英语考级-2020年12月四级真题第1套

2020年12月英语四级第1套PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteonthetopicChangesintheWayofEducation.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartIIListeningComprehension(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecenter.Questions1and2arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.1.A)ManypeoplehavebeenattackedbyDevilFirefish.B)TheMediterraneanisanaturalhabitatofDevilFirefish.C)Invasivespeciesaredrivingawaycertainnativespecies.D)AdeadlyfishhasbeenspottedintheMediterraneanwaters.2.A)Itcouldbadlypollutethesurroundingwaters.B)Itcouldposeathreattoothermarinespecies.C)Itcoulddisruptthefoodchainsthere.D)Itcouldaddtogreenhouseemissions.Questions3and4arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.3.A)Carswillnotbeallowedtoenterthecity.B)Pedestrianswillhavefreeaccesstothecity.C)Abouthalfofitscitycenterwillbeclosedtocars.D)Buseswillbetheonlyvehiclesallowedonitsstreets.4.A)Theunbearabletrafficnoise. B)Theworseningglobalwarming.C)Theever-growingcostofpetrol.D)TherisingairpollutioninParis. Questions5to7arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.5.A)Hishousewasburntdowninafire. B)Manyofhispossessionswerestolen. C)Hisgoodluckcharmsankintothesea.D)Hisfishingboatgotwreckedonarock.6.A)Changehisfishinglocations. B)Findajobinatravelagency. C)Sellthepearlhehadkeptforyears. D)Spendafewnightsonasmallisland.7.A)Hispearlcouldbedisplayedinamuseum.B)Hismonstrouspearlwasextremelyvaluable.C)Thelargestpearlintheworldweighs14pounds.D)ANewYorkmuseumhastheworld’sbiggestpearl.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,youwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationsandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecenter.Questions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.8.A)Itboastsafairlylonghistory. C)Ithas75officesaroundtheworld.B)Ithasover50businesspartners. D)Itproducesconstructionmaterials.9.A)Itwasstartedbyhisfather. C)Itisover100yearsold.B)Ithasabout50employees. D)Itisafamilybusiness.10.A)Outdatedproductdesign. C)Shortageofrawmaterialsupply. B)Lossofcompetitiveedge. D)Legaldisputesinmanycountries.11.A)Introducinginnovativemarketingstrategies.B)Seekingnewwaystoincreaseitsexports.C)Providingtrainingforitsstaffmembers.D)Conductingafinancialanalysisforit.Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)Sheisarealexpertathousedecorations.B)Sheisreallyimpressedbytheman’shouse.C)Sheiswellinformedaboutthedesignbusiness.D)Sheisattractedbythecolorofthesittingroom.13.A)Fromaconstructionbusinessman. B)FromhisyoungerbrotherGreg. C)Fromhomedesignmagazines.D)Fromaprofessionalinteriordesigner.14.A)Thecostwasaffordable. B)Thestylewasfashionable. C)Theeffortwasworthwhile.D)Theeffectwasunexpected.15.A)She’dlikehimtotalkwithJonathanaboutanewproject.B)She’dliketoshowhimaroundhernewly-renovatedhouse.C)Shewantstodiscussthehousedecorationbudgetwithhim.D)Shewantshimtosharehisrenovationexperiencewithher.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreepassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassagesandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecenter.Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.16.A)Payinghospitalbillsforemergencycases.B)Doingresearchonear,noseandthroatdiseases.C)Removingobjectsfrompatients’nosesandears.D)Providingroutinecareforsmallchildren.17.A)Childrenagedonetofourareoftenmorecuriousthanolderchildren.B)Five-tonine-year-oldsarethemostlikelytoputthingsintheirears.C)Manychildrenliketoputforeignobjectsintheirmouths.D)Manychildrenliketosmellthingstheyfindorplaywith.18.A)Theywanttoattractattention. B)Theytendtoactoutofimpulse. C)Theyareunawareofthepotentialrisks.D)Theyarecuriousaboutthesebodyparts.Questions19to21arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.19.A)Itgaveherausedbicycle. B)ItpaidforherEnglishlessons. C)Itdeliveredherdailynecessities.D)Itprovidedherwithphysicaltherapy.20.A)Expandingbike-ridinglessons. B)Providingfreepublictransport. C)Offeringwalkingtourstovisitors.D)Askinglocalpeoplefordonations.A)Itisasportsclub. Itisalanguageschool. C)Itisacounselingcenter. D)Itisacharityorganization. Questions22to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.22.A)Howanimalsdealwithlackofgravity.B)Howmiceinteractinanewenvironment.C)Howlowgravityaffectsthehumanbody.D)Howmiceimitatehumanbehaviorinspace.23.A)Theyfoundthespaceinthecagetoosmalltostayin.B)Theyfounditdifficulttofigureoutwheretheywere.C)Theywerenotusedtothelow-gravityenvironment.D)Theywerenotsensitivetothechangedenvironment.24.A)Theycontinuedtobehaveastheydidinthebeginning.B)Theyalreadyfeltathomeinthenewenvironment.C)Theyhadfoundalotmoreactivitiestoengagein.D)Theytriedeverythingpossibletoescapefromthecage.25.A)Theychangedtheirroutinesinspace.B)Theybegantoeatlessaftersometime.C)TheybehavedasiftheywereonEarth.D)Theyrepeatedtheiractivitieseveryday.PartⅢReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections：Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Trustisfundamentaltolife.Ifyoucan'ttrustanything,lifebecomesintolerable.Youcan'thaverelationshipswithouttrust,letalonegoodones.Intheworkplace,too,trustis_26_.Anorganizationwithouttrustwillbefulloffearand27_.Ifyouworkforabosswhodoesn'ttrusttheiremployeestodothingsright,you’llhavea28time.They'llbecheckinguponyouallthetime,correcting”mistakes”and29remindingyoutodothisorthat.Colleagueswhodon'ttrustoneanotherwillneedtospendmoretime30theirbacksthandoinganyusefulwork.Organizationsarealwaystryingtocutcosts.Thinkofalltheadditionaltaskscausedbylackoftrust.Audit（审计）departmentsonlyexistbecauseofit.Companieskeeplargevolumesof31becausetheydon’ttrusttheirsuppliers,theircontractorsortheircustomers.Probablymorethanhalfofalladministrativeworkisonlytherebecauseofanever-existingsensethat“youcan’ttrustanyonethesedays.”Ifevenasmallpartofsuchvaluelessworkcouldbe_32__,thesavingswouldrunintomillionsofdollars.Allthisisextraworkwe33ontoourselvesbecausewedon'ttrustpeople—thechecking,followingthrough,doingthingsourselvesbecausewedon'tbelieveotherswilldothem34—oratall.Ifwetookallthataway,howmuchextratimewouldwesuddenlyfindinourlife?Howmuchofourwork_35__woulddisappear?A)constantlyI)proprelyB)credibleJ)recordsC)essentialK)removedD)exploringL)stacksE)gatherM)suspicionF)loadN)trackedG)miserableO)watchingH)pressureSectionBDirections：Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymakingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.ThePlaceWherethePoorOnceThrivedThisisthelandofopportunity.Ifthatweren’talreadyimpliedbythelandscape—rollinggreenhills,
palmtrees,sun-kissedflowers—thenit’sevidentinthemanystoriesofpeoplewhogrewuppoorinthesesleepyneighborhoodsandrosetoenormoussuccess.PeoplelikeTriTran,whofledVietnamonaboatin1986,showedupinSanJosewithnothing,madeittoMIT,andthenfoundedthefood-deliverystart-upMunchery,whichisvaluedat$300million.Indeed,datasuggeststhatthisisoneofthebestplacestogrowuppoorinAmerica.Achildbornintheearly1980sintoalow-incomefamilyinSanJosehada12.9percentchanceofbecomingahighearnerasanadult,accordingtoalandmarkstudyreleasedin2014bytheeconomistRajChettyandhiscolleaguesfromHarvardandBerkeley.Thatnumber—12.9percent—maynotseemremarkable,butitwas：KidsinSanJosewhosefamiliesfellinthebottomquintile（五分位数）ofincomenationallyhadthebestshotinthecountryatreachingthetopquintile.Bycontrast,just4.4percentofpoorkidsinCharlottemoveduptothetop;inDetroitthefigurewas
5.5percent.SanJosehadsocialmobilitycomparabletoDenmark’sandCanada'sandhigherthanotherprogressivecitiessuchasBostonandMinneapolis.ThereasonskidsinSanJoseperformedsowellmightseemobvious.Someoftheworld’smostinnovativecompaniesarelocatedhere,providingopportunitiessuchastheoneseizedbya12-year-oldMountainViewresidentnamedSteveJobswhenhecalledWilliamHewletttoaskforsparepartsandsubsequentlyreceivedasummerjob.Thisisacityofimmigrants—38percentofthecity'spopulationtodayisforeign-born—andimmigrantsandtheirchildrenhavehistoricallyexperiencedsignificantupwardmobilityinAmerica.Thecityhaslonghadalargeforeign-bornpopulation(26.5percentin1990),leadingtobroaderdiversity,,which,theHarvardandBerkeleyeconomistssay,isagoodpredictorofmobility.Indeed,thestreetsofSanJoseseem,insomeways,toembodythebestofAmerica.It'spossibletodriveinamatterofminutesfromsleek（光亮的）officetowersneartheairportwherepeoplepitchideastoinvestors,tosingle-familyhomeswithorangetreesintheiryards,ortoaVietnamesemall.Thelibrarieshereofferprogramsin17languages,andthereareareasfilledwithsmallbusinessesownedbyVietnameseimmigrants,Mexicanimmigrants,Koreanimmigrants,andFilipinoimmigrants,tonameafew.Butresearchersaren’tsureexactlywhypoorkidsinSanJosedidsowell.Thecityhasalowprevalence
ofchildrengrowingupinsingle-parentfamilies,andalowlevelofconcentratedpoverty,bothfactorsthatusuallymeanacityallowsforgoodintergenerationalmobility.ButSanJosealsoperformspoorlyonsomeofthemeasurescorrelatedwithgoodmobility.Itisoneofthemostunequalplacesoutofthe741thattheresearchersmeasured，andithashighdegreesofracialandeconomicsegregation（隔离）.Itsschoolsunderperformbasedonhowmuchmoneythereisinthearea,saidBenScuderi,apredoctoralfellowattheEqualityofOpportunityProjectatHarvard,whichusesbigdatatostudyhowtoimproveeconomicopportunitiesforlow-incomechildren.“There’salotgoingonherewhichwedon'ttotallyunderstand,”hesaid.“It’sinteresting,becauseitkindofdefiesourexpectations.”TheChettydatashowsthatneighborhoodsandplacesmatteredforchildrenbornintheSanJosearea
ofthe1980s.Whetherthecitystillallowsforupwardmobilityofpoorkidstoday,though,isupfordebate.Someoftheindicatorssuchasincomeinequality,measuredbytheEqualityofOpportunityProjectfortheyear2000,haveonlyworsenedinthepast16years.SomeSanJoseresidentssaythatasinequalityhasgrowninrecentyears,upwardmobilityhasbecomemuchmoredifficulttoachieve.AsSiliconValleyhasbecomehometomoresuccessfulcompanies,thefloodofpeopletotheareahascausedhousingpricestoskyrocket.Bymostmeasures,SanJoseisnolongeraplacewherelow-income,orevenmiddle-incomefamilies,canaffordtolive.RentsinSanJosegrew42.6percentbetween2006and2014,whichwasthelargestincreaseinthecountryduringthattimeperiod.Thecityhasagrowinghomelessnessproblem,whichittried.toaddressbyshuttingdown“TheJungle,”oneofthelargesthomelessencampments（临时住地）inthenation,in2014.Inequalityisextreme.TheHumanDevelopmentIndex—ameasureoflifeexpectancy,educationandpercapita（人均的）income—givesEastSanJoseascoreof4.85outof10，whilenearbyCupertino,whereApple’sheadquarterssits,receivesa9.26.SanJoseusedtohaveahappymixoffactors—cheaphousing,closenesstoarapidlydevelopingindustry,tightly-knitimmigrantcommunities—thattogetheropenedupthepossibilityofprosperityforevenitspoorestresidents.Butinrecentyears,housingpriceshaveskyrocketed,theregion'srichandpoorhavesegregated,andmiddle-classjobshavedisappeared.Giventhis,thefuturefortheregion'spoordoesn'tlooknearlyasbrightasitoncedid.LeadersinSanJosearedeterminedtomakesurethatthecityregainsitsstatusasaplacewhereevenpoorkidscanaccesstheresourcestosucceed.WithSiliconValleyinitsbackyard,itcertainlyhasthechancetodoso.“IthinkthereisabroadconsciousnessintheValleythatwecandobetterthantoleavethousandsofourneighborsbehindthroughaperiodofextraordinarysuccess,”SanJoseMayorSamLiccardosaid.Butintoday’sAmerica—alandofrisinginequality，increasingsegregation，andstagnating（不增长的）middle-classwages—cantheSanJoseregionreallyonceagainbecomeaplaceofopportunity?TheideathatthoseatthebottomcanrisetothetopiscentraltoAmerica'sideasaboutitself.ThatsuchmobilityhasbecomemoredifficultinSanJoseraisesquestionsabouttheenduranceofthatfoundationalbelief.Afterall,iftheone-timelandofopportunitycan'tbefixed,whatdoesthatsayfortherestofAmerica?AccordingtosomepeoplelivinginSanJose,ithasbecomemuchharderforthepoortogetaheadduetotheincreasedinequality.InAmericanhistory,immigrantsusedtohaveagoodchancetomoveupwardinsociety.IftheproblemsofSanJosecan’tbesolved,oneofAmerica’sfundamentalbeliefsaboutitselfcanbeshaken.SanJosewasamongthebestcitiesinAmericaforpoorkidstomoveupthesocialladder.WhetherpoorkidsinSanJosetodaystillhavethechancetomoveupwardisquestionable.SanJose’sofficialsareresolvedtogivepoorkidsaccesstotheresourcesnecessaryforsuccessinlife.SanJoseappearstomanifestsomeofthebestfeaturesofAmerica.Asfarassocialmobilityisconcerned,SanJosebeatmanyotherprogressivecitiesinAmerica.DuetosomechangeslikeincreasesinhousingpricesinSanJose,theprospectsforitspoorpeoplehavedimmed.ResearchersdonothaveaclearideawhypoorchildreninSanJoseachievedsuchgreatsuccessseveraldecadesago.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Threechildrenineveryclassroomhaveadiagnosablementalhealthcondition.Halfofthesearebehaviouraldisorders,whileonethirdareemotionaldisorderssuchasstress,anxietyanddepression,whichoftenbecomeoutwardlyapparentthroughself-harm.Therewasanastonishing52percentjumpinhospitaladmissionsforchildrenandyoungpeoplewhohadharmedthemselvesbetween2009and2015.Schoolsandteachershaveconsistentlyreportedthescaleoftheproblemsince2009.Lastyear,overhalfofteachersreportedthatmoreoftheirpupilsexperiencementalhealthproblemsthaninthepast.Butteachersalsoconsistentlyreporthowill-equippedtheyfeeltomeetpupils’mentalhealthneeds,andoftencitealackoftraining，expertiseandsupportfromtheNationalHealthService（英国国家医疗服务体系）.Partofthereasonfortheincreasedpressureon.schoolsisthattherearenowfewer‘earlyintervention（干预）’andlow-levelmentalhealthservicesbasedinthecommunity.Cutstolocalauthoritybudgetssince2010haveresultedinasignificantdeclineoftheseservices,despitestrongevidenceoftheireffectivenessinpreventingcrisesfurtherdowntheline.Theonlywaytobreakthepressuresonbothmentalhealthservicesandschoolsistoreinvestinearlyinterventionservicesinsideschools.Therearestrongargumentsforwhyschoolsarebestplacedtoprovidementalhealthservices.Schoolsseeyoungpeoplemorethananyotherservice,whichgivesthemauniqueabilitytogettohard-to-reachchildrenandyoungpeopleandbuildmeaningfulrelationshipswiththemovertime.Recentstudieshaveshownthatchildrenandyoungpeoplelargelyprefertoseeacounsellorinschoolratherthaninan.outsideenvironment.Youngpeoplehavereportedthatforlow-levelconditionssuchasstressandanxiety,aclinicalsettingcansometimesbedaunting（令人却步的）.Therearealreadyexamplesofinnovativeschoolswhichcombinementalhealthandwellbeingprovisionwithastrongacademiccurriculum.Thiswill,though,requireahugeculturalshift.Politicians,policymakers,commissionersandschoolleadersmustbebraveenoughtomaketheleaptowardsreimaginingschoolsasprovidersofhealthaswellaseducationservices.Whatareteacherscomplainingabout?Therearetoomanystudentsrequiringspecialattention.Theyareundertoomuchstresscounsellingneedystudents.Schoolsareinadequatelyequippedtoimplementanyintervention.Theylackthenecessaryresourcestoaddresspupils’mentalproblems.WhatdowelearnfromthepassageaboutcommunityhealthservicesinBritain?)Theyhavedeterioratedduetobudgetcuts.Theyfacilitatelocalresidents’everydaylives.Theyproveineffectiveinhelpingmentalpatients.Theycoverpreventativecareforthelocalresident.Wheredoestheauthorsuggestmentalhealthservicesbeplaced?Athome.B)Atschool.C)Inhospitals.D)Incommunities.49.Whatdowelearnfromtherecentstudies?A)Studentsprefertorelyonpeerstorelievestressandanxiety.B)Youngpeoplearekeenonbuildingmeaningfulrelationships.C)Studentsaremorecomfortableseekingcounsellinginschool.D)Youngpeoplebenefitfromvariouskindsofoutdooractivities.50.Whatdoestheauthormeanbyaculturalshift(Line2,Para.6)?A)Simplificationofschools’academiccurriculums.B)Parents’involvementinschools’policy-making.C)Achangeinteachers’attitudestomentalhealth.D)Achangeintheconceptionofwhatschoolsare.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Picturethis:You’reatamovietheaterfoodstandloadinguponsnacks.Youhaveachoiceofasmall,mediumorlargesoda.Thesmallis$3.50andthelargeis$5.50.It’satoughdecision:Thesmallsizemaynotlastyouthroughthewholemovie,but$5.50forsomesugarydrinkseemsridiculous.Butthere’sathirdoption,amediumsodafor$5.25.Mediummaybetheperfectamountofsodaforyou,butthelargeisonlyaquartermore.Ifyou’relikemostpeople,youendupbuyingthelarge(andtakingabathroombreakmidshow).Ifyou’rewonderingwhowouldbuythemediumsoda,theanswerisalmost.noone.Infact,there’sagoodchancethemarketingdepartmentpurposelypricedthemediumsodaasadecoy（诱饵），makingyoumorelikelytobuythelargesodaratherthanthesmall.IhavewrittenaboutthispeculiarityinhumannaturebeforewithmyfriendDanAriely,whostudiedthisphenomenonextensivelyafternoticingpricingforsubscriptions（订阅）toTheEconomist.Thedigitalsubscriptionwas$59,theprintsubscriptionwas$125,andtheprintplusdigitalsubscriptionwasalso$125.Nooneintheirrightmindwouldbuytheprintsubscriptionwhenyoucouldgetdigitalaswellforthesameprice,sowhywasitevenanoption?Arielyrananexperimentandfoundthatwhenon