV’s This Week program. “We know that they are working on a bomb that’s undetectable.”FILE An airline passenger is patted down by a TSA agent after passing through a full-body scanner at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 20, 2014. The TSA is under fire as waiting periods for passenger screenings grow.If lawmakers are assuming a heightened terrorist threat until evidence proves otherwise, pressure will mount on federal airport screeners, widely reported to be understaffed and overburdened even on the best of days.“One of the difficulties we’ve had is with a great deal of turnover at TSA, and there are certainly management problems at TSA,” Royce added.Last year, reports surfaced that federal screeners had failed to detect fake weapons and explosives in an alarming percentage of tests. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) insists that gaps and vulnerabilities have been fixed.Complex task“We have retrained our entire workforce, corrected procedures, improved our technology and analyzed systemic issues,” said TSA Adminis trator Peter Neffenger testifying on Capitol Hill earlier this year. “I am also confident that TSA is able to deter, detect and disrupt threats to our aviation system.”Security may be improved, but tempers have been flaring at U.S. airports with some travelers waiting hours to board their flights, or missing flights because of long security check lines.“On the one hand, we are looking for 100 percent security,” said Republican Senator Ron Johnson at a hearing where TSA whistleblowers came forward. “On the other hand, we are looking for complete efficiency so that lines don’t back up. It’s an enormously complex and difficult task.”As America enters the busy summer travel season, the White House has a simple message – safety comes first.“Obviou sly, our first priority is making sure that people are safe,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said Friday. “TSA must continue its rigorous security screenings and we're not going to lower our standards for the sake of convenience.”Once pinpointed, the cause of the EgyptAir disaster may or may not heighten concerns about the ability of terrorists to down airliners. But lawmakers aren’t waiting and will be pressing for answers at hearings this week.。

2019年四级12月听力原文

2019年12月大学英语四级听力部分原文Part I Section ALong ConversationText 1M: I’m so lucky to have found this job. I really enjoy my work and I think I get on very well with my colleagues.W: That’s great. It’s always so important to get on well with the people you work with, isn’t it?Text 2M: I just think the amount of money people spend on weddings is ridiculous.W: But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. You don’t want to look back and regret not having a proper celebration, do you?Part I Section BPassagePassage 1Sharks are scary creatures, aren’t they? When you look at them, they remind you of the dinosaurs. It’s quite unnerving to think that they have been around for over 400 million years. But in truth, sharks are not the dangerous predators movies and TVshows make them out to be. The fact is that sharks are quite shy and from reports we receive from divers, sharks are more likely to swim away from you than approach you.Passage 2In the future, we may live in a world that includes robots and other forms of intelligent life. If we want that toe true, we have to treat robots with respect now. It is important, therefore, to teach young people to have good manners and to treat robots with respect, to treat them as colleagues and not as slaves.Part II Section AShort Conversations1.M: Would you like a cup of tea?W: That would be lovely, thank you.2.W: Did you see the news about the new subway line they’re building?M: Yes, it’s supposed to make a big difference in the city’s transportation system.Part II Section BNews BroadcastNews 1Two people were injured in a shooting at a shopping mall in the downtown area. Police are looking for the shooter, who is believed to have fled the scene.News 2The government is considering a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags in order to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.Part III Section AListening Comprehension1. Short ConversationW: What do you think of the new restaurant down the street? M: I haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard good things about it.2. Short PassageHumans are not particularly good at multitasking, which is not surprising. Some people may think that doing more than one thing at once is a good skill to have. But psychologists say that our br本人ns simply are not capable of doing more than one thing at a time.Part III Section BListening and Translation1. Sentence Translation我们志愿者用体育项目帮助残疾人士提高自信心和体格。

2019年12月大学英语四级真题试卷及答案(三套全)

2019年12月四级真题及答案（全三套）第一套Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to teach English in China. Please recommend a city to him. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part ⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and then 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 1with a single line through the centre.Questions l and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Many facilities were destroyed by a wandering cow.B) A wandering cow knocked down one of its fences.C) Some tourists were injured by a wandering cow.D) A wandering cow was captured by the police.2. A) It was shot to death by a police officer. B) It found its way back to the park’s zoo.C) It became a great attraction for tourists. D) It was sent to the animal control department. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It is the largest of its kind. B) It is going to be expanded.C) It is displaying more fossil specimens. D) It is staring an online exhibition.4. A) A collection of bird fossils from Australia. B) Photographs of certain rare fossil exhibits.C) Some ancient wall paintings from Australia. D) Pictures by winners of a wildlife photo contest. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) Pick up trash. B) Amuse visitors.C) Deliver messages. D) Play with children.6. A) They are especially intelligent. B) They are children’s favorite.C) They are quite easy to tame. D) They are clean and pretty.7. A) Children may be harmed by the rooks. B) Children may be tempted to drop litter.C) Children may contract bird diseases. D) Children may overfeed the rooks.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) It will be produced at Harvard University. B) It will be hosted by famous professors.C) It will cover different areas of science. D) It will focus on recent scientific discoveries.9. A) It will be more futuristic. B) It will be more systematic.C) It will be more entertaining. D) It will be easier to understand.10. A) People interested in science. B) Youngsters eager to explore.C) Children in their early teens. D) Students majoring in science.11. A) Offer professional advice. B) Provide financial support.C) Help promote it on the Internet. D) Make episodes for its first season.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Unsure. B) Helpless. C) Concerned. D) Dissatisfied.13. A) He is too concerned with being perfect. B) He loses heart when faced with setbacks.C) He is too ambitious in achieving goals. D) He takes on projects beyond his ability.14. A) Embarrassed. B) Unconcerned. C) Miserable. D) Resentful.15. A) Try to be optimistic whatever happens. B) Compare his present with his past only.C) Always learn from others’ achievements.D) Treat others the way he would be treated.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) They have a stronger sense of social responsibility.B) They are more likely to succeed in the humanities.C) They are more likely to become engineers.D) They have greater potential to be leaders.17. A) Praise girls who like to speak up frequently.B) Encourage girls to solve problems on their own.C) Insist that boys and girls work together more.D) Respond more positively to boys’ comments.18. A) Offer personalized teaching materials. B) Provide a variety of optional courses.C) Place great emphasis on test scores. D) Pay extra attention to top students. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) It often rains cats and dogs. B) It seldom rains in summer time.C) It does not rain as much as people think. D) It is one of the most rainy cities in the US.20. A) They drive most of the time. B) The rain is usually very light.C) They have got used to the rain. D) The rain comes mostly at night.21. A) It has a lot of places for entertainment.B) It has never seen thunder and lighting.C) It has fewer cloudy days than any other coastal city.D) It has mild weather both in summer and in winter.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) It occurs when people are doing a repetitive activity.B) It results from exerting one’s muscles continuously.C) It happens when people engage in an uncommon activity.D) It comes from staining one’s muscles in an unusual way.23. A) Blood flow and body heat increase in the affected area.B) Body movements in the affected area become difficult.C) They begin to make repairs immediately.D) They gradually become fragmented.24. A) About one week. B) About two days.C) About ten days. D) About four weeks.25. A) Apply muscle creams. B) Drink plenty of water.C) Have a hot shower. D) Take pain-killers..Part ⅢReading Comprehension (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 use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.When travelling overseas, do you buy water in plastic bottles or take your chances with tap water? Imagine you are wandering about on a Thai island or 26 the ruins of Angkor. It’s hot so you grab a bottle of water from a local vendor. It’s the safe, sane thing to do, right? The bottle is27 , and the label says “pure water”, but maybe what’s inside is not so28 . Would you still be drinking it if you knew that more than 90 percent of all bottled water sold around the world 29 microplastics?That’s the conclusion of a recently30 study, which analyzed 259 bottles from 11 brands sold in nine countries, 31 an average of 325 plastic particles per liter of water. These microplastics included a 32 commonly known as PET and are widely used in the manufacture of clothing and food and 33 containers. The study was conducted at the State University of New York on behalf of Orb Media, a journalism organization. About a million bottles are bought every minute, not only by thirsty tourists but also by many of the 2.1 billion worldwide who live with unsafe drinking water.Confronted with this 34 , several bottled-water manufacturers including Nestle and Coco-Cola undertook their own studies using the same methodology. These studies showed that their water did contain microplastics, but far less than the Orb study suggested. Regardless, the World Health Organization has now launched a review into the 35 health risks of drinking water from plastic bottles.Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to 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.The Quiet Heroism of Mail Delivery[A] On Wednesday, a polar wind brought bitter cold to the Midwest. Overnight, Chicago reached a low of 21 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, making it slightly colder than Antarctica, Alaska, and the North Pole. Wind chills were 64 degrees below zero in Park Rapids, Minnesota, and 45 degrees below zero in Buffalo, North Dakota, according to the National Weather Service. Schools, restaurants, and businesses closed, and more than 1,000 flights have been canceled.[B] Even the United States Postal Service (USPS) suspended mail delivery temporarily. “Due to this arctic outbreak and concerns for the safety of USPS employees,” USPS announced Wednesday morning, “the Postal Service is suspending delivery Jan. 30 in the following 3-digit ZIP Code locations.” Twelve regions were listed as unsafe on Wednesday; on Thursday, eight remained.[C] As global surface temperatures increase, so does the likelihood of extreme weather. In 2018 alone, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, mudslides, and other natural disasters cost at least $49 billion in the United States. As my colleague V ann Newkirk reported, Puerto Rico is still confronting economic and structural destruction and resource scarcity from 2017’s Hurrican e Maria. Natural disasters can wreck a community’s infrastructure, disrupting systems for months or years. Some services, however, remind us that life will eventually return, in some form, to normal.[D] Days after the deadly 2017 wildfires in Santa Rosa, California, a drone caught footage of a USPS worker, Trevor Smith, driving through burned homes in that familiar white van, collecting mail in an affected area. Thevideo is striking: The operation is familiar, but the scene looks like the end of the world. According to Rae Ann Haight, the program manager for the national-preparedness office at USPS, Smith was fulfilling a request made by some of the home owners to pick up any mail that was left untouched. For Smith, this was just another day on the job. “I followed my route like I normally do,” Smith told a reporter. “As I’d come across a box that was up but with no house, I checked, and there was mail—outgoing mail—in it. And so we picked those up and carried on.”[E] USPS has sophisticated emergency plans for natural disasters. Across the country, 285 emergency-management teams are devoted to crisis control. These teams are trained annually using a framework known as the three Ps: people, property, product. After mail service stops due to weather, the agen cy’s top priority is ensuring that employees are safe. Then it evaluates the health of infrastructure, such as the roads that mail carriers drive on. Finally, it decides when and how to re-open operations. If the destruction is extreme, mail addressed to the area will get sent elsewhere. In response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, USPS redirected incoming New Orleans mail to existing mail facilities in Houston. Mail that was already processed in New Orleans facilities was moved to an upper floor so it would be protected from water damage.[F] As soon as it’s safe enough to be outside, couriers start distributing accumulated mail on the still-accessible routes. USPS urges those without standing addresses to file change-of-address forms with their new location. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, mail facilities were set up in dozens of other locations across the country in the two weeks that USPS was unable to provide street delivery.[G] Every day, USPS processes, on average, 493.4 million pieces of mail—anything from postcards to Social Security checks to medicine. Spokespeople from both USPS and UPS told me all mail is important. But some mail can be extremely sensitive and timely. According to data released in January 2017, 56 percent of bills are paid online, which means that just under half of payments still rely on delivery services to be completed. [H] It can be hard to identify which parcels are carrying crucial items such as Social Security checks, but USPS and UPS try their best to prioritize sensitive material. They will coordinate with the Social Security Administration to make sure that Social Security checks reach the right people in a timely fashion. After Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael last fall, USPS worked with state and local election boards to make sure that absentee ballots were available and received on time.[I] Mail companies are logistics companies, which puts them in a special position to help when disaster strikes. In a 2011 USPS case study, the agency emphasized its massive in frastructure as a “unique federal asset” to be called upon in a disaster or terrorist attack. “I think we’re unique as a federal agency,” USPS official MikeSwigart told me, “because we’re in literally every community in this country … We’re obligated to d eliver to that point on a daily basis.”[J] Private courier companies, which have more dollars to spend, use their expertise in logistics to help revitalize damaged areas after a disaster. For more than a decade, FedEx has supported the American Red Cross in its effort to get emergency supplies to areas affected by disasters, both domestically and internationally. In 2012, the company distributed more than 1,200 MedPacks to Medical Reserve Corps groups in California, and donated space for 3.1 million pounds of charitable shipping globally. Last October, the company pledged $1 million in cash and transportation support for Hurricanes Florence and Michael. UPS’s charitable arm, the UPS Foundation, uses the company’s logistics to help disaster-struck areas rebu ild. “We realize that as a company with people, trucks, warehouses, we needed to play a larger role,” said Eduardo Martinez, the president of the UPS Foundation. The company employs its trucks and planes to deliver food, medicine, and water. The day before I spoke to Martinez in November, he had been touring the damage from Hurricane Michael in Florida with the American Red Cross. “We have an obligation to make sure our communities are thriving, prosperous,” he said.[K] Rebuilding can take a long time, and even then, impressions of the disaster may still remain. Returning to a sense of normalcy can be difficult, but some small routines—mail delivery being one of them—may help residents remember that their communities are still their communities. “When they see that carrier back out on the street,” Swigart said, “that’s the first sign to them that life is starting to return to normal.”36. The United States Postal Service has a system to ensure its employees’ safety.37. One official says USPS is unique in that it has more direct reach to communities compared with other federal agencies38. Natural disasters can have a long-lasting impact on community life.39. Mail delivery service i$ still responsible for the completion of almost half of payments.40. The sight of a mailman on the street is a reassuring sign of life becoming normal again.41. After Hurricane Katrina interrupted routine delivery, temporary mail service points were set up.42. Postal service in some regions in the U.S. was suspended due to extreme cold weather.43. Private postal companies also support disaster relief efforts by distributing urgent supplies.44. A dedicated USPS employee was on the job carrying out duties in spite of extreme conditions.45. Postal services work hard to identify items that require priority treatment.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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Professor Ashok Goel of Georgia Tech developed an artificially intelligent teaching assistant to help handle the enormous number of student questions in the online class, Knowledge Based Artificial Intelligence. This online course is a core requirement of Georgia Tech’s online Master of Science in Computer Science program. Professor G oel already had 8 teaching assistants, but that wasn’t enough to deal with the overwhelming number of questions from students.Many students drop out of online courses because of the lack of teaching support. When students feel isolated or confused and reach out with questions that go unanswered, their motivation to continue begins to fade. Professor Goel decided to do something to remedy this situation and his solution was to create a virtual assistant named Jill Watson, which is based on the IBM Watson platform.Goel and his team developed several versions of Jill Watson before releasing her to the online forums. At first, the virtual assistant wasn’t too great. But Goel and his team sourced the online discussion forum to find all 40,000 questions that had ever been asked since the class was launched. Then they began to feed Jill the questions and answers. After some adjustment and sufficient time, Jill was able to answer the students’ questions correctly 97% of the time. The virtual assistant became so advanced and realistic that the students didn’t know she was a computer. The students, who were studying artificial intelligence, were interacting with artificial intelligence and couldn’t tell it apart from a real human being. Goel didn’t inform them about Jill’s true identity until April 26. The students were actually very positive about the experience.The goal of Professor Goel’s virtual assistant next year is to take over answering 40% of all questions posed by students on the online forum. The name, Jill Watson, will of course, change to something else next semester. Professor Goel has a much rosier outlook on the future of AI than say, Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates or Steve Wozniak.46. What do we learn about Knowledge-Based Artificial Intelligence?A) It is a robot that can answer students’ questions.B) It is a course designed for students to learn online.C) It is a high-tech device that revolutionizes teaching.D) It is a computer program that aids student learning.47. What problem did Professor Goel meet with?A) His students were unsatisfied with the assistants.B) His course was too difficult for the students.C) Students’ questions were too many to handle.D) Too many students dropped out of his course.48. What do we learn about Jill Watson?A) She turned out to be a great success. B) She got along pretty well with students.C) She was unwelcome to students at first. D) She was released online as an experiment.49. How did the students feel about Jill Watson?A) They thought she was a bit too artificial. B) They found her not as capable as expected.C) They could not but admire her knowledge. D) They could not tell her from a real person.50. What does Professor Goel plan to do next with Jill Watson?A) Launch different versions of her online.B) Feed her with new questions and answers.C) Assign her to answer more of students’ questions.D) Encourage students to interact with her more freely.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Thinking small, being enga ging, and having a sense of humor don’t hurt. Those are a few of the traits of successful science crowdfunding efforts that emerge from a recent study that examined nearly 400 campaigns. But having a large network and some promotional skills may be more crucial.Crowdfunding, raising money for a project through online appeals, has taken off in recent years for everything from making movies to building water-saving gadgets. Scientists have tried to tap Internet donors, too, with mixed success. Some raised more than twice their goal, but others have fallen short of reaching more modest targets.To determine what separates science crowdfunding triumphs from failures, a team led by science communications scholar Mike Schäfer of the University of Zurich in Switzerland examined the content of the WebPages for 371 recent campaigns.Four traits stood out for those that achieved their goals, the researchers report in Public Understanding of Science. For one, they use a crowdfunding platform that specializes in raising money for science, and not just any kind of project. Although sites like Kickstarter take all comers, platforms such as , , and only present scientific projects. For another, they present the project with a funny video because good visuals and a sense of humor improved success. Most of them engage with potential donors since projects that answered questions from interested donors and posted lab notes fared better. And they target a small amount of money. The projects included in the study raised $4000 on average, with 30% of projects receiving less than $1000. The more money a project sought, the lower the chance it reached its goal, the researchers found.Other factors may also significantly influence a project’s success, most notably, the size of a scientist’s personal and professional networks, and how much a researcher promotes a project on his or her own. Those two factors are by far more critical than the content on the page. Crowdfunding can be part of researc hers’ efforts to reach the public, and people give because “they feel a connection to the person” who is doing the fundraising—not necessarily to the science.51. What do we learn about the scientists trying to raise money online for their projects?A) They did not raise much due to modest targets.B) They made use of mixed fundraising strategies.C) Not all of them achieved their anticipated goals.D) Most of them put movies online for the purpose.52. What is the purpose of Mike Schäfer’s research of rece nt crowdfunding campaigns?A) To create attractive content for science websites.B) To identify reasons for their different outcomes.C) To help scientists to launch innovative projects.D) To separate science projects from general ones.53. What trait contributes to the success of a crowdfunding campaign?A) The potential benefit to future generations. B) Its interaction with prospective donors.C) Its originality in addressing financial issues. D) The value of the proposed project.54. What did the researchers think of the financial targets of crowdfunding projects?A) They should be small to be successful. B) They should be based on actual needs.C) They should be assessed with great care. D) They should be ambitious to gain notice.55. What motivates people to donate in a crowdfunding campaign?A) The ease of access to the content of the webpage.B) Their desire to contribute to the cause of science.C) The significance and influence of the project itself.D) Their feeling of connection to the scientists themselves.Part ⅣTranslation (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.中国家庭十分重视孩子的教育。

2019年12月大学英语四级考试听力真题-第二套

2019年12月大学英语四级考试真题听力（第二套）Part ⅠWriting (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to learn Chinese. Please recommend a city to him. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions l and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A) The number of male nurses has gone down.B) There is discrimination against male nurses.C) There is a growing shortage of medical personnel.D) The number of nurses has dropped to a record low.2.A) Working conditions.B) Educational system.C) Inadequate pay.D) Cultural bias.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A) He fell out of a lifeboat.B) He was almost drowned.C) He lost his way on a beach.D) He enjoyed swimming in the sea.4.A) The lifeboats patrol the area round the clock.B) The beach is a good place to watch the tide.C) The emergency services are efficient.D) The beach is a popular tourist resort.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A) It climbed 25 storeys at one go.B) It broke into an office room.C) It escaped from a local zoo.D) It became an online star.6.A) Release it into the wild.B) Return it to its owner.C) Send it back to the zoo.D) Give it a physical checkup.7.A) A racoon can perform acts no human can.B) A racoon can climb much higher than a cat.C) The racoon did something no politician could.D) The raccoon became as famous as some politicians.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A) She received a bonus unexpectedly.B) She got a well-paying job in a bank.C She received her first monthly salary.D) She got a pay raise for her performance.9.A) Two decades ago.B) Several years ago.C) Just last month.D) Right after graduation.10.A) He sent a small check to his parents.B) He treated his parents to a nice meal.C) He took a few of his friends to a gym.D) He immediately deposited it in a bank.11.A) Join her colleagues for gym exercise.B) Visit her former university campus.C) Buy some professional clothes.D) Budget her salary carefully.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) He has just too many things to attend to.B) He has been overworked recently.C) He has a difficult decision to make.D) He has just quarreled with his girlfriend.13.A) Turn to his girlfriend for assistance.B) Give priority to things more urgent.C) Think twice before making the decision.D) Seek advice from his family and advisor.14.A) His girlfriend does not support his decision.B) He is not particularly keen on the job offered.C) He lacks the money for his doctoral program.D) His parents and advisor have different opinions.15.A)They need time to make preparations.B) They haven’t started their careers yet.C) They need to save enough money for it.D) They haven’t won their parents’approval.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) Expressing ideas and opinions freely.B) Enriching social and intellectual lives.C) Acquiring information and professional knowledge.D) Using information to understand and solve problems.17.A) Traveling to different places in the world.B) Playing games that challenge one’s mind.C) Improving mind-reading strategies.D) Reading classic scientific literature.18.A) Participate in debates or discussions.B) Expose themselves to different cultures.C) Discard personal biases and prejudices.D) Give others freedom to express themselves.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) Why dogs can be faithful friends of humans.B) The nature of relationships between dogs.C) The reason a great many people love dogs.D) How dogs feel about their bonds with humans.20.A) They behave like other animals in many ways.B) They have an unusual sense of responsibility.C) They can respond to humans’questions.D) They can fall in love just like humans.21.A) They stay with one partner for life.B) They have their own joys and sorrows.C) They experience true romantic love.D) They help humans in various ways.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) A rare animal.B) A historical site.C) A cow bone.D) A precious stone.23. A) Dating it.B) Preserving it.C) Measuring it.D) Identifying it.24.A) The channel needs to interview the boy.B) The boy should have called an expert.C) The boy's family had acted correctly.D) The site should have been protected.25.A) Conduct a more detailed search.B) Ask the university to reward Jude.C) Search for similar fossils elsewhere.D) Seek additional funds for the search.1-5 DACBA 6-10 BDCBD 11-15 CACBC 16-20 BCDAC 21-25 DABBD。

2019年12月英语四级听力新闻：经济

2019年12月英语四级听力新闻：经济类词汇（四）英语四级听力新闻：经济类词汇interest利息International Finance Corporation/IFC国际金融公司International Monetary Found/IMF国际货币基金组织investment trust投资信托investment投资，资产investor投资人issue发行股票land tax地租，地价税lender债权人liberal economy自由经济London Stock Market伦敦股票市场long term loan长期贷款manufactured goods/finished goods制成品，产成品maturity到期日，偿还日medium term loan中期贷款mixed economy混合经济money货币mortgage抵押National city Bank of New York花旗银行national income国民收入net income纯收益，净收入，收益净额New York Stock Exchange/NYSE纽约证券交易所opening price开盘operating costs生产费用，营业成本operating expenses营业费用Organization for Economic cooperation and Development/DECD经济合作与开发组织Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries/OPEC石油输出国组织output产出，产量overhead costs营业间接成本overheads杂项开支，间接成本overproduction生产过剩par value股面价格，票面价格petrodollar石油美元planned economy计划经济political economy政治经济学preference stock优先股price index物价指数price-curbing policy抑制物价政策primary sector初级成分private sector私营成分，私营部门producer生产者，制造者productive/producing生产的productiveness赢利性productivity生产率。

2019年12月大学英语四级听力VOA慢速英语(5)

2019年12月大学英语四级听力VOA慢速英语(5)The annual Washington Auto Show opened its doors to the general public Tuesday, after a three-day delay caused by a snowstorm that hit the U.S. East Coast. More than 30 world-class auto makers exhibited their latest models, placing special emphasis on connectivity.Coming on the heels of the larger shows in Los Angeles and Detroit, the Washington Auto Show has carved out a niche as the one that emphasizes new technologies, especially those that cause less damage to the environment.But with falling oil prices, the promotion of thriftier hybrid or all-electric vehicles was somewhat muted, shifting the auto show's focus to connectivity and automatization.Automotive engineering professor, Zoran Filipi, says the technology in this Mercedes S-class model shows that we are at the dawn of cars that almost drive themselves.“It has lane-keeping ability, it has advanced radar-based system to keep the vehicle’s speed also in sync with other vehicles and this can completely alleviate your effort, driving effort, in stop-and-go situations too, and finally the collision avoidance," said Filipi.Very soon we will see these technologies trickling-down to more affordable models as car makers work to develop fully autonomous-driving cars.In the meantime, says Filipi, fuel efficiency has improved 20 percent over the last 10 years.“This has mostly been achieved with advanced engine technologies – direct injection, turbo-charging, coupled to very modern transmissions, eight, nine, ten speeds that keep the engine running in the best possible region," he said.Almost all new models have built-in display screens that connect the vehicle to the driver’s smartphone and the Internet, helping in navigation, taking voice commands, and sending and receiving messages.“Therefore you can use all the applications you are used to, everything that is tailored to your needs in your car and it’s very seamless," said Filipi.Larger manufacturers, such as Toyota, say their all-electric fuel-cell cars are ready for the market and the only obstacle is the lack of charging stations.Others promote their hybrid gas-electric models, saying that the number of charging stations is constantly rising while the price of home chargers is dropping.South Korean carmaker Hyundai even offers a lifetime warranty for the battery in its top-of-the-line model, hoping to make the hybrid car more attractive to customers.。

2019年12月英语四级听力新闻：生活篇(二)

2019年12月英语四级听力新闻：生活篇（二）英语四级听力新闻词汇：生活篇express train 快车extended family 大家庭extension 范围，扩展family tree 家谱flat 居住单元，套房freight train 货运车gross wages 全部收入high street 大街，主要街道hydrant 消火栓immunity 豁免，豁免权inhabitants 居民junk shop 旧货店lease 租约legislation 立法lighting 照明limited express 特快locality 所在地metropolis 大都市minutes 备忘录monument 纪念碑movables 动产municipality 市政*net/real wages 实际收入newsstand 报摊nuclear family 核心家庭occupational disease 职业病offender 罪犯old-age pension 退休金，养老金 origin 出身outskirts 郊区overtime 超时，加班passenger train 客运车pavement/sidewalk人行道，便道 pedestrian 行人private car 私人汽车race/breed 种族real estate 不动产residential area 居民区，住宅区 revocation 撤销round-trip ticket 往返票 rush hour 高峰时间sanction 制裁shift work 换班工作。

2019年12月大学英语四级听力VOA慢速英语(35)

2019年12月大学英语四级听力VOA慢速英语(35)RFE/RL Journalist Released From Azerbaijan Prison自由欧洲电台被关押在记者从阿塞拜疆释放A journalist from Azerbaijan was released from prison on Wednesday.周三阿塞拜疆监狱释放了一名记者。

Khadija Ismayilova will now be permitted to serve her sentence at home. The country’s supreme court also reduced her sentence from seven years to just over three years.阿塞拜疆记者伊斯马·伊洛娃(Khadija Ismayilova)现被允许在家中服刑。

阿塞拜疆法院也将其服刑期由原来的7年缩短到3年。

Ismayilova is a reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She has won awards for her investigative journalism.伊洛娃是自由欧洲电台的记者。

她曾凭借自己的新闻调查赢得了奖。

In 2015, Ismayilova was sentenced to prison on charges of tax evasion and abuse of power. Many think the charges were motivated by politics.2015年，她因非法营商及逃税等经济罪名被判刑。

很多人认为这样的指控是出于某种政治原因。

John Lansing is the CEO and director of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Lansing said her release was a“positive develop ment for the people of Azerbaijan and a step forward for press freedom.”约翰·兰辛(John Lansing)是美国广播理事会的CEO。

2019年12月英语四级考试真题试卷附答案卷三

2019年12月英语四级考试真题试卷附答案(第3套)Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to study in China. Please recommend a university to him. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)说明：由于2019年12月四级考试全国共考了两套听力, 本套真题听力与前两套内容相同, 只是选项顺序不同, 因此在本套真题中不再重复出现。

Part III Reading Comprehension (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 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.When travelling overseas, do you buy water in plastic bottles or take your chances with tap water? Imagine you are wandering about on a Thai island or __26__ the ruins of Angkor. It's hot so you grab a bottle of water from a local vendor. It's the safe thing to do, right? The bottle is __27__ , and the label says "pure water". But maybe what's inside is not so __28__ . Would you still be drinking it if you knew that more than 90 percent of all bottled water sold around the world __29__ microplastics?That's the conclusion of a recently __30__ study, which analysed 259 bottles from 11 brands sold in nine countries,__31__ an average of 325 plastic particles per litre of water. These microplastics included a __32__ commonly known as PET and widely used in the manufacture of clothing and food and __33__ containers. The study was conducted at the State University of New York on behalf of Orb Media, a journalism organisation. About a million bottles are bought every minute, not only by thirsty tourists but also by many of the 2.1 billion worldwide who live with unsafe drinking water.Confronted with this __34__ , several bottled-water manufacturers including Nestle and Coca-Cola undertook their own studies using the same methodology. These studies showed that their water did contain microplastics, but far less than the Orb study suggested. Regardless, the World Health Organisation has launched a review into the __35__ health risks of drinking water from plastic bottles.A) adequate E) evidence I) natural M) sealedB) admiring F) instant J) potential N) solvesC) contains G) liquid K) released O) substanceD) defending H) modified L) revealingSection 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.The quiet heroism of mail deliveryA)On Wednesday, a polar wind brought bitter cold to the Midwest. Overnight, Chicago reached a low of 21degrees Fahrenheit below zero, making it slightly colder than Antarctica, Alaska, and the North Pole. Wind chills were 64 degrees below zero in Park Rapids, Minnesota, and 45 degrees below zero in Buffalo, North Dakata, according to the National Weather Service. Schools, restaurants, and business closed, and more that 1000 flights were canceled.B) Even the United States Postal Service (USPS) suspended mail delivery."Due to this arctic outbreak and concerns for the safety of USPS employees," USPS announced Wednesday morning, "the Postal Service is suspending delivery Jan.30 in some 3-digit ZIP Code locations." Twelve regions were listed as unsafe on Wednesday; on Thursday, eight remained.C) As global surface temperatures increase, so does the likelihood of extreme weather.In2018 alone, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, mudslides, and other natural disasters cost at least $49 billion in the United States. As my colleague Vann Newkirk reported, Puerto Rico is still confronting economic and structural destruction and resource scarcity from2017'sHurricane Maria. Natural disasters can wreck a community's infrastructure, disrupting systems for months or years. Some services, however, remind us that life will eventually return, in some form, to normal.D) Days after the deadly 2017 wildfires in Santa Rosa, California, a drone (无人机) caught footage (连续镜头) of a USPS worker, Trevor Smith, driving through burned homes in that familiar white van, collecting mail in an affected area. The video is striking: The operation is familiar, but the scene looks like the end of the world. According to Rae Ann Haight, the program manager for the national-preparedness office at USPS, Smith was fulfilling a request made by some of the home owners to pick up any mail that was left untouched. For Smith, this was just another day on the job. "I followed my route like I normally do," Smith told are porter. "As I came across a box that was up but with no house, I checked, and there was mail--outgoing mail -- in it. And so I picked those up and carried on."E) USPS has sophisticated emergency plans for natural disasters. Across the country,285 emergency-management teams are devoted to crisis control. These teams are trained annually using a framework known as the three Ps: people, property, product. After mail service stops due to weather, the agency's top priority is ensuring that employees are safe. Then it evaluates the health of infrastructure, such as the roads that mail carriers drive on. Finally, it decides when and how to re-open operations. If the destruction is extreme, mail addressed to the area will get sent elsewhere. In response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, USPS redirected incoming New Orleans mail to existing mail facilities in Houston. Mail that was already processed in New Orleans facilities was moved to an upper floor so it would be protected from water damage.F) As soon as it's safe enough to be outside, couriers (邮递员) start distributing accumulated mail on the still-accessible routes. USPS urges those without standing addresses to file change-of-address forms with their new location. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, mail facilities were set up in dozens of locations across the country in the two weeks that USPS was unable to provide street delivery.G) Every day, USPS processes, on average, 493.4 million pieces of mail -- anything from postcards to Social Security checks to medicine. Spokespeople from both USPS and UPS told me all mail is important. But some mail can be extremely sensitive and timely. According to data released in January 2017, 56 percent of bills are paid online, which means that just under half of payments still rely on delivery services to be completed.H) It can be hard to identify which parcels are carrying crucial items such as Social Security checks, but USPS and UPS try their best to prioritize sensitive material. They will coordinate with the Social Security Administration to make sure that Social Security checks reach the right people in a timely fashion. After Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael last fall, USPS worked with state and local election boards to make sure that absentee ballots were available and received on time.I) Mail companies are logistics (物流) companies, which puts them in a special position to help when disaster strikes. In a 2011 USPS case study, the agency emphasized its massive infrastructure as a "unique federal asset" to be called upon in a disaster or terrorist attack. "I think we're unique as a federal agency," USPS official Mike Swigart told me, "because we're in literally every community in this country... We're obligated to deliver to that point on a daily basis."J) Private courier companies, which have more dollars to spend, use their expertise in logistics to help revitalize damaged areas after a disaster. For more than a decade, FedEx has supported the American Red Cross in its effort to get emergency supplies to areas affected by disasters, both domestically and internationally. In 2012, the company distributed morethan1,200 MedPacks to Medical Reserve Corps groups in California. They also donated space for 3.1 million pounds of charitable shipping globally. Last October, the company pledged $1 million in cash and transportation support for Hurricanes Florence and Michael. UPS'scharitable arm, the UPS Foundation, uses the company's logistics to help disaster-struck areas rebuild. "We realize that as a company with people, trucks, warehouses, we needed to play a larger role," said Eduardo Martinez, the president of the UPS Foundation. The company employs its trucks and planes to deliver food, medicine, and water. The day before I spoke to Martinez in November, he had been touring the damage from Hurricane Michael in Florida with the American Red Cross. "We have an obligation to make sure our communities are thriving," he said.K) Rebuilding can take a long time, and even then, impressions of the disaster may still remain. Returning to a normal life can be difficult, but some small routines -- mail delivery being one of them -- may help residents remember that their communities are still their communities. "When they see that carrier back out on the street," Swigart said, "that's the first sign to them that life is starting to return to normal."36.The United States Postal Service has a system to ensure its employees' safety.37. One official says USPS is unique in that it has more direct reach to communities compared with other federal agencies.38. Natural disasters can have a long-lasting impact on community life.39. Mail delivery service is still responsible for the completion of almost half of payments.40. The sight of a mailman on the street is a reassuring sign of life becoming normal again.41. After Hurricane Katrina interrupted routine delivery, temporary mail service points were setup.42. Postal service in some regions in the U.S. was suspended due to extreme cold weather.43. Private postal companies also support disaster relief efforts by distributing urgent supplies.44. A dedicated USPS employee was on the job carrying out duties in spite of extreme conditions.45. Postal services work hard to identify items that require priority treatment.Section CDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions orunfinished 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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Professor Ashok Goel of Georgia Tech developed an artificially intelligent teaching assistant to help handle the enormous number of student questions in the online class, Knowledge-Based Artificial Intelligence. This online course is a core requirement of Georgia Tech's online Master of Science in Computer Science program. Professor Goel already had eight teaching assistants, but that wasn't enough to deal with the overwhelming number of daily questions from students.Many students drop out of online courses because of the lack of teaching support. When students feel isolated or confused and reach out with questions that go unanswered, their motivation to continue begins to fade. Professor Goel decided to do something to remedy this situation and his solution was to create a virtual assistant named Jill Watson, which is based on the IBM Watson platform.Goel and his team developed several versions of Jill Watson before releasing her to the online forums. At first, the virtual assistant wasn't too great. But Goel and his team sourced the online discussion forum to find all the 40,000 questions that had ever been asked since the class was launched. Then they began to feed Jill with the questions and answers. After some adjustments and sufficient time, Jill was able to answer the students' questions correctly 97% of the time. The virtual assistant became so advanced and realistic that the students didn't know she was a computer. The students, who were studying artificial intelligence, were interacting with the virtual assistant and couldn't tell it apart from a real human being. Goel didn't inform them about Jill's true identity until April 26. The students were actually very positive about the experience.The goal of Professor Goel's virtual assistant next year is to take over answering 40% of all the questions posed by students on the online forum. The name Jill Watson will, of course, change to something else next semester. Professor Goel has a much rosier outlook on the futureof artificial intelligence than, say, Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates or Steve Wozniak.46.What do we learn about Knowledge-Based Arificial Itelligence?A) It is a robot that can answer students' questions.B) It is a course designed for students to learn online.C) It is a high-tech device that revolutionizes teaching.D) It is a computer program that aids student learning.47.What problem did Professor Goel meet with?A) His students were unsatisfied with the assistants.B) His course was too difficult for the students.C) Students' questions were too many to handle.D) Too many students dropped out of his course.48.What do we learn about Jill Watson?A) She turned out to be a great success.B) She got along pretty well with students.C) She was unwelcome to students at first.D) She was released online as an experiment.49.How did the students feel about Jill Watson?A) They thought she was a bit too artificial.B) They found her not as capable as expected.C) They could not but admire her knowledge.D) They could not tell her from a real person.50. What does Professor Goel plan to do next with Jill Watson?A) Launch different versions of her online.B) Feed her with new questions and answers.C) Assign her to answer more of students' questions.D) Encourage students to interact with her more freely.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Thinking small, being engaging, and having a sense of humor don't hurt. Those are a few of the traits of successful science crowdfunding efforts that emerge from a recent study that examined nearly 400 campaigns. But having a large network and some promotional skills may be more crucial.Crowdfunding, raising money for a project through online appeals, has taken off in recent years for everything from making movies to producing water-saving gadgets. Scientists have tried to tap Internet donors, too, with mixed success. Some raised more than twice their goals, but others have fallen short of reaching even modest targets.To determine what separates science crowdfunding triumphs from failures, a team led by science communications scholar Mike Sch?fer of the University of Zurich examined the content of the webpages for 371 recent campaigns.Four traits stood out for those that achieved their goals, the researchers report in Public Understanding of Science. For one, they use a crowdfunding platform that specializes in raising money for science, and not just any kind of project. Although sites like Kickstarter take all comers, platforms such as and only present scientific projects. For another, they present the project with a funny video because good visuals and a sense of humor improved success. Most of them engage with potential donors, since projects that answered questions from interested donors fared better. And they target a small amount of money. The projects included in the study raised $4,000 on average, with 30% receiving less than $1,000. The more money a project sought, the lower the chance it reached its goal, the researchers found.Other factors may also significantly influence a project's success, most notably, the size of a scientist's personal and professional networks, and how much a researcher promotes a project on their own. Those two factors are by far more critical than the content on the page. Crowdfunding can be part of researchers' efforts to reach the public, and people give because "they feel a connection to the person" who is doing the fundraising—not necessarily to the science.50.What do we learn about the scientists trying to raise money online for their projects?A) They did not raise much due to modest targets.B) They made use of mixed fundraising strategies.C) Not all of them achieved their anticipated goals.D) Most of them put movies online for the purpose.51.What is the purpose of Mike Schafer' s research of recent crowdfunding campaigns?A) To create attractive content for science websites.B) To identify reasons for their different outcomes.C) To help scientists to launch innovative projects.D) To separate science projects from general ones.52.What trait contributes to the success of a crowdfiunding campaign?A) The potential benefit to future generations.B) Its interaction with prospective donors.C) Its originality in addressing financial issues.D) The value of the proposed project.53.What did the researchers think of the financial targets of crowdfunding projects?A) They should be small to be successful.B) They should be based on actual needs.C) They should be assessed with great care.D) They should be ambitious to gain notice.55. What motivates people to donate in a crowdfunding campaign?A) The ease of access to the content of the webpage.B) Their desire to contribute to the cause of science.C) The significance and influence of the project itself.D) Their feeling of connection to the scientists themselves.Part IV Translation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese intoEnglish. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.中国的家庭观念与其文化传统有关。

2019年12月英语四级听力真题原文和答案(第一套)

2019年12月英语四级听力真题原文和答案（第一套）2019年12月英语四级听力真题原文(第一套)Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Section ANews report 1New York City police captured a cow on the loose in Prospect Park on Tuesday after the animal became an attraction for tourists while walking along the streets and enjoying the park facilities. The confused creature and camera-holding humans stared at each other through a fence for several minutes. At other times the cow wandered around the 526 acre park and the artificial grass field normally used for human sporting events. Officers use soccer goals to fence the animal in. However, the cow then moved through one of the nets knocking down a police officer in the process. Police eventually trapped the cow between two vehicles parked on either side of a baseball field’s bench area. An officer then shot an arrow to put it to sleep. Then officers waited for the drug to take effect. After it fell asleep they loaded the cow into a horse trailer. It was not clear where the cow came from or how it got lost. Police turned it over to the animal control department after they caught it.Q1: What happened in New York's Prospect Park on Tuesday?A)Many facilities were destroyed by a wandering cow.B) A wandering cow knocked down one of its fences.C) Some tourists were injured by a wandering cow.D) A wandering cow was captured by the police.Q2: What do we learn about the cow from the end of the news report?A) It was shot to death by a police officer.B) It found its way back to the park’s zoo.C) It became a great attraction for tourists.D) It was sent to the animal control department.News report 2Starting April 28 of this year, the National Museum of Natural History will begin renovating its fossil hall. The fossil hall, which displays some of the world’s oldest and largest fossil specimens, receives more than 2 million visitors each year. It’s one of the museum’s most famous attractions. As a result, the museum plans to expand the hall, as well as add to its ancient birds collection. Bird lovers, both young and old, have already responded with excitement at the news. The museum’s social media account has been flooded with messages of support. In the meantime, the current collection will be closed. However, visitors will be compensated during the closure. Museum’s special exhibition area will now be free of charge. This week, the resident exhibition is a display of ancient wallpaintings on loan from Australia. They celebrate the cultural heritage of the country and will be available to view until Sunday. Next week, the exhibition will be taken over by the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. The winner of this year’s competition will be awarded a preview of the new fossil hall, as well as a cash prize.Q3. What does the news report say about the fossil hall of the National Museum of Natural History?A) It is the largest of its kind.B) It is going to be expanded.C) It is displaying more fossil specimens.D) It is staring an online exhibition.Q4. What is on display this week in the museum’s exhibition hall?A)A collection of bird fossils from Australia.B) Photographs of certain rare fossil exhibits.C) Some ancient wall paintings from Australia.D) Pictures by winners of a wildlife photo contest.News report 3Six birds have just been trained to pick up rubbish at a French historical theme park. According to the park’s manager, Mr. Villiers, the goal is not just to clear up the park. He says visitors are already good at keeping things clean. Instead, he wants to show that nature itself can teach us to take care of the environment. He says that rooks, the chosen birds, are considered to be particularly intelligent. In the right circumstances, they even like to communicate with humans and establish a relationship through play. The birds will be encouraged to clean the park through the use of a small box that delivers a small amount of bird food. Each time, the rook deposits a cigarette end or a small piece of rubbish. So far, visitors to the theme park have been excited to see the birds in action. However, some parents are concerned that it encourages their children to drop litter so they can watch the birds to pick it up. Villiers is not concerned about this criticism. He maintains most of the feedback he has received has been overwhelmingly positive. He hopes now to train more birdsQ5: What have six birds been trained to do at a French historical th eme park?A) Pick up trash.B) Amuse visitors.C) Deliver messages.D) Play with children.Q6: Why were rooks chosen by the park manager?A) They are especially intelligent.B) They are children’s favorite.C They are quite easy to tame.D) They are clean and pretty.Q7: What is the concern of some parents?A) Children may be harmed by the rooks.B) Children may be tempted to drop litter.C) Children may contract bird diseases.D) Children may overfeed the rooks.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of eachconversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Conversation 1Woman: The name of the TV show we wish to produce is Science Nation.Man: Please tell us more. What will Science Nation be about?Woman: It will be about science, all sorts of science. Each episode will focus on a different area of science, and tell us what we know, how we know it, and what we still don't know. The show will have one host only, and this will be Professor Susan Paul from Ha rvard University. She's a great public speaker.Man: So, just to be clear, will the show its format be like that of the documentary?Woman: Kind of. It will be like a documentary in the sense, that it will be non-fiction and fact-based. However, our idea is for it to be also fun and entertaining, something which traditional documentaries aren't so much. Please keep in mind, this will be a new TV show, like nothing ever done before.Man: Okay, so it will be both educational and entertaining, and your audience will be anyone interested in science, right?Woman: That's correct, yes.Man: Right, thank you. So, I think we're more or less clear what the show will be like. Could you please tell us now, what exactly you want from us?Woman: Yes, of course. Basically, what we need from you is financial support. In order to go ahead with this idea, we need 2 million dollars. This will cover the cost of making all 12 shows in the first season for the first year. If the show is a success, we can then look at making a second season for the following year.Q8. What do we learn about the TV show Science Nation?A) It will be produced at Harvard University.B) It will be hosted by famous professors.C) It will cover different areas of science.D) It will focus on recent scientific discoveries.Q9. In what way will the TV show Science Nation differ from traditional documentaries?A)It will be more futuristic.B) It will be more systematic.C) It will be more entertaining.D) It will be easier to understand.Q10. Who will be the intended audience of the TV show Science Nation?A) People interested in science.B) Youngsters eager to explore.C) Children in their early teens.D) Students majoring in science.Q11. What does the woman want the man to do for the TV show?A) Offer professional advice.B) Provide financial support.C) Help promote it on the Internet.D) Make episodes for its first season.Conversation 2(W=woman, M=man)W: What’s up with you? You don’t look very happy.M: I feel like I’m a failure. I can’t seem to do anything very well.W: I wouldn’t say that. You do very well in a lot of things. That presentation you gave last week was excellent.M: Yes, but I have this urge to strive for perfection. I really want to push harder and progress further.W: Well, that’s very admirable. But be careful. Overconcern with being perfect can damage our confidence if we never achieve it.M: Yes, I know. I feel awful whenever I make a mistake in whatever I’m trying to do.W: Well, think about it. You can’t make progress without making mistakes and learning from them. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, once said “I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”M: You may well be right. I guess I should recognize my mistakes and learn the lesson they teach me and move forward.W: Also, remember a successful ending is not the only thing worthy of a celebration. You need to recognize each step of progress you take towards achieving your goals. And no matter how tiny it is, it’s still good news.M: I always feel down when I see others accomplishing things and I feel miserable about my own achievements. I’m always trying to be as good as others, but I never seem to get there.W: Listen. If you always compare yourself with others, you’ll never feel good enough. You’re the only person you should be comparing yourself with. When you compare your current status with the starting point, you’ll find you’ve made progress, right? That’s good enough.M: That’s great advice. Thank you. I’m feeling better already.Q12: How does the man feel about himself?A) Unsure.B) Helpless.C) Concerned.D) Dissatisfied.Q13: What does the woman think is the man’s problem?A) He is too concerned with being perfect.B) He loses heart when faced with setbacks.C) He is too ambitious in achieving goals.D) He takes on projects beyond his ability.Q14: How does the man feel when he sees others accomplishing things?A) Embarrassed.B) Unconcerned.C) Miserable.D) Resentful.Q15: What does the woman suggest the man do?A) Try to be optimistic whatever happens.B) Compare his present with his past only.C) Always learn from others’ achievements.D) Treat others the way he would be treated.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage 1Single-sex education can have enormous benefits for female students. Numerous studies have shown that women who attend single-sex schools tend to have stronger self-confidence, better study habits and more ambitious career goals than women who attend coeducational schools. Girls who graduate from single-sex schools are three times more likely to become engineers than those who attend coeducational schools. The reason is that all-girls schools encourage women to enter fields traditionally dominated by men such as science, technology and engineering. In coeducational schools, girls are often expected to succeed only in humanities or the art. Research has also shown that in coeducational settings, teachers are more likely to praise and give in-depth responses to boys’ comments in class. In contrast, they might only respond to a girl’s comments with a nod. They are also more likely to encourage boys to work through problems on their own, while they tend to step in and help girls wh o struggle with a problem.In an all girls setting, girls are more likely to speak up frequently and make significant contributions to class than in a coeducational setting. Girls studying in a single-sex setting also earn higher scores on their College Board and advanced placement exams than girls who study in coeducational settings. All girls schools tend to be smaller than coeducational schools, which means teachers would be able to tailor the materials to girl students’ personal learning styles and interest.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q16: What advantage does the speaker say girls from single-sex schools have over those from coeducational schools?A) They have a stronger sense of social responsibility.B) They are more likely to succeed in the humanities.C) They are more likely to become engineers.D) They have greater potential to be leaders.Q17: What do teachers tend to do in coeducational settings?A) Praise girls who like to speak up frequently.B) Encourage girls to solve problems on their own.c) Insist that boys and girls work together more.D) Respond more positively to boys’ comments.Q18: What are teachers more likely to do in an all-girls’ school?A) Offer personalized teaching materials.B) Provide a variety of optional courses.C) Place great emphasis on test scores.D) Pay extra attention to top students.Passage 2Today I found out that Seattle doesn’t really get that much rain compared with most US cities. In fact, Seattle ranks 44th among major US cities in average annual rainfall. Cities that get more rainfall than Seattle include Huston, Memphis, Nashville, and pretty much every major city on the eastern coast, such as New York, Boston, and Miami.So, why does everyone think of Seattle as a rainy city? The primary root of this misconception lies in that Seattle has a relatively large number of days per year with rainfall compared with New York and Boston, which get an average of about 16% more rain per year than Seattle, but also average between them about 36 fewer days a year of rainfall. So it rains a lot less in Seattle. And the rain is spread out over more days than those cities. This is why few locals in Seattle carry an umbrella generally. When it does rain, it tends to be a very light rain that isn’t troublesome. It almost never really rains as most people think. On top of that, it never really storms in Seattle, either. Seattle gets an average of a mere 7 days a year with thunder.So in short, if you like sunny but not too hot summers, mild winters but with lots of cloudy days, Seattle’s the place to be. Anyway, if you visit Seattle, don’t bring an umbrella. People will look at you, thinking you are funny.Questions 19-21 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q19. What does the speaker find out about Seattle?A) It often rains cats and dogs.B) It seldom rains in summer time.C) It does not rain as much as people think.D) It is one of the most rainy cities in the US.Q20. Why do local people in Seattle seldom carry an umbrella?A) They drive most of the time.B) The rain is usually very light.C) They have got used to the rain.D) The rain comes mostly at night.Q21. Why does the speaker say ‘Seattle is a good place to be’?A) It has a lot of places for entertainment.B) It has never seen thunder and lighting.C) It has fewer cloudy days than any other coastal city.D) It has mild weather both in summer and in winter.Passage 3After tough workout or a day full of physical activity, it’s common to find your muscles aching, but where do these pains come from? According to a German professor, the soreness comes from straining your muscles in an uncommon way, for example, jumping on a bicycle for a ride, because you haven’t ridden in a long time. Soreness occurs since your leg muscles aren't used to that movement. When muscles perform an activity they aren’t regularly expose to, the tiny fibers that are inside them are being torn apart. As muscle soreness develops, the body has to work to repair the muscle tears, but this doesn’t happen immediately. First, the body must realize the muscles are damaged. When the body realizes the muscles are hurt, the response is to increase blood flow to the area and increase body heat, damaged cells are then cleaned up and the body sends cells specially designed to break down the large muscle fiber fragments. Healing can take place after this. It takes about a day until these cells make it to your aching muscles. That’s why there is most often a delay associated with muscle soreness. Repair of damaged cells takes about two days, and afterwards the soreness disappears. Unfortunately, there is little that can be down to relieve muscle soreness. Pain relieving creams don’t work, but a hot shower, or warm bath can provide some relief.Questions 22-25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What does the German professor say about muscle soreness?A) It occurs when people are doing a repetitive activity.B) It results from exerting one’s muscles continuously.C) It happens when people engage in an uncommon activity.D) It comes from staining one’s muscles in an unusual way.23.What happens when muscles are damaged according to the passage?A) Blood flow and body heat increase in the affected area.B) Body movements in the affected area become difficult.C) They begin to make repairs immediately.D) They gradually become fragmented.24. How long does it take for damaged cells to heal?A) About one week.B) About two days.C) About ten days.D) About four weeks.25. What does the speaker suggest one do to relieve muscle soreness?A) Apply muscle creams.B) Drink plenty of water.C) Have a hot shower.D) Take pain-killers.2019年12月英语四级听力真题答案(第一套)1-7 DDBCAAB8-15 CCABDACB16-25 CDACBDDABC。

2019年12月英语四级听力真题及答案(1)

2019年12月英语四级听力真题及答案Section A11. A. Read the notice on the window B. Get a new bus scheduleC. Go and ask the staffD. Board the bus to Cleveland12. A. He was looking forward to seeing the giraffes.B. He enjoyed watching the animal performance.C. He got home too late to see the TV specialD. He fell asleep in the middle of the TV program.13. A. She wants to take the most direct way.B. She may be late for the football game.C. She is worried about missing her flight.D. She is currently caught in a traffic jam.14. A. At a restaurant B. In a fish shop C. At a clinic D. On a fishing boat15. A. He is an experienced sales manager.B. He is being interviewed for a job.C. He is a close friend of the woman.D. He is good at answering tricky questions.16. A. The man should consider his privacy first.B. The man will choose a low-rent apartment.C. The man is not certain if he can find a quieter placeD. The man is unlikely to move out of the dormitory.17. A. The woman is going to make her topic more focused.B. The man and woman are working on a joint project.C. One should choose a broad topic for a research paper.D. It tool a lot of time to get the man on the right track.18. A. They went camping this time last year.B. They didn’t quite enjoy their last picnic.C. They learned to cooperate under harsh conditions.D. They weren’t experienced in organizing picnics.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A. H e likes Sweden better than England.B. He prefers hot weather to cold weather.C. He is an Englishman living in Sweden.D. He visits London nearly every winter.20. A. The bad weather B. The gloomy winter C. The cold houses D. The long night21. A. Delightful B. Painful C. Depressing D. Refreshing22. A. They often stay up late reading B. They work hard and play hardC. They like to go camping in summerD. They try to earn more and spend moreQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A. English Literature B. Management C. French D. Public Administration24. A. English teaching B. Staff trainingC. Careers guidanceD. Psychological counseling25. A. Its generous scholarships B. Its worldwide fameC. Its well-designed coursesD. Its pleasant environment参考答案11.C) Go and ask the staff。

2019年12月大学英语四级听力第一套中英对照

College English Test - Band 4Part II Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports.At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions.Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. News Report OneNew York City police captured a cow on the loose in Prospect Park on Tuesday 周二，纽约市警方在展望公园捕获了一头出逃的奶牛，after the animal became an attraction for tourists while walking along the streets and enjoying the park facilities. 这头牛在沿街散步和享受公园设施的过程中吸引了大量游客。

The confused creature and camera-holding humans stared at each other through a fence for several minutes. 这只困惑的动物和拿着相机的人们隔着栅栏对视了几分钟。

2019年12月大学英语四级听力原文(卷一)

News report one(1) The British government has called for more men to consider a career innursing. Figures show the number of male nurses has fallen in the last threeyears. Now, the number of men working in the nursing sector has reached usseven year low. Numbers of male nursesincreased between 2011 and 2014 and reached a peak of 7168. This figure hasdropped to only 6924 in 2017.(2)The UK Health Secretary said this isclearly a cultural problem, and probably one that exists in many parts of theworld. But we can make efforts to change that now. We want to persuademales to think about career options of going into nursing. There is absolutelyno reason why men can't go into this profession. The health secretary said thatthe government already has plans to attract a more varied workforce intonursing. She stated, we are leading the way on workforce planning. We willbecome the first nation in europe to publish a national health and careworkforce plan.Questions one and two are based on the news report you have just heard.1. What problem is Britain facing?2. What is the cause of the problem according to the UKHealth SecretaryNews report two(3) A man from Libya was enjoying a walk along the sands at southport beach.When he was about half a mile out from the dark, he felt a bit tired. So he laydown and fell asleep, but the tide swept in quickly at the beach. And theman was shocked to wake up and find the tide had come in and completelysurrounded him, cutting him off from the shore. Fortunately for him, the beachlife guards were quickly on the scene to stop him from drowning. The actorprofessionally to ensure the man was comfortable until an ambulance arrived. Hewas then taken to hospital. He is now in a stable condition. (4) Wheninterviewed Keith porter of the southport beach said, our beach is so flat thatit's very common for the tide come around the back of people and cut them offfrom the beach. Thankfully the emergency services have again worked well togetherto ensure a positive outcome. And we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.Questions three and four are based on the news report you have just heard.3. What does the news reports say about the Libyan man?4. What did Keith Porter say at an interview?News report three(5)A raccoon, a small cat like animal climbed to the top of a 25-storysky scraper early on Wednesday. It was captured after becoming an online staracross the world.At a little before three am, the animal made it to the roof of the building,after it took a long break on a 17th floor window edge. At the top of thebuilding, animal control officers put cat food in traps and captured theraccoon.(6)A private wildlife management company will release the animalinto the wild. The raccoons upward journey began on Monday. The brownanimal was spotted stuck on a narrow window edge of the office tower. OnTuesday, the raccoon slowly climbed the building. It reached the 23rd floor,and it's legend continued to grow on social media with every floor it climbed.As it went up, people gathered on the sidewalk below to take photos andcheer for its safety. Online office workers posted photos and videos of theraccoon, resting on window edges and climbing up the building's concreteexterior. (7) One online post said that the raccoon has succeeded in unitingthe country the way no politician could.Questions five to seven are based on the news report you have just heard.5. What does the news report say about the raccoon, a smallcat like animal?6. What will the wildlife management company do with thecaptured raccoon?7. What did one online post say?Conversation 1W: (8) I have reallyamazing news. I just got a text message from my bank, saying my salary has beendeposited in my account.M: Getting paid asgood. But I don't understand why you're so excited. It happens every month.W: Well, I've beenworking for a few years. In fact, I worked all through university, but I onlyhad part time jobs then. (8) So this is the first time I've ever been paidfor a month of full time work.M: W ell, then you mustfeel great. (9)I mean, it’s been two decades, but I can still remember whenI got my first real salary. I was happy for day. I felt like it was a smallfortune, even though it wasn’t.W: I've never earned somuch money before. And there's so many things I'd like to do with it.What didyou do with your first pay?M: (10) I bought a newsuit for work and took my parents to a nice restaurant to celebrate. Maybe youcould do the same.W: I have enoughprofessional clothes. And my parents are across the country. So seeing them isimpossible. But some people from the office are members of a gym. I want tojoin. And my university classmates are arranging a trip to visit our oldcampus, and I'd love to go with them, but I can't afford both.M: (11) If I wereyou. I join the gym because it's a good way to stay healthy, and it might helpyou build a stronger relationship with your colleagues. And goodrelationships are key to a successful career.W: (11) Hm. You'reright. Thanks for the advice. I'm taking it.Question 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. Why did the woman feel excited?9. When did the man get his first full time job?10. What did the man do when he got his first pay?11. What does the woman say she is going to?Conversation2W: What's going on withyou lately? You seem so distracted. Like you aren't really listening toanything. I say.M: I know. I'm sorry.(12) I can't seem to focus on anything, because I still haven't decided if Ishould accept the offer for that phd program in London, or if I should take thejob offer in New York.W: Look, it's a toughdecision, but you're running out of time, aren't you? I thought you said thecompany expected an answer by the end of the month.M: Actually, it's thebeginning of next month for the job, but the university needs a decision by theend of the week. So I have to act quickly.M: You definitely needadvice for the important decision like this. (13) So who have you talked toabout it? What does your family think? And your adviser for your mattersprogram?M: I've asked theiradvice and that's part of the problem. My parents want me to get the degree,but my advisor thinks it's time for me to get more work experience.W: What do you mean bypart of the problem? Oh, wait, (14) it's your girlfriend, isn'tit?You've been dating since your first year of university, so that six years now.She must have an opinion about all this. I mean isn't it time for you to thinkabout getting married?M: I do want to getmarried, (15) but she thinks we need to wait until we've launched ourcareers. Plus, she's not sure what she'll be doing next year. She'sconsidering a job in England and one in Australia. And her parents are pushingfor the latter.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you havejust heard.12. Why does the man seem to be distracted?13. What does the woman, say she man should do?14. What does the man say is part of his problem?15. Why doesn't the man’s girlfriend agree to get marriedright now?Passage One(16) Analytical skillsare our ability to understand and solve problems using Information we haveavailable. These skills are extremely important for our professional,social, and intellectual lives. What are the best ways to improve them? One wayis to expand your world view. Unfortunately, this takes time. Ultimately, itwill help you better evaluate information and analyze different ideas andoutcomes. Travelling is a great way to expand your world view, although it canbe expensive.(17) An entertaining wayof enhancing your analytical skills is to engage them by playing brain games.These are games that challenge you to think deeply and to develop youranalytical skills. These games will get you used to thinking in a certain way.As a result, they will helpimprove your ability to think. However, opinionsvary on whether video games are effective. The general consensus is that thebest ones avoid mindless violence, and instead focus on strategy and challengeus to solve problems and achieve broad goals.(18)Joining a debate orreading club or group is also a good idea. This provides people with theopportunity to come together and discuss ideas, literature and problems. Groupslike these will help you refine your analytical skills and enable you toexpress yourself better. Any social group that encourages free exchange ofideas and pursuit of knowledge is beneficial. It helps you to actively developyour analytical skills.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have justheard.16. What kind of ability do analytical skills refer to in thepassage?17. What does the passage say is an entertaining way ofenhancing one's analytical skills?18. What else does the speaker advice people to do to improvetheir analytical skills?Passage TwoThere's an endless amountof scientific data proving that dogs can develop strong bonds with theirowners. People aren't kidding when they say they love their dog or their dogloves them,(19) but were rather ignorant about the nature of therelationships that form between dogs.In an effort to understandthe matter further, I spoke with doctors Mark Beckhoff a researcher and formerprofessor of animal behavior. The-doctors response to the question of whetheror not dogs can fall in love like humans do was a stra ight “Of course!” (20) Hewent on to say that if love is defined as a long term commitment meaningdogs seek one another out when they’re apart, they're happy when they'rereunited, they protect one another, they feed one another, they raise theirchildren together.(20) Then, of course, dogs love each other.Now our furry friends don'treally experience romantic love, like in the movies, but they can form deep andlasting bands with their fellow dogs as well as humans.(21) In fact, evidenceshows almost dogs stay with one partner their whole lives.In actuality,love between dogs can be even more intimate than human relationships.When they interact, theyaren’t afraid to smell each other and will express themselves clearly andhonestly, Once again, it seems we have a lot to learn from dogs.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have justheard.19. What does the passage say we don't know much about?20. What does Dr. Mark Beckhoff say about dogs?21. What does the speaker say about most dogs?Passage ThreeA piece of history has beenfound thanks to a boy tripping on a rare, 1.2-million-year-old animal fossil.In November 2016, Jude Sparks, now 10, was on an outing with his family neartheir New Mexico home, (22) when he tripped over what he thought was a cowbone. (23) Now,researchers at New Mexico State University preservingthis discovery, which was identified as an ancient elephant-like animal.Kyle Sparks, father of Jude, said he let his son decide what to do with thefossil.So Jude reached out toPeter Houde, a professor at new Mexico State University who had experience withthe same type of fossil in the past. The next day Houde came out to see thefossil for himself. (24) Houde told ABC News that he was quite excited aboutthe find. It was fortunate that the family didn't try to dig up the fossilbecause that could destroy the specimen; they did the right thing bycalling someone who would know what to do. "It's great for the community,because now everybody can appreciate it," he added.Houde and his fellowfaculty members dug up the fossil in late May. (25) They hope to return tothe site with geologists for an additional search as there could before fossilsnear the site. Jude and his family had been invited by the researchers tosee the fossil being preserved at the university.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have justheard.22. What did the boy Jude Sparks think he had discovered?23. What are the researchers at New Mexico State Universitydoing with the boy's discovery?24. What did professor Peter Houde say when interviewed byABC News?25. What do the researchers plan to do?。

2019年12月大学英语四级真题试卷及答案(三套全)

2019年12月四级真题及答案（全三套）第一套Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to teach English in China. Please recommend a city to him. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part ⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and then 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 1with a single line through the centre.Questions l and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Many facilities were destroyed by a wandering cow.B) A wandering cow knocked down one of its fences.C) Some tourists were injured by a wandering cow.D) A wandering cow was captured by the police.2. A) It was shot to death by a police officer. B) It found its way back to the park’s zoo.C) It became a great attraction for tourists. D) It was sent to the animal control department. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It is the largest of its kind. B) It is going to be expanded.C) It is displaying more fossil specimens. D) It is staring an online exhibition.4. A) A collection of bird fossils from Australia. B) Photographs of certain rare fossil exhibits.C) Some ancient wall paintings from Australia. D) Pictures by winners of a wildlife photo contest. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) Pick up trash. B) Amuse visitors.C) Deliver messages. D) Play with children.6. A) They are especially intelligent. B) They are children’s favorite.C) They are quite easy to tame. D) They are clean and pretty.7. A) Children may be harmed by the rooks. B) Children may be tempted to drop litter.C) Children may contract bird diseases. D) Children may overfeed the rooks.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) It will be produced at Harvard University. B) It will be hosted by famous professors.C) It will cover different areas of science. D) It will focus on recent scientific discoveries.9. A) It will be more futuristic. B) It will be more systematic.C) It will be more entertaining. D) It will be easier to understand.10. A) People interested in science. B) Youngsters eager to explore.C) Children in their early teens. D) Students majoring in science.11. A) Offer professional advice. B) Provide financial support.C) Help promote it on the Internet. D) Make episodes for its first season.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Unsure. B) Helpless. C) Concerned. D) Dissatisfied.13. A) He is too concerned with being perfect. B) He loses heart when faced with setbacks.C) He is too ambitious in achieving goals. D) He takes on projects beyond his ability.14. A) Embarrassed. B) Unconcerned. C) Miserable. D) Resentful.15. A) Try to be optimistic whatever happens. B) Compare his present with his past only.C) Always learn from others’ achievements.D) Treat others the way he would be treated.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) They have a stronger sense of social responsibility.B) They are more likely to succeed in the humanities.C) They are more likely to become engineers.D) They have greater potential to be leaders.17. A) Praise girls who like to speak up frequently.B) Encourage girls to solve problems on their own.C) Insist that boys and girls work together more.D) Respond more positively to boys’ comments.18. A) Offer personalized teaching materials. B) Provide a variety of optional courses.C) Place great emphasis on test scores. D) Pay extra attention to top students. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) It often rains cats and dogs. B) It seldom rains in summer time.C) It does not rain as much as people think. D) It is one of the most rainy cities in the US.20. A) They drive most of the time. B) The rain is usually very light.C) They have got used to the rain. D) The rain comes mostly at night.21. A) It has a lot of places for entertainment.B) It has never seen thunder and lighting.C) It has fewer cloudy days than any other coastal city.D) It has mild weather both in summer and in winter.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) It occurs when people are doing a repetitive activity.B) It results from exerting one’s muscles continuously.C) It happens when people engage in an uncommon activity.D) It comes from staining one’s muscles in an unusual way.23. A) Blood flow and body heat increase in the affected area.B) Body movements in the affected area become difficult.C) They begin to make repairs immediately.D) They gradually become fragmented.24. A) About one week. B) About two days.C) About ten days. D) About four weeks.25. A) Apply muscle creams. B) Drink plenty of water.C) Have a hot shower. D) Take pain-killers..Part ⅢReading Comprehension (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 use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.When travelling overseas, do you buy water in plastic bottles or take your chances with tap water? Imagine you are wandering about on a Thai island or 26 the ruins of Angkor. It’s hot so you grab a bottle of water from a local vendor. It’s the safe, sane thing to do, right? The bottle is27 , and the label says “pure water”, but maybe what’s inside is not so28 . Would you still be drinking it if you knew that more than 90 percent of all bottled water sold around the world 29 microplastics?That’s the conclusion of a recently 30 study, which analyzed 259 bottles from 11 brands sold in nine countries, 31 an average of 325 plastic particles per liter of water. These microplastics included a 32 commonly known as PET and are widely used in the manufacture of clothing and food and 33 containers. The study was conducted at the State University of New York on behalf of Orb Media, a journalism organization. About a million bottles are bought every minute, not only by thirsty tourists but also by many of the 2.1 billion worldwide who live with unsafe drinking water.Confronted with this 34 , several bottled-water manufacturers including Nestle and Coco-Cola undertook their own studies using the same methodology. These studies showed that their water did contain microplastics, but far less than the Orb study suggested. Regardless, the World Health Organization has now launched a review into the 35 health risks of drinking water from plastic bottles.Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to 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.The Quiet Heroism of Mail Delivery[A] On Wednesday, a polar wind brought bitter cold to the Midwest. Overnight, Chicago reached a low of 21 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, making it slightly colder than Antarctica, Alaska, and the North Pole. Wind chills were 64 degrees below zero in Park Rapids, Minnesota, and 45 degrees below zero in Buffalo, North Dakota, according to the National Weather Service. Schools, restaurants, and businesses closed, and more than 1,000 flights have been canceled.[B] Even the United States Postal Service (USPS) suspended mail delivery temporarily. “Due to this arctic outbreak and concerns for the safety of USPS employees,” USPS announced Wednesday morning, “the Postal Service is suspending delivery Jan. 30 in the following 3-digit ZIP Code locations.” Twelve regions were listed as unsafe on Wednesday; on Thursday, eight remained.[C] As global surface temperatures increase, so does the likelihood of extreme weather. In 2018 alone, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, mudslides, and other natural disasters cost at least $49 billion in the United States. As my colleague V ann Newkirk reported, Puerto Rico is still confronting economic and structural destruction and resource scarcity from 2017’s Hurrican e Maria. Natural disasters can wreck a community’s infrastructure, disrupting systems for months or years. Some services, however, remind us that life will eventually return, in some form, to normal.[D] Days after the deadly 2017 wildfires in Santa Rosa, California, a drone caught footage of a USPS worker, Trevor Smith, driving through burned homes in that familiar white van, collecting mail in an affected area. Thevideo is striking: The operation is familiar, but the scene looks like the end of the world. According to Rae Ann Haight, the program manager for the national-preparedness office at USPS, Smith was fulfilling a request made by some of the home owners to pick up any mail that was left untouched. For Smith, this was just another day on the job. “I followed my route like I normally do,” Smith told a reporter. “As I’d come across a box that was up but with no house, I checked, and there was mail—outgoing mail—in it. And so we picked those up and carried on.”[E] USPS has sophisticated emergency plans for natural disasters. Across the country, 285 emergency-management teams are devoted to crisis control. These teams are trained annually using a framework known as the three Ps: people, property, product. After mail service stops due to weather, the agen cy’s top priority is ensuring that employees are safe. Then it evaluates the health of infrastructure, such as the roads that mail carriers drive on. Finally, it decides when and how to re-open operations. If the destruction is extreme, mail addressed to the area will get sent elsewhere. In response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, USPS redirected incoming New Orleans mail to existing mail facilities in Houston. Mail that was already processed in New Orleans facilities was moved to an upper floor so it would be protected from water damage.[F] As soon as it’s safe enough to be outside, couriers start distributing accumulated mail on the still-accessible routes. USPS urges those without standing addresses to file change-of-address forms with their new location. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, mail facilities were set up in dozens of other locations across the country in the two weeks that USPS was unable to provide street delivery.[G] Every day, USPS processes, on average, 493.4 million pieces of mail—anything from postcards to Social Security checks to medicine. Spokespeople from both USPS and UPS told me all mail is important. But some mail can be extremely sensitive and timely. According to data released in January 2017, 56 percent of bills are paid online, which means that just under half of payments still rely on delivery services to be completed. [H] It can be hard to identify which parcels are carrying crucial items such as Social Security checks, but USPS and UPS try their best to prioritize sensitive material. They will coordinate with the Social Security Administration to make sure that Social Security checks reach the right people in a timely fashion. After Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael last fall, USPS worked with state and local election boards to make sure that absentee ballots were available and received on time.[I] Mail companies are logistics companies, which puts them in a special position to help when disaster strikes. In a 2011 USPS case study, the agency emphasized its massive in frastructure as a “unique federal asset” to be called upon in a disaster or terrorist attack. “I think we’re unique as a federal agency,” USPS official MikeSwigart told me, “because we’re in literally every community in this country … We’re obligated to d eliver to that point on a daily basis.”[J] Private courier companies, which have more dollars to spend, use their expertise in logistics to help revitalize damaged areas after a disaster. For more than a decade, FedEx has supported the American Red Cross in its effort to get emergency supplies to areas affected by disasters, both domestically and internationally. In 2012, the company distributed more than 1,200 MedPacks to Medical Reserve Corps groups in California, and donated space for 3.1 million pounds of charitable shipping globally. Last October, the company pledged $1 million in cash and transportation support for Hurricanes Florence and Michael. UPS’s charitable arm, the UPS Foundation, uses the company’s logistics to help disaster-struck areas rebu ild. “We realize that as a company with people, trucks, warehouses, we needed to play a larger role,” said Eduardo Martinez, the president of the UPS Foundation. The company employs its trucks and planes to deliver food, medicine, and water. The day before I spoke to Martinez in November, he had been touring the damage from Hurricane Michael in Florida with the American Red Cross. “We have an obligation to make sure our communities are thriving, prosperous,” he said.[K] Rebuilding can take a long time, and even then, impressions of the disaster may still remain. Returning to a sense of normalcy can be difficult, but some small routines—mail delivery being one of them—may help residents remember that their communities are still their communities. “When they see that carrier back out on the street,” Swigart said, “that’s the first sign to them that life is starting to return to normal.”36. The United States Postal Service has a system to ensure its employees’ safety.37. One official says USPS is unique in that it has more direct reach to communities compared with other federal agencies38. Natural disasters can have a long-lasting impact on community life.39. Mail delivery service i$ still responsible for the completion of almost half of payments.40. The sight of a mailman on the street is a reassuring sign of life becoming normal again.41. After Hurricane Katrina interrupted routine delivery, temporary mail service points were set up.42. Postal service in some regions in the U.S. was suspended due to extreme cold weather.43. Private postal companies also support disaster relief efforts by distributing urgent supplies.44. A dedicated USPS employee was on the job carrying out duties in spite of extreme conditions.45. Postal services work hard to identify items that require priority treatment.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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Professor Ashok Goel of Georgia Tech developed an artificially intelligent teaching assistant to help handle the enormous number of student questions in the online class, Knowledge Based Artificial Intelligence. This online course is a core requirement of Georgia Tech’s online Master of Science in Computer Science program. Professor G oel already had 8 teaching assistants, but that wasn’t enough to deal with the overwhelming number of questions from students.Many students drop out of online courses because of the lack of teaching support. When students feel isolated or confused and reach out with questions that go unanswered, their motivation to continue begins to fade. Professor Goel decided to do something to remedy this situation and his solution was to create a virtual assistant named Jill Watson, which is based on the IBM Watson platform.Goel and his team developed several versions of Jill Watson before releasing her to the online forums. At first, the virtual assistant wasn’t too great. But Goel and his team sourced the online discussion forum to find all 40,000 questions that had ever been asked since the class was launched. Then they began to feed Jill the questions and answers. After some adjustment and sufficient time, Jill was able to answer the students’ questions correctly 97% of the time. The virtual assistant became so advanced and realistic that the students didn’t know she was a computer. The students, who were studying artificial intelligence, were interacting with artificial intelligence and couldn’t tell it apart from a real human being. Goel didn’t inform them about Jill’s true identity until April 26. The students were actually very positive about the experience.The goal of Professor Goel’s virtual assistant next year is to take over answering 40% of all questions posed by students on the online forum. The name, Jill Watson, will of course, change to something else next semester. Professor Goel has a much rosier outlook on the future of AI than say, Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates or Steve Wozniak.46. What do we learn about Knowledge-Based Artificial Intelligence?A) It is a robot that can answer students’ questions.B) It is a course designed for students to learn online.C) It is a high-tech device that revolutionizes teaching.D) It is a computer program that aids student learning.47. What problem did Professor Goel meet with?A) His students were unsatisfied with the assistants.B) His course was too difficult for the students.C) Students’ questions were too many to handle.D) Too many students dropped out of his course.48. What do we learn about Jill Watson?A) She turned out to be a great success. B) She got along pretty well with students.C) She was unwelcome to students at first. D) She was released online as an experiment.49. How did the students feel about Jill Watson?A) They thought she was a bit too artificial. B) They found her not as capable as expected.C) They could not but admire her knowledge. D) They could not tell her from a real person.50. What does Professor Goel plan to do next with Jill Watson?A) Launch different versions of her online.B) Feed her with new questions and answers.C) Assign her to answer more of students’ questions.D) Encourage students to interact with her more freely.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Thinking small, being enga ging, and having a sense of humor don’t hurt. Those are a few of the traits of successful science crowdfunding efforts that emerge from a recent study that examined nearly 400 campaigns. But having a large network and some promotional skills may be more crucial.Crowdfunding, raising money for a project through online appeals, has taken off in recent years for everything from making movies to building water-saving gadgets. Scientists have tried to tap Internet donors, too, with mixed success. Some raised more than twice their goal, but others have fallen short of reaching more modest targets.To determine what separates science crowdfunding triumphs from failures, a team led by science communications scholar Mike Schäfer of the University of Zurich in Switzerland examined the content of the WebPages for 371 recent campaigns.Four traits stood out for those that achieved their goals, the researchers report in Public Understanding of Science. For one, they use a crowdfunding platform that specializes in raising money for science, and not just any kind of project. Although sites like Kickstarter take all comers, platforms such as , , and only present scientific projects. For another, they present the project with a funny video because good visuals and a sense of humor improved success. Most of them engage with potential donors since projects that answered questions from interested donors and posted lab notes fared better. And they target a small amount of money. The projects included in the study raised $4000 on average, with 30% of projects receiving less than $1000. The more money a project sought, the lower the chance it reached its goal, the researchers found.Other factors may also significantly influence a project’s s uccess, m ost notably, the size of a scientist’s personal and professional networks, and how much a researcher promotes a project on his or her own. Those two factors are by far more critical than the content on the page. Crowdfunding can be part of researc hers’ efforts to reach the public, and people give because “they feel a connection to the person” who is doing the fundraising—not necessarily to the science.51. What do we learn about the scientists trying to raise money online for their projects?A) They did not raise much due to modest targets.B) They made use of mixed fundraising strategies.C) Not all of them achieved their anticipated goals.D) Most of them put movies online for the purpose.52. What is the purpose of Mike Schäfer’s research of recent crowdfunding campaigns?A) To create attractive content for science websites.B) To identify reasons for their different outcomes.C) To help scientists to launch innovative projects.D) To separate science projects from general ones.53. What trait contributes to the success of a crowdfunding campaign?A) The potential benefit to future generations. B) Its interaction with prospective donors.C) Its originality in addressing financial issues. D) The value of the proposed project.54. What did the researchers think of the financial targets of crowdfunding projects?A) They should be small to be successful. B) They should be based on actual needs.C) They should be assessed with great care. D) They should be ambitious to gain notice.55. What motivates people to donate in a crowdfunding campaign?A) The ease of access to the content of the webpage.B) Their desire to contribute to the cause of science.C) The significance and influence of the project itself.D) Their feeling of connection to the scientists themselves.Part ⅣTranslation (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.中国家庭十分重视孩子的教育。

2019年12月英语四级真题第一套含听力原文及答案

2. A) It was shot to death by a police oﬃcer. C) It became a great a rac on for tourists.
B) It found its way back to the park’s zoo. D) It was sent to the animal control department.
C) They are more likely to become engineers.
D) They have greater poten al to be leaders.
17. A) Praise girls who like to speak up frequently.
B) Encourage girls to solve problems on their own.
D) Treat others the way he would be treated.
Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

2019年12月四级第一套听力原文

题目：2019年12月四级第一套听力原文1. Introduction2019年12月四级考试是众多考生的重要挑战，听力部分一直是四级考试中的难点之一。

本文将为大家呈现2019年12月四级第一套听力的原文，希望能够为大家提供参考和帮助。

2. Section AA1: W: Good afternoon, Mr. Smith. Glad to have you with us. Shall we start with your educational background?M: Good afternoon. Thank you for having me. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1990.A2: M: Do you know that girl who's talking to the professor? W: Yes, that's Linda. She's pretty talkative, but her grades are excellent.A3: M: What's that noise?W: Probably the construction outside. They're renovating the building next to us.A4: W: Did you remember to pick up the dry-cleaning?M: No, Ipletely forgot. Sorry.3. Section BB1: W: Excuse me, do you have directions to the nearest gas station?M: Sure, go down two blocks, then turn left, and you'll see it on your right.B2: W: What's the weather like today?M: It's supposed to be sunny with a high of 25 degrees Celsius.B3: M: Are you interested in going to the concert this weekend?W: Yes, I'd love to. What time does it start?B4: M: I hope the traffic isn't too bad on the way to the 本人rport.W: It shouldn't be. We have plenty of time to get there.4. Conclusion通过以上原文的呈现，相信大家对2019年12月四级第一套听力有了更直观的了解。

2019年12月英语四级听力真题原文【完整版】

2019年12月英语四级听力真题原文【完整版】News 1A device that weighs less than one kilogram is part of a mission that will allow scientists to deliver fourth generation or 4G mobile coverage to the moon in 2019。

If successful， the tiny device will provide the moon with its first ever mobile phone network。

The lunar network will support high definition streaming of video and data between the moon and earth。

The network is part of a mission to the moon。

This is a project with the goal of landing the first privately paid for mission to the moon。

The 4G mission is set to launch from Cape Canaveral in the United States on a space X Falcon 9 rocket in 2019。

Mission to the moon intends to establish and test the first elements of a communications network on the moon。

The scientists working on the project opted to build a 4G rather than a fifth generation or 5G network。

2019年12月英语四级真题第二套（含听力原文）

2019年12⽉英语四级真题第⼆套（含听⼒原⽂）2019年12⽉英语四级真题第⼆套(含听⼒原⽂）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to learn Chinese. Please recommend a place to him. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part ⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and then 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 1with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) The number of nurses has dropped to a record low.B) There is a growing shortage of medical personnel.C) There is discrimination against male nurses.D) The number of male nurses has gone down..2. A) Cultural bias. B) Inadequate pay.C) Educational system. D) Working conditions.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) He fell out of a lifeboat. B) He lost his way on a beach.C) He was almost drowned. D) He enjoyed swimming in the sea.4. A) The beach is a popular tourist resort. B) The emergency services are efficient.C) The beach is a good place to watch the tide. D) The lifeboats patrol the area round the clock. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) It became an online star. B) It broke into an office room.C) It escaped from a local zoo. D) It climbed 25 storeys at one go.6. A) Send it back to the zoo. B) Release it into the wild.C) Return it to its owner. D) Give it a physical checkup.7. A) A raccoon can perform acts no human can.B) A raccoon can climb much higher than a cat.C) The raccoon became as famous as some politicians.D) The raccoon did something no politician could.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) She got a well-paying job in a bank. B) She received a bonus unexpectedly.C She received her first monthly salary. D) She got a pay raise for her performance.9. A) Several years ago. B) Two decades ago.C) Right after graduation. D) Just last month.10. A) He sent a small check to his parents. B) He took a few of his friends to a gym.C) He immediately deposited it in a bank. D) He treated his parents to a nice meal.11. A) Buy some professional clothes. B) Budget her salary carefully.C) Join her colleagues for gym exercise. D) Visit her former university campus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) He has a difficult decision to make. B) He has been overworked recently.C) He has just quarreled with his girlfriend. D) He has just too many things to attend to.13. A) Give priority to things more urgent. B) Turn to his girlfriend for assistance.C) Think twice before making the decision. D) Seek advice from his family and advisor.14. A) His parents and advisor have different opinions.B) He is not particularly keen on the job offered.C) He lacks the money for his doctoral program.D) His girlfriend does not support his decision.15. A) They need time to make preparations. B) They need to save enough money for it.C) They haven’t started their careers yet. D) They haven’t won their parents’ approval.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) Acquiring information and professional knowledge.B) Using information to understand and solve problems.C) Enriching social and intellectual lives.D) Expressing ideas and opinions freely.17. A) Improving mind-reading strategies. B) Reading classic scientific literature.C) Playing games that challenge one’s mind. D) Traveling to different places in the world.18. A) Give others freedom to express themselves. B) Expose themselves to different cultures.C) Discard personal biases and prejudices. D) Participate in debates or discussions.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) The nature of relationships between dogs. B) The reason a great many people love dogs.C) Why dogs can be faithful friends of humans. D) How dogs feel about their bonds with humans.20. A) They have an unusual sense of responsibility. B) They can respond to humans’ questions.C) They can fall in love just like humans. D) They behave like other animals in many ways.21. A) They have their own joys and sorrows. B) They experience true romantic love.C) They help humans in various ways. D) They stay with one partner for life.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) A cow bone. B) A rare animal.C) A historical site. D) A precious stone.23. A) Measuring it. B) Preserving it.C) Dating it. D) Identifying it.24. A) The site should have been protected. B) The boy’s family had acted correctly.C) The boy should have called an expert. D) The channel needs to interview the boy.25. A) Search for similar fossils elsewhere. B) Ask the university to reward Jude.C) Conduct a more detailed search. D) Seek additional funds for the search.Part ⅢReading Comprehension (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 use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.Finally, some good news about airplane travel. If you are on a plane with a sick passenger, you are unlikely to get sick. That is the 26 of a new study that looked at how respiratory viruses 27 on airplanes. Researchers found that only people who were seated in the same row as a passenger with the flu, for example —or one row in front of or behind that individual—had a high risk of catching the illness. All other passengers had only a very 28 chance of getting sick, according to the findings. Media reports have not necessarily presented 29 information about the risk of getting infected on an airplane in the past. Therefore, these new findings should help airplane passengers to feel less 30 to catching respiratory infections while traveling by air. Prior to the new study, litter was known about the risks of getting 31 infected by common respiratory viruses, such as the flu or common cold, on an airplane, the researchers said. So, to 32 the risks of infection, the study team flew on 10 different 33 in the U.S. during the flu season. The researchers found that passengers sitting within two seats on 34 side of a person infected with flu, as well as those sitting one row in front of or behind this individual, had about an 80 person chance of getting sick. But other passengers were 35 safe from infection. They had a less than 3 percent chance of catching the flu.Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to 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.Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal of the Day?[A] Along with old classics like “carrots give you night vision” and “Santa doesn’t bring toys to misbehaving children”, one of the most well-worn phrases of tired parents everywhere is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many of us grow up believing that skipping breakfast is a serious mistake—even if only two thirds of adults in the UK eat breakfastregularly, according to the British Dietetic Association, and around three-quarters of Americans.[B] “The body uses a lot of energy stores for growth and repair through the night,” explains diet specialistSarah Elder. “Eating a balanced breakfast helps to up our energy, as well as make up for protein and calcium used throughout the night.” But there’s widespread disagreeme nt over whether breakfast should keep its top spot in the hierarchy of meals. There have been concerns around the sugar content of cereal and the food industry’s involvement in pro-breakfast research—and even one claim from an academic that breakfast is “dangerous”.[C] What’s the reality? Is breakfast a necessary start to the day or a marketing tactic by cereal companies? The most researched aspect of breakfast (and breakfast-skipping) has been its links to obesity. Scientists have different theories as to why there’s a relationship between the two. In one US study that analyzed the health data of 50,000 people over seven years, researchers found that those who made breakfast the largest meal of the day were more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who ate a large lunch or dinner. The researchers argued that breakfast helps reduce daily calorie intake and improve the quality of our diet—since breakfast foods are often higher in fiber and nutrients.[D] But as with any study of this kind, it was unclear if that was the cause—or if breakfast-skippers were just more likely to be overweight to begin with. To find out, researchers designed a study in which 52 obese women took part in a 12-week weight loss program. All had the same number of calories over the day, but half had breakfast, while the other half did not. What they found was that it wasn’t breakfast itself that caused the participants to lose weight: it was changing their normal routine. [E] If breakfast alone isn’t a guarantee of wei ght loss, why is there a link between obesity and skipping breakfast? Alexandra Johnstone, professor of appetite research at the University of Aberdeen, argues that it may simply be because breakfast-skippers have been found to be less knowledgeable about nutrition and health. “There are a lot of studies on the relationship between breakfast eating and possible health outcomes, but this may be because those who eat breakfast choose to habitually have health-enhancing behaviors such as not smoking and regula r exercise,” she says.[F] A 2016 review of 10 studies looking into the relationship between breakfast and weight management concluded there is “limited evidence” supporting or refuting the argument that breakfast influences weight or food intake, and more evidence is required before breakfast recommendations can be used to help prevent obesity.[G] Researchers from the University of Surrey and University of Aberdeen are halfway through research looking into the mechanisms behind how the time we eat influences body weight. Early findings suggest that a bigger breakfast is beneficial to weight control. Breakfast has been found to affect more than just weight. Skipping breakfast has been associated with a 27% increased risk of heart disease, a 21% higher risk of type 2 diabetes men, and a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in women. One reason may be breakfast’s nutritional value—partly because cereal is fortified with vitamins. In one study on the breakfast habits of 1,600 young people in the UK, researchers found that the fiber and micronutrient intake was better in those who had breakfast regularly. There have been similar findings in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the US.[H] Breakfast is also associated with improved brain function, including concentration and language use. A review of 54 studies found that eating breakfast can improve memory, though the effects on other brain functions were inconclusive. However, one of the review’s researchers, Mary Beth Spitznagel, says there is “reasonable” evidence break fast does improve concentration—there just needs to be more research. “Looking at studies that tested concentration, the number of studies showing a benefit was exactly the same as the number that found no benefit,” she says.“And no studies found that eat ing breakfast was bad for concentration.”[I] What’s most important, some argue, is what we eat for breakfast. High-protein breakfasts have been found particularly effective in reducing food and consumption later in the day, according to research by theAustralian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. While cereal remains a firm favorite among breakfast consumers in the UK and US, a recent investigation into the sugar content of “adult” breakfast cereals found that some cereals contain more than three quarters of the recommended daily amount of free sugars in each portion, and sugar was the second or third highest ingredient in cereals.[J] But some research suggests if we’re going to eat sugary foods, it’s best to do it early. One re cruited 200 obese adults to take part in a 16-week-long diet, where half added dessert to their breakfast, and half didn’t. Those who added dessert lost an average of 40 pounds more—however, the study was unable to show the long-term effects. A review of 54 studies found that there is no consensus yet on what type of breakfast is healthier, and concluded that the type of breakfast doesn’t matter as much as simply eating something.[K] While there’s no conclusive evidence on exactly what we should be eating and when, the consensus is that we should listen to our own bodies and eat when we’re hungry. “Breakfast is most important for people who are hungry when they wake up,” Johnstone says. Every body starts the day differently—and those individual differences need to be researched more closely, Spitznagel says. “A balanced breakfast is really helpful, but getting regular meals throughout the day is more important to leave blood sugar stable through the day, which helps control weight and hunger levels,” says El der, “Breakfastisn’t the only meal we should be getting right.”36. According to one professor, obesity is related to a lack of basic awareness of nutrition and health.37. Some scientists claim that people should consume the right kind of food at breakfast.38. Opinions differ as to whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day.39. It has been found that not eating breakfast is related to the incidence of certain diseases in some countries.40. Researchers found it was a change in eating habits rather than breakfast itself that induced weight loss.41. To keep oneself healthy, eating breakfast is more important than choosing what to eat.42. It is widely considered wrong not to eat breakfast.43. More research is needed to prove that breakfast is related to weight loss or food intake.44. People who priorities breakfasts tend to have lower calorie but higher nutritional intake.45. Many studies reveal that eating breakfast helps people memories and concentrate.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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Textbooks represent an 11 billion dollar industry, up from $8 billion in 2014. Textbook publisher Pearson is the largest publisher—of any kind—in the world.It costs about $1 million to create a new textbook. A freshman textbook will have dozens of contributors, from subject-matter experts through graphic and layout artists to expert reviewers and classroom testers. Textbook publishers connect professors, instructors and students in ways that alternatives, such as Open E-Textbooks and Open Educational Resources, simply do not. This connection happens not only by means of collaborative development, review and testing, but also at conferences where faculty regularly decide on their textbooks and curricula for the coming year.It is true that textbook publishers have recently reported losses, largely due to students renting or buying used print textbooks. But this can be chalked up to the exorbitant cost of their books—which has increased over 1,000 percent since 1977. A reshuffling of the textbook industry may well be in order. But this does not mean the end of the textbook itself.While they may not be as dynamic as an iPad, textbooks are not passive or lifeless. For example, over the centuries, they have simulated dialogue in a number of ways. From 1800 to the present day, textbooks have done this by posing questions for students to answer inductively. That means students are asked to use their individual experie nce to come up with answers to general questions. Today’s psychology texts, for example, ask: “How much of your personality do you think you inherited?” while ones in physics say: “How can you predict where the ball you tossed will land?”Experts observe t hat “textbooks come in layers, something like an onion.” For the active learner, engaging with a textbook can be an interactive experience: Readers proceed at their own pace. They “customize” their books by engaging with different layers and linkages. Highlighting, Post-It notes, dog-ears and other techniques allow for further customization that students value in print books over digital forms of books.46. What does the passage say about open educational resources?A) They contribute to teaching as much as to learning.B) They don’t profit as much as traditional textbooks do.C) They can’t connect professors and students as textbooks do.D) They compete fiercely for customers with textbook producers.47. What is the main cause of the publishers’ losses?A) Failure to meet student need. B) Industry restructuringC) Emergence of e-books. D) Falling sales.48. What does the textbook industry need to do?A) Reform its structures. B) Cut its retail prices.C) Find replacements for printed textbooks. D) Change its business strategy periodically.49. What are students expected to do in the learning process?A) Think carefully before answering each question.B) Ask questions based on their own understanding.C) Answer questions using their personal experience.D) Give answers showing their respective personality.50. What do experts say about students using textbooks?A) They can digitalize the prints easily. B) They can learn in an interactive way.C) They can purchase customized versions. D) They can adapt the material themselves.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.When we think of animals and plants, we have a pretty good way of dividing them into two distinct groups: one converts sunlight into energy and the other has to eat food to make its energy. Well, those dividing lines come crashing down with the discovery of a sea slug that is truly half animal and half plant. It’s pretty incredible how it has managed to hijack the genes of the algae on which it feeds.The slugs can manufacture chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants that captures energy from sunlight, and hold these genes within their body. The term kleptoplasty is used to describe the practice of using hijacked genes to create nutrients from sunlight. And so far, this green sea slug is the only known animal that can be truly considered solar-powered, although some animals do exhibit some plant-like behaviors. Many scientists have studied the green sea slugs to confirm that they are actually able to create energy from sunlight.In fact, the slugs use the genetic material so well, they pass it on to their further generations. The babies retain the ability to produce their own chlorophyll, though they can’t generate energy from sunlight until they’ve eaten enough algae to steal the necessary genes, which they can’t yet produce on their own.”“There is no way on earth that genes from an alga should work inside an animal cell,” says Sidney Piercefrom the University of South Florida. “And yet here, they do. They all ow the animal to rely on sunshine for its nutrition. So if something happens to their food source, they have a way of not starving to death until they find more algae to eat.”The sea slugs are so good at gathering energy from the sun that they can live up to 9 months without having to eat any food. They get all their nutritional needs met by the genes that they’ve hijacked from the algae.51. What is the distinctive feature of a sea slug?A) It looks like both a plant and an animal. B) It converts some sea animals into plants.C) It lives half on animals and half on plants. D) It gets energy from both food and sunlight.52. What enables the sea slug to live like a plant?A) The genes it captures from the sea plant algae. B) The mechanism by which it conserves energy.C) The nutrients it hijacks from other species. D) The green pigment it inherits from its ancestors.53. What does the author say about baby sea slugs?A) They can live without sunlight for a long time.B) They can absorb sunlight right after their birth.C) They can survive without algae for quite some time.D) They can produce chlorophyll on their own.54. What does Sidney Pierce say about genes from an alga?A) They are stolen from animals like the sea slug. B) They can’t function unless exposed to sunlight.C) They don’t usually function inside animal cells. D) They can readily be converted to sea slug genes.55. What do we learn about sea slugs from the passage?A) They behave the way most plant species do. B) They can survive for months without eating.C) They will turn into plants when they mature. D) They will starve to death without sunlight.Part ⅣTranslation (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.中国的家庭观念与其⽂化传统有关。

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一、听力练习
1.
A. To defend Africa against sandstorm.
B. To restore damaged land across areas south of the Sahara.
C. To protect natural recourses.
D. To improve living standard by selling fruits.
2.
A. Being drought resistant.
B. Providing nutrients.
C. Providing a way to make money.
D. Requiring a lot of rainfall.
二、听力文本
Many areas of North Africa have seen a sharp decrease in rainfall over the last 50 years. Some experts say the lack of rainfall will worsen in the future. In Tunisia, fresh groundwater supplies are decreasing quickly. About two-thirds of the land is threatened by a lack of rain and loss of trees. A report by the Netherlands Foreign Ministry from 2018 says that the effects of climate change may slow Tunisia's growth in its two main industries - tourism and agriculture. Tunisian officials plan to cut the amount of carbon dioxide the country produces to 41 percent of levels measured in 2010 by the 2030s. Carbon dioxide gas is linked to warming of the Earth's atmosphere. However, critics say Tunisia has been slow to match words with action. The African Union is leading an effort called the ‘Great Green Wall' initiative. The project aims to restore damaged land across areas south of the Sahara, commonly called the Sahel. In North Africa, some national projects to fight climate change are making a difference. Tunisia will reportedly present an oases protection project at the Madrid climate conference. Local farmers in northern Algeria are seeking help from Mexican experts to plant prickly pear cactus. The desert plant needs little rainfall and provides nutrients and a way to make money. Algeria is also trying to renew efforts for a reforestation project that did not have good results.
Question 1: According to the news report, what’s the aim of the ‘Great Green Wall' initiative?
Question 2: According to the news report, which of the following is not mentioned as a feature of prickly pear cactus?
三、重点词汇
1. worsen: to become worse or to make something become worse （使）恶化；（使）更糟
2. initiative: a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem 倡议；新措施
3. restore: to return something or someone to an earlier good condition or position 修复；使复位；使复职
4. reportedly: according to what many people say 据传闻，据称
5. oasis: a place in a desert where there is water and therefore plants and trees and sometimes a village or town绿洲（复数oases）
6. prickly pear cactus:仙人掌
7. nutrient: any substance that plants or animals need in order to live and grow 养分；营养物，滋养物
8. reforestation: the act of planting trees on an area of land that has become empty or spoiled重新造林
四、背景知识
“非洲绿色长城”计划由非洲联盟主导，旨在积极应对撒赫尔和撒哈拉地区气候变化导致土地退化和沙漠化后对当地社会、经济、环境的不利影响，从而使干旱地区的林地、牧地及其他自然资源得到可持续管理或使用，应对当地贫困和食品安全等问题。

此计划最初的构想，是建立东西向横越非洲大陆的一排树，已演变成一个绿色长城的愿景，以解决撒赫尔和撒哈拉地区所面临挑战的居民的一项人为干预措施。

作为乡村发展的一项程序，这项次区域的合作关系的整体目标为使当地居民与自然自然环境在健全的环境保育与经营管理之下强化其环境回复力。

绿色长城撒哈拉和萨赫尔倡议（英语：Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative）（GGWSSI）将成为在乡村地区的自然资源退化和干旱的共同影响的全球性的因应，也有助于提高当地收入。

该倡议是一种支持在地社区为环境努力的合作伙伴关系，使干旱地区的林地、牧地及其他自然资源，都能做可持续性管理或使用。

另外，还寻求撒赫尔和撒哈拉地区的气候变迁的减缓和调适，以及提升当地的食品安全。

五、参考答案
Question 1: B
Question 2: D。