2015年12月四级真题第2套

2015年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第二套）PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessaycommentingonthesaying“Learningisadailyexperienceandalifetimemission.”Youcanciteexamplestoillustratetheimportanceoflifelonglearning.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartⅡListeningComprehension(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C).andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1and2willbebasedonthefollowingnewsitem.1.A)AcelebrationheldfortheUSmilitaryhistory.B)AnewmuseumbeingbuiltforthehistoryofAmericandiplomacy.C)AnenormouscollectiondisplayedinWashingtonD.C.D)AlecturehallunderconstructionbyAmericandiplomats.2.A)Itoccupiesanareaof20,000squarekilometers.B)Itisexpectedtotakeaboutthreeyears’construction.C)Itwillserveasaneducationareafordiplomats.D)ItwillbefeaturedinAmericanmilitaryhistory.Questions3and4willbebasedonthefollowingnewsitem.3.A)$20,000everyyear.B)$5,100everytwoyearsC)$510everyyear.D)$200everytwoyears.4.A)ToomanyconflictsoccuronNewYorkstreets.B)Ittakeslittletogetanillegalfoodvendinglicense.C)Vendorsareallowedtoworkthestreetunlicensed.D)Thenumberoflegalpermitsistoolimited.Questions5and7willbebasedonthefollowingnewsitem.5.A)Buyingmachines.B)Removingmanually.C)Applyingpoisons.D)Usinganimals.6.A)Toimprovetheweedingefficiency.B)Toreducemanpowercosts.C)Toprotecttheenvironment.D)Tohelplocalfarmers.7.A)Sheisacompanyowner.B)Sheisacemeteryofficial.C)Sheworksforaninsurancecompany.D)Sheworksinanenvironmentalsector.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,youwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.ConversationOneQuestions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.8.A)Fromthewantedcolumn.B)Fromsomeofherfriends.C)Fromatelephonedirectory.D)Fromatelevisioncommercial.9.A)Shereceivedfull-timeeducationabroad.B)Shegraduatedfromanopenuniversity.C)Shefinishedhersecondaryschool.D)Shestudiedinavocationalcollege.10.A)Sheisashorthand-typist.B)Sheworksasatourguide.C)Sheisapolicewoman.D)Sheteachesaneveningclass.A)Persuadethewomantobeapolicewoman.B)Findasuitablejobforthewoman.C)Helpthewomantobeatourguide.D)Providethewomanwithsomeformaleducation.ConversationTwoQuestions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)Itprovideshimwithcareeropportunities.B)Ithelpsenlargehiscustomernetwork.C)IthasbeenoffandonfortenyearsD)Itwasinterruptedforfouryears.13.A)Individualizedservice.B)Traditionalsetting.C)Home-madebeer.D)Socialgames.14.A)Thequalityofbeer.B)Theatmosphere.C)Theowner'sattitude.D)Therightlocation.15.A)Itisarathertoughjob.B)Itisaprofitablebusiness.C)Ithelpsoldpeoplekilltime.D)Itmakesretireesfeeluseful.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreepassage.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Itisbecomingincreasinglypopular.B)Ithelpstheusertoescapereality.C)Itgivesrisetoserioussocialinstability.D)Ithurtsapersonandthosearoundthem.A)Theyusedrugsjustforfun.B)Theytakedrugstogethigh.C)Theyusedrugsasmedicine.D)Theykeepdruguseasecret.18.A)Itisquitecommoninentertainmentcircles.B)Itisthecauseofvarioussocialproblems.C)Itishardtogetridof.D)Itisfataltotheuser.PassageTwoQuestions19to22arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Takingupexercisesafterrecovery.B)Producingtastyhealthyfrozenfood.C)Findingnewwaystocureheartdisease.D)Goingonadietuponleavingthehospital.A)Itwascarefullytestedwithconsumers.B)Itwaspromotedbyhealthorganizations.C)Itwasdisapprovedbymanydietexperts.D)Itwashighlyexpectedbythegeneralpublic.A)Competitiveprice.B)Lowexpectations.C)Vigorouspromotion.D)Uniqueingredients.22.A)Itwassuggestedbythefirm’svice-president.B)Itmatchesthefood’sdarkgreenpackaging.C)Ithasapositiveimplicationforconsumers.D)Ittrickstheeldersintoimpulsepurchasing.PassageThreeQuestions23to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Itispracticedinmostofthestates.B)Itwillbeabolishedsoonerorlater.C)Ithasdrawnalotofcriticismfromoverseas.D)IthastobeapprovedbytheSupremeCourt.24.A)Whetherthepracticeshouldbeallowedtocontinueinfuture.B)Whetherthereshouldbeaminimumagelimitforexecution.C)Whattypeofcriminalsshouldreceiveit.D)Whateffectitmighthaveonyoungsters.25.A)Thecourtsentencedhimtolifeinprisonforkillingtwofriends.B)Thegovernorchangedhisdeathsentencetolifeinprison.C)HewasthefirstminortobeexecutedinSouthCarolina.D)Hewassentencedtodeathforacrimehecommittedasaminor.PartⅢReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions26to35arebasedonthefollowingpassage.FormanyAmericans,2013endedwithanunusuallybittercoldspell.LateNovemberandDecember26earlysnowandbone-chillingtemperaturesinmuchofthecountry,partofayearwhen,forthefirsttimeintwo27,record-colddayswilllikelyturnouttohaveoutnumberedrecord-warmones.ButtheU.S.wastheexception:Novemberwasthewarmestever28,andcurrentdataindicatesthat2013islikelytohavebeenthefourthhottestyearonrecord.Enjoythesnownow,because29aregoodthat2014willbeevenhotter,perhapsthehottestyearsincerecordshavebeenkept.That’sbecause,scientistsarepredicting,2014willbeanElNiñosYear.ElNiños,Spanishfor“thechild”,30whensurfaceoceanwatersinthesouthernPacificbecomeabnormallywarm.SolargeisthePacific,covering30%oftheplanet’ssurface,thatthe31energygeneratedbyitswarmingisenoughtotouchoffaseriesofweatherchangesaroundtheworld.ElNiñosare32withabnormallydryconditionsinSoutheastAsiaandAustralia.TheycanleadtoextremeraininpartsofNorthandSouthAmerica,evenassouthernAfrica33dryweather.Marinelifemaybeaffectedtoo:E1Niñoscan34therisingofthecold,nutrient-rich(营养丰富的)waterthatsupportslargefish35,andtheunusuallywarmoceantemperaturescandestroycoral(珊瑚).A)additionalB)associatedC)boreD)chancesE)communicatedF)decadesG)experiencesH)globallyI)logicallyJ)occursK)populationsL)realizeM)reduceN)sawO)specificSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.HowtoEatWell[A]WhydosomanyAmericanseattonsofprocessedfood,thestuffthatiscorrectlycalledjunk(垃圾)andshouldreallycarrywarninglabels?[B]It’snotbecausefreshingredientsarehardtocomeby.Supermarketsoffermorevarietythanever,andthereareoverfourtimesasmanyfarmers’marketsintheU.S.astherewere20yearsago.Norisitforlackofavailableinformation.Thereareplentyofrecipes(食谱),how-tovideosandcookingclassesavailabletoanyonewhohasacomputer,smartphoneortelevision.Ifanything,theinformationisoverwhelming.[C]Andyetwearen’tcooking.IfyoueatthreemealsadayandbehavelikemostAmericans,youprobablygetatleastathirdofyourdallycalories(卡路里)outsidethehome.Nearlytwo-thirdsofusgrabfastfoodonceaweek,andwegetalmost25%ofourdallycaloriesfromsnacks.Sowe’reeatingoutortakingin,andwedon'tsitdown—orwedo,butwehurry.[D]Shouldn’tpreparing—andconsuming—foodbeasourceofcomfort,pride,health,well-being,relaxation,sociability?Somethingthatconnectsustootherhumans?Whywouldwewanttooutsource(外包)thisbasictask,especiallywhenoutsourcingitissoharmful?[E]WhenItalkaboutcooking,I’mnottalkingaboutcreatingelaboratedinnerpartiesorthree-dayscienceprojects.I’mtalkingaboutsimple,easy,everydaymeals.Mymissionistoencouragegreenhandsandthoselackingtimeormoneytofeedthemselves.Thatmeansweneedmodest,realisticexpectations,andweneedtoteachpeopletocookfoodthat’sgoodenoughtosharewithfamilyandfriends.[F]Perhapsareturntorealcookingneedn’tbefaroff.ArecentHarrispollrevealedthat79%ofAmericanssaytheyenjoycookingand30%“loveit”;14%admittonotenjoyingkitchenworkandjust7%won’tgonearthestoveatall.Butthisdoesn’tnecessarilytranslatetorealcooking,andtheresultofthissurveyshouldn’tsurpriseanyone:52%ofthose65oroldercookathomefiveormoretimesperweek;onlyathirdofyoungpeopledo.[G]Backinthe1950smostofusgrewupinhouseholdswhereMorncookedvirtuallyeverynight.Theintentiontoputahome-cookedmealonthetablewasprettymuchuniversal.Mostpeoplecouldn’taffordtodootherwise.[H]Althoughfrozendinnerswereinventedinthe40s,theirpopularitydidn’tboomuntiltelevisionsbecamepopularadecadeorsolater.Sincethen,packaged,pre-preparedmealshavebeenwhat’sfordinner.Themicrowaveandfast-foodchainswerethebiggestcatalysts(催化剂),butthebigfoodcompanies—whichwanttosellanythingexcepttherawingredientsthatgointocooking—madethehomecookanendangeredspecies.[I]Still,Ifinditstrangethatonlyathirdofyoungpeoplereportpreparingmealsathomeregularly.Isn’tthisthesamecrowdthatrailsagainstprocessedjunkandchampionscraftcooking?Andisn’tthisthegenerationwhosaythey’reconcernedabouttheirhealthandthewell—beingoftheplanet?Ifthesearetrulythevaluesofmanyyoungpeople,thentheirbehaviordoesn’tmatchtheirbeliefs.[J]Therehavebeenhalf-heartedbutwell-publicizedeffortsbysomefoodcompaniestoreducecaloriesintheirprocessedfoods,buttheStandardAmericanDietisstillthepolaroppositeofthehealthy,mostlyplant—baseddietthatjustabouteveryexpertsaysweshouldbeeating.Consideringthatthegovernment’sstandardsarenotnearlyambitiousenough,thepictureisclear:bynotcookingathome,we’renoteatingtherightthings,andtheconsequencesarehardtooverstate.[K]Tohelpquantify(量化)thecostsofapoordiet,Irecentlytriedtoestimatethisimpactintermsofamostfamousfood,theburger(汉堡包).Iconcludedthattheprofitfromburgersismorethanoffset(抵消)bythedamagetheycauseinhealthproblemsandenvironmentalharm.[L]Cookingrealfoodisthebestdefense—nottomentionthatanymealyou’relikelytoeatathomecontainsabout200fewercaloriesthanoneyouwouldeatinarestaurant.[M]TothoseAmericansforwhommoneyisaconcern,myadviceissimple:Buywhatyoucanafford,andcookityourself.Thecommonprescriptionistoprimarilyshopthegrocerystore,sincethat’swherefreshproduce,meatandseafood,anddairyare.Andtosavemoneyandstilleatwellyoudon’tneedlocal,organicingredients;allyouneedisrealfood.I’mnotsayinglocalfoodisn’tbetter;itis.Butthereisplentyofdecentfoodinthegrocerystores.[N]Theothersectionsyoushouldgettoknowarethefrozenfoodsandthecannedgoods.Frozenproduceisstillproduce;cannedtomatoesarestilltomatoes.Justmakesureyou’regettingrealfoodwithouttonsofaddedsaltorsugar.Askyourself,wouldGrandmaconsiderthisfood?Doesitlooklikesomethingthatmightoccurinnature?It’sprettymuchcommonsense:youwanttobuyfood,notunidentifiablefoodlikeobjects.[O]Youdon’thavetohitthegrocerystoredaily,nordoyouneedanabundanceofskill.SincefewerthanhaftofAmericanssaytheycookatanintermediatelevelandonly20%describetheircookingskillsasadvanced,thecrisisisoneofconfidence.Andtheonlyremedyforthatispractice.There’snothingmysteriousaboutcookingtheeveningmeal.Youjusthavetodoalittlethinkingaheadandredefinewhatqualifiesasdinner.Likeanyskill,cookinggetseasierasyoudoitmore;everytimeyoucook,youadvanceyourlevelofskills.Somedayyouwon’tevenneedrecipes.Myadviceisthatyounotpayattentiontothenumberofstepsandingredients,becausetheycanbedeceiving.[P]Time,Irealize,isthebiggestobstacletocookingformostpeople.Youmustadjustyourprioritiestofindtimetocook.Forinstance,youcanmoveaTVtothekitchenandwatchyourfavoriteshowswhileyou’restandingatthesink.Nooneisaskingyoutogiveupactivitiesyoulike,butifyou’rewatchingfoodshowsonTV,trycookinginstead.36.Cookingbenefitspeopleinmanywaysandenablesthemtoconnectwithoneanother.37.AbundantinformationaboutcookingisavailableeitheronlineoronTV.38.Youngpeopledolesscookingathomethantheelderlythesedays.39.Cookingskillscanbeimprovedwithpractice.40.Inthemid-20thcentury,mostfamiliesatedinnerathomeinsteadofeatingout.41.Eventhoseshortoftimeormoneyshouldbeencouragedtocookforthemselvesandtheirfamily.42.Eatingfoodnotcookedbyourselvescancauseseriousconsequences.43.Toeatwellandstillsavemoney,peopleshouldbuyfreshfoodandcookitthemselves.44.Wegetafairlylargeportionofcaloriesfromfastfoodandsnacks.45.ThepopularityofTVledtothepopularityoffrozenfood.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Thewalletisheadingforextinction.Asaday-to-dayessential,itwilldieoffwiththegenerationwhoreadprintnewspapers.Thekindofshopping—whereyouhandovernotesandcountoutchangeinreturn—nowhappensonlyinthemostminorofourretailencounters,likebuyingabarofchocolateorapintofmilkfromacomershop.Attheshopswhereyouspendanyrealmoney,thatmoneyisincreasinglyabstracted.Andthisismoreandmoretrue,thehigherupthescaleyougo.Atthemostcutting-edgeretailstores—VictoriaBeckhamonDoverStreet,forinstance—youdon’tgoandstandatanykindofcashregisterwhenyoudecidetopay.ThestaffareequippedwithiPadstotakeyourpaymentwhileyourelaxonasofa.Whichwallet—thattime-honoredFriday-nightfeelingofpleasing,promisingfatness—representsomethingthatmatters?ButI’llleavetheeconomicstotheexperts.Whatbothersmeaboutthedeathofthewalletisthechangeitrepresentsinourphysicalenvironment.Everythingaboutthelookandfeelofawallet—thewaythefasteningsandmaterialswearandtearandloosenwithage,theplasticandpaperandgoldandsilver,andhandwrittenphonenumbersandprintedcinematickets—istheveryoppositeofwhatourworldisbecoming.TheoppositeofawalletisasmartphoneoraniPad.Theroundededges,coolglass,smoothandunknowableasapebble(鹅卵石).Insteadofdiggingthroughpiecesofpaperandpeeringintocorners,wemoveourfingersleftandright.Nomorecountingoutcoins.Showyourwallet,ifyoustillhaveone.Itmaynotbeheremuchlonger.46.Whatishappeningtothewallet?A)Itisdisappearing.B)Itisbeingfattened.C)Itisbecomingcostly.D)Itischanginginstyle.47.Howarebusinesstransactionsdoneinbigmodernstores?A)Individually.B)Electronically.C)Intheabstract.D)Viaacashregister.48.Whatmakestheauthorfeeluncomfortablenowadays?A)Savingmoneyisbecomingathingofthepast.B)ThepleasingFriday-nightfeelingisfading.C)Earningmoneyisgettingmoredifficult.D)Spendingmoneyissofastandeasy.49.Whydoestheauthorchoosetowriteaboutwhat’shappeningtothewallet?A)Itrepresentsachangeinthemodernworld.B)Ithassomethingtodowitheverybody’slife.C)Itmarkstheendofatime-honoredtradition.D)Itistheconcernofcontemporaryeconomists.50.Whatcanweinferfromthepassageabouttheauthor?A)Heisresistanttosocialchanges.B)Heisagainsttechnologicalprogress.C)Hefeelsreluctanttopartwiththetraditionalwallet.D)Hefeelsinsecureintheever-changingmodernworld.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Everybodysleeps,butwhatpeoplestayuplatetocatch—orwakeupearlyinordernottomiss—variesbyculture.Fromdatacollected,itseemsthethingsthatcauseustolosethemostsleep,onaverage,aresportingevents,timechanges,andholidays.Aroundtheworld,peoplechangedsleeppatternsthankstothestartorendofdaylightsavingstime.Russians,forexample,begantowakeupaboutahalf-hourlatereachdayafterPresidentVladimirPutinshiftedthecountrypermanentlyto“wintertime”startingonOctober26.Russia’sotherlatenightsandearlymorningsgenerallycorrespondtopublicholidays.OnNewYear’sEve,Russianshavetheworld’slatestbedtime,hittingthehayataround3:30am.RussiansalsogetupanhourlateronInternationalWomen’sDay,thedayfortreatingandcelebratingfemalerelatives.Similarly,Americans’latenights,latemornings,andlongestsleepsfallonthree-dayweekends.CanadagottheleastsleepoftheyearthenightitbeatSwedenintheOlympichockey(冰球)final.TheWorldCupisalsochieflyresponsibleforsleepdeprivation(剥夺).TheworstnightforsleepintheU.K.wasthenightoftheEngland-ItalymatchonJune14.Britsstayedupahalf-hourlatertowatchit,andthentheywokeupearlierthanusualthenextmorningthankstosummer