2014年12月四级-英语听力原文四级第三套

2014年12月全国大学英语四级考试第三套参考答案【作文范文】A Campus Activity that Benefited Me MostUniversity provides many interesting activities to enrich our life on campus. In the past two years, I attended a couple of student societies such as mountain-climbing club and literature society. The most beneficial activity I participated is attending English Comer.First, attending English Comer offers a great opportunity to draw my attention away from busy studies so that 1 can relax, since the Comer is held in a square. As a college student, most of my time is killed in the classroom and library. At the Corner, I can talk in English with my peers on topics of our interest, so it's a relaxation in tedious school life.Second, joining English Corner significantly improved my oral English as well as English listening comprehension. It's the most efficient way for me to practice spoken English because mine is far better now than before.Third, it is a terrific way of socializing. I can get to know unacquainted students, and make friends with them.Therefore, it is safe to conclude that, attending English Corner has benefited me most among campus activities.1-8：BDCCCBAA9-11：CBD12-15：BCBC16-18：ADC19-21：ADA22-25：CDAB26. land on27. Sharp28. fill in for29. Probably30. Resemble31. focuses on32. specialize33. Timing34. Invented35. figured out36-45：HNKFJ ELMBG46-55：FDJCI MBHEG56-65：ACBDB DDABCTranslationThe Internet community in China develops fastest in the world. China has about 420 million netizens in 2010, and the number is still growing rapidly. The increasing popularity of Internet has produced a significant social changc. The Chinese netizens are often different from the American netizens. Driven by practical needs, American netizens often use the Internet to send emails, buy and sell goods, do research, plan trips or pay for the bills. While Chinese netizens use the Internet more out of social reasons, therefore, the Internet is more widely used in forums, blogs, chat rooms, and so on.。

请配套英语四级听力第三套1.W: Simon,could you return the tools I lent youfor building the bookshelf last month?M: Oh,well, I hate to tell you this, but I can'tseem to find them.Q: Whatdo we learn from the conversation?2.W: I amgoing to Martha's house. I have a paper to complete. And I need to usehercomputer.M: Whydon't you buy one yourself? Think howmuch time you could save.Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?3.W: Daddy,I've decided to give up science and go to business school.M: Well, it is yourchoice as long as you pay your own way, but I should warn you that noteveryonewith a business degre e will make a successful manager.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?4.W: I justread in the newspaper that The Lord of the Rings is this year's greatest hit.Whydon't we go and see it at the Gr and Cinema?M: Don'tyou think that cinema is a little out of the way?Q: Whatdoes the man mean?5.W: Bobsaid that Seattle is a great place for conferences.M: He iscertainly in the position to make that comment. He has been there so often.Q: Whatdoes the man say about Bob?6.W: Mr.Watson, I wonder whether it's possible for me to take a vacation early nextmonth?M: Didyou fill out a request form?Q: Whatis the probable relationship between the two speakers?7.M: Do youwant to go to the lecture this weekend? I hear that the guy who is goingtodeliver the lecture spent a year livi ng in the rainforest.W: Great,I am doing a report on the rainforest. Maybe I can get some new informationtoadd to it.Q: Whatdoes the woman mean?8.M: Thisarticle is nothing but advertising for housing developers. I don't think thehouses forsale are half that good.W: Comeon, David. Why so negative? We are thinking of buying a home, aren't we? Justatrip to look at the place won't c ost us much.Q: What can be inferredfrom the conversation?【05分15秒】Conversation OneM: OK. Now we'd better make sure you enjoyyour studies. We offer a wide range ofoptions onthe foundation course, but you can only take fivecourses. What haveyou selected?W:Physical sciences, basic electronics, art and design CAD...M: Oh, right.CAD and English. That's quite strange. Don't you want to do maths,orcomputer programming, for example? Why did you choose art and design?W: Well,I'm interested in electronics and in writing computer games. I'd like toproduceeducational software and educational games. I've taught myself a lot ofprogramming. So I don'tthink I'd benefit much from a foundation level course.M: Oh,no. I see that. Go on, please.W: So, Iwant the basics-the physical science and electronics. I was hopeless at physicsinschool and we didn't have electronics. But I was good at maths. I don'tthink I need that.M: Thenwhat about the art and design?W: Thatwill be good for my graphics. I need that to produce games，and CAD too-I'venever done CAD before.M: Right.They've got some powerful packages in the computer graphics and CAD offices.You'llenjoy that. Then English. I know your English is very good, but why did youtake it?W: Infact, I don't have any problem in speaking, but my writing is terrible.M: Then I suggest you join the study skills class. They'll have lectures on reportwriting andthat may help you with how to structure your essays and so on.W: Right. That sounds good.9. Whatare the two speakers talking about?10. Whatis the woman's favorite course?11. Why did the woman takean English course?【08分05秒】Conversation TwoW: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. I'm Diana Huston.M: Good morning. What can I do for you?W: I'm acollege student. I'm taking a business course which needs three weeks'workexperience. My lecturer, Mr. Armstrong, suggested I contact you as you'veallowedstudents before to practice in your company. I've brought a letter ofreference from Mr.Armstrong for you.M:Thanks. Yes, our company has a good relationship with the university. We've hadmanystudents here over the past years. We usually take students who are in thesecond half of theircourses. What about you?W: I'malmost at the halfway mark. I've got some exams in two weeks. Then I'll beready tostart before the beginning of the second semester. But I thought I'dget this organized beforethe exams start.M: That'sa very responsible way of thinking. It's a good idea to get in early. I'm suretherewill be many students soon.W: Icould start in three weeks if you like.M: Do youunderstand what's involved in the practice?W: Ithink so. Mr. Armstrong explained the procedures to us. I have to work regularhours,and write a comprehensive report on what I've learnt as an assignmentfor Mr. Armstrong andthe personnel department of the company as well. And youwill send a report about my work toMr. Armstrong and that will also be part ofmy assessment.M: That'sright. But I'll have to discuss this application with the personneldepartment.And I will let you know as soon as possible if you've been accepted.W: Yes, please. If I'm not accepted, I'll have to apply somewhere else.12.What's the woman's main purpose of the visit?13. Which kind of students will the company usually accept?14. Whatwould the man do for the woman's practice if she were accepted?15. When will the woman's practice begin?【11分10秒】Passage OneIn thenext few decades, people are going to travel very differently from the way theydo today. Everyone is going to drive electrically-powered cars, so in the fewyears, people won't worry about running out of gas. Some of the largeautomobile companies are really moving ahead with this new technology. F& CMotors, a major auto company, for example, is holding apress conference nextweek. After the press conference, the company will present its newelectronically-operated models. Transportation in the future won't be limited to the ground. Many people predict that traffic will quickly move to the sky. Inthe coming years, instead of radio reports about road conditions and highwaytraffic, news reports will talk about traffic jams in the sky. But the skyisn't the limit. In the future, you will probably even be able to take a tripto the moon. Instead of listening to regular airplane announcements, you willhear someone say: the spacecraft to the moon leaves in ten minutes. Please check your equipment. And remember no more than ten ounces of carry-onbaggage are allowed.16. What will be used to power cars in the next few decades?17. What will future news reports focus on when talking about transportation?18. What will passengers be asked to do when they travel to the moon?【14分05秒】Passage TwoCountyfairs are a tradition in New England towns. They offer great entertainment. Onepopular event is the pie-eating contest. If you want to take part in thecontest, it is a good idea to remember these guidelines: first, make sure yourstomach is nearly empty of food. Eating a whole pie can be hard if you havejust finished a meal. Next, it is helpful to like the pie you are going to eat.The cream types are a good choice. They slide down the throat more easily. Placingyour hands in the right position adds to the chances of winning. There is atemptation to reach out and help the eating process. This will result inbecoming disqualified. Don't just sit on your hands, if your hands are tiedbehind your back, you will not be tempted to make use of them. Now you areready to show your talent at eating pies. The object, of course, is to get tothe bottom of the pie plate before the other people. It is usually better tostart at the outside and work toward the middle. This method gives you a goalto focus on. Try not to notice what the other people near you are doing. Letthe cheers from the crowd spur you on. But do not look up. All you should thinkabout is eating that pie.19. Whereis the pie-eating contest usually held?20. Whatshoulda person do before entering a pie-eating contest?21. Whereis the person advised to put his hands during the contest?22. Whatsuggestion is offered for eating up the pie quickly?【16分53秒】Passage ThreeTheperiod of engagement is the time between the marriage proposal and the weddingceremony. Two people agree to marry when they decide to spend their livestogether. The man usually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring. Thattradition is said to have started when an Austrian man gave a diamond ring tothe woman he wanted to marry. The diamond represented beauty. He placed it onthe third finger of her left hand. He chose that finger because it was thoughtthat the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart. Today we knowthat this is not true, yet the tradition continues. Americans generally areengaged for a period of about one year if they are planning a wedding ceremonyand a party. During this time, friends of the bride may hold a party at whichwomen friends and family members give the bride gifts that she will need as awife. These could include cooking equipment or new clothing. Friends of the manwho is gettingmarried may have a bachelor party for him. This usually takesplace the night before the wedding. Only men are invited to the bachelor party.During the marriage ceremony, the bride and her would-be husband usuallyexchange gold rings that represent the idea that their union will continueforever. The wife often wears both the wedding ring and the engagement ring onthe same finger. The husband wears his ring on the third finger of his lefthand. Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to permit enoughtime to plan the wedding. But the main purpose is to let enough time pass, sothe two people are sure they want to marry each other. Either person may decideto break the engagement, if this happens, the woman usually returns the ring tothe man. They also return any wedding gifts they have received.23. Whatwas the diamond ring said to represent?24. Whydid the Austrian man place the diamond ring on the third finger of the lefthand of his would-be wife?25. What is the chiefadvantage of having the engagement period?【20分10秒】Section CIn the centerof a big city there are usually dozens of large office buildings that house bigbanks, corporation headquarters, and government agencies. Thousands of peoplework in these buildings. People who do all the office work are calledwhite-collar workers. Secretaries and receptionists, bookkeepers and computeroperators work for many different kinds of companies. Many office workers dreamof working their way up to the top, from clerk to president of a corporation. Theway lies through middle management. Middle management includes juniorexecutives, who may fill specialized jobs, supervise other workers in thecompany, recommend action to top management, or see that the company's policiesare being carried out. At the very top are the senior executives. Theyestablish the policies for their own companies, especially financial matters. TheChief Executive Officer, or CEO, of a large corporation has a great deal ofpower and influence. It is believed that one can start out at the bottom and goall the way to the top. Because financial matters are so important, someaccountants become top executives. In companies where technology is important, peoplewith an engineering background can also rise to the top. Nowadays, however,education plays a central part in the selection of people for management jobs. Universitiesin many countries offer courses in business administration. The graduates ofthese courses often start out in middle management jobs. From there, they caneasily get promoted if they show the necessary personality and ability.答案：Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A1.A2.C3.A4.B5.B6.D7.C8.A9.C 10.A 11.D 12.B 13.D 14.A 15.ASection B16.A 17.B 18.C 19.D 20.B 21.C 22.C 23.B 24.D 25.CSection C26.Secretaries 27.president 28.specialized 29.recommend 30.being carried out 31.establish 32.financialmatters 33.corporation 34.plays a central part 35.personality。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试听力原文(完整版) 2014年12月20日全国大学英语四级考试开考，本次考试为多题多卷，文都教育第一时间收集整理不同版本试题，供考生参考，以下是2014年12月英语四级听力原文：【短对话原文】1. M: take a look at this cater. Maybe we can find some gifts for Jean’snew 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, a ren’t you ? Let’s begin on Page 55.W: Sorry. I am afraid I can begin right now.Q: What mean from the conversation?4. W: remember. Carl’s arriving is at 226W: 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 amafraid 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 to 5 tomorrow.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?8 W: what’s wrong? You smell like a fish.M:......Q: what’s man mean?M:......Q: what’s man mean?【长对话原文】Conversation 1M: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 much. Mr. Comona 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?Conversation 2M: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 writin g 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 c hance I may sell this article to a newsservice.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】Passage 1Body 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 b ecause 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 feel s towards each other.Italians might think your bored unless you us e a lot of gestures during discussions.Many American men sit withtheir legs crossed with one ankle resting over the opposite knee. However,this would be considered an insult in Muslim countries,w here one will never show the sole of the foot to a gust.Likewise, Americans consider eye contact very important,often not trusting so meone who is afraid to look at you in the eye.But in Japan and m any Latin American countries,keeping the eyes lowered is a sign of respect.To look apart in the eye is considered a sign of ill breedi ng and is felt to be annoying.Q16:What gesture do Bulgarians and Greeks use to express neg ative responses?Q17:What is likely to offend Arab business people?Q18:What is considered impolite in Muslim countries?2014年12月四级考试选词填空原文及答案大学英语四级考试在2014年12月20日上午已经结束了，文都教育为大家搜集整理了英语四级选词填空的原文及答案，供大家参考。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第3套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions：For this part，you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about a campus activity that has benefited you most. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words．Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)略Part ⅢReading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefullybefore making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark thecorresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You maynot use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For decades, Americans have taken for granted the United States' position in the development of new technologies. The innovations (创新) resulted from research and development during World War II and afterwards were __36__ to the prosperity of the nation in the second half of the 20th century. Those innovations, upon which virtually all aspects of __37__ society now depend, were possible because the United States __38__ then the world in mathematics and science education. Today, however, despite increasing demand for workers with strong skills in mathematics and science, the __39__ of degrees awarded in science, math, and engineering are decreasing.The decline in degree production in what are called the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math) seems to be __40__ related to the comparatively weak performance by U.S. schoolchildren on international assessments of math and science. Many students entering college have weak skills in mathematics. According to the 2005 report of the Business-Higher Education Forum, 22 percent of college freshmen must take remedial (补习的) math __41__. and less than half of the students who plan to major in science or engineering __42__ complete a major in those fields.The result has been a decrease in the number of American college graduates who have the skills, __43__ in mathematics, to power a workforce that can keep the country at the forefront (前沿) of innovation and maintain its standard of living. With the __44__ performance of American students in math and science has come increased competition from students from other countries that have strongly supported education in these areas. Many more students earn __45__ in the STEM disciplines in developing countries, especially China, than in the United States.A)acceleratingB)actuallyC)closelyD)contemporaryE)coursesF)criticalG)decliningH) degrees I)especially J)futureK)ledL)metM)procedures N)proportions O)spheresSection 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 theinformation is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked witha letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Ban sugary drinks that will add fuel to the obesity warA)On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. He was pale anddisfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity(肥胖的)leads to many nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him, including a couple of fatty children with swollen checks pressing against their eyes. These people are part of what is without exaggeration an epidemic(流行病)of obesity.B)But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea- far from new- that could spare millions of such people alifetime of chronic(长期的)ill health, and at the same time save the National Health Service(NHS)at least ￡14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, be considerable public interest in it.This simple idea is that sugar is as good- or as bad- as poison and should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 years ago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us.C)In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction(瘾), tohormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic(新陈代谢的)malfunctions and obesity and from there to type 2 diabetes(糖尿病)and its many horrible complication. If people really grasped that, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the ― fat man of Europe‖ . They might even feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadly stuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance.D)It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests(既得利益集团)lined up against any sugar control- all thefood and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easy pickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normally side, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in our lives.E)That is true, but people should realize that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state(保姆国家),to some degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another’s health insurance, through socialized medicine, then we are all closely involved in one another’s health, including everyone’s eating and drinking.That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yet to be admitted with overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and that number is predicted to double by the year 2050.Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripple the NHS.F)Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the alarm. Lastmonth the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges(AMRC)published a report saying that obesity is the greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something.G)The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of 20 percent on sugary drinks forat least a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. As Professor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are ―the ultimate bad food. You are just consuming neat sugar.Your body didn’t evolve to handle this kind of thing.‖H)Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt(which are very different)pale into insignificant comparedwith the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere.I)It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, fish or vegetables, thatdoesn’t have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailing scientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as the really serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity.J)The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not very appetizing, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavor enhancer, often in the forms of syrups(糖浆)that had recently been developed from corn, and put it generously into most prepared foods and soft drinks.K)This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body’s metabolism, possibly via the activity of an appetite-controlling hormone. There’s plenty of evidence for this, for those who will accept the truth.L)Theoretically, people ought to make “healthy choices”and avoid overeating. But sugar additives are not easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, over-drinking and over eating that makes people fat is not really their own fault: obesity is in large part something that is being done to them. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it.M)Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all the poisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They are poisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving small children sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse.N)Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation. But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools and banning vending machines(自动售货机)here and there —as suggested try the AMRC report — is not going to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning high levels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks.O)In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the food industry and had not ruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However, nothing has happened yet.Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it.46.Avoiding over-consumption of sugar can improve people’s health as w ell as save medical expenses．47. Laws should be passed to make it illegal to produce overly sweet foods or drinks．48.Giving small children sweet juices to drink all the time is equal to child abuse．49．Looking around．the author found obesity quite widespread．50．The number of obese people is expected to increase quickly in the next few decades51．If people really understood the horrible consequences of sugary foods and drinks，they would support government measures against sugar consumption.52．It would be a very good beginning to impose an additional tax on sugary drinks53. The government has not yet taken any action to regulate sugar consumption although it Indicated its intention to do so some time ago．54．Sugar is far more harmful to health than fat and salt55．Consumers of sweet foods are not really to blame because they cannot tell what food is sugary．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 onthe best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through thecentre.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 impacts 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 lackInternet access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But if the book has one major shortcomin g, it’s that authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes —and more importantly predicts —how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the idea that “technology is neutral, but people aren’t.”By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对立观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they’re also realistic about the ri sks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance(监视).56．In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?A) It transforms human historyB)It facilitates daily communication．C)It is adopted by all humanity．D)It revolutioniz es people’s thinking．57. How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the internet ?A)They are immeasurableB)They are worldwide．C)They are un predictable．D)They ale contaminating．58. In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate?A)It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology.B)It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet.C) It 1acks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses.D) It does not address the technical aspects of Internet communication.59. What will the future be like when everybody gets online?A)People will be living in two different realities．B)People will have equal access to information．C)People don’t have to travel to see the world．D)People don't have to communicate face to face60. What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age?A)They leave many questions unanswered concerning the InternetB)They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution．C)They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world．D)They don't take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet．Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.In 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry. And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage(抵押贷款)payments on an average home with just 13.4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly eamings.Other members of the autoworker’s family, however might be less inclined to tried the present f or the past.His retired parents would certainly have had less economic security back then. Through-out much of the 1960s, more than a quarter of men and women and women age 65 and older lived below the poverty level, compared to less than 10 percent in 2010.In most stales, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection against family violence.Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的人),white racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying into the suburban neighborhoods being built for white working –class families.Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past. Some people may long for an era when divorce was still hard to come by. The spread of no -fault divorce has reduced the bargaining power of whichever spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakup of such marriages has caused pain for many families.The growing diversity of family life comes with new possibilities as well as new challenges. According to a recent poll, more than 80 percent of Americans believe that their current family is as close as the one in which they grew up, or closer. Finding ways to imaginary golden age.61. What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950?A)They had less job security than they do today．B)It was not too difficult for them to buy a house．C)Their earning were worth twice as much as today．D)They were better off than workers in other industries．62.What does the author say about retired people today?A)They invariably long to return to the golden past．B)They do not depend so much on social welfare.C)They feel more secure economically than in the past．D)They are usually unwilling to live with their children63 Why couldn't black workers buy a house in a white suburban neighborhood?A)They lacked the means of transportation．B)They were subjected to racial inequality．C)They were afraid to break the law．D)They were too poor to afford it．64．What is the result of no-fault divorce?A)Divorce is easier to obtain．B)Domestic violence is lessenedC)It causes little pain to either side．D)It contributes to social unrest65 What does the author suggest society do?A)Get prepared to face any new challenges．B)Try to better the current social security net．C)Narrow the gap between blacks and whites．D)Improve the lives of families with problems．Part ⅣTranslation (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.大熊猫(giant panda)是一种温顺的动物，长着独特的黑白皮毛。

2014年12月英语四级听力真题短文（三篇）2014年12月英语四级已经结束，接下来带大家回顾本次听力真题，同时为大家提供2014年12月英语四级听力真题及答案，供大家参考！Passage 1Scientists know how twins were born, now though, they are trying to explain how being half of the biological pair influences a twin’s identity. They want to know why many identical twins make similar choices even when they don’t leave near each other. For example, Jim Springer and Jim Louis are identical twins. They were separatedwhen they were only 4 months old. The two Jims grew up in different families and did not meet for 39 years. When they finally met, they discovered some surprising similarities between them. Both men were married twice, their first wives were named Linda, and their second wives were both named Betty. Both twins named their first sons James Allen. Scientists want to know what influences are personality. They study pairs of identical twins who grew up in different surroundings, like Jim Springer and Jim Louis. These twins help scientists understand the connection between environment and biology. Researchers at the University of Minnesota, studies 350 sets of identical twins who did not grow up together. They discovered many similarities in their personalities. Scientists believed that personality characteristics such as friendliness, shyness and fears are not result of environment. These characteristics are probably inherited. Scientists continue to study identical twins because they are uncertain about them and have many questions. For example, they want to know ‘can twins really communicate without speaking’, ‘can one twinreally feel another twin’s pain’. Perhaps with more research, scientists will find the answers.16. What are scientists trying to explain according to the passage?17. What do we learn about the twin Jims?18. Why are scientists interested in studying identical twins raised in different families?Passage 2Today I’m going to talk about tents. Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday. And each year, over 3 million people take camping vocations, either here in Britain or aboard, mostly on the continent. Obviously, camping can’t be as comfortable as living in a permanent house, but modern tents can be very comfortable indeed, with windows, bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The most popular tent sold in Britain is the frame tent with 2 bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for 4 people. There is usually an outer tent of water-proofed fabric and a lighter inner tent or tents with a built-in ground sheet. The outer tent fits over the frame work. This is made of metal poles which are fitted together. The inner tent is attached to this frame. Generally, the inner tent is about half the area of the outer tent. The other half of the outer tent is the living area. This doesn’t usually have a ground sheet but you can buy one to fit, though it costs extra. The ordinary 4 bed frame tent doesn’t usually have a separate kitchen area, but the larger ones often do. You can buy a kitchen extension for m any tents, and it’s worth buying one if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days.19. What does the speaker say about camping?20. What does the passage tell us about the most populartent sold in Britain?21. What does the speaker suggest buying if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days?Passage 3Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world, is located high in the mountains between France and Spain. The country covers only 179 square miles. That is less than half the size of New York City. High, rocky mountains surround Andorra. Until the 1930s, travelers had difficulty in reaching the country. Up until that time, people in Andorra lived in the way they had lived for centuries. Most Andorrans worked as farmers. Things did not change quickly. When roads were built from France and Spain to Andorra in the 1930s, life picked up speed. Tourist began to visit the small country. These tourists brought in a lot of money to spend while visiting. Many people in Andorra found new jobs in shops or hotels. These changes helped to keep young people in Andorra. There were many more jobs than before the roads were built. Today tourists provided 80 to 90 percent of Andorra’s income. More than a million people visit each year. They come to view the rough mountains. They enjoy the quiet way of life. Most people are also interested in the ancient buildings. There are many shops for tourists to browse in, clothes, watches, wines and other items are sold at low prices in Andorra. Import fees are low, so tourists enjoy the inexpensive shopping. Most of the businesses in Andorra are owned by its citizens. There are not many foreign businesses. Some Andorrans still farm and raise sheep and cattle. But most are now involved with the tourist trade.22. How big does the speaker say Andorra is?23. What can be said about Andorra before the 1930s?24. What event changed the situation in Andorra?25. What do most people do in Andorra do nowadays?。

【短对话听力原文】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 Page 55. W: Sorry. I am afraid I can begin right now.Q: What mean from the conversation?4. W: remember. Carl’s arriving is at 226W: 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 f all sleep at least to 5 tomorrow.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?8 W: what’s wrong? You smell like a fish.M:......Q: what’s man mean?Long conversationsConversation 1Man: Do you think there's discrimination against women in England today? Woman: Certainly, and not just in education and work either, in many otherfields as well. The tax situation for women is very unfair, for example.Man: Are women better off in other countries then?Woman: It depends on the country. There's certainly much less discrimination in Scandinavia, and maybe in America, too.Man: Do you think the position of English women will improve?Woman: In some ways it will of course. I'm sure more women will go out to work in the next 20 years. But the women have a much greater problem than this to solve.Man: What's that?Women: The problem of men's attitudes. We can earn more money in the future, but I'm not sure we can change men' attitudes. You see, most men really think that women are inferior. Maybe we are physically weaker, but I don't think this means we are inferior. Then there's another problem.Man: Yes?Women: The problem of women's attitudes. Lots of women are unhappy with their present situation, but most of them probably don't want to fight for change. It could be that the women's liberation movement has to spend more time changing women's attitudes than it spends in changing men's.Man: One last question, some supporters of the woman's liberation movement believed that marriages should be abolished. You agree?Women: No, I don't. It can't happen. What may and should happen is that we teach men to spend more time looking after children and doing housework.9. Where are women said to be less discrimina ted against?10. What will happen in England in 20 years according to the conversation?11. What does the woman think the women's liberation movement should do?Conversation 2Man: Cheers, ShirleyWomen: Cheers, Paul. What a lovely place for a business lunch. I hope I can concentrate in this heat.Man: I will sure you will when I tell you about my ideas.Woman: You know, I must say I was pleased to hear from you, but from what you said on the phone, everything is so sudden.Man: Well, my father-in-law, who is also the managing director of Jayal Motors, has given me two weeks to prepare a report on the possibility of moving into theexport market.Woman: Ah, now, just one thing Paul. Have you really thought the whole idea through?Man: Of course I have.Woman: Now the key thing in the whole operation is to get a good import agent, and you say the bank will help?Man: I'm almost sure of it.Woman: Preliminary studies are very good, Paul. But if the product can't sell, then there's little use in expanding the factory.Man: Yes, I realize that, Shirley. But we have a very good product. The chief designer has just comple ted a new improved model.Woman: I know your bikes have a very good reputation here, but you have to build up a reputation and mark it in Africa.Man: Yes, of course. But the immediate problem is that my father-in-law wants a detailed report by next Monday. Two weeks isn't enough time to prepare a report, so I need your help.Woman: OK, Paul, you've convinced me. I must say I admire your determination.12. Where does the conversation most probably take place?13. What do we learn about the men's father-in-law?14. What does the woman think is important in the whole operation?15. What does the woman admire in the man?【短文理解听力原文】Passage 1Body 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 bec ause 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, signalsthe 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?Passage 2Today I’m going to talk about tents. Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday. And each year, over 3 million people take camping vocations, either here in Britain or aboard, mostly on the continent. Obviously, camping can’t be as comfortable as living in a permanent house, but modern tents can be very comfortable indeed, with windows, bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The most popular tent sold in Britain is the frame tent with 2 bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for 4 people. There is usually an outer tent ofwater-proofed fabric and a lighter inner tent or tents with a built-in ground sheet. The outer tent fits over the frame work. This is made of metal poles which are fit ted together. The inner tent is attached to this frame. Generally, the inner tent is about half the area of the outer tent. The other half of the outer tent is the living area. This doesn’t usually have a ground sheet but you can buy one to fit, though it costs extra. The ordinary 4 bed frame tent doesn’t usually have a separate kitchen area, but the larger ones often do. You can buy a kitchenex tension for many tents, and it’s worth buying one if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days.19. What does the speaker say about camping?20. What does the passage tell us about the most popular tent sold in Britain?21. What does the speaker suggest buying if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days?Passage 3Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world, is loca ted high in the mountains between France and Spain. The country covers only 179 square miles. That is less than half the size of New York City. High, rocky mountains surround Andorra. Until the 1930s, travelers had difficulty in reaching the country. Up until that time, people in Andorra lived in the way they had lived for centuries. Most Andorrans worked as farmers. Things did not change quickly. When roads were built from France and Spain to Andorra in the 1930s, life picked up speed. Tourist began to visit the small country. These tourists brought in a lot of money to spend while visiting. Many people in Andorra found new jobs in shops or hotels. These changes helped to keep young people in Andorra. There were many more jobs than before the roads were built. Today tourists provided 80 to 90 percent of Andorra’s income. More than a million people visit each year. They come to view the rough mountains. They enjoy the quiet way of life. Most people are also interested in the ancient buildings. There are many shops for tourists to browse in, clothes, watches, wines and other items are sold at low prices in Andorra. Import fees are low, so tourists enjoy the inexpensive shopping. Most of the businesses in Andorra are owned by its citizens. There are not many foreign businesses. Some Andorrans still farm and raise sheep and cattle. But most are now involved with the tourist trade.22. How big does the speaker say Andorra is?23. What can be said about Andorra before the 1930s?24. What event changed the situation in Andorra?25. What do most people do in Andorra do nowadays?。

2014年12月英语四级听力真题(1-3套试题-原文-答案)2014年12月英语四级听力真题第一套(试题+原文+答案) 试题Section A1.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.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.3.A) The man wants to make some change 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.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.5.A) The man was in charge of schedulingmeetings.B) The man was absent from the weekly meeting.C) They woman was annoyed at the man’s excuse.D) The woman forgot to tell the man in advance.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 works in the physical education department.C) The woman has the potential to swim like a fish.D) He would like to teach the woman how to swim.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) He teaches in a law school.B) He loves classical music.C) He is a diplomat.D) He is a wonderful lecturer.10.A) Went to see a play.B) Watched a soccer game.C) Took some photos.D) Attended a dance.11.A) She decided to get married in three years.B) Her mother objected to Eric’s flying lessons.C) She insisted that Eric pursue graduate studies.D) Her father said she could marry Eric right away.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) Editor.B) Teacher.C) Journalist.D) Typist.13.A) The beautiful Amazon rainforests.B) A new railway under construction.C) Big changes in the Amazon valley.D) Some newly discovered scenic spot.A) In news weeklies.B) In newspapers’ Sunday editions.C) In a local evening paper.D) In overseas editions of U.S. magazines.15.A) To be employed by a newspaper.B) To become a professional writer.C) To sell her articles to news service.D) To get her life story published soon.Section BPassage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the conversation you have just heard.16.A) Nodding one’s head.B) Waving one’s hand.C) Holding up the forefinger.D) Turning the right thumb down.17.A) Looking away from them.B) Forming a circle with fingers.C) Bowing one’s head to them.D) Waving or pointing to them.18.A) Looking one’s superior in the eye.B) Keeping one’s arms folded while talking.C) Showing the sole of one’s foot to a guest.D) Using a lot of gestures during a conversation.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) They had to beg for food after the harvest.B) They grew wheat and corn on a small farm.C) They shared a small flat with theirrelatives.D) The children walked to school on dirt roads.20.A) Tour Ecuador’s Andes Mountains.B) Earn an animal income of $2,800.C) Purchase a plot to build a home on.D) Send their children to school.21.A) The achievements of the Trickle Up Program.B) A new worldwide economic revolution.C) Different forms of assistance to the needy.D) The life of poor people in developing countries.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) They are highly sensitive to cold.B) They are vitally important to our life.C) They are a living part of our body.D) They are a chief source of our pain.23.A) It has to be removed in time by a dentist.B) It is a rare oral disease among old people.C) It contains many nerves and blood vessels.D) It is a sticky and colorless film on the teeth.24.A) It can change into acids causing damage to their outer covering.B) It greatly reduces their resistance to the attacks of bacteria.C) It makes their nerves and blood vessels more sensitive to acid food.D) It combines with food particles to forma film on their surface.25.A) Food particles.B) Gum disease.C) Unhealthy living habits.D) Chemical erosion.Section CStunt 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__ enemies’jaws. Sword fights must be fought with __27__ swords. Several actors arc 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, stunt peopleusually __28__ the stars. You may think you see Tom Cruise running along the top of a train. But it is __29__ his stunt double. Stunt people must __30__ the stars they stand in for. Their height and build should be about the same. But when close-ups are needed, the film __31__ the star. Some stunt people __32__ 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__.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__ the famous trick of sliding under a moving stagecoach. Canutt also __35__ a new way to make a punch look real. He was the only stunt man ever to get an Oscar.答案1.B2.D3.C4.C5.C6.B7.A8.A9.C10.B11.D12.B13.C14.B15.C16.A17.D18.C19.A20.D21.A22.C23.D24.A25.B26. land on27. sharp28. fill in for29. probably30. resemble31. focuses on32. specialize33. timing34. invented35. figured out2014年12月英语四级听力真题第二套(试题+原文+答案)听力试题Section A1.A) He was ordered to clear the apartment by his mother last time.B) He has not cleared the apartment since his mother’s visit.C) He has cleared the apartment several times since his mother’s visiting.D) He asked his mother to clear the apartment last time.2.A) They might as well catch the coming bus.B) They will also miss the next bus.C) They might as well take the next bus.D) They hurry up to catch the coming bus.3.A) She asked for a sick leave because of neck pain.B) Mrs. Smith will take over her work for several days.C) She has to do extra work for a few days.D) Mrs. Smith was too busy to take over her work.4.A) Change her job.B) Sell her cafeteria.C) Plant flowers.D) Wash dishes.5.A) He remembered to take the package to the post office.B) He was told to have something wrong with his mind.C) He is a deliver man working in the postoffice.D) He failed to do what he promised to do.6.A) The woman has a rule to select horror films.B) The woman does not like horror films.C) The woman cares much for horror films.D) The woman like the film the man mentioned.7.A) The speakers disagree with each other about love.B) Love in the woman’s eye is happy and sweet.C) The speakers share a common view on love.D) Love hurts the man from time to time.8.A) Preparations for a forum.B) Preparations for an interview.C) Preparations for a banquet.D) Preparations for making chairs.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) England.B) Scandinavia.C) South America.D) Scotland.10.A) More women will stay at home.B) More women will run for higher posts.C) Marriages will be abolished.D) More women will work outside the family.11.A) Spending more time improving women’s income.B) Spending more time changing men’s attitudes.C) Spending more time improving marriagequality.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 meeting room.C) In an office.D) In a factory.13.A) He is a salesman of J.R. Motors.B) He is the boss of the restaurant.C) He is the Managing Director of J.R. Motors.D) He is the managing director of the big factory.14.A) To get a good export agent.B) To expand the factory.C) To get a good import agent.D) To design a new product.15.A) His family background.B) His reputation.C) His designing talent.D) His determination.Section BPassage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the conversation you have just heard.16.A) How being an identical twin influences one’s identity.B) How twins are born and have the same identity.C) Why many identical twins make different choices.D) Why many identical twins don’t live near each other.17.A) They didn’t meet each other for 4 months.B) They grew up in different surroundings.C) They were separated when they are 39 years old.D) They all have two wives and two daughters.18.A) They want to find out the relationship between environment and biology.B) They want to find out the connection between hobby and personalities.C) They want to find out the connection between surroundings and personality characteristics.D) They want to find out the connection between communication and talents.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) It isn’t one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday.B) It is the most comfortable ways of spending a holiday.C) It is the most popular ways of having a holiday.D) It is an inexpensive way of spending a holiday.20.A) It is the frame tent for two people.B) It consists of an inner and an outer tent.C) It is the kind of the outer tent with a ground sheet.D) It is comfortable with windows, kitchens and sitting rooms.21.A) A ground sheet.B) A bedroom extension.C) A kitchen extension.D) A water-proof sheet.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) It covers 179 square miles.B) It is larger than New York City.C) It is located between France and Italy.D) It only covers 197 square miles.23.A) Travelers were easy to reach the country.B) The living way of the people changed quickly.C) It has a small number of farmer population.D) It was cut off from the rest of the world.24.A) The investment of tourism from its neighboring countries.B) The lowest import fees for tourists cheapest shopping.C) The building of roads connecting it with neighboring countries.D) The permission to visit so many ancient buildings.25.A) They work in foreign business.B) They work in the tourist industry.C) They farm and raise sheep.D) They work in transportation industry.Section CDon’t take many English courses, they won’t help you get a decent job. Sign up for management classes, so you will be ready to join the family business when you graduate.Sound __26__? Many of us have heard suggestions like these __27__ by parents or others close to us. Such comments often seem quite reasonable. Why then? Should suggestions like these be taken with __28__? The reason is they relate to the decisions you should make. You are the one who must 29 their consequences. One of the worst reasons to follow a particular path in life is that other people want you to. Decisions that affect your life should be your decisions. Decisions you make after you’ve considered various __30__ and chosen the path that suits you best. Making your own decisions does not mean that you should __31__ the suggestions of others. For instance, your parents do have their own unique experiences that may make their advice helpful and having __32__ in a great deal of your personal history. They may have a clear view of your strength and weaknesses. Still, their views are not necessarily accurate.They may still see you as a child __33__ caring and protection. Or they may see only your strength, or in some unfortunate cases they may __34__ only your flaws and shortcomings. People will always be giving your advice, ultimately though, you have to make your own __35__.听力原文1.Woman: When was the last time you dusted the apartment?Man: When was the last time my mother came over?Question: What does the man imply?2.Woman: Hurry up Mark, there’s a bus coming now.Man: Why run? There’ll be another one in 2 or 3 minutes.Question: What does the man mean?3.Man: Laura, it seems that you are up to your neck in work, how come you’ve been so busy? Woman: Ms Smith has asked for a sick leave, and I have to take over her work for a couple of days.Question: What do we learn about the woman?4.Woman: Washing dishes at the cafeteria every day is really boring.Man: Why don’t you quit and deliver the flowers with me?Question: What does the man suggest the woman do?5.Woman: Rod, you said you’d take this package to the post office yesterday.Man: Oh, no, it must have slipped my mind. Question: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?6.Man: I’m not surprised that you didn’t like that movie. I find it really scary myself. Woman: So did I. I don’t care much for horror movies as a rule.Question: What do we learn from the conversation?7.Man: My life experience tells me that love is filled with happiness but it hurts you too. Woman: Your words remind me of the saying honey is sweet but the bee stings. Question: What do we learn from the conversation?8.Man: How many more chairs should I bring in for the forum, six or seven?Woman: Bring in all you can find. I’m expecting at least 20 participants. Question: What are the speakers talking about?Conversation 1Man: Do you think there’s discrimination against women in England today?Woman: Certainly, and not just in education and work either, in many other fields as well. The tax situation for women is very unfair, for example.Man: Are women better off in other countries then?Woman: It depends on the country. There’s certainly much less discrimination in Scandinavia, and maybe in America, too. Man: Do you think the position of English women will improve?Woman: In some ways it will of course. I’m sure more women will go out to work in the next 20 years. But the women have a much greater problem than this to solve.Man: What’s that?Women: The problem of men’s attitudes. We can earn more money in the future, but I’m not sure we can change men’ attitudes. You see, most men really think that women areinferior. Maybe we are physically weaker, but I don’t think this means we are inferior. Then there’s another problem.Man: Yes?Women: The problem of women’s attitudes. Lots of women are unhappy with their present situation, but most of them probably don’t want to fight for change. It could be that the women’s liberation movement has to spend more time changing women’s attitudes than it spends in changing men’s.Man: One last question, some supporters of the woman’s liberation movement believed that marriages should be abolished. You agree?Women: No, I don’t. It can’t happen. What may and should happen is that we teach men to spend more time looking after children and doing housework.9. Where are women said to be less discriminated against?10. What will happen in England in 20 years according to the conversation?11. What does the woman think the women’s liberation movement should do?Conversation 2Man: Cheers, ShirleyWomen: Cheers, Paul. What a lovely place for a business lunch. I hope I can concentrate in this heat.Man: I will sure you will when I tell you about my ideas.Woman: You know, I must say I was pleased to hear from you, but from what you said on the phone, everything is so sudden.Man: Well, my father-in-law, who is also the managing director of J.R. Motives, has given me two weeks to prepare a report on the possibility of moving into the export market. Woman: Ah, now, just one thing Paul. Have you really thought the whole idea through? Man: Of course I have.Woman: Now the key thing in the whole operation is to get a good import agent, and you say the bank will help?Man: I’m almost sure of it.Woman: Preliminary studies are very good, Paul. But if the product can’t sell, then there’s little use in expanding the factory. Man: Yes, I realize that, Shirley. But we have a very good product. The chief designer has just completed a new improved model. Woman: I know your bikes have a very good reputation here, but you have to build up a reputation and mark it in Africa.Man: Yes, of course. But the immediate problem is that my father-in-law wants a detailed report by next Monday. Two weeks isn’t enough time to prepare a report, so I need your help.Woman: OK, Paul, you’ve convinced me. I must say I admire your determination.12. Where does the conversation mostprobably take place?13. What do we learn about the men’s father-in-law?14. What does the woman think is important in the whole operation?15. What does the woman admire in the man?Passage 1Scientists know how twins were born, now though, they are trying to explain how being half of the biological pair influences a twin’s identity. They want to know why many identical twins make similar choices even when they don’t leave near each other. For example, Jim Springer and Jim Louis are identical twins. They were separated when they were only 4 months old. The two Jims grew up in different families and did not meet for 39 years. When they finally met, they discovered some surprising similarities between them. Both men were married twice, their first wives were namedLinda, and their second wives were both named Betty. Both twins named their first sons James Allen. Scientists want to know what influences are personality. They study pairs of identical twins who grew up in different surroundings, like Jim Springer and Jim Louis. These twins help scientists understand the connection between environment and biology. Researchers at the University of Minnesota, studies 350 sets of identical twins who did not grow up together. They discovered many similarities in their personalities. Scientists believed that personality characteristics such as friendliness, shyness and fears are not result of environment. These characteristics are probably inherited. Scientists continue to study identical twins because they are uncertain about them and have many questions. For example, they want to know ‘can twins really communicate without speaking’, ‘can one twin reallyfeel another twin’s pain’. Perhaps with more research, scientists will find the answers.16. What are scientists trying to explain according to the passage?17. What do we learn about the twin Jims?18. Why are scientists interested in studying identical twins raised in different families?Passage 2Today I’m going to talk about tents. Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday. And each year, over 3 million people take camping vocations, either here in Britain or aboard, mostly on the continent. Obviously, camping can’t be as comfortable as living in a permanent house, but modern tents can be very comfortable indeed, with windows, bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The most popular tent sold in Britain is the frame tent with 2bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for 4 people. There is usually an outer tent of water-proofed fabric and a lighter inner tent or tents with a built-in ground sheet. The outer tent fits over the frame work. This is made of metal poles which are fitted together. The inner tent is attached to this frame. Generally, the inner tent is about half the area of the outer tent. The other half of the outer tent is the living area. This doesn’t usually have a ground sheet but you can buy one to fit, though it costs extra. The ordinary 4 bed frame tent doesn’t usually have a separate kitchen area, but the larger ones often do. You can buy a kitchen extension for many tents, and it’s worth buying one if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days.19. What does the speaker say about camping?20. What does the passage tell us about the most popular tent sold in Britain?21. What does the speaker suggest buying if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days?Passage 3Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world, is located high in the mountains between France and Spain. The country covers only 179 square miles. That is less than half the size of New York City. High, rocky mountains surround Andorra. Until the 1930s, travelers had difficulty in reaching the country. Up until that time, people in Andorra lived in the way they had lived for centuries. Most Andorrans worked as farmers. Things did not change quickly. When roads were built from France and Spain to Andorra in the 1930s, life picked up speed. Tourist began to visit the small country. These tourists brought in a lot of money to spend while visiting. Many people in Andorra found new jobs in shops or hotels. These changeshelped to keep young people in Andorra. There were many more jobs than before the roads were built. Today tourists provided 80 to 90 percent of Andorra’s income. More than a million people visit each year. They come to view the rough mountains. They enjoy the quiet way of life. Most people are also interested in the ancient buildings. There are many shops for tourists to browse in, clothes, watches, wines and other items are sold at low prices in Andorra. Import fees are low, so tourists enjoy the inexpensive shopping. Most of the businesses in Andorra are owned by its citizens. There are not many foreign businesses. Some Andorrans still farm and raise sheep and cattle. But most are now involved with the tourist trade.22. How big does the speaker say Andorra is?23. What can be said about Andorra before the 1930s?24. What event changed the situation inAndorra?25. What do most people do in Andorra do nowadays?clozeDictation：Compound DictationDon’t take may English courses, they won’t help you get a decent job. Sign up for management classes, so you will be ready to join the family business when you graduate. Sound familiar? Many of us have heard suggestions like these put forward by parents or others close to us. Such comments often seem quite reasonable. Why then should suggestions like these be taken with caution? The reason is they relate to the decisions you should make. You are the one who must live with their consequences. One of the worst reasons to follow a particular path in life is that other people want you to. Decisions that affect your life should be your decisions. Decisions you make afteryou’ve considered various alternatives and chosen the path that suits you best. Making your own decisions does not mean that you should ignore the suggestions of others. For instance, your parents do have their own unique experiences that may make their advice helpful and having participated in a great deal of your personal history. They may have a clear view of your strength and weaknesses. Still, their views are not necessarily accurate. They may still see you as a child, and need care and protection. Or they may see only your strength or in some unfortunate cases, they may focus only on your flaws and shortcomings. People will always be giving your advice, ultimately, though you have to make your own judgments.听力答案1. 女士问男士最近一次是什么时候为公寓除尘的，应该是嫌男士家里不干净，结果男士的回答却是那得看我妈上次是什么时候来的。

2014年12月英语四级听力真题原文(文本)Short conversations1.Woman: When was the last time you dusted the apartment?Man: When was the last time my mother came over?Question: What does the man imply?2.Woman: Hurry up Mark, there’s a bus coming now.Man: Why run? T here’ll be another one in 2 or 3 minutes.Question: What does the man mean?3.Man: Laura, it seems that you are up to your neck in work, how come you’ve been sobusy?Woman: Ms Smith has asked for a sick leave, and I have to take over her work for a coupleof days Question: What do we learn about the woman?4.Woman: Washing dishes at the cafeteria every day is really boring.Man: Why don’t you quit and deliver the flowers with me?Question: What does the man suggest the woman do?5.Woman: Rod, you said you’d take this package to the post office yesterday.Man: Oh, no, it must have slipped my mind.Question: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?6.Man:I’m not surprised that you didn’t like that movie. I find it really scary myself.Woman: So did I. I don’t care much for horror movies as a rule.Question: What do we learn from the conversation?7.Man: My life experience tells me that love is filled with happiness but it hurts you too.Woman: Your words remind me of the saying honey is sweet but the bee stings.Question: What do we learn from the conversation?8.Man: How many more chairs should I bring in for the forum, six or seven?Woman: Bring in all you can find. I’m expecting at least 20 participants.Question: What are the speakers talking about?Conversation 1Man: Do you think there's discrimination against women in England today?Woman: Certainly, and not just in education and work either, in many other fields as well.The tax situati on for women is very unfair, for example.Man: Are women better off in other countries then?Woman: It depends on the country. There's certainly much less discrimination inScandinavia, and ma ybe in America, too.Man: Do you think the position of English women will improve?Woman: In some ways it will of course. I'm sure more women will go out to work in thenext 20 years. Bu t the women have a much greater problem than this to solve.Man: What's that?Women: The problem of men's attitudes. We can earn more money in the future, but I'mnot sure we ca n change men' attitudes. You see, most men really think that women are inferior. Maybe we are physic ally weaker, but I don't think this means we are inferior. Thenthere's another problem.Man: Yes?Women: The problem of women's attitudes. Lots of women are unhappy with theirpresent situation, but most of them probably don't want to fight for change. It could be thatthe women's liberation movement has to spend more time changing women's attitudes than itspends in changing men's.Man: One last question, some supporters of the woman's liberation movement believedthat marriages should be abolished. You agree?Women: No, I don't. It can't happen. What may and should happen is that we teach mento spend more time looking after children and doing housework.9. Where are women said to be less discriminated against?10. What will happen in England in 20 years according to the conversation?11. What does the woman think the women's liberation movement should do?Conversation 2Man: Cheers, ShirleyWomen: Cheers, Paul. What a lovely place for a business lunch. I hope I can concentrate in this heat. Man: I will sure you will when I tell you about my ideas.Woman: You know, I must say I was pleased to hear from you, but from what you said onthe phone, ev erything is so sudden.Man: Well, my father-in-law, who is also the managing director of J.R. Motives, has givenme two week s to prepare a report on the possibility of moving into the export market.Woman: Ah, now, just one thing Paul. Have you really thought the whole idea through?Man: Of course I have.Woman: Now the key thing in the whole operation is to get a good import agent, and yousay the bank will help?Man: I'm almost sure of it.Woman: Preliminary studies are very good, Paul. But if the product can't sell, then there'slittle use in ex panding the factory.Man: Yes, I realize that, Shirley. But we have a very good product. The chief designer hasjust complet ed a new improved model.Woman: I know your bikes have a very good reputation here, but you have to build up a reputation an d mark it in Africa.Man: Yes, of course. But the immediate problem is that my father-in-law wants a detailed report by nex t Monday. Two weeks isn't enough time to prepare a report, so I need your help.Woman: OK, Paul, you've convinced me. I must say I admire your determination.12. Where does the conversation most probably take place?13. What do we learn about the men's father-in-law?14. What does the woman think is important in the whole operation?15. What does the woman admire in the man?2014年12月英语四级听力真题短文第一篇Passage 1Scientists know how twins were born, now though, they are trying to explain how being halfof the bi ological pair influences a twin’s identity. They want to know why many identical twinsmake similar choi ces even when they don’t leave near each other. For example, Jim Springer andJim Louis are identical twins. They were separated when they were only 4 months old. Thetwo Jims grew up in different famili es and did not meet for 39 years. When they finally met, theydiscovered some surprising similarities bet ween them. Both men were married twice, their firstwives were named Linda, and their second wives w ere both named Betty. Both twins namedtheir first sons James Allen. Scientists want to know what influ ences are personality. They studypairs of identical twins who grew up in different surroundings, like Ji m Springer and Jim Louis.These twins help scientists understand the connection between environme nt and biology.Researchers at the University of Minnesota, studies 350 sets of identical twins who did notgrow up together. They discovered many similarities in their personalities. Scientists believedthat per sonality characteristics such as friendliness, shyness and fears are not result of environment. These characteristics are probably inherited. Scientists continue to study identical twins because they are un certain about them and have many questions. Forexample, they want to know ‘can twins really commu nicate without speaking’,can one twinreally feel another twin’s pain’. Perhaps with more research, scien tists will find the answers.16. What are scientists trying to explain according to the passage?17. What do we learn about the twin Jims?18. Why are scientists interested in studying identical twins raised in different families?2014年12月英语四级听力真题短文第二篇Passage 2Today I’m going to talk about tents. Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having aholiday. A nd each year, over 3 million people take camping vocations, either here in Britain oraboard, mostly on the continent. Obviously, camping can’t be as comfortable as living in a permanent house, but modern t ents can be very comfortable indeed, with windows,bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The most po pular tent sold in Britain is the frame tent with 2 bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for 4 people. There is usually an outer tent ofwater-proofed fabric and a lighter inner tent or tents with a built-in gro und sheet. The outer tent fits over the frame work. This is made of metal poles which are fitted together. The inner tent is attached to this frame. Generally, the inner tent is about half the area of the outer tent. The other half of the outer tent is the living area. This doesn’t usually have a groundsheet but you can buy one to fit, though it costs extra. The ordinary 4 bed frame tent doesn’tusually have a separate kitc hen area, but the larger ones often do. You can buy a kitchenextension for many tents, and it’s worth buying one if you plan to stay camping in one placefor more than a few days.19. What does the speaker say about camping?20. What does the passage tell us about the most popular tent sold in Britain?21. What does the speaker suggest buying if you plan to stay camping in one place formore than a few days?2014年12月英语四级听力真题短文第三篇Passage 3Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world, is located high in the mountainsbetween Franc e and Spain. The country covers only 179 square miles. That is less than half thesize of New York City. High, rocky mountains surround Andorra. Until the 1930s, travelers haddifficulty in reaching the country . Up until that time, people in Andorra lived in the way they hadlived for centuries. Most Andorrans work ed as farmers. Things did not change quickly. Whenroads were built from France and Spain to Andorra in the 1930s, life picked up speed. Touristbegan to visit the small country. These tourists brought in a lo t of money to spend whilevisiting. Many people in Andorra found new jobs in shops or hotels. These ch anges helped tokeep young people in Andorra. There were many more jobs than before the roads were built.Today tourists provided 80 to 90 percent of Andorra’s income. More than a million people visiteac h year. They come to view the rough mountains. They enjoy the quiet way of life. Mostpeople are also i nterested in the ancient buildings. There are many shops for tourists to browsein, clothes, watches, win es and other items are sold at low prices in Andorra. Import fees arelow, so tourists enjoy the inexpens ive shopping. Most of the businesses in Andorra are ownedby its citizens. There are not many foreign businesses. Some Andorrans still farm and raisesheep and cattle. But most are now involved with the to urist trade.22. How big does the speaker say Andorra is?23. What can be said about Andorra before the 1930s?24. What event changed the situation in Andorra?25. What do most people do in Andorra do nowadays?Dictation：Compound DictationDon’t take may English courses, they won’t help you get a decent job. Sign up formanagement cla sses, so you will be ready to join the family business when you graduate.Sound familiar? Many of us ha ve heard suggestions like these put forward by parents or othersclose to us. Such comments often see m quite reasonable. Why then should suggestions likethese be taken with caution? The reason is they relate to the decisions you should make. Youare the one who must live with their consequences. One of the worst reasons to follow a particular path in life is that other people want you to. Decisions that affe ct your life should beyour decisions. Decisions you make after you’ve considered various alternatives a nd chosen thepath that suits you best. Making your own decisions does not mean that you should ignor e thesuggestions of others. For instance, your parents do have their own unique experiences thatmay make their advice helpful and having participated in a great deal of your personal history.They may hav e a clear view of your strength and weaknesses. Still, their views are notnecessarily accurate. They ma y still see you as a child, and need care and protection. Or theymay see only your strength or in some unfortunate cases, they may focus only on your flawsand shortcomings. People will always be giving y our advice, ultimately, though you have tomake your own judgments.。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第3套) Part I Writing (30minutes)Directions：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about a campus activity that has benefited you most. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180words.Part II Listening Comprehension (30minutes)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 thequestions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, youmust read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then markthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1.A) The man hates to lend his tools to other people.B)The man hasn’t finished working on the bookshelf.C)The tools have already been returned to the woman.D)The tools the man borrowed from the woman are missing.2.A) Save time by using a computer. C) Borrow Martha’s computer.B)Buy her own computer. D) Stay home and complete her paper.3.A) The man doesn’t have money for his daughter’s graduate studies.B)The man doesn’t think his daughter will get a bu siness degree.C)The man insists that his daughter should pursue her studies in science.D)The man advises his daughter to think carefully before making her decision.4.A) The cinema is some distance away from where they are.B)He would like to read the film review in the newspaper.C)They should wait to see the movie at a later time.D)He’ll find his way to the cinema.5.A) He’s been to Seattle many times.C) He has a high position in his company.B)He has chaired a lot of conferences. D) He lived in Seattle for many years.6.A) Teacher and student. C) Manager and office worker.B)Doctor and patient. D) Travel agent and customer.7.A) She knows the guy who will give the lecture.B)She thinks the lecture might be informative.C)She wants to add something to her lecture.D)She’ll finish her report this weekend.8.A) The houses for sale are of poor quality.B)The houses are too expensive for the couple to buy.C)The housing developers provide free trips for potential buyers.D)The man is unwilling to take a look at the houses for sale.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) How to study English well. C) How to write computer games.B) Which courses to choose. D) Which books to read.10. A) Physical sciences. C) Art and design.B) Maths and physics. D) Electronics and computer-programming.11. A) Her English is very good. C) Her English writing is poor.B) She is interested in English. D) Her oral English is bad.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) Applying for a work experience. C) Taking an exam.B)Applying for a part-time job. D) Visiting an old friend.13.A) Students in the first half of their courses.B)Students who will graduate soon.C)Students in the second half of their courses.D)Students who have just graduated from universities.14.A) Explain the procedures to the students. C) Write a comprehensive report.B)Work regular hours. D) Send a report about the woman’s work.15.A) In two weeks. C) In the second half of her course.B) In three weeks. D) Not decided yet.Section BDirections ：In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will 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 thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) Synthetic fuel. C) Alcohol.B) Solar energy. D) Electricity.17.A) Air traffic conditions. C) Road conditions.B) Traffic jams on highways. D) New traffic rules.18.A) Go through a health check. C) Arrive early for boarding.B) Carry little luggage. D) Undergo security checks.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) In a fast-food restaurant. C) At a county fair.B) At a shopping center. D) In a bakery.20.A) Avoid eating any food. C) Wash his hands thoroughly.B) Prepare the right type of pie to eat. D) Practice eating a pie quickly.21.A) On the table. C) Under his bottom.B) Behind his back. D) On his lap.22.A) Looking sideways to see how fast your neighbor eats.B)Eating from the outside toward the middle.C)Swallowing the pie with water.D)Holding the pie in the right position.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A) Beauty. B) Loyalty. C) Luck. D) Durability.24.A) He wanted to follow the tradition of his country.B)He believed that it symbolized an everlasting marriage.C)It was thought a blood vessel in that finger led directly to the heart.D)It was supposed that the diamond on that finger would bring good luck.25.A) The two people can learn about each other’s likes and dislikes.B)The two people can have time to decide if they are a good match.C)The two people can have time to shop for their new home.D)The two people can earn enough money for their wedding.Section CDirections： In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you arerequired to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage isread for the third time, you should check what you have written.In the center of a big city there are usually dozens of large office buildings that house big banks, corporation headquarters, and government agencies. Thousands of people work in these buildings. People who do all the office work are called white-collar workers. 26 and receptionists, bookkeepers and computer operators work for many different kinds of companies.Many office workers dream of working their way up to the top, from clerk to 27 of a corporation. The way lies through middle management. Middle management includes junior executives, who may fill 28 jobs, supervise other workers in the company, 29 action to top management, or see that the company’s policies are 30 .At the very top are the senior executives. They 31 the policies for their own companies, especially 32 .The Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, of a large 33 has a great deal of power and influence.It is believed that one can start out at the bottom and go all the way to the top. Because financial matters are so important, some accountants become top executives. In companies where technology is important, people with an engineering background can also rise to the top. Nowadays, however, education 34 in the selection of people for management jobs. Universities in many countries offer courses in business administration. The graduates of these courses often start out in middle management jobs. From there, they can easily get promoted if they show the necessary 35 and ability.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 carefullybefore making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark thecorresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You maynot use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For decades, Americans have taken for granted the United States’ leadership position in the development of new technologies. The innovations(创新）that resulted from research and development during World War Ⅱ and afterwards were 36 to the prosperity of the nation in the second half of the 20th century. Those innovations, upon which virtually all aspects of 37 society now depend, were possible because the United States then 38 the world in mathematics and science education. Today, however, despite increasing demand for workers with strong skills in mathematics and science, the 39 of degrees awarded in science, math, and engineering are decreasing.The decline in degree production in what are called the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math) seems to be 40 related to the comparatively weak performance by US schoolchildren on international assessments of math and science. Many students entering college have weak skills in mathematics. According to the 2005 report of the Business-Higher Education Forum, 22 percent of college freshmen must take remedial(补习的）math 41 , and less than half of the students who plan to major in science or engineering 42 complete a major in those fields.The result has been a decrease in the number of American college graduates who have the skills, 43 in mathematics, to power a workforce that can keep the country at the forefront（前沿）of innovation and maintain its standard of living. With the 44 performance of American students in math and science has come increased competition from students from other countries that have strongly supported education in these areas. Many more students earn 45 in the STEM disciplines in developing countries than in the United States.A) accelerating I) especiallyB) actually J) futureC) closely K) ledD) contemporary L) metE) courses M) proceduresF) critical N) proportionsG) declining O) spheresH) degreesSection 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 theinformation is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked witha letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Ban Sugary Drinks—That Will Add Fuel to the Obesity WarA)On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. He was pale anddisfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity (肥胖症）leads to many nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him, including a couple of fatty children with swollen cheeks pressing against their eyes. These people are part of what is without exaggeration an epidemic (流行病) of obesity.B) But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea—far from new—that could spare millions of such people alifetime of chronic(长期的）ill health, and at the same time save the National Health Service(NHS) at least ￡ 14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, be considerable public interest in it.This simple idea is that sugar is as good—or as bad—as poison and should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 years ago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us.C) In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction (癮）,tohormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic (新陈代谢的）malfunctions and obesity and from there to type 2 diabetes(糖尿病)and its many horrible complications. If people really grasped that, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the “fat man of Europe”. They might even feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadly stuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance.D)It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests(既得利益集团）lined up against any sugar control—all thefood and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easy pickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normally side, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in our lives.E)That is true, but people should realise that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state (保姆国家）,tosome degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another’s health insurance, through socialised medicine, then we are all closely involved in one another^ health, including everyone’s eating and drinking. That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yet to be admitted with overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and that number is predicted to double by the year 2050. Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripple the NHS.F)Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the alarm. Last monththe Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) published a report saying that obesity is the greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something.G)The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of 20 percent on sugary drinks for atleast a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. As Professor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are "the ultimate bad food. You are just consuming neat sugar. Yourbody didn’t evolve to handle this kind of thing.H)Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt (which are very different) pale into insignificance comparedwith the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere.I)It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, fish or vegetables, thatdoesn’t have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailing scientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as the really serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity.J)The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not very appetizing, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavour enhancer, often in the forms of syrups （糖浆）that had recently been developed from com, and put it generously into most prepared foods and soft drinks.K)This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body’s metabolism, possibly via the activity of an appetite-controlling hormone. There’s plenty of evidence for this, for those who will accept the truth. L)Theoretically, people ought to make” healthy choices” and avoid overeating. But sugar additives are not easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, overdrinking and overeating that makes people fat is not really their own fault： obesity is in large part something that is being done to them. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it.M)Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all the poisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They are poisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving small children sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse.N)Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation. But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools and banning machines(自动售货机）here and there—as suggested by the AMRC report—is not going to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning high levels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks. O)In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the food industry and had not ruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However, nothing has happened yet.Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it.46.Avoiding over-consumption of sugar can improve peopled health as well as save medical expenses.ws should be passed to make it illegal to produce overly sweet foods or drinks.48.Giving small children sweet juices to drink all the time is equal to child abuse.49.Looking around, the author found obesity quite widespread.50.The number of obese people is expected to increase quickly in the next few decades.51.If people really understood the horrible consequences of sugary foods and drinks, they would supportgovernment measures against sugar consumption.52.It would be a very good beginning to impose an additional tax on sugary drinks.53.The government has not yet taken any action to regulate sugar consumption although it indicated its intentionto do so some time ago.54.Sugar is far more harmful to health than fat and salt.55.Consumers of sweet foods are not really to blame because they cannot tell what food is sugary.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 onthe best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through thecentre.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 usingWeb-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internets 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 intheir 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. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolutionfor individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But if the book has one major shortcoming, it’sthat the authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Intern et businesses in these sweepingchanges.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes—and more importantly predicts—how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in whichindividuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the idea that “technology is neutral, but people aren’t.’’ By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy (对立观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad forsociety. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic aboutmany aspects of the Internet, they’v e also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next fivebillion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance(监视).56.In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?A)It transforms human history. C) It is adopted by all humanity.B)It facilitates daily communication. D) It revolutionizes people’s thinking.57.How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet?A)They are immeasurable. C) They are unpredictable.B)They are worldwide. D) They are contaminating.58.In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate?A)It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology.B)It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet.C)It lacks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses.D)It does not address the technical aspects of Internet communication.59.What will the future be like when everybody gets online?A)People will be living in two different realities.B)People will have equal access to information.C)People don’t have to travel to see the world.D)People don^ have to communicate face to face.60.What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age?A)They leave many questions unanswered concerning the Internet.B)They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution.C)They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world.D)They don^ take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.In 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry.And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage（抵押贷款） payments on an average homewith just 13. 4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of hismonthly earnings.Other members of the autoworker’s family, however, might be less inclined to trade the present for the past.His retired parents would certainly have had less economic security back then. Throughout much of the 1960s, morethan a quarter of men and women age 65 and older lived below the poverty level, compared to less than 10 percent in2010.In most states, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a credit card in her own name. In 42 states, ahomemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection againstfamily violence.Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average, they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的人）,while racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying intothe suburban neighborhoods being built for white working-class families.Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past. Some people may long for an era when divorce was still hard to come by. The spread of no-fault divorce hasreduced the bargaining power of whichever spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakupof such marriages has caused pain for many families.The growing diversity of family life comes with new possibilities as well as new challenges. According to a recent poll, more than 80 percent of Americans believe that their current family is as close as the one in which theygrew up, or closer. Finding ways to improve the lives of the remaining 20 percent seems more realistic than trying torestore an imaginary golden age.61.What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950?A)They had less job security than they do today.B)It was not too difficult for them to buy a house.C)Their earnings were worth twice as much as today.D)They were better off than workers in other industries.62.What does the author say about retired people today?A)They invariably long to return to the golden past.B)They do not depend so much on social welfare.C)They feel more secure economically than in the past.D)They are usually unwilling to live with their children.63.Why couldn’t black workers buy a house in a white suburban neighborhood?A) They lacked the means of transportation. C) They were afraid to break the law.B) They were subjected to racial inequality. D) They were too poor to afford it.64.What is the result of no-fault divorce?A) Divorce is easier to obtain. C) It causes little pain to either side.B) Domestic violence is lessened. D) It contributes to social unrest.65.What does the author suggest society do?A)Get prepared to face any new challenges.B)Try to better the current social security net.C)Narrow the gap between blacks and whites.D)Improve the lives of families with problems.Part IV Translation (30minutes)Directions ：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. Youshould write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.大熊猫(giant panda)是一种温顺的动物，长着独特的黑白皮毛。