2024年专四真题及详解

2024英语专业四级真题及答案解析

TESTFORENGLISHMAJORS(2024)

-GRADEFOUR­

TIMELIMIT130MIN

PARTIDICTATION

Listentothefollowingpassage.Altogether(hepassagewillbereadtoyoufourtimes.During

thefirstreading,whichwillbedoneatnormalspeed,listenandtrytounderstandthemeaning.For

thesecondandthirdreadings,thepassagewillbesentencebysentence,orphrasebyphrase,

whichintervalsof15seconds.Thelastreadingwillbedoneatnormalspeedagainandduringthis

timeyoushouldcheckyourwork.Youwillthenbegiven2minutestocheckthroughyourwork

oncemore.

PleasewritethewholepassageonAnswerSheetOne..

PARTIILISTENINGCOMPREHENSION

InSectionA,BandCyouwillheareverythingONCE.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthe

questionsthatfollowMarkthebestanswertoeachquestiononAnswerSheetTwo.

SECTIONACONVERSATIONS

Inthissectionyouwillhearseveralconversation.Listentotheconversationcarefullyandthen

answerthequestionsthatfollow.

Question1to3arcbasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,you

willbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentotheconversation.

1.WhyisthetriptoMarsaone-waytrip?

A.Thereturntripistooexpensive.

B.Thereisnotechnologytogetpeopleback.

C.Peopledon'twanttoreturn.

D.Thereturntripistoorisky.

2.Accordingtotheman,whatismoreimportantforthoserecruits?

A.Intelligence.B.Health.C.Skills.D.Calmness.

3.Whatisthelastpartoftheconversationabout?

A.Thekindofpeoplesuitableforthetrip.

B.Interestsandhobbiesofthespeakers.

C.Recruitmentofpeoplefor(hetrip.

D.PreparationforthetriptoMars.

Question4to7arebasedonthefollowingconversation.At(heendoftheconversation,you

willbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentotheconversation.

4.Whatisshowrooming?

A.Goingtothehighstreet.

B.Visitingeverydayshops.

C.Buyingthingslikeelectricalgoods.

D.Visitingshopsandbuyingonline.

5.Accordingtotheconversation,themanhadboughtallthefollowingthingsonlineEXCEPT

A.shoesB.CDsC.cameraD.food

6.Accordingtotheconversation,thepercentageofpeoplewhoshowroomedwhileChristmas

shoppingwas

A.3%B.33%C.42%D.24%

7.Onereasonforpeopletoshowroomisthatthey

A.wanttoknowmoreaboutpricing

B.canreturntheproductlater

C.wanttoseetherealthingfirst

D.canbargainforalowershopprice

Question8to10arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,you

willbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentotheconversation.

8.Whatistheconversationmainlyabout?

A.Howtoavoidclashesofexams.

B.Howtoscheduleexams.

C.Howtousethefacultylounge.

D.Howtochoosethecourses.

9.Whatdoesthestudenthavetodofirstinorder(otaketheexams?

A.rIbchooseadateonthedraftschedule.

B.Tofindtheinformationonthebulletinboard.

C.lbdrawupthefinalschedule.

D.Toarrangeaninvigilator.

10.Accordingtotheconversation,theDeanwill

A.signthesheetinthefacultylounge

B.takecareofthebulletinboard

C.consultthestudents

D.finalizetheexamschedule

SECTIONBPASSAGES

Inthissection,youwillhearseveralpassage.Listento(hepassagecarefullyandthenanswer

thequestionsthatfollowing.

Question11to13arebasedon(hefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,you

willbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentotheconversation.

11.WhichofthefollowingcitieshastheoldestChinatowninNorthAmerica?

A.NewYork.B.SanFrancisco.C.Boston.D.SanDiego.

12.TheChinatowninSanFranciscoattractstouristsayear.

A.20,000B.100.000C.7millionD.17million

13.Wherecantouristsseethefishmarkets?

A.InStocktonStreet.

B.InGrantAvenue.

C.InPortsmouthSquare.

D.InBushStreet.

Question14to17arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,you

willbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listento(heconversation.

14.WhichofthefollowingisNOTmentionedinthepassage?

A.Obesitycandamageone'shealth.

B.Obesityisagrowingproblemallovertheworld.

C.Obesityisdirectlyrelatedtoone'shabit.

D.Obesityhasaffectedbothboysandgirls.

15.Thepurposeofthethree-yearstudyisto.

A.findoutwhysomechildrenfinditdifficulttogotosleep

B.learnmoreaboutthelinkbetweensleepandweight

C.identifythewaysparentsreducetheirkids5weight

D.seeifthereisdifferenceinsleeppatternsovertheperiod

16._Accordingtothestudy,thedailyhealthysleeptimeforthe3rdto6thgradersshouldbearound

hours.

A.8B.9C.10D.11

17.Accordingtothepassage,obesityismostlikelyrelatedto_.

A.sleeptimeB.genderC.raceD.parents

Question18to20arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,you

willbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentotheconversation.

18.Accordingtoanumberofstudents,isthemainfactorforearly-agesmoking.

A.genderB.personalityC.environmentD.money

19.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisCORRECT?

A.Veryfewcontinuesmokingthroughouttheirteenageyears.

B.Mostearly-agesmokerssoonstopexperimenting.

C.Someearly-agesmokersnevergobeyondexperimenting.

D.Childrenquicklybecomeregularsmokersbycarryingcigarettes.

20.AllthefollowingarefeaturesofsmokersEXCEPT__.

A.strongpeerinfluence

B.lowsenseofachievement

C.highsenseofrebellion

D.closefamilyrelationship

SECTIONCNEWSBROADCAST

Inthissection,youwillhearseveralnewsitems.Listentothemcarefullyandthenanswerthe

questionsthatfollow.

Question21to22arebasedon(hefollowingnews.Altheendofthenewsitem,youwillbe

given10secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentothenews.

21.Whyweresomechildrenofferedonlyfruitandmilkforlunch?

A.Theschoolstoppedprovidingschoollunch.

B.Theirparentsfailedtopayforschoollunch.

C.Someparentspreferredfruitandmilkforlunch.

D.Thesechildrenchosetohavesomethingdifferent.

22.Howdidparentsreacttotheschool'swayofhandlingthesituation?

A.Theywereupset

B.Theywerefurious.

C.Theyweresurprised.

D.Theyweresad.

Question23to24arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbe

given10secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentothenews.

23.Accordingto(henews,whatisthemainadvantageofthedigitalkey?

A.Guestscanpaywithoutgoingtothefrontdesk.

B.Guestscangodirecttotheirrooms.

C.Guestscancheckoutanytime.

D.Guestscanmakeroomreservations.

24.Thehotelcompanyintendstohavethesystemin__ofitshotelsinthenextthreemonths.

A.2B.3C.100D.150

Question25to26arebasedon(hefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbe

given10secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentothenews.

25.Accordingtothecourtruling,ShrienDewani___

A.willreturntotheU.K.formedicaltreatment

B.willremaininSouthAfricaformedicaltreatment

C.willstandtrialinSouthAfricaonceprovedfit

D.willbeextraditedevenifheisunfittostand(rial

26.WhatwasDewaniaccusedof?

A.Havinghiswifekilled.

B.KillinghiswifeintheU.K.

C.Beinginvolvedinataxiaccident.

D.Hiringacrewofhitmen.

Question17isbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven5

secondstoanswerthequestion.

Now,listentothenews.

27.TheU.N.newvotewouldallowallthefollowingEXCEPT__.

A.theuseofforcebyEuropeanUniontroops

B.thesuspensionofanexistingarmsembargo

C.theextensionofU.N.peacekeepingmission

D.thebanontravelandfreezeofassets

Question28isbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven5

secondstoanswerthequestion.

Now.listentothenews.

28.Whatisthenewsmainlyabout?

A.CausesofearlydeathinRussia.

B.Behaviorofalcoholics.

C.Causesofalcoho'poisoning.

D.Numberofdeathover10years.

Question29and30arcbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbe

given5secondstoanswerthequestions.

Now,listentothenews.

29.Thetotalinvestmentinfilm-makinginBritainin2024was___.

A.£945million

B.£1.07billion

C.£500,000

D.£87,000

30.HollywoodstudiosprefertomakefilmsinBritainbecause__.

A.TheUKisagoodfilmlocation

B.ThecastusuallyconiesfromBritain

C.Hollywoodemphasizesquality

D.Productioncostcanbereduced

PARTIIICLOZE

Decidewhichofthechoicesgivenbelowwouldbestcompletethepassageifinsertedinthe

correspondingblanks.MarkthebestchoiceforeachblankonAnswerSheetTwo.

Electricityissuchapariofoureverydaylivesandsomuchtakenforgrantednowadays31

___werarelythinktwicewhenweswitchonthelightorturnontheTVset.Atnight,roadsare

brightlylit,enablingpeopleand32___tomovefreely.Neonlightingusedinadvertisinghas

becomepartofthe33___ofeverymoderncity.Inthehome,many34___devicesarepowered

byelectricity.35___whenweturnoffthebedsidelampandare36____asleep,electricityis

workingforus,37___ourrefrigerators,heatingourwater,orkeepingourroomsair-conditianed.

Everyday,trains,busesandsubwaystakeustoandfromwork.Werarely38___toconsiderwhy

orhowtheyrun------39___somethinggoeswrong.

Inthesummerof1959,something40_gowrongwiththepower-plantthatprovidedNew

Yorkwithelectricity.Foragreatmanyhours,lifecamealmosttoa41___.Trainsrefusedtomove

andthepeopleinthemsatinthedark,42___todoanything;liftsstoppedworking,sothat43___

youwereluckyenoughnottobe44.___betweentwofloors,youhadtheunpleasanttaskof

findingyourwaydown45___ofstairs.FamousstreetslikeBroadwayandFifthAvenueina(n)

46becameasgloomyanduninviting47themostremotebackstreets.Peoplewere

afraidtoleavetheirhouses,48.althoughthepolicehadbeenorderedto49incaseof

emergency,theywerejustasconfusedand50___asanybodyelse.

31.A.thatB.thusC.asD.so

32.A.carB.truckC.trafficD.pedestrians

33.A.appearanceB.characterC.distinctionD.surface

34.A.money-savingB.time-savingC.energy-savingD.labor-saving

35.A.OnlyB.RarelyC.EvenD.Frequently

36.A.fastB.quiteC.closelyD.quickly

37.A.movingB.startingC.repairingD.driving

38.A.(roubleB.botherC.hesitateD.remember

39.A.whenB.ifC.untilD.after

40.A.didB.wouldC.couldD.Should

41.A.pauseB.terminalC.breakdownD.standstill

42.A.incompetentB.powerlessC.hesitantD.helpless

43.A.althoughB.whenC.asD.evenif

44.A.trappedB.placedC.positionedD.locked

45.A.stepsB.levelsC.flightsD.floors

46.A.timeB.instantC.pointD.minute

47.A.likeB.thanC.forD.as

48.A.forB.andC.butD.or

49.A.standasideB.standdownC.standbyD.standin

50.A.aimlessB.helplessC.unfocusedD.undecided

PARTIVGRAMMARANDVOCABULARY

Therearethirtysentencesinthissection.Beneatheachsentencetherearefourworks,phrases

orstatementsmarkedA.B,CandD.Chooseoneword,phraseorstatementthatbestcompletesthe

sentences.

MarkyouransweronAnswerSheetTwo.

51.Whenyouhavefinishedwiththatbook,don'tforgettoputitbackontheshelf?

A.don'tyouB.doyouC.willyouD.won'tyou

52.Maryis_____hardworkingthanhersister,butshefailedintheexam.

A.nolessB.nomoreC.notlessD.notso

53.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECT?

A.Onlyoneoutofsixwerepresentatthemeeting.

B.Tendollarswasstolenfromthecashregister.

C.Eithermysisterormybrotheriswrong.

D.Fivemilesseemlikealongwalktome.

54.Whichoftheitalicizedpartsexpressesafuturetense?

A.Myfriendteacheschemistryinaschool.

B.TilgiveittoyouafterIreturn.

C.Whatisthematterwithyou?

D.LondonstandsontheRiverThames.

55.1(isnotsomuchthelanguagetheculturalbackgroundthatmakes(hefilmdifficultto

understand.

A.butB.norC.likeD.as

56.Thereisnodoubtthecommitteehasmadetherightdecisiononthehousingproject.

A.whyB.thatC.whetherD.when

57.AllthePresident'sMenoneoftheimportantbooksforscholarswhostudytheWatergate

Scandal.

A.remainsB.remainedC.remainD.isremaining

58.Ifyouexplainedthesituationtoyourlawyer,he_____abletoadviseyoumuchbetterthanI

A.willbeB.wasC.wouldbeD.were

59.Whichofthefollowingisastallveverb（静态动词）？

A.DrinkB.CloseC.RainD.Belong

60.Whichofthefollowingitalicizedpartsindicatesasubject-verbrelation?

A.Themanhasalargefamilytosupport.

B.Shehadnowishtoquarrelwithherbrother.

C.Hewasihelastguesttoleave.

D.Maryneedsafriendtotalkto.

61.Thefollowingareallconectresponsesto"Whotoldthenewstotheteacher?^^EXCEPT_

___?

A.BobdiditB.BobdidsoC.BobdidthatD.Bobdid.

62.WhichofthefollowingisINCORRECT?

A.AnothertwogirlsB.FewwordsC.ThisworkD.Abitofflowers

63.WhichofthefollowingitalicizedwordsdoesNOTindicatewillingness?

A.Whatwillyoudowhenyougraduate?

B.Theywillbehomebynow.

C.Whowillgowithme?

D.Whywillyougotherealone?

64.Whenonehasgoodhealth,_shouldfeelfortunate

A.youB.sheC.heD.we

65.Therenothingmorefordiscussion,（hemeetingcametoanendhalfanhourearlier.

A.tobeB.tohavebeenC.beD.being

66.Twoofherbrotherswere__duringtheSecondWorldWar.

A.calledupB.calledonC.calledforD.calledout

67.Bottlesfromthisregionsellatabout$50acase.

A.entirelyB.totallyC.wholesaleD.together

68.Theproductcontainsnocolours,flavours,orpreservatives.

A.fakeB.artificialC.falseD.wrong

69.Davisacceptedthedefeatinthesemi-finalwithgoodgrace.Theunderlinedpartisclosestin

meaningto_______.

A.cheerfullyB.wholeheartedlyC.politelyD.quietly

70.andbusinessleadersweredelightedatthedecisiontoholdthenationalmotorfairin

thecity.

A.CivilB.CivilizedC.CivilianD.Civic

71.Thecitycouncilisplanningahugeroad-buildingprogrammetoeasecongestion.The

underlinedpartmeans_____.

A.calmB.relieveC.comfortD.still

72.Hisunfortunateappearancewasoffsetbyanattractivepersonality.Theunderlinedpartmeans

allthefollowingEXCEPT.

A.improvedB.madeupforC.balancedD.compensatedfor

73.Thedoctorsaidthatthegashinhischeckrequiredstitches.Theunderlinedpartmeans.

A.lumpB.depressionC.swellingD.cut

74.Duringtheeconomiccrisis,theyhadtocutbackproductionand_____workers.

A.layoffB.layintoC.laydownD.layaside

75.Theuniversityconsistentlyreceivesahighforthequalityofitsteachingandresearch.

A.standardB.evaluationC.ratingD.comment

76.Tomarkitsonehundredthanniversary,theuniversityheldaseriesofactivitiesincluding

conferences,filmshows,etc.Theunderlinedpartmeans_____.

A.signifyB.celebrateC.symbolizeD.suggest

77.Hisfertilemindkeepsturningoutnewideas.Theunderlinedpartmeans.

A.abundantB.unbelievableC.productiveD.generative

78.Thelocalnewspaperhasa____of100,000copiesaday.

A.spreadB.circulationC.motionD.flow

79.Theseissueswerediscussedatlengthduringthemeeting.Theunderlinedpartmeans.

A.eventuallyB.subsequentlyC.lastlyD.fully

80.Acoupleofyoungpeopleweregivingoutleafletsinfrontofthedepartmentstore.The

underlinedpartmeans_____.

A.distributingB.handlingC.dividingD.arranging

PARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION

Inthissectiontherearefourpassagesfollowedbyquestionsorunfinishedstatements,each

withfoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatyouthinkisthebest

answer.

MarkyouranswersonAnswerSheetTwo.

TextA

Inundatedbymoreinformationthanwecanpossiblyholdinourhead,we'reincreasingly

handingoffthejobofrememberingtosearchenginesandsmartphones.Googleisevenreportedly

workingoneyeglassesthatcouldonedayrecognizefacesandsupplydetailsaboutwhoeveryou're

lookingat.Butnewresearchshowsthatoutsourcingourmemoryandexpectingthatinfonration

willbecontinuallyandinstantaneouslyavailable—ischangingourcognitivehabits.

ResearchconductedbyBetsySparrow,anassistantprofessorofpsychologyatColumbia

University,hasidentifiedthreenewrealitiesabouthowweprocessinformationintheInternetage.

First,herexperimentsshowedthatwhenwedon'tknowtheanswertoaquestion,wenowthink

aboutwherewecanfindthenearestWebconnectioninsteadofthesubjectofthequestionitself.A

secondrevelationisthatwhenweexpecttobeabletofindinformationagainlateron,wedon't

rememberitaswellaswhenwcthinkitmightbecomeunavailable.Andthenthereisthe

researchers'finalobservation:theexpectationthatwe'llbeabletolocateinf-ordinationdownthe

lineleadsustoformamemorynotofthefactitselfbutofwherewe'llbeabletofindit.

Butthishandoffcomeswithadownside.Skillslikecriticalthinkingandanalysismust

developinthecontextoffacts:weneedsomethingtothinkandreasonabout,afterall.Andthese

factscan'tbeGoogledaswego;theyneedtobestoredintheoriginalharddrive,ourlong-term

memory.Especiallyinthecaseofchildren,"factualknowledgemustprecedeskill,"saysDaniel

Willingham,aprofessorofpsychology,attheUniversityofVirginia-meaningthatthedaysof

drillingthemultiplicationtableandmemorizingthenamesofthePresidentsaren'toverquiteyel.

Adults,too,needtorccruirasupplyofstoredknowledgeinordertosituateandevaluatenew

informationtheyencounter.Youcan'tGooglecontext.

Last,there'sthepossibility,increasinglyterrifyingtocontemplate,thatourmachinesfailus.

AsSparrowputsit,"TheexperienceoflosingourInternetconnectionbecomesmoreandmore

likelosingafriend."Ifyou'regoingtokeepyourmemoryonyoursmartphone,bettermakesure

it'sfullycharged.

81.Google'seyeglassesaresupposedto__.

[A]improveourmemory

[B]functionlikememory

[C]helpusseefacesbetter

[D]worklikesmartphones

82.Accordingtothepassage,—cognitivehabits||refersto__.

[A]howwcdealwithinformation

[B]functionsofhumanmemory

IC]theamountofinformation

[D]theavailabilityofinformation

83.WhichofthefollowingstatementsaboutSparrow'sresearchisCORRECT?

[A]Werememberpeopleandthingsasmuchasbefore.

[B]WeremembermoreInternetconnections(hanbefore.

[C]Wepayequalattentiontolocationandcontentofinformation.

[D]Wetendtorememberlocationratherthanthecoreoffacts.

84.Whatdocstheauthormeanby—context||?

[A]Itreferstolong-termmemory.

(Bjltreferstoanewsi:uation.

[C]Itreferstoastoreofknowledge.

[D]Itreferstothesearchengine.

85.Whatistheimpliedmessageoftheauthor?

[A]Webconnectionsaidourmemory.

(BJPcoplcdifferinwhattoremember.

[C]Peoplekeepmemoryonsmartphones.

[D]Peopleneedtoexercisetheirmemory.

TextB

Iwasasecond-yearmedicalstudentattheuniversity,andwasonmyseconddayofroundsat

anearbyhospital.Myuniversity'sphilosophywastogetstudentsseeingpatientsearlyintheir

education.Niceidea,butitoverlookedonedetail:second-yearstudentsknownexttonothing

aboutmedicine.

Assignedtomyteamthatdaywasanattending-aseniorfacultymemberwhowasthere

mostlytomakepatientsfeeltheyweren'tinthehandsofamateurs.Manyattendingswere

researcherswhodidn'thavemuchrecenthospitalexperience.Minewasactuallyanarthritis

specialist.Alsoalongwasaresident（therealboss,withastaggeringmasteryofmedicine,a（least

toarookielikemyself）.Inadditionthereweretwointerns（住院实习医生）.Theseguyswerejust

asgreenasIwas,butinascarierway:（heyhadrecentlygraduatedfromthemedicalschool,so

theyweretechnicallyMDs.

Ibeganthedayat6:30am.AninternandIdidaquickcheckofoureightpatients;later,we

weretopresentourfinding?totheresidentandthentotheattending.Ihadthreepatientsandthe

internhadtheotherfive-pieceofcake.

ButwhenIarrivedintheroomof71-year-oldMr.Adans,hewassittingupinbed,sweating

heavilyandpanting（喘气）.He'djusthadahipoperationandlookedterrible.Ilistenedtohis

lungswithmystethoscope,bu（iheysoundedclear.NextIcheckedthelogofhisvitalsignsand

sawthathisrespirationandheartratehadbeenclimbing,buthistemperaturewassteady.Itdidn't

seemlikeheartfailure,nordiditappeartobepneumonia.SoIaskedMr.Adamswhathethought

wasgoingon.

"It'sreallyhotinhere.Doc,"hereplied.

SoIattributedhiscondition（othestuffyroomandtoldhimtherestoftheteamwouldreturn

inafewhours.Hesmiledandfeeblywavedgoodbye.

At8:40am.,duringourteammeeting,"CodeBlueRoom307!"blaredfromtheloudspeaker.

Ifroze.

ThatwasMr.Adams'sroom.Whenwearrived,hewasmotionless.Theautopsy（尸体解

剖）laterfoundMr.Adamshadsufferedamassivepulmonaryembolism（肺部栓塞）.Abloodclot

hadformedinhisleg,workeditswaytohislungs,andcuthisbreathingcapacityinhalf.His

symptomshadbeentextbook:heavyperspirationandshortnessofbreathdespiteclearlungs.The

onlythingwas:Ihadn'treadthatchapterinthetextbookyet.AndIwastooscared,insecure,and

proudtoaskarealdoctorforhelp.

Thismistakehashauntedmefornearly30years,butwhat'sparticularlyfrustratingisthatthe

samemedicaleducationsystempersists.Whoknowshowmanypeoplehavediedorsufferedharm

atthehandsofstudentsasnaiveasI,andhowmanymorewill?

86.Whywastheauthordoingroundsinahospital?

[A]Hehimselfwantedtohavepractice.

[BJStudcntsofallmajorshadtodoso.

[C]Itwaspartofhismedicaltraining.

[D]Hcwasonaresearchteam.

87.Welearnthattheauthor'steammembershad_.

[A]muchpracticalexperience

[B]adequateknowledge

[C]longbeenworkingthere

[D]someprofessionaldeficiency

88.WhiletheauthorwasexaminingMr.Adams,allthefollowingsymptomscaughthisattention

EXCEPT.

[A]movingdifficulty

IBJsteadytemperature

[C]fasterheartrate

[DJbrealhingproblem

89.—Hissymptomshadbeentextbook||meansthathissymptomswere____.

[A]partofthetextbook

[BJnolongerinthetextbook

[C]recentlyincludedinthetextbook

(DJexplaincdinthetextbook

90.Attheendofthepassage,theauthorexpresses___aboutthemedicaleducationsystem.

[AJoptimism

[B]hcsitation

[C]concem

(DJsupport

TEXTC

Thewaronsmoking,rowfivedecadesoldandcounting,isoneofthenation'sgreatestpublic

healthsuccessstories-butnotforeveryone.

Asawhole,thecountryhasmadeamazingprogress.In1964,fourintenadultsintheUS

smoked;todayfewerthantwointendo.Butsomestates-Kentucky,SouthDakotaandAlabama

tonamejustafew-seemtohavemissedthemessagethatsmokingisdeadly.

TheirfailureisthegreatestdisappointmentinanefforttosavelivesthatwasstartedonJan.

11,1964.bythefirstSurgeonGeneral'sReportonSmokingandHealth.Itsfindingthatsmokingis

acauseoflungcancerandotherdiseaseswasmajornewsthen.Thehazardsofsmokingwerejust

startingtoemerge.

Thereportledtocigarettewarninglabels,abanonTVadsandeventuallyananti-smoking

movementthatshiftedthenation'sattitudeonsmoking.Then,smokerswerecool.Today,many

areoutcasts,rejectedbyrestaurants,bars,publicbuildingsandeventheirownworkplaces.

Millionsofliveshavebeensaved.

Theformulaforsuccessisnolongerguesswork:Adopttoughwarninglabels,airpublic

serviceads,fundsmokingcessationprogramsandimposesmoke-freelaws.Butthesurest认ayto

preventsmoking,particularlyamongprice-sensitiveteens,istoraisetaxes.Ifyoucanstopthem

fromsmoking,you'vewonthewar.Fewpeoplestartsmokingafterturning19.

Thereal-lifeevidenceoftaxingpowerispowerful.The10stateswiththelowestadult

smokingratesslapanaveragetaxofS2.42oneverypack—threetimestheaveragetaxinthe

stateswiththehighestsmokingrates.

NewYorkhasthehighestcigarettetaxinthecountry,at$4.35perpack,andjust12percent

ofteenssmoke,farbelowthenationalaverageof18percent.ComparethatwithKentucky,where

taxesarelow(60cents),smokingrestrictionsareweakandtheteensmokingrateisdoubleNew

York's.Otherlow-taxstateshavesimilarlydismalrecords.

Enemiesofhightobaccotaxesclingtothetiredargumentthattheyfalldisproportionately

onthepoor.True,butsodothedeadlyeffectsofsmoking,farworsethanatax.Theeffect