2007年1月大学英语四级试题 4阅读理解

07年专四真题答案解析202007年的专业四级考试是许多学生备考过程中瞩目的一年，因为这一年的考题安排较为有难度，并且出现了一些新颖的题型。

在这篇文章中，我将会对2007年专业四级考试的真题进行解析，帮助考生更好地理解考题的要求，并为备考提供一些有针对性的建议。

一、阅读理解部分2007年的专业四级考试阅读理解部分共有五篇文章，从不同的领域选取，包括科学、历史、社会等。

每篇文章后面有几个问题需要考生进行解答。

下面我们将针对其中一篇文章进行分析。

文章题目：The Benefits of Bilingualism该篇文章主要讨论了双语教育的好处。

文章中指出，双语教育不仅可以加强学生的语言能力，还有助于他们更好地理解不同文化之间的差异，欢迎新的文化，从而增加人际交往能力。

问题一：What is the main topic of the passage?本题要求考生从文章中找出主要话题。

根据文章的内容，我们可以得出答案是“双语教育的好处”。

同时注意，答案中不需要包含具体的细节，只需要给出主题即可。

问题二：What benefit does bilingualism bring to students according to the passage?本题要求考生从文章中找出双语教育带给学生的好处。

根据文章内容，我们可以得出答案是“加强语言能力和人际交往能力”。

二、翻译部分2007年的专四翻译部分包含了一篇中文短文，要求考生将其翻译成英文。

下面是原文及解析：原文：场景时刻变换，可是人的心态实在难伺候。

这个社会总是缺少耐心与宽容，为了自己，它放弃了很多本应保护的东西。

我们真的需要反思一下，我们所追求的是什么。

解析：首先要理解题目的意思——让我们对自己所追求的东西进行反思。

接下来，需要将原文逐句进行翻译。

Translation: The scenes are constantly changing, but human mentality is hard to serve. Society is always lacking in patience and tolerance, and for the sake of oneself, it gives up many things that should have been protected. We really need to reflect on what we are pursuing.在翻译的过程中，注意语法和用词的准确性，尽量保持原意，不要过度使用生造的词汇。

大学英语四级阅读理解试题及答案（四）含答案解析六As the pace of life continues to increase ,we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift,being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.Stress is an natural part of everyday lift and there is no way to avoid it. In fact ,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be .A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation adn give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress.Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.1.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.a.they do not know how to enjoy themselvesb.they do not believe that relaxation is important for healthc.they are travelling fast all the timed.they are becoming busier with their work2.According to the writer ,the most important character for a good manager is his ________.a.not fearing stressb.knowing the art of relaxationc.high sense of responsibilityd.having control over performance3.Which of the follwing statements is ture?a.We can find some ways to avoid stressb.Stress is always harmful to peoplec.It is easy to change the hagit of keeping oneself busy with work.d.Different people can withstand different amounts of stress4.In Paragraph 3, "such a reaction" refers back to_______.a."making a choice between 'flight' or 'fight'"b."reaction to stress both chemically and physically"c."responding to crises quickly"d."losing heart at the signs difficulties"5.In the last sentence of the passage,"do so " refers to ______.a."expose ourselves to stress"b."find ways to deal with stress"c."remove stress from our lives"d."established links between diseases and stress"答案：dadbc七In the 1960s, many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society. They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S. epual.Some of them decided to "drop out" of American society and form their own societies . They formed utopian communities , which they called "communes," where they could follow their philosophy of "do your own thing." A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called "Drop City." Following the ideas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller they built domeshaped houses from pieces of old cars. Other groups, such as author Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters, the followers fo San Francisco poet Steve Gakin, and a group that called itself the Hog Farm, lived in old school huses and traveled around the United States. The Hog Farm become famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. Steve Gaskin's followers tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee, but they had to leave when some members of the gruop were arrested for growing marijuana.Not all communes believed in the philosophy of "do you own thing," however . Twin Oaks , a commune founded in Virgiania in the late 1960s, was based on the ideas of psychologist B.F.Skinner. The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner's "conditioning" techniques to do things that were good for the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city Arizsona where 2500 people will live closely together in one large building called an "archology" Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will all become one.1.Why did some young Americans decide to "drop out" of scoiety during the 1960s?a.They were not satisfied with American society.b.They wanted to grow marijuana.c.They wanted to go to the Vietnam War.d.They did not want all people to be equal.2.Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune live?a.In dome-shaped houseb.In old school husesc.On a farm inTennesseed.In an archology in Arizona3.Who gave the people of Drop City the idea to bulid dome-shaped house?a.Paolo Solerib.B.G.Skinnerc.Steve Gaskind.Buckminster Fuller4.What was the Twin Oaks commune base on ?a.The philosophy of "do your own thing"b.Virginaia in the late 1960sc.The ideas of psychologistd.The belief that people must live closely togerher.5.What is an "archology"?a.A person who studies archaeologyb.A large building where people live closely togetherc.A city in A rizonad.A technique to contorl people答案：abdcb八There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably, some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual—the sort of environment inwhich he is reared. If an individual is handicapped envionmentally ,it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intellingence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark X. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth processes were the same. When the twins were three months old , their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster homes. Peter was reated by parents of low intelligence in an isolatedcommunity with poor educational pooprtunities.Mark was reared inthe home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. He was read to as a child , sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually.This enviromental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were giben tesets to measure their intelligence. Mark's I.Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities , the twins , having identical brains,would have tested at roughly the same level.1.This selection can best be titled_________.a.Measuring Your Intelligenceb.Intelligence and Environmentc.The Case of Peter and Markd.How the brain Influences Intelligence2.The beststatement of the main idea of this passage is that _____.a.human brains differ considerablyb.the brain a person is born with is improtant in determining his intelligencec.environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenced. persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence3.According to the passage , the average I.Q.is _____.a.85b.100c.110d.1254.The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that _______.a.individual with identical brains seldom test at same levelb.an individual's intelligence is determined only by his enviromentck of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenced.changes of enviroment produce changes in the structure of the brain5.This passage suggests that an individual 's I.Q.______.a.can be predicted at birthb.stays the same throuthout his lifec.can be increased by educationd.is determined by his childhood答案：bcbcc九As she walked round the huge department store,Edith reflected how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father.She wish that he was as easy to please as her mother, who was always delighted with perfumeBesides,shoppong at this time of the year was a most disgreeableexperience :people trod on your toes,poked you with their elbows and almost knocked you overin their haste to get to a bargain ahead of you.Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where some attracive ties were on display. "They are real silk," the assistant assured her, trying to tempt her. "Worth double the price." But edit knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.She moved on reluctantly and then quite by chance, stopped where a small crowd of man had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes onsale-----and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate for long : although her father only smoked a pipe occasionally, she knew that this was a present which was bund to please him.When she got home,with her small well-chosen present concealed in her handbag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was in an especially cheerful mood, "Your father has at last to decided to stop smoking." She informed her daughter.1.Edith's father _______.a.did not like presentb.never got presentc.preferred tiesd.was difficult to choose a present for2.The assistant spoke to Edith because she seemed_______.a.attractiveb.interested in tiesc.tiredd.in need of comfort3.Edith stopped at the next counter_________.a.puroselyb.suddenlyc.unwillinglyd.accidentally4.Edith's father smoked a pipe_______.a.when he was obligedb.on social occasionsc.from time to timed.when he was delighted5.Shopping was very disagreeable at that time of the year because_______.a.coustomers trod on each other's toesb.coustomers poked each other with their elbowsc.customers knocked each otherd.customers were doing their shopping in a great hurry答案：dbdcd十If the population of the earth goes on increasing at its present rate, there will eventually not be enough resources left to sustain life on the planet.By the middle of the 21st century,if present trends continue, we will have used up all the oil that drives our cars,for example.Even if scientists develop new ways of feeding the human race,the crowded conditions on earth will make it necessary for lus to look for open space somewhere else. But none of the other planets in our solar system are capable of supporting life at present. One possible solution to the problem, however,has recently been suggested by American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan.Sagan believes that before the earth's resources are compleetely exhausted it will be possible to change the atmophere of Venus and so create a new world almost as large as earth itself. The difficult is that Venus is much hotter than the earth and there is only a tiny amount of water there.Sagan proposes that algae organisms that can live in extremely hot or cold atmospheres and at the same time produce oxygen,should be bred in condition similar to those on Venus.As soon as this has been done, the algae will be placed in small rockets. Spaceship will then fly to Venus and fire the rockets into the atmosphere .In a fairly short time, the alge will break down the carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon.When the algae have done theri work, the atmosphere will become cooler,but befor man can set foot on Venus it will be neccessary for the oxygen to produce rain. The surface of the planet will still be too hot for man to land on it but the rain will eventually fall and in a few years something like earth will be reproduced on Venus.1.Inte long run, the most insoluble problem caused by population growth on earth will probably be the lack of ______.a.foodb.oilc.spaced.resources2.Carl Sagan believes that Venus might be colonized from earth because _____a.it might be possible to change its atmosphereb.its atmosphere is the same as the earth'sc.there is a good supply of water on Venusd.the days on Venus are long enough3.On Venus there is a lot of ________.a.waterb.carbon dioxidec.carbon monoxided.oxygen4.Algae are plants that can____.a.live in very hot temperaturesb.live in very cold temperaturesc.manufacture oxygend.all of the above5. Man can land on Venus only when_______.a.the algae have done their workb.the atmosphere becomes coolerc.thereis oxygend.it rains there答案：cabdd。

2007英语专业四级阅读理解答案及详解(2)TEXT CI am afraid to sleep. I have been afraid to sleep for the last few weeks. I am so tired that, finally, I do sleep, but only for a few minutes. It is not a bad dream that wakes me ; it is the reality I took with me into sleep . I try to think of something else.Immediately the woman in the marketplace comes into my mind.I was on my way to dinner last night when I saw her . She was selling skirts. She moved with the same ease and loveliness I often saw in the women of Laos. Her long black hair was as shiny as the black silk of the skirts she was selling . In her hair, she wore three silk ribbons, blue ,green, and white. They reminded me of my childhood and how my girlfriends and I used to spend hours braiding ribbons into our hair.I don’t know the word for “ribbons”, so I put my hand to my own hair and , with three fingers against my head , I looked at her ribbons and said “Beautiful.” She lowered her eyes and said nothing. I wasn’t sure if she understood me (I don’t speak Laotian very well).I looked back down at the skirts. They had designs on them: squares and triangles and circles of pink and green silk. They were very pretty. I decided to buy one of those skirts, and I began to bargain with her over the price. It is the custom to bargain in Asia. In Laos bargaining is done in soft voices and easy moves with the sort of quiet peacefulness.She smiled, more with her eyes than with her lips. She was pleased by the few words I was able to say in her language, although they were mostly numbers, and she saw that I understood something about the soft playfulness of bargaining. We shook our heads in disagreement over the price; then, immediately, we made another offer and then another shake of the head. She was so pleased that unexpectedly, she accepted the last offer I made. But it was too soon. The price was too low. She was being too generous and wouldn’t make enough money. I moved quickly and picked up two more skirts and paid for all three at the price set; that way I was able to pay her three times as much before she had a chance to lower the price for the larger purchase. She smiled openly then, and, for the first time in months, my spirit lifted. I almost felt happy.The feeling stayed with me while she wrapped the skirts in a newspaper and handed them to me. When I left, though, the feeling left, too. It was as though it stayed behind in marketplace. I left tears in my throat. I wanted to cry. I didn’t , of course.I have learned to defend myself against what is hard; without knowing it, I have also learned to defend myself against what is soft and what should be easy.I get up, light a candle and want to look at the skirts. They are still in the newspaper that the woman wrapped them in. I remove the paper, and raise the skirts up to look at them again before I pack them.Something falls to floor. I reach down and feel something cool in my hand. I move close to the candlelight to see what I have. There are five long silk ribbons in my hand, all different colors. The woman in the marketplace! She has given these ribbons to me!There is no defense against a generous spirit, and this time I cry, and very hard, as if I could make up for all the months that I didn’t cry.89. According to the writer, the woman in the marketplace ____B____ .A. refused to speak to her.B. was pleasant and attractive.C. was selling skirts and ribbons.D. recognized her immediately.解析：B。

2007年1月大学英语四级作文部分Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minute to write a short essay on the topic of students selecting their lectures. Y ou should write at least 120 words following the outline given bellow:1. 许多人喜欢在除夕夜看春节晚会2. 但有些人提出取消春节晚会3. 我的看法【范文】The approach of the Chinese Lunar New Y ear poses a national issue concerning the necessity of holding the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Its established status is being challenged by a growing number of people, especially by younger generations. It is increasingly difficult to cater for all tastes.Some individuals deem that it should be canceled or replaced by other programs. These young people focus their attention on other forms of celebration instead of immersing themselves in TV. Despite that, the majority of mid-aged people and senior citizens uphold the importance of the traditional performance. The most striking feature of this gala is its traditionally close link with ordinary peopl e’s lives. Most of people view this gala as an annual staple on the traditional Chinese Spring Festival Eve. They all have a restless night and glue their eyes on the television.I am not supportive of the view that the grand gala should be abandoned. Undoubtedly, it plays a vital role in the celebration of Chinese New Y ear. To increase its appeal and meet young adults’need, the upcoming performance should invite some big names including super stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan. We are all eagerly anticipating this unforgettable evening show.【范文译文】。

TEXT C I am afraid to sleep. I have been afraid to sleep for the last few weeks. I am so tired that, finally, I do sleep, but only for a few minutes. It is not a bad dream that wakes me ; it is the realiry I took with me into sleep . I try to think of something else. Immediately the woman in the marketplace comes into my mind.I was on my way to dinner last night when I saw her . She was selling skirts. She moved with the same ease and loveliness I often saw in the women of Laos. Her long black hair was as shiny as the black silk of the skirts she was selling . In her hair, she wore three silk ribbons, blue ,green, and white. They meminded me of my childhood and how my girlfriends and I used to spend hours braiding ribbons into our hair. I don’t know the word for “ribbons”, so I put my hand to my own hair and , with three fingers against my head , I looked at her ribbons and said “Beautiful.” She lowered her eyes and said nothing. I wasn’t sure if she understood me (I don’t speak Laotian very well). I looked back down at the skirts. They ahd designs in them: squares and triangles and circles of pink and green silk. They were very pretty. I decided to buy one of those skirts, and I began to bargain with her over the price. It is the custom to bargain in Asia. In Laos bargaining is done in soft voices and easy moves with the sort of quiet peacefulness.She smiled, more with her eyes than with her lips. She was pleased by the few words I was able to say in her language, although they were mostly numbers, and she saw that I understood something about the soft playfulness of bargaining. We shook our heads in disagreement over the price; then, immediately, we made another offer and then another shake of the head. She was so pleased that unexpectedly, she accepted the last offer I made. But it was too soon. The price was too low. She was being too generous and wouldn’t make enough money. I moved quickly and picked up two more skirts and paid for all three at the price set; that way I was able to pay her three times as much before she had a chance to lower the price for the larger purchase. She smiled openly then, and, for the first time in months, my spirit lifted. I almost felt happy.The feeling stayed with me while she wrapped the skirts in a newspaper and handed them to me. When I left, though, the feeling left, too. It was as though it stayed behind in marketplace. I left tears in my throat. I wanted to cry. I didn’t , of course. have learned to defend myself against what is hard; without knowing it, I have also learned to defend myself against what is soft and what should be easy.I get up, light a candle and want to look at the skirts. They are still in the newspaper that the woman wrapped them in. I remove the paper, and raise the skirts up to look at them again before I pack them. Something falls to floor. I reach down and feel something cool in my hand. I move close to the candlelight to see what I have. There are five long silk ribbons in my hand, all different colours. The woman in the maketplace! She has given these ribbons to me! ere is no defense against a generous spirit, and this time I cry, and very hard, as if I could make up for all the months thatI didn’t cry.90. Which of the following in NOT corret?A. The writer was not used to bargaining.B. People in Asia always bargain when buying things.C. Bargaining in Laos was quiet and peaceful.D.The writer was ready to bargain with the woman.91. The writer assumed that the voman accepted the last offer mainly because womanA. thought that the last offer was reasonable.B.thought she could still make much money.C.was glad that the writer knew their way of bargainning.D. was tired of bargainning with the writer any more.92. Why did the writer finally decide to buy three skirts?A.The skirts were cheap and pretty.B.She liked the patterns on the skirts.C.She wanted to do something as compensation.D.She was fed up with further bargainning with the woman.93.When did the writer left the marketplace, she wanted to cry, but did not becauseA. she had learned to stay cool and unfeeling.B. she was afraid of crying in public.C.she had learned to face difficulties bravely.D. she had to show in public that she was strong.94. Why did the writer cry eventually when she looked at the skirts again?A.she suddently felt very sad.B.she liked the ribbons so much.C.she was overcome by emotion.D.she felt sorry for the woman.。

2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题（一）In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that our appetite and food intake are influenced by a large number of factors besides our biological need for energy, including our eating environment and our perception of the food in front of us.Studies have shown, for instance, that eating in front of the TV (or a similar distraction) can increase both hunger and the amount of food consumed. Even simple visual cues, like plate size and lighting, have been shown to affect portion size and consumption.A new study suggested that our short-term memory also may play a role in appetite. Several hours after a meal, people's hunger levels were predicted not by how much they’d eaten but rather by how much food they'd seen in front of the m—in other words, how much they remembered eating.This disparity (盖弃）suggests the memory of our previous meal may have a bigger influence on our appetite than the actual size of the meal, says Jeffrey M. Brunstrom, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Bristol."Hunger isn't controlled solely by the physical characteristics of a recent meal. We have identified an independent role for memory for that meal，" Brunstrom says. "This shows that the relationship between hunger and food intake is more complex than we thought."These findings echo earlier research that suggests our perception of food can sometimes trick our body’s response to the food itself. In a 2011 study, for instance, people who drank the same 3S0-calorie (卡路里）milkshake on two separate occasions produced different levels of hunger-related hormones （荷尔蒙），depending on whether the shake’s label said it contained 620 or 140 calories. Moreover, the participants reported feeling more full when they thought they'd consumed a higher-calorie shake.What does this mean for our eating habits Although it hardly seems practical to trick ourselves into eating less, the new findings do highlight the benefits of focusing on our food and avoiding TV and multitasking while eating.The so-called mindful-eating strategies can fight distractions and help us control our appetite, Brunstrom says.56. What is said to be a factor affecting our appetite and food intakeA) How we perceive the food we eat. C) When we eat our meals.B) What ingredients the food contains. D) How fast we eat our meals.57. What would happen at meal time if you remembered eating a lotin the previous mealA) You would probably be more picky about food.B) You would not feel like eating the same food.C) You would have a good appetite.D) You would not feel so hungry.58. What do we learn from the 2011 studyA) Food labels may mislead consumers in their purchases.B) Food labels may influence our body’s response to food.C) Hunger levels depend on one's consumption of calories.D) People tend to take in a lot more calories than necessary.59. What does Brunstrom suggest we do to control our appetiteA) Trick ourselves into eating less. C) Concentrate on food while eating.B) Choose food with fewer calories. D) Pick dishes of the right size.60. What is the main idea of the passageA) Eating distractions often affect our food digestion.B) Psychological factors influence our hunger levels.C) Our food intake is determined by our biological needs.D) Good eating habits will contribute to our health.56. A 58. B 60. BAs a society we might want to rethink the time and money spent on education, so that these resources can benefit a greater percentage of the population. Ideally, both high schools and colleges can prepare individuals for the ever-changing roles that are likely to be expected of them.High school degrees offer far less in the way of preparation for work than they might, or than many other nations currently offer, creating a growing skills gap in our economy. We encourage students to go on to college whether they are prepared or not, or have a clear sense of purpose or interest, and now have the highest college dropout rate in the world.We might look to other countries for models of how high schools can offer better training, as well as the development of a work ethic (勤奋工作的美德）and the intellectual skills needed for continued learning and development. I recommend Harvard's 2011 "Pathways to Prosperity" report for more attention to the "forgotten half" (those who do not go on to college) and ideas about how to address this issue.Simultaneously, the liberal arts become more important than ever. In a knowledge economy where professional roles change rapidly and many college students are preparing for positions that may not even exist yet, the skill set needed is one that prepares them for change and continued learning.Learning to express ideas well in both writing and speech, knowing how to find information, and knowing how to do research are all-solid background skills for a wide variety of roles, and such training is more important than any particular major in a liberal arts college. We need to continue to value broad preparation in thinking skills ihat will serve for a lifetime.Students also need to learn to work independently and to make responsible decisions. The lengthening path to adulthood appears exacerbated (惡化）by parental involvement in the college years. Given the rising investment in college education, parental concern is not surprising, but learning where and when to intervene (干预）will help students take more ownership of the outcomes of these increasingly costly educations.61. What kind of education does the author think is idealA) It benefits the great majority of the general population.B) It prepares students to meet the future needs of society.C) It encourages students to learn throughout their lives.D) It ensures that students' expectations are successfully fulfilled.62. What does the author say is the problem with present high school educationA) Ignoring the needs of those who don't go to college.B) Teaching skills to be used right after graduation only.C) Giving little attention to those having difficulty learning.D) Creating the highest dropout rate in the developed world.63. What characterizes a knowledge economy according to the passageA) People have to receive higher education to qualify for a professional position.B) Students majoring in liberal arts usually have difficulty securing a job.C) New positions are constantly created that require people to keep learning.D) Colleges find it hard to teach students how to cope with the changing economy.64. What does the author think a liberal arts college should focus onA) Solid background knowledge in a particular field.B) Practical skills urgently needed in current society.C) Basic skills needed for change and lifelong learning.D) Useful thinking skills for advanced academic research.65. What suggestion docs the author offer to parentsA) Rethinking the value of higher education.B) Investing wisely in their children's education.C) Helping their children lo bring their talent into full play.D) Avoiding too much intervention in t heir children’s education.答案详解61. B 62. D 63. C 64. C 65 DAccording to a report, around 30,000 pupils started secondary school last year with the math skills of a seven-year-old. MPs (国会议员) warned that many young people would need “expensive” reme dial lessons in later life to get a job —posing major problems for the economy. The findings came just months after Ofsted(教育标准办公室)claimed almost half of math lessons in English schools were not good enough. It said many teachers relied on textbooks and mundane exercises to make sure pupils passed exams at the expense of a proper understanding of the subject. MPs backed the conclusions, saying too many pupils found lessons “boring”. They insisted improvements had been made under Labor but achievement had “leveled off” in recent years.In 2008, 79 percent of pupils met the Government’s expected standard at the end of primary school, well short of the 85 percent target set for 2006. Around five percent moved to secondary school with the math skills of a seven- year-old, said the committee. In 2006, ￡ billion was spent teaching the subject. It equates to around a quarter of the ￡10 billion total budget for primary teaching and support staff.The report said the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) needed to “radically rethink its strategy for improving pupil attainment; otherwisewe seriously doubt that the department will meet its 2011 target”. The target demands that percent of pupils will make the necessary progress between 7 and 11.Last year, the DCSF published a major review of math education in England to boost standards. It called for a math specialist in every primary school within 10 years and more emphasis on mathematical “play” in nursery schools. Mr. Leigh said, “The department’s 10-year program to train 13,000 specialist math teachers will not benefit some primary schools for another decade. That’s far too long; the department needs to look for ways to accelerate the program.” Sarah McCarthy Fry, the Schools Minister, said, “We have already accepted the main recommendation from a recent independent review of primary math that every school should have a specialist math teacher and have pledged ￡24 million over the next three years for a training program for teachers.”Nick Gibb, the Tory shadow schools secretary, said, “The Government is not getting value for the money they have piled into education and the country is falling behind in international league tables as a result. The Government has failed to replace methods of teaching which have failed with tried and tested methods used in countries that have much higher levels of math achievement.”57. What do we learn from the first paragraphA) 30,000 pupils started secondary school with poor math skills.B) MPs insist more improvements should be made under Labor.C) Young people need medical lessons to get a job.D) Half of English schools were not good enough.58. According to the passage, what happened in 2006A) 21% of pupils didn’t meet the Government’s expected sta ndard.B) The target set for 2006 was 87 percent.C) ￡ billion was spent on math teaching.D) The total budget for primary teaching and support staff was ￡5 billion in 2006.59. What will people probably do to improve math education in EnglandA) Spend money on training specialist math teachers.B) Hire a math specialist for every primary school.C) Allow pupils to have more mathematical “play”.D) Spend more time on math education.60. What do Nick Gibb’s words meanA) The British government should put more money into math education.B) Britain is falling behind in the international knowledge competition.C) The British government should learn from other countries’ failures.D) The British government should change their teaching methods every few years.61. What’s the passage mainly talking aboutA) There aren’t enough math teachers in British primary schools.B) The British government didn’t spend enough money on math education.C) British pupils are not good at math.D) Math lessons in British primary schools need to be improved.Conservationists call them hot spots — habitats that cover just percent of the earth’s land surface but are so rich in biological diversity that preserving them could keep an astonishing number of plant and animal species off the endangered list.Since 1988, when Dr. Norman Myers and his colleagues began describing these hot spots in a series of scientific papers and arguingfor their protection, they have become a focus of worldwide conservation efforts. Private organizations and government agencies, including the World Bank, have made preserving 25 such ecological arks a top priority for financing and protective legislation. But a growing chorus of scientists is warning that directing conservation funds to hot spots may be a recipe for major losses in the future. Of species that live on land, nearly half of all plants and more than a third of all animals are found only in the hot spots. But they do not include many rare species and major animal gro ups that live in less biologically rich regions (“cold spots”). And the hot-spot concept does not factor in the importance of some ecosystems to human beings, the scientists argue.This debate has been simmering quietly among biologists for years; however, it is coming to a boil now with the publication of an article in the current issue of American Scientist arguing that “calls to direct conservation funding to the world’s biodiversity hot spots may be bad investment advice.” “The hot-spot concept has grown so popular in recent years within the larger conservation community that it now risks eclipsing all other approaches,” write the authors of the paper. “The officers and directors of all too many foundations, non-governmental organizations and international agencies have been seduced by the simplicity of the hot spot idea,” they go on. “We worry that the initially appealing idea of getting the most species per unit area is, in fact, a thoroughly misleading strategy.”But hot spots have their ardent defenders, notably Dr. Norman Myers and Dr. Russell Mittermeier. Dr. Myers says hot spots have been successful at attracting attention and financing for conservation in tropical countries. “And that has been good,” he said. “No one is suggesting that one invest solely in hot spots, but if you want to avoid extinctions, you have to invest in them.”62. The best title for this passage would be ________.A) A Debate on Preserving Hot Spots B) An Introduction to Hot SpotsC) Hot Spots vs. Cold Spots D) How to Finance Hot Spots63. Hot spots occupy a small percentage of the earth’s landsurface with _____________.A) a third of all plantsB) many major animal groups living in cold spotsC) rich biological diversityD) many rare species living in cold spots64. Critics of hot spots hold the opinion that ________.A) hot spots are always as important as cold spotsB) it is unwise to invest largely in hot spotsC) governments should choose the best time to invest in hot spotsD) the hot-spot approach is a misleading strategy from the very beginning65. According to Dr. Norman Myers, _________.A) protecting and investing in hot spots can save species from extinctionB) conservation efforts should not center on hot spotsC) governments should invest most in cold spotsD) the hot-spot approach now is not as good as it was in the past66. What is the writer’s attitude towards the hot-spot approachA) Critical. B) Neutral. C) Supportive. D) Doubtful.2012年6月英语四级Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.In times of economic crisis. Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent. an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses, By 1932. when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929 But this doesn't mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone.Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households, Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities, A 1940 book. The Unemployed Man and His Family, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work."He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale(士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.Today's economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it's only when the economy is healthy again that we'll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.57．In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to __________.A)tear many troubled families apartB)contribute to enduring family tiesC)bring about a drop in the divorce rateD)cause a lot of conflicts in the familythe Great Depression many unhappy couples close to stick together becauseA)starting a new family would be hardB)they expected things would turn betterC)they wanted to better protect their kidsD)living separately would be too costlyaddition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce？A)Mounting family debtsB)A sense of insecurityC)Difficulty in getting a loanD)Falling housing priceswill the current economic crisis eventually do to some married couples？A)It will force them to pull their efforts togetherB)It will undermine their mutual understandingC)It will help strengthen their emotional bondsD)It will irreparably damage their relationshipcan be inferred from the last paragraph？A)The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rateB)Few couples can stand the test of economic hardshipsC)A stable family is the best protection against poverty.D)Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage57. B. 58. C. 59. D. 60. C. 61. D.People are being lured (引诱)onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they're paying for it by giving up toads of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Face book because people don't really know what their personal data is worth.The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules Early on you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook you could create own little private network. Last year. The company changed its privacy rules so that many things you city. Your photo, your friends' names-were set, by default (默认)to be shared with every one on the Internet.According to Facebook's vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information They have a "less satisfying experience".Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. In original business model, which involved selling ads and putting then At the side of the pages totally Who wants to took at ads when they're online connecting with their friends？The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites."I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits.I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning. Which is why I'm considering deactivating(撤销)my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't That's too high a price to pay.do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph？A)It is a website that sends messages to targeted users.B)It makes money by putting on advertisements.C)It profits by selling its users' personal data.D)It provides loads of information to its users.does the author say about most Facebook users？A)They are reluctant to give up their personal information.B)They don't know their personal data enriches Facebook.C)They don't identify themselves when using the website.D)They care very little about their personal information.does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage？A)To render better service to its users.B)To conform to the Federal guidelines.C)To improve its users' connectivity.D)To expand its scope of business.does Senator Charles Schumer advocate？A)Setting guidelines for advertising on websites.B)Banning the sharing of users' personal information.C)Formulating regulations for social-networking sites.D)Removing ads from all social-networking sites.does the author plan to cancel his Facebook account？A)He is dissatisfied with its current service.B)He finds many of its users untrustworthy.C)He doesn't want his personal data abused.D)He is upset by its frequent rule changes.62. D) 63. C) 64. C) 65. B) 66. C)2011年12月全国大学英语四级考试试题Boys' schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and involve them in activities such as art, dance and music.Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity (阳刚), the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to conform to a stereotype. a US study says.Boys at single-sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to conform to the "boy code" of hiding their emotions to be a "real man".The findings of the study so against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls.Tony Little, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being faded by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls.The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become discouraged when their female peers do better earlier in speaking and reading skills.But in single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boys' learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study's author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia.Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with "boy-focused" approaches such as themes and characters that appeal to them. Because boys generally have more acute vision learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given "hands-on" lessons where they are allowed to walk around. "Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine (女性的) and prefer the modem genre (类型) in which violence and sexism are major themes, "James wrote.Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to conform to a stereotype that men should be "masterful and in charge" in relationships. "In mixed schools boys feel compelled to act like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means, " the study reported.57. The author believes that a single-sex school would ____ .A) force boys to hide their emotions to be "real men"B) help to cultivate masculine aggressiveness in boysC) encourage boys to express their emotions more freelyD) naturally reinforce in boys the traditional image of a man58. It is commonly believed that in a mixed school boys _____ .A) Perform relatively better C) behave more responsiblyB) grow up more healthily D) receive a better education59. What does Tony Little say about the British education systemA) It fails more boys than girls academically.B) It focuses more on mixed school education.C) It fails to give boys the attention they need.D) It places more pressure on boys than on girls.60. According to Abigail James, one of the advantages of single-sex schools is ______.A) teaching can be tailored to suit the characteristics of boysB) boys can focus on their lessons without being distractedC) boys can choose to learn whatever they are interested inD) teaching can be designed to promote boys' team spirit61. Which of the following is characteristic of boys according to Abigail James' reportA) They enjoy being in charge. C) They have sharper vision.B) They conform to stereotypes. D) They are violent and sexist.57—61 CACACIt's an annual argument. Do we or do we not go on holiday My partner says no because the boiler could go, or the roof fall off and we have no savings to save us. I say you only live once and we work hard and what's the point if you can't go on holiday. The joy of a recession means no argument next year - we just won't go.Since money is known to be one of the things most likely to bring a relationship to its knees, we should be grateful. For many families the recession means more than not booking a holiday A YouGov poll of 2, 000 people found 22% said they were arguing more with their partners because of concerns about money. What's less clear is whether divorce and separation rates rise in a recession - financialpressures mean couples argue more but make splitting up less affordable. A recent research shows arguments about money were especially damaging to couples. Disputes were characterized by intense verbal ( 言语上的) aggression, tended to be repeated and not resolved and made men, more than women, extremely angry.Kim Stephenson, an occupational psychologist, believes money is such a big deal because of what it symbolizes, which may be different things to men and women. "People can say the same things about money but have different ideas of what it's for." he explains. "They'll say it's to save to spend, for security, for freedom, to show someone you love them." He says men are more likely to see money as a way of buying status and of showing their parents that they've achieved something."The biggest problem is that couples assume each other know what's going on with their finances, but they don't. There seems to be more of a taboo (禁忌) about talking about money than about death. But you both need to know what you're doing, who's paying what into the joint account and how much you keep separately. In a healthy relationship, you don't have to agree about money, but you have to talk about it."62. What does the author say about vacationingA) People enjoy it all the more during a recession.B) Few people can afford it without working hard.C) It makes all the hard work worthwhile.D) It is the chief cause of family disputes.63. What does the author mean by saying "money is known ... to bringa relationship to its knees"(Line 1, Para. 2)A) Money is considered to be the root of all evils.B) Some people sacrifice their dignity for money.C) Few people can resist the temptation of money.D) Disputes over money may rain a relationship.64. The YouGov poll of 2, 000 people indicates that in a recession ______ .A) conflicts between couples tend to riseB) it is more expensive for couples to split upC) couples show more concern for each otherD) divorce and separation rates increase65. What does Kim Stephenson believeA) Money is often a symbol of a person's status.B) Money means a great deal to both and women.C) Men and women spend money on different things.D) Men and women view money in different ways.66. The author suggests at the end of the passage that couples should ______ .A) put their money together instead of keeping it separatelyB) make efforts to reach agreement on their family budgetsC) discuss money matters to maintain a healthy relationshipD) avoid arguing about money matters to remain romantic62—66 CDADC。

英语一2007年第四篇The problem with the English Language A1 2007 paper is that it may not adequately assess the students' proficiency in English. The exam may not accurately reflect thestudents' true language abilities due to the limited scopeof the topics covered and the rigid format of the questions. This can be particularly challenging for students who may excel in different areas of language proficiency, such as speaking and listening, but are not able to fully demonstrate their skills in a written exam.From the perspective of the students, the exam may not effectively measure their overall language competency. The limited range of topics and the specific format of the questions may not allow students to showcase their full potential. This can be frustrating for students who mayhave a strong command of the English language in various aspects but are unable to fully demonstrate their abilities within the constraints of the exam.Moreover, the exam may not accurately reflect the real-life language skills that students need in today's globalized world. The focus on traditional grammar and vocabulary may not adequately prepare students for the practical use of English in diverse, real-world situations. This can hinder their ability to effectively communicate and engage in meaningful interactions in English outside of the academic setting.From the perspective of educators, the exam may not provide a comprehensive assessment of students' language abilities. The limited scope of the topics and the standardized format of the questions may not effectively capture the diverse range of skills and competencies that students possess. This can make it challenging for educators to accurately evaluate and support the individual needs of their students in language learning.Furthermore, the exam may not align with the current trends and demands in English language education. Intoday's interconnected world, there is a growing emphasis on communicative competence and the ability to effectivelyuse English in a variety of contexts. The exam's narrow focus on traditional language components may not adequately prepare students for the linguistic demands of the 21st century.In conclusion, the English Language A1 2007 exam may have limitations in accurately assessing students' language abilities and preparing them for real-world language use. It is important for educators and exam boards to consider the evolving needs and demands of English language education and to ensure that assessments are comprehensive, reflective of real-life language use, and supportive of students' diverse language competencies.。

2007年6月大学英语四级考试(CET-4)真题Part Ⅰ Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic of Welcome to our club. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given bellow:1.表达你的欢迎;2.对你们的俱乐部作一个简要介绍。

Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Protect Your Privacy When Job-hunting OnlineIdentity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses anoth er person‘s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.The numbers associated with identity theft are beginning to add up fast these days. A recent General Accounting Office report estimates that as many as 750,000 Americans are victims of identity theft every year. And that number may be low, as many people choose not to report the crime even if they know they have been victimized.Identity theft is ―an absolute epidemic,‖ states Robert Ellis Smith, a respected author and advocate of privacy. ―It‘s certainly picked up in the last four or five years. It‘s worldwide. It affects everybody, and there‘s very little you can do to prevent it and, worst of all, you can‘t detect it until it‘s probably too late.‖Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to somebody else for their use, your personal data, especially your social security number, your bank account or credit card number, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data, can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense. In the United States and Canada, for example, many people have reported that unauthorized persons have taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts, or, in the worst cases, taken over their identities altogether, running up vast debts and committing crimes while using the victims‘ names. In many cases, a victim‘s losses may include not only out-of-pocket financial losses, but substantial additional financial costs associated with trying to restore his reputation in the community and correcting erroneous information for which the criminal is responsible.According to the FBI, identity theft is the number one fraud committed on the Internet. So how do job seekers protect themselves while continuing to circulate their resumes online? The key to a successful online job search is learning to manage the risks. Here are some tips for staying safe while conducting a job search on the Internet.1. Check for a privacy policy.If you are considering posting your resume online, make sure the job search site your are considering has a privacy policy, like . The policy should spell out how your information will be used, stored and whether or not it will be shared. You may want to think twice about posting your resume on a site that automatically shares your information with others. You could be opening yourself up to unwanted calls from solicitors (推销员).When reviewing the site‘s privacy policy, you‘ll be able to delete your resume just as easily as you posted it. You won‘t necessarily want your resume to remain out there on the Internet once you land a job. Remember, the longer your resume remains posted on a job board, the more exposure, both positive and not-so-positive, it will receive.2. Take advantage of site features.Lawful job search sites offer levels of privacy protection. Before posting your resume, carefully consider your job search objective and the level of risk you are willing to assume., for example, offers three levels of privacy from which job seekers can choose. The first is standard posting. This option gives job seekers who post their resumes the most visibility to the broadest employer audience possible.The second is anonymous(匿名的) posting. This allows job seekers the same visibility as those in the standard posting category without any of their contact information being displayed. Job seekers who wish to remain anonymous but want to share some other information may choose which pieces of contact information to display.The third is private posting. This option allows a job seeker to post a resume without having it searched by employers. Private posting allows job seekers to quickly and easily apply for jobs that appear on without retyping their information.3. Safeguard your identity.Career experts say that one of the ways job seekers can stay safe while using the Internet to search out jobs is to conceal their identities. Replace your name on your resume with a generic (泛指的) identifier, such as ―Intranet Developer Candidate,‖ or ―Experienced Marketing Representative.‖You should also consider eliminating the name and location of your current employer. Depending on your title, it may not be all that difficult to determine who you are once the name of your company is provided. Use a general description of the company such as ―Major auto manufacturer,‖ or ―International packaged goods supplier.‖If your job title is unique, consider using the generic equivalent instead of the exact title assigned by your employer.4. Establish and email address for your search.Another way to protect your privacy while seeking employment online is to open up an email account specifically for your online job search. This will safeguard your existing email box in the event someone you don‘t know gets hold of your email address and shares it with others.Using an email address specifically for your job search also eliminates the possibility that you will receive unwelcome emails in your primary mailbox. When naming your new email address, be sure that it doesn‘t contain references to your name or other information that will give away your identity. The best solution is an email address that is relevant to the job you are seeking such as salesmgr2004@.5. Protect your references.If your resume contains a section with the names and contact information of your references, take it out. There‘s no sense in safeguarding your information while sharing private contact information of your references.6. Keep confidential (机密的) information confidential.Do not, under any circumstances, share your social security, driver‘s license, and bank account numbers or other personal information, such as race or eye color. Honest employers do not need this information with an initial a pplication. Don‘t provide this even if they say they need it in order to conduct a background check. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book –don‘t fall for it.1. Robert Ellis Smith believes identity theft is difficult to detect and one can hardly do anything to prevent it.2. In many cases, identity theft not only causes the victims‘ immediate financial losses but costs them a lot to restore their reputation.3. Identity theft is a minor offence and its harm has been somewhat overestimated.4. It is important that your resume not stay online longer than is necessary.5. Of the three options offered by in Suggestion 2, the third one is apparently most strongly recommended.6. Employers require applicants to submit very personal information on background checks.7. Applicants are advised to use generic names for themselves and their current employers when seeking employment online.8. Using a special email address in the job search can help prevent you from receiving ________.9. To protect your references, you should not post online their ________.10. According to the passage, identity theft is committed typically for ________.Part III Listening Comprehension(35 minutes)Section A11. A) It could help people of all ages to avoid cancer.B) It was mainly meant for cancer patients.C) It might appeal more to viewers over 40.D) It was frequently interrupted by commercials.12. A) The man is fond of traveling.B) The woman is a photographer.C) The woman took a lot of pictures at the contest.D) The man admires the woman‘s talent in writing.13. A) The man regrets being absent-minded.B) The woman saved the man some trouble.C) The man placed the reading list on a desk.D) The woman emptied the waste paper basket.14. A) He quit teaching in June. B) He has left the army recently.C) He opened a restaurant near the school. D) He has taken over his brother‘s business.15. A) She seldom reads books from cover to cover.B) She is interested in reading novels.C) She read only part of the book.D) She was eager to know what the book was about.16. A) She was absent all week owing to sickness.B) She was seriously injured in a car accident.C) She called to say that her husband had been hospitalized.D) She had to be away from school to attend to her husband.17. A) The speakers want to rent the Smiths‘ old house.B) The man lives two blocks away from the Smiths.C) The woman is not sure if she is on the right street.D) The Smiths‘ new house is not far from their old one.18. A) The man had a hard time finding a parking space.B) The woman found they had got to the wrong spot.C) The woman was offended by the man‘s late arrival.D) The man couldn‘t find his car in the parking lot.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) The hotel clerk had put his reservation under another name.B) The hotel clerk insisted that he didn‘t make any reservation.C) The hotel clerk tried to take advantage of his inexperience.D) The hotel clerk couldn‘t find his rese rvation for that night.20. A) A grand wedding was being held in the hotel.B) There was a conference going on in the city.C) The hotel was undergoing major repairs.D) It was a busy season for holiday-makers.21. A) It was free of charge on weekends. B) It had a 15% discount on weekdays.C) It was offered to frequent guests only. D) It was 10% cheaper than in other hotels.22. A) Demand compensation from the hotel. B) Ask for an additional discount.C) Complain to the hotel manager. D) Find a cheaper room in another hotel. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) An employee in the city council at Birmingham.B) Assistant Director of the Admissions Office.C) Head of the Overseas Students Office.D) Secretary of Birmingham Medical School.24. A) Nearly fifty percent are foreigners.B) About fifteen percent are from Africa.C) A large majority are from Latin America.D) A small number are from the Far East.25. A) She will have more contact with students.B) It will bring her capability into fuller play.C) She will be more involved in policy-making.D) It will be less demanding than her present job.Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) Her parents thrived in the urban environment.B) Her parents left Chicago to work on a farm.C) Her parents immigrated to America.D) Her parents set up an ice-cream store.27. A) He taught English in Chicago. B) He was crippled in a car accident.C) He worked to become an executive. D) He was born with a limp.28. A) She was fond of living an isolated life. B) She was fascinated by American culture.C) She was very generous in offering help. D) She was highly devoted to her family. Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A) He suffered a nervous breakdown. B) He was wrongly diagnosed.C) He was seriously injured. D) He developed a strange disease.30. A) He was able to talk again. B) He raced to the nursing home.C) He could tell red and blue apart. D) He could not recognize his wife.31. A) Twenty-nine days. B) Two and a half months.C) Several minutes. D) Fourteen hours.32. A) They welcomed the publicity in the media.B) They avoided appearing on television.C) They released a video of his progress.D) They declined to give details of his condition.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) For people to share ideas and show farm products.B) For officials to educate the farming community.C) For farmers to exchange their daily necessities.D) For farmers to celebrate their harvests.34. A) By bringing an animal rarely seen on nearby farms.B) By bringing a bag of grain in exchange for a ticket.C) By offering to do volunteer work at the fair.D) By performing a special skill at the entrance.35. A) They contribute to the modernization of American farms.B) They help to increase the state governments‘ revenue.C) They provide a stage for people to give performances.D) They remind Americans of the importance of agriculture.Section CStudents‘ pressure sometimes comes from their parents. Most parents are well (36) ________, but some of them aren‘t very helpful with the problems their sons and daughters have in (37) ________ to college, and a few of them seem to go out of their way to add to their children‘s difficulties.For one thing, parents are often not (38) ________ of the kinds of problems their children face. They don‘t realize that the (39) ________ is keener, that the required (40) ________ of work are higher, and that their children may not be prepared for the change. (41) ________ to seeing A‘s andB‘s on high school report cards, they may be upset when their children‘s first (42) ________ college grades are below that level. At their kindest, they may gently (43) ________ why John or Mary isn‘t doing better, whether he or she is trying as hard as he or she should, and so on. (44) _________________________________________________________________________.Sometimes parents regard their children as extensions of themselves and (45) ____________ __________________________________________________________________________.In their involvement and identification with their children, they forget that everyone is different and that each person must develop in his or her own way. They forget that their children, (46) _______ ___________________________________________________________________.Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section AQuestions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Years ago, doctors often said that pain was a normal part of life. In particular, when older patients 47 of pain, they were told it was a natural part of aging and they would have to learn to live with it.Times have changed. Today, we take pain 48 . Indeed, pain is now considered the fifth vital sign, as important as blood pressure, temperature, breathing rate and pulse in 49 a person‘s well-being. We know that chronic(慢性的) pain can disrupt(扰乱) a person‘s life, causing problems that 50 from missed work to depression.That‘s why a growing number of hospitals now depend upon physicians who51 in pain medicine. Not only do we evaluate the cause of the pain, which can help us treat the pain better, but we also help provide comprehensive therapy for depression and other psychological and social 52 related to chronic pain. Such comprehensive therapy often 53 the work of social workers, psychiatrists (心理医生) and psychologists, as well as specialists in pain medicine.This modern 54 for pain management has led to a wealth of innovative treatments which are more effective and with fewer side effects than ever before. Decades ago, there were only a 55 number of drugs available, and many of them caused 56 side effects in older people, including dizziness and fatigue. This created a double-edged sword: the medications helped relieveSection BPassage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.I‘ve been writing for most of my life. The book Writing Without Teachers introduced me to one distinction and one practice that has helped my writing processes tremendously. The distinction is between the creative mind and the critical mind. While you need to employ both to get to a finished result, they cannot work in parallel no matter how much we might like to think so.Trying to criticize writing on the fly is possibly the single greatest barrier to writing that most of us encounter. If you are listening to that 5th grade English teacher correct your grammar while you are trying to capture a fleeting (稍纵即逝的) thought, the thought will die. If you capture the fleeting thought and simply share it with the world in raw form, no one is likely to understand. Youmust learn to create first and then criticize if you want to make writing the tool for thinking that it is.The practice that can help you past your learned bad habits of trying to edit as you write is what Elbow calls ―free writing.‖ In free writing, the objective is to get words down on paper non-stop, usually for 15-20 minutes. No stopping, no going back, no criticizing. The goal is to get the words flowing. As the words begin to flow, the ideas will come from the shadows and let themselves be captured on your notepad or your screen.Now you have raw materials that you can begin to work with using the critical mind that you‘ve persuaded to sit on the side and watch quietly. Most likely, you will believe that this will take more time than you actually have and you will end up staring blankly at the pages as the deadline draws near.Instead of staring at a blank screen, start filling it with words no matter how bad. Halfway through your available time, stop and rework your raw writing into something closer to finished product. Move back and forth until you run out of time and the final result will most likely be far better than your current practices.57. When the author says the creative mind and the critical mind ―cannot work in parallel‖ (Line 4,Para. 1) in the writing process, he means ________.A) no one can be both creative and criticalB) they cannot be regarded as equally importantC) they are in constant conflict with each otherD) one cannot use them at the same time58. What prevents people from writing on is ________.A) putting their ideas in raw form B) attempting to edit as they writeC) ignoring grammatical soundness D) trying to capture fleeting thoughts59. What is the chief objective of the first stage of writing?A) To organize one‘s thoughts logically.B) To choose an appropriate topic.C) To get one‘s ideas down.D) To collect raw materials.60. One common concern of writers about ―free writing‖ is that ________.A) it overstresses the role of the creative mindB) it takes too much time to edit afterwardsC) it may bring about too much criticismD) it does not help them to think clearly61. In what way does the critical mind help the writer in the writing process?A) It refines his writing into better shape.B) It helps him to come up with new ideas.C) It saves the writing time available to him.D) It allows him to sit on the side and observe.Passage TwoI don‘t ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it‘s like to work in a field dominated by men. I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space-time and the nature of black holes.At 19, when I began studying astrophysics, it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as a post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me. My every achievement—jobs, research papers, awards—was viewed through the lens of gender (性别) politics. So were my failures. Sometimes,when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus(相对于) right brain, or nature versus nurture (培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.Then one day a few years ago, out of my mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all provocations: I don‘t talk about that anymore. It took me 10 years to get back the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn‘t want to deal with gender issues. Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every female scientist? After all, I don‘t study sociology or political theory.Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women‘s college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how many of the 45 students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer, 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children. And I don‘t dismiss those concerns. Still, I don‘t tell th em ―war‖ stories. Instead, I have given them this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science. And that‘s a sight worth talking about.62. Why doesn‘t the author want to talk about being a woman scientist again?A) She feels unhappy working in male-dominated fields.B) She is fed up with the issue of gender discrimination.C) She is not good at telling stories of the kind.D) She finds space research more important.63. From Paragraph 2, we can infer that people would attribute the author‘s failures to ________.A) the very fact that she is a womanB) her involvement in gender politicsC) her over-confidence as a female astrophysicistD) the burden she bears in a male-dominated society64. What did the author constantly fight against while doing her Ph.D. and post-doctoral ` research?A) Lack of confidence in succeeding in space science.B) Unfair accusations from both inside and outside her circle.C) People‘s stereotyped attitude toward female scientists.D) Widespread misconceptions about nature and nurture.65. Why does the author feel great satisfaction when talking about her class?A) Female students no longer have to bother about gender issues.B) Her students‘ performance has brought back her confidence.C) Her female students can do just as well as male students.D) More female students are pursuing science than before.66. What does the image the author presents to her students suggest?A) Women students needn‘t have the concerns of her generation.B) Women have more barriers on their way to academic success.C) Women can balance a career in science and having a family.D) Women now have fewer problems pursuing a science career.Part V Cloze (15 minutes) An earthquake hit Kashmir on Oct. 8, 2005. It took some 75,000 lives, 67 130,000 and left nearly 3.5 million without food, jobs or homes. 68 overnight, scores of tent villages bloomed 69 the region, tended by international aid organizations, military 70 and aid groups working day and night to shelter the survivors before winter set 71 .Mercifully, the season was mild. But with the 72 of spring, the refugees will be moved again. Camps that 73 health care, food and shelter for 150,000 survivors have begun to close as they were 74 intended to be permanent.For most of the refugees, the thought of going back brings 75 emotions. The past six months have been difficult. Families of 76 many as 10 people have had to shelter 77 a single tent and share cook stoves and bathing 78 with neighbors. ―They are looking forward to the clean water of their rivers,‖ officials say. ―They are79 of free fresh fruit. They want to get back to their herds and start 80 again.‖ But most will be returning to81 but heaps of ruins. In many villages, electrical 82 have not been repaired, nor have roads. Aid workers 83 that it will take years to rebuild what the earthquake took 84 . And for the thousands of survivors, the 85 will never be complete.Yet the survivors have to start somewhere. New homes can be built 86 the stones, bricks and beams of old ones. Spring is coming and it is a good time to start again.67. A) injured B) ruined C) destroyed D) damaged68. A) Altogether B) Almost C) Scarcely D) Surely69. A) among B) above C) amid D) across70. A) ranks B) equipment C) personnel D) installations71. A) out B) in C) on D) forth72. A) falling B) emergence C) arrival D) appearing73. A) strengthened B) aided C) transferred D) provided74. A) never B) once C) ever D) yet75. A) puzzled B) contrasted C) doubled D) mixed76. A) like B) as C) so D) too77. A) by B) below C) under D) with78. A) facilities B) instruments C) implements D) appliances79. A) seeking B) dreaming C) longing D) searching80. A) producing B) cultivating C) farming D) nourishing81. A) anything B) something C) everything D) nothing82. A) lines B) channels C) paths D) currents83. A) account B) measure C) estimate D) evaluate84. A) aside B) away C) up D) out85. A) reservation B) retreat C) replacement D) recovery86. A) from B) through C) upon D) ontoPart VI Translation (5 minutes)87. The finding of this study failed to ______________________ (将人们的睡眠质量考虑在内).88. The prevent and treatment of AIDS is ________________________ (我们可以合作的领域).89. Because of the leg injury, the athlete ________________________ (决定退出比赛).90. To make donations or for more information, please ________________________ (按以下地址和我们联系).91. Please come here at ten tomorrow morning _______________________ (如果你方便的话).2007年12月大学英语四级试题（CET-4）真题Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled What Electives to Choose. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese.1. 各大学开设了各种各样的选修课，2. 学生因为各种原因选择了不同的选修课，3. 以你自己为例......What Electives to ChoosePart II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Universities Branch OutAs never before in their long history, universities have become instruments of national competition as well as instruments of peace. They are the place of the scientific discoveries that move economies forward, and the primary means of educating the talent required to obtain and maintain competitive advantage. But at the same time, the opening of national borders to the flow of goods, services, information and especially people has made universities a powerful force for global integration, mutual understanding and geopolitical stability.In response to the same forces that have driven the world economy, universities have become more self-consciously global: seeking students from around the world who represent the entire range of cultures and values, sending their own students abroad to prepare them for global careers, offering courses of study that address the challenges of an interconnected world and collaborative (合作的)research programs to advance science for the benefit of all humanity.Of the forces shaping higher education none is more sweeping than the movement across borders. Over the past three decades the number of students leaving home each year to study abroad has grown at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, from 800,000 in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2004. Most travel from one developed nation to another, but the flow from developing to developed countries is growing rapidly. The reverse flow, from developed to developing countries, is on the rise, too. Today foreign students earn 30 percent of the doctoral degrees awarded in the United States and 38 percent of those in the United Kingdom. And the number crossing boarders for undergraduate study is growing as well, to 8 percent of the undergraduates at America‘s best institutions and 10 percent of all undergraduates in the U.K. In the United States, 20 percent of the newly hired professors in science and engineering are foreign-born, and in China many newly hired faculty members at the top research universities received their graduate education abroad.Universities are also encouraging students to spend some of their undergraduate years in another country. In Europe, more than 140,000 students participate in the Erasmus program each year, taking courses for credit in one of 2, 200 participating institutions across the continent. And in the United States, institutions are helping place students in summer internships(实习)abroad to prepare them for global careers. Yale and Harvard have led the way, offering every undergraduate at least one international study or internship opportunity and providing the financial resources to make it possible.Globalization is also reshaping the way research is done. One new trend involves sourcing portions of a research program to another country. Yale professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Tian Xu directs a research center focused on the genetics of human disease at Shanghai‘s Fudan University in collaboration with faculty colleagues from both schools. The Shanghai center has 95 employees and graduate students working in a 4,300-square-meter laboratory facility. Yale faculty, postdoctors and graduate students visit regularly and attend videoconference seminars with scientists from both campuses. The arrangement benefits both。

2007-1Text41-It never rains but it pours.Just as bosses and boards have finally sorted out their worst accounting and compliance troubles,and improved their feeble corporation governance,a new problem threatens to earn them–especially in America–the sort of nasty headlines that inevitably lead to heads rolling in the executive suite:data insecurity.Left,until now,to odd,low-level IT staff to put right,and seen as a concern only of data-rich industries such as banking,telecoms and air travel,information protection is now high on the boss’s agenda in businesses of every variety.2-Several massive leakages of customer and employee data this year–from organizations as diverse as Time Warner,the American defense contractor Science Applications International Corp and even the University of California,Berkeley–have left managers hurriedly peering into their intricate IT systems and business processes in search of potential vulnerabilities.3-“Data is becoming an asset which needs to be guarded as much as any other asset,”says Haim Mendelson of Stanford University’s business school.“The ability to guard customer data is the key to market value,which the board is responsible for on behalf of shareholders.”Indeed,just as there is the concept of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles(GAAP),perhaps it is time for GASP,Generally Accepted Security Practices,suggested Eli Noam of New York’s Columbia Business School.“Setting the proper investment level for security,redundancy,and recovery is a management issue,not a technical one,”he says.4-The mystery is that this should come as a surprise to any boss.Surely it should be obvious to the dimmest executive that trust,that most valuable of economic assets,is easily destroyed and hugely expensive to restore–and that few things are more likely to destroy trust than a company letting sensitive personal data get into the wrong hands.。

Passage 11—20 ACBDC BDACA BDABD CBADB 1．only to find his wife lying in bed seriously ill 2．went to bed hungry.3．returned safe and sound4. stood still like stones5. fell down dead6. The best way to learn a language7. to which he used to turn a deaf ear8. must have had something important to do9. had taken a little more time to think10. it were not for the expense involvedPassage 21—20 BDCAC BACBA CBDAD BBACB 1．The fact that America still attracts millions of people 2．The news that our team was beaten3．that he missed the morning train4. why he did it at all/why on earth he did it5. Broadly speaking6. Frankly speaking7. All the time it was quite evident8. is down and out in this round9. not to take this into consideration/account10. partly/in part from his ability to sell the product. Passage 31—20 CABCA CABDA CBCBD ADBCC1.will not have it said2.(should) make full use of3.Not knowing what to do4.than the phone rang again5.Seeing is believing6.except when the weather was bad7.except when he was in trouble8.except that he pants are a little too long9.as much money as I did when I was at that time10..make as few mistakes as possiblePassage 41—20 BDABA DBABD AABCB CCDBA1.the way he faces difficulties2.the way you laughed at her3.and some eggs as well4.give them a reply/reply to them as soon as possible5.write home as often as he could6.depending more and more on computers7.it‟s not necessarily the case8.could have made9.Not until the 18th century10.that is more difficult to learn than ChinesePassage 51—20DDBAB CDBCA DCDCD BACBD1. who violate traffic regulations2. It is time the authorities concerned3. Not that John doesn't want to help you,4. No matter how frequently performed,5. the three most common means of conveying news and information.6. only added to his confusion.7. I had no choice but to call in the police.8.I have had great deal of trouble9. As might be expected,10. it can‟t have been cleaned.Passage 61—20 CDAAC BBBAD CADCC ABBCA1. the extent to which2. to lay off a large number of clerks/emolyees3. to live much longer than in the past.4. According to a recent survey,5. differ in their attitudes towards failure/hold different attitudes to/toward failure. Some can stand up to it, draw useful lessons from it and try hard to fulfill what they are determined to do. Others, however, lose heart and give in.Passage 71—20 BACCA DDBAC BDCCB BADDC1.In contrast to2.no matter what job he is doing.3. plays an important part4. We had a party last month, and it was a lot of fun, so let‟s have another one this month.5. nor could I make him6. to make further improvements7. put off going to see the doctor.8. to put bottles of pills out of their reach.9. where the workers live10．done on timePassage 81 -20 ABCDB DABCA CDBDB CBACB题解Passage 11.这句话虽长，为简单句，意思是“甚至连感情亲密，彼此间倾诉个人问题和秘密的友谊也会因生活中的变化而中断”。