2014年12月英语四级考试真题及答案(第1套)
2023年12月英语四级听力真题原文(第1套)
2023年12月英语四级听力真题原文(第1套)News Report 1Have you noticed how similar you are to your friends?It may be because your brains operate in harmony with each other.We know that friends are more likely to be the same age, gender and ethnic background as each other.Now it seems their brains are alike, too.Researchers at the University of California scanned the brains of 42 classmates while they watched videos intended to provoke varying responses.Some people might find a romantic scene touching, for instance, while others would feel it was embarrassing.The activity of friends' brains was more similar than that of people who didn't know each other, particularly in regions involved in attention, emotion and language.This similarity was strong enough that it could be used to predict whether two people were already friends or not.The relationship probably goes two ways.We are drawn to people who think like us; we then influence their thoughts over time, which may push their brain activity into more closely resembling our own.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 1:What may be the reason that friends are similar to each other according to the recent research?Question 2:What does the news report say about the relationship between friends?News Report 2Two men who have been best friends for 60 years have just realized they are actually brothers.Ifs reported that Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald met in the 6th grade at a school in Hawaii.They have been best friends ever since.Alan was given away for adoption soon after he was born, and Walter never knew his father.So recently, they made separate attempts on DNA matching websites to discover more about their ancestry.Walter was astonished to find that he matched with website user Robi 737. He knew immediately that this was his best friend Alan, whose friends call him Robi and flew 737 airplanes when he was a pilot.The pair were bom to the same mother 15 months apart.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 3: What did both Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald attempt todo on DNA matching websites?Question 4: What did the news report say about Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald?News Report 3Amid all the election drama, air pollution problems and disease outbreaks, five tourists' good work is being spread online.Yesterday two male and three female tourists were spotted walking the kilometer-long beach, picking up trash.One of the male tourists from Australia commented that although there was a lot of trash, nobody was doing anything.The beach was not as nice or beautiful as it should be.He felt so sad to see such a gorgeous place littered with so much trash. Thus, he and his friends decided to grab a few trash bags and clean it all up.A man passing by decided to video their good deed and put it on the internet.It was unclear where the rest of the group was from, but they were most likely traveling together.One local woman commented on being embarrassed that tourists were cleaning up their beach.Another mentioned that it was actually the natives who brought food and drinks then left trash all along the island.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 5: Why did one of the male tourists feel sad?Question 6: Who put the good deed video on the internet?Question 7: Why did one local woman say she was embarrass?Conversation 1Hello Benjamin, Dan and I will be going for a run along the canal Saturday morning. Would you like to join us?I'd love to, but I hurt my ankle last weekend playing football with work colleagues.Oh dear, is it serious?No, not at all. I landed badly during a fall and twisted it a little, but it's no big deal.It's just a little swollen and I should be fine for next Saturday if you still want to go for a jog then.I won't be here next Saturday. I'm going to the zoo.The zoo?Yeah. My little nephew turns six, and he loves the zoo, so the whole family is going.Oh, okay then. I haven't been to a zoo since I was a kid.They are nowhere near as popular as they used to be when we were children.I personally feel sorry for the poor animals stuck in cages, but there's no denying they are fun and educational for children.Do you know if Dan will be around next Saturday?Yeah, I think he will. Just send him a text message. He's always keen on physical activities.That's true. Dan is extremely fit and healthy. He goes to the gym most days, plus tennis two or three times a week.So, what have you been doing to stay busy while you've had that swollen ankle?I've been catching up on some reading. I was given three books over Christmas, and I'm only now getting around to reading them.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 8: Why can't the man go for a run Saturday morning?Question 9:Why is the woman's whole family going to the zoo next Saturday? Question 10: What do we learn about Dan from the man's description? Question 11: What has the man been doing since last weekend?Conversation 2Our guest on today's Book Talk is John Black, the author of the new bestseller, Retire Early.Thanks for having me on the show, Lisa.John, your book is getting a lot of attention, partly because you write that most people can retire by 40. Is that realistic?Definitely. When researching this book, I interviewed hundreds of people who retired by 40.Okay, but how much money does a person need to retire? I've read articles recommending one million dollars as a good figure for retirement. While most financial planners do give numbers, I don't think that's useful, as people are living in different areas with different costs of living, and have different needs and wants, which is why I suggest that people aim for financial independence.What do you mean by financial independence?Having investment income that's greater than monthly expenses.That sounds risky to me. What if an accident happens or you get ill and need medical treatment? Shouldn't people have extra cash for emergencies? Too many people spend their lives working on jobs they hate because they're afraid, so I counsel people to take risks. Retirement doesn't have to be permanent, and if people need to, they can go back to work.But it's not always easy to get back into the workforce after an extended absence.True, but if you keep current with your skills, you will be attracted to employers.Maybe, but how can anyone save enough to retire by 40 when most people can't retire at 60?Simple, by cutting housing, food, and transport expenses, and investing half your monthly income.That sounds impossible.I admit it's difficult, but it has worked for thousands.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 12: What do we learn about the man's book published recently? Question 13: What do the articles the woman read recommend?Question 14: What does the man say about retirement?Question 15: How does the man say his proposal about retirement can be carried out?Passage 1New research from America studies the role that the presence of individuals from different social or racial groups has in influencing consumers' food choices.This research found college students were more likely to choose healthy food in the presence of an observer of a different race, as opposed to an observer from their own race.The same was true when they were with someone from a different university, compared to someone from their own.Researchers say this was because participants anticipated more negative judgment from an outsider group.In contrast, they felt less judged by members of their own group.In one experiment, participants were offered the choice between candy and fruit as a snack.When in the presence of an unknown student from their own university, only 12 per cent of students selected the healthier option.However, this number was 31 per cent when in the presence of ae unknown student from another university.Other experiments showed similar results based on racial group.What's the reason for this pattern? The study found that people feel judged to a larger extent by members of other groups.Because of this, they strategically use healthy food choices to make a positive impression.There have been many attempts to help consumers make healthier choices, but consumers often struggle to maintain a healthy diet.This research finds that one way to promote a healthy diet could be to advertise the social benefits of healthy choices.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 16:What was the finding of the new research from America about consumers' food choices?Question 17: When did 31 per cent of students in the experiment select the healthier option?Question 18:How could a healthy diet be promoted according to the findingsof the new research?Passage 2For college students under pressure, a dog may be the best stress fighter around, according to the finding of a recent study."It's a really powerful finding," said Patricia Pendry, who led the study. "Universities are doing a lot of great work trying to help students succeed academically, especially those who may be at risk due to a history of mental health issues or academic and learning issues.This study shows that traditional stress management approaches aren’t as effective for this population compared with programs that focus on providing opportunities to interact with therapy dogs."The researchers measured executive functioning in the students involved in the study.Executive function is a term for the skills one needs to plan, organize, motivate, concentrate and memorize.These are skills students need to succeed in college.The researchers found that students who were most at risk had the most improvements in executive functioning after interacting with therapy dogs.These results remained when researchers followed up six weeks later. Many universities provide academic stress management programs and workshops.These are traditionally very similar to college classes.They often talk about ways to get more sleep, set goals, or manage stress or anxiety.Pendry acknowledges that these are really important topics and these workshops help typical students succeed.But they're less helpful for struggling students.Pendry believes those students may experience the programs as another lecture and feel even more stressed.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 19: What does the recent study led by Patricia Pendry aim to examine?Question 20: What did the new study measure in the participants? Question 21: What does Patricia Pendry think traditional stress management programs may do?Passage 3Taking risks in business does not mean going into business blindly and then expecting great results.On the contrary, taking risks in entrepreneurship involves careful planning and hard work.Nobody can really be sure if risks will be met with success, no matterhow calculated they may be.But this should not stop you from taking risks, as risks are necessary if you want your business to succeed.Some risks may not work out, but an optimistic risk-taker will always look at failure as an opportunity to learn.The willingness to experiment with new ideas is key to business growth. As the old saying goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."Failure will teach you how to think and plan strategically.But just remember that not all risks are good ones, and when you fail, learn it and move forward.Since most people tend to avoid risk, businesses that are brave enough to take risks already have a competitive advantage.They are the ones setting the standard with new ideas, fresh offers and bold inventions.Risktakers are best at adapting in difficult times.Simply put, when most individuals stay away risk, it means less competition for risk-takers.We don't know if you'll achieve what these risk-takers have achieved. But for as long as you want to stay safe, and for as long as you are content with where your business is right now, you will never find out. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 22:What do entrepreneurs have to do when taking risks according to the passage?Question 23: What does the passage say is key to business growth? Question 24: What are we advised to do when we fail?Question 25:What does it mean to risk-taking businesses when most people tend to avoid risk?。
2014年12月全国大学英语四级考试答案及解析(完整版)
听力部分短对话1.B He has not cleared the apartment since his mother’s visit.2.C They might as well take the next bus.3.C She has to do extra work for a few days.4.A change her job.5.D He failed to do what he promised to do.6.B The woman does not like horror films.7.C The speakers share a common view on love.8.A Preparations for a forum.长对话9. B Scandinavia10. D More women will work outside the family11. D Spend more time changing women’s attitudes12. A In a restaurant13. C He is the Managing Director of Jayal Motors14. B To get a good import agent15. D His determination短文第一篇16. What are scientists trying to explain according to the passage?答案：(A) How being an identical twin influences one’s identify.【点评】：细节题。
本篇文章开头即指出‘they(scientists) are trying to explain how being half of the biological pair influences a twin’s identity.’由此可知科学家一直试图想要解释双胞胎的身份人格是如何受到影响的。
2014年12月英语四级考试真题(第1套)
2014年12月四级真题（第1套）注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph fromwhich the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Eachparagraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the correspondingletter on Answer Sheet 2.Ban sugary drinks--that will add fuel to the obesity war[A] On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. Hewas pale and disfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity (肥胖症) leads tomany nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him, includinga couple of fatty children with swollen cheeks pressing against their eyes. These people are part ofwhat is without exaggeration an epidemic (流行病) of obesity.[B] But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea--far from new--that could spare millions of suchpeople a lifetime of chronic (长期病 ) ill health, and at the same time save the National HealthService (NHS) at least ￡14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, beconsiderable public interest in it. This simple idea is that sugar is as good--or as bad--as poisonand should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 yearsago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us.[C] In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction(瘾), to hormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic (新陈代谢的) maffunctions and obesity andfrom there to type 2 d/abetes (糖尿病) and its many horrible complications, ff people really graspedthat, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the "fat man of Europe". They mighteven feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadlystuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance.[D] It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests (既得利益集团) lined up against any sugar control--all the food and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easypickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normallyside, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in ourlives.[E] That is true, but people should realise that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state(保姆国家), to some degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another's health insurance,through socialised medicine, then' we are all closely involved in one another's health, includingeveryone's eating and drinking. That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yetto be admittedwith overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and thatnumber is predicted to double by the year 2050. Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripplethe NHS.[F] Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the st month the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC．published a report saying that obesity isthe greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something.[G] The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of20 percent on sugarydrinks for at least a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be'an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. AsProfessor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are "the ultimate badfood. You are just consuming neat sugar. Your body didn't evolve to handle this kind of thing."[H] Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt(which are very different) pale into insignificancecompared with the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere.[I ] It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, fish or vegetables,that doesn't have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailingscientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as thereally serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity.[J] The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not veryappetising, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavour enhancer, often in theforms of syrups (糖浆) that had recently been developed from corn, and put it generously into mostprepared foods and soft drinks.[K] This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body's metabolism, possibly viathe activity of an appetite-controlling hormone. There's plenty of evidence for this, for those who willaccept the troth.[L] Theoretically, people ought to make"healthy choices" and avoid overeating. But sugar additives arenot easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, over-drinldng and over-eating that makespeople fat is not really their own fault: obesity is in large part something that is being done tothem. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it.[M] Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all thepoisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They arepoisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving smallchildren sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse.[N] Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation,But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools andbanning vending machines (自动售货机) here and there--as suggested by the AMRC report--is notgoing to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning highlevels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks.[O] In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the foodindustry and had not ruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However,nothing has happened yet. Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2014年12月全国大学英语四级真题答案
2014年12月全国大学英语四级考试（第一套）-- 参考答案(仅供参考)【作文范文】The Classmate Who Has Influenced Me Most in CollegeClassmates play an essential role in our life. When it comes to the classmate who has influenced me most in college, undoubtedly. Zhao Lei is the one who comes to my mind first. Zhao Lei is my roommate and my best friend. The reasons why I deem that Zhao Lei has influenced me most are as follows: firstly, one can always find a smile on his face which not only reflects his pleasant and optimistic character but also gives others a good impression. This is what I need to learn from Zhao Lei first. Secondly, Zhao Lei is diligent. He does well in all his subjects. However, he is no bookworm. He joins societies such as basketball club and poetry society. He never plays computer games, and only spends time-and energy on things that are conducive to personal development. Thirdly, Zhao Lei is always ready to help others. I never saw him turn a deaf ear to other's request for help.Thanks to Zhao Lei, I have learned the importance of optimism, diligence and kindness, the indispensable virtues in life.1-8：BDCCCBAA9-11：CBD12-15：BCBC16-18：ADC19-21：ADA22-25：CDAB27. sharp28. fill in for29. probably30. resemble31. focuses on32. specialize33. timing34. invented35. figured out36-45：NOIKJ MHLCB46-55：FIDOK BECLG56-65：BBCAD BCBADTranslationMore and more Chinese young people are gaining interest in tourism, which is a new trend recently. The rising number of young tourists can be attributed to their rapidly increasing income and the curiosity of exploring the outside world. With the increase of traveling, young people spend less time in big cities and famous scenic spots, instead they are more attracted by remote locations. Some even choose long-distance backpacking trip. A recent survey shows that many young people want to experience different culture, enrich knowledge and expand their horizon via traveling.2014年12月全国大学英语四级考试（第二套）-- 参考答案(仅供参考)A Course that Has Impressed Me Most in CollegeDuring my college life, there were so many fantastic courses impressing me deeply. Among them the course which impressed me most is Fundamentals of Law given by Professor Lin Xuezheng.At first I was not very interested in the course. As time goes on, the course and Professor Lin's lecture attracted me greatly. Firstly, in this course, for the first time in my life did I realize that law is related closely lo everyone's life. 1 get to know that people need to know law to turn our country a legal society, and that everyone need the weapon of law to protect his lawful rights and interests. Secondly, in his wonderful lectures Professor Lin cited many vivid examples which have really happened so that we not only grasped knowledge but also learn how to analyze and settle the matters by law. It was in this course that we cultivated legal consciousness.Overall, this course exerted great influence on me and my life. I believe it will still have far-reaching effects on me in the days to come.1-8：BCCADBCA9-11：BDD12-15：ACCD16-18：ABA19-21：DBC22-25：ADCB26. familiar27. put forward28. caution29. live30. alternatives31. ignore32. participated33. in need of34. focus35. judgments36-45：FDKNC EBIGH46-55：BNMAE CGCHL56-65：BCBAD CBCADTranslationGiant panda is a kind of tame animal with unique black-and-white fur. It has been listed as an endangered species due to its very limited number. Panda has a special meaning to WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature). Panda has been its symbol ever since WWF's establishment in 1961. Panda, which lives in the forest of Southwest China, is the rarest member in the bear family. Currently, there are approximately 1,000 giant pandas in the world. These bamboo-eating creatures are now facing many threats. Therefore, to ensureits survival is of greater importance2014年12月全国大学英语四级考试（第三套）-- 参考答案(仅供参考)【作文范文】A Campus Activity that Benefited Me MostUniversity provides many interesting activities to enrich our life on campus. In the past two years, I attended a couple of student societies such as mountain-climbing club andliterature society. The most beneficial activity I participated is attending English Comer. First, attending English Comer offers a great opportunity to draw my attention away from busy studies so that 1 can relax, since the Comer is held in a square. As a college student, most of my time is killed in the classroom and library. At the Corner, I can talk in English with my peers on topics of our interest, so it's a relaxation in tedious school life. Second, joining English Corner significantly improved my oral English as well as English listening comprehension. It's the most efficient way for me to practice spoken English because mine is far better now than before.Third, it is a terrific way of socializing. I can get to know unacquainted students, and make friends with them.Therefore, it is safe to conclude that, attending English Corner has benefited me most among campus activities.1-8：BDCCCBAA9-11：CBD12-15：BCBC16-18：ADC19-21：ADA22-25：CDAB26. land on27. sharp28. fill in for29. probably30. resemble31. focuses on32. specialize33. timing34. invented35. figured out36-45：HNKFJ ELMBG46-55：FDJCI MBHEG56-65：ACBDB DDABCTranslationThe Internet community in China develops fastest in the world. China has about 420 million netizens in 2010, and the number is still growing rapidly. The increasing popularity of Internet has produced a significant social changc. The Chinese netizens are often different from the American netizens. Driven by practical needs, American netizens often use the Internet to send emails, buy and sell goods, do research, plan trips or pay for the bills. While Chinese netizens use the Internet more out of social reasons, therefore, the Internet is more widely used in forums, blogs, chat rooms, and so on.。
2014年6月大学英语四级考试真题(第1套)含参考答案
2014年6月大学英语四级考试真题（第1套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the following topic. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your hometown, what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you 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 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) See a doctor about her strained shoulder.B) Use a ladder to help her reach the tea.C) Replace the cupboard with a new one.D) Place the tea on a lower shelf next time.2. A) At Mary Johnson’s. C) In an exhibition hall.B) At a painter’s studio. D) Outside an art gallery.3. A) The teacher evaluated lacks teaching experience.B) She does not quite agree with what the man said.C) The man had better talk with the students himself.D)New students usually cannot offer a fair evaluation.4. A) He helped Doris build up the furniture.B) Doris helped him arrange the furniture.C) Doris fixed up some of the bookshelves.D) He was good at assembling bookshelves.5. A) He doesn’t get on with the others. C) He has been taken for a fool.B) He doesn’t feel at ease in the firm. D) He has found a better position.6. A) They should finish the work as soon as possible.B) He will continue to work in the garden himself.C) He is tired of doing gardening on weekends.D) They can hire a gardener to do the work.7. A) The man has to get rid of the used furniture.B) The man’s apartment is ready for rent.C) The furniture is covered with lots of dust.D) The furniture the man bought is inexpensive.8. A) The man will give the mechanic a call.B) The woman is waiting for a call.C) The woman is doing some repairs.D) The man knows the mechanic very well.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) She had a job interview to attend.B) She was busy finishing her project.C) She had to attend an important meeting.D) She was in the middle of writing an essay.10. A) Accompany her roommate to the classroom.B) Hand in her roommate’s application form.C) Submit her roommate’s assignment.D) Help her roommate with her report.11. A) W here Dr. Ellis’s office is located. C) Directions to the classroom building.B) When Dr. Ellis leaves his office. D) Dr. Ellis’s schedule for the afternoon. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) He finds it rather stressful. C) He can handle it quite well.B) He is thinking of quitting it. D) He has to work extra hours.13. A) The 6:00 one. C) The 7:00 one.B) The 6:30 one. D) The 7:30 one.14. A) It is an awful waste of time.B) He finds it rather unbearable.C) The time on the train is enjoyable.D) It is something difficult to get used to.15. A) Reading newspapers. C) Listening to the daily news.B) Chatting with friends. D) Planning the day’s work.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2014年12月英语四级考试真题以及答案(第1套)
2014年12月英语四级考试真题以及答案(第1套)2014年12月英语四级考试真题以及答案(第1套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic of "The Importance of Time Management". You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.The Importance of Time ManagementTime management is an essential skill that everyone should possess. It is the process of planning and organizing how much time you spend on various activities to maximize productivity and efficiency. Effective time management can help you achieve your goals, reduce stress, and improve your overall quality of life.Firstly, time management helps you achieve your goals. By setting priorities and allocating time to each task, you can ensure that you are making progress towards your objectives. This can help you stay motivated and focused, and ultimately lead to greater success.Secondly, time management can reduce stress. When you have a lot of tasks to complete, it can be overwhelming and stressful. However, by breaking down your tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks, you can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and make progress towards your goals.Finally, effective time management can improve your overall quality of life. By managing your time effectively, you can create more time for the things that matter most to you, such as spending time with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, or simply relaxing.In conclusion, time management is a crucial skill that can help you achieve your goals, reduce stress, and improve your overall quality of life. By taking the time to plan and organize your activities, you can make the most of your time and achieve greater success.。
2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第一套)
2014 年12 月英语四级考试真题试卷（1）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about a classmate of yours who has influenced you most in college. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.注意：此部分试题在答题卡1 上Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you 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 1 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。
2024年6月大学英语四级考试真题和答案(第1套)
2024年06月大学英语四级考试真题和答案（第1套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: Suppose your university is seeking students’ opinions on whether university libraries should be open to the public. You are now to write an essay to express your view. You will have 30 minutes for the task. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.PartⅡ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B), C) and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Due to a fire alarm in their apartments.B) Because of the smoke and heat damage.C) Due to the water used to extinguish the flames.D) Because of the collapse of the three-story building.2. A) Investigating the cause of the incident.B) Helping search for the suspect of the crime.C) Rescuing the businessmen trapped in the building.D) Checking town records for the property developer.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It plays a less important role in one’s health than nutrient intake.B) It impacts people’s health to a lesser degree than sun exposure.C) It is associated with people’s mental health conditions.D) It is linked with older adults’ symptoms of depression.4. A) It was indefinite.B) It was systematic.C) It was straightforward.D) It was insignificant.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) It has helped solve several murder cases.B) It has become a star police dog in Beijing.C) It has surpassed its mother in performance.D) It has done better than naturally born dogs.6. A) To speed up investigation into criminal cases.B) To test the feasibility of cloning technology.C) To cut down training expenses.D) To reduce their training time.7. A) Cloning is too complicated a process.B) The technology is yet to be accepted.C) Cloning is ethically controversial.D) The technology is too expensive.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A），B），C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) He read it somewhere online.B) He heard about it from a coworker.C) He read an article reviewing it.D) He watched a TV series based on it.9. A) His publications.B) His first book.C) His address.D) His name.10. A) Collect a lot more data.B) Relax a bit less often.C) Clarify many new concepts.D) Read more reference books.11. A) Find out the show’s most interesting episodes.B) Watch the series together with the woman.C) Get an e-copy of the book to read.D) Check to see when the show starts.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) To check the prices of his farm produce.B) To ask the way to the Newcastle City Hall.C) To inquire about the vegetarian food festival.D) To seek the man’s help with her work on the farm.13. A) Bakers.B) Vendors.C) Vegetarians.D) Organisers.14. A) The issuing of certificates to vendors.B) The completion of the baking task.C) The festival they are organising.D) The deadline for application.15. A) The closing date of submission.B) The website of his company.C) The details of the ceremony.D) The organiser’s address.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) Most scenic sites have been closed.B) Access to official campsites is limited.C) Health experts advise going outdoors.D) People have more time during the summer.17. A) It is strongly opposed by nearby residents.B) It leads to much waste of public money.C) It has caused environmental concerns.D) It has created conflicts among campers.18. A) Look for open land in Scotland.B) Leave no trace of their camping.C) Avoid getting close to wilderness.D) Ask for permission from authorities.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They outcompete mythical creatures.B) They usually mind their own business.C) They truly exist in the Amazon region.D) They resemble alarmingly large snakes.20. A) Scar tissue from dolphins’ fighting.B) Skin infection from water pollution.C) Unhealed wounds from snake bites.D) Swimming along in seasonal floods.21. A) It has been shrinking at an astonishing pace.B) It has been placed under international protection.C) It has been appealing to both freshwater and sea dolphins.D) It has been abandoned as a battleground for male dolphins.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) About 58% of young adults call parental support the new normal.B) Most adult children enjoy increasing sources of financial support.C) A full 70% of the young adults cannot afford to buy a car by themselves.D) Most early adults cannot sustain their lifestyles without parental support.23. A) It renders them dependent.B) It causes them to lose dignity.C) It makes them mentally immature.D) It hinders them from getting ahead.24. A) It challenges one’s willpower.B) It results from education.C) It calls for due assistance.D) It defines adulthood.25. A) Current lifestyles.B) Poor budgeting.C) College loans.D) Emergency expenses.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once．It’s well known that physical exercise is beneficial not just to physical health but also to mental health. Yet whereas most countries have____26____, evidence-backed guidelines on the type and intensity of exercise____27____for various physical health benefits, such guidelines do not yet exist for exercise and mood.This is____28____due to a lack of necessary evidence. However, a new systematic review brings us usefully up-to-date on the current findings in this area.Before____29____into some of the key take-aways, animportant____30____made in the review is between aerobic exercise and anaerobic. The former____31____such things as walking, jogging and cycling and means exercising in such a way that your body is able to use oxygen to burn fat for energy. In contrast, anaerobic exercise—such as lifting heavy weights—is of such____32____intensity that your body does not have time to use oxygen to create energy and so instead it breaks down glucose (葡萄糖) in your blood or muscles.Beginning first with the influence of exercise intensity on the moodbenefits of aerobic exercise, the researchers, led by John Chan at Shenzhen University, found____33____results from 19 relevant studies. Some favoured higher intensity, others low, while seven studies found that intensity made no____34____to mood benefits.In relation to the intensity of anaerobic exercise, however, the results were far clearer—the optimum (最佳选择) for improving moodis____35____intensity, perhaps because low intensity is too dull while high intensity is too unpleasant.A) constitutesB) contradictoryC) decisionD) detailedE) differenceF) dippingG) distinctionH) fallingI) involvesJ) moderateK) notifiedL) partlyM) requiredN) traditionallyO) vigorousSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Why Do Americans Work So Much?A) How will we all keep busy when we only have to work 15 hours a week? That was the question that worried the British economist John Maynard Keynes when he wrote his short essay “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren” in 1930. Over the next century, he predicted, the economy would become so productive that people would barely need to work at all. For a while, it looked like Keynes was right. In 1930 the average working week was 47 hours in the United States. But by 1970, the number of hours Americans worked on average had fallen to slightly less than 39.B) But then something changed. Instead of continuing to decline, the duration of the working week remained stable. It has stayed at just below 40 hours for nearly five decades. So what happened? Why are people working just as much today as in 1970?C) There would be no mystery in this if Keynes had been wrong about the power of technology to increase the economy’s productivity, which he thought would lead to a standard of living “between four and eight times as high as it is today.” But Keynes got that right: Technology has made the economy massively more productive. According to Benjamin M. Friedman, an economist at Harvard, the U.S. economy is right on track to reach Keynes’s eight-fold (八倍) multiple by 2029. That is a century after the last data Keynes would have had access to.D) In a new paper, Friedman tries to figure out why that increased productivity has not translated into increased leisure time. Perhaps people just never feel materially satisfied, always wanting more money to buy the next new thing. This is a theory that appeals to many economists. “This argument is, at best, far from sufficient,” he writes. If that were the case, why did the duration of the working week decline in the first place?E) Another theory Friedman considers is that, in an era of ever fewer settings that provide effective opportunities for personal connections and relationships, people may place more value on the socializing that happens at work. There is support for this theory. Many people today consider colleagues as friends. But Friedman argues that the evidence for this theory is far from conclusive. Many workers report that they would like to spend more time with family, rather than at work. Furthermore, this theory cannot explain the change in trend in the U.S. working week in the 1970s.F) A third possibility proves more convincing for Friedman. That is: American inequality means that the gains of increasing productivity are not widely shared by everyone. In other words, most Americans are too poor to work less. Unlike the other two explanations Friedman considers, this one fits chronologically (按年代). Inequality declined in America during the period following World War II, along with the duration of the working week. But since the early 1970s it has risen dramatically.G) Keynes’s prediction of a shorter working week rests on the idea that the standard of living would continue rising for everyone. But Friedman says that this is not what has happened. Although Keynes’s eight-fold figure holds up for the economy as a whole, it is not at all the case for the median (中位数的) American worker. For them, output by 2029 is likely to be around 3.5 times what it was when Keynes was writing. This is a bit below his fourto eight-fold predicted range.H) This can be seen in the median worker’s income over this time period, complete with a shift in 1973 that fits in precisely with when the working week stopped shrinking. According to Friedman, between 1947 and 1973 the average hourly wage for normal workers (those who were not in management roles) in private industries other than agriculture nearly doubled in terms of what their money could buy. But by 2013 the average hourly wagefor ordinary workers had fallen 5 percent from the 1973 level in terms of actual purchasing power. Thus, though American incomes may have gone up since 1973, the amount that American workers can actually buy with their money has gone down. For most Americans, then, the magic of increasing productivity stopped working around 1973. Thus, they had to keep working just as much in order to maintain their standard of living.I) What Keynes predicted was a very optimistic version of what economists call technological unemployment. This is the idea that less labor will be necessary because machines can do so much. In Keynes’s vision, the resulting unemployment would be distributed more or less evenly across society in the form of increased leisure. But Friedman says that, for Americans, reality is much darker. Americans now have a labor market in which millions of people—those with fewer skills and less education —are seeking whatever poorly paid work they can get. This is confirmed by a recent poll that found that, for half of hourly workers, their top concern is not that they work too much but that they work too little. This is most likely not because they like their jobs so much. Rather, we can assume it is because they need the money.J) This explanation leaves an important question. If the very rich—the workers who have reaped above-average gains from the increased productivity since Keynes’s time—can afford to work less, why do they continue to work so much? (Indeed, research has shown that the highest earners in America tend to work the most.) Friedman believes that for many top earners, work is a labor of love. They are doing work they care about and are interested in, and doing more of it is not necessarily a burden. For them, it may even be a pleasure. These top earners derive meaning from their jobs and work is an important part of how they think of themselves. And, of course, they are compensated for it at a level that makes it worth their while.K) Friedman concludes that the prosperity (繁荣) Keynes predicted is here. After all, the economy as a whole has grown even more brilliantly than he expected. But for most Americans, that prosperity is nowhere to be seen. And, as a result, neither are those shorter working weeks.36. Some people view socializing at the workplace as a chance to develop personal relationships.37. As ordinary American workers’ average hourly pay had decreased despite increasing productivity, they had to work just as many hours as before to keep their living standards.38. American workers’ average weekly working time has not changed for nearly half a century.39. Friedman believes inequality in the U.S. largely explains why increasing productivity has not resulted in reduced working hours. 40. Many economists assume people’s thirst for material things has prevented them from enjoying more leisure time.41. An economist’s prediction about a shorter average working week seemed to be correct for a time in the 20th century.42. In the U.S. labor market, the primary concern of people with less schooling and fewer skills is to secure any employment even if it is low-paid.43. Keynes was right in predicting that technology would make the economy much more productive.44. Many of the highest earners have a keen interest in and love for what they are doing.45. According to Keynes, there would be a shorter working week with everyone’s standard of living continuing to rise.Section CDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Lao Zi once said, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”People-pleasing, or seeking self-worth through others’ approval, is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life. Why do we allow what others think of us to have so much power over how we feel about ourselves? If it’s true that you can’t please all people all of the time, wouldn’t it make sense to stop trying?Unfortunately, sense often isn’t driving our behavior. For social beings who desire love and belonging, wanting to be liked, and caring about the effect we have on others, is healthy and allows us to make connections. However, where we get into trouble is when our self-worth is dependent upon whether we win someone’s approval or not.This need to be liked can be traced back to when we were children and were completely dependent on others to take care of us: Small children are not just learning how to walk and communicate, they are also trying to learn how the world works. We learn about who we are and what is expected of us based on interactions with others, so, to a four-year-old, if Mommy or Daddy doesn’t like him or her, there is the danger that they will abandon them. We need to understand that when we desperately want someone to approve of us, it’s being driven by that little kid part of us that is still terrified of abandonment.As you become more capable of providing yourself with the approval you seek, your need for external validation will start to vanish, leaving youstronger, more confident, and yes, happier in your life. Imagine how much time we lose each moment we restrain our authenticselves in an effort to be liked.If we base our worth on the opinions of others, we cheat ourselves of the power to shape our experiences and embrace life not only for others but also for ourselves, because ultimately, there is no difference. So embrace the cliché(老话) and love yourself as it’s highly doubtfulthat you’ll regret it.46. What can we conclude from Lao Zi’s quotation?A) We should see through other people’s attempt to make a prisoner of us.B) We can never really please other people even if we try as hard as we can.C) We can never be truly free if taking to heart others’ opinion of us.D) We should care about other people’s view as much as they care about our own.47. What will happen if we base our self-worth on other people’s approval?A) Our desire to be loved will be fulfilled.B) Our life will be unfruitful and exhausting.C) Our identity as social beings will be affected.D) Our sense of self will be sharpened and enhanced.48. What may account for our need to be liked or approved of?A) Our desperate longing for interactions with others.B) Our understanding of the workings of the world.C) Our knowledge about the pain of abandonment.D) Our early childhood fear of being deserted.49. What can we do when we become better able to provide ourselves with the desiredapproval?A) Enjoy a happier life.B) Exercise self-restraint.C) Receive more external validation.D) Strengthen our power of imagination.50. What does the author advise us to do in the last paragraph?A) Embrace life for ourselves and for others.B) Base our worth on others’ opinions.C) See our experiences as assets.D) Love ourselves as we are.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom. However, a growing body of research suggeststhat late-in-life learning is possible. In reality, education does an aging brain good.Throughout life, people’s brains constantly renovate themselves. In the late 1960s, British brain scientist Geoffrey Raisman spied growth in damaged brain regions of rats through an electron microscope; their brains were forging new connections. This meant brains may change every time a person learns something new.Of course, that doesn’t mean the brain isn’t affected by the effects of time. Just as height usually declines over the years, so does brain volume: Humans lose about 4 percent every decade starting in their 40s. But that reduction doesn’t necessarily make people think slower; as long as we are alive and functioning, we can alter our brains with new information and experiences.In fact, scientists now suspect accumulating novel experiences, facts, and skills can keep people’s minds more flexible. New pathways can strengthen our ever-changing mental structure, even as the brain shrinks.Conventional fixes like word puzzles and brain-training apps can contribute to mental durability. Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.A desire for new life challenges can further boost brainpower. Research about aging adults who take on new enterprises shows improved function and memory as well as a reduced risk of mental disease. Openness —a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge—may also help folks pass brain tests. Some folks are born with thistake-in-theworld attitude, but those who aren’t as genetically gifted aren’t necessarily out of luck. While genes can encourage an interest in doing new things, a 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences, which can, in turn, refresh the brain. That’s why brain scientist Richard Kennedy says “It’s not that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. It’s that maybe old dogs don’t realize why they should. ”51. What do some people think of aging adults?A) Their wisdom grows as time goes by.B) Their memory gradually deteriorates.C) They can benefit from late-in-life learning.D) They are likely to have mental health issues.52. What can we conclude from Geoffrey Raisman’s finding?A) Brain damage seriously hinders one’s learning.B) Brain power weakens slower than we imagine.C) Brains can refresh and improve with learning.D) Brains forge connections under new conditions.53. What is one thing that helps maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks?A) Doing daily routines by conventional means.B) Avoiding worrying about our mental durability.C) Imitating old dogs’ way of learning new tricks.D) Approaching everyday tasks in novel ways.54. What does the author say can contribute to the improvement of brain function?A) Being curious and desiring knowledge.B) Being eager to pass brain tests at an old age.C) Rising to life’s challenges and avoiding risks.D) Boosting immunity to serious mental diseases.55. What is the finding of the 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging?A) Wishing to solve puzzles enhances one’s reasoning power.B) Playing number games unexpectedly stimulates one’s memory.C) Desiring new experiences can help to renovate the brain.D) Learning new tricks should not be confined to old dogs only.Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chineseinto English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.四合院（siheyuan）是中国一种传统的住宅建筑，其特点是房屋建造在一个院子的四周，将院子合围在中间。
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passage, you will hoar some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be
spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose tho best answer from
15. A ． His flexibility.
B． His vision.
C． His intelligence.
D． His determination.
Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hoar 3 short passages. At tho end of each
9. A ． France.
B． Scandinavia.
C． Russia.
D． East Europe.
10. A ． More women will be promoted in the workplace.
B． More women will overcome their inadequacies.
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8. A ． Preparations for a forum.
B． Participants in the forum.
C． Organizers of a forum.
D． Expectations of the forum. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
1 上作答。
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. A ． How being an identical twin influences one's identity.
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2
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B． Why some identical twins keep their identities secret. C． Why some identical twins were separated from birth. D． How identical twins are born, raised and educated. 17. A ． Their second wives were named Linda. B． They grew up in different surroundings. C． Their first children were both daughters. D． They both got married when they were 39. 18. A ． They want to fred out the relationship between environment and biology. B． They want to see what characteristics distinguish one from the other. C． They want to understand how twins communicate when far apart. D． They want to know whether twins can feel each other's pain. Passage Two Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. A ． It is especially attractive to children and the young. B． It is the first choice of vacationers on the Continent. C． It is as comfortable as living in a permanent house. D． It is an inexpensive way .of spending a holiday. 20. A ． It has a solid plastic frame. B． It consists of an inner and an outer tent. C． It is very convenient to set up. D． It is sold to many Continental countries. 21. A ． A groundsheet. B． A gas stove. C． A kitchen extension. D． A spare tent. Passage Three Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22. A ． It covers 179 square "miles. B． It is as big as New York City. C． It covers 97 square kilometers. D． It is only half the size of Spain. 23. A ． Its geographic features attracted many visitors. B． Its citizens enjoyed a peaceful, comfortable life. C． It imported food from foreign countries. D． It was cut off from the rest of the world. 24. A ． The fast development of its neighboring countries. B． The increasing investment by developed countries. C． The building of roads connecting it with neighboring countries. D． The establishing of diplomatic relations with France and Spain. 25. A ． They work on their farms. B． They work in the tourist industry. C． They raise domestic animals. D． They make traditional handicrafts. Section C
C． More women will receive higher education.
D． More women will work outside the family.
11. A ． Try hard to protect women's rights. B． Educate men to respect women more.
12. A ． In a restaurant.
B． In a hotel lobby.
C． At the man's office.
D． At the woman's place.
13. A ． He is the chief designer of the latest bike model.
B． He has completed an overseas market survey. C． He is the Managing Director of Jayal Motors.
tho four choices marked A． , B． , C． andD． . Then mark tho corresponding letter on
Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through tho centre.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 Passage One
D． He has just come back from a trip to Africa.
14. A ． To select the right model.
B． To get a good import agent.
C． To convince the board members.
D． To cut down production costs.
C． Help women acquire more professional skills.
D． Spend more time changing women's attitudes.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
2014 年 12 月四级真题（第 1 套）
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。 Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) 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 ． andD ． , and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。 1. A ． The woman is fussy about the cleanness of the apartment. B． He has not cleaned the apartment since his mother's visit. C． He does not remember when his mother canoe over. D． His mother often helps him to clean the apartment. 2. A ． The bus stop is only two minutes' walk. B． The nmning made him short of breath. C． They might as well take the next bus. D． The woman is late by a couple of minutes. 3. A ． She is suffering a pain in her neck. B． She is likely to replace Miss Smith. C． She has to do extra work for a few days. D． She is quite sick of working overtime. 4. A ． Change her job. B． Buy a dishwasher. C． Open a flower shop. D． Start her own business. 5. A ． He forgot where he had left the package. B． He slipped on his way to the post office. C． He wanted to deliver the package himself. D． He failed to do what he promised to do. 6. A ． The speakers do not agree with each other. B． The woman does not like horror films. C． The man pays for the tickets as a rule. D． The speakers happened" to meet in the cinema. 7. A ． The woman is just as unlucky as the man. B． The woman is more sensitive than the man. C． The speakers share a common view on love. D． The speakers are unhappy with their marriage.