2014年12月四级真题第2套

2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第二套）PartIWriting（30minutes）Directions:Forthispart,.youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayaboutacoursethathasimpressedyoumostincollege.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutNomorethan180words.PartIIListeningComprehension(30minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD),anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheetIwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.1.A)Shewillgopurchasethegiftherself.B)Thegiftshouldnotbetooexpensive.C)Themanisnotgoodatbalancinghisbudget.D)TheyaregoingtoJane’shouse-warmingparty.2.A)Ittakespatiencetogothroughthestatistics.B)Hehaspreparedthestatisticsforthewoman.C)Thewomanshouldtakeacourseinstatistics.D)Heisquitewillingtogivethewomanahand.3.A)Themanwantstomakesomechangeinthescripts.B)Thewomandoesnottaketherecordingseriously.C)Theycannotbegintheirrecordingrightaway.D)Page55ismissingfromthewoman’sscripts.4.A)AsignificanteventinJuly.B)Preparationsforawedding.C)ThedateofCarl’swedding.D)ThebirthdayofCarl’sbride.5.A)Themanwasinchargeofschedulingmeetings.B)Themanwasabsentfromtheweeklymeeting.C)Theywomanwasannoyedattheman’sexcuse.D)Thewomanforgottotellthemaninadvance.6.A)Thewomanisamarvelouscook.B)Themancannotwaitforhismeal.C)Thewomanhasjustboughtanoven.D)Themanhastoleaveinhalfanhour.7.A)Whetherthemancankeephisjob.B)Wherethemangotthebadnews.C)Whatitemssellwellinthestore.D)Howshecanbesthelptheman.8.A)Thewomancansignupforaswimmingclass.B)Heworksinthephysicaleducationdepartment.C)Thewomanhasthepotentialtoswimlikeafish.D)Hewouldliketoteachthewomanhowtoswim.Questions9to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.9.A)Heteachesinalawschool.B)Helovesclassicalmusic.C)Heisadiplomat.D)Heisawonderfullecturer.10.A)Wenttoseeaplay.B)Watchedasoccergame.C)Tooksomephotos.D)Attendedadance.11.A)Shedecidedtogetmarriedinthreeyears.B)HermotherobjectedtoEric’sflyinglessons.C)SheinsistedthatEricpursuegraduatestudies.D)HerfathersaidshecouldmarryEricrightaway.Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)Editor.B)Teacher.C)Journalist.D)Typist.13.A)ThebeautifulAmazonrainforests.B)Anewrailwayunderconstruction.C)BigchangesintheAmazonvalley.D)Somenewlydiscoveredscenicspot.14.A)Innewsweeklies.B)Innewspapers’Sundayeditions.C)Inalocaleveningpaper.D)InoverseaseditionsofU.S.magazines.15.A)Tobeemployedbyanewspaper.B)Tobecomeaprofessionalwriter.C)Tosellherarticlestonewsservice.D)Togetherlifestorypublishedsoon.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheetIwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions16to18arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.16.A)Noddingone’shead.B)Wavingone’shand.C)Holdinguptheforefinger.D)Turningtherightthumbdown.17.A)Lookingawayfromthem.B)Formingacirclewithfingers.C)Bowingone’sheadtothem.D)Wavingorpointingtothem.18.A)Lookingone’ssuperiorintheeye.B)Keepingone’sarmsfoldedwhiletalking.C)Showingthesoleofone’sfoottoaguest.D)Usingalotofgesturesduringaconversation.PassageTwoQuestions19to21arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.19.A)Theyhadtobegforfoodaftertheharvest.B)Theygrewwheatandcornonasmallfarm.C)Theysharedasmallflatwiththeirrelatives.D)Thechildrenwalkedtoschoolondirtroads.20.A)TourEcuador’sAndesMountains.B)Earnananimalincomeof$2,800.C)Purchaseaplottobuildahomeon.D)Sendtheirchildrentoschool.21.A)TheachievementsoftheTrickleUpProgram.B)Anewworldwideeconomicrevolution.C)Differentformsofassistancetotheneedy.D)Thelifeofpoorpeopleindevelopingcountries.PassageThreeQuestions22to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.22.A)Theyarehighlysensitivetocold.B)Theyarevitallyimportanttoourlife.C)Theyarealivingpartofourbody.D)Theyareachiefsourceofourpain.23.A)Ithastoberemovedintimebyadentist.B)Itisarareoraldiseaseamongoldpeople.C)Itcontainsmanynervesandbloodvessels.D)Itisastickyandcolorlessfilmontheteeth.24.A)Itcanchangeintoacidscausingdamagetotheiroutercovering.B)Itgreatlyreducestheirresistancetotheattacksofbacteria.C)Itmakestheirnervesandbloodvesselsmoresensitivetoacidfood.D)Itcombineswithfoodparticlestoformafilmontheirsurface.25.A)Foodparticles.B)Gumdisease.C)Unhealthylivinghabits.D)Chemicalerosion.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Stuntpeople(替身演员)arenotmoviestars,buttheyarethehiddenheroesofmanymovies.Theywerearoundlongbeforefilms.EvenShakespearemayhaveusedtheminfightscenes.Tobegood,afightscenehastolookreal.Punchesmust26enemies’jaws.Swordfightsmustbefoughtwith27swords.Severalactorsarcusuallyinafightscene.Theirmovesmustbesetupsothatnoonegetshurt.Itisalmostlikeplanningadanceperformance.Ifamoviesceneisdangerous,stuntpeopleusually28thestars.YoumaythinkyouseeTomCruiserunningalongthetopofatrain.Butitis29hisstuntdouble.Stuntpeoplemust30thestarstheystandinfor.Theirheightandbuildshouldbeaboutthesame.Butwhenclose-upsareneeded,thefilm31thestar.Somestuntpeople32incertainkindsofscenes.Forinstance,astuntwomannamedJanDavisdoesallkindsofjumps.Shehasleaptfromplanesandevenoffthetopofawaterfall.Eachjumprequiredcarefulplanningandexpert33.YakimaCanuttwasafamouscowboystuntman.Amongotherstunts,hecouldjumpfromasecondstorywindowontoahorse’sback.He34thefamoustrickofslidingunderamovingstagecoach.Canuttalso35anewwaytomakeapunchlookreal.HewastheonlystuntmanevertogetanOscar.PartIIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage:Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions36to45arebasedonthefollowingpassage.AsanAlaskanfisherman,TimothyJune,54,usedtothinkthathewassafefromindustrialpollutants(污染物)athishomeinHaines—atownwithapopulationof2,400peopleand4,000eagles,with8millionacresofprotectedwildlandnearby.Butinearly2007,Juneagreedtotakepartina36of35Americansfromsevenstates.Itwasabiomonitoringproject,inwhichpeople’sbloodandurine(尿)weretestedfor37ofchemicals—inthiscase,threepotentiallydangerousclassesofcompoundsfoundincommonhousehold38likefacecream,tincans,andshowercurtains.Theresults—39inNovemberinareportcalled“IsItinUs?”byanenvironmentalgroup—wereratherworrying.Everyoneoftheparticipants,40fromanIllinoisstatesenatortoaMassachusettsminister,testedpositiveforallthreeclassesofpollutants.Andwhilethe41presenceofthesechemicalsdoesnot42indicateahealthrisk,thefactthattypicalAmericanscarrythesechemicalsatall43Juneandhisfellowparticipants.Clearly,therearechemicalsinourbodiesthatdon’t44there.Alarge,ongoingstudyconductedbytheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionhasfound148chemicalsinAmericansofallages.Andin2005,theEnvironmentalWorkingGroupfoundan45of200chemicalsinthebloodof10new-borns.“Ourbabiesarebeingbornpre-polluted,”saysSharylePattonofCommonweal,whichcosponsored“IsItinUs?”“Thisisgoingtobethenextbigenvironmentalissueafterclimatechange.” A)analysesB)averageC)belongD)demonstratedE)excessF)extendingG)habituallyH)necessarily I)productsJ)rangingK)releasedL)shockedM)simpleN)surveyO.tracesSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.InHardEconomyforAllAges,OlderIsn’tBetter...It’sBrutal[A]Younggraduatesareindebt,outofworkandontheirparents’couches.Peopleintheir30sand40scan’taffordtobuyhomesorhavechildren.Retireesareearningnear-zerointerestontheirsavings.[B]Inthecurrentlistless(缺乏活力的)economy,everygenerationhasaclaimtohavingbeenmostinjured.ButtheLaborDepartment’slatestjobsreportsandotherrecentdatapresentastrongcaseforcrowningbabyboomers(二战后生育高峰期出生的人)asthegreatestvictimsoftherecessionanditsdreadfulconsequences.[C]TheseAmericansintheir50sandearly60s—thosenearretirementagewhodonotyethaveaccesstoMedicareandSocialSecurity—havelostthemostearningspowerofanyagegroup,withtheirhouseholdincomes10percentbelowwhattheymadewhentherecoverybeganthreeyearsago,accordingtoSentierResearch,adataanalysiscompany.Theirretirementsavingsandhomevaluesfellsharplyattheworstpossibletime:justbeforetheyneededtocashout.Theyaresupportingbothagedparentsandunemployedyoung-adultchildren,earningthemtheunluckynickname“GenerationSqueeze”.[D]Newresearchsuggeststhattheymaydiesooner,becausetheirhealth,incomesecurityandmentalwell-beingwerebattered(重创)byrecessionatacrucialtimeintheirlives.ArecentstudybyeconomistsatWellesleyCollegefoundthatpeoplewholosttheirjobsinthefewyearsbeforebecomingqualifiedforSocialSecuritylostuptothreeyearsfromtheirlifeexpectancy(预期寿命),largelybecausetheynolongerhadaccesstoaffordablehealthcare.[E]UnemploymentratesforAmericansnearingretirementarefarlowerthanthoseforyoungpeople,whoarerecentlyoutofschool,withfewerskillsandashorterworkhistory.Butonceoutofajob,olderworkershaveamuchhardertimefindinganotherone.Overthelastyear,theaveragedurationofunemploymentforolderpeoplewas53weeks,comparedwith19weeksforteenagers,accordingtotheLaborDepartment’sjobsreportreleasedonFriday.[F]Thelengthyprocessispartlybecauseolderworkersaremorelikelytohavebeenlaidofffromindustriesthataredownsizing,likemanufacturing.Comparedwiththerestofthepopulation,olderpeoplearealsomorelikelytoowntheirownhomesandbelessmobilethanrenters,whocanmovetonewjobmarkets.[G]Olderworkersaremorelikelytohaveadisabilityofsomesort,perhapslimitingtherangeofjobsthatofferrealisticchoices.Theymayalsobelessinclined,atleastinitially,totakejobsthatpayfarlessthantheiroldpositions.[H]Displacedboomersalsobelievetheyarevictimsofagediscrimination,becauseemployerscaneasilyfindayoung,energeticworkerwhowillacceptlowerpayandwhocanpotentiallystickaroundfordecadesratherthanafewyears.[I]Inasurveyofolderworkerswhowerelaidoffduringtherecession,justoneinsixhadfoundanotherjob,andhalfofthatgrouphadacceptedpaycuts.14%ofthere-employedsaidthepayintheirnewjobwaslessthanhalfwhattheyearnedintheirpreviousjob.“Ijustsaytomyself:‘Whyme?WhathaveIdonetodeservethis?’”saidJohnAgati,56,whoselastfull-timejob,asaproductdeveloper,endedfouryearsagowhenhisemployerwentoutofbusiness.Thatpositionpaid$90,000,andhisresumelistsjobsatcompanieslikeAmericanExpress,DisneyandUSANetworks.Sincebeinglaidoff,though,hehasworkedaseriesofpart-time,low-wage,temporarypositions,includingsellingshoesatLord&Taylorandmakingsalescallsforacarcompany.[J]Thelastfewyearshavetakenatoilnotonlyonhisfamily’sfinances,butalsoonhisfeelingsofself-worth.“Youjustgetsad,”Mr.Agatisaid.“Iseepeoplegettingupinthemorning,goingouttotheircareersandgoinghome.IjustwishIwasdoingthat.Somepeopledon’tliketheirjobs,ortheyhaveproblemswiththeirjobs,butatleastthey’reworking.IjustwishIwasintheirshoes.”Hesaidhecannotaffordtogobacktoschool,asmanyyoungerpeoplewithoutjobshavedone.Evenifhecouldaffordit,economistssayitisunclearwhetherolderworkerslikehimbenefitmuchfrommoreeducation.[K]“Itjustdoesn’tmakesensetoofferretrainingforpeople55andolder,”saidDanielHamermesh,aneconomicsprofessor.“Discriminationbyage,long-termunemployment,andthefactthatthey’renowattheendofthehiringqueuejustdon’tmakeitsensibletoinvestinthem.”[L]Manydisplacedolderworkersaretakingthismessagetoheartandleavingthelaborforceentirely.TheshareofolderpeopleapplyingforSocialSecurityearlyrosequicklyduringtherecessionaspeoplesoughtwhateverincometheycouldfind.Thepenaltytheywillpayispermanent,asretireeswhotakebenefitsatage62willreceiveasmuchas30%lessineachmonth’scheckfortherestoftheirlivesthantheywouldiftheyhadwaiteduntilfullretirementage(66forthosebornafter1942).[M]ThosenotyetqualifiedforSocialSecurityareincreasinglyapplyingforanother,comparablekindofincomesupportthatoftengoestopeoplewhoexpectnevertoworkagain:disabilitybenefits.Morethanoneineightpeopleintheirlate50sisnowonsomeformoffederaldisabilityinsuranceprogram,accordingtoProfessorMarkDugganattheUniversityofPennsylvania’sWhartonSchool.[N]TheveryoldestAmericans,ofcourse,werebatteredbysomeofthesameillwindsthattormented(折磨)thosenownearingretirement,butatleastthemostseniorwerecushionedbyamorereadilyavailablesocialsafetynet.Moreimportant,inastatisticaltwist,theymayhaveactuallybenefitedfromthefinancialcrisisinthemostfundamentalway:longerlives.[O]Deathratesforpeopleover65havehistoricallyfallenduringrecessions,accordingtoaNovember2011studybyeconomistsattheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis.Why?Theresearchersarguethatweakjobmarketspushmoreworkersintoacceptingrelativelyundesirableworkatnursinghomes,leadingtobettercareforresidents.46.Greatermobilityputsyoungerpeopleatanadvantageinseekingnewjobs.47.Manyoftheolderworkerslaidoffduringtherecessionhadtoacceptlowerpayintheirnewjobs.48.Thosewholosetheirjobsshortlybeforeretirementageliveashorter-than-averagelife.49.Seniorsatnursinghomescouldbenefitfromtheweakjobmarket.50.Agediscriminationinemploymentmakesitpointlessretrainingolderworkers.51.Accordingtorecentreportsanddataanalyses,boomerssuffermostfromtheweakeconomy.52.Unemployedboomersareatadisadvantageinjob-huntingbecauseemployerstendtohireyoungerworkers.53.Peopleintheirfiftiesandearlysixtiesbeartheheaviestfamilyburdens.54.PeoplewhotakebenefitsfromSocialSecuritybeforeofficialretirementagewillgetmuchlessfortherestoftheirlives.55.Olderworkers’choiceofjobscanbelimitedbecauseofdisability.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonfollowingpassage.NewYorkersaregraduallygettingusedtomorepedaling(骑车的)passengersonthoseshiningblueCitiBikes.Butwhataboutlocalbikeshops?IsCitiBikerollingupridersattheirexpense?AtGothamBikesinTribeca,managerW.Bensaidtheshophasseenanincreaseinitsoverallsalesduetothebike-shareprogram.“It’sgettingmorepeopleontheroad,”hesaid.JamesRyan,anemployeeatDanny’sCyclesinGramercyalsosaidCitiBikeisagoodoptionforpeopletoeaseintobikinginacityfamedforitstrafficjamsandaggressivedrivers.“Theycantryoutabikewithoutcommittingtobuyingone,”hesaid.RentalsarenotabigpartofthebusinessateitherGothamBikesorDanny’sCycles.ButforFrank’sBikeShop,asmallbusinessonGrandSt.,thebike-shareprogramhasbeenbadnews.OwnerFrankArroyosaidhisrentalbusinesshasdecreasedby90%sinceCitiBikewasrolledoutlastmonth.Arroyo’smainrentalcustomersareEuropeantourists,whohavesincebeendrawnawaybyCitiBikes.However,Bensaidthebike-shareisgoodforbikesalesathisshop.“Peoplehaveusedthebike-shareandrealizedhowgreatitistobikeinthecity,thendecidethattheywantsomethingnicerforthemselves,”henoted.ChristianFarrellofWaterfrontBicycleShop,onWestSt.justnorthofChristopherSt.,saidinitiallyhewasconcernedaboutbike-share,though,headmitted,“Iwashappytoseepeopleonbikes.”Farrell’searlyconcernswereechoedbyAndrewCrooks,ownerofNYCVelo,at64SecondAve.“Itseemedlikeagreatidea,butonethatwouldbedifficulttoimplement,”CrookssaidofCitiBike.Hesaidheworriedaboutinexperiencedriders’lackofawarenessofbikingrulesandstrongnegativereactionfromnon-cyclists.However,hesaid,it’sstilltooearlytotellifhisbusinesshasbeenimpacted.Whileit’spossiblebike-sharewillcauseadropinbusiness,CrooksallowedthattheideaisapositivestepforwardforNewYorkCity.56.Whatistheauthor’schiefconcernabouttheincreasinguseofCitiBikesinNewYork?A)Hownon-cyclistswillrespondtoit.B)Whetherlocalbikeshopswillsuffer.C)Whetherlocalbikebusinesseswillopposeit.D)Howthesafetyofbikeriderscanbeensured.57.WhathappenedtoGothamBikesasaresultofthebike-shareprogram?A)Itfounditsbikesalesunaffected.B)Itshifteditsbusinesstorentals.C)Itsawitsbikesalesontherise.D)Itrentedmorebikestotourists.58.Whyisthebike-shareprogrambadnewsforFrank’sBikeShop?A)Itcannotmeetthedemandofthebike-shareprogram.B)ItscustomershavebeendrawnawaybyCitiBikes.C)Itsbikepriceshavetobeloweredagainandagain.D)Ithastocompetewiththecity’sbikerentalshops.59.WhydidAndrewCrooksthinkthatthebike-shareprogramwouldbedifficulttoexecute?A)Inexperiencedridersmightbreakbikingrules.B)Conflictsmightariseamongbikerentalshops.C)Trafficconditionsmightworseninthedowntownarea.D)Therearenotenoughlanestoaccommodatethebikes.60.WhatisthegeneralattitudeoflocalbikeshopstowardsCitiBike?A)Wait-and-see.B)Negative.C)Indifferent.D)Approving.PassageTwoQuestions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Variousstudieshaveshownthatincreasedspendingoneducationhasnotledtomeasurableimprovementsinlearning.Between1980and2008,staffandteachersatU.S.publicschoolsgrewroughlytwiceasfastasstudents.Yetstudentsshowednoadditionallearninginachievementtests.Universitiesshowsimilartrendsofincreasedadministrationpersonnelandcostswithoutgreaterlearning,asdocumentedinRichardArumandJosipaRoksa’srecentbookAcademicallyAdrift:LimitedLearningonCollegeCampuses.Asurveyshowsthat63%ofemployerssaythatrecentcollegegraduatesdon’thavetheskillstheyneedtosucceedand25%ofemployerssaythatentry-levelwritingskillsarelacking.Somesimplisticallyattributethedeclineinourpubliceducationsystemtothedrainofskilledstudentsbyprivateschools,butfarmoresignificanteventswereatwork.Publicschoolsworkedwelluntilaboutthe1970s.Infact,untilthattime,publicschoolsprovidedfarbettereducationthanprivateones.Itwastheunderperformingstudentswhowerethrownoutofpublicschoolsandwenttoprivateones.Aprominentreasonpublicschoolsdidwellwasthatmanyhighlyqualifiedwomenhadfewoptionsforworkingoutsidethehouseotherthanbeingteachersornurses.Theyacceptedrelativelylowpay,difficultworkingconditions,andgavetheirverybest.Havingsuchalargesupplyoftalentedwomenteachersmeantthatsocietycouldpaylessfortheirservices.Women’sliberationopenedupnewprofessionalopportunitiesforwomen,and,overtime,someofthebestleftteachingasacareeroption,bringingaboutagradualdeclineinthequalityofschooling.Alsoaroundthattime,regulations,government,andunionscametodictatepay,preventadjustments,andintroducebureaucratic(官僚的)standardforadvancement.Largeeducationbureaucraciesandunionscametodominatethelandscape,confusingactivitywithachievement.Bureaucratsregularlyrewritecurricula,talknonsenseabouttheoriesofeducation,andrequireevermoreadministrators.Theendresulthasbeenthat,afterallthespending,studentshaveworsemathandreadingskillsthanboththeirforeignpeersandearliergenerationsspendingfarlessoneducation—asalltheaccumulatingevidencenowdocuments.61.WhatdowelearnfromvariousstudiesonAmerica’spubliceducation?A)Achievementtestshavefailedtotrulyreflectthequalityofteaching.B)Publicschools-lacktheresourcestocompetewithprivateschools.C)Littleimprovementineducationhasresultedfromincreasedspending.D)Thenumberofstudentshasincreasedmuchfasterthanthatofteachers.62.Howdosomepeopleexplainthedeclineinpubliceducation?A)Governmentinvestmentdoesnotmeetschools’needs.B)Skilledstudentsaremovingtoprivateschools.C)Qualifiedteachersarefarfromadequatelypaid.D)Trainingofstudents’basicskillsisneglected.63.Whatwasasignificantcontributortothepast