4级考前冲刺试题二

4 级考前冲刺试题二1. 现在有不少家长付钱让孩子做家务2. 有人对此赞成，也有人表示反对3. 我的看法Paying Kids for Chores?Universities must deal better with complaintsWith student complaints at a record high, universities will have to raise their game once tuition fees rise Two universities that have broken official rules for dealing with student complaints are named today in the independent adjudicator’s (仲裁人) annual report. The two, Southampton and Westminster, are the first to be exposed in this way —yet another sign of the new era in which universities are expected to be more accountable (负责) to students who expect to be treated as customers.The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), which reviews complaints when students have exhausted their university’s procedures, also reports a record rise in the number of cases. Last year the office received 1,341 complaints against universities in England and Wales, the highest number ever and an unprecedented (空前的) rise of one-third on the year before.As the adjudicator himself, Rob Behrens, points out, 1,341 complaints represents just 0.05% of higher education students, and 53% of those were not justified. But, he also observes, the proportion of justified and partly justified complaints has grown for the first time in several years. He predicts the increase in complaints will continue. “It’s to be expected where you have rising tuition fees, where students are being invited to behave like consumers and where the labour market is difficult so students will do what they can to ensure they qualify.”He says his decision to expose the universities of Southampton and Westminster is not “naming and shaming, with all the associations of moral censure that term implies”. He was, he explains, simply following OIA rules — something those two institutions failed to do.Westminster fell short in its handling of two complaints. One was from a student who argued a disability hadn’t been properly taken into account. The adjudicator agreed. The other student claimed that an exam question and its marking scheme had been unreasonable. In both cases the university broke the rules by failing to resolve the cases, as recommended, promptly and in full.At Southampton University, four months after the OIA concluded that an undergraduate had a justified complaint about their experience on a placement, the university continued to oppose the decision and was refusing compensation.In a second case, the university also failed to comply with the adjudicator’s decision. And in a third one, although the complaint turned out to be unjustified, for 10 months the university delayed the investigation by failing to provide evidence despite the adjudicator’s repeated reminders.At both universities, it was only after the adjudicator involved the vice-chancellors(校长) that the complaints began to be resolved.Behrens is pleased the relationships between his office and both universities are now much more positive. “As the government places more emphasis on the student experience, complaints have an important role in safeguarding(保护) that,”he says. “Universities must see complaints as feedback to become more professional.”Both Southampton and Westminster universities want to charge undergraduates annual fees of £9,000. There is an expectation, not only from ministers, but importantly from students and their families, too, that all universities wishing to increase charges will move to increase student satisfaction as well.Before making an investment of £27,000, for example, each student will ask, “Is this good value? Is the teaching good? Is this the best route to a successful career?”Universities are being encouraged, some may say pressurised, to become more transparent and accountable in a number of ways.The government is urging all universities to publish a student charter, a sort of statement of terms and conditions to remind students of their responsibilities and their rights. Universities are also expected to publish “key information sets” by September 2012. These will enable students to shop around by providing the same 17 pieces of information about each institution, including, for example, the proportion of “contact” time and group work, and the careers and starting salaries of previous graduates.The OIA is already looking at creative ways to cope with both limited resources and likely further rises in student complaints. Settling more disputes by phone is one option; helping universities to install an independent ombudsman (巡视员) on each campus —an idea borrowed from the Netherlands and the US — is another.The question is, are UK universities well prepared for the new consumer culture where the deal is if you pay more, you expect more, and if you feel you’re not getting it, you’ll complain?The question is particularly pertinent for the universities of Southampton and Westminster on the day they are exposed for dragging their feet with a legally established adjudicator. Both vice-chancellors were unavailable for interview.In a statement, Professor Debra Humphris, Southampton’s pro-vice-chancellor, education, said the vast majority of the small number of student complaints are dealt with swiftly, described the dialogue with the OIA as “constructive and supportive” and said that an improved complaints procedure will be in place this autumn.In a more defiant statement, Professor Geoffrey Petts, vice-chancellor at Westminster, points out that the university is working with the OIA towards compliance with its recommendations: “The University of Westminster was disappointed to have been cited in the OIA report. The university has robust procedures for handling the very small number of formal complaints which it receives from students.”Aaron Porter, the president of the National Union of Students, has welcomed the new step of naming universities that don’t fully co-operate with the adjudicator. “In an environment where students are payinghigher fees and will therefore raise expectations, they need to know which institutions stick to the rules.”He also makes this warning: “Faced with increasing competition to recruit students, many universities are being tempted to make grander and grander claims. They need to improve their offer, but they need to be honest in what they promise.”The advice is echoed by Steve Smith, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter. He sees, in the adjudicator’s annual report, a sector getting to grips with a new world where students are more demanding and will make sure universities correctly follow procedures. “It is vital that institutions are honest and transparent about what students can expect from their courses. In an age of marketing, don’t oversell. Any institution will have to make sure they do what they say.”1. Southampton and Westminster’s being named shows that _______.A) the independent adjudicator is quite impartial B) the two universities have a very bad reputationC) universities are expected to be more responsibleD) college students are treated with much respect now2. What is said about last year’s complaints against universities in England and Wales?A) Few of them turned out to be completely justified.B) They were much less than those on the year before.C) Most of the complaints were exposed in the report.D) The number of the complaints reached a record high.3. According to Rob Behrens, the increase in complaints is likely to continue as long as _______.A) we are living in a customer culture B) universities increase tuition feesC) students have to pay their tuition fees D) the level of unemployment keeps rising4. When a student complained about an exam question, the University of Westminster _______.A) deliberately delayed the investigation C) modified the marking scheme promptlyB) didn’t deal with the complaint swiftly D) handled the case following official rules5. Behrens believes that complaints play an important role in _______.A) safeguarding the student experience C) enhancing customers’ shopping experienceB) protecting the interests of universities D) improving government employees’ service6. Students and their families expect that universities wanting more tuition fees will _______.A) offer more part-time jobs C) increase student satisfactionB) lower entrance requirements D) invest more in teaching facilities7. For the OIA, to resolve more complaints with limited resources, one option is to _______.A) urge universities to simplify their procedures B) use the telephone to deal with the complaintsC) cooperate with officials from other countries D) send an independent ombudsman to each school8. According to Professor Debra Humphris, the University of Southampton will be ready to use ______________________________ this autumn.9. Aaron Porter warns that universities should not only ______________________________ but also be frank in their offer.10. Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, understands that we have entered a new era where students become more ______________________________.11. A) He fell ill on the jet plane. C) He went to bed too late last night.B) He has been working too hard. D) He hasn’t adapted to the new time yet.12. A) The man doesn’t have a strong enough will. B) The man loves horror films.C) The man will see the film anyway. D) The man studied for the whole night last night.13. A) Not to worry about the ticket. C) Book an air ticket in advance.B) Buy a ticket at a higher price. D) Wait for others to cancel their booking.14. A) The young man had some unusual problems. B) The problem is common for young people.C) It’s not common for young men to leave home. D) It was a problem for John when he left home.15. A) The man will have no choices left. B) The man had better go there quickly.C) The man should go when he has spare time.D) The books are a bit scratched and are of poor quality.16. A) She can’t afford the time for the trip. C) She has to change the time for the trip.B) She will manage to leave this month. D) She hasn’t decided where to go next month.17. A) It is located near a large residential area. B) It is open around-the-clock on weekends.C) It is the same as other banks in any way. D) It provides convenience and quality service.18. A) He will go to see a doctor about his coughing.B) He has had a heart attack because of smoking.C) He is coughing because of too much smoking.D) He has a serious lung disease and heart attack already.19. A) Go to summer school. C) Stay at home.B) Take a vacation. D) Earn some money.20. A) They hired someone to stay in their home. B) They left their pets with neighbors.C) They rented their house to a student. D) They asked their gardener to watch their home.21. A) Walking the dog. C) Watching the children.B) Cutting the grass. D) Feeding the fish.22. A) They attend a house-sitter’s party. C) They interview a house-sitter’s friends.B) They check a house-sitter’s references. D) They look at a house-sitter’s transcripts.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) Writing reports for them. C) Helping them deal with daily existence.B) Teaching them foreign languages. D) Introducing work for them.24. A) They don’t have support networks. B) They cannot cope with the difficulties in their lives.C) The woman is famous for helping others. D) People from their nationality refuse to help them.25. A) They were surprised at the flavors. B) They could find food they know and love.C) There was at least one Chinese restaurant in every China town. D) Americans have different foods.26. A) To do some research. C) To pay for his college education.B) To support his family. D) To help his partner expand business.27. A) It stood at an unfavorable place. B) It lowered the prices to promote sales.C) It lacked control over the quality of sandwiches. D) It made no profits due to poor management.28. A) They had enough money to do it.B) They had succeeded in their business.C) They wanted to make others believe that they were successful.D) They wished to meet the increasing demand of customers.29. A) Learning by trial and error. C) Finding a good partner.B) Making friends with suppliers. D) Opening chain stores.Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) To exchange ideas. C) To achieve success in life.B) To prove their value. D) To overcome their fear of silence.31. A) About whatever they have prepared. C) About learning something new.B) About whatever they want to do. D) About getting on well.32. A) To explain why people keep talking.B) To persuade people to stop making noises.C) To encourage people to join in conversations.D) To discuss why people like talking about weather. Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) Bettering his way of life. B) Improving his surroundings.C) Modifying the face of the planet. D) Altering the physical features of the earth.34. A) When the ecological balance of the river is lost.B) When people consume more fish than they used to.C) When large numbers of algae, fish and birds are killed.D) When the production of marine petroleum is increased.35. A) Ecologists. C) Businessmen.B) Industrialists. D) Environmentalists. ection CToday we are going to practice evaluating the main tool used when addressing groups —the (36) _________. There are three main elements that combine to create either a positive or negative (37) _________ for listeners. They can (38) _________ in a voice that is pleasing to listen to and can be used effectively, or they can create a voice that doesn’t hold the attention, or even worse causes an (39) _________ reaction. The three elements are volume, pitch and pace.When talking about volume, keep in mind that a good speaker will adjust to the size of both the room and the audience. Of course, with an (40) _________ device like a microphone, the speaker can use a (41) _________ tone. But speakers should not be (42) _________ on it. A good speaker can speak loudly without shouting.The second element — pitch — is related to the highness and lowness of the sounds. High pitches are for most people more difficult to listen to, so in general, the speaker should use the lower (43) _________ of the voice. (44) ___________________________________________________________________.The third element, pace — this is how fast or slow words and sounds are articulated — should also be varied. (45) ___________________________________________________________________. Pauses ought to be used to signal transitions or create anticipation. It can be very effective when moving from one topic to another (46) ___________________________________________________________________.(25 minutes)Perhaps like most Americans you have some extra pounds to shed. You may even have tried a fad (时尚) diet or two, but found yourself right back where you 47 . The key to weight loss is regular 48 activity. And surprisingly, you don’t have to give up eating or make the gym your second home to see long-term, 49 effects.Your body needs a certain amount of energy to maintain basic 50 such as breathing, blood circulation and digestion. The energy required to keep your organs functioning is referred to as the resting or basal metabolic rate. Any time you are active, 51 energy is required. It is obtained from glycogen (糖原) and fat stored in the blood, liver, and muscles. The key to losing weight is to draw on the fat rather than on the carbohydrate reserves.Which of the two energy sources you use depends on the intensity and 52 of your activity. The higher the intensity, the more your body will pull from the stored carbohydrates. The lower the intensity, the 53 your body will rely on fat as its fuel.Aerobic exercise is most 54 for weight loss. When you perform aerobic activities you 55 contract large muscle groups such as your legs and arms. Walking, running, rollerblading, swimming, dancing, and jumping jacks are all forms of aerobic activity. Surprisingly, if your aerobic activity is low to moderately intense and of long duration, you will burn more fat than if you had 56 in a short burst of high-intensity exercise. In short, a brisk 30-minute walk will burn fat while a 100-yard sprint will burn glycogen.The warming of the Arctic is releasing a new wave of banned toxic chemicals that had been trapped in the ice and cold water, scientists have discovered.The researchers warn that the amount of the poisons stored in the polar region is unknown and their release could “undermine global efforts to reduce environmental and human exposure to them.”The chemicals leaking out as temperatures rise include DDT, lindane, chlordane, PCBs and HCBs. Allof these persistent organic pollutants (Pops) are banned under the 2004 Stockholm Convention.Pops can cause cancers and birth defects and take a very long time to degrade (降解), meaning they can be transported for long distances and accumulate over time.Over past decades, the low temperatures in the Arctic trapped volatile (易挥发的) Pops in ice and cold water. But scientists in Canada and Norway have now discovered that global warming is freeing the Pops once again.They examined measurements of Pops in the air between 1993 and 2009 at the Zeppelin research station in Svalbaard and Alert weather station in northern Canada. After allowing for the decline in global emissions of Pops, the team showed that the toxic chemicals are being remobilised by rising temperatures and the retreat of the sea ice, which exposes more water to the Sun. For example, air concentrations of PCBs and HCBs have shown a rising trend from about 2004 onwards.Hayley Hung, a member of Environment Canada and of the team, said its work provided the first evidence of the releasing of Pops in the Arctic. “But this is the beginning of a story,” she said. “The next step is to find out how much is in the Arctic, how much will leak out and how quickly.” With the exception of lindane, there was little existing knowledge of the scale of the Pops stored in high latitude(纬度) regions.The fate of the frozen Pops depends on the speed of warming in the Arctic — it is currently heating up much more quickly than lower latitudes — as well as how the chemicals interact with snow and rain. Pops accumulate in fats and are therefore concentrated up the food chain, but Hung cautions that food chains themselves in the Arctic may be altered by climate change.57. What have the researchers discovered in the Arctic?A) The ice and cold water in the region contain banned toxic chemicals.B) Poisons stored in the region are leaking out due to global warming.C) The amount of toxic chemicals in the region could destroy all mankind.D) The ecosystem in the region has been changed by rising temperatures.58. What do we learn about Pops from the passage?A) They pose a threat to marine life and humans.B) They are substances that are easily degraded.C) They can be found only in the polar region.D) They will decrease in number if moving in the air.59. By “the toxic chemicals are being remobilised”(Line 3, Para. 6), the author means that thePops .A) are taking in the form of ice or waterB) are becoming more and more poisonousC) are able to move easily and quickly in the waterD) are no longer trapped in the ice and cold water60. According to Hayley Hung, the scientists need to figure out .A) the harm the Pops will do to human beingsB) why the Pops have been trapped in the iceC) the scale of the Pops stored in the ArcticD) how to eliminate the banned toxic chemicals61. What is said about the warming in the Arctic?A) Human activities have sped it up. C) It is affected by the release of the Pops.B) It may change the food chains. D) It happened earlier than other regions.If you haven’t heard or seen anything about road rage in the last few months, you’ve probably been avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered a type of aggressive driving. If you drive, you have more than likely encountered aggressive driving.While drunk driving remains a critical problem, the facts about aggressive driving are surely as disturbing. For instance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 41,907 people died on the highways last year. Of those fatalities, the agency estimates that about two-thirds were caused at least in part by aggressive driving behavior.Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now, and why is it something that seemed almost nonexistent a few short years ago? Experts have several theories, and all are probably partially correct. One suggestion is sheer overcrowding. In the last decade, the number of cars on the roads has increased by over 11%, and the number of miles driven has increased by 35%. Meanwhile, the number of new road miles has only increased by 1%. That means more cars in the same amount of space; and the problem is magnified in urban areas.Also, people have less time and more things to do. With people working and trying to fit extra chores (琐事) and activities into the day, stress levels have never been higher. Stress creates anxiety, which leads to short tempers. These factors, when combined in certain situations, can spell road rage.You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively, but you might be surprised. For instance, have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver, honked (按喇叭) long and hard at another car, or sped up to keep another driver from passing? If you recognize yourself in any of these situations, watch out!Whether you are getting angry at other drivers or if another driver is visibly upset with you, there are things you can do to avoid major confrontations. If you are susceptible (受影响的) to road rage, the key is to discharge your emotion in a healthy way. If you are the target of another driver’s rage, do everything possible to get away from the other driver safely, including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their way.62. What do we learn from the first paragraph?A) The media coined the term “Road Rage” only a few months ago.B) People have been raged by media reports and want to avoid them.C) People not interested in the media know little about recent happenings.D) Road rage has received much media coverage in the last few months.63. According to NHTSA, last year on the highways .A) approximately two thirds of drivers were killed by road rageB) road rage remained the No.1 killer and took 41,907 people’s livesC) more people were killed by aggressive driving than by drunk drivingD) drunk driving was a problem more serious than aggressive driving64. Which of the following is not mentioned as a cause of aggressive driving?A) Drivers’ stress and anxiety. C) Increasing number of cars.B) Rush hour traffic. D) Overcrowded roads.65. According to the passage, aggressive driving is characterized by .A) driving at full speed C) talking while drivingB) yelling at another driver D) sounding the horn when passing66. The last paragraph is intended to .A) tell people how to cope with road rage B) inform people how aggressive drivers could beC) tell people how to control themselves when angryD) warn people against eye contact with another driver(15 minutes)Are organically grown foods the best food choices? The advantages claimed for such foods 67 conventionally grown food products are now being 68 . Advocates of organic foods — a term whose meaning 69 greatly —frequently proclaim that such products are safer and more nutritious than others.The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of the 70 North American diet is a welcome development. 71 , much of this interest has been sparked by sweeping claims that the food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional 72 . Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific 73 , the preponderance(优势) of written 67. A) beyond C) ofB) at D) over68. A) argued C) consultedB) debated D) bargained69. A) varies C) shiftsB) alters D) changes70. A) natural C) particularB) typical D) unique71. A) Moreover C) HoweverB) Therefore D) Likewise72. A) needs C) desiresB) realms D) intentions73. A) implication C) evidenceB) status D) guidance74. A) about C) inB) from D) among75. A) prevents C) forbidsmaterial advancing such claims makes it difficult for the general public to distinguish fact 74 fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting entirely of organically grown foods 75 or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become 76 advertised and form the basis for folklore (民俗).77 daily the public is surrounded by claims for “no aging”diets, new vitamins, and other wonder foods. Many an unfounded report 78 that natural vitamins are superior 79 synthetic ones, that fertilized eggs excel unfertilized eggs nutritionally, and the 80 .One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in 81 is that they cost more than conventionally grown foods. But in many 82 consumers are misled if they believe that organic foods can 83 health and provide better nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods.84 there is a real cause for concern if consumers, 85 those with limited incomes, distrust the regular food supply and buy merely expensive organic foods 86 .B) rescues D) offends76. A) broadly C) widelyB) entirely D) deeply77. A) Altogether C) ScarcelyB) Surely D) Almost78. A) predicts C) impliesB) declares D) defines79. A) than C) toB) on D) with80. A) unlike C) sameB) alike D) like81. A) common C) senseB) difference D) significance82. A) events C) statesB) facts D) cases83. A) sustain C) maintainB) retain D) entertain84. A) But C) AsB) So D) And85. A) particularly C) obviouslyB) essentially D) rarely86. A) anyway C) thoughB) then D) instead87. ___________________________ (冒着破产的危险), he invested all his money in this factory.88. Many people ___________________________ (理所当然地认为) marriage is the goal of every youngwoman’s inmost thought.89. It’s time ___________________________ (采取一些有效措施) to solve the pollution problem allover the county.90. John can not afford a car, ___________________________ (更不用说房子了).91. It ___________________________ (我突然想到) I have a meeting to attend this afternoon.。