大学英语四级考试真题第一套

1、大学英语四级考试真题及答案第一套大学英语四级考试真题及答案第一套大学英语四级考试真题及答案第一套2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第一套)PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.TheriseoftheInternethasbeenoneofthemosttransformativedevelopmentsinhumanhistory,comparableinimpacttotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph.Overtwobillionpeopleworld

2、widenowhaveaccesstovastlymoreinformationthaneverbefore,andcancommunicatewitheachotherinstantly,oftenusingWeb-connectedmobiledevicestheycarryeverywhere.ButtheInternetstremendousimpacthasonlyjustbegun.MassadoptionoftheInternetisdrivingcultural,andpoliticaltransformationsperiodsofchange,thistimetheeffe

3、ctsareoneofthemostexcitinginhistory,andunlikefullyglobal,Schmidtsocial,earlierandCohenwriteintheirnewbookTheNewDigitalAge.PerhapsthemostprofoundchangeswillcomewhenthefivebillionworldwidewhocurrentlylackInternetaccessgetonline.TheauthorsdoanexcellentjobofexaminingtheimplicationsoftheInternetrevolutio

4、nforindividuals,governments,andinstitutionslikethenewsmedia.Butifthebookhasonemajorshortcoming,itsthatauthorsdontspendenoughtimeapplyingacriticaleyetotheroleofInternetbusinessesintheseweepingchanges.peopleIntheirbook,theauthorsprovidethemostauthoritativevolumetodatethatdescribesandmoreimportantlypre

5、dictshowtheInternetwillshapeourlivesinthecomingdecades.Theypaintapictureofaworldinwhichindividuals,companies,institutions,andgovernmentsmustdealwithtworealities,onephysical,andonevirtual.Atthecoreofthebookistheideathattechnologyisneutral,butpeoplearent.Byusingthisconceptasastartingpoint,theauthorsai

6、mtomovebeyondthenowfamiliaroptimistvs.pessimistdichotomy(对峙看法)thathascharacterizedmanyrecentdebatesaboutwhethertheriseoftheInternetwillultimatelybegoodorbadforsociety.InaninterviewwithTIMEearlierthisweek,Cohensaidalthoughheandhisco-authorareoptimisticaboutmanyaspectsoftheInternet,theyrealsorealistic

7、abouttherisksanddangersthatlieaheadwhenthenextfivebillionpeoplecomeonline,particularlywithrespecttopersonalprivacyandstatesurveillance(督查).InwhatwayistheriseoftheInternetsimilartotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph?Ittransformshumanhistory.Itfacilitatesdailycommunication.Itisadoptedbyallhu

8、manity.D)Itrevolutionizespeoplesthinking.HowdoSchmidtandCohendescribetheeffectsoftheInternet?A)Theyareimmeasurable.B)Theyareworldwide.C)Theyareunpredictable.D)Theyarecontaminating.InwhatrespectisthebookTheNewDigitalAgeconsideredinadequate?A)ItfailstorecognizetheimpactoftheInternettechnology.B)Itfail

9、stolookintothesocialimplicationsoftheInternet.C)ItlacksanobjectiveevaluationoftheroleofInternetbusinesses.D)ItdoesnotaddressthetechnicalaspectsofInternetcommunication.Whatwillthefuturebelikewheneverybodygetsonline?Peoplewillbelivingintwodifferentrealities.Peoplewillhaveequalaccesstoinformation.Peopl

10、edonthavetotraveltoseetheworldPeopledonthavetocommunicatefacetoface.60.WhatdoesthepassagesayabouttheauthorsofTheNewDigitalAge?TheyleavemanyquestionsunansweredconcerningtheInternet.TheyareoptimisticaboutthefutureoftheInternetrevolution.Theyhaveexploredtheunknownterritoriesofthevirtualworld.Theydontta

11、kesidesinanalyzingtheeffectsoftheInternet.PassageTwoIn1950,ayoungmanwouldhavefounditmucheasierthanitistodaytogetandkeepajobintheautoindustry.Andinthatyeardieaverageautoworkercouldmeetmonthlymortgage(抵押贷款)paymentsonanaveragewithjustpercentofhistake-homepay.Todayasimilarmortgagewouldhomeclaimmorethant

12、wicethatshareofhismonthlyearnings.Othermembersoftheautoworkersfamily,howevermightbelessinclinedtotriedthepresentforthepast.Hisretiredparentswouldcertainlyhavehadlesseconomic,securitybackthen.Throughoutmuchofthe1960s,morethanaquarterofmenandwomenandwomenage65andolderlivedbelowthepovertylevel,compared

13、tolessthan10percentin2010.Inmoststates,hiswifecouldnothavetakenoutaloanoracardinherownname.In42states,ahomemakerhadnolegalclaimontheearningsofherhusband.Andnowheredidawifehavelegalprotectionagainstfamilyviolence.Mostblackworkerswouldnotwanttoreturntoatimewhen,onaveragetheyearned40percentlessthanthei

14、rwhitecounterparts(职位相当的人),whiteraciallyrestrictiveagreementslargelypreventedthemfrombuyingintothesuburbanneighborhoodsbeingbuiltforwhiteworking-classfamilies.Today,newproblemshaveemergedintheprocessofresolvingoldones,butthesolutionisnottogobacktothepast.Somepeoplemaylongforanerawhendivorcewasstillh

15、ardtocomeby.Thespreadofno-faultdivorcehasreducedthebargainingpowerofwhicheverspouseismoreinterestedincontinuingtherelationship.Andthebreakupofsuchmarriageshascausedpainformanyfamilies.Thegrowingdiversityoffamilylifecomeswithnewpossibilitiesaswellasnewchallenges.Accordingtoarecentpoll,morethan80perce

16、ntofAmericansbelievethattheircurrentfamilyisascloseastheoneinwhichtheygrewup,orcloser.Findingwaystoimprovethelifeoftheremaining20percentseemsmorerealisticthantryingtorestoreanimaginarygoldenage.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。61.WhatdowelearnaboutAmericanautoworkersin1950?A)Theyhadlessjobsecuritythantheydotoday.I

17、twasnottoodifficultforthemtobuyahouse.Theirearningswereworthtwiceasmuchastoday.Theywerebetteroffthanworkersinotherindustries.Whatdoestheauthoraboutretiredpeopletoday?A)Theyinvariablylongtoreturntothegoldenpast.B)Theydonotdependsomuchonsocialwelfare.C)Theyfeelmoresecureeconomicallythaninthepast.D)The

18、yareusuallyunwillingtolivewiththeirchildren.63.Whycouldntblackworkersbuyahouseinawhitesuburbanneighborhood?Theylackedthemeansoftransportation.Theyweresubjectedtoracialinequality.Theywereafraidtobreakthelaw.Theyweretoopoortoaffordit.64Whatistheresultofno-faultdivorce?Divorceiseasiertoobtain.Domesticv

19、iolenceislessened.ItcauseslittlepaintoeithersideItcontributestosocialunrest.Whatdoestheauthorsuggestsocietydo?A)Getpreparedtofaceanynewchallenges.B)Trytobetterthecurrentsocialsecurity.C)Narrowthegapbetweenblacksandwhites.D)Improvethelivesoffamilieswithproblems.Translation越多的中国年青人正对旅行产生兴趣，这是近来几年来的新趋向

20、。年青旅客数目的不断增添，能够归因于他们快速提升的收入和研究外面世界的好奇心。跟着旅行多了，年青人在大城市和着名景点花的时间少了，他们反而更加偏僻的地方所吸引，有些人甚至选择长途背包旅行。近来检查显示，好多年青人想要经过旅行体验不一样样的文化、丰富知识、拓宽视线。InHardEconomyforAllAges,OlderIsntBetter.ItsBrutalAYounggraduatesareindebt,outofworkandontheirparentsPeopleintheir30sand40scantaffordtobuyhomesorhavechildren.couches.Ret

21、ireesareearningnear-zerointerestontheirsavings.BInthecurrentlistless(缺少活力的)economy,everygenerationhasaclaimtohavingbeenmostinjured.ButtheLaborDepartmentslatestjobsreportsandotherrecentdatapresentastrongcaseforcrowningbabyboomers(二战后生育顶峰期出生的人)A)asthegreatestvictimsoftherecessionanditsdreadfulconseque

22、nces.CTheseAmericansintheir50sandearly60sthosenearretirementagewhodonotyethaveaccesstoMedicareandSocialSecurityhavelostthemostearningspowerofanyagegroup,withtheirhouseholdincomes10percentbelowwhattheymadewhentherecoverybeganthreeyearsago,accordingtoSentierResearch,adataanalysiscompany.Theirretiremen

23、tsavingsandhomevaluesfellsharplyattheworstpossibletime:justbeforetheyneededtocashout.Theyaresupportingbothagedparentsandunemployedyoung-adultchildren,earningthemtheunluckynicknameGenerationSqueeze.DNewresearchsuggeststhattheymaydiesooner,becausetheirhealth,incomesecurityandmentalwell-beingwerebatter

24、ed(重创)byrecessionatacrucialtimeintheirlives.ArecentstudybyeconomistsatWellesleyCollegefoundthatpeoplewholosttheirjobsinthefewyearsbeforebecomingqualifiedforSocialSecuritylostuptothreeyearsfromtheirlifeexpectancy(预期寿命),largelybecausetheynolongerhadaccesstoaffordablehealthcare.EUnemploymentratesforAme

25、ricansnearingretirementarefarlowerthanthoseforyoungpeople,whoarerecentlyoutofschool,withfewerskillsandashorterworkhistory.Butonceoutofajob,olderworkershaveamuchhardertimefindinganotherone.Overthelastyear,theaveragedurationofunemploymentforolderpeoplewas53weeks,comparedwith19weeksforteenagers,accordi

26、ngtotheLaborDepartmentsjobsreportreleasedonFriday.FThelengthyprocessispartlybecauseolderworkersaremorelikelytohavebeenlaidofffromindustriesthataredownsizing,likemanufacturing.Comparedwiththerestofthepopulation,olderpeoplearealsomorelikelytoowntheirownhomesandbelessmobilethanrenters,whocanmovetonewjo

27、bmarkets.GOlderworkersaremorelikelytohaveadisabilityofsomesort,perhapslimitingtherangeofjobsthatofferrealisticchoices.Theymayalsobelessinclined,atleastinitially,totakejobsthatpayfarlessthantheiroldpositions.HDisplacedboomersalsobelievetheyarevictimsofagediscrimination,becauseemployerscaneasilyfinday

28、oung,energeticworkerwhowillacceptlowerpayandwhocanpotentiallystickaroundfordecadesratherthanafewyears.IInasurveyrecession,justbythecenterofolderworkerswhooneinsixhadfoundanotherjob,werelaidoffandhalfofthatduringthegrouphadacceptedpaycuts.14%ofthere-employedsaidthepayintheirnewjobwaslessthanhalfwhatt

29、heyearnedintheirpreviousjob.Ijustsaytomyself:Whyme?Whathave1donetodeservethis?saidJohnAgati,56,whoselastfull-timejob,asaproductdeveloper,endedfouryearsagowhenhisemployerwentoutofbusiness.Thatpositionpaid$90,000,andhisresumelistsjobsatcompanieslikeAmericanExpress,DisneyandUSANetworks.Sincebeinglaidof

30、f,though,hehasworkedaseriesofpart-time,low-wage,temporarypositions,includingsellingshoesatLord&Taylorandmakingsalescallsforacarcompany.JThelastfewyearshavetakenatollnotonlyonhisfamilysfinances,butalsoonhisfeelingsofself-worth.Youjustgetsad,Mr.Agatisaid.Iseepeoplegettingupinthemorning,goingouttotheir

31、careersandgoinghome.IjustwishIwasdoingthat.Somepeopledontliketheirjobs,ortheyhaveproblemswiththeirjobs,butatleasttheyreworking.IjustwishIwasintheirshoes.Hesaidhecannotaffordtogobacktoschool,asmanyyoungerpeoplewithoutjobshavedone.Evenifhecouldaffordit,economistssayitisunclearwhetherolderworkerslikehi

32、mbenefitmuchfrommoreeducation.KItjustdoesntmakesensetoofferretrainingforpeople55andolder,saidDanielHamermesh,aneconomicsprofessor.Discriminationbyage,long-termunemployment,andthefactthattheyrenowattheendofthehiringqueuejustdontmakeitsensibletoinvestinthem.LManydisplacedolderworkersaretakingthismessa

33、getoheartandleavingthelaborforceentirely.TheshareofolderpeopleapplyingforSocialSecurityearlyrosequicklyduringtherecessionaspeoplesoughtwhateverincometheycouldfind.Thepenaltytheywillpayispermanent,asretireeswhotakebenefitsatage62willreceiveasmuchas30%lessineachmonthscheckfortherestoftheirlivesthanthe

34、ywouldiftheyhadwaiteduntilfullretirementage(66forthosebornafter1942).MThosenotyeteligibleforSocialSecurityareincreasinglyapplyingforanother,comparablekindofincomesupportthatoftengoestopeoplewhoexpectnevertoworkagain:disabilitybenefits.Morethanoneineightpeopleintheirlate50sisnowonsomeformoffederaldis

35、abilityinsuranceprogram,accordingtoMarkDuggan,chairmanofthedepartmentofbusinesseconomicsandpublicpolicyattheUniversityofPennsylvaniasWhartonSchool.NTheveryoldestAmericans,ofcourse,werebatteredbysomeofthesameillwindsthattormentedthosenownearingretirement,butatleastthemostseniorwerecushionedbyamorerea

36、dilyavailablesocialsafetynet.Moreimportant,inastatisticaltwist,theymayhaveactuallybenefitedfromthefinancialcrisisinthemostfundamentalway:prolongedlives.ODeathrecessions,ratesforaccordingpeopleover65havetoaNovember2011historicallystudybyfalleneconomistsduringattheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis.Why?Theresearchersarguethatweakjobmarketspushmoreworkersintoacceptingrelativelyundesirableworkatnursinghomes,leadingtobettercareforresident