2014年12月英语四级考试真题试卷(第二套)

2014年12月四级真题答案详解(第2套)Part IWritingThe Most Impressive Course in My College Life写作指南本年度的作文文体比较自由，不再局限于议论文。

题目要求考生介绍自己“印象最深刻的一门课”，并阐述原因。

根据题目要求，文章的结构可安排如下：第一段：引出话题，指出大学的课程各有各的作用，但是“我”个人印象最深刻的一门课程是“文学鉴赏”。

第二段：具体描述该门课，注意重点介绍其特别之处，如老师独特的阅读及讨论要求。

第三段：简要说明自己学习该门课程后的收获，如锻炼了分析能力和批判思维能力。

范文与译文万能句型1．Among…．the one that has impressed me mostis………之中．令我印象最为深刻的是……2．Among…，the one that has left me the deepestimpression is………之中．令我印象最为深刻的是……3．Among…,…has been very impressive onme．……之中，……确实令我印象深刻。

1．I find…quite beneficial as well as impressive，because…我觉得……不仅令我印象深刻，同时还让我受益匪浅．因为……2…．is not only very beneficial but also impres-sive in that．．．．…．．不仅令人印象深刻，同时还让人受益匪浅，原因在于……3．I anl very much impressed by…while at thesame time benefit a lot from it．because…我对……印象深刻，并且从中受益匪浅，因为……写作模板In college，we(引出话题)．Some(某类事物lare meant to(发挥的作用)；others are de- signed to(发挥的另一种作用)．Among all those(相关事物)，the one that has impressed me most is(印象最深刻的事物)．(该事物)is unique in thatf概述该事物的独特之处)．(分点详述该事物的独特之处)．I find(该事物)quite beneficial as well as impressive，because it(阐述原因l)．Thanks to(该事物)，I am now(阐述原因2)．Part HListening ComprehensionSection A1. W: I ran into Sally the other day. I could hardly recognize her. Do you remember her fromhigh school?M: Yeah. She was a little out of shape back then. Well, has she lost a lot of weight? Q: What does the man remember of Sally?[C]【解析】男士说Sally当时体形有点不成样子，随后问“她是不是减肥了”，说明她当时体重超重，即C。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试试卷真题(汇总版)来源：文都教育PartⅡListening Comprehension(30minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear8short conversations and2long conversations.At the end of each conversation,one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.After each question there will be a pause. During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1.A)She will go purchase the gift herself.B)The gift should not be too expensive.C)The man is not good at balancing his budget.D)They are going to Jane’s house-warming party.【答案】B)The gift should not be too expensive.2.A)It takes patience to go through the statistics.B)He has prepared the statistics for the woman.C)The woman should take a course in statistics.D)He is quite willing to give the woman a hand.【答案】D)He is quite willing to give the woman a hand.3.A)The man wants to make some changes in the scripts.B)The woman does not take the recording seriously.C)They cannot begin their recording right away.D)Page55is missing from the woman’s scripts.【答案】C)They cannot begin their recording right away.4.A)A significant event in July.B)Preparations for a wedding.C)The date of Carl’s wedding.D)The birthday of Carl’s bride.【答案】B)Preparations for a wedding.5.A)The man was in charge of scheduling meetings.B)The man was absent from the weekly meeting.C)The woman was annoyed at the man’s excuse.D)The woman forgot to tell the man in advance.【答案】C)The woman was annoyed at the man’s excuse.6.A)The woman is a marvelous cook.B)The man cannot wait for his meal.C)The woman has just bought an oven.D)The man has to leave in half an hour.7.A)Whether the man can keep his job.B)Where the man got the bad news.C)What items sell well in the store.D)How she can best help the man.8.A)The woman can sign up for a swimming class.B)He would like to teach the woman how to swim.C)The woman has the potential to swim like a fish.D)He works in the physical education department.Questions9to11are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A)He is a wonderful lecturer.B)He is a diplomat.C)He loves classical music.D)He teaches in a law school.【答案】B)He is a diplomat.10.A)Attended a dance.B)Went to see a play.C)Took some photos.D)Watched a soccer game.【答案】D)Watched a soccer game.11.A)She decided to get married in three years.B)She insisted that Eric pursue graduate studies.C)Her father said she could marry Eric right away.D)Her mother objected to Eric’s flying lessons.【答案】C)Her father said she could marry Eric right away. Questions12to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A)Teacher.B)Journalist.C)Editor.D)Typist.【答案】A)Teacher.13.A)The beautiful Amazon rainforests.B)A new railway under construction.C)Some newly discovered scenic spot.D)Big changes in the Amazon valley.【答案】C)Some newly discovered scenic spot.14.A)In news weeklies.B)In a local evening paper.C)In newspapers’Sunday editions.D)In overseas editions of U.S.magazines.【答案】C)In newspapers’Sunday editions.15.A)To become a professional writer.B)To be employed by a newspaper.C)To get her life story published soon.D)To sell her articles to a news service.【答案】D)To sell her articles to a news service.【短对话原文】1.M:take a look at this cater.Maybe we can find some gifts for Jean’s new house.W:Ok,but remember we can afford a lot.Q:what does the woman mean?2.W：I am absolutely going nowhere about this statistics.M:How about going through them with you?Q:what does the man mean?3.M:are you just starting the record,aren’t you?Let’s begin on Page55.W:Sorry.I am afraid I can begin right now.Q:What mean from the conversation?4.W:remember.Carl’s arriving is at226W:thanks to reminding me.I thought it would be sometime in July.Q:what are the speakers talking about?5.M：please excuse me for not attending the meeting yesterday.I am afraid I forgot to check the schedule.W:that’s all right.We have to rearrange the meeting at weekend.And everything went wrong.Q：what does it mean from the conversation.6.W:I didn’t fall sleep at least to5tomorrow.Q:what do we learn from the conversation?7.,M:I got some bad news today.The star we are in is going to fallW:I am going to let you go.Q:What does the woman want to know?8W:what’s wrong?You smell like a fish.M:......Q:what’s man mean?【长对话原文】Conversation1M:That’s Marria’s families and we want to be engaged.W：It’s wonderful,Erik!Congratulations!M:I really like her families,too,very nice.Ms Comona speaks four languages and Mr. Comona a diplomat.In fact,he gives the speech at the Saturday morning.W:OH,that’s was N’s father?I heard the speech.M:You did?W:Well,I heard part of it and listened to it for ten minutes,and then I fell asleep.I saw it was in class.Anyway,tell me about your weekend.M：Saturday evening we saw a play.And Sunday afternoon we saw the soccer game.Then Sunday night we all went out for dinner.Marria,her parents,and me.That was the first chance we had to talk.W:Would you know this?M:That’s first I was.We didn’t say ona told some good stories about his experiences as a diplomat and he asked about my hobbies.W:And what did you say?M:Well,I didn’t tell him about my flying lessons.I told him about my chess play and my classical music collection.W:Good idea!Her parents really approval of you.Don’t they?M:I guess so.Marria called this morning and said,”My father told me he’ll like you sunny right now”W:That was great.M:Not exactly.I want to get married after I graduated school in about three years.Q9:what does the conversation about Marria’s father?Q10:What does Marria and Erik do last Sunday afternoon?Q11:What do we learn from Marria’s phone call this morning?Conversation2M:You’re going to wear out computer’s keyboard.W:Oh,hi!M:Do you have any idea what time it is?W:About ten or ten thirty?M:It’s merely midnight.W:Really?I didn’t know it was so late.M:Don’t you have an early class to teach tomorrow morning?W:Yes,at seven o’clock,my computer class.The students go to work right after their lesson.M:Then you ought to go to bed.What are you writing anyway?W:An article,I hope I can sell.M:Oh,another view of newspaper pieces.What’s this one about?W:Do you remember the trip I took last month?M:The one up to the Amazon?W:Well,that’s what I’m writing about.The new high-way and the changes is making in the Amazon valley.W：It should be interesting.W：It is.I guess that’s why I forgot all about the time.M:How many articles have you solve now?W:About a dozen so far.M:What kind of newspapers by them?W:The paper is carrying a lot of foreign news.They usually appear in the big Sunday editions where they need a lot background stories to help develop the space between the ads.M：Is there any future in it?W:I hope so.There’s a chance I may sell this article to a news service.M:Then your papers will be published in several papers winter.W:that’s the idea.And they might even be able to do other stories the on a regular basis.M:That would be great.Q12:what is the woman’s occupation?Q13:what is the woman writing about?Q14:where did the woman’s articles usually appear?Q15:what does the woman expect?【短文理解原文】Passage1Body language,especially gestures,varies among cultures.For example,a node of the head means“yes”to most of us.But in Bulgaria and Greece a node means“no”and a shake of the head means“yes”.Likewise,a sign for OK,forming a circle with our forefinger and thumb,means zero in France and money in Japan.Waving or pointing to an Arab business person would be considered rude because that is how Arabs call their dogs over.Folded arms signal pride in Finland,but disrespect in Fiji.The number of bows that the Japanese exchange on greeting each other,as well as the length and the depth of the bows,signals the social status each party feels towards each other.Italians might think your bored unless you use a lot of gestures during discussions.Many American men sit with their legs crossed with one ankle resting over the opposite knee.However,this would be considered an insult in Muslim countries,where one will never show the sole of the foot to a gust.Likewise,Americans consider eye contact very important, often not trusting someone who is afraid to look at you in the eye.But in Japan and many Latin American countries,keeping the eyes lowered is a sign of respect.To look apart in the eye is considered a sign of ill breeding and is felt to be annoying.Q16:What gesture do Bulgarians and Greeks use to express negative responses?Q17:What is likely to offend Arab business people?Q18:What is considered impolite in Muslim countries?Passage1New Yorkers,albeit many of them grudgingly,are gradually getting used to more pedaling passengers on those blazing blue Citi Bikes.But what about local bike shops?Is Citi Bike rolling up riders at their expense?At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca,a manager who gave his name as“Ben W.”said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to the bike-share program.“It’s getting more people on the road,more people learning about the sport and getting involved,”he said.An employee at Danny’s Cycles in Gramercy said Citi Bike is a good option for people to ease into biking in a city famed for its vehicular congestion and aggressive drivers.“They can try out a bike without committing to buying one,”James Ryan said.“It makes a more comfortable biking environment in the city because there are a lot more bikes,too.”Business at Danny’s Cycles has increased as well since the advent of bike-share.“A lot of people come in for bike gear,and we’ve sold a lot of helmets,”he noted.Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny’s Cycles.But for Frank’s Bike Shop,a small business that has been at its current Lower East Side location on Grand St.since1976,the bike-share program has been bad news.Owner Frank Arroyo said that his rental business has decreased by90percent since the Citi Bikes were rolled out last month.Arroyo’s main rental customers are European tourists,a demographic that has since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.Initially,a bike-share station was sited a few doors away from Frank’s Bike Shop on the corner of Grand and Henry Sts.But a petition to relocate the bike station gathered more than1,000signatures.The Citi Bike dock was eventually removed—but only temporarily,according to the Citi Bike Twitter account,for utility construction in the street.“I was grateful,and it was quite an honor to see how many people responded on my behalf,”Arroyo said of the petition effort.“It was really nice to see that people care.But they have flooded the place with them,”he said of the Department of Transportation,which installs the bike racks.Removing one station does little since the area is overloaded with Citi Bike stations,said Arroyo.“If you put it in front of a hotel,customers are going to walk of the hotel and use it,”he said.However,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.Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop,on West St.just north of Christopher St.,said initially he was concerned about bike-share,though,he admitted,“I was happy to see people on bikes.”Consisting of equal parts tourists and locals,his customers get a better rental deal at his shop because,despite charging only$10for a daily rental,the bike-share program requires cyclists to check their bikes in at a bike station every half hour.His store,on the other hand,charges$10for the first hour,$5for the second,and$2.50per hour after that.“Six hours with Waterfront Bicycle Shop will cost a customer$25,”he said.“With Citi Bike, a six-hour rental will cost$126[if the rider doesn’t re-dock his or her bike at a station every half hour].Our rentals always include a helmet,a basket and a lock.”Several dozen rental bikes were lined up on Weehawken st Sunday behind the store. Benny,who was watching over them,said another advantage over the Citi Bikes is that Waterfront’s bikes are all in good working order.Farrell’s early concerns were echoed by Andrew Crooks,owner of NYCVelo,at64Second Ave.“It seemed like a great idea,but one that would be difficult to implement,”Crooks said of Citi Bike.He said he worried about inexperienced riders’lack of awareness of biking rules and backlash from non-cyclists.However,he said,it’s still too early to tell if his business has been impacted.The actual Citi Bikes themselves have been criticized as“heavy,”“clunky,”even“ugly.”In comparison,Crooks said NYC Velo has bikes that are“lighter,faster and tend to be more comfortable.”Farrell of Waterfront also said his bikes are of“better quality”than the bike-share two-wheelers.While it’s possible bike-share will cause a drop in business in the long run,Crooks allowed that the idea,as a whole,is good for the city.[原文解读]该文节选自The Villager，原题目为Bike store owners put their spin on new bike-share，题材为议论文。

201612月大学英语四级第二套真题和答案解析-CAL-FENGHAI-(2020YEAR-YICAI)_JINGBIAN2016年12月大学英语四级试题（第二套）Part I Writing （30minutes）（请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试）Directions：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to take a job in a company and the other to go to a graduate school. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension （25 minutes）Section ADirections：In this section， you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report， you will hear two or three questions. Both the news 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）. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer sheet1with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) To satisfy the curiosity of tourists. C) To enable tourists to visit GoatIsland.B) To replace two old stone bridges. D) To improve utility services in the state2. A) Countless tree limbs. C) Lots of wrecked boats and ships.B) A few skeletons. D) Millions of coins on the bottom. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard3. A)It suspended diplomatic relations with Libya.B)It urged tourists to leave Tunisia immediately.C)It shut down two border crossings with Libya.D)It launched a fierce attack against Islamic State.4. A) Advise Tunisian civilians on how to take safety precautions.B)Track down the organization responsible for the terrorist attack.C)Train qualified security personnel for the Tunisian government.D)Devise a monitoring system on the Tunisian border with Libya.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) An environment-friendly battery. C) A plant-powered mobile phone charger.B) An energy-saving mobile phone. D) A device to help plants absorb sunlight.6. A) While sitting in their school's courtyard. C) While solving a mathematical problem.B) While playing games on their phones. D) While doing a chemical experiment.7. A)It increases the applications of mobile phonesB)It speeds up the process of photosynthesis.C)It improves the reception of mobile phones.D)It collects the energy released by plants.Section BDirections: In this section，you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation，you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question， you must choose the best answer from four choice marked A），B），C） and D）.Then mark the corresponding letter an Answer sheet1 with a single line though the centre.Question8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) He visited the workshops in the Grimsby plant.B) He called the woman and left her a message.C)He used stand-ins as replacements on all lines.D)He asked a technician to fix the broken production line.9. A)Itis the most modern production line. C)It has stopped working completelyB)It assembles super-intelligent robots. D)It is going to be upgraded soon.10. A) To seek her permission. C) To request her to return at once.B) To place an order for robots. D) To ask for Tom's phone number.11. A) She is on duty. C) She is on sick leave.B) She is having her day off. D) She is abroad on business.Question12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) He saved a baby boy's life. C) He prevented a train crash.B) He wanted to be a superhero. D) He was a witness to an accident13. A) He has a 9-month-old boy. C) He enjoys the interview.B) He is currently unemployed. D) He commutes by subway.14. A) A rock on the tracks. C) A strong wind.B) A misplaced pushchair. D) A speeding car.15. A) She stood motionless in shock. C) She called the police at once.B) She cried bitterly. D) She shouted for help.Section CDirections：In this section，you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage，you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question，you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A），B），C） and D）.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) She inherited her family ice-cream business in Billings.B)She loved the ice-cream business more than teaching primary school.C)She started an ice-cream business to finance her daughter's education.D)She wanted to have an ice-cream truck when she was a little girl.17. A)To preserve a tradition. C)To help local education.B)To amuse her daughter. D)To make some extra money.18. A)To raise money for business expansion. C)To allow poor kids to have ice-cream too.B)To make her truck attractive to children. D)To teach kids the value of mutual supportQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A)The reasons for imposing taxes. C)The various burdens on ordinary citizens.B)The various serious money can buy. D)The function of money in the modern world.20. A)Educating and training citizens. C)Protecting people’s life and property.C)Improving public translation. D)Building hospitals and public libraries.21. A)By asking for donations. C)By selling government bonds.B)By selling public lands. D)By exploiting natural resources. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A)It is located at the center of the European continent.B)It relies on tourism as its chief source of revenues.C)It contains less than a square mile of land.D)It is surrounded by France on three sides.23. A)Its beauty is frequently mentioned in American media.B)Its ruler Prince Rainier married an American actress.C)It is where many American movies are shot.D)It is a favorite place Americans like to visit.24. A) Tobacco. B) Potatoes. C) Machinery. D) Clothing25. A)European history. C) Small countries in Europe.B)European geography. D) Tourist attractions in Europe.PARTⅢ Reading Comprehension （40 minutes）Section ADirections：In this section， there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.The ocean is heating up. That's the conclusion of a new study that finds that Earth's oceans now (26)heat at twice the rate they did 18 years ago. Around half of ocean heat intake since 1865 has taken place since 1997, researchers report online in Nature Climate Change.Warming waters are known to (27)to coral bleaching(珊瑚白化) and they take up more space than cooler waters, raising sea (28). While the top of the ocean is studied, its depths are more difficult to (29)The researchers gathered 150 years of ocean temperature data in order to get better (30)of heat absorption from surface to seabed. They gathered together temperature readings collected by everything from a 19th century (31)of British naval ships to modern automated ocean probes. The extensive data sources, (32)with computer simulations(计算机模拟), created a timeline of ocean temperature changes, including cooling from volcanic outbreaks and warming from fossil fuel (33).About 35 percent of the heat taken in by the oceans during the industrial era now residents at a (34)of more than 700 meters, the researchers found. They say they'reDirections：In this section， you are gonging to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer sheet 2.The Secret to Raising Smart Kids[A] I first began to investigate the basis of human motivation-and how people persevere after setbacks-as a psychology graduate student at Yale University in the 1960s. Animal experiments by psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania had shown that after repeated failures, most animals conclude that a situation is hopeless and beyond their control. After such an experience an animal often remains passive even when it can effect change-a state they called learned helplessness.[B]People can learn to be helpless, too. Why do some students give up when encounter difficulty, whereas others who are no more skilled continue to strive and learnOne answer, I soon discovered, lay in people’s beliefs about why they had failed.[C] In particular, attributing poor performance to a lack of ability depresses motivation more than does the belief that lack of effort is to blame. When I told a group of school children who displayed helpless behavior that a lack of effort led to their mistakes in math, they learned to keep trying when the problems got tough. Another group of helpless children who were simply rewarded for their success on easier problems did not improve their ability to solve harm math problems. These experiments indicated that a focus on effort can help resolve helplessness and generate success.[D] Later, I developed a broader theory of what separates the two general classes of learners-helpless versus mastery-oriented. I realized these different types of students not only explain their failures differently, but they also hold different “theories” of intelligence. The helpless ones believe intelligence is a fixed characteristic: you have only a certain amount, and that's that. I call this a "fixed mind-set(思维模式)."Mistakes crack their self-confidence because they attribute errors to a lack of ability, which they feel powerless to change. They avoid challenges because challenges make mistakes more likely. The mastery-orient children, on the other hand, think intelligence is not fixed and can be developed through education and hard work. Such children believe challenges are energizing rather than intimidating (令人生畏);they offer opportunities to learn. Students with such a growth mind-set were destined(注定)for great academic success and were quite likely to outperform their counterparts.[E] We validated these expectations in a study in which two other psychologists and I monitored 373 student for two years during the transition to junior high school, when the work gets more difficult and the grading more strict, to determine how their mind-sets might affect their math grades. At the beginning of seventh grade, we assessed the students' mind-sets by asking them to agree or disagree with statements such as "Your intelligence is something very basic about you that you can't really change." We then assessed their beliefs about other aspects of learning and looked to see what happened to their grades.[F] As predicted, the students with a growth mind-set felt that learning was more important goal than getting good grades. In addition, they held hard work in high regard, They understood that even geniuses have to work hard. Confronted by a setback such as a disappointing test grade, students with a growth mind-set said they would study harder or try a different strategy. The students who held a fixed mind-set, however, were concerned about looking smart with less regard for learning. They had negative views of effort, believing that having to work hard was a sign of low ability. They thought that a person with talent or intelligence did not need to work hard to do well. Attributing a bad grade to their own lack of ability, those with a fixed mind-set said that would study less in the future, try never to take that subject again and consider cheating on future tests.[G] Such different outlook had a dramatic impact on performance. At the start of junior high, the math achievement test scores of the students with a growth mind-set were comparable to the those of students who displayed a fixed mind-set. But as the work became more difficult, the students with a growth mind-set showed greater persistence. As a result, their math grades overtook those of the other students by the end of the first semester-and the gap between the two groups continued to widen during the two years we followed them. [H] A fixed mind-set can also hinder communication and progress in the workplace and discourage or ignore constructive criticism and advice. Research shows that managers who have a fixed mind-set are less likely to seek or welcome feedback from their employees than are managers with a growth mind-set.[I] How do we transmit a growth mind-set to our childrenOne way is by telling stories about achievements that result from hard work. For instance, talking about mathematical geniusesWho were more or less born that way puts students in a fixed mind-set, but mathematicians who fell in love with math and developed amazing skills produce a growth mind-set.[J] In addition, parents and teachers can help children by providing explicit instruction regarding the mind as a learning machine, I designed an eight-session workshop for 91 students whose math grades were declining in their first year of junior high. Forty-eight of the students received instruction in study skills only, whereas the others attended a combination of study skills sessions and classes in which they learned about the growth mind-set and how to apply it to schoolwork. In the growth mind-set classes, students read and discussed an article entitled “You Can Grow Your Brain.” They were taught that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with use and that learning prompts the brain to grow new connections. From such instruction, many students began to see themselves as agents of their own brain development. Despite being unaware that there were two types ofinstruction, teachers reported significant motivational changes in 27% of the children in the growth mind-set workshop as compared with only 9% of students in the control group. [K]Research is converging(汇聚)on the conclusion that great accomplishment and even genius is typically the result of years of passion and dedication and not something that flows naturally from a gift.36.The author's experiment shows that students with a fixed mind-set believe having to work hard is an indication of low ability.37.Focusing on effort is effective in helping children overcome frustration and achieve success.38.We can cultivate a growth mind-set in children by telling success stories that emphasize hard work love of learning.39.Students’ belief about the cause of their failure explains their attitude toward setbacks.40.In the author’s experiment, student with a growth mind-set showed greater perseverance in solving difficult math problems.41.The author conducted an experiment to find out about the influence of students’ mind-sets on math learning.42.After failing again and again, most animals give up hope.rming students about the brain as a learning machine is a good strategy to enhance their motivation for learning.44.People with a fixed mind-set believe that one’s intelligence is unchangeable.45.In the workplace, feedback may not be so welcome to managers with a fixed mind-set. Section CDirections：There are 2 passages in this section .Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices maked A），B），C）and D）.You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage."Sugar, alcohol and tobacco," economist Adam Smith once wrote, "are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which have become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are, therefore, extremely popular subjects of taxation."Two and a half centuries on, most countries impose some sort of tax on alcohol and tobacco. With surging obesity levels putting increasing strain on public health systems, governments around the world have begun to toy with the idea of taxing sugar as well.Whether such taxes work is a matter of debate. A preliminary review of Mexico's taxation found a fall in purchases of taxed drinks as well as a rise in sales if untaxed and healthier drinks. By contrast, a Danish tax on foods high in fats was abandoned a year after its introduction, amid claims that consumers were avoiding it by crossing the border to Germany to satisfy their desire for cheaper, fattier fare.The food industry has, in general, been firmly opposed to such direct government action. Nonetheless, the renewed focus on waistlines means that industry groups are under pressure to demonstrate their products are healthy as well as tasty.Over the past three decades, the industry has made some efforts to improve the quality of its offerings. For example, some drink manufactures have cut the amount of sugar in their beverages.Many of the reductions over the past 30 years have been achieved either by reducing the amount of sugar, salt or fat in a product, or by finding an alternative ingredient. More recently, however.Some companies have been investing money in a more ambitious undertaking: learning how to adjust the fundamental make-up of the food they sell. For example, having salt on the outside, but none on the inside, reduces the salt content without changing the taste.While reformulating recipes(配方)is one way to improve public health, it should be part of a multi-sided approach. The key is to remember thatthere is not just one solution. To deal with obesity, a mixture of approaches-including reformulation, taxation and adjusting portion sizes-will be needed. There is no silver bullet.46. What did Adam Smith say about sugar, alcohol and tobacco?A)They were profitable to manufacture.B)They were in ever-increasing demand.C)They were subject to taxation almost everywhere.D)They were no longer considered necessities of life.47.Why have many countries started to consider taxing sugar?A)They are under growing pressures to balance their national budgets.B)They find it ever harder to cope with sugar-induced health problems.C)They practice of taxing alcohol and tobacco has proved both popular and profitable.D)The sugar industry is overtaking alcohol and tobacco business in generating profits.48.What do we learn about Danish taxation on fat-rich foods?A)It did not work out as well as was expected.B)It gave rise to a lot of problems on the border.C)It could not succeed without German cooperation.D)It met with firm opposition from the food industry.49.What is the more recent effort by food companies to make foods and drinks both healthy and tasty?A)Replacing sugar or salt with alternative ingredients.B)Setting a limit on the amount of sugar or salt in their products.C)Investing in research to find ways to adapt to consumers' needs.D)Adjusting the physical composition of their products.50.What does the author mean by saying, at the end of the passage, "There is no silver bullet"(Line 4, Para 7)A)There is no single easy quick solution to the problem.B)There is no hope of success without public cooperation.C)There is on hurry in finding ways to solve the obesity problem.D)There is no effective way to reduce people's sugar consumption.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.You may have heard some of the fashion industry horror stories: models eating tissues or cotton balls to hold off hunger, and models collapsing from hunger-induced heart attacks just seconds after they step off the runway.Excessively skinny models have been a point of controversy for decades, and two researchers say a model's body mass should be a workspace health and safety issue. In an editorial released Monday in the American Journal of Public Health, Katherine Record and Bryn Austin made their case for government regulation of the fashion industry.The average international runway model has a body mass index (BMI) under 16-low enough to indicate starvation by the World Health Organization's standard. And Record and Austin are worried not just about the models themselves, but about the vast number of girls and women their images influence."Especially girls and tens", says Record. "Seventy percent of girls aged 10 to 18 report that they define perfect body image based on what they see in magazines." That's especially worrying, she says, given that anorexia(厌食症)results in more deaths than does any other mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.It's commonly known that certain diseases are linked with occupations like lung disease in coal miners. Professional fashion models are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders resulting from occupational demands to maintain extreme thinness.Record's suggestion is to prohibit agents from hiring models with a BMI below 18.In April, France passed a law setting lower limits for a model's weight. Agents and fashion houses who hire models with BMI under 18 could pay $82,000 in fines and spend up to 6 months in jail. Regulating the fashion industry in the United States won't be easy, Record says. But with the new rules in France, U.S. support could make a difference. "A designer can't survive without participating in Paris Fashion Week", she says, adding, "Our argument is that the same would be true of New York Fashion Week."51.What do Record and Austin say about fashion models' body mass?A)It has caused needless controversy.B)It is focus of the modeling business.C)It is but a matter of personal taste.D)It affects models' health and safety.52.What are Record and Austin advocating in the Monday editorial?A)A change in the public's view of female beauty.B)Government legislation about models' weight.C)Elimination of forced weight loss by models.D)Prohibition of models eating non-food stuff.53.Why are Record and Austin worried about the low body mass index of models?A)It contributes to many mental illnesses.B)It defines the future of the fashion industry.C)It has great influence on numerous girls and women.D)It keeps many otherwise qualified women off the runaway.54. What do we learn about France's fashion industry?A)It has difficulty hiring models.B)It has now a new law to follow.C)It allows girls under 18 on the runway.D)It has overtaken that of the United States.55. What does Record expect of New York Fashion Week?A)It will create a completely new set of rules.B)It will do better than Paris Fashion Week.C)It will differ from Paris Fashion Week.D)It will have models with a higher BMI.Part IV Translation （30 minutes）Directions：For this part， you are allowed 30minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English .You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.在中国文化中，黄颜色是一种很重要的颜色，因为它具有独特的象征意义。

2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题答案解析(二)Part 1 writing (30 minutes)Directions: 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 account of the increasing use of the mobile phone in people’s life and then explain the consequences of overus ing it.You should write at least IW words but no more than 180 words.People are crossing the street looking at their cell phones and using walking sticks in order to see.Part 2 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 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 the best answer is. Then mark the corresponding letter o" 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。

2014 年12 月英语四级考试真题试卷（1）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about a classmate of yours who has influenced you most in college. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.注意：此部分试题在答题卡1 上Part II 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 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。

[00:02.31]College English Test (Band 4)[00:05.58]Part ⅡListening Comprehension[00:09.72]Section A[00:11.23]Directions: In this section,[00:14.08]you will hear 8 short conversations[00:16.87]and 2 long conversations.[00:19.07]At the end of each conversation,[00:21.28]one or more questions will be asked[00:23.65]about what was said.[00:25.44]Both the conversation and the questions[00:28.18]will be spoken only once.[00:30.69]After each question there will be a pause. [00:34.29]During the pause,[00:35.75]you must read the four choices[00:37.82]marked A), B), C) and D),[00:40.30]and decide which is the best answer.[00:43.51]Then mark the corresponding letter[00:45.85]on Answer Sheet 1[00:47.57]with a single line through the centre.[00:50.17]Now let's begin with the eight short conversations. [00:55.11]1. W: When was the last time[00:58.02]you dusted the apartment?[01:00.28]M: When was the last time[01:01.72]my mother came over?[01:03.97]Q: What does the man imply?[01:21.38]2. W: Hurry up, Mark.[01:24.50]There's a bus coming now.[01:26.29]M: Why run?[01:27.64]There'll be another one[01:29.21]in 2 or 3 minutes.[01:31.32]Q: What does the man mean?[01:48.40]3. M: Laura, it seems that[01:51.33]you are up to your neck in work.[01:53.35]How come you've been so busy?[01:55.44]W: Miss Smith has asked for a sick leave,[01:58.42]and I have to take over her work[02:00.72]for a couple of days.[02:02.79]Q: What do we learn about the woman?[02:19.26]4. W: Washing dishes at the cafeteria every day [02:24.65]is really boring.[02:26.54]M: Why don't you quit[02:27.83]and deliver flowers with me?[02:29.96]Q: What does the man suggest[02:32.01]the woman do?[02:48.01]5. W: Rod, you said you'd take this package [02:52.76]to the post office yesterday.[02:54.84]M: Oh, no, it must have slipped my mind. [02:58.33]Q: What do we learn about the man[03:00.16]from the conversation?[03:16.29]6. M: I'm not surprised[03:19.84]you didn't like that movie.[03:21.60]I found it really scary myself.[03:24.04]W: So did I.[03:25.43]I don't care much for[03:26.85]horror movies as a rule.[03:29.43]Q: What do we learn from the conversation? [03:47.19]7. M: My life experience tells me[03:50.80]that love is filled with happiness,[03:52.95]but it hurts you too.[03:55.17]W: Your words remind me of the saying: [03:57.73]Honey is sweet,[03:59.35]but the bee stings.[04:01.47]Q: What do we learn from the conversation? [04:19.45]8. M: How many more chairs[04:22.02]should I bring in for the forum,[04:24.00]six or seven?[04:25.56]W: Bring in all you can find.[04:27.58]I'm expecting at least 20 participants. [04:30.98] Q: What are the speakers talking about? [04:48.81]Now you will hear the two long conversations. [04:52.30]Conversation One[04:54.14]M: Do you think there's discrimination [04:56.11]against women in England today?[04:58.30]W: Certainly,[04:59.35]and not just in education and work either, [05:02.75]in many other fields as well.[05:05.22]The tax situation for women[05:07.20]is very unfair, for example.[05:09.89]M: Are women better off[05:11.24]in other countries then?[05:13.10]W: It depends on the country.[05:14.73]There's certainly much less discrimination [05:17.44]in Scandinavia, and maybe in America, too. [05:21.30]M: Do you think[05:22.22]the position of English women will improve? [05:25.31]W: In some ways it will of course.[05:27.74]I'm sure more women will go out to work [05:30.63]in the next 20 years.[05:32.66]But women have a much greater problem [05:35.31]than this to solve.[05:36.92]M: What's that?[05:38.25]W: The problem of men's attitudes.[05:40.83]We can earn more money in the future, [05:43.29]but I'm not sure[05:44.53]we can change men's attitudes.[05:47.20]You see, most men really think[05:49.76]that women are inferior.[05:51.95]Maybe we are physically weaker,[05:54.47]but I don't think[05:55.48]this means we are inferior.[05:57.47]Then there's another problem.[05:59.62]M: Yes?[06:00.64]W: The problem of women's attitudes.[06:03.10]Lots of women are unhappy with[06:05.40]their present situation,[06:07.29]but most of them probably[06:08.98]don't want to fight for change.[06:11.53]It could be that[06:13.60]the women's liberation movement[06:15.59]has to spend more time[06:17.12]changing women's attitudes[06:18.85]than it spends in changing men's.[06:21.76]M: One last question,[06:23.43]some supporters of[06:24.67]the women's liberation movement[06:26.36]believed that marriages should be abolished. [06:29.16]You agree?[06:30.08]W: No, I don't.[06:31.56]It can't happen.[06:33.40]What may and should happen is that[06:36.12]we teach men to spend more time[06:38.14]looking after children and doing housework. [06:41.88]Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation [06:45.75]you have just heard.[06:47.62]9. Where are women said[06:50.61]to be less discriminated against?[07:08.51]10. What will happen in England in 20 years [07:12.23]according to the conversation?[07:29.38]11. What does the woman think[07:32.22]the women's liberation movement should do? [07:50.44]Conversation Two[07:52.25]M: Cheers, Shirley.[07:53.56]W: Cheers, Paul.[07:54.89]What a lovely place for a business lunch.[07:57.57]I hope I can concentrate in this heat.[08:00.63]M: I'm sure you will[08:01.92]when I tell you about my ideas.[08:04.07]W: You know, I must say[08:05.95]I was pleased to hear from you,[08:08.00]but from what you said on the phone,[08:10.15]everything is so sudden.[08:12.40]M: Well, my father-in-law,[08:14.29]who is also the managing director of Jayal Motors, [08:17.84]has given me two weeks to[08:19.35]prepare a report on the possibility[08:21.52]of moving into the export market.[08:23.91]W: Ah, now, just one thing, Paul.[08:26.88]Have you really thought the whole idea through? [08:29.99]M: Of course I have.[08:31.31]W: Now the key thing in the whole operation [08:34.02]is to get a good import agent,[08:36.53]and you say the bank will help?[08:38.57]M: I'm almost sure of it.[08:40.45]W: Preliminary studies are all very good, Paul. [08:43.81]But if the product can't sell,[08:45.85]then there's little use[08:47.27]in expanding the factory.[08:49.47]M: Yes, I realize that, Shirley.[08:51.57]But we have a very good product.[08:53.36]The chief designer has just[08:54.79]completed a new improved model.[08:57.24]W: I know your bikes[08:58.89]have a very good reputation here,[09:01.14]but you have to build up a reputation[09:03.36]and a market in Africa.[09:05.19]M: Yes, of course.[09:06.52]But the immediate problem is that[09:08.41]my father-in-law wants a detailed report[09:10.88]by next Monday.[09:12.20]Two weeks isn't enough time[09:14.18]to prepare a report,[09:15.83]so I need your help.[09:17.56]W: OK, Paul, you've convinced me.[09:20.40]I must say I admire your determination.[09:26.19]Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation [09:29.51]you have just heard.[09:31.34]12. Where does the conversation[09:34.54]most probably take place?[09:51.47]13. What do we learn about the man's father-in-law? [10:12.41]14. What does the woman think is important[10:17.19]in the whole operation?[10:33.38]15. What does the woman admire in the man?[10:54.36]Section B[10:55.92]Directions: In this section,[10:58.54]you will hear 3 short passages.[11:01.37]At the end of each passage,[11:03.80]you will hear some questions.[11:05.72]Both the passage and the questions[11:08.34]will be spoken only once.[11:10.92]After you hear a question,[11:13.01]you must choose the best answer[11:15.26]from the four choices[11:16.74]marked A), B), C) and D).[11:20.24]Then mark the corresponding letter[11:22.63]on Answer Sheet 1[11:24.38]with a single line through the centre.[11:27.42]Passage One[11:29.13]Scientists understand how twins are born.[11:32.73]Now though,[11:33.92]they are trying to explain[11:35.39]how being half of a biological pair[11:37.99]influences a twin's identity.[11:40.66]They want to know[11:41.85]why many identical twins make similar choices[11:45.59]even when they don't live near each other.[11:48.32]For example, Jim Springer and Jim Louis are identical twins. [11:53.67]They were separated[11:54.76]when they were only 4-month old.[11:57.24]The two Jims grew up in different families[12:00.49]and did not meet for 39 years.[12:03.61]When they finally met,[12:05.41]they discovered some surprising similarities between them. [12:09.18]Both men were married twice.[12:11.87]Their first wives were named Linda,[12:14.31]and their second wives were both named Betty.[12:17.24]Both twins named their first sons James Allen.[12:21.38]Scientists want to know[12:23.72]what influences their personality.[12:26.36]They study pairs of identical twins[12:29.17]who grew up in different surroundings,[12:31.71]like Jim Springer and Jim Louis.[12:34.30]These twins help scientists[12:36.74]understand the connection[12:38.45]between environment and biology.[12:41.12]Researchers at the University of Minnesota,[12:44.18]studied 350 sets of identical twins[12:48.05]who did not grow up together.[12:50.14]They discovered many similarities[12:52.46]in their personalities.[12:54.25]Scientists believe that personality characteristics[12:57.67]such as friendliness, shyness and fears[13:00.45]are not a result of environment.[13:03.19]These characteristics are probably inherited.[13:06.52]Scientists continue to study identical twins[13:10.30]because they are uncertain about them[13:12.30] and have many questions.[13:14.30]For example, they want to know[13:16.44]“Can twins really communicate without speaking? ”[13:20.18]“Can one twin really feel another twin's pain? ”[13:24.13]Perhaps with more research,[13:26.57]scientists will find the answers.[13:29.88]Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage[13:33.66]you have just heard.[13:35.84]16. What are scientists trying to explain[13:40.24]according to the passage?[13:57.24]17. What do we learn about the twin Jims?[14:17.97]18. Why are scientists interested in[14:21.90]studying identical twins raised in different families?[14:41.27]Passage two[14:43.09]Today I'm going to talk about tents.[14:46.07]Camping is still one of the cheapest ways[14:49.53]of having a holiday.[14:51.26]And each year,[14:52.47]over three million people take camping vacations,[14:56.25]either here in Britain or abroad,[14:59.36]mostly on the Continent.[15:01.41]Obviously, camping can't be[15:03.95]as comfortable as living in a permanent house,[15:07.11]but modern tents can be very comfortable indeed,[15:11.05]with windows, bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. [15:15.98]The most popular tent sold in Britain[15:18.90]is the frame tent with[15:20.73]two bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for four people. [15:25.55]There is usually an outer tent of water-proofed fabric[15:29.76]and a lighter inner tent[15:31.60]or tents with a built-in groundsheet.[15:35.25]The outer tent fits over the frame work. [15:38.09]This is made of metal poles[15:40.28]which are fitted together.[15:42.34]The inner tent is attached to this frame. [15:45.87]Generally, the inner tent is about[15:48.70]half the area of the outer tent.[15:51.56]The other half of the outer tent[15:53.99]is the living area.[15:55.74]This doesn't usually have a groundsheet [15:58.51]but you can buy one to fit,[16:00.78]though it costs extra.[16:03.04]The ordinary 4-bed frame tent[16:05.52]doesn't usually have a separate kitchen area, [16:08.65]but the larger ones often do.[16:11.33]You can buy a kitchen extension[16:13.72]for many tents,[16:14.95]and it's worth buying one[16:16.39]if you plan to stay camping[16:18.45]in one place for more than a few days. [16:23.04]Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage [16:26.41]you have just heard.[16:28.60]19. What does the speaker say about camping? [16:48.66]20. What does the passage tell us[16:52.48] about the most popular tent sold in Britain? [17:10.28]21. What does the speaker suggest buying [17:15.27]if you plan to stay camping in one place [17:18.36]for more than a few days?[17:36.05]Passage Three[17:37.48]Andorra, one of the smallest countries [17:40.64]in the world,[17:41.65]is located high in the mountains[17:43.62]between France and Spain.[17:45.46]The country covers only 179 square miles. [17:50.23]That is less than[17:51.32]half the size of New York City.[17:53.92]High, rocky mountains surround Andorra. [17:57.56]Until the 1930s,[17:59.79]travelers had difficulty reaching the country. [18:02.87]Up until that time,[18:04.54]people in Andorra lived the way[18:06.92]they had lived for centuries.[18:08.92]Most Andorrans worked as farmers.[18:11.63]Things did not change quickly.[18:14.23]When roads were built[18:16.35]from France and Spain to Andorra[18:18.50]in the 1930s,[18:20.09]life picked up speed.[18:22.38]Tourists began to visit the small country.[18:25.40]These tourists brought in a lot of money[18:28.39]to spend while visiting.[18:29.96]Many people in Andorra[18:31.75]found new jobs in shops or hotels.[18:35.04]These changes helped to[18:36.55]keep young people in Andorra.[18:38.92]There were many more jobs[18:40.58]than before the roads were built.[18:42.66]Today tourists provide[18:44.73]80 to 90 percent of Andorra's income.[18:47.81]More than a million people visit each year.[18:50.72]They come to view the rough mountains.[18:53.01]They enjoy the quiet way of life.[18:55.77]Most people are also interested in the ancient buildings. [19:00.17]There are many shops for tourists to browse in. [19:02.95]Clothes, watches, wines and other items[19:06.14]are sold at low prices in Andorra.[19:08.99]Import fees are low,[19:10.90]so tourists enjoy the inexpensive shopping.[19:14.16]Most of the businesses in Andorra[19:16.60]are owned by its citizens.[19:18.91]There are not many foreign businesses.[19:21.36]Some Andorrans still[19:23.13]farm and raise sheep and cattle.[19:25.53]But most are now involved with the tourist trade. [19:29.15]Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage[19:34.05]you have just heard.[19:36.58]22. How big does the speaker say Andorra is?[19:56.75]23. What can be said about Andorra[20:00.92]before the 1930s?[20:18.47]24. What event changed the situation in Andorra? [20:39.87]25. What do most people in Andorra do nowadays? [21:01.82]Section C[21:03.30]Directions: In this section,[21:05.74]you will hear a passage three times.[21:08.92]When the passage is read[21:10.32]for the first time,[21:11.58]you should listen carefully[21:13.12]for its general idea.[21:15.34]When the passage is read[21:17.25]for the second time,[21:18.71]you are required to fill in the blanks[21:21.19]with the exact words[21:22.67]you have just heard.[21:24.45]Finally, when the passage is[21:26.46]read for the third time,[21:28.17]you should check what you have written.[21:31.02]Now listen to the passage.[21:34.75]“Don't take many English courses；[21:36.83]they won't help you get a decent job. ”[21:39.25]“Sign up for management classes,[21:41.99]so you'll be ready to[21:43.17]join the family business when you graduate. ”[21:45.59]Sound familiar?[21:47.52]Many of us have heard suggestions like these [21:50.56]put forward by parents[21:52.30]or others close to us.[21:54.17]Such comments often seem quite reasonable. [21:58.12]Why, then should suggestions like these[22:01.26]be taken with caution?[22:03.21]The reason is they relate to decisions[22:05.85]you should make.[22:07.34]You are the one[22:08.41]who must live with their consequences.[22:11.16]One of the worst reasons[22:12.82]to follow a particular path in life[22:15.14]is that other people want you to.[22:17.90]Decisions that affect your life[22:19.84]should be your decisions—[22:21.80]decisions you make[22:22.97]after you've considered various alternatives [22:25.76]and chosen the path that suits you best.[22:28.83]Making your own decisions does not mean [22:31.16]that you should ignore the suggestions of others. [22:34.66]For instance,[22:35.87]your parents do have their own unique experiences [22:39.16]that may make their advice helpful,[22:41.58]and having participated in[22:43.71]a great deal of your personal history,[22:46.23]they may have a clear view of[22:48.28]your strengths and weaknesses.[22:50.23]Still, their views are not necessarily accurate.[22:54.22]They may still see you as a child,[22:56.54]in need of care and protection.[22:58.96]Or they may see only your strengths.[23:01.70]Or, in some unfortunate cases,[23:04.13]they may focus only on[23:05.36]your flaws and shortcomings.[23:07.74]People will always be giving you advice.[23:10.95]Ultimately, though,[23:12.19]you have to make your own judgments.[23:17.23]Now the passage will be read again.[23:21.29]“Don't take many English courses；[23:23.47]they won't help you get a decent job. ”[23:27.04]“Sign up for management classes,[23:29.38]so you'll be ready to[23:30.61]join the family business when you graduate. ”[23:33.81]Sound familiar?[23:35.28]Many of us have heard suggestions like these [23:39.04]put forward by parents[23:40.95]or others close to us.[23:43.03]Such comments often seem quite reasonable. [23:46.70]Why, then should suggestions like these[23:50.09]be taken with caution?[23:52.04]The reason is they relate to decisions[23:55.24]you should make.[23:57.03]You are the one[23:58.17]who must live with their consequences.[24:01.15]One of the worst reasons[24:03.01]to follow a particular path in life[24:05.68]is that other people want you to.[24:08.51]Decisions that affect your life[24:10.77]should be your decisions—[24:12.72]decisions you make[24:14.13]after you've considered various alternatives [24:17.49]and chosen the path that suits you best.[24:20.82]Making your own decisions does not mean [24:24.06]that you should ignore the suggestions of others. [24:27.53]For instance,[24:29.04]your parents do have their own unique experiences [24:33.25]that may make their advice helpful,[24:35.81]and having participated in[24:38.15]a great deal of your personal history,[24:41.01]they may have a clear view of[24:43.22]your strengths and weaknesses.[24:45.67]Still, their views are not necessarily accurate.[24:52.70]in need of care and protection.[24:55.61]Or they may see only your strengths.[24:59.08]Or, in some unfortunate cases,[25:02.20]they may focus only on[25:04.11]your flaws and shortcomings.[25:06.49]People will always be giving you advice.[25:09.65]Ultimately, though,[25:11.03]you have to make your own judgments.[25:15.00]Now the passage will be read for the third time. [25:19.26]“Don't take many English courses；[25:21.20]they won't help you get a decent job. ”[25:23.56]“Sign up for management classes,[25:26.35]so you'll be ready to[25:27.30]join the family business when you graduate. ”[25:29.99]Sound familiar?[25:31.85]Many of us have heard suggestions like these [25:34.90]put forward by parents[25:36.53]or others close to us.[25:38.25]Such comments often seem quite reasonable. [25:42.47]Why, then should suggestions like these[25:45.51]be taken with caution?[25:47.55]The reason is they relate to decisions[25:50.04]you should make.[25:51.67]You are the one[25:52.80]who must live with their consequences.[25:55.53]One of the worst reasons[25:57.06]to follow a particular path in life[25:59.36]is that other people want you to.[26:01.97]Decisions that affect your life[26:03.93]should be your decisions—[26:06.23]decisions you make[26:07.12]after you've considered various alternatives [26:09.93]and chosen the path that suits you best.[26:13.09]Making your own decisions does not mean [26:15.84]that you should ignore the suggestions of others. [26:18.74]For instance,[26:19.97]your parents do have their own unique experiences [26:23.16]that may make their advice helpful,[26:25.59]and having participated in[26:27.77]a great deal of your personal history,[26:30.26]they may have a clear view of[26:32.34]your strengths and weaknesses.[26:34.31]Still, their views are not necessarily accurate.[26:40.49]in need of care and protection.[26:42.97]Or they may see only your strengths. [26:45.73]Or, in some unfortunate cases,[26:48.20]they may focus only on[26:49.36]your flaws and shortcomings.[26:51.76]People will always be giving you advice. [26:55.09]Ultimately, though,[26:56.31]you have to make your own judgments. [27:00.26]This is the end of listenning comprehension.。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案（第一套）Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage。

The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history, comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph。

Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly , often using Web—connected mobile devices they carry everywhere。

But the Internet’s tremendous impact has only just begun。

"Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural，and political transformations in history，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.Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online。

2014年12月大学英语四级真题试卷（二）(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 about a course that has impressed you most in college. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.正确答案： A Course That Has Impressed Me Most in College There are a variety of courses in college which provide students with multiple options to broaden their knowledge. They can choose different courses according to their own preference.It goes without saying that students really benefit from it in many respects. As far as I am concerned, I do harvest a lot from the courses I choose. Last semester, as a junior student, I chose the course of British Literature which has impressed me most. In the first place, I was deeply charmed by the scholarly image of the professor for this course—his broad range of knowledge and unusual but interesting teaching method.In the second place, my vision has been definitely broadened by this course. Apart from the basic knowledge in our textbook, I have also learnt something practical and got an in-depth understanding of Britain. Last but not least, this course has aroused my enthusiasm for studying English well. This will help perfect my knowledge system. In general, I am satisfied with the broad range of courses offered by my college.And I am glad to have chosen the course of British Literature. It surely has a great effect on me.解析：一、描述现象：大学课程丰富(a variety of courses。

历年四级作文真题题目（2012-2017）2017年12月大学英语四级考试作文真题卷一：Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between doctors and patients.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.卷二：Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short easy on how to best handle the relationship between parents and children. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.卷三：Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.2017年6月大学英语四级考试作文真题卷一：Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an advertisement on your campus website to sell a computer you used at college. Your advertisement may include its brand, specifications/features, condition and price, and your contact information.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Write your essay on Answer Sheet 1.卷二：卷三：卷四：Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an advertisement on your campus website to sell some of the course books you used at college. Your advertisement may include a brief description of their content, their condition and price, and your contact information. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.2016年12月大学英语四级考试作文真题卷一：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to find a job somewhere and the other to start a business of your own. You are to make a decision. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your decision. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.卷二：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to work in a state-owned business and the other in a joint venture. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.卷三：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to work in a state-owned business and the other in a joint venture. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.第一段：话题描述。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第一套）Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history，comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph。

Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly , often using Web—connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet's tremendous impact has only just begun.”Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social，cultural，and political transformations in history，and unlike earlier periods of change，this time the effects are fully global，” Schmidt and Cohen w rite in their new book The New Digital Age。

Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online。

2014年12月四级真题（第1套）注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Part ⅡListening 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 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． andD．, 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 woman is fussy about the cleanness of the apartment.B． He has not cleaned the apartment since his mother's visit.C． He does not remember when his mother canoe over.D． His mother often helps him to clean the apartment.2. A． The bus stop is only two minutes' walk.B． The nmning made him short of breath.C． They might as well take the next bus.D． The woman is late by a couple of minutes.3. A． She is suffering a pain in her neck.B． She is likely to replace Miss Smith.C． She has to do extra work for a few days.D． She is quite sick of working overtime.4. A． Change her job.B． Buy a dishwasher.C． Open a flower shop.D． Start her own business.5. A． He forgot where he had left the package.B． He slipped on his way to the post office.C． He wanted to deliver the package himself.D． He failed to do what he promised to do.6. A． The speakers do not agree with each other.B． The woman does not like horror films.C． The man pays for the tickets as a rule.D． The speakers happened" to meet in the cinema.7. A． The woman is just as unlucky as the man.B． The woman is more sensitive than the man.C． The speakers share a common view on love.D． The speakers are unhappy with their marriage.8. A． Preparations for a forum.B． Participants in the forum.C． Organizers of a forum.D． Expectations of the forum.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A． France.B． Scandinavia.C． Russia.D． East Europe.10. A． More women will be promoted in the workplace.B． More women will overcome their inadequacies.C． More women will receive higher education.D． More women will work outside the family.11. A． Try hard to protect women's rights.B． Educate men to respect women more.C． Help women acquire more professional skills.D． Spend more time changing women's attitudes.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A． In a restaurant.B． In a hotel lobby.C． At the man's office.D． At the woman's place.13. A． He is the chief designer of the latest bike model.B． He has completed an overseas market survey.C． He is the Managing Director of Jayal Motors.D． He has just come back from a trip to Africa.14. A． To select the right model.B． To get a good import agent.C． To convince the board members.D． To cut down production costs.15. A． His flexibility.B． His vision.C． His intelligence.D． His determination.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hoar 3 short passages. At tho end of each passage, you will hoar some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose tho best answer from tho four choices marked A．, B．, C．andD．. Then mark tho corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through tho centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2016年12月大学英语四级真题及完整答案(共两卷)2016年12月大学英语四级真题（第一套）Part I Writing (30minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. Suppose you have two options upon graduation: one is to take a job in a company and the other to go to a graduate school. You are to make a choice between the two. Write an essay to explain the reasons for your choice. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1and 2 are based on the news report you have just the heard.1. A) It was going to be renovated. C) It was dangerous to live in.B) He could no longer pay the rent. D) He had sold it to the royal family.2. A) A storm. C) A forest fire.B) A strike. D) A Terrorist attack.Questions 3and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) They lost contact with the emergency department.B) They were injured by suddenly falling rocks.C) They sent calls for help via a portable radio.D) They were trapped in an underground elevator.C)He is very close to the manager.D)He is always complaining about low wages.Question12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.7.A)Open. C)Selfish.B)Reserved. D)Friendly.8.A)They read a book. C)They stay quiet.B)They talk about the weather D)They chat with fellow passengers.9.A)She was unwilling to make friends with workmates.B)She was never invited to a colleague’s home.C)She was eager to visit an English castle.D)She was always treated as a foreigner.15.A) House are much more quiet. C) They want a garden of their own.B) They want to have more space. D) Houses provide more privacy.Section CDirections:In this section,you will hear three passages.At the end of each passage,you will hear three or four questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C) and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) They will automatically be given hiring priority.B) They don’t have to go through job interviews.C) They are likely to get much higher pay.D) They don’t have much choice of jobs.17.A) Visit the school careers services. C) Look at school bulletin boards.B) Ask their professors for help. D) Go through campus newspapers.18.A) Providing students with information about the library.B) Helping students arrange appointments with librarians.C) Supervising study spaces to ensure a quiet atmosphere.D) Helping students find the books and journals they need.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) It tastes better. C) It is easier to grow.B) It may be sold at a higher price. D) It can better survive extreme weathers.20.A) It can grow in drier soil. C) It will replace green tea one day.B) It is immune to various diseases. D) It is healthier than green tea.21.A) It does not have a stable market.B) It has made tea farmers’ life easier.C) It does not bring the promised health benefits.D) It has been well received by many tea drinkers.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) They care more about environment.B) They decorate their homes themselves.C) They prefer unique objects of high quality.D) They need decorations to show their status.23. A) They made great contributions to society.B) They could only try to create at night.C) They were proud of their creations.D) They focused on the quality of their products.24. A) Identify fake crafts. C) Design handicrafts themselves.B) Make wise choices. D) Learn the importance of creation.25. A) To attract foreign investments. C) To arouse public interest in crafts.B) To preserve the traditional culture. D) To boost the local economy.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter foreach 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.Many men and women have long bought into the idea that there are “male” and “female” brains, believing that explains just about every difference between the sexes. A new study（26）that belief, questioning whether brains really can be distinguished by gender.In the study, Tel Aviv University researchers（27）for sex differences the entire human brain.And what did they find? Not much. Rather than offer evidence for（28）brains as “male” or “female,” research shows that brains fall into a wide range, with most people falling right in the middle.Daphna Joel, who led the study, said her research found that while there are some gender-based（29）, many different types of brain can’t always be distinguished by gender.While the “average” male and “average” female brains were（30）different, you couldn’t tell it by looking at individual brain scans. Only a small（31）of people had “all-male” or “all-female” characteristics.Larry Cahill, an American neuroscientist (神经科学家),said the study is an important addition to a growing body of research questioning（32）beliefs about gender and brain function. But he cautioned against concluding from this study that all brains are the same,（33）of gender.“There’s a mountain of evidence（34）the importance of sex influences at all levels of brain function,” he told The Seattle Times.If anything, he said, the study（35）that gender plays a very important role in the brain “even when we are not clear exactly how.”A) abnormal B) applied C) briefly D) categorizingE) challenges F) figure G) percentage H) provingI) regardless J) searched K) similarities L) slightlyM) suggests N) tastes O) traditionalSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Can Burglars Jam Your Wireless Security System?[A]Any product that promises to protect your home deserves careful examination. So it i sn’t surprising that you’ll find plenty of strong opinions about the potential vulnerabilities of popular home-security systems.[B]The most likely type of burglary (入室盗窃) by far is the unsophisticated crime of opportunity, usually involving a broken window or some forced entry. According to the FBI, crimes like these accounted roughly two-thirds of all household burglaries in the US in 2013.The wide majority of the rest were illegal, unforced entries that resulted from something like a window being left open. The odds of a criminal using technical means to bypass a security system are so small that the FBI doesn’t even track those statistics.[C]One of the main theoretical home-security concerns is whether or not a given system is vulnerable to being blocked from working altogether. With wired setups, the fear is that a burglar (入室盗贼) might be able to shut your system down simply by cutting the right cable. With a wireless setup, you stickbattery-powered sensors up around your home that keep an eye on windows, doors, motion, and more. If they detect something wrong while the system is armed, they’ll transmit a wireless alert signal to a base station that will then raise the alarm. That approach will eliminate most cord-cutting concerns—but what about their wireless equivalent, jamming? With the right device tuned to the right frequency, what’s to stop a thief from jamming your setup and blocking that alert signal from ever reaching the base station?[D]Jamming concerns are nothing new, and they’re not u nique to security systems. Any device that’s built to receive a wireless signal at a specific frequency can be overwhelmed by a stronger signal coming in on the same frequency. For comparison, let’s say you wanted to “jam” a conversation between two people—all you’d need to do is yell in the listener’s ear.[E] Security devices are required to list the frequencies they broadcast on—that means that a potential thief can find what they need to know with minimal Googling. They will, however, need so know wha t system they’re looking for. If you have a sign in your yard declaring what setup you use, that’d point them in the right direction, though at that point, we’re talking about a highly targeted, semi-sophisticated attack, and not the sort forced-entry attack that makes up the majority of burglaries. It’s easier to find and acquire jamming equipment for some frequencies than it is for others.[F] Wireless security providers will often take steps to help combat the threat of jamming attacks. SimpliSafe, win ner of our Editor’s Choice distinction, utilizes a special system that’s capable of separating incidental RF interference from targeted jamming attacks. When the system thinks it’s being jammed, it’ll notify you via push alert(推送警报).From there, it’s up to you to sound the alarm manually.[G] SimpliSafe was singled out in one recent article on jamming, complete with a video showing the entire system being effectively bypassed with handheld jamming equipment. After taking appropriate measures to contain the RF interference to our test lab, we tested the attack out for ourselves, and were able to verify that it’s possible with the right equipment. However, we also verified that SimpliSafe’s anti-jamming system works. It caught us in the act, sent an alert to my smartphone, and also listed our RF interference on the system’s event log. The team behind the article and video in question make no mention of the system, or whether or not in detected them.[H]We like the unique nature of that software. It means that a thief likely wouldn’t be able to Google how the system works, then figure out a way around it. Even if they could, SimpliSafe claims that its system is always evolving, and that it varies slightly from system to system, which means there wouldn’t be a universal magic formula for cracking it. Other systems also seem confident on the subject of jamming. The team at Frontpoint addresses the issue in a blog on its site, citing their own jam protection software and claiming that there aren’t any documented cases of successful jam attack since the company began offering wireless security sensors in the 1980s.[I] Jamming attacks are absolutely possible. As said before, with the right equipment and the right know-how, it’s possible to jam any wirelesstransmission. But how probable is it that someone will successfully jam their way into your home and steal your stuff?[J] Let’s imagine that you live in a small home with a wireless security setup that offers a functional anti-jamming system. First, a thief is going to need to target your home, specifically. Then, he’s going to need to know the technical details of your system and acquire the specific equipment necessary for jamming your specific setup. Presumably, you keep your doors locked at night and while y ou’re away. So the thief will still need to break in. That means defeating the lock somehow, or breaking a window. He’ll need to be jamming you at this point, as a broken window or opened door would normally release the alarm. So, too, would the motion detectors in your home, so the thief will need to continue jamming once he’s inside and searching for things to steal. However, he’ll need to do so without tripping the anti-jamming system, the details of which he almost certainly does now have access to.[K]At the end of the day, these kinds of systems are primarily designed to protect against the sort of opportunistic smash-and-grab attack that makes up the majority of burglaries. They’re also only a single layer in what should ideally be a many-sided approach to securing your home, one that includes common sense things like sound locks and proper exterior lighting at night. No system is impenetrable, and none can promise to eliminate the worst case completely. Every one of them has vulnerabilities that a knowledgeable thief could theoretically exploit. A good system is one that keeps that worst-case setting as improbable as possible while also offering strong protection in the event of a less-extraordinary attack.36. It is possible for burglars to make jamming attacks with the necessaryequipment and skill.37. Interfering with a wireless security system is similar to interfering with aconversation.38. A burglar has to continuously jam the wireless security device to avoidtriggering the alarm, both inside and outside the house.39. SimpliSafe provides devices that are able to distinguish incidental radiointerference from targeted jamming attacks.40. Only a very small proportion of burglaries are committed by technical means.41. It is difficult to crack SimpliSafe as its system keeps changing.42. Wireless devices will transmit signals so as to activate the alarm oncesomething wrong is detected.43. Different measures should be taken to protect one’s home from burglary inaddition to the wireless security system.44. SimpliSafe’s device can send a warning to the house owner’s cellphone.45. Burglars can easily get a security device’s frequency by Internet search.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.As a person who writes about food and drink for a living. I couldn’t tell you the first thing about Bill Perry or whether the beers he sells are that great. But I can tell you that I like this guy. That’s becaus e he plans to ban tipping in favor of paying his servers an actual living wage.I hate tipping.I hate it because it’s an obligation disguised as an option. I hate it for thepost-dinner math it requires of me. But mostly, I hate tipping because I believe I would be in a better place if pay decisions regarding employees were simply left up to their employers, as is the custom in virtually every other industry.Most of you probably think that you hate tipping, too. Research suggests otherwise. You actually love tipping! You like to feel that you have a voice in how much money your server makes. No matter how the math works out, you persistently view restaurants with voluntary tipping systems as being a bettervalue, which makes it extremely difficult for restaurants and bars to do away with the tipping system.One argument that you tend to hear a lot from the pro-tipping crowd seems logical enough: the service is better when waiters depend on tips, presumably because they see a benefit to successfully veiling their contempt for you. Well, if this were true, we would all be slipping a few 100-dollar bills to our doctors on the way out their doors, too. But as it turns out, waiters see only a tiny bump in tips when they do an exceptional job compared to a passable one. Waiters, keen observers of humanity that they are, are catching on to this; in one poll, a full 30% said they didn’t believe the job they did had any impact on the tips they received.So come on, folks: get on board with ditching the outdated tip system. Pay a little more upfront for your beer or burger. Support Bill Perry’s pub, and any other bar or restaurant that doesn’t ask you to do drunken math.46. What can we learn about Bill Perry from the passage?A) He runs a pub that serves excellent beer.B) He intends to get rid of the tipping practice.C) He gives his staff a considerable sum for tips.D) He lives comfortably without getting any tips.47. What is the main reason why the author hates tipping?A) It sets a bad example for other industries.B) It adds to the burden of ordinary customers.C) It forces the customer to compensate the waiter.D) It poses a great challenge for customers to do math.48. Why do many people love tipping according to the author?A) They help improve the quality of the restaurants they dine in.B) They believe waiters deserve such rewards for good service.C) They want to preserve a wonderful tradition of the industry.D) They can have some say in how much their servers earn.49. What have some waiters come to realize according to a survey?A) Service quality has little effect on tip size.B) It is in human mature to try to save on tips.C) Tips make it more difficult to please customers.D) Tips benefit the boss rather that the employees.50. What does the author argue for in the passage?A) Restaurants should calculate the tips for customers.B) Customers should pay more tips to help improve service.C) Waiters deserve better than just relying on tips for a living.D) Waiters should be paid by employers instead of customers.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.In the past, falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy, but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned down, even as oil prices sink lower and lower. Does that mean the link between lower oil prices and growth has weakened?Some experts say there are still good reasons to believe cheap oil should heatup the world economy. Consumers have more money in their pockets when they’re paying less at the pump. They spend that money on other things, which stimulates the economy.The biggest gains go to countries that import most of their oil like China, Japan, and India, But doesn’t the extra money in the pockets of those countries’ consumers mean an equal loss in oil producing countries, cancelling out the gains? Not necessarily, says economic researcher Sara Johnson. “Many oil producers built up huge reserve funds when prices were high, so when prices fall they willdraw on their reserves to support government spending and subsidies(补贴) for their consumers.”But not all oil producers have big reserves, In Venezuela, collapsing oil prices have sent its economy into free-fall.Economist Carl Weinberg believes the negative effects of plunging oil prices are overwhelming the positive effects of cheaper oil. The implication is a sharp decline in global trade, which has plunged partly because oil-producing nations can’t afford to import as much as they used to.Sara Johnson acknowledges that the global economic benefit from a fall in oil prices today is likely lower than it was in the past. One reason is that more countries are big oil producers now, so the nations suffering from the price drop account for a larger share of the global economy.Consumers, in the U.S. at least, are acting cautiously with the savings they’re getting at the gas pump, as the memory of the recent great recession is still fresh in their mind. And a number of oil-producing countries are trimming their gasoline subsidies and raising taxes, so the net savings for global consumers is not as big as the oil price plunge might suggest.51. What does the author mainly discuss in the passage?A) The reasons behind the plunge of oil prices.B) Possible ways to stimulate the global economy.C) The impact of cheap oil on global economic growth.D) The effect of falling oil prices on consumer spending.52. Why do some experts believe cheap oil will stimulate the global economy?A) Manufacturers can produce consumer goods at a much lower cost.B) Lower oil prices have always given a big boost to the global economy.C) Oil prices may rise or fall but economic laws are not subject to change.D) Consumers will spend their saving from cheap oil on other commodities.53. What happens in many oil-exporting countries when oil prices go down?A) They suspend import of necessities from overseas.B) They reduce production drastically to boost oil prices.C) They use their money reserves to back up consumption.D) They try to stop their economy from going into free-fall.54. How does Carl Weinberg view the current oil price plunge?A) It is one that has seen no parallel in economic history.B) Its negative effects more than cancel out its positive effects.C) It still has a chance to give rise to a boom in the global economy.D) Its effects on the global economy go against existing economic laws.55. Why haven’t falling oil prices boosted the global economy as they did before?A) People are not spending all the money they save on gas.B) The global economy is likely to undergo another recession.C) Oil importers account for a larger portion of the global economy.D) People the world over are afraid of a further plunge in oil prices.Part IV Translation (30minutes)Directions: For this part,you are allowed 30minutes to transtate a passage from Chinese into English.You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.在中国文化中，红色通常象征着好运、长寿和幸福，在春节和其他喜庆场合，红色到处可见。

2013.12 英语四级考试真题试卷（第二套）之马矢奏春创作Part I Writing(30 minutes)听力音频地址：Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief accountof the increasing use of the mobile phone in people'slife and then explain the consequences of overusing it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上1. A) Go to a place he has visited.B) Make her own arrangements.C) Consult a travel agent.D) Join in a package tour.2. A) They are on a long trip by car.B) They are stuck ina traffic jam.C) They are used to getting up early.D) They are tired of eating out at night.3. A) He is a person difficult to deal with.B) He dislikes any formal gathering.C) He is unwilling to speak in public.D) He often keeps a distance from others.4. A) Work in another department.B) Pursue further education.C) Recruit graduate students.D) Take an administrative job.5. A) He would not be available to start the job in time.B) He is not quite qualified for the art director position.C) He would like to leave some more time for himself.D) He will get his application letter ready before May 1.6. A) Cleaner. B) Mechanic. C) Porter. D) Salesman.7. A) Request one or two roommates to do the cleaning.B) Help Laura with her term paper due this weekend.C) Get Laura to clean the apartment herself this time.D) Ask Laura to put off the cleaning until another week.8. A) A problem caused by the construction.B) An accident that occurred on the bridge.C) The building project they are workingD) The public transportation conditions. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 9. A) To look for a job as a salesperson.B) To have a talk with Miss Thompson.C) To place an orderfor some products.D) To complain about a faulty appliance.10. A) The person in charge is not in the office.B) The supplies are out of stock for the moment.C) They failed to reach an agreement on the price.D) The company is re-cataloguing the items.11. A) 0743, 12536 extension 15.B) 0734, 21653 extension 51.C) 0734, 38750 extension 15.D) 0743, 62135 extension 51.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12. A) Since he found a girlfriend.B) Since he took to heavy smoking.C) Since he began to exercise regularly.D) Since he started to live on his own.13. A) He is getting too fat.B) He smokes too much.C) He doesn't eat vegetables.D) He doesn't look well at all. 14. A) They are overweight for their age.B) They are respectful to their parents.C) They are still in their early twenties.D) They dislike doing physical exercise.15. A) To quit smoking.B) To reduce his weight.C) To finda girlfriend.D) To follow her advice.Passage One Questions 16 to 19 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 16. A) They have destroyed several small towns.B) They will soon spread to San Francisco.C) They have injured many residents.D) They are burning out of control.17. A) They have been hospitalized.B) They have got skin problems.C) They were choked by the thick smoke.D) They were poisoned by the burning chemicals.18. A) It failed because of a sudden rocket explosion.B) It has been re-scheduled for a midday takeoff.C) It has been canceled due to technical problems.D) It was delayed for eleven hours and thirty minutes.19. A) They made frequent long-distance calls to each other.B) They illegally used government computers in New Jersey.C) They were found to be smarter than computer specialists.D) They were arrested for stealing government information.Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passageyou have just heard.20. A) Peaceful.B) Considerate.C) Generous.D) Cooperative.21. A) Someone dumped the clothes left in the washer and dryer.B) Someone broke the washer and dryer by overloading them.C) Mindy Lance's laundry blocked the way to the laundry room.D) Mindy Lance threatened to take revenge on her neighbors.22. A) Asking the neighborhood committee for help.B.) Limiting the amount of laundry for each wash.C) Informing the building manager of the matter.D) Installing a few more washers and dryers.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) She is both a popular and highly respected author.B) She is the most loved African novelist of all times.C) She is the most influential author since the 1930's.D) She is the first writer to focus on the fate of slaves.24. A) The Book Critics Circle Award.B) The Nobel Prize for literature.C) The Pulitzer Prize for fiction.D) The National Book Award.25. A) She is a relative of Morrison's.B) She is a slave from Africa.C) She is a skilled storyteller.D) She is ablack woman.Many college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from $1000 to perhaps $5000 or more. (26),it is not uncommon for them to purchase (27)costing another several hundred dollars. Twenty years ago, computers were (28), but they were very large and extremely expensive. Few, if any. (29)purchased computers for home use. Over the years, the price of the "guts" of a computer-its memory-has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory thatprevailed twenty years ago. This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today than they used to. Moreover. (30)improvements have made it possible to (31) memory circuitry that is small enough to fit into the portable personal computers that many of us own anduse.(32), as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers.(33)improved agricultural technology,hybrid(杂交) seeds. (34)animal breeding, and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce. The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of most other goods and services. As agricultural prices have fallen, many households have decreased their total expenses on food. Even though the (35)of a product purchased generally increases when its price falls, total expenses on it may decline.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.To get a sense of how women have progressed in science, take a quick tour of the physics department at the University of California, Berkeley. This is a storied place, the(36)of some of the most important discoveries in modern science-starting with Ernest Lawrence's invention of the cyclotron (回旋加速器) in 1931. A generation ago, femalefaces were (37 )and, even today, visitors walking through the first floor of LeConte Hall will see a full corridor of exhibits (38)the many distinguished physicists who made history here. (39) all of them white males.But climb up to the third floor and you'll see a (40)display. There, among the photos of current faculty members and students, are portraits of the (41)head of the department, Marjorie Shapiro, and four other women whose research (42)everything from the mechanics of the universe to the smallest particles of matter. A sixth woman was hired just two weeks ago. Although they'restill only about 10 percent of the physics faculty, women are clearly a presence here. And the real (43)may be in the smaller photos to the right: graduate and undergraduate students, about 20 percent of them female. Every year Berkeley sends its fresh female physics PhDs to the country's top universities. That makes Shapiro optimistic, but also (44). "I believe things are getting better," she says, "but they're not getting better as (45)as I wouldlike."Is College a Worthy Investment?A) Why are we spending so much money on college? And why are we so unhappy about it? We all seem to agree that a college education is wonderful, and yet strangely we worry when we seefamilies investing so much in this supposedly essential good. Maybe it's time to ask a question that seems almost sacrilegious (大不敬的): is all this investment incollege education really worth it?B) The answer, I fear,is no. For an increasing number of kids, the extra time and money spent pursuing a college diploma will leavethem worse off than they were before they set foot on campus.C) For my entire adult life, a good education has been the most important thing for middle-class households. My parents spent more educating my sister and me thanthey spent on their house, and they're not the only ones... and, of course, for an increasing number of families, most of the cost of their house is actually the cost of living in a good school district. Questioning the value of a college education seems a bit like questioning the value of happiness, or fun.D) The average price ofall goods and services has risen about 50 percent. Butthe price of a college education has nearly doubled inthat time. Is the education that today's students are getting twice as good? Are new workers twice as smart? Have they become somehow massively more expensive to educate?E) Perhaps a bit. Richard Vedder, an Ohio University economics professor, says, "I look at the data, and I see college costs rising faster than inflation upto the mid-1980s by 1 percent a year. Now I see themrising 3 to 4 percent a year over inflation. What has happened? The federal government has started dropping money out of airplanes. " Aid has increased,subsidized(补贴的) loans have become available, and "the universities have gotten the money." Economist Bryan Caplan, who is writing a book about education, agrees:"It's a giant waste of resources that will continue aslong as the subsidies continue."F) Promotional literature for colleges and student loans often speaks of debt as an "investment in yourself." But an investment is supposed to generate income to pay off the loans. More than half of all recent graduates are unemployed or in jobs that do not require a degree, and the amount of student-loan debt carried by households has increased more than five times since 1999. These graduates were told that a diploma was all they needed to succeed, but it won't even get them out of the spare bedroom at Mom and Dad's. For many, the most visible result of their four years is the loan payments, which now average hundreds of dollars a month on loan balances in the tens of thousands.G) It's true about the money-sort of. College graduates now make 80 percent more than people who have only a high-school diploma, and though there are no precise estimates, the wage premium (高出的部分) for an outstanding school seems to be even higher. But that's not true of every student. It's very easy to spend four years majoring in English literature and come out no more employable than you were before you went in. Conversely, chemical engineers straight out of school can easily make almost four timesthe wages of an entry-level high-school graduate.H) James Heckman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, has examined how the returns on education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of ability. "Even with these high prices, you're still finding a highreturn for individuals who are bright and motivated," he says. On the other hand, "if you're not college ready, then the answer is no, it's not worth it." Experts tend to agree that for the average student, college is still worth it today, but they also agree that the rapid increase in price is eating up more and more of the potential return. For borderline students, tuition(学费) rise can push those returns into negative territory.I) Everyone seems to agree that the government, and parents, should be rethinking how we invest in higher education and that employers need to rethink the increasing use of college degrees as crude screening tools for jobs that don't really require college skills. "Employers seeing a surplus of college graduates and looking to fill jobs are just adding that requirement." says Vedder. "In fact, a college degree becomes a job requirement for becoming a bar-tender."J) We have started to see some change on thefinance side. A law passed in 2007 allows many students to cap their loan payment at 10 percent of their income and forgives any balance after 25 years. But of course, that doesn't control the cost of education! it justshifts it to taxpayers. It also encourages graduates to choose lower-paying careers, which reduces the financial return to education still further. "You're subsidizing people to become priests and poets and so forth," says Heckman. "You may think that's a good thing, or you may not." Either way it will be expensive for the government.K) What might be a lot cheaper is putting more kids to work. Caplan notes that work also builds valuable skills- probably more valuable for kids who don't naturally love sitting in a classroom. Heckman agrees wholeheartedly: "People are different, and thoseabilities can be shaped. That's what we've learned, and public policy should recognize that."L) Heckman wouldlike to see more apprenticeship-style(学徒式) programs, where kids can learn in the workplace-learn not just specific job skills, but the kind of "soft skills," like getting to work on time and getting along with a team- that are crucial for career success. "It's about havingmentors(指导者) and having workplace-based education," he says. "Time and again I've seen examples of this kind of program working."M) Ah, but how do we get there from here? With better public policy, hopefully, but also by making better individual decisions. "Historically markets have been able to handle these things," says Vedder. "and I think eventually markets will handle this one. If itdoesn't improve soon, people are going to wake up and ask, 'Why am I going to college?'"注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

大学英语四级卷二真题2014年12月(总分：710.00，做题时间：130分钟)一、Part I Writing (30 minutes) (总题数：1，分数：106.50)1.Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about My most impressive friends. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.（分数：106.50）__________________________________________________________________________________________ 正确答案：(范文（一）：The Most Impressive Friends in My College In my memory, there are so many unforgettable men who have rendered me assistance。

Among them, the most impressive one is Lucy, my roommate. During the freshman year with her, it has exerted considerable influence on me. First and foremost, when I entered the university, Lucy set good examples to me in terms of independence. She adapts the new environment quickly. Moreover, she has a cheerful personality, and participates in the Students’ Union soon . With her advice, I soon follow her step and join more activities. Last but not least, what I have learnt most from her is the self-study ability. She spends much time in reading and mastering a new language in the library and often recommend me useful books and information. In a word, I really appreciate it for her modeling power. I wish I can be excellent like her and have a great friendship with Lucy . 范文（二）： The Most Impressive Classmate in My College Without question, Lisa is the person who has influenced my college life most. She is my classmate, who always leaves a deep impression on you by demonstrating her passion for life and the spirit of never yielding, even in the face of extreme challenges. She is the most courageous person I have ever known. During my college years, it is Lisa that kept teaching me how to live through setbacks in the life journey. I’ll never forget that when I failed in my English examination and I felt overwhelmed, Lisa taught me that failure teaches success, everyone had to persevere and face up to innumerable setbacks, as long as I face my problems bravely, I would create my own wonderful life . With her help , I finally gained the confidence and passed the exam. Thanks to Lisa, I have learned the importance of courage, which is the indispensable characteristic in my life. She also let me know the importance of confidence. It means a lot to me and still in my head till this day)解析：二、Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) (总题数：1，分数：56.80)（分数：56.80）A.She will go purchase the gift herself.B.The gift should not be too expensive. √C.The man is not good at balancing his budget.D.They are gonging to Jane's house-warming party.解析：A.It takes patience to go through the statistics.B.He has prepared the statistics for the woman.C.The woman should take a course in statistics.D.He is quite willing to give the woman a hand. √解析：A.The man wants to make some changes in the scripts.B.The woman does not take the recording seriously.C.They cannot begin their recording right away. √D.Page 55 is missing from the woman's scripts.解析：A.A significant event in July.B.Preparation for a wedding.C.The date of Carl's wedding. √D.The birthday of Carl's bride.解析：A.The man was absent from the weekly meeting.B.The man was in charge of scheduling meetings.C.The woman was annoyed at the man's excuse. √D.The woman forgot to tell the man in advance.解析：A.The woman is a marvelous cook.B.The man cannot want for his meal. √C.The woman has just bought an oven.D.The man has to leave in half an hour.解析：A.Whether the man can keep his job. √B.Where the man got the bad news.C.What items sell well in the store.D.How she can best help the man.解析：A.The woman can sign up for a swimming class. √B.He would like to teach the woman how to swim.C.The woman has the potential to swim like a fish.D.He works in the physical education department.解析：Question 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：21.30）A.He is a wonderful lecturer.B.He is a diplomat. √C.He loves classical music.D.He teaches in a law school.解析：A.Attended a dance.B.Went to see a play.C.Took some photos.D.Watched a soccer game. √解析：A.She decided to get married in three years.B.She insisted that Eric pursue graduate studies.C.Her father said she could marry Eric right away. √D.Her mother objected to Eric’s flying lessons.解析：Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：28.40）A.Teacher √B.JournalistC.EditorD.Typist解析：A.The beautiful Amazon rainforests.B.A new railway under construction.C.Some newly discovered scenic spot.D.Big changes in the Amazon valley. √解析：A.In news weeklies.B.In a local evening paper.C.In newspapers' Sunday editions. √D.In overseas editions of U.S. magazines.解析：A.To become a professional writer.B.To be employed by a newspaper.C.To get her life story published soon.D.To sell her articles to a news service. √解析：四、Section B (总题数：3，分数：71.00)Passage One Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：21.30）A.Waving one's hand.B.Nodding one's head. √C.Holding up the forefinger.D.Turning the right thumb down.解析：A.Looking away from them.B.Forming a circle with fingers.C.Waving or pointing to them. √D.Bowing one's head them.解析：A.Showing the sole of one's foot to a guest. √B.Keeping one's arms folded while talking.C.Looking one's superior in the eye.ing a lot of gestures during a conversation.解析：Passage Two Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：21.30）A.They grew wheat and corn on a small farm.B.They shared a small flat with their relatives.C.The children walked to school on dirt roads.D.They had to beg for foot after the harvest. √解析：A.Send their children to school. √B.Earn an annual income of $2800.C.Tour Ecuador's Andes Mountains.D.Purchase a plot to build a home on.解析：A.A new worldwide economic revolution.B.Different forms of assistance to the needy.C.The achievements of the Trickle Up Program. √D.The life of poor people in developing countries.解析：Passage Three Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：28.40）A.They are highly sensitive to cold.B.They are a living part of our body. √C.They are a chief source of our pain.D.They are vitally important to our life.解析：A.It has to be removed in time by a dentist.B.It contains many nerves and blood vessels.C.It is sticky and colorless film on the teeth. √D.It is a rare oral disease among old people.解析：A.It makes their nerves and blood vessels more sensitive to acid food.B.It greatly reduces their resistance to the attacks of bacteria.C.It combines with food particles to form a film on their surface.D.It can change into acids causing damage to their outer covering. √解析：A.Gum disease. √B.Unhealthy living habits.C.Food particles.D.Chemical crosion.解析：五、Section C (总题数：1，分数：71.00)Stunt people(替身演员) are not movie stars, but they are the hidden heroes of many movies. They were around long before films. Even Shakespeare may have used them in fight scenes. To be good, a fight scene has to look real. Punches must (26) 1 enemies' jaws. Sword fights must be fought with(27) 2 swords. Several actors are usually in a fight scene. Their moves must be set up so that no one gets hurt. It is almost like planning a dance performance. If a movie scene is dangerous, stun people usually(28) 3the stars. You may think you see Tom Cruise running along the top of a train. But it is(29) 4 his stunt double. Stunt people must(30) 5 the stars they stand in for. Their height and build should be about the same. But when close-ups are needed, the film(31) 6 the star. Some stunt people(32) 7 in certain kinds of scenes. For instance, a stunt woman named Jan Davis does all kinds of jumps. She has leapt from planes and even off the top of a waterfall. Each jump required careful planning and expert(33) 8. Yakima Canutt was a famous cowboy stunt man. Among other stunts, he could jump from a second story window onto a horse's back. He(34)9 the famous trick of sliding under a moving stagecoach. Canutt also(35) 10 a new way to makea punch look real. He was the only stunt man ever to get an Oscar.（分数：71.00）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：land on）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：sharp）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：fill in for）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：probably）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：resemble）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：focuses on）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：specialize）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：timing）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：invented）填空项1:__________________ （正确答案：figured out）解析：六、Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) (总题数：1，分数：35.50) Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage. As an Alaskan fisherman. Timothy June, 54, used to think that he was safe from industrial pollutants（污染物）at his home in Haines-atown with a population of 2,400 people and 4,000 eagles, with 8 million acres of protected wild land nearby. But in early 2007, June agreed to take part in a 36 of 35 Americans from seven states. It was a biomonitoring project, in which people’s blood and urine（尿）were tested for 37 of chemicals-in this case, three potentially dangerous classes of compounds found in common household 38 like face cream, tin cans, and shower curtains. The results- 39 in November in a report called“Is It in Us?”by an environmental group-were rather worrying. Every one of the participants, 40 from an Illinois state senator to a Massachusetts minister, tested positive for all three classes of pollutants. And while the 41 presence of these chemicals does not 42 indicate a health risk, the fact that typical Americans carry these chemicals at all 43 June and his fellow participants. Clearly, there are chemicals in our bodies that don’t 44 there. Ongoing study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found 148 chemicals in Americans of all ages. And in 2005, the Environmental Working Group found an 45 of 200 chemicals in the blood of 10 new-borns. “Our babies are being born pre-polluted,” Says Sharyle Patton of Commonweal, which cosponsored“Is It in Us?” “This is going to be the next big environmental issue after climate change.” A)analyses B)average C)belong D)demonstrated E)excess F)extending G)habitually H)neccessarily I)products J)ranging K)released L)shocked M)simple N)survey O)traces （分数：35.50）A.B.C.D. √E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N. √O.解析：A.B.C.D.E. √F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O. √解析：A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I. √J. K. L. M. N.解析：A. √B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I. J. K. √L. M. N. O.解析：A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I. J. √K. L.M. N. O.解析：A.B.C. √D.E.F.G.H.I. J. K. L. M. √N. O.解析：A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H. √I. J. K. L. M. N. O.解析：A.B. √C.D.E.F.G.H.I. J. K. L. √M.N. O.解析：A.B.C. √D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O.解析：A.B. √C.D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O.解析：七、Section B (总题数：1，分数：71.00)In Hard Economy for All Ages, Older Isn’t Better—It’s Brutal [A] Young graduates are in debt, out of work and on their parents' couches. People in their 30s and 40s can't afford to buy homes or have children. Retirees are earning near-zero interest on their savings. [B] In the current listless (缺乏活力的) economy, every generation has a claim to having been most injured. But the Labor Department's latest jobs snapshot and other recent data reports present a strong case for crowning baby boomers (二战后生育高峰期出生的人) as the greatest victims of the recession and its dreadful consequences. [C] These Americans in their 50s and early 60s —those near retirement age who do not yet have access to Medicare and Social Security — have lost the most earnings power of any age group, with their household incomes 10 percent below what they made when the recovery began three years ago, according to Sentier Research, a data analysis company. Their retirement savings and home values fell sharply at the worst possible time: just before they needed to cash out. They are supporting both aged parents and unemployed young-adult children, earning them the unlucky nickname "Generation Squeeze." [D] New research suggests that they may die sooner, because their health, income security and mental well-being were battered (重创) by recession at a crucial time in their lives. A recent study by economists at Wellesley College found that people who lost their jobs in the few years before becoming qualified for Social Security lost up to three years from their life expectancy (预期寿命), largely because they no longer had access to affordable health care. [E] Unemployment rates for Americans nearing retirement are far lower than those for young people, who are recently out of school, with fewer skills and a shorter workhistory. But once out of a job, older workers have a much harder time finding another one. Over the last year, the average duration of unemployment for older people was 53 weeks, compared with 19 weeks for teenagers, according to the Labor Department's jobs report released on Friday. [F] The lengthy process is partly because older workers are more likely to have been laid off from industries that are downsizing, like manufacturing. Compared with the rest of the population, older people are also more likely to own their own homes and be less mobile than renters, who can move to new job markets. [G] Older workers are more likely to have a disability of some sort, perhaps limiting the range of jobs that offer realistic choices. They may also be less inclined, at least initially, to take jobs that pay far less than their old positions. [H] Displaced boomers also believe they are victims of age discrimination, because employers can easily find a young, energetic worker who will accept lower pay and who can potentially stick around for decades rather than a few years. [I] In a survey by the center of older workers who were laid off during the recession, just one in six had found another job, and half of that group had accepted pay cuts. Fourteen percent of the re-employed said the pay in their new job was less than half what they earned in their previous job. "I just say to myself: 'Why me? What have I done to deserve this?' " said John Agati, 56, of Norwalk, Conn., whose last full-time job, as a merchandise buyer and product developer, ended four years ago when his employer went out of business. That position paid $90,000, and his rsum lists stints at companies like American Express, Disney and USA Networks. Since being laid off, though, he has worked a series of part-time, low-wage, temporary positions, including selling shoes at Lord & Taylor and making sales calls for a limo company. [J] The last few years have taken a toll not only on his family's finances, but also on his feelings of self-worth. "You just get sad," Mr. Agati said. "I see people getting up in the morning, going out to their careers and going home. I just wish I was doing that. Some people don't like their jobs, or they have problems with their jobs, but at least they're working. I just wish I was in their shoes." He said he cannot afford to go back to school, as many younger people without jobs have done. Even if he could afford it, economists say it is unclear whether older workers like him benefit much from more education. [K] "It just doesn't make sense to offer retraining for people 55 and older," said Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas in Austin. "Discrimination by age, long-term unemployment, the fact that they're now at the end of the hiring queue, the lack of time horizon just does not make it sensible to invest in them." [L] Many displaced older workers are taking this message to heart and leaving the labor force entirely. The share of older people applying for Social Security early spiked during the recession as people sought whatever income they could find. The penalty they will pay is permanent, as retirees who take benefits at age 62 will receive 30 percent less in each month's check for the rest of their lives than they would if they had waited until full retirement age (66 for those born after 1942).（分数：71.00）(1).Greater mobility puts younger people at an advantage in seeking new jobs. （分数：7.10）A.B.C.D.E.F. √解析：(2).Many of the older workers laid off during the recession had to accept lower pay in their new jobs. （分数：7.10）A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I. √解析：(3).Those who has their jobs shortly before retirement age live a shorter-than-average life. （分数：7.10）A.B.C.D. √解析：(4).Seniors at nursing homes could benefit from the weak job market. （分数：7.10）A.B.C.D.E. √F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O. √解析：(5).Age discrimination in employment makes it pointless retraining older workers. （分数：7.10）A. √B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K. √解析：(6).According to recent reports and data analyses, boomers suffer most from the weak economy. （分数：7.10）A.B. √C.D.解析：(7).Unemployed boomers are at a disadvantage in job-hunting because employers tend to hire younger workers. （分数：7.10）A.B.C.D.E. √解析：(8).People in their fifties and early sixties bear the heaviest family burdens. （分数：7.10）A.B.C. √D.解析：(9).People who take benefits from Social Security before official retirement age will get much less for the rest of their lives. （分数：7.10）A.B. √C.D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L. √解析：(10).Older workers' choice of jobs can be limited because of disability. （分数：7.10）A.B.C.D.E.F.G. √解析：八、Section C (总题数：2，分数：142.00)Passage 1 New Yorkers, albeit many of them grudgingly, are gradually getting used to more pedaling passengers on those blazing blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up riders at their expense? At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, a manager who gave his name as “Ben W.”said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to the bike-share program. “It’s getting more people on the road, more people learning about the sport and getting involved,” he said. An employee at Danny’s Cycles in Gramercy said Citi Bike is a good option for people to ease into biking in a city famed for its vehicular congestion and aggressive drivers. “They can try out a bike without committing to buying one,” James Ryan said. “It makes a morecomfortable biki ng environment in the city because there are a lot more bikes, too.” Business at Danny’s Cycles has increased as well since the advent of bike-share. “A lot of people come in for bike gear, and we’ve sold a lot of helmets,” he noted. Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikesor Danny’s Cycles. But for Frank’s Bike Shop, a small business that has been at its current Lower East Side location on Grand St. since1976, the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said that his rental business has decreased by 90 percent since the Citi Bikes were rolled out last month. Arroyo’s main rental customers are European tourists, a demographic that has since been drawn away by Citi Bikes. Initially, a bike-share station was site d a few doors away from Frank’s Bike Shop on the corner of Grand and Henry Sts. But a petition to relocate the bike station gathered more than 1,000 signatures. The Citi Bike dock was eventually removed —but only temporarily, according to the Citi Bike Twitter account, for utility construction in the street. “I was grateful, and it was quite an honor to see how many people responded on my behalf,” Arroyo said of the petition effort. “It was really nice to see that people care. But they have flooded the place with them,” he said of the Department of Transportation, which installs the bike racks. Removing one station does little since the area is overloaded with Citi Bike stations, said Arroyo. “If you put it in front of a hotel, customers are going to walk of the hotel and use it,” he said. However, 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. Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially he was concerned about bike-share, though, he admitted, “I was happy to see people on bikes.” Consisting of equal parts tourists and locals, his customers get a better rental deal at his shop because, despite charging only $10for a daily rental, the bike-share program requires cyclists tocheck their bikes in at a bike station every half hour. His store, on the other hand, charges $10 for the first hour, $5 for the second, and $2.50 per hour after that. “Six hours with Waterfront Bicycle Shop will costa customer $25,” he said. “With Citi Bike, a six-hour rental will cost $126 [if the rider doesn’t re-dock his or her bike at a station every half hour]. Our rentals always include a helmet, a basket and a lock.” Several dozen rental bikes were lined up on Weehawken St. last Sunday behind the store. Benny, who was watching over them, said another advantage over the Citi Bikes is tha t Waterfront’s bikes are all in good working order. Farrell’s early concerns were echoed by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYCVelo, at 64 Second Ave. “It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement,” Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried about inexperienced riders’ lack of awareness of biking rules and backlash from non-cyclists. However, he said, it’s still too earlyto tell if his business has been impacted. The actual Citi Bikes themselves have been criticized as “heavy,”“clunky,” even “ugly.” In comparison, Crooks said NYC Velo has bikes that are “lighter, faster and tend to be more comfortable.” Farrell of Waterfront also said his bikes are of “better quality” than the bike-share two-wheelers. While it’s possible bike-share will cause a drop in business in the long run, Crooks allowed that the idea, as a whole, is good for the city. （分数：71.00）(1).What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York? （分数：14.20）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.解析：关于纽约的Citi Bikes项目的持续实施，作者主要关心的是什么? 文章第一段开头讲参与Citi Bikes项目的骑行者越来越多，给纽约市民带来的影响，即他们感到越来越习惯。

2014年12月四级真题(第2套)Part IWriting(30minutes)Directions:For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a short essay about a course thathas impressed you most in college.You should state the reasons and write at least120words but no more than180words.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Part IIListening Comprehension(30minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear8short conversations and2long conversations.At the end of each conversation,one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.After each question there will be a pause.During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A．,B．,C．and D．,and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1.A．She used to be in poor health.B．She was popular among boys.C．She was somewhat overweight.D．She didn't do well at high school.2.A．At the airport.B．In a restaurant.C．In a booking office.D．At the hotel reception.3.A．Teaching her son by herself.B．In a restaurant.C．Asking the teacher for extra help.D．Telling her son not to worry.4.A．Have a short break.B．Take two weeks off.C．Continue her work outdoors.D．Go on vacation with the man.5.A．He is taking care of his twin brother.B．Take two weeks off.C．He is worried about Rod's health.D．He has been in perfect condition.6.A．She sold all her furniture before she moved house.B．She still keeps some old furniture in her new house.C．She plans to put all her old furniture in the basement.D．She bought a new set of furniture from Italy last month.7.A．The woman wondered why the man didn't return the book.B．The woman doesn't seem to know what the book is about.C．The woman doesn't find the book useful any more.D．The woman forgot lending the book to the man.8.A．Most of the man's friends are athletes.B．Few people share the woman's opinion.C．The man doesn't look like a sportsman.D．The woman doubts the man's athletic ability.Questions9to12are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A．She has packed it in one of her bags.B．She is going to get it at the airport.C．She has probably left it in a taxi.D．She is afraid that she has lost it.10.A．It ends in winter.B．It will cost her a lot.C．It will last one week.D．It depends on the weather.11.A．The plane is taking off soon.B．The taxi is waiting for them.C．There might be a traffic jam.D．There is a lot of stuff to pack.12.A．At home.B．At the airport.C．In the man's car.D．By the side of a taxi.Questions13to15are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A．She is thirsty for promotion.B．She wants a much higher salary.C．She is tired of her present work.D．She wants to save travel expenses.14.A．Translator.C．Language instructor.B．Travel agent.D．Environmental engineer.15.A．Lively personality and inquiring mind.B．Communication skills and team spirit.C．Devotion and work efficiency.D．Education and experience.Section BDirections:In this section,you will hear3short passages.At the end of each passage,you will hear some 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 Sheet1with a single line through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2023年12月英语四级第二套真题参考答案及解析（最新完整版）2023年12月英语四级第二套真题参考答案及解析(最新完整版) 听力第二套00:00:00 说话者1:College english test，band four，part two，listening comprehension，section a directions。

In this section，you will hear three news reports。

At the end of each news report，you will hear two or three questions。

Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once。

After you hear a question，you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked ab c and d then mark the corresponding letter on answer sheet one with a single line through the center。

00:00:39 说话者2:News report one。

How you noticed how similar you are to your friends。

It may be because your brains operate in harmony with each other。

We know that friends are more likely to be the same age，gender and ethnic background as each other。

Now it seems that brains are alike too。

2014年6月大学英语四级考试真题（第2套）Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the following topic.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your campus, what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?Part II 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 what was said.Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each questionthere 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 onAnswer 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。