2013年12月大学英语等级考试四级考试样卷

大学英语四级（2013年12月考试改革适用）模拟试卷291(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1. Writing 2. Listening Comprehension 3. Reading Comprehension 4. TranslationPart I Writing1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the picture below. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on The Importance of Reliability. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.正确答案：The Importance of Reliability As is depicted in the picture above, a teacher dressed in ancient clothes is teaching his student that reliability, a nation’s treasure, is what makes a man. From the picture we can see that reliability is a Chinese traditional virtue and should be treasured today. Reliability is the basic requirement of a man. No one is willing to have unreliable friends. The same is true of enterprises. If an enterprise isn’t reliable, it will lose more and more customers, no matter how excellent it claims to be in its advertisements. But nowadays there are some Chinese companies that exaggerate their products’quality and functions to attract customers. Eventually, Chinese people have completely lost confidence in some Chinese brands such as “Sanlu Milk Pow-der”and so on. Reliability is the basis on which friendship is built and an enterprise develops. It usually takes much time and effort to gain reliability, however, it can be gone overnight. So only by treasuring reliability can people maintain friendship, enterprises gain profit and a nation have a bright future.解析：首先描述图片的信息，其次阐述诚信在人们日常生活中的重要性，最后表明“我”对诚信的观点。

2013年‎12月大学‎英语四级考‎试真题(二)Part 1 writi‎n g (30 minut‎e s)Direc‎t ions‎:For this part, you are allow‎e d 30 minut‎e s to write‎ a short‎essay ‎b ased‎on the pictu‎r e below‎. You shoul‎d start‎your essay‎with a brief‎accou‎n t of the incre‎a sing‎use of the mobil‎e phone‎in peopl‎e’s life and then expla‎i n the conse ‎q u enc‎e s of overu‎s ing it.You shoul‎d write‎at least‎IW words‎but no more than 180 words ‎.Peopl‎e are cross‎i ng the stree‎t looki‎n g at their‎cell phone‎s and using‎walki ‎n g stick‎s in order‎to see.Part 2 Liste‎n ing Compr‎e hens‎i on (30 minut‎e s)Secti‎on ADirec‎t ions‎： In this secti‎o n, you will hear 8 short‎conve‎r sati‎o ns and 2 long conve‎r sati‎o ns. At the end of each conve‎r sati‎o n, one or more quest‎i ons will be asked ‎a bout‎what was said. Both the conve‎r sati‎o n and the quest‎i ons will be spoke‎n only once. After‎each quest‎i on there‎will be a pause‎. Durin‎g the pause‎,you must read the four choic‎es marke‎d A), B), C) and D), and decid‎e which‎the best answe‎r is. Then mark the corre‎s pond‎i ng lette‎r o" Answe‎r Sheet‎ 1 with a singl‎e line throu‎g h the centr ‎e.注意：此部分试题‎请在答题卡‎1上作答。

大学英语四级（2013年12月考试改革适用）模拟试卷1(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1. Writing 2. Listening Comprehension 3. 4. Reading Comprehension 5. TranslationPart I Writing1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on generation gap. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.正确答案：Let’s Get to Know and Accept Each Other Generation gaps exist in various times. In the illustration, the boy says to his father that he will allow his father watching cartoons with him only when his father doesn’t ask him to explain the cartoons. The generation gaps seem to be pulled widely apart with the advancement of the times. Therefore, both the seniors and the juniors should take some measures to bridge the gaps. Parents should learn to keep their mind open to the new things around them. In this way, they will keep their ideas fresh, know what their children are experiencing and will have new topics to talk with their children. And patience and tolerance always smooth the communication between parents and children. As to children, they should learn to show their respect and understanding to their parents, for example, explaining the new things patiently to their parents. In conclusion, only by the efforts of both parents and children can we narrow the generation gaps. So let’s start to know and accept each other so that better communications can be promoted.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A听力原文：W: Tom, you really must take school more seriously. If you don’t pass your exam, you’ll have to go out and work. M: I don’t see that it makes much difference. If I have a job, I have to do boring work every day; but if I’m in school, I must listen to boring teachers every day. Q: What does Tom mean?2．A．Work is preferable.B．He hopes to get a job soon.C．Studying at school is no more interesting than work.D．Studying is more interesting so he’ll study hard.正确答案：C解析：男士的话I don’t see that it makes much difference为听音重点。

2013年12月大学英语四级考试阅读理解真题及答案（全套）幸福就好我亦安2013年12月大学英语四级考试阅读理解真题(一)【阅读】Sectio n CDirectio ns : There are 2 passages in this sect ion. Each passage is followed by some questi ons or unfini shed stateme nts. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresp onding letter on An swer Sheet 2 with a sin gle line through the cen tre.Passage OneQuesti ons 56 to 60 are based on the follow ing passage.In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that our appetite and food in take are in flue need by a large nu mber of factors besides our biological n eed forenergy, including our eating environment and our perception of the food in front of us.Studies have show n, for in sta nee, that eati ng in front of the TV (or a similardistract ion) can in crease both hun ger and the amount of food con sumed. Even simplevisual cues, like plate size and light ing, have bee n show n to affect portion size and con sumpti on.A new study suggested that our short-term memoryalso mayplay a role in appetite. Several hours after a meal, people's hunger levels were predicted not by how much they ' d eaten but rather by how much food they'd seen in front of them —in other words, how much they remembered eati ng.This disparity (盖弃) suggests the memory of our previous meal may have a bigger in flue nee on our appetite tha n the actual size of the meal, says Jeffrey M. Brun strom, a professor of experime ntal psychology at the Uni versity of Bristol."Hun ger isn't con trolled solely by the physical characteristics of a recent meal. Wehave identified an independent role for memory for that meal，" Brunstrom says."This shows that the relati on ship betwee n hun ger and food in take is more complex than we thought."These findings echo earlier research that suggests our percepti on of food can sometimes trick our body' s response to the food itself. In a 2011 study, for instanee, people who drank the same3S0-calorie (卡路里)milkshake on two separate occasions produced different levels of hunger-related hormones (荷尔蒙),depending on whetherthe shake' s label said it contained 620 or 140 calories. Moreover, the participants reported feeling more full when they thought they'd consumed a higher-calorie shake.What does this mean for our eat ing habits? Although it hardly seems practical to trick ourselves into eati ng less, the new findings do highlight the ben efits offocus ing on our food and avoidi ng TV and multitask ing while eat ing.The so-called min dful-eat ing strategies can fight distract ions and help us con trol our appetite, Brun strom says.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2013年12月大学英语四级(CET4)考试样卷Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on theimportance of learning basic skills. You should write at least 120 words but nomore than 180 words. Write your essay on Answer Sheet 1.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

PartII Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about whatwas said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. Aftereach question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Thenmark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line throughthe centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2013年12月大学英语四级真题试卷（三）全部题型 1.Writing2.Listening Comprehension3. 4.Reading Com prehension5.TranslationPart I Writing1．For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a short essay based on the picture below.You should start your essay with a brief account of the impact of the Internet on the way people communicate and then explain whether electronic communication can replace face-to-face contact.You should write at least120words but no more than180words."Dear Andy How are you?Your mother and I are fine.We both miss you and hope you are doing well.We look forward to seeing you again the next time your computer crashes and you come downstairs for something to eat.Love, Mom and Dad."Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A2．A．Plan his budget carefully.B．Give her more information.C．Ask someone else for advice.D．Buy a gift for his girlfriend.3．A．She'll have some chocolate cake.B．She'll take a look at the menu.C．She'll go without dessert.D．She'll prepare the dinner.4．A．The man can speak a foreign language. B．The woman hopes to improve her English.C．The woman knows many different languages. D．The man wishes to visit many more countries.5．A．Go to the library.B．Meet the woman.C．See Prof.Smith.D．Have a drink in the bar.6．A．She isn't sure when Prof.Bloom will be back. B．The man shouldn't be late for his class.C．The man can come back sometime later.D．She can pass on the message for the man.7．A．He has a strange personality.B．He's got emotional problems.C．His illness is beyond cure.D．His behavior is hard to explain.8．A．The tickets are more expensive than expected. B．The tickets are sold in advance at half price.C．It's difficult to buy the tickets on the spot.D．It's better to buy the tickets beforehand.9．A．He turned suddenly and ran into a tree. B．He was hit by a fallen box from a truck.C．He drove too fast and crashed into a truck. D．He was trying to overtake the truck ahead of him. 10．A．To go boating on the wrence River. B．To go sightseeing in Quebec Province.C．To call on a friend in Quebec City.D．To attend a wedding in Montreal.11．A．Study the map of Quebec Province. B．Find more about Quebec City.C．Brush up on her French.D．Learn more about the local customs.12．A．It's most beautiful in summer.B．It has many historical buildings.C．It was greatly expanded in the18th century.D．It's the only French-speaking city in Canada.13．A．It was about a little animal.B．It took her six years to write.C．It was adapted from a fairy tale.D．It was about a little girl and her pet.14．A．She knows how to write best-selling novels. B．She can earn a lot of money by writing for adults. C．She is able to win enough support from publishers. D．She can make a living by doing what she likes.15．A．The characters.B．The readers.C．Her ideas.D．Her life experiences.16．A．She doesn't really know where they originated.B．She mainly drew on stories of ancient saints.C．They popped out of her childhood dreams.D．They grew out of her long hours of thinking.Section B17．A．Monitor students'sleep patterns.B．Help students concentrate in class.C．Record students'weekly performance.D．Ask students to complete a sleep report.18．A．Declining health.B．Lack of attention.C．Loss of motivation.D．Improper behavior.19．A．They should make sure their children are always punctual for school. B．They should ensure their children grow up in a healthy environment. C．They should help their children accomplish high-quality work. D．They should see to it that their children have adequate sleep.20．A．She stopped being a homemaker.B．She became a famous educator.C．She became a public figure.D．She quit driving altogether.21．A．A motorist's speeding.B．Her running a stop sign.C．Her lack of driving experience.D．A motorist's failure to concentrate.22．A．Nervous and unsure of herself.B．Calm and confident of herself.C．Courageous and forceful.D．Distracted and reluctant.23．A．More strict training of women drivers.B．Restrictions on cell phone use while driving.C．Improved traffic conditions in cities.D．New regulations to ensure children's safety.24．A．They haven't devoted as much energy to medicine as to space travel. B．There are too many kinds of cold viruses for them to identify.C．It is not economical to find a cure for each type of cold.D．They believe people can recover without treatment.25．A．They reveal the seriousness of the problem.B．They indicate how fast the virus spreads.C．They tell us what kind of medicine to take.D．They show our body is fighting the virus.26．A．It actually does more harm than good.B．It causes damage to some organs of our body.C．It works better when combined with other remedies.D．It helps us to recover much sooner.Section CYou probably have noticed that people express similar ideas in different ways,depending on the situation they are in.This is very【B1】______All languages have two general levels of usage:a formal level and an informal level.English is no【B2】______The difference in these two levels is the situation in which you use a【B3】______level.Formal language is the kind of language you find in textbooks,【B4】______,and in business letters.You would also use formal English in compositions and【B5】______that you write in rmal language is used in conversation with colleagues,family members and friends,and when we write_【B6】_______notes or letters to close friends.Formal language is different from informal language【B7】______First, formal language tends to be more polite.What we may find interesting is that it usually takes more words to be polite.For example,I might say to a friend or a family member,"Close the door,please."but to a【B8】______,I probably would say,"Would you mind closing the door?"Another difference between formal and informal language is some of the 【B9】______There are bound to be some words and phrases that【B10】______formal language and others that are informal.Let's say that I really like soccer.If I'm talking to my friend,I might say"I'm just crazy about soccer!"But if I were talking to my boss,I would probably say"I really enjoy soccer."27．【B1】28．【B2】29．【B3】30．【B4】31．【B5】32．【B6】33．【B7】34．【B8】35．【B9】36．【B10】Part III Reading ComprehensionSection AThe mobile phone is a magic device widely used these days.Although it has been nearly30years since the first commercial mobile-phone network was launched,advertisers have yet to figure out how to get their【C1】______out to mobile-phone users in a big way.There are2.2billion cell-phone users worldwide,a【C2】______that is growing by about25%each year.Yet spending on ads carried over cell-phone networks last year【C3】_______to just$1.5 billion worldwide,a fraction of the$424billion global ad market.But as the number of eyeballs glued to【C4】______screens multiplies,so too does the mobile phone's value as a pocket billboard(广告牌).Consumers are 【C5】______using their phones for things other than voice calls,such as text messaging,downloading songs and games,and【C6】______the Internet.By 2010,70million Asians are expected to be watching videos and TV programs on mobile phones.All of these activities give advertisers【C7】______options for reaching audiences.During soccer's World Cup last summer,for example, Adidas used real-time scores and games to【C8】_______thousands of fans to a website set up for mobile-phone access."Our target audience was males aged17 to25,"says Marcus Spurrell,Adidas regional manager for Asia."Their mobiles are always on,always in their pocket-you just can't【C9】______cell phones as an advertising tool."Mobile-phone marketing has become as【C10】______a platform as TV.online or print.A)accessing F)characters K)patientlyB)amounted G)fresh L)tinyC)approaching H)ignore M)totalD)attract I)increasingly N)violatedE)casual J)messages O)vital37．【C1】38．【C2】39．【C3】40．【C4】41．【C5】42．【C6】43．【C7】44．【C8】45．【C9】46．【C10】Section BA Mess on the Ladder of SuccessA)Throughout American history there has almost always been at least one central economic narrative that gave the ambitious or unsatisfied reason to pack up and seek their fortune elsewhere.For the first300or so years of European settlement,the story was about moving outward:getting immigrants to the continent and then to the frontier to clear the prairies(大草原).drain the wetlands and build new cities.B)By the end of the19th century,as the frontier vanished,the US had a mild panic attack.What would this energetic,enterprising country be without new lands to conquer?Some people,such as Teddy Roosevelt,decided to keep on conquering(Cuba,the Philippines,etc.),but eventually,in industrialization,the US found a new narrative of economic mobility at home.From the1890s to the 1960s,people moved from farm to city,first in the North and then in the South. In fact,by the1950s,there was enough prosperity and white-collar work that many began to move to the suburbs.As the population aged,there was also a shift from the cold Rust Belt to the comforts of the Sun Belt.We think of this as an old person's migration,but it created many jobs for the young in construction and health care,not to mention tourism,retail and restaurants.C)For the last20years-from the end of the cold war through two burst bubbles in a single decade--the US has been casting about for its next economic narrative.And now it is experiencing another period of panic,which is bad news for much of the workforce but particularly for its youngest members. D)The US has always been a remarkably mobile country,but new data from the Census Bureau indicate that mobility has reached its lowest level in recorded history.Sure,some people are stuck in homes valued at less than their mortgages(抵押贷款),but many young people who don't own homes and don't yet have families—are staying put,too.This suggests,among other things,that people aren't packing up for new economic opportunities the way they used to. Rather than dividing the country into the1percenters versus(与......相对)everyone else,the split in our economy is really between two other classes: the mobile and immobile.E)Part of the problem is that the country's largest industries are in decline.In the past,it was perfectly clear where young people should go for work(Chicago in the1870s,Detroit in the1910s.Houston in the1970s)and,more or less,what they'd be doing when they got there(killing cattle,building cars,selling oil). And these industries were large enough to offer jobs to each class of worker, from unskilled laborer to manager or engineer.Today,the few bright spots in our economy are relatively small(though some promise future growth)and decentralized.There are great jobs in Silicon Valley,in the biotech research capitals of Boston and Raleigh-Durham and in advanced manufacturing plants along the southern z-85corridor.These companies recruit all over the countryand the globe for workers with specific abilities.(You don't need to be the next Mark Zuckerberg,founder of Facebook,to get a job in one of the microhubs(微中心),by the way.But you will almost certainly need at least a B.A.in computer science or a year or two at a technical school.)This newer,select job market is national,and it offers members of the mobile class competitive salaries and higher bargaining power.F)Many members of the immobile class,on the other hand,live in the America of the gloomy headlines.If you have no specialized skills,there's little reason to uproot to another state and be the last in line for a low-paying job at a new auto plant or a green-energy startup.The surprise in the census(普查)data,however, is that the immobile workforce is not limited to unskilled workers.In fact,many have a college degree.G)Until now,a B.A.in any subject was a near-guarantee of at leastmiddle-class wages.But today,a quarter of college graduates make less than the typical worker without a bachelor's degree.David Autor,a prominent labor economist at M.I.T.,recently told me that a college degree alone is no longer a guarantor of a good job.While graduates from top universities are still likely to get a good job no matter what their major is,he said,graduates fromless-famous schools are going to be judged on what they know.To compete for jobs on a national level,they should be armed with the skills that emerging industries need,whether technical or not.H)Those without such specialized skills like poetry,or even history,majors are already competing with their neighbors for the same sorts of second-rate, poorer-paying local jobs like low-level management or big-box retail sales.And with the low-skilled labor market atomized into thousands of microeconomics, immobile workers are less able to demand better wages or conditions or to acquire valuable skills.I)So what,exactly,should the ambitious young worker of today be learning? Unfortunately,it's hard to say,since the US doesn't have one clear national project.There are plenty of emerging,smaller industries,but which ones are the most promising?(Nanotechnology's(纳米技术)moment of remarkable growth seems to have been5years into the future for something like20years now.)It's not clear exactly what skills are most needed or if they will even be valuable in a decade.J)What is clear is that all sorts of government issues—education, health-insurance portability,worker retraining—are no longer just bonuses to already prosperous lives but existential requirements.It's in all of our interests to make sure that as many people as possible are able to move toward opportunity,and America's ability to invest people and money in exciting new ideas is still greater than that of most other wealthy countries.(As recently as five years ago,US migration was twice the rate of European Union states.)That, at least,is some comfort at a time when our national economy seems to be searching for its next story line.47．Unlike in the past,a college degree alone does not guarantee a good job for its holder.48．The census data is surprising in that college graduates are also among the immobile workforce.49．New figures released by the government show that Americans today are less mobile than ever before.50．The migration of old people from cold to warm places made many jobs available to the young.51．America is better at innovation than most other rich nations.52．Early American history is one of moving outward.53．Young people don't know what to learn because it is hard to predict what skills are most needed or valued ten years from now.54．Computer or other technical skills are needed to get a well-paying job in high-tech or advanced manufacturing.55．When the frontier vanished about a century ago,America found new economic mobility in industrialization.56．America today can be divided into two classes:those who move and those who don't.Section CA new study shows a large gender gap on economic policy among the nation s professional economists,a divide similar to the gender divide found in the general public."As a group,we are pro-market,"says Ann Mari May,co-author of the study and a University of Nebraska economist."But women are more likely to accept government regulation and involvement in economic activity than our male colleagues.""It's very puzzling,"says free market economist Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University."Not a day goes by that I don't ask myself why there are so few women economists on the free market side."A native of France,de Rugy supported government intervention(干预)early in her life but changed her mind after studying economics."We want many of the same things as liberals—less poverty,more health care—but have radically different ideas on how to achieve it."Liberal economist Dean Baker,co-founder of the Center for Economic Policy and Research,says male economists have been on the inside of the profession,confirming each other's anti-regulation views.Women,as outsiders, "are more likely to think independently or at least see people outside of the economics profession as forming their peer group,"he says.The gender balance in economics is changing.One-third of economics doctorates(博士学位)now go to women."More diversity is needed at the table when public policy is discussed,"May says.Economists do agree on some things.Female economists agree with men that Europe has too much regulation and that Wal-mart is good for society.Male economists agree with their female colleagues that military spending is too high.The genders are most divorced from each other on the question of equality for women.Male economists overwhelmingly think the wage gap between men and women is largely the result of individuals'skills,experience and voluntary choices.Female economists overwhelmingly disagree by a margin of4-to-l.The biggest disagreement:76%of women say faculty opportunities in economics favor men.Male economists point the opposite way:80%say women are favored or the process is neutral.57．What is the finding of the new study?A．The gender divide is a big concern of the general public.B．Men and women understand economics quite differently.C．The gap between male and female economists needs to be closed. D．Male and female economists disagree widely on economic policy. 58．What does Ann Mari May say about female economists?A．They are strongly against male domination in the economics profession.B．They tend to support government intervention in economic activity. C．They usually play an active role in public policy-making.D．They are mostly strong advocates of free market economy.59．What do we learn about economist Veronique de Rugy?A．She represents most female economists'standpoint.B．She devotes herself to eliminating women's poverty.C．Her study of economics changed her view on government's role in economic activities.D．Her academic background helped her get into the inner circle of the economics profession.60．What does Ann Mari May imply about public policy-making?A．More female economists should get involved.B．It should do justice to female economists'studies.C．More attention should be paid to women's rights.D．It should aim at sustainable development.61．On what issue do male and female economists differ most? A．Government regulation.B．Job creation.C．Military spending.D．Gender equality.The number of postgraduate students travelling from non-EU countries to study at UK universities has fallen for the first time in16years,fuelling fears that the government's immigration crackdown is discouraging thousands of the brightest students from continuing their studies in Britain.Jo Beall,British Council director of education and society,said the fall would cause alarm among UK vice-chancellors(大学行政主管)."The sector was expecting a decline in growth,but the actual reduction in postgraduate numbers is of real concern as international students make up the majority of numbers in many postgraduate courses and research teams in science,technology,engineering and mathematics.""Attracting the brightest and most ambitious postgraduate and research students is critical if the UK is to maintain its quality reputation for research," Beall said.Universities get a third of their tuition(学费)fee revenue from non-EU students.There is growing,fear among vice-chancellors that this revenue—as well as the cultural,academic and economic benefit international students bring—is being put at risk.Tim Westlake.director for the student experience at Manchester University,said students whose families relied on them working in the UK after their studies to gain experience and repay the fees were starting to look elsewhere.Last month the home secretary,Theresa May.announced that embassy staff would interview more than100000applicants in an attempt to prevent bogus(假冒的)ones entering the country.She also said immigrants were responsible for pushing up UK house prices.The comments followed the introduction of new limitations on students'right to work during and after their studies.Beall said:"Government statistics for the first time provide real evidence that the changes to UK visa regulations may have discouraged many students from applying to the UK,and in particular postgraduate Students who are so important to the UK's research output.The UK enjoys an excellent reputation around the world for the high quality of our education system,so the government needs to ensure that institutions have all the support they need to attract international students who make a tremendous academic,cultural and economic contribution to the UK."62．What has caused the decline of the number of non-EU postgraduates in the UK?A．The increase in tuition and fees.B．The ever-rising living expenses.C．Changed immigration policies.D．Universities'tightened budgets.63．What is UK vice-chancellors'biggest concern?A．How to obtain financial support from the government.B．How to keep the academic reputation of their institutions.C．How to prevent bogus applicants entering their universities.D．How to stimulate the creativity of their research teams.64．Why do UK universities try to attract postgraduate students from outside the EU?A．A substantial part of their revenue comes from non-EU students' tuition and fees.B．Non-EU postgraduate students arc usually highly motivated.C．The number of UK postgraduate students has fallen sharply.D．Some of the postgraduate programmes are specially designed for non-EU students.65．What were the expectations of some non-EU students'families?A．Their children could enjoy the UK's cultural benefits. B．Their children could find well-paying jobs upon their return.C．Their children could become established academically.D．Their children could work in the UK after graduation.66．What does Beall suggest the UK government should do?A．Allow promising international students to work in research teams. B．Revise UK visa regulations to accommodate non-EU students.C．Give universities adequate support to attract non-EU students.D．Try to address the needs of international students in the UK.PartⅣTranslation67．“你要茶还是要咖啡?”是用餐人常被问到的问题。

2013年12月份全国大学英语四级考试试卷一：中餐【真题原文】许多人喜欢中餐，在中国，烹饪不仅被视为一种技能，而且也被视为一 种艺术。

精心准备的中餐既可口又好看，烹饪技艺和配料在中国各地差别很大。

但好的烹 饪都有一个共同点，总是要考虑到颜色、味道、口感和营养(nutrition)。

由于食物对健康至 关重要，好的厨师总是努力在谷物、肉类和蔬菜之间取得平衡，所以中餐既味美又健康。

【翻译答案】Most people like Chinese food. In China, cooking is considered as not only a skill but also an art. The well-prepared Chinese food is both delicious and good-looking. Although cooking methods and food ingredient vary wildly in different places of China, it is common for good cuisine to take color, flavor, taste and nutrition into account. Since food is crucial to health, a good chef is insistently trying to seek balance between cereal, meat and vegetable, and accordingly Chinese food is delicious as well as healthy.试卷二：信息技术【真题原文】信息技术(Information Technology)，正在飞速发展，中国公民也越来越 重视信息技术，有些学校甚至将信息技术作为必修课程，对这一现象大家持不同观点。

2013年12月大学英语四级（第二套）考试真题答案解析写作导航: On the Overuse of the Mobile Phone第1段：描述图片，概述生活中出现过度使用手机的现象Having a cell phone in hand and at the ready, growing increasing dependent on their mobile phones第2段：详细介绍过度使用手机产生的不良后果trigger many health problemsan Immediate threat to their Iife, health and pro property less chance of face-to-face interactions第3段：进行总结，并提出建议use them appropriately and rationally参考范文On the Overuse of the Mobile Phone 【1】As is shown in the picture, having a mobile phone in hand and at the ready is the default mode while walking on the streets. 【2】What this cartoon symbolically reveals is that people nowadays, especially young people, are growing increasingly dependent on their mobile phones.【3】It is true that the mobile phone has brought great convenience to people's life. However, just as is illustrated in the picture, the overuse of it may lead to several bad consequences. 【4】To begin with, there is evidence that long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation may trigger many health problems, such as insomnia, headaches and even cancers.【5】In addition, when people immerse themselves in the mobile phone, they tend to pay less attention to their surroundings, posing an immediate threat to their life, health and property.【6】Last but not least, excessive use of mobile phones means much less chance of face-to-face interactions with the people who populate their real lives.【7】In conclusion, while mobile phones have contributed a lot to making our life more convenient, we should use them appropriately and rationally.【1】开门见山,对图片进行简单描述。

大学英语四级（2013年12月考试改革适用）模拟试卷297(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1. Writing 2. Listening Comprehension 3. Reading Comprehension 4. TranslationPart I Writing1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay to express your views on the phenomenon of group purchasing. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.正确答案：My Views on Group Purchasing In recent years, group purchasing becomes increasingly popular in our life. However, in my opinion, although it is cheaper and more convenient, we should be discreet when facing group purchasing. There are two main reasons why I say so. For one thing, you might lose more money on group purchasing because you will buy something you don’t really need once you cannot resist the temptation of the low price. That will turn into another way of waste of money although you intended to save money. For another, the products of group purchasing are usually not of good quality as those sold at the market price. Just as the old saying goes, you get what you pay. Therefore, don’t follow the group purchasing hastily until you carefully think what you really need and the quality of the goods. So please keep an eye on your wallet.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A听力原文：(1)Falling global demand for personal computers (PC) saw shipments fall by a record 10, 6% in the fourth quarter from a year ago, according to market research firm IDC. About 71. 9 million units were shipped in the period, which includes the key Christmas shopping season. IDC said the decline was the worst since it started tracking PC shipments. (2)PC demand has been hit by competition from smartphones and tablets, along with longer lifecycles for PCs.(1)Shipments fell in all regions around the world and have declined for five quarters in a row, according to IDC’s figures. Rival research firm Gartner also said shipments were down. Using different methodology, it saw a fall of 8.3% in the fourth quarter from a year ago. (2)Other factors that contributed to the decline in shipments included economic issues such as falling commodity prices, weaker currencies, as well as social tensions in the Middle East.1. What has happened in the PC market recently according to IDC? 2. What factor is contributing to the current situation?2．A．The PC market has picked up rapidly in the past months.B．PCs are sold at lower prices during the shopping season.C．PC shipments have gone down quickly around the world.D．PCs have longer lifecycles by upgrading their hardware.正确答案：C3．A．Rising commodity prices.B．Competition from mobile devices.C．Stronger currencies.D．Social tensions in Southeast Asia.正确答案：B听力原文：As the holiday shopping season begins, hackers are trying to trick users into revealing their private account information. (3)Last week, hackers tried to trick Amazon, com users into handing over their passwords and user names. The attempt to steal individual Amazon user names and passwords was a “phishing” attack. Phishing tries to trick users into thinking that the request comes from the company. In this case, hackers sent emails to Amazon account holders. The email lied and claimed that 2 592 Amazon account records were stolen. Customers were asked to verify account information in the phishing email. The email’s signature was signed as “Amazon Customer Support. “(4)Electronics and computer experts say deleting the email is an easy solution. Amazon says thieves use hoax emails that look like they are from Amazon company accounts. Amazon says many phishing emails contain misspelled words and bad grammar. The company says it never asks for personal information, passwords or bank account numbers.3. What did some hackers attempt to do last week? 4. What is a good way to solve the problem according to some experts?4．A．Steal Amazon users’ private account information.B．Sell individual Amazon user names and passwords.C．Start an attack on some online shopping websites.D．Spread a virus on online shopping websites by email.正确答案：A5．A．To call the Amazon Company.B．To check the spelling and grammar.C．To reset passwords frequently.D．To delete the email directly.正确答案：D听力原文：(5)India’s capital Delhi is ending a two-week trial that imposed major restrictions on private cars. Private cars with even and odd number plates were only allowed on alternate days during the experiment, which began on January 1.(6)The initiative is meant to curb the city’s air pollution. The trial took more than a third of the city’s three million private cars off the road, easing congestion. However, it is not clear whether it has helped to bring down pollution. Delhi has experienced hazardous levels of pollution this winter. The local government announced the scheme after a court ordered authorities to tackle pollution levels which stood at more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s safe limits. Authorities said the trial had resulted in a more than 50% drop in air pollution primarily caused by vehicular traffic. Emergency vehicles like ambulances, police cars, fire engines and taxis were exempt from the campaign, and single women were also allowed to drive their cars every day. The government hired private buses to provide shuttle services. (7)Schools were shut during the trial so their buses could also be used as public transport.5. What is Delhi try doing recently? 6. What is the purpose of this experiment? 7. Why were school buses used as public transport during the experiment?6．A．Giving severe punishments to traffic violators.B．Encouraging people to travel on public buses.C．Controlling the purchase of private cars.D．Limiting traffic by an odd-even scheme.正确答案：D7．A．To relieve its traffic congestion.B．To lessen its environmental problem.C．To guarantee drivers’ safety on the road.D．To improve the public transport system.正确答案：B8．A．Schools were shut during the trial.B．The pressure of public transport was heavy.C．Parents could send their children to school.D．The government required to do this.正确答案：ASection B听力原文：W: Do you think families have changed much in the last 50 years?M:I think families everywhere have changed a lot in the last five decades.W: What do you think is the biggest change?M: (8)Well, in the past, three or four generations would live together under the same roof. Nowadays, relatives living in the same city have become rare. W: That’s true. You know, some husbands and wives don’t even live in the same city any more. M: Would you ever consider having your parents live with you when they get older?W: (9)I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned. I’d rather have my parents live with me than live in a retirement home. M: (10)That’s very respectable, but I could never live with my parents. I usually only see them at our Christmas celebration and that’s enough! W: How about your other siblings? Do they spend a lot of time with your parents? M: Two of my sisters still live at home, even though they have already graduated from university and had jobs. (10)They enjoy spending their free time with my parents. I guess in that respect, I’m the black sheep of the family. W: I see. Do your parents ever ask you to come home to visit them more often? M: (11)They’re always asking me to come home, but I think our relationship is better if we keep a distance from each other. Whenever we see each other, all we do is fight. W: Well, you know what they say, “You can choose your friends, but not your family. “8. What does the man think is the biggest change for families? 9. What does the woman wish to do when her parents get older? 10. Why does the man say he is the black sheep of the family? 11. Why is the man unwilling to live with his parents?9．A．The number of families has decreased a lot.B．More young people seldom stay at home.C．Relatives seldom live in the same place.D．The family members live in the same place.正确答案：C10．A．She wants her parents to live with her.B．She wants her parents to live alone.C．She wants her parents to live in a retirement room.D．She wants her parents to live with her siblings.正确答案：A11．A．He is always in trouble at home.B．He is reluctant to live with his parents.C．He often fights with his siblings.D．He doesn’t study hard.正确答案：B12．A．He likes living alone.B．His house is far from his parents’ house.C．He is busy with his business.D．He always quarrels with his parents.正确答案：D听力原文：W: (12)How is your house hunting going?M: Not very well. I haven’t found anything within my price range yet. W: How much do you want to spend? M: I can only afford about ￡300 a month.W: (14)Looks like you’re not going to get more than a bedroom in a shared flat with that. M: Really? That’s a lot of money to pay for one room. Do you know anyone who needs a roommate? W: Well, if you want to live in London, you have to pay the price! I can ask around at work. Do you have a preference for smokers or non-smokers?M: (13)I’d prefer non-smoking roommates, but I guess I’ll have to take what 1 can get!W: How long do you want to sign a contract for?M: I can sign a contract up to a year. I don’t know where I’ll be after that.W: Do you need a furnished or unfurnished apartment?M: (14)I don’t have any furniture, so it would be great if it were furnished.W: You know that you’ll have to pay utilities on top of the rent, right?M: No, I thought that would be included in the rent.W: It’s not usually included, so you’ll have to factor in about ￡100 more each month for utilities.M: I don’t think I can afford that.W: Don’t worry. (15)Sometimes people will give you a discount if you promise to do the cleaning or take care of the lawn.M: That’s a good idea. I’ll look into finding something like that.12. What has the man been doing recently? 13. What kind of roommate will the man prefer? 14. What kind of room will the man prefer? 15. What should the man do if he wants to get a discount?13．A．He has been looking for a job.B．He has been looking for a house.C．He has been looking for a roommate.D．He has been looking for an agent.正确答案：B14．A．A roommate who does not snore.B．A roommate who does not smoke.C．A roommate who is very tidy.D．A roommate who loves studying.正确答案：B15．A．A flat with two bedrooms.B．An unfurnished apartment.C．A well-decorated apartment.D．A furnished bedroom in a shared flat.正确答案：D16．A．Help do housework.B．Bargain with the landlord.C．Agree to share with others.D．Sign a two-year contract.正确答案：ASection C听力原文：(16)Technology can bring lasting change to society, and one change it brought in the 19th century was the widespread use of color in art and commerce. A printing process began in Germany and then spread to America, where brightly-colored printing transformed popular culture. An exhibition called The Color Explosion at the Huntington Library illustrates the changes. The 19th century is often remembered through stiffly posed, black and white photographs of people dressed in shades of gray. Much of the century, however, was excess in color, especially in America, where brightly-colored prints found a place on boxes, cans as well as calendars and posters. David Smith, curator of the Huntington exhibition, (17)says the mass production of color was enabled by a groundbreaking process called lithography. “It had a tremendous visual impact on people who, up to this time, really had not seen much color before. (17)So lithography, one of its major impacts, was to colorize America and bring color to every community and every home, affordable. “ Lithographic artists used grease crayons to sketch images on a block of limestone. The printer applied water and ink, and the ink adhered to the greasy image. The stone block was then used to mass-produce printed copies. Black and white lithography was invented in Germany in the 1790s, (18) and it spread to France and England, and then made its way to America with German immigrants. Smith says that after a few decades, printers started using colored ink, as the process expanded from city to city in the country’s westward expansion.16. What change did technology bring in the 19th century? 17. What’s the great impact of lithography? 18. How did black and white lithography appear in America?17．A．The widespread use of color in clothes.B．The widespread use of color in boxes and cans.C．The widespread use of color in commerce and art.D．The widespread use of black and white photographs.正确答案：C18．A．It made the mass production of color possible.B．It enabled Americans to see colors.C．It made colors more expensive to get.D．It helped to produce more colors.正确答案：A19．A．Frenchmen brought it there.B．English immigrants brought it there.C．German immigrants brought it there.D．Americans invented it themselves.正确答案：C听力原文：(19)The reason people count sheep, as opposed to bluebirds or sailboats, is uncertain: some authorities think it may have to do with a tallying system devised by shepherds in ancient Britain. But there is no question that the phrase has entered the language. And its meaning is clear enough—the sheer monotony(单调) of the task is meant to lull you to sleep. But does it work? Scientists at Oxford University put it to the test. In their study, which appeared in the journal of Behavior Research and Therapy, two sleep researchers recruited insomniacs and split them into groups. Then they monitored them as they tried different techniques for falling asleep on various nights. (20)What they found was that subjects took slightly longer to fall asleep on nights when they were instructed to distract themselves by counting sheep or were given no instructions at all. But when they were told to imagine a relaxing scene—a beach, for example—they fell asleep an average of 20 minutes sooner than they did on other nights. Counting sheep, the scientists suggested, may simply be too boring to do for very long, while images of a soothing shoreline or tranquil stream are engrossing enough to concentrate on. In other studies at Oxford, scientists compared “good”sleepers with insomniacs and found distinct differences in their pre-sleep thoughts. Insomniacs pictured less scenery of any kind and had more thoughts of unpleasant images, worries, noises in the environment, “intimate relationships”and things they had done during the day. (21)So don’t count sheep: instead, try picturing relaxing images.19. Why has the phrase “count sheep”come into shape? 20. What does the test carried out by scientists at Oxford University show? 21. What does the speaker suggest to those who have difficulty falling asleep?20．A．It has to do with a tallying system.B．Sheep is a kind of lovely animal.C．It is useful for people to get good sleep.D．The reason is not clear to us.正确答案：D21．A．The subjects can easily fall asleep by counting sheep.B．The subjects can’t fall asleep when given no instructions.C．The subjects can easily fall asleep when imagining a soothing scene.D．The subjects can’t fall asleep when imagining a relaxing scene.正确答案：C22．A．Think about unpleasant images before sleep.B．Picture things they have done before sleep.C．Imagine worries and noises before sleep.D．Imagine soothing images before sleep.正确答案：D听力原文：(22) Australia has experienced its warmest August on record, as winter temperatures soared. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says that August was a “most extraordinary month”with mean temperatures almost 2. 5 degrees above the long-term average. August in Australia culminated in a record-breaking heatwave across much of the continent. Blair Trewin from the National Climate Center says the past month brought unprecedented weather. “Early last week we saw a number of locations in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland break their August record-high temperatures by four or five degrees,” Trewin said. “And to break records by that sort of margin is something which is extremely rare.” (23)Scientists think that such unseasonal temperatures are the result of both global warming and natural climate variability. There are warnings that spring in this part of the southern hemisphere is likely to bring more hot weather, causing a long drought. Parts of Australia have seen below-average rainfall for several years and the outlook for many parched communities is not good. (24) Australia is a major food exporter, and if the drought dramatically cuts yields, that could cause global prices for grain, meat and other foods to rise. (25)The warm, dry conditions have prompted the authorities to warn that Australia’s annual bushfire season is again likely to be severe. Already serious fires have flared near Sydney, the country’s most populous city.22. Why is August said to be a “most extraordinary month”? 23. What do the unseasonal temperatures result from according to the scientists? 24. What will the long drought lead to? 25. What is another concern for Australia?23．A．It is the hottest month of the year.B．It is the most beautiful season of the year.C．The temperature has reached a new high this month.D．There is a lot of rain this month.正确答案：C24．A．Both global warming and below-average rainfall.B．Both below-average rainfall and natural climate variability.C．Global warming as well as natural climate variability.D．Natural climate variability and geographical conditions.正确答案：C25．A．High food yields.B．High food prices.C．More starving people.D．More refugees.正确答案：B26．A．The hurricane.B．The food crisis.C．The water crisis.D．The annual bushfire.正确答案：DPart III Reading ComprehensionSection AResearchers have identified 1.4 million animal species so far—and millions remain to be discovered, named, and scientifically described. So how much would it actually cost to【C1】______every animal on Earth? A pair of Brazilian scientists has crunched (大量运算) the numbers and【C2】______up with an answer: $263 billion. That’s way more than the $5 billion that famed Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson estimated back in 2000—and that was for every species on Earth, not just animals. But even $263 billion would be a【C3】______price to pay to understand the creatures that【C4】______such essentials as agriculture, fisheries, new drugs, and energy sources, says ornithologist (鸟类专家) Joel Cracraft of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. “Literally, the world economy runs on biodiversity,” he says. “People don’t understand really, deeply how much we dependon biodiversity.”Most biologists agree that with extinction rates【C5】______and climate change looming, the【C6】______to document the planet’s biodiversity—or biota (生物区)—is urgent,【C7】______considering the essential role these life forms play in crop pollination, clean air, and other aspects of human【C8】______”We are losing species by extinction faster than we are describing new species” according to some estimates, says biologist Antonio Marques, who【C9】______the new paper with Fernando Carbayo, both at the University of St. Paulo in Brazil. “We have to know the biota to preserve and conserve the biota,” he says. Besides the money, another huge【C10】______to a complete understanding of the animal kingdom is a global shortage of taxonomists (分类专家), experts say. A) attempt F) effort K) obstacle B) cheaper G) enable L) small C) classify H) especially M) soaring D) coauthored I) exactly N) well-being E) come J) identify O) yet27．【C1】正确答案：J28．【C2】正确答案：E29．【C3】正确答案：L30．【C4】正确答案：G31．【C5】正确答案：M32．【C6】正确答案：F33．【C7】正确答案：H34．【C8】正确答案：N35．【C9】正确答案：D36．【C10】正确答案：KSection BI thought having a baby would hurt my writing career. I was wrong. A) I almost didn’t have a child because of my career as a writer. Everything I read about motherhood and creativity said that a baby would sap (逐渐削弱) my energy, divide my attention, give me something called mommy brain and make it almost impossible to continue working. As an ambitious person, this scared me. Having a child is a big enough mystery, and the idea that it could stop me from doing what I most desired felt like a huge risk—one I wasn’t sure I wanted to take. B) For years, I waffled. I read myriad essays by other women complaining that since having a baby, they couldn’t find the time or energy to make art. I saw no reason I would be different. I could easily think of actors, musicians and other artists who seemed to lose their edge after having kids, or who produced far less work. Many female writers I admire, including Virginia Woolf, the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen, were childless. Those who did have children seemed to struggle with the issue. Margaret Atwood, for example, told The Paris Review, “For a while, I thought I had to choose between the two things I wanted: children and to be a writer. I took a chance. “C) In the end, I took one, too. Throughout my pregnancy, I weathered comments about how difficult writing would soon become, all obsessing about how I would juggle caring for a baby with finding time to write. D) I shouldn’t have worried. In the five years since my son’s birth, I’ve written two novels, won grants and residencies and broken into many national publications. Before becoming a mother, it took me 10 years to write a novel. I never won grants or residencies pre-birth, because I rarely applied for them and, despite my skills and experience, I was intimidated to approach national magazines. Now I don’t have time for any of that angst (焦虑不安) because the babysitter is leaving in an hour. E) Not that I don’t struggle with parenting—I do. There have been plenty of times when I’ve sat in my office, near tears, listening to my son beg to come in so he could “be with mommy.”I’ve turned down fellowships because I couldn’t be away from him so long. More than once, I’ve put him in front of a TV so I could meet a deadline. I’ve experienced plenty of mommy guilt. Still, I’d rather be the writer I am than the one I was before my son. No one is more surprised by that than I am. F) For one thing, I’m more focused. When my son was an infant, my time to be creative suddenly became limited, so I stopped wasting it. Before my son, I thought in terms of small financial gains and pursued any project that sounded fun. Now I think long-termabout what I want to accomplish, and I’m judicious about the projects I take on. I go after big goals. I’m braver. My creative life has broadened, and I’m more interested in making art that takes on larger, more pressing topics. G) I may not be alone here. The more we learn about how pregnancy affects the brain, the more it seems to benefit creative thinkers. One study showed that pregnancy produced long-lasting changes in brain areas associated with social cognition, or understanding how other people perceive things, skills that are useful for figuring out an infant and also for writing characters. Pregnancy may also improve memory and slow aging of the brain. Rats who gave birth did better on learning and memory tests. So much for mommy brain. A 2014 study showed that after giving birth, female rats catch crickets four times faster than other rats, and are less likely to let go of their prey. This reminds me of my newfound focus. I never thought I’d relate to a rat. Motherhood is full of surprises. H) Even literary history seems less bleak (令人沮丧的) when I look at it from another angle. While there are plenty of childless women writers, there are also women such as George Sand or Margaret Oliphant, successful writers with children. Oliphant, whom novelist Ursula K. Le Guin said was a better writer than Anthony Trollope, had six children. Harriet Beecher Stowe had seven. Elizabeth Gaskell had five. Kate Chopin, who wrote The Awakening, had six children and was a single mother. Sand had two children, wrote nearly 90 novels and still had time for an affair with Frederic Chopin. Mary Shelley, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Frances Burney, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Agatha Christie and Gwendolyn Brooks all had children. If these women could do it, certainly I, a woman with more freedom and resources, can thrive while juggling kids with creativity. I) When it comes to women succeeding in the arts, maybe motherhood itself has never been the problem. The problems lie in the economic and social constraints that come with being a mother. The arts, like everything else, were historically dominated by men. Complaints of women in the arts were often wrapped in complaints about child rearing, perceived for centuries to be the realm of the feminine. “There is no more somber enemy of good art than the pram in the hall,” wrote critic Cyril Connolly in his 1938 book Enemies of Promise. This quote is often mentioned because it so perfectly sums up the prejudice against motherhood in the arts. If the mere presence of things relating to a baby threatens art, how much more the baby itself and the lactating (分泌乳汁的) woman who bore the baby? J) So when I, a woman trying to make art, contemplated becoming the woman with the baby, I felt divided. I didn’t want to create the very thing that would become the enemy of my art. For almost a decade, I sat on my hands, afraid to have a child, yet wanting one. I now regret all that wasted time. K) After all, many male artists had children. Leo Tolstoy had 13, Charles Dickens had 10, Amadeus Mozart had six, Johannes Vermeer had 15, and Johann Sebastian Bach had 20. No one would suggest that fatherhood hindered the creativity of these men, yet their ability to create depended on someone else taking care of all those kids. It’s no different for women artists, except that they have only recently been afforded the same privilege that men have always had—that is, the peace of mind that comes when someone you trust looks after your children while you work. L) In this respect, creative women need the same thing all professional women need: childcare and a support system. I havethat in my husband, who shares half the parenting, and in my limited access to babysitting. Not everyone is so fortunate. Today, a more promising discussion about motherhood and creativity would look at how women artists can get the resources they need to make art, instead of rehashing the same old idea that motherhood and creativity don’t mix.37．Women artists usually lost their advantages and became less prolific after having children.正确答案：B38．The situation of limited time makes the author braver and pursue larger dreams.正确答案：F39．It is the economic and social factors, not the motherhood that prevent women from succeeding in the arts.正确答案：I40．One study showed that pregnancy exerted beneficial influence on women’s brain.正确答案：G41．The author thought that raising a baby would exhaust her energy and distract her attention from writing.正确答案：A42．Nobody would claim that being a father might prevent a man from being a creative writer.正确答案：K43．One reason why the author can mix motherhood with creativity is that her husband shoulders half the parenting burden.正确答案：L44．The author suffered a lot of guilt as she could not accompany her son all the time.正确答案：E45．There were some women writers in literary history who balanced the relationship between motherhood and the writing career.正确答案：H46．In the five years with her son, the author could write more efficiently than before.正确答案：DSection CIt often seems that some possess superhuman eating powers, allowing them to down an entire pizza while remaining rail-thin. Others only need to think of a slice and gain five pounds. Now one doctor says there’s evidence that genetics could be behind some of these differences. Regardless of how much you eat, your weight may be out of your hands. Vann Bennett, a biochemist at Duke University and his team led a new investigation and discovered why this happens. They engineered mice to have several common modifications of the gene found in humans. They observed that mice who had mutations of ankyrin-B took more glucose (葡萄糖) into their fat cells, which in turn made more fat. Typically, the cell membrane (膜) acts as a barrier to prevent glucose from entering these cells: the alteration kept the gate open. The change may serve a useful purpose. “Probably this is not always a bad thing,” Bennett told Newsweek. “It could help people survive famines in the past. But today we have so much food that it probably is a bad thing.” Our modern diets of fast food drive-thru windows and aisles of packaged snacks make the alteration work against us. Dieters have long been told to watch their calories and exercise more, but this new finding suggests that a blanket approach doesn’t work for everyone. And the study illustrates a common problem for people: increased weight gain as a function of age. Our metabolism naturally slows with age, making it harder to maintain the weight of our 30-year-old selves when we’re 50. Now add an unruly ankyrin-B gene, and it may seem impossible to stay slim. The mice in the study gained more weight when on high-fat diets. Bennett believes this is because once the fat cells received the glucose and start making more fat, they become sensitive to other fat. Despite being studied in mice, the researchers believe further research on this gene, and possibly others, could potentially create a field of customized diets and health plans based on genetics. Bennett envisions such assessments being performed at birth one day. For now, frustrated dieters can take comfort with one saying: It’s not you, it’s your genes.47．According to a doctor, what makes people different in weight?。

2013年12月大学英语四级考试试题COLLEGE ENGLISH TEST—Band Four —Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At theend of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1 上作答。

1. A) The rock band needs more hours of practice.B) The rock band is going to play here for a month.C) Their hard work has resulted in a big success.D) He appreciates the woman’s help with the band.2. A) Go on a diving tour in Europe. C) Travel overseas on his own.B) Add 300 dollars to his budget. D) Join a package tour to Mexico.3. A) In case some problem should occur. C) To avoid more work later on.B) Something unexpected has happened. D) To make better preparations.4. A) The woman asked for a free pass to try out the facilities.B) The man is going to renew his membership in a fitness center.C) The woman can give the man a discount if he joins the club now.D) The man can try out the facilities before he becomes a member.5. A) He is not afraid of challenge.B) He is not fit to study science.C) He is worried about the test.D) He is going to drop the physics course6. A) Pay for part of the picnic food. C) Buy something special for Gary.B) Invite Gary’s family to dinner. D) Take some food to the picnic.7. A) Bus drivers’ working conditions.C)Public transportation.B) A labor dispute at a bus company. D) A corporate takeover.8. A) The bank statement. C) The payment for an order.B) Their sales overseas. D) The check just deposited.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) A hotel receptionist. C) A shop assistant.B) A private secretary. D) A sales manager.10. A) Voice. C) Appearance.B) Intelligence. D) Manners.11. A) Arrange one more interview. C) Report the matter to their boss.B) Offer the job to David Wallace. D) Hire Barbara Jones on a trial basis.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) He invented the refrigerator. C) He got a degree in Mathematics.B) He patented his first invention. D) He was admitted to university.13. A) He distinguished himself in low temperature physics.B) He fell in love with Natasha Willoughby.C) He became a professor of Mathematics.D) He started to work on refrigeration.14. A) Finding the true nature of subatomic particles.B) Their work on very high frequency radio waves.C) Laying the foundations of modem mathematics.D) Their discovery of the laws of cause and effect.15. A) To teach at a university. C) To spend his remaining years.B) To patent his inventions. D) To have a three-week holiday.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will he spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。