2012年12月四级听力答案
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Education PaysYou should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) Why Integrity Matters What is Integrity? "Integrity" is defined as "adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty." The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation. What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals. Risky Business We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future. Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense. "But Everybody Does It" Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they’re taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions. To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over yourshoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself. Evaluating Risks To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; Suspension or Dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category. Getting Away With It--Or Not Those who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works. Cheating Hurts Others, Too Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree. Why Integrity Matters If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on thehonesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education. In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live. 1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______. A) sticks to them in their daily life B) makes them known to others C) understands their true values D)sees that others also follow them 2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships? A) It helps to create team spirit B) It facilitates communication C) It is the basis of mutual trust D) It inspires mutual respect 3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take? A. To ensure we make responsible choices. B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress. C. so that we don’t break any rules. D. so that we don’t run into trouble. 4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______? A. it has caused no harm. B. it is claimed to be unintentional. C. it has gone unnoticed. D. it is committed with good intentions. 5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself? A. Avoid making excuses. B. Listen to other people’s advice. C. Make his intensions public. D. Have others watch over his shoulder. 6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______. A. will often become more cautious B. are usually very aggressive C. value immediate benefits most. D. may lose everything in the end 7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______. A) pay more dearly B) become more confident C) be widely admired D) feel somewhat lucky 8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to _______ 9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s _______ 10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders asa result of _______. Part III Listening Comprehension Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. 11. W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom. M: Why don’t we walk over there and see for ourselves? Q: What will the speakers probably do? 12. M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall.I hope to see you there. W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with my dentist at 9:00 o’clock tomorrow. Q: What do we learn about the woman? 13. W: How long have you been running this company? M: Twenty years if you can believe that. I brought it from a small operation to what it is today. Q: What do we learn about the man? 14. M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for next year. W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! She certainly deserves it. Q: What does the woman mean? 15. W: Taking a bus to Miami, it’s cheaper than going by train. M: That’s true. But I’d rather pay a little more for the added comfort andconvenience. Q: What does the man mean? 16. M: I think it’s time we got rid of all this old furniture. W: You’re right. We need to promote our image besides it’s not a real antique. Q: What do the speakers mean? 17. M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afraid I couldn’t make it home. W: Yeah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn’t get home from the lab until midnight. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 18. W: My boys are always complaining that they’re bored. M: Why don’t you get them into some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both look forward to it all week. Q: What does the man mean? Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. W: I don’t know what to do. I can’t seem to get anyone in the hospital to listen to my complaints and this outdated equipment is dangerous. Just look at it. M: Hmm, uh, are you trying to say that it presents a health hazard? W: Yes, I am. The head technician in the lab tried to persuade the hospital administration to replace it, but they are trying to cut costs. M: You are pregnant, aren’t you? W: Yes, I am. I made an effort to get my supervisor to transfer me to another department, but he urged me not to complain too loudly. Because the administration is more likely to replace me than an X-ray equipment, I’m afraid to refuse to work. But I’m more afraid to expose my unborn child to the radiation. M: I see what you mean. Well, as your union representative, I have to warn you that it would take quite a while to force management to replace the old machines and attempt to get you transferred may or may not be successful. W: Oh, what am I supposed to do then? M: Workers have the legal right to refuse certain unsafe work assignments under two federal laws, the Occupation or Safety and Health Act and the National Labor Relations Act. But the requirements of either of the Acts may be difficult to meet. W: Do you think I have a good case? M: If you do lose your job, the union will fight to get it back for you along with back pay, your lost income. But you have to be prepared for a long wait, maybe after two years. Q19. What does the woman complain about? Q20. What has the woman asked her supervisor to do? Q21. What does the man say about the two federal laws? Q22. What will the union do if the woman loses her job Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. W: Mr. Green, is it fair to say that negotiation is an art? M: Well, I think it’s both an art and science. You can prepare for a negotiation quite scientifically, but the execution of the negotiation has quite a lot to do with one’s artistic quality. The scientific part of a negotiation is in determining your strategy. What do you want out of it? What can you give? Then of course there are tactics. How do you go about it? Do you take an opening position in a negotiation which differs from the eventual goal you are heading for? And then of course there are the behavioral aspects. W: What do you mean by the behavioral aspects? M: Well, that’s I think where the art comes in. In your behavior, you can either be an actor. You can pretend that you don’t like things which you are actually quite pleased about. Or you can pretend to like things which you are quite happy to do without. Or you can be the honest type negotiator who’s known to his partners in negotiation and always plays everything straight. But the artistic part of negotiation I think has to do with responding immediately to cues one gets in the process of negotiation. These can be verbal cues or even body language. This is where the artistic quality comes in. W: So really, you see two types of negotiator then, the actor or the honest one. M: That’ right. And both can work. I would say the honest negotiator can be quite effective in some circumstances. In other circumstances you need an actor. Q23. When is a scientific approach best embodied in a negotiation according to the man? Q24. In what way is a negotiator like an actor according to the man? Q25. What does the man say about the two types of negotiator? Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center. Passage 1 Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer is more than someone who buys something. To me, a customer is a person whose memory fails entirely once he or she starts to push a shopping cart. One of the first things customers forget is how to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line, which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items. Customers also forget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customer will say, “Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don’t mind waiting while I go get it.” Five minutes later, he is back with the bread, a bottle of milk, and three rolls of paper towels. Strange as it seems, customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for their groceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up the groceries, my customers will wait until I announce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, “Oh no, what did I do with mycheck book?” After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrows my pen because she’s forgotten hers. But I have to be tolerant of customers because they pay my salary, and that’s something I can’t afford to forget. Q26. What does the speaker say about customers’ entering the grocery store? Q27. Which customers are supposed to be in the express line? Q28. What does the speaker say some customers do when they arrive at the check-out counter? Q29. What does the speaker say about his job at the end of the talk? Passage 2 Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard. The speech delivery style of Europeans and Asians tends to be very formal. Speakers of these cultures often read oral presentations from carefully written manuscripts. On the other hand, American speakers are generally more informal relative to speakers in other cultures. American audiences prefer natural, spontaneous delivery that conveys a lively sense of communication. They don’t relate well to speakers who read from a manuscript. If you use an outline of your ideas instead of a prepared text, your speech will not only sound more natural, but you will also be able to establish better relationship with your listeners and keep their attention. The language and style you use when making an oral presentation should not be the same as the language and style you use when writing. Well-written information, that is meant to be read, does not work as well when it is heard. It is, therefore, important for you to adapt written texts or outlines for presentations. Good speakers are much more informal when speaking than when writing. They also use their own words and develop their own speaking styles. Whenever possible, they use short words. Listeners appreciate it when speakers use simple, everyday words in a presentation. One advantage is that it’s much easier for speakers to pronounce short words correctly. Another is that long and sophisticated vocabulary choices make listening more difficult. Question 30 to 32 30. What does the speaker say American audiences prefer? 31. What should one pay attention to when making an oral presentation? 32. What does the speaker focus on in the talk? Passage 3 Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time. If corrected too much, he will stop talking. He compares a thousand times a day the difference between language as he uses it and language as those around him use it. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people’s. In the same way, kids learning to do all the other things they learn without adult teachers, to walk, run, climb, ride a bike, play games, compare their own performance with what more skilled people do, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to detect his mistakes. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him. Soon he becomes dependent on the expert.We should let him do it himself. Let him figure out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what is the answer to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or that. If right answers need to be given, as in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such tedious work? Our job should be to help children when they tell us that they can’t find a way to get the right answer. Question 33 to 35 33. How does a child learn to do something according to the speaker? 34. What belief do teachers commonly hold according to the speaker? 35. What does the speaker imply about the current way of teaching? Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. (听力原文)Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail. It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time. Americans’ language is filled with references to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” “gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.” The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America. Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time. Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) Section A Directions: 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 letterfor each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 47 to 56 is based on the following passage. So many people use the cell phone so frequantly every day,But ___47__little is certain adout he health effects of its use.Macufacturers___48___that cell phones meet government standards for safe radio- frequency radiation omission,but enough studies are beginning to document a possible ___49___in rare brain tumour(肿瘤):bendaches and behavioral disorders in children to cause coneem.So far,the avidence isn't___50___on whether the use of cell phones __51__to any uncased risk of cancer.In a new trial,researchers asked 47 yolunteers to ___52__in a project to measure glucose(葡萄糖)consurnption in the brain by scanning the brain to see how cells use energy.For both 50- minute scans,the volunteers had a cell phone __53__to each ear.During be first scan,the devices were turned off,but for the second scan,the phone on the right ear as___54____on and received a recorded- message call,although the yolume was muted(消毒) so the dise wouldn't bias the results.The results of the second scan abowed that the__55__of the brain rarest to the device had higher rales of glucose consumption than the rest of the brain.The study ows that cell phones can change brain activity,and __56__a whole new avenue for scientific quiry,tuough it doesn't say anything about whether cell-phone radiation can cause cancer. 注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案解析
2012年12月英语四级真题答案解析Part I Writing标准版:The above bar chart clearly shows us education pays in 2010. We see that one with higher education background earns more money weekly than those with lower ones. For instance, the college students with no degree get paid$712 per week whereas those with a Bachelor’s degree can earn $1038.Several reasons, in my opinion, can be identified to account for this phenomenon. To begin with, compared with those with comparatively lower education degree, people who have received higher education possess considerably wider knowledge, more remarkable learning and research ability, greater innovation and most of all, resourceful social network, all of which are essential to a high-income work. Also, the higher one’s education degree is, the bigger platform he will have to show his ability. For example, his college, university, or research institute will organize various job fairs for them to communicate face to face with employers.This phenomenon tells us that education is a worthy investment. Therefore, substantial education investment should be strengthened while we, as college students, should study harder to build our country and strive for a better life for ourselves.高分版:Education PaysJudging from the table, we can see that people’s income increases along with their education levels. Above all,the average college graduates earn much more than the typical high-school graduates.The fact revealed by these data is obvious: a degree does bring distinctive financial benefits to its holders. But is it true that a degree alone can ensure a bright future? I don’t think so because, on the one hand, the financial value of high education depends heavily on what skills graduates can gain from it instead of the degree itself. After all, an employer only pays for your ability and performance, not for your certificate. On the other hand, the most valuable bless high education brings to graduates is the ability to learn quickly and efficiently. People received more education tend to keep lifelong learning habits after their graduation, which would help them gain more opportunities in their career path.In conclusion, what accounts for education pays is not the degree alone, but the graduate’s ability and leaning habit.作文B:标准版:Education PaysThe above bar chart clearly shows us education pays in 2010. We see that unemployment rate of those with higher education background is much lower than those with lower education degree. For instance, the unemployment rate of college students with no degree is as high as 14.9% while that of those with doctoral degree is only 1.9%.The followingreason, in my opinion, is the most important one to account for this phenomenon. Compared with those with comparatively lower education degree, people who have received higher education possess considerably wider knowledge, more remarkable learning and research ability, greater innovation and most of all, resourceful social network, all of which make them more qualified and competent for their task. Thus, they are less likely to lose their jobs.This phenomenon tells us that education is a worthy investment. Therefore, education investment should be strengthened while we, as college students, should study harder to avoid unemployment.高分版:Education PaysAs is shown in the table, the unemployment rate decreases steadily as the education level increases. The fact revealed by the statistics is obvious: graduates with a degree are less likely to be unemployed.What has brought about this effect? I believe there are three main reasons. To begin with, the education level is still the top factor that employers would take into account when selecting job candidates. It is believed that people with a college degree tend to be more intelligent and qualified. In addition, as a result of good learning habit formed during college, job hunters with high education background are also more efficient in acquiring and processing job hunting information. Finally, college education equips graduates with specialized skills, leading to greater attachment to the company they are employed and higher possibility to be reemployed even if they leave their previous company.In conclusion, it is the qualifications, learning habit and specialized skills that high education equip a graduate that make one distinctive in labor market.【标准版点评】这次四级作文出了图表题,可能让大家有些意外,但是四六级考察图表作文已经并不是第一次,早在2002年的时候就已经出现过,是图表+提纲的形式,图表反应的是大学生使用计算机的情况。
2012年12月英语四级听力真题
2012年12⽉英语四级听力真题College English Test (Band 4)⼤学英语测试(4级)Part III Listening Comprehension听⼤理解Section AA章节Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.提示:在这个部分,你将听到8段短对话和2段⼤对话。
At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said.在每段对话的结尾,会有⼤个或者多个关于所说内容的问题。
Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. 问题和对话都将只读⼤遍。
在每个问题后会有⼤个停顿。
During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A) , B) , C) , and D) , and decide which is the best answer.在这个停顿期间,你必须阅读四个标了A、B、C和D的选项,并决定哪个是最佳答案。
Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.然后,在答题卡2上⼤⼤条线在相应字⼤的中间做记号。
Now let's begin with the 8 short conversations.现在让我们从8段短对话开始。
Question 11. W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom.问题11. W: 我听说城镇的最东部有⼤个美丽的花园,⼤⼤有很多盛开的玫瑰花。
2012年12月四级听力真题及答案
2012年12⽉四级听⼒真题及答案 Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more 11. A) He needs another week for the painting. B) The painting was completed just in time. C) The building won’t open until next week. D) His artistic work has been well received. 12. A) Go camping. B) Decorate his house. C) Rent a tent. D) Organize a party. 13. A) She talked with Mr. Wright on the phone. B) She is about to call Mr. Wright’s secretary. C) She will see Mr. Wright at lunch time. D) She failed to reach Mr. Wright. 14. A) He is actually very hardworking. B) He has difficulty finishing his project. C) He needs to spend more time in the lab. D) He seldom tells the truth about himself. 15. A) Rules restricting smoking. B) Ways to quit smoking. C) Smokers’ health problems. D) Hazards of passive smoking. 16. A) He is out of town all morning. B) He is tied up in family matters. C) He has been writing a report. D) He has got meetings to attend. 17. A) He is not easy-going. B) He is the speakers’ boss. C) He is not at home this weekend. D) He seldom invites people to his home. 18. A) Take a break. B) Refuel his car. C) Ask the way. D) Have a cup of coffee. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. A) They are as good as historical films. B) They give youngsters a thrill. C) They have greatly improved. D) They are better than comics on film. 20. A) The effects were very good. B) The acting was just so-so. C) The plot was too complicated. D) The characters were lifelike. 21. A) They triumphed ultimately over evil in the battle. B) They played the same role in War of the Worlds. C) They are popular figures among young people. D) They are two leading characters in the film. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22. A) It is scheduled on Thursday night. B) It is supposed to last nine weeks. C) It takes place once a week. D) It usually starts at six. 23. A) To make good use of her spare time in the evening. B) To meet the requirements of her in-service training. C) To improve her driving skills as quickly as possible. D) To get some basic knowledge about car maintenance. 24. A) Participate in group discussions. B) Take turns to make presentations. C) Listen to the teacher’s explanation. D) Answer the teacher’s questions. 25. A) Most of them are female. B) Some have a part-time job. C) They plan to buy a new car. D) A few of them are old chaps. 参考答案 11A 12A 13D 14A 15A 16D 17A 18B 19C 20A 21D 22D 23C 24C 25A Section B Passage One Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. A) She is not good at making friends. B) She is not well off. C) She enjoys company. D) She likes to go to concerts alone. 27. A) Their similar social status. B) Their interdependence. C) Their common interest. D) Their identical character. 28. A) Invite Pat to a live concert. B) Buy some gifts for Pat’s kids. C) Help take care of Pat’s kids. D) Pay for Pat’s season tickets. 29. A) It can develop between people with a big difference in income. B) It can be maintained among people of different age groups. C) It cannot last long without similar family background. D) It cannot be sustained when friends move far apart. Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 30. A) Priority of students’ academic achievements. B) Equal education opportunities to all children. C) Social equality between teachers and students. D) Respect for students’ individuality. 31. A) Efficient. B) Complicated. C) Lengthy. D) Democratic. 32. A) To help them acquire hands-on experience. B) To try to cut down its operational expenses. C) To provide part-time jobs for needy students. D) To enable them to learn to take responsibility. Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 33. A) The best way to work through a finger maze. B) Individuals doing better in front of an audience. C) Researchers having contributed greatly to psychology. D) Improvements on the classification of human behavior. 34. A) When you feel encouraged by the audience. B) When you try to figure out a confusing game. C) When you already know how to do something. D) When you complete with other people in a group. 35. A) Practicing constantly. B) Working by oneself. C) Learning by doing. D) Using proven methods. 参考答案 26C 27D 28D 29B 30B 31D 32D 33D 34C 35B Section C Americans today have different eating habits than they had in the past. There is a wide (36) ______ of food available. They have a broader (37) ______ of nutrition (营养), so they buy more fresh fruit and (38) _______ than ever before. At the same time, Americans (39)______ increasing quantities of sweets and sodas. Statistics show that the way people live (40) ______ the way they eat. American lifestyles have changed. There are now growing numbers of people who live alone, (41) ______ parents and children, and double-income families. These changing lifestyles are (42) ______ for the increasing number of people who must (43) ______ meals or sometimes simply go without them. Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food. (44) ______________Moreover, Americans eat out nearly four times a week on average. It is easy to study the amounts and kinds of food that people consume. (45) _____________This information not only tells us what people are eating, but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes. (46) __ Instead, chicken, turkey and fish have become more popular. Sales of these foods have greatly increased in recent years. 参考答案 36selection of 37knowledge 38vegetables 39purchase 40determines 41single 42responsible 43rush 44Partly as a consequence of this limited time, over half of all American homes now have microwave ovens. 45The United States Department of Agriculture and the food industry collect sales statistics and keep accurate records. 46Red meat, which used to be the most popular choice for dinner, is no longer an American favorite.作⽂预测:作⽂模板:CET4考试:成绩查询:CET4真题:CET4答案:。
2012年12月英语四级真题及参考答案
2012年12月英语四级真题(完整版)Part I Writing【标准版】Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong WillNothing runs smoothly in our life. To achieve things successfully, a strong will is essential. Life is like a Marathon. Many people can’t get to the terminal. This is not because they are lack of vitality but because their will of success is not strong enough.To take quitting smoking as an example, some regard it as a piece of cake. They make up their minds to quit it in the morning, but in the evening they feel that the smell of cigarettes is tempting. Their throats are sore, their mouths are thirsty, and their hands are shaking. After the painful mental struggle, they tell themselves that “One cigaretteis enough. Just take one, and the next day I will quit it.” By doing this, they surrender to their weak will. In the end, they have quitted smoking “a hundred times”, but in no time they succeed.Just like quitting smoking, nothing succeeds without a strong will. To be successful in one’s life, a strong will means that you know where you go and you will persist on the road you choose. Undoubtedly success belongs to those who overcome their weak will and who hang in there until the last minute.【文章点评】本文属于话题类作文,只看题目“Nothing Succeeds without a strong will”考生会觉得比较抽象,难以下手。
2012年12月大学英语四级听力原文+答案
Section A11.W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom. M: Why don’t we walk ov er there and see for ourselves?Q: What will the speakers probably do?答案:C. Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12.M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall. I hope to see you there. W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with my de ntist at 9:00 o’clock tomorrow. Q: What do we learn about the woman?答案:C. She cannot attend the presentation.13.W: How long have you been running this company?M: Twenty years if you can believe that. I brought it from a small operation to what it is today.Q: What do we learn about the man?答案:B. He is a very successful businessman.14.M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for next year.W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! She certainly deserves it. Q: What does the woman mean?答案:D. She has every confidence in Susan.15.W: Taking a bus to Miami, it’s cheaper than going by train.M: That’s true. But I’d rather pay a little more for the added comfort and convenience.Q: What does the man mean?答案:D. It is worth the money taking a train to Miami.16.M: I think it’s time we got rid of all this old furniture.W: You’re right. We need to promote our image besides it’s not a real antique.Q: What do the speakers mean?答案:C. The old furniture should be replaced17.M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afraid I couldn’t make it home.W: Yeah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn’t get home from the lab until midnigh t.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?答案:B. The man got home late due to the storm.18.W: My boys are a lways complaining that they’re bored.M: Why don’t you get them into some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both look forward to it all week.Q: What does the man mean?答案:A. The woman’s sons might enjoy team sports.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heardW: So John, I hear you and Arthur share a job, don’t you?M: Yes. We’ve shared a sales job at S onatechfor about two years now.W: Well, how do you divide up your schedule?M: You know we are both sales representatives, and we take orders over the phone. When we started job sharing it was difficult, because we both worked all day Monday. I worked Tuesday and Thursday and Arthur worked Wednesday and Friday. The problem was that when I was in the office on Tuesday. I would talk to people, then they would call back on Wednesday with a question. But Arthur couldn’t answer the question and he couldn’t ask me about it because I wasn’t in the office. So he had to ask the people to call me back the n ext day, Thursday. Of course, they didn’t like to wait until the next day to have their questions answered.W: Yes, that sounds like a problem.M: So, finally we decided that Arthur would work in the mornings and I would work in the afternoons. Now if someone calls with the question for me in the morning, Arthur tells them to call me in the afternoon. This way, people get their questions answered the same day.W: What do you do about vacations?M: Well,Sonatechgives the usual two weeks of vacation to full-time employees, I take a week and Arthur takes a week.W: It sounds like job sharing has worked out well for you.M: Yes, it has. We are both happy with it.Q19. What do John and author do at Sonatech?答案:C. Take orders over the phone.Q20. What problem did John and Arthur have when they started job sharing?答案:A. Customers’ questions could n ot be answered on the same day.Q21. What does John say about their annual vacation?答案:D. They each take a week.对话中围绕工作的话题词汇有:schedule:(工作)计划,安排;sales representative:销售代表;vacation:假期,休假;full-time employee:全职员工。
2012英语四级听力答案
20.What did Mr. Kayne do before he took over the bicycle shop?
21.Why did the man take over a bicycle shop?
22.What do we learn about the people working in the shop?
M: Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I’ve being bothering you all this time.
Q: What is the man probably doing?
14,M: Finally, I’ve got the chance to put on my new suit tonight. I hope to make a good impression on your family.
M: That’s why I chose this lodge. It has one of the best views in Switzerland.
Q: What is the man’s chief consideration in choosing the lodge?
17.M: What do I have to do to apply for a passport?
W: Have you hired any employees to work with you yet?
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案解析完整版
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案解析完整版Part I Writing【标准版】Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong WillNothing runs smoothly in our life. To achieve things successfully, a strong will is essential. Life is like a Marathon. Many people can’t get to the terminal. This is not bec ause they are lack of vitality but because their will of success is not strong enough.To take quitting smoking as an example, some regard it as a piece of cake. They make up their minds to quit it in the morning, but in the evening they feel that the smell of cigarettes is tempting. Their throats are sore, their mouths are thirsty, and their hands are shaking. After the painful mental struggle, they tell themselves that “One cigarette is enough. Just take one, and the next day I will quit it.” By doing this, they surrender to their weak will. In the end, they have quitted smoking “a hundred times”, but in no time they succeed.Just like quitting smoking, nothing succeeds without a strong will. To be successful in one’s life, a strong will means that you know where you go and you will persist on the road you choose. Undoubtedly success belongs to those who overcome their weak will and who hang in there until the last minute.【文章点评】本文属于话题类作文,只看题目“Nothing Succeeds without a strong will”考生会觉得比较抽象,难以下手。
2012年12月四级考试听力真题、原题、及答案
2012年12月四级考试真题(第二套)作文及听力试题Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D], and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. [A] Find a shortcut to the park. [B] Buy some roses from the market.[C] Plant trees in the east end of town. [D] Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12. [A] She has been invited to give a talk. [B] She is going to meet the man at 9:30.[C] She cannot attend the presentation. [D] She cannot work because of her toothache.13. [A] He is a very successful businessman. [B] He has changed his business strategy.[C] He is making plans to expand his operation. [D] He was twenty when he took over the company.14. [A] She has every confidence in Susan. [B] She has not read the news on the Net.[C] She is a little bit surprised at the news. [D] She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.15. [A] It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus. [B] It is worth the money taking a train to Miami.[C] It is not always cheaper going by bus. [D] It is faster to go to Miami by train.16. [A] Antiques can improve their image. [B] Preservation of antiques is important.[C] The old furniture should be replaced. [D] They should move into a new office.17. [A] All roads were closed because of the flood. [B] The man stayed at the lab the whole night.[C] The man got home late due to the storm. [D] The storm continued until midnight.18. [A] Many children feel bored when left alone. [B] The woman’s sons might enjoy team sports.[C] The woman’s kids can play soccer with his son.[D] Children should play sports at least once a week. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. [A] Make phone calls to promote sales. [B] Arrange business negotiations.[C] Handle complaints from customers. [D] Take orders over the phone.20. [A] They had different business strategies. [B] Customers often mistook one for the other.[C] Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.[D] Customers’ questions could not be answered on the same day.21. [A] They each take a week. [B] They like to spend it together.[C] They have to take it by turns. [D] They are given two weeks each.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. [A] At a road crossing. [B] Outside a police station.[C] Near a school. [D] In front of a kindergarten.23. [A] He drove too fast to read it. [B] He did not notice it.[C] It says 45 miles an hour. [D] It is not clearly visible.24. [A] It should have been renewed two months ago. [B] It actually belongs to somebody else.[C] It is no longer valid. [D] It is not genuine.25. [A] He got a ticket. [B] He was fined $ 35.[C] He had his driver’s license canc eled [D] He had to do two weeks’ community service.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. [A] They care more about an item’s price than its use. [B] They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.[C] They become excited as if they had never been there. [D] They behave as if their memories have failed totally.27. [A] Those with a VIP card. [B] Those with 15 items or less.[C] Those needing assistance. [D] Those paying in cash.28. [A] Go back and pick up more items. [B] Take out some unwanted purchases.[C] Change the items they have picked up. [D] Calculate the total cost of the groceries.29. [A] It calls for carefulness. [B] It requires tolerance.[C] It needs a good knowledge of math. [D] It involves communication skills.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. [A] A package of ideas formally presented. [B] A short presentation clearly delivered.[C] A natural and spontaneous style of speech. [D] A clever use of visual aids in presentation.31. [A] The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.[B] Differences in style between writing and speaking.[C] Different preferences of audiences. [D] The importance of preparation.32. [A] The differences between American and Asian cultures.[B] The significance of cross-cultural communication.[C] The increasing importance of public speaking. [D] The key to becoming a good speaker.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. [A] By compari ng his performance with others’.[B] By being repeatedly corrected by adults.[C] By observing what their teachers do. [D] By being given constant praise.34. [A] The best students are usually smart by nature. [ B] It is only natural for children to make errors.[C] Children cannot detect their own mistakes. [D] All children should have equal opportunities.35. [A] It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. [B] It is beneficial to independent children.[C] It is unhealthy to stude nts’ upbringing.[D] It is unhelpful to students’ learning.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36) _______ visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things (37) _______ on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38) _______ relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39) _______.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40) _______ by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off (41) _______ to make it to their next appointment on time.Americans’ language i s filled with (42) _______ to time, giving a clear (43) _______ of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” ‘gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even ‘killed. “The international visitor soon learns that (44) ____________________________________________________________________________________.Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep bus y. This philosophy has proven its worth. (45) ____________________________________________________________________________________. Many American proverbs (谚语) stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals. (46) ____________________________________________________________________________________.Part III Listening ComprehensionSection A11. W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in theeast end of the town. There are a lot of rosesin bloom.M: Why don’t we walk over there and see for ourselves?Q: What will the speakers probably do? 11.【听前预测】选项描述的都是人的行为动作,由重复出现的to the park推测,本题可能考查去公园做某事。
2012年12月英语四级听力及答案
听录音,回答11-47题:Part Ⅲ Listening Comprehension:11-3511、A.He needs another week for the painting.B.The painting was completed just In time.C.The building won’t open until next week.D.His artistic work has been well received.12、A.Go camping.B.Decorate his house.C.Rent a tent.D.Organize a party.13、A.She talked with Mr.Wright on the phone.B.She is about to call Mr.Wright’s secretary.C.She will see Mr.Wright at lunch time.D.She failed to reach Mr.Wright.14、A.He is actually very hardworking.B.He has difficulty finishing his project.C.He needs to spend more time in the lab.D.He seldom tells the truth about himself.15、A.Rules restricting smoking.B.Ways to quit smoking.C.Smokers’ health problems.D.Hazards of passive smoking.16、A.He is out of town all morning.B.He is tied up in family matters.C.He has been writing a report.D.He has got meetings to attend.17、A.He is not easy—going.B.He is the speakers’boss.C.He is not at home this weekend.D.He seldom invites people to his home.18、A.Take a break.B.Refuel his car.C.Ask the way.D.Have a cup of coffee.19、Questions l9 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.A.They are as good as historical films.B.They give youngsters a thrill.C.They have greatly improved.D.They are better than comics on film.20、A.The effects were very good.B.The acting was just so—so.C.The plot was too complicated.D.The characters were lifelike.21、A.They triumphed ultimately over evil in the battle.B.They Flayed the same role in War of the Worlds.C.They are popular figures among young people.D.They are two leading characters in the film.22、Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.A.It is scheduled on Thursday night.B.It is supposed to last nine weeks.C.It takes place once a week.D.It usually starts at six.23、A.To make good use of her spare time in the evening.B.To meet the requirements of her in—service training.C.To improve her driving skills as quickly as possible.D.To get some basic knowledge about car maintenance.24、A.Partic pate in group discussions.B.Take turns to make presentations.C.Listen to the teacher’s explanation.D.Answer the teacher’s questions.25、A.Most of them are female.B.Some have a part—time job.C.They plan to buy a new car.D.A few of them are old chaps.26、Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.A.She is not good at making friends.B.She is not well off.C.She enjoys company.D.She likes to go to concerts alone.27、A.Their similar social status.B.Their interdependence.C.Their common interest.D.Their identical character.28、A.Invite Pat to a live concert.B.Buy some gifts for Pat’s kids.C.Help take care of Pat’s kids.D.Pay for Pat’s season tickets.29、A.It can develop between people with a big difference in income.B.It can be maintained among people of different age groups.C.It cannot last long without similar family background.D.It cannot be sustained when friends move far apart.30、Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.A.Priority of students’academic achievements.B.Equal education opportunities to all children.C.Social equality between teachers and students.D.Respect for students’individuality.31、A.EfficientB.ComplicatedC.LengthyD.Democratic32、A.To help them acquire hands—on experience.B.To try to cut down its operational expenses.C.To provide part—time jobs for needy students.D.To enable them to learn to take responsibility.33、Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.A.The best way to work through a finger maze.B.Individuals doing better in front of an audience.C.Researchers having contributed greatly to psychology.D.Improvements on the classification of human behavior.34、A.When you feel encouraged by the audience.B.When you try to figure out a confusing game.C.When you already know how to do something.D.When you complete with other people in a group.35、A.Practicing constantly.B.Working by oneself.C.Learning by doing.D.Using proven methods.Part ⅢListening Comprehension:36-4636、Americanstoday have different eating habits than they had in the past.There is awide(36)______ offood available.They have a broader(37)______ of nutrition(营养),so they buy more fresh fruitand(38)______than ever before.At the same time,Americans(39)______increasing quantities of sweetsand sodas.Statisticsshow that the way people live(40)______the way they eat.American lifestyles havechanged.There are now growing numbers of people wholive alone,(41)______parents and children,and double-income families.These changinglifestyles are(42)______ for the increasing number of people who must(43)______mealsor sometimes simply go without them.Many Americans haveless time than ever before to spend preparingfood.(44)_____________________weekon average.It iseasy to study the amounts and kinds of food that peopleconsume.(45)________________uswhat people are eatin9,but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes.(46)____________.Instead,chicken,turkey and fish have become morepopular.Sales of these foods have greatly increased inrecent years.第(36)题_________37、第(37)题_________38、第(38)题_________39、第(39)题_________40、第(40)题_________41、第(41)题_________42、第(42)题_________43、第(43)题_________44、第(44)题_________45、第(45)题_________46、第(46)题_________听力参考答案听力AB11. B12. A13. D14. A15. A16. D17. B18. B19. C20. A21. D22. C23. D24. C25. A26. B27. C28. D29. A30. C31. D32. D33. C34. C35. B听力C36. selection37. Knowledge38. vegetables39. purchase40. determines41. single42. responsible43. rush44. Partly as a consequence of this limitedtime,over half of all American homes now have microwave ovens.45. The United States t of Agriculture and the food industry collect sales statistics and keep accurate records.46. Red meat,which used to be the most popular choice for dinner,is no longer an American favorite.。
2012年12月大学英语四级考试真题与答案完整版
Part II Reading comprehension (skimming and scanning)Universities Branch OutAs never before in their long history, universities have become instruments of national competition as well as instruments of peace. They are the place of the scientific discoveries that move economies forward, and the primary means of educating the talent required to obtain and maintain competitive advantage. But at the same time, the opening of national borders to the flow of goods, services, information and especially people has made universities a powerful force for global integration, mutual understanding and geopolitical stability.In response to the same forces that have driven the world economy, universities have become more self-consciously global: seeking students from around the world who represent the entire range of cultures and values, sending their own students abroad to prepare them for global careers,offering course of study that address the challenges of an interconnected world and collaborative (合作的)research programs to advance science for the benefit of all humanity.Of the forces shaping higher education none is more sweeping than the movement across borders. Over the past three decades the number of students leaving home each year to study abroad has grown at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, from 800,000 in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2004.Most travel from one developed nation to another, but the flow from developing to developed countries is growing rapidly. The reverse flow, from developed to developing countries, is on the rise, too. Today foreign students earn 30 percent of the doctoral degrees awarded in the United States and 38 percent of those in the United Kingdom. And the number crossing borders for undergraduate study is growing as well, to 8 percent of the undergraduates at America‘s best institutions and 10 percent of all undergraduates in the U.K.In the United States,20 percent of the newly hired professors in science and engineering are foreign-born, and in China many newly hired faculty members at the top research universities received their graduate education abroad.Universities are also encouraging students to spend some of their undergraduate years in another country. In Europe, more than 140,000 students participate in the Erasmus program each year, taking courses for credit in one of 2,200 participating institutions across the continent. And in the United States, institutions are helping place students in the summer internships (实习)abroad to prepare them for global careers. Yale and Harvard have led the way, offering every undergraduate at least oneinternational study or internship opportunity—and providing the financial resources to make it possible.Globalization is also reshaping the way research is done. One new trend involves sourcing portions of a research program to another country. Yale professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Tian Xu directs a research center focused on the genetics of human disease at Shanghai‘s Fudan University, in collaboration with faculty colleagues from both schools. The Shanghai center has 95 employees and graduate students working in a 4,300-square-meter laboratory seminars with scientists from both campuses. The arrangement benefits both countries; Xu’s Yale lab is more productive, thanks to t he lower costs of conducting research in China, and Chinese graduate students, postdoctors and faculty get on-the-job training from a world -class scientist and his U.S. team.As a result of its strength in science, the United States has consistently led the world in the commercialization of major new technologies, from the mainframe computer and the integrated circuit of the 1960s to the Internet infrastructure (基础设施)and applications software of the 1990s.the link between university-based science and industrial application is often indirect but sometimes highly visible: Silicon Valley was intentionally created by Stanford University, and Route 128 outside Boston has long housed companies spun off from MIT and Harvard. Around the world, governments have encouraged copying of this model, perhaps most successfully in Cambridge, England, where Microsoft and scores of other leading software and biotechnology companies have set up shop around the university.For all its success, the United States remains deeply hesitant about sustaining the research -university model. Most politicians recognize the link between investment in science and national economic strength, but support for research funding has been unsteady. The budget of the National Institutes of Health doubled between 1998 and 2003,but has risen more slowly than inflation since then. Support for the physical sciences and engineering barely kept pace with inflation during that same period. The attempt to make up lost ground is welcome, but the nation would be better served by steady, predictable increases in science funding at the rate of long-term GDP growth, which is on the order of inflation plus 3 percent per year.American politicians have great difficult recognizing that admitting more foreign students can greatly promote the national interest by increasing international understanding. Adjusted for inflation, public funding for international exchanges and foreign-language study is well below the levels of 40 years ago, in the wake ofSeptember 11,changes in the visa process caused a dramatic decline in the number of foreign students seeking admission to U.S. universities, and a corresponding surge in enrollments in Australia, Singapore and the U.K. Objections from American university and the business leaders led to improvements in the process and reversal of the decline, but the United States is still seen by many as unwelcoming to international students.Most Americans recognize that universities contribute to the nation‘s well-being through their scientific research, but many fear that foreign students threaten American competitiveness by taking their knowledge and skills back home. They fail to grasp that welcoming foreign students to the United States has two important positive effects: first, the very best of them stay in the States and—like immigrants throughout history—strengthen the nation; and second, foreign students who study in the United States become ambassadors for many of its most cherished (珍视)values when they return home. Or at least they understand them better. In America as elsewhere, few instruments of foreign policy are as effective in promoting peace and stability as welcoming international university students.1. From the first paragraph we know that present-day universities have become ________.A)more popularized than ever beforeB)in-service training organizationsC)a powerful force for global integrationD)more and more research-oriented2. Over the past decades, the enrollment of overseas students has increased ________.A)at an annual rate of 8 percentB)at an annual rate of 3.9 percentC)by 800,000D)by 2.5 million3. In the United States, how many of the newly hired professors in science and engineering are foreign-born?A)38% B)10% C)30% D)20%4. How do Yale and Harvard prepare their undergraduates for global careers?A)They give them chances for international study or internship.B)They arrange for them to participate in the Erasmus program.C)They offer them various courses in international politics.D)They organize a series of seminars on world economy.5. An example illustrating the general trend of universities ‘globalization is ________.A)Yale‘s establishing branch campuses throughout the worldB)Yale‘s student exchange program with E uropean institutionsC)Yale‘s helping Chinese universities to launch research projectsD)Yale‘s collaboration with Fudan University on genetic research.6. What do we learn about Silicon Valley from the passage?A)It is known to be the birthplace of Microsoft Company.B)It was intentionally created by Stanford University.C)It is where the Internet infrastructure was built up.D)It houses many companies spun off from MIT and Harvard.7. What is said about the U.S. federal funding for research?A)It has increased by 3 percent.B)It doubled between 1998 and 2003.C)It has been unsteady for years.D)It has been more than sufficient.8. The dramatic decline in the enrollment of foreign students in the U.S. after September 11 was caused by ________.9. Many Americans fear that American competitiveness may be threatened by foreign students who will ________.10. The policy of welcoming foreign students can benefit the U.S. in that the very best of them will stay and ________.PartⅢ Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)Section A11.A) He has proved to be a better reader than the woman.B) He has difficulty understanding the book.C) He cannot get access to the assigned book.D) He cannot finish his assignment before the deadline.12.A) She will drive the man to the supermarket.B) The man should buy a car of his own.C) The man needn't go shopping every week.D) She can pick the man up at the grocery store.13.A) Get more food and drinks.B) Ask his friend to come over.C) Tidy up the place.D) Hold a party.14.A) The talks can be held any day except this Friday.B) He could change his schedule to meet John Smith.C) The first-round talks should start as soon as possible.D) The woman should contact John Smith first.15.A) He understands the woman's feelings.B) He has gone through a similar experience.C) The woman should have gone on the field trip.D) The teacher is just following the regulations.16.A) She will meet the man halfway.B) She will ask David to talk less.C) She is sorry the man will not come.D) She has to invite David to the party.17.A) Few students understand Prof. Johnson's lectures.B) Few students meet Prof. Jonson's requirements.C) Many students find Prof. Johnson's lectures boring.D) Many students have dropped Prof. Johnson's class.18.A) Check their computer files.B) Make some computations.C) Study a computer program.D) Assemble a computer.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A) It allows him to make a lot of friends.B) It requires him to work long hours.C) It enables him to apply theory to practice.D) It helps him understand people better.20.A) It is intellectually challenging.B) It requires him to do washing-up all the time.C) It exposes him to oily smoke all day long.D) It demands physical endurance and patience.21.A) In a hospital.B) At a coffee shop.C) At a laundry.D) In a hotel.22.A) Getting along well with colleagues.B) Paying attention to every detail.C) Planning everything in advance.D) Knowing the needs of customers.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23.A) The pocket money British children get.B) The annual inflation rate in Britain.C) The things British children spend money on.D) The rising cost of raising a child in Britain.24.A) It enables children to live better.B) It goes down during economic recession.C) It often rises higher than inflation.D) It has gone up 25% in the past decade.25.A) Save up for their future education.B) Pay for small personal things.C) Buy their own shoes and socks.D) Make donations when necessary. 来源:考试大-英语四级考试Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the conversation you have just heard.26.A) District managers.B) Regular customers.C) Sales directors.D) Senior clerks.27.A) The support provided by the regular clients.B) The initiative shown by the sales representatives.C) The urgency of implementing the company's plans.D) The important part played by district managers.28.A) Some of them were political-minded.B) Fifty percent of them were female.C) One third of them were senior managers.D) Most of them were rather conservative.29.A) He used too many quotations.B) He was not gender sensitive.C) He did not keep to the point.D) He spent too much time on details.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30.A) State your problem to the head waiter.B) Demand a discount on the dishes ordered.C) Ask to see the manager politely but firmly.D) Ask the name of the person waiting on you.31.A) You problem may not be understood correctly.B) You don't know if you are complaining at the right time.C) Your complaint may not reach the person in charge.D) You can't tell how the person on the line is reacting.32.A) Demand a prompt response.B) Provide all the details.C) Send it by express mail.D) Stick to the point.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33.A) Fashion designerB) Architect.C) City planner.D) Engineer.34.A) Do some volunteer work.B) Get a well-paid part-time job.C) Work flexible hours.D) Go back to her previous post.35.A) Few baby-sitters can be considered trustworthy.B) It will add to the family's financial burden.C) A baby-sitter is no replacement for a mother.D) The children won't get along with a baby-sitter.Section CAlmost every child, on the first day he sets foot in a school building, is smarter, more (36)______, less afraid of what he doesn't know, better at finding and (37) ______ things out, more confident, resourceful (机敏的), persistent and (38) ______ than he will ever be again in his schooling – or, unless he is very (39) ______ and very lucky, for the rest of his life. Already, by paying close attention to and (40) ______ with the world and people around him, and without any school-type (41)______ instruction, he has done a task far more difficult, complicated and (42)______ than anything he will be asked to do in school, or than any of his teachers has done for years. He has solved the (43) ______ of language. He has discovered it – babies don't even know that language exists –and (44) ________________________________________________. He has done it by exploring, by experimenting, by developing his own model of the grammar of language, (45) ________________________________________________ until it does work. And while he has been doing this, he has been learning other things as well, (46) ________________________________________________, and many that are more complicated than the ones they do try to teach him.Part ⅣReading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25 minutes)Section AQuestions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.If our society ever needed a reading renaissance(复兴), it's now. The National Endowment for the Arts released “Reading at Risk” last year, a study showing that adult reading47 have dropped 10 percentage points in the past decade, with the steepest drop among those 18 to 24. “Only one half of young people read a book of any kind in 2002. We set the bar almost on the ground. If you read one short story in a teen—ager magazine, that would have 48 ,” laments a director of research and analysis. He49 the loss of readers to the booming world of technology, which attracts would—be leisure readers to E—mail, IM chats, and video games and leaves them with no time to cope with a novel.“These new forms of media undoubtedly have some benefits,” says Steven Johnson, author of Everything Bad Is Good for You.Video games50 problem—solving skills; TV shows promote mental gymnastics by 51 viewers to follow complex story lines. But books offer experience that can't be gained from these other sources, from52 vocabulary to stretching the imagination. “If they're not reading at all,” says Johnson, “that's a huge problem.”In fact, fewer kids are reading for pleasure. According to data53 last week from the National Center for Educational Statistic's long—term trend assessment, the number of 17—year—olds who reported never or hardly ever reading for fun54 from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004. At the same time, the55 of 17—year—olds who read daily dropped from 31 to 22.This slow but steady retreat from books has not yet taken a toll on reading ability. Scores for the nation's youth have56 constant over the past two decades with an encouraging upswing among 9—year—olds. But given the strong apparent correlation between pleasure reading and reading skills, this means poorly for the future.A. percentB. remainedC. roseD. ratesE. percentageF. countedG. relievedH. presentI. BelievingJ. releasedK. forcing L. improve M. Styles N. building O. attributesSection BPassage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns. It is sometimes placed among “situations vacant”, alth ough it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among “situations wanted”, although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.“Contact us before writing your application”, or “Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history”, is how it is usually expressed. The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right.There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. “Just put down your n ame, address, age and whether you have passed any exams”, was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest.Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach. “Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for”, was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially designed for the job interview.There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.57. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper columns.A)informs job hunters of the opportunities availableB)promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employmentC)divides available jobs into various typesD)informs employers of the people available for work58. Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because. A)there is a lack of jobs available for artistic peopleB)there are so many top level jobs availableC)there are so many people out of workD)the job history is considered to be a work of art59. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would.A)write an initial letter giving their life historyB)pass some exams before applying for a jobC)have no qualifications other than being able to read and writeD)keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview60. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include in the letter.A)something that would distinguish one from other applicantsB)hinted information about the personality of the applicantC)one's advantages over others in applying for the jobD)an occasional trick with the aggressive approach61. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because.A)there has been an increase in the number of jobs advertisedB)there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degreesC)jobs are becoming much more complicated nowadaysD)the other processes of applying for jobs are more complicatedPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time,rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent—controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low—paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages. Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictio ns. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.62. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may.A)cause a shortage of apartmentsB)worry those who rent apartments as homesC)increase the profits of landlordsD)encourage landlords to invest in building apartment63. According to the critics, rent control.A)will always benefit those who rent apartmentsB)is unnecessaryC)will bring negative effects in the long runD)is necessary under all circumstances64. The problem of unemployment will arise.A)if the minimum wage is set too highB)if the minimum wage is set too lowC)if the workers are unskilledD)if the maximum wage is set65. The passage tells us.A)the relationship between supply and demandB)the possible results of government controlsC)the necessity of government controlD)the urgency of getting rid of government controls66. Which of the following statements is NOT true?A)The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.B)Minimum wage can not always protect employees.C)Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.D)Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.Part ⅤCloze (15 minutes)Rumor is the most ___67___way of spreading stories—by passing them on from mouth___68___mouth. But civilized countries in normal times have better ___69___ of news than rumor. They have radio, television, and newspapers. In times of stress and___70___, ___71___, rumor ___72__ and becomes widespread. At such ___73___ the different kinds of news are in___74___,the press, television, and radio versus the grapevine.Especially ___75___ rumors spread when war requires censorship(审查,检查) on many important matters. The customary news sources no longer ___76___ enough information. Since the people cannot learn ___77___ legitimate(合法的,正规的) channel s all ___78___ they are anxious to learn, they pick up “news”___79___they can and when this ___80___, rumor thrives.Rumors are often repeated ___81___ by those who do not believe the tales. There is a fascination about them. The reason is ___82___the cleverly designed rumor gives expression to something deep in the hearts of the victims—the fears, suspicions, forbidden hopes, or daydreams which they hesitate to___83___directly. Pessimistic(悲观的) rumors about defeat and disasters show that the people who repeat them are___84___and anxious. ___85___rumors about record production orpeace soon coming point to complacency(满足,自得) or confidence—and often to ___86___.67. A) primitive B) important C) impossible D) outstanding68. A) till B) to C) for D) by69. A) means B) ways C) sources D) resource70. A) confusion B) peace C) prosperity D) worried71. A) and B) however C) so D) therefore72. A) emerges B) immerge C) immerse D) immense73. A) time B) the times C) times D) the time74. A) compete B) competition C) common D)harmony75. A) do B) did C) are D) were76. A) give up B) give off C) give out D) send off77. A) through B) by C) in D) across78. A) what B) why C) which D) that79. A) wherever B) where C) whatever D) what80. A) happened B) would happen C) happens D) happen81. A) ever B) even C) forever D) much82. A) that B) what C) why D) how83. A) act B) voice C) behave D) do84. A) happy B) relieved C) crazy D) worried85. A) Bad B) Pessimistic C) Optimistic D) Good86. A) overconfidence B) overweight C) overconsiderate D) overproducePart ⅥTranslation (5 minutes)Direction:Complete the sentences on Answer Sheet 2 by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.87.There are so many kinds of tape-recorders on sale that __________________________ (我都拿不定主意买哪一种).88. The light in the office is still on._________________________ (他忘记关了).89. His composition was so confusing that _____________________________ (我简直看不懂).90.As the saying goes, reading without reflecting is like __________________________ (吃饭不消化).91._______________________ (他的回答是这样) that he didn’t say yes and he didn’t say no.。
(完整word版)2012年12月四级听力答案
2012年12月四级听力Section A ConversationsShort Conversations11。
— W:Have you finished that painting for the new student center?M: Just this morning, I've been working extra hours all week, you know the building opens tomorrow.Q: What does the man mean?12。
M: Do you sell camping gear?W: Yes, we have tents, sleeping bags, just about everything you might need, including stoves.Q: What is the man probably going to do?13. M: Hi Jenny have you talked to Mr Wright about the new sports program?W: well, I contacted his office half an hour ago, and his secretary said he was out for lunch until 2:00.Q: What does the woman mean?14。
M:Bill says he's not working so hard on his biology project.W: But he spends a lot of time in the lab, doesn’t he?Q: What does the woman imply about Bill?15。
M: I have to say i find the new smoking regulations too strict.W: Well, they are for everyone's health. I have no complaints.Q: What are the speakers talking about?16.W: Jack asked me to drop off this report. He’s tight up in meetings all morning.M: I was hoping he brings it in himself, I need to talk with him about it。
2012年12月英语四级真题及答案(二)
201212Part Writing(30minutes)11上作答。
Direction:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a composition entitled E ducation Pays based on the statistics provided in the chart below(Weekly earnings of2010).Please write at least120words but no more than180words.Education:A Worthy InvestmentWeekly earnings in2010($)Doctoral degree 1,550Master’s degree 1,272Bachelor’s degree 1,038 Some college, no degree 712High school diploma 626Less than high school degree 444Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEducation PaysPartIn this part,you will have15minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer thequestions on Answer sheet1.For questions1-7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).For questions8-10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.The MagicianThe revolution that Steve Jobs led is onlyjust beginningWhen it came to putting on a show,nobody else in the computer industry,or any other industry for that matter,could match Steve Jobs.His product launches,at which he would stand alone on a black stage and produce as if by magic an “incredible” new electronic gadget (小器具) in front of an amazed crowd,were the performances of a master showman.All computers do is fetch and work with numbers,he once explained,but do it fast enough and “the results appear tobe magic” . Mr Jobs, who died recently aged 56, spent his life packaging that magic into elegantly designed, easy-to-use products.The reaction to his death,with people leaving candles and flowers outside Apple stores and politicians singing praises on the internet,is proof that Mr Jobs had become something much more significant than just a clever money-maker.He stood out in three ways-as a technologist,as a corporate ( 公司的) leader and as somebody who was able to make people love what had previously been impersonal,functional gadgets.Strangely,it is this last quality that may have the deepest effect on the way people live. The era of personal technology is in many ways just beginning.As a technologist,Mr Jobs was different because he was not an engineer-and that was his great strength.Instead he was keenly interested in product design and aesthetics(美学),and in making advanced technology simple to use. He repeatedly took an existing but half-formed idea-the mouse-driven computer,the digital music player,the smartphone,the tablet computer(平板电脑) —and showed the rest of the industry how to do it properly. Rival firms competed with each other to follow where he led.In the process he brought about great changes in computing, music,telecoms and the news business that were painful for existing firms but welcomed by millions of consumers.Within the wider business world,a man who liked to see himself as a hippy(嬉皮士), permanently in revolt against big companies,ended up being hailed by many of those corporate giants as one of the greatest chief executives of his time.That was partly due to his talents: showmanship,strategic vision,an astonishing attention to detail and a dictatorial management style which many bosses must have envied.But most of all it was the extraordinary trajectory(轨迹)of his life.His fall from grace in the 1980s,followed by his return to Apple in 1996after a period in the wilderness,is an inspiration to any businessperson whose career has taken a turn for the worse. The way in which Mr Jobs revived the failing company he had co-founded and turned it into the world’s biggest tech firm (bigger even than Bill Gates’s Microsoft,the company that had outsmarted Apple so dramatically in the 1980s), sounds like something from a Hollywood movie.But what was perhaps most astonishing about Mr Jobs was the absolute loyalty he managed to inspire in customers.Many Apple users feel themselves to be part of a community,with Mr Jobs as its leader.And there was indeed a personal link.Apple’s products were designed to accord with the boss’s tastes and to meet his extremely high standards.Every iPhone or MacBook has his fingerprints all over it.His great achievement was to combine an emotional spark with computer technology,and make the resulting product feel personal.And that is what put Mr Jobs on the right side of history,as technological innovation(创新)has moved into consumer electronics over the past decade.As our special report in this issue (printed before Mr Jobs’s death)explains,innovation used to spill over from military and corporate laboratories to the consumer market, but lately this process has gone into reverse.Many people’s homes now have more powerful,and more flexible, devices than their offices do;consumer gadgets and online services are smarter and easier to use than most companies’ systems. Familiar consumer products are being adopted by businesses, government and the armed panies are employing in-house versions of Facebook and creating their own “app stores”to deliver software to employees.Doctors use tablet computers for their work in hospitals.Meanwhile,the number of consumers hungry for such gadgets continues to swell.Apple’s products are now being snapped up in Delhi and Dalian just as in Dublin andDallas.Mr Jobs had a reputation as a control freak(怪人),and his critics complained that the products and systems he designed were closed and inflexible,in the name of greater ease of use. Yet he also empowered millions of people by giving them access to cutting-edge technology.His insistence on putting users first,and focusing on elegance and simplicity,has become deep-rooted in his own company,and is spreading to rival firms too. It is no longer just at Apple that designers ask: “What would Steve Jobs do?”The gap between Apple and other tech firms is now likely to narrow. This week’s announcement of a new iPhone by a management team led by Tim Cook,who replaced Mr Jobs as chief executive in August,was generally regarded as competent but uninspiring.Without Mr Jobs to shower his star dust on the event,it felt like just another product launch from just another technology firm.At the recent unveiling of a tablet computer by Jeff Bezos of Amazon,whose company is doing the best job of following Apple’s lead in combining hardware,software,content and services in an easy-to-use bundle, there were several attacks at Apple. But by doing his best to imitate Mr Jobs, Mr Bezos also flattered (抬举)him. With Mr Jobs gone, Apple is just one of many technology firms trying to arouse his uncontrollable spirit in new products.Mr Jobs was said by an engineer in the early years of Apple to emit a “reality distortion(扭曲)field”,such were his powers of persuasion.But in the end he created a reality of his own, channeling the magic of computing into products that reshaped entire industries.The man who said in his youth that he wanted to “put a ding in the universe” did just that.注意: 1上作答。
2012年12月大学四级听力原题与答案整理范文
2012年12月四级听力答案及原文Part ⅢListening ComprehensionSection A short conversations11.A) Find a shortcut to the park. C) Plant trees in the east end of town.B) Buy some roses from the market. D) Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.原文:W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lot of roses in bloom. M: Why don’t we walk over there and see for ourselves? Q: What will the speakers probably do?12.A) She has been invited to give a talk. C) She cannot attend the presentation.B) She is going to meet the man at 9:30. D) She cannot work because of her toothache.原文:M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall. I hope to see you there. W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with my dentist at 9:00 o’clock tomorrow. Q: What do we learn about the woman?13.A) He is a very successful businessman.B) He has changed his business strategy.C) He is making plans to expand his operation.D) He was twenty when he took over the company原文:W: How long have you been running this company? M: Twenty years if you can believe that. I brought it from a small operation to what it is today. Q: What do we learn about the man?14.A) She has every confidence in Susan. C) She is a little bit surprised at the newsB) She has not read the news on the Net. D) She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.原文:M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for next year. W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! She certainly deserves it. Q: What does the woman mean?15.A) It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus.B) It is worth the money taking a train to MiamiC) It is not always cheaper going by bus.D) It is faster to go to Miami by train.原文:W: Taking a bus to Miami, it’s cheaper than going by train. M: That’s true. But I’d rather pay a little more for the added comfort and convenience. Q: What does the man mean?16.A) Antiques can improve their image. C) The old furniture should he replaced.B) Preservation of antiques is important. D) They should move into a new office.原文:M: I think it’s time we got rid of all this old furniture. W:You’re right. We need to promote our image besides it’s not a real antique. Q: What do the speakers mean?17.A) All roads were closed because of the flood. B) The man stayed at the lab the whole night.C) The man got home late due to the storm D) The storm continued until midnight.原文:M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afraid I couldn’t make it home. W: Yeah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn’t get home from the lab until midnight. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?18. A) Many children feel bored when left alone. B) The woman’s sons might enjoy team sports.C) The woman'5 kids can play soccer with his son.D) Children should play sports at least once a week.原文:W: My boys are always complaining that the y’re bored. M: Why don’t you get theminto some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both look forward to it all week. Q: What does the man mean?Long Conversation One19. A) Make phone calls to promote sales. C) Handle complaints from customers.B) Arrange business negotiations. D) Take orders over the phone.20. A) They had different business strategies. B) Customers often mistook one for the other.C) Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.D) Customers’ questions could not be answered on the same day.21.A) They each take a week. C) They have to take it by turns.B) They like to spend it together. D) They are given two weeks each·原文:W: So John, I hear you and Arthur share a j ob, don’t you? M: Yes. We’ve shared a sales job at Sonatechfor about two years now. W: Well, how do you divide up your schedule? M: You know we are both sales representatives, and we take orders over the phone. When we started job sharing it was difficult, because we both worked all day Monday. I worked Tuesday and Thursday and Arthur worked Wednesday and Friday. The problem was that when I was in the office on Tuesday. I would talk to people, then they would call back on Wednesday with a question. B ut Arthur couldn’t answer the question and he couldn’t ask me about it because I wasn’t in the office. So he had to ask the people to call me back the next day, Thursday. Of course, they didn’t like to wait until the next day to have their questions answer ed. W: Yes, that sounds like a problem. M: So, finally we decided that Arthur would work in the mornings and I would work in the afternoons. Now if someone calls with the question for me in the morning, Arthur tells them to call me in the afternoon. This way, people get their questions answered the same day. W: What do you do about vacations? M: Well,Sonatechgives the usual two weeks of vacation to full-time employees, I take a week and Arthur takes a week. W: It sounds like job sharing has worked out well for you. M: Yes, it has. We are both happy with it.Q19. What do John and author do at Sonatech?Q20. What problem did John and Arthur have when they started job sharing?Q21. What does John say about their annual vacation?Long Conversation Two22.A) At a road crossing. C) Near a school.B) Outside a police station. D) In front of a kindergarten.23.A) He drove too fast to read it. C) It says 45 miles an hour.B) He did not notice it. D) It 15 not clearly visible.24.A) It should have been renewed two months ago. B) It actually belongs to somebody else.C) It is no longer valid. D) It 15 not genuine.25.A) He got a ticket.C) He had his driver's license canceled·B) He was fined$35. D) He had to do two weeks, community service.原文:W: May I see your license, please? M: But officer, did I do something wrong?W: Do you mean to say you didn’t see the speed limit sign back there? M: Um, no, madam, I guess I did n’t. W: In other words, you drove by too fast to read it. The sign says 35m/h. A school is just nearby, you know? M: Don’t get me wrong, but my speedometer didn’t read much faster than that. W: Then, why is it that my radar showed you are going 45? Let me put it another way. I’m going to give you a ticket. Again, may I see your license, please? M: Here it is, officer. But let me explain. I was late for an important appointment and I was worried that Iwouldn’t make it on time. So... W: Uha, just a minute, here. Your license is no longer valid. You should have renewed it two weeks ago. I’m going to have to write you up for that, too. M: What? Really? W: Your license becomes invalid on your birthday and that was two weeks ago according to the date here. You are in violation of the law—driving without a valid license. M: I’m sorry, madam. I hadn’t realized that. W: Here’s the ticket for not having a valid license. But I’m only going to give you a warning about exceeding the speed limit. Be careful next time. M: Yes, madam, officer, I will. Thank you.Q22. Where was the man stopped by the police officer?Q23. What did the man claim about the speed limit sign?Q24. What did the woman say about the man’s driving license?Q25. What w as the man’s penalty?Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26.A) They care more about an item’s price than its use.B) They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.C) They become excited as if they had never been there.D) They behave as if their memories have failed today.27.A) Those with a VIP card. C) Those needing assistanceB) Those with 15 items or less. D) Those paying in cash.28.A) Go back and pick up more items.B) Take out some unwanted purchases.C) Change the items they have picked up. D) Calculate the total cost of the groceries.29.A) It calls for carefulness. B) It requires tolerance.C) It needs a good knowledge of math. D) It involves communications skills.原文:Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer is more than someone who buy something. To me, a customer is a person whose memory fails entirely once he or she starts to push a shopping card. One of the first things customers forget is how to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line, which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items. Customers also forget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customer will say, “Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don’t mind waiting while I go get it.” Five minutes later, he’s back with the bread, a bottle of milk, a nd three rolls of paper towels. Strange is that seems customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for their groceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up the groceries, my customers will wait until I annou nce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, “Oh no, what did I do with my check book?” After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrows my pen because she’s forgotten hers. But I have to be tolerant of customers because they pay my salary, and tha t’s something I can’t af ford to forget.Q26. What does the speaker say about customers’entering the grocery store?Q27. Which customers are supposed to be in the express line?Q28. What does the speaker say some customers do when they arrive at the check-out counter? Q29. What does the speaker say about his job at the end of the talk?Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30.A) A package of ideas formally presented. B) A short presentation clearly delivered.C) A natural and spontaneous style of speech. D) A clever use of visual aids in presentations.31.A) The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.B) Differences in style between writing and speaking.C) Different preferences of audiences.D) The importance of preparation.32.A) The differences between American and Asian culture.B) The significance of cross-cultural communication.C) The increasing importance of public speaking.D) The key to becoming a good speaker.原文:The speech delivery style of Europeans and Asians tends to be very formal.Speakers of these cultures often read oral presentations from carefully retain manual scripts. On the other hand, American speakers are generally more informal relative to speakers and other cultures. American audiences prefernatural, spontaneous delivery that conveys a lively sense of communication. They don’t relay well to speakers who read from a manual script. If you use an outline of your ideas instead of a prepare text, your speech will not only sound more natural, but you will also be able to establish better relationship with your listeners and keep their attention. The language and style you use when making an oral presentation should not be the same as the language in style you use when writing. Well retain information, that is meant to be read, does not work aswell when it is heard. It is, therefore, important for you to adapt retain texts or outlines for presentations. Good speakers are much more informal when speaking than when writing. They also use their own words and develop their own speaking styles. Whenever possible, they use short words. Listeners are appreciated when speakers use simple, everyday words in a presentation. One advantage is that it is much easier for speakers to pronounce short words correctly. Another is that long and sophisticated vocabulary choices make listening more difficult.Question 30 to 3230. What does the speaker say American audiences prefer?31. What should one pay attention to when making an oral presentation?32. What does the speaker focus on in the talk?Passage Three33. A) By comparing his performance with others’.B) By being repeatedly corrected byadults. C) By observing what their teachers do. D) By being given constant praise.34. A) The best students are usually smart by nature.B) It is only natural for children to make errors.C) Children cannot detect their own mistakes.D) All children should have equal opportunities.35. A) It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. B) It is beneficial to independent children.C) It is unhealthy to students’ upbringing. D) It is unhelpful to students’ learning.原文:A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time. If corrected too much, he will stop talking. He compares a thousand times a day the difference between language as he uses it and language as those around him use it. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people’s. In the same way, kids learning to do all the other things they learn without adult teachers, to walk, run, climb, ride a bike, play games, compare their own performance with what more skilled people do, and slowly make the needed changes. But inschool we never give a child a chance to detect his mistakes. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him. Soon he becomes dependent on the expert. We should let him do it himself. Let him figure out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what is the answer to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or that. If right answers need to be given, as in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such tedious work? Our job should be to help the children when they tell us that they can’t find the way to get th e right answer.Q33 How does a child learn to do something according to the speaker?Q34 What belief do teachers commonly hold according to the speaker?Q35 What does the speaker imply about the current way of teaching?Section CTime is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36)foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things (37)accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38)interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39)detail.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40)controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off (41)abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time.Americans’ language is filled with (42)references to time, giving a clear (43)indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” “gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.”The international visitor soon learns that (44)it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy.This philosophy has proven its worth. (45)It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. (46) Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.。
2020年--大学四级听力原题与答案整理
2012年12月四级听力答案及原文Part ⅢListening ComprehensionSection A short conversations11.A) Find a shortcut to the park. C) Plant trees in the east end of town.B) Buy some roses from the market. D) Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.原文:W: I just heard about a really beautiful park in the east end of the town. There are a lotof roses in bloom. M: Why don’t we walk over there and see for ourselves? Q: What willthe speakers probably do?12.A) She has been invited to give a talk. C) She cannot attend the presentation.B) She is going to meet the man at 9:30. D) She cannot work because of her toothache.原文:M: My presentation is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning at the lecture hall. I hopeto see you there. W: Oh, sorry. I was about to tell you that I have an appointment with myQ: What do we learn about the woman?dentist at 9:00 o’clock tomorrow.13.A) He is a very successful businessman.B) He has changed his business strategy.C) He is making plans to expand his operation.D) He was twenty when he took over the company原文:W: How long have you been running this company? M: Twenty years if you canbelieve that. I brought it from a small operation to what it is today. Q: What do we learn aboutthe man?14.A) She has every confidence in Susan. C) She is a little bit surprised at the newsB) She has not read the news on the Net. D) She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.原文:M: Have you read the news on the campus net? Susan has won the scholarship for nextyear. W: I knew she would from the very beginning. Such a brilliant and diligent girl! Shecertainly deserves it. Q: What does the woman mean?15.A) It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus.B) It is worth the money taking a train to MiamiC) It is not always cheaper going by bus.D) It is faster to go to Miami by train.原文:W: Taking a bus to Miami, it’s cheaper than going by train. M: That’s true. But I’drather pay a little more for the added comfort and convenience. Q: What does the man mean?16.A) Antiques can improve their image. C) The old furniture should he replaced.B) Preservation of antiques is important. D) They should move into a new office.原文:M: I think it’s time we got rid of all this old furniture. W: You’re right. We need toQ: What do th e speakers mean?promote our image besides it’s not a real antique.17.A) All roads were closed because of the flood. B) The man stayed at the lab the whole night.C) The man got home late due to the storm D) The storm continued until midnight.原文:M: That was some storm yesterday. How was I afrai d I couldn’t make it home. W:Yeah, most of the roads to my house were flooded. I didn’t get home from the lab until midnight. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?team sports.18. A) Many children feel bored when left alone. B) The woman’s sons might enjoyC) The woman'5 kids can play soccer with his son.D) Children should play sports at least once a week.M: Why don’t you get them 原文:W: My boys are always com plaining that they’re bored.into some team sports? My son and daughter play soccer every Saturday. And they both lookforward to it all week. Q: What does the man mean?Long Conversation One19. A) Make phone calls to promote sales. C) Handle complaints from customers.B) Arrange business negotiations. D) Take orders over the phone.20. A) They had different business strategies. B) Customers often mistook one for the other.C) Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.D) Customers’ questions could not be answered on the same day.21.A) They each take a week. C) They have to take it by turns.B) They like to spend it together. D) They are given two weeks each·M: Yes. We’ve shared a 原文:W: So John, I hear you and Arthur share a job, don’t you?sales job at Sonatechfor about two years now. W: Well, how do you divide up your schedule?M: You know we are both sales representatives, and we take orders over the phone. When westarted job sharing it was difficult, because we both worked all day Monday. I worked Tuesdayand Thursday and Arthur worked Wednesday and Friday. The problem was that when I was in theoffice on Tuesday. I would talk to people, then they would call back on Wednesday with aask me about it because Iquestion. But Arthur couldn’tanswer the question and he couldn’twasn’t in the office. So he had to ask the people to call me back the next day, Thursday. Of course,il the next day to have their questions answered. W: Yes, that soundsthey didn’t like to wait untlike a problem. M: So, finally we decided that Arthur would work in the mornings and I wouldwork in the afternoons. Now if someone calls with the question for me in the morning, Arthur tellsthem to call me in the afternoon. This way, people get their questions answered the same day.W: What do you do about vacations? M: Well,Sonatechgives the usual two weeks of vacationto full-time employees, I take a week and Arthur takes a week. W: It sounds like job sharinghas worked out well for you. M: Yes, it has. We are both happy with it.Q19. What do John and author do at Sonatech?Q20. What problem did John and Arthur have when they started job sharing?Q21. What does John say about their annual vacation?Long Conversation Two22.A) At a road crossing. C) Near a school.B) Outside a police station. D) In front of a kindergarten.23.A) He drove too fast to read it. C) It says 45 miles an hour.B) He did not notice it. D) It 15 not clearly visible.24.A) It should have been renewed two months ago. B) It actually belongs to somebody else.C) It is no longer valid. D) It 15 not genuine.25.A) He got a ticket.C) He had his driver's license canceled·B) He was fined$35. D) He had to do two weeks, community service.原文:W: May I see your license, please? M: But officer, did I do something wrong?M: Um, no, madam, IW: Do you mean to say you didn’t see the speed limit sign back there?guess I didn’t. W: In other words, you drove by too fast to read it. The sign says 35m/h. Aschool is just nearby, you know? M: Don’t get me wrong, but my speedometer didn’t read much faster than that. W: Then, why is it that my radar showed you are going 45? Let me put itanother way. I’m going to give you a ticket. Again, mayI see your license, please? M: Here itis, officer. But let me explain. I was late for an important appointment and I was worried that Iwouldn’t make it on time. So... W: Uha, just a minute, here. Your license is no longer valid.M:You should have renewed it two weeks ago. I’m going to have to write you up for that, too.What? Really? W: Your license becomes invalid on your birthday and that was two weeks agoaccording to the date here. You are in violation of the law—driving without a valid license. M:W: Here’s the ticket for not having a valid license.I’m sorry, madam. I hadn’t realized that.But I’m only going to give you a warning about exceeding the speed limit. Be careful next time.M: Yes, madam, officer, I will. Thank you.Q22. Where was the man stopped by the police officer?Q23. What did the man claim about the speed limit sign?Q24. What did the woman say about the man’s driving license?Q25. What was the man’s penalty?Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26.A) They care more about an item’s price than its use.B) They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.C) They become excited as if they had never been there.D) They behave as if their memories have failed today.27.A) Those with a VIP card. C) Those needing assistanceB) Those with 15 items or less. D) Those paying in cash.28.A) Go back and pick up more items.B) Take out some unwanted purchases.C) Change the items they have picked up. D) Calculate the total cost of the groceries.29.A) It calls for carefulness. B) It requires tolerance.C) It needs a good knowledge of math. D) It involves communications skills.原文:Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer ismore than someone who buy something. To me, a customer is a person whose memory failsentirely once he or she starts to push a shopping card. One of the first things customers forget ishow to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line,which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items. Customers alsoforget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customerwill say, “Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don’t mind waiting wh Five minutes later, he’s back with the bread, a bottle of milk, and three rolls of paperget it.” towels. Strange is that seems customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for theirgroceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up thegroceries, my customers will wait until I announce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, “Oh no,what did I do with my check book?” After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrowsmy pen because she’s forgotten hers. But I have to be tolerant of customers because they pay myafford to forget.salary, and that’s something I can’tQ26. What does the speaker say about customers’entering the grocery store?Q27. Which customers are supposed to be in the express line?Q28. What does the speaker say some customers do when they arrive at the check-out counter?Q29. What does the speaker say about his job at the end of the talk?Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30.A) A package of ideas formally presented. B) A short presentation clearly delivered.C) A natural and spontaneous style of speech. D) A clever use of visual aids in presentations.31.A) The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.B) Differences in style between writing and speaking.C) Different preferences of audiences.D) The importance of preparation.32.A) The differences between American and Asian culture.B) The significance of cross-cultural communication.C) The increasing importance of public speaking.D) The key to becoming a good speaker.原文:The speech delivery style of Europeans and Asians tends to be very formal.Speakers ofthese cultures often read oral presentations from carefully retain manual scripts. On the other hand,American speakers are generally more informal relative to speakers and other cultures. Americanaudiences prefernatural, spontaneous delivery that conveys a lively sense of communication. Theydon’t relay well to speakers who read from a manual script. If you use an outline of your ideasinstead of a prepare text, your speech will not only sound more natural, but you will also be ableto establish better relationship with your listeners and keep their attention. The language and styleyou use when making an oral presentation should not be the same as the language in style you usewhen writing. Well retain information, that is meant to be read, does not work aswell when it isheard. It is, therefore, important for you to adapt retain texts or outlines for presentations. Goodspeakers are much more informal when speaking than when writing. They also use their ownwords and develop their own speaking styles. Whenever possible, they use short words. Listenersare appreciated when speakers use simple, everyday words in a presentation. One advantage is thatit is much easier for speakers to pronounce short words correctly. Another is that long and sophisticated vocabulary choices make listening more difficult.Question 30 to 3230. What does the speaker say American audiences prefer?31. What should one pay attention to when making an oral presentation?32. What does the speaker focus on in the talk?Passage Three33. A) By comparing his performance with others’.B) By being repeatedly corrected byadults. C) By observing what their teachers do. D) By being given constant praise.34. A) The best students are usually smart by nature.B) It is only natural for children to make errors.C) Children cannot detect their own mistakes.D) All children should have equal opportunities.35. A) It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. B) It is beneficial to independent children.D) It is unhelpful to students’ learning.C) It is unhealthy to students’ upbringing.原文:A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time. If corrected toomuch, he will stop talking. He compares a thousand times a day the difference between languageas he uses it and language as those around him use it. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changesto make his language like other people’s. In the same way, kids learning to do all the other things they learn without adult teachers, to walk, run, climb, ride a bike, play games, compare their ownperformance with what more skilled people do, and slowly make the needed changes. But inschool we never give a child a chance to detect his mistakes. We do it all for him. We act as if wethought he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him. Soon he becomesdependent on the expert. We should let him do it himself. Let him figure out, with the help ofother children if he wants it, what this word says, what is the answer to that problem, whether thisis a good way of saying or doing this or that. If right answers need to be given, as inmathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why shouldwe teachers waste time on such tedious work? Our job should be to help the children when theythe right answer.tell us that they can’t find the way to getQ33 How does a child learn to do something according to the speaker?Q34 What belief do teachers commonly hold according to the speaker?Q35 What does the speaker imply about the current way of teaching?Section CTime is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36)foreign visitor,Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things (37)accomplished on time (accordingto a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38)interpersonal relations.Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39)detail.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40)controlled by the littlemachines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off (41)abruptly to make it to theirnext appointment on time.Americans’ language is filled with (42)references to time, giving a clear (43)indication ofhow much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,”“filled,”“saved,“made the most of,” even “killed.” “gained,”“planned,”“given,” The international visitor soon learns that (44)it is considered very rude to be late -- even by10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearlytime and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven itsachieve more than if one “wastes” worth. (45)It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highlyvalued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely,and setting and working toward specific goals. (46) Americans believe in spending their time andenergy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.。
2012年12月英语四级听力考试真题
2012-12英语四级听力真题Part IIIListening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause .During the pause, you must read the four marked A),B),C) and D),and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11 .A) Find a shortcut to the park. C) Plant trees in the east end of town.B) Buy some roses from the market D) Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.12. A) She has been invited to give a talk . C) She cannot attend the presentation.B) She is going to meet the man at 9:30. D) She cannot work because of her toothache.13. A) He is a very successful businessman. C) He is making plans to expand his operation.B) He has changed his business stratey D) He was twenty when he took over the company14. A) She has every confidencein Susan. C) She is a little bit surprised at the newsB) She has not read the news on the Net. D) She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.15. A) It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus.B) It is worth the money taking a train to MiamiC) It is not always cheaper going by bus.D) It is faster to go to Miami by train.16. A) Antiques can improve their image. C) The old furniture should he replaced.B) Preservation of antiques is important. D) They should move into a new office.17. A) All roads were closed because of the flood. C) The man got home late due to the stormB) The man stayed at the lab the whole night. D) The storm continued until midnight.18.A)Many children feel bored when left alone.B)The womans sons might enjoy team sports.C)The woman'5 kids can play soccer with his son.D)Children should play sports at least once a week.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A)Make phone calls to promote sales. C)Handle complaints from customers.B)Arrange business negotiations. D)Take orders over the phone.20.A)They had different business strategies.B)Cutomers often mistook one for the otherC)Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.D)Customers’questions could not be answered on the same day.21.A)They each take a week. C)They have to take it by turns.B)They like to spend it together. D)They are givcn two weeks each·Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22.A)At a road crossing .C)Near a school.B)outside a police station .D)In front of a kindergarten.23 .A)He drove too fast to read it. C)It says 45 miles an hour.B)He did not notice it . D)It 15 not clearly visible.24.A)It should have been renewed two months ago. C)It is no longer valid.B)It actually belongs to somebody else. D) It 15 not genuine.25.A)He got a ticket. C)He had his driver's license canceled·B)He was fined$35. D) He had to do two weeks, community service.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear ' short passages .At the end of each passage? You will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26.A)They care more about an items price than its use.B)They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.C)They become excited as if they had never been there.D)They behave as if their memories have failed totally.27.A)Those with a VIP card. C)Those needing assistance·B) Those with 15 items or less. D)Those paying in cash.28.A)Go back and pick up more items. C)Change the items they have picked up·B)Take out some unwanted purchases. D)Calculate the total cost of the groceries·29 .A)It calls for carefulness. C)It needs a good knowledge of math.B)It requires tolerance. D)It involves communication skills.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30.A)A package of ideas formally presented. C) A natural and spontaneous style of speech.B)Ashort presentation clearly delivered. D) A clever use of visual aids in presentation.31.A)The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.B)Differences in style between writing and speaking.C)Different preferences of audiences,D)The importance of preparation·32.A)The differences between American and Asian cultures.B)The significance of cross一cultural communication.C)T he increasing importance of public speakingD)The key to becoming a good speakerPassage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33.A) By comparing his performance with others'. C) By observing what their teachers do.B) By being repeatedly corrected by adults. D) By being given constant praise.34.A) The best students are usually smart by nature. C) Children cannot detect their own mistakes.B) It is only natural for children to make errors. D) All children should have equal opportunities.35.A) It is favorable to knowledge accumulation. C) It is unhealthy to students' upbringing.B) It is beneficial to independent children. D) It is unhelpful to students' learning. Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea .When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to flu1 in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36) ________ visitor. Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things(37) ________on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38) ________ relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39) ________. It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40) ________ by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off(41) ________ to make it to their next appointment on time. Americans' language is filled with(42) ________ to time, giving a clear(43) ________of how much it is valued. Time is something to be "on," to be "kept," "filled," "saved," "wasted," "gained,""planned," "given," "made the most of, "even "killed." The international visitor soon learns that (44) _____________________________ .Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one "wastes" time and doesn't keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. (45) _____________________________.Many American proverbs(谚语)stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals(46) _____________________________.。
2012年12月大学英语四级考试真题与答案完整版
Part II Reading comprehension (skimming and scanning)Universities Branch OutAs never before in their long history, universities have become instruments of national competition as well as instruments of peace. They are the place of the scientific discoveries that move economies forward, and the primary means of educating the talent required to obtain and maintain competitive advantage. But at the same time, the opening of national borders to the flow of goods, services, information and especially people has made universities a powerful force for global integration, mutual understanding and geopolitical stability.In response to the same forces that have driven the world economy, universities have become more self-consciously global: seeking students from around the world who represent the entire range of cultures and values, sending their own students abroad to prepare them for global careers,offering course of study that address the challenges of an interconnected world and collaborative (合作的)research programs to advance science for the benefit of all humanity.Of the forces shaping higher education none is more sweeping than the movement across borders. Over the past three decades the number of students leaving home each year to study abroad has grown at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, from 800,000 in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2004.Most travel from one developed nation to another, but the flow from developing to developed countries is growing rapidly. The reverse flow, from developed to developing countries, is on the rise, too. Today foreign students earn 30 percent of the doctoral degrees awarded in the United States and 38 percent of those in the United Kingdom. And the number crossing borders for undergraduate study is growing as well, to 8 percent of the undergraduates at America‘s best institutions and 10 percent of all undergraduates in the U.K.In the United States,20 percent of the newly hired professors in science and engineering are foreign-born, and in China many newly hired faculty members at the top research universities received their graduate education abroad.Universities are also encouraging students to spend some of their undergraduate years in another country. In Europe, more than 140,000 students participate in the Erasmus program each year, taking courses for credit in one of 2,200 participating institutions across the continent. And in the United States, institutions are helping place students in the summer internships (实习)abroad to prepare them for global careers. Yale and Harvard have led the way, offering every undergraduate at least oneinternational study or internship opportunity—and providing the financial resources to make it possible.Globalization is also reshaping the way research is done. One new trend involves sourcing portions of a research program to another country. Yale professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Tian Xu directs a research center focused on the genetics of human disease at Shanghai‘s Fudan University, in collaboration with faculty colleagues from both schools. The Shanghai center has 95 employees and graduate students working in a 4,300-square-meter laboratory seminars with scientists from both campuses. The arrangement benefits both countries; Xu’s Yale lab is more productive, thanks to t he lower costs of conducting research in China, and Chinese graduate students, postdoctors and faculty get on-the-job training from a world -class scientist and his U.S. team.As a result of its strength in science, the United States has consistently led the world in the commercialization of major new technologies, from the mainframe computer and the integrated circuit of the 1960s to the Internet infrastructure (基础设施)and applications software of the 1990s.the link between university-based science and industrial application is often indirect but sometimes highly visible: Silicon Valley was intentionally created by Stanford University, and Route 128 outside Boston has long housed companies spun off from MIT and Harvard. Around the world, governments have encouraged copying of this model, perhaps most successfully in Cambridge, England, where Microsoft and scores of other leading software and biotechnology companies have set up shop around the university.For all its success, the United States remains deeply hesitant about sustaining the research -university model. Most politicians recognize the link between investment in science and national economic strength, but support for research funding has been unsteady. The budget of the National Institutes of Health doubled between 1998 and 2003,but has risen more slowly than inflation since then. Support for the physical sciences and engineering barely kept pace with inflation during that same period. The attempt to make up lost ground is welcome, but the nation would be better served by steady, predictable increases in science funding at the rate of long-term GDP growth, which is on the order of inflation plus 3 percent per year.American politicians have great difficult recognizing that admitting more foreign students can greatly promote the national interest by increasing international understanding. Adjusted for inflation, public funding for international exchanges and foreign-language study is well below the levels of 40 years ago, in the wake ofSeptember 11,changes in the visa process caused a dramatic decline in the number of foreign students seeking admission to U.S. universities, and a corresponding surge in enrollments in Australia, Singapore and the U.K. Objections from American university and the business leaders led to improvements in the process and reversal of the decline, but the United States is still seen by many as unwelcoming to international students.Most Americans recognize that universities contribute to the nation‘s well-being through their scientific research, but many fear that foreign students threaten American competitiveness by taking their knowledge and skills back home. They fail to grasp that welcoming foreign students to the United States has two important positive effects: first, the very best of them stay in the States and—like immigrants throughout history—strengthen the nation; and second, foreign students who study in the United States become ambassadors for many of its most cherished (珍视)values when they return home. Or at least they understand them better. In America as elsewhere, few instruments of foreign policy are as effective in promoting peace and stability as welcoming international university students.1. From the first paragraph we know that present-day universities have become ________.A)more popularized than ever beforeB)in-service training organizationsC)a powerful force for global integrationD)more and more research-oriented2. Over the past decades, the enrollment of overseas students has increased ________.A)at an annual rate of 8 percentB)at an annual rate of 3.9 percentC)by 800,000D)by 2.5 million3. In the United States, how many of the newly hired professors in science and engineering are foreign-born?A)38% B)10% C)30% D)20%4. How do Yale and Harvard prepare their undergraduates for global careers?A)They give them chances for international study or internship.B)They arrange for them to participate in the Erasmus program.C)They offer them various courses in international politics.D)They organize a series of seminars on world economy.5. An example illustrating the general trend of universities ‘globalization is ________.A)Yale‘s establishing branch campuses throughout the worldB)Yale‘s student exchange program with E uropean institutionsC)Yale‘s helping Chinese universities to launch research projectsD)Yale‘s collaboration with Fudan University on genetic research.6. What do we learn about Silicon Valley from the passage?A)It is known to be the birthplace of Microsoft Company.B)It was intentionally created by Stanford University.C)It is where the Internet infrastructure was built up.D)It houses many companies spun off from MIT and Harvard.7. What is said about the U.S. federal funding for research?A)It has increased by 3 percent.B)It doubled between 1998 and 2003.C)It has been unsteady for years.D)It has been more than sufficient.8. The dramatic decline in the enrollment of foreign students in the U.S. after September 11 was caused by ________.9. Many Americans fear that American competitiveness may be threatened by foreign students who will ________.10. The policy of welcoming foreign students can benefit the U.S. in that the very best of them will stay and ________.PartⅢ Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)Section A11.A) He has proved to be a better reader than the woman.B) He has difficulty understanding the book.C) He cannot get access to the assigned book.D) He cannot finish his assignment before the deadline.12.A) She will drive the man to the supermarket.B) The man should buy a car of his own.C) The man needn't go shopping every week.D) She can pick the man up at the grocery store.13.A) Get more food and drinks.B) Ask his friend to come over.C) Tidy up the place.D) Hold a party.14.A) The talks can be held any day except this Friday.B) He could change his schedule to meet John Smith.C) The first-round talks should start as soon as possible.D) The woman should contact John Smith first.15.A) He understands the woman's feelings.B) He has gone through a similar experience.C) The woman should have gone on the field trip.D) The teacher is just following the regulations.16.A) She will meet the man halfway.B) She will ask David to talk less.C) She is sorry the man will not come.D) She has to invite David to the party.17.A) Few students understand Prof. Johnson's lectures.B) Few students meet Prof. Jonson's requirements.C) Many students find Prof. Johnson's lectures boring.D) Many students have dropped Prof. Johnson's class.18.A) Check their computer files.B) Make some computations.C) Study a computer program.D) Assemble a computer.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.A) It allows him to make a lot of friends.B) It requires him to work long hours.C) It enables him to apply theory to practice.D) It helps him understand people better.20.A) It is intellectually challenging.B) It requires him to do washing-up all the time.C) It exposes him to oily smoke all day long.D) It demands physical endurance and patience.21.A) In a hospital.B) At a coffee shop.C) At a laundry.D) In a hotel.22.A) Getting along well with colleagues.B) Paying attention to every detail.C) Planning everything in advance.D) Knowing the needs of customers.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23.A) The pocket money British children get.B) The annual inflation rate in Britain.C) The things British children spend money on.D) The rising cost of raising a child in Britain.24.A) It enables children to live better.B) It goes down during economic recession.C) It often rises higher than inflation.D) It has gone up 25% in the past decade.25.A) Save up for their future education.B) Pay for small personal things.C) Buy their own shoes and socks.D) Make donations when necessary. 来源:考试大-英语四级考试Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the conversation you have just heard.26.A) District managers.B) Regular customers.C) Sales directors.D) Senior clerks.27.A) The support provided by the regular clients.B) The initiative shown by the sales representatives.C) The urgency of implementing the company's plans.D) The important part played by district managers.28.A) Some of them were political-minded.B) Fifty percent of them were female.C) One third of them were senior managers.D) Most of them were rather conservative.29.A) He used too many quotations.B) He was not gender sensitive.C) He did not keep to the point.D) He spent too much time on details.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30.A) State your problem to the head waiter.B) Demand a discount on the dishes ordered.C) Ask to see the manager politely but firmly.D) Ask the name of the person waiting on you.31.A) You problem may not be understood correctly.B) You don't know if you are complaining at the right time.C) Your complaint may not reach the person in charge.D) You can't tell how the person on the line is reacting.32.A) Demand a prompt response.B) Provide all the details.C) Send it by express mail.D) Stick to the point.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33.A) Fashion designerB) Architect.C) City planner.D) Engineer.34.A) Do some volunteer work.B) Get a well-paid part-time job.C) Work flexible hours.D) Go back to her previous post.35.A) Few baby-sitters can be considered trustworthy.B) It will add to the family's financial burden.C) A baby-sitter is no replacement for a mother.D) The children won't get along with a baby-sitter.Section CAlmost every child, on the first day he sets foot in a school building, is smarter, more (36)______, less afraid of what he doesn't know, better at finding and (37) ______ things out, more confident, resourceful (机敏的), persistent and (38) ______ than he will ever be again in his schooling – or, unless he is very (39) ______ and very lucky, for the rest of his life. Already, by paying close attention to and (40) ______ with the world and people around him, and without any school-type (41)______ instruction, he has done a task far more difficult, complicated and (42)______ than anything he will be asked to do in school, or than any of his teachers has done for years. He has solved the (43) ______ of language. He has discovered it – babies don't even know that language exists –and (44) ________________________________________________. He has done it by exploring, by experimenting, by developing his own model of the grammar of language, (45) ________________________________________________ until it does work. And while he has been doing this, he has been learning other things as well, (46) ________________________________________________, and many that are more complicated than the ones they do try to teach him.Part ⅣReading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25 minutes)Section AQuestions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.If our society ever needed a reading renaissance(复兴), it's now. The National Endowment for the Arts released “Reading at Risk” last year, a study showing that adult reading47 have dropped 10 percentage points in the past decade, with the steepest drop among those 18 to 24. “Only one half of young people read a book of any kind in 2002. We set the bar almost on the ground. If you read one short story in a teen—ager magazine, that would have 48 ,” laments a director of research and analysis. He49 the loss of readers to the booming world of technology, which attracts would—be leisure readers to E—mail, IM chats, and video games and leaves them with no time to cope with a novel.“These new forms of media undoubtedly have some benefits,” says Steven Johnson, author of Everything Bad Is Good for You.Video games50 problem—solving skills; TV shows promote mental gymnastics by 51 viewers to follow complex story lines. But books offer experience that can't be gained from these other sources, from52 vocabulary to stretching the imagination. “If they're not reading at all,” says Johnson, “that's a huge problem.”In fact, fewer kids are reading for pleasure. According to data53 last week from the National Center for Educational Statistic's long—term trend assessment, the number of 17—year—olds who reported never or hardly ever reading for fun54 from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004. At the same time, the55 of 17—year—olds who read daily dropped from 31 to 22.This slow but steady retreat from books has not yet taken a toll on reading ability. Scores for the nation's youth have56 constant over the past two decades with an encouraging upswing among 9—year—olds. But given the strong apparent correlation between pleasure reading and reading skills, this means poorly for the future.A. percentB. remainedC. roseD. ratesE. percentageF. countedG. relievedH. presentI. BelievingJ. releasedK. forcing L. improve M. Styles N. building O. attributesSection BPassage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns. It is sometimes placed among “situations vacant”, alth ough it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among “situations wanted”, although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.“Contact us before writing your application”, or “Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history”, is how it is usually expressed. The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right.There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. “Just put down your n ame, address, age and whether you have passed any exams”, was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest.Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach. “Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for”, was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially designed for the job interview.There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.57. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper columns.A)informs job hunters of the opportunities availableB)promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employmentC)divides available jobs into various typesD)informs employers of the people available for work58. Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because. A)there is a lack of jobs available for artistic peopleB)there are so many top level jobs availableC)there are so many people out of workD)the job history is considered to be a work of art59. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would.A)write an initial letter giving their life historyB)pass some exams before applying for a jobC)have no qualifications other than being able to read and writeD)keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview60. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include in the letter.A)something that would distinguish one from other applicantsB)hinted information about the personality of the applicantC)one's advantages over others in applying for the jobD)an occasional trick with the aggressive approach61. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because.A)there has been an increase in the number of jobs advertisedB)there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degreesC)jobs are becoming much more complicated nowadaysD)the other processes of applying for jobs are more complicatedPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time,rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent—controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low—paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages. Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictio ns. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.62. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may.A)cause a shortage of apartmentsB)worry those who rent apartments as homesC)increase the profits of landlordsD)encourage landlords to invest in building apartment63. According to the critics, rent control.A)will always benefit those who rent apartmentsB)is unnecessaryC)will bring negative effects in the long runD)is necessary under all circumstances64. The problem of unemployment will arise.A)if the minimum wage is set too highB)if the minimum wage is set too lowC)if the workers are unskilledD)if the maximum wage is set65. The passage tells us.A)the relationship between supply and demandB)the possible results of government controlsC)the necessity of government controlD)the urgency of getting rid of government controls66. Which of the following statements is NOT true?A)The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.B)Minimum wage can not always protect employees.C)Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.D)Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.Part ⅤCloze (15 minutes)Rumor is the most ___67___way of spreading stories—by passing them on from mouth___68___mouth. But civilized countries in normal times have better ___69___ of news than rumor. They have radio, television, and newspapers. In times of stress and___70___, ___71___, rumor ___72__ and becomes widespread. At such ___73___ the different kinds of news are in___74___,the press, television, and radio versus the grapevine.Especially ___75___ rumors spread when war requires censorship(审查,检查) on many important matters. The customary news sources no longer ___76___ enough information. Since the people cannot learn ___77___ legitimate(合法的,正规的) channel s all ___78___ they are anxious to learn, they pick up “news”___79___they can and when this ___80___, rumor thrives.Rumors are often repeated ___81___ by those who do not believe the tales. There is a fascination about them. The reason is ___82___the cleverly designed rumor gives expression to something deep in the hearts of the victims—the fears, suspicions, forbidden hopes, or daydreams which they hesitate to___83___directly. Pessimistic(悲观的) rumors about defeat and disasters show that the people who repeat them are___84___and anxious. ___85___rumors about record production orpeace soon coming point to complacency(满足,自得) or confidence—and often to ___86___.67. A) primitive B) important C) impossible D) outstanding68. A) till B) to C) for D) by69. A) means B) ways C) sources D) resource70. A) confusion B) peace C) prosperity D) worried71. A) and B) however C) so D) therefore72. A) emerges B) immerge C) immerse D) immense73. A) time B) the times C) times D) the time74. A) compete B) competition C) common D)harmony75. A) do B) did C) are D) were76. A) give up B) give off C) give out D) send off77. A) through B) by C) in D) across78. A) what B) why C) which D) that79. A) wherever B) where C) whatever D) what80. A) happened B) would happen C) happens D) happen81. A) ever B) even C) forever D) much82. A) that B) what C) why D) how83. A) act B) voice C) behave D) do84. A) happy B) relieved C) crazy D) worried85. A) Bad B) Pessimistic C) Optimistic D) Good86. A) overconfidence B) overweight C) overconsiderate D) overproducePart ⅥTranslation (5 minutes)Direction:Complete the sentences on Answer Sheet 2 by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.87.There are so many kinds of tape-recorders on sale that __________________________ (我都拿不定主意买哪一种).88. The light in the office is still on._________________________ (他忘记关了).89. His composition was so confusing that _____________________________ (我简直看不懂).90.As the saying goes, reading without reflecting is like __________________________ (吃饭不消化).91._______________________ (他的回答是这样) that he didn’t say yes and he didn’t say no.。
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2012年12月四级听力Section A ConversationsShort Conversations11.- W:Have you finished that painting for the new student center?M: Just this morning, I’ve been working extra hours all week, you know the building opens tomorrow.Q: What does the man mean?12. M: Do you sell camping gear?W: Yes, we have tents, sleeping bags, just about everything you might need, including stoves.Q: What is the man probably going to do?13. M: Hi Jenny have you talked to Mr Wright about the new sports program?W: well, I contacted his office half an hour ago, and his secretary said he was out for lunch until 2:00.Q: What does the woman mean?14.M:Bill says he’s not working so hard on his biology project.W: But he spends a lot of time in the lab, doesn’t he?Q: What does the woman imply about Bill?15.M: I have to say i find the new smoking regulations too strict.W: Well, they are for everyone’s health. I have no complaints.Q: What are the speakers talking about?16.W: Jack asked me to drop off this report. He’s tight up in meetings all morning.M: I was hoping he brings it in himself, I need to talk with him about it.Q: Why can’t Jack come in person?17.M: Should we invite Mr.Smith to join us for dinner this weekend,he has just come back from England.W: You can have a try, but as far as i know,he seldom accepts invitations from his employees Q: What can we infer about Mr.Smith?18.W: This place doesn’t look familiar at all, we must be lost.M:Yes,it seems so. Let’s pull in here, while i’m filling in the tank,you go ask the way and get me something to drink please.Q: What does the man going to do first?Long Conversation 1M: Well ,did you enjoy it?W: Yes, I enjoy it much more that I thought I would.M: Really?W: Yes, I don’t usually go to science fiction films.I don’t think they are much better than comics on film, if you know what I mean.M : Yes, sure.And a few years ago,they were certainly like that. But they’ve got a lot better now.W: Yes, and historical films, that’s what I really like. I never miss a good film set in middle ages. Oh, and love stories, I never miss one on TV.M: Fondly enough, I don’t like those kinds of films at all. But to come back to this one, I personally didn’t think it was very good . It certainly wasn’t as good as other science fiction films I’ve ever seen.W: Wasn’t it?M: No, not at all. Oh, the effects were very good.W: Yes, I thought they were marvelous. Especially the battle in space, incredable.M: Yes, but I was going to say I thought the acting was terrible.W: Yes. I suppose Jason was too good to be true. And what was the name of the Baddy?M: Cargon?W: Yeah. Cargon was really evil, wasn’t he? But I suppose that’s what these films are all about—good triumphing over evil. And the characters have to be black and white.M: Well ,yes, but not always. Worth the well wasn’t like for example. Anyway, you enjoy the film. That’s the most important.W: Yes, I did. Thanks for taking me.Q:19. What does the man say about the science fiction films?20. What opinion did the speakers share about the film they just seen?21. What to be learned about Jason and Cargon?Long Conversation 2M: Can I ask you about your evening class? What class do you go to?W: Car maintance.M: What night of the week it on?W: Wednesday night.M: And how long does it last?M: Well, it supposed to start at 6, but that’s a bit of problem because people have difficulty getting through the traffic. So we start at 6: 30 and then it goes on until the 9 o’clock.M: And what was your reason for wanting to do the class?W: Well, I just bought my first car and I don’t know anything about cars So I thought it was a good opportunity to learn. I guess most of the peole in the class are in the same situation.M: Um, and what do you actually do? Do you bring the car along to the class?W: Yes, we do. And in the first part of the lesson, the first half hour, the man who runs the class will go though some particular part of the car, and we’ll learn about it. And then we spend the rest of the time, actually working on my own cars, the same problem.M: And how many people are there in the class?W: Mm, I think 16, but 3 quarters of them are women. It’s quite interesing because the man is obiously used to teaching man. And he always starts his sentence by saying, ”Wow, your chops were slow.”And then he stops and says “Oh, any woman, you ladies, but...ur..”M: Mm..sounds funny.Q:22. What does the woman say about her evening class?23. Why did the wman want to attend to the class?24.What do the people who attend the class do in the first part of the lesson?25. What do we learn about participants in the class?Section B PassagesPassage 1We don’t choose friends on the basis of how much money they have, of course, but lots of differences can be disturbing to both sides. Aaron, for example,was single, and earns a very goodsalary. Her friend, Pat, the divorced mother of three, is struggling to make ends meet. “We are both frequent theater-goers,”Aaron explains, “and I’ll gladly pay for two tickets, just to have pass company it plays in concerts , but she won’t go anywhere unless she can pay her own way. I hate to go alone, so we both stay home. It all seems so silly.”Pat sees the situation differently. After her unhappy marrige to a man who was trying to control her without considering her wishes and feelings ,she says, “it’s very important to me to carry my own weight. I’m not comfortable in any relationship where all I do is take. ”The difficult situation finally changed when Aaron moved recently. Pat’s children were with their father, so she took a picnik lunch to her friends ne plays, then spend the day helping her unpack and get settled. “I was so grateful, ”Aarons says, “but I persuaded Pat to let me return the favour in m own way with season tickets to our little theater group. I think she’s beginning to recognize that she contributes as much to our friendship, but I do”26. What do we learn about Pat?27. What draws Aaron and Pat together?28. What does Aaron do to return Pat’s favor?29. What do we learn friendship from the passage?Passage 2Sun School in the town of Ashbert in England is a day school for children age 10 to 18.It is based on the value of social equality between students and stuff, and has few rules.Sun School believes that the healthy growth of the child is more important than academic success. It offers a variety of lessons and activities for students to choose from. In free time for children to follow their own interests.Classes are small,and based on the individual needs of each child. The timetable is fixed.But democratically decided and students are expected to attend.The weekly school meeting is at the center of the way sun school is orgnized.It mix all the decisions that affect theschool,including rules, the timetable and accepting or rejecting new students and teachers.Participating in thease meetings gives children an understand of democratic decision making and helps them develops their skills of argument and persuasion.The most import advantage of the school meeting is that it shows the children that the school is really their’s.They have the right to decide on changes. And the school’s success or failure depends on their decisions and their behavior.Sun School employs no cooking or cleaning stuff,these jobs are done by students and teachers.Decorating and simple repairs are also done by students, it is believed that school truly belongs to who use it, they must take responsibility for its maintenance.30. what value is Sun School based on?31. what is characteristic of the school decision making processur program?32. why does sun school ask the students to do the maintainance?Passage 3Well, to continue, as i mentioned earlier, there is also research that demonstrates that individuals perform worse, not better on tasks when other people are there. R.W.Harburt did an interesting experiment. He had his sujects learn a finger maze. This is a game in which you indicate with your finger the way through a complex system of passages or paths.The subjects who had an audience did worse than the subjects who did alone.Now how can we explain these very different results? It seemed very confusing for a long time. Social psychologist, John Roberts, finally cleared up the confusion about why people sometimes perform better and sometimes worse in front of an audience. Roberts found that thepresence of an audience facilitates what you already know how to do. That is, if you know what you are doing, having an audience helps you do it better.But if you don’t already know how to d something, you will probably make some mistakes and you will make mistakes for a longer time if you have an audience. That’s exactly what happened to the subjects who were learning the finger maze.So, if you were doing well, having an audience increases the chances that you will continue to do well. If you were doing badly, having an audience increases the chances that you will continue to do badly. Roberts cleverly pointed out that when you are first learning something, you are better off working alone than practicing with other people.33. What did the speaker probably discuss before coming to this part of the talk?34. When does the presence of an audience facilitate your performance according to Roberts?35. What does Roberts think as a better way to learn new things?Section C Compound DictationAmericans today have different eating habits than they had in the past. There is a wide selection of food available. They have a broader knowledge of nutrition, so they buy more fresh fruit and vegetables than ever before. At the same time, Americans purchase increasing quantities of sweets and sodas.Statistics show that the way people live determines the way they eat. American life-styles have changed. There are now growing numbers of people who live alone, single parents and children, and double-income families. These changing life styles are responsible for the incresing number of people who must rush meals or sometimes simply go without them. Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food. Partly as a consequence of this limited time, over half of all American homes now have microwave ovens. Moreover, Americans eat out nearly four times a week on average. It is easy to study the amounts and kinds of food that people consume. The United States Department of Agriculture and the food industry collect sales statistics and keep accurate records. This information not only tells us what people are eating but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes. Red meat, which used to be the most popular choice for dinner, is no longer an American favorite. Instead, chicken, turkey, and fish have become more popular. Sales of these foods have greatly increased in recent years.。