[英语四级作文]2016年12月英语四级考试真题:第三套作文范文

合集下载

2016年12月英语四级真题及答案第三套

2016年12月英语四级真题及答案第三套

2016年12月英语四级真题及答案第三套Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to work in a state-ownedbusiness and the other in a joint venture.You are to make a choice betweenthe two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You shouldwrite at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news reportand 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 1with a singleline through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) To satisfy the curiosity of tourists.B) To replace two old stone bridges.C) To enable tourists to visit Goat Island.D) To improve utility services in the state.2. A) Countless tree limbs.B) A few skeletons.C) Lots of wrecked boats and ships.D) Millions of coins on the bottom.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It suspended diplomatic relations with Libya.B) It urged tourists to leave Tunisia immediately.C) It shut down two border crossings with Libya.D) It launched a fierce attack against Islamic State.4. A) Advise Tunisian civilians on how to take safety precautions.B) Track down the organization responsible for the terrorist attack.C) Train qualified security personnel for the Tunisian government.D) Devise a monitoring system on the Tunisian border with Libya.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) An environment-friendly battery.B) An energy-saving mobile phone.C) A plant-powered mobile phone charger.D) A device to help plants absorb sunlight.6. A) While sitting in their schools courtyard.B) While playing games on their phones.C) While solving a mathematical problem.D) While doing a chemical experiment.7. A) It increases the applications of mobile phones.B) It speeds up the process of photosynthesis.C) It improves the reception of mobile phones.D) It collects the energy released by plants.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversationand 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 singleline through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) He visited the workshops in the Grimsby plant.B) He called the woman and left her a message.C) He used stand-ins as replacements on all lines.D) He asked a technician to fix the broken production line.9. A) It is the most modern production line.B) It assembles super-intelligent robots.C) It has stopped working completely.D) It is going to be upgraded soon.10. A) To seek her permission.B) To place an order for robots.C) To request her to return at once.D) To ask for Tom’s phone number.11. A) She is on duty.B) She is having her day off.C) She is on sick leave.D) She is abroad on business.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) He saved a baby boy’s life.B) He wanted to be a superhero.C) He prevented a train crash.D) He was a witness to an accident.13. A) He has a 9-month-old boy.B) He is currently unemployed.C) He enjoys the interview.D) He commutes by subway.14. A) A rock on the tracks.B) A misplaced pushchair.C) A strong wind.D) A speeding car.15. A) She stood motionless in shock.B) She cried bitterly.C) She called the police at once.D) She shouted for help.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 questionswill be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose thebest answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then markthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line throughthe centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) She inherited her family ice-cream business in Billings.B) She loved the ice-cream business more than teaching primary school.C) She started an ice-cream business to finance her daughter’s education.D) She wanted to have an ice-cream truck when she was a little girl.17. A) To preserve a tradition.B) To amuse her daughter.C) To help local education.D) To make some extra money.18. A) To raise money for business expansion.B) To make her truck attractive to children.C) To allow poor kids to have ice-cream too.D) To teach kids the value of mutual support.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) The reasons for imposing taxes.B) The various services money can buy.C) The various burdens on ordinary citizens.D) The function of money in the modern world.20. A) Educating and training citizens.B) Improving public transportation.C) Protecting people’s life and property.D) Building hospitals and public libraries.21. A) By asking for donations.B) By selling public lands.C) By selling government bonds.D) By exploiting natural resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) It is located at the center of the European continent.B) It relies on tourism as its chief source of revenues.C) It contains less than a square mile of land.D) It is surrounded by France on three sides.23. A) Its beauty is frequently mentioned in American media.B) Its ruler Prince Rainier married an American actress.C) It is where many American movies are shot.D) It is a favorite place Americans like to visit.24. A) Tobacco.B) Potatoes.C) Machinery.D) Clothing.25. A) European history.B) European geography.C) Small countries in Europe.D) Tourist attractions in Europe.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 wordbank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully beforemaking your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 witha single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words inthe bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.The ocean is heating up. That’s the conclusion of a new study that finds that Earth’s oceans now 26 heat at twice the rate they did 18 years ago. Around half of ocean heat intake since 1865 has taken place since 1997, researchers report online in Nature Climate Change.Warming waters are known to 27 to coral bleaching (珊瑚白化) and they take up more space than cooler waters, raising sea 28 . While the top of the ocean is well studied, its depths are more difficult to 29 . The researchers gathered 150 years of ocean temperature data in order to get a better 30 of heat absorption from surface to seabed. They gathered together temperature readings collected by everything from a 19th century 31 of British naval ships to modern automated ocean probes. The extensive data sources, 32 with computer simulations (计算机模拟), created a timeline of ocean temperature changes, including cooling from volcanic outbreaks and warming from fossil fuel 33 .About 35 percent of the heat taken in by the oceans during the industrial era now resides at a 34 of more than 700 meters, the researchers found. They say they’re 35 whether the deep-sea warming canceled out warming at the sea’s surface.Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of theparagraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked witha letter. Answer the question by marking the corresponding letter onAnswer Sheet 2.The Secret to Raising Smart Kids[A] I first began to investigate the basis of human motivation—and how peoplepersevere after setbacks—as a psychology graduate student at Yale University in the 1960s. Animal experiments by psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania had shown that after repeated failures, most animals conclude thata situation is hopeless and beyond their control. After such an experience ananimal often remains passive even when it can effect change—a state they called learned helplessness.[B] People can learn to be helpless, too. Why do some students give up when theyencounter difficulty, whereas others who are no more skilled continue to strive and learn? One answer, I soon discovered, lay in people’s beliefs about why theyhad failed.[C]In particular, attributing poor performance to a lack of ability depressesmotivation more than does the belief that lack of effort is to blame. When I told a group of school children who displayed helpless behavior that a lack of effort led to their mistakes in math, they learned to keep trying when the problems got tough. Another group of helpless children who were simply rewarded for their success on easier problems did not improve their ability to solve hard math problems. These experiments indicated that a focus on effort can help resolve helplessness and generate success.[D]Later, I developed a broader theory of what separates the two general classesof learners-helpless versus mastery-oriented. I realized these different types of students not only explain their failures differently, but they also hold different “theories” of intell igence. The helpless ones believe intelligence is a fixed characteristic: you have only a certain amount, and that’s that. I call this a “fixed mind-set (思维模式) .” Mistakes crack their self-confidence because they attribute errors to a lack of ability, which they feel powerless to change. They avoid challenges because challenges make mistakes more likely.The mastery-oriented children, on the other hand, think intelligence is not fixed and can be developed through education and hard work. Such children believe challenges are energizing rather than intimidating (令人生畏); they offer opportunities to learn. Students with such a growth mind-set were destined (注定) for greater academic success and were quite likely to outperform their counterparts.[E] We validated these expectations in a study in which two other psychologists andI monitored 373 students for two years during the transition to junior high school,when the work gets more difficult and the grading more strict, to determine how their mind-sets might affect their math grades. At the beginning of seventh grade,we assessed the students’ mind-sets by asking them to agree or disagree with statements such as “Your intelligence is something very basic about you that you can’t really change.” We then assessed their beliefs about other aspects of learning and looked to see what happened to their grades.[F] As predicted, the students with a growth mind-set felt that learning was a moreimportant goal than getting good grades. In addition, they held hard work in high regard. They understood that even geniuses have to work hard. Confronted by a setback such as a disappointing test grade, students with a growth mind-set said they would study harder or try a different strategy. The students who held a fixed mind-set, however, were concerned about looking smart with less regard for learning. They had negative views of effort, believing that having to work hard was a sign of low ability. They thought that a person with talent or intelligence did not need to work hard to do well. Attributing a bad grade to their own lack of ability, those with a fixed mind-set said that they would study less in the future, try never to take that subject again and consider cheating on future tests.[G] Such different outlooks had a dramatic impact on performance. At the start ofjunior high, the math achievement test scores of the students with a growth mind-set were comparable to those of students who displayed a fixed mind-set.But as the work became more difficult, the students with a growth mind-set showed greater persistence. As a result, their math grades overtook those of the other students by the end of the first semester—and the gap between the two groups continued to widen during the two years we followed them.[H]A fixed mind-set can also hinder communication and progress in the workplaceand discourage or ignore constructive criticism and advice. Research shows that managers who have a fixed mind-set are less likely to seek or welcome feedback from their employees than are managers with a growth mind-set.[I] How do we transmit a growth mind-set to our children? One way is by telling storiesabout achievements that result from hard work. For instance, talking about mathematical geniuses who were more or less born that way puts students in a fixed mind-set, but descriptions of great mathematicians who fell in love with math and developed amazing skills produce a growth mind-set.[J] In addition, parents and teachers can help children by providing explicit instruction regarding the mind as a learning machine. I designed an eight-session workshop for 91 students whose math grades were declining in their first year of junior high. Forty-eight of the students received instruction in study skills only, whereas the others attended a combination of study skills sessions and classes in which they learned about the growth mind-set and how to apply it to schoolwork. In the growth mind-set classes, students read and discussed an article entitled “You Can Grow Your Brain.” They were taught that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with use and that learning prompts the brain to grow new connections. From such instruction, many students began to see themselves as agents of their own brain development. Despite being unaware that there were two types of instruction, teachers reported significant motivational changes in 27% of the children in the growth mind-set workshop as compared with only 9% of students in the control group.[K] Research is converging (汇聚) on the conclusion that great accomplishment and even genius is typically the result of years of passion and dedication and not something that flows naturally from a gift.36. The author’s experiment shows that students with a fixed mind-set believe havingto work hard is an indication of low ability.37. Focusing on effort is effective in helping children overcome frustration andachieve success.38. We can cultivate a growth mind-set in children by telling success stories thatemphasize hard work and love of learning.39. Students’ belief about the cause of their failure explains the ir attitude towardsetbacks.40. In the author’s experiment, students with a growth mind-set showed greaterperseverance in solving difficult math problems.41. The author conducted an experiment to find out about the influence of students’mind-sets on math learning.42. After failing again and again, most animals give up hope.43. Informing students about the brain as a learning machine is a good strategy toenhance their motivation for learning.44. People with a fixed mind-set believe that one’s intelli gence is unchangeable.45. In the workplace, feedback may not be so welcome to managers with a fixedmind-set.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 fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choiceand mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on following passage.“Sugar, alcohol and tobacco,” economist Adam Smith once wrote, “are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which have become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are, therefore, extremely popular subjects of taxation.”Two and a half centuries on, most countries impose some sort of tax on alcohol and tobacco. With surging obesity levels putting increasing strain on public healthsystems, governments around the world have begun to toy with the idea of taxing sugar as well.Whether such taxes work is a matter of debate. A preliminary review of Mexico’s taxation found a fall in purchases of taxed drinks as well as a rise in sales of untaxed and healthier drinks. By contrast, a Danish tax on foods high in fats was abandoned a year after its introduction, amid claims that consumers were avoiding it by crossing the border to Germany to satisfy their desire for cheaper, fattier fare.The food industry has, in general, been firmly opposed to such direct government action. Nonetheless, the renewed focus on waistlines means that industry groups are under pressure to demonstrate their products are healthy as well as tasty.Over the past three decades, the industry has made some efforts to improve the quality of its offerings. For example, some drink manufactures have cut the amount of sugar in their beverages.Many of the reductions over the past 30 years have been achieved either by reducing the amount of sugar, salt or fat in a product, or by finding an alternative ingredient. More recently, however, some companies have been investing money in a more ambitious undertaking: learning how to adjust the fundamental make-up of the food they sell. For example, having salt on the outside, but none on the inside, reduces the salt content without changing the taste.While reformulating recipes (配方) is one way to improve public health, it should be part of a multi-sided approach. The key is to remember that there is not just one solution. To deal with obesity, a mixture of approaches—including reformulation, taxation and adjusting portion sizes—will be needed. There is no silver bullet.46. What did Adam Smith say about sugar, alcohol and tobacco?A) They were profitable to manufacture.B) They were in ever-increasing demand.C) They were subject to taxation almost everywhere.D) They were no longer considered necessities of life.47. Why have many countries started to consider taxing sugar?A) They are under growing pressures to balance their national budgets.B) They find it ever harder to cope with sugar-induced health problems.C) They practice of taxing alcohol and tobacco has proved both popular andprofitable.D) The sugar industry is overtaking alcohol and tobacco business in generatingprofits.48. What do we learn about Danish taxation on fat-rich foods?A) It did not work out as well as was expected.B) It gave rise to a lot of problems on the border.C) It could not succeed without German cooperation.D) It met with firm opposition from the food industry.49. What is the more recent effort by food companies to make foods and drinks bothhealthy and tasty?A) Replacing sugar or salt with alternative ingredients.B) Setting a limit on the amount of sugar or salt in their products.C) Investing in research to find ways to adapt to consumers’ needs.D) Adjusting the physical composition of their products.50. What does the author mean by saying, at the end of the passage, “There is nosilver bullet” (Line 4, Para. 7)?A) There is no single easy quick solution to the problem.B) There is no hope of success without public cooperation.C) There is no hurry in finding ways to solve the obesity problem.D) There is no effective way to reduce people’s sugar consumption.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.You may have heard some of the fashion industry horror stories: models eating tissues or cotton balls to hold off hunger, and models collapsing from hunger-inducedheart attacks just seconds after they step off the runway.Excessively skinny models have been a point of controversy for decades, and two researchers say a model’s body mass should be a workplace health and safety issue. In an editorial released Monday in the American Journal of Public Health, Katherine Record and Bryn Austin made their case for government regulation of the fashion industry.The average international runway model has a body mass index (BMI) under 16-low enough to indicate starvation by the World Health Organization’s standard. And Record and Austin are worried not just about the models themselves, but about the vast number of girls and women their images influence.“Especially girls and teens”, says Record. “Seventy percent of girls aged 10 to 18 report that they define perfect body image based on what they see in magazines.” That’s especially worrying, she says, given that anorexia (厌食症) results in more deaths than does any other mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.It’s commonly known that certain diseases are linked with occupations like lung disease in coal miners. Professional fashion models are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders resulting from occupational demands to maintain extreme thinness.Record’s suggestion is to prohibit agents from hiring models with a BMI below 18.In April, France passed a law setting lower limits for a model’s weight. Agents and fashion houses who hire models with BMI under 18 could pay $82,000 in fines and spend up to 6 months in jail. Regulating the fashion industry in the United States won’t be easy, Record says. But with the new rules in France, U.S. support could make a difference. “A designer can’t survive without participating in Paris Fashion Week,” she says, adding, “Our argument is that the same would be true of New York Fashion Week.”51. What do Record and Austin say about fashion models’ body mass?A) It has caused needless controversy.B) It is but a matter of personal taste.C) It is the focus of the modeling business.D) It affects models’ health and safety.52. What are Record and Austin advocating in the Monday editorial?A) A change in the public’s view of female beauty.B) Government legislation about models’ weight.C) Elimination of forced weight loss by models.D) Prohibition of models eating non-food stuff.53. Why are Record and Austin especially worried about the low body mass index ofmodels?A) It contributes to many mental illnesses.B) It defines the future of the fashion industry.C) It has great influence on numerous girls and women.D) It keeps many otherwise qualified women off the runaway.54. What do we learn about France’s fashion industry?A) It has difficulty hiring models.B) It has now a new law to follow.C) It allows girls under 18 on the runway.D) It has overtaken that of the United States.55. What does Record expect of New York Fashion Week?A) It will create a completely new set of rules.B) It will do better than Paris Fashion Week.C) It will differ from Paris Fashion Week.D) It will have models with a higher BMI.Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.随着中国的改革开放,如今很多年轻人都喜欢举行西式婚礼。

2016年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第三套)

2016年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第三套)

2016年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第三套)Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation : one is to find a job somewhere and the other to start a business of your own . You are to make a decision. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your decision. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)(说明:本次四级考试全国共考了两套听力,为避免重复,特补充了一套模拟听力,供同学们练习。

)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 1with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.1.A) Armed men.B) Militants.C) Civilians.D) Hard-liners.2.A)The parked passenger bus.B)The armed men on motorcycles.C)The central government.D)The Islamic rebels.Questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news·item.3.A) $ 14 billion.B) $ 40 billion.C) $ 2.5 billion.D) $ 25 billion.4.A) Lack of knowledge of climate change.B) Not enough examples to follow.C) Shortage of agricultural experts.D) Insufficient financing mechanisms.Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item5. A) It will rise.B) It will be stable.C) It will be lowered down.D) It will change from time to time.6. A) To boom up real estate market.B) To lower unemployment rate.C) To finance car industry.D) To off er food to more people.7. A) Students with bank loan.B) Home buyers with bank loan.C) Low income workers.D) People with savings accounts.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation you will hear four questions. Both the conversations and the question-s 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) Waiter and customer.B) Good friends.C) Husband and wife.D) Colleagues.9. A) The man does her a favor.B) The man recommends her many good foods.C) The man is very patient to her question.D) The man decides to treat her to a meal.10. A) There were not many Chinese restaurants before.B) Many people emigrated out of his country.C) It is famous for the different recipes.D) It prevents foreign languages from getting in.11.A)He cannot understand why she always speaks nonsense.B)He does not think the woman knows how to enjoy herself.C)He believes the woman is capable of being promoted soon.D)He hates to choose between Chinese cuisine and French cuisineQuestions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)T-bone steak & beer.B)Fried chicken steak & Sprite.C)Boiled chicken & salad.D)Roast beef & rice.13. A) French. B) Italian. C) Ranch. D) Germany.14. A) For its salad. C) For its cheese.B) For its pies. D) For its fries.15.A)The baker was hurt at work and can’t prepare them.B)The oven is broken and hasn’ t been repaired.C)They are served only on Sundays.D)The pies have been sold out.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 asingle line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the conversation you have just heard.16. A) They want to attract attention. C) They appear respectable in such clothes.B) It is fashionable to wear such clothes. D) Riding a motorcycle makes one dirty.17. A) It is efficient. C) It is convenient.B) It is exciting.D) It is dangerous.18.A)If he always wears protective clothing.B)If he can see everything around him clearly.C)If he is very careful.D)If he has a lot of defenders.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) Making noises.B) Our own system of language.C) Combinations of different sounds.D) A group of sentences upon our own creations.20.A)It does good to communication between people.B)It encourages people to speak out their thoughts.C)It enlarges the vocabulary of a particular language.D)It hinders communication among individuals.21.A) Words.B) Tone of voice.C) Sentence structures.D) Sounds.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A)William Smart.B)Mrs. Dodd.C)President Lyndon Johnson.D)President Nixon.23. A) In 1910. B) In 1906. C) In 1966. D) In 1972.24.A)First Sunday in June.B)Second Sunday in June.C)Third Sunday in June.D)Decided by each Presiden25.A)To honor only your father.B)To honor all fathers around you.C)To honor father like figures.D)To honor Mrs. Dodd ’ s father.Part III Reading Comprehension ( 40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.When someone commits a criminal act , we always hope the punishment will match the off ense. But when it comes to one of the cruelest crimes animal fighting things 26 work out that way. Dog-fighting victims are 27 and killed for p rof it and “ sport ,” yet their criminal abusers of ten receive a 28 sentence for causing a life time of pain. Roughly half of all federally-convicted animal fighters only get probation (缓刑).Some progress has been made in the prosecution (起诉)of animal fighters. But federal judges often rely heavily on the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines when they 29 penalties , and in the case of animal fighting , those guidelines are outdated and extremely 30The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which 31 these sentencing guidelines, is revisiting them, proposing to raise the minimum sentence from 6-12 to 21-27 months. This is a step in the right 32 , but we’d like to see the U.S. Sentencing Commission make further changes to the guidelines.Along with this effort , we're working with animal advocates and state and federal lawmakers to 33 anti-cruelty laws across the country , as wellas supporting laws and policies that assist overburdened animal 34 that care for animal fighting victims. This help is 35 important because the high cost of caring for animal victims is a major factor that prevents people from getting involved in cruelty cases in the first place.A) convenientB) createsC) criticallyD) determineE) directionF) hesitateG) inadequateH) inspiredI) methodJ) minimalK) rarelyL) sheltersM) strengthenN) sufferingsO) torturedSection 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.When Work Becomes a GameA)What motivates employees to do their jobs well? Competition with coworkers, forsome. The promise of rewards, for others. Pure enjoyment of problem solving, for a lucky few.B)Increasingly , companies are tapping into these desires directly throughwhat has come to be known as “gasification'': essentially , turning work into a game. “Gasification is about understanding what it is that makes games engaging and what game designers do to create a great experience in games,and taking those learning’s and applying them to other contexts such as the workplace and education ,” explains Kevin Wabash , a gasification expert who teaches At the Wharton School of Business at the University ofPennsylvania in the United States.C)It might mean monitoring employee productivity on a digital leaderboard and off erringprizes to the winners , or giving employees digital badges or stars for completing certain activities. It could also mean training employees how to do their jobs through video game platforms. Companies fromGoogle to L’ Ordeal to IBM to Wells Fargo are known to use some degree of gasification in their workplaces. And more and more companies are joining them. A recent Report suggests that the global gasification market will grow from $ 1.65 billion in 2015 to $ 11.1 billion by 2020.D)The concept of gasification is not entirely new , Werbach says.Companies , marketers and teachers have long looked for fun ways to engage people ’s reward seeking or competitive spirits. Cracker Jackshas been “gamif ying” its snack food by putting a small prize inside for more than 100 years , he adds , and the turn-of-the-century steelmagnate (巨头)Charles Schwab is said to have often come into his factory and written the number of tons of steel produced on the past shift on the factory floor, thus motivating the next shift t of workers to beat the previous one.E)But the word “gasification ” and the widespread , conscious applicationof the concept only began in earnest about five years ago , Wabash says. Thanks in part to video games, the generation now entering theworkforce is especially open to the idea of having their workgasified. “We are at a point where in much of the developedworld the vast majority of young people grew up playing video games , and an increasingly high percentage of adults play these video games too ,” Werbach says.F) A number of companies have sprung up GamEffective , Bunchball andBadgeville , to name a few一in recent years off ering gamification platforms for businesses. The platforms that are most eff ective turn employees' ordinary job tasks into part of a rich adventure narrative.“What makes a game game like is that the player actually cares about the outcome ,”Werbachsa ys. “ The principle is about understanding what is motivating to this group ofplayers, which requires some understanding of psychology. ”G)Some people, Werbach says , are motivated by competition. Sales people of ten fallinto this category. For them , the right kind of gamification might be turning their sales pitches into a competition with other team members , complete with adigital leaderboard showing who is winning at all times. Others are more motivated by collaboration and social experiences. One company Werbach has studied usesgamification to create a sense of community and boost employees' morale (士气).When employees log in to their computers , they’re shown apicture of one of their coworkers and asked to guess t hat person ’s name.H)Gamification does not have to be digital. Monica Cornetti runs a company that gamifiesemployee trainings. Sometimes this involves technology, but of ten it does not. She recently designed a gamification strategy for a sales training company with a storm chasing theme. Employees formed “storm chaser teams”and competed in storm-themed educational exercises to earn various rewards. "Rewards do not have to be stuff ,” Cornetti says.“Rewards can be flexible working hours.” Another training , this one for pay roll law , used a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs theme. “Snow White”is available for everyone to use ,but the “ dwarf s" are still under cop yright , so Cornetti invented sound-alike characters ( Grumpy Gus, Dopey Dan) to illustrate specific pay roll law principles.I)Some people do not take naturally to gamified work environments, Cornetti says. In herexperience , people in positions of power or people in finance or engineering do not tend to like the sound of the word. “ If we are designing for engineers, I’m not talking about a ‘ game' atall ,” Cornetti says. I’ m talking about a simulation ' (模拟)' I’m talking about‘ being able to solve this problem.J)Gamification is “not a magic bull et,” Werbach warns. A gamification strategy that is not suff iciently thought through or well tailored to its players may engage people for a little while , but it will not motivate people in the long term. It can also be exploitative, especially when used with vulnerablepopulations. For workers, especially low-paid workers , who desperatelyneed their jobs yet know they can be easily replaced , gamification may feel more like the Hunger Games. Werbach gives the example of several Disneyland hotels in Anaheim, California, which used large digital leaderboards to display how efficiently laundry workers were working compared to one another. Some employees found the board motivating. To others, it was the opposite of fun. Some began to stop taking bathroom breaks,worried that if their productivity fell they would be fired. Pregnant employees struggled to keep up. In a Los Angeles Times article, one employee referred to the board as a “digital whip.” “It actually had a very negative effect on morale and performance ,” Werbach says.K)Still , gamification only stands to become more popular , he says ,“as more and more people come into the workforce who are familiar with the structures and expressions of digital games.” “We are far from reaching the peak ,”Cornetti agrees. “There is no reason this will go away.”36. Some famous companies are already using gamification and more are trying to do the same.37. Gamification is not a miracle cure for all workplaces as it may have negative results.38. To enhance morale, one company asks its employees to identify their fellow workers when starting their computers.39. The idea of gamification was practiced by some businesses more than a century ago.40. There is reason to believe that gamification will be here to stay.41. Video games contributed in some ways to the wide application of gamification.42. When turning work into a game, it is necessary to understand what makes games interesting.43. Gamification in employee training does not always need technology.44. The most successful gamification platforms transform daily work assignments into experiences.45. It is necessary to use terms other than “gamification” for some professions.Section CDirections : There are 2 pass ages in this section . Each passage is followed by some questions or unf inished 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.Recently I attended several meetings where we talked about ways to retain students and keep younger faculty members from going elsewhere.It seems higher education has become an industry of meeting-holders whose task it is to “solve” problems- real or imagined. And in my position as a professor at three diff erent colleges , the actual problems in educating our young people and older students have deepened ,while the number of people hired not to teach but to hold meetings- has increasedsignificantly. Every new problem creates a new job for an administrative fixer. Take our Center for Teaching Excellence. Contrary to its title , the center is a clearing house (信息交流中心)for using technology in classrooms and in online courses. It’ s an administrative sham (欺诈)of the kind that has multiplied over the last 30 years.I offer a simple proposition in responsez Many of our problems- class attendance , educational success , student happiness and well-being- might be improved by cutting down the bureaucratic(宫僚的)mechanisms and meetings and instead hiring an army of good teachers. If we replaced half of our administrative staff with classroom teachers , we might actually get a majority of our classes back to 20 or f ewer students per teacher. This would be an environment in which teachers and students actually knew each other.The teachers must be free to teach in their own way the curriculum should be flexible enough so that they can use their individual talents to achieve the goals of the course. Additionally, they should be cllowed to teach , and be rewarded for doing it well. Teachers are not people who are great at and consumed by research and happen to appear in a classroom.Good teaching and research are not exclusive, but they are also not automatic companions. Teaching is an art and a craf t , talent and practice ; it is not something that just anyone can be good at. It is utterly confusing to me that people do not recognize this , despite the fact thatpretty much anyone who has been a student can tell the difference between their best and worst teachers.46.What does the author say about present-day universities?A)They are eff ectively tackling real or imagined problems.B)They of ten fail to combine teaching with research.C)They are over burdened with administrative staff.D)They lack talent to fix their deepening problems.47. According to the author , what kind of people do universities lack most?A)Good classroom teachers.B)Efficient administrators.C)Talented researchers.D)Motivated students.48. What does the author imply about the classes at present?A)They facilitate students' independent learning.B)They help students form closer relationships.C)They have more older students that before.D)They are much bigger than is desirable.49. What does the author think of teaching ability?A)It requires talent and practice.B)It is closely related to research.C)It is a chief factor affecting students' learning.‘D)It can be acquired through persistent practice.50. What is the author's suggestion for improving university teaching?A)Creating an environment for teachers to share their teaching experiences.B)Hiring more classroom teachers and allowing them to teach in their own way.C)Using high technology in classrooms and promoting exchange of information.D)Cutting down meetings and encouraging administrative staff to go to classrooms. Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.The secret to eating less and being happy about it may have been cracked years ago-by McDonald ’ s. According to a new study from Cornell University ’s Food and Brand Lab , small non-food rewards- like the toys in McDonald ’ s Happy Meals- stimulate the same rewardcenters in the brain as food does.The researchers , led by Martin Reimann , carried out a series of experiments to see if people would choose a smaller meal if it was paired with a non-food item.They found that the majority of both kids and adults opted for a half sized portion when combined with a prize. Both options were priced the same.Even more interesting is that the promise of a future reward was enough to make adults choose the smaller portion. One of the prizes used was a lottery ticket (彩票), with a $ 10 ,$ 50 or $ 100 payout , and this was as effective as a tangible gif t in persuading people to eat less.“The fact that participants were willing to substitute part of a food item for the mere prospect of a relatively small monetary award is interesting ,”says Reimann.He theorizes that it is the emotional component of these intangible prizes that make them effective. In fact, vaguely-stated possibilities of winning a prize were more effective than options with hard odds included.“One explanation for this finding is that possible awards may be more emotionally provoking than certainty awards ,”says Reimann. “The uncertainty of winning provides added attraction and des irability through emotional ‘ thrills. ’ The possibility of receiving an award also produces a state of hope- a state that is in itself psychologically rewarding. ” In other words , there's a reason why people like to gamble.How might this knowledge be used to help people eat more healthily?One possibility is a healthy option that offers the chance to win a spa (温泉疗养)weekend. Or maybe the reward of a half sized portion could be a half-sized dessert to be claimed only on a future date. That would get you back in the restaurant- and make you eat a little less.51. What do we learn about McDonald ’ s inclusion of toys in its Happy Meals?A)It may shed light on people ’ s desire to crack a secret.B)It has proved to be key to McDonald's business success.C)It appeals to kids’ curiosity to find out what is hidden inside.D)It may be a pleasant way for kids to reduce their food intake.52. What is the finding of the researchers led by Martin Reimann?A)Reducing food intake is not that difficult if people go to McDonald ’ s more.B)Most kids and adults don’t actually f eel hungry when they eat halfof their meal.C)Eating a smaller portion of food does good to the health of kids and adults alike.D)Most kids and adults would choose a smaller meal that came with a non-food item.53. What is most interesting in Martin Reimann's finding?A)Kids preferred an award in the form of money to one in the form of a toy.B)Adults chose the smaller portion on the mere promise of a future award.C)Both kids and adults felt satisfied with only half of their meal portions.D)Neither children nor adults could resist the temptation of a free toy.54. How does Martin Reimann interpret his finding?A)The emotional component of the prizes is at work.B)People now care more about quality than quantity.C)People prefer certainty awards to possible awards.D)The desire for a future reward is overwhelming.55.What can w e infer from Martin Reimann’ s finding?A)People should eat much less if they wish to stay healthy and happy.B)More fast food restaurants are likely to follow McDonald ’s example.C)We can lead people to eat less while helping the restaurant business.D)More studies are needed to find out the impact of emotion on behavior.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minted to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.在中国文化中,黄颜色是一种很重要的颜色,因为它具有独特的象征意义。

2016年12月英语四级真题附答案解析第三套

2016年12月英语四级真题附答案解析第三套

2016年12月英语四级真题及答案第三套Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to work in a state-ownedbusiness and the other in a joint venture.You are to make a choice betweenthe two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You shouldwrite at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news reportand 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 1with a singleline through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) To satisfy the curiosity of tourists.B) To replace two old stone bridges.C) To enable tourists to visit Goat Island.D) To improve utility services in the state.2. A) Countless tree limbs.B) A few skeletons.C) Lots of wrecked boats and ships.D) Millions of coins on the bottom.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It suspended diplomatic relations with Libya.B) It urged tourists to leave Tunisia immediately.C) It shut down two border crossings with Libya.D) It launched a fierce attack against Islamic State.4. A) Advise Tunisian civilians on how to take safety precautions.B) Track down the organization responsible for the terrorist attack.C) Train qualified security personnel for the Tunisian government.D) Devise a monitoring system on the Tunisian border with Libya.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) An environment-friendly battery.B) An energy-saving mobile phone.C) A plant-powered mobile phone charger.D) A device to help plants absorb sunlight.6. A) While sitting in their schools courtyard.B) While playing games on their phones.C) While solving a mathematical problem.D) While doing a chemical experiment.7. A) It increases the applications of mobile phones.B) It speeds up the process of photosynthesis.C) It improves the reception of mobile phones.D) It collects the energy released by plants.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversationand 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 singleline through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) He visited the workshops in the Grimsby plant.B) He called the woman and left her a message.C) He used stand-ins as replacements on all lines.D) He asked a technician to fix the broken production line.9. A) It is the most modern production line.B) It assembles super-intelligent robots.C) It has stopped working completely.D) It is going to be upgraded soon.10. A) To seek her permission.B) To place an order for robots.C) To request her to return at once.D) To ask for Tom’s phone number.11. A) She is on duty.B) She is having her day off.C) She is on sick leave.D) She is abroad on business.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) He saved a baby boy’s life.B) He wanted to be a superhero.C) He prevented a train crash.D) He was a witness to an accident.13. A) He has a 9-month-old boy.B) He is currently unemployed.C) He enjoys the interview.D) He commutes by subway.14. A) A rock on the tracks.B) A misplaced pushchair.C) A strong wind.D) A speeding car.15. A) She stood motionless in shock.B) She cried bitterly.C) She called the police at once.D) She shouted for help.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 questionswill be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose thebest answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then markthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line throughthe centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) She inherited her family ice-cream business in Billings.B) She loved the ice-cream business more than teaching primary school.C) She started an ice-cream business to finance her daughter’s education.D) She wanted to have an ice-cream truck when she was a little girl.17. A) To preserve a tradition.B) To amuse her daughter.C) To help local education.D) To make some extra money.18. A) To raise money for business expansion.B) To make her truck attractive to children.C) To allow poor kids to have ice-cream too.D) To teach kids the value of mutual support.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) The reasons for imposing taxes.B) The various services money can buy.C) The various burdens on ordinary citizens.D) The function of money in the modern world.20. A) Educating and training citizens.B) Improving public transportation.C) Protecting people’s life and property.D) Building hospitals and public libraries.21. A) By asking for donations.B) By selling public lands.C) By selling government bonds.D) By exploiting natural resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) It is located at the center of the European continent.B) It relies on tourism as its chief source of revenues.C) It contains less than a square mile of land.D) It is surrounded by France on three sides.23. A) Its beauty is frequently mentioned in American media.B) Its ruler Prince Rainier married an American actress.C) It is where many American movies are shot.D) It is a favorite place Americans like to visit.24. A) Tobacco.B) Potatoes.C) Machinery.D) Clothing.25. A) European history.B) European geography.C) Small countries in Europe.D) Tourist attractions in Europe.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 wordbank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully beforemaking your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 witha single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words inthe bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.The ocean is heating up. That’s the conclusion of a new study that finds that Earth’s oceans now 26 heat at twice the rate they did 18 years ago. Around half of ocean heat intake since 1865 has taken place since 1997, researchers report online in Nature Climate Change.Warming waters are known to 27 to coral bleaching (珊瑚白化) and they take up more space than cooler waters, raising sea 28 . While the top of the ocean is well studied, its depths are more difficult to 29 . The researchers gathered 150 years of ocean temperature data in order to get a better 30 of heat absorption from surface to seabed. They gathered together temperature readings collected by everything from a 19th century 31 of British naval ships to modern automated ocean probes. The extensive data sources, 32 with computer simulations (计算机模拟), created a timeline of ocean temperature changes, including cooling from volcanic outbreaks and warming from fossil fuel 33 .About 35 percent of the heat taken in by the oceans during the industrial era now resides at a 34 of more than 700 meters, the researchers found. They say they’re 35 whether the deep-sea warming canceled out warming at the sea’s surface.Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of theparagraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked witha letter. Answer the question by marking the corresponding letter onAnswer Sheet 2.The Secret to Raising Smart Kids[A] I first began to investigate the basis of human motivation—and how peoplepersevere after setbacks—as a psychology graduate student at Yale University in the 1960s. Animal experiments by psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania had shown that after repeated failures, most animals conclude thata situation is hopeless and beyond their control. After such an experience ananimal often remains passive even when it can effect change—a state they called learned helplessness.[B] People can learn to be helpless, too. Why do some students give up when theyencounter difficulty, whereas others who are no more skilled continue to strive and learn? One answer, I soon discovered, lay in people’s beliefs about why theyhad failed.[C]In particular, attributing poor performance to a lack of ability depressesmotivation more than does the belief that lack of effort is to blame. When I told a group of school children who displayed helpless behavior that a lack of effort led to their mistakes in math, they learned to keep trying when the problems got tough. Another group of helpless children who were simply rewarded for their success on easier problems did not improve their ability to solve hard math problems. These experiments indicated that a focus on effort can help resolve helplessness and generate success.[D]Later, I developed a broader theory of what separates the two general classesof learners-helpless versus mastery-oriented. I realized these different types of students not only explain their failures differently, but they also hold different “theories” of intell igence. The helpless ones believe intelligence is a fixed characteristic: you have only a certain amount, and that’s that. I call this a “fixed mind-set (思维模式) .” Mistakes crack their self-confidence because they attribute errors to a lack of ability, which they feel powerless to change. They avoid challenges because challenges make mistakes more likely.The mastery-oriented children, on the other hand, think intelligence is not fixed and can be developed through education and hard work. Such children believe challenges are energizing rather than intimidating (令人生畏); they offer opportunities to learn. Students with such a growth mind-set were destined (注定) for greater academic success and were quite likely to outperform their counterparts.[E] We validated these expectations in a study in which two other psychologists andI monitored 373 students for two years during the transition to junior high school,when the work gets more difficult and the grading more strict, to determine how their mind-sets might affect their math grades. At the beginning of seventh grade,we assessed the students’ mind-sets by asking them to agree or disagree with statements such as “Your intelligence is something very basic about you that you can’t really change.” We then assessed their beliefs about other aspects of learning and looked to see what happened to their grades.[F] As predicted, the students with a growth mind-set felt that learning was a moreimportant goal than getting good grades. In addition, they held hard work in high regard. They understood that even geniuses have to work hard. Confronted by a setback such as a disappointing test grade, students with a growth mind-set said they would study harder or try a different strategy. The students who held a fixed mind-set, however, were concerned about looking smart with less regard for learning. They had negative views of effort, believing that having to work hard was a sign of low ability. They thought that a person with talent or intelligence did not need to work hard to do well. Attributing a bad grade to their own lack of ability, those with a fixed mind-set said that they would study less in the future, try never to take that subject again and consider cheating on future tests.[G] Such different outlooks had a dramatic impact on performance. At the start ofjunior high, the math achievement test scores of the students with a growth mind-set were comparable to those of students who displayed a fixed mind-set.But as the work became more difficult, the students with a growth mind-set showed greater persistence. As a result, their math grades overtook those of the other students by the end of the first semester—and the gap between the two groups continued to widen during the two years we followed them.[H]A fixed mind-set can also hinder communication and progress in the workplaceand discourage or ignore constructive criticism and advice. Research shows that managers who have a fixed mind-set are less likely to seek or welcome feedback from their employees than are managers with a growth mind-set.[I] How do we transmit a growth mind-set to our children? One way is by telling storiesabout achievements that result from hard work. For instance, talking about mathematical geniuses who were more or less born that way puts students in a fixed mind-set, but descriptions of great mathematicians who fell in love with math and developed amazing skills produce a growth mind-set.[J] In addition, parents and teachers can help children by providing explicit instruction regarding the mind as a learning machine. I designed an eight-session workshop for 91 students whose math grades were declining in their first year of junior high. Forty-eight of the students received instruction in study skills only, whereas the others attended a combination of study skills sessions and classes in which they learned about the growth mind-set and how to apply it to schoolwork. In the growth mind-set classes, students read and discussed an article entitled “You Can Grow Your Brain.” They were taught that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with use and that learning prompts the brain to grow new connections. From such instruction, many students began to see themselves as agents of their own brain development. Despite being unaware that there were two types of instruction, teachers reported significant motivational changes in 27% of the children in the growth mind-set workshop as compared with only 9% of students in the control group.[K] Research is converging (汇聚) on the conclusion that great accomplishment and even genius is typically the result of years of passion and dedication and not something that flows naturally from a gift.36. The author’s experiment shows that students with a fixed mind-set believe havingto work hard is an indication of low ability.37. Focusing on effort is effective in helping children overcome frustration andachieve success.38. We can cultivate a growth mind-set in children by telling success stories thatemphasize hard work and love of learning.39. Students’ belief about the cause of their failure explains the ir attitude towardsetbacks.40. In the author’s experiment, students with a growth mind-set showed greaterperseverance in solving difficult math problems.41. The author conducted an experiment to find out about the influence of students’mind-sets on math learning.42. After failing again and again, most animals give up hope.43. Informing students about the brain as a learning machine is a good strategy toenhance their motivation for learning.44. People with a fixed mind-set believe that one’s intelli gence is unchangeable.45. In the workplace, feedback may not be so welcome to managers with a fixedmind-set.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 fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choiceand mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on following passage.“Sugar, alcohol and tobacco,” economist Adam Smith once wrote, “are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which have become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are, therefore, extremely popular subjects of taxation.”Two and a half centuries on, most countries impose some sort of tax on alcohol and tobacco. With surging obesity levels putting increasing strain on public healthsystems, governments around the world have begun to toy with the idea of taxing sugar as well.Whether such taxes work is a matter of debate. A preliminary review of Mexico’s taxation found a fall in purchases of taxed drinks as well as a rise in sales of untaxed and healthier drinks. By contrast, a Danish tax on foods high in fats was abandoned a year after its introduction, amid claims that consumers were avoiding it by crossing the border to Germany to satisfy their desire for cheaper, fattier fare.The food industry has, in general, been firmly opposed to such direct government action. Nonetheless, the renewed focus on waistlines means that industry groups are under pressure to demonstrate their products are healthy as well as tasty.Over the past three decades, the industry has made some efforts to improve the quality of its offerings. For example, some drink manufactures have cut the amount of sugar in their beverages.Many of the reductions over the past 30 years have been achieved either by reducing the amount of sugar, salt or fat in a product, or by finding an alternative ingredient. More recently, however, some companies have been investing money in a more ambitious undertaking: learning how to adjust the fundamental make-up of the food they sell. For example, having salt on the outside, but none on the inside, reduces the salt content without changing the taste.While reformulating recipes (配方) is one way to improve public health, it should be part of a multi-sided approach. The key is to remember that there is not just one solution. To deal with obesity, a mixture of approaches—including reformulation, taxation and adjusting portion sizes—will be needed. There is no silver bullet.46. What did Adam Smith say about sugar, alcohol and tobacco?A) They were profitable to manufacture.B) They were in ever-increasing demand.C) They were subject to taxation almost everywhere.D) They were no longer considered necessities of life.47. Why have many countries started to consider taxing sugar?A) They are under growing pressures to balance their national budgets.B) They find it ever harder to cope with sugar-induced health problems.C) They practice of taxing alcohol and tobacco has proved both popular andprofitable.D) The sugar industry is overtaking alcohol and tobacco business in generatingprofits.48. What do we learn about Danish taxation on fat-rich foods?A) It did not work out as well as was expected.B) It gave rise to a lot of problems on the border.C) It could not succeed without German cooperation.D) It met with firm opposition from the food industry.49. What is the more recent effort by food companies to make foods and drinks bothhealthy and tasty?A) Replacing sugar or salt with alternative ingredients.B) Setting a limit on the amount of sugar or salt in their products.C) Investing in research to find ways to adapt to consumers’ needs.D) Adjusting the physical composition of their products.50. What does the author mean by saying, at the end of the passage, “There is nosilver bullet” (Line 4, Para. 7)?A) There is no single easy quick solution to the problem.B) There is no hope of success without public cooperation.C) There is no hurry in finding ways to solve the obesity problem.D) There is no effective way to reduce people’s sugar consumption.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.You may have heard some of the fashion industry horror stories: models eating tissues or cotton balls to hold off hunger, and models collapsing from hunger-inducedheart attacks just seconds after they step off the runway.Excessively skinny models have been a point of controversy for decades, and two researchers say a model’s body mass should be a workplace health and safety issue. In an editorial released Monday in the American Journal of Public Health, Katherine Record and Bryn Austin made their case for government regulation of the fashion industry.The average international runway model has a body mass index (BMI) under 16-low enough to indicate starvation by the World Health Organization’s standard. And Record and Austin are worried not just about the models themselves, but about the vast number of girls and women their images influence.“Especially girls and teens”, says Record. “Seventy percent of girls aged 10 to 18 report that they define perfect body image based on what they see in magazines.” That’s especially worrying, she says, given that anorexia (厌食症) results in more deaths than does any other mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.It’s commonly known that certain diseases are linked with occupations like lung disease in coal miners. Professional fashion models are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders resulting from occupational demands to maintain extreme thinness.Record’s suggestion is to prohibit agents from hiring models with a BMI below 18.In April, France passed a law setting lower limits for a model’s weight. Agents and fashion houses who hire models with BMI under 18 could pay $82,000 in fines and spend up to 6 months in jail. Regulating the fashion industry in the United States won’t be easy, Record says. But with the new rules in France, U.S. support could make a difference. “A designer can’t survive without participating in Paris Fashion Week,” she says, adding, “Our argument is that the same would be true of New York Fashion Week.”51. What do Record and Austin say about fashion models’ body mass?A) It has caused needless controversy.B) It is but a matter of personal taste.C) It is the focus of the modeling business.D) It affects models’ health and safety.52. What are Record and Austin advocating in the Monday editorial?A) A change in the public’s view of female beauty.B) Government legislation about models’ weight.C) Elimination of forced weight loss by models.D) Prohibition of models eating non-food stuff.53. Why are Record and Austin especially worried about the low body mass index ofmodels?A) It contributes to many mental illnesses.B) It defines the future of the fashion industry.C) It has great influence on numerous girls and women.D) It keeps many otherwise qualified women off the runaway.54. What do we learn about France’s fashion industry?A) It has difficulty hiring models.B) It has now a new law to follow.C) It allows girls under 18 on the runway.D) It has overtaken that of the United States.55. What does Record expect of New York Fashion Week?A) It will create a completely new set of rules.B) It will do better than Paris Fashion Week.C) It will differ from Paris Fashion Week.D) It will have models with a higher BMI.Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.随着中国的改革开放,如今很多年轻人都喜欢举行西式婚礼。

2016年英语4级作文

2016年英语4级作文

2016年英语4级作文Title: The Influence of Technology on Education。

In the 21st century, technology has revolutionized every aspect of our lives, including education. The integration of technology into education has brought about significant changes, shaping the way students learn and teachers teach. This essay explores the impact of technology on education, focusing on its advantages and challenges.Firstly, technology enhances the learning experience by providing access to vast amounts of information. The internet, digital libraries, and educational apps offer students opportunities to explore subjects beyond the confines of traditional textbooks. For instance, students can access interactive simulations to understand complex scientific concepts or engage in virtual tours to explore historical landmarks. This accessibility fosters self-directed learning and allows students to pursue theirinterests at their own pace.Furthermore, technology facilitates personalized learning experiences. Adaptive learning platforms use algorithms to analyze students' performance and tailor instruction to meet their individual needs. For example, students struggling with math concepts can receive targeted exercises and immediate feedback to reinforce their understanding. Personalized learning not only improves academic outcomes but also enhances student engagement and motivation.In addition, technology promotes collaboration and communication in the classroom. Tools such as video conferencing, online forums, and collaborative documents enable students to collaborate on projects regardless of their geographical location. Moreover, social media platforms provide avenues for students to share ideas, discuss topics, and seek feedback from peers and experts. Collaborative learning fosters critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills essential for success in the 21st-century workforce.Despite its numerous advantages, technology in education also poses challenges. One significant concern is the digital divide, referring to the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Inequitable access to technology exacerbates existing disparities in education, disadvantaging students from underserved communities. Bridging the digital divide requires concerted efforts to ensure equitable access to devices, internet connectivity, and digital resources for all students.Moreover, the proliferation of technology in classrooms raises concerns about its potential negative impact on student well-being. Excessive screen time and digital distractions can lead to decreased attention spans, disrupted sleep patterns, and increased stress levels among students. It is essential for educators and policymakers to promote responsible use of technology and emphasize the importance of digital literacy and wellness.In conclusion, technology has profoundly transformed education, offering numerous benefits such as access toinformation, personalized learning, and enhanced collaboration. However, it also presents challenges, including the digital divide and concerns about student well-being. By harnessing the potential of technology while addressing its challenges, we can create an inclusive and effective educational environment that prepares studentsfor success in the digital age.。

2016年12月英语四级真题及解析(三套完整版

2016年12月英语四级真题及解析(三套完整版

【作文】innovation创新Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on innovation. Your essay should include the importance of innovation and measures to be taken to encourage innovation/creation/invention. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.参考范文:In today's highly competitive world, innovation matters enormously to an organization or a country. It is the driving force behind increased competitiveness.Take growing a successful business as an example. In this day and age, social media are gaining popularity among the general public. A company that only relies on traditional media doing its marketing is more likely to get eliminated in the digital era. Put in another way, a company with its focus on social media to boost its brand recognition stands a better chance of standing out from the crowd. Clearly, innovation is a vital contributing factor to business success.What can be done to encourage innovation? To name only a few: Above all, a business or a country should strive to build a corporate culture or a social climate that values innovation. Second, anyone who participates in the innovation process should be rewarded. Third, we are in urgent need of an education system that stresses innovation over mechanical learning.Simply put, innovation is an important force that pushes our society forward.creation创造Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on creation. Your essay should include the importance of innovation and measures to be taken to encourage innovation/creation/invention. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.参考范文:It is universally acknowledged that innovation refers to being creative, unique and different. In fact, today it is impossibly difficult for us to image a 21st century without innovation.We should place a high value on innovation firstly because innovative spirit can enable an individual to ameliorate himself, so he can be equipped with capacity to see what others cannot see, be qualified for future career promotion, and be ready for meeting the forthcoming challenges. What’s more, we ought to attach importance to the role played by innovation in economic advancement. Put it another way, in this ever-changing world, innovation to economic growth is what water is to fish. To sum up, if innovation misses our attention in any possible way, we will suffer a great loss beyond imagination.In order to encourage innovation, it is wise for us to take some feasible measures. For example, mass media should greatly publicize the significance of creative spirit and encourage the public to cultivate awareness of innovation. Besides, those who manage to innovate should be awarded generous prize. Though there is a long way ahead to go, I am firmly certain that the shared efforts will be paid off.【参考译文】众所周知创新意味着有创造力,独一无二和不同。

2016年英语12月四级作文

2016年英语12月四级作文

The Power of Perseverance in OvercomingChallengesIn the fast-paced and increasingly complex world of today, perseverance stands out as a crucial trait for overcoming challenges and achieving success. The December 2016 CET-4 essay prompts us to reflect on the significance of perseverance and its role in shaping our lives.Perseverance is the steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It is a quality that is honed through repeated efforts and challenges, and it is this quality that区分s successful individuals from those who give up easily. Whether it is in academic pursuits, professional endeavors, or personal goals, perseverance is a prerequisite for overcoming obstacles and moving forward.In the academic realm, perseverance is essential for students who strive to excel. Learning a new language, mastering complex mathematical concepts, or delving into intricate scientific research requires dedication and consistent effort. Students who persevere through the challenges of comprehension and application are oftenrewarded with a deeper understanding of the subject matter and improved academic performance.Similarly, in the workplace, perseverance is a key ingredient for career success. The road to professional achievement is often filled with setbacks and challenges. However, those who persevere, who refuse to give up despite failures or obstacles, are more likely to emerge victorious. They learn from their mistakes, adapt to changing circumstances, and ultimately achieve their career goals.Moreover, perseverance is also vital in achieving personal goals. Whether it is losing weight, learning a new skill, or overcoming a personal fear, perseverance is the driving force that helps us push through the tough times.It is the belief that with enough effort and time, we can achieve what we set out to do.However, perseverance does not mean stubbornly sticking to a single approach regardless of its effectiveness. It also involves a willingness to adapt and change strategies when faced with new challenges or when the initial plandoes not yield desired results. This flexibility combinedwith perseverance allows us to navigate through life's complexities and emerge stronger and wiser.In conclusion, perseverance is a powerful trait thatcan help us overcome challenges and achieve success in various aspects of life. It is a quality that is honed through repeated efforts and challenges, and it is this quality that distinguishes successful individuals fromthose who give up easily. By persevering, we not only achieve our goals but also grow as individuals, gaining valuable lessons and insights that shape our character and perspective. Therefore, let us embrace perseverance as a guiding principle in our lives and strive to overcome any challenges that come our way.**坚持的力量:克服挑战的关键**在节奏快速、日益复杂的今天,坚持成为克服挑战和实现成功的关键特质。

英语四级作文2016年12月

英语四级作文2016年12月

英语四级作文2016年12月I woke up this morning feeling exhausted and unmotivated. It's been a tough week at work, and I justcan't seem to shake off this feeling of fatigue. I really need a break, but with the holidays coming up, it doesn't seem like there's any relief in sight.As I trudged through my morning routine, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread about the day ahead. The thought of facing another long day at the office was almost unbearable. I wish I could just call in sick and spend the day in bed, but I know that's not an option.On my way to work, I tried to distract myself by listening to some music, but even that didn't seem to help. The traffic was terrible, and I found myself getting more and more frustrated with each passing minute. I just wanted to scream and let it all out, but I knew I had to keep it together.When I finally arrived at the office, I was greeted by a mountain of paperwork and a never-ending to-do list. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of responsibilities, and I couldn't see a way out. I tried to focus on my tasks, but my mind kept wandering, and I couldn't shake off thefeeling of overwhelm.As the day went on, I found myself counting down the minutes until I could finally go home. I just wanted to escape from the chaos and find some peace and quiet. But even when I left the office, I couldn't shake off the feeling of exhaustion that had been weighing me down all day.Now that I'm finally home, all I want to do is curl up on the couch and forget about the world for a while. I need some time to recharge and regroup, so that I can face whatever challenges come my way tomorrow. But for now, I just want to take a moment to breathe and relax.。

2016年英语四级作文

2016年英语四级作文

2016年英语四级作文英文回答:In the tapestry of life, we are constantly faced with the delicate balance between the familiar and the unknown. The allure of the known offers us a comforting sense of security, while the beckoning call of the unknown beckons us to explore uncharted territories. It is in this interplay between the two that we find both our comfort and our growth.Navigating the familiar provides us with a sense of stability and predictability. We find solace in the routines of our daily lives, the comfort of familiar surroundings, and the predictability of our relationships. The known offers us a sense of belonging, a reassurance that we are not alone in this vast and often bewildering world.However, it is in embracing the unknown that we trulydiscover and grow. Stepping outside of our comfort zones, we encounter new experiences, meet new people, and learn new things. The unknown challenges our assumptions, broadens our perspectives, and helps us evolve as individuals. It is through the exploration of the uncharted that we find new possibilities, discover our hidden strengths, and push the boundaries of our own abilities.The key to thriving in this delicate balance lies in recognizing that the familiar and the unknown are not mutually exclusive. Embracing the familiar provides us with a foundation of stability, while venturing into the unknown fuels our growth and discovery. By finding a harmonious blend between the two, we can navigate the complexities of life with resilience, adaptability, and a sense of wonder.中文回答:在人生的画卷中,我们时常面临着熟悉与未知的微妙平衡。

2016年12月英语四级真题 (第3套)

2016年12月英语四级真题 (第3套)

2016年12月英语四级真题第三套Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to find a job somewhere and the other to start a business of your own. You are to make a decision. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your decision. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes改编自2015年12月份真题1) 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 to 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. (test 2)1. A) The number of adult girls is expected to double by 2050.B) Child marriage in Africa will be ended by 2050.C) Half women will be married before reaching adulthood by 2050.D) The legal marriage age will set above 18 by 2050.2. A) Poverty and lack of education.B) Local culture that undervalues children.C) The low legal age for marriage.D) High risks of becoming teenage mothers.Questions 3 to 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.(test 1)3.A) They killed no more than 50 people.B) They fired against NATO troops.C) They attacked an airport in Afghanistan.D) They killed 10 children, and two police officers.4. A) Withdrawal of combat troops from other countries.B) False claims of foreign military troops.C) Decline of the local troops’ strength.D) Last year’s victory over foreign troops.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the conversation you have just heard.(test 2)5. A) Getting high skilled people.B) Promoting company’s technology.C) Finding enough employees.D) Increasing members of immigrants.6. A) The number of them decreases dramatically.B) They mainly move from south states.C) They come to Chicago without work visa.D) The number of them increases after the recession.7. A) The law of immigrants.B) The environment for companies.C) The number of work visas.D) High salary and better titles.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) From some of her friends.B) From the wanted column.C) From a telephone directory.D) From a television commercial.9. A) She finished her secondary school.B) She studied in a vocational college.C) She graduated from an open university.D) She received full-time education abroad.10. A) She teaches an evening class.B) She works as a tour guide.C) She is a policewoman.D) She is a shorthand-typist.11. A) A job in a travel agency.B) A job in the government.C) A job as a policeman.D) A job as a teacher.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) It was interrupted for four years.B) It has been off and on for ten years.C) It helps enlarge his customer network.D) It provides him with career opportunities.13. A) Traditional setting.B) Individualized service.C) Social games.D) Home-made beer.14. A) The quality of beer.B) The owner’s attitude.C) The atmosphere.D) The right location.15. A) It makes retirees feel useful.B) It helps old people kill time.C) It is a profitable business.D) It is a rather tough job.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) It helps the user to escape reality.B) It is becoming increasingly popular.C) It hurts a person and those around them.D) It gives rise to serious social instability.17. A) They take drugs to get high.B) They use drugs just for fun.C) They use drugs as medicine.D) They keep drug use a secret.18. A) It is fatal to the user.B) It is hard to get rid of.C) It is the cause of various social problems.D) It is quite common in entertainment circles.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) Taking up exercises after recovery.B) Finding new ways to cure heart disease.C) Going on a diet upon leaving the hospital.D) Producing tasty healthy frozen food.20. A) It was carefully tested with consumers.B) It was disapproved by many diet experts.C) It was promoted by health organizations.D) It was highly expected by the general public.21. A) Competitive price.B) Vigorous promotion.C) Low expectations.D) Unique ingredients.22. A) It has a positive implication for consumers.B) It tricks the elders into impulse purchasing.C) It matches the food’s dark green packaging.D) It was suggested by the firm’s vice-president.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) It will be abolished sooner or later.B) It is practiced in most of the states.C) It has to be approved by the Supreme Court.D) It has drawn a lot of criticism from overseas.24. A) What effect it might have on youngsters.B) What type of criminals should receive it.C) Whether there should be a minimum age limit for execution.D) Whether the practice should be allowed to continue in future.25. A) The court sentenced him to life in prison for killing two friends.B) The governor changed his death sentence to life in prison.C) He was the first minor to be executed in South Carolina.D) He was sentenced to death for a crime he committed as a minor.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.When someone commits a criminal act, we always hope the punishment will match the offense. But when it comes to one of the cruelest crimes - animal fighting - things (26) work out that way. Dog-fighting victims are (27) and killed for profit and “sport,” yet their criminal abusers often receive a (28) sentence for causing a lifetime of pain. Roughly half of all federally-convicted animal fighters only get probation (缓刑).Some progress has been made in the prosecution (起诉) of animal fighters. But federal judges often rely heavily on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines when they (29) penalties, and in the case of animal fighting, those guidelines are outdated and extremely (30) .The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which (31) these sentencing guidelines, is revisiting them, proposing to raise the minimum sentence from 6-12 to 21-27 months. This is a step in the right (32) , but we’d like to see the U. S. Sentencing Commission make further changes to the guidelines.Along with t his effort, we’re working with animal advocates and state and federal lawmakers to (33) anti-cruelty laws across the country, as well as supporting laws and policies that assist overburdened animal (34) that care for animal fighting victims. This help is (35) important because the high cost of caring for animal victims is a major factor that prevents people from getting involved in cruelty cases in the first place.Section BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.When Work Becomes a Game[A] What motivates employees to do their jobs well? Competition with coworkers, for some.The promise of rewards, for others. Pure enjoyment of problem-solving, for a lucky few.[B] Increasingly, companies are tapping into these desires directly through what has come tobe known as “gamification”: essentially, turning work into a game. “Gamification is about understanding what it is that makes games engaging and what game designers do to create a great experience in games, and taking those learnings and applying them to other contexts such as the workplace and education,” explains Kevin Werbach, a gamification expert who teaches at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States.[C] It might mean monitoring employee productivity on a digital leaderboard and offeringprizes to the winners, or giving employees digital badges or stars for completing certain activities. It could also mean training employees how to do their jobs through video game platforms. Companies from Google to L’Oréal to IBM to Wells Fargo are known to use some degree of gamification in their workplaces. And more and more companies are joining them. A recent report suggests that the global gamification market will grow from $1.65 billion in 2015to $11.1 billion by 2020.[D] The concept of gamification is not entirely new, Werbach says. Companies, marketers andteachers have long looked for fun ways to engage people’s reward-seeking or competitive spirits. Cracker Jac ks has been “gamifying” its snack food by putting a small prize inside for more than 100 years, he adds, and the turn-of-the-century steel magnate (巨头) Charles Schwab is said to have often come into his factory and written the number of tons of steel produced on the past shift on the factory floor, thus motivating the next shift of workers to beat the previous one.[E] But the word “gamification” and the widespread, conscious application of the conceptonly began in earnest about five years ago, Werbach says. Thanks in part to video games, the generation now entering the workforce is especially open to the idea of having their work gamified. “We are at a point where in much of the developed world the vast majority of young people grew up playing video games, and an increasingly high percentage of adults play these video games too,” Werbach says.[F] A number of companies have sprung up—Gam Effective, Bunchball and Badgeville, toname a few--in recent years offering gamification platforms for businesses. The p latforms that are most effective turn employees’ ordinary job tasks into part of a rich adventure narrative. “What makes a game game-like is that the player actually cares about the outcome,” Werbach says. “The principle is about understanding what is moti vating to this group of players, which requires some understanding of psychology.”[G] Some people, Werbach says, are motivated by competition. Sales people often fall intothis category. For them, the right kind of gamification might be turning their sales pitches into a competition with other team members, complete with a digital leaderboard showing who is winning at all times. Others are more motivated by collaboration and social experiences. One company Werbach has studied uses gamification to create a sense of community and boost employees’ morale(士气). When employees log in to their computers, they’re shown a picture of one of their coworkers and asked to guess that person’s name.[H] Gamification does not have to be digital. Monica Cornetti runs a company that gamifiesemployee trainings. Sometimes this involves technology, but often it does not. She recently designed a gamification strategy for a sales training company with a storm-chasing theme. Employees formed “storm chaser teams” and competed in storm-themed educational exercises to earn various rewards. “Rewards do not have to be stuff,” Cornetti says. “Rewards can be flexible working hours.” Another training, this one for pay roll law, used a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs theme. “Snow White” is available for everyone to use, but the “dwarfs” are still under copyright, so Cornetti invented sound-alike characters (Grumpy Gus, Dopey Dan) to illustrate specific pay roll law principles.[I] Some people do not take naturally to gamified work environments, Cornetti says. In herexperience, people in positions of power or people in finance or engineering do not tend to like the sound of the word. “If we are designing for engineers, I'm not talking about a ‘game’ at all,” Cornetti says. “I'm talking about a ‘simulation’(模拟), I’m talking about ‘being able to solve this problem.’”[J] Gamification is “not a magic bullet,” Werbach warns. A gamification strategy that is not sufficiently thought through or well-tailored to its players may engage people for a little while, but it will not motivate people in the long term. It can also be exploitative, especially when used with vulnerable populations. For workers, especially low-paid workers, who desperately need their jobs yet know they can be easily replaced, gamification may feel more like the Hunger Games. Werbach gives the example of several Disneyland hotels in Anaheim, California, which used large digital leaderboards to display how efficiently laundry workers were working compared to one another. Some employees found the board motivating. To others, it was the opposite of fun. Some began to stop taking bathroom breaks, worried that if their productivity fell they would be fired.Pregnant employees struggled to keep up. In a Los Angeles Times article, one employee referred to the board as a “digital whip.” “It actually had a very negative effect on morale and performance,” Werbach says.[K] Still, gamification only stands to become more popular, he says, “as more and more people come into the workforce who are familiar with the structures and expressions of digital games.” “We are far from reaching the peak,” Cornetti agrees. “There is no reason this will go away.”36. Some famous companies are already using gamification and more are trying to do the same.37. Gamification is not a miracle cure for all workplaces as it may have negative results.38. To enhance morale, one company asks its employees to identify their fellow workers when starting their computers.39. The idea of gamification was practiced by some businesses more than a century ago.40. There is reason to believe that gamification will be here to stay.41. Video games contributed in some ways to the wide application of gamification.42. When turning work into a game, it is necessary to understand what makes games interesting.43. Gamification in employee training does not always need technology.44. The most successful gamification platforms transform daily work assignments into fun experiences.45. It is necessary to use terms other than “gamification” for some professions.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.Recently I attended several meetings where we talked about ways to retain students and keep younger faculty members from going elsewhere.It seems higher education has become an industry of meeting-holders whose task it is to “solve” problems--real or imagined. And in my position as a professor at three different colleges, the actual problems in educating our young people and older students have deepened, while the number of people hired--not to teach but to hold meetings--has increased significantly. Every new problem creates a new job for an administrative fixer. Take our Center for Teaching Excellence. Contrary to its title, the center is a clearing house (信息交流中心) for using technology in classrooms and in online courses. It's an administrative sham (欺诈) of the kind that has multiplied over the last 30 years.I offer a simple proposition in response: Many of our problems--class attendance, educational success, student happiness and well-being -- might be improved by cutting down the bureaucratic(官僚的) mechanisms and meetings and instead hiring an army of good teachers. If we replaced half of our administrative staff with classroom teachers, we might actually get a majority of our classes back to 20 or fewer students per teacher. This would be an environment in which teachers and students actually knew each other.The teachers must be free to teach in their own way--the curriculum should be flexible enough so that they can use their individual talents to achieve the goals of the course.Additionally, they should be allowed to teach, and be rewarded for doing it well. Teachers are not people who are great at and consumed by research and happen to appear in a classroom. Good teaching and research are not exclusive, but they are also not automatic companions. Teaching is an art and a craft, talent and practice; it is not something that just anyone can be good at. It is utterly confusing to me that people do not recognize this, despite the fact that pretty much anyone who has been a student can tell the difference between their best and worst teachers.46.What does the author say about present-day universities?A) They are effectively tackling real or imagined problems.B) They often fail to combine teaching with research.C) They are over-burdened with administrative staff.D) They lack talent to fix their deepening problems.47. According to the author, what kind of people do universities lack most?A) Good classroom teachers.B) Efficient administrators.C) Talented researchers.D) Motivated students.48. What does the author imply about the classes at present?A) They facilitate students’ independent learning.B) They help students form closer relationships.C) They have more older students than before.D) They are much bigger than is desirable.49. What does the author think of teaching ability?A) It requires talent and practice.B) It is closely related to research.C) It is a chief factor affecting students’ learning.D) It can be acquired through persistent practice.50. What is the author’s suggestion for improvin g university teaching?A) Creating an environment for teachers to share their teaching experiences.B) Hiring more classroom teachers and allowing them to teach in their own way.C) Using high technology in classrooms and promoting exchange of information.D) Cutting down meetings and encouraging administrative staff to go to classrooms. Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.The secret to eating less and being happy about it may have be cracked years ago--by McDona ld’s. According to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, small non-food rewards--like the toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals--stimulate the same reward centers in the brain as food does.The researchers, led by Martin Reimann, carried out a series of experiments to see if people would choose a smaller meal if it was paired with a non-food item.They found that the majority of both kids and adults opted for a half-sized portion when combined with a prize. Both options were priced the same.Even more interesting is that the promise of a future reward was enough to make adultschoose the smaller portion. One of the prizes used was a lottery ticket(彩票), with a $10, $ 50 or $100 payout, and this was as effective as a tangible gift in persuading people to eat less.“The fact that participants were willing to substitute part of a food item for the mere prospect of a relatively small monetary awar d is interesting,” says Reimann.He theorizes that it is the emotional component of these intangible prizes that make them effective. In fact, vaguely-stated possibilities of winning a prize were more effective than options with hard odds included.“One explanation for this finding is that possible awards may be more emotionally provoking than certainty awards,” says Reimann. “The uncertainty of winning provides added attraction and desirability through emotional ‘thrills.’ The possibility of receiv ing an award also produces a state of hope--a state that is in itself psychologically rewarding.” In other words, there's a reason why people like to gamble.How might this knowledge be used to help people eat more healthily?One possibility is a healthy option that offers the chance to win a spa (温泉疗养) weekend. Or maybe the reward of a half-sized portion could be a half-sized dessert to be claimed only on a future date. That would get you back in the restaurant--and make you eat a little less.51. What do we learn about McDonald’s inclusion of to ys in its Happy Meals?A) It may shed light on people’s desire to crack a secret.B) It has proved to be key to McDonald’s business success.C) It appeals to kid's curiosity to find out what is hidden inside.D) It may be a pleasant way for kids to reduce their food intake.52. What is the finding of the researchers led by Martin Reimann?A) Reducing food intake is not that difficult if people go to McDonald’s more.B) Most kids and adults don’t actually feel hungry when they eat half of their m eal.C) Eating a smaller portion of food does good to the health of kids and adults alike.D) Most kids and adults would choose a smaller meal that came with a non-food item.53. What is most interesting in Martin Reimann’s finding?A) Kids preferred an award in the form of money to one in the form of a toy.B) Adults chose the smaller portion on the mere promise of a future award.C) Both kids and adults felt satisfied with only half of their meal portions.D) Neither children nor adults could resist the temptation of a free toy.54. How does Martin Reimann interpret his finding?A) The emotional component of the prizes is at work.B) People now care more about quality than quantity.C) People prefer certainty awards to possible awards.D) The desire for a future reward is overwhelming.55. What can we infer from Martin Reimann’s finding?A) People should eat much less if they wish to stay healthy and happy.B) More fast food restaurants are likely to follow McDonald’s example.C) We can lead people to eat less while helping the restaurant business.D) More studies are needed to find out the impact of emotion on behavior.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.在中国文化中,黄颜色是一种很重要的颜色,因为它具有独特的象征意义。

2016年英语4级作文

2016年英语4级作文

2016年英语4级作文Title: The Importance of Cultural Exchange in Today's Globalized World。

In today's globalized world, cultural exchange plays a pivotal role in fostering mutual understanding, promoting tolerance, and advancing international cooperation. Through the exchange of ideas, values, and traditions, individuals from diverse backgrounds can enrich their perspectives and develop a greater appreciation for cultural diversity. In this essay, I will explore the significance of cultural exchange and its impact on individuals and societies.Firstly, cultural exchange facilitates the sharing of knowledge and expertise across borders. By engaging with people from different cultural backgrounds, individuals have the opportunity to learn about unique customs, traditions, and practices. This exchange of information not only broadens one's understanding of the world but also encourages innovation and creativity. For example, astudent studying abroad may gain insights into alternative approaches to problem-solving or business practices thatcan be applied in their home country.Furthermore, cultural exchange promotes empathy and compassion by allowing individuals to walk in someoneelse's shoes. Through meaningful interactions with people from diverse backgrounds, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and struggles faced by others. This increased empathy fosters a sense ofsolidarity and encourages individuals to work together towards common goals, such as addressing social inequalityor environmental issues. By recognizing our shared humanity, cultural exchange helps to bridge divides and build stronger, more inclusive communities.Moreover, cultural exchange fosters mutual respect and appreciation for cultural differences. Rather than viewing diversity as a source of division, individuals who participate in cultural exchange recognize the value of different perspectives and experiences. This appreciationfor diversity not only enriches personal relationships butalso strengthens diplomatic ties between nations. By celebrating cultural differences rather than fearing them, societies can cultivate a more inclusive and harmonious global community.In addition, cultural exchange contributes to economic development by promoting tourism, trade, and investment. When individuals travel to foreign countries to experience different cultures firsthand, they contribute to the growth of the tourism industry and stimulate economic activity. Likewise, when businesses engage in cross-cultural partnerships and collaborations, they gain access to new markets and opportunities for growth. By fostering aclimate of openness and cooperation, cultural exchangedrives innovation and economic prosperity on a global scale.In conclusion, cultural exchange is essential intoday's interconnected world as it promotes mutual understanding, empathy, and respect across cultures. By embracing diversity and engaging in meaningful dialogue, individuals and societies can build bridges that transcend borders and unite us as members of a shared globalcommunity. As we continue to navigate the complexities of the 21st century, cultural exchange will play an increasingly vital role in shaping a more inclusive, tolerant, and prosperous world for future generations.。

精品2016年12月英语四级写作真题及答案范文(三套完整版)

精品2016年12月英语四级写作真题及答案范文(三套完整版)

2016年12月英语四级写作真题及答案范文(三套完整版)※点击查看2016年12月英语四级真题及答案专题2016年12月英语四级写作真题及答案范文(三套完整版)2016年12月英语四级作文真题答案范文:去企业工作还是去创业Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to find a job somewhere and the other to start a business of your own. You are to make a decision. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your decision. You shouldwrite at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Job hunting becomes increasingly tough for college students, for more college graduates bring about much fiercer competition. Consequently, starting a businessof one’s own becomes another alternative. But for me, I still prefer finding a job somewhere.From a personal perspective, a good start for one’s own business requires plenty amount of money together with adequate work experience, but as college students, we often lack the latter. On a community level, we are able to get involved in a more complex relationship in a larger work place which provides us with necessary skills in communication as well as cooperation with others. In a larger sense, with more and more start-ups worldwide, the young entrepreneurs as college graduates are under even greater pressure than finding a job elsewhere competing with other job hunters.As the old saying goes: “Lay a solid foundation, and the time will come for you to shine!” Therefore, we have to accumulate as enough experience as possible by working for others, and wait for the right time to start our own business.2016年12月英语四级作文真题答案范文:当老板还是当职员When it comes to graduation, college students will confront lots of choices about career such as being a boss or an employee. Different choices bring various kinds of life. I am likely to choose to do the business for my own.Generally, this choice can be virtually associated with various reasons. Firstly, college students who start businesses are able to broaden their horizon and enlarge their scopes more easily. Facing a good number of unknown challenges, they can embark on a tough but fascinating journey while most of their peers appreciate stable salaries. Furthermore, to start a business is a fabulous way to tap youngsters’ potential. It is the attempts that proves their greatness. Finally, as the job market is increasingly competitive, to start our own companies is a favorable choice for dealing with this fierce competition.As I have mentioned above, I strongly believe that starting a business after graduation offers a great opportunity to enrich students’ lives. Therefore, it is suggested that students should try hard to take effective measures to improve their competitiveness. Only in this way can we lay a solid foundation for the future.2016年12月英语四级作文真题答案范文:考研还是工作Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to take a job in a company and the other to go to a graduate school. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essayto explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.范文:Job hunting becomes increasingly tough for college graduates, for the larger number of graduates doesn’t balance with the limited job opportunities. As a result, more and more graduates choose to furthertheir study. For me, I prefer going to a graduate school to continue my education.From a personal perspective, further education can equip me with more solid and profound knowledge for my future job, so the education in a graduate school can actually serve as a stepping stone in my future job hunting. On a community level, the experience of internship during school can also well develop my social skills of communicating and cooperating with my workmates. In a larger sense, the increasingly competitive job market is gradually raising its standards for the job hunters. Taking all these into account, the advantages seem to lie with the candidates with higher degrees.As the famous saying goes: “Slow down to speed up.” That is to say, further study may slow us down when entering the job market, but it does speed us up on our way to success!※2016年12月英语四级成绩查询时间:根据历年英语四级成绩查询时间,预测2016年12月英语四级成绩查询于2017年2月中下旬开始,请广大考生密切关注老师英语四级成绩查询栏目。

2016年12月英语四级作文答案及解析

2016年12月英语四级作文答案及解析

2016年12月英语四级作文答案及解析(第一套)第一套:Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation. One is to find a job somewhere and the other to start a business of your own. You are to make a decision. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your decision. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.命题解析:2016年12月四级写作命题再次体现了强烈的反押题倾向,考察了以前从未考察过的一种情景作文:正反对比型情景作文,类似于以前的老托福写作题目。

考察的话题关于大学毕业的选择:第一套题目关于就业与创业,第二套题目关于去国企还是合资企业,第三套关于就业还是考研。

这三套题目均来自于2013年考研英语(一)的大作文:大学毕业生的选择。

第一套详解:Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation. One is to find a job somewhere and the other to start a business of your own. You are to make a decision. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your decision. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.精彩范文In the past two years of my college life, I have never ceased to think what kind of work I shall take up upon graduation. Although my ideas are not consistent, I have now decided to start a business of my own as my lifelong career.A variety of factors have led me to make this decision over other more lucrative ones. To begin with, running my own business means freedom and independence. As a person having my own business, I am free to use my own ideas and make my own decisions, a privilege not everyone can have, even those with highly-paid positions. More importantly, I like starting my own business in that it offers a certain peace of mind. No more rushing to catch a morning bus, no more anxiety to please a boss, no more worries about your paycheck which is steady, if not handsome.Nothing, not even a big salary, can equal for the satisfaction of being your own boss and a gentle peace of life.参考译文在过去两年的大学生活中,我一刻也没有停止过思考:我大学毕业以后要干什么工作。

2016年英语四级作文

2016年英语四级作文

2016年英语四级作文Sure, here's an English essay for the 2016 English CET-4 exam:Title: The Impact of Technology on Modern Society。

In the contemporary era, technology plays a pivotalrole in shaping various aspects of our lives. From communication to education, from healthcare to entertainment, technological advancements have revolutionized the way we live, work, and interact with each other. In this essay, we will delve into the multifaceted impacts of technology on modern society.To begin with, one of the most evident impacts of technology is its influence on communication. The advent of smartphones, social media platforms, and instant messaging apps has made communication faster, more convenient, and more accessible than ever before. People can now connect with friends and family across the globe within seconds,fostering closer relationships and transcending geographical barriers. However, this increased connectivity has also brought about challenges such as digital overload, loss of face-to-face interaction, and issues related to online privacy and security.Moreover, technology has revolutionized the field of education. With the rise of e-learning platforms, online courses, and educational apps, learning is no longer confined to the traditional classroom setting. Students now have access to a vast repository of knowledge at their fingertips, enabling personalized learning experiences tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Additionally, technology has made education more inclusive and accessible to marginalized communities, bridging the gap between learners from different socio-economic backgrounds. However, concerns have been raised regarding the quality of online education, digital distractions, and the digital divide that persists in certain regions.Furthermore, technology has transformed the landscape of healthcare. From telemedicine and wearable devices toelectronic health records and medical robots, advancementsin technology have enhanced the efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of healthcare services. Patients can now consult with healthcare professionals remotely, monitortheir health in real-time, and access medical informationat their convenience. However, the reliance on technologyin healthcare also raises ethical concerns related to data privacy, patient confidentiality, and the potential dehumanization of medical care.In addition to communication, education, and healthcare, technology has also revolutionized the way we work and entertain ourselves. The rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and remote work technologies has transformed industries, creating new job opportunities while alsoraising concerns about job displacement and economic inequality. Similarly, the proliferation of streaming services, virtual reality, and gaming platforms has revolutionized the entertainment industry, providing consumers with endless options for leisure and entertainment. However, concerns have been raised about the addictive nature of technology, its impact on mental health,and the erosion of traditional forms of entertainment and cultural practices.In conclusion, the impact of technology on modern society is profound and multifaceted. While technological advancements have brought about numerous benefits and opportunities, they have also given rise to various challenges and concerns. It is essential for individuals, communities, and policymakers to strike a balance between embracing innovation and addressing the ethical, social, and environmental implications of technology. Only through responsible and ethical use of technology can we harnessits full potential to create a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive society.。

12月英语四级(卷三)作文真题及

12月英语四级(卷三)作文真题及

12月英语四级(卷三)作文真题及2016年12月大学英语四级考试于今日上午开考,为帮助大家及时了解最新考试情况,以下是店铺搜索整理的关于2016年12月英语四级(卷三)作文真题及范文,希望对大家有所帮助!想了解更多相关信息请持续关注我们店铺!【真题再现】Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to take a job in a company and the other to go to a graduate school. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.【参考范文一】Facing the two options, I will choose to take a job in a company. There are mainly two reasons for my choice.On one hand, I am eager to apply what I’ve learned to practice since I have got so many years’ schooling. Moreover, I am somewhat tired of the “ivory tower” life and ready for the “real world” life, for I assume that I can learn more from getting in touch with society. On the other hand, my family needs my financial support, because my parents are getting older and older and making less and less. Though it doesn’t take much to pursue my further study, I cannot support my parents financially if I choose to go to a graduate school.To sum up, to take a job in a company meets my desire of learning from practice and support my parents financially, which is a better choice for me.【参考译文】面对两个选择,我会选择去公司工作。

16年12月英语四级作文优秀范文

16年12月英语四级作文优秀范文

16年12月英语四级作文优秀范文下载温馨提示:该文档是我店铺精心编制而成,希望大家下载以后,能够帮助大家解决实际的问题。

文档下载后可定制随意修改,请根据实际需要进行相应的调整和使用,谢谢!并且,本店铺为大家提供各种各样类型的实用资料,如教育随笔、日记赏析、句子摘抄、古诗大全、经典美文、话题作文、工作总结、词语解析、文案摘录、其他资料等等,如想了解不同资料格式和写法,敬请关注!Download tips: This document is carefully compiled by theeditor. I hope that after you download them,they can help yousolve practical problems. The document can be customized andmodified after downloading,please adjust and use it according toactual needs, thank you!In addition, our shop provides you with various types ofpractical materials,such as educational essays, diaryappreciation,sentence excerpts,ancient poems,classic articles,topic composition,work summary,word parsing,copy excerpts,other materials and so on,want to know different data formats andwriting methods,please pay attention!Sure! Here's an example of an English composition for the December 2016 CET-4 exam:I really like traveling. It's so much fun to explore new places and meet new people. Every time I go on a trip, I feel like I'm discovering a whole new world.Last summer, I went to Beijing with my family. We visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and other famous attractions. The Great Wall was really amazing. It's so long and beautiful. Standing on top of it, I felt like I could see the whole world.I also like reading. It's a great way to relax and learn new things. I usually read before going to bed. It helps me fall asleep and gives me a lot of inspiration.My favorite book is "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. It's a very powerful and moving story about racism and justice. I think everyone should read this book.In conclusion, traveling and reading are two of my favorite things. They make my life more colorful and meaningful.。

2016年12月英语四级精选作文范文格式3

2016年12月英语四级精选作文范文格式3

2016年12月英语四级精选作文范文格式3Present In The ProgressionLetting Life UnfoldOur lives are guided by natural rhythms that are particular to each of us and cannot be altered by force of will alone. Life itself is a journey made up of processes and events that manifest before us only to be swept away when time marches on. Whether we envision ourselves creating a career, building a family, or developing the self, we instinctively know when the time has come for us to realize our dreams because all that is involved comes together harmoniously. When the time is right, the passage of destiny cannot be blocked. Yet as desperate as we are to touch these beautiful futures we have imagined, we cannot grow if we are not fully present in the evolutionary experience. The present can be challenging, uncomfortable, and tedious, but life unfolds as it will, and the universe will wait patiently as we make our way into the unknown.The fate that awaits us is not dependent on our pace, which was preordained before we ever appeared in human guise. Therefore there is no reason to rush through life to reach those pinnacles of development associated with the paths we havechosen. Enjoying and fully experiencing the journey of life is as important as achieving goals and reaching milestones. There are lessons we can learn during those moments that seem immaterial or insignificant that we cannot learn at any other time. Appreciating these takes patience, however, because human beings tend to focus on the fulfillment of expectations rather than the simple joys of being.Like many people, you have no doubt longed for a device that would give you the power to fast forward through certain periods of your existence. Yet haste is by its very nature vastly more stressful than serene fortitude. When you feel yourself growing impatient because the pace of your development is deceptively slow, remember that everything that will occur in your life will occur in its own time. Quelling your urge to rush will enable you to witness yourself learning, changing, and becoming stronger. There is so much to see and do in between the events and processes that we deem definitive. If you are patient enough to take pleasure in your existence‘s unfolding, the journey from one pinnacle to the next will seem to take no time at all.12 ---来源网络整理,仅供参考。

  1. 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性,平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
  2. 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
  3. 3、如文档侵犯您的权益,请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间:9:00-18:30)。

四级写作是一种给题目、提示、及指导的短文写作,因此,紧紧围绕其题旨是至关重要的。

考生在审题的过程应当认真审阅作文的说明要求和所给的材料,比如段首句、提纲、关键词、图表等,确定相应的体裁,明确自己的中心思想,从而明确作文的写作范围和侧重点。

审题的目的主要是确定文章的主题思想,一篇文章只能有一个主题思想,要鲜明、深刻、有新意。

另外,考生要善于分析给定的材料,总结材料包含的主要内容,是否含有引申义,这一点也很重要。

For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to work in a state-owned business and the other in a joint venture. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to work in a state-owned business and the other in a joint venture. You are to make a decision between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice.
假设毕业时你的工作有两个选择:一是去国有企业,二是去合资企业。

做出一个选择,并且解释原因。

参考范文:
Stated-owned business or Joint venture
Upon graduation, virtually all college students will confront the problem of the career choice,which is truly a tough choice. Students' opinions differ greatly on this issue. Some hold that there is no better way to get a decent job than working in a stated-owned business which will guarantee my life after retirement, but others take the attitude that a joint venture outweighs any other jobs as it may provide higher income for employees.
As to myself, I prefer the latter view. A joint venture, especially a high-salary joint venture, exerts a tremendous fascination on a great number of people, with no exception to me. Although it might be impossible to make sure my retirement pension is good enough, high-salary is exactly what I need just now. In my view, our career choices largely depend on where we want to stay for the rest of life. For me, metropolis is the place where I can grasp loads of opportunities and achieve my personal dreams. As I hold the view that live in the moment, not the future, and also in order to finance myself in some aspects such as the transportation, the house-renting, or social activities, a joint venture can satisfy my needs for the consumption I mentioned above.
In short, a joint venture is the first and only consideration in my choice of career.。

相关文档
最新文档