2019年12月英语四级考试阅读习题及答案解析(8)

2019年12⽉四级深度阅读真题详解2019年12⽉四级深度阅读真题详解第⼀套Passage OneQuestion 56 to 60 are based on the following passage. 56-60 ACBDBChildren are a delight(=hapiness/joy). They are our future. (56)But sadly, hiring someone to take care of them while you go to work is getting more expensive by the year.Earlier this month, it was reported that the cost of enrolling an infant or small kid at a childcare center rose 3% in 2012, faster than the overall cost of living. There are now large strip s(狭长地带) of the country where daycare for an infant(57)This is not necessarily a new trend,but it is a somewhat puzzling one. The price of professional childcare has been rising since the 1980s. Yet during that time, pay for professional childcare workers has stood still. Actually(=in fact)are responsible for up to 80% of a daycare center's expenses, one would expect flat wages to have meant flat prices.So who's to blame for higher childcare costs?Childcare is a carefully regulated industry. States lay down rules about how many children each employee is allowed to watch over, the space care centers need per child, and other minute details. (58)And the stricter the regulation s, the higher the costs. If it(保育中⼼) has to hire a caregiver for every two children, it can't really achieve any economics of scale on labor to save money (通过压缩劳动⼒成本来省钱)when other expenses go up. (59) In Massachusetts, where childcare centers must hire one teacher for every three infant s, the price of care averaged more than $16,000 per year. In Mississippi, where centers must hire one teacher for every five infant s, the price of care averaged less than $5,000.Unfortunately, I don't have all the daycare-center regulations handy. (60)elaborate, prices have risen. The tradeoff(交换(60)But certainly, it doesn't seem to be an accident that some of the cheapest daycare available is in the least regulate d(=rule/manage) South.56. What problem do parents of small kids have to face?A) The ever-rising childcare prices. B) The budgeting of family expenses.C) The balance between work and family. D) The selection of a good daycare center.57. What does the author feel puzzled about?A) Why the prices of childcare vary greatly from state to state.B) Why increased childcare prices have not led to better service.C) Why childcare workers' pay has not increased with the rising childcare costs.D) Why there is a severe shortage of childcare professionals in a number of states.58. What prevents childcare centers from saving money?A) Steady increase in labor costs. B) Strict government regulations.C) Lack of support from the state. D) High administrative expenses.【解析】infant['?nf?nt]n.baby/child 婴/幼⼉；未成年⼈59. Why is the average cost of childcare in Mississippi much lower than in Massachusetts?A) The overall quality of service is not as good. B) Payments for caregivers there are not as high.D) Each teacher is allowed to care for more kids.60. What is the author’s view on daycare service?A)Caregivers should receive regular professional training. B) Less elaborate rules about children might lower costs. C) It is crucial to strike a balance between quality and costs. D) It is better for different states to learn from each other. 【解析】elaborate[?'l?b?r?t]adj. cdetailed/full精⼼制作/复杂/详尽/煞费苦⼼的Passage TwoQuestions 61-65 are based on the following passage. 61-65DDCBC(61)Alex Pang's amusing new book The Distraction Addiction (分⼼成瘾)addresses(v.向…讲话). And that, he claims,is pretty much all of us. When we're not online, where we spend four months annually, we're engaged in the stressful work of trying to get online.(62)The Distraction Addiction is not framed as a self-help book(并⾮励志类图书)overdose(过度使⽤) and a historical overview(历史性概述) of how technological advances(科技进步) change consciousness(意识). A “professional futurist”, Pang urges an approach which he calls “contemplative (沉思的” He asks that you pay full attention to “”(63)Pang's first job is to free you from the (常见的错误认识) that doing two things at once allows you to get more done（同时做两件事效率更⾼）. multitasking(多重任务) is, in fact, switch-tasking, and its harmful effects on productivity are well documented(有据可查的). Pang doesn't advocate returning to a pre-Internet world. Instead, he asks you to “take a more ecological (⽣态的) view of your relationships with technologies and look for ways devices or media may be making specific tasks easier or faster but at the same time making your work and life har der.”The Distraction Addiction is particularly fascinating on how technologies have changed certain fields of labor—often for the worse. (64) “Architecture is first and foremost about thinking...and drawing is a more productive way of thinking”. Somewhat less amusing are Pang's solutions for kicking the Internet habit. (65)usual behavior-modification approaches(常见的⾏为矫正法) Keep logs to(记录下上⽹⽇志) study your online profile(上⽹概况) and decide what you can knock out(剔除), download a program like Freedom that locks you out of your browser, or take a “digital Sabbath(安息⽇)”: “Unless you're a reporter or emergency-department doctor, you'll discover that your world doesn't fall apart when you go offline.”61. Alex Pang's new book is aimed for readers who________.A) find their work online too stressful B) go online mainly for entertainment【解析】62. What does Alex Pang try to do in his new book?A) Offer advice on how to use the Internet effectively. B) Warn people of the possible dangers of internet use.C) Predict the trend of future technological development. D) Examine the influence of technology on the human mind.63. What is the on multitasking?A) It enables people to work more efficiently. B) It is a way quite similar to switch-tasking.C) It makes people's work and life even harder. D) It distracts people's attention from useful work.64. What does the author think of ?A) It considerably cuts down the cost of building design. B) It somewhat restrains architects' productive thinking. C) It is indispensable in architects' work process. D) It can free architects from laborious drawing.【解析】restrain /r??stre?n/vt. restrict/control/stop/prevent抑/控制；约束；制⽌first and foremost/?fm??st/⾸先；⾸要地/的是productive thinking有成效的思维⽅式65. What is Ales Pang's for Internet users?A) They use the Internet as little as possible.C) They exercise self-control over their time online. D) They entertain themselves online on off-days only.【解析】keep logs to保存⽇志/聊天记录第⼆套Passage oneQuestions 56 to 60are based on the following passage.(1)New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling (骑车) passengers on those blazing blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up(increase) riders at their expense(在损害他们的利益/情况下)？(2)At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, a manager W. Ben said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales(总销售额) dueto(=as a result of) the bike-share program. "It's getting more people on the road" he said. (5)James Ryan, an employee at Danny's Cycles in Gramercy also said Citi Bike is a good option(=choice) for people to ease into biking in acity famed for its traffic jams and and aggressive(好⽃的) driversRentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny's Cycles.(3) But for Frank's Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90% since the Citi Bikes were rolled out last month. Arroyo's main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.However,(5) Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop. "People have used the bike-share and realized how great it is to bike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer for themselves," he noted.(5) Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially(=at first) he was concerned about(=worried about)bike-share, though, he admitted, "I was happy to see people on bikes. "Ave.(4)"It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement," Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried about (be concerned about)inexperienced riders' lack of awareness(知道，认识) of biking rules andbacklash(强烈反对) from non-cyclists. However, he said, it's still too early to tell if his business has beenimpact ed(=influence).While it's possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks allowed that the idea is a positive step forward for New York City.56 . What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?A How non-cyclists will respond to it.B Whether local bike shops will suffer.C Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.D How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.57 . What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of (due to)the bike-share program?A It found its bike sales unaffected.B It shifted its business to rentals.C It saw its bike sales on the rise.D It rented more bikes to tourists.58 . Why is the bike-share program bad news for Frank's Bike Shop?A It cannot meet the demand of the bike—share program.B Its customers have been drawn away by (被吸引⾛了)CitiBikes.C Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.59. Why did Andrew Crooks think that the bike—share program would be difficult to execute(=implement)?A inexperienced riders might break biking rules.B Conflicts might arise among bike rental shops.C Traffic conditions might worsen in the downtown area.【解析】execute vt. carry out/put into practice/implement实/执⾏；处死/决60 . What is the general attitude(总体态度) of local bike shops towards Citi Bike?A Wait-and-see(等待并观望).B Negative(消极否定的).C Indifferent(漠不关⼼的).D Approving(认可的). Passage TwoQuestions 61to 65 are based on the following passage. 61-65 CBCAD(61)Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to measurableimprovements(带来显著提⾼) in learning. Between 1980 and 2008,staff and teachers at U.S. public schools grew roughly twice as fast as students. Yet students showed no additional learning in achievement tests.Universities show similar trends of increased administration personnel and costs without greater learning, as documented in Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's recent book Academically Adrift Limited Learning on College Campuses.A survey shows that 63% of employers say that recent college graduates don't have the skills they need to succeed and 25% of employers say that entry-level writing skills are lacking.(62)Some simplistically attribute the decline in our public education system to the drain of the skilled students by private schools, but far more significant events were at work.Public schools worked well until about the 1970s. In fact, until that time, public schools provided far better education than private ones. It was the under performing students who were threw out of public schools and went to private ones.(63)A prominent reason public schools did well was that many highly qualified women had few options for working outside the house other than being teachers or nurses. They accepted relatively low pay, difficult working conditions, and gave their very best.Having such a large supply of talented women teachers meant that society could pay less for their services. (64) Women's liberation opened up new professional(职业/专门的) opportunities for women, and, over time, some of the bestA Achievement tests have failed to truly reflect the quality of teaching.with private schools．C Little improvement in education has resulted from increased spending．D The number of students has increased much faster than that of teachers62. How do some people explain the decline in public education?A Government investment does not meet schools' needs．B Skilled students are moving to private schoolsC Qualified teachers are far from adequately paidD Training of students' basic skills is neglected．【解析】attribute … to…([?'tr?bju?t]=due to) 把……归因于……drain/dre?n/ n. flow out/consume/use up(资源/资⾦的) 外流; 消耗63. What was a significant contributor(重⼤的贡献/重要因素) to the past glory of public schools?A Well-behaved students.B Efficient administration.C Talented women teachers.D Generous pay for teachers.【解析】prominent['pr?m?n?nt]adj. obvious/excellent /remarkable /brilliant/outstanding/marked突出/显著/杰出/卓越的64. Why did some of the best women teachers leave teaching?A New career opportunities were made available to them by women's liberation.B Higher academic requirements made it difficult for them to stay in their jobs.C They were unhappy with the bureaucratic administration in their schools.D The heavy teaching loads left them little time and energy for family life.65. What does the author think is one of the results of government involvement in education?A Increasing emphasis on theories of education.B Highly standardized teaching methods.C Students' improved academic performance.D An ever-growing number of administration(管理，监管).【解析】dictate vt.rule/set；规定,命令；指⽰;⼝述；听写第三套56—60BBCAD 61—65 BCBADPassage one56. The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments t’s tremendous impacts has only just begun.“Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, 57. and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,” Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book. The New Digital Age.58t’s that authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes — and more importantly predicts —59.and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the idea that “technology is neutral, but people aren’t.” By using this concept as a starting poin t, 60.the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对⽴观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of theInternet,they’(监视).56、In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?A.It transforms human history.C.It is adopted by all humanity.D.It revolutionizes people's thinking.【解析】transformative developments[tr?ns'f?:m?tiv]⾰命性的发展57、How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet?A.They are immeasurable.B.They are worldwide.C.They are unpredictable.D.They are contaminating.58、In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate?A.It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology.B.It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet.C.It lacks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses.59、What will the future be like when everybody gets online?A.People will be living in two different realities.B.People will have equal access to information.C.Peop le don’t have to travel to see the world.D.People don’60、What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age?A.They leave many questions unanswered concerning the Internet.B.They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution.C.They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world.D.They don’t take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet.Passage two61. In 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry. And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage(抵押贷款)payments on an average home with just 13.4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly earnings.62. Other members of the autoworker’s family, however might be less inclined to tried the present for the pastIn most stales, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection against family violence.63. Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的⼈),white racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying into the suburban neighborhoods being built for white working –class families.Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past.64spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakup of such marriages has caused pain for many families.6561、What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950?A.They had less job security than they do today.B.It was not too difficult for them to buy a house.C.Their earnings were worth twice as much as today.D.They were better off than workers in other industries.62、What does the author about retired people today?A.They invariably long to return to the golden past.B.They do not depend so much on social welfare.C.They feel more secure economically than in the past.D.They are usually unwilling to live with their children.【解析】 be less inclined to不倾向于,就不会那么想,更不想however might be less inclined to tried the present for the past.但是可能更倾向于尝试现在⽽不是过去. spouse/spa?s/n.couple/sexual partner 配偶vt. 和…结婚63、Why couldn’t black workers buy a house in a white suburban neighborhood ?A.They lacked the means of transportation.B.They were subjected to racial inequality.C.They were afraid to break the law.D.They were too poor to afford it.64、What is the result of no-fault divorce ?A.Divorce is easier to obtain.B.Domestic violence is lessened.C.It causes little pain to either side.D.It contributes to social unrest.65 、What does the author suggest society do?A.Get prepared to face any new challenges.B.Try to better the current social security.C.Narrow the gap between blacks and whites.D.Improve the lives of families with problems。

大学英语四级历年考试题及答案解析本文档收集了大学英语四级考试历年的题目及答案分析，旨在帮助考生更好地备考。

第一部分：听力部分2019年12月题目：听力材料主题是关于旅行的。

供选择的答案有A、B、C三个选项。

答案解析：正确答案是B。

在听力材料中，讲述了旅行的目的地是一个海滨城市，可以观赏到美丽的海景。

2020年6月题目：听力材料中提到了一个新的博物馆正在建设当中。

供选择的答案有A、B、C三个选项。

答案解析：正确答案是C。

在听力材料中，提及了新博物馆正在建设，选择C选项表明新博物馆会提供更多的展览和文化活动。

第二部分：阅读理解部分2019年12月题目：阅读材料中提到了一种新型的环保材料。

问题是这种材料的主要特点是什么？答案解析：正确答案是可降解。

在阅读材料中，指出了这种新型材料能够在一定条件下自我降解，从而减少对环境的污染。

2020年6月题目：阅读材料中提到了一位重要的科学家。

问题是他的主要贡献是什么？答案解析：正确答案是发现了一种新的药物。

在阅读材料中，介绍了该科学家发现了一种新的药物，可以治疗多种疾病。

第三部分：写作部分2019年12月题目：写作要求根据提供的图表，描述并比较两种不同的交通方式的优缺点。

答案解析：根据图表，可以发现公共交通拥有更多的优点，如环保、经济、舒适等；而私家车的优点则包括灵活性和便利性。

但是私家车使用过多会导致交通拥堵和环境污染。

2020年6月题目：写作要求根据提供的材料，阐述大学生是否应该研究金融知识。

答案解析：根据提供的材料，可以得出结论大学生应该研究金融知识。

研究金融知识能够帮助大学生提高理财技能，增加金融意识，并为未来的职业发展打下基础。

以上是大学英语四级历年考试题及答案解析的部分内容，希望对考生备考有所帮助。

2019年12月四级参考答案完整版2019年12月四级参考答案完整版考证菌2019-12-14 23:03:46via星火英语四六级试卷采用多题多卷形式，大家核对答案时，找准具体选项内容，忽略套数。

写作（共三套，忽略套数，只核对内容）第一套Dear Tom,On hearing that you are planning to teach English in China and ask me to recommend a city, I'd like to recommend our capital city, Beijing, an international metropolis.The reasons why I recommend Beijing can be listed as follows. First of all, there are a lot ofEnglish-speaking foreigners in Beijing, which helps you adapt to life here very quickly. Furthermore, as the capital of several dynasties, Beijing has a profound cultural background, so you can better experience the extensive and profound traditional Chinese culture. Most importantly, parents in Beijing, an international metropolis with many multinational companies, attach great importance to their children's English learning and many people who work in multinational companies also need to learn English.I truly hope that you can come to Beijing to start your teaching life and I'm looking forward to your arrival. If you have any question about the city, please feel free to contact me for further information.Yours sincerely,Li Ming第二套Dear Tom,On hearing that you are planning to learn Chinese in China and ask me to recommend a place, I'd like to recommend our capital city, Beijing, an international metropolis.I recommend Beijing to you because of the following reasons. First of all, there are a lot ofEnglish-speaking foreigners in Beijing, which helps you adapt to life here very quickly. Furthermore, as the capital of several dynasties, Beijing has a profound cultural background, so you can better experience the extensive and profound traditional Chinese culture. Last but not least, with many people understand and master both Chinese and English, Beijing has a good bilingual atmosphere. It is good for you to improve your Chinese. You could communicate with local people in Chinese as much as possible because practice makes perfect.I truly hope that you can come to Beijing and learn Chinese here. I'm looking forward to your arrival. If you have any question about the city, please feel free to contact me for further information.Yours sincerely,-Dear Tom,I was so delighted to receive the letter from you. On hearing that you are planning to study in China, I decide to write you a letter to recommend a university. My recommendation is Xiamen University, which is one of the most outstanding universities in China.The reasons why I recommend this university can be listed asfollows. First of all, Xiamen University is located in a coastal city, Xiamen, which has beautiful and attractive seaside scenery. If you study here, you can have a walk and breathe the fresh air at the end of the day's study. How comfortable and enjoyable! More importantly, Xiamen University has a high reputation for its academic contributions to China and the world.I truly hope that you can come to Xiamen University to start your college life and I am looking forward to your arrival. If you are interested in my recommendation and want to know more detail about the university, please feel free to contact me.Yours sincerelyLI Ming听力（共两套，第三套仅顺序改变，忽略套数，只核对内容）第一套Section A: 1-71. D) A wandering cow was captured by the police.2. D) It was sent to the animal control department.3. B) It is going to be expanded4. C) Some ancient wall paintings from Australia5. A) Pick up trash.6. A) They are especially intelligent.7. B) Children may be tempted to drop litter.Section B: 8-158. C) It will cover different areas of science.9. C) It will be more entertaining.10. A) People interested in science.11. B) Provide financial support.12. D) Dissatisfied13. A) He is too concerned with being perfect。

2019年12月英语四级听力真题原文及答案News report 11）New York City police captured a cow on the loose in Prospect Park onTuesday after the animal became an attraction for tourists while walking along the streets and enjoying the park facilities. The confused creature and camera-holding humans stared at each other through a fence for several minutes. At other times the cow wandered around the 526 acre park and the artificial grass field normally used for human sporting events. Officers use soccer goals to fence the animal in. However, the cow then moved through one of the nets knocking down a police officer in the process. Police eventually trapped the cow between two vehicles parked on either side of a baseball field’s bench area. An officer then shot an arrow to put it t o sleep. Then officers waited for the drug to take effect. After it fell asleep they loaded the cow into a horse trailer. It was not clear where the cow came from or how it got lost. 2）Police turned it over to the animal control department after they caught it.一头奶牛于周二出现在公园里，警察最终抓住了它并将其送还至动物管理局。

2019年英语四级阅读理解练习题及答案解析（8）2019年英语四级阅读理解练习题及答案解析(8)When a consumer finds that an item she or he bought isfaulty or in some other way does not live up to the manufacturer's claims, the first step is to present the warranty, or any other records which might help, at the store of purchase. In most cases, this action will produce results. However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction. A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain directly to the store manager. In general, the “higher up” his or h er complaint, the faster he or she can expect it to be settled. In such a case, it is usually settled in the consumer's favor, assuming he or she has a just claim. Consumers should complain in person whenever possible, but if they cannot get to the place of purchase, it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter.Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly, and especially when the consumer can demonstrate what is wrong with the item in question. If this cannot be done, the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong, rather than by making general statements. For example, “The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the rightone is unclear” is better than “This stereo does not work”. The store manager may advice the consumer to write to the manufacturer. If so, the consumer should do this, stating the complaint as politely and firmly as possible. If a polite complaint does not achieve the desired result, the consumer can go to a step further. She or he can threaten to take theseller to court or report the seller to a private or public organization responsible for protecting consumer's rights.1. When a consumer finds that his or her in it, thefirst thing he or she should do is to ____.A) complain personally to the managerB) threaten to take the matter to courtC) write a firm letter of complaint to the store of purchaseD) show some written proof of the purchase to the store2. How can a consumer make his or her complaint more effective, according to the passage?A) Explain exactly what is wrong with the item.B) Threaten to take the seller to court.C) Make polite and general statements about the problem.D) Avoid having direct contact with the store manager.3. According to the passage, which of the following is suggested as the last alternative that consumers may turn to?A) Complain to the store manager in person.B) Complain to the manufacturer.C) Write a complaint letter to the manager.D) Turn to the Consumers’ Rights Protection Organization for help.4. The phrase “live up to” in this context means ____.A) meet the standard ofB) realize the purpose ofC) fulfill the demands ofD) keep the promise of5.The passage tells us ____.A) how to settle a consumer’s complaint about a faulty itemB) how to make an effective complaint about a faultyitemC) how to avoid buying a faulty itemD) how to deal with complaints from customers答案与解析：1. D当顾客发现自己所购买的商品有问题时，他所做的第一件事就是出示在商场购物的凭具。

2019年12月四级深度阅读真题详解第一套Passage OneQuestion 56 to 60 are based on the following passage. 56-60 ACBDBChildren are a delight(=hapiness/joy). They are our future. (56)But sadly, hiring someone to take care of them while you go to work is getting more expensive by the year.Earlier this month, it was reported that the cost of enrolling an infant or small kid at a childcare center rose 3% in 2012, faster than the overall cost of living. There are now large strip s(狭长地带) of the country where daycare for an infant(57)This is not necessarily a new trend,but it is a somewhat puzzling one. The price of professional childcare has been rising since the 1980s. Yet during that time, pay for professional childcare workers has stood still. Actually(=in fact)are responsible for up to 80% of a daycare center's expenses, one would expect flat wages to have meant flat prices.So who's to blame for higher childcare costs?Childcare is a carefully regulated industry. States lay down rules about how many children each employee is allowed to watch over, the space care centers need per child, and other minute details. (58)And the stricter the regulation s, the higher the costs. If it(保育中心) has to hire a caregiver for every two children, it can't really achieve any economics of scale on labor to save money (通过压缩劳动力成本来省钱)when other expenses go up. (59) In Massachusetts, where childcare centers must hire one teacher for every three infant s, the price of care averaged more than $16,000 per year. In Mississippi, where centers must hire one teacher for every five infant s, the price of care averaged less than $5,000.Unfortunately, I don't have all the daycare-center regulations handy. (60)elaborate, prices have risen. The tradeoff(交换(60)But certainly, it doesn't seem to be an accident that some of the cheapest daycare available is in the least regulate d(=rule/manage) South.56. What problem do parents of small kids have to face?A) The ever-rising childcare prices. B) The budgeting of family expenses.C) The balance between work and family. D) The selection of a good daycare center.57. What does the author feel puzzled about?A) Why the prices of childcare vary greatly from state to state.B) Why increased childcare prices have not led to better service.C) Why childcare workers' pay has not increased with the rising childcare costs.D) Why there is a severe shortage of childcare professionals in a number of states.58. What prevents childcare centers from saving money?A) Steady increase in labor costs. B) Strict government regulations.C) Lack of support from the state. D) High administrative expenses.【解析】infant['ɪnfənt]n.baby/child 婴/幼儿；未成年人59. Why is the average cost of childcare in Mississippi much lower than in Massachusetts?A) The overall quality of service is not as good. B) Payments for caregivers there are not as high.D) Each teacher is allowed to care for more kids.60. What is the author’s view on daycare service?A)Caregivers should receive regular professional training. B) Less elaborate rules about children might lower costs. C) It is crucial to strike a balance between quality and costs. D) It is better for different states to learn from each other. 【解析】elaborate[ɪ'læbərət]adj. cdetailed/full精心制作/复杂/详尽/煞费苦心的Passage TwoQuestions 61-65 are based on the following passage. 61-65DDCBC(61)Alex Pang's amusing new book The Distraction Addiction (分心成瘾)addresses(v.向…讲话). And that, he claims,is pretty much all of us. When we're not online, where we spend four months annually, we're engaged in the stressful work of trying to get online.(62)The Distraction Addiction is not framed as a self-help book(并非励志类图书)overdose(过度使用) and a historical overview(历史性概述) of how technological advances(科技进步) change consciousness(意识). A “professional futurist”, Pang urges an approach which he calls “contemplative (沉思的” He asks that you pay full attention to “”(63)Pang's first job is to free you from the (常见的错误认识) that doing two things at once allows you to get more done（同时做两件事效率更高）. multitasking(多重任务) is, in fact, switch-tasking, and its harmful effects on productivity are well documented(有据可查的). Pang doesn't advocate returning to a pre-Internet world. Instead, he asks you to “take a more ecological (生态的) view of your relationships with technologies and look for ways devices or media may be making specific tasks easier or faster but at the same time making your work and life har der.”The Distraction Addiction is particularly fascinating on how technologies have changed certain fields of labor—often for the worse. (64) “Architecture is first and foremost about thinking...and drawing is a more productive way of thinking”. Somewhat less amusing are Pang's solutions for kicking the Internet habit. (65)usual behavior-modification approaches(常见的行为矫正法) Keep logs to(记录下上网日志) study your online profile(上网概况) and decide what you can knock out(剔除), download a program like Freedom that locks you out of your browser, or take a “digital Sabbath(安息日)”: “Unless you're a reporter or emergency-department doctor, you'll discover that your world doesn't fall apart when you go offline.”61. Alex Pang's new book is aimed for readers who________.A) find their work online too stressful B) go online mainly for entertainment【解析】62. What does Alex Pang try to do in his new book?A) Offer advice on how to use the Internet effectively. B) Warn people of the possible dangers of internet use.C) Predict the trend of future technological development. D) Examine the influence of technology on the human mind.63. What is the on multitasking?A) It enables people to work more efficiently. B) It is a way quite similar to switch-tasking.C) It makes people's work and life even harder. D) It distracts people's attention from useful work.64. What does the author think of ?A) It considerably cuts down the cost of building design. B) It somewhat restrains architects' productive thinking. C) It is indispensable in architects' work process. D) It can free architects from laborious drawing.【解析】restrain /rɪˈstreɪn/vt. restrict/control/stop/prevent抑/控制；约束；制止first and foremost/ˈfɔːˌməʊst/首先；首要地/的是productive thinking有成效的思维方式65. What is Ales Pang's for Internet users?A) They use the Internet as little as possible.C) They exercise self-control over their time online. D) They entertain themselves online on off-days only.【解析】keep logs to保存日志/聊天记录第二套Passage oneQuestions 56 to 60are based on the following passage.(1)New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling (骑车) passengers on those blazing blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up(increase) riders at their expense(在损害他们的利益/情况下)？(2)At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, a manager W. Ben said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales(总销售额) due to(=as a result of) the bike-share program. "It's getting more people on the road" he said. (5)James Ryan, an employee at Danny's Cycles in Gramercy also said Citi Bike is a good option(=choice) for people to ease into biking in acity famed for its traffic jams and and aggressive(好斗的) driversRentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny's Cycles.(3) But for Frank's Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90% since the Citi Bikes were rolled out last month. Arroyo's main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.However,(5) Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop. "People have used the bike-share and realized how great it is to bike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer for themselves," he noted.(5) Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially(=at first) he was concerned about(=worried about)bike-share, though, he admitted, "I was happy to see people on bikes. "Ave.(4)"It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement," Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried about (be concerned about)inexperienced riders' lack of awareness(知道，认识) of biking rules andbacklash(强烈反对) from non-cyclists. However, he said, it's still too early to tell if his business has beenimpact ed(=influence).While it's possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks allowed that the idea is a positive step forward for New York City.56 . What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?A How non-cyclists will respond to it.B Whether local bike shops will suffer.C Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.D How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.57 . What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of (due to)the bike-share program?A It found its bike sales unaffected.B It shifted its business to rentals.C It saw its bike sales on the rise.D It rented more bikes to tourists.58 . Why is the bike-share program bad news for Frank's Bike Shop?A It cannot meet the demand of the bike—share program.B Its customers have been drawn away by (被吸引走了)CitiBikes.C Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.59. Why did Andrew Crooks think that the bike—share program would be difficult to execute(=implement)?A inexperienced riders might break biking rules.B Conflicts might arise among bike rental shops.C Traffic conditions might worsen in the downtown area.【解析】execute vt. carry out/put into practice/implement实/执行；处死/决60 . What is the general attitude(总体态度) of local bike shops towards Citi Bike?A Wait-and-see(等待并观望).B Negative(消极否定的).C Indifferent(漠不关心的).D Approving(认可的). Passage TwoQuestions 61to 65 are based on the following passage. 61-65 CBCAD(61)Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to measurableimprovements(带来显著提高) in learning. Between 1980 and 2008,staff and teachers at U.S. public schools grew roughly twice as fast as students. Yet students showed no additional learning in achievement tests.Universities show similar trends of increased administration personnel and costs without greater learning, as documented in Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's recent book Academically Adrift Limited Learning on College Campuses.A survey shows that 63% of employers say that recent college graduates don't have the skills they need to succeed and 25% of employers say that entry-level writing skills are lacking.(62)Some simplistically attribute the decline in our public education system to the drain of the skilled students by private schools, but far more significant events were at work.Public schools worked well until about the 1970s. In fact, until that time, public schools provided far better education than private ones. It was the under performing students who were threw out of public schools and went to private ones.(63)A prominent reason public schools did well was that many highly qualified women had few options for working outside the house other than being teachers or nurses. They accepted relatively low pay, difficult working conditions, and gave their very best.Having such a large supply of talented women teachers meant that society could pay less for their services. (64) Women's liberation opened up new professional(职业/专门的) opportunities for women, and, over time, some of the bestA Achievement tests have failed to truly reflect the quality of teaching.with private schools．C Little improvement in education has resulted from increased spending．D The number of students has increased much faster than that of teachers62. How do some people explain the decline in public education?A Government investment does not meet schools' needs．B Skilled students are moving to private schoolsC Qualified teachers are far from adequately paidD Training of students' basic skills is neglected．【解析】attribute … to…([ə'trɪbjuːt]=due to) 把……归因于……drain/dreɪn/ n. flow out/consume/use up(资源/资金的) 外流; 消耗63. What was a significant contributor(重大的贡献/重要因素) to the past glory of public schools?A Well-behaved students.B Efficient administration.C Talented women teachers.D Generous pay for teachers.【解析】prominent['prɒmɪnənt]adj. obvious/excellent /remarkable /brilliant/outstanding/marked突出/显著/杰出/卓越的64. Why did some of the best women teachers leave teaching?A New career opportunities were made available to them by women's liberation.B Higher academic requirements made it difficult for them to stay in their jobs.C They were unhappy with the bureaucratic administration in their schools.D The heavy teaching loads left them little time and energy for family life.65. What does the author think is one of the results of government involvement in education?A Increasing emphasis on theories of education.B Highly standardized teaching methods.C Students' improved academic performance.D An ever-growing number of administration(管理，监管).【解析】dictate vt.rule/set；规定,命令；指示;口述；听写第三套56—60BBCAD 61—65 BCBADPassage one56. The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments t’s tremendous impacts has only just begun.“Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, 57. and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,” Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book. The New Digital Age.58t’s that authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes — and more importantly predicts —59.and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the idea that “technology is neutral, but people aren’t.” By using this concept as a starting poin t, 60.the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对立观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of theInternet,they’(监视).56、In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?A.It transforms human history.C.It is adopted by all humanity.D.It revolutionizes people's thinking.【解析】transformative developments[træns'fɔ:mətiv]革命性的发展57、How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet?A.They are immeasurable.B.They are worldwide.C.They are unpredictable.D.They are contaminating.58、In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate?A.It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology.B.It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet.C.It lacks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses.59、What will the future be like when everybody gets online?A.People will be living in two different realities.B.People will have equal access to information.C.Peop le don’t have to travel to see the world.D.People don’60、What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age?A.They leave many questions unanswered concerning the Internet.B.They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution.C.They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world.D.They don’t take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet.Passage two61. In 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry. And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage(抵押贷款)payments on an average home with just 13.4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly earnings.62. Other members of the autoworker’s family, however might be less inclined to tried the present for the pastIn most stales, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection against family violence.63. Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的人),white racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying into the suburban neighborhoods being built for white working –class families.Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past. 64spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakup of such marriages has caused pain for many families.6561、What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950?A.They had less job security than they do today.B.It was not too difficult for them to buy a house.C.Their earnings were worth twice as much as today.D.They were better off than workers in other industries.62、What does the author about retired people today?A.They invariably long to return to the golden past.B.They do not depend so much on social welfare.C.They feel more secure economically than in the past.D.They are usually unwilling to live with their children.【解析】 be less inclined to不倾向于,就不会那么想,更不想however might be less inclined to tried the present for the past.但是可能更倾向于尝试现在而不是过去.spouse/spaʊs/n.couple/sexual partner 配偶vt. 和…结婚63、Why couldn’t black workers buy a house in a white suburban neighborhood ?A.They lacked the means of transportation.B.They were subjected to racial inequality.C.They were afraid to break the law.D.They were too poor to afford it.64、What is the result of no-fault divorce ?A.Divorce is easier to obtain.B.Domestic violence is lessened.C.It causes little pain to either side.D.It contributes to social unrest.65 、What does the author suggest society do?A.Get prepared to face any new challenges.B.Try to better the current social security.C.Narrow the gap between blacks and whites.D.Improve the lives of families with problems。

2019大学英语四级考试阅读习题及答案解析(8)Passage 8Nowadays, is it possible to tell a person’s class justby looking at him? Physical details __1__ tell us about health, diet and type of work done. A hundred years ago the working class very often lookd unhealthy, small and wereeither too thin or too fat. The upper classes were often__2__, sporting types who were used to a good diet and looked healthy. Today living and working conditions have improved, and such __3__ would no longer be so true.The clothes people choose to wear, however, do provide information about their __4__. The most obvious way in whichis for the amount of money spent on them. Expensive clothes look expensive and show their wearer had money. Clothes can provide other __5__ as well. The upper classes __6__ to beless interested in fashion and wear good quality clothes in non-bright colours, made of natural material like wool,leather or cotton. Lower working class people often choose clothes in bright colours, made of man-made material. A sociological explanation for this would be that color and interest are mssing from their lives, and therefore any opportunity to introduce this is __7__.Clothes are __8__ at a price within most people’s reach. New clothes make the wearer feel good, and show some __9__ of wealth to the outside world. Today some new fashions are started by the lower working class people who want to look__10__ and feel important. They want people to look at them.A) available B) background C) different D) tallE) totally F) taken G) descriptions H) degreeI) clues J) alone K) appear L) considerM) full N) hobby O)fetched参考答案及解析：1.选J)。

2019年12月大学英语四级阅读测评卷答案Reading ComprehensionSection A1.[M]raised raise在这里的意思是"养育"，the environment in which you were raised 意思是"你成长的环境"。

2.[L]psychological"psychological activity"意思是"心理活动"，全句意思是"研究基因和外部环境如何相互作用影响人心理活动的学科被称为行为遗传学"。

3.[E]contributions"make contributions to"为固定搭配，意为"为……做贡献"。

4.[A]abilities"ability to…"意思是"做某事的能力"，在此处，全句意思是"任何一篇宣称人类做出某种行为的能力是基于生物学的研究都是有争议的"。

5.[B]achieve"limitations to what you can achieve"意思是"对你所能达到的水平的限制"。

6.[N]smart此处需填一个形容词，而且用来形容人，根据题意，smart符合题意，表示"机灵，可爱"。

7.[I]extent此处填extent，主要是因为后面有to，"to the extent…"译为"……的程度"。

8.[J]indicates indicate意思是"表明，显示"。

全句意为"越来越多的科学(现象)表明基因对人类很多特征有基础作用"。

9.[G]essentially essentially的意思是"实际上，本质上"。

2019年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案解析(1/1)Part ⅠWriting（30 minutes）Directions : For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to learn Chinese. Please recommend a place to him. You should write at least 120words but no more than 180words.______________下一题(1~2/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B）, C）and D）. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.News report onePlay00:0003:28VolumeQuestions l and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.第1题A.A wandering cow was captured by the police.B.Some tourists were injured by a wandering cow.C.A wandering cow knocked down one of its fences.D.Many facilities were destroyed by a wandering cow.第2题A.It became a great attraction for tourists.B.It found its way back to the park’s zoo.C.It was shot to death by a police officer.D.It was sent to the animal control department.上一题下一题(3~4/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)News report twoPlay00:0001:50VolumeQuestions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.第3题A.It is the largest of its kind.B.It is staring an online exhibition.C.It is going to be expanded.D.It is displaying more fossil specimens.第4题A.A collection of bird fossils from Australia.B.Some ancient wall paintings from Australia.C.Photographs of certain rare fossil exhibits.D.Pictures by winners of a wildlife photo contest.上一题下一题(5~7/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)News report threePlay00:0002:32VolumeQuestions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.第5题A.Amuse visitors.B.Deliver messages.C.Pick up trash.D.Play with children.第6题A.They ar e children’s favorite.B.They are especially intelligent.C.They are clean and pretty.D.They are quite easy to tame.第7题A.Children may overfeed the rooks.B.Children may contract bird diseases.C.Children may be harmed by the rooks.D.Children may be tempted to drop litter.上一题下一题(8~11/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B）, C）and D）. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Conversation 1Play00:0003:32VolumeQuestions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.第8题A.It will cover different areas of science.B.It will be hosted by famous professors.C.It will be produced at Harvard University.D.It will focus on recent scientific discoveries.第9题A.It will be more futuristic.B.It will be more entertaining.C.It will be more systematic.D.It will be easier to understand.第10题A.Youngsters eager to explore.B.Students majoring in science.C.Children in their early teens.D.People interested in science.第11题A.Provide financial support.B.Offer professional advice.C.Help promote it on the Internet.D.Make episodes for its first season.上一题下一题(12~15/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)Conversation 2Play00:0003:11VolumeQuestions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.第12题A.Unsure.B.Helpless.C.Dissatisfied.D.Concerned.第13题A.He loses heart when faced with setbacks.B.He is too concerned with being perfect.C.He takes on projects beyond his ability.D.He is too ambitious in achieving goals.第14题A.Embarrassed.B.Unconcerned.C.Resentful.D.Miserable.第15题pare his present with his past only.B.Try to be optimistic whatever happens.C.Always learn from others’ achievements.D.Treat others the way he would be treated.上一题下一题(16~18/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hearthree or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B）, C）and D）. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage onePlay00:0003:52VolumeQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.第16题A.They have greater potential to be leaders.B.They are more likely to become engineers.C.They are more likely to succeed in the humanities.D.They have a stronger sense of social responsibility.第17题A.Praise girls who like to speak up frequently.B.Insist that boys and girls work together more.C.Respond more positively to boys’ comments.D.Encourage girls to solve problems on their own.第18题A.Pay extra attention to top students.B.Provide a variety of optional courses.C.Place great emphasis on test scores.D.Offer personalized teaching materials.上一题下一题(19~21/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)Passage twoPlay00:0002:40VolumeQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.第19题A.It seldom rains in summer time.B.It does not rain as much as people think.C.It often rains cats and dogs.D.It is one of the most rainy cities in the US.第20题A.The rain is usually very light.B.They have got used to the rain.C.The rain comes mostly at night.D.They drive most of the time.第21题A.It has fewer cloudy days than any other coastal city.B.It has mild weather both in summer and in winter.C.It has never seen thunder and lighting.D.It has a lot of places for entertainment.上一题下一题(22~25/共25题)Part ⅡListening Comprehension(25 minutes)Passage threePlay00:0003:49VolumeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.第22题A.It results from exerting one s muscles continuously.B.It oceurs when people are doing a repetitive activity.C.It happens when people engage in an uncommon activity.D.It comes from straining one´s muscles in an unusual way第23题A.They gradually become fragmented.B.They begin to make repairs immediately.C.Body movements in the affected area become difficult.D.Blood flow and body heat increase in the affected area.第24题A.About one week.B.About ten days.C.About four weeks.D.About two days.第25题A.Take pain-killers.B.Have a hot shower.C.Drink plenty of water.D.Apply muscle creams.上一题下一题(26~35/共30题)Part ⅢReading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.Finally, some good news about airplane travel. If you are on a plane with a sick passenger, you are unlikely to get sick. That is the 26 of a new study that looked at how respiratory (呼吸道) viruses 27 on airplanes. Researchers found that only people who were seated in individual - had a high risk of catching the illness. All other passengers had only a very 28 chance of getting sick according to the findings. Media reports have not necessarily presented. 29 informationabout the risk of getting infected on an airplane in the past. Therefore , these new findings should help airplane passengers to feel less 30 to catching respiratory infections while traveling by air.Prior to the new study. litter was known about the risks of getting 31 infected by common respiratory viruses, such as the flu or common cold, on an airplane, the researchers said. So, to 32 the risks of infection, the study team flew on 10 different 33 in the US. 34 side of a person infected with flu, as well as those sitting one roe in font of or behind this individual, had about an 80 person chance of getting sick. But other passengers were 35 safe from infection. They had a less than 3 percent chance of catching the flu.A) accurate B) conclusion C) directly D) eitherE) evaluate F) explorations G) flights H) largelyI) nearby J) respond K) slim L) spreadM) summit N) vividly O) vulnerable第26题【26】____第27题【27】____第28题【28】____第29题【29】____第30题【30】____第31题【31】____第32题【32】____第33题【33】____第34题【34】____第35题【35】____上一题下一题(36~45/共30题)Part ⅢReading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2.A South Korean city designed for the future takes on a life of its ownA) Getting around a city is one thing - and then there’s the matter of getting from one city toanother. One vision of the perfect city of the future: a place that offers easy access to air travel.In 2011, a University of North Carolina business professor named John Kasarda published a book called Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next. Kasarda says future cities should be built intentionally around or near airports. The idea, as he has put it, is to of fer businesses “rapid, long-distance connectivity on a massive scale.”B) “The 18th century really was a waterborne (水运的) century, the 19th century a rail century. the 20th century a highway, car, truck century一and the 21st century will increasingly be an aviation century, as the globe becomes increasingly connected by air,”Kasarda says. Songdo, a city built from scratch in South Korea, is one of Kasarda’s prime examples. It has existed for just a few years.“ From the get-go, it was designed on the basis of connectivity and competitiveness,”says Kasada. “The government built the bridge directly from the airport to the Songdo International Business District. And the surface infrastructure was built in tandem with the new airport.”C) Songdo is a stone’s throw from South Korea’s Incheon Airport, its main international hub (枢纽). But it takes a lot more than a nearby airport to be a city of the future. Just building a place as an “international business district”doesn’t mean it will become one. Park Yeon Soo conceived (构想) this city of the future back in 1986. He considers Songdo his baby. “I am a visionary,”he says. Thirty years after he imagined the city, Park’s baby is close to 70 percent built, with 36.000 people living in the business district and 90,000 residents in greater Songdo. It’s about an hour outside Seoul, built on reclaimed tidal flats along the Yellow Sea, There’s a Coast Guard building and a tall trade tower, as well as a park, golf course and university.D) Chances are you’ve actually se en this place. Songdo appears in the most famous music video ever to come ou of South Korea. “Gangnam Style” refers to the fashionable Gangnam district in Seoul. But some of the video was filmed in Songdo.“I don’t know if you remember, there was a scene in a subway station. That was not Gangnam. That was actually Songdo,” says Jung Won Son, a professor of urban development at London’s Bartlett School of Planning, “Part of the reason to shoot there is that it’s new and nice.”E) The city was supposed to be a hub for global companies, with employees from all over the world. But hat’s not how it has turned out. Songdo’s reputation is as a futuristic ghost town. But the reality is more complicated. A bridge with big, light-blue loops leads into the business district. In the center of the main road, there’s a long line of flags of the world. On the corner, there’s a Starbucks and a 7-Eleven--all of the international brands that you see all over the world nowadays.F) The city is not empty. There are mothers pushing strollers, old women with walkers -- even in the middle of the day. when it’s 90 degrees out. Byun Young-Jin chairs the Songdo real estate association and started selling property here when the first phase of the city opened in 2005. He says demand has boomed in the past couple of years. Most of his clients are Korean. In fact, the developer says, 99 percent of the homes here are sold to Koreans. Young families move here because the schools are great. And that’s the problem: Songdo has become a popular Koreancity 一more popular as a residential area than a business one. It’s not yet the futuristic international business hub that planners imagined. “It’s a great place to live. And it’s becoming a great place to work,”says Scott Summers, the vice president of Gale International, the developer of the city. The floor-to-ceiling windows of his company’s offices overlook Songdo Central Park, with a canal full of kayaks and paddle boats. Shimmering (闪烁的) glass towers line the canal’s edge.G) “What’s happen ed is, because we focused on creating that quality of life first, which enabled the residents to live here, what has probably missed the mark is for companies to locate here,” he says. “There needs to be strong economic incentives.” The city is still unfin ished, and it feels a bit like a theme park. It doesn’t feel all that futuristic. There’s a high-tech underground trash disposal system. Buildings are environmentally friendly. Everybody’s television set is connected to a system that streams personalized language or exercise classes.H) But Star Trek this is not. And to some of the residents, Songdo feels hollow. “I’m, like, in prison for weekdays. That’s what we call it in the workplace,” says a woman in her 20s. She doesn’t want to use her name for fear of being fired from her job. She goes back to Seoul every weekend. “I say I’m prison-breaking on Friday nights.” But she has to make the prison break in her own car. There’s no high-speed train connecting Songdo to Seoul, just over 20 miles away.I) The man who first imagined Songdo feels frustrated. too. Park says he built South Korea a luxury vehicle, “like Mercedes or BMW. It’s a good car now. But we’re waiting for a good driver to accelerate.” But there are lots of other good cars out there, too. The world is dotted with futuristic, high-tech cities trying to attract the biggest international companiesJ) Songdo’s backers contend that it’s still early, and business space is filling up-about 70 percent of finished offices are now occupied. Brent Ryan, who teaches urban design at MIT, says Songdo proves a universal principle. “There have been a lot of utop ian (乌托邦的) cities in history. And the reason we don’t know about a lot of them is that a lot of them have vanished entirely.”In other words, when it comes to cities-or anything else-it is hard to predict the future.第36题Songdo’s popularity lies more in its quality of life than its business attraction._______第37题The man who conceives Songdo feels disappointed because it has fallen short of his expectations._______第38题A scene in a popular South Korean music video was shot in Songdo._______第39题Songdo still lacks the financial stimulus for businesses to set up shop there._______第40题Airplanes will increasingly become the chief means of transportation, according to a professor._______第41题Songdo has ended up different from the city it was supposed to be._______第42题Some of the people who work in Songdo complain about boredom in the workplace. _______第43题A business professor says that a future city should have easy access to international transportation._______第44题Acording to an urban design professor, it is difficult for city designers to foresee what happen in the future._______第45题Park Yeon So. Who envisioned Songdo, feels a parental connection with the city._______上一题下一题(46~50/共30题)Part ⅢReading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A）, B）, C）and D）. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.The fifth largest city in the US passed a significant soda tax proposal that will levy (征税)1.5 cents per liquid ounce on distributors.Philadelphia’s new measure was approved by a 13 to 4 city council vote. It sets a new bar for similar initiatives across the county. It is proof that taxes on sugary drinks can win substantial support outside super-liberal areas. Until now, the only city to successfully pass and implement a soda tax was Berkeley, California, in 2014.The tax will apply to regular and diet sodas, as well as other drinks with added sugar, such as Gatorade and iced teas. It’s expected to raise $410 million over the next five years, most of which will go toward funding a universal pre-kindergarten program for the city.While the city council vote was met with applause inside the council room, opponents to the measure, including soda lobbyists made sharp criticisms and a promise to challenge the tax in court.“The tax passed today unfairly singles out beverages-including low- and no-calorie choices,” said Lauren Kane, spokesw oman for the American Beverage Association. “But most importantly, it is against the law. So we will side with the majority of the people of Philadelphia who oppose this tax and take legal action to stop it.”An industry backed anti-tax campaign has spent at least $4 million on advertisements. The ads criticized the measure. characterizing it as a“grocery tax.”Public health groups applauded the approved tax as a step toward fixing certain lasting health issues that plague Americans. “The move to recapture a small part of the profits from an industry that pushes a product that contributes to diabetes, obesity and heart disease in poorer communities in order to reinvest in those communities will sure be inspirational to many other places,” said Jim Krieger, executive director of Healthy Food America. “Indeed, we are alreadyhearing from some of them. It’s not just Berkeley’ anymore.”Similar measures in California’s Albany, Oakland, San Francisco and Colorado’s Boulder are becoming hot-button issues Health advocacy groups have hinted that even more might be coming.第46题What does the passage say about the newly-approved soda tax in Philadelphia?A.It will change the lifestyle of many consumers.B.It may encourage other US cities to follow suit.C.It will cut soda consumption among low-income communities.D.It may influence the marketing strategies of the soda business.第47题What will the opponents probably do to respond to the soda tax proposal?A.Bargain with the city council.B.Refuse to pay additional tax.C.Take legal action against it.D.Try to win public support.第48题What did the industry-backed anti-tax campaign do about the soda tax proposal?A.It tried to arouse hostile feelings among consumers.B.It tried to win grocers’ support against the measure.C.It kept sending letters of protest to the media.D.It criticized the measure through advertising.第49题What did public health groups think the soda tax would do?A.Alert people to the risk of sugar-induced diseases.B.Help people to fix certain long-time health issues.C.Add to the fund for their research on diseases.D.Benefit low-income people across the country.第50题What do we learn about similar measures concerning the soda tax in some other cities?A.They are becoming rather sensitive issues.B.They are spreading panic in the soda industry.C.They are reducing the incidence of sugar-induced diseases.D.They are taking away lot of profit from the soda industry.上一题下一题(51~55/共30题)Part ⅢReading Comprehension(40 minutes)Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Popping food into the microwave for a couple of minutes may seem utterly harmless, but Europe’s stock of these quick-cooking ovens emit as much carbon as nearly 7 million cars, a new study has found. And the problem is growing. With costs falling and kitchen appliances becoming “status” items, owners are throwing away microwaves after an average of eight years. This is pushing sales of new microwaves which are expected to reach 135 million annually in the EU by。

2019年12月英语四级完整版答案作文部分：范文一： The modern technology has greatly altered the mode of communication among people. With the help of the Internet, people can easily contact each other anytime anywhere. However, the side effect is that many people have becomeover-dependent on the Internet and neglected face-to-face communication.As far as I'm concerned, electronic communication cannot fully replace the direct contact among people. Although it seems to bring everyone together, it actually estranges people and decreases the effectiveness of communication. A typical example is that, traditionally, people working in the same office simply walk to others and talk. Today, however, co-workers tend to send e-mails or instant messages through the Internet even when they are sitting next to each other. As words can never convey the full message, it usually takes much more time and rounds of conversation than face-to-face communication, in which people can discuss more directly with less loss of information.To conclude, the Internet enables more effective communication in some situations, but over-dependence on it actually pulls people apart.范文二：It is frequently observed that many people keep looking down at their mobile phones whatever they are doing. It is true that mobile phones have brought great convenience to us as we can send short messages, check e-mails, surf the Internet, or watch videos almost anywhere. However, the overuse of mobile phones also leads to some serious problems.The over-dependence on mobile phones can harm the relationship among friends and family. With mobile phones, people do not talk as much as before. For example, sometimes at dinner tables, instead of chatting and laughing with each other, manypeople choose to chat with other friends online. In other words, mobile phones help people contacting friends far away more easily at the expense of reducing the communication with those who are sitting right next to them.In conclusion, mobile phone can be a useful tool in modern life, but overusing it damages interpersonal relationship. There is no point to lose our intimacy with friends and family to modern technology.范文三：The impact of the Internet on learningExplain why education doesn’t simply mean learning to obtain informationIn the age of knowledge explosion, the Internet opens a magical portal for leaners to get access to seemingly incessant information. But is information equal to knowledge? “Once I learn how to use google, isn't that all the education I really need?” This question fully embodies the prejudiced opinion that as long as people acquire abundant information, they will get proper education.The reason why education doesn’t simply mean learning to obtain information is that education is not limited to the hard facts or theories students can learn from their textbooks or the Internet. It relates to a wider scope ranging from the obtainment of practical skills to the development of characters, which are hard for students to learn simply by googling. Consequently, comprehensive learning in schools that includes learning knowledge, conducting experiments and communicating with peers is what true education is.In a word, the Internet does provide valuable information for learners, but people should be fully conscious of the essence of education and learn to tell the right from the wrong.听力部分：1. C. Consult a travel agent.2. A. They are on a long trip by car.3. C. He is unwilling to speak in public.4. B. Purse further education.5. A. He would not be available to start the job in time.6. B. Mechanic.7. D. Ask Laura to put off the cleaning until another week.8. A. A problem caused by the construction.9. C. To place an order for some products.10. A. The person in charge is not in the office.11. B. 0734, 21653 extension 51.12. B. Since he took to heavy smoking.13. A. He is getting too fat.14. D. They dislike doing physical exercise.15. C. To find a girlfriend.16-19音频无。