2011年12月英语四级阅读真题来源
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2011.12英语四级真题-附详解2011年12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 entitled How Should Parents Help Children to Be Independent? You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 目前不少父母为孩子包办一切2. 为了让孩子独立, 父母应该……How Should Parents Help Children to Be Independent?...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 sentenceswith the information given in the passage.A Grassroots RemedyMost of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in the garden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in the suburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The most popular leisure activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers (慢跑者) jog, they don’t run the streets. Every one of them instinctively heads to the park or the river. It is my profound belief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether we know we are doing so or not.But despite this, our children are growing up nature-deprived (丧失). I spent my boyhood climbing trees on Streatham Common, South London. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss ofthe open spaces and odd new perceptions about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found.The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (多动症). Those whose accommodation had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%.A study in Sweden indicated that kindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illness and greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. A US study suggested that when a school gave children access to a natural environment, academic levels were raised across the entire school. Another study found that children playdifferently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create a hierarchy (等级) based on physical abilities, with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted with bushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchy was now based on imagination and creativity.Most bullying (恃强凌弱) is found in schools where there is a tarmac (柏油碎石) playground; the least bullying is in a natural area that the children are encouraged to explore. This reminds me unpleasantly of Sunnyhill School in Streatham, with its harsh tarmac, where I used to hang about in corners fantasising about wildlife.But children are frequently discouraged from involvement with natural spaces, for health and safety reasons, for fear that they might get dirty or that they might cause damage. So, instead, the damage is done tothe children themselves: not to their bodies but to their souls.One of the great problems of modern childhood is ADHD, now increasingly and expensively treated with drugs. Yet one study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places.The life of old people is measurably better when they have access to nature. The increasing emphasis for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality.In wider and more difficult areas of life, there is evidence to indicate that natural surroundings improve all kinds of things. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contactwith the natural world.Dr William Bird, researcher from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, states in his study, “A natural environment can reduce violent behaviour because its restorative process helps reduce anger and impulsive behaviour.” Wild places need encouraging for this reason, no matter how small their contribution.We tend to look on nature conservation as some kind of favour that human beings are granting to the natural world. The error here is far too deep: not only do humans need nature for themselves, but the very idea that humanity and the natural world are separable things is profoundly damaging. Human beings are a species of mammals (哺乳动物). For seven million years they lived on the planet as part of nature. Our ancestral selves miss the natural world and long for contact with non-human life. Anyone who has patted a dog, stroked a cat, satunder a tree with a pint of beer, given or received a bunch of flowers or chosen to walk through the park on a nice day, understands that.We need the wild world. It is essential to our well-being, our health, our happiness. Without the wild world we are not more but less civilised. Without other living things around us we are less than human.Five ways to find harmony with the natural worldWalk: Break the rhythm of permanently being under a roof. Get off a stop earlier, make a circuit of the park at lunchtime, walk the child to and from school, get a dog, feel yourself moving in moving air, look, listen, absorb.Sit: Take a moment, every now and then, to be still in an open space. In the garden, anywhere that’s not in the office, anywhere out of the house, away from the routine. Sit under a tree, look at water, feel refreshed,ever so slightly renewed.Drink: The best way to enjoy the natural world is by yourself; the second best way is in company. Take a drink outside with a good person, a good gathering: talk with the sun and the wind with birdsong for background. Learn: Expand your boundaries. Learn five species of bird, five butterflies, five trees, five bird songs. That way, you see and hear more: and your mind responds gratefully to the greater amount of wildness in your life.Travel: The places you always wanted to visit: by the seaside, in the country, in the hills. Take a weekend break, a day-trip, get out there and do it: for the scenery, for the way through the woods, for the birds, for the bees. Go somewhere special and bring specialness home. It lasts forever, after all.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
作文:Nothing succeeds without a strong willThere is a prevalent joke around young people saying that ‘quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world, and I’ve done it for hundreds of times.’ This seemingly funny statement ironically reflects the fact that the determination of most youngsters is oftentimes started with enthusiasm, but the passion becomes increasingly weaker each day, and then diminishes as if there has been no such thing at all.It is obvious that their failure in ‘quitting smoking’ and decline of determination are all ascribed to their lack of will. Initially, every success involves several stages of setbacks and risks, and we need to summon up our will to conquer them. Moreover, there are enormous temptation in our path of pursuit of success. For instance, when we plan to quit smoking, our roommates may smoke freely in front of us; when we are eager to keep fit, our close friends may invite us to have late night snacks. Under these occasions, only strong will can assist us to resist the temptation, and persist in chasing our goals until we triumphantly realize them.In short, no dream will successfully come true if we do not have strong will. An old famous proverb says that ‘ where there is a will, there is a way’. Let us bear this motton in mind no matter how many thunders and thorns are on our roads ahead, then we will be successful with such precious and powerful spirit.[快速阅读]快速阅读1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______.A) sticks to them in their daily lifeB) makes them known to othersC) understands their true valuesD)sees that others also follow them选择sticks to them in their daily life定位在原文第一段,文中说正直(integrity)的关键是一致性(consistency),不仅要有很多道德和伦理的准则,还要每天都坚守。
2011年12月大学英语四级全真预测试题三及答案解析一、选词填空题第一题It seems you always forget—your reading glasses when you are rushing to work, your coat when you are going to the cleaners, your credit card when you are shopping...Such absent-mindedness may be 1 to you; now British and German scientists are developing memory glasses that record everything the2 sees.The glasses can play back memories later to help the wearer remember things they have forgotten such as where they left their keys. And the glasses also 3 the user to "label" items so that information can be used later on. The wearer could walk around an office or a factory identifying certain4 by pointing at them. Objects indicated are then given a5 label on a screen inside the glasses that the user then fills in.It could be used in 6 plants by mechanics looking to identify machine parts or by electricians wiring a 7 device.A spokesman for the project said: "A car mechanic for8 could find at a glance where a part on a certain car model is so that it can be identified and repaired. For the motorist the system could 9 accident black spots or dangers on the road."In other cases the glasses could be worn by people going on a guided tour,10 points of interest or by people looking at panoramas where all the sites could be identified.[A] allow [B] instance [C] blank [D] industrial [E] frustrating [F] items [G] indicating [H] highlight [I] user[J] complicated [K] white [L] annoying [M] successful[N] articles [O] simple二、阅读理解第2题:You’re busy filling out the application form for a position you really need. Let’s assume you once actually completed a couple of years of college work or even that you completed your degree. Isn’t it tempting to lie just a little, to claim on the form that your diploma represents a Harvard degree? Or that you finished an extra couple of years back at State University? More and more people are turning to utter deception like this to land their job or to move ahead in their careers, for personnel officers, like most Americans, value degrees from famous schools. A job applicant may have a good education anyway, but he or she assumes that chances of being hired are better with a diploma from a well-known university.Registrars at most well-known colleges say they deal with deceitful claims like these at the rate of about one per week. Personnel officers do check up on degrees listed on application forms, then. If it turns out that an applicant is lying, most colleges are reluctant to accuse the applicant directly. One Ivy League school calls them "impostors(骗子)"; another refers to them as "special cases". One well-known West Coast school, in perhaps the most delicate phrase of all, says that these claims are made by "no such people". To avoid outright(彻底的)lies, some job-seekers claim that they "attending" means being dismissed after one semester. It may be that "being associated with" a college means that the job-seeker visited his younger brother for a football weekend. One school that keeps records of false claims says that the practice dates back at least to the turn of the century—that’s when they began keeping records, anyhow. If you don’t want to lie or even stretch the truth, there are companies that will sell you a phony diploma.One company, with offices in New York and on the West Coast, will put your name on a diploma from any number of nonexistent colleges. The price begins at around twenty dollarsfor a diploma from "Smoot State University". The prices increase rapidly for a degree from the "University of Purdue". As there is no Smoot State and the real school in Indiana is properly called Purdue University, the prices seem rather high for one sheet of paper.1. The main idea of this passage is that ________ .[A] employers are checking more closely on applicants now[B] lying about college degrees has become a widespread problem[C] college degrees can now be purchased easily[D] employers are no longer interested in college degrees2. According to the passage, "special cases" refers to cases that ________.[A] students attend a school only part-time[B] students never attended a school they listed on their application[C] students purchase false degrees from commercial firms[D] students attended a famous school3. We can infer from the passage that ________ .[A] performance is a better judge of ability than a college degree[B] experience is the best teacher[C] past work histories influence personnel officers more than degrees do[D] a degree from a famous school enables an applicant to gain advantage over others in job competition4. This passage implies that ________ .[A] buying a false degree is not moral[B] personnel officers only consider applicants from famous schools[C] most people lie on applications because they were dismissed from school[D] society should be greatly responsible for lying onapplications5. The word "phony" (Line 13, Para. 2) means ________ .[A] thorough [C] false[B] ultimate [D] decisive第3题:Material culture refers to what can be seen, held, felt, used—what a culture produces. Examining a culture’s tools and technology can tell us about the group’s history and way of life. Similarly, research into the material culture of music can help us to understand the music culture. The most vivid bodyof material culture in it, of course, is musical instruments. We cannot hear for ourselves the actual sound of any musical performance before the 1870s when the phonograph was invented, so we rely on instruments for important information about music cultures in the remote past and their development. Here we have two kinds of evidence: instruments well preserved and instruments pictured in art. Through the study of instruments, as well as paintings, written documents, and so on, we can explore the movement of music from the Near East to China over a thousand years ago, or we can outline the spread of Near Eastern influence to Europe that resulted in the development of most of the instruments in the symphony orchestra.Sheet music or printed music, too, is material culture. Scholars once defined folk music cultures as those in which people learn and sing music by ear rather than from print, but research shows mutual influence among oral and written sources during the past few centuries in Europe, Britain, and America. Printed versions limit variety because they tend to standardize any song, yet they stimulate people to create new and different songs. Besides, the ability to read music notation has a far-reaching effect on music and, when it becomes widespread, on the music culture as a whole.One more important part of music’s material culture should be singled out: the influence of the electronicmedia—radio, record player, tape recorder, television, and videocassette, with the future promising talking and singing computers and other developments. This is all part of the "information revolution", a twentieth-century phenomenon as important as the industrial revolution was in the nineteenth. These electronic media are not just limited to modern nations; they have affected music cultures all over the globe.1. Research into the material culture of a nation is of great importance because ________ .[A] it helps produce new cultural tools and technology[B] it can reflect the development of the nation[C] it helps understand the nation’s past and pr esent[D] it can demonstrate the nation’s civilization2. It can be learned from this passage that ________ .[A] the existence of the symphony was attributed to the spread of Near Eastern and Chinese music[B] Near Eastern music had an influence on the development of the instruments in the symphony orchestra[C] the development of the symphony shows the mutual influence of Eastern and Western music[D] the musical instruments in the symphony orchestra were developed on the basis of Near Eastern music3. According to the author, music notation is important because ________ .[A] it has a great effect on the music culture as more and more people are able to read it[B] it tends to standardize folk songs when it is used by folk musicians[C] it is the printed version of standardized folk music[D] it encourages people to popularize printed versions of songs4 It can be concluded from the passage that the introduction of electronic media into the world of music________ .[A] has brought about an information revolution[B] has speeded up the appearance of a new generation of computers[C] has given rise to new forms of music culture[D] has led to the transformation of traditional musical instruments5. Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?[A] Musical instruments developed through the years will sooner or later be replaced by computers.[B] Music cannot be passed on to future generations unless it is recorded.[C] Folk songs cannot be spread far unless they are printed on music sheets.[D] The development of music culture is highly dependent on its material aspect三、完型填空第4题:Today, most countries in the world have canals. Many countries have built canals near the coast, and parallel 1 the coast. Even in the twentieth century, goods can be moved more cheaply by boat than by any other 2 of transport. These3 make it possible for boats to travel 4 ports along the coast without being 5 to the dangers of the open. Some canals, such as the Suez and the Panama, save ships weeks of time by making their 6 a thousand miles shorter. Other canals permit boats to reach cities that are not 7 on the coast; still other canals 8lands where there is too much water, help to 9 fields where there is not enough water, and 10 water power for factories and mills. The size of a canal 11 on the kind of boats going through it. The canal must be wide enough to permit two of the largest boats using it to 12 each other easily. It must be deep enough to leave about two feet of water 13 the keel of the largest boat using the canal. When the planet Mars was first 14 through a telescope, people saw that the round disk of the planet was crises-crossed by a15 of strange blue-green lines. These were called "canals"16 they looked the same ascanals on earth17 are viewed from an airplane. However, scientists are now18 that the Martian phenomena are really not canals. The photographs 19 from space-ships have helped us to 20 the truth about the Martian "canals".1. [A] off [B] with [C] to [D] by2. [A] way [B] means [C] method [D] approach3. [A] waterways [B] waterfronts [C] channels [D] paths4. [A] among [B] between [C] in [D] to5. [A] revealed [B] exposed [C] opened [D] shown6. [A] trip [B] journey [C] voyage [D] route7. [A] lain [B] stationed [C] set [D] located8 [A] escape [B] drain [C] dry [D] leak9. [A] water [B] wet [C] soak [D] irrigate10. [A] furnish [B] afford [C] offer [D] give11. [A] focuses [B] bases [C] depends [D] takes12. [A] cross [B] pass [C] move [D] advance13. [A] down [B] beneath [C] below [D] off14. [A] studied [B] researched [C] surveyed [D] observed15. [A] plenty [B] number [C] deal [D] supply16. [A] although [B] because [C] so [D] if17. [A] that [B] where [C] when [D] as18. [A] exact [B] definite [C] certain [D] decisive19. [A] held [B] taken [C] got [D] developed20. [A] find [B] expose [C] uncover [D] discover四、阅读理解第5题: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, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with theinformation given in the passage.Holy Squid! Photos Offer First Glimpse of Live Deep-Sea GiantLike something straight out of a Jules Verne novel, an enormous tentacle creature looms out of the inky blackness of the deep Pacific waters.But this isn't science fiction. A set of extraordinary images captured by Japanese scientists mark the first-ever record of a live giant squid (Architeuthis) in the wild.The animal—which measures roughly 25 feet (8 meters) long—was photographed 2,950 feet (900 meters) beneath the North Pacific Ocean. Japanese scientists attracted the squid toward cameras attached to a baited fishing line.The scientists say they snapped more than 500 images of the massive cephalopod before it broke free after snagging itself on a hook. They also recovered one of the giant squid's two longest tentacles, which severed during its struggle.The photo sequence, taken off Japan's Ogasawara Islands in September 2004, shows the squid homing in on the baited line and enveloping it in "a ball of tentacles."Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum in Tokyo and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association report their observations this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B."Architeuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected, using its elongated feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey," the researchers write.They add that the squid was found feeding at depths where no light penetrates even during the day.Giant BreakthroughDespite people's fascination with this deep-sea behemoth, the giant squid's life and habits have remained largely a mystery. The little information known has been mostly based on dead and dying specimens that were caught by commercial fishing boats or washed ashore.The mysterious creature has inspired countless sea monster tales and has been the subject of various scientific expeditions.Since the mid 1990s there have been a number of research trips in search of giant squid. Cameras attached to deep-diving subs or sperm whales have been used to try to capture the elusive animals on film, but without success.The Japanese researchers used sperm whales as guides to help them pinpoint likely giant squid haunts. Over the years whalers have reported finding a high number of large squid beaks in the mammals' stomachs, pegging sperm whales as primary predators of large squid.The images are generating considerable excitement among squid experts."I think it's wonderful that we've finally got a picture of a living giant squid," said Richard Ellis, a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and author of The Search for the Giant Squid."I thought it would only be a matter of time before someone got images of Architeuthis," he added."After all, it's not an endangered species, not even all that rare, and it's one of the largest of all invertebrates. So the Japanese film finaly breaks through and renders the statement 'nobody has ever seen a living giant squid' inoperative."Squid expert Martin Collins of the British Antarctic Survey based in Cambridge, England, says the new images are a "fantastic" achievement.The marine biologist says he was skeptical that a dedicated giant squid hunt would succeed. He thought the first wild sighting would probably come by accident."Fair play to these guys who've made the effort, gone out there and looked in what they thought was a good area, and found it," he said.Hunting for CluesCollins is especially interested in clues the images mightprovide to the way giant squid swim and hunt in the deep ocean."Seeing the animals on film gives you a tremendous insight into how they live down there," he said. "It shows they are pretty active animals, and that answers a big questionthat's been out there for some time."Collins says there were two competing schools of thought among giant squid experts."One was the idea that [giant squid] were fairly inactive and just drifted around, dangling their tentacles below them like fishing lures to catch what came by," he said."The other theory was that they were actually quite active. This new evidence supports this, suggesting they are active predators which can move reasonably quickly.""The efforts the squid went to untangle itself [from the baited fishing line] also shows they are capable of quite strong and rapid movement," he added.The study team reports that the severed tentacle repeatedly gripped the boat deck and crew after it was hauled aboard. The squid's tentacles are armed with suckers, each ringed with tiny teeth to help snare prey.Measuring 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, analysis of the tentacle confirmed it came from a giant squid and allowed the researchers to estimate the total length of the animal.But the researchers caution that their data assume the tentacle was severed at it base. If not, the squid may have been considerably larger. The longest giant squid on record measured 59 feet (18 meters), including its two elongated tentacles.Shedding Light on Giant SquidGiant squid, along with their close cousins colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis), have the largest eyes of any animal."Giant squid do have particularly large eyes, which would suggest vision is important to them. Having a large eye isn't unusual in deep-sea animals-you see it quite often in fish."The fact that the animal caught on film was swimming in total darkness suggests the species detects prey using alternative light sources. "The only light down there is likely to be light produced by other animals," said Collins of the British Antarctic Survey.The Japanese team thinks that research techniques similar to their own could be used to bring about more close encounters with giant squid. Ellis of the American Museum of Natural History agrees."I'm sure we can learn a lot from an analysis of these images," he said. "And now that we have an idea of where to look for [the squid], we will undoubtedly get more pictures."1. The passage talks mainly about the studying of a live giant squid by American scientists.2. The giant squid was photographed 2,950 feet beneath the North Pacific Ocean.3. The observations by Tsunemi Kubodera and Kyoichi Mori was reported in the journal Proceedings of Royal SocietyB.4. The Japanese film is a breakthrough in the study of the giant squid's life and habits.5. There are three competing schools of thought among giant squid experts.6. The giant squid are capable of quite strong and rapid movement.7. The longest giant squid on record measured 18 feet.8. Giant squid, along with their close cousins colossal squid, have the largest ________________.9. The giant squid swimming in total darkness detects prey using ________________.10. The Japanese team thinks that research techniques similar to their own could be used to bring about more________________.五、翻译第6题:Living in the desert has many problems,________________________(缺水并不是惟一的问题).第7题:The production ________________________ (增加到每月500吨)by the end of this month.第8题:Some children put much emphasis________________________(有足够的钱以便到外面去痛快享受).第9题:Please ________________________(不要忘记让你姐姐到超市买一些牛排).第10题:The students now ________________________ (宁愿上网,也不愿意到图书馆去看书).六、写作题第11题:Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: WILL PHONES KILL LETTER WRITING? You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below in Chinese:1. 年轻人越来越趋向于打电话2. 信件是否会被电话取缔3. 我的观点。
2011年12⽉四级快速阅读真题Why Integrity MattersWhat is Integrity?"Integrity" is defined as "adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty." The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation.What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals.Risky BusinessWe are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future.Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense."But Everybody Does It"Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they're taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions.To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.Evaluating RisksTo decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; Suspension or Dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category.Getting Away With It--Or NotThose who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works. Cheating Hurts Others, TooCheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen fromacross the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree. Why Integrity MattersIf cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education.In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______.A) sticks to them in their daily lifeB) makes them known to othersC) understands their true valuesD)sees that others also follow them2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships?A) It helps to create team spiritB) It facilitates communicationC) It is the basis of mutual trustD) It inspires mutual respect3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take?A. To ensure we make responsible choices.B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress.C. so that we don’t break any rules.D. so that we don’t run into trouble.4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______?A. it has caused no harm.B. it is claimed to be unintentional.C. it has gone unnoticed.D. it is committed with good intentions.5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself?A. Avoid making excuses.B. Listen to other people’s advice.C. Make his intensions public.D. Have others watch over his shoulder.6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______.A. will often become more cautiousB. are usually very aggressiveC. value immediate benefits most.D. may lose everything in the end7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______.A) pay more dearlyB) become more confidentC) be widely admiredD) feel somewhat lucky8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to stealing a grade9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s honesty and good faith.10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of the Watergate scandal.。
Part III Listening17676Section A11.M: Shawn's been trying for months to find a job. But I wonder how he could get a job when he looks like that.W: Oh, that poor guy! He really should shave himself every other day at least and put on something clean.Q: What do we learn about Shawn?答案:A. He is careless about his appearance.解析:男生首先对肖恩能否找到工作表示怀疑,因为他邋遢。
女生接着提到肖恩不修边幅,又说他应该每隔一天刮一次胡子,把自己弄得整洁干净一点。
由此可知,肖恩是一个对仪容仪表不太注重,比较粗线条的人shave,刮胡子;be careless about不在乎,不介意;12.W: I wish Jane would call when she know she'll be late. This is not the first time we've had to wait for her.M: I agree. But she does have to drive through very heavy traffic to get here.Q: What does the man imply?答案:A. Jane maybe caught in a traffic jam.解析:本题是推理题,在做题时要注意仔细推敲。
女生说:“Jane已经不是第一次迟到让我们等了,我希望她能事先打电话告诉我们一下”,可见女生对Jane迟到的作法是不满的。
男生又说:“I agree. But she does have to drive through very heavy traffic to get here.”(我同意。
2011年12月CET-4快速阅读理解真题题解
刘志强;张微
【期刊名称】《海外英语(中)》
【年(卷),期】2012(000)003
【摘要】从2011年12月的CET-4快速阅读理解真题来看,文章主要讲诚信的问题,主要包括“诚信是什么”“冒险的决定”“但是每人都在做”“冒险系数评估”“能不能侥幸逃脱”“欺骗也伤害他人”“为什么诚信是重要的”几个部分。
文中7个小标题明确界定了每个部分的主旨,且每个小标题下基本上都有一道题目。
【总页数】3页(P58-60)
【作者】刘志强;张微
【作者单位】江西师大鹰潭学院;江西师大鹰潭学院
【正文语种】中文
【中图分类】H310.42
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Listening Comprehension短对话答案Section A11.W:This crazy bus schedule has got me completely confused.I can’t figure out when my bus to Cleveland leaves?M:Why don’t you just go to the ticket window and ask?Q:What does the man suggest the woman do?【答案】B)Go and ask the staff.【解析】这是一道事实细节题。
从对话中可知,女士搞不清楚列车时刻表,男士建议她去售票窗口咨询。
ticket window售票窗口。
12.W:I really enjoyed the TV special about drafts last night.Did you get home in time to see it?W:Oh,yes,but I wish I could have stayed awake long enough to see the whole thing.Q:What does the man mean?【答案】A)He fell asleep in the middle of the TV program.【解析】这是道推理判断题,考查男士的言下之意以及虚拟语气。
could have done意为本可以做某事,但未做。
从对话中可知,男士确实回家看了电视节目,但是他说道:I wish I could have stayed awake long enough to see the whole thing.我真希望自己当时能再晚点睡着,这样我就可以看完整场节目了。
说明他没有看完整场节目就睡着了。
13.W:Airport,please.I’m running a little late.So just take the fastest way even if it’s not the most direct.M:Sure,but there is a lot of traffic everywhere today because of the football game.Q:What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?【答案】B)She is worried about missing her flight.【解析】这是道场景题,略有难度。
2011年12月四级考试试题及答案2011年12月大学英语四级真题PartI Writing(30 minutes)Nothing succeeds without a Strong WillOnline Shopping注意:此部分试题在答题卡1上。
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 sen tences with the information given in the passage.British Cuisine: the Best of Old and NewBritish cuisine (烹饪) has come of age in recent years as chefs (厨师) combine the best of old and new.Why does British food have a reputation for being so bad? Because it is bad! Those are not the most encouraging words to hear just before eating lunch at one of Hong Kong's smartest British restaurants, Alfie's by KEE, but head chef Neil T omes has more to say."The past 15 years or so have been a noticeable period of improvement for food in England," the English chef says, citing the trend in British cuisine for better ingredients, preparation and cooking methods, and more appealing presentation. Chefs such as Delia Smith, Nigel Slater, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay made the public realise that cooking - and eating - didn't have to be a boring thing. And now, most of the British public is familiar even with the extremes of Heston BlumenthaPs moleculargastronomy, a form of cooking that employs scientific methods to create the perfect dish."It's no longer the case that the common man in England is embarrassed to show he knows about food," Tomes says.There was plenty of room for improvement. The problems with the nation's cuisine can be traced back to the Second World War. Before the War, much of Britain's food was imported and when German U-boatsbegan attacking ships bringing food to the country, Britain went on rations (配给)."As rationing came to an end in the 1950s, technology picked up and was used to mass-produce food," T omes says. "And by then people were just happy to have a decent quantity of food in their kitchens." They weren't looking for cured meats, organic produce or beautiful presentation; they were looking for whatever they could get their hands on, and this prioritisation of quantity over quality prevailed for decades, meaning a generation was brought up with food that couldn't compete with neighbouring France, Italy, Belgium or Spain.Before star chefs such as Oliver began making cooking fashionable, it was hard to find a restaurant in London that was open after 9pm. But in recent years the capital's culinary (烹饪的) scene has developedto the point that it is now confident of its ability to please the tastes of any international visitor.With the opening of Alfie's in April, and others such as The Pawn, two years ago, modern British food has made its way to Hong Kong. "With British food, I think that Hong Kong restaurants are keeping up," says David Tamlyn, the Welsh executive chef at The Pawn in Wan Chai. "Hong Kong diners areextremely responsive to new ideas or presentations, which is good news for new dishes."Chefs agree that diners in Hong Kong are embracing the modern British trend. Some restau rants aremodifying the recipes (菜谱) of British dishes to breathe new life into the classics, while others are usingbetter quality ingredients but remaining true to British traditions and tastes.Tamlyn is in the second camp. "We select our food very particularly. We use US beef, New Zealand lamb and for our custards (牛奶蛋糊)we use Bird's Custard Powder," Tamlyn says. "Some restaurants go forcustard made fresh with eggs, sugar and cream, but British custard is different, and we stay true to that." Matthew Hill, senior manager at the two-year-old SoHo restaurant Yorkshire Pudding, also uses better ingredients as a means of improving dishes. "There are a lot of existing perceptions about British food and so we can't alter these too much. We're a traditional British restaurant so there are some staples (主菜) that will remain essentially unchanged."These traditional dishes include fish and chips, steak and kidney pie and large pieces of roasted meats. At Alfie's, the newest of the British restaurants in town and perhaps the most gentlemen's club-like indesign, Neil Tomes explains his passion for provenance (原产地)."Britain has started to become reallyproud of the food it's producing. It has excellent organic farms, beautifully crafted cheeses, high-quality meats."However, the British don't have a history of exporting their foodstuffs, which makes it difficult for restaurants in Hong Kongto source authentic ingredients."We can get a lot of our ingredients once a week from the UK," Tamlyn explains. "But there is also pressure to buy local and save on food miles, which means we take our vegetables from the local markets, and there are a lot that work well with British staples."The Phoenix, in Mid-Levels, offers the widest interpretation of "British cuisine", while still trying to maintain its soul. The gastro-pub has existed in various locations in Hong Kong since 2002. Singaporean head chef Tommy Teh Kum Chai offers daily specials on a blackboard, rather than sticking to a menu. This enables him to reinterpret British cuisine depending on what is avail able in the local markets. "We use a lot of ingredients that people wouldn't perhaps associate as British, but are pre sented in a British way. Bell peppers stuffed with couscous, alongside ratatouille, is a very popular dish."Although the ingredients may not strike diners as being traditional, they can be found in dishes across Britain.Even the traditional chefs are aware of the need to adapt to local tastes and customs, while maintaining the Britishness of their cuisine.At Yorkshire Pudding, Hill says that his staff asks diners whether they would like to share their meals. Small dishes, shared meals and "mixing it up" is not something commonly done in Britain, but Yorkshire Pudding will bring full dishes to the table and offer individual plates for each diner. "That way, people still get the presentation of the dishes as they were designed, but can carve them up however they like," Hill says.This practice is also popular at The Pawn, although largely for rotisseries (烤肉馆),Tamlyn says. "Sometables will arrive on a Sunday, order a whole chicken and a shoulder of lamb or a baby pig, and just stay for hours enjoying everything we bring out for them."Some British traditions are too sacred (神圣的)to mess with, however, T omes says. "I'd never change afull English breakfast."注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Part Ⅰ Writing (30 minutes)注意:此部分试题在答题卡1上. For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong Will by commenting on the humorous saying, "Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I've done it hundreds of times." You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)Why Integrity MattersWhat is Integrity? The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation. What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals. Risky Business We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future. Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense."But Everybody Does It" Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they're taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone,” or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions. To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.Evaluating Risks To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; suspension or dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control overwhat that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category.Getting Away With It--Or Not Those who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works.Cheating Hurts Others, Too Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree.Why Integrity Matters If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education. In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______。
备注:由于是方正转文本文件,有些格式符号等都发生变化,望见谅!2011年12月大学英语四级真题答案与解析Part ⅠWriting参考范文:Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong WillIt is generally agreed that the easiest thing tends to be the hardest one, as is the case with some heavy smokers who have tried to quit smoking for hundreds of times without any success. The reason for their failure is the lack of a strong will.Success depends on many factors, of which, in my opinion, mental factors are by far the most decisive. A strong will is more important than repeated efforts in giving up smoking. In any of other tasks, people need, at the very first, to set a goal and stick to it with a strong willpower. Without a strong will, they may easily give up half way. Those who do succeed reaching their goals succeed simply because they have that mental power which enables them to hold on even in the most difficult times.As university students, we also need to develop a strong will to pursue our academic studies, as we are also frequently faced with various challenges. So we need to be mentally prepared to make painstaking efforts. I believe this is the only way we can achieve our success. Remember, meanwhile, that there will be nothing difficult in the world, if we make up our mind to accomplish it.Part ⅡReading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)篇章层次分析:这是一篇关于“正直、诚信(integrity)的说明文。
2011年12月英语四级阅读真题来源2011年12月四级考试阅读真题:男女分校更有利2011年12月四级考试阅读真题被证实也是摘自卫报的新闻,原文题目Single-sex schools help boys to enjoy arts, says study 研究证明纯男子学校更利于男学生学习艺术。
原文发布时间为2010年1月,比较久远。
Absence of girls removes pressure to conform to masculine stereotype, claims US researcherRachel WilliamsThe Guardian, Wednesday 20 January 2010Boys’ schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and are more likely to get involved in activities such as art, dance and music, according to research released today.Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity in which students either sink or swim, the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to conform to a stereo*type, the US study says.Boys at single sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotionalexpressiveness, rather than feeling they had to conform to the boy code of hiding their emotions to be a real man.The report, presented at a conference of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition in London attended by the heads of private and state schools, goes against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls.The headmaster of Eton, Tony Little, warned that boys were being failed by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticised teachers for failing to recognise that boys are actually more emotional than girls, despite the fact that girls turn on the waterworks.The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become demoralised when their female counterparts do better earlier in verbal skills and reading, because the left side of the brain develops faster in girls. They also felt they had to be cool rather than studious.But in single sex schools teachers are able to tailor lessons to boys’ learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study’s author, education expert Abigail James, of the University of Virginia.Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with specifically boy-focused approaches such as themes and characters thatappeal to them. Boy s in boys’ schools loved to pen verse because they enjoyed the inherent structure in poems, James said. Because, the researchers say, boys generally have better spatial skills, more acute vision, learn best through touch, are more impulsive and more physically active, they need to be given hands-on lessons where they are allowed to walk around, with this natural impulse not seen as disruptive. Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine and prefer the modern genre in which violence and sexism are major themes, James wrote.Single sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to conform to a stereotype gained from the media by girls that men should be masterful and in charge in relationships. In the present sexualised atmosphere prevalent in mixed schools, boys feel coerced into acting like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means, the report said.2011年12月四级考试阅读真题第三篇竟也是摘自卫报的新闻!原文题目Are money problems driving you apart? 钱的问题让你分手了吗?原文于2009年底发布。
Are money problems driving you apart?Sometimes love really can be measured in pounds and pence It’s an annual argument. Do we or do we not go on holiday? Mypartner says no because the boiler could go, or the roof fall off, and we have no savings to save us. I say that you only live once and we work hard and what’s the point if you can’t go on holiday. The joy of a recession means no argument next year we just won’t go.Since money is reputed to be one of the things most likely to bring a relationship to its knees, we should be grateful. For many families the recession means more than not booking a holiday. A YouGov poll of 2,000 people in May this year found 22% said they were arguing more with their partners because of concerns about money. What’s less clear is whether divorce and separation rates rise in a recession financial pressures mean couples argue more but make splitting up less affordable.A recent report from ICOR (the online Information Centre on Relationships) cited research showing arguments about money were especially damaging to couples even more so to their children. Disputes were characterised by intense verbal aggression, tended to be repeated and not resolved, and made men, more than women, extremely angry.So why are arguments about money so emotive? Since they seem to be so even without a recession, they have to be about more than literally pounds and pence.Kim Stephenson, an occupational psychologist, believes money is such a big deal because of what it symbolises, which may be different things to men and women. People can say the same things about moneybut have different conceptions of what it is for, he explains. They will say it’s to save, to spend, for security, for freedom, to show someone you love them, to keep score.He says men are more likely to see money as a way of buying status, of trying to best the man down the road who’s just bought a flash car, and of showing their parents that they’ve achieved something. He warns that, while couples need enough money not to struggle and be unhappy, an extra 5,000 above that amount won’t make them any happier.The biggest problem is that couples assume each other knows what is going on with their finances, but they don’t. There seems to be more of a taboo about talking about money than talking about death. But you both need to know what you are doing, who is paying what into the joint account and how much you keep separately. In a healthy relationship you don’t have to a gree about money, but you have to talk about it.Research from a wholesome organisation in the US called the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center says that establishing a fair and equitable pattern of handling money early in marriage appears to be important for the quality and stability of the marriage. Admitting your incomes to each other and making budgets for your household expenses may not seem romantic but it is, in fact, the real language of love.。