四级听力原文

SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversations

and2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Bothoftheconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoices,markedA),B),C)andD),anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecenter.Nowlet’sbeginwiththe4eightshortconversations.

1.M:Ihearyouhavegotaroleinaplay.Howonearthdidyougetit?

W:Well,whenIheardtherolewascomingup,IreadthebookuntilIcouldlearnthelinesbyheartandunderstoodthecharacter,andIhadaninterviewandgotit.

Q:Howdidthewomangettheroleintheplay?

2.W:Youseemtohavehadperfecthealthallyourlife.

M:Yeah.Idon’tremembereverhavingtoseeadoctor.Ieathealthyfoodandtakeplentyofexercise.Mostofall,Ilookatthesunnysideevenwhenthingsaren’tgoingsowell.

Q:Whatisthemostimportantreasonfortheman’sperfecthealth?

3.M:Susan,howlonghaveweknowneachother?

W:Let’ssee.Wemetwhenyouinterviewedmeforateachingjob.Iwastheninmysenioryearatcollege,andithasalreadybeeneightyearssinceIgraduated.

Q:Whatcanwelearnfromtheconversation?

4.W:Itseemsmypetdogdoesn’tlikethenewplace.Heseemedtobehappyalldayinthecountryside.

M:Justignoreit.Istillrememberyouwereunhappywhenyoufirstmovedhere,butyouarehappynow.Heissuretoovercomeinaweekortwo.

Q:Whatshouldthewomandoaccordingtotheman?

5.M:Yousaidyougotabachelor’sdegreeinEngineering.Wheredidyougetit?

W:FromIowaStateUniversity.AndI’mnowworkingonmymaster’s.That’spartofthereasonIappliedforthisposition.

Q:Whatcanwelearnaboutthewoman?

6.W:Doyoudaydream?Scientistsrecentlysayitsadvantagesfaroutweighthedisadvantages.

M:Evenifitistrue,Idon’tthinkyoucanachievesuccesswithouthardwork.Itcanatmostmakeyoufeelhappy.

Q:Whatdoesthemanprobablyagreewith?

7.M:DidyouseetheOscarceremonylastnight?Itwasalsoafashionshowwhenthestarssteppedontotheredcarpet.Therewerealltypesoffancygownsanddresses.

W:ThatisagreathelpforyouandIbelieveyouwillbeinspiredbytheshow.

Q:Whatcanbeinferredfromtheconversation?

8.W:Youarelateagain.Haven’tItoldyouthatyoushouldbeawayfromhomehalfanhourearlier?

M:I’msorry.IdiddothatandthetrafficisOK,butIcan’tdonothinginmycarwhenIsawanoldmaninneedofhelp.

Q:Whataccountsfortheman’sbeinglate?

Nowyouwillhearthetwolongconversations.

ConversationOne

W:Tom,IsupposeyoumusthaveheardaboutthatgreatpieceofconcretefallingontoacarinthatterribleaccidentinSouthStreetyesterday,haven'tyou?

M:Yes,Isawitinthepaper.Froma200-foot-highbuilding,wasn'tit?

W:Oh,yes.Isawthecar;itwastotallydamaged.

M:Youusuallyparkyourcararoundthere,don'tyou,Brenda?

W:Yes,Ileftitinthatveryspotacoupleofdaysago,butyesterdayitwasparkeduptheroad.

M:Youareluckythen.

W:Outofluck,youmean!I'dbeverypleasedifmyoldcarweresmashedtobits.Icouldclaimfromtheinsurancecompanythen.

M:Butyouusedtobesoproudofyourcar,weren'tyou?

W:Itwasyearsago,butnowthereareallsortsofrepairstobedone,andIjusthaven'tgotenoughsparecashtoputitright.

M:Youcanalwayssellit,can'tyou?

W:Fewpeoplearestupidenoughtobuyacarinthatcondition.

M:Thewomanwhosecarwascrushedyesterdaywasveryannoyedaboutit.Shewillbegivenanewcarbythebuilders,though.

W:Yes,buthercarwasaspeciallybuiltmodelthatcan'tbereplaced,andtherewashardlyanythingwrongwithit.

M:Well,that'slife!Whenpeopleactuallywanttogetridoftheircars,thissortofthingseldomhappens,doesit?

Questions9to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.

9.WhathappenedinSouthStreetyesterday?

10.Whydoesthewomanconsiderherselfunluckyintermsofyesterday'saccident?

11.Howdidtheownerfeelwhensheknewhercarwascrushed?

ConversationTwo

W:Goodmorning,sir.Iunderstandthatyouhavebeenrobbed.

M:Icertainlyhave.

W:Whendidthathappen?

M:Abouttwohoursago.

W:Whydidn'tyoureportit?

M:Icouldn't.Iwasbound.

W:Pleasetellmeexactlywhathappened.

M:Iwassittinginthisroomwatchingtelevisionwhensomeoneknockedonthedoor.Withoutthinking,Iopenedit.

W:Thatwasn'tverywise,sir.

M:Iknow.Iwasexpectingmywife,yousee,andthoughtitwasher.

W:Youshouldneveropenadoorwithoutlookingtoseewhoitis.

M:Yes,Iknow,Iregretitverymuch.

W:Whathappened?

M:Twomenpushedintotheflat.Oneofthemthreatenedmewithaknifewhiletheotherboundme.

W:Canyourememberwhattheylooklike?

M:I'mafraidnot.Theywerebothwearingstockingsovertheirfaces.

W:Whatdidtheytake?

M:Mywallet,with$300init,mywristwatch,someofmywife'sjewelryfromourbedroom,andasilverphotoframe.

W:Theydon'tseemtohavedonemuchdamagetotheflat.

M:No.Theyhadjustbeguntosearchmyhousewhenthedogsnextdoorbegantobark.Theyranoffthenleavingmebound.Itwassometimebeforemywifereturnedandreleasedme.Iphonedthepoliceatonce.

W:Mymenbegansearchingtheareaassoonaswereceivedyourcall.Ican'tpromiseyouthatwe'llrecoveryourpropertybutwe'llcertainlydoourbest.

Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.

12.Whatdoesthewomando?

13.Whydidthemanopenthedoorwithoutthinking?

14.Whycan'tthemanrememberwhattherobberslooklike?

15.Whydidtherobbersleaveinahurry?

SectionB

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages,attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).

ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecenter.

PassageOne

Oldagemaynotsoundexciting.Butrecentfindingsoffergoodnewsforolderpeopleandforpeopleworriedaboutgettingolder.Researchersfoundthatpeoplebecomehappierandexperiencelessworryaftertheyreachtheageof50.Infact,theysaybytheageof85,peoplearehappierwiththeirlifethantheywere18yearsold.Thefindingscamefromasurveyofmorethan340000adultsintheUnitedStates.Theresearchersaskedquestionsaboutemotionslikehappiness,sadnessandworry.Theyalsoaskedaboutmentaloremotionalstress.ArthurStoneintheDepartmentofPsychiatryandBehavioralScienceatStonyBrookUniversityinNewYorkledthestudy.Histeamfoundthatlevelsofstresswerehighestamongadultsbetweentheagesof22and25.Thefindingsshowedthatstresslevelsdroppedsharplyafterpeoplereachedtheir50s.Happinesswashighestamongtheyoungestadultsandthoseintheirearly70s.Thepeopleleastlikelytoreportfeelingnegativeemotionswerethoseintheir70sand80s.Thestudyalsoshowedthatmenandwomenhavesimilaremotionalpatternsastheygrowolder.However,womenatallagesreportedmoresadness,stressandworrythanmen.ThefindingsappearedintheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences.Researcherssaytheydonotknowwhyhappinessincreasesaspeoplegetolder.Onetheoryproposedbysomesociologistsisthat,aspeoplegrowolder,theygrowmorethankfulforwhattheyhaveandhavebettercontroloftheiremotions.Theyalsospendlesstimethinkingaboutbadexperiences.

Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

16.Whatdoesthespeakersayabouttherecentfindings?

17.Whatcanbeinferredabouthappinessfromthepassage?

18.Accordingtotheresearchers,whydopeoplebecomehappierwhentheygetolder?

PassageTwo

BarbaraJordanwasalawyer,educatorandmemberofCongress.

Shewaswellknownforherpowerful,thoughtfulspeeches.BarbaraCharlineJordanwasborninthesoutherncityofHouston,Texasin1936.

HerfatherwasaBaptistminister.Inhighschool,Barbaraheardaspeechfromablackwomanlawyer.Shedecidedtobecomealawyerherself.Later,MissJordanattendedtheall-blackcollege,TexasSouthernUniversityinHouston.Sheledachampionshipdebatingteamandbecameknownforherspeakingskills.Shefinishedatthetopofherclass.ThenshewentontoBostonUniversitylawschoolinBoston,Massachusetts.Aftershefinishedlawschool,MissJordanreturnedtoTexas.Shebegantoworkasalawyer.Shealsodiscoveredshewasinterestedinpolitics.In1966,shedecidedtoseekaseatintheTexasSenateandwon.BarbaraJordanbecamethefirstblackpersontoserveintheTexasSenatesince1883.AftereightyearsintheTexasSenate,MissJordancampaignedforaseatintheUnitedStatesHouseofRepresentatives.Shewoneasily.ShebecamethefirstwomanandfirstblacktobeelectedtoCongresstorepresentTexas.InCongress,MissJordanspokeforthepoor,forwomen,forAfrican-AmericansandLatin-Americans.Shebelievedstrongly,however,inbeingloyaltoherstateandherpoliticalparty.SheconsideredtheinterestsofthepeopleofTexasbeforethoseofanyothergroup.Then,in1977,MissJordanreturnedtoTexas.BarbaraJordanbeganteachingaboutpoliticalvaluesattheUniversityofTexas.Herclassesweresopopularthatstudentshadtobechosenfromalonglist.

Questions19to22arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

19.What'sthepassagemainlyabout?

20.WhydidBarbaraJordandecidetobecomealawyer?

21.WhatdowelearnaboutBarbaraJordanwhenshewasinCongress?

22.WhatdidBarbaraJordandoaftershereturnedtoTexasin1977?

PassageThree

Route66wasonceveryfamousinAmerica.Ithasbeencalled"TheMainStreetofAmerica."TheideaforRoute66startedinOklahoma.Citizenstherewantedtolinktheirstatewithstatestotheeastandwest.Bythe1920s,federalofficialswantedtoconnectstateroadstoprovideashorter,fasterwayacrossthecountry.Soaplanwasdevelopedtoconnectexistingstateroadsintoonelongnationalhighway.UnitedStatesHighway66wasestablishedonNovember11,1926.Itwasoneofthefirstfederalhighways.Itcrossedeightstates.Itwas3800kmlong.Itpassedthroughthecenterofmanycitiesandtowns.Itcrosseddeserts,mountains,valleysandrivers.Inthe1930s,peoplesufferedthroughtheGreatDepression.InOklahoma,manypoorfamilieslosttheirfarmsbecauseofduststorms.SotheytraveledwesttoCaliforniaonRoute66insearchofabetterlife.Inthe1950s,holidaytravelbroughtmoreandmorefamiliesoutWesttoexplore.Route66representedthespiritofmovementandexcitement.Later,peopleweregettingfewerandfewerkicksonRoute66.By1962,partsoftheroadwereclosedbecausetheywereinpoorcondition.Thefederalgovernmentwasbuildingbiggerhighways.Carsandtruckscouldtravelathigherspeeds.PeoplestarteddrivingonthesenewinterstatehighwaysinsteadoftheoldRoute66.Finally,in1985,Route66wasofficiallyremovedfromthenationalhighwaysystem.Peoplehaveformedgroupstosavepartsoftheold66andmanyoftheinterestingplacestoeat,stayandseealongtheway.Questions23to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

23.WhatdowelearnaboutRoute66?

24.WhydidRoute66representthespiritofmovementandexcitement?

25.WhatcanbeinferredaboutRoute66fromthepassage?

SectionC

3Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Nowlistentothepassage.NewYearintheUnitedStatesiscelebratedonJanuary1,thefirstdayoftheGregorianCalendar.ThisisafederalholidayintheUS.Onthisday,manypeoplemakeresolutionstogiveawaybaddeedsandrenewlifewithgoodones.It'sthetimetoremembertheachievementsandmakemerryfortheNewYear.NewYearisexpectedtobringgoodluckandcharmforpeopleandthisisthereasonwhyAmericanslovetocelebrateitwithfunandenjoyment.NewYear'sEvecelebrationisafestivalaffairforthepeopleoftheUS.TheylovetoenjoyeventhelastminuteofthegoingyearandwelcometheNewYearwithablast.Midnightparties,luxurydinners,livemusicandthedancefloorsmakeaperfectNewYear'sEvebash.Everyyear,ahugeballisorganizedatTimesSquareinNewYorkCity,whichiswatchedoverbylargenumberofAmericans.AminutebeforetheNewYear'sDay,abrightlylightedballisdroppedslowlyfromthetopofapole.Assoonastheballreachestheground,itgivesasignalofNewYearandeverybodyhugsandkisseseachotherwishingHappyNewYear.Elsewhere,manyoftheNewYear'spartiesintheUShaveadresscodeoratheme.Peoplecovertheirfaceswithmasks.TohavesomemerrimentwiththefamilymembersatthebeginningoftheNewYear,peopleprefertocelebrateitattheirhomes.ThereisalsoatraditiontoopenchampagnebottlesastheclockstrikesmidnightonNewYear'sEve.Theyunmaskthemselvesonlywhentheclockstrikes12.Nowthepassagewillbereadagain.NewYearintheUnitedStatesiscelebratedonJanuary1,thefirstdayoftheGregorianCalendar.ThisisafederalholidayintheUS.Onthisday,manypeoplemakeresolutionstogiveawaybaddeedsandrenewlifewithgoodones.It'sthetimetoremembertheachievementsandmakemerryfortheNewYear.NewYearisexpectedtobringgoodluckandcharmforpeopleandthisisthereasonwhyAmericanslovetocelebrateitwithfunandenjoyment.NewYear'sEvecelebrationisafestivalaffairforthepeopleoftheUS.TheylovetoenjoyeventhelastminuteofthegoingyearandwelcometheNewYearwithablast.Midnightparties,luxurydinners,livemusicandthedancefloorsmakeaperfectNewYear'sEvebash.Everyyear,ahugeballisorganizedatTimesSquareinNewYorkCity,whichiswatchedoverbylargenumberofAmericans.AminutebeforetheNewYear'sDay,abrightlylightedballisdroppedslowlyfromthetopofapole.Assoonastheballreachestheground,itgivesasignalofNewYearandeverybodyhugsandkisseseachotherwishingHappyNewYear.Elsewhere,manyoftheNewYear'spartiesintheUShaveadresscodeoratheme.Peoplecovertheirfaceswithmasks.TohavesomemerrimentwiththefamilymembersatthebeginningoftheNewYear,peopleprefertocelebrateitattheirhomes.Thereisalsoatraditiontoopenchampagnebott