14-17历年大学英语四级真题及答案

四级考试真题

 

Part I Writing  （30 minutes）

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the following question. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

 

Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit China, what is the first place you would like to take him/her to see and why?

 

 

Part II Listening Comprehension  （30 minutes）

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A）, B）, C） and D）, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

1.         A） The man should visit the museums.

        B） She can’t stand the hot weather.

        C） The beach resort is a good choice.

        D） She enjoys staying in Washington.

2.         A） Her new responsibilities in the company.

        B） What her job prospects are.

        C） What the customers’ feedback is.

         D） The director’s opinion of her work.

3.         A） Combine her training with dieting.

        B） Repeat the training every three days.

        C） Avoid excessive physical training.

         D） Include weightlifting in the program.

4.         A） When she will return home.

        B） Whether she can go by herself.

          C） Whether she can travel by air.

        D） When she will completely recover.

5.         A） The woman knows how to deal with the police.

        B） The woman had been fined many times before.

        C） The woman had violated traffic regulations.

         D） The woman is good at finding excuses.

6.         A） Switch off the refrigerator for a while.

        B） Have someone repair the refrigerator.

        C） Ask the man to fix the refrigerator.

         D） Buy a refrigerator of better quality.

7.         A） He owns a piece of land in the downtown area.

        B） He has got enough money to buy a house.

          C） He can finally do what he has dreamed of.

           D） He is moving into a bigger apartment.

8.         A） She is black and blue all over.

        B） She has to go to see a doctor.

           C） She stayed away from work for a few days.

          D） She got hurt in an accident yesterday.

 

Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

9.         A） She was a bank manager.

        B） She was a victim of the robbery.

        C） She was a defence lawyer.

         D） She was a witness to the crime.

10.         A） A tall man with dark hair and a moustache.

        B） A youth with a distinguishing mark on his face.

        C） A thirty-year-old guy wearing a light sweater.

        D） A medium-sized young man carrying a gun.

11.         A） Identify the suspect from pictures.

        B） Go upstairs to sign some document.

        C） Have her photo taken for their files.

        D） Verify the record of what she had said.

 

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12.  A） By reading a newspaper ad.         

B） By seeing a commercial on TV.

C） By listening to the morning news.

         D） By calling an employment service.

13. A） She could improve her foreign languages.

        B） She could work close to her family.

        C） She could travel overseas frequently.

          D） She could use her previous experiences.

14. A） Taking management courses.

        B）Teaching English at a university.

        C） Working as a secretary.

        D） Studying for a degree in French.

15. A） Prepare for an interview in a couple of days.

        B） Read the advertisement again for more details.

        C） Send in a written application as soon as possible.

         D） Get to know the candidates on the short list.

 

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B）, C） and D）. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

 

Passage One

Questions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A） They cannot see the firefighters because of the smoke.

        B） They do not realize the danger they are in.

        C） They cannot hear the firefighters for the noise.

        D） They mistake the firefighters for monsters.

17. A） He travels all over America to help put out fires.

        B） He often teaches children what to do during a fire.

        C） He teaches Spanish in a San Francisco community.

        D） He provides oxygen masks to children free of charge.

18. A） He saved the life of his brother choking on food.

        B） He rescued a student from a big fire.

        C） He is very good at public speaking.

          D） He gives informative talks to young children.

19. A） Firefighters play an important role in America.

        B） Kids should learn not to be afraid of monsters.

          C） Carelessness can result in tragedies.

         D） Informative speeches can save lives.

 

Passage Two:

Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.

20.         A） To satisfy the needs of their family.

        B） To fully realize their potential.

        C） To make money for early retirement.

         D） To gain a sense of their personal worth.

21.         A） They may have to continue to work in old age.

        B） They may regret the time they wasted.

        C） They may have nobody to depend on in the future.

         D） They may have fewer job opportunities.

22.         A） Making wise use of your time.         C） Saving as much as you can.

        B） Enjoying yourself while you can.         D） Working hard and playing hard.

 

Passage Three

Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

23.         A） Hardworking students being accused of cheating.

        B） Boy students being often treated as law-breakers.

        C） Innocent people being suspected groundlessly.

        D） Junior employees being made to work overtime.

24.         A） Forbidding students to take food out of the restaurant.

        B） Requesting customers to pay before taking the food.

        C） Asking customers to leave their bags on the counters.

        D） Allowing only two students to enter at a time.

25.         A） He was taken to the manager.

        B） He was closely watched.

        C） He was asked to leave.

         D） He was overcharged.

 

Section C;

Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

 

Writing keeps us in touch with other people. We write to communicate with relatives and friends. We write to （26）__________ our family histories so our children and grandchildren can learn and （27）__________ their heritage（传统）. With computers and Internet connections in so many households, colleges, and businesses, people are e-mailing friends and （28）__________ all the time—or talking to them in writing in online chat rooms. It is cheaper than calling long distance, and a lot more （29）__________ than waiting until Sunday for the telephone rates to drop. Students are e-mailing their professors to （30）__________ and discuss their classroom assignments and to submit them. They are e-mailing classmates to discuss and （31）__________ homework. They are also sharing information about concerts and sports events, as well as jokes and their （32）__________ of life.

Despite the growing importance of computers, however, there will always be a place and need for the personal letter. A （33）__________ note to a friend or a family member is the best way to communicate important thoughts. No matter what the content of the message, its real point is, “I want you to know that I （34）__________ you.” This writing practice brings rewards that can’t be seen in （35）__________, but only in the success of human relationships.

 

Part III Reading Comprehension  （40 minutes）

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

 

Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.

The fact is, the world has been finding less oil than it has been using for more than twenty years now. Not only has demand been ___36___, but the oil we have been finding is coming from places that are ___37___ to reach. At the same time, more of this newly ___38___ oil is of the type that requires a greater investment to ___39___. And because demand for this precious resource will grow, according to some, by over 40 percent by 2025, fueling the world’s economic ___40___will take a lot more energy from every possible source.

The energy industry needs to get more from existing fields while continuing to search for new ___41___. Automakers must continue to improve fuel efficiency and perfect hybrid（混合动力的） vehicles. Technological improvements are needed so that wind, solar and hydrogen can be more ___42___ parts of the energy equation. Governments need to formulate energy policies that promote ___43___and environmentally sound development. Consumers must be willing to pay for some of these solutions, while practicing conservation efforts of their own.

Inaction is not an ___44___. So let’s work together to balance this equation. We are taking some of the ___45___ needed to get started, but we need your help to go the rest of the way.

 

        A） consequently                I） feasible

        B） cultivate                        J） growth

        C） declining                        K） option

        D） derived                        L） refine

        E） difficult                        M） reserves

        F） discovered                N） soaring

        G） economically                O） steps

        H） exception

 

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

 

I Cry, Therefore I Am

A）        In 2008, at a German zoo, a gorilla（大猩猩） named Gana gave birth to a male infant, who died after three months. Photographs of Gana, looking stricken and inconsolable（伤心欲绝的）, attracted crowds to the zoo. Sad as the scene was, the humans, not Gana, were the only ones crying. The notion that animals can weep has no scientific basis. Years of observations by biologists Dian Fossey, who observed gorillas, and Jane Goodall, who worked with chimpanzees（黑猩猩）, could not prove that animals cry tears from emotion.
B）        It’s true that many animals shed tears, especially in response to pain. Tears protect the eye by keeping it moist. But crying as an expression of feeling is unique to humans and has played an essential role in human evolution and the development of human cultures.

C）        Within two days an infant can imitate sad and happy faces. If an infant does not cry out, it is unlikely to get the attention it needs to survive. Around 3-4 months, the relationship between the human infant and its environment takes on a more organized communicative role, and tearful crying begins to serve interpersonal purposes： the search for comfort and pacification（抚慰）. As we get older, crying becomes a tool of social interaction: grief and joy, shame and pride, fear and manipulation.

D）        Tears are as universal as laughter, and grief is more complex than joy. But although we all cry, we do so in different ways. Women cry more frequently and intensely than men, especially when exposed to emotional events. Like crying, depression is, around the world, more commonly seen in women than in men. One explanation might be that women, who despite decades of social advances still suffer from economic inequality, discrimination（歧视） and even violence, might have more to cry about. Men not only cry for shorter periods than women, but they also are less inclined to explain their tears, usually shed them more quietly, and tend more frequently to apologize when they cry openly. Men, like women, report crying at the death of a loved one and in response to a moving religious experience. They are more likely than women to cry when their core identities—as providers and protectors, as fathers and fighters—are questioned.

E）        People who score on personality tests as more sympathetic cry more than those who are more rigid or have more self-control. Frequency of crying varies widely: some shed tears at any novel or movie, others only a handful of times in their lives. Crying in response to stress and conflict in the home, or after emotional trauma（创伤）, lasts much longer than tears induced by everyday sadness—which in turn last longer than tears of delight and joy.

F）        Sadness is our primary association with crying, but the fact is that people report feeling happier after crying. Surveys estimate that 85% of women and 73% of men report feeling better after shedding tears. Surprisingly, crying is more commonly associated with minor forms of depression than with major depression involving suicidal thoughts.

G）        People widely report that crying relieves tension, restores emotional balance and provides “catharsis,” a washing out of bad feelings. The term “catharsis” has religious implications of removing evil and sin; it’s no surprise that religious ceremonies are, around the world, one of the main settings for the release of tears.

H）        Crying is a nearly universal sign of grief, though some mourners report that, despite genuine sorrow, they cannot shed tears—sometimes even for years after their loved one has gone. Unlike today, when the privacy of grief is more respected, the public or ceremonial shedding of tears, at the graveside of a spouse or the funeral of a king or queen, was once considered socially or even politically essential.

I）        Crying has also served other social purposes. Rousseau wrote in his Confessions that while he considered tears the most powerful expression of love, he also just liked to cry over nothing.

J）        The association of tears with art has ancient roots. The classic Greek tragedies of the fifth century B.C. were primarily celebrations of gods. Tragedies, like poetry and music, were staged religious events. Even then it was recognized that crying in response to drama brought pleasure.

K）        I have argued that there are neurobiological（神经生物方面的） associations linking the arts and mood disorders. When I lecture on crying, I ask my audience to let me know, by a show of hands, which art forms most move them to tears. About 80% say music, followed closely by novels （74%）, but then the figures fall sharply, to 43%, for poetry, and 10-22% for paintings, sculpture and architecture.

L）        The physical act of crying is mainly one of breathing in air, which is why we choke up when we weep. This suggests to language scientists that emotional crying evolved before language, perhaps explaining why tears communicate states of mind and feelings that are often so difficult to express in words. Of course, from an evolutionary perspective, recognition of emotion （usually through facial gesture） was essential for survival.

M）        The earliest humans arrived several million years ago, but only 150,000 to 200,000 years ago, did cultures, language, religion and the arts arise. Along the way, tears became more than a biological necessity to lubricate（润滑） the eye and developed into a sign of intense emotion and a signal of social bonding. The development of self-consciousness and the notion of individual identity, or ego; storytelling about the origins of the world, the creation of humanity and life after death; and the ability to feel others’ sadness—all were critical parts of the neurobiological changes that made us human.

N）        More recently, we’ve learned from neuroscience that certain brain circuits（回路） are activated（激活）, rapidly and unconsciously, when we see another in emotional distress. In short, our brain evolved circuits to allow us to experience sympathy, which in turn made civilization, and an ethics based on sympathy, possible. So the next time you reach a tissue box, or sob on a friend’s shoulder, or shed tears at the movies, stop and reflect on why we cry and what it means to cry. Because ultimately, while we love to cry, we also cry to love.

 

46.         Nowadays people respect the privacy of grief more than in the past.

47.         Infants cry to attract attention for survival.

48.         There is no scientific evidence as yet that animals can shed tears from emotion.

49.         Tears can perform certain communicative functions which words cannot.

50.         Our ability to experience sympathy is essential to the development of civilization.

51.         People are more inclined to cry when suffering minor forms of depression.

52.         Sometimes people cannot cry despite genuine grief.

53.         In humans’ long history, tears have developed an essential role in social relationships.

54.         Men are less likely to give reasons for their tears.

55.         Crying has long been associated with art.

 

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A）, B）, C） and D）. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

 

Passage One

Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.

Hospitals, hoping to curb medical error, have invested heavily to put computers, smartphones and other devices into the hands of medical staff for instant access to patient data, drug information and case studies.

But like many cures, this solution has come with an unintended side effect: doctors and nurses can be focused on the screen and not the patient, even during moments of critical care. A poll showed that half of medical technicians had admitted texting during a procedure.

This phenomenon has set off an intensifying discussion at hospitals and medical schools about a problem perhaps best described as “distracted doctoring.” In response, some hospitals have begun limiting the use of electronic devices in critical settings, while schools have started reminding medical students to focus on patients instead of devices.

“You justify carrying devices around the hospital to do medical records, but you can surf the Internet or do Facebook, and sometimes Facebook is more tempting,” said Dr. Peter Papadakos at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

“My gut feeling（本能的感觉） is lives are in danger,” said Dr. Papadakos.”We’re not educating people about the problem, and it’s getting worse.”

A survey of 439 medical technicians found that 55 percent of technicians who monitor bypass machines acknowledged that they had talked on cellphones during heart surgery. Half said they had texted while in surgery. The study concluded, “Such distractions have the potential to be disastrous.”

Medical professionals have always faced interruptions from cellphones, and multitasking is simply a fact of life for many medical jobs. What has changed, say doctors, especially younger ones, is that they face increasing pressure to interact with their devices.

The pressure stems from a mantra（信条） of modern medicine that patient care must be “data driven,” and informed by the latest, instantly accessible information. By many accounts, the technology has helped reduce medical error by providing instant access to patient data or prescription details.

Dr. Peter Carmel, president of the American Medical Association, said technology “offers great potential in health care,” but he added that doctors’ first priority should be with the patient.

 

56.         Why do hospitals equip their staff with computers, smartphones and other devices?

        A） To reduce medical error.                 C） To facilitate administration.

        B） To cope with emergencies.                 D） To simplify medical procedures.

57.         What does the author refer to by “distracted doctoring”？

        A） The disservice done by modern devices to doctors, nurses, as well as patients.

        B） The tendency of medical institutions encouraging the use of modern devices.

        C） The problem of devices preventing doctors from focusing on their patients.

        D） The phenomenon of medical staff attending to personal affairs while working.

58.         What does Dr. Peter Papadakos worry about?

        A） Medical students are not adequately trained to use modern technology.

        B） Doctors’ interaction with their devices may endanger patients’ lives.

        C） Doctors are relying too heavily on modern electronic technology.

        D） Pressures on the medical profession may become overwhelming.

59.         Why do doctors feel increasing pressure to use modern devices?

        A） Patients trust doctors who use modern technology.

        B） Use of modern devices adds to hospitals’ revenues.

        C） Data is given too much importance in patient care.

         D） Patients’ data has to be revised from time to time.

60.         What is Peter Carmel’s advice to doctors?

        A） They follow closely the advances in medical science.

        B） They focus their attention on the patient’s condition.

        C） They observe hospital rules and regulations.

        D） They make the best use of modern devices.

 

Passage Two

Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

I have closely watched my generation, known as The Millennials, for 29 years now. Joel Stein wrote an extensive piece on Millennials and he remains rather optimistic about our potential.

I hesitate to share his optimism because of a paradox（矛盾的现象） we seem to exhibit, namely, that there are more avenues for us to entertain ourselves than ever before, yet we are more bored than ever before.

Entertainment has never been more varied. We have more cable channels, television shows, and movies than ever before. Internet providers allow instant viewing of almost any movie or television program ever created. Social drinking and partying are also widely available for Millennials. Every generation develops these habits at a certain age, but Millennials seem to be extending this phase of life as they postpone marriage.

Some of this is undoubtedly due to The Great Recession. Millennials are having a difficult time finding jobs; only 47 percent of 16-to-24-year-olds are employed, the smallest share since government started recording data in 1948.

But do Millennials respond to these economic troubles by doing whatever it takes to make ends meet? Hardly. In fact, of the four generations Pew Research has data for, the Millennial generation does not cite work ethic（勤奋工作） as distinctive of itself. Millennials want to save the world, but they sit and wait for that world-changing opportunity to be handed to them. Instead of working 2-3 jobs, launching a business, or doing what it takes to succeed, they retreat. Millennials may be the first generation to have a lower standard of living than their parents, but with this response to adversity（逆境）, perhaps deservingly so.

Much ink has been spilled in management books discussing how to get the most out of these youths in the workplace. Largely, they come to the same conclusion: Millennials are entitled, over-confident, and expect too much too quickly. We should not be surprised. Today’s young adults were raised by parents who made sure to boost their self-esteem at every turn, telling them they could achieve whatever they set their minds to, and handing out prizes for the sixth place.

 

61.         What does the author of the passage think of Millennials?

        A） They show little interest in entertainment.

        B） They are not confident about their ability.

         C） They enjoy an easy life due to high technology.

        D） They may not have bright prospects for success.

62.         How do Millennials feel about their life?

        A） They can hardly do anything about it.

        B） There is little in it to get excited about.

        C） It is not as good as their parents’.

        D） It is full of opportunities for success.

63.        In what way are Millennials different from previous generations according to Pew Research?

        A） They spend less time socializing.        C） They do not value hard work.

        B） They are indifferent to others.        D） They are more independent.

64.         What should Millennials do according to the author?

        A） Remain optimistic in face of adversity.

        B） Start a business as early as possible.

        C） Make full use of new opportunities.

        D） Take action to change their situation.

65.         Why are Millennials over-confident about themselves?

        A） They have been spoiled by their parents.

        B） They can always get whatever they expect.

        C） They are misguided by management books.

         D） They think they are young and energetic.

 

Part IV Translation  （30 minutes）

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

 

为了促进教育公平，中国已投入360亿元，用于改善农村地区教育设施和加强中西部地区农村义务教育（compulsory education）。这些资金用于改善教学设施、购买书籍，使16万多所中小学受益。资金还用于购置音乐和绘画器材。现在农村和山区的儿童可以与沿海城市的儿童一样上音乐和绘画课。一些为接受更好教育而转往城市上学的学生如今又回到了本地农村学校就读。

 

2014年6月大学英语四级考试真题（第三套）答案

[作文]

If a foreign friend of mine is coming to China, I would like to take him or her to pay a visit to the capital city of our country—Beijing1. As is known to all, Beijing is not only a modern international metropolitan, but also an ancient capital city with a long history of more than 3000 years2. Generally speaking, Beijing could be a good place for people to learn about Chinese history and culture3.

In Beijing, there are numerous places of interest, among which the Summer Palace is a very popular one. The Summer Palace was constructed during the Qing Dynasty. As an important political and diplomatic center that is second only to the Forbidden City, the royal park witnessed lots of historic events that happened during the modern history of China4. By visiting places of historical meaning, my friend can best learn Chinese history and typical culture.

In addition to the city’s historical and cultural values, Beijing can be a perfect interpretation of modern China. I am sure everyone who comes to visit it will marvel at its beauty5.

1. D         2. D         3. C         4. C         5. C         6. B                7. C         8. D         9. D         10. A

11. A         12. A         13. B         14. C         15. C         16. D         17. B         18. A         19. D         20. C

21. A         22. B         23. C         24. D         25. B

26. preserve                27. appreciate                        28. relatives                29. convenient

30. receive                31. collaborate on                 32. philosophies        33. handwritten

34. care about         35. bank accounts

36. N         37. E         38. F         39. L         40. J         41. M         42. I         43. G         44. K         45. O

46. H         47. C         48. A         49. L         50. N         51. F         52. H         53. B         54. D         55. J

56. A         57. C         58. B         59. C         60. B         61. D         62. B         63. C         64. D         65. A

[译文]

In order to promote fairness in education, China has invested 36 billion yuan to improve educational facilities in rural areas and enhance compulsory education in the rural areas of the central and western regions.1 These funds are used to improve teaching facilities and buy books, benefiting more than 160 thousand primary and secondary schools.2 Besides, these funds are spent purchasing music and painting equipment.3 Now, children in rural and mountainous areas can have music and painting classes just as children in coastal cities do.4 Some students who were transferred to city schools for receiving better education have now returned to their local rural schools.5

 

 

2014年12月四级真题(第2套)

Part IWriting(30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about a course thathas impressed you most in college.You should state the reasons and write at least 120words but no more than 180 words.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Part IIListening Comprehension (30 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A．,B．, C． and D．, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

A． She used to be in poor health.

 B． She was popular among boys.

C． She was somewhat overweight.

D． She didn't do well at high school.

2. A． At the airport.

B． In a restaurant.

C． In a booking office.

D． At the hotel reception.

3. A． Teaching her son by herself.

B． In a restaurant.

C． Asking the teacher for extra help.

D． Telling her son not to worry.

4. A． Have a short break.

B． Take two weeks off.

C． Continue her work outdoors.

D． Go on vacation with the man.

5. A． He is taking care of his twin brother.

B． Take two weeks off.

C． He is worried about Rod's health.

D． He has been in perfect condition.

6. A． She sold all her furniture before she moved house.

B． She still keeps some old furniture in her new house.

C． She plans to put all her old furniture in the basement.

D． She bought a new set of furniture from Italy last month.

7. A． The woman wondered why the man didn't return the book.

B． The woman doesn't seem to know what the book is about.

C． The woman doesn't find the book useful any more.

D． The woman forgot lending the book to the man.

8. A． Most of the man's friends are athletes.

B． Few people share the woman's opinion.

C． The man doesn't look like a sportsman.

D． The woman doubts the man's athletic ability.

Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

9. A． She has packed it in one of her bags.

B． She is going to get it at the airport.

C． She has probably left it in a taxi.

D． She is afraid that she has lost it.

10. A． It ends in winter.

B． It will cost her a lot.

C． It will last one week.

D． It depends on the weather.

11. A． The plane is taking off soon.

B． The taxi is waiting for them.

C． There might be a traffic jam.

D． There is a lot of stuff to pack.

12. A． At home.

B． At the airport.

C． In the man's car.

D． By the side of a taxi.

Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

13. A． She is thirsty for promotion.

B． She wants a much higher salary.

C． She is tired of her present work.

D． She wants to save travel expenses.

14. A． Translator.

C． Language instructor.

B． Travel agent.

D． Environmental engineer.

15. A． Lively personality and inquiring mind.

B． Communication skills and team spirit.

C． Devotion and work efficiency.

D． Education and experience.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A．,B．, C． and D．.

Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Passage One

Questions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A． They care a lot about children.

B． They need looking after in their old age.

C． They want to enrich their life experience.

D． They want children to keep them company.

17. A． They are usually adopted from distant places.

B． Their birth information is usually kept secret~

C． Their birth parents often try to conceal their birth information.

D． Their adoptive parents don't want them to know their birth parents.

18. A． They generally hold bad feelings towards their birth parents.

B． They do not want to hurt the feelings of their adoptive parents.

C． They have mixed feelings about finding their natural parents.

D． They are fully aware of the expenses involved in the search.

19. A． Early adoption makes for closer parent-child relationship.

B． Most .people prefer to adopt children from overseas.

C． Understanding is the key to successful adoption.

D． Adoption has much to do with love.

Passage Two

Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.

20. A． He suffered from mental illness.

B． He bought The Washington Post.

C． He turned a failing newspaper into a success.

D． He was once a reporter for a major newspaper.

21. A． She was the first woman to lead a big U.S. publishing company.

B． She got her first job as a teacher at the University of Chicago.

C． She committed suicide because of her mental disorder.

D． She took over her father's position when he died.

22. A． People came to see the role of women in the business world.

B． Katharine played a major part in reshaping Americans' mind.

C． American media would be quite different without Katharine.

D． Katharine had exerted an important influence on the world.

Passage Three

Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

23. A． It'll enable them to enjoy the best medical care.

B． It'll allow them to receive free medical treatment.

C． It'll protect them from possible financial crises.

D． It'll prevent the doctors from overcharging them.

24. A． They can't immediately get back the money paid for their medical cost.

B． They have to go through very complicated application procedures.

C． They can only visit doctors who speak their native languages.

D． They may not be able to receive timely medical treatment.

25. A． They don't have to pay for the medical services.

B． They needn't pay the entire medical bill at once.

C． They must send the receipts to the insurance company promptly.

D． They have to pay a much higher price to get an insurance policy.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Final- ly, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

More and more of the world's population are living in towns or cities. The speed at which cities are growing in the less developed countries is (26)__________. Between 1920 and 1960 big cities in developed countries increased two and a half times in size, but in other parts of the world the growth was eight times their size.

The (27) __________size of growth is bad enough, but there are now also very disturb-ing signs of trouble in the (28)__________ of percentages of people living in towns and per-centages of people working in industry. During the nineteenth century cities grew(29)__________ the growth of industry. In Europe the proportion of people living in citiesWasalwayssmallerthanthatoftheworkForceworkingin

factories.Now,however,the(30) __________ is almost always tree in the newly industrialised world: the percentage of people living in cities is much higher than the percentage working in industry.

 Without a base of people working in industry, these cities cannot(31) __________their growth;thereis not enough money tobuildadequatehousesfor thepeoplethatlivethere,(32)__________ the new arrivals. There has been little opportunity to build water supplies orother (33) __________ So,thefiguresforthegrowthoftownsandcities(34)__________ proportional growth of unemployment and underemployment, a growth in the number of hopeless and (35)__________ parents and starving children.

Part ⅡIReading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.

As an Alaskan fisherman, Timothy June,54, used to think that he was safe from industrial pollutants(污染物) at his home in Haines--a town with a population of 2,400 people and 4,000 eagles,with 8 million acres of protected wild land nearby. But in early 2007, June agreed to take part in a 36 of 35 Americans from seven states. It was a biomonitoring project, in which people's blood and ur/ne (尿) were tested for 37 of chemicals--in this case, three potentially dangerous classes of compounds found in common household 38 like face cream, tin cans, and shower curtains. The

results--39 in November in a report called"Is It in Us?" by an environmental group--were rather worrying. Every one of the participants,40 from an minois state senator to a Massachusetts minister, tested positive for all three classes of pollutants. And while the 41 presence of these chemicals does not 42 indicate a health risk, the fact that typical Americans carry these chemicals at all 43 June and his fellow participants.

Clearly, there are chemicals in our bodies that don't 44 there. A large, ongoing study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found 148 chemicals in Americans of all ages.

And in 2005, the Environmental Working Group found an 45 of 200 chemicals in the blood of 10 new-borns."Our babies are being born pre-polluted," says Sharyle Patton of Commonweal, which cosponsored "Is It in Us?This is going to be the next big environmental issue after climate change."

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

A． analyses

B． average

C． belong

D． demonstrated

E．excess

F． extending

G． habitually

H． necessarily

I． products

J． ranging

K． released

L． shocked

M． simple

N． survey

O． traces

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

 In Hard Economy for All Ages, Older Isn't Better... It's Brutal

[A] Young graduates are in debt, out of work and on their parents' couches. People in their 30s and 40s can't afford to buy homes or have children. Retirees are earning near-zero interest on their savings.

[B] In the current listless (缺乏活力的) economy, every generation has a claim to having been most injured. But the Labor Department's latest jobs reports and other recent data present a strong case for crowning baby boomers (二战后生育高峰期出生的人) as the greatest victims of the recession and its dreadful consequences.

[C] These Americans in their 50s and early 60s--those near retirement age who do not yet have access to Medicare and Social Security--have lost the most earnings power of any age group, with their household incomes 10 percent below what they made when the recovery began three years ago, according to Sentier Research, a data analysis company. Their retirement savings and home values fell sharply at the worst possible time: just before they needed to cash out. They are supporting both aged parents and unemployed young-adult children,earning them the unlucky nickname "Generation Squeeze."

[D] New research suggests that they may die sooner, because their health, income security and mental well-being were battered (重创) by recession at a crucial time in their lives. A recent study by economists at Wellesley College found that people who lost their jobs in the few years before becoming qualified for Social Security lost up to three years from their life expectanv'y (预期寿命), largely because they no longer had access to affordable health care.

[E] Unemployment rates for Americans nearing retirement are far lower than those for young people, who are recently out of school, with fewer skills and a shorter work history. But once out of a job, older workers have a much harder time finding another one. Over the last year, the average duration of unemployment for older people was 53 weeks, compared with 19 weeks for teenagers, according to the Labor Department's jobs report released on Friday.

[F] The lengthy process is partly because older workers are more likely to have been laid off from industries that are downsizing, like manufacturing. Compared with the rest of the population, older people are also more likely to own their own homes and be less mobile than renters, who can move to new job markets.

[G] Older workers are more likely to have a disability of some sort, perhaps limiting the range of jobs that offer realistic choices. They may also be less inclined, at least initially, to take jobs that pay far less than their old positions.

[H] Displaced boomers also believe they are victims of age discrimination, because employers can easily find a young, energetic worker who will accept lower pay and who can potentially stick around for decades rather than a few years.

[I]In a survey of older workers who were laid off during the recession, just one in six had found another job, and half of that group had accepted pay cuts.14% of the re-employed said the pay in their new job was less than half what they earned in their previous job. "I just say to myself: 'Why me? What have I done to deserve this?'" said John Agati,56, whose last full-time job, as a product developer, ended four years ago when his employer went out of business. That position paid $90,000, and his resume lists jobs at companies like American Express, Disney and USA Networks. Since being laid off, though, he has worked a series of part-time, low-wage, temporary positions, including selling shoes at Lord & Taylor and making sales calls for a car company.

[J] The last few years have taken a toil not only on his family's finances, but also on his feelings of self-worth. "You just get sad," Mr. Agati said. "I see people getting up in the morning, going out to their careers and going home. I just wish I was doing that. Some people don't like their jobs, or they have problems with their jobs, but at least they're working. I just wish I was in their shoes."

 He said he cannot afford to go back to school, as many younger people without jobs have done. Even if he could afford it, economists say it is unclear whether older workers like him benefit much from more education.

[K] "It just doesn't make sense to offer retraining for people 55 and older," said Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor."Discrimination by age, long-term unemployment, and the fact that they're now at the end of the hiring queue just don't make it sensible to invest in them."

[L]Many displaced older workers are taking this message to heart and leaving the labor force entirely. The share of older people applying for Social Security early rose quickly during the recession as people sought whatever income they could find. The penalty they will pay is permanent, as retirees who take benefits at age 62 will receive as much as 30% less in each month's check for the rest of their lives than they would if they had waited until full retirement age (66 for those born after 1942).

[M] Those not yet qualified for Social Security are increasingly applying for another, comparable kind of income support that often goes to people who expect never to work again: disability benefits. More than one in eight people in their late 50s is now on some form of federal disability insurance program, according to Professor Mark Duggan at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

[N] The very oldest Americans, of course, were battered by some of the same ill winds that tormented(折磨) those now nearing retirement, but at least the most senior were cushioned by a more readily available social safety net. More important, in a statistical twist, they may have actually benefited from the financial crisis in the most fundamental way: longer lives.

 [O] Death rates for people over 65 have historically fallen during recessions, according to a November2011 study by economists at the University of California, Davis. Why? The researchers argue that weak job markets push more workers into accepting relatively undesirable work at nursing homes, leading to better care for residents.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

46. Greater mobility puts younger people at an advantage in seeking new jobs.

47. Many of the older workers laid off during the recession had to accept lower pay in their new jobs.

48. Those who lose their jobs shortly before retirement age live a shorter-than-average life.

49. Seniors at nursing homes could benefit from the weak job market.

50. Age discrimination in employment makes it pointless retraining older workers.

51. According to recent reports and data analyses, boomers suffer most from the weak economy.

52. Unemployed boomers are at a disadvantage in job-hunting because employers tend to hire younger workers.

53. People in their fifties and early sixties bear the heaviest family burdens.

54. People who take benefits from Social Security before official retirement age will get much less for the rest of their lives.

55. Older workers' choice of jobs can be limited because of disability.

 Section C

 Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked'A．,B．, C． and D．.

You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

 Passage One

 Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.

 New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling (骑车的) passengers on those shining blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up riders at their expense?

 At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, manager W. Ben said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to the bike-share program."It's getting more people on the road," he said. James Ryan, an employee at Danny's Cycles in Gramercy also said Citi Bike is a good option for people to ease into biking in a city famed for its traffic jams and aggressive drivers."They can try out a bike without committing to buying one," he said.

Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny's Cycles. But for Frank's Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90％ since Citi Bike was rolled out last month.

 Arroyo's main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.

 However, Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop."People have used the bike- share and realized how great it is to bike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer for themselves," he noted.

 Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially he was concerned about bike-share, though, he admitted, "I was happy to see people on bikes."

 Farrell's early concerns were echoed by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYC Velo, at 64 Second Ave. "It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement," Crooks said of Citi Bike. He saidhe worried about inexperienced riders' lack of awareness of bildng rules and strong negative reaction from non-cyclists. However, he said, it's still too early to tell ff his business has been impacted.

While it's possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks allowed that the idea is a positive step forward for New York City.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

56. What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?

A． How non-cyclists will respond to it.

B． Whether local bike shops will suffer.

C． Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.

D． How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.

57. What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of the bike-share program?

A． It found its bike sales unaffected.

B． It shifted its business to rentals.

C． It saw its bike sales on the rise.

D． It rented more bikes to tourists.

58. Why is the bike-share program bad news for Frank's Bike Shop?

A． It cannot meet the demand of the bike-share program.

B． Its customers have been drawn away by Citi Bikes.

C． Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.

D． It has to compete with the city's bike rental shops.

59. Why did Andrew Crooks think that the bike-share program would be difficult to execute?

A． Inexperienced riders might break biking rules.

B． Conflicts might arise among bike rental shops.

C． Traffic conditions might worsen in the downtown area.

D． There are not enough lanes to accommodate the bikes.

60. What is the general attitude of local bike shops towards Citi Bike?

A． Wait-and-see.

B． Negative.

C． Indifferent.

D． Approving.

Passage Two

Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to measurable improvements in learning. Between 1980 and 2008, staff and teachers at U.S. public schools grew roughly twice as fast as students. Yet students showed no additional learning in achievement tests.

Universities show similar trends of increased administration personnel and costs without greater learning, as documented in Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's recent book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses.

A survey shows that 63% of employers say that recent college graduates don't have the sldlls they need to succeed and 25% of employers say that entry-level writing skills are lacking.