2008年12月四级英语标准阅读精解倒计时39天

2008年12月si ji da an1.A).【定位】由提干中的Stella Bianchi, mother 定位到第三段1-2句：“The boy‟s mother ran toward me from across the park ,” I thought she was coming over to apologize, but instead she started shouting at me for …disciplining her child ‟.【精解】段首处设题。

文章提到Stella本以为孩子的母亲是来道歉的，A）与此一致。

本体关键在于定位答案。

2.D)【定位】由提干中的deal with other people‟s children 定位到第四段：Getting your own children to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people‟s children has become a minefield.【精解】段末设题，这句话的意思是：管教别人的孩子如进雷区，“minefield”这个词固然生僻，一可根据mine“地雷”的意思进行判断；二可通过上文进行推断。

上句提出管教自己的孩子已经很难了，两句之间是递进关系，推断管教别人孩子更不容易。

D）项与此相符。

3.B)【定位】由题干中的Professor Naomi White, criticize定位到第七段最后一句：We see our children as an extension of ourselves, so if you‟re saying that my child is behaving inappropriately, then that‟s somehow a criticism of me.【精解】段末设题。

文章指出“如果你说我的孩子做的不对，那就有些批评我的意味了。

The Guidford Four, freed last week after spending 15 years in prison for crimes they did not commit, would almost certainly have been executed for the pub bombing they were convicted of. They had the death penalty been in force at the time of their trial. They may now be a decent interval before the pro-hanging lobby, which has the support of the Prime Minister, makes another attempt to reintroduce the noose. Reflections along these lines were about the only kind of consolation to be derived from this gross miscarriage of justice which is now to be the subject of a judicia l(司法的) inquiry. In the meantime, defense lawyers are demanding compensation and have in mind about half a million pounds for each of their clients. The first three to be released-Mr. Gerald Conlon, Mr. Paddy Armstrong and Ms. Carole Richardson-left prison with the 34 pounds which is given to all departing inmates. The fourth, Mr. Paul Hill, was not released immediately but taken to Belfast, where he lodged an appeal against his conviction for the murder of a former British soldier. Since this conviction, too, was based on the now discredited statements allegedly made to the Survey police, he was immediately let out on bail(保释). But he left empty-handed. The immediate reaction to the scandal was renewed demand for the re-examination of the case against the Birmingham Six, who are serving life sentences for pub bombings in that city. Thus far the Home secretary, Mr. Douglas Hurd, is insisting that the two cases are not comparable; that what is now known about the Guilford investigation has no relevance to what happened in Birmingham. Mr. Hurd is right to the extent that there was a small-though flimsy and hotly-contested-amount of crime evidence in the Birmingham case. The disturbing similarity is that the Birmingham Six, like the Guilford Four, claim that police officers lied and fabricated evidence to secure a conviction. Making scapegoats(替罪⽺) of a few rogue police officers will not be sufficient to eliminate the Guilford miscarriage of justice. These are already demands that the law should be changed; first to make it impossible to convict on “confessions”alone; and secondly to require that statements from accused persons should only be taken in the presence of an independent third patty to ensure they are not made under punishment. It was also being noted this week that the Guilford Four owe their release more to be persistence of investigative reporters than to the diligence of either the judiciary or the police. Yet investigative reports-particularly on television-have recently been a particular target for the condemnation of Mrs. Thatcher and some of her ministers who seem to think that TV should be muzzled(钳制⾔论的⼿段) in the public interest and left to get on with soap operas and quiz shows. (495words) 1. The word “noose”(Line 7, Para. 1) has the closest meaning to ________.A. death penaltyB. hangingC. trialD.punishment 2. To compensate the miscarriage of justice, the defense lawyers may_________. A. demand 500,000 pounds for the Guilford Four B. demand 500,000 pounds for each of the Guilford Four C. demand 1,000,000 pounds for each of the Guilford Four D. demand a re-examination of the Birmingham pub bombings 3. Why was there a renewed demand for the re-examination of the case against the Birmingham Six? A. The Birmingham Six were believed to have criminal connections with the Guilford Four B. The two cases were similar in that both were about pub bombings. C. The bombings in Birmingham happened at the same time. D. The Birmingham Six also claimed that there were police malpractice’s in their case. 4. The existing law states that________. A. convictions can be made on confessions and statements taken by police officers from accused persons are valid legal evidence B. convictions can’t be made on confessions alone and there should be a third party when taking statements from accused persons C. convictions can be made on confessions and a third party should be present when taking statements from accused persons D. convictions can’t be made on confessions alone and the statements taken by police officers from accused persons are valid legal evidence 5. According to the article, which of the following parties contributed most to the release of the Guilford Four?A. ReportersB. LawyersC. The policeD. The judiciary 答案： 1.B 猜测词义题。

复合式听写Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue through the next few decades. Crime rates have always been high in multicultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new phenomenon has appeared on the world scene, rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few offenses. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, murder and auto theft are clearly rising, particularly in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the United Kingdom.What is driving this crime explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there’re certain conditions associated with rising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, changing national borders, greater economic growth, and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong.These conditions are increasing observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous such as Japan, Denmark, and Greece are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history.Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century, and failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.11. D. She has lost contact with most of her friends12. A. A painter13. C. Make inquiries elsewhere14. C. He has gained some weight lately15. D he doesn't like abstract paintings16. B she may have put her notebook amid the journals17. A she wants to get some sleep18. B his chance of getting the job is slim19. A. he can manage his time more flexibly20. D. searching the website21 D. to utilize its retired employees' resources22. C. See a piece of property23. B It is a small one with a two -bedroom house24. C. it may not be big enough for raising corn25. A. Finance26. A. to introduce the chief of the city's police force27. D he holds a master's degree in criminology28. B. to get police officers closer to the local people29. C. effective30 .B. there are numerous languages in existence31. C it is something we are born with32. D how children learn to use language33. B she was an engineer34. C. adjusting them to different audience35. A whether spacemen carry weapons36. trend37. phenomenon38 scene39 offences40 murder41 particularly42 explosion43 Associated44. changing national boarders, greater economic growth and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong45. are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been accompanied Americans for most of its history.46. failure to recognize and plan for diversity can lead to serious crime problems.选词填空A卷答案：47. F) derive48. K) naturally49. H) escape50. G) diversity51. N) respect52. I) establishing53. B) characters54. A) abundant55. O) widen56. C) communicating阅读A卷答案：P1男人面对的身体危机更多57.C他们获得足够长以读到这篇文章58.B男人没有像女人那样经常去寻求医疗救治59.A这时也会发生在我身上60.D因为害怕而不愿意知道自己的病情61.B可以省钱P2商家与各科的矛盾关系62.A当他们有不愉快经历时，大多数顾客不会费力去投诉63.D不向经理投诉同样会带给顾客麻烦64.B不会在停车时遇到麻烦65.销售员的礼貌66.直接把他们的不满告诉商店经理完型A卷答案：67. A) among68. D) sponsor69. A) access70. B) less71. D) lack72. C) fees73. C) and74. A) maintain75. B) first76. D) when77. A) realized78. C) strongly79. D) led80. C) particular81. B) environment82. A) encouraging83. D) at84. B) how85. C) produce86. A) growing翻译A卷答案：87. to which they still have no answers today.88. what most parents are concerned about.89. in case of temperature drop.90. decided to start their own business.91. until a doctor found it by chance.快速阅读1. A make an apology. 对应原文第7行I thought she was coming over to apologise2. D It’s possible for one to get into lots of trouble 对应原文第10行Dealing with other people’s children has become a minefield,其中minefield指的是雷区，表明比较难于处理的问题3. B hurt 对应原文第一页倒数第10行then that’s somehow a criticism of me4. A Talk to them directly in a mild way. 对应原文第一页倒数第6行usually a quiet reminder that “we don’t do that here” is enough.5. C people are reluctant to point out kid’s wrongdoings. 此题难度较大，需要阅读中跳跃的范围较大，要直接跳到原文第二页的第10行For Andrew Fuller, the child-centric nature of our society has affected everyone, “The rules are different now from when today’s parents were growing up.6. B I t’s difficult to create a code of conduct. 对应原文第二页第16行7. D They’d put the blame on their kids 对应原文第二页20行“I got into trouble”, and dad said, “ You probably deserved it.”8. challenged9. can be proud of10. stay silent写作Limiting The Use of Disposable Plastic Bags1.一次性塑料袋曾被广泛的使用2.造成的问题3.限制使用的意义Disposable plastic bags were once widely used in China. When we went shopping at supermarkets and departments stores, shopping assistants often provided free plastic bags for our convenience. For a while, life without them seemed unimaginable for most of us.However, disposable plastic bags do bring severe damage to our environment. Costumers usually threw them away after use, and because they are thin and hard to decompose, these plastic products will exist for a long time. This is an immediate threat to our earth and water. Nowadays, the government has passed relevant regulations for limiting the use of disposable plastic bags: they are not free any more. In some shopping places, in order to invoke the public awareness of environmental protection, plastic bags are offered in a much higher price. As a result, people are changing their behavior: paper and clothing bags that vanished for a long time come back to our daily life. It is true that by limiting its usage, everyone in this society contributes some effort to the improvement of the environment.（北京新东方提供）。

Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section AQuestions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.A bookless life is an incomplete life. Books influence the depth and breadth of life. They meet the natural 47______ for freedom, for expression, for creativity and beauty of life. Learners, therefore, must have books, and the right type of book, for the satisfaction of their need. Readers turn 48______ to books because their curiosity concerning all manners of things, their eagerness to share in the experiences of others and their need to 49______ from their own limited environment lead them to find in books food for the the mind and spirit. Through their reading they find a deeper significance to life as books acquaint them with life in the world as it was and it is now. They are presented with a 50______of human experiences and come to 51______ other ways of thought and living. And while 52______ their own relationships and responses to readers often find that the 53______ in their stories are going through similar adjustments, which help to clarify and give significance to their own.Books provide 54______ material for readers' imagination to grow. Imagination is a valuable quality and a motivating power, and stimulates achievement. While enriching their imagination, books 55______ their outlook, develop a fact-finding attitude and train them to use leisure56______. The social and educational significance of the readers' books cannot be overestimated in an academic library.Section BPassage oneQuestion 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.If you’re a male and you’re reading this , congratulations : you’re a survivor. According to statistics, you’re more than twice as likely to d ie of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS . Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78years for men in Australia , you’ll die on average five years before a woman.There’re many reasons for this ---typically , men take more risks than women and are more likely to drink and smoke—but perhaps more importantly , men don’t go to the doctor.“men aren’t seeing doctors as often as they should ,” says Dr.Gullotta . “this is particularly so for the over-40s, when diseases tend to strike .”Gullotta say a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two . For those over 45,it should be at least once a year .Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old man who had delayed doing anything about his s moker’s cough for a year .“when I finally saw him it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer ,” he says. “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him but it would have prolonged his life .”According to a recent survey ,95% of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctoronce a year , compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“A lot of men think they’re invincible (不可战胜的),” Gullatta says . “they only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and t hey think ,’Geez,if it could happen tohim ,……’ ”Then there’s the ostrich approach .”Some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know ,” says Dr.Ross Cartmill.“most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies ,” Garmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-us for men would inevitably lace strain on the public purse , Cartmill says . “but prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the disease . Besides , the ultimate cost is far greater :it’s called premature death .”注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答57．Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage ?A)They are more likely to survive serious diseases todayB）Their average life span has been considerably extendedC)They have lived long enough to read this articleD)They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier life58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women ?A)men drink and smoke much more than womenB)men don’t seek medical care as often as womenC)men aren’t as cautious as women in face of dangerD)men are more likely to suffer from fatal disease59.Which of the following best completes the sentence “Geez ,if it could happen to him, ...”(line 2, para.8)A)it could happen to me ,tooB）I should avoid playing golfC)I should consider myself luckyD)it would be a big misfortune60. what does Dr.Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach “(Line 1 ,Para 9)A)A cause attitude towards one’s health conditionsB)A new therapy for certain psychological problemsC)Refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involvedD)Unwillingness to find out about one’s disease because of fear61.What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men ?A)They may increase public expenseB)They will save money in the long runC)They may cause psychological strain s on menD)They will enable men to live as long as womenPassage twoQuestion 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service is preached by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done.Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store ,but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last to hear complaints,and often find out only when their regular customers decide to frequent their competitors, according to study jointly conducted by Verde Group and Wharton School.“storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde Group. “The store losers the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement”On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four others, and will no longer visit the specific store. For every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shopper who purchased clothing encountered the most problem Ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered shelves over loaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting (业余兼职的) local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly , and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers , and having sales representatives on hand to answer question .Most importantly , salespeople should be diplomatic and polite with angry customers .“Retailers who’er responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren’t so friendly , “ said professor Stephen Hoch .” Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the s tore entrance would help .“Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer , instead of complaining to the rest of the world . Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they hace no idea what is wrong.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2008年12月英语四级考试真题Part I Writing （30 minutes）Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Limiting the Use of Disposable Plastic Bag.You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1.一次性塑料袋的使用2.使用一次性塑料袋带来的问题3.限制一次性塑料袋的意义Limiting the Use of Disposable Plastic Bag________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D].For questions 8 -10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.That’s enough, kidsIt was a lovely day at the park and Stella Bianchi was enjoying the sunshine with her two children when a young boy, aged about four, approached her two-year-old son and pushed him to the ground.“I‟d watched him for a little while and my son was the fourth or fifth child he‟d shoved,” she says.” I went over to them, picked up my son, turned to the boy and said, firmly, ‟No, we don‟t push,” What happened next was unexpected.“The boy‟s mother ran toward me from across the park,” Stella says,” I thought she was coming over to apologize, but instead she started shouting at me for disciplining her child, All I did was let him know his behavior was unacceptable. Was I supposed to sit back while her kid did whatever he wanted, hurting other children in the process?”Getting your own chi ldren to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people‟s children has become a minefield.In my house, jumping on the sofa is not allowed. In my sister‟s house it‟s encouraged. For her, it‟s about kids being kids: “If you can‟t do it at three, when can you do it?”Each of these philosophies is valid and, it has to be said, my son loves visiting his aunt‟s house. But I find myself saying “no” a lot when her kids are over at mine. That‟s OK between sisters but becomes dangerous territory when you‟r e talking to the children of friends or acquaintances.“Kids aren‟t all raised the same,” agrees Professor Naomi White of Monash University.” But there is still an idea that they‟re the property of the parent. We see our children as an extension of ourselves, so if you‟re saying that my child is behaving inappropriately, then that‟s somehow a criticism of me.”In those circumstances, it‟s difficult to know whether to approach the child directly or the parent first. Thereare two schools of thought.“I’d go to the child first,”says Andrew Fuller, author of Tricky Kids. Usually a quiet reminder that ’we don‟t do that here‟ is enough. Kids nave finely tuned antennae (直觉) for how to behave in different settings.”He points out bringing it up with the parent first may make them feel neglectful, which could cause problems. Of course, approaching the child first can bring its own headaches, too.This is why White recommends that you approach the parents first. Raise your concerns with the parents if they‟re there and ask them to deal with it,” she says.Asked how to approach a parent in this situation, psychologist Meredith Fuller answers: “Explain your needs as well as stressing the importance of the friendship. Preface your remarks with something like: ‟I know you‟ll think I‟m silly but in my house I don’t want…‟”When it comes to situations where you‟re caring for another child, white is straightforward: “common sense must prevail. If things don‟t go well, then have a chat.”There‟re a couple of new grey areas. Physical punishment, once accepted from any adult, is no longer appropriate. “A new set of considerations has come to the fore as part of the debate about how we handle children.”For Andrew Fuller, the child-centric nature of our society has affected ev eryone:” The rules are different now from when today‟s parents were growing up,” he says, “Adults are scared of saying: ‟don‟t swear‟, or asking a child to stand up on a bus. They‟re worried that there will be conflict if they point these things out – either from older children, or their parents.”He sees it as a loss of the sense of common public good and public courtesy (礼貌), and says that adults suffer form it as much as child.Meredith Fuller agrees: “A code of conduct is hard to create when you‟re livi ng in a world in which everyone is exhausted from overwork and lack of sleep, and a world in which nice people are perceived to finish last.”“I t‟s about what I‟m doing and what I need,” Andrew Fuller says. ”the days when a kid came home from school and sa id, “I got into trouble”. And dad said, …you probably deserved it‟. Are over. Now the parents are charging up to the school to have a go at teachers.”This jumping to our children‟s defense is part of what fuels the “walking on eggshells”feeling that surrounds our dealings with other people‟s children. You know that if you remonstrate(劝诫) with the child, you’re going to have to deal with the parent. It‟s admirable to be protective of our kids, but is it good?“Children have to learn to negotiate the world on their own, within reasonable boundaries,” White says. “I suspect that it‟s only certain sectors of the population doing the running to the school –better –educated parents are probably more likely to be too involved.”White believes our notions of a more child-centered, it‟a way of talking about treating our children like commodities(商品). We‟re centered on them but in ways that reflect positively on us. We treat them as objects whose appearance and achievements are something we can be proud of, rather than serve the best interests of the children.”One way over-worked, under-resourced parents show commitment to their children is to leap to their defence. Back at the park, Bianchi‟ intervention(干预) on her son‟ behalf ended in an undignified exchange of insulting words with the other boy‟ mother.As Bianchi approached the park bench where she‟d been sitting, other mums came up to her and congratulated her on taking a stand. “Apparently the boy had a longstanding reputation for bad behaviour and his mum for even worse behaviour if he was challenged.”Andrew Fuller doesn‟t believe that we should be afraid of dealing with other people‟s kids. “look at kids that aren‟t your own as a potential minefield,” he says. He recommends that we don‟t stay silent over inap propriate behaviour, particularly with regular visitors.1. What did Stella Bianchi expect the young boy‟s mother to do when she talked to him?A) make an apologyB) come over to interveneC) discipline her own boyD) take her own boy away2. What does the author say about dealing with other people‟s children?A) it‟s important not to hurt them in any wayB) it‟s no use trying to stop their wrongdoingC) it‟s advisable to treat them as one‟s own kidsD) it‟s possible for one to get into lots of trouble3. A ccording to professor Naomi white of Monash university, when one‟s kids are criticized, their parents will probably feel___________________________A) discouragedB) hurtC) puzzledD) overwhelmed4. What should one do when seeing other people‟s kids misbe have according to Andrew fuller?A) talk to them directly in a mild wayB) complain to their parents politelyC) simply leave them aloneD) punish them lightly5. Due to the child-centric nature of our society, ______________________A) parents are worried when their kids swear at themB) people think it improper to criticize kids in publicC) people are reluctant to point our kids‟ wrongdoingsD) many conflicts arise between parents and their kids6. In a world where everyone is exhausted from over work and lack of sleep,____________________________A) it‟s easy for people to become impatientB) it‟s difficult to create a code of conductC) it‟s important to be friendly to everybodyD) it‟s hard for people to admire each other7. How did people use to respond when their kids got into trouble at school?A) they‟d question the teachersB) they‟d charge up to the schoolC) they‟d tell the kids to clam downD) They‟d put the blame on their kids8. Professor white believes that the notions of a more child-centred society should be____________________9. According to professor white, today‟s parents treat their children as something they___________________10. Andrew fuller suggests that , when kids behave inappropriately, people should not______________________ Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D], and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letteron Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A)Only true friendship can last long.B)Letter writing is going out of style.C)She keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D)She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. A) A painter. C) A porter.B) A mechanic. D) A carpenter.13. A) Look for a place near her office. C) Make inquiries elsewhere.B) Find a new job down the street. D) Rent the $600 apartment.14. A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely busy recently.C) He has gained some weight lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15. A)The woman possesses a natural for art.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn‟t good at abstract thinking.D) He doesn‟t like abstract paintings.16. A) She couldn‟t have left her notebook in the library.B) she may have put her notebook amid the journals.C) she should have made careful notes while doing reading.D) sh e shouldn‟t have read his notes without his knowing it.17. A)she wants to get some sleep C) she has a literature class to attendB) she needs time to write a paper D)she is troubled by her sleep problem18. A)He is confident he will get the job.B)His chance of getting the job is slim.C)It isn‟t easy to find a qualified sales manager.D)The interview didn‟t go as well as he expected.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A)He can manage his time more flexibly.B)He can renew contact with his old friends.C)He can concentrate on his own projects.D)He can learn to do administrative work.20. A)Reading its ads in the newspapers.B)Calling its personnel department.C)Contacting its manager.D)Searching its website.21. A)To cut down its production expenses.B)To solve the problem of staff shortage.C)To improve its administrative efficiency.D)To utilize its retired employees‟ resources.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A)Buy a tractor.B)Fix a house.C)See a piece of property.D)Sing a business contract.23. A)It is only forty miles form where they live.B)It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C)It was a large garden with fresh vegetables.D)It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24. A)Growing potatoes will involve less labor.B)Its soil may not be very suitable for corn.C)It may not be big enough for raising corn.D)Raising potatoes will be more profitable.25. A)FinancesB)EquipmentC)LaborD)ProfitsSection 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 the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26 A) To introduce the chief of the city‟s police forceB)To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC)To address the issue of community securityD)To explain the functions of the city council27 A)He has distinguished himself in city managementB)He is head of the International Police ForceC)He completed his higher education abroadD)He holds a master‟s degree in criminology28 A)To coordinate work among police departmentsB)To get police officers closer to the local peopleC)To help the residents in times of emergencyD)To enable the police to take prompt action29 A)PopularB)discouragingC)effectiveD)controversialPassage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30 A)people differ greatly in their ability to communicateB)there are numerous languages in existenceC)Most public languages are inherently vagueD)Big gaps exist between private and public languages31 A)it is a sign of human intelligenceB)in improves with constant practiceC)it is something we are born withD)it varies from person to person32 A)how private languages are developedB)how different languages are relatedC)how people create their languagesD)how children learn to use languagePassage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33 A)she was a tailorB)she was an engineerC)she was an educatorD)she was a public speaker34.A)Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection 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 are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Crime is increasing world wide. There is every reason to believe the (36)____will continue through the next few decades.Crime rates have always been high in multicultural, industrialized societies such as the United States, but a new (37) ____has appeared on the world (38)____rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few(39)____. Street crimes such as robbery, rape (40) ___and auto theft are clearly rising (41)___in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the united Kingdom.What is driving this crime (42)____?There are no simple answers. Still，there are certain conditions(43) _______with rising crime increasing heterogeneity (混杂) of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of government,(44) _________________________________________________.These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous(同种类的) ,such as Japan, Denmark and Greece (45)_______________________.Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the twenty-first century, and (46)_______________________Part IV Reading Comprehension （Reading in Depth）（25 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 beforemaking 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.Question 47-56A bookless life is an incomplete life. Books influence the depth and breadth of life. They meet the natural______47_____for freedom, for expression, for creativity and beauty of life. Learners, therefore, must have books, and the right type of book, for the satisfaction of their need. Readers turn______48_____ to books because their curiosity concerning all manners of things, their eagerness to share in the experiences of others and their need to ____49 _____ from their own limited environment lead them to find in books food for the mind and the spirit. Through their reading they find a deeper significance to life as books acquaint them with life in the world as it was and it is now. They are presented with a __50 _____ of human experiences and come to ___51 ____ other ways of thought and living. And while ____52 ____ their own relationships and responses to life , the readers often find that the ___53__ in their stories are going through similar adjustments, which help to clarify and give significance to their own.Books provide ___54 ____ material for readers‟ imagination to grow. Imagination is a valuable quality and a motivating power, and stimulates achievement. While enriching their imagination, books __55 ____their outlook, develop a fact-finding attitude and train them to use leisure ___56 ___. The social and educational significance of the readers‟ books cannot be overestimated in an academic library.A. AbundantB. CharactersC. CommunicatingD. CompletelyE. DeriveF. DesireG. DiversityH. EscapeI. EstablishingJ. NarrowK. NaturallyL. PersonnelM. ProperlyN. RespectO. WidenSection BDirections: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 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.If you are a male and you are reading this ,congratulations: you are a survivor .According to statistics .you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink andsmoke but perhaps more importantly, men don‟t go to the doctor.“Men aren‟t seeing doctors as often as they should, ” says Dr. Gullotta, “This is particularly so for the over-40s,when diseases tend to strike.”Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year.Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old ma who had delayed doing anything about his smoker‟s cough for a year.“When I finally saw hi m it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer” he says, “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but it would have prolonged this life”According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“A lot of men think they are invincible （不可战胜的）”Gullotta says “They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think”Geez, if it could happen to him.Then there is the ostrich approach,” some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,” Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.” But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. men drink and smoke much more than womenB. men don‟t seek medical care as often as womenC. men aren‟t as cautions as women in face of dangerD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59. Which of the following best completes the sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him…‟(line2,para,8)?A. it could happen to me, tooB. I should avoid playing golfC. I should consider myself luckyD. it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach”(line q para.9)A. a casual attitude towards one‟s health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involvedD. unwillingness to find out about one‟s disease because of fear61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?A.They may increase public expensesB.They will save money in the long runC.They may cause psychological strains on menD.They will enable men to live as long as womenPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than doneShoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school “Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,”said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.” the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four other, and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered the most problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting（业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople should be diplomatic and polite with angry customers.“Retailers who‟re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren‟t so friendly.” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as si mple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答62. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?A Most customers won‟t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “ … the shopper must also find a replacement” (Line 2, Para. 4)?A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers_____A can stay longer browsing in the storeB won‟t have trouble parking their carsC won‟t have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeopleB Hiring of efficient employeesC Huge supply of goods for saleD Design of the store layout.66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _________.A exert pressure on stores to improve their serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between storesPart V Cloze （15 minutes）Directions:There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C]and [D] on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Playing organized sports is such a common experience in the United States that many children and teenagers that them for granted. This is especially true__67__children from families and communities that have the resources needed to organize and__68__sports programs and make sure that there is easy__69__to participation opportunities. Children in low-income families and poor communities are__70__likely to take organized youth sports for granted because they often__71__the resources needed to pay for participation__72__, equipment, and transportation to practices and games__73__ their communities do not have resources to build and__74__sports fields and facilities.Organized youth sports__75__appeared during the early 20th century in the United States and other wealthy nations. They were originally developed__76__some educators and developmental experts__77__that the behavior and character of children were__78__influenced by their social surrounding and everyday experiences. This__79__many people to believe that if you could organize the experiences of children in__80__ways, you could influence the kinds of adults that those children would become.This belief that the social__81__influenced a person‟s overall development was very__82__to people interested in progress and reform in the United States__83__the beginning of the 20th century. It caused them to think about__84__they might control the experiences of children to__85__responsible and productive adults. They believed strongly that democracy depended on responsibility and that a__86__capitalist economy depended on the productivity of worker.67. A. among B. within C. on D. towards68. A. spread B. speed C. spur D. sponsor69. A. access B. entrance C. chance D. route70 A. little B. less C. more D. much71. A. shrink B. tighten C. limit D. lack72. A. bill B accounts C. fees D. fare73. A. so B. as C. and D. but74. A. maintain B. sustain C. contain D. entertain75.A. last B. first C. later D. finally76.A. before B. while C. until D. when77.A. realized B. recalled C. expected D. exhibited78.A. specifically B. excessively C. strongly D. exactly79. A. moved B. conducted C. put D. led80. A. precise B. precious C. particular D. peculiar。

2008年12月大学六级英语阅读精解倒计时49天Feminist sociolinguists（社会语言学家）,over the course of the last few decades,have conducted studies that they believe support the conclusion that women are routinely discriminated against in Endlish-speaking society.They point to the words used to describe women,as well as the words used to describe society as a whole,as indications that the English language ,and therefore the English-speaking culture,is slanted towards the advantage of males.The words used to describe women are used as instrument by feminist sociolinguists to denote an inherent sexism in the English language.Word pairs such as master and mistress and sir and madam,they claim ,epitomize such sexism.All of the words in question once held positive connotations but,while the masculine （男性的）forms have retained their respectable associations,the feminine forms have undergone pejoration and now imply sexual promiscuity（混杂） and other negative characteristics.Feminist researchers assume that such pejoration indicate that the status of women in English-speaking society is relatively low.考试大These researchers also find fault with the use of masculine words to describe unisex entities .For example ,they feel that there is nothing inherently mainly about mankind, the best man for the job,or the common man.Similarly,the use of such constructions as the "the average students is worried about his grades" indicate to these researchers an inherent sexism in English that is reflective of the cultures in which they are produced .Carolyn Jacobson ,author of Non-sexist Language has proposed a solution to this conundrum（难题）.She advocates the elimination of all sexed words in favor of gender-neutral terms.No longer should we refer to actors and actresses or waiters and waitresses, as such dichotomies（男女有别） allow for the possibility of negative connotations being associated with the feminine designation.Likewise,she believes that phrases such as mankind should give way to human kind and that the use of themasculine pronoun as the default should be abandoned in favor of neutral constructions.Thus, when sexism is eliminated from the English language ,the culture will be more amenable to he deliverance of women as well .1. The primary purpose of this passage is to--A compare and contrast ideology in various culturesB prove a commonly held belief to be wrongC describe a problem and a possible solutionD analyze the historical origins of a modern situation2 According to the passage,gender-neutral constructions should be advocated because--A the elimination of sexism in the English language will precede the elimination of sexism in the cultureB they are more grammatically sound than sexed structuresC unisex terms are less awkward in casual speechD sex-specific terms always carry negative connotations3 The author refers to mankind ,the best man for the job,and the common man in order to --A demonstrate the superiority of males in English-speaking societyB provide an example of speech that is slanted towards the advantage of malesC list the characteristics of the feminist socialinguist movementD discount the notion that the English language discriminates against women4 The word"perjoration most probably means--A negative connotationB positive connotationC sexual characteristicD respectable characteristic5 In favor of gender-neutral terms,which of the following words can be used to describe unisex entities?A mankindB chairpersonC supermanD dragon lady 考试大答案：1. C主旨题。

2008年12月大学四级英语阅读精解倒计时29天时间:2008-11-24 19:21:05 作者:jason (来可可部落,交更多朋友|订阅可可听力网电子杂志)Anne Whitney, a sophomore at Colorado State University, first had a problem taking tests when she began college. "I was always well prepared for my tests. Sometimes I studied for weeks before a test. Yet I would go in to take the test, only to find I could not answer the questions correctly. I would blank out because of nervousness and fear.I couldn’t think of the answer. My low grades on the tests did not show what I knew to the teacher." Another student in microbiology and similar experiences. He said, "My first chemistry test was very difficult. Then, on the second test, sat down to take it, and I was so nervous that I was shaking. My hands were moving up and down so quickly that it was hard to hold my pencil. I knew the materical and I knew the answers. Yet I couldn’t even writen them down!"These two young students were experiencing something called test anxiety. Because a student worries and it uneasy about a test, his or her mind does not work as well as it usually does. The student can’t write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness. Although poor grades are often a result of poor study habits, sometimes test anxiety causes the low grades. Recently, test anxiety had been recognized as a real problem, not just an excuse or a false explanation of lazy students.Special university counseling courses try to help students. In these courses, counselors try to help students by teaching them how to manage test anxiety. At some universities, students take tests to measure their anxiety. If the tests show their anxiety is high, the students can take short courses to help them deal with their tension. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. Students are trained to become calm in bery tense situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds work at ease. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.An expert at the University of California explains. "With almost all students, relaxation and less stress are felt after taking out program. Most of then experience better control during their tests. Almost all have some improvement. With some, the improvement is very great."1. To "blank out" is probably______.A) to be like a blanketB) to be sure of an answerC) to be unable to think clearlyD) to show knowledge to the teacher2. Poor grades are usually the result of _______.A) poor hygienic habitsB) lazinessC) lack of sleepD) inability to form good study habits3. Test anxiety has been recognized as _______.A) an excuse for lazinessB) the result of poor habitsC) a real problemD) something that can’t be changed4. To deal with this problem, students say they want to ______.A) take a short course on anxietyB) read about anxietyC) be able to manage or understand their anxietyD) take test to prove they are not anxiety5. A University of California counselor said_______.A) all students could overcome the anxiety after taking a special test anxiety programB) almost all students felt less stress after taking a University of California counseling courseC) students found it difficult to improve even though they had taken a special test anxiety courseD) students found it easy to relax as soon as they extered a University of California counseling course答案：1.C)to be unable to think clearly. 虽是第一段的问题，但可以从第二段找到答案，相关原文为The student can’t write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness. 且ABD明显错误，做错罚站。

TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2008) -GRADE FOUR—TIME LIMIT： 135 MINPART I DICTATION ［15 MIN]Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times。

During the first reading， which will be done at normal speed， listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds。

The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more.Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [120 MIN]In Sections A， B and C you will hear everything ONCE ONLY Listen carefully and then answerthe questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your answer sheet.SECTION A CONVERSATIONSIn this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow。

快速阅读1. A2. D3. B4. A5. C6. B7. D8. challenged9. can be proud of10. stay silent听力11. D) She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. D) A painter.13. C) Make inquires elsewhere.14. C) He has gained some weight lately.15. D) He doesn't like abstract paintings.16. B) She may have put her notebook amid the journals.17. A) She wants to get some sleep.18. B) His chance of getting the job is slim.19. A He can manage his time more flexible.20. D Searching its website.21. D To utilize its retired employee's resources.22 C See a piece of property.23. B It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.24. C It may now be big enough for raising corn.25. A Finances.26. A) To introduce the chief of the city' police force.27. D) He holds a master's degree in criminology.28. B) To get police officers closer to the local people.29. C) Effective.30. B) There are numerous languages in existence.31. C) It is something we are born with.32. D) How children learn to use language.33. B) She was an engineer.34. C) Adjusting them to different audiences.35. A) Whether spacemen carry weapons.36 trend37 phenomenon38 scene39 offenses40 murder41 particularly42 explosion43 associated44 changing national borders, greater economic growth, and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong45 are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America formost of its history46 failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems阅读47. F/ desire48. K/ naturally49. H/ escape50. G/ diversity51. N/ respect52. I/ establishing53. B/ characters54. A/ abundant55. O/ widen56. M/ properly57 A they are more likely to survive serious diseases today.58 B men don't seek medical care as often as women,59 D it would be a big misfortune.60 D unwillingness to find out about one's decease because of fear.61 B they will save money in the long run.62 B customer would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.63 A new customer are bound to replace old ones.64 B won't have to trouble parking their cars.65 A manners of the salespeople66 C voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly.完型67. A. among68. D. sponsor69. A. access70. B. less71. D. lack72. C. fees73. B. as74. A. maintain75. B. first76. D. when77. A. realized78. C. strongly79. D. led80. C. particular81. B. environment82. A. encouraging83. D. at84. B. how85. C. produce86. A. growing翻译87. to which they presently haven’t yet found any solutions88. What most parents are concerned about89. in case it gets cold90. decided to run their own businesses91. until a doctor found it by accident。

2008年12月英语四级真题听力原文Short Conversations11．M: I just received an Email from one of my former classmates. I was surprised, I hadn’t heard from him for ages.W: Well, I’ve been out of touch with most of my old friends, only one or two still drop me a line occasionally,Q: What does the woman mean?A) Only true friendship can last long.B) Letter writing is going out of style.C) she keeps in regular touch with her classmates.D) She has lost contact with most of her old friends.12. M: If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week.W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the walls, but I’ll let you know tomorrow.Q: Who is the woman talking to?A)A painter.B) A porter.C) A mechanic.D) A carpenter.13. W: Excuse me, do you have any apartments available for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts. M: The only vacant one I have is 600 dollars, have you inquired at the apartment complex down the street?Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?A) Look for a place near her office.B) Find a new job down the street.C) Make inquiries elsewhere.D) Kent the $600 apartment.14. W: You bought a pair of jeans yesterday, didn’t you? What a re they like?M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones, except with a larger waist.I guess I haven’t spent much time exercising lately.Q: What can we infer from the conversation about the man?A) He prefers to wear jeans with a larger waist.B) He has been extremely busy recentlyC) He has gained some weight lately.D) He enjoyed going shopping with Jane yesterday.15. W: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think?M: I guess it’s something I haven’t acquired a taste for yet.Q: What does the man imply?A) The woman possesses a natural talent for an.B) Women have a better artistic taste than men.C) He isn t good at abstract thinking.D) He doesn t like abstract paintings.16. W: You haven’t seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn’t leave it in the reading room.M: Did you check that pile of journals you’ve borrowed from the library the other day?Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman?A) She couldn t have left her notebook in the library.B) She may have put her notebook amid the journals.C) She should have made careful notes while doing reading.D)she shouldn t have read his notes without his knowing it.17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee?W: I’d love to, but I’m exhausted. I was up till 3 this morning, writing a paper for my literature class.Q: Why does the woman decline the man’s invitation?A) She wants to gel some sleep.B) She needs time to write a paper.C)She has a literature class to attend.D)She is troubled by her sleep problem.18. W: You had a job interview yesterday, didn’t you? How did it go? M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates competing for the sales manager’s job. And finally it was down to three of us, but the other two seems better qualified.Q: What does the man imply?A) He is confident he will get the job.B) His chance of getting the job is slimC) It isn t easy to find a quaiified sales manager.D)The interview didn t go as well as he expected.听力长对话1F: Simon, how does it feel to be retired?M: Well, not so bad.F: How have you been spending your time?M: I have been spending more time with my family. I’ve also travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less.F: Great.M: You know I haven’t stopped work completely.F: Yes, could you tell us more about this?M: I’m on a scheme that’s called phased retirement; I had a six-month break from work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for.F: How does the scheme work?M: Well, it’s a trial at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary stuff, the company advertises posts on its website that retired employees likemyself can access.F: What sort of works advertised?M: Well, all sorts of things, really. Administrative work and more specialized work, the sort of thing I can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work. So I can manage my own time.F: I can see it’s good for you. What is your company get out of this? M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job’s over, that’s it. I’m not on their books any more.Questions 19-21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable?20. How does Simon get to know about the company’s available posts?21. Why does the company adopt the phased retirement scheme?19.A) He can manage his time more flexibly.B) He can renew contact with his old friends.C) He can concentrate on his own projects.D) He can learn to do administrative work.20.A) Reading its ads in the newspapers.B) Calling its personnel department.C) Contacting its manager.D) Searching its website.21.A) To cut down its production expenses.B) To solve the problem of staff shortage.C) To improve its administratve efficiency.D) To utilize its retired employees resources.长对话2W: Oh, where are we going?M: I want to show you something.W: I know, but what is it?M: A farm. It’s just down this road. It’s a small place, but at least it would be our own.W: A farm? How can we afford to buy a farm?M: It isn’t very large, only 40 acres. We wouldn’t have to pay very much right now.W: Is there a house on the place?M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up a little. I can do the job myself.W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden?M: There is about half an acre around the house. That’s plenty of space. W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe keep a few chickens, couldn’t we?M: Yes, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food.W: What are you thinking about growing, if we do take this place?M: Well, it r eally isn’t big enough for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop of potatoes.W: Potatoes? There are a lot of work.M: We are used to hard work, aren’t we?W: Yes, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream.M: I think we’ve saved enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor, too.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Q 22:What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation? Q 23:What does the man say about the farm?Q 24:Why does the man intend to grow potatoes rather than corn on the farm?22.A) Buy a tractor.B) Fix a house.C) See a piece of property.D) Sign a busines contract.23.A) It is only forty miles from where they live.B) It is a small one with a two-bedroom house.C) It was bought at a price lower than expected.D) It has a large garden with fresh vegetables.24.A) Growing potatoes will involve less labor.B) Its soil may not be very suitable for corn.C) It may not be big enough for raising corn.D) Raising potatoes will be more profitable.25. a) Finances b) Labor c) Equipment d) ProfitsPassage OneMembers of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today Mr. Robert Washin gton, chief of our city’s police force. He will address us on the subject of the Community Policing Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program 8 years ago. The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhood when they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies, such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working: crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about this program. Now let’s welcome Mr. Robert Washington.26. What is the purpose of the speaker’s remarks?He will address us on the subject of community policing program.27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington?Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminolo gy and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the community policing program 8 years ago.28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program?The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhood when they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city.29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be?And the program seems to be working, crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure.26A)To introduce the chief of the city’s police forceB)To comment on a talk by a distinguished guestC)To address the issue of community securityD)To explain the functions of the city council27A)He has distinguished himself in city managementB)He is head of the International Police ForceC)He completed his higher education abroadD)He holds a master’s degree in criminology28A)To coordinate work among police departmentsB)To get police officers closer to the local peopleC)To help the residents in times of emergencyD)To enable the police to take prompt action29A)PopularB)discouragingC)effectiveD)controversialPassage TwoThere are between 3000 and 6000 public languages in the world, and we must add approximately 6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns in communication seem infinite in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious process. For a long time, people thought that we learned a language onlyby imitation and association. For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, “Hot, hot!” And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother and says, “Hot, hot!” However, Noam Chomsky, a famous expert in language, pointed out that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because young children can make sentences they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants are born with the ability to learn language. Chomsky meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal language mechanism that makes it possible for us, as infants, to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential that human infants have for learning language. But it does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns?There are numerous public and private languages.Question 31. What is Chomsky’s point on the ability to learn a language? Human infants are born with the ability to learn language and the potential to learn any language in the world.Question 32. What does Chomsky’s theory fail to explain according to the speaker?It does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways.30A)people differ greatly in their ability to communicateB)there are numerous languages in existenceC)Most public languages are inherently vagueD)Big gaps exist between private and public languages31A)it is a sign of human intelligenceB)in improves with constant practiceC)it is something we are born withD)it varies from person to person32A)how private languages are developedB)how different languages are relatedC)how people create their languagesD)how children learn to use language参考答案：26. A) To introduce the chief of the city police force.27. D) He holds a master s degree in criminology.28. B) To get police officers closer to the local people.29. C) Effective.30. B) There are numerous languages in existence.31. C) It is something we are born with.32. D) How children learn to use language.Passage ThreeWhen US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving a speech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago and became an engineer before joining NASA, that is the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen speeches a year. Each speech is different because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners educational level and what information they want to know. On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat, drink, and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is “the spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water-containers, and a waste-collection system.” To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. “Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?” Her answer is "No". To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the design of spacesuits that protects spacemen from the deadly temperature extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it’s important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different.33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining in NASA?34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speech on space walks?35. What does the high school audience want to know about space travel?33.A)she was a tailorB)she was an engineerC)she was an educatorD)she was a public speaker34.A)Basing them on science-fiction movies.B) Including interesting examples in themC) Adjusting them to different audiencesD) Focusing on the latest progress in space science35.A) Whether spacemen carry weaponsB) How spacesuits protect spacemenC) How NASA trains its spacemenD) What spacemen cat and drinkSection C 复合式听写Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the (36)trend will continue through the next few decades.Crime rates have always been high in multicultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new (37)phenomenon has appeared on the world (38)scene-rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few (39)offenses. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, (41)murder and auto theft are clearly rising, (41)particularly in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the United Kingdom.What is driving this crime (42)explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there’re certain conditions (43)associated with rising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, (44)changing national borders, greater economic growth, and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong.These conditions are increasing observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous(同种类的) such as Japan, Denmark, and Greece (45)are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history. Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century, and (46)failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems.。