大学英语四级考试真题第套答案解析听力文本

2022年12月英语四级听力原文和答案（第一套）Part II Listening Comprehension第二部分：听力考试Section AA 节Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A) , B) , C) and D) . Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.考试说明：在这一部分，你将听到三篇新闻报道。

每篇新闻的结尾，会有两到三个问题。

新闻和问题只读一遍。

听到问题后从A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出最佳答案。

然后在答题纸1 上相应的字母中间划上横线（涂满）。

News Report One新闻报道一（1）Operations at one of Australia's largest gold mines had to be temporarily suspended on Friday after a partial wall collapse at one of the mine's dams.周五，澳大利亚最大金矿之一的一座大坝发生部分围墙坍塌，该矿不得不暂停运营。

The wall collapsed at the Cadia Mine. Came just a few days after two earthquakes hit the area.卡迪亚矿区的墙壁倒塌了。

标准听力（一）听力原文及答案解析Part III Listening Comprehension Section A…………………………………………………………………………………………………11. W: I have to think about your offer. I can‟t say “yes”or “no” at the moment.M: You can take your time. It will do if you let me know your decision in a day or two.Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 【听前预测】选项中的The man thinks，the woman should save his time，The woman need not hurry等表明，本题可能与男士给女士的建议有关。

【解析】选[D]。

女士说她现在还不能马上对男士的提议给予回复，男士让女士不必着急，还说她在一两天内给他答复就行了，由此可知，女士不必立刻做出决定，故答案为[D]。

12. M: Here comes my secretary. She‟s an extremelygood-looking young woman, don‟t you think?W: Yes, but I heard that her work isn‟t as good as her appearance.Q: What does the woman think of the secretary? 【听前预测】选项中的She is，good-looking，perfect，good at work等表明，本题与对女士的评价有关。

【解析】选[D]。

男士提到自己的秘书长得很漂亮，女士表示同意，但接着用but转折提到她听说她（即男士的秘书）的工作能力没有外表那么好（her work isn‟t as good as her appearance），言外之意就是男士的秘书的工作能力不行，故答案为[D]。

2020年9月四级听力原文及答案(第一套)Section A【News report one】A NASA satellite orbiting over Portugal took photographs that reveal the effects of polluti on from ships. One of the photos shows a thin film of clouds above the brilliant blue of the north Atlantic, cut by white lines of thicker clouds that look like scars. (1) NASA officials expl ained those thicker clouds are signs of ship traffic below when ships power their way throug h the ocean, they pump exhaust into the atmosphere. Just as cars do.And those massive amounts of particles can cause clouds to form, get enough of those p articles in one place as from the exhaust of a ship. And they can lead to the creation of new clouds easily visible from space. These clouds can be huge. Some of them stretch hundreds of kilometers from end to end. (2) NASA officials said it’s likely that these sorts of clouds are having some effect on the global climate, according to NASA officials.But scientists aren’t yet sure what effect it has. questions one and two are based on the n ews report you have just heard.Questions 1 to 2 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 1 What has caused the thick clouds in the photos taken by a NASA satellite?Question 2 What do NASA officials think about the thick clouds?【News report two】Staff at a suburban supermarket in Melbourne say they feel unsafe at work after security g uards were removed. This came after a series of physical attacks and verbal abuse by custo mers. (3) More than 50 workers at the store have signed a letter calling for a permanent sec urity guard following a series of incidents, including a customer threatening to attack a supe rvisor with a knife. A security worker had guard at the storm each night from seven pm until 12 am.But that had stopped suddenly on Monday, employees said. One worker said an angry cu stomer had thrown a chicken at his head after complaining about how long she had waited to be served. Another worker said the lack of protection at the storm made her feel uncomf ortable at work. (4) However, the spokesman of the supermarket said the store had taken st rong action in response to incidents. We have found very few instances of bad customer be havior at our store in the past year. In the rare cases, we have seen bad behavior. We have t aken strong action in response, including banning a customer from the store.Questions 3 to 4 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 3 For what purpose did this staff at a supermarket in Melbourne sign a letter?Question 4 What did the spokesman of the supermarkets say regarding the employees dem and?【New report three】(5) Drivers on their way to the polish capital of Warsaw on Wednesday morning found the r oad blocked by an unusual obstacle. Tons of liquid chocolate that spilled onto the motorwa y. A truck carrying the sweet load hit a road barrier and overturned, blocking two lanes. (6) The cracked tank spilled a pool of a rapidly hardening chocolate, which quickly covered the width of the road, while the driver was taken to hospital with a broken arm, firefighters strug gled to remove a reported 12 tons of solid chocolate from the road. (7) A representative for the firefighters told the local TV that removing the chocolate was worse than dealing with s now. After contacting the chocolate manufacturer, the firefighters resorted to spraying hot, pressurized water to get rid of the sticky substance. The local TV also noted that the cleanup spanned more than a Mile because drivers simply drove through the chocolate after the cra sh, leaving a long chocolate trail. But despite the sticky situation, firefighters and police atte nding to the cleanup were reportedly cheerful about the long task ahead. After all, who coul d be mad about 12 tons of chocolate?Questions 5 to 7 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 5 What does drivers on the motorway to Warsaw find?Question 6 What does the report say about the accident?Question 7 What are the firefighters representative tell the local TV?Section B【Conversation one】M: Lisa, why did you pay for your meal with cash instead of the payment apps on your phon e?W: Well, I’ve gone back to cash. I’m only using payment apps if that’s the only option.（8）I am trying to save money for a new phone. And I find that using cash rather than payment apps helps me to save.M: But how? Money is money, isn’t it? I don’t think it matters whether you take it out of the bank and put it in your wallet will simply transfer from your bank account to the seller’s ban k account using an app.W: No, I believe it does matter. It’s a psychological phenomenon. [9] I believe we have less c onnection with the value of our money when we just have the approved buttons on our pho nes.M: You might have a point. Since I stopped carrying cash around and started using my pho ne apps to pay, [10] I may have developed a tendency to buy more small or nonessential ite ms.W: That’s highly possible. Think about the amount of time we spend with our phones in our hands and all the things we do with our phones. It sometimes seems that our phone is buyi ng the product for us, not ourselves.M: [11] So cashless payment affects our ability to budget?W: I believe so. If we spend a hundred yuan in cash, we realize that we don’t have that hund red yuan to spend on something else. But if we’re spending electronically, we are less likely t o make that mental calculation.M: I stopped using my credit card because I found out spending excessively, perhaps I shoul d take the same approach of paying using my phone.W: It’s worth considering.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Question 8. Why did the woman decide to go back to cash for payment?Question 9. What happens when people use that for payment according to the woman?Question 10. What might the man tend to buy with payment apps?Question 11. What does the man think of electronic payment?【Conversation Two】W: Hello, Mr. Brown. I was expecting your call. [12] My secretary told me you were having s ome problems with the wooden table. Is that right?M: No, no, the table is fine. [12] The problem is the chairs.W: Oh, the chairs. So what exactly is the issue?M: Well, to put simply, these are not the chairs my wife and I selected in your store last wee k. There must have been some confusion with our order.W: Oh, I see. I’m looking through my files now, and I see that the delivery was this morning. Is that correct?M: Yes.W: [13] Do you mind describing the chairs that were delivered to your apartment, Mr. Brow n?M: Sure. These have a flat back with a rounded top, and are very heavy—they’re light brown that look kind of cheap. The ones we ordered were dark brown to match the table.W: Right, of course. It says here you purchased the Arlington table and four Milano chairs. A s you said, there must have been some confusion with the order. I’m terribly sorry. [14] We will send a van to collect those four and replace them with the Milano you purchased. Will t omorrow 9am be okay, Mr. Brown?M: Yes, that would be great. Thank you.W: Good. Did everything else you ordered from us arrive okay?M: Yes, I think so. Let me check. The mirror and two paintings are here. The two coffee table s are also here, and the sofa. Yes, we haven’t noticed anything else wrong or missing. But if we do, we will certainly let you know.W: Okay, great. [15] Once again, I’m sorry for the confusion and trouble caused.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 12. Why did the man call the woman?Question 13. What did the woman ask the man to do?Question 14. What did the woman promise to do for the man?Question 15. What did the woman do at the end of the conversation?Section C【Passage One】Do you have too much stuff? Are you daring saying untidy? (16) Say hello to a TV show called “tidying up with Mary Kondo”, a home improvement show based on a widely popular book, the life changing magic of tidying up. In the show, Marie Kondo acts as a tiny garbage fairy for messy people, visiting their houses to share the wisdom of the con Marie method. This method is simple in theory, but can be endlessly complex and practice. (17)You divide all the stuff in your house, all of it into several categories, and then examine each item, all of them to see if it sparks joy. If it does, you keep it. If it doesn’t, you thank it and neatly discar d it. So is the TV show inspiring people to tidy up? First hand accounts seem to indicate a s mall wave of people bringing piles of donation bags to used good stores. One store receive d thousands of bags of used possessions in one day. January is usually the stores slow seaso n for donations because it’s cold. And people don’t want to bother. But not this January, pe ople seem determined to clean up their homes. (18) One used bookstore received a month’s worth of books and donations in a week, when a man gave over 50 boxes of books from h is home. It seems Mary’s TV show is having a big impact after all.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 16:What is Marie Kondos’ TV show about?Question 17:What things can be kept in one’s home according to Marie Kondo?Question 18: What do we learn about one used book store this January?【Passage Two】At just 12 years old, Mike Hannon is making a difference in his community. (19) One lunc h at a time, Mike’s lunches of love has fed more than 2000 of the town’s most vulnerable res idents. Mike delivers meals to the homeless. “It’s like a way to give people joy, maybe spark something in them that can change them,” Mike told WBCTV. The mayor of Mike’s town feel s that Mike is a great community leader, especially in such times of so much negative news, while his father commented on how proud he was of his son. Yet, Mike isn’t looking for prai se but kindness in return. (20) He hopes his acts of charity will influence others to spread po sitive actions in their own towns. Mike includes a handwritten message of joy on each bag. His message and star power has spread all over the country. To date, his online page to rais e funds has brought in more than 44,000 dollars in a county, raising more than 17,000 dolla rs in just one day with the help of many famous actors and others. (21) People from all over the country are sending special handcrafted bags to help the young man with his mission t o help those in need. Many are hoping the simple act of kindness spreads, like is seen as ho pe for the future of the town, the country, and the world.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 19: What does Mike Hannon do to help people in his town?Question 20: What does Mike hope others will do?Question 21: How are people all over country responding to what Mike is doing?【Passage Three】In a recent study carried out by psychologists on the disruptive effects of smartphones, (22)two groups of college students were given word search puzzles. First group was told to Complete the puzzles with its participants, smartphones, in their line of sight. The second gr oup, however, was told that the phones would interfere with equipment in the experiment a nd would need to be moved away from the testing area.Midway through the second groups solving of the puzzles, the experiment called one of the phones “let it ring for a while before hanging up”.(23)Many of the students in that grou p were unable to focus from then on, becoming anxious and performing more poorly than t he first group.Use of electronics has also been known to lead to a decline in human interactions rather t han having real life conversations, many express emotions and engage in deep conversatio through social media sites. Many students use their phones and computers during pass for nonacademic activities, which leads to poor grades. (24)Perhaps the most dramatic impact is the reduction on the amount of sleep,which leads to poor health and weight gain. Technology is a great tool. However, it’s important to recognize its down sides. Lack of sle ep, reduction of productivity and weight gain are only a few. (25)If we are not careful about all these minor problems right now, effect on the future generation is going to be much bigger.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 22: What were the college students in both groups required to do in the study?Question 23: What do we learn about many of the students in the second test group after t he phone rang?Question 24: According to the passage, what is the most dramatic impact of smartphone us e?Question 25: What does the speaker suggest people do?★【答案】1. A) Ship traffic in the Atlantic.2. D) They may be affecting the world’s climate.3. C) To call for a permanent security guard.4. A) It had already taken strong action.5. B) The road was blocked.6. D) A track hit a barrier and overturned.7. B) It was a hard task to removing the spilled substance.8. A) She wanted to save for a new phone.9. D) They are less aware of the value of their money.10. B) More non- essential things.11. C) It may lead to excessive spending.12. C) He had a problem with the furniture delivered.13. B) Describe the furniture he received.14. A) Correct their mistake.15. C) She apologized to the man once more.16. B) Tidying up one’s home.17. A) Things that make one happy.18. C) It received an incredibly large number of donated books.19. A) Give free meals to the homeless.20. D) Follow his example.21. C) Sending him had-made bags.22. A) To solve word search puzzles.23. B) They could no longer concentrate on their task.24. C) A reduction in the amount of sleep.25. C) Realize the disruptive effects of technology.。

2020年12月英语四级听力真题及答案解析（第1套）-附音频1、音频MP3（清晰） (1)2、听力试题 (1)3、听力答案 (8)4、听力原文 (9)5、听力答案解析 (20)1、音频MP3（清晰）四级听力第1套.mp32、听力试题Questions 1 and 2 are based on the newsreport you have just heard.1.A)A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterraneanwaters.B) Invasive species are driving awaycertain native species.C) The Mediterranean is a natural habitatof Devil Firefish.D) Many people have been attacked by DevilFirefish.2.A)It could add to greenhouse emissions.B) It could disrupt the food chains there.C) It could pose a threat to other marinespecies.D) It could badly pollute the surroundingwaters.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the newsreport you have just heard.3.A) cars will not be allowed to enter thecity.B) About half of its city center will beclosed to cars.C) Buses will be the only vehicles allowedon its streets.D)Pedestrianswillhavefreeaccesstothecity.4.A)The rising air pollutionin Paris.B) The worsening global warming.C The ever-growing cost of petrol.D) The unbearable traffic noise.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the newsreport you have just heard.5.A)Many of his possessions were stolen.B) His house was burnt down in a fire.C) His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.D) His good luck charm sank into the sea.6.A) Change his fishing locations.B) Find a job in a travel agency.C) Spend a few nights on a small islandD) Sell the pearl he had kept for years7.A) A New Year museumB) The largest pearl in the world weighsC) His monstrous pearl was extremelyvaluable.D) His pearl could be displayed in amuseum.Section BQuestions 8 to 11 are based on theconversation you have just heard.8.A) It boasts a fairly long history.B) It produces construction materials.C) It has 75 offices around the world.D)It has over 50 business partners.9.A)It has about 50 employees.B) It was started by his father.C) It has a family business.D) It is over 100 years old.10.A) Shortage of raw material supply.B) Legal disputes in many countries.C) Outdated product design.D) Loss of competitive edge.11.A) Conducting a financial analysis for it.B) Providing training for its staffmembers.C) Seeking new ways to increase is exports.D) Introducing innovative marketingstrategies.Questions 12 to 15 are based on theconversation you have just heard.12.A) She is a real expert at housedecorations.B) She is well informed about the designbusiness.C) She is attracted by the color of thesitting room.D) She is really impressed by the man’shouse.13.A) From his younger brother Greg.B) From home design magazines.C) From a construction businessman.D) From a professional interior designer.14.A)The effort was worthwhile.B) The style was fashionable .C) The cost was affordable.D) The eft was unexpected.15.A) She’d like him to talk with Jonathanabout a new project.B) She wants him to share his renovationexperience with herC) She wants to discuss the housedecoration budget with him.D)She’d like to show him around hernewly-renovated house.SectionCQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passageyou have just heard.16.A) Providing routine care for smallchildren.B) Paying hospital bills for emergencycases.C) Doing research on ear, nose and throatdiseases.D) Removing objects from patients’nosesand ears.17.A) Many children like to smell things theyfind or play with.B) Many children like to put foreignobjects in their mouths.C) Five-to nine-year-olds are the moslikely to put things in their ears.D) Children aged one to four a often morecurious than older children.18.A) They tend to act out of impulse.B) They want to attract attentions.C) They are unaware of the potential risks.D) They are curious about these body parts.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passageyou have just heard.19.A) It paid for her English lessons.B) It gave her a used bicycle.C) It delivered her daily necessities.D) It provided her with physical therapy.20.A) Expanding bike-riding lessons.B) Asking local people for donations.C) Providing free public transport.D) Offering walking tours to visitors.21.A) It is a language school.B) It is a charity organization.C) It is a counseling center.D) It is a sports club.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passageyou have just heard.22.A) How mice imitate human behavior a space.B) How low gravity affects the human body.C) How mice interact in a new environment.D) How animals deal with lack of gravity.23.A) They were not use to the low-gravity environment.B) They found it difficult to figure outwhere they were.C) They found the space in the cage toosmall to stay in.D) They were not sensitive to the changedenvironment.24.A) They tried every thing possible toescape from the cage.B) They continued to behave as they did inthe beginning.C) They already felt at home in the newenvironment.D) They had found a lot more activities toengage in.25.A) They repeated their activities everyday.B) They behaved as if they were on Earth.C) They begin to eat less after some time.D) They changed their routines in space.3、听力答案（注：看答案内容，忽略ABC，因为四六选项顺序打乱的）1. A) A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.2. C) It could poses a threat to other marine species.3. B) About half of its city center will be closed to ears.4. A) The rising air pollution in Paris5. B) His houses has burnt down in a fire.6. D) Sell the pearl he had kept for years.7. C) His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.8. A) It boasts a farily long history.9. C) It is a family business.10. D) Loss of competitive edge.11. A) Conducting a financial analysis for it.12. D) She is really impressed by the man's house.13. B) From home design magazine.14. C) The cost was affordable.15. B) She wants him to share his renovation experiences with her.16. D) Removing objects from patients' noses and ears.17. C) Five to nine-year-olds were the most likely to put things in their ears.18. D) They are curious about these body parts.19. B) It gave her a used bicycle.20. A) Expanding bike-riding lessons.21. B) It is a charity organization.22. D) How animals deal with lack of gravity.23. A) They were not used to the low-gravity environment.24. C) They already felt at home in the new environment.25. B) They behaved as if they were on Earth.4、听力原文新闻1A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists. (Q1)The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the water around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although fatalities are rare, the stingscan cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish, often known as Devil Firefish, is a highly invasive species.And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life. (Q2)After being spotted in the Mediterranean, a marine scientist says, “The fish is spreading, and that’s a cause for concern.”Q1: What is reported in the news?Q2: What is the environmentalists’concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?文章主题：地中海遭遇外来生物入侵。

2023年6月全国大学英语CET四级真题和答案解析（第一套）第一部分：听力理解Section 1题目： What does the man imply? 选项： a. He could lend the woman some money. b. The woman should ask her brother for money. c. The woman should lend him some money. d. He could help the woman with her financial problem.解析：通过对对话内容的理解和推断，答案为b. The woman should ask her brother for money.Section 2题目： What does the woman suggest working on? 选项： a. The presentation slides. b. The design concept. c. The marketing strategy. d. The budget plan.解析：通过对对话内容的理解和推断，答案为d. The budget plan.…第二部分：阅读理解Passage 1题目：What is the main purpose of the passage? 选项： a. To encourage people to explore different cultures. b. To inform readers about the benefits of learning a second language. c. To analyze the impact of globalization on language learning. d. To introduce various language learning methods.解析：通过阅读全文内容的理解，答案为b. To inform readers about the benefits of learning a second language.Passage 2题目：What can be inferred about the ongoing research mentioned in the passage? 选项： a. It focuses on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. b. It has not been successful so far.c. It may provide new insights into the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.d. It mainly involves the use of pharmaceutical drugs.解析：通过阅读全文内容的推断，答案为c. It may provide new insights into the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.…第三部分：完形填空题目：文章主要描述了什么？选项： a. 作者对人生象征的探讨。

2014年6月大学英语四级真题试卷（一）全部题型 1.Writing2.Listening Comprehension3. 4.Reading Com prehension5.TranslationPart I Writing1．For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a short essay on the following question.You should write at least120words but no more than180 words.Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your hometown,what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A2．A．See a doctor about her strained shoulder.B．Use a ladder to help her reach the tea.C．Replace the cupboard with a new one.D．Place the tea on a lower shelf next time.3．A．At Mary Johnson's.B．At a painter's studio.C．In an exhibition hall.D．Outside an art gallery.4．A．The teacher evaluated lacks teaching experience.B．She does not quite agree with what the man said.C．The man had better talk with the students himself. D．New students usually cannot offer a fair evaluation.5．A．He helped Doris build up the furniture. B．Doris helped him arrange the furniture.C．Doris fixed up some of the bookshelves.D．He was good at assembling bookshelves.6．A．He doesn't get on with the others.B．He doesn't feel at ease in the firm.C．He has been taken for a fool.D．He has found a better position.7．A．They should finish the work as soon as possible. B．He will continue to work in the garden himself.C．He is tired of doing gardening on weekends.D．They can hire a gardener to do the work.8．A．The man has to get rid of the used furniture. B．The man's apartment is ready for rent.C．The furniture is covered with lots of dust.D．The furniture the man bought is inexpensive.9．A．The man will give the mechanic a call. B．The woman is waiting for a call.C．The woman is doing some repairs.D．The man knows the mechanic very well.10．A．She had a job interview to attend.B．She was busy finishing her project.C．She had to attend an important meeting.D．She was in the middle of writing an essay. 11．A．Accompany her roommate to the classroom. B．Hand in her roommate's application form. C．Submit her roommate's assignment. D．Help her roommate with her report.12．A．Where Dr.Ellis's office is located. B．When Dr.Ellis leaves his office. C．Directions to the classroom building. D．Dr.Ellis's schedule for the afternoon.13．A．He finds it rather stressful.B．He is thinking of quitting it.C．He can handle it quite well.D．He has to work extra hours.14．A．The6:00one.B．The6:30one.C．The7:00one.D．The7:30one.15．A．It is an awful waste of time.B．He finds it rather unbearable.C．The time on the train is enjoyable.D．It is something difficult to get used to.16．A．Reading newspapers.B．Chatting with friends.C．Listening to the daily news.D．Planning the day's work.Section B17．A．Ignore small details while reading.B．Read at least several chapters at one sitting. C．Develop a habit of reading critically.D．Get key information by reading just once or twice.18．A．Choose one's own system of marking. B．Underline the key words and phrases.C．Make as few marks as possible.D．Highlight details in a red color.19．A．By reading the textbooks carefully again. B．By reviewing only the marked parts.C．By focusing on the notes in the margins.D．By comparing notes with their classmates.20．A．The sleep a person needs varies from day to day. B．The amount of sleep for each person is similar. C．One can get by with a couple of hours of sleep. D．Everybody needs some sleep for survival.21．A．It is a made-up story.B．It is beyond cure.C．It is a rare exception.D．It is due to an accident.22．A．His extraordinary physical condition.B．His mother's injury just before his birth.C．The unique surroundings of his living place.D．The rest he got from sitting in a rocking chair.23．A．She invested in stocks and shares on Wall Street.B．She learned to write for financial newspapers.C．She developed a strong interest in finance.D．She tenderly looked after her sick mother.24．A．She made a wise investment in real estate.B．She sold her restaurant with a substantial profit.C．She got7.5million dollars from her ex-husband.D．She inherited a big fortune from her father.25．A．She was extremely mean with her money.B．She was dishonest in business dealings.C．She frequently ill-treated her employees.D．She abused animals including her pet dog.26．A．She made a big fortune from wise investment.B．She built a hospital with her mother's money.C．She made huge donations to charities.D．She carried on her family's tradition.Section CAmong the kinds of social gestures most significant for second-language teachers are those which are【B1】______in form but different in meaning in the two cultures.For example,a Colombian who wants someone to【B2】______him often signals with a hand movement in which all the fingers of one hand, cupped,point downward as they move rapidly【B3】______.Speakers of English have a similar gesture though the hand may not be cupped and the fingers may be held more loosely,but for them the gesture means goodbye or go away,quite the【B4】______of the Colombian gesture.Again,in Colombia,a speaker of English would have to know that when he【B5】______height he must choosebetween different gestures depending on whether he is【B6】______a human being or an animal.If he keeps the palm of the hand【B7】______the floor,as he would in his own culture when making known the height of a child,for example,he will very likely be greeted by laughter;in Colombia this gesture is 【B8】______for the description of animals.In order to describe human beings he should keep the palm of his hand【B9】______to the floor.Substitutions of one gesture for the other often create not only humorous but also【B10】______moments.In both of the examples above,speakers from two different cultures have the same gesture,physically,but its meaning differs sharply.27．【B1】28．【B2】29．【B3】30．【B4】31．【B5】32．【B6】33．【B7】34．【B8】35．【B9】36．【B10】Part III Reading ComprehensionSection AMany Brazilians cannot read.In2000,a quarter of those aged15and older were functionally illiterate(文盲).Many【C1】______do not want to.Only one literate adult in three reads books.The【C2】______Brazilian reads1.8non-academic books a year,less than half the figure in Europe and the United States.In a recent survey of reading habits,Brazilians came27th out of30 countries.Argentines,their neighbors,【C3】______18th.The government and businesses are all struggling in different ways to change this.On March13the government【C4】______a National Plan for Books and Reading.This seeks to boost reading,by founding libraries and financing publishers among other things.One discouragement to reading is that books are【C5】______.Most books have small print-runs,pushing up their price.But Brazilians'indifference to books has deeper roots.Centuries of slavery meant the country's leaders long【C6】______education.Primary schooling became universal only in the1990s.All this means Brazil's book market has the biggest growth【C7】______in the western world.But reading is a difficult habit to form.Brazilians bought fewer books in 2004,89million,including textbooks【C8】______by the government,than they did st year the director of Brazil's national library【C9】______.He complained that he had half the librarians he needed and termites(白蚁)had eaten much of the【C10】______.That ought to be a cause for national shame.A)average I)normalB)collection J)particularlyC)distributed K)potentialD)exhibition L)quitE)expensive M)rankedF)launched N)simplyG)named O)treasuredH)neglected37．【C1】38．【C2】39．【C3】40．【C4】41．【C5】42．【C6】43．【C7】44．【C8】45．【C9】46．【C10】Section BThe Touch-Screen GenerationA)On a chilly day last spring,a few dozen developers of children's apps(应用程序)for phones and tablets(平板电脑)gathered at an old beach resort in Monterey,California,to show off their games.The gathering was organized by Warren Buckleitner,a longtime reviewer of interactive children's media.Buckleitner spent the breaks testing whether his own remote-control helicopter could reach the hall's second story,while various children who had come with their parents looked up in awe(敬畏)and delight.But mostly they looked down, at the iPads and other tablets displayed around the hall like so many open boxesof candy.I walked around and talked with developers,and several quoted a famous saying of Maria Montessori's,"The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence."B)What,really,would Maria Montessori have made of this scene?The30or so children here were not down at the shore poking(戳)their fingers in the sand or running them along stones or picking seashells.Instead they were all inside, alone or in groups of two or three,their faces a few inches from a screen,their hands doing things Montessori surely did not imagine.C)In2011,the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its policy on very young children and media.In1999,the group had discouraged television viewing for children younger than2,citing research on brain development that showed this age group's critical need for"direct interactions with parents and other significant care givers."The updated report began by acknowledging that things had changed significantly since then.In2006,90%of parents said that their children younger than2consumed some form of electronic media. Nevertheless,the group took largely the same approach it did in1999, uniformly discouraging passive media use,on any type of screen,for these kids.(For older children,the academy noted,"high-quality programs"could have"educational benefits.")The2011report mentioned"smart cell phone" and"new screen"technologies,but did not address interactive apps.Nor did it bring up the possibility that has likely occurred to those90%of American parents that some good might come from those little swiping(在电子产品上刷)fingers.D)I had come to the developers'conference partly because I hoped that this particular set of parents,enthusiastic as they were about interactive media, might help me out of this problem,that they might offer some guiding principle for American parents who are clearly never going to meet the academy's ideals, and at some level do not want to.Perhaps this group would be able to express clearly some benefits of the new technology that the more cautious doctors weren't ready to address.E)I fell into conversation with a woman who had helped develop Montessori Letter Sounds,an app that teaches preschoolers the Montessori methods of spelling.She was a former Montessori teacher and a mother of four.I myself have three children who are all fans of the touch screen.What games did her kids like to play,I asked,hoping for suggestions I could take home."They don't play all that much."Really?Why not?"Because I don't allow it.We have a rule of no screen time during the week, unless it's clearlyeducational."No screen time?None at all?That seems at the outer edge of restrictive,even by the standards ofovercontrolling parents."On the weekends,they can play.I give them a limit of half an hour and then stop.Enough."F)Her answer so surprised me that I decided to ask some of the other developers who were also parents what their domestic ground rules for screen time were. One said only on airplanes and long car rides.Another said Wednesdays and weekends,for half an hour.The most permissive said half an hour a day,which was about my rule at home.At one point I sat with one of the biggest developers of e-book apps for kids,and his family.The small kid was starting to fuss in her high chair,so the mom stuck an iPad in front of her and played a short movie so everyone else could enjoy their lunch.When she saw me watching,she gave me the universal tense look of mothers who feel they are being judged."At home," she assured me,"I only let her watch movies in Spanish."G)By their reactions,these parents made me understand the problem of our age: as technology becomes almost everywhere in our lives,American parents are becoming more,not less,distrustful of what it might be doing to their children. Technological ability has not,for parents,translated into comfort and ease.On the one hand,parents want their children to swim expertly in the digital stream that they will have to navigate(航行)all their lives;on the other hand,they fear that too much digital media,too early,will sink them.Parents end up treating tablets as precision surgical(外科的)instruments,devices that might perform miracles for their child's IQ and help him win some great robotics competition—but only if they are used just so.Otherwise,their child could end up one of those sad,pale creatures who can't make eye contact and has a girlfriend who lives only in the virtual world.H)Norman Rockwell,a20th-century artist,never painted Boy Swiping Finger on Screen,and our own vision of a perfect childhood has never been adjusted to accommodate that now-common scene.Add to that our modern fear that every parenting decision may have lasting consequences—that every minute of enrichment lost or mindless entertainment indulged(放纵的)will add up to some permanent handicap(障碍)in the future—and you have deep guilt and confusion.To date,no body of research has proved that the iPad will make your preschooler smarter or teach her to speak Chinese,or alternatively that it will rust her nervous system—the device has been out for only three years,not much more than the time it takes some academics to find funding and gather research subjects.So what is a parent to do?47．The author attended the conference,hoping to find some guiding principles for parenting in the electronic age.48．American parents are becoming more doubtful about the benefits technology is said to bring to their children.49．Some experts believe that human intelligence develops by the use of hands.50．The author found a former Montessori teacher exercising strict control over her kids'screen time.51．Research shows interaction with people is key to babies'brain development.52．So far there has been no scientific proof of the educational benefits of iPads.53．American parents worry that overuse of tablets will create problems with their kids'interpersonal relationships.54．The author expected developers of children's apps to specify the benefits of the new technology.55．The kids at the gathering were more fascinated by the iPads than by the helicopter.56．The author permits her children to use the screen for at most half an hour a day.Section CWhen young women were found to make only82percent of what their male peers do just one year out of college,many were at a loss to explain it.All the traditional reasons put forward to interpret the pay gap—that women fall behind when they leave the workforce to raise kids,for example,or that they don't seek as many management roles—failed to justify this one. These young women didn't have kids yet.And because they were just one year removed from their undergraduate degrees,few of these women yet had the chance to go after(much less decline)leadership roles.But there are other reasons why the pay gap remains so persistent.The first is that no matter how many women may be getting college degrees,the university experience is still an unequal one.The second is that our higher education system is not designed to focus on the economic consequences of our students'years on campus.Now that women are the majority of college students and surpass men in both the number of undergraduate and advanced degrees awarded,one might think the college campus is a pretty equal place.It is not.Studies show that while girls do better than boys in high school,they start to trail off during their college years.They enroll in different kinds of classes,tend to major in less rigorous(非常严格的)subjects,and generally head off with less ambitious plans.As a result,it's not surprising that even the best educated young women enter the workplace with a slight disadvantage.Their college experience leaves them somewhat confused,still stumbling(栽倒)over the dilemmas their grandmothers'generation sought to destroy.Are they supposed to be pretty or smart?Strong or sexy(性感的)?All their lives,today's young women have been pushed to embrace both perfection and passion—to pursue science and sports, math and theater—and do it all as well as they possibly can.No wonder they are not negotiating for higher salaries as soon as they get out of school.They are too exhausted,and too scared of failing.57．Traditionally,it is believed that women earn less than men because______. A．they have failed to take as many rigorous coursesB．they do not feel as fit for management rolesC．they feel obliged to take care of their kids at homeD．they do not exhibit the needed leadership qualities58．What does the author say about America's higher education system?A．It does not offer specific career counseling to women.B．It does not consider its economic impact on graduates.C．It does not take care of women students'special needs.D．It does not encourage women to take rigorous subjects.59．What does the author say about today's college experience?A．It is different for male and female students.B．It is not the same as that of earlier generations.C．It is more exhausting than most women expect.D．It is not so satisfying to many American students.60．What does the author say about women students in college?A．They have no idea how to bring out their best.B．They drop a course when they find it too rigorous.C．They are not as practical as men in choosing courses.D．They don't perform as well as they did in high school.61．How does the author explain the pay gap between men and women fresh from college?A．Women are too worn out to be ambitious.B．Women are not ready to take management roles.C．Women are caught between career and family.D．Women are not good at negotiating salaries.Reading leadership literature,you'd sometimes think that everyone has the potential to be an effective leader.I don't believe that to be true.In fact,I see way fewer truly effective leaders than I see people stuck in positions of leadership who are sadly incompetent and seriously misguided about their own abilities.Part of the reason this happens is a lack of honest self-assessment by those who aspire to(追求)leadership in the first place.We've all met the type of individual who simply must take charge.Whether it's a decision-making session,a basketball game,or a family outing,they can't help grabbing the lead dog position and clinging on to it for dear life.They believe they're natural born leaders.Truth is,they're nothing of the sort.True leaders don't assume that it's their divine(神圣的)right to take charge every time two or more people get together. Quite the opposite.A great leader will assess each situation on its merits,and will only take charge when their position,the situation,and/or the needs of the moment demand it.Many business executives confuse leadership with action.They believe that constant motion somehow generates leadership as a byproduct.Faced withany situation that can't be solved by the sheer force of activity,they generate a dust cloud of impatience.Their one leadership tool is volume:if they think you aren't working as hard as they think you should,their demands become increasingly louder and harsher.True leaders understand the value of action,of course,but it isn't their only tool.In fact,it isn't even their primary tool.Great leaders see more than everyone else:answers,solutions,patterns,problems,opportunities.They know it's vitally important to do,but they also know that thinking,understanding, reflection and interpretation are equally important.If you're too concerned with outcomes to the extent that you manipulate and intimidate others to achieve those outcomes,then you aren't leading at all, you're dictating.A true leader is someone who develops his or her team so that they can and do hit their targets and achieve their goals.62．What does the author think of the leaders he knows?A．Many of them are used to taking charge.B．Few of them are equal to their positions.C．Many of them fail to fully develop their potential.D．Few of them are familiar with leadership literature.63．Why are some people eager to grab leadership positions?A．They believe they have the natural gift to lead.B．They believe in what leadership literature says.C．They have proved competent in many situations.D．They derive great satisfaction from being leaders.64．What characterizes a great leader according to the author?A．Being able to take prompt action when chances present themselves. B．Having a whole-hearted dedication to their divine responsibilities. C．Having a full understanding of their own merits and weaknesses. D．Being able to assess the situation carefully before taking charge. 65．How will many business executives respond when their command fails to generate action?A．They reassess the situation at hand.B．They become impatient and rude.C．They resort to any tool available.D．They blame their team members.66．What is the author's advice to leaders?A．Concentrate on one specific task at a time.B．Use different tools to achieve different goals.C．Build up a strong team to achieve their goals.D．Show determination when faced with tough tasks.PartⅣTranslation67．中国应进一步发展核能，因为核电目前只占其总发电量的2％。

2024年6月英语四级(第1套) 听力News Report One新闻一Six people had to move away from their home to another place after a fire broke out in a building on Main Street Saturday, officials said.官员们说，周六主街上的一栋建筑发生火灾后，六人不得不从家中搬到另一个地方。

Firefighters responded to the three-story building shortly after 1 p.m. for a reported structure fire, according to Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Adam Markowitz.据诺沃克消防局副局长亚当·马科维茨称，因为有报告称建筑物起火，消防员在下午1点刚过就赶到了这栋三层建筑。

Markowitz said crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the second floor when they arrived.马科维茨说，消防人员到达现场时发现二楼冒出浓烟。

A team of about 25 firefighters then spent about 25 minutes extinguishing the flames.由大约25名消防员组成的消防队随后花了大约25分钟灭火。

Officials described the structure as a mixed-use building that features commercial businesses on the first floor and residential on the second and third floors.据官方描述，该建筑是一栋多功能建筑，其建筑特色是一楼为商用，二楼和三楼为居民住宅。

【完整版】2022年12月英语四级真题答案解析（第一套）【听力部分】News Report 3A Spanish island called Palmador has been bought by a family from Europe for 18 million euros. (Question 5) Island id often described as heaven on earth by holiday makers. Decades tourist have been flocking to Palmador, which is located off the southeast coast of Spain. (Question 5) They come to enjoy its unspoiled beaches and crystal clear waters. (Question 6) Its natural beauty is protected as it lies inside a natural park.Although Palmador one of the most famous private islands in the world, its seafront is public land and is a favorite destination for famous people. When the island was put up for sale, it was offered to the local government, but proved too expensive for the local authorities. It is unclear whether the new owners have the power to ban tourist from the island, but with their newfound luxury comes the responsibility for its protection and maintenance.The island is less than two miles long and half a mile wide. (Question 5) lt is said to have a remarkable location that few other private islands of this size can match.According to estate agents, Palmador is perfect place to retreat to get away from the city noise and relax in beautiful surroundings with zero stress.(Question 7)Question 5What do we learn from the news report about the Spanish island Palmador?Question 6What do holiday makers come to Palmador to enjoy?Question 7What do estate agents say about Palmador?【选词填空】Parenting brings fathers more joy than it does mothes,according to a new study...26.K)involving27.B)associated28.L)note29.A)additional30.D)cultivate31.E)depressive32.H)however33.G)emotions34.F)directly35.I)implication【仔细阅读部分】46. What does the author say is remarkable about the fish we eat?BA)They reproduce quickly.B)They are mostly farmed.C)They have bocome as important as grain.D) They have a longer history than humars.47. What do we need to do if we keep consuming fish at the current rate?DA)Increasethefishingvolumeconsiderably.B)Developmoreadvancedfishingtechnology.C)Enlargethemarinefishstockseffectively.D)Expand the scale of fish-farming continuously.48.What does the author say about China in terms of aquatic food?CA)It places increasing emphasis on fishing now.B) It boasts of the world's largest fishing stocks,C) It raises more fish than caught from the wild.D) It supplies 60% of the world's fish products49.Why does the author say aquaculture is so important these days?AA) It is a must for feeding the world's fast-growing populationB) It proves a reliable source of protein for humans and animalsC) It is essential to maintaining both mental and physical healthD) It ensures a balanced healthy diet for people the world over,50.What does the author imply by saying aquaculture is no silver bullet?CA)Shrimp-farming is a risky business.B) Fish-farming will not be sustainableC) Fish-farming may cause serious problems too.D) Shrimp-farming can become quite expensive.51. What does the WEP's winning of tlhe Nobel Peace Prize make us realize?DA)More and more people in the world are suffering from starvation.B) All of us can be affected by food instability cne way or another,C) It is hazardous to leeve millions of people poor and vulnerable.D) It is morally wrong to think helping the poor is not our business.52. What do we leam about the WEP's effort to elirrinate hunger?BA)It has ersured a sufficient food supply to millicnsB) It is still far from its goal despite the progress made,C) It has done a good job in combating natural disasters.D) It is preventing starvation occurring on a global scale.53. What will happen when food aid is offered at a price?AA) The rich will become richer and the poor poorer.B)Morepeoplewillbewillbewillingtojoinintheeffort.C)More food will be made available to the needy.D) The relief effort will be rendered less sustainable.54.How can scientists help cope with poverty and hunger?BA)By colaborating closely with world economic institutions.B) By sharing expertise with peers in poverty-stricken nations.C) By setting up more food research programs in develsping countries.D) By building self-respect in people suffering from undernutrition55.What message does the author try toconvey at the end of the passage?CA) Wealthy nations should solve their own food problems first.B) Rich counties should be more generous in providing food aid,C)Poor nations should enhance their own ability to solve their food shortages.D) World economic institutions should play a bigger role in fighting hunger.【翻译部分】立春(Start of Spring)在中国农历中表示春天的开始。

2023年12月英语四级听力（第1套）听力翻译News Report1新闻报道1Have you noticed how similar you are to your friends?你有没有注意到你和你的朋友有多相似？It may be because your brains operate in harmony with each other.这可能是因为你们的大脑相互协调地运作。

We know that friends are more likely to be the same age,gender and ethnic background as each other.我们知道，朋友之间更可能有相同的年龄、性别和种族背景。

Now it seems their brains are alike,too.现在看来，大脑也很相似。

Researchers at the University of California scanned the brains of42classmates while they watched videos intended to provoke varying responses.加州大学的研究人员扫描了42位同学的大脑，同时让他们观看旨在引起不同反应的视频。

Some people might find a romantic scene touching,for instance,while others would feel it was embarrassing.例如，有些人可能会觉得浪漫的场景很感人，而另一些人则会觉得尴尬。

The activity of friends'brains was more similar than that of people who didn't know each other, particularly in regions involved in attention,emotion and language.朋友之间的大脑活动比不认识的人更相似，尤其是在涉及注意力、情感和语言的区域。

2024年6月大学英语四级真题（第1套）Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: Suppose your university is seeking students’ opinions on whether university libraries should be open to the public. You are now to write an essay to express your view. You will have 30 minutes for the task. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.PartⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B), C) and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Due to a fire alarm in their apartments.B) Because of the smoke and heat damage.C) Due to the water used to extinguish the flames.D) Because of the collapse of the three-story building.2. A) Investigating the cause of the incident.B) Helping search for the suspect of the crime.C) Rescuing the businessmen trapped in the building.D) Checking town records for the property developer.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It plays a less important role in one’s health than nutrient intake.B) It impacts people’s health to a lesser degree than sun exposure.C) It is associated with people’s mental health conditions.D) It is linked with older adults’ sympt oms of depression.4. A) It was indefinite. C) It was straightforward.B) It was systematic. D) It was insignificant.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) It has helped solve several murder cases.B) It has become a star police dog in Beijing.C) It has surpassed its mother in performance.D) It has done better than naturally born dogs.6. A) To speed up investigation into criminal cases. C) To cut down training expenses.B) To test the feasibility of cloning technology. D) To reduce their training time.7. A) Cloning is too complicated a process. C) Cloning is ethically controversial.B) The technology is yet to be accepted. D) The technology is too expensive.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A），B），C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) He read it somewhere online. C) He read an article reviewing it.B) He heard about it from a coworker. D) He watched a TV series based on it.9. A) His publications. C) His address.B) His first book. D) His name.10. A) Collect a lot more data. C) Clarify many new concepts.B) Relax a bit less often. D) Read more reference books.11. A) Find out the show’s most interesting episodes. C) Get an e-copy of the book to read.B) Watch the series together with the woman. D) Check to see when the show starts.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) To check the prices of his farm produce.B) To ask the way to the Newcastle City Hall.C) To inquire about the vegetarian food festival.D) To seek the man’s help with her work on the farm.13. A) Bakers. C) Vegetarians.B) Vendors. D) Organisers.14. A) The issuing of certificates to vendors. C) The festival they are organising.B) The completion of the baking task. D) The deadline for application.15. A) The closing date of submission. C) The details of the ceremony.B) The website of his company. D) The organiser’s address.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) Most scenic sites have been closed. C) Health experts advise going outdoors.B) Access to official campsites is limited. D) People have more time during the summer.17. A) It is strongly opposed by nearby residents. C) It has caused environmental concerns.B) It leads to much waste of public money. D) It has created conflicts among campers.18. A) Look for open land in Scotland. C) Avoid getting close to wilderness.B) Leave no trace of their camping. D) Ask for permission from authorities. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They outcompete mythical creatures. C) They truly exist in the Amazon region.B) They usually mind their own business. D) They resemble alarmingly large snakes.20. A) Scar tissue from dolphins’ fighting. C) Unhealed wounds from snake bites.B) Skin infection from water pollution. D) Swimming along in seasonal floods.21. A) It has been shrinking at an astonishing pace.B) It has been placed under international protection.C) It has been appealing to both freshwater and sea dolphins.D) It has been abandoned as a battleground for male dolphins.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) About 58% of young adults call parental support the new normal.B) Most adult children enjoy increasing sources of financial support.C) A full 70% of the young adults cannot afford to buy a car by themselves.D) Most early adults cannot sustain their lifestyles without parental support.23. A) It renders them dependent. C) It makes them mentally immature.B) It causes them to lose dignity. D) It hinders them from getting ahead.24. A) It challenges one’s willpower. C) It calls for due assistance.B) It results from education. D) It defines adulthood.25. A) Current lifestyles. C) College loans.B) Poor budgeting. D) Emergency expenses.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once．It’s well known that physical exercise is beneficial not just to physical health but also to mental health. Yet whereas most countries have 26 , evidence-backed guidelines on the type and intensity of exercise 27 for various physical health benefits, such guidelines do not yet exist for exercise and mood.This is 28 due to a lack of necessary evidence. However, a new systematic review brings us usefully up-to-date on the current findings in this area.Before 29 into some of the key take-aways, an important 30 made in the review is between aerobic exercise and anaerobic. The former 31 such things as walking, jogging and cycling and means exercising in such a way that your body is able to use oxygen to burn fat for energy. In contrast, anaerobic exercise—such as lifting heavy weights—is of such 32 intensity that your body does not have time to use oxygen to create energy and so instead it breaks down glucose (葡萄糖) in your blood or muscles.Beginning first with the influence of exercise intensity on the mood benefits of aerobic exercise, the researchers, led by John Chan at Shenzhen University, found 33 results from19 relevant studies. Some favoured higher intensity, others low, while seven studies found that intensity made no 34 to mood benefits.In relation to the intensity of anaerobic exercise, however, the results were far clearer—the optimum (最佳选择) for improving mood is 35 intensity, perhaps because low intensity is too dull while high intensity is too unpleasant.Section BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Why Do Americans Work So Much?A)How will we all keep busy when we only have to work 15 hours a week? That was thequestion that worried the British economist John Maynard Keynes when he wrote his short essay “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren” in 1930. Over the next century, h e predicted, the economy would become so productive that people would barely need to work at all. For a while, it looked like Keynes was right. In 1930 the average working week was47 hours in the United States. But by 1970, the number of hours Americans worked onaverage had fallen to slightly less than 39.B)But then something changed. Instead of continuing to decline, the duration of the workingweek remained stable. It has stayed at just below 40 hours for nearly five decades. So what happened? Why are people working just as much today as in 1970?C)There would be no mystery in this if Keynes had been wrong about the power of technologyto increase the economy’s productivity, which he thought would lead to a standard of living “between four and eight times as high as it is today.” But Keynes got that right: Technology has made the economy massively more productive. According to Benjamin M. Friedman, an economist at Harvard, the U.S. economy is right on track to reach Keynes’s eight-fold (八倍) multiple by 2029. That is a century after the last data Keynes would have had access to.D)In a new paper, Friedman tries to figure out why that increased productivity has nottranslated into increased leisure time. Perhaps people just never feel materially satisfied, always wanting more money to buy the next new thing. This is a theory that appeals tomany economists. “This argument is, at best, far from sufficient,” he writes. If that were the case, why did the duration of the working week decline in the first place?E)Another theory Friedman considers is that, in an era of ever fewer settings that provideeffective opportunities for personal connections and relationships, people may place more value on the socializing that happens at work. There is support for this theory. Many people today consider colleagues as friends. But Friedman argues that the evidence for this theory is far from conclusive. Many workers report that they would like to spend more time with family, rather than at work. Furthermore, this theory cannot explain the change in trend in the U.S. working week in the 1970s.F) A third possibility proves more convincing for Friedman. That is: American inequalitymeans that the gains of increasing productivity are not widely shared by everyone. In other words, most Americans are too poor to work less. Unlike the other two explanations Friedman considers, this one fits chronologically (按年代). Inequality declined in America during the period following World War II, along with the duration of the working week.But since the early 1970s it has risen dramatically.G)Keynes’s prediction of a shorter working week rests on the idea that the standard of livingwould continue rising for everyone. But Friedman says that this is not what has happened.Although Keynes’s eight-fold figure holds up for the economy as a whole, it is not at all the case for the median (中位数的) American worker. For them, output by 2029 is likely to be around 3.5 times what it was when Keynes was writing. This is a bit below his four- to eight-fold predicted range.H)This can be seen in the median worker’s income over this time period, complete with a shiftin 1973 that fits in precisely with when the working week stopped shrinking. According to Friedman, between 1947 and 1973 the average hourly wage for normal workers (those who were not in management roles) in private industries other than agriculture nearly doubled in terms of what their money could buy. But by 2013 the average hourly wage for ordinary workers had fallen 5 percent from the 1973 level in terms of actual purchasing power. Thus, though American incomes may have gone up since 1973, the amount that American workers can actually buy with their money has gone down. For most Americans, then, the magic of increasing productivity stopped working around 1973. Thus, they had to keep working just as much in order to maintain their standard of living.I)What Keynes predicted was a very optimistic version of what economists call technologicalunemployment. This is the idea that less labor will be necessary because machines can do so much. In Keynes’s vision, the resulting unemployment would be distributed more or less evenly across society in the form of increased leisure. But Friedman says that, for Americans, reality is much darker. Americans now have a labor market in which millions of people—those with fewer skills and less education—are seeking whatever poorly paid work they can get. This is confirmed by a recent poll that found that, for half of hourly workers, their top concern is not that they work too much but that they work too little. This is most likely not because they like their jobs so much. Rather, we can assume it is because they need the money.J)This explanation leaves an important question. If the very rich—the workers who have reaped above-average gains from the increased productivity since Keynes’s time—can afford to work less, why do they continue to work so much? (Indeed, research has shownthat the highest earners in America tend to work the most.) Friedman believes that for many top earners, work is a labor of love. They are doing work they care about and are interested in, and doing more of it is not necessarily a burden. For them, it may even be a pleasure.These top earners derive meaning from their jobs and work is an important part of how they think of themselves. And, of course, they are compensated for it at a level that makes it worth their while.K)Friedman concludes that the prosperity(繁荣) Keynes predicted is here. After all, the economy as a whole has grown even more brilliantly than he expected. But for most Americans, that prosperity is nowhere to be seen. And, as a result, neither are those shorter working weeks.36. Some people view socializing at the workplace as a chance to develop personal relationships.37. As ordinary American workers’ average hourly pay had decreased despite increasing productivity, they had to work just as many hours as before to keep their living standards.38. American workers’ average weekly working time has not changed for nearly half a century.39. Friedman believes inequality in the U.S. largely explains why increasing productivity has not resulted in reduced working hours.40. Man y economists assume people’s thirst for material things has prevented them from enjoying more leisure time.41. An economist’s prediction about a shorter average working week seemed to be correct fora time in the 20th century.42. In the U.S. labor market, the primary concern of people with less schooling and fewer skills is to secure any employment even if it is low-paid.43. Keynes was right in predicting that technology would make the economy much more productive.44. Many of the highest earners have a keen interest in and love for what they are doing.45. According to Keynes, there would be a shorter working week with everyone’s standard of living continuing to rise.Section CDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Lao Zi once said, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”People-pleasing, or seeking self-worth through oth ers’ approval, is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life. Why do we allow what others think of us to have so much power over how we feel about ourselves? If it’s true that you can’t please all people all of the。