四级模拟考试试卷

大学英语四级模拟考试试卷 Part Ⅰ Writing (30 minutes) Direction: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic of “Low-carbon Life”. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below. 1.低碳生活方式受到人们的欢迎 2.低碳生活的意义 3.我们应该…… Low-carbon Life ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ PartⅡ Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes) Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Time Off from Work Gains in Importance American workers are saying they need a break. As their number of hours clocked on the job has crept higher, more time off has become a bigger priority. In the past few years, human resources experts say time off has consistently placed among the top three employee concerns, along with compensation and staffing levels, whereas it used to be farther down the list. In a Salary.com poll taken online in November 2004, 39% of workers said if given the choice, they would choose time off over the equivalent in additional base salary. Of course, most of the 4,600 respondents are still opting for the bigger paycheck, but the desire for time off is up almost 20% from just three years ago when Salary.com conducted a similar poll. The reasons for this shift are many and varied. Some have to do with the way a new generation is thinking about work, while others are driven by how companies are responding to recent economic pressures. A New Generation The results may in part represent the needs of a new breed of workers. The average American is working one month (160 hours) more each year than a generation ago. According to recruiting and human capital management expert John Sumser, younger workers work for meaning first and money second. He goes on to warn employers that these are the people who are the foundation for the next workforce and they may not buy the existing paradigm (范例). A study released in late 2004 by the New York-based Families and Work Institute concludes that the new brand of young workers is rejecting the work-centric style of their parents’ generatio n. The study, which examines changes in the workforce over the past 25 years, found that younger workers are more likely to be “family-centric” or “dual-centric” (with equal priorities on both career and family) rather than “work-centric” when compared to members of the Boomer Generation. September 11th and the End of the Roaring Nineties The impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11th cut across all age groups of the workforce. We collectively entered a new era, reevaluating life’s priorities and making changes in our attitude toward time spent at work versus hobbies and family. “I started looking at things completely differently. I’ve been far less willing to put in the 14-hour days necessary to get noticed and climb the corporate ladder,” said Tony Jackson, a 43-year-old employee of a New York City-based financial services company. “Frankly, I can’t see that changing.” Even before September 11th, some experts say the slow shift in worker attitudes was already underway due to the end of the roaring 1990’s, when hours were long and significant personal wealth was created. For those who fared well financially, some opted for careers of contract work where they could call more of the shots pertaining to (与……有关的) time off, or new occupations with greater personal rewards. For others, even if their bank accounts were not spilling over from America’s economic heyday (全盛时期), their own energy had been depleted due to unrelenting (毫不松懈的) years of work hours and high stress. They were ready for something less taxing. Families and Work Institute President and co-founder Ellen Galinsky agrees. She says the Salary.com poll numbers show evidence of an increase in need for time off and a shift in thinking due to the fact that workers have been pushed to their limit in recent years. “This new generation of workers is at the edge of how long they can work. It just feels like too much. They are not slackers (懒虫); they just don’t want more,” says Galinsky. Monetary Needs Less Intense Due to Dual Income Households “We’ve decided we prefer to have more time to ourselves,” says Carol Kornhaber, a New England software programmer in her late twenties. Kornhaber and her husband are both working but have sought out jobs where they are not pressed to put in long hours. Instead, they have insisted upon eight-hour days and having enough vacation time to travel, a major interest they share. Financial pressures are eased by both of them working and keeping a careful watch on their expenses. “We are lucky in a lot of ways to have found bosses who understand our needs.” Burnout Trying to squeeze more productivity out of workers may be nothing new, but it has become particularly acute in recent years. This has been due in large measure to recession-induced layoffs and other trends such as the rising cost of healthcare benefits. After a layoff, workers who remain behind are often asked to pick up most or even all the load of the people who were let go, requiring more and more hours at the office. As new corporate initiatives are planned, the inverse is also true. As Sumser observes, “the additional workload, which runs across the economy from the office worker to the manufacturing line, seems to be a function of the cost of benefits. The regulations make it cheaper to add workload for existing employees than to hire new players.” T he Families and Work Institute reports that nearly one third of U.S. employees often or very often feel overworked or overwhelmed by how much work they have to do. Nearly three out of four report that they frequently dream about doing something different from their current job. Show Me the Money Overworked or not, the majority in the Salary.com poll still chose to fatten their paycheck if given the choice. For many, it was a practical matter. Says Peggy Jones, an accountant in a Boston area business services company, “I already get three weeks a year that I can’t use up because I’m so busy. I’d definitely go for the extra money to pay some bills or make a big purchase I’ve been holding off on.” For Jones, the realities of running a household and saving up for college for her children simply need to take precedence over extra free time. Companies Are Already Responding To many human resources experts it is inevitable that, given the growing health of the economy and the upcoming population-driven labor shortages as the Boomer Generation moves into retirement, the pendulum of control in the employee-employer relationship will swing back to the employee side. That is expected to begin in just a few years. According to human resources expert, Larry Schumer, at Salary.com, “since most companies succeed based on a motivated and capable workforce, they have offered and will continue to offer more paid flexibility, whether it be through tried and tested time-off programs or the next great idea.” Where those new balances of employer versus employee will need lie? Time, or perhaps time off, surely will tell. 1. Which of the following has been rising in importance in the past few years? A) Compensation. B) Time off. C) Right to vote. D) Staffing levels. 2. According to the passage, we know that the Boomer Generation is concerned ________. A) about family and work equally B) more about work C) more about family D) about neither work nor family 3. What can be inferred about Tony Jackson? A) He is 43 years old. B) He works in a financial services company. C) He has changed his life and work attitude. D) He spends 14 hours a day on his work. 4. When did American workers gradually begin to change their attitudes towards work? A) After September 11. B) In November 2004. C) In late 2004. D) At the end of the roaring 1990’s. 5. According to Ellen Galinsky, why did workers change their mind about work? A) They have been pushed to the limit of their working hours. B) They increased their need to enjoy life. C) They have more rights than before. D) They don’t want to work for a living. 6. Carol Kornhaber and her husband don’t have too much fina ncial pressure because ___________. A) they have parents who are rich B) they don’t have children to feed C) they both have a high salary D) they both have work and they are thrifty 7. After a layoff, the employees who keep their jobs usually have to ___________. A) find another job in case they are fired B) do what their bosses tell them to C) work longer hours to avoid being fired D) do the work left by the laid-off workers 8. According to Salary.com, compared with three years ago, the desire for time off is up almost ________. 9. According to the poll from Salary.com, the majority of employees preferred to ________ if they had the choice. 10. Larry Schumer said that most companies succeeded based on a motivated and capable __________. Part III Listening Comprehension (35 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 2 with a single line through the centre. 11.[A] The man is out of shape. [B] The man doesn’t need a new racket. [C] The man also needs new tennis shoes. [D] The man spent too much on his tennis shoes. 12.[A] She prefers chemistry. [B] She hasn’t got a partner yet. [C] She is too tired of chemistry. [D] She is too busy to work on her chemistry. 13.[A] Customer and waitress. [B] Teacher and student. [C] Boss and secretary. [D] Lawyer and client. 14.[A] He was satisfied with the service on the ship. [B] It was the first time he had been abroad. [C] He had never been on a warship. [D] He has been on the warship before. 15.[A] He is confident. [B] He is worried. [C] He is bored. [D] He is angry. 16.[A] The woman offered to help the man find his box. [B] Th e man doesn’t know where to go. [C] The woman will buy the man’s lunch for him. [D] The woman will give the man a treatment. 17.[A] It’s enjoyable. [B] It’s terrific. [C] It’s too modern. [D] It’s old-fashioned. 18.[A] Near the stairs. [B] On the platfomp3. [C] At the ticket office. [D] At the information desk. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19.[A] In a college bookstore. [B] In a lecture hall. [C] In a library. [D] In a domp3itory. 20.[A] English. [B] Biology. [C] Introduction to English Literature. [D] A required course. 21.[A] He lives on the 10th floor of Butler Hall. [B] He never wants to listen to students. [C] He used to teach biology. [D] He is an excellent professor. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22.[A] When to move. [B] Where to live the following year. [C] How much time to spend at home. [D] Whose house to visit. 23.[A] Take some money to the housing office. [B] Infomp3 the director of student housing in a letter. [C] Fill out a fomp3 in the library. [D] Maintain a high grade average. 24.[A] Both live on campus. [B] Both live off campus. [C] The man lives on campus; the woman lives off campus. [D] The woman lives on campus; the man lives off campus. 25.[A] Grades. [B] Privacy. [C] Sports. [D] Money. 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 2 with a single line through the centre. Passage One Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. [A] The degree of violence in progmp3s is too high. [B] There shouldn’t be any commercials on television. [C] Watching too much television is undesirable for children. [D] Television progmp3s in the United States are of low quality. 27. [A] A recreational progmp3. [B] An educational progmp3. [C] A progmp3 for cartoons. [D] A progmp3 for commercials. 28. [A] They will become inactive and dull. [B] They will not go to cinemas as often. [C] They will forget to do their homework. [D] They will imitate what they see in the progmp3s. Passage Two Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29. [A] Different kinds of crimes. [B] Increasingly high crime rate in the U.S. [C] Seasonal changes in the natural environment. [D] The relations between changes in the season and crime patterns. 30. [A] February [B] May [C] July [D] August 31. [A] Few people get married in June. [B] Most people read serious books in summer. [C] More people have mental problems in June than in other months. [D] One is most likely to make the best perfomp3ance on examinations in summer. Passage Three Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 32. [A] It is hamp3ful to the body only. [B] It is good to personal relationship. [C] It is hamp3ful to the body and mind. [D] It is a good change after idling for a long time. 33. [A] Personal relationships should come after one’s job. [B] People should care more about their personal relationships and relaxation. [C] When a job is very important, relaxation should be forgotten. [D] Personal relationships can help people do their jobs well. 34. [A] He should relax and have a chat with friends while working. [B] He should not relax until he finishes his work. [C] He should play hard to fully relax himself. [D] He should shift some of his work to his colleagues. 35. [A] Work and play are different activities. [B] Work and play should be combined together. [C] People should play more and work less. [D] People should work more and play less. Section C Directions: In this section .you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the first time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36to43 with the exact words you have just heard. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Crime is increasing world wide. There is every reason to believe the (36) ____will continue through the next few decades. Crime rates have always been high in multicultural, industrialized societies such as the United States, but a new (37) ____has appeared on the world (38) ____rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few (39) ____. Street crimes such as robbery, rape (40) ___and auto theft are clearly rising (41) ___in eastern European countries such as Hungary and in western European nations such as the United Kingdom. What is driving this crime (42) ____? There are no simple answers. Still,there are certain conditions(43) _______with rising crime increasing heterogeneity (混杂) of populations, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of government,(44)_____________________________________________________________________ ______________ These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogeneous(同种类的) ,such as Japan, Denmark and Greece (45)________________________________________________________________________ Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the twenty-first century, and (46) _______________________________________________ Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (35 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. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage. Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its 47 lie mainly in blues, rhythm and blues, country, folk, gospel, and jazz. The style subsequently spread to the rest of the world and developed further, leading ultimately to 48 rock music. The term “rock and roll” now covers at least two different meanings, both in common usage. The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary both 49 rock and roll as synonymous with rock music. 50, Allwords.com defines the term as referring specifically to the music of the 1950s. Classic rock and roll is 51 played with one or two electric guitars, a string bass or an electric bass guitar, and a drum kit. In the 52 rock and roll styles of the late 1940s, either the piano or saxophone was often the lead instrument, but these were generally 53 or supplemented by the guitar in the middle to late 1950s. The massive popularity and eventual worldwide view of rock and roll gave it a 54 social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll, as seen in movies and in the new medium of television, 55 lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. It went on to spawn various sub-genres, often without the initially 56 backbeat, that are now more commonly called simply “rock music” or “rock”. A) define F) Basically K) explanation B) characteristic G) earliest L) Conversely C) unique H) influenced M) replaced D) roots I) followed N) prepare E) usually J) modern O) seldom Section B Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished sentences. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice. Passage One Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage. As concern about swine flu sweeps the globe, the best way to protect yourself from contracting it or other infectious diseases is with a dose of common sense: Wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes and stay home from work or school if you feel ill. These guidelines may seem basic, but they’re effective in ward ing off the spread of infections. Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said, “Control of an outbreak of infectious disease is a shared responsibility. It’s important that individuals realize they hav e a key role to play in reducing their own likelihood of getting infected.” Specifically, people are wise to wash their hands often with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds at a time or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if water isn’t accessible. The CDC also recommends avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth to prevent the spread of germs. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of regular seasonal influenza. People with swine flu often get a fever, headache, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Some also have gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting. Swine flu is a virus that usually affects pigs but appears to have acquired the ability to pass from person to person, though it’s unclear how easily it can be transmitted this way. If you become sick, stay home for the period of infection, which is typically seven days, although children may be contagious for longer. Once on the mend, don’t return to work or schools until at least a day after symptoms have disappeared, Besser said. “Wearing a face mask when out in public isn’t warranted in most cases,” he said. “I know some people feel more comfortable having a mask, and there are certain circumstances where that may be of value, but I would rather people really focus on hand-washing, as well as covering coughs and sneezes.” Other social practices may need to be adjusted, such as the salutary kiss that’s customary in some regions. “If you’re in an affected area or you have the swine flu, it’s probably best not to give a kiss,” Besser said. “But we’re not recommending the end of affection during the period.” 57. To protect yourself from swine flu, it is a good idea to __________. A) have baths frequently B) cover your coughs and sneezes C) stay home from work or school if you feel tired D) eat an apple every day 58. The underlined phrase “warding off” in the second paragraph can be replaced by “_______”. A) investigating B) increasing C) preventing D) decreasing 59. What does Richard Bes ser mean by saying “Control of ... getting infected.”? A) It is the government’s responsibility to fight against infectious diseases. B) It is the patients’ responsibility to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. C) It is everybody’s responsibil ity to control the outbreak of infectious diseases. D) It is doctors’ and experts’ responsibility to fight against infectious diseases. 60. According to the passage, what do we know about swine flu? A) Swine flu can be transmitted easily among pigs but not among people. B) Symptoms of swine flu are different from those of regular seasonal influenza. C) People with swine flu often get a stomachache, headache and toothache. D) Swine flu is a virus that has acquired the ability to pass from person to person. 61. What does Richard Besser think of wearing a face mask? A) It can protect people from getting infected. B) It can make people feel comfortable and is affordable. C) It isn’t as effective as hand-washing and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze. D) It is more effective than hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes. Passage Two Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage. Bananas, always the fashion victims of the produce section, are wearing another new label this spring. Bananas with “Fair Trade Certified” stickers have been available in the United States since October. They represent the new front of an international effort to help first-world consumers improve the living standards of the third-world farmers who grow much of their food. By expanding its reach to the produce section, Fair Trade is now trying to reach the American supermarket shopper. Fair Trade deals directly with farmer cooperatives. It helps organize, avoiding brokers (代理人) and middlemen. It guarantees higher prices for the farmers’ goods and helps them set up schools and health clinics. The Fair Trade movement took root in Europe in the 1990’s as a way of bolstering coffee farmers as prices were collapsing. Since Fair Trade began, more than a million coffee growers and other farmers have joined cooperatives that sell their products through Fair Trade channels instead of directly to a commercial producer. Not everyone is greeting the Fair Trade label with open arms. Several American coffee imp orters recently pulled out of Fair Trade, citing TransFair’s “corporate friendly” policies that allow large companies to use the Fair Trade logo in their marketing even if only a small amount of the company’s overall purchases are Fair Trade certified. Edmund LaMacchia, the national produce coordinator for Whole Foods, said Fair Trade is only one of many consumer choices. “Whole Foods has its own team of inspectors and has no plans to carry Fair Trade products”, Mr. LaMacchia said. “Our standards are high er than Fair Trade’s, actually.” Fair Trade is only one of several labels your bananas might be wearing this year. Another is that of the Rainforest Alliance, which certifies the use of sustainable agriculture methods. So far, though, Fair Trade is the biggest. A Fair Trade label by itself does not guarantee an organic product, but most Fair Trade bananas are also organic, Ms. Bourque said, because pesticides are usually too costly for the small farmers who grow them. If the bananas are organic, they will be labeled as such, and will probably be wearing a sticker to prove it. 62. Why are bananas wearing “Fair Trade Certified” stickers? A) It means bananas are the fashion victims of the produce section. B) It means bananas have got a new label. C) It means bananas with these stickers are available in the United States. D) It represents an international effort to help the third-world farmers. 63. What does Fair Trade do? A) It helps farmers sell their products for a higher profit. B) It appoints brokers and middlemen to deal with farmer cooperatives. C) It brings down the price of farmers’ goods. D) It sets up schools and health clinics for American farmers. 64. What was the original purpose of the Fair Trade movement? A) To cooperate with coffee growers and other farmers. B) To help coffee farmers as prices were collapsing. C) To prevent farmers from selling their products to commercial producers. D) To sell products through coffee growers and other farmers. 65. What can we infer from this passage? A) American coffee importers will never buy their products through Fair Trade channels.