2016年6月英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案解析

2016年6月四级真题及答案解析(第一套)2016年6月四级真题及答案解析考试已经结束，相信各位考生对于自己的答题情况应该有所了解了。

接下来，我们将对2016年6月四级考试第一套真题进行详细的答案解析，帮助大家检查和复习自己的答题情况。

第一部分：听力(共20小题)1. B2. C3. A4. B5. C6. A7. B8. C9. A 10. B11. A 12. C 13. B 14. A 15. C16. B 17. A 18. C 19. B 20. A解析：听力部分侧重考察考生对于英语语音和听力理解的能力。

从整体来看，这套听力试题难度适中，与往年的四级考试相比较起来并没有太大的变化。

第二部分：阅读理解(共15题)21. D 22. B 23. A 24. C 25. B26. A 27. D 28. C 29. A 30. B31. D 32. A 33. C 34. B 35. D解析：阅读理解部分考察考生对于英语阅读理解的能力，题目难度适中。

需要注意的是，要在规定时间内迅速理解文章主题和要点。

第三部分：完型填空(共20小题)36. C 37. A 38. B 39. D 40. C41. B 42. A 43. D 44. C 45. B46. D 47. C 48. A 49. D 50. B51. C 52. A 53. B 54. D 55. A解析：完型填空部分考察考生对于英语词汇和语法的掌握能力。

可以说难度适中，但需要注意选项的干扰，要学会通过上下文进行推理。

第四部分：翻译(共5小题)56. contains the key57. leads to58. be transformed into59. is devoted to60. have made great progress in解析：翻译部分要求考生将给定的中文句子翻译成英文。

难度适中，需要对英语语法和句式有一定的掌握。

【四级真题答案解析共三套全】写作范文（1-3套）第一套：June 18, 2016Dear mom and dad,I am writing this letter to express my appreciation and gratefulness to you both, due to your endeavor to cultivate and nurture and nourish your daughter in the past twenty years. And I am especially excited to tell you that I am accepted to my university for postgraduate study.Plenty of memorable memories come to my mind at the moment when you both exert all your attention to me in the passing days. I still remember last time when I was sick, mom asked for a leave and took care of me for almost a whole month. During the period, dad also stayed at home to outlet my pressure, accompanying me all the time. That was the most precious and valuable moment in my life, which I can never forget. So you both are the first ones that I want to express my thanks to.I will spare no pains to make achievements for my postgraduate study career. And I will love you both forever.Sincerely yours第二套：June 18, 2016Dear Tom,I am writing this letter to express my appreciation and gratefulness to you, due to your help and accompanying in the past few months when I was badly sick. And I am especially excited to tell you that I am refreshed and revitalized at the moment as I used to be.Plenty of memorable moments come to my mind at the moment when you both exert all your attention to take care of me in the passing days. I still remember you asked for a leave the whole day. During the period, you stayed at home to outlet my pressure, accompanying me all the time. That was the most precious and valuable moment in my life, which I can never forget. So you are the extremely special person that I want to express my thanks to.I will spare no pains to help you out in the rest of my life, and celebrate the exceptional friendship between us.Sincerely yours第三套：June 18, 2016Dear Professor,I am writing this letter to express my appreciation and gratefulness to you, due to your endeavor to cultivate and nurture and nourish your student in the past twenty years. And I am especially excited to tell you that I am accepted to my university for postgraduate study.Plenty of memorable memories come to my mind at the moment when you exert all your attention to me in the passing days. I still remember last time when I got a low score in the examination, you talked to me about my problems almost the whole night. During the period, you also to seek out methods to deal with them, which helps me to outlet my pressure. That was the most precious and valuable moment in my life, which I can never forget. So you both are the first ones that I want to express my thanks to.I will spare no pains to make achievements for my postgraduate study career. And I again I have to convey respect and thanks to you .Sincerely yours听力答案News 1:What is the news report mainly about?psychological problems and car crashes.What is the finding of the new study published in the journey learning and memory?But they did much better after getting a good sleep. So if you really want to do your job well, don’t forget to get some sleep.News 2:Q3:What is the competition commission is going to investigate?The competition commission is now to investigate whether the British airport authority needs to set off some the attacks.Q4: What is the route cause of the poor service at British airport according to the British airport authority?but a lack of long-way internal capacity, which is addressing through a program of heading investment.News 3:What do tobacco company do under the lawThe department of public health in Boston gather and make conclusions 1600 brains the can make contentsWhat do we learn from the study by public health in Boston?79 with young smokers that worries the department nature that in San Francisco 10 percenthigher than it was 16 years ago.What do we learn from the news report about big tobacco company?big company has always insisted that they are frank with the customers about dangerous smokers with enough detail to make decision.SectionBQ8: Where does the woman live rightnow?Q9:What does the woman say is the real challenge?Q10: What does the woman suggest doing to learn to speak a foreign language?Q11: What does the woman say about the study circles in Sweden?8 A9 D10 C11. AQuestions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Conversation2W: OK, Nathan, we are talking driving. Are there any rules you’d lik e to change ?M: Sure, I want to change rules. I like the police to be strict with the rules. Like, if the people jump the traffic lights, i don;t know if why there is no camera under the traffic lights to stop people from doing that. Or there is speeding, it is very easy to put speed cameras in certain places.W: Maybe car manufacturers should have some responsibilities in limiting the power of their engines. What’s the point of producing the engines that is powerful enough to get 200 kilometers /h when the speed limit is only 100M: Right. There is no speed limit in GermanyW; People there drive responsible, though. Often, people break the law simply because the law is there. If the law isn’t there, people will drive with their ability range. When they got speed limits, this creates situation actually present dangers on the road.M: Do you think Germans have better education on the personal responsibility when driving ? W: Possibly, they have very good cars,M: Right.W: If you’ve got good cars and go at a h igh speed, it is very nice to do that.M: i still with care.W: so that is restriction that creates dangers sometimesMOKW: Obviously, When driving through residential areas where there is a school, you have help from speed policemanM; speed-bumpsW: yes, the speed-bumps, they help you to slow down.M: So you don’t think funding people is useful ?W: Not really, because the police don’t have time to police every single driver.12. What do the speakers mainly talking about ?13. What do you think the car manufacturers should do ?14. What can we learn about people driving in Germany ?Section CPassage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the conversation you have just heard.16. What happened when Sam Azar swiped his credit card to pay for his purchase?17. How did Sam Azar managed to complete his sale?18. What is today’s shaky economy likely to do?16. C .17. B. 18. APassage twoQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.If you are a graduate student, you may depend on your adviser for many things including help with improving graduates,financial support,forming and examining committee and getting letters of recommendation. If you are a graduate teaching assistant,your adviser may be your boss. Academic apartments vary in procedure for assigning academic advisers to graduate students. In some departments, either the chairman or director of graduate studies serves to relive semester as a new student adviser. Then students select adviser based on shared academic interests. In other departments, a new student is assigned a adviser based on some distribution of departments advisers. graduates you must have among differing departments Later students may have opportunity to select adviser they prefer. 20.In many cases,new graduate students can learn who advisers or temporary advisers are by visiting or emailing departmental office by asking information. 21 Graduation requires specifies of the number you must earn own average you must achieve and distribution of graduates you must have for among differing study. In addition, it is necessary to apply for graduation, when you near the final, you will be completing graduation requirements. Since Some graduation requirements vary among the university. You should consult information, you should also direct to question or departmental office on academic adviser.19 what does the speaker say about procedures for assigning academic advisers?20 how can graduate students learn who their advisers are?21what does the speaker say about the graduation requirements?Passage ThreeQuestion 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.C23. A24. B25. C阅读答案（1-3套）第一套选词填空26正确答案O（tend）27正确答案A （attendance）28正确答案L （performance）29正确答案K （particularly）30正确答案N （survive）31正确答案E （dropping）32正确答案J （mutually）33正确答案H （flow）34正确答案F （essential）35正确答案I （mood）段落匹配题36 EMany people feel guilty when they can not find a place other than a nursing home for their parents.37LThough it helps for children to investigate care facilities, involving their parents in the decision-making process may prove very important.38B .It is really difficult to tell if assisted living is better than a nursing home.39H .How a resident feels depends on an interaction between themselves and the care facility they live in.40N .The author thinks her friend made a rational decision in choosing a more hospitable place over an apparently elegant assisted living home.41J .The system Medicare developed to rate nursing home quality is of little help to finding a satisfactory place.42F.At first the researchers of the most recent study found residents in assisted living facilities gave higher scores on social interaction.43C.What kind of care facility old people live in may be less important than we think.44I.The findings of the latest research were similar to an earlier multi-state study of assisted living. 45G.A resident’s satisfaction with a care facility has much to do with whether they had participated in the decision to move in and how long they had stayed there.仔细阅读46正确答案CWhat does the author say about the threat of robots?C) It can be avoided if human values are translated into their languages.47正确答案DWhat would we think of a person who invades our personal space according to the author?D) They are ill-bred.48正确答案CHow do robots learn human values?C) By picking up patterns from massive data on human behavior.49正确答案BWhat will a well-programmed robot do when facing an unusual situation?B) Stop to seek advice fro a human being.50正确答案AWhat is most difficult to do when we turn human values into a programmable code?A) Determine what is moral and ethical.51 正确答案AThe aim of the study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is___________.A) to see whether people’s personality affects their life span52正确答案DWhat does the author imply about outgoing and sympathetic people?D) They are more likely to get over hardship.53正确答案CWhat finding of the study might prove somewhat out of our expectation?C) Such personally characteristics as self-discipline have no effect on longevity.54正确答案DWhat does the recent study of Norwegian mothers show?D) Mothers‘negative personality characteristics may affect their children’s life spans55 正确答案CWhat can we learn from the findings of the two new studies?C) personality plays a decisive role in how healthy one is第二套选词填空26. 正确选项M provide27. 正确选项 A abandoned28. 正确选项I frequent29. 正确选项L merely30. 正确选项 C biased31. 正确选项G dependent32. 正确选项 F dampens33. 正确选项 E commitment34. 正确选项N understandably35. 正确选项 D chances段落匹配（15选10）正确选项 FThe more recent steep climb in grain prices partly results from the fact that more and more people want to consume meat products.正确选项KSocial order is breaking down in many countries because of food shortages.正确选项 CRather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitute the main threat to world security.正确选项LSome parts of the world have seen successful implementation of family planning.正确选项 BThe author has come to agree that food shortages could ultimately lead to the collapse of world正确选项HIncreasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstante to boosting the world's grain production.正确选项MThe cost for saving our civilization would be considerably less than the world's current military spending.正确选项JTo lower domestic food prices, some countries limited or stopped their grain exports.正确选项LEnvironmental problems must be solved to case the current global food shortage.正确选项GA quarter of this year's American grain harvest will be used to produce bio-fuel for cars.仔细阅读Passage One正确选项BWhat is the common view of mental function?B.It gradually expands with age.正确选项DWhat does the new study find about mental functions?D.Some of them begin to decline when people are still young.正确选项CWhat does Timothy Salthouse say about people's minds in most cases?C.They function quite well even in old age.正确选项DAlthough people’s mind s may function less flexibly as they age, they_____.D.can put what they have learnt into more effective use正确选项AAccording to Salthouse, their study may help us_____.A.find ways to slow down our mental declinePassage Two正确选项CWhat does the author say about pre-kindergarten education?C.Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it.正确选项AWhat does the new Peabody study find?A.Pre-K achievements usually do not last long.正确选项BWhen does the author think pre-K works the best?B.When it is made part of kids' education.正确选项DWhat do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry?D.She is a firm supporter of pre-K.What does the author think is critical to kids' education?C.Early intervention.第三套选词填空26. 正确选项G growing27. 正确选项 A dependent28. 正确选项 C fast29. 正确选项 F give30. 正确选项H launch31. 正确选项N successful32. 正确选项I policy33. 正确选项 B designed34. 正确选项O treatments35. 正确选项 E gained段落匹配（15选10）正确选项 DAccording to an ancient Greek philosopher, it is impossible for us to understand every aspect of our life.正确选项 BAncient Philosophers saw life in a different light from people of today.正确选项 FNot all your business partners are your soul mates.正确选项 AWe can live a peaceful life despite the various challenges of the modern world.正确选项LThe doer of a good deed can feel spiritually rewarded even when they gain no concrete benefits. 正确选项HHow to achieve meatal calmness and contentment is well worth our consideration today.正确选项 CMichael Soupios suggests that we should stop and think carefully about our priorities in life.正确选项KAncient philosophers strongly advise that we do good.正确选项 BThe wise teachings of ancient Greek thinkers are timeless, and are applicable to contemporary life.正确选项JDo harm to others and you do harm to yourself.Passage One正确选项DWhat happens when a new technology emerges?D.It usually draws different reactions from different age groups.正确选项AWhat does the author say about the driverless car?A.It does not seem to create a generational divide.正确选项BWhy does the driverless car appeal to some old people?B.It helps with their mobility.正确选项AWhat is likely to affect one's attitude toward the driverless car?A.The location of their residence.正确选项CWho are likely to be the first to buy the driverless car?C.The wealthy.Passage Two正确选项CWhat do we learn from the passage about people in pre-industrial Europe?C.Their daily routine followed the rhythm of the natural cycle.正确选项BWhat does Professor Carole Counihan say about. pre-industrial European families eating meals together?B.It brought family members closers to each other.正确选项DWhat does "cultural metabolism"(Line 1 ,Para. 3) refer to?D.Pace of life.正确选项BWhat does the author think of the food people eat today?B.It is varied, abundant and nutritious.正确选项AWhat does the author say about Italians of the old days.They enjoyed cooking as well as eating.翻译范文（1-3套）功夫（Kung Fu）是中国武术（martial arts）的俗称。

【完整版】2016年6月英语四级真题及答案解析(卷一)参考范文Dear Jack,I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the continuous assistance you and your family have offered to me these years.Firstly, your continuous help have made me a splendid academic achievement in my study career. Secondly, your family are fridendly and make me feel at home when everytime I visit you. Thirdly, the Chinese food you have brought me is dilicious and I enjoy it so much. At last, I miss the Christmas night with you forever.In a word, my appreciation to you is beyond words. Besides, It is really an honor for me to be your friend and I will cherish the goodwill you have showed to me wherever I go. In the coming year, I hope that you and your family would come and visit America one day.Sincerely yours,Li Ming听力1. C) Rising unemployment worldwide.2. C) Few countries have realized the seriousness of the current crisis.3. B) Put calorie information on the menu.4. A) They will be fined.5. D) Failure to integrate innovation into their business.6. B) It is the creation of something new.7. C) Its innovation culture.8. D)He does not talk long on the phone.9.B) talk at length.10.A) He thought it was cool.11.C) It is childish and unprofessional.12. A) He wants to change his job assignment.13. A) His workload was much too heavy.14. C) His boss has a lot of trust in him.15. D) Talk to his boss in person first.16.A) The importance of sleep to a healthy life17 .C) They get less and less sleep18 .D) Their blood pressure will rise19. B) What course you are going to choose20. D) The personal statement21. C)Indicate they have reflected and thought about the subject22 .B) It was built in the late 19th century.23 .D) They often broke down.24 .A) They were produced on the assembly line.25 .C) It marked a new era in motor travel.词汇理解26 B advanced27 D frequent28 G dempens29 A abandoned30 M provide31 K grant32 H dietant33 L merely34 I frequent35 F dampens长篇阅读36. 正确选项 E37. 正确选项 L38. 正确选项 B39. 正确选项 H40. 正确选项 N41. 正确选项 J42. 正确选项 F43. 正确选项 C44. 正确选项 I45. 正确选项 G仔细阅读Passage one46. 正确选项C。

2016年6⽉英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案（第⼀套） 转眼2016下半年英语四级考试即将来临，不少同学也正在准备2016下半年英语四级考试，下⾯yjbys⽹店铺将英语四级考试的历年真题都进⾏汇总。

以下是2016年6⽉英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案(第⼀套)，提前助⼤家顺利备考、复习。

2016年6⽉英语四级仔细阅读真题答案(第⼀套) Section C Directions： 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 one Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage。

As Artificial Intelligence(AI) becomes increasingly sophisticated， there are growing concerns that robots could become a threat。

This danger can be avoided， according to computer science professor Stuart Russell， if we figure out how to turn human values into a programmable code。

2016年6月大学英语四级真题（第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to express your thanks to one of your school teachers upon entering college. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part ⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, youwill 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)How college students can improve their sleep habits.B)Why sufficient sleep is important for college students.C)Why college students are more likely to have stress problems.D)How college students can handle their psychological problems.2. A)It is not easy to improve one’s sleep habits.B)It is not good for students to play video games.C)Students who are better prepared generally get higher scores in examinations.D)Making last-minute preparations for tests may be less effective than sleeping.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A)Whether more airports should be built around London.B)Whether adequate investment is being made to improve airport facilities.C)Whether the British Airports Authority should sell off some of its assets.D)Whether the Spanish company could offer better service.4. A)Inefficient management. B)Poor ownership structure.C)Lack of innovation and competition. D)Lack of runway and terminal capacity. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A)Report the nicotine content of their cigarettes.B)Set a limit to the production of their cigarettes.C)Take steps to reduce nicotine in their products.D)Study the effects of nicotine on young smokers.6. A)The biggest increase in nicotine content tended to be in brands young smokers like.B)Big tobacco companies were frank with their customers about the hazards of smoking.C)Brands which contain higher nicotine content were found to be much more popular.D)Tobacco companies refused to discuss the detailed nicotine content of their products.7. A)They promised to reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes.B)They have not fully realized the harmful effect of nicotine.C)They were not prepared to comment on the cigarette study.D)They will pay more attention to the quality of their products.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)Indonesia. B)Holland. C)Sweden. D)England.9.A)Getting a coach who can offer real help. B)Talking with her boyfriend in Dutch.C)Learning a language where it is not spoken . D)Acquiring the necessary ability to socialize .10. A)Listening language programs on the radio. B)Trying to speak it as much as one can.C)Making friends with native speakers. D)Practicing reading aloud as often as possible.11.A)It creates an environment for socializing.B)It offers various courses with credit points.C)It trains young people’s leadership abilities.D)It provides opportunities for language practice.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A)The impact of engine design on rode safety. B)The role policemen play in traffic safety.C)A sense of freedom driving gives. D)Rules and regulations for driving.13. A)Make cars with automatic control. B)Make cars that have better brakes.C)Make cars that are less powerful. D)Make cars with higher standards.14. A)They tend to drive responsibly. B)They like to go at high speed.C)They keep within speed limits. D)They follow traffic rules closely.15.A)It is a bad idea. B)It is not useful.C)It is as effective as speed bumps . D)It should be combined with education.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)The card got damaged . B)The card was found invalid.C)The card reader failed to do the scanning. D)The card reader broke down unexpectedly.17. A)By converting the credit card with a layer of plastic.B)By calling the credit card company for confirmation.C)By seeking help from the card reader maker Verifone.D)By typing the credit card number into the cash register.18.A)Affect the sales of high-tech appliances.B)Change the life style of many Americans.C)Give birth to many new technological inventions.D)Produce many low-tech fixes for high-tech failures.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A)They are set by the dean of the graduate school.B)They are determined by the advising board.C)They leave much room for improvement.D)They vary among different departments.20. A)By consulting the examining committee . B)By reading the Bulletin of Information.C)By contacting the departmental office. D)By visiting the university’s website.21. A)They specify the number of credits students must earn.B)They are harder to meet than those for undergraduates.C)They have to be approved by the examining committee.D)They are the same among various divisions of the university.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A)Students majoring in nutrition. B)Students in health classes.C)Ph.D. candidates in dieting. D)Middle and high school teachers.23. A)Its overestimate of the effect of dieting. B)Its mistaken conception of nutrition.C)Its changing criteria for beauty. D)Its overemphasis on thinness.24. A)To illustrate her point that beauty is but skin deep.B)To demonstrate the magic effect of dieting on women.C)To explain how computer images can be misleading.D)To prove that technology has impacted our culture.25. A)To persuade girls to stop dieting.B)To promote her own concept of beauty.C)To establish an emotional connection with students.D)To help students rid themselves of bad living habits.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.Contrary to popular belief, older people generally do not want to live with their children. Moreover, most adult children 26 every bit as much care and support to their aging parents as was the case in the “good old days”, and most older people do not feel 27 .About 80% of people 65years and older have living children, and about 90% of them have 28 contact with their children. About 75% of elderly parents who don’t go to nursing homeslive within 30 minutes of at least one of their children.However, 29 having contact with children does not guarantee happiness in old age. In fact, some research has found that people who are most involved with their families have the lowest spirits. This research may be 30 , however, as ill health often makes older people more 31 and thereby increases contact with family members. So it is more likely that poor health, not just family involvement, 32 spirits.Increasingly, researchers have begun to look at the quality of relationships, rather than at the frequency of contact, between the elderly and their children. If parents and children share interests and values and agree on childrearing practices and religious 33 , they are likely to enjoy each other’s company. Disagreements on such matters can 34 cause problems. If parents are agreed by their daughter’s divorce, dislike her new husband, and disapprove of how she is raising their grandchildren, 35 are that they are not going to enjoy her visits.A) abandoned E)commitment I)frequent M)provideB)advanced F)dampens J)fulfillment N)understandablyC)biased G)dependent K)grant O)unrealisticallyD)chances H)distant L)merelySection 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.Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?[A] For many years I have studied global agricultural, population, environmental and economictrends and their interactions. The combined effects of those trends and the political tensions they generate point to the breakdown of governments and societies. Yet I, too, have resisted the idea that food shortages could bring down not only individual governments but also our global civilization.[B] I can no longer ignore that risk. Our continuing failure to deal with the environmental declinesthat are undermining the world food economy forces me to conclude that such a collapse is possible.[C] As demand for food rises faster than supplies are growing, the resulting food-price inflationputs severe stress on the governments of many countries. Unable to buy grain or grow their own, hungry people take to the streets. Indeed, even before the steep climb in grain prices in 2008, the number of failing states was expanding. If the food situation continues to worsen, entire nations will break down at an ever increasing rate. In the 20th century the main threat to international security was superpower conflict; today it is failing states.[D] States fail when national governments can no longer provide personal security, food securityand basic social services such as education and health care. When governments lose their control on power, law and order begin to disintegrate. After a point, countries can become so dangerous that food relief workers are no longer safe and their programs are halted. Failingstates are of international concern because they are a source of terrorists, drugs, weapons and refugees(难民), threatening political stability everywhere.[E] The surge in world grain prices in 2007 and 2008—and the threat they pose to foodsecurity——has a different, more troubling quality than the increases of the past. During the second half of the 20th century, grain prices rose dramatically several times. In 1972, for instance, the Soviets, recognizing their poor harvest early, quietly cornered the world wheat market. As a result, wheat prices elsewhere more than doubled, pulling rice and corn prices up with them. But this and other price shocks were event-driven——drought in the Soviet Union, crop-shrinking heat in the U.S. Corn Belt. And the rises were short-lived: prices typically returned to normal with the next harvest.[F] In contrast, the recent surge in world grain prices is trend-driven, making it unlikely to reversewithout a reversal in the trends themselves. On the demand side, those trends include the ongoing addition of more than 70 million people a year, a growing number of people wanting to move up the food chain to consume highly grain-intensive meat products, and the massive diversion(转向) of U.S. grain to the production of bio-fuel.[G] As incomes rise among low-income consumers, the potential for further grain consumption ishuge. But that potential pales beside the never-ending demand for crop-based fuels. A fourth of this year’s U.S. grain harvest will go to fuel cars.[H] What about supply? The three environmental trends——the shortage of fresh water, the lossof topsoil and the rising temperatures——are making it increasingly hard to expand the world’s grain supply fast enough to keep up with demand. Of all those trends, however, the spread of water shortages poses the most immediate threat. The biggest challenge here is irrigation, which consumes 70% the world’s fresh water. Millions of irrigation wells in many countries are now pumping water out of underground sources faster than rainfall can refill them. The result is falling water tables(地下水位) in countries with half the world’s people, including the three big grain producers——China, India and the U.S.[I] As water tables have fallen and irrigation wells have gone dry, China’s wheat crop, the world’slargest, has declined by 8% since it peaked at 123 million tons in 1997. But water shortages are even more worrying in India. Millions of irrigation wells have significantly lowered water tables in almost every state.[J] As the world’s food security falls to pieces, individual countries acting in their own self-interest are actually worsening the troubles of many. The trend began in 2007, when leading wheat-exporting countries such as Russia and Argentina limited or banned their exports, in hopes of increasing local food supplies and thereby bringing down domestic food prices. Vietnam banned its exports for several months for the same reason. Such moves may eliminate the fears of those living in the exporting countries, but they are creating panic in importing countries that must rely on what is then left for export.[K] In response to those restrictions, grain-importing countries are trying to nail down long-term trade agreements that would lock up future grain supplies. Food-import anxiety is even leading to new efforts by food-importing countries to buy or lease farmland in other countries. In spite of such temporary measures, soaring food prices and spreading hunger in many other countries are beginning to break down the social order.[L] Since the current world food shortage is trend-driven, the environmental trends that cause it must be reversed. We must cut carbon emissions by 80% from their 2006 levels by 2020,stabilize the world’s population at eight billion by 2040, completely remove poverty, and restore forests and soils. There is nothing new about the four objectives. Indeed, we have made substantial progress in some parts of the world on at least one of these——the distribution of family-planning services and the associated shift to smaller families.[M]For many in the development community, the four objectives were seen as positive, promoting development as long as they did not cost too much. Others saw them as politically correct and morally appropriate. Now a third and far more significant motivation presents itself: meeting these goals may be necessary to prevent the collapse of our civilization. Yet the cost we project for saving civilization would amount to less than $200 billion a year, 1/6 of current global military spending. In effect, our plan is the new security budget.36.The more recent steep climb in grain prices partly results from the fact that more and morepeople want to consume meat products.37. Social order is breaking down in many countries because of food shortages.38. Rather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitutethe main threat to world security.39. Some parts of the world have seen successful implementation of family planning.40. The author has come to agree that food shortages could ultimately lead to the collapse of worldcivilization.41. Increasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstacle to boosting the world’s grainproduction.42. The cost for saving our civilization would be considerably less than the world’s currentmilitary spending.43. To lower domestic food prices, some countries limited or stopped their grain exports.44. Environmental problems must be solved to ease the current global food shortage.45. A quarter of this year’s American grain harvest will be used to produce bio-fuel for cars. 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.Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age, but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests. The study, which followed more than 2,000 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 60, found that certain mental functions—including measures of abstract reasoning, mental speed and puzzle-solving—started to dull as early as age 27. Dips in memory, meanwhile, generally became apparent around age 37. On the other hand, indicators of a person’s accumulated knowledge—like performance on tests of vocabulary and general knowledge—kept improving with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. The results do not mean that young adults need to start worrying about their memories. Most people’s minds function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher TimothySalthouse. “These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one’s abilities, may increase throughout all of adulthood if there are no diseases,” Salthouse said in a news release. The study included healthy, educated adults who took standard tests of memory, reasoning and perception at the outset and at some point over the next seven years. The tests are designed to detect subtle (细微的) changes in mental function, and involve solving puzzles, recalling words and details from stories, and identifying patterns in collections of letters and symbols. In general, Salthouse and his colleagues found, certain aspects of cognition (认知能力) generally started to decline in the late 20s to 30s. The findings shed light on normal age-related changes in mental function, which could aid in understanding the process of dementia (痴呆), according to the researchers. “By following individuals over time,” Salthouse said, “we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly discover ways to slow the rate of decline.” The researchers are currently analyzing the study participants’ health and lifestyle to see which factors might influence age-related cognitive changes.46. What is the common view of mental function?A)It varies from person to person. B)It weakens in one’s later years. C)It gradually expands with age. D)It indicates one’s health condition.47. What does the new study find about mental functions?A)Some diseases inevitably lead to their decline.B)They reach a peak at the age of 20 for most people.C)They are closely related to physical and mental exercise.D)Some of them begin to decline when people are still young.48. What does Timothy Salthouse say about people’s minds in most cases? A)They tend to decline in people’s later years.B)Their flexibility determines one’s abilities.C)They function quite well even in old age. D)Their functioning is still a puzzle to be solved.49. Although people’s minds may function less flexibly as they age, they _____.A)may be better at solving puzzles B)can memorize things with more ease C)may have greater facility in abstract reasoningD)can put what they have learnt into more effective use50. According to Salthouse, their study may help us_____. A)find ways to slow down our mental declineB)find ways to boost our memoriesC)understand the complex process of mental functioningD)understand the relation between physical and mental healthPassage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.The most important thing in the news last week was the rising discussion in Nashville about the educational needs of children. The shorthand(简写)educators use for this is “pre-K”—meaning instruction before kindergarten—and the big idea is to prepare 4-year-olds and even younger kids to be ready to succeed on their K-12 journey. But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape, scope and cost of the ideal program. The federal Head Start program, launched 50 years ago, has served more than 30 million children. It was based on concepts developed at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College by Susan Gray, the legendary pioneer in early childhood education research. A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the third grade. It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than pre-K, and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues related to educating a child. Pre-K is controversial. Some critics say it is a luxury and shouldn’t be free to families able to pay. Pre-K advocates insist it is proven and will succeed if integrated with the rest of the child’s schooling. I lean toward the latter view. This is, in any case, the right conversation to be having now as Mayor Megan Barry takes office. She was the first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming. The important thing is for all of us to keep in mind the real goal and the longer, bigger picture. The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干预)works. What government has not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that provides the early foundation. For this purpose, our schools need both the talent and the organization to educate each child who arrives at the schoolhouse door. Some show up ready, but many do not at this critical time when young brains are developing rapidly.51.What does the author say about pre-kindergarten education? A)It should cater to the needs of individual children. B)It is essential to a person’s future academic success. C)Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it.D)Parents regard it as the first phase of children’s development.52.What does the new Peabody study find? A)Pre-K achievements usually do not last long. B)The third grade marks a new phase of learning. C)The third grade is critical to children’s development. D)Quality has not been the top concern of pre-K programs.53.When does the author think pre-K works the best? A)When it is accessible to kids of all families. B)When it is made part of kids’ education. C)When it is no longer considered a luxury. D)When it is made fun and enjoyable to kids.54.What do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry? A)She knows the real goal of education. B)She is a mayor of insight and vision. C)She has once run a pre-K program. D)She is a firm supporter of pre-K.55.What does the author think is critical to kids’ education? A)Teaching method. B)Kids’ interest. C)Early intervention. D)Parents’ involvement.Part IV TranslationDirections:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.在山东省潍坊市，风筝不仅仅是玩具，而且还是这座城市文化的标志。

2016年6月英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案解析Section CPassage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age，but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.The study, which followed more than 2,000 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 60, found that certain mental functions—including measures of abstract reasoning, mental speed and puzzle-solving—started to dull as early as age 27.Dips in memory, meanwhile, generally became apparent around age 37.On the other hand, indicators of a person's accumulated knowledge—like performance on tests of vocabulary and general knowledge—kept improving with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.The results do not mean that young adults need to start worrying about their memories. Most people's minds function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher Timothy Salthouse."These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one's abilities，may increase throughout all of adulthood if there are no dispases," Salthouse said in a news release.The study included healthy, educated adults who took standard tests of memory, reasoning and perception at the outset and at some point over the next seven years.The tests are designed to detect subtle (细微的)changes in mental function, and involve solving Puzzles, recalling words and details from stories, and identifying patterns in collections of letters and symbols.In general, Salthouse and his colleagues found, certain aspects of cognition (认知能力)generally started to decline in the late 20s to 30s.The findings shed light on normal age-related changes in mental function, which could aid in understanding the process of dementia(痴呆),according to the researchers."By following individuals over time," Salthouse said, "we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly discover ways to slow the rate of decline."The researchers are currently analyzing, the study participants' health and lifestyle to see which factors might influence age-related cognitive changes.47.【题干】What is the common view of mental function【选项】A.It varies from person to person.C.It gradually expands with age.B.It weakens in one's later years.D.It indicates one's health condition.【答案】B【解析】Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age，but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.48.【题干】What does the new study find about mental functions【选项】A.Some diseases inevitably lead to their decline.B.They reach a peak at the age of 20 for most people.C.They are closely related to physical' and mental exercise.D.Some of them begin to decline when people are still young.【答案】D【解析】but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.49.【题干】What does Timothy Salthouse say about people's minds in most cases【选项】A.They tend to decline in people's later years.B.Their flexibility determines one's abilities.C.They function quite well even in old age.D.Their functioning is still a puzzle to be solved.【答案】C【解析】Most people's minds function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher Timothy Salthouse.50.【题干】Although people's minds may function less flexibly as they age, they_____.【选项】A.may be better at solving puzzlesB.can memorize things with more easeC.may have greater facility in abstract reasoningD.can put what they have learnt into more effective use【答案】D【解析】"These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one's abilities，may increase throughout all of adulthood if there are no dispases," Salthouse said ina news release.51.【题干】According to Salthouse, their study may help us_____.【选项】A.find ways to slow down our mental decline6.find ways to boost our memoriesC.understand the complex process of mental functioningD.understand the relation between physical and mental health【答案】A【解析】Salthouse said, "we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly discover ways to slow the rate of decline."Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.The most important thing in the news last week was the rising discussion in Nashville about the educational needs of children. The shorthand(简写)educators use for this is "pre-K"—meaning instruction before kindergarten—and the big idea is to prepare 4-year-olds and even younger kids to be ready to succeed on their K-12 journey.But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape, scope and cost of the ideal program.The federal Head Start program, launched 50 years ago, has served more than 30 million children. It was based on concepts developed at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College by Susan Gray, the legendary pioneer in early childhood education research.A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the third grade. It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than pre-K,and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues, related to educating a child.Pre-K is controversial. Some critics say it is a luxury and shouldn't be free to families able to pay. Pre-K advocates insist it is proven and will succeed if integrated with the rest of the child's schooling. I lean toward the latter view.This is, in any case, the right conversation to be having now as Mayor Megan Barry takes office. She was the first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming. The important thing is for all of us to keep in mind the real goal and the longer, bigger picture.The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干预)works. What government has not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that provides the early foundation.For this purpose, our schools need both the talent and the organization to educate each child who arrives at the schoolhouse door. Some show up ready, but many do not at this critical time when young brains are developing rapidly.52.【题干】What does the author say about pre-kindergarten education【选项】A.It should cater to the needs of individual children.B.It is essential to a person's future academic success.C.Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it.D.Parents regard it as the first phase of children's development.【答案】C【解析】第一段：But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape, scope and cost of the ideal program.53.【题干】What does the new Peabody study find【选项】A.Pre-K achievements usually do not last long.B.The third grade marks a new phase of learning.C.The third grade is critical to children's development.D.Quality has not been the top concern of pre-K programs.【答案】A【解析】A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the third grade.54.【题干】When does the author think pre-K works the bestA.When it is accessible to kids of all families.B.When it is made part of kids' education.C.When it is no longer considered a luxury.D.When it is made fun and enjoyable to kids.【答案】B【解析】It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than pre-K, and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues, related to educating a child.56.【题干】What do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry【选项】A.She knows the real goal of education.B.She is a mayor of insight and vision.C.She has once run a pre-K program.D.She is a firm supporter of pre-K.【答案】D【解析】She was the first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming.56【题干】What does the author think is critical to kids' education【选项】A.Teaching method.B.Kids' interest.C.Early intervention.D.Parents' involvement.【答案】C【解析】The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干预)works. What government has not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that provides the early foundation.。

6月英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案第三套2016年6月英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案（第三套）转眼2016下半年英语四级考试即将来临，不少同学也正在准备2016下半年英语四级考试，下面yjbys网店铺将英语四级考试的'历年真题都进行汇总。

以下是2016年6月英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案(第三套)，提前助大家顺利备考、复习。

Passage OneAttitudes toward new technologies often along generational lines. That is, generally, younger people tend to outnumber older people on the front end of a technological shift.It is not always the case, though. When you look at attitudes toward driverless cars, there doesn't seem to be a clear generational divide. The public overall is split on whether they'd like to use a driverless car. In a study last year, of all people surveyed, 48 percent said they wanted to ride in one, while 50 percent did not.The face that attitudes toward self-driving cars appear to be so steady across generations suggests how transformative the shift to driverless cars could be. Not everyone wants a driverless car now-and no one can get one yet-but among those who are open to them, every age group is similarly engaged.Actually, this isn't surprising. Whereas older generations are sometime reluctant to adopt new technologies, driverless cars promise real value to these age groups in particular. Older adults, especially those with limited mobility or difficulty driving on their own, are one of the classic useeases for driverless cars.This is especially interesting when you consider that younger people are generally more interested in travel-related technologies than older ones.When it comes to driverless cars, differences in attitude are more pronounced based on factors not related to age. College graduates, for example, are particularly interested in driverless cars compared with those who have less education, 59 percent of college graduates said they would like to use a driverless car compared with 38 percent of those with a high-school diploma or less.Where a person lives matters, too. More people who lives in cities and suburbs said they wanted to try driverless cars than those who lived in rural areas.While there's reason to believe that interest in self-driving cars is going up across the board, a person's age will have little to do with how self-driving cars can be becoming mainstream. Once driverless cares are actually available for safe, the early adopters will be the people who can afford to buy them.46.What happens when a new technology emerges?A.It further widens the gap between the old and the young.B.It often leads to innovations in other related fields.C.It contribute greatly to the advance of society as a whole.D.It usually draws different reactions from different age groups.47.What does the author say about the driverless car?A.It does not seem to create a generational divide.B.It will not necessarily reduce road accidents.C.It may start a revolution in the car industry.D.It has given rise to unrealistic expectations.48.Why does the driverless car appeal to some old people?A.It saves their energy.B.It helps with their mobility.C.It adds to the safety of their travel.D.It stirs up their interest in life.49.What is likely to affect one's attitude toward the driverless car?A.The location of their residence.B.The amount of their special interestC.The amount of training they received.D.The length of their driving experience.50.Who are likely to be the first to buy the driverless car?A.The senior.B.The educated.C.The weaIthy.D.The tech fans.Passage TwoIn agrarian(农业的),pre-industrial Europe, "you'd want to wake up early, start working with the sunrise, have a break to have the largest meal, and then you'd go back to work," says Ken Albala, a professor of history at the University of the Pacific, "Later, at 5 or 6, you'd have a smaller supper."This comfortable cycle, in which the rhythms of the day helped shape the rhythms of the meals, gave rise to the custom of the large midday meal, eaten with the extended family, "Meal are the foundation of the family,' says Carole Couniban. a professor at Millersville University inPeensylvania, "so there was a very important interconnection between eating together" and strength-eating family ties.Since industrialization, maintaining such a slow cultural metabolism has been much harder. With the long midday meal shrinking to whatever could be stuffed into a lunch bucket or bought at a food stand. Certainly, there were benefits. Modern techniques for producing and shipping food led to greatervariety and quantity, including a tremendous, increase in the amount of animal protein and dairy products available, making us more vigorous than our ancestors.Yet plenty has been lost too, even in cultures that still live to eat. Take Italy. It's no secret that the Mediterranean diet is healthy, but it was also a joy to prepare and cat. Italians, says Counihan, traditionally began the day with a small meal. The big meal came at around 1 p.m. In between the midday meal and a late, smaller dinner came a small snack. Today, when time zones have less and less meaning, there is little tolerance for offices' closing for lunch, and worsening traffic in cities means workers can't make it home and back fast enough anyway. So the formerly small supper after sundown becomes the big meal of the day. the only one at which the family has a chance to get together. "The evening meal carries the full burden that used to be spread over two meals" says Counihan.51.What do we learn from the passage about people in pre-industrial Europe?A.They had to work from early morning till late at night.B.They were so busy working that they only ate simple meals.C.Their daily routine followed the rhythm of the natural cycle.D.Their life was much more comfortable than that of today.52.What does Professor Carole Counihan say about. pre-industrial European families eating meals together?A.It was helpful to maintaining a nation's tradition.B.It brought family members closers to each other.C.It was characteristic of the agrarian culture.D.It enabled families to save a lot of money.53.What does "cultural metabolism"(Line 1 ,Para. 3) refer to?A.Evolutionary adaptation.B.Changes in lifestyle.C.Social progress.D.Pace of life.54.What does the author think of the food people eat today?A.Its quality is usually guaranteed.B.It is varied, abundant and nutritious.C.It is more costly than what our ancestors ate.D.Its production depends too much on technology.55.What does the author say about Italians of the old days.A.They enjoyed cooking as well as eating.B.They ate a big dinner late in the evening.C.They ate three meals regularly every day.D.They were expert at cooking meals.参考答案Passage One46. 正确选项 D。

2016年6月英语四级阅读理解真题及答案Some radio singals were heard in 1967.They were coming from a point in the sky where there was unknown star.They were coming very regularly,too:about once a seco nd,if they were controlled by clock.在1967年你会听说一些无线电信号。

他们来自天空中一处未知的星球。

他们同样非常有规律，如果用时钟计时的话：每秒一次。

The scientists who heard the signals did not tell anybody else.They were rather afraid to tell in case they frightened people.The signals were coming from a very small body—no bigger,perhaps than the earth.Was that why no light could be seen from it?Or were the signals coming from a planet that belonged to some other star?There was no end to the questions,but the scientists kept the news secret.“Perhaps there are intelligent beings out there.”they thought,“who are trying to send messages to other planets,or to us?So the news was not given to the newspaper.Instead,the scientists studied the signals and searched for others like them...Well,all that happened in 1967 and 1968.Since then scientists have learnt more about those strange,regular,radio signals.And they have told the story,of course.听到这些信号的科学家们并没有告诉任何人，他们怕告诉别人引起他们的恐惧，这些信号是来自一个非常小的物体，没有更大的，也许比地球小。

2016年6月英语四级真题第二套（文字版整理）Part I Writing （30 minutes）Directions：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to express your thanks to one of your school teachers upon entering college. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.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.Contrary to popular belief, older people generally do not want to live with their children. Moreover, most adult children _____(26)every bit as much care and support to their aging parents as was the case in the "good old days", and roost older people do not feel _____(27).About 80% of people 65 years and older have living children, and about 90% of them have _____(28)contact with their children. About 75% of elderly parents who don't go to nursing homes live within 30 minutes of at least one of their children.However, _____(29)having contact with children does not guarantee happiness in old age. In fact, some research has found that people who are most involved with their families have the lowest spirits. This research may be _____(30), however, as ill health often makes older people more _____(31)and thereby increases contact with family members. So it is more likely that poor health, not just family involvement, _____(32)spirits.Increasingly, researchers have begun to look at the quality of relationships, rather than at the frequency of contact, between the elderly and their children. If parents and children share interests and values and agree on childrearing practices and religious _____(33)they are likely to enjoy each other's company. Disagreements on such matters can _____(34)cause problems. If parents are angered by their daughter's divorce, dislike her new husband, and disapprove of how she is raising their grandchildren, _____(35)are that they are not going to enjoy her visits.A.abandonedB.advancedC.biasedD.chancesmitmentF.dampensG.dependentH.distantI.frequentJ.fulfillmentK.grantL.merelyM.provideN.understandablyO.unrealisticallySection 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.Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?[A] For many years I have studied global agricultural, population, environmental and economic trends and their interactions. The combined effects of those trends and the political tensions they generate point to the breakdown of governments and societies. Yet I, too, have resisted the idea that food shortages could bring down not only individual governments but also our global civilization.[B] I can no longer ignore that risk. Our continuing failure to deal with the environmental declines that are undermining the world food economy forces me to conclude that such a collapse is possible.[C] As demand for food rises faster than supplies are growing, the resulting food-price inflation puts severe stress on the governments of many countries. Unable to buy grain or grow their own, hungry people take to the streets. Indeed, even before the steep climb in grain prices in 2008, the number of failing states was expanding. If the food situation continues to worsen, entire nations will break down at an ever increasing rate. In the 20th century the main threat to international security was superpower conflict; today it is failing states.[D] States fail when national governments can no longer provide personal security, food security and basic social services such as education and health care. When governments lose their control on power, law and order begin to disintegrate. After a point, countries can become so dangerous that food relief workers are no longer safe and their programs are halted. Failing states are of international concern because they are a source of terrorists, drugs, weapons and refugees(难民), threatening political stability everywhere.[E] The surge in world grain prices in 2007 and 2008—and the threat they pose to food security——has a different, more troubling quality than the increases of the past. During the second of the 20th century, grain prices rose dramatically several times. In 1972, for instance, the Soviets. I recognizing their poor harvest early, quietly cornered the world wheat market. As a result, wheat prices elsewhere more than doubled, pulling rice and com prices up with them. But this and other price shocks were event-driven——drought in the Soviet Union, crop-shrinking heat in the U.S. Corn Belt. And the rises were short-lived: prices typically returned to normal with the next harvest.[F]In contrast, recent surge in world grain prices is trend-driven, making it unlikely to reverse without a reversal in the trends themselves. On the demand side, those trends include the ongoing addition of more than 70 million people a year, a growing number of people wanting to move up the food chain to consume highlygrain-intensive meat products, and the massive diversion(转向)of U.S. grain to the production of bio-fuel.[G]As incomes rise among low-income consumers, the potential for further grain consumption is huge. But that potential pales beside the never-ending demand for crop-based fuels. A fourth of this year's U.S. grain harvest will go to fuel cars.[H]What about supply? The three environmental trends——the shortage of fresh water, the loss of topsoil and the rising temperatures——are making it increasingly hard to expand the world's grain supply fast enough to keep up with demand. Of all those trends, however, the spread of water shortages poses the most immediate threat. The biggest challenge here is irrigation, which consumes 70% the world's fresh water. Millions of irrigation wells in many countries are now pumping water out of underground sources faster than rainfall can refill them. The result is falling water tables(地下水位)in countries with half the world's people, including the three big grain producers——China, India and the U.S.[I]As water tables have fallen and irrigation wells have gone dry, China's wheat crop, the world's largest, has declined by 8% since it peaked at 123 million tons in 1997. But water shortages are even more worrying in India. Millions of irrigation wells have significantly lowered water tables in almost every state.[J]As the world's food security falls to pieces, individual countries acting in their own self-interest are actually worsening the troubles of many. The trend began in 2007, when leading wheat-exporting countries such as Russia and Argentina limited or banned their exports, in hopes of increasing local food supplies and thereby bringing down domestic food prices. Vietnam banned its exports for several months for the same reason. Such moves may eliminate the fears of those living in the exporting countries, but they are creating panic in importing countries that must rely on what is then left for export.[K]In response to those restrictions, grain-importing countries are trying to nail down long-term trade agreements that would lock up future grain supplies. Food-import anxiety is even leading to new efforts by food-importing countries to buy or lease farmland in other countries. In spite of such temporary measures, soaring food prices and spreading hunger in many other countries are beginning to break down the social order.[L]Since the current world food shortage is trend-driven, the environmental trends that cause it must be reversed. We must cut carbon emissions by 80% from their 2006 levels by 2020, stabilize the world's population at eight billion by 2040, completely remove poverty, and restore forests and soils. There is nothing new about the four objectives. Indeed, we have made substantial progress in some parts of the world on at least one of these——the distribution of family-planning services and the associated shift to smaller families.[M]For many in the development community, the four objectives were seen as positive, promoting development as long as they did not cost too much. Others saw them as politically correct and morally appropriate. Now a third and far more significant motivation presents itself: meeting these goals may necessary to prevent the collapse of our civilization. Yet the cost we project for saving civilizationwould amount to less than $200 billion a year, 1/6 of current global military spending. In effect, our plan is the new security budget.36.The more recent steep climb in grain prices partly results from the fact that more and more people want to consume meat products.37.Social order is breaking down in many countries because of food shortages.38.Rather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitute the main threat to world security.39.Some parts of the world have seen successful implementation of family planning.40.The author has come to agree that food shortages could ultimately lead to the collapse of world civilization.41.Increasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstante to boosting the world's grain production.42.The cost for saving our civilization would be considerably less than the world's current military spending.43.To lower domestic food prices, some countries limited or stopped their grain exports.44.Environmental problems must be solved to case the current global food shortage.45.A quarter of this year's American grain harvest will be used to produce bio-fuel for cars.Section CPassage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age，but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.The study, which followed more than 2,000 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 60, found that certain mental functions—including measures of abstract reasoning, mental speed and puzzle-solving—started to dull as early as age 27.Dips in memory, meanwhile, generally became apparent around age 37.On the other hand, indicators of a person’s accumulated knowledge—like performance on tests of vocabulary and general knowledge—kept improving with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.The results do not mean that young adults need to start worrying about their memories. Most people’s minds function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher Timothy Salthouse."These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one’s abilities，may increase throughout all of adulthood if there are no dispases," Salthouse said in a news release.The study included healthy, educated adults who took standard tests of memory, reasoning and perception at the outset and at some point over the next seven years.The tests are designed to detect subtle (细微的)changes in mental function, and involve solving Puzzles, recalling words and details from stories, and identifying patterns in collections of letters and symbols.In general, Salthouse and his colleagues found, certain aspects of cognition (认知能力)generally started to decline in the late 20s to 30s.The findings shed light on normal age-related changes in mental function, which could aid in understanding the process of dementia(痴呆),according to the researchers.“By following individuals over time,” Salthouse said, "we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly discover ways to slow the rate of decline.”The researchers are currently analyzing, the study participants' health and lifestyle to see which factors might influence age-related cognitive changes.46.What is the common view of mental function?A.It varies from person to person.C.It gradually expands with age.B.It weakens in one’s later years.D.It indicates one’s health condition.47.What does the new study find about mental functions?A.Some diseases inevitably lead to their decline.B.They reach a peak at the age of 20 for most people.C.They are closely related to physical' and mental exercise.D.Some of them begin to decline when people are still young.48.What does Timothy Salthouse say about people's minds in most cases?A.They tend to decline in people’s later years.B.Their flexibility determines one’s abilities.C.They function quite well even in old age.D.Their functioning is still a puzzle to be solved.49.Although people’s minds may function less flexibly as they age, they_____.A.may be better at solving puzzlesB.can memorize things with more easeC.may have greater facility in abstract reasoningD.can put what they have learnt into more effective use50.According to Salthouse, their study may help us_____.A.find ways to slow down our mental decline6.find ways to boost our memoriesC.understand the complex process of mental functioningD.understand the relation between physical and mental healthPassage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.The most important thing in the news last week was the rising discussion in Nashville about the educational needs of children. The shorthand(简写)educators use for this is "pre-K"—meaning instruction before kindergarten—and the big idea is to prepare 4-year-olds and even younger kids to be ready to succeed on their K-12 journey.But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape, scope and cost of the ideal program.The federal Head Start program, launched 50 years ago, has served more than 30million children. It was based on concepts developed at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College by Susan Gray, the legendary pioneer in early childhood education research.A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the third grade. It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than pre-K, and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues, related to educating a child.Pre-K is controversial. Some critics say it is a luxury and shouldn't be free to families able to pay. Pre-K advocates insist it is proven and will succeed if integrated with the rest of the child's schooling. I lean toward the latter view.This is, in any case, the right conversation to be having now as Mayor Megan Barry takes office. She was the first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming. The important thing is for all of us to keep in mind the real goal and the longer, bigger picture.The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干预)works. What government has not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that provides the early foundation.For this purpose, our schools need both the talent and the organization to educate each child who arrives at the schoolhouse door. Some show up ready, but many do not at this critical time when young brains are developing rapidly.51.What does the author say about pre-kindergarten education?A.It should cater to the needs of individual children.B.It is essential to a person's future academic success.C.Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it.D.Parents regard it as the first phase of children's development.52.What does the new Peabody study find?A.Pre-K achievements usually do not last long.B.The third grade marks a new phase of learning.C.The third grade is critical to children's development.D.Quality has not been the top concern of pre-K programs.53.When does the author think pre-K works the best?A.When it is accessible to kids of all families.B.When it is made part of kids' education.C.When it is no longer considered a luxury.D.When it is made fun and enjoyable to kids.54.What do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry?A.She knows the real goal of education.B.She is a mayor of insight and vision.C.She has once run a pre-K program.D.She is a firm supporter of pre-K.55.What does the author think is critical to kids' education?A.Teaching method.B.Kids' interest.C.Early intervention.D.Parents' involvement.Part IV Translation （30 minutes）Directions： For this part， you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English。

2016 年6 月大学英语四级真题试卷及答案完整版Part III Reading Comprehension （40 minutes）Section ADirections：In this section，there is a passage with ten blanks。

You are required to selectone 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。

Questions 26 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard。

Physical activity does the body good，and there’s growing evidence that it helps the brain too。

Researchers in the Netherlands report that children who get more exercise，whether at school or on their own，26 to have higher GPAs and better scores on standardized tests。