2020年英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整版)
2020年12月大学英语四级考试历年真题及详解(第一套)
Many factors may contribute to the diversity and efficiency. One of the most common factors is the economic development and technological progress. Only industrialization can produce larger vehicles which are capable of carrying more passengers. Another contributing factor is globalization. With the development of multinational companies and the popularity of cross-border tourism, there are increasingly more people going abroad, which contributes the development of high-speed transportation.
Almost half the center of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day. (4)This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne Hidalgobniol promoted the first World Car-Free Day last year. Hidalgobniol also has supported a Paris Breathes Day.
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第1套)
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第1套)听力答案:1.A) Ship traffic in the Atlantic.2.D) They may be affecting the world’s climate.3.C) To call for a permanent security guard.4.A) It had already taken strong action.5.B) The road was blocked.6.D) A track hit a barrier and overturned.7.B) It was a hard task to removing the spilled substance.8.A) She wanted to save for a new phone.9.D) They are less aware of the value of their money.10.B) More non-essential things.11.C) It may lead to excessive spending.12.C) He had a problem with the furniture delivered.13.B) Describe the furniture he received.14.A) Correct their mistake.15. с) She apologized to the man once more.16. B) Tidying up one's home.17. A) Things that make one happy.18. C) It received an incredibly large number of donated books.19. A) Give free meals to the homeless.20. D) Follow his example.21. C) Sending him had-made bags.22. A) To solve word search puzzles.23. B) They could no longer concentrate on their task.24. C) A reduction in the amount of sleep.25. C) Realize the disruptive effects of technology.PART I WritingDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on online dictionaries. You can start your essay with the sentence "O nline dictionaries are becoming increasingly popular. "You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.参考范文:With the growing popularity of smart phones and the high coverage rate of wireless network, online dictionaries are becoming increasingly popular for students in daily study. It seems to be a trend that online dictionaries would replace paper ones. However, just as the saying goes, “different strokes for different folks.”Some students are more prone to use online dictionaries and have two points to support it. First, online dictionaries are more portable, and make it possible to look up any new words that we met anytime and anywhere only via a small phone in our hands. Second, we can improve both written and oral skills, as online dictionaries allow us to hear the native pronunciation of each word clearly. Whereas others hold differently. They are still in favor of use print ones. For one thing, paper dictionaries can protect our eyesight better than online ones as digital devices may emit radiation if we watch the electronic screen for a long time. For another, using the print dictionary can prevent us from being distracted by reminders of irrelevant information.As far as I’m concerned, although the content of paper dictionaries is authoritative, its lexicon is not updated as quickly as online ones. After all, we live in an informationage and can have access to many hot words on the Internet every day.【选词填空第1套】26. H integrate27. B coincidence28. A associated29. L recognizable30. I maximizes31. N stressful32. K principal33. J natural34. M simply35. O symbolized【信息匹配第1套】Doctor’s orders: Let children just play36. H 段落第一句Another playtime thief37. E 段落第一句The trends have been a long time coming.38. L 段落第一句Play may not be a hard sell to kids.39.G 段落第一句Predictions aren’t the only ones who have noticed.40. D段落第一句“play is not silly behavior,”41. I 段落第一句“I respect that parents have busy lives and it’s easy to hand a child a iPhone”42.C 段落第一句The advice, issued Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics43. K 段落第一句Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids.44. F 段落第一句By 200945. B 段落第一句“This may seem old-fashioned, but there are skills to be leaned when kids aren’t told what to do”【仔细阅读第1套】Text 1 :Diets46.What does the author say may have an adverse impact on people?A.Under going plastic surgeries in pursuit of beauty.B.Imitating the life styles of heroes and role models.C.Striving to achieve perfection regardless of financial cost.D.Attempting to meet society’s expectation of appearance47.What have researchers found out about people’ s earnings?A.They are closely related to people’s social status.B.They have to do with people’s body weight and shapeC.They seem to matter much less to men than to womenD.They may not be equal to people’s contributions48.What does the author’ s recent study focus on?A.Previous literature on indicators of competitiveness in the work place.B.Traits that matter most in one’s pursuit of success in the labor market.C.Whether self-perception of body image impacts one’s work place successD.How bosses’ perception of body image impacts employees’ advancement.49.What is the finding of the author’s recent research?A.Being over weight actually does not do much harm to the overall well-being of employees.B.People are not adversely affected in the workplace by false self-perception of body weightC.Self-esteem helps to combat gender in equality in the work place.D.Gender in equality continues to frustrate a lot of female employees.50.What does the author think would help improve the condition in the labor market?A.Banning discrimination on the bass of employees’ body imageB.Expanding protection of women against gender discrimination.C.Helping employees change their own perception of beauty.D.Excluding body shape as a category in the labor contract.答案:46.D 47.B 48.C 49.B 50.AText 2 :Work-life balance51.What does the author suggest by saying"The work-life balance is dead”?A.the hope of achieving a thriving life is impossible to realize.B.the pursuit of a fulfilling career involves personal sacrificeC.the imbalance between work and life simply doesn’t exist anymore.D.the concept of work-life balance contributes little to a fulfilling life.52. What does the author say about our use of language?A. it impacts how we think and behave.B.it changes with the passage of time..C. it reflects how we communicate.D. it differs from person to person.53.What does the author say we do in an ideal world?A.we do work that betters the lives of our families and friends.B. we do work that gives us bursts of joy each new day.C. we do meaningful work that contributes to society.D. we do demanding work that brings our capacity into full play.54. What does the author say about life?A. it is cyclicalB.it is dynamicC.it is fulfillingD. it is risky.55. what does the author advise us to do?A.make life as simple as possibleB.talk about balance in simpler termsC. balance life and work in a new wayD.strive for a more fulfilling life.答案:51. D 52. A 53. C 54. B 55. D翻译茅台(Moutai)是中国最有名的白酒,在新中国成立前夕,被选为国宴用酒。
2020年12月英语四级真题及答案完整版
2020年12月英语四级真题及参考答案(完整版)Part I writingDirections:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a composition on the topic “Changes in the way of Transportation”.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.参考范文:With the social and economic development,our means of transportation have changed a lot over the last few decades,which has brought much convenience to our life.In the1970s and1980s,bicycles were the primary means of public transportation.Families that owned a bicycle were thought to be in relatively good economic conditions.Because of the implementation of the reform and opening policy,the economy and people’s living standards were improved a lot and travelling by private cars became more and more common in1990s and2000s. And thanks to the information technology,we can now enjoy bike-sharing service and online ride-hailing service which help to make our journey more economical and flexible.We have enough reason to believe that our way of transportation could be more and more economically friendly and intelligent.Part II Listening ComprehensionPartⅡListening Comprehension(25minutes)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 Sheet1with a single line through she centre. Questions1and2are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.B)Invasive species are driving away certain native species.C)The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.D)Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.2.A)It could add to greenhouse emissions.B)It could disrupt the food chains there.C)It could pose a threat to other marine species.D)It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.C)Spend a few nights on a small island.D)Sell the pearl he had kept for years.Questions3and4are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A)cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B)About half of its city center will be closed to cars.C)Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.D)Pedestrians will have free access to the city.4.A)The rising air pollution in Paris.B)The worsening global warming.C The ever-growing cost of petrol.D)The unbearable traffic noise.Questions5to7are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)Many of his possessions were stolen.B)His house was burnt down in a fire.C)His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.D)His good luck charm sank into the sea.6.A)Change his fishing locations.B)Find a job in a travel agency.C))Spend a few nights on a small islandD)Sell the pearl he had kept for years7.A)A New Year museumB)The largest pearl in the world weighsC)His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.D)His pearl could be displayed in a museum.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 Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions8to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A)It boasts a fairly long history.B)It produces construction materials.C)It has75offices around the world.D)It has over50business partners.9.A)It has about50employees.B)It was started by his father.C)It has a family business.D)It is over100years old.10.A)Shortage of raw material supply.B)Legal disputes in many countries.C)Outdated product design.D)Loss of competitive edge.11.A)Conducting a financial analysis for it.B)Providing training for its staff members.C)Seeking new ways to increase is exports.D)Introducing innovative marketing strategies.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)She is a real expert at house decorations.B)She is well informed about the design business.C)She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.D)She is really impressed by the man’s house.13.A)From his younger brother Greg.B)From home design magazines.C)From a construction businessman.D)From a professional interior designer.14.A)The effort was worthwhile.B)The style was fashionable.C)The cost was affordable.D)The eft was unexpected.15.A)She’d like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B)She wants him to share his renovation experience with herC)She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D)She’d like to show him around her newly-renovated house.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 your choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark he corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions16to18are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)Providing routine care for small children.B)Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.C)Doing research on ear,nose and throat diseases.D)Removing objects from patients’noses and ears.17.A)Many children like to smell things they find or play with.B)Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.C)Five-to nine-year-olds are the mos likely to put things in their ears.D)Children aged one to four a often more curious than older children.18.A)They tend to act out of impulse.B)They want to attract attentions.C)They are unaware of the potential risks.D)They are curious about these body parts.Questions19to21are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)It paid for her English lessons.B)It gave her a used bicycle.C)It delivered her daily necessities.D)It provided her with physical therapy.20.A)Expanding bike-riding lessons.B)Asking local people for donations.C)Providing free public transport.D)Offering walking tours to visitors.21.A)It is a language school.B)It is a charity organization.C)It is a counseling center.D)It is a sports club.Questions22to25are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A)How mice imitate human behavior a space.B)How low gravity affects the human body.C)How mice interact in a new environment.D)How animals deal with lack of gravity.23.A)They were not use to the low-gravity cnvironment.B)They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C)They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.D)They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A)They tried every thing possible to escape from the cage.B)They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.C)They already felt at home in the new environment.D)They had found a lot more activities to engage in.25.A)They repeated their activities every day.B)They behaved as if they were on Earth.C)They begin to eat less after some time.D)They changed their routines in space.听力原文:Listening ComprehensionSection ANews report1A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature(UICN)has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey,Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean,the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people.Although fatalities are rare,the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing.The fish,often known as Devil Fire fish,is a highly invasive species.And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life.After being spotted in the Mediterranean,a marine scientist says,"The fish is spreading,and that's a cause for concern."Q1:What is reported in the news?Q2:What is the environmentalists'concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?News report2[Q3]Almost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day.[Q4]This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time.Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car FreeDay last year.Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day.On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road.About400miles of streets will be closed to cars.It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels."Last year's car-free day showed a 40%drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city,according to an independent air pollution monitor",reports the Guardian,"and some levels dropped by50%in the city centre.'Q3:What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?Q4:What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?News report3A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations.Then,a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it,the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world,which was valued at f76million.The pearl of Allah,which is currently on display in a New York museum,only weighs14pounds.That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisher man just handed in.The monstrous pearl,measured at1foot wide and2.2feet long,is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town. O5:What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?Q6:What was the fisherman forced to do?Q7:What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?Section BLong conversation1WOMAN:Mr.Smith,It’s a pleasure meeting you!Man:Nice to meet you,too.What can I do for you?WOMAN:Well,I’m here to show you what our firm can do for you.Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries,offering different business services.We’re a global company with75years of history.And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies【8】.MAN:Thank you,Mrs.Houston.I know Astro Consultants is a famous company.But you said you would show me what you could do for me.Well.What exactly can your firm do for my company? WOMAN:We advise businesses on all matters,from market analysis to legal issues.Anything a business like yours could meet.Our firm offers expert advice.Could I ask you,Mr.Smith,to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face?That way,I could better respond as to how we can help you.Man:OK,sure.This is a family business started by my grandfather in1950.We employ just over 100people.We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions.Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design.And that’s what we do in our factory【9】. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising,and we’re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India【10】.WOMAN:I see.That’s very interesting.I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company,together with the analysis of your competitors in India.【11】That way,we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Q8:What do we learn about the woman’s company?Q9:What does the man say about his own company?Q10:What is the main problem with the man’s company?Q11:What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?Long conversation2Woman:Wow,congratulations,Simon!The place looks absolutely amazing!Man:Really?You think so?W:Of course.I love it.It looks like you had a professional interior designer.But you didn’t,did you?M:No.I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother,Greg.He’s actually in the construction business,which was really helpful.W:Honestly,I’m impressed!I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something,but not a full renovation.Where did you get your ideas?I wouldn’t know where to start.[12]M:Well,for a while now,I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines.Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked.Believe it or not,I have a full notebook of magazine pages.[13]Since by overall style was quite minimal,I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough,with Greg’s help,it was very achievable.W:Wasn’t it expensive?I have imagined a project like this could be.M:Actually,it was surprisingly affordable.I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material.[14]Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W:Great!If you don’t mind,I’d like to pick your brain a bit more.Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room,not the whole house,not yet anyway.And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience.[15]Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Q12:What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?Q13:Where did the man get his ideas for the project?)Q14:What did the man say about the project he recently completed?Q15:Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?Section CPassage1Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost E3m year,a study suggests.[Q16]Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases-95%of objects removed from noses and85%from ears.Every year,an average of1,218nose and2,479ear removals took place between2010and2016.According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics,children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors fora foreign object in their nose.Five to nine year old come to the hospital with something in their ear the most.Jewelry items accounted for up to40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children.Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses.Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.[Q17]According to the study,the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears.This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects.[Q18]Any ear,nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults.Batteries can pose a particular danger.In all cases,prevention is better than cure.This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts.Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Q16:What does England spend an annual E3m on?Q17:What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?Q18:What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?Passage2Good morning,I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle.But before that,let me introduce someone.This is Leila Rahimi.She was so scared when she first moved to New Zeal-and that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies.After a few months of being quite down and unhappy,she was invited to join a local bike club.At this time,ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle.[Q19]In weeks,her depression had begun to ease as she cycled.The bicycle totally changed her life,giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date,ReBicycle has donated more than200bikes to those in need,and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars.[Q20]With a bike,you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour.Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers.[Q21]Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult,and this can take days and weeks,rather than hours.So,if any of you have some free time during the weekend,please come join us at Re Bicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Q19:What did Re Bicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?Q20:What is Re Bicycle doing to help those in need?Q21:What do we learn from the passage about the Re Bicycle?Passage3Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body,but NASA scientists want to learn more.To that end,they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity,specifically focusing on mice(22).The results are both interesting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station.The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video.As you noticed in the video,the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily,drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up,but without success.(23)However,it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on.They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That’s when things really get wild.The11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it.(24)Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth.The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact,including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.(25)Q22What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?Q23What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?Q24What was observed about the mice on the11th day of the experiment?Q25What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?PartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes)Section A(第1套)Directions:In this section,there is a passage with ton blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following thepassage Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choicein the bank is identified by a letter:Please mark the corresponding letter for each itemon Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of thewords in the bank more than once.When my son completes a task,I can’t help but praise him.It’s only natural to give praise where praise is due,right?But is there such a thing as too much praise?According to psychologist Katherine Phillip,children don’t benefit from26praise as much as we’d like to think.“Parents often praise,believing they are building their child’s self-confidence.However,over-praising can have a27effect,”says Phillip.“When we use the same praise28,it may become empty and no longer valued by the child.It can also become an expectation that anything they do must be29 with praise.This may lead to the child avoiding taking risks due to fear of30their parents.”Docs this mean we should do away with all the praise?Phillip says no,“The key to healthy praise is1o focus on the process rather than the31it is the recognition of a child’s attempt,or the process in which they achieved something,that is essential,”she says,“Parents should encourage their child to take the risks needed to learn and grow.”So how do we break the32of praise we’re all so accustomed to?Phillip says it’s important to 33between“person praise”and“process raise”.“Person praise is34saying how great someone is.It’s a form personal approval.Process praise s acknowledgement of the efforts te person has just35.Children who receive person praise are more likely to feel shame after losing,”says Phillip.A)choose B)constant C)disappointing D)distinguishE)exhausting F)experienced G)negative H)outcomeI)pattern J)plural K)repeatedly L)rewardedM)separately N)simply O)undertaken答案:26.B27.G28.K29.L30.C31.H32.I33.D34.N35.OSection BPoverty is a story about us,not them[A]Too often still we think we know the poverty looks like.It's the way we've been taught,the images we’ve been forced-fed decades.The chronically homeless.The undocumented immigrant. The urban poor,usually personified as a woman of color,the"welfare queen"politicians still too often reference.[B]But as income inequality rises to record levels in the United States,even in the midst of a record economic expansions,.those familiar images are outdated,hurtful and counterproductive to focusing attention on solutions and building ladders of opportunity.IC]Today's faces of inequality and lack of opportunity look like all of us.It's Anna Landre,a disabled Georgetown University student fighting to keep health benefits that allow-her the freedom to live her life lt's Tiffanie Standard,a counselor for young women of color in Philadelphia who want to be tech entrepreneurs—but who must work multiple jobs to stay afloat.It's Ken Outlaw,a welder in rural North Carolina whose dream of going back to school at a local community college was dashed by Hurricane Florence-just one of the extreme weather events that have tipped the balance for struggling Americans across the nation,[D]If these arc the central characters of our story about poverty.what layers of perceptions,myths, and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?In pursuit of revealing thiscomplicated reality,Mothering Justice,led by women of color,went last year to the state capital in Lansing,Michigan,to lobby on issues that affect working mothers.One of the Mothering Justice organizers went to the office of a state representative to talk about the lack of affordable childcare-the vestiges(痕迹))of a system that expected mothers to stay home with their children while their husbands worked,A legislative staffer dismissed the activist’s concerns,telling her“my husband took care of that-l stayed home.”[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson.,"was meant to shame"and relied on the familiar trope that a woman of color concemed about income inequality and programs that promote mobility must by definition be a single mom,probably with multiple kids.,In this case.Mothering Justice activist happened to be married.And in most cases in the America of2019, the images that come to mind when we hear the words poverty or income inequality fail miserably in reflecting a complicated reality:poverty touches virtually all of us.The face of income inequality, for all but a very few of us,is the one we each see in the mirror.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?It depends on who you ask.According to the Census Bureau,38million people in the U.S.are living below the official poverty thresholds,Taking into account economic need beyond that absolute measure,the Institute for Policy Studies found that140 million peoplc are poor or low-income.That's almost half the U.S population.[G]Whatever the measure,within that massive group,poverty is extremely diverse.We know that some people are more affected than others,like children,the elderly,people with disabilities,and people of color.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography.It even reaches into the middle classes,as real wages have stagnated(不增长)for all but the very wealthy and temporary spells of financial instability are not uncommon.[I]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it. The big American myth is that you can pull yourself up by your own effort and change a bad situation into a good one.The reality is that finding opportunity without help from families,friends. schools,,and community is virtually impossible.And the playing field is nothing close to level. [J]The Frame Works institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studiedwhat sustains stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom."People view economic success and well being in life as product of choice,willpower,drive,grit,and gumption,"says Nat Kendall-Taylor,CEO of Frame Works.“When we see people who are struggling.”he says,those assumptions“lead us to the perception that people in poverty are lazy.they don’t care,and they haven't made the right decisions.”[K]Does this sound familiar?Similar ideas surround poverty in the U.S.And these assumptions wreak havoc on reality."When people enter into that pattern of thinking,"says Kendall-Taylor,"it's cognitively comfortable to make sense of issues of poverty in that way.It creates a kind of cognitive blindness-all of the factors external to a person's drive and choices that they've made become invisible and fade from view.”Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work ot struetual discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Assumptions get worse when people who are poor use government benefits to help them survive.There is a great tension between"the poor"and those who are receiving what has become a dirty word:"welfare."According to the General Social Survey,7l percent of respondents believe the contry is spending too little on a"welfare":37percent believe we are spending too much,[N]"Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.It's true that black mothers are more affected by poverty than many other groups,yet they are disproportionately the face of poverty.For example,Americans routinely overestimate the share of black recipients of public assistance programs. [O]In reality,most people will experience some form of financial hardship at some point in their lives.Indeed,people tend to dip in and out of poverty,perhaps due to unexpected obstacles like losing a job,or when hours of a low-wage job fluctuate.[P]Something each of us can do is to treat each other with the dignity and sympathy that is deserved and to understand deeply that the issue of poverty touches all of us.答案:36.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"37.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography. 38.[M]According to the General Social Survey,71percent ofrespondents believe the country is spending too little on"assistance to the poor."39.[J]The Frame Works Institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studied what sustains stereo types and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom40.[D]lf these are the central characters of our story about poverty,what layers of perceptions,myths,and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?41.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?42.[N]“Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and”black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.43.[1]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it.44.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Dan-ielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"45.[L]Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work or structural discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Section CPassage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.Boredom has,paradoxically,become quite interesting to academics lately.In early May.Lon don's Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness.At this event.people floc ked to talks about weather,traffic jams and vending-machine sounds.,among other sleep-indu cing topics What,exactly,is everybody studying?One widely accepted definition of boredom i s"the distasteful experience of wanting,but being unable.to engage in satisfying activity." But how can you quantify a person's boredom level and compare it with someone else’s?In1986,psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale,designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored By contrast,the Mulitidimensional State Boredom scale,developed in2008,measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation. Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving.mindless snacking.excessive drinking,and and addictive gambling.In fact,many of us would choose pain over。
2020年英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整版)
英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整版)范文:Writing:家长角色There are several possible reasons accountable for this phenomenon(中心句). To begin with, family in growing numbers has only one child; therefore, parents oftentimes focus all their attentions on that child and exert much pressure on him or her(原因一). Moreover, numerous parents intend to realize their unfulfilled dreams by letting their children learn what they failed to learn and apply for the college by which they failed to be accepted, because they have become richer and they believe that they have the power to make what they wanted and want come true now(原因二). For instance, my uncle used to be a poor man and his dream that one day he would become a violinist was broken because of lack of money. But he made a fortune by selling coals, and then forced his son, my younger brother to practice playing violin. My brother was a huge fan of sports, but now he has to play violin everyday unwillingly and ofter quarrels with their parents(举例:原来-然后-结局).To sum up, it is unreasonable for parents to control their children’s life(总结句). In order to help them grow happilyand healthily, parents are supposed to communicate with their kids about what they are really interested in(建议一,目的句型). Meanwhile, it is about time that parents let their kids make their own choices(建议二,“是时候”句型). Only in these ways will children grow in a psychologically happy environment and realize their own dreams.1.W: I am going to give up playing chess, I lost again today.M: Just because you lost? Is that any reason to quit?Q: What does the man imply?2.M: Do you know Shirley’s new address? She’s got some mail here and I’d like to fold it to her.W: Well, we’ve not been in touch for quit a while. Let’s see, Marry should know it? Q: What does the women mean?3.W: I missed the classes this morning could you please lent me your notes?M: My notes? You’ve never seem my hand writing, have you?Q: What does the man imply?4.M: I am taking my girlfriend to the fancy new restaurant for her birthday tonight.W: I went there last weekend and I found it rather disappointing.Q: What does the women mean?5.W: Winter is over at last, time to put away my gloves and boots.M: I ‘ve been waiting for this for months.Q: What does the man mean?6.W: Thank you for bringing the books back.M: I thought you need them over the weekend, many thanks for let me use them. Q: What do we learn from conversation?7.W: Are you working flexible hours?M: No I am not, The weather today is so nice, so I decided to walk to work and that meant I have to leave an hour earlier than usual.Q: What does the man decide to do?8.W: Our plane has been circling for a long time, we could delay.M: The airport was closed for a while this morning and things are still not back to normal.Q: What does the man mean?短对话答案解析(孙祥喆)【总评】:8 个短对话总体来说比以往四级听力要难,但是考察水平令人叹服。
2020年9月英语四级真题及答案第一套
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题(一)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on online libraries. You can start your essay with the sentence "Online libraries are becoming increasingly popular". You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.PartⅡListening 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 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Ship traffic in the Atlantic.B) Warm currents in the ocean.C)Exhaust from cars in Europe.D)Particles emitted by power plants.2.A) They need to be taken seriously.B)They have a huge effect on fishery.C)They might be causing trouble to air flights.D)They may be affecting the world’s climate.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A) To appeal for higher wages.B)To demand better health care.C)To call for a permanent security guard.D)To dismiss the bad-tempered supervisor.4.A) It had already taken strong action.B)It would put customers9 needs first.C)It would take their appeal seriously.D)It was seeking help from the police.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A) The road was flooded.C) The road was frozen with snow.B)The road was blocked. D) The road was covered with spilled gas.6.A) A truck plunged into a pool of liquid chocolate.B)The heavy snow made driving very difficult.C)The truck driver dozed off while driving.D) A truck hit a barrier and overturned.7.A) It was a long time before the cleanup was finished.B)It was a hard task to remove the spilled substance.C)It was fortunate that no passenger got injured.D)It was difficult to contact the manufacturer.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 wanted to save for a new phone.C) She could enjoy discounts with cash.B)She found it much safer to use cash.D) She had been cheated using phone apps.9.A) They can save a lot more time and trouble.B)They find it less difficult to make purchases.C)They derive greater pleasure from buying things.D)They are less aware of the value of their money.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) He wanted to order some wooden furniture.B)He had to change the furniture delivery time.C)He had a problem with the furniture delivered.D)He wanted the furniture store to give him a refund.13.A) Send the furniture back to the store.B)Describe the furniture he received.C)Collect the furniture he ordered.D)Buy another brand of furniture.14.A) Correct their mistake.B)Improve their service.C)Apologize to his wife.D)Give the money back.15. A) She recommended a new style.B)She offered some gift to the mail.C)She apologized to the man once more.D)She checked all the items with the man.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)Reading books of wisdom.C)Sharing with others.B)Tidying up one’s home.D)Donating to charity.17. A)Things that make one happy.C)Things that occupy little space.B)Things that are becoming rare.D)Things that cost a lot of money.18. A) It joined the city’s clean-up campaign.B)It sold as many as fifty boxes of books.C)It received an incredibly large number of donated books.D)It did little business because of the unusual cold weather.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) To solve word search puzzles.B)To send smartphone messages.C)To test their eyesight using a phone app.D)To install some audio equipment in a lab.23.A) They could not go on until the ringing stopped.B)They could no longer concentrate on their task.C)They grabbed the phone and called back right away.D)They asked their experimenter to hang up the phone.24.A) A rise in emotional problems.C) A reduction in the amount of sleep.B) A decline in sports activities.D) A decline in academic performance.25. A) Protect the eyesight of the younger generation.B)Take effective measures to raise productivity.C)Realize the disruptive effects of technology.D)Ensure they have sufficient sleep every day.PartⅢReading 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.There’re three main types of financial stress people encounter. The first type is apparent in people being stressed about the 26 ups and downs of investment markets actually not so much the ups, but 27 the downs. These people are usually unable or unprepared to endure the long haul. The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt. In a 28 percentage of cases of debt-induced financial stress, credit cards and loans will be a central element. Often there'll be a car loan and perhaps a mortgage, but credit cards often seem to be the gateway to debt-related financial difficulties for many.The third type of stress and 29 the least known is inherited financial stress, which is the most destructive. It is experienced by those who have grown up in households where their parents regularly 30 and fought about money. Money therefore becomes a stressful topic, and so the thought of sitting down and planning is an unattractive 31.Those suffering inherited financial anxiety32 to follow one of two patterns. Either they put their head in the sand: they would 33examining their financial statements, budgeting, and discussing financial matters with those closest to them. Alternatively, they would go to the other 34,and micro-analyze everything, to the point of complete 35 . They're convinced that whatever decision they make will be the wrong one.Section 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.Doctor’s orders:Let children just playA)Imagine a drug that could enhance a child's creativity and critical thinking. Imagine that this drug were simple to make, safe to take, and could be had for free. The nation’s leading pediatricians (儿科医生) say this miracle compound exists. In a new clinical report, they are urging doctors to prescribe it liberally to the children in their care,B)“This may seem old-fashioned, but there are skills to be learned when kids aren’t told what to do,“ said Dr. Michael Yogman, a Harvard Medical School pediatrician who led the drafting of the call to arms. Whether it’s rough physical play, outdoor play or pretend play, kids derive important lessons from the chance to make things up as they go, he said.C)The advice, issued Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, may come as a shock to some parents. After spending years fretting (烦恼)over which toys to buy, which apps to download and which skill-building programs to send their kids to after school, letting them simply play or better yet, playing with them could seem like a step backward. The pediatricians insist that it's not. The academy,s guidance does not include specific recommendations for the dosing of play. Instead, it asks doctors to advise parents before their babies turn two that play is essential to healthy development.D)“Play is not silly behavior,” the academy’s report declares. It fosters children’s creativity,cooperation, and problem-solving skills all of which are critical for a 21st-century workforce. When parents engage in play with their children, it builds a wall against the harmful effects of all kinds of stress, including poverty, the academy says. In the pediatricians9 view, essentially every life skill that’s valued in adults can be built up with play. “Collaboration, negotiation, decision-making, creativity, leadership, and increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through play,” they wrote. The pediatricians5 appeal comes as kids are being squeezed by increasing academic demands at school and the constant invasion of digital media.E)The trends have been a long time coming. Between 1981 and 1997, detailed time-use studies showed that the time children spent at play declined by 25 percent. Since the adoption of sweeping education reforms in 2001, public schools have steadily increased the amount of time devoted to preparing for standardized tests. The focus on academic “skills and drills” has cut deeply into recess (课间休息)and other time for free play.F)By 2009, a study of Los Angeles kindergarten classrooms found that five-year-olds were so burdened with academic requirements that they were down to an average of just 19 minutes per day of "choice time," when they were permitted to play freely with blocks, toys or other children. One in four Los Angeles teachers reported there was no time at all for “free play.” Increased academic pressures have left 30 percent of U.S. kindergarten classes without any recess .Such findings prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue a policy statement in 2013 on the “crucial role of recess in school.”G)Pediatricians aren’t the only ones who have noticed. In a report titled "Crisis in the Kindergarten,” a group of educators, health professionals and child advocates called the loss of play in early childhood “a tragedy, both for the children themselves and for our nation and the world.” Kids in play-based kindergartens “end up equally good or better at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well-adjusted healthy people,” the Alliance for Childhood said in 2009. Indeed, new research demonstrates why playing with blocks might have been time better spent, Yogman said. The trial assessed the effectiveness of an early mathematics intervention(干预) aimed at preschoolers. The results showed almost no gains in math achievement.H)Another playtime thief:the growing proportion of kids' time spent in front of screens and digital devices, even among preschoolers. Last year, Common Sense Media reported that children up through age eight spent an average of two hours and 19 minutes in front of screens each day, including an average of 42 minutes a day for those under two. This increase of digital use comes with rising risks of obesity, sleep deprivation and cognitive (认知的),language and social-emotional delays, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned in 2016.I)“I respect that parents have busy lives and it,s easy to hand a child an iPhone,” Yogman said. “But there’s a cost to that. For young children, it’s much too passive. And kids really learn better when they’re actively engaged and have to really discover things.”J)The decline of play is a special hazard for the roughly 1 in 5 children in the United Stateswho live in poverty. These 14 million children most urgently need to develop the resilience (韧劲)that is cultivated with play. Instead, Yogman said, they are disproportionately affected by some of the trends that are making play scarce:academic pressures at schools that need to improve test scores, outside play areas that are limited or unsafe, and parents who lack the time or energy to share in playtime・K)Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids. ^The notion that as parents we need to schedule every minute of their time is not doing them a great service,” he said. Even well-meaning parents may be u robbing them of the opportunity to have that joy of discovery and curiosity the opportunity to find things out on their own. ”L)Play may not be a hard sell to kids. But UCLA pediatrician Carlos Lerner acknowledged that the pediatricians’s new prescription may meet with skepticism(怀疑) from parents, who are anxious for advice on how to give their kids a leg up in the world. They should welcome the simplicity of the message, Lerner said. “It's liberating to be able to offer them this advice:that you spending time with your child and letting him play is one of the most valuable things you can do,” he said. “It doesn't have to involve spending a lot of money or time, or joining a parenting group. It’s something we can offer that’s achievable. They just don't recognize it right now as particularly valuable.”36 .Increased use of digital devices steals away children's playtime.37. Since the beginning of this century, an increasing amount of time has been shifted in public schools from recess to academic activities.38.It has been acknowledged that while kids may welcome pediatricians5 recommendation, their parents may doubt its feasibility.39.According to some professionals, deprivation of young children^ playtime will do harm not only to children themselves but to the country and the world.40. By playing with children, parents can prevent them from being harmed by stress.41. Playing with digital devices discourages kids from active discovery, according to pediatrician Dr. Michael Yogman.42. The suggestion of letting children simply play may sound like going backwards to parents who want to help build their children’s skills.43. Dr. Michael Yogman believes the idea that parents should carefully schedule children's time may not be helpful to their growth.44 .One quarter of teachers in an American city said that children in kindergartens had no time for playing freely.45. According to a pediatrician, no matter what kind of play children engage in, they are learning how to create things.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).Youshould 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.Americans spend billions of dollars each year trying to change their weight with diets, gym memberships and plastic surgery.Trying to live up to the images of “perfect” models and movie heroes has a dark side: anxiety, depression, as well as unhealthy strategies for weight loss or muscle gain. It also has a financial cost. Having an eating disorder boosts annual health care costs by nearly US $ 2,000 per person. Why is there both external and internal pressure to look “perfect”?One reason is that society rewards people who are thin and healthy-looking .Researchers have shown that body mass index is related to wages and income. Especially for women, there is a clear penalty at work for being overweight or obese. Some studies have also found an impact for men, though a less noticeable one.While the research literature is clear that labor market success is partly based on how employers and customers perceive your body image, no one had explored the other side of the question. Does a person's own perception of body image matter to earnings and other indicators of success in the workplace?Our recently published study answered this question by tracking a large national random sample of Americans over a critical time period when bodies change from teenage shape into adult form and when people build their identities.As in other research, women in our sample tend to over-perceive their weight they think they’re heavier than they are while men tend to under-perceive theirs.We found no relationship between the average person’s self-perception of weight and labor market outcomes, although self-perceived weight can influence self-esteem (自尊心),mental health and health behaviors .While the continued gender penalty in the labor market is frustrating, our finding that misperceived weight does not harm workers is more heartening.Since employers’ perception of weight is what matters in the labor market, changing discrimination laws to include body type as a category would help. Michigan is the only state that prohibits discrimination on the basis of weight and height. We believe expanding such protections would make the labor market more fair and efficient.46What does the author say may have an adverse impact on people?A)Undergoing plastic surgeries in pursuit of beauty.B)Imitating the lifestyles of heroes and role models.C)Striving to achieve perfection regardless of financial cost.D)Attempting to meet society,s expectation of appearance.47What have researchers found out about peopled earnings?A)They are closely related to people's social status.B)They have to do with peopled body weight and shape.C)They seem to matter much less to men than to women.D)They may not be equal to peopled contributions.48What does the author’s recent study focus on?A)Previous literature on indicators of competitiveness in the workplace.B)Traits that matter most in one’s pursuit of success in the labor market.C)Whether self-perception of body image impacts one’s workplace success.D)How bosses5 perception of body image impacts employees’ advancement.49What is the finding of the author's recent research?A)Being overweight actually does not do much harm to the overall well-being of employees.B)People are not adversely affected in the workplace by false self-perception of body weight.C)Self-esteem helps to combat gender inequality in the workplace・D)Gender inequality continues to frustrate a lot of female employees.50What does the author think would help improve the situation in the labor market?A)Banning discrimination on the basis of employees5 body image.B)Expanding protection of women against gender discrimination.C)Helping employees change their own perception of beauty.D)Excluding body shape as a category in the labor contract.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.The work-life balance is dead. By this, I’m not advocating that you should give up your pursuit of having a fulfilling career and a thriving personal life, and I'm definitely not saying that you have to give up one to have the other. I also acknowledge that we have a work-life problem, but I’m arguing that the concept of balance has never been helpful, because it,s too limiting. You see, our language makes a difference, and how we refer to things matters because it affects our thinking and therefore our actions.At the minimum, most of us work because we want to be able to support ourselves, our families, and the people around us. In the ideal world, we're all doing work that we’re proud of and that provides meaning and purpose to us. But even if your job doesn’t give you shivers of joy each new day, working is a part of what each of us does and the contribution we make to society. When you separate work and life, it’s a little bit harder to make that connection. But when you think of work as part of a full life and a complete experience, it becomes easier to see that success in one aspect often supports another.Losing your balance and falling isn't pleasant. A goal to balance suggests that things could quickly get off balance, and that causes terrible outcomes. It's more constructive to think of solutions that continue to evolve over shifts in life and work. Rather than falling or failing, you may have good days or better days or not-so-good days. These variations are normal, and it’s more useful to think of life as something that is ever evolving and changing, rather than a high-risk enterprise where things could go wrong with one misstep.How we talk to ourselves matters, and how we talk about issues makes a difference. Let's bury “work-life balance” and think bigger and better about work-life fulfillment to do a little less balancing and a lot more living.51What does the author suggest by saying “The work-life balance is dead”?A)The hope of achieving a thriving life is impossible to realize,B)The pursuit of a fulfilling career involves personal sacrifice.C)The imbalance between work and life simply doesn’t exist anymore.D)The concept of work-life balance contributes little to a fulfilling life.52. What does the author say about our use of language?A)It impacts how we think and behave.C) It reflects how we communicate・B)It changes with the passage of time.D) It differs from person to person.53 What does the author say we do in an ideal world?A)We do work that betters the lives of our families and friends.B)We do work that gives us bursts of joy each new day.C)We do meaningful work that contributes to society.D)We do demanding work that brings our capacity into full play.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.茅台(Moutai)是中国最有名的白酒,在新中国成立前夕,被选为国宴用酒。
2020年大学英语四级考试试题及答案解析
2020年大学英语四级考试试题及答案解析(一)1. Nowadays, cycling, along with jogging and swimming, _______ as one of the best all-round forms of exercise.A. regardB. is regardedC. are regardedD. regards【答案】B解析:句意:现在骑自行车,慢跑和游泳被认为是最全面的锻炼方式之一。
根据动词短语regard...as...把...看作...和句意确定应该用被动语态排除A和D,再根据主语部分是由介词短语along with连接的三个动名词做主语,应该谓语动词应该就前一致,即用单数,排除C,故选B。
2. Try to understand what's actually happening instead of acting on the _______ you've made.A. assignmentB. associationC. acquisitionD. assumption【答案】D解析:考察名词词义辨析及语境理解。
句意:试着去理解实际发生的事情,而不是按照你所做的假设行事。
A 分配B交往C 获得D 假设,故选择D 【解题指导】本题考查名词辨析。
本题抓住句中的关键词actually happening实际发生和instead of而不是,可知是假设,从而选出正确答案。
3. It is important to pay your electricity bill on time , as late payments may affect your ______.A. conditionB. incomeC. creditD. status【答案】C试题分析:句意:准时付电费很重要,因为付晚了会影响你的信用。
condition 条件; income 收入; credit 学分,信用(卡);根据句意故选C.4. The weather forecast says it will be cloudy with a slight _____ of rain later tonight.A. effectB. senseC. changeD. chance【答案】D【解析】试题分析:句意:天气预报说今天会是多云,后半夜可能有雨。
2020年全国公共英语四级试题及答案(卷一)
2020年全国公共英语四级试题及答案(卷一)1. I wrote down the number so that I __ remember it.A. couldB. shouldC. mightD. needed2. Richard is American, john is British - they have different __.A. nationsB. countriesC. nationalitiesD. lands3. She made __ to tell her mother the good news.A. speedB. hasteC. hurryD. urge4. -Are you __?__-No, I'm serious.A. deceivingB. cheatingC. foolingD. kidding5. A __ of humour is a great asset for a person.A. feelingB. senseC. meaningD. judgment6. The __ person is liable to succeed in the challenge.A. socialB. graciousC. friendlyD. sociable7. The police showed responsibility __ the preservation of public order and security.A. forB. toC. inD. on8. He doesn't feel __ when he is left __.A. alone…aloneB. lonely…lonelyC. alone…lonelyD. lonely…alone9. Take a hat with you __ the sun is very hot.A. in caseB. thoughC. for fearD. in that case10. A __ of the camel is its ability to live for a long time without water.A. qualityB. featureC. characteristicD. character1. A2. C3. B4. D5. B6. D7. A8. D9. A 10. C【知识点】1. could/can 不能与be able to 连用__ 这首题考查的是could的用法,在复习"could"这个单词时要重点搞清楚他和其他情态动词的区别,尤其在虚拟语气中。
2020年12月英语四级真题试卷及答案(第一套)
大学英语四级真题试题一(完整版)Part I Writing (25 minutes) (请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分,之后将进行听力考试)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an a short easy on how to best handle the relationship between doctors and patients. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (30 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 questions will be spoken only once. After you hear questions, 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.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Questions 1 to 2 are based on the new report you have just heard.1.A) Her grandfather.B) Her grandfather.C) Her friend Erika.D) Her little brother.2. A) By taking pictures for passers-by.B) By selling lemonade and pictures.C) By working part time at a hospital.D) By asking for help on social media.Questions 3 to 4 are based on the new report you have just heard.3. A) Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel.B) Providing clean energy to five million people.C) Generating electric power for passing vehicles.D) Finding cheaper ways of highway construction.4. A) They are made from cheap materials.B) They are only about half an inch thick.C) They can be laid right on top of existing highways.D) A) They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the new report you have just heard.5. A) The lack of clues about the species.B) Endless fighting in the region.C) Inadequate funding for research.D) The hazards from the desert.6. A) To observe the wildlife in the two national parks.B) To study the habitat of lions in Sudan and Ethiopia.C) To identify the reasons for the lions’ disappearance.D) To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.7. A) Lions’ tracks.B) Lions walking.C) Some camping facilities.D) Traps set by local hunters.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) A special gift from the man.B) A call from her dad.C) Her wedding anniversary.D) Her ‘lucky birthday’.9. A) Threw her a surprise party.B) Bought her a good necklace.C) With a traveler’s checkD) With his smart phone10. A) What her husband and the man are up to.B) What has been troubling her husband.C) The trip her husband has planned.D) The gift her husband has bought.11 . A) He wants to find out about the couple’s holiday plan.B) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.C) He will tell the women the secret if her husband agrees.D) He will be glad to be a guide for the couple’s holiday trip.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) They take the rival’s attitude into account.B) They know when to adopt a tough attitude.C) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.D) They see the importance of making compromises.13. A) They know when to stop.B) They know how to adapt.C) They know when to make compromises.D) They know how to control their emotion.14. A) They are patient.B) They learn quickly.C) They are good at expression.D) They uphold their principles.15. A) Clarify items of negotiation.B) Make clear one's intentions.C) Get to know the other side.D) Formulate one's strategy.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear 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) How space research benefits people on Earth.B) When the International Space Station was built.C) How many space shuttle missions there will be.D) When America's earliest space program started.17. A) They tried to make best use of the latest technology.B) They tried to meet astronauts' specific requirements.C) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.D) They accurately calculated the speed of the orbiting shuttles.18.A) They are expensive to make.B) They are extremely accurate.C) They were first made in space.D) They were invented in the 1970s.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) Everything was natural and genuine then.B) People had plenty of land to cultivate then.C) It marked the beginning of something new.D) It was when her ancestors came to America.20. A) They were known to be creative.B) They enjoyed living a living a life of ease.C) They had all kinds of entertainment.D) They believed in working for goals.21. A) Chatting with her ancestors.B) Doing needlework by the fire.C) Furnishing her country house.D) Polishing all the silver work.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) Sit down and try to calm yourself.B) Call your family or friends for help.C) Use a map to identify your location.D) Try to follow your footprints back.23. A) You may end up entering a wonderland.B) You may get drowned in a sudden flood.C) You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.D) You may find a way out without your knowing it.24. A) Walk uphill.B) Look for food.C) Start a fire.D) Wait patiently.25. A) Check the local weather.B) Find a map and a compass.C) Prepare enough food and drink.D) Inform somebody of your plan.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.We all know there exists great void(空白)in the public educational system when it comes to (26)_______ to STEM(Science,Technology,Engineering Mathematics),One educator named Dori Roberts decided to do something to change this system. Dori taught high school engineering for 11 years.She noticed there was a real void in quality stem education at all (27)_______ of the public educational system. shesaid,“I started Engineering for kids (EFK)after noticing a real lack of math, science and engineering programs to (28)_______ my own kids in.”She decided to start an after school program where children (29)_______ in STEM-based competitions.The club grew quickly and when it reached 180 members and the kids in the program won several state (30)_______ . she decided to devote all her time to cultivating and (31)_______ it The global business EFK was born.Dori began operating EFK out of her Virginia home, which she then expanded to (32)_______ recreation centers. Today, the EFK program (33)_______ over 144 branches in 32 states within the United States and in 21 countries. Sales have doubled from $5 million in 2014 to $10 million in 2015,with 25 new branches planned for 2016. the EFK website states, “Our nation is not (34)_______ enough engineers. Our philosophy is to inspire kids at a young age to understand that engineering is a great (35)_______ .”注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题(第一套)含答案
Part I Writing ( 30 minutes)Directions, For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on online libraries. You can start your essay with the sentence "Online libraries are becoming increasingly popular". 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 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A) Ship traffic in the Atlantic.C)Exhaust from cars in Europe.B)Warm currents in the ocean.D)Particles emitted by power plants.2.A) They need to be taken seriously.C)They might be causing trouble to air flights.B)They have a huge effect on fishery.D)They may be affecting the world's climate. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A) To appeal for higher wages.C)To call for a permanent security guard.B)To demand better health care.D)To dismiss the bad-tempered supervisor.4.A) ft had already taken strong action.C)It would take their appeal seriously.B)It would put customers' needs first.D)It was seeking help from the police. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A) The road was flooded.C)The road was frozen with snow.B)The road was blocked.D)The road was covered with spilled gas.6.A) A truck plunged into a pool of liquid chocolate.B)The heavy snow made driving very difficult.C)The truck driver dozed off while driving.D)A truck hit a barrier and overturned.7.A) It was a long time before the cleanup was finished.B)It was a hard task to remove the spilled substance.C)rt was fortunate that no passenger got injured.D)It was difficult to contact the manufacturer.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 wanted to save for a new phone.C)She could enjoy discounts with cash.B)She found it much safer to use cash.D)She had been cheated using phone apps.9.A) They can save a lot more time and trouble.B)They find it less difficult to make purchases.C)They derive greater pleasure from buying things.D)They are less aware of the value of their money.10.A) More valuable items.C)Everyday necessities.B)More non-essential things.D)Electronic devices..A) It can improve shopping efficiency.C)It may lead to excessive spending.11B)It is altering the way of shopping.D)It appeals more to younger people. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) He wanted to order some wooden furniture.B)He had to change the furniture delivery time.C)He had a problem with the furniture delivered.D)He wanted the furniture store to give him a refund.13.A) Send the furniture back to the store.C)Collect the furniture he ordered.B)Describe the furniture he received.D)Buy another brand of furniture.14.A) Correct their mistake.C)Apologize to his wife.B)Improve their service.D)Give the money back.15.A) She recommended a new style.B)She offered some gift to the man.C)She apologized to the man once more.D)She checked all the items with the man.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 corre:,ponding 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) Reading books of wisdom.C)Sharing with others.B)Tidying up one's home.D)Donating to charity.17.A) Things that make one happy.C)Things that occupy little space.B)Things that are becoming rare.D)Things that cost a lot of money.18.A) It joined the city's clean-up campaign.B)It sold as many as fifty boxes of books.C)It received an incredibly large number of donated books.D)It did little business because of the unusual cold weather.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) Give free meals to the homeless.C)Help the vulnerable to cook lunches.B)Provide shelter for the homeless.D)Call for change in the local government.20.A) Strengthen co-operation.C)Win national support.B)Promote understanding.D)Follow his example.21.A) Spreading news of his deeds.C)Following the example he sets.B)Writing him thank-you notes.D)Sending him hand-made bags.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) To solve word search puzzles.B)To send smartphone messages.C)To test their eyesight using a phone app.D)To install some audio equipment in a lab.23.A) They could not go on until the ringing stopped.B)They could no longer concentrate on their task.C)They grabbed the phone and called back right away.D)They asked their experimenter to hang up the phone.24.A) A rise in emotional problems.C)A reduction in the amount of sleep.B)A decline in sports activities.D)A decline in academic performance.25.A) Protect the eyesight of the younger generation.B)Take effective measures to raise productivity.C)Realize the disruptive effects of technology.D)Ensure they have sufficient sleep every day.Part ]IReading 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 ,wt use any of the words in the bank more than once.There're three main types of financial stress people encounter. The first type is apparent in people being stressed about the 26 ups and downs of investment markets-actually not so much the ups, but 27 the downs. These people are usually unable or unprepared to endure the long haul.The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt. In a 28 percentage of cases of debt-induced financial stress, credit cards and loans will be a central element. Often there'll be a car loan and perhaps a mortgage, but credit cards often seem to be the gateway to debt-related financial difficulties for many.29The third type of stress and the least known is inherited financial stress, which is the most destructive. It is experienced by those who have grown up in households where their parents regularly30 and fought about money. Money therefore becomes a stressful topic, and so the thought of sitting down and planning is an unattractive 31Those suffering inherited financial anxiety 32 to follow one of two patterns. Either they put their head in the sand, they would 33 examining their financial statements, budgeting, anddiscussing financial matters with those closest to them. Alternatively, they would go to the other34 , and micro-analyze everything, to the point of complete . They're convinced that whatever decision they make will be the wrong one.A)appearanceF)extreme K)proposition B)arguedG)inaction L)rebelled C)avoidH)incredibly M)statement D)considerableI)normal N)tend E)definitely J)possibly 0)traditionalA)Imagine a drug that could enhance a child's creativity and critical thinking. Imagine that this drug weresimple to make, safe to take, and could be had for free. The nation's leading pediatricians ( JL,H !E. _i.)say this miracle compound exists. In a new clinical report, they are urging doctors to prescribe it liberally to the children in their care.B)"This may seem old-fashioned, but there are skills to be learned when kids aren't told what to do,"said Dr. Michael Yogman, a Harvard Medical School pediatrician who led the drafting of the call to arms. Whether it's rough physical play, outdoor play or pretend play, kids derive important lessons from the chance to make things up as they go, he said.C)The advice, issued Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, may come as a shock to someparents. After spending years fretting ( ;l:yf ·t it ) over which toys to buy, which apps to download and which skill-building programs to send their kids to after school, letting them simply play-or better yet, playing with them-could seem like a step backward. The pediatricians insist that it's not. The academy's guidance does not include specific recommendations for the dosing of play. Instead, it asks doctors to advise parents before their babies turn two that play is essential to healthy development.D)"Play is not silly behavior," the academy's report declares. It fosters children's creativity,cooperation, and problem-solving skills-all of which are critical for a 2lst-century workforce. When parents engage in play with their children, it builds a wall against the harmful effects of all kinds of stress, including poverty, the academy says. In the pediatricians' view, essentially every life skill that's valued in adults can be built up with play. "Collaboration, negotiation, decision-making, creativity,leadership, and increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through play," they wrote. The pediatricians' appeal comes as kids are being squeezed by increasing academic demands at school and the constant invasion of digital media.E)The trends have been a long time coming. Between 1981 and 1997, detailed time-use studies showedthat the time children spent at play declined by 25 percent. Since the adoption of sweeping education reforms in 2001, public schools have steadily increased the amount of time devoted to preparing for standardized tests. The focus on academic "skills and drills" has cut deeply into recess (-iJf_ fa] 1;/c..,@:) and other time for free play.Section 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.Doctor's orders: Let children just play35F)By 2009, a study of Los Angeles kindergarten classrooms found that five-year-olds were so burdenedwith academic requirements that they were down to an average of just 19 minutes per day of "choice time," when they were permitted to play freely with blocks, toys or other children. One in four Los Angeles teachers reported there was no time at all for "free play." Increased academic pressures have left 30 percent of U.S. kindergarten classes without any recess. Such findings prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue a policy statement in 2013 on the "crucial role of recess in school." G)Pediatricians aren't the only ones who have noticed. Tn a report titled "Crisis in the Kindergarten," agroup of educators, health professionals and child advocates called the loss of play in early childhood ''a tragedy, both for the children themselves and for our nation and the world." Kids in play-based kindergartens "end up equally good or better at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well-adjusted healthy people," the Alliance for Childhood said in 2009. Indeed, new research demonstrates why playing with blocks might have been time better spent, Yogman said. The trial assessed the effectiveness of an early mathematics intervention ( -tffii) aimed at preschoolers. The results showed almost no gains in math achievement.H)Another playtime thief: the growing proportion of kids' time spent in front of screens and digitaldevices, even among preschoolers. Last year, Common Sense Media reported that children up through age eight spent an average of two hours and 19 minutes in front of screens each day, including an average of 42 minutes a day for those under two. This increase of digital use comes with rising risks of obesity, sleep deprivation and cognitive ( iJ.. 9'11 a-ii ) , language and social-emotional delays, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned in 2016.I)"I respect that parents have busy lives and it's easy to hand a child an iPhone," Yogman said. "Butthere's a cost to that. For young children, it's much too passive. And kids really learn better when they're actively engaged and have to really discover things."J)The decline of play is a special hazard for the roughly 1 in 5 children in the United States who live in poverty. These 14 million children most urgently need to develop the resilience ( -'pJ.1 <J}J ) that is cultivated with play. Instead, Yogman said, they are disproportionately affected by some of the trends that are making play scarce: academic pressures at schools that need to improve test scores, outside play areas that are limited or unsafe, and parents who lack the time or energy to share in playtime. K)Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids. "The notion that as parents we need to schedule every minute of their time is not doing them a great service," he said. Even well-meaning parents may be "robbing them of the opportunity to have that joy of discovery and curiosity-the opportunity to find things out on their own. "L)Play may not be a hard sell to kids. But UCLA pediatrician Carlos Lerner acknowledged that the pediatricians' new prescription may meet with skepticism OZ-iit.) from parents, who are anxious for advice on how to give their kids a leg up in the world. They should welcome the simplicity of the message, Lerner said. "It's liberating to be able to offer them this advice: that you spending time with your child and letting him play is one of the most valuable things you can do," he said. "It doesn't have to involve spending a lot of money or time, or joining a parenting group. It's something we can offer that's achievable. They just don't recognize it right now as particularly valuable."36.Increased use of digital devices steals away children's playtime.37.Since the beginning of this century, an increasing amount of time has been shifted in public schoolsfrom recess to academic activities.。
2020年12月英语四级答案(卷一完整版)
2020年12月英语四级答案(卷一完整版)2020年12月英语四级答案(卷一完整版)提示:考试采取"多题多卷"模式,试题顺序不统一,请依据试题实行核对。
写作:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essaycommenting on the saying "Learning is a daily experience and alifetime mission." You can cite examples to illustrate theimportance of lifelong learning“. You should write at least 120words but no more than 180 words.破题思路:第一段:解释引言内容. 提出文章的主旨:“学习的重要性”第二段:分析原因此处能够结合例子.第三段:得出结论此文章写作时能够全面参照有道考神四级写作课程中“功能句”的讲解。
参考范文: Learning is a daily experience and a lifetimemission. This is a proverb full of logic. Inother words, learning is significant in our whole life. Indeed, wecan learn many things from it. If you understand it and apply it toyour study or work, you’ll necessarily benefit a lot from it.There are many reasons which can explain this phenomenon and thefollowing are the typical ones. The first reason is that learningcan light our road in the coming future. Thereis no denying thefact that the society is developing increasingly fast and we areoften easily surpassed by the people around. The only way to avoidthis is to learn to improve ourselves. As an illustration, I’d liketo takemyself as an example. After graduation from college, mylife has been full of working pressure, which contributes to mydecision of pursuing further education. That’s why I can make myown way in such a competitive society.The effect of learning can be boiled down to two major ones. First,with the spirit of learning, we are more capableof overcoming thedifficulties in the future. More importantly, we can enrich ourspare time life by learning. No matter who you are, you mustremember that learning is the basic skill in our life.【短对话】1. C. They enjoyed the movie on space exploration.2. B. At a gift shop.3. D. He declined a job offer from the art gallery.4. A. He will be unable to attend the birthday party.5. A. Set a deadline for the staff to meet.6. D. The way to the visitor's parking.7. B. He has benefited from exercise.8. D. The secretaries in the man's company.【短文理解】Passage One16. A) No one knows for sure when they came into being.17. D) Carry ropes across rivers.18. C) To prove that lightening is electricity.Passage Two19. C) She can speak several languages.20. B) They have an intense interest in cross-cultural interactions.21. C) She was able to translate for a German sports judge.22. B) Taste the beef and give her comment.Passage Three23. D) He grew up in a poor single parent family.24. A) Stupid25. B) Write two book reports a week.【短文听写】(26) heavenly(27) fascinating(28) made up of(29) Now and then(30) combine with(31) generally(32) characteristics(33) phenomenon(34) naked(35) relatively选词填空:36. G,favorite 该题难度不大。
2020年9月大学英语四级试题及参考答案完整 1
2020年9月大学英语四级试题及参考答案【完整版】Part I Writing(30 minutes)(请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分,之后将进行听力考试)Directions:For this partyou are allowed 30 minutes to write an a short easy on online dictionaries.You can start your essay with the sentence“Online dictionaries are becoming increasingly popular”.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Directions:For this partyou are allowed 30 minutes to write an a short easy on the use of PowerPoint(PPT)in class.You can start your essay with the sentence“The use of Power-Point is becoming increasingly popular in class”.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Directions:For this partyou are allowed 30 minutes to write an a short easy on online libraries.You can start youressay with the sentence“Online libraries are becoming increasingly popular”.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension(30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this sectionyou will hear three news reports.At the end of each news reportyou will hear two or three questions.Both the news report and questions will be spoken only once.After you hear questionsyou 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.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2020年大学英语四级考试真题及答案
大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第一套)Part I Writing (25 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short easy on how to besthandle the relationship between doctors and patients. You should write at least120 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 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Her friend Erika. C) Her grandfather.B) Her little brother. D) Her grandmother.2. A) By taking pictures for passers-by. C) By selling lemonade and pictures.B) By working part time at a hospital. D) By asking for help on social media.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) Finding cheaper ways of highway construction.B) Generating electric power for passing vehicles.C) Providing clean energy to five million people.D) Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel.4. A) They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements.B) They can be laid right on top of existing highways.C) They are only about half an inch thick.D) They are made from cheap materials.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) Endless fighting in the region. C) Inadequate funding for research.B) The hazards from the desert. D) The lack of clues about the species.6. A) To observe the wildlife in the two national parks.B) To identify the reasons for the lions’ disappearance.C) To study the habitat of lions in Sudan and Ethiopia.D) To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.7. A) Lions walking. C) Some camping facilities.B) Lions’ t racks. D) Traps set by local hunters.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) Her ‘lucky birthday’. C) Her wedding anniversary.B) A call from her dad. D) A special gift from the man.9. A) Gave her a big model plane. C) Took her on a trip overseas.B) Bought her a good necklace. D) Threw her a surprise party.10. A) The gift her husband has bought.B) The trip her husband has planned.C) What has been troubling her husband.D) What her husband and the man are up to.11. A) He will be glad to be a guide for the couple’s holiday trip.B) He will tell the women the secret if her husband agrees.C) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.D) He wants to find out about the couple’s holiday plan.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.B) They see the importance of making compromises.C) They know when to adopt a tough attitude.D) They take the rival’s attitude into account.13. A) They know how to adapt. C) They know when to make compromises.B) They know when to stop. D) They know how to control their emotion.14. A) They are patient. C) They learn quickly.B) They are good at expression. D) They uphold their principles.15. A) Make clear one's intentions. C) Formulate one's strategy.B) Clarify items of negotiation. D) Get to know the other side.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you willhear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken onlyonce. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), 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) When America's earliest space program started.B) When the International Space Station was built.C) How many space shuttle missions there will be.D) How space research benefits people on Earth.17. A) They accurately calculated the speed of the orbiting shuttles.B) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.C) They tried to meet astronauts' specific requirements.D) They tried to make best use of the latest technology.18. A) They are extremely accurate. C) They were first made in space.B) They are expensive to make. D) They were invented in the 1970s.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) It was when her ancestors came to America.B) People had plenty of land to cultivate then.C) It marked the beginning of something new.D) Everything was natural and genuine then.20. A) They believed in working for goals. C) They had all kinds of entertainment.B) They enjoyed living a living a life of ease. D) They were known to be creative.21. A) Chatting with her ancestors. C) Polishing all the silver work.B) Furnishing her country house. D) Doing needlework by the fire.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) Use a map to identify your location. C) Sit down and try to calm yourself.B) Call your family or friends for help. D) Try to follow your footprints back.23. A) You may find a way out without your knowing it.B) You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.C) You may get drowned in a sudden flood.D) You may end up entering a wonderland.24. A) Look for food. C) Start a fire.B) Wait patiently. D) Walk uphill.25. A) Inform somebody of your plan. C) Check the local weather.B) Prepare enough food and drink. D) Find a map and a compass.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 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.A rat or pigeon might not be the obvious choice to tend to someone who is sick, but these creatures have some 26 skills that could help the treatment of human diseases.Pigeons are often seen as dirty birds and an urban 27 , but they are just the latest in a long line of animals that have been found to have abilities to help humans. Despite having a brain no bigger than the 28 of your index finger, pigeons have a very impressive 29__ memory. Recently it was shown that they could be trained to be as accurate as humans at detecting breast cancer in images.Rats are often 30 with spreading disease rather than 31 it, but this long-tailed animal is highly 32 . Inside a rat's nose are up to 1,000 different types of olfactory receptors (嗅觉感受器), whereas humans only have 100 to 200 types. This gives rats the ability to detect __33 smells. As a result, some rats are being put to work to detect TB(肺结核). When the rats detect the smell, they stop and rub their legs to 34 a sample is infected.Traditionally, a hundred samples would take lab technicians more than two days to 35 , but for a rat it takes less than 20 minutes. This rat detection method doesn't rely on specialist equipment. It is also more accurate — the rats are able to find more TB infections and, therefore, save more lives.A) associated I) slightB) examine J) specifyC) indicate K) superiorD) nuisance L) suspiciousE) peak M) tipF) preventing N) treatedG) prohibiting O) visualH) sensitiveSection 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.Do In-Class Exams Make Students Study Harder?Research suggests they may study more broadly for the unexpected rather than search for answers.[A] I have always been a poor test-taker. So it may seem rather strange that I have returned to college to finish the degree I left undone some four decades ago. I am making my way through Columbia University, surrounded by students who quickly supply the verbal answer while I am still processing the question.[B] Since there is no way for me to avoid exams, I am currently questioning what kind are the most taxing and ultimately beneficial. I have already sweated through numerous in-class midterms and finals, and now I have a professor who issuestake-home ones. I was excited when I learned this, figuring I had a full week to do the research, read the texts, and write it all up. In fact, I was still rewriting my midterm the morning it was due. To say I had lost the thread is putting it mildly.[C] As I was suffering through my week of anxiety, overthinking the material and guessing my grasp of it, I did some of my own polling among students and professors. David Eisenbach, who teaches a popular class on U.S. presidents at Columbia, prefers the in-class variety. He believes students ultimately learn more and encourages them to form study groups. “That way they socialize over history outside the class, which wouldn’t happen without the pressure of an in-class exam,” he explained, “Furthermore, in-class exams force students to learn how to perform under pressure, and essential work skill.”[D] He also says there is less chance of cheating with the in-class variety. In 2012, 125 students at Harvard were caught up in a scandal when it was discovered they had cheated on a take-home exam for a class entitled “Introduction To Congress.” Some colleges have what they call an “honor code,” though if you are smart enough to get into these schools, you are either smart enough to get around any codes or hopefully, too ethical to consider doing so. As I sat blocked and clueless for two solid days, I momentarily wondered if I couldn’t just call an expert o n the subject matter which I was tackling, or someone who took the class previously, to get me going.[E] Following the Harvard scandal, Mary Miller, the former dean of students at Yale, made an impassioned appeal to her school’s professors to refrain fr omtake-hone exams. “Students risk health and well being, as well as performance in other end-of-term work, when faculty offers take-home exams without clear,time-limited boundaries,” she told me. “Research now shows that regular quizzes, short essays, and other assignments over the course of a term better enhance learning and retention.”[F] Most college professors agree the kind of exam they choose largely depends on the subject. A quantitative-based one, for example, is unlikely to be sent home, where one could ask their older brothers and sisters to help. Vocational-type classes, such as computer science or journalism, on the other hand, are often moreresearch-oriented and lend themselves to take-home testing. Chris Koch, who teaches “History of Broadcast Journalism” at Montgomery Community College in Rockville, Maryland, points out that reporting is about investigation rather than the memorization of minute details. “In my field, it’s not what you know—it’s what you know how to find out,” says Koch. “There is way too much information, and morecoming all the time, for anyone to remember. I want my students to search out the answers to questions by using all the resources available to them.[G] Students’ test-form preferences vary, too, often depending on the subject and course difficulty. “I prefer take-home essays because it is then really about the writing, so you have time to edit and do more research,” says Elizabeth Dresser, a junior at Barnard. Then there is the stress factor. Francesca Haass, a senior at Middlebury, says, “I find the in-class ones are more stressful in the short term, but there is immediate relief as you swallow information like mad, and then you get to forget it all.Take-homes require thoughtful engagement which can lead to longer term stress as there is never a moment when the time is up.” Meanwhile, Olivia Rubin, a sophomore at Emory, says she hardly even considers take-homes true exams. “If you understand the material and have the ability to articulate (说出) your thoughts, they should be a breeze.”[H] How students ultimately handle stress may depend on their personaltest-taking abilities. There are people who always wait until the last minute, and make it much harder than it needs to be. And then there those who, not knowing what questions are coming at them, and having no resources to refer to, can freeze. And then there are we rare folks who fit both those descriptions.[I] Yes, my advanced age must factor into the equation (等式), in part because of my inability toaccess the information as quickly. As another returning student at Columbia, Kate Marber, toldme, “We are learning not only all this information, but essentially how to learn again. Ourfellow students have just come out of high school. A lot has changed since we were last inschool.”[J] If nothing else, the situation has given my college son and me something to share, When Iasked his opinion on this matter, he responded, “I like in-class exams because the time isalready reserved, as opposed t o using my free time at home to work on a test,” he responded.It seems to me that a compromise would be receiving the exam questions a day or two inadvance, and then doing the actual test in class the ticking clock overhead.[K] Better yet, how about what one Hunter College professor reportedly did recently for her finalexam: She encouraged the class not to stress or even study, promising that, “It is going to be apiece of cake.” When the students came in, sharpened pencils in hand, there was not a bluebook in sight. Rather, they saw a large chocolate cake and they each were given a slice.36. Elderly students find it hard to keep up with the rapid changes in education.37. Some believe take-home exams may affect students' performance in other courses.38. Certain professors believe in-class exams are ultimately more helpful to students.39. In-class exams are believed to discourage cheating in exams.40. The author was happy to learn she could do some exams at home.41. Students who put off their work until the last moment often find the exams more difficult thanthey actually are.42. Different students may prefer different types of exams.43. Most professors agree whether to give an in-class or a take-home exam depends on type ofcourse being taught.44. The author dropped out of college some forty years ago.45. Some students think take-home exams will eat up their free time.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 and 50 are based on the following passage.That people often experience trouble sleeping in a different bed in unfamiliar surroundings is a phenomenon known as the “first-night” effect. If a person stays in the same room the following night they tend to sleep more soundly. Yuka Sasaki and her colleagues at Brown University set out to investigate the origins of this effect.Dr. Sasaki knew the first-night effect probably has something to do with how humans evolved. The puzzle was what benefit would be gained from it when performance might be affected the following day. She also knew from previous work conducted on birds and dolphins that these animals put half of their brains to sleep at a time so that they can rest while remaining alert enough to avoid predators (捕食者). This led her to wonder if people might be doing the same thing. To take a closer look, her team studied 35 healthy people as they slept in the unfamiliar environment of the university’s Department of Psychological Sciences. The part icipants each slept in the department for two nights and were carefully monitored with techniques that looked at the activity of their brains. Dr. Sasaki found, as expected, the participants slept less well on their first night than they did on their second, taking more than twice as longto fall asleep and sleeping less overall. During deep sleep, the participants’ brains behaved in a similar manner seen in birds and dolphins. On the first night only, the left hemispheres (半球) of their brains did not sleep nearly as deeply as their right hemispheres did.Curious if the left hemispheres were indeed remaining awake to process information detected in the surrounding environment, Dr. Sasaki re-ran the experiment while presenting the sleeping participants with a mix of regularly timed beeps (蜂鸣声) of the same tone and irregular beeps of a different tone during the night. She worked out that, if the left hemisphere was staying alert to keep guard in a strange environment, then it would react to the irregular beeps by stirring people from sleep and would ignore the regularly timed ones. This is precisely what she found.46. What did researchers find puzzling about the first-night effect?A) To what extent it can trouble people. C) What circumstances may trigger it.B) What role it has played in evolution. D) In what way it can be beneficial.47. What do we learn about Dr. Yuka Sasaki doing her research?A) She found birds and dolphins remain alert while asleep.B) She found birds and dolphins sleep in much the same way.C) She got some idea from previous studies on birds and dolphinsD) She conducted studies on birds’ and dolphins’ sleeping patterns.48. What did Dr. Sasaki do when she first did her experiment?A) She monitored the brain activity of participants sleeping in a new environment.B) She recruited 35 participants from her Department of Psychological Sciences.C) She studied the differences between the two sides of participants’ brains.D) She tested her findings about birds and dolphins on human subjects.49. What did Dr. Sasaki do when re-running her experiment?A) She analyzed the negative effect of irregular tones on brains.B) She recorded participants’ adaptation to changed environment.C) She exposed her participants to two different stimuli.D) She compared the responses of different participants.50. What did Dr. Sasaki find about the participants in her experiment?A) They tended to enjoy certain tones more than others.B) They tended to perceive irregular beeps as a threat.C) They felt sleepy when exposed to regular beeps.D) They differed in their tolerance of irregular tones.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.It’s time to reevaluate how women handle conflict at w ork. Being overworked or over-committed at home and on the job will not get you where you want to be in life. It will only slow you down and hinder your career goals.Did you know women are more likely than men to feel exhausted? Nearly twice as many women than men ages 18-44 reported feeling “very tired” or “exhausted”, according to a recent study.This may not be surprising given that this is the age range when women have children. It's also the age range when many women are trying to balance careers and home. One reason women may feel exhausted is that they have a hard time saying "no." Women want to be able todo it all volunteer for school parties or cook delicious meals-and so their answer to any request is often “Yes, I can.”Women struggle to sa y “no” in the workplace for similar reasons, including the desire to be liked by their colleagues. Unfortunately, this inability to say "no" may be hurting women's heath as well as their career.At the workplace, men use conflict as a way to position themselves, while women often avoid conflict or strive to be the peacemaker, because they don't want to be viewed as aggressive or disruptive at work. For example, there’s a problem that needs to be addressed immediately, resulting in a dispute over should be the one to fix it. Men are more likely to face that dispute from the perspective of what benefits them most, whereas women may approach the same dispute from the perspective of what's the easiest and quickest way to resolve the problem-evenif that means doing the boring work themselves.This difference in handling conflict could be the deciding factor on who gets promoted to a leadership position and who does not. Leaders have to be able to delegate and manage resources wisely – including staff expertise. Shouldering more of the workload may not earn you that promotion. Instead, it may highlight your inability to delegate effectively.51. What does the author say is the problem with women?A) They are often unclear about the career goals to reach.B) They are usually more committed at home than on the job.C) They tend to be over-optimistic about how far they could go.D) They tend to push themselves beyond the limits of their ability.52. Why do working women of child-bearing age tend to feel drained of energy?A) They struggle to satisfy the demands of both work and home.B) They are too devoted to work and unable to relax as a result.C) They do their best to cooperate with their workmates.D) They are obliged to take up too many responsibilities.53. What may hinder the future prospects of career women?A) Their unwillingness to say “no”.B) Their desire to be considered powerful.C) An underestimate of their own ability.D) A lack of courage to face challenges.54. Men and woman differ in their approach to resolving workplace conflicts in that______.A) women tend to be easily satisfiedB) men are generally more persuasiveC) men tend to put their personal interests firstD) women are much more ready to compromise55. What is important to a good leader?A) A dominant personality. C) The courage to admit failureB) The ability to delegate. D) A strong sense of responsibility.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.华山位于华阴市,据西安120公里。
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题(第1套)含答案(完整版)
机密 启用前大学英语四级考试COLLEGEENGLISHTESTBandFour(2020年9月第1套)试题册ʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀʀ敬告考生一㊁在答题前,请认真完成以下内容:1.请检查试题册背面条形码粘贴条㊁答题卡的印刷质量,如有问题及时向监考员反映,确认无误后完成以下两点要求㊂2.请将试题册背面条形码粘贴条揭下后粘贴在答题卡1的条形码粘贴框内,并将姓名和准考证号填写在试题册背面相应位置㊂3.请在答题卡1和答题卡2指定位置用黑色签字笔填写准考证号㊁姓名和学校名称,并用HB⁃2B铅笔将对应准考证号的信息点涂黑㊂二㊁在考试过程中,请注意以下内容:1.所有题目必须在答题卡上规定位置作答,在试题册上或答题卡上非规定位置的作答一律无效㊂2.请在规定时间内在答题卡指定位置依次完成作文㊁听力㊁阅读㊁翻译各部分考试,作答作文期间不得翻阅该试题册㊂听力录音播放完毕后,请立即停止作答,监考员将立即收回答题卡1,得到监考员指令后方可继续作答㊂3.作文题内容印在试题册背面,作文题及其他主观题必须用黑色签字笔在答题卡指定区域内作答㊂4.选择题均为单选题,错选㊁不选或多选将不得分,作答时必须使用HB⁃2B铅笔在答题卡上相应位置填涂,修改时须用橡皮擦净㊂三㊁以下情况按违规处理:1.未正确填写(涂)个人信息,错贴㊁不贴㊁毁损条形码粘贴条㊂2.未按规定翻阅试题册㊁提前阅读试题㊁提前或在收答题卡期间作答㊂3.未用所规定的笔作答㊁折叠或毁损答题卡导致无法评卷㊂4.考试期间在非听力考试时间佩戴耳机㊂全国大学英语四、六级考试委员会未得到监考教师指令前,不得翻阅该试题册!PartIIListeningComprehension(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1and2arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.1.A)Ship traffic in the Atlantic.C)Exhaust from cars in Europe.B)Warm currents in the ocean.D)Particles emitted by power plants.2.A)They need to be taken seriously.C)They might be causing trouble to air flights.B)They have a huge effect on fishery.D)They may be affecting the world s climate.Questions3and4arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.3.A)To appeal for higher wages.C)To call for a permanent security guard.B)To demand better health care.D)To dismiss the bad⁃tempered supervisor.4.A)It had already taken strong action.C)It would take their appeal seriously.B)It would put customers needs first.D)It was seeking help from the police.Questions5to7arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.5.A)The road was flooded.C)The road was frozen with snow.B)The road was blocked.D)The road was covered with spilled gas.6.A)A truck plunged into a pool of liquid chocolate.B)The heavy snow made driving very difficult.C)The truck driver dozed off while driving.D)A truck hit a barrier and overturned.7.A)It was a long time before the cleanup was finished.B)It was a hard task to remove the spilled substance.C)It was fortunate that no passenger got injured.D)It was difficult to contact the manufacturer.4㊃1㊀willhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.8.A)She wanted to save for a new phone.C)She could enjoy discounts with cash.B)She found it much safer to use cash.D)She had been cheated using phone apps.9.A)They can save a lot more time and trouble.B)They find it less difficult to make purchases.C)They derive greater pleasure from buying things.D)They are less aware of the value of their money.10.A)More valuable items.C)Everyday necessities.B)More non⁃essential things.D)Electronic devices.11.A)It can improve shopping efficiency.C)It may lead to excessive spending.B)It is altering the way of shopping.D)It appeals more to younger people.Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)He wanted to order some wooden furniture.B)He had to change the furniture delivery time.C)He had a problem with the furniture delivered.D)He wanted the furniture store to give him a refund.13.A)Send the furniture back to the store.C)Collect the furniture he ordered.B)Describe the furniture he received.D)Buy another brand of furniture.14.A)Correct their mistake.C)Apologize to his wife.B)Improve their service.D)Give the money back.15.A)She recommended a new style.C)She apologized to the man once more.B)She offered some gift to the man.D)She checked all the items with the man.4㊃2㊀threeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.16.A)Reading books of wisdom.C)Sharing with others.B)Tidying up one s home.D)Donating to charity.17.A)Things that make one happy.C)Things that occupy little space.B)Things that are becoming rare.D)Things that cost a lot of money.18.A)It joined the city s clean⁃up campaign.B)It sold as many as fifty boxes of books.C)It received an incredibly large number of donated books.D)It did little business because of the unusual cold weather.Questions19to21arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.19.A)Give free meals to the homeless.C)Help the vulnerable to cook lunches.B)Provide shelter for the homeless.D)Call for change in the local government.20.A)Strengthen co⁃operation.C)Win national support.B)Promote understanding.D)Follow his example.21.A)Spreading news of his deeds.C)Following the example he sets.B)Writing him thank⁃you notes.D)Sending him hand⁃made bags.Questions22to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.22.A)To solve word search puzzles.C)To test their eyesight using a phone app.B)To send smartphone messages.D)To install some audio equipment in a lab.23.A)They could not go on until the ringing stopped.B)They could no longer concentrate on their task.C)They grabbed the phone and called back right away.D)They asked their experimenter to hang up the phone.4㊃3㊀24.A)A rise in emotional problems.B)A decline in sports activities.C)A reduction in the amount of sleep.D)A decline in academic performance.25.A)Protect the eyesight of the younger generation.B)Take effective measures to raise productivity.C)Realize the disruptive effects of technology.D)Ensure they have sufficient sleep every day.PartIIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.There re three main types of financial stress people encounter.The first type is apparent in people being stressed about the㊀26㊀ups and downs of investment markets actually not so much the ups, but㊀27㊀the downs.These people are usually unable or unprepared to endure the long haul.The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt.In a㊀28㊀percentage of cases of debt⁃induced financial stress,credit cards and loans will be a central element.Often there ll be a car loan and perhaps a mortgage,but credit cards often seem to be the gateway to debt⁃related financial difficulties for many.The third type of stress and㊀29㊀the least known is inherited financial stress,which is the most destructive.It is experienced by those who have grown up in households where their parents regularly㊀30㊀and fought about money.Money therefore becomes a stressful topic,and so the thought of sitting down and planning is an unattractive㊀31㊀.Those suffering inherited financial anxiety㊀32㊀to follow one of two patterns.Either they put their head in the sand:they would㊀33㊀examining their financial statements,budgeting,and discussing financial matters with those closest to them.Alternatively,they would go to the other ㊀34㊀,and micro⁃analyze everything,to the point of complete㊀35㊀.They re convinced that whatever decision they make will be the wrong one.4㊃4㊀A)appearanceB)arguedC)avoidD)considerableE)definitelyF)extremeG)inactionH)incredibly I)normal J)possibly K)proposition L)rebelled M)statement N)tendO)traditionalSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.Doctor sorders:LetchildrenjustplayA)Imagine a drug that could enhance a child s creativity and critical thinking.Imagine that this drugwere simple to make,safe to take,and could be had for free.The nation s leadingpediatricians(儿科医生)say this miracle compound exists.In a new clinical report,they are urging doctors to prescribe it liberally to the children in their care.B) This may seem old⁃fashioned,but there are skills to be learned when kids aren t told what todo, said Dr.Michael Yogman,a Harvard Medical School pediatrician who led the drafting of the call to arms.Whether it s rough physical play,outdoor play or pretend play,kids derive important lessons from the chance to make things up as they go,he said.C)The advice,issued Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics,may come as a shock tosome parents.After spending yearsfretting(烦恼)over which toys to buy,which apps to download and which skill⁃building programs to send their kids to after school,letting them simply play or better yet,playing with them could seem like a step backward.The pediatricians insist that it s not.The academy s guidance does not include specific recommendations for the dosing of play.Instead,it asks doctors to advise parents before their babies turn two that play is essential to healthy development.D) Play is not silly behavior, the academy s report declares.It fosters children s creativity,cooperation and problem⁃solving skills all of which are critical for a21st⁃century workforce.4㊃5㊀When parents engage in play with their children,it builds a wall against the harmful effects of all kinds of stress,including poverty,the academy says.In the pediatricians view,essentially every life skill that s valued in adults can be built up with play. Collaboration,negotiation,decision⁃making,creativity,leadership,and increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through play, they wrote.The pediatricians appeal comes as kids are being squeezed by increasing academic demands at school and the constant invasion of digital media.E)The trends have been a long time coming.Between1981and1997,detailed time⁃use studiesshowed that the time children spent at play declined by25percent.Since the adoption of sweeping education reforms in2001,public schools have steadily increased the amount of time devoted to preparing for standardized tests.The focus on academic skills and drills has cut deeply intorecess(课间休息)and other time for free play.F)By2009,a study of Los Angeles kindergarten classrooms found that five⁃year⁃olds were soburdened with academic requirements that they were down to an average of just19minutes per day of choice time, when they were permitted to play freely with blocks,toys or other children.One in four Los Angeles teachers reported there was no time at all for free play. Increased academic pressures have left30percent of U.S.kindergarten classes without any recess.Such findings prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue a policy statement in2013on the crucial role of recess in school.G)Pediatricians aren t the only ones who have noticed.In a report titled Crisis in the Kindergarten,a group of educators,health professionals and child advocates called the loss of play in earlychildhood a tragedy,both for the children themselves and for our nation and the world. Kids in play⁃based kindergartens end up equally good or better at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well⁃adjusted healthy people, the Alliance for Childhood said in2009.Indeed,new research demonstrates why playing with blocks might have been time better spent,Yogman said.The trial assessed the effectiveness of an early mathematicsintervention(干预)aimed at preschoolers.The results showed almost no gains in math achievement.H)Another playtime thief:the growing proportion of kids time spent in front of screens and digitaldevices,even among st year,Common Sense Media reported that children up through age eight spent an average of two hours and19minutes in front of screens each day, including an average of42minutes a day for those under two.This increase of digital use comes with rising risks of obesity,sleep deprivation andcognitive(认知的),language and social⁃emotional delays,the American Academy of Pediatrics warned in2016.4㊃6㊀I) I respect that parents have busy lives and it s easy to hand a child an iPhone, Yogman said. Butthere s a cost to that.For young children,it s much too passive.And kids really learn better when they re actively engaged and have to really discover things.J)The decline of play is a special hazard for the roughly1in5children in the United States who live in poverty.These14million children most urgently need to develop theresilience(韧劲)that is cultivated with play.Instead,Yogman said,they are disproportionately affected by some of the trends that are making play scarce:academic pressures at schools that need to improve test scores, outside play areas that are limited or unsafe,and parents who lack the time or energy to share in playtime.K)Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids. The notion that as parents we need to schedule every minute of their time is not doing them a great service, he said.Even well⁃meaning parents may be robbing them of the opportunity to have that joy of discovery and curiosity the opportunity to find things out on their own.L)Play may not be a hard sell to kids.But UCLA pediatrician Carlos Lerner acknowledged that the pediatricians new prescription may meet withskepticism(怀疑)from parents,who are anxious for advice on how to give their kids a leg up in the world.They should welcome the simplicity of the message,Lerner said. It s liberating to be able to offer them this advice:that you spending time with your child and letting him play is one of the most valuable things you can do, he said. It doesn t have to involve spending a lot of money or time,or joining a parenting group.It s something we can offer that s achievable.They just don t recognize it right now as particularlyvaluable.36.Increased use of digital devices steals away children s playtime.37.Since the beginning of this century,an increasing amount of time has been shifted in publicschools from recess to academic activities.38.It has been acknowledged that while kids may welcome pediatricians recommendation,theirparents may doubt its feasibility.39.According to some professionals,deprivation of young children s playtime will do harm not onlyto children themselves but to the country and the world.40.By playing with children,parents can prevent them from being harmed by stress.4㊃7㊀41.Playing with digital devices discourages kids from active discovery,according to pediatrician Dr.Michael Yogman.42.The suggestion of letting children simply play may sound like going backwards to parents whowant to help build their children s skills.43.Dr.Michael Yogman believes the idea that parents should carefully schedule children s time maynot be helpful to their growth.44.One quarter of teachers in an American city said that children in kindergartens had no time forplaying freely.45.According to a pediatrician,no matter what kind of play children engage in,they are learning howto create things.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Americans spend billions of dollars each year trying to change our weight with diets,gym memberships and plastic surgery.Trying to live up to the images of perfect models and movie heroes has a dark side:anxiety, depression,as well as unhealthy strategies for weight loss or muscle gain.It also has a financial cost. Having an eating disorder boosts annual health care costs by nearly US$2,000per person.Why is there both external and internal pressure to look perfect ?One reason is that society rewards people who are thin and healthy⁃looking.Researchers have shown that body mass index is related to wages and income.Especially for women,there is a clear penalty at work for being overweight or obese.Some studies have also found an impact for men,though a less noticeable one.While the research literature is clear that labor market success is partly based on how employers and customers perceive your body image,no one had explored the other side of the question.Does a person s own perception of body image matter to earnings and other indicators of success in the workplace?Our recently published study answered this question by tracking a large national random sample of Americans over a critical time period when bodies change from teenage shape into adult form and4㊃8㊀when people build their identities.As in other research,women in our sample tend to over⁃perceive weight they think they re heavier than they are while men tend to under⁃perceive theirs.We found no relationship between the average person s self⁃perception of weight and labor market outcomes,although self⁃perceived weight can influenceself⁃esteem(自尊心),mental health and health behaviors.While the continued gender penalty in the labor market is frustrating,our finding that misperceived weight does not harm workers is more heartening.Since employers perception of weight is what matters in the labor market,changing discrimination laws to include body type as a category would help.Michigan is the only state that prohibits discrimination on the basis of weight and height.We believe expanding such protections would make the labor market more fair and efficient.46.What does the author say may have an adverse impact on people?A)Undergoing plastic surgeries in pursuit of beauty.B)Imitating the lifestyles of heroes and role models.C)Striving to achieve perfection regardless of financial cost.D)Attempting to meet society s expectation of appearance.47.What have researchers found out about people s earnings?A)They are closely related to people s social status.B)They have to do with people s body weight and shape.C)They seem to matter much less to men than to women.D)They may not be equal to people s contributions.48.What does the author s recent study focus on?A)Previous literature on indicators of competitiveness in the workplace.B)Traits that matter most in one s pursuit of success in the labor market.C)Whether self⁃perception of body image impacts one s workplace success.D)How bosses perception of body image impacts employees advancement.49.What is the finding of the author s recent research?A)Being overweight actually does not do much harm to the overall well⁃being of employees.B)People are not adversely affected in the workplace by false self⁃perception of body weight.C)Self⁃esteem helps to combat gender inequality in the workplace.D)Gender inequality continues to frustrate a lot of female employees.4㊃9㊀50.What does the author think would help improve the situation in the labor market?A)Banning discrimination on the basis of employees body image.B)Expanding protection of women against gender discrimination.C)Helping employees change their own perception of beauty.D)Excluding body shape as a category in the labor contract.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Work⁃life balance is dead.By this,I m not advocating that you should give up your quest to have a fulfilling career and a thriving personal life,and I am definitely not saying that you have to give up one to have the other.I also acknowledge that we have a work⁃life problem,but I m arguing that the concept of balance has never been helpful,because it s too limiting.You see,our language makes a difference,and how we refer to things matters because it affects our thinking and therefore our actions.At the minimum,most of us work because we want to be able to support ourselves,our families, and the people around us.In the ideal world,we re all doing work that we re proud of and that provides meaning and purpose to us.But even if your job doesn t give you shivers of joy with each new day,working is a part of what each of us does and the contribution we make to society.When you separate work and life,it s a little bit harder to make that connection.But when you think of work as part of a full life and a complete experience,it becomes easier to see that success in one aspect often supports another.Losing your balance and falling isn t pleasant.A goal to balance suggests that things could quickly get off balance,and that causes terrible outcomes.It s more constructive to think of solutions that continue to evolve over shifts in life and work.Rather than falling or failing,you may have good days or better days or not⁃so⁃good days.These variations are normal,and it s more useful to think of life as something that is ever evolving and changing,rather than a high⁃risk enterprise where things could go wrong with one misstep.How we talk to ourselves matters,and how we talk about issues makes a difference.Let s bury work⁃life balance and think bigger and better about work⁃life fulfillment to do a little less balancing and a lot more living.51.What does the author suggest by saying The work⁃life balance is dead ?A)The hope of achieving a thriving life is impossible to realize.B)The pursuit of a fulfilling career involves personal sacrifice.C)The imbalance between work and life simply doesn t exist anymore.D)The concept of work⁃life balance contributes little to a fulfilling life.4㊃10㊀52.What does the author say about our use of language?A)It impacts how we think and behave.C)It reflects how we communicate.B)It changes with the passage of time.D)It differs from person to person.53.What does the author say we do in an ideal world?A)We do work that betters the lives of our families and friends.B)We do work that gives us bursts of joy each new day.C)We do meaningful work that contributes to society.D)We do demanding work that brings our capacity into full play.54.What does the author say about life?A)It is cyclical.C)It is fulfilling.B)It is dynamic.D)It is risky.55.What does the author advise us to do?A)Make life as simple as possible.C)Balance life and work in a new way.B)Talk about balance in simpler terms.D)Strive for a more fulfilling life.PartIVTranslation(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestotranslateapassagefromChineseintoEnglish.YoushouldwriteyouransweronAnswerSheet2.茅台(Moutai)是中国最有名的白酒,在新中国成立前夕,被选为国宴用酒㊂据说赤水沿岸的村民四千年前就开始酿造茅台㊂在西汉时期,那里的人们生产出了高质量的茅台,并把它贡给皇帝㊂自唐朝开始,这种地方酒通过海上丝绸之路运往海外㊂茅台味道柔和,有一种特殊的香味;适量饮用可以帮助缓解疲劳,有镇静作用,因而广受国内外消费者的喜爱㊂4㊃11㊀答案PartI㊀Writing(见解析)PartII㊀ListeningComprehensionSectionA1.A㊀㊀2.D㊀㊀3.C㊀㊀4.A㊀㊀5.B㊀㊀6.D㊀㊀7.BSectionB8.A9.D10.B11.C12.C13.B14.A㊀㊀15.CSectionC16.B17.A18.C19.A20.D21.D22.A㊀㊀23.B㊀㊀24.C㊀㊀25.CPartIII㊀ReadingComprehensionSectionA26.I27.E28.D29.J30.B31.K32.N㊀㊀33.C㊀㊀34.F㊀㊀35.GSectionB36.H37.E38.L39.G40.D41.I42.C㊀㊀43.K㊀㊀44.F㊀㊀45.BSectionC46.D47.B48.C49.B50.A51.D52.A㊀㊀53.C㊀㊀54.B㊀㊀55.DPartIV㊀Translation(见解析)㊀㊀。
2020年12月英语四级真题试卷及答案
2020年12月英语四级真题试卷(第一套)Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Education. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.(第二套作文)Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 mimites to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Transportation. You should write at least 120 words but no more tham 180 words.(第三套)Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 mimutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Communication. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Section ANews Report OneA poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although fatalities are rare, the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish, often known as Devil Fire fish, is a highly invasive species. And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life. After being spotted inthe Mediterranean, a marine scientist says, “The fish is spreading, and that’s a cause for concern.”Q1: What is reported in the news?【答案】A A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters Q2: What is the environmentalists’concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?【答案】C It could pose a threat to other marine speciesNew Report TwoAlmost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day. This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car Free Day last year. Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day. On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road. About 400 miles of streets will be closed to cars. It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels. “Last year’s car-free day showed a 40% drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city, according to an independent air pollution monitor”, reports the Guardian, “and some levels dropped by 50% in the city centre.”Q3: What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?【答案】B About half of its city center will be closed to carsQ4: What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World CarFree Day in her city?【答案】A The rising air pollution in Paris.News report 3A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations. Then, a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it, the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the 77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world, which was valued at £76 million.The pearl of Allah, which is currently on display in a New York museum, only weighs 14 pounds. That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisherman just handed in.The monstrous pearl, measured at 1 foot wide and 2.2 feet long, is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town.Q5: What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?【答案】B His house was burnt down in a fire.Q6: What was the fisherman forced to do?【答案】D Sell the pearl he had kept for years.Q7: What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?【答案】B His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.Section BConversation 1W: Mr. Smith, It’s a pleasure meeting you!M: Nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?W: Well, I’m here to show you what our firm can do for you. Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries, offering different business services. We’re a global company with 75 years of history. And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies.M: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astro Consultants is a famous company. But you said you would show me what you could do for me. Well. What exactly can your firm do for my company?W: We advise businesses on all matters, from market analysis to legal issues. Anything a business like yours could meet. Our firm offers expert advice. Could I ask you, Mr. Smith, to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face? That way, I could better respond as to how we can help you.M: OK, sure. This is a family business started by my grandfather in 1950. We employ just over 100 people. We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions. Our clients usually want a special kindof stone cut in a special design. And that’s what we do in our factory. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising, and we’re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India.W I see. That’s very interesting. I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company, together with the analysis of your competitors in India. That way, we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Question 8-11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q8: What do we learn about the woman’s company?【答案】A It boasts a fairly long historyQ9: What does the man say about his own company?【答案】C It is a family business.Q10: What is the main problem with the man’s company?【答案】D Loss of competitive edge.Q11: What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company? 【答案】A Conducting a financial analysis for it.Conversation 2W: Wow, congratulations, Simon! The place looks absolutely amazing! M: Really? You think so?W: Of course. I love it. It looks like you had a professional interior designer. But you didn’t, did you?M: No. I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother, Greg. He’s actually in the construction business, which was really helpful.W: Honestly, I’m impressed! I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something, but not a full renovation. Where did you get your ideas? I wouldn’t know where to start.M: Well, for a while now, I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines. Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked. Believe it or not, I have a full notebook of magazine pages. Since by overall style was quite minimal, I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough, with Greg’s help, it was very achievable.W: Wasn’t it expensive? I have imagined a project like this could be. M: Actually, it was surprisingly affordable. I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material. Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W: Great! If you don’t mind, I’d like to pick your brain a bit more. Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room, not the whole house, not yet anyway. And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience. Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Q12: What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?【答案】D She is really impressed by the man’s house.Q13: Where did the man get his ideas for the project?【答案】B From home design magazines.Q14: What did the man say about the project he recently completed? 【答案】C The cost was affordable.Q15: Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?【答案】B She wants him to share his renovation experience with her. Section CPassage oneRemoving foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost £3m a year, a study suggests. Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases - 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% from ears. Every year, an average of 1,218 nose and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics, children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors for a foreign object in their nose. Five to nine year olds come to the hospital with something in their ear the most. Jewelry items accounted for up to 40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses. Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.According to the study, the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This results in the accidental entry of foreignobjects. Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular danger. In all cases, prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important. Q16: What does England spend an annual £3m on?【答案】D Removing objects from patients noses and earsQ17: What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?【答案】C Five-to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their earsQ18: What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?【答案】D They are curious about these body partsPassage 2Good morning, I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle. But before that, let me introduce someone. This is Leila Rahimi. She was so scared when she first moved to New Zealand that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies. After a few months of being quite down and unhappy, she was invited to join a local bike club. At this time, ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle. In weeks, her depression had begun to ease as she cycled. The bicycle totallychanged her life, giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date, ReBicycle has donated more than 200 bikes to those in need, and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars. With a bike, you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour. Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers. Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult, and this can take days and weeks, rather than hours. So, if any of you have some free time during the weekend, please come join us at ReBicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Q19. What did ReBicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?【答案】B It gave her a used bicycleQ20. What is ReBicycle doing to help those in need?【答案】A Expanding bike-riding lessonsQ21. What do we learn from the passage about the ReBicycle?【答案】B It is a charity organizationPassage 3Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body, but NASA scientists want to learn more. To that end, they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity, specifically focusing on mice(22). The results are bothinteresting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station. The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video. As you noticed in the video, the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily, drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up, but without success. (23)However, it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on. They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That’s when things really get wild. The 11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it. (24) Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth. The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact, including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry. (25)Q22 What do NASA scientists want to learn about?【答案】[D]. How animals deal with lack of gravity.Q23 What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of theexperiment?【答案】[A]. They were not used to the low- gravity environment.Q24 What was observed about the mice on the 11th day of the experiment?【答案】[C]. They already felt at home in the new environment.Q25 What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment? 【答案】[B]. They behaved as if they were on Earth.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 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.When my son completes atask, I can't help but praise him. I's only natural to give praise where praise is due. right? But is there such a thing as too much praise? According to psychologist Katherine Phillip, children don't benefit from 26_____ praise as much as we' d like to think "Parents often praise, bclicv ing thoy are building thcir child's sclf confidencc. Howcvcr,ovcr-praising can have a 27_____effect," saysPhillip "When we use the same praise 28_____,it may become empty and no longer valued by the child. It can also become an expectation that anything they do must be 29_____ with praise. This may lead to the child avoiding taking risks due to fearof 30_____ their parents"Does this mean we should do away with all the praiso? Phillip says no."The key to healthy praisc is to focus on thc process rather than the 31_____. it is the recognition of a child's attcmpt, or the process in which they achieved something, that is essential,"she says "Parents should encouragetheir child 10 take the risks needed to learn and grow”So how do we break the 32_____ of praise we're all so accustomed to? Phillip says it's important to. 33_____between "person praise" and "process raise". "Person praise is 34_____ saying how great someone is. IT's a form personal approval. Process praise as acknowledgment of the efforts to person has just 35_____,Childrcn who receive pcrson praisc arc more likely to feel shame aner losing," says Phillip.A) chooseB) constantC) disappointingD) distinguishE) exhaustingF) experiencedG) negativeH) outcome1) patternJ) pluralK) rcpcatcdlyL) rewardedM) separatelyN) simply答案26. B. constant27. G. negative28. K repeatedly29. L rewarded30. C disappointing31. H outcome32. I .patterm33. D .distinguish34. N. simply35 0. undertakenSection BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given inone 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.Poverty is a story about us, not them[A] Too often still, we think we know what poverty looks like. It’s the way we’ve been taught, the images we’ve been force-fed for decades. The chronically homeless. The undocumented immigrant. The urban poor, usually personified as a woman of color, the “welfare queen”politicians still too often reference.[B] But as income inequality rises to record levels in the United States, even in the midst of a record economic expansion, those familiar images are outdated, hurtful, and counterproductive to focusing attention on solutions and building ladders of opportunity.[C] Today’s faces of income inequality and lack of opportunity look like all of us. It’s Anna Landre, a disabled Georgetown University student fighting to keep health benefits that allow her the freedom to live her life. It’s Tiffanie Standard, a mentor for young women of color in Philadelphia who want to be tech entrepreneurs –but who must work multiple jobs to stay afloat. It’s Sharon Penner, an artisan in rural Georgia, who worries about retirement security and health care options for senior gay women. It’s Charles Oldstein, a U.S. Air Force veteran inNew Orleans who would still be on the street if the city hadn’t landed a zero tolerance policy for homeless among veterans. It’s Ken Outlaw, a welder in rural North Carolina whose dream of going back to school at a local community college was dashed by Hurricane Florence –just one of the extreme weather events that have tipped the balance for struggling Americans across the nation.[D] If these are the central characters of our story about poverty, what layers of perceptions, myths, and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support? In pursuit of revealing this complicated reality, Mothering Justice, led by women of color, went last year to the state capital in Lansing, Michigan, to lobby on issues that affect working mothers. One of the Mothering Justice organizers went to the office of a state representative to talk about the lack of affordable childcare—the vestiges of a system that expected mothers to stay home with their children while their husbands worked. A legislative staffer dismissed the activist’s concerns, telling her “my husband took care of that—I stayed home.”[E] That comment, says Atkinson, “was meant to shame”and relied on the familiar trope that a woman of color concerned about income inequality and programs that promote mobility must by definition be a single mom, probably with multiple kids. In this case, Mothering Justice activist happened to be married. And in most cases in the America of2019, the images that come to mind when we hear the words poverty of income inequality fail miserably in reflecting a complicated reality: poverty touches virtually all of us. The face of income inequality, for all but a very few of us, is the one we each see in the mirror.[F] How many of us are poor in the U.S.? It depends on who you ask. According to the Census Bureau, 38 million people in the U.S. are living below the official poverty thresholds (currently $20,231 for a family of three with two children). Taking into account economic need beyond that absolute measure, the Institute for Policy Studies found that 140 million people are poor or low-income, living below 200 percent of the Census’supplemental measure of poverty. That’s almost half the U.S. population.[G] No matter the measure, within that massive group, poverty is extremely diverse. We know that some people are more affected than others like children, the elderly, people live with disabilities, and people of color.[H] But the fact that 4 in 10 Americans can’t come up with $400 in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason: economic instability stretches across race, gender, and geography. It even reaches into the middle classes, as real wages have stagnated for all but the very wealthy and temporary spells of financial instability are not uncommon.[I] Negative caricatures remain of who is living in poverty as well as whatis needed to move out of it. The iconic American myth is that you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and change a bad situation into a good one. The reality is that finding opportunity without help from families, friends, schools, and community is virtually impossible. And the playing field is nothing close to level.[J] The FrameWorks Institute, a research group that focuses on public framing of issues, has studies what props up stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom. “People view economic success and wellbeing in life as …a product of choice, willpower, drive, grit, and gumption,”says NatKendall-Taylor, CEO of FrameWorks. “When we see people who are struggling,”he says, those assumptions “lead us to the perception that people in poverty are lazy, they don’t care, and they haven’t made the right decisions.”[K] Does this sound familiar? Similar ideas surround poverty in the U.S. And these assumptions wreak havoc on reality. “When people enter into that pattern of thinking,”says Kendal-Taylor, “it’s cognitively comfortable to make sense of issues of poverty in that way. It creates a kind of cognitive blindness –all of the factors external to a person’s drive and choices that they’ve made become invisible and fade from view.”[L] Those external factors include the difficulties concomitant with low-wage work or structural discrimination based on race, gender, orability. Assumption get worse when people who are poor use government benefits to help them survive. There is a great tension between “the poor”and those who are receiving what has become a dirty word: “welfare.”[M] According to the General Social Survey, 71 percent of respondents believe the country is spending too little on “assistance to the poor.”On the other hand, 22 percent think we are spending too little on “welfare”; 37 percent believe we are spending too much.[N] “Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color—but specifically black women and black mothers,”says Atkinson of Mothering Justice. It’s true that black mothers are more affected by poverty than many other groups, yet they are disproportionately the face of poverty. For example, Americans routinely overestimate the share of black recipients of public assistance programs.[O] In reality, most people will experience some form of financial hardship at some point in their lives. Indeed, people tend to dip in and out of poverty, perhaps due to unexpected obstacles like losing a job, or when hours of a low-wage job fluctuate.[P] Something each of us can do is to treat each other with the dignity and compassion that is deserved and to understand deeply that the issue of poverty touches all of us.36. One legislative staffer assumed that a woman of color whoadvocated affordable childcare must by a single mother.37. People from different races, genders, and regions all suffer from a lack of financial security.38. According to a survey, while the majority believe too little assistance given to the poor, more than a third believe too much is spent on welfare.39. A research group has found that Americans who are struggling are thought to be lazy as they have made the wrong decision.40. Under the old system in American, a mother was supposed to stay home and take care of her children.41. …found that nearly 50% of Americans are poor or receive low pay.42. Americans usually overestimate the number of blacks receiving welfare benefits.43. It is impossible for Americans to lift themselves out of poverty entirely on their own.44. Nowadays, it seems none of us can get away from income inequality.45. Assumptions about poor people become even more negative when they live on welfare.【答案】36. E 37. H 38. M 39. J 40. D 41. F 42. N 43. I 44. C 45. LSection CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followedby 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.Boredom has, paradoxically, become quite interesting to academics lately. In early May, London’s Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness. At this event, people flocked to talks about weather, traffic jams, and vending-machine sounds, among other sleep-inducing topics.What, exactly, is everyone studying? [46] One widely accepted psychological definition of boredom is “the distasteful experience of wanting, but being unable, to engage in satisfying activities.”But how can you quantify a person’s boredom level and compare it with someone else’s?In 1986, psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale, designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored. By contrast, the Multidimensional State Boredom scale, developed in 2008, measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation.[47]Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving, mindless snacking, excessive drinking, and addictive gambling. Infact, many of us would choose pain over boredom.[48]One team of psychologists discovered that two-thirds of men and a quarter of women would rather self-administer electric shocks than sit alone with their thought for 15 minutes. Researching this phenomenon, another team asked volunteers to watch boring, sad, or neutral films, during which they could self-administer electric shocks. The bored volunteers shocked themselves more and harder than the sad or neutral one did.[49]But boredom isn’t all bad. By encouraging self-reflection and daydreaming, it can spur activity. An early study gave participants abundant time to complete problem-solving and word-association exercises. Once all the obvious answers were exhausted, participants gave more and more inventive answers to combat boredom. A British study took these findings one step further, asking subjects to complete a creative challenge (coming up with a list of alternative uses for a household item). One group of subjects did a boring activity first, while the others went straight to the creative task. Those whose boredom pumps had been primed were more productive.[50] In our always-connected world, boredom may be a hard-to-define state, but it is a fertile one. Watch paint dry or water boil, or at least put away your smartphone for a while, and you might unlock your next big idea.46. When are people likely to experience boredom, according to an accepted psychological definition?A) When they don’t have the chance to do what they wantB) When they don’t enjoy the materials they are studyingC) When they experience something unpleasantD) When they engage in some routine activities47. What does the author say boredom can lead to?A) DeterminationB) Mental deteriorationC) ConcentrationD) Harmful conduct48. What is the findings of one team of psychologists in their experiment?A) Volunteers prefer watching a boring movie to sitting alone deliberating.B) Many volunteers choose to hurt themselves rather than endure boredom.C) Male volunteers are more immune to the effects of boredom than females.D) Many volunteers are unable to resist boredom longer than fifteen minutes.49. Why does the author say boredom isn’t all bad?A) It stimulates memorization.B) It may promote creative thinking.C) It allows time for relaxation.D) It may facilitate independent learning.50. What does the author suggests one do when faced with a challenging problem?A) Stop idling and think big.B) Unlock one’s smartphone.C) Look around oneself for stimulation.D) Allow oneself some time to be bored.答案:46. A 47. D. 48. B. 49. B. 50. DPassage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.(51)Forests in countries like Brazil and the Congo get a lot of attention from environmentalists, and it is easy to see why. South America and sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing deforestation on an enormous scale: every year almost 5 million hectares are lost. But forests are also changing in rich Western countries. They are growing larger, both in the sense that they occupy more and that the trees in them and bigger. What is going on?(52) Forests are spreading in almost all Western countries, with fastest growth in places that historically had rather few trees. In 1990 28% of。
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第1套)
2020年9月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第1套)听力答案:1.A) Ship traffic in the Atlantic.2.D) They may be affecting the world’s climate.3.C) To call for a permanent security guard.4.A) It had already taken strong action.5.B) The road was blocked.6.D) A track hit a barrier and overturned.7.B) It was a hard task to removing the spilled substance.8.A) She wanted to save for a new phone.9.D) They are less aware of the value of their money.10.B) More non-essential things.11.C) It may lead to excessive spending.12.C) He had a problem with the furniture delivered.13.B) Describe the furniture he received.14.A) Correct their mistake.15. с) She apologized to the man once more.16. B) Tidying up one's home.17. A) Things that make one happy.18. C) It received an incredibly large number of donated books.19. A) Give free meals to the homeless.20. D) Follow his example.21. C) Sending him had-made bags.22. A) To solve word search puzzles.23. B) They could no longer concentrate on their task.24. C) A reduction in the amount of sleep.25. C) Realize the disruptive effects of technology.PART I WritingDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on online dictionaries. You can start your essay with the sentence "O nline dictionaries are becoming increasingly popular. "You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.参考范文:With the growing popularity of smart phones and the high coverage rate of wireless network, online dictionaries are becoming increasingly popular for students in daily study. It seems to be a trend that online dictionaries would replace paper ones. However, just as the saying goes, “different strokes for different folks.”Some students are more prone to use online dictionaries and have two points to support it. First, online dictionaries are more portable, and make it possible to look up any new words that we met anytime and anywhere only via a small phone in our hands. Second, we can improve both written and oral skills, as online dictionaries allow us to hear the native pronunciation of each word clearly. Whereas others hold differently. They are still in favor of use print ones. For one thing, paper dictionaries can protect our eyesight better than online ones as digital devices may emit radiation if we watch the electronic screen for a long time. For another, using the print dictionary can prevent us from being distracted by reminders of irrelevant information.As far as I’m concerned, although the content of paper dictionaries is authoritative, its lexicon is not updated as quickly as online ones. After all, we live in an informationage and can have access to many hot words on the Internet every day.【选词填空第1套】26. H integrate27. B coincidence28. A associated29. L recognizable30. I maximizes31. N stressful32. K principal33. J natural34. M simply35. O symbolized【信息匹配第1套】Doctor’s orders: Let children just play36. H 段落第一句Another playtime thief37. E 段落第一句The trends have been a long time coming.38. L 段落第一句Play may not be a hard sell to kids.39.G 段落第一句Predictions aren’t the only ones who have noticed.40. D段落第一句“play is not silly behavior,”41. I 段落第一句“I respect that parents have busy lives and it’s easy to hand a child a iPhone”42.C 段落第一句The advice, issued Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics43. K 段落第一句Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids.44. F 段落第一句By 200945. B 段落第一句“This may seem old-fashioned, but there are skills to be leaned when kids aren’t told what to do”【仔细阅读第1套】Text 1 :Diets46.What does the author say may have an adverse impact on people?A.Under going plastic surgeries in pursuit of beauty.B.Imitating the life styles of heroes and role models.C.Striving to achieve perfection regardless of financial cost.D.Attempting to meet society’s expectation of appearance47.What have researchers found out about people’ s earnings?A.They are closely related to people’s social status.B.They have to do with people’s body weight and shapeC.They seem to matter much less to men than to womenD.They may not be equal to people’s contributions48.What does the author’ s recent study focus on?A.Previous literature on indicators of competitiveness in the work place.B.Traits that matter most in one’s pursuit of success in the labor market.C.Whether self-perception of body image impacts one’s work place successD.How bosses’ perception of body image impacts employees’ advancement.49.What is the finding of the author’s recent research?A.Being over weight actually does not do much harm to the overall well-being of employees.B.People are not adversely affected in the workplace by false self-perception of body weightC.Self-esteem helps to combat gender in equality in the work place.D.Gender in equality continues to frustrate a lot of female employees.50.What does the author think would help improve the condition in the labor market?A.Banning discrimination on the bass of employees’ body imageB.Expanding protection of women against gender discrimination.C.Helping employees change their own perception of beauty.D.Excluding body shape as a category in the labor contract.答案:46.D 47.B 48.C 49.B 50.AText 2 :Work-life balance51.What does the author suggest by saying"The work-life balance is dead”?A.the hope of achieving a thriving life is impossible to realize.B.the pursuit of a fulfilling career involves personal sacrificeC.the imbalance between work and life simply doesn’t exist anymore.D.the concept of work-life balance contributes little to a fulfilling life.52. What does the author say about our use of language?A. it impacts how we think and behave.B.it changes with the passage of time..C. it reflects how we communicate.D. it differs from person to person.53.What does the author say we do in an ideal world?A.we do work that betters the lives of our families and friends.B. we do work that gives us bursts of joy each new day.C. we do meaningful work that contributes to society.D. we do demanding work that brings our capacity into full play.54. What does the author say about life?A. it is cyclicalB.it is dynamicC.it is fulfillingD. it is risky.55. what does the author advise us to do?A.make life as simple as possibleB.talk about balance in simpler termsC. balance life and work in a new wayD.strive for a more fulfilling life.答案:51. D 52. A 53. C 54. B 55. D翻译茅台(Moutai)是中国最有名的白酒,在新中国成立前夕,被选为国宴用酒。
2020年12月英语四级真题及答案完整版
2020年12月英语四级真题及参考答案(完整版)Part I writingDirections:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a composition on the topic “Changes in the way of Transportation”.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.参考范文:With the social and economic development,our means of transportation have changed a lot over the last few decades,which has brought much convenience to our life.In the1970s and1980s,bicycles were the primary means of public transportation.Families that owned a bicycle were thought to be in relatively good economic conditions.Because of the implementation of the reform and opening policy,the economy and people’s living standards were improved a lot and travelling by private cars became more and more common in1990s and2000s. And thanks to the information technology,we can now enjoy bike-sharing service and online ride-hailing service which help to make our journey more economical and flexible.We have enough reason to believe that our way of transportation could be more and more economically friendly and intelligent.Part II Listening ComprehensionPartⅡListening Comprehension(25minutes)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 Sheet1with a single line through she centre. Questions1and2are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.B)Invasive species are driving away certain native species.C)The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.D)Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.2.A)It could add to greenhouse emissions.B)It could disrupt the food chains there.C)It could pose a threat to other marine species.D)It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.C)Spend a few nights on a small island.D)Sell the pearl he had kept for years.Questions3and4are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A)cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B)About half of its city center will be closed to cars.C)Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.D)Pedestrians will have free access to the city.4.A)The rising air pollution in Paris.B)The worsening global warming.C The ever-growing cost of petrol.D)The unbearable traffic noise.Questions5to7are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A)Many of his possessions were stolen.B)His house was burnt down in a fire.C)His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.D)His good luck charm sank into the sea.6.A)Change his fishing locations.B)Find a job in a travel agency.C))Spend a few nights on a small islandD)Sell the pearl he had kept for years7.A)A New Year museumB)The largest pearl in the world weighsC)His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.D)His pearl could be displayed in a museum.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 Sheet1with a single line through the centre. Questions8to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A)It boasts a fairly long history.B)It produces construction materials.C)It has75offices around the world.D)It has over50business partners.9.A)It has about50employees.B)It was started by his father.C)It has a family business.D)It is over100years old.10.A)Shortage of raw material supply.B)Legal disputes in many countries.C)Outdated product design.D)Loss of competitive edge.11.A)Conducting a financial analysis for it.B)Providing training for its staff members.C)Seeking new ways to increase is exports.D)Introducing innovative marketing strategies.Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)She is a real expert at house decorations.B)She is well informed about the design business.C)She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.D)She is really impressed by the man’s house.13.A)From his younger brother Greg.B)From home design magazines.C)From a construction businessman.D)From a professional interior designer.14.A)The effort was worthwhile.B)The style was fashionable.C)The cost was affordable.D)The eft was unexpected.15.A)She’d like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B)She wants him to share his renovation experience with herC)She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D)She’d like to show him around her newly-renovated house.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 your choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark he corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.Questions16to18are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A)Providing routine care for small children.B)Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.C)Doing research on ear,nose and throat diseases.D)Removing objects from patients’noses and ears.17.A)Many children like to smell things they find or play with.B)Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.C)Five-to nine-year-olds are the mos likely to put things in their ears.D)Children aged one to four a often more curious than older children.18.A)They tend to act out of impulse.B)They want to attract attentions.C)They are unaware of the potential risks.D)They are curious about these body parts.Questions19to21are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)It paid for her English lessons.B)It gave her a used bicycle.C)It delivered her daily necessities.D)It provided her with physical therapy.20.A)Expanding bike-riding lessons.B)Asking local people for donations.C)Providing free public transport.D)Offering walking tours to visitors.21.A)It is a language school.B)It is a charity organization.C)It is a counseling center.D)It is a sports club.Questions22to25are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A)How mice imitate human behavior a space.B)How low gravity affects the human body.C)How mice interact in a new environment.D)How animals deal with lack of gravity.23.A)They were not use to the low-gravity cnvironment.B)They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C)They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.D)They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.A)They tried every thing possible to escape from the cage.B)They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.C)They already felt at home in the new environment.D)They had found a lot more activities to engage in.25.A)They repeated their activities every day.B)They behaved as if they were on Earth.C)They begin to eat less after some time.D)They changed their routines in space.听力原文:Listening ComprehensionSection ANews report1A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature(UICN)has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey,Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean,the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people.Although fatalities are rare,the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing.The fish,often known as Devil Fire fish,is a highly invasive species.And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life.After being spotted in the Mediterranean,a marine scientist says,"The fish is spreading,and that's a cause for concern."Q1:What is reported in the news?Q2:What is the environmentalists'concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?News report2[Q3]Almost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day.[Q4]This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time.Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car FreeDay last year.Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day.On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road.About400miles of streets will be closed to cars.It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels."Last year's car-free day showed a 40%drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city,according to an independent air pollution monitor",reports the Guardian,"and some levels dropped by50%in the city centre.'Q3:What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?Q4:What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?News report3A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations.Then,a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it,the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world,which was valued at f76million.The pearl of Allah,which is currently on display in a New York museum,only weighs14pounds.That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisher man just handed in.The monstrous pearl,measured at1foot wide and2.2feet long,is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town.O5:What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?Q6:What was the fisherman forced to do?Q7:What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?Section BLong conversation1WOMAN:Mr.Smith,It’s a pleasure meeting you!Man:Nice to meet you,too.What can I do for you?WOMAN:Well,I’m here to show you what our firm can do for you.Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries,offering different business services.We’re a global company with75years of history.And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies【8】.MAN:Thank you,Mrs.Houston.I know Astro Consultants is a famous company.But you said you would show me what you could do for me.Well.What exactly can your firm do for my company? WOMAN:We advise businesses on all matters,from market analysis to legal issues.Anything a business like yours could meet.Our firm offers expert advice.Could I ask you,Mr.Smith,to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face?That way,I could better respond as to how we can help you.Man:OK,sure.This is a family business started by my grandfather in1950.We employ just over 100people.We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions.Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design.And that’s what we do in our factory【9】. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising,and we’re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India【10】.WOMAN:I see.That’s very interesting.I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company,together with the analysis of your competitors in India.【11】That way,we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Q8:What do we learn about the woman’s company?Q9:What does the man say about his own company?Q10:What is the main problem with the man’s company?Q11:What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?Long conversation2Woman:Wow,congratulations,Simon!The place looks absolutely amazing!Man:Really?You think so?W:Of course.I love it.It looks like you had a professional interior designer.But you didn’t,did you?M:No.I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother,Greg.He’s actually in the construction business,which was really helpful.W:Honestly,I’m impressed!I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something,but not a full renovation.Where did you get your ideas?I wouldn’t know where to start.[12]M:Well,for a while now,I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines.Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked.Believe it or not,I have a full notebook of magazine pages.[13]Since by overall style was quite minimal,I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough,with Greg’s help,it was very achievable.W:Wasn’t it expensive?I have imagined a project like this could be.M:Actually,it was surprisingly affordable.I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material.[14]Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W:Great!If you don’t mind,I’d like to pick your brain a bit more.Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room,not the whole house,not yet anyway.And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience.[15]Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Q12:What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?Q13:Where did the man get his ideas for the project?)Q14:What did the man say about the project he recently completed?Q15:Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?Section CPassage1Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost E3m year,a study suggests.[Q16]Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases-95%of objects removed from noses and85%from ears.Every year,an average of1,218nose and2,479ear removals took place between2010and2016.According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics,children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors fora foreign object in their nose.Five to nine year old come to the hospital with something in their ear the most.Jewelry items accounted for up to40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children.Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses.Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.[Q17]According to the study,the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears.This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects.[Q18]Any ear,nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults.Batteries can pose a particular danger.In all cases,prevention is better than cure.This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts.Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Q16:What does England spend an annual E3m on?Q17:What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?Q18:What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?Passage2Good morning,I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle.But before that,let me introduce someone.This is Leila Rahimi.She was so scared when she first moved to New Zeal-and that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies.After a few months of being quite down and unhappy,she was invited to join a local bike club.At this time,ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle.[Q19]In weeks,her depression had begun to ease as she cycled.The bicycle totally changed her life,giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date,ReBicycle has donated more than200bikes to those in need,and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars.[Q20]With a bike,you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour.Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers.[Q21]Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult,and this can take days and weeks,rather than hours.So,if any of you have some free time during the weekend,please come join us at Re Bicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.Q19:What did Re Bicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?Q20:What is Re Bicycle doing to help those in need?Q21:What do we learn from the passage about the Re Bicycle?Passage3Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body,but NASA scientists want to learn more.To that end,they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity,specifically focusing on mice(22).The results are both interesting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station.The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video.As you noticed in the video,the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily,drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up,but without success.(23)However,it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on.They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That’s when things really get wild.The11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it.(24)Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth.The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact,including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.(25)Q22What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?Q23What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?Q24What was observed about the mice on the11th day of the experiment?Q25What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?PartⅢReading Comprehension(40minutes)Section A(第1套)Directions:In this section,there is a passage with ton blanks.You are required to word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bankselect followingonethepassage Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choicein the bank is identified by a letter:Please mark the corresponding letter for each itemon Answer Sheet2with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of thewords in the bank more than once.When my son completes a task,I can’t help but praise him.It’s only natural to give praise where praise is due,right?But is there such a thing as too much praise?According to psychologist Katherine Phillip,children don’t benefit from26praise as much as we’d like to think.“Parents often praise,believing they are building their child’s self-confidence.However,over-praising can have a27effect,”says Phillip.“When we use the same praise28,it may become empty and no29 longer valued by the child.It can also become an expectation that anything they do must bewith praise.This may lead to the child avoiding taking risks due to fear of30their parents.”Docs this mean we should do away with all the praise?Phillip says no,“The key to healthy praise is1o focus on the process rather than the31it is the recognition of a child’s attempt,or the process in which they achieved something,that is essential,”she says,“Parents should encourage their child to take the risks needed to learn and grow.”So how do we break the 3332of praise we’re all so accustomed to?Phillip says it’s important to34saying how great someonebetween“person praise”and“process raise”.“Person praise isis.It’s a form personal approval.Process praise s acknowledgement of the efforts te person has just 35.Children who receive person praise are more likely to feel shame after losing,”says Phillip.A)choose E)exhausting I)pattern M)separately B)constantF)experiencedJ)pluralN)simplyC)disappointingG)negativeK)repeatedlyO)undertakenD)distinguishH)outcomeL)rewarded答案:26.B27.G28.K29.L30.C31.H32.I33.D34.N35.OSection BPoverty is a story about us,not them[A]Too often still we think we know the poverty looks like.It's the way we've been taught,the images we’ve been forced-fed decades.The chronically homeless.The undocumented immigrant. The urban poor,usually personified as a woman of color,the"welfare queen"politicians still too often reference.[B]But as income inequality rises to record levels in the United States,even in the midst of a record economic expansions,.those familiar images are outdated,hurtful and counterproductive to focusing attention on solutions and building ladders of opportunity.IC]Today's faces of inequality and lack of opportunity look like all of us.It's Anna Landre,a disabled Georgetown University student fighting to keep health benefits that allow-her the freedom to live her life lt's Tiffanie Standard,a counselor for young women of color in Philadelphia who want to be tech entrepreneurs—but who must work multiple jobs to stay afloat.It's Ken Outlaw,a welder in rural North Carolina whose dream of going back to school at a local community college was dashed by Hurricane Florence-just one of the extreme weather events that have tipped the balance for struggling Americans across the nation,[D]If these arc the central characters of our story about poverty.what layers of perceptions,myths, and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?In pursuit of revealing thiscomplicated reality,Mothering Justice,led by women of color,went last year to the state capital in Lansing,Michigan,to lobby on issues that affect working mothers.One of the Mothering Justice organizers went to the office of a state representative to talk about the lack of affordable childcare-the vestiges(痕迹))of a system that expected mothers to stay home with their children while their husbands worked,A legislative staffer dismissed the activist’s concerns,telling her“my husband took care of that-l stayed home.”[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson.,"was meant to shame"and relied on the familiar trope that a woman of color concemed about income inequality and programs that promote mobility must by definition be a single mom,probably with multiple kids.,In this case.Mothering Justice activist happened to be married.And in most cases in the America of2019, the images that come to mind when we hear the words poverty or income inequality fail miserably in reflecting a complicated reality:poverty touches virtually all of us.The face of income inequality, for all but a very few of us,is the one we each see in the mirror.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?It depends on who you ask.According to the Census Bureau,38million people in the U.S.are living below the official poverty thresholds,Taking into account economic need beyond that absolute measure,the Institute for Policy Studies found that140 million peoplc are poor or low-income.That's almost half the U.S population.[G]Whatever the measure,within that massive group,poverty is extremely diverse.We know that some people are more affected than others,like children,the elderly,people with disabilities,and people of color.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography.It even reaches into the middle classes,as real wages have stagnated(不增长)for all but the very wealthy and temporary spells of financial instability are not uncommon.[I]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it. The big American myth is that you can pull yourself up by your own effort and change a bad situation into a good one.The reality is that finding opportunity without help from families,friends. schools,,and community is virtually impossible.And the playing field is nothing close to level. [J]The Frame Works institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studiedwhat sustains stereotypes and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom."People view economic success and well being in life as product of choice,willpower,drive,grit,and gumption,"says Nat Kendall-Taylor,CEO of Frame Works.“When we see people who are struggling.”he says,those assumptions“lead us to the perception that people in poverty are lazy.they don’t care,and they haven't made the right decisions.”[K]Does this sound familiar?Similar ideas surround poverty in the U.S.And these assumptions wreak havoc on reality."When people enter into that pattern of thinking,"says Kendall-Taylor,"it's cognitively comfortable to make sense of issues of poverty in that way.It creates a kind of cognitive blindness-all of the factors external to a person's drive and choices that they've made become invisible and fade from view.”Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work ot struetual discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Assumptions get worse when people who are poor use government benefits to help them survive.There is a great tension between"the poor"and those who are receiving what has become a dirty word:"welfare."According to the General Social Survey,7l percent of respondents believe the contry is spending too little on a"welfare":37percent believe we are spending too much,[N]"Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.It's true that black mothers are more affected by poverty than many other groups,yet they are disproportionately the face of poverty.For example,Americans routinely overestimate the share of black recipients of public assistance programs.[O]In reality,most people will experience some form of financial hardship at some point in their lives.Indeed,people tend to dip in and out of poverty,perhaps due to unexpected obstacles like losing a job,or when hours of a low-wage job fluctuate.[P]Something each of us can do is to treat each other with the dignity and sympathy that is deserved and to understand deeply that the issue of poverty touches all of us.答案:36.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Danielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"37.[H]But the fact that4in10Americans can't come up with$400in an emergency is a commonly cited statistic for good reason:economic instability stretches across race,gender,and geography. 38.[M]According to the General Social Survey,71percent ofrespondents believe the country is spending too little on"assistance to the poor."39.[J]The Frame Works Institute,a research group that focuses on public framing of issues,has studied what sustains stereo types and narratives of poverty in the United Kingdom40.[D]lf these are the central characters of our story about poverty,what layers of perceptions,myths,and realities must we unearth to find meaningful solutions and support?41.[F]How many of us are poor in the U.S.?42.[N]“Poverty has been interchangeable with people of color-specifically black women and”black mothers,"says Atkinson of Mothering Justice.43.[1]Negative images remain of who is living in poverty as well as what is needed to move out of it.44.[E]That comment,says Mothering Justice director Dan-ielle Atkinson,"was meant to shame"45.[L]Those external factors include the difficulties accompanying low-wage work or structural discrimination based on race,gender,or ability.Section CPassage OneQuestions46to50are based on the following passage.Boredom has,paradoxically,become quite interesting to academics lately.In early May.Lon don's Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness.At this event.people floc ked to talks about weather,traffic jams and vending-machine sounds.,among other sleep-indu cing topics What,exactly,is everybody studying?One widely accepted definition of boredom i s"the distasteful experience of wanting,but being unable.to engage in satisfying activity." But how can you quantify a person's boredom level and compare it with someone else’s?In1986,psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale,designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored By contrast,the Mulitidimensional State Boredom scale,developed in2008,measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation. Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving.mindless snacking.excessive drinking,and and addictive gambling.In fact,many of us would choose pain over。
2020年英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整版)
英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整版)范文:Writing:家长角色There are several possible reasons accountable for this phenomenon(中心句). To begin with, family in growing numbers has only one child; therefore, parents oftentimes focus all their attentions on that child and exert much pressure on him or her(原因一). Moreover, numerous parents intend to realize their unfulfilled dreams by letting their children learn what they failed to learn and apply for the college by which they failed to be accepted, because they have become richer and they believe that they have the power to make what they wanted and want come true now(原因二). For instance, my uncle used to be a poor man and his dream that one day he would become a violinist was broken because of lack of money. But he made a fortune by selling coals, and then forced his son, my younger brother to practice playing violin. My brother was a huge fan of sports, but now he has to play violin everyday unwillingly and ofter quarrels with their parents(举例:原来-然后-结局).To sum up, it is unreasonable for parents to control their children’s life(总结句). In order to help them grow happilyand healthily, parents are supposed to communicate with their kids about what they are really interested in(建议一,目的句型). Meanwhile, it is about time that parents let their kids make their own choices(建议二,“是时候”句型). Only in these ways will children grow in a psychologically happy environment and realize their own dreams.1.W: I am going to give up playing chess, I lost again today.M: Just because you lost? Is that any reason to quit?Q: What does the man imply?2.M: Do you know Shirley’s new address? She’s got some mail here and I’d like to fold it to her.W: Well, we’ve not been in touch for quit a while. Let’s see, Marry should know it? Q: What does the women mean?3.W: I missed the classes this morning could you please lent me your notes?M: My notes? You’ve never seem my hand writing, have you?Q: What does the man imply?4.M: I am taking my girlfriend to the fancy new restaurant for her birthday tonight.W: I went there last weekend and I found it rather disappointing.Q: What does the women mean?5.W: Winter is over at last, time to put away my gloves and boots.M: I ‘ve been waiting for this for months.Q: What does the man mean?6.W: Thank you for bringing the books back.M: I thought you need them over the weekend, many thanks for let me use them. Q: What do we learn from conversation?7.W: Are you working flexible hours?M: No I am not, The weather today is so nice, so I decided to walk to work and that meant I have to leave an hour earlier than usual.Q: What does the man decide to do?8.W: Our plane has been circling for a long time, we could delay.M: The airport was closed for a while this morning and things are still not back to normal.Q: What does the man mean?短对话答案解析(孙祥喆)【总评】:8 个短对话总体来说比以往四级听力要难,但是考察水平令人叹服。
2020年12月大学英语四级真题及答案(第一套)
2020年12月大学英语四级真题及答案(第一套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic Changes in the Way of Education. You should write at least 120 words but not more than 180 words.Part 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 bespoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer fromthe four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter onAnswer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.【听力原文】News Report OneA poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the water around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although fatalities are rare, the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish, often known as Devil Firefish, is a highly invasive species. And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life. After being spotted in the Mediterranean, a marine scientist says, “The fish is spreading, and that’s a cause for concernQuestions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1.What is reported in the news?A. Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.B. The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.C. Invasive species are driving away certain native species.D. A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.2. What is the environmentalists’ concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?A. It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.B. It could pose a threat to other marine species.C. It could disrupt the food chains there.D. It could add to greenhouse emissions.【听力原文】News Report TwoAlmost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day. This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car Free Day last year. Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day. On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road. About 400 miles of streets will be closed to cars. It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels. “Last year's car-free day showed a40% drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city, according to an independent air pollutionmonitor”, reports the Guardian, “and some levels dropped by 50% in the city centreQuestions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?A. Cars will not be allowed to enter the city.B. Pedestrians will have free access to the city.C. About half of its city center will be closed to cars.D. Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.4. What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?A. The unbearable traffic noise.B. The worsening global warming.C. The ever-growing cost of petrol.D. The rising air pollution in Paris.【听力原文】News Report ThreeA Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a housefire forced him to clearout his possessions and change locations. Then, a good luck charm that he had kept under his bedchanged his life. The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when hisanchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago.When he was forced to sell it, the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearlin the world, which was valued at 76 million pounds. The pearl of Allah, which is currently ondisplay in a New York museum, only weighs 14 pounds. That is five times smaller than the pearlthat the fisherman just handed in. The monstrous pearl, measured at 1 foot wide and 2.2 feet long,is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going ondisplay to attract more tourists in the little town.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?A. His house was burnt down in a fire.B. Many of his possessions were stolen.C. His good luck charm sank into the sea.D. His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.6. What was the fisherman forced to do?A. Change his fishing locations.B. Find a job in a travel agency.C. Sell the pearl he had kept for years.D. Spend a few nights on a small island.7. What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?A. His pearl could be displayed in a museum.B. His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.C. The largest pearl in the world weighs 14 pounds.D. A New York museum has the world's biggest pearl.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 fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet I with a single line through the centre.W: Mr. Smith, It's a pleasure meeting you!M: Nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?W: Well, I'm here to show you what our firm can do for you. Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries, offering different business services. We're a global company with 75 years of history. And our clients include some of the world's largest companies.M: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astro Consultants is a famous company. But you said you would show me what you could do for me. Well. What exactly can your firm do for my company?W: We advise businesses on all matters, from market analysis to legal issues. Anything a business like yours could meet. Our firm offers expert advice.Could I ask you, Mr. Smith, to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face? That way, I could better respond as to how we can help you.M: OK, sure. This is a family business started by my grandfather in 1950. We employ just over 100 people. We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions. Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design. And that's what we do in our factory. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising, and we're losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India.W: I see. That's very interesting. I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company, together with the analysis of your competitors in India. That way, we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. What do we learn about the woman's company?A. It boasts a fairly long history.B. It has over 50 business partners.C. It has 75 offices around the world.D. It produces construction materials.9. What does the man say about his own company?A. It was started by his father.B. It has about 50 employees.C. It is over 100 years old.D. It is a family business.10. What is the main problem with the man's company?A. Outdated product design.B. Loss of competitive edge.C. Shortage of raw material supply.D. Legal disputes in many countries.11. What does the woman suggest doing to help the man's company?A. Introducing innovative marketing strategies.B. Seeking new ways to increase its exports.C. Providing training for its staff members.D. Conducting a financial analysis for it.W: Wow, congratulations, Simon! The place looks absolutely amazing!M: Really? You think so?W: Of course. I love it. It looks like you had a professional interior designer. But you didn't, did you?M: No. I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother, Greg. He's actually in the construction business, which was really helpful.W: Honestly, I'm impressed! I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something, but not a full renovation. Where did you get your ideas? I wouldn't know where to start.M: Well, for a while now, I've been regularly buying home design magazines. Every now and then, I'd saved the pictures I liked. Believe it or not, I have a full notebook of magazine pages. Since by overall style was quite minimal, I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn't be too difficult. And sure enough, with Greg's help, it was very achievable.W: Wasn't it expensive? I have imagined a project like this could be.M: Actually, it was surprisingly affordable. I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material. Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.W: Great! If you don't mind, I'd like to pick your brain a bit more. Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room, not the whole house, not yet anyway. And we'd love to get some inspiration from your experience. Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?A. She is a real expert at house decorations.B. She is really impressed by the man's house.C. She is well informed about the design business.D. She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.13. Where did the man get his ideas for the project?A. From a construction businessman.B. From his younger brother Greg.C. From home design magazines.D. From a professional interior designer.14. What did the man say about the project he recently completed?A. The cost was affordable.B. The style was fashionable.C. The effort was worthwhile.D. The effect was unexpected.15. Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?A. She'd like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.B. She'd like to show him around her newly-renovated house.C. She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.D. She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.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 choicesmarked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the centre.【听力原文】Passage OneRemoving foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost £3m a year, a study suggests. Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases - 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% from ears. Every year, an average of 1,218 nose and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics, children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors for a foreign object in their nose. Five to nine year olds come to the hospital with something in their ear the most. Jewelry items accounted for up to 40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses. Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.According to the study, the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects. Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular danger. In all cases, prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. What does England spend an annual £3m on?A. Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.B. Doing research on ear, nose and throat diseases.C. Removing objects from patients' noses and ears.D. Providing routine care for small children.17. What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?A. Children aged one to four are often more curious than older children.B. Five- to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.C. Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.D. Many children like to smell things they find or play with.18. What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?A. They want to attract attention.B. They tend to act out of impulse.C. They are unaware of the potential risks.D. They are curious about these body parts.【听力原文】Passage TwoGood morning, I'd like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle. But before that, let me introduce someone. This is Leila Rahimi. She was so scared when she first moved to NewZealand that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies. After a few months of being quite down and unhappy, she was invited to join a local bike club. At this time, ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle. In weeks, her depression had begun to ease as she cycled. The bicycle totally changed her life, giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.To date, ReBicycle has donated more than 200 bikes to those in need, and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars. With a bike, you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour. Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers. Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult, and this can take days and weeks, rather than hours. So, if any of you have some free time during the weekend, please come join us at ReBicycle and make a difference in someone's life. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. What did ReBicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?A. It gave her a used bicycle.B. It paid for her English lessons.C. It delivered her daily necessities.D. It provided her with physical therapy.20. What is ReBicycle doing to help those in need?A. Expanding bike-riding lessons.B. Providing free public transport.C. Offering walking tours to visitors.D. Asking local people for donations.21. What do we learn from the passage about the ReBicycle?A. It is a sports club.B. It is a language school.C. It is a counseling center.D. It is a charity organization.【听力原文】Passage ThreeThanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body, but NASA scientists want to learn more. To that end, they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity, specifically focusing on mice. The results are both interesting and humorous.The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station. The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video. As you noticed in the video, the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily, drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up, but without success. However, it's not long before the mice begin to catch on. They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.That's when things really get wild. The 11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it. Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth. The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact, including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?A. How animals deal with lack of gravity.B. How mice interact in a new environment.C. How low gravity affects the human body.D. How mice imitate human behavior in space.23. What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?A. They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.B. They found it difficult to figure out where they were.C. They were not used to the low-gravity environment.D. They were not sensitive to the changed environment.24.What was observed about the mice on the 11th day of the experiment?A. They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.B. They already felt at home in the new environment.C. They had found a lot more activities to engage in.D. They tried everything possible to escape from the cage.25. What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?A. They changed their routines in space.B. They began to eat less after some time.C. They behaved as if they were on Earth.D. They repeated their activities every day.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 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 passageTrust is fundamental to life. If you can't trust anything, life becomes intolerable. You can't have relationships without trust, let alone good ones.In the workplace, too, trust is 26 . An organization without trust will be full of fear and 27 If you work for a boss who doesn't trust their employees to do things right, you' ll have a 28 time.They’ll be checking up on you all the time, correcting "mistakes" and 29 reminding you to do this or that. Colleagues who don't trust one another will need to spend more time 30 their backs than doing any useful work.Organizations are always trying to cut costs. Think of all the additional tasks caused by lack of trust. Audit (审计) departments only exist because of it. Companies keep large volumes of 31 because they don't trust their suppliers, their contractors or their customers. Probably more than half of all administrative work is only there because of an ever-existing sense that "you can't trust anyone these days."If even a small part of such valueless work could be 32 , the savings wouldrun into millions of dollars.All this is extra work we 33 onto ourselves because we don't trust people the checking, following through, doing things ourselves because we don't believe others will do them 34 -or at all. If we took all that away, how much extra time would we suddenly find in our life? How much of our work 35 would disappear?A. constantlyB. credibleC. essentialD. exploringE. gatherF. loadG. miserableH. pressureI. properlyJ. recordsK. removed L. stacks M. suspicion N. tracked O. watching Section 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 theparagraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraphmore than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter:Answer the questions bymarking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Place Where the Poor Once ThrivedA) This is the land of opportunity. If that weren't already implied by the landscape-rolling greenhills, palm trees, sun-kissed flowers-then it's evident in the many stories of people who grew up poor in these sleepy neighborhoods and rose to enormous success. People like Tri Tran, who fled Vietnam on a boat in 1986, showed up in San Jose with nothing, made it to MIT, and then founded the food-delivery start-up Munchery, which is valued at $ 300 million.B) Indeed, data suggests that this is one of the best places to grow up poor in America. A childborn in the early 1980s into a low-income family in San Jose had a 12.9 percent chance of becoming a high earner as an adult,according to a landmark study released in 2014 by the economist Raj Chetty and his colleagues from Harvard and Berkeley. That number-12.9 percent-may not seem remarkable, but it was:Kids in San Jose whose families fell in the bottom quintile(五分位数)of income nationally had the best shot in the country at reaching the top quintile.C) By contrast, just 4.4 percent of poor kids in Charlotte moved up to the top; in Detroit thefigure was 5.5 percent. San Jose had social mobility comparable to Denmark's and Canada's and higher than other progressive cities such as Boston and Minneapolis.D) The reasons kids in San. Jose performed so well might seem obvious. Some of the world'smost innovative companies are located here,providing opportunities such as the one seized bya 12-year-old Mountain View resident named Steve Jobs when he called William Hewlett toask for spare parts and subsequently received a summer job. This is a city of immigrants-38 percent of the city's population today is foreign-born-and immigrants and their children have historically experienced significant upward mobility in America. The city has long had a large foreign-born population(26.5 percent in 1990), leading to broader diversity, which, the Harvard and Berkeley economists say, is a good predictor of mobility.E) Indeed,the streets of San Jose seem, in some ways, to embody the best of America. It'spossible to drive in a matter of minutes from sleek(光)office towers near the airport where people pitch ideas to investors, to single-family homes with orange trees in their yards, or to a Vietnamese mall. The libraries here offer programs in 17 languages, and there are areas filled with small businesses owned by Vietnamese immigrants, Mexican immigrants, Korean immigrants, and Filipino immigrants, to name a few.F) But researchers aren't sure exactly why poor kids in San Jose did so well. The city has a lowprevalence of children growing up in single-parent families, and a low level of concentrated poverty,both factors that usually mean a city allows for good intergenerational mobility. But San Jose also performs poorly on some of the measures correlated with good mobility. It is one of the most unequal places out of the 741 that the researchers measured, and it has high degrees of racial and economic segregation(隔离).Its schools underperform based on how much money there is in the area, said Ben Scuderi, a predoctoral fellow at the Equality of Opportunity Project at Harvard, which uses big data to study how to improve economic opportunities for low-income children."There's a lot going on here which we don't totally understand," he said."It's interesting,because it kind of defies our expectations."G) The Chetty data shows that neighborhoods and places mattered for children born in the SanJose area of the 1980s.Whether the city still allows for upward mobility of poor kids today, though, is up for debate. Some of the indicators such as income inequality; measured by the Equality of Opportunity Project for the year 2000, have only worsened in the past 16 years. H) Some San Jose residents say that as inequality has grown in recent years, upward mobility hasbecome much more difficult to achieve. As Silicon Valley has become home to more successful companies, the flood of people to the area has caused housing prices to skyrocket.By most measures, San Jose is no longer a place where low. Income, or even middle-income families, can afford to live.Rents in San Jose grew 42.6 percent between 2006 and 2014, which was the largest increase in the country during that time period. The city has a growing homelessness problem, which it tried to address by shutting down" The Jungle, "one of the largest homeless encampments(临时住地)in the nation, in 2014.Inequality is extreme. The Human Development Index-a measure of life expectancy, education and per capita(人均的)income-gives East San Jose a score of 4.85 out of 10, while nearby Cupertino, where Apple's headquarters sits,receives a 9.26.San Jose used to have a happy mix of factors-cheap housing, closeness to a rapidly developing industry, tightly-knit immigrant communities-that together opened up the possibility of prosperity for even its poorest residents. But in recent years, housing prices have skyrocketed, the region's rich and poor have segregated, and middle-class jobs have disappeared. Given this,the future for the region's poor doesn't look nearly as bright as it once did.I) Leaders in San Jose are determined to make sure that the city regains its status as a placewhere even poor kids can access the resources to succeed. With Silicon Valley in its backyard, it certainly has the chance to do so."I think there is a broad consciousness in the Valley that we can do better than to leave thousands of our neighbors behind through a period of extraordinary success," San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said.J) But in today's America-a land of rising inequality, increasing segregation, and stagnating(不增长的)middle-class wages-can the San Jose region really once again become a place of opportunity?K) The idea that those at the bottom can rise to the top is central to America's ideas about itself.That such mobility has become more difficult in San Jose raises questions about the endurance of that foundational belief. After all, if the one-time land of opportunity can't be fixed, what does that say for the rest of America?36. According to some people living in San Jose, it has become much harder for the poor to getahead due to the increased inequality.37. In American history, immigrants used to have a good chance to move upward in society.38. If the problems of San Jose can't be solved, one of America's fundamental beliefs about itselfcan be shaken.39. San Jose was among the best cities in America for poor kids to move up the social ladder.40. Whether poor kids in San Jose today still have the chance to move upward is questionable.41. San Jose's officials are resolved to give poor kids access to the resources necessary forsuccess in life.42. San Jose appears to manifest some of the best features of America.43. As far as social mobility is concerned, San Jose beat many other progressive cities inAmerica.44. Due to some changes like increases in housing prices in San Jose, the prospects for its poorpeople have dimmed.45. Researchers do not have a clear idea why poor children in San Jose achieved such greatsuccess several decades ago.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 AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 and 50 are based on the following passage.Three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition. Half of these are behavioural disorders, while one third are emotional disorders such as stress, anxiety and depression, which often become outwardly apparent through self-harm. There was an astonishing 52 percent jump in hospital admissions for children and young people who had harmed themselves between 2009 and 2015.Schools and teachers have consistently reported the scale of the problem since st year, over half of teachers reported that more of their pupils experience mental health problems than in the past. Butteachers also consistently report how ill-equipped they feel to meet pupils' mental health needs, and often cite a lack of training, expertise and support from the National Health Service(英国国家医疗服务体系).。
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英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整版)范文:Writing:家长角色There are several possible reasons accountable for this phenomenon(中心句). To begin with, family in growing numbers has only one child; therefore, parents oftentimes focus all their attentions on that child and exert much pressure on him or her(原因一). Moreover, numerous parents intend to realize their unfulfilled dreams by letting their children learn what they failed to learn and apply for the college by which they failed to be accepted, because they have become richer and they believe that they have the power to make what they wanted and want come true now(原因二). For instance, my uncle used to be a poor man and his dream that one day he would become a violinist was broken because of lack of money. But he made a fortune by selling coals, and then forced his son, my younger brother to practice playing violin. My brother was a huge fan of sports, but now he has to play violin everyday unwillingly and ofter quarrels with their parents(举例:原来-然后-结局).To sum up, it is unreasonable for parents to control their children’s life(总结句). In order to help them grow happilyand healthily, parents are supposed to communicate with their kids about what they are really interested in(建议一,目的句型). Meanwhile, it is about time that parents let their kids make their own choices(建议二,“是时候”句型). Only in these ways will children grow in a psychologically happy environment and realize their own dreams.1.W: I am going to give up playing chess, I lost again today.M: Just because you lost? Is that any reason to quit?Q: What does the man imply?2.M: Do you know Shirley’s new address? She’s got some mail here and I’d like to fold it to her.W: Well, we’ve not been in touch for quit a while. Let’s see, Marry should know it? Q: What does the women mean?3.W: I missed the classes this morning could you please lent me your notes?M: My notes? You’ve never seem my hand writing, have you?Q: What does the man imply?4.M: I am taking my girlfriend to the fancy new restaurant for her birthday tonight.W: I went there last weekend and I found it rather disappointing.Q: What does the women mean?5.W: Winter is over at last, time to put away my gloves and boots.M: I ‘ve been waiting for this for months.Q: What does the man mean?6.W: Thank you for bringing the books back.M: I thought you need them over the weekend, many thanks for let me use them. Q: What do we learn from conversation?7.W: Are you working flexible hours?M: No I am not, The weather today is so nice, so I decided to walk to work and that meant I have to leave an hour earlier than usual.Q: What does the man decide to do?8.W: Our plane has been circling for a long time, we could delay.M: The airport was closed for a while this morning and things are still not back to normal.Q: What does the man mean?短对话答案解析(孙祥喆)【总评】:8 个短对话总体来说比以往四级听力要难,但是考察水平令人叹服。
题目的设置一改往年的模式化语境,更加委婉、微妙,贴近真实生活中的语境,选项并不是对原文的简单重现而是替换与推理。
1. 考点:推理判断答案:A. The woman should go on playing chess.本题的关键在于听懂反问语气。
女士说因为又输了棋,所以打算放弃。
男士没有正面回应,而是反问了一句:“Is that any reason to quit? 这能算一个放弃的理由吗?”言下之意就是不该放弃。
换句话说,男士就是建议女士继续好好继续下棋。
2. 考点:细节捕捉。
答案:D. Mary probably knows Sally’s new address.本题的关键在于听到最后一句“Mary should know it. ”男士说自己手边有一堆Sally的信件需要寄给她,所以需要知道她的地址。
女士说自己很久没跟Sally 联系了,但是结尾说了一句:“Mary应该知道地址。
”如果没有听出结尾一句的反转含义,本题很容易错选。
3. 考点:推理判断答案:B. His notes are not easy to read.本题的关键在于听懂反义疑问句。
女士想要借笔记,男士说:“You’ve never see my handwriting, have you?”“你从没看过我的笔迹吧?”言下之意,就是自己的笔记难以辨认。
4. 考点:推理判断答案:D. The man had better choose another restaurant.本题的关键在于听懂否定语气。
男士说我今晚要带女朋友去新开的漂亮饭店过生日。
女士说我上周去过,太让我失望了。
从“rather disappointing”可以听出女士的强烈否定语气,言下之意就是建议男士不要去这家饭馆了。
5. 考点:推理判断答案:C. He has been looking forward to spring.本题在于听懂期待语气。
本题首先听到女士开头说的:“冬天终于结束了。
”和男士结尾说:“我等了好几个月了啊。
”有所期待才会愿意等待,显然是男士希望冬天快点结束,春天快点到来。
6. 考点:细节捕捉答案:B. The man appreciates the woman’s help.本题关键在于听懂感谢语气。
男士说:“Many thanks for letting me use them.”(太感谢你让我看他们了。
)thank Many thanks和选项中的appreciate为同义词。
7. 考点:细节捕捉答案:B. Go to work on foot.本题的关键在于捕捉否定词之后被突出的信息。
男士提到的“walk to work”和选项中的Go on foot. 为同义表达。
8. 细节捕捉答案:A. Temporary closing has disturbed the airport’s operation.本题考察的是一组明显的因果关系,即什么导致了延误。
男士提到今早机场关闭了一段时间了,而且仍然没恢复正常。
“closed for a while”与选项中的Temporary closing构成同义替换。
点评:今年听力长对话的选材还是来自于我们熟悉的工作场景的解决问题和个人访谈;长对话的逻辑非常清晰,采取问答形式,一人主导提问,一人主导回答。
如果能够把握好问题是考题,回答是答案这一基本原则,长对话答题应该是不难的。
而且选项和原文一遍是原文重现,即听到什么选什么即可。
Conversation 1W: Morning, this is TGC!M: Good morning, Walter Barry here, calling from London. Could I speak to Mr. Grand, please?W: Who’s calling, please?M: Walter Barry, from London.W: What is it about, please?——问题是考题M: Well, I understand that your company has a chemical processing plant.(9题答案——回答是答案。