2015年12月四級真題第2套

PAGEPAGE10大學(xué)英語四級考試201512PartI Writing (30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessaycommentingonthesaying“Listeningismoreimportantthantalking.”Youcanciteexamplestoillustratetheimportanceofpayingattentiontoothers’opinions.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartII ListeningComprehension (30minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B)C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1and2arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.A)Zuckerbergwrotealettertohisnew-bornbabygirl.Zuckerbergwantshisbabygirltogrowupinabetterworld.ZuckerbergbecameoneofthemostsearchednamesonGoogle.ZuckerbergdecidedtodonatemostofhisFacebookshares.A)About$45million. C)About$45billion.About$50million. D)About$99billion.Questions3and4arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.A)ItwasapprovedonSunday.Itrunsto42pages.Ittargetsrichcountriestacklingclimatechange.Ithasaclearvisiontogorenewableenergy.A)InDenmark.InGreenland.InDurban.InthePlacedelaPantheon.Questions5to7arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.A)Therulingpartycandidate.C)ThegovernorofBuenosAiresprovince.B)ThechosensuccessorofArgentina'spresident.D)ThemayorofBuenosAires.A)Tightentraderestrictions. C)Carryoutsocialwelfareprograms.B)Liftsomefinancialcontrols. D)Seekthehelpofeconomicreform.A)Acandidatewithover45percentofthevotecouldwinthepresidency.Acandidatewhohas10morepointsoverthesecondwinsthepresidency.Anycandidatewhowinsthemostofthevotecouldbethewinner.Anycandidatewhowinsatleast40percentofthevotegetselected.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,youwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B)C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)ItismoredifficulttolearnthanEnglish.ItisusedbymorepeoplethanEnglish.ItwillbeascommonlyusedasEnglish.Itwilleventuallybecomeaworldlanguage.A)Itsloanwordsfrommanylanguages.Itspopularitywiththecommonpeople.TheinfluenceoftheBritishEmpire.TheeffectoftheIndustrialRevolution.A)Itincludesalotofwordsfromotherlanguages.Ithasagrowingnumberofnewlycoinedwords.Itcanbeeasilypickedupbyoverseastravellers.Itisthelargestamongalllanguagesintheworld.A)Ithasmanyinternationalwords. C)Itsgrammarisverysimple.B)Itcanbepronouncedeasily. D)Ithasnodifferentdialects.Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)Toreturnsomegoods. C)Toplaceanorder.B)Toapplyforajob. D)Tomakeacomplaint.A)Hehasbecomesomewhatimpatientwiththewoman.Heisnotfamiliarwiththeexactdetailsofthegoods.Hehasnotworkedinthesalesdepartmentforlong.Heworksonapart-timebasisforthecompany.A)Itisnothisresponsibility.Itwillbefreeforlargeorders.Itcosts￡15moreforexpressdelivery.Itdependsonanumberoffactors.A)Reporttheinformationtohersuperior.Payavisittothesaleswomanincharge.Ringbackwhenshecomestoadecision.Makeinquirieswithsomeothercompanies.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Nooneknowsexactlywheretheywerefirstmade.Nooneknowsforsurewhentheycameintobeing.Nooneknowsforwhatpurposetheywereinvented.Nooneknowswhattheywilllooklikeinthefuture.A)Carryropesacrossrivers.C)Passonsecretmessages.B)Measurethespeedofwind.D)Givewarningsofdanger.A)Toprotecthousesagainstlightning.C)Tofindoutthestrengthofsilkforkites.B)Totesttheeffectsofthelightningrod.D)Toprovethatlightningiselectricity.Questions19to22arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Sheenjoysteachinglanguages.Shewastrainedtobeaninterpreter.B)Shecanspeakseverallanguages.Shewasbornwithatalentforlanguages.A)Theyacquireanimmunitytocultureshock.Theywouldliketoliveabroadpermanently.Theywanttolearnasmanyforeignlanguagesaspossible.Theyhaveanintenseinterestincross-culturalinteractions.A)Shebecameanexpertinhorseracing.B)ShegotachancetovisitseveralEuropeancountries.ShewasabletotranslateforaGermansportsjudge.Shelearnedtoappreciateclassicalmusic.A)Tastethebeefandgivehercomment.C)TeachvocabularyforfoodinEnglish.B)Takepartinacookingcompetition.D)GivecookinglessonsonWesternfood.Questions23to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Hehadonlyathird-gradeeducation.Heoncethreatenedtokillhisteacher.Hegrewupinapoorsingle-parentfamily.Heoftenhelpedhismotherdohousework.A)Careless. C)Brave.B)Stupid. D)Active.A)Writetwobookreportsaweek.Keepadiary.Helpwithhousework.WatcheducationalTVprogramsonly.PartIII ReadingComprehension (40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Question26to35arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Scholarsoftheinformationsocietyaredividedoverwhethersocialinequalitydecreasesorincreasesinaninformation-basedsociety.However,theygenerallyagreewiththeideathatinequalityintheinformationsocietyis26differentfromthatofanindustrialsociety.Asinformationprogressesinsociety,thecauseandstructuralnatureofsocialinequalitychangesaswell.Itseemsthattheinformationsociety27thequantityofinformationavailabletothemembersofasocietybyrevolutionizingthewaysofusingandexchanginginformation.Butsuchaviewisa28analysisbasedonthequantityofinformationsuppliedbyvariousformsofthemassmedia.Adifferent29ispossiblewhentheactualamountofinformation30bytheuseristakenintoaccount.Infact,themoreinformation31throughouttheentiresociety,thewiderthegapbecomesbetween“informationhaves”and“informationhave-nots”,leadingtodigitaldivide.Accordingtorecentstudies,digitaldividehasbeencausedbythreemajor32:class,sex,andgeneration.Intermsofclass,digitaldivideexistsamongdifferenttypesofworkersandbetweentheupperandmiddleclassesandthelowerclass.With33tosex,digitaldivideexistsbetweenmenandwomen.Thegreatestgap,however,isbetweentheNet-generation,34withpersonalcomputersandtheInternet,andtheoldergeneration,35toanindustrialsociety.A)accustomedI)flowsB)acquiredJ)fundamentallyC)assemblyK)interpretationD)attributeL)passiveE)championsM)regardF)elementsN)respectivelyG)expandsO)superficialH)familiarSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.Joy:ASubjectSchoolsLackBecomingeducatedshouldnotrequiregivinguppleasureWhenJonathanSwiftproposed,in1729,thatthepeopleofIrelandeattheirchildren,heinsisteditwouldsolvethreeproblemsatonce:feedthehungrymasses,reducethepopulationduringaseveredepression,andstimulatetherestaurantbusiness.Evenasasatire,itseemsdisgustingandshockinginAmericawithitschild-centeredculture.Butactually,thecountryisclosertohisproposalthanyoumightthink.Ifyouspendmuchtimewitheducatorsandpolicymakers,you’llhearalotofthefollowingwords:“standards,”“results,”“skills,”“self-control,”“accountability,”andsoon.Ihavevisitedsomeofthenewersupposedly“effective”schools,wherechildrenshoutslogansinordertolearnself-controlormuststandbehindtheirdeskwhentheycan’tsitstill.Alookatwhatgoesoninmostclassroomsthesedaysmakesitabundantlyclearthatwhenpeoplethinkabouteducation,theyarenotthinkingaboutwhatitfeelsliketobeachild,orwhatmakeschildhoodanimportantandvaluablestageoflifeinitsownright.I’mamotherofthree,ateacher,andadevelopmentalpsychologist.SoI’vewatchedalotofchildren—talking,playing,arguing,eating,studying,andbeingyoung.Here’swhatI’vecometounderstand.Thethingthatsetschildrenapartfromadultsisnottheirignorance,northeirlackofskills.It’stheirenormouscapacityforjoy.Thinkofa3-year-oldlostinthepleasuresoffindingoutwhathecanandcannotsinkinthebathtub,a5-year-oldbesideherselfwiththethrillofputtingtogetherstringsofnonsensicalwordswithherbestfriends,oran11-year-oldcompletelyabsorbedinafascinatingcomicstrip.Achild’sabilitytobecomedeeplyabsorbedinsomething,andderiveintensepleasurefromthatabsorption,issomethingadultsspendtherestoftheirlivestryingtoreturnto.Afriendtoldmethefollowingstory.Oneday,whenhewenttogethis7-year-oldsonfromsoccerpractice,hiskidgreetedhimwithadowncastfaceandasadvoice.Thecoachhadcriticizedhimfornotfocusingonhissoccerdrills.Thelittleboywalkedoutoftheschoolwithhisheadandshouldershangingdown.Heseemedwrappedinsadness.Butjustbeforehereachedthecardoor,hesuddenlystopped,crouching(蹲伏)downtopeeratsomethingonthesidewalk.Hisfacewentdownlowerandlower,andthen,withcompletejoyhecalledout,“Dad.Comehere.ThisisthestrangestbugI’veeverseen.Ithas,like,amillionlegs.Lookatthis.It’samazing.”Helookedupathisfather,hisfeaturesoverflowingwithenergyanddelight.“Can’twestayhereforjustaminute?Iwanttofindoutwhathedoeswithallthoselegs.Thisisthecoolestever.”Thetraditionalviewofsuchmomentsisthattheyconstituteacharmingbutirrelevantbyproductofyouth—somethingtobepushedasidetomakeroomformoreimportantqualities,likeperseverance(堅(jiān)持不懈）,obligation,andpracticality.Yetmomentslikethisonearejustthekindofintenseabsorptionandpleasureadultsspendtherestoftheirlivesseeking.Humanlivesaregovernedbythedesiretoexperiencejoy.Becomingeducatedshouldnotrequiregivingupjoybutratherleadtofindingjoyinnewkindsofthings:readingnovelsinsteadofplayingwithsmallfigures,conductingexperimentsinsteadofsinkingcupsinthebathtub,anddebatingseriousissuesratherthanstringingtogethernonsensewords,forexample.Insomecases,schoolsshouldhelpchildrenfindnew,moregrown-upwaysofdoingthesamethingsthatareconstantsourcesofjoymakingartmakingfriends,makingdecisions.Buildingonachild’sabilitytofeeljoy,ratherthanpushingitaside,wouldn’tbethathard.Itwouldjustrequireashiftintheeducationworld’smindset（思維模式）.Insteadoftryingtogetchildrentoworkhard,whynotfocusongettingthemtotakepleasureinmeaningful,productiveactivity,likemakingthings,workingwithothers,exploringideas,andsolvingproblems?Thesefocusesarenotsodifferentfromthethingsinwhichtheydelight.Beforeyoubrushthisargumentasideasrubbish,orthinkofjoyasanunaffordableluxuryinanationwherethereisawfulpoverty,lowacademicachievement,andhighdropoutrates,thinkagain.Themorehorribletheschoolcircumstances,themoreimportantpleasureistoachievinganyeducationalsuccess.Manyoftheassignmentsandrulesteacherscomeupwith,oftenbecausetheyarepressuredbytheiradministrators,treatpleasureandjoyastheenemiesofcompetenceandresponsibility.Theassumptionisthatchildrenshouldn’tchatintheclassroombecauseithindershardwork;instead,theyshouldlearntodelaygratification(快樂）sothattheycanpursueabstractgoals,likegoingtocollege.Notonlyisthisaboringandawfulwaytotreatchildren,itmakesnosenseeducationally.Decadesofresearchhaveshownthatinordertoacquireskillsandrealknowledgeinschool,kidsneedtowanttolearn.Youcanforceachildtostayinhisorherseat,filloutaworksheet,orpracticedivision.Butyoucan’tforcethechildtothinkcarefully,enjoybooks,digestcomplexinformation,ordevelopatasteforlearning.Tomakethathappen,youhavetohelpthechildfindpleasureinlearning—toseeschoolasasourceofjoy.Adultstendtotalkaboutlearningasifitweremedicine:unpleasant,butnecessaryandgoodforyou.Whynotinsteadthinkoflearningasifitwerefood—somethingsovaluabletohumansthattheyhaveevolvedtoexperienceitasapleasure?Joyshouldnotbetrainedoutofchildrenorleftforafter-schoolprograms.Themoredifficultachild’slifecircumstances,themoreimportantitisforthatchildtofindjoyinhisorherclassroom.“Pleasure”isnotadirtyword.Anditdoesn’truncountertothegoalsofpubliceducation.Itis,infact,theprecondition.Itwillnotbedifficulttomakelearningasourceofjoyifeducatorschangetheirwayofthinking.Whatdistinguisheschildrenfromadultsistheirstrongabilitytoderivejoyfromwhattheyaredoing.ChildreninAmericaarebeingtreatedwithshockingcruelty.Itishumannaturetoseekjoyinlife.Grown-upsarelikelytothinkthatlearningtochildreniswhatmedicineistopatients.Badschoolconditionsmakeitallthemoreimportanttoturnlearningintoajoyfulexperience.Adultsdonotconsiderchildren’sfeelingswhenitcomestoeducation.Administratorsseemtobelievethatonlyhardworkwillleadchildrentotheireducationalgoals.Intheso-called“effective”schools,childrenaretaughtself-controlunderasetofstrictrules.Tomakelearningeffective,educatorshavetoensurethatchildrenwanttolearn.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Whenit’sfiveo’clock,peopleleavetheiroffice.Thelengthoftheworkday,formanyworkers,isdefinedbytime.Theyleavewhentheclocktellsthemthey’redone.Thesedays,thetimeiseverywhere:notjustonclocksorwatches,butoncell-phonesandcomputers.Thatmaybeabadthing,particularlyatwork.Newresearchshowsthatclock-basedworkscheduleshindermoraleandcreativity.Clock-timersorganizetheirdaybyblocksofminutesandhours.Forexample:ameetingfrom9a.m.to10a.m.,researchfrom10a.m.tonoon,etc.Ontheotherhand,task-timershavealistofthingstheywanttoaccomplish.Theyworkdownthelist,eachtaskstartswhentheprevioustaskiscompleted.Itissaidthatallofusemployamixofboththesetypesofplanning.What,then,aretheeffectsofthinkingabouttimeinthesedifferentways?Doesonemakeusmoreproductive?Betteratthetasksathand?Happier?InexperimentsconductedbyTamarAvnetandAnne-LaureSellier,theyhadparticipantsorganizedifferentactivities—fromprojectplanning,holidayshopping,toyoga—bytimeorto-dolisttomeasurehowtheyperformedunder“clocktimevs“tasktime.”Theyfoundclocktimerstobemoreefficientbutlesshappybecausetheyfeltlittlecontrolovertheirlives.Tasktimersarehappierandmorecreative,butlessproductive.Theytendtoenjoythemomentwhensomethinggoodishappening,andseizeopportunitiesthatcomeup.Theresearchersarguethattask-basedorganizingtendstobeundervaluedandunder-supportedinbusinessculture.Smartcompanies,theybelieve,willtrytobakemoretask-basedplanningintotheirstrategies.Thismightbeasmallchangetothewayweviewworkandtheoffice,buttheresearchersarguethatitchallengesawidespreadcharacteristicoftheeconomy:workorganizedbydocktime.Whilemostpeoplewillstillprobablyneed,andbe,tosomeextent,clock-timers,task-basedtimingshouldbeusedwhenperformingajobthatrequiresmorecreativity.It’llmakethosetaskseasier,aridthetask-doerswillbehappier.Whatdoestheauthorthinkoftimedisplayedeverywhere?Itmakeseverybodytime-conscious.Itisaconvenienceforworkandlife.Itmayhaveanegativeeffectoncreativework.Itclearlyindicatesthefastpaceofmodemlife.Howdopeopleusuallygoabouttheirworkaccordingtotheauthor?Theycombineclock-basedandtask-basedplanning.Theygiveprioritytothemosturgenttaskonhand.Theysetatimelimitforeachspecifictask.Theyaccomplishtheirtasksonebyone.WhatdidTamarAvnetandAnne-LaureSellierfindintheirexperimentsaboutclockstimers?Theyseizeopportunitiesastheycomeup.Theyalwaysgettheirworkdoneintime.Theyhavemorecontrolovertheirlives.Theytendtobemoreproductive.Whatdotheresearcherssayabouttoday’sbusinessculture?Itdoesnotsupportthestrategiesadoptedbysmartcompanies.Itdoesnotattachenoughimportancetotask-basedpractice.Itplacesmoreemphasisonworkefficiencythanonworkers’lives.Itaimstobringemployees,potentialandcreativityintofullplay.Whatdotheresearcherssuggest?Task-basedtimingispreferredfordoingcreativework.Itisimportanttokeepabalancebetweenworkandlife.Performingcreativejobstendstomakeworkershappier.Ascientificstandardshouldbeadoptedinjobevaluation.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.MarthaStewartwascharged,triedandcompetedofacrimein2004.Asshenearedtheendofherprisonsentence,awell-knowncolumnistwrotethatshewas“payingherdues,”andthat“thereissimplynoreasonforanyonetoattempttodenyherrighttostartanew.”Surely,theAmericanidealofsecondchancesshouldnotbereservedonlyfortherichandpowerful.Unfortunately,manyfederalandstatelawsimposepost-convictionrestrictionsonashockinglylargenumberofAmericans,whoarepreventedfromeverfullypayingtheirdebttosociety.Atleast65millionpeopleintheUnitedStateshaveacriminalrecord.Thiscanresultinseverepenaltiesthatcontinuelongafterpunishmentiscompleted.Manyofthesepenaltiesareimposedregardlessoftheseriousnessoftheoffenseortheperson’sindividualcircumstances.Lawscanrestrictorbanvoting,accesstopublichousing,andprofessionalandbusinesslicensing.Theycanaffectaperson’sabilitytogetajobandqualificationforbenefits.Inall,morethan45,000lawsandrulesservetoexcludevastnumbersofpeoplefromfullyparticipatinginAmericanlife.Somelawsmakesense.Nooneadvocateslettingsomeoneconvictedofpedophilia（戀童癖）workinaschool.Buttoooftencollateral(附隨的）consequencesbearnorelationtopublicsafety.Shouldawomanwhopossessedasmallamountofdrugsyearsagobepermanentlyunabletobelicensedasanurse?Theselawsarealsocounterproductive,sincetheymakeitharderforpeoplewithcriminalrecordstofindhousingorlandajob,twokeyfactorsthatreducebacksliding.Arecentreportmakesseveralrecommendations,includingtheabolitionofmostpost-convictionpenalties,exceptforthosespecificallyneededtoprotectpublicsafety.Wherethepenaltiesarenotamust,theyshouldbeimposedonlyifthefactsofacasesupportit.Thepointisnottoexcuseorforgetthecrime.Rather,itistorecognizethatinAmerica’svastcriminaljusticesystem,secondchancesarecrucial.Itisinnoone’sinteresttokeepalargesegmentofthepopulationonthemarginsofsociety.Whatdoesthewell-knowncolumnist’sremarkaboutMarthaStewartsuggest?Herpastrecordmightstandinherwaytoanewlife.Herbusinesswentbankruptwhileshewasinprison.Herreleasefromprisonhasdrawnlittleattention.Herprisonsentencemighthavebeenextended.WhatdowelearnfromthesecondparagraphaboutmanycriminalsinAmerica?Theybackslideafterservingtheirtermsinprison.Theyaredeprivedofchancestoturnoveranewleaf.Theyreceiveseverepenaltiesforcommittingminoroffenses.Theyareconvictedregardlessoftheirindividualcircumstances.WhataretheconsequencesformanyAmericanswithacriminalrecord?Theyremainpoorfortherestoftheirlives.Theyaredeprivedofallsocialbenefits.Theyaremarginalizedinsociety.Theyaredesertedbytheirfamily.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofthepost-convictionlawsandrules?Theyhelptomaintainsocialstability.Someofthemhavelongbeenoutdated.Theyarehardlyunderstoodbythepublic.Alotofthemhavenegativeeffectsonsociety.Whatistheauthor’smainpurposeinwritingthepassage?Tocreateopportunitiesforcriminalstoreformthemselves.ToappealforchangesinAmerica’scriminaljusticesystem.Toensurethatpeoplewithacriminalrecordliveadecentlife.Tocallpeople’sattentiontoprisoners’conditionsinAmerica.PartIV Translation (30minutes)SectionADirections:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestotranslateapassagefromChineseintoEnglish.YoushouldwriteyouransweronAnswerSheet2.云南省的麗江古鎮(zhèn)是中國著名的旅游目的地之一。那里的生活節(jié)奏比大多數(shù)中國城市都要緩慢。麗江到處都是美麗的自然風(fēng)光，眾多的少數(shù)民族同胞提供了各式各樣、豐富多彩的文化讓游客體驗(yàn)。歷史上，麗江還以“愛之城”而聞名。當(dāng)?shù)厝酥辛鱾髦S多關(guān)于因愛而生、為愛而死的故事。如今，在中外游客眼中，這個(gè)古鎮(zhèn)被視為愛情和浪漫的天堂(paradise)。PartⅠ WritingListeningIsMoreImportantthanTalkingNowadaysanoldsaying,“Listeningismoreimportantthantalking”,comesintovogue.Thesayingtellsusthetrueessenceofcommunicationwithothersinthesociety,whichmeanspayingattentiontoothers’ opinionsismuchmoreimportantthanexpressingone’sownwords.Asforme,therearetworeasonsaccountingforthecorrectnessofthisprinciple.Tostartwith,listeningshowsyourrespectforothers.Insuchacompetitivesociety,willingnesstolistencanmakeyougaintrustandfriendship,whichisthebasicruleofsocializat