全国英语专业四级口语考试仍然采用录音口试，将于笔试一至二周后举行。根据大纲要求，口试内容将分解为三项：
（1）复述故事（听两遍故事后复述3分种）；
（2）即席讲话（根据所给的题目准备3分钟后，作即席讲话3分钟）；
（3）对话（根据规定的角色各自准备3分钟后，对话4分钟）。
2001年
Task1: Retelling a story
①I once knew an old man whose bad memory made him famous. John Smith was so forgetful that he sometimes forget what he was talking about in the middle of a sentence. His wife had to constantly remind him about his meetings, his classes –even his meals! ②Once he forgot he had eaten breakfast twice, at home and at school. His wife liked to remind her neighbors, “If John didn’t have his head tied on. He would forget that too!” ③Since Smith was a professor at a well-known university, his forgetfulness was often an embarrassment. It wasn’t that he was not clever, as some critical people tended to say, but just very, very absent-minded.
④One hot summer day, Professor Smith decided to take his children to a seaside town about a three-hour train ride away. To make the trip more interesting for his young children, he kept the name of the town a secret. ⑤However, by the time they arrived at the station, Smith forgot the name of the town he was planning to visit. Luckily, a friend of his happened to be in the station. He offered to take care of the children while Smith hurried back home to find out where he was going.
⑥The professor’s wife was surprised to see him again so soon.
“Oh, my dear, I forgot the name the town.”
“What? You forgot the name? Maybe one day you will forget my name! Now I’ll write the name of that town on a piece of paper, and yo u put it in your pocket and please, please don’t forget where you put it.”
⑦Satisfied that she had solved the problem, she sent her husband off again. Ten minutes later she was astonished to see him outside the house for the third time.
“What is the matter now?”
“As you told me, I didn’t forget where I put the name of that town, but I forgot where I left our children!”
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Directions: Describe a teacher of yours whom you find unusual.
Task3: Role-playing
Directions: Many high school graduates in China are going overseas for their college education. A friend of yours is graduating this year and would like to ask for your advice on whether it is a good idea for a high school graduate to go abroad to study.
Student A: You think this friend should go by all means, and you should try to convince your partner. Remember you should start the conversation.
Student B: You think this friend should finish college in China before thinking about going abroad, and you should try to convince your partner. Remember your partner will start the conversation. ——————————————————————————————————
①Whenever Mr. Smith goes to Westgate, he stays at the Grand Hotel. In spite of its name, it is really not very “grand,” but it is cheap, clean, and comfortable. ②Since he knows the manger well, he never has to go to the trouble of reserving a room. The fact is that he always gets the same room. It is situated at the far end of the building and overlooks a beautiful bay.
③On his last visit, Mr. Smith was told that he could have his usual room, but the manager added apologetically that it might be a little noisy. So great was the demand for rooms, the manager said, that the hotel had decided to build a new wing. Mr. Smith said he did not mind. It amused him to think that the dear old Grand Hotel was making an effort to live up to its name.
④During the first day Mr. Smith hardly noticed the noise at all. The room was a little dusty, but that was natural. ⑤The following afternoon, he borrowed a book from the hotel library and went upstairs to read. No sooner had he sat down than he heard someone hammering loudly at the wall.
⑥At first he paid no attention, but after a while he began to feel very uncomfortable. His clothes were slowly being covered with fine white powder. ⑦Soon there was so much dust in the room that he began to cough. The hammering was now louder than ever and bits of plaster were coming away from the walls. It looked as though the whole building was going to fall. ⑧Mr. Smith went immediately to complain to the manager. They both returned to the room, but everything was very quiet. As they stood there looking at each other, Mr. Smith felt rather embarrassed for having dragged the manager all the way up the stairs for nothing. ⑨All of a sudden, the hammering began again and a large brick landed on the floor. Looking up, they saw a sharp metal tool had forced its way through the wall, making a very large hole right above the bed!
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Direction: Describe an embarrassing situation in which you got very angry.
Task3: Role-playing
Directions: The geology department of a major university is planning to admit 30 male and 5 female students. However, the results of the college entrance examination show that by average, of all the applicants, females have scored higher than most males. Should the department stick to its original plan?
Student A: You think the department should still stick to the original plan, and you should try to convince your partner. Remember you should start the conversation.
Student B: You don’t think the department should stick to the original p lan, and you should try to convince your partner. Remember your partner will start the conversation. ——————————————————————————————————
①Just as Jane was joyfully expecting her first child, her active, energetic mother began losing her battle with a brain disease. For ten years, the fiercely independent and courageous mother had fought, but none of the surgeries or treatments had been successful. At only fifty-five, she became totally disabled- unable to speak, walk, eat or dress on her own.
②As the mother grew closer and closer to death, the baby grew closer and closer to life. Jane was afraid that her mother and her baby would never know each other. Her fear seemed well-founded.
A few weeks before her due date, her mother lapsed into a deep coma. The doctors did not hold any hope. It was useless to put in a feeding tube, they said, for Mother would never awaken. So Jane brought Mother to her own bed in her own house. As often as she could, she sat beside her mother, talking about the baby moving inside her.
④On February 3, 1989, at about the same time Jane began to feel birth pains, Mother opened her eyes. Jane called home.
“Mom, listen. My baby is coming! You’re going to have a new grandchild. Do you understand!”
“Yes,” Mother answered.
What a wonderful word! The first clear word she’d spoken in months.
⑤By the time Jane brought her son home, her mother was sitting in her chair, dressed and ready to welcome the baby. For two weeks, Mother clucked, smiled and held the new-born baby. Then she quietly became unconscious and, after visits from all her children, was finally free of the pain.
⑥For Jane, memories of her son’s birth will always be bittersweet, but it was at this time that she learned an important truth about living. While both joy and sorrow pass quickly, and often come together at the same time, love has the power to overcome both. And love can last forever.
Task II: Talking on a given topic
Directions: Tell a story that illustrates the need for love
Task III: Role-playing
Student A: You will be traveling later this week and you are wondering about the advantages and safety of flying. Recent news reports of air crashes have made you nervous and you cannot decide if it is safe to travel by airplane. You turn to your friend for advice about whether you should go by air or by train. He/she tried to persuade you to take a flight by listing some advantages. Eventually you refuse to accept his/her opinion and make your own decision.
Student B: One of your friends is taking a trip later this week and he/she is undecided about whether to travel by air or by train. Not knowing what to do, your friend comes to you for advice. You try to persuade your friend to take a flight in spite of reports of air crashes. Eventually, you fail to convince him/her and your friend buys a train ticket instead. ——————————————————————————————————
①When she was 22 years old Pat Jones decided that she wanted to travel around the world and see as many foreign places as she could while she was young. When she finished college at home in Britain, Pat chose to visit Latin America first, so she managed to get a job as an English teacher in a secondary school in Bolivia. Pat spoke a little Spanish, so she was able to communicate with her students even though they did not know much English.
②A sentence she had once read somewhere stuck in her mind: if you dream in a foreign language, it means that you have really mastered it. Pat repeated this sentence to her students and she hoped that someday she would dream in Spanish and they would dream in English.
③One day, Tim, one of the worst students in her class, came up to her and explained in Spanish that he had not done his homework. He said that he had gone to bed early and had slept badly. Pat was quite angry with him, for she did not think that his explanation had anything to do with his homework. But Tim told her that he dreamed all night and his dream was in English.
④“In English!” Pat thought. She was greatly surprised, since Tim was such a bad student. She was also secretly jealous. Her dreams were still not in Spanish, but she decided to encourage her student and asked him to tell her about his dream.
“All the people in my dream spoke English,” Tim said. “And all the signs were in English. All the newspapers and magazine s and all the TV programs were in English.”
“But that’s wonderful,” said Pat. “What did all the people say to you?” she asked.
“I’m sorry. Miss Jones, That’s why I slept so badly all through the night. I didn’t understand a word they said. It was a nightmare!” Tim answered.
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Directions: Describe one of the most unpleasant dreams you’ve ever had.
Task3: Role-playing
Student A: Nowadays higher education is getting more and more expensive. To quite a number of families it has become a big financial burden. You try to discuss this problem with student B. You think that parents should pay tuition for their children since college students do not yet have any regular income.
Student B: Nowadays higher education is getting more and more expensive. To quite a number of families it has become a big financial burden. You try to discuss this problem with student A. Your opinion is that it is unfair to put this big burden on parents since college students are already adults. Students themselves should find ways to pay their own tuition. ——————————————————————————————————
①A little girl whose parents had died lived with her grandmother and slept in an upstairs bedroom.
②One night there was a fire in the house and the grandmother died while trying to rescue the child. The fire spread quickly, and the first floor of the house was soon engulfed in flames.
③Neighbors called the fire department, then stood helplessly by, unable to enter the house because flames blocked all the entrances. The little girl appeared at an upstairs window, crying for help, just as word spread among the crowd that the firefighters would be delayed a few minutes because they were all at another fire.
④Suddenly, a man appeared with a ladder, put it up against the side of the house and disappeared inside. When he reappeared, he had the little girl in his arms. He delivered the child to the waiting arms below, then disappeared into the night.
⑤An investigation revealed that the child had no living relatives, and weeks later a meeting was held in the town hall to determine who would take the child into their home and bring her up.
⑥A teacher said she would like to raise the child. She pointed out that she could ensure her a good education. A farmer offered her an upbringing on his farm. He pointed out that living on a farm was he althy and satisfying. Others spoke, giving their reasons why it was to the child’s advantage to live with them.
Finally, the town’s richest resident rose and said, “I can give this child all the advantages that you have mentioned here, plus money and every thing that money can buy.”
Throughout all this, the child remained silent, her eyes on the floor.
⑦“Does anyone else want to speak?” asked the meeting chairman. A man came forward from the back of the hall. He walked slowly and appeared to be in pain. When he got to the front of the room, he stood directly in front of the little girl and held out his arms. His hands and arms were terribly scarred.
The child cried out. “This is the man who rescued me!” With a leap, she threw her arms around the man’s neck. She buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed for a few moments. Then she looked up and smiled at him.
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Direction: Please tell us one incident in which someone was trying to help others despite danger to his own safety.
Task3: Role-playing
Student A: The manager of a world-famous hotel wants to recruit a new member as t he hotel’s bellboy, offering him a salary of 3000 yuan per month. Many university graduates are competing for the position. As a sophomore in the university, you think that they are applying for a job unworthy for their talents. Try to persuade your partner that you are right. Remember you will initiate the conversation.
Student B: The manager of a world-famous hotel wants to recruit a new member as the hotel’s bellboy, offering him a salary of 3000 yuan per month. Many university graduates are competing for the position. As a sophomore in the university, you think that it is courageous for them to make such a decision and they have made the correct choice. Try to persuade your partner that you are right. Remember your partner will initiate the conversation.
——————————————————————————————————
2006：
Task1: Retelling a story
①A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty glass jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about two inches in diameter.
②He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open spaces between the rocks. The students laughed.
③He asked his students again if the jar was full. They agreed: yes, it was.
The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up all the remaining space.
④“Now.” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is your life.”
The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children –anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.
⑤If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, or material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. Talk with your parents. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. “Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand. They will take care of themselves.”
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Directions: Describe a lesson you have learned which has enriched your life experience.
Task3: Role-playing
Student A: You and your friend are discussing what you are going to do together during this coming summer vacation. Your friend prefers to work in a big company to earn some money. You prefer to do some voluntary work for society. You try to persuade each other by giving various reasons. Remember you will initiate the conversation.
Student B: You and your friend are discussing what you are going to do together during this coming summer vacation. Your friend prefers to do some voluntary work for society. You prefer to work in a big company to earn some money. You try to persuade each other by giving various reasons. Remember your partner will initiate the conversation. ——————————————————————————————————
①Anne was a science teacher in a primary school. She loved her job and believed very strongly in practical work as a means of teaching science effectively. ②Once she decided to show her pupils’ parents how well their children were learning. To demonstrate the effectiveness of her methods she invited all the parents to come to the school to see the results of one of the children’s experiments. She scheduled this event for a Saturday evening, so all of the parents would be sure to come.
③The children were studying how plants grow. To see this process for themselves the students had planted four pots of beans. They had put poor soil in one pot to see what effect this would have on the growth of the beans. The other three pots of beans had good soil, but one pot had been placed in a dark room for several days and another pot was not watered for the same length of time. In this way the children were learning the effects of soil, water and sunlight on the growth of plants.
④At the end of the lesson on Friday afternoon, Anne put labels on the four pots. One label said, “The beans in this pot were planted in poor soil.” Another one said, “This pot has been kept in the dark for four days.” The third label read, “These beans have had no water for four days.” And the last one went like this: “These beans have had good soil, plenty of light and regular water.” Then she went home.
⑤She returned to school on Saturday evening, half an hour before the parents were due to come. She was surprised to find a note beside the pots. It said: “We read your notes to the school cleaning staff and decided to help them with your plants, so we watered all the plants, changed the earth in one with poor soil, and left the light on above the one that had been left in the dark for four days. We hope that the plants will now grow better.” Signed “The Boy Scouts”.
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Directions: Talk about an experience you have had in which you tried to help someone but actually caused trouble.
Task3: Role-playing
Student A: Nowadays lots of college students take all kinds of tests to get different kinds of certificates. You think it necessary because these certificates are useful in helping the students find good jobs. But your partner doesn’t agree with you. Try to convince him/her. Remember you should start the conversation.
Student B: Nowadays lots of college students take all kind of tests to get different kinds of certificates. You don’t think it necessary because most of these certifica tes are actually of no use. But your partner doesn’t agree with you. Try to convince him/her. Remember your partner should start the conversation. ——————————————————————————————————
It was shortly after one o’clock in the morning and Mr. Fairfax was really tired. He had been driving for over five hours, heading for a small town far away from home. The weather was clear but it was dark and Mr. Fairfax could not find a motel to spend the night. Completely exhausted, he de cided to stop by the roadside for a few hours’ sleep at the wheel of his car. He fell asleep almost the moment he closed his eyes. But soon he was awakened by a man tapping on the car window. “I say, you don’t happen to know the time, do you?” the stranger asked.
Mr. Fairfax wound down the window and thrust his head out. “It’s around one o’clock,” he answered. Then he wound up his window and soon fell back into a deep slumber.
Half an hour later, another guy came up and knocked on his window who also inquired about the time. Once again, Mr. Fairfax gathered his thoughts and told him that it was just after one-thirty.
When the same thing happened yet again, Mr. Fairfax became increasingly irritated. Sleep-deprived, he began to raise his voice at the passer-by: “It’s two o’clock, God damn it! And why can’t you get yourself a watch like the rest of us?”
This time when he was winding up the window, Mr. Fairfax figured out how to make sure no one else disturbed him. He found some paper and a pencil and wrote a note that he placed on the windscreen of his car. It said: “I don’t know what time it is!” Amused by his good idea, he happily drifted off back to sleep again.
Not long afterwards, the note was spotted by a policeman on his night patrol. Intent on fulfilling his duty to assist motorists, he tapped on Mr. Fairfax’s car window.
“Well, sir,” the policeman said. “Now it is five past three!”
Task2: Talking on a given topic
Describe a situation in which you tried every means to avoid trouble, but in vain.
Task3: Role-playing
Student A: Today in China, lots of famous people, such as athletes, are admitted to famous universities without taking the college entrance exam. You and your partner are discussing the issue. You think these people deserve a chance since they have contributed a lot to the country. Your partner does not agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember you should start the conversation.
Student B: Today in China, lots of famous people, such as athletes, are admitted to famous universities without taking the college entrance exam. You and your partner are discussing the issue. You don’t think these people should be given this chance since it is unfair to the other people who work so hard to pass the exam. Your partner does not agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember your partner will start the conversation.
Mr. Smith owned a small supermarket. All the people nearby like to go shopping there. Several months ago, a few big chain stores were opened in town. They sold everything from toothpaste to televisions, and the prices were pretty low. Many small shops were closed down, except Mr. Smith’s small supermarket. The owner of a chain store was very curious. One day, he dropped into Mr. Smith’s supermarket, and saw a middle aged woman buying fruit. When the woman walked out of the supermarket, he stopped the woman politely and asked her, “Madam, why don’t you go shopping in the large chain stores? They have many more kinds of fruit at low prices.”With a smile, the woman said, “You want to hear? It’s because of a pair of sports shoes.” Then the woman told her story. Three years ago after her divorce, she had to work very hard to raise the family. One of her two children, Tommy, was in elementary school. One day, when she was buying food in the supermarket, Tommy rushed in and pleaded with her for a pair of sports shoes. Pointing to the shoes, Tommy cried, “Mummy, I had a basketball match today. They all laughed at me when I played with my bare feet.”She really wanted to buy her son a nice pair of sports shoes, but the money in her pocket was barely enough for a meal. “I am sorry, Tommy,” she said sadly, “I promise when we have money…” seeing no hope in his mother’s eyes, Tommy ran away. Standing there without knowing what to do, she started to weep. Suddenly, she felt someone pat her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw Mr. Smith, the owner of the supermarket, holding the pair of Adidas that her son dreamed of. “Take them.” He said with an understanding smile. “But I don’t have money,” she shook her head. “Your son can’t wait,” he said, “But I can wait. Take it, and pay me later.” After hearing the story, the owner of the big chain store was deeply touched. Now he knew why people still liked to go shopping in Mr. Smith’s supermarket. Not only could you find all kinds of commodities there, but also understanding, love and trust.
Task II: Talking based on a given topic
Trust is very important in everyone’s life. Talk about an experience when you appreciated trust from your family or friends.
Task III: Role-playing
Student A: Today in China, more and more people like to make friends online. You think that the Internet is a good place to meet new friends. But your partner thinks that cyber-friendship is fake and dangerous. Try to convince your partner that the Internet is a good place to meet friends. Remember you should start the conversation.
Student B: Today in China, more and more people like to make friends online. Your partner thinks that the Internet is a good place to meet new friends. But you think that cyber-friendship is fake and dangerous. Try to convince your partner that cyber-friendship is not good. Remember your partner should start the conversation.
Task I: Retelling the story
Michelle was eight years old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Jack. He was very sick and they were completely out of money. Only a very costly operation could save Jack now but there was no one to lend them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mom, “Only a miracle can save him now. ” Michelle went to her bedroom and took out all the coins from her little moneybox. After counting the coins three times, she slopped out the back door and made her way to the pharmacy six blocks away. She waited for a long time before the pharmacist turned around and asked her, “And what do you want?”“Well, it’s about my brother,” Michelle answered, “He is really sick…and I want to buy a miracle.”“I beg your pardon?”said the pharmacist. “His name is Jack and he has something very bad growing inside his body and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. so how much does a miracle cost?”“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said. “Listen, I have the money to pay for it.” And with these words, Michelle poured out all the coins from her pockets. At this time, a well-dressed man behind Michelle stooped down and asked the little girl, “I am selling the miracle you want. Tell me how much money you have.”“One dollar and eleven cents,” Michelle answered in a low voice, “And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.”“Well,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents – the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. Show me the place where your brother lives.” Holding the man’s hand firmly, Michelle took him home. That well dressed man was a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed with payment of a dollar and eleven cents and it wasn’t long before Jack was home again and doing well. Michelle was very happy. Now she knew exactly how much a miracle cost … one dollar and eleven cents… plus the faith of a little child.
Task II: Talking based on a given topic
In real life, not everyone can be as fortunate as Michelle to see a miracle happen. But we have all experienced something unexpected. Talk about one unexpected experience you’ve had and what you’ve learned from it.
Task III: Role-playing
Student A: Nowadays many college students look for romance on campus. You think campus love can have a positive effect on personal development, but your partner doesn’t agree. Discuss this issue with your partner and try to convince him/her. Remember you should start the conversation. Student B: Nowadays many college students look for romance on campus. You think campus love can have a negative effect on personal development, but your partner doesn’t agree. Discuss this issue with your partner and try to convince him/her. Remember your partner should start the conversation.
Task I: Retelling a story
Bryan was driving home one evening, after a day of job hunting. He had been unemployed for two months. Thinking of his pregnant wife, still working to feed the family, he was very depressed. Suddenly he saw an old woman standing alone near a car. Obviously something was wrong with her car and she needed help. Bryan pulled up and got out of his car. The old lady was so cold that she couldn’t even speak. She had probably been waiting there for hours, since not many people were out in this chilly snowy night. He said, “I’m here to help. Why don’t you wait in my car where it’s warm? I’ll take a look at your car.” Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an elderly person, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car and changed the tire quickly. But when he stood up, he found his new suit covered with dirty snow. The grateful woman asked him how much she owed him. Any amount of money would have been all right with her. Bryan was surprised. He never thought about money. Still in a sad mood about his unemployment and his new suit, he told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person some help. Then Bryan and the old lady drove off. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small café. She went in to take something warm. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. “What a nice girl.” The old lady said to herself. Then she remembered Bryan. After she finished her meal, she left quickly, placing four 100-dollar bills and a note on the napkin, “You don’t owe me anything. When you see someone who needs help, do the same.” The girl couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the money. Thinking of her poor husband, she couldn’t help calling home, “Bryan, can you guess what happened to me today?”
Task II: Talking based on a given topic
Talk about an experience you’ve had of kindness shown by a stranger.
Task III: Role-playing
Student A: Yale law professor Amy Chua’s Child-raising memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother has recently captured global attention. In the book, Chua stresses the merits of “Chinese parenting,”which means high expectations, strict discipline (such as no TV or computer games), and punishment instead of encouragement. You think that such strict parenting is good for the growth of children, but your partner doesn’t agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember you should start the conversation. Student B: Yale law professor Amy Chua’s Child-raising memoir B attle Hymn of the Tiger Mother has recently captured global attention. In the book, Chua stresses the merits of “Chinese parenting,”which means high expectations, strict discipline (such as no TV or computer games), and punishment instead of encouragement. You think that such strict parenting is bad for the growth of children, but your partner doesn’t agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember your partner will start the conversation.
Task I: Retelling a story.
John and Bob joined a wholesale company together right after they graduated from college. Both worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bob to the position of manager, but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore, so he gave his resignation to the boss and complained that the boss did not value the hardworking staff but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that John had worked very hard all these years. He thought for a moment and said, "Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps you will change your decision and take back your resignation."
John agreed. The boss asked him to go and find someone selling watermelons in the market. John went out and returned soon. He said he had found a man selling watermelon. The boss asked about the price. John shook his head and went back to the market to inquire and returned to inform the boss.
The boss told John to wait a second, and then he called Bob into his office. He asked Bob to do the same task. Several hours later, Bob returned and told his boss that there was only one man selling watermelon in the market. The price was $1 per kilogram. One could get a discount if he bought more than 10 kilograms. The seller had an investment of 300 melons, the average of which weighed about 2 kilograms. They were of good quality, fresh, red and juicy, transported from the south two days before then.
John was very impressed and realized the difference between Bob and himself. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bob.
A successful man is more observant, thinks more, sees farther and explores in greater depth. Opportunities lie in details.
Task II: Talking based on a given topic
Describe a past experience in which you successfully seized a good opportunity.
Task III: Role-playing
Student A: Several Chinese universities in recent years enroll students into broad areas (e.g., liberal arts, sciences, management, etc.) rather than specific majors (e.g., English, math, finance, etc.). Students have a chance to take courses offered by various departments before they choose their majors at the beginning of their second year. You and your partner are discussing this issue. You think this arrangement is good for students while your partner doesn’t think so. Try to convince him or her. Remember you should start the conversatio n.
Student B: Several Chinese universities in recent years enroll students into broad areas (e.g., liberal arts, sciences, management, etc.) rather than specific majors (e.g., English, math, finance, etc.). Students have a chance to take courses offered by various departments before they choose their majors at the beginning of their second year. You and your partner are discussing this issue. Your partner thinks that this arrangement is good for students while you don’t think so. Try to convince him or her. Remember your partner will start the conversatio n.
Task I: Retelling a story.
Once upon a time there was a wise man who liked to go to the seaside to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One morning when he was walking along the shore, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself and thought it must be someone who would dance to welcome the coming of a new day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man, but the young man wasn't dancing. Instead, he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
The wise man became very curious. As he got closer, he said hello to the young man and asked him what he was doing.
The young man paused, looked up, smiled and replied, "I'm throwing starfish back into the ocean."
The wise man was even more curious and asked the young man why he was doing that.
"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and they will all die if I don't throw them back into the water," said the young man, throwing another starfish into the ocean. The wise man looked around at the hundreds of starfish lying on the beach and shook his head. He said, "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and there're starfish all along it. It is impossible for you to throw all of them back into the ocean. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely, then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, and he said, "It made a difference for that one."
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. If we can become aware of that and find our own starfish, throw them wisely, we will make a difference.
Task II: Talking based on a given topic
Describe one of your experiences in which what you did made a difference to someone or something. Task III: Role -Playing
Student A: Is English being over-emphasized in our educational system? Some people believe that this is a problem that has affected the learning of the Chinese culture in school. Others, however, hold that we must emphasize English in order to build China into a modern country.
You think there is indeed too much emphasis on English and it is unnecessary for all students to learn English while your partner argues that all students must attach great importance to English. Try to convince your partner. Remember you will start the conversation.
Student B: Is English being over-emphasized in our educational system? Some people believe that this is a problem that has affected the learning of the Chinese culture in school. Others, however, hold that we must emphasize English in order to build China into a modern country.
You believe all students must attach great importance to English while your partner argues that there is too much emphasis on English and it is unnecessary for all students to learn English. Try to convince your partner. Remember your partner will start the conversation.
Task I: Retell a story
Sally's father was a cook, and once, she complained to her father about why things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her father took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the water came to a boil. In the first pot, he put in some carrots; in the second, he put in eggs; and in the third, he put in ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter waited impatiently, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the fire. He took the carrots out and put them in a bowl and pulled the eggs out and put them in another bowl. Then he poured out a cup of coffee. He turned to her and asked, "What do you see, my sweetie?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard- boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled, as she tasted it. And she humbly asked, "What does this mean, Dad?"
He explained that each of them had faced the same difficulty, boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong and hard, but after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile, and only its thin shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" he asked his daughter.
When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
Task II: Talk based on a given topic
Describe one of your experiences in which you handled difficulty.
Task III: Role-play
Student A: Some celebrities (i.e., famous people) may appear in television advertisements, including those that cheat the audience. Should these celebrities be held legally responsible for their roles in deceptive advertisements? You believe that they should be punished by law. Your partner, however, holds the opposite point of view. Try to convince him or her that your opinion is correct. Remember: you will start the conversation.
Student B: Some celebrities (i.e., famous people) may appear in television advertisements, including those that cheat the audience. Should these celebrities be held legally responsible for their roles in deceptive advertisements? You think that they are innocent. Your partner, however, holds the opposite point of view. Try to convince him or her that your opinion is correct.
Remember: your partner will start the conversation.
2009年6月英语四级考试真题与答案真题： Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: F or this part, you are allowed 30 minute to write a short essay on the topic of students selecting their lectures. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given bellow: 1. 越来越多的博物馆免费对外开放的目的是什么？ 2. 也会带来一些问题 3. 你的看法？ Free admission to museums Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the
sentences with the information given in the passage. How Do You See Diversity? As a manager, Tiffany is responsible for interviewing applicants for some of the positions with her company .During one interview, she noticed that the candidate never made direct eye contact. She was puzzled and somewhat disappointed because she liked the individual otherwise. He had a perfect resume and gave good responses to her questions, but the fact that he never looked her in the eye said “untrustworthy,” so she decided to offer the job to her second choice. “It wasn’t until I attended a diversity workshop that I realized the person we passed over was the perfect person,” Tiffany confesses. What she hadn’t known at the time of the interview was that the candidate’s “different” behavior was simply a cultural misunde rstanding . He was an Asian-American raised in a household where respect for those in authority was shown by averting(避开) your eyes. “I was just thrown off by the lack of ye contact; not realizing it was cultural,” Tiffany says. “I missed out ,but will not miss that opportunity again.” Many of us have had similar encounters with behaviors we perceive
2017年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案（第一套）Part I Writing （25 minutes） Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short easy on how to best handle the relationship between doctors and patients. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Part II Listening Comprehension （25 minutes） Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1. A) Her friend Erika. C) Her grandfather. B) Her little brother. D) Her grandmother. 2. A) By taking pictures for passers-by. C) By selling lemonade and pictures. B) By working part time at a hospital. D) By asking for help on social media. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. 3. A) Finding cheaper ways of highway construction. B) Generating electric power for passing vehicles. C) Providing clean energy to five million people. D) Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel. 4. A) They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements. B) They can be laid right on top of existing highways. C) They are only about half an inch thick. D) They are made from cheap materials. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. 5. A) Endless fighting in the region. C) Inadequate funding for research. B) The hazards from the desert. D) The lack of clues about the species. 6. A) To observe the wildlife in the two national parks. B) To identify the reasons for the lions’ disappearance. C) To study the habitat of lions in Sudan and Ethiopia.
2017年12月大学英语四级真题及答案(第三套) Part I Writing (25 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay onhow to best handle the relationshop between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1. A) Her friend Erika. C) Her grandfather.
2001年英语专业四级考试全真试卷答案 PART ⅡDICTATION Characteristics of A Good Reader To improve your reading habits, you must understand the characteristics of a good reader. First, the good reader usually reads rapidly. Of course, he does not read every piece of material at the same rate. But whether he is reading a newspaper or a chapter in a physics text, his reading rate is relatively fast. Hehas learned to read for ideas rather than words one at a time. Next, the good reader can recognize and understand general ideas and specific details. Thus he is able to comprehend the material with a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest. Finally, the good reader has in his command several special skills, which he can apply to reading problems as they occur. For the college student, the most helpful of these skills include making use of the various aids to understanding that most text books provide and skim-reading for a general survey. PART ⅢLISTENING COMPREHENSION SECTION A STA TEMENT 1. I have to teach the same course books several times in the summer holiday camp, which is sometimes boring and not well-paid, but by and large I’m quite delighted at being with young people. 2. The poor living conditions in such a large city have resulted from the unplanned real estate development, which is rarely seen in small cities. 3. At a recent seminar, many participants were worried about the fact that overpopulation may give rise to many social security problems. 4. May I have your attention, please? Flight 998 is leaving at 11:30 a.m. Please check in half an hour prior to the departure. 5. Having gone through your claims for fire damage, I don’t think the policy you have provided protection against loss by fire. 6. Ian lost one eye in a childhood accident, but he nonetheless had a very successful athletic career. 7. Mr. and Mrs. Clark used to smoke. But now Mrs. Clark has stopped and she is afraid her husband will fall ill if he doesn’t get rid of his bad habit of smoking both at home and at work. 8. I heard from Mary that last semester, Susan found it difficult to stay on good terms with her
2014年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(完整版) Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: You should write atleast 120 words but no more than 180 words. Supposea foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your hometown, what is the mostinteresting place you would like to take him/her to see and why? Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) Section A Questions 36 to 45 are based onthe following passage. Global warming is a trend towardwarmer conditions around the world. Part of the warming is natural; we haveexperienced a 20,000 -year -long warming as the last ice age ended and the ice 36 away.However, we have already reached temperatures that are in 37 withother minimum-ice periods, so continued warming is likely not natural. We are 38 toa predicted worldwide increase in temperatures 39 between 1℃and 6℃over the next 100 years. The warming will be more 40 in some areas, less in others, and some placesmay even cool
大学英语四级历年真题及答案（经典版） 2012年6月英语四级 Part ⅠWriting (30minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Excessive Packaging following the outline given below. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. 1.目前许多商品存在过度包装的现象 2.出现这一现象的原因 3.我对这一现象的看法和建议 On Excessive Packaging Part ⅡReading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning)(15minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer sheet 1. For questions 1-7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked A)，B)，C）and D). For questions 8-10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Small Schools Rising This year's list of the top 100 high schools shows that today, those with fewer students are flourishing. Fifty years ago, they were the latest thing in educational reform: big, modern, suburban high schools with students counted in the thousands. As baby boomers(二战后婴儿潮时期出生的人) came of high-school age, big schools promised economic efficiency. A greater choice of courses, and, of course, better football teams. Only years later did we understand the trade-offs this involved: the creation of excessive bureaucracies(官僚机构)，the difficulty of forging personal connections between teachers and students.SAT scores began dropping in 1963;today,on average,30% of students do not complete high school in four years, a figure that rises to 50% in poor urban neighborhoods. While the emphasis on teaching to higher, test-driven standards as set in No Child Left Behind resulted in significantly better performance in elementary(and some middle)schools, high schools for a variety of reasons seemed to have made little progress. Size isn't everything, but it does matter, and the past decade has seen a noticeable countertrend toward smaller schools. This has been due ,in part ,to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested $1.8 billion in American high schools, helping to open about 1,000 small schools-most of them with about 400 kids each with an average enrollment of only 150 per grade, About 500 more are on the drawing board. Districts all over the country are taking notice, along with mayors in cities like New York, Chicago and
大学英语四级考试真题及答案(绝对完整） Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minute to write a short essay on the topic of students selecting their lectures. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given bellow: 1. 越来越多的博物馆免费对外开放的目的是什么？ 2. 也会带来一些问题 3. 你的看法？ Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. How Do You See Diversity? As a manager, Tiffany is responsible for interviewing applicants for some of the positions with her company .During one interview, she noticed that the candidate never made direct eye contact. She was puzzled and somewhat disappointed because she liked the individual otherwise. He had a perfect resume and gave good responses to her questions, but the fact that he never looked her in the eye said “untrustworthy,” so she decided to offer the job to her second choice. “It wasn’t until I attended a diversity workshop that I realized the person we passed over was the perfect person,” Tiffany confesses. What she hadn’t known at the time of the interview was that the candidate’s “different” behavior was simply a cultural misunderstanding . He was an Asian-American raised in a household where respect for those in authority was shown by averting(避开) your eyes. “I was just thrown off by the lack of ye contact; not realizing it was cultural,” Tiffany says. “I missed out ,but will not miss that opportunity again.” Many of us have had similar encounters with behaviors we perceive as different. As the world becomes smaller and our workplaces more diverse, it is becoming essential to expand our under-standing of others and to reexamine some of our false assumptions . Hire Advantage At a time when hiring qualified people is becoming more difficult ,employers who can eliminate invalid biases(偏爱) from the process have a distinct advantage .My company, Mindsets LLC ,helps organizations and individuals see their own blind spots . A real estate recruiter we worked with illustrates the positive difference such training can make .
英语专业四级考试真题及答案（完整版） TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2013) —GRADE FOUR— TIME LIMIT: 135 MIN PART I DICTATION [15 MIN] Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more. Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE. PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [20 MIN] In Sections A, B and C you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the best answer to each question on Answer Sheet Two. SECTION A CONVERSATIONS In this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.
2014-2019历年大学英语四级真题及答案 2014年6月大学英语四级考试真题 Part I Writing （30 minutes） Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the following question. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit China, what is the first place you would like to take him/her to see and why? Part II Listening Comprehension （30 minutes） Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A）, B）, C）and D）, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 1. A）The man should visit the museums. B）She can’t stand the hot weather. C）The beach resort is a good choice. D）She enjoys staying in Washington. 2. A）Her new responsibilities in the company. B）What her job prospects are. C）What the customers’ feedbac k is. D）The director’s opinion of her work. 3. A）Combine her training with dieting. B）Repeat the training every three days. C）Avoid excessive physical training. D）Include weightlifting in the program. 4. A）When she will return home. B）Whether she can go by herself. C）Whether she can travel by air. D）When she will completely recover. 5. A）The woman knows how to deal with the police. B）The woman had been fined many times before. C）The woman had violated traffic regulations. D）The woman is good at finding excuses. 6. A）Switch off the refrigerator for a while. B）Have someone repair the refrigerator. C）Ask the man to fix the refrigerator. D）Buy a refrigerator of better quality. 7. A）He owns a piece of land in the downtown area. B）He has got enough money to buy a house. C）He can finally do what he has dreamed of. D）He is moving into a bigger apartment. 8. A）She is black and blue all over. B）She has to go to see a doctor. C）She stayed away from work for a few days. D）She got hurt in an accident yesterday.
英语专业四级考试真题 PART III CLOZE 【15 MIN】 Decide which of the choices given below would best complete the passage if inserted in the corresponding blanks．Mark the best choice for each blank on Answer Sheet Two． The earthquake of 26th December 2004 resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in living memory．It was a (31) _____ underwater quake and occurred in the Indian Ocean．It (32) ____ coastlines，communities and brought death to many people． Why do earthquakes happen? The surface of the earth has not always looked as it does today；it is moving(33)____ (although very slowly)and has done so for billions of years．This is one(34)____ of earthquakes，when one section of the earth (tectonic plate)(35)____ another．Scientists can predict where but not(36)____ this might happen and the area between plates is called a fault line．On one fault line in Kobe，Japan in 1923 over 200,000 people were killed．(37)____，earthquakes do not always happen on fault lines，(38)____ is why they are so dangerous and (39)____． Where do volcanoes happen? Volcanoes happen where the earth's(40)____ is thin：lava，dust and gases(41)____ from beneath the earth．They can rise into a huge cone shape like a mountain and erupt，(42)____ they can be so violent(43)____ they just explode directly from the earth with no warning．There are 1511(44)'____' volcanoes in the world．This means that they may(45)____ be dangerous．In 1985 the Colombian volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupted．The lava melted a glacier and sent tones of mud(46)____ the town below．Twenty thousand people died．Natural disasters like volcanic eruptions are often unpredictable．We regularly do not know when they(47)____ pen，or (48)____ where they will happen．In the future，scientists may be able to watch and predict(49)____ before they happen．This could(50)____ many lives． 31．A．massive B．significant C．great D．grand 32．A．changed B．converted C．destroyed D．transformed 33．A．frequently B．continuously C．regularly D．periodically 34．A．source B．reason C．movement D．cause 35．A．collides with B．confronts with C．meets with D．faces with 36．A．how B．why C．when D．what
英语四级考试真题及答案(卷一完整 版) 范文： Writing：家长角色 There are several possible reasons accountable for this phenomenon(中心句). To begin with, family in growing numbers has only one child; therefore, parents oftentimes focus all their attentions on that child and exert much pressure on him or her(原因一). Moreover, numerous parents intend to realize their unfulfilled dreams by letting their children learn what they failed to learn and apply for the college by which they failed to be accepted, because they have become richer and they believe that they have the power to make what they wanted and want come true now(原因二). For instance, my uncle used to be a poor man and his dream that one day he would become a violinist was broken because of lack of money. But he made a fortune by selling coals, and then forced his son, my younger brother to practice playing violin. My brother was a huge fan of sports, but now he has to play violin everyday unwillingly and ofter quarrels with their parents(举例：原来-然后-结局). To sum up, it is unreasonable for parents to control their children’s life(总结句). In order to help them grow happily