2014年12月大学英语四级真题及答案解析(卷2)
2014年12月大学英语四级真题及答案解析(卷2)
Part I Writing
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay about a course that has impressed you most in college. You should state the reasons and write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
Part II Listening Comprehension
© Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C, and D, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
1. A. She used to be in poor health. B. She was popular among boys.
C. She was somewhat overweight. D. She didn't do well at high school.
2. A. At the airport. B. In a restaurant.
C. In a booking office. D. At the hotel reception.
3. A. Teaching her son by herself. B. Having confidence in her son.
C. Asking the teacher for extra help. D. Telling her son not to worry.
4. A. Have a short break. B. Take two weeks off.
C. Continue her work outdoors. D. Go on vacation with the man.
5. A. He is taking care of his twin brother. B. He has been feeling ill all week.
C. He is worried about Rod's health. D. He has been in perfect condition.
6. A. She sold all her furniture before she moved house.
B. She still keeps some old furniture in her new house.
C. She plans to put all her old furniture in the basement.
D. She bought a new set of furniture from Italy last month.
7. A. The woman wondered why the man didn't return the book.
B. The woman doesn't seem to know what the book is about.
C. The woman doesn't find the book useful any more.
D. The woman forgot lending the book to the man.
8. A. Most of the man's friends are athletes.
B. Few people share the woman's opinion.
C. The man doesn't look like a sportsman.
D. The woman doubts the man's athletic ability.
Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
9. A. She has packed it in one of her bags. B. She is going to get it at the airport.
C. She has probably left it in a taxi. D. She is afraid that she has lost it.
10. A. It ends in winter. B. It will cost her a lot.
C. It will last one week. D. It depends on the weather.
11. A. The plane is taking off soon. B. The taxi is waiting for them.
C. There might be a traffic jam. D. There is a lot of stuff to pack.
12. A. At home. B. At the airport.
C. In the man's car. D. By the side of a taxi.
Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
13. A. She is thirsty for promotion. B. She wants a much higher salary.
C. She is tired of her present work. D. She wants to save travel expenses.
14. A. Translator. B. Travel agent.
C. Language instructor. D. Environmental engineer.
15. A. Lively personality and inquiring mind. B. Communication skills and team spirit.
C. Devotion and work efficiency. D. Education and experience.
© Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C, and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
• Passage One
Questions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. A. They care a lot about children.
B. They need looking after in their old age.
C. They want to enrich their life experience.
D. They want children to keep them company.
17. A. They are usually adopted from distant places.
B. Their birth information is usually kept secret.
C. Their birth parents often try to conceal their birth information.
D. Their adoptive parents don't want them to know their birth parents.
18. A. They generally hold bad feelings towards their birth parents.
B. They do not want to hurt the feelings of their adoptive parents.
C. They have mixed feelings about finding their natural parents.
D. They are fully aware of the expenses involved in the search.
19. A. Early adoption makes for closer parent-child relationship.
B. Most people prefer to adopt children from overseas.
C. Understanding is the key to successful adoption.
D. Adoption has much to do with love.
• Passage Two
Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.
20. A. He suffered from mental illness.
B. He bought The Washington Post.
C. He turned a failing newspaper into a success.
D. He was once a reporter for a major newspaper.
21. A. She was the first woman to lead a big U.S. publishing company.
B. She got her first job as a teacher at the University of Chicago.
C. She committed suicide because of her mental disorder.
D. She took over her father's position when he died.
22. A. People came to see the role of women in the business world.
B. Katharine played a major part in reshaping Americans' mind.
C. American media would be quite different without Katharine.
D. Katharine had exerted an important influence on the world.
• Passage Three
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
23. A. It'll enable them to enjoy the best medical care.
B. It'll allow them to receive free medical treatment.
C. It'll protect them from possible financial crises.
D. It'll prevent the doctors from overcharging them.
24. A. They can't immediately get back the money paid for their medical cost.
B. They have to go through very complicated application procedures.
C. They can only visit doctors who speak their native languages.
D. They may not be able to receive timely medical treatment.
25. A. They don't have to pay for the medical services.
B. They needn't pay the entire medical bill at once.
C. They must send the receipts to the insurance company promptly.
D. They have to pay a much higher price to get an insurance policy.
© Section C
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.
More and more of the world's population are living in towns or cities. The speed at which cities are growing in the less developed countries is (26) . Between 1920 and 1960 big cities in developed countries increased two and a half times in size, but in other parts of the world the growth was eight times their size.
The (27) size of growth is bad enough, but there are now also very disturbing signs of trouble in the (28) of percentages of people living in towns and percentages of people working in industry. During the nineteenth century, cities grew (29) the growth of industry. In Europe the proportion of people living in cities was always smaller than that of the workforce working in factories. Now, however, the (30) is almost always true in the newly industrialized world: the percentage of people living in cities is much higher than the percentage working in industry.
Without a base of people working in industry, these cities cannot (31) their growth; there is not enough money to build adequate houses for the people that live there, (32) the new arrivals. There has been little opportunity to build water supplies or other (33) . So, the figures for the growth of towns and cities (34) proportional growth of unemployment and underemployment, a growth in the number of hopeless and (35) parents and starving children.
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
© Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.
As an Alaskan fisherman, Timothy June, 54, used to think that he was safe from industrial pollutants(污染物) at his home in Haines—a town with a population of 2,400 people and 4,000 eagles, with 8 million acres of protected wild land nearby. But in early 2007, June agreed to take part in a (36) of 35 Americans from seven states. It was a biomonitoring project, in which people's blood and urine (尿) were tested for (37) of chemicals—in this case, three potentially dangerous classes of compounds found in common household (38) like face cream, tin cans, and shower curtains. The results— (39) in November in a report called "Is It in Us?" by an environmental group—were rather worrying. Every one of the participants, (40) from a minois state senator to a Massachusetts minister, tested positive for all three classes of pollutants. And while the (41) presence of these chemicals does not (42) indicate a health risk, the fact that typical Americans carry these chemicals at all (43) June and his fellow participants.
Clearly, there are chemicals in our bodies that don't (44) there. A large, ongoing study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found 148 chemicals in Americans of all ages.
And in 2005, the Environmental Working Group found an (45) of 200 chemicals in the blood of 10 new-borns. "Our babies are being born pre-polluted," says Sharyle Patton of Commonweal, which cosponsored "Is It in US?" "This is going to be the next big environmental issue after climate change."
A. analyses B. average C. belong D. demonstrated
E. excess F. extending G. habitually H. necessarily
I. products J. ranging K. released L. shocked
M. simple N. survey O. traces
© Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
In Hard Economy for All Ages, Older Isn't Better... It's Brutal
A. Young graduates are in debt, out of work and on their parents' couches. People in their 30s and 40s can't afford to buy homes or have children. Retirees are earning near-zero interest on their savings.
B. In the current listless (缺乏活力的) economy, every generation has a claim to having been most injured. But the Labor Department's latest jobs reports and other recent data present a strong case for crowning baby boomers (二战后生育高峰期出生的人) as the greatest victims of the recession and its dreadful consequences.
C. These Americans in their 50s and early 60s—those near retirement age who do not yet have access to Medicare and Social Security—have lost the most earning power of any age group, with their household incomes 10 percent below what they made when the recovery began three years ago, according to Sentier Research, a data analysis company. Their retirement savings and home values fell sharply at the worst possible time: just before they needed to cash out. They are supporting both aged parents and unemployed young-adult children, earning them the unlucky nickname "Generation Squeeze".
D. New research suggests that they may die sooner, because their health, income security and mental well-being were battered (重创) by recession at a crucial time in their lives. A recent study by economists at Wellesley College found that people who lost their jobs in the few years before becoming qualified for Social Security lost up to three years from their life expectancy (预期寿命) , largely because they no longer had access to affordable health care.
E. Unemployment rates for Americans nearing retirement are far lower than those for young people, who are recently out of school, with fewer skills and a shorter work history. But once out of a job, older workers have a much harder time finding another one. Over the last year, the average duration of unemployment for older people was 53 weeks, compared with 19 weeks for teenagers, according to the Labor Department's jobs report released on Friday.
F. The lengthy process is partly because older workers are more likely to have been laid off from industries that are downsizing, like manufacturing. Compared with the rest of the population, older people are also more likely to own their own homes and be less mobile than renters, who can move to new job markets.
G. Older workers are more likely to have a disability of some sort, perhaps limiting the range of jobs that offer realistic choices. They may also be less inclined, at least initially, to take jobs that pay far less than their old positions.
H. Displaced boomers also believe they are victims of age discrimination, because employers can easily find a young, energetic worker who will accept lower pay and who can potentially stick around for decades rather than a few years.
I. In a survey of older workers who were laid off during the recession, just one in six had found another job, and half of that group had accepted pay cuts. And 14% of the re-employed said the pay in their new job was less than half what they earned in their previous job. "I just say to myself: 'Why me? What have I done to deserve this?'" said John Agati, 56, whose last full-time job, as a product developer, ended four years ago when his employer went out of business. That position paid $90,000, and his resume lists jobs at companies like American Express, Disney and USA Networks. Since being laid off, though, he has worked a series of part-time, low-wage, temporary positions, including selling shoes at Lord & Taylor and making sales calls for a car company.
J. The last few years have taken toil not only on his family's finances, but also on his feelings of self-worth. "You just get sad," Mr. Agati said. "I see people getting up in the morning, going out to their careers and going home. I just wish I was doing that. Some people don't like their jobs, or they have problems with their jobs, but at least they're working. I just wish I was in their shoes." He said he cannot afford to go back to school, as many younger people without jobs have done. Even if he could afford it, economists say it is unclear whether older workers like him benefit much from more education.
K. "It just doesn't make sense to offer retraining for people 55 and older," said Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor. "Discrimination by age, long-term unemployment, and the fact that they're now at the end of the hiring queue just don't make it sensible to invest in them."
L. Many displaced older workers are taking this message to heart and leaving the labor force entirely. The share of older people applying for Social Security early rose quickly during the recession as people sought whatever income they could find. The penalty they will pay is permanent, as retirees who take benefits at age 62 will receive as much as 30% less in each month's check for the rest of their lives than they would if they had waited until full retirement age (66 for those born after 1942) .
M. Those not yet qualified for Social Security are increasingly applying for another, comparable kind of income support that often goes to people who expect never to work again: disability benefits. More than one in eight people in their late 50s is now on some form of federal disability insurance program, according to Professor Mark Duggan at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
N. The very oldest Americans, of course, were battered by some of the same ill winds that tormented(折磨) those now nearing retirement, but at least the most senior were cushioned by a more readily available social safety net. More importantly, in a statistical twist, they may have actually benefited from the financial crisis in the most fundamental way: longer lives.
O. Death rates for people over 65 have historically fallen during recessions, according to a November 2011 study by economists at the University of California, Davis. Why? The researchers argue that weak job markets push more workers into accepting relatively undesirable work at nursing homes, leading to better care for residents.
46. Greater mobility puts younger people at an advantage in seeking new jobs.
47. Many of the older workers laid off during the recession had to accept lower pay in their new jobs.
48. Those who lose their jobs shortly before retirement age live a shorter-than-average life.
49. Seniors at nursing homes could benefit from the weak job market.
50. Age discrimination in employment makes it pointless retraining older workers.
51. According to recent reports and data analyses, boomers suffer most from the weak economy.
52. Unemployed boomers are at a disadvantage in job-hunting because employers tend to hire younger workers.
53. People in their fifties and early sixties bear the heaviest family burdens.
54. People who take benefits from Social Security before official retirement age will get much less for the rest of their lives.
55. Older workers' choice of jobs can be limited because of disability.
© Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
• Passage One
Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.
New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling (骑车的) passengers on those shining blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up riders at their expense?
At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, manager W. Ben said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to the bike-share program. "It's getting more people on the road," he said. James Ryan, an employee at Danny's Cycles in Gramercy also said Citi Bike is a good option for people to ease into biking in a city famed for its traffic jams and aggressive drivers. "They can try out a bike without committing to buying one," he said.
Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny's Cycles. But for Frank's Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90％ since Citi Bike was rolled out last month. Arroyo's main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.
However, Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop. "People have used the bike-share and realized how great it is to bike in the city and then decide that they want something nicer for themselves," he noted.
Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially he was concerned about bike-share, though, he admitted, "I was happy to see people on bikes."
Farrell's early concerns were echoed by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYC Velo, at 64 Second Ave. "It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement," Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried about inexperienced riders' lack of awareness of building rules and strong negative reaction from non-cyclists. However, he said, it's still too early to tell if his business has been impacted.
While it's possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks allowed that the idea is a positive step forward for New York City.
56. What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?
A. How non-cyclists will respond to it.
B. Whether local bike shops will suffer.
C. Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.
D. How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.
57. What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of the bike-share program?
A. It found its bike sales unaffected.
B. It shifted its business to rentals.
C. It saw its bike sales on the rise.
D. It rented more bikes to tourists.
58. Why is the bike-share program bad news for Frank's Bike Shop?
A. It cannot meet the demand of the bike-share program.
B. Its customers have been drawn away by Citi Bikes.
C. Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.
D. It has to compete with the city's bike rental shops.
59. Why did Andrew Crooks think that the bike-share program would be difficult to execute?
A. Inexperienced riders might break biking rules.
B. Conflicts might arise among bike rental shops.
C. Traffic conditions might worsen in the downtown area.
D. There are not enough lanes to accommodate the bikes.
60. What is the general attitude of local bike shops towards Citi Bike?
A. Wait-and-see. B. Negative. C. Indifferent. D. Approving.
• Passage Two
Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.
Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to measurable improvements in learning. Between 1980 and 2008, staff and teachers at U.S. public schools grew roughly twice as fast as students. Yet students showed no additional learning in achievement tests.
Universities show similar trends of increased administration personnel and costs without greater learning, as documented in Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's recent book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses.
A survey shows that 63% of employers say that recent college graduates don't have the skills they need to succeed and 25% of employers say that entry-level writing skills are lacking.
Some simplistically attribute the decline in our public education system to the drain of skilled students by private schools, but far more significant events were at work.
Public schools worked well until about the 1970s. In fact, until that time, public schools provided far better education than private ones. It was the underperforming students who were thrown out of public schools and went to private ones.
A prominent reason public schools did well was that many highly qualified women had few options for working outside the house other than being teachers or nurses. They accepted relatively low pay, difficult working conditions, and gave their very best.
Having such a large supply of talented women teachers meant that society could pay less for their services. Women's liberation opened up new professional opportunities for women, and, over time, some of the best left teaching as a career option, bringing about a gradual decline in the quality of schooling.
Also around that time, regulations, government, and unions came to dictate pay, prevent adjustments, and introduce bureaucratic (官僚的) standard for advancement. Large education bureaucracies and unions came to dominate the landscape, confusing activity with achievement. Bureaucrats regularly rewrite curriculums, talk nonsense about theories of education, and require ever more administrators. The end result has been that, after all the spending, students have worse math and reading skills than both their foreign peers and earlier generations spending far less on education—as all the accumulating evidence now documents.
61. What do we learn from various studies on America's public education?
A. Achievement tests have failed to truly reflect the quality of teaching.
B. Public schools lack the resources to compete with private schools.
C. Little improvement in education has resulted from increased spending.
D. The number of students has increased much faster than that of teachers.
62. How do some people explain the decline in public education?
A. Government investment does not meet schools' needs.
B. Skilled students are moving to private schools.
C. Qualified teachers are far from adequately paid.
D. Training of students' basic skills is neglected.
63. What was a significant contributor to the past glory of public schools?
A. Well-behaved students. B. Efficient administration.
C. Talented women teachers. D. Generous pay for teachers.
64. Why did some of the best women teachers leave teaching?
A. New career opportunities were made available to them by women's liberation.
B. Higher academic requirements made it difficult for them to stay in their jobs.
C. They were unhappy with the bureaucratic administration in their schools.
D. The heavy teaching loads left them little time and energy for family life.
65. What does the author think is one of the results of government involvement in education?
A. Increasing emphasis on theories of education.
B. Highly standardized teaching methods.
C. Students' improved academic performance.
D. An ever-growing number of administrators.
Part IV Translation
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
中国的互联网社区是全世界发展最快的。2010年，中国约有4.2亿网民(netizen) ，而且人数还在迅速增长。互联网的日渐流行带来了重大的社会变化。中国网民往往不同于美国网民。美国网民更多的是受实际需要的驱使。用互联网为工具发电子邮件、买卖商品、做研究、规划旅程或付款。中国网民更多是出于社交原因使用互联网，因而更广泛地使用论坛、博客、聊天室等。
答案解析
Part I Writing
行文思路
题目要求考生介绍自己“印象最深刻的一门课”，并说明原因。
根据题目要求，文章可以用“总—分—总”结构。第一段引出话题，大学的课程每一科都很有意义，但令自己印象最深的是什么课程；第二段展开说明这门课程使自己印象深刻的原因，以及对这门课程做一个简单的描述；最后一段突出描写一下自己在这门课程中的收获。
范文赏析
The Most Impressive Course in My College Life
Every college student will be assigned a variety of courses to learn in the university. Among them, some can broaden our horizons, while some can exercise our ability to think. What has impressed me most is "the production of micro film".
The unique point of this course lies in its ability to practice. The teacher who was very interesting taught us in a humorous way, which could make us hold a high degree of enthusiasm for this course. Later, we were required to explore the materials, making a small video by ourselves. To make a small video I just needed a camera and software. However, to finish the process of production I needed more professional knowledge, so we listened to the teacher carefully. It is worth mentioning that our work has been affirmed.
Through this course, I learned the basic knowledge of the production of micro films, and my practical ability has been greatly improved.
Part II Listening Comprehension
© Section A
Short Conversations
1. W: I ran into Sally the other day. I could hardly recognize her. Do you remember her from high school?
M: Yeah. She was a little out of shape back then. Well, has she lost a lot of weight?
Q: What does the man remember of Sally?
答案：C
点睛解析：在对话中我们可以听到男士说萨莉当时体形有点不成样子，随后问“她是不是减肥了”，说明她当时体重超重，即C选项。
2. W: We don't seem to have a reservation for you, sir. I'm sorry.
M: But my secretary said that she had reserved a room for me here. I phoned her from the airport this morning just before I got on board the plane.
Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?
答案：D
点睛解析：在对话中我们可以听到reserved a room，可知对话发生在宾馆前台。
3. W: What would you do if you were in my place?
M: If Paul were my son, I'd just not worry. Now that his teacher is giving him extra help and he is working harder himself, he's sure to do well in the next exam.
O: What's the man's suggestion to the woman?
答案：B
点睛解析：在对话中我们可以听到女士问男士有什么建议，男士认为她不用担心，她儿子下次会考好的。即建议女士要对自己的儿子有信心，故选B。
4. M: You've had your hands full and have been overworked during the last two weeks. I think you really need to go out and get some fresh air and sunshine.
W: You are right. That's just what I'm thinking about.
Q: What is the woman most probably going to do?
答案：A
点睛解析：男士建议女士“出去呼吸一下新鲜空气，晒晒太阳”，A选项“稍微休息一下”与题意相符。
5. W: Hello, John. How are you feeling now? I hear you've been ill.
M: They must have confused me with my twin brother Rod. He's been sick a week, but I've never felt better in my life.
Q: What do we learn about the man?
答案：D
点睛解析：在对话中，男士明确说“我从来没有感觉到比现在更好”，言外之意是他身体状况很好，所以D是正确答案。
6. M: Did you really give away all your furniture when you moved into the new house last month?
W: Just the useless pieces, as I'm planning to purchase a new set from Italy for the sitting room only.
Q: What does the woman mean?
答案：B
点睛解析：男士问女士是否把全部旧家具都扔了，在对话中我们可以听到Just the useless pieces，女士并没有全部扔掉，因此答案为B。
7. M: I've brought back your Oxford Companion to English Literature. I thought you might use it for your paper. Sorry not to have returned it earlier.
W: I was wondering where that book was.
Q: What can we infer from the conversation?
答案：D
点睛解析：在对话中我们可以听到男士归还女士书时，女士说“我还在纳闷书到哪里去了呢”，说明她忘了曾把书借给男士，即D选项。
8. W: To tell the truth, Tony, it never occurred to me that you are an athlete.
M: Oh, really? Most people who meet me, including some friends of mine, don't think so either.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
答案：C
点睛解析：女士及大多数认识男士的人都不觉得男士是运动员，言外之意是他看起来不像是一个运动员，所以C是正确答案。
Long Conversations
• Conversation One
M: Mary, [12] I hope you are packed and ready to leave.
W: Yes, I'm packed, but not quite ready. I can't find my passport.
M: Your passport? That's the one thing you mustn't leave behind.
W: I know. I haven't lost it. [9] I've packed it, but I can't remember which bag it's in.
M: Well, you'll have to find it at the airport. Come on, the taxi is waiting.
W: [12] Did you say taxi? I thought we were going in your car.
M: Yes, well, I have planned to, but I'll explain later. You've got to be there in an hour.
W: The plane doesn't leave for two hours. Anyway, I'm ready to go now.
M: Now, you are taking just one case, is that right?
W: No, [12] there is one in the hall as well.
M: Gosh, what a lot of stuff! [10] You are taking enough for a month instead of a week.
W: Well, you can't depend on the weather. It might be cold.
M: It's never cold in Rome. Certainly not in May. Come on, we really must go.
W: Right, we are ready. We've got the bags. I'm sure there is no need to rush.
M: There is. [11] I asked the taxi driver to wait two minutes, not twenty.
W: Look, I'm supposed to be going away to relax. You are making me nervous.
M: Well, I want you to relax on holiday, but you can't relax yet.
W: OK. I promise not to relax, at least not until we get to the airport and I find my passport.
9. What does the woman say about her passport?
答案：A
点睛解析：在对话开头，我们可以听到I've packed it, but I can't remember which bag it's in.“我拿了，只是不记得放在哪一个袋子里了。”故选项A正确。
10. What do we know about the woman's trip?
答案：C
点睛解析：在短文对话中，A、B均未提及；说到weather时用的是否定句，故可排除D；我们可以听到男士的话“你带的东西都够一个月而不是一周用了”，可见女士计划外出一周。所以选C。
11. Why does the man urge the woman to hurry?
答案：B
点睛解析：男士提及他让出租车等的是两分钟而不是二十分钟，言外之意是要赶紧出去乘坐出租车，故答案为B。
12. Where does the conversation most probably take place?
答案：A
点睛解析：在对话中我们可以听到“离开”“厅里(还有一个箱子) ”“你的车”等关键词，可知二人准备离开家外出旅游，故选项A正确。
• Conversation Two
W: Oh, [13] I'm fed up with my job.
M: Hey, there is a perfect job for you in the paper today. You might be interested.
W: Oh? What is it? What do they want?
M: Wait a minute. Eh, here it is. [14] The European Space Agency is recruiting translators.
W: The European Space Agency?
M: Well, that's what it says. They need an English translator to work from French or German.
W: So they need a degree in French or German, I suppose. Well, I've got that. What's more, I have plenty of experience. What else are they asking for?
M: Just that. A university degree and three or four years of experience as [14] a translator in a professional environment. They also say the person should have a lively and inquiring mind, effective communication skills and the ability to work individually or as a part of the team.
W: Well, if I stay at my present job much longer, I won't have any mind or skills left. By the way, [15] what about salary? I just hope it isn't lower than what I get now.
M: It's said to be negotiable. [15] It depends on the applicant's education and experience. In addition to basic salary, there is a list of extra benefits. Have a look yourself.
W: Hmm, travel and social security plus relocation expenses are paid. Hey, this isn't bad. I really want the job.
13. Why is the woman trying to find a new job?
答案：C
点睛解析：在对话第一句我们可以听到女士说自己厌倦了自己的工作，答案中的be tired of是原文be fed up with的同义表达，故答案为C。
14. What position is being advertised in the paper?
答案：A
点睛解析：在对话中我们可以听到The European Space Agency is recruiting translators.招聘职位是“翻译”，故选A。
15. What are the key factors that determine the salary of the new position?
答案：D
点睛解析：在对话中男士说，工资待遇“取决于求职者的教育背景和工作经历”。D选项内容是原文复现，所以选D。
© Section B
• Passage One
When couples get married, they usually plan to have children. Sometimes, however, a couple cannot have a child of their own. In this case, they may decide to adopt a child. In fact, adoption is very common today. There are about 60,000 adoptions each year in the United States alone. Some people prefer to adopt infants. Others adopt older children. Some couples adopt children from their own countries. Others adopt children from foreign countries. [16] In any case, they all adopt children for the same reason: they care about children and want to give their adopted child a happy life. Most adopted children know that they are adopted. Psychologists and childcare experts generally think this is a good idea. However, many adopted children or adoptees have very little information about their biological parents. [17] As a matter of fact, it is often very difficult for adoptees to find out about their birth parents, because the birth records of most adoptees are usually sealed. The information is secret, so no one can see it. Naturally, adopted children have different feelings about their birth parents. Many adoptees want to search for them, but others do not. The decision to search for birth parents is a difficult one to make. [18] Most adoptees have mixed feelings about finding their biological parents. Even though adoptees do not know about their natural parents, [19] they do know that their adoptive parents want them, love them and will care for them.
16. According to the speaker, why do some couples adopt children?
答案：A
点睛解析：在短文中我们可以听到In any case, they all adopt children for the same reason: they care about children and want to give their adopted child a happy life.“不管是什么样的情形，人们收养孩子都出于同一个理由：他们喜欢孩子，想给孩子幸福的生活。”故A正确。
17. Why is it difficult for adoptees to find out about their birth parents?
答案：B
点睛解析：在短文中我们可以听到：大多数被收养者的出生记录往往不对外公开。相关资料是保密的，因此没有人能看到。选项B与此相符。
18. Why do many adoptees find it hard to make the decision to search for the birth parents?
答案：C
点睛解析：短文提到：Most adoptees have mixed feelings about finding their biological parents.大多数人对寻找自己的生身父母感情复杂。mixed feelings是解题关键词，选项C是对原文的复现，所以选C。
19. What can we infer from the passage?
答案：D
点睛解析：根据短文开头提到，A、B显然不符合短文内容；C貌似正确，但短文没有讨论understanding的问题，人们收养孩子是因为他们喜欢(care about) 孩子，因此D正确。
• Passage Two
Katharine Graham graduated from the University of Chicago in 1938 and got a job as a news reporter in San Francisco. [20] Katharine's father used to be a successful investment banker. In 1933 he bought a failing newspaper—The Washington Post. Then Katharine returned to Washington and got a job, editing letters in her father's newspaper. She married Philip Graham who took over his father-in-law's position shortly after and became publisher of The Washington Post. But for many years her husband suffered from mental illness and he killed himself in 1963. After her husband's death, Katharine operated the newspaper. In the 1970s, the newspaper became famous around the world. And Katharine was also recognized as an important leader in newspaper publishing. [21] She was the first woman to head a major American publishing company—the Washington Post Company. In a few years, she successfully expanded the company to include newspaper, magazine, broadcast and cable companies. She died of head injuries after a fall when she was 84. More than 3,000 people attended her funeral including many government and business leaders. [22] Her friends said she would be remembered as a woman who had an important influence on events in the United States and the world. Katharine once wrote: "The world without newspapers would not be the same kind of world." After her death, the employees of The Washington Post wrote: [22] "The world without Katharine would not be the same at all."
20. What do we learn from the passage about Katharine's father?
答案：B
点睛解析：在短文中我们可以听到，有精神疾病的是Katharine的丈夫；做过记者的是Katharine；邮报是20世纪70年代闻名天下的，当时由Katharine负责。Katharine的父亲于1933年买下了陷入困境的《华盛顿邮报》。故B正确。
21. What does the speaker tell us about Katharine Graham?
答案：A
点睛解析：根据短文，凯瑟琳的第一份工作并不是老师，故排除B；她是因为脑部受伤去世的，而不是自杀，故排除C；她父亲死后，是她丈夫接任了职位，故排除D。原文提到：凯瑟琳是担任美国主要出版公司领导人的第一位女性。故选项A正确。
22. What does the comment by employees of The Washington Post suggest?
答案：D
点睛解析：短文结尾的几句都是对凯瑟琳的评价。A选项business world，C选项media，范围都太窄，B在短文中未提及。文中提到“她将作为一个对美国以及全世界的事件产生过重要影响的女性为世人所怀念……没有Katharine的世界将是一个完全不同的世界”。D与此一致。
• Passage Three
[23] Obtaining good health insurance is a real necessity while you are studying overseas. It protects you from minor and major medical expenses that can wipe out not only your savings but your dreams of an education abroad. There are often two different types of health insurance you can consider buying: international travel insurance and student insurance in the country where you will be going. An international travel insurance policy is usually purchased in your home country before you go abroad. It generally covers a wide variety of medical services and you are often given a list of doctors in the area where you will travel who may even speak your native language. [24] The drawback might be that you may not get your money back immediately. In other words, you may have to pay all your medical expenses and then later submit your receipts to the insurance company. On the other hand, [25] getting student health insurance in the country where you will study might allow you to only pay a certain percentage of the medical cost at the time of service and thus you don't have to have sufficient cash to pay the entire bill at once. Whatever you decide, obtaining some form of health insurance is something you should consider before you go overseas. You shouldn't wait until you are sick with major medical bills to pay off.
23. Why does the speaker advise overseas students to buy health insurance?
答案：C
点睛解析：在短文开头我们可以听到，好的健康保险可以使你免受大大小小的医疗费用的困扰，这些费用不仅会耗尽你的积蓄，还会让你的留学梦破灭。选项C与文意相符。
24. What is the drawback of students' buying international travel insurance?
答案：A
点睛解析：在短文中我们可以听到The drawback might be that you may not get your money back immediately.“购买国际旅行保险的缺点是你不能马上拿回你支付的钱。”A选项与此意思一致，所以选A。
25. What does the speaker say about students' getting health insurance in the country where they will study?
答案：B
点睛解析：短文提到，在留学国购买健康保险可以在就医时只支付部分医疗费，而不必一下子支付所有费用。选项B是对原文的复现。
© Section C
26. alarming
点睛解析：alarming 令人担忧的
27. sheer
点睛解析：sheer 纯粹的
28. comparison
点睛解析：comparison名词，为动词compare“比较，对比”的派生词，意为“比较”。
29. as a result of
点睛解析：as a result of 作为……的结果
30. reverse
点睛解析：reverse 相反的情况
31. pay for
点睛解析：pay for负担……的费用，偿还
32. let alone
点睛解析：let alone更不用说，不必考虑
33. facilities
点睛解析：facility设施，设备
34. represent
点睛解析：represent代表
35. despairing
点睛解析：despairing绝望的
Part III Reading Comprehension
© Section A
36.答案：N
点睛解析：空格前是不定冠词a，空格后是介词of，说明此处需填入可数名词，作take part in“参加”的宾语。下一句的主语It指代该词，根据该句的表语a biomonitoring project“一个生物监测的项目”可知填入的单词与project语义相关，因此选N项survey“调查”。
37. 答案：O
点睛解析：空格前是介词for，空格后是of，故此处应填入名词或动名词。本句是in which引导的定语从句，which指代project“项目”，句子提到这个项目对人体的血液和尿液进行了测试，目的当然是找到化学物质，O项traces“痕迹，踪迹”符合逻辑。
38. 答案：I
点睛解析：空格前是形容词household“家庭的”，故此处应填入名词，意义上能概括空格后列举的face cream“面霜”、tin cans“锡罐”和shower curtains“浴帘”等家用的东西。common household products表示“普通居家用品”，所以选I。
39. 答案：K
点睛解析：由下文的in a report可推测这里表示该调查结果“被发表”在一项报告上，故选K项。release“发表”。
40. 答案：J
点睛解析：备选词中常与from...to...搭配的分词有ranging“(在范围内) 变动”和extending“延伸”。extending通常形容河流、土地、森林的延伸。而此处指参与者的范围，J项ranging更合适。
41. 答案：M
点睛解析：空格位于定冠词the和名词presence之间，因此空格处的词应为可以作定语的名词、形容词或分词。本句中用while引导的从句意思为“尽管这些化学物质的____存在不表示有健康风险”，因此空格处的词应具有“不会导致严重后果”的含义，备选词中M项simple“简单的”符合要求。
42. 答案：H
点睛解析：空格在助动词does not和谓语动词indicate之间，故应填入副词。本句指“这些化学物质的存在不____代表有健康风险”，词库中的副词necessarily“必要地”代入，not necessarily表示“不一定”，符合题意。
43. 答案：L
点睛解析：空格所在句的主语是the fact，空格后是名词结构June and his fellow participants，故此处应填入谓语动词。空格所在的主句与while所引导的从句之间构成让步转折的关系，从句提到体内有这些化学物质不表示有健康风险，故推断主句提到的这个事实让琼和其他人都感到意外，L项shocked“使(某人) 震惊”符合要求。
44. 答案：C
点睛解析：空格前是助动词don't，空格后是副词there，故此处需填入动词原形，充当that引导的定语从句的谓语。that指代chemicals in our bodies“我们体内的化学物质”，there指代in our bodies。上文提到那些化学物质是家居用品中的，因此推断不应存在于我们体内，故选C项belong“属于”。
45. 答案：B
点睛解析：空格前的不定冠词an表明此处应填入元音开头的可数名词单数形式，词库中符合要求的名词只有B项average“平均数”和E项excess“过量”。an excess of可表示“过量的某种事物”，但其后不接具体数量，空格后是具体数值“200种化学物质”，所以E项不合适。因此只能选B项average“平均数”。本句意为“在2005年，环境工作小组发现10个新生儿的血液中平均有200种化学物质”。
© Section B
46. 答案：F
点睛解析：根据题干中的Greater mobility可定位到F段。该段提到，相对于其他年龄段的人，年龄大的人，流动性不如那些可以轻松转到新劳力市场的租房族。本题是从年轻人的角度来阐述，年轻人因为流动性强在再就业上比上了年纪的人占优势，故本题内容与原文F段的内容相对应。
47. 答案：I
点睛解析：根据题干中的laid off during the recession, lower pay可定位到I段第l句。该句引用了一项调查，In a survey of older workers who were laid off during the recession, just one in six had found another job, and half of that group had accepted pay cuts.题干中的信息与该句相呼应，都表明上年纪的人不得不接受减薪。
48. 答案：D
点睛解析：根据题目中的shortly before retirement age可定位到D段第2句。该句引用调查，说明“接近退休的人失业后，其寿命会比预期寿命少三年”。原文的in the few years before对应题目中的shortly before retirement age；而原文的lost up to three years from their life expectancy则对应shorter-than-average life。所以选D。
49. 答案：O
点睛解析：根据O段中The researchers argue that weak job markets push more workers into accepting relatively undesirable work at nursing homes, leading to better care for residents.“疲软的就业市场将促使更多人去疗养院工作，最终使疗养院的居民得到更好的照顾。”这与题干意思“疲软的就业市场使疗养院的老人们受益”一致。由此可知选O。
50. 答案：K
点睛解析：根据题干信息“就业中的年龄歧视使得年长员工的再培训毫无意义”可定位到K段。该段引用经济学教授的话说明了对老人再培训不明智，It just doesn't make sense to offer retraining for people 55 and older，该段中的doesn't make sense与题目中的pointless对应，据此判断本题信息来自K段。
51.答案：B
点睛解析：根据题干中的recent reports and data和boomers可定位到B段第2句。But the Labor Department's latest jobs reports and other recent data present a strong case for crowning baby boomers (二战后生育高峰期出生的人) as the greatest victims of the recession and its dreadful consequences.说明二战后生育高峰期出生的人成为此次经济衰退的最大受害者，本题所述与B段的文意相符。
52. 答案：H
点睛解析：结合题干中的tend to hire younger workers“倾向于雇佣年轻人”可定位到H段。该段because后提到了年轻人的几点优势，包括young, energetic, accept lower pay以及can potentially stick around for decades。年轻人有优势，boomers就是处于不利地位了(at a disadvantage) ，所以H是正确答案。
53. 答案：C
点睛解析：根据题干信息可定位到C段。结合该段最后一句的“他们需要赡养年迈的父母，还需要供养失业的成年孩子”以及他们的绰号“被榨干的一代”可看出他们的家庭负担重。所以选C。
54. 答案：L
点睛解析：根据题干信息可定位到L段最后一句。该句提到“62岁时就开始领的社保金会比正常退休的少30％”，与题目信息相对应，故选L。
55. 答案：G
点睛解析：根据题干的limited, disability等关键信息可定位到G段。该段第一句Older workers are more likely to have a disability of some sort, perhaps limiting the range of jobs that offer realistic choices.提到“年长的工人更可能有某种形式的缺陷，这也许会限制他们可以选择的工作范围”。题目的信息“由于某些缺陷，年长工人可选的工作有限”与此相符，故选G。
© Section C
• Passage One
56. 答案：B
点睛解析：根据题干信息可定位至第一段，本题问针对越来越多人使用Citi Bikes，作者首要担心的问题是什么。在文章第一段中，But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up riders at their expense? 这两个问题表示作者关心当地自行车店对此的反应，并提问城市自行车项目是否会让当地自行车店利益受损。B项中的suffer是对最后一句at their expense的同义转换，选B。
57. 答案：C
点睛解析：根据题干中的Gotham Bikes定位至第二段。题目问的是公共自行车项目导致Gotham自行车店产生了怎样的结果。第二段中the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to the bike-share program表明“店里总体销售额有所增长”。 C项中的on the rise是原文has seen an increase的同义转换，跟原文意思一致，所以选C。
58. 答案：B
点睛解析：根据题干中的Frank' Bike Shop可定位至第三段。题目问的是为什么对Frank自行车店而言，公共自行车项目是个坏消息。该段中Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90％ since Citi Bike was rolled out last month指出，自上个月推出Citi Bike后，该店的出租业务下降了90％，而最后一句指出业务下降的原因，即曾经是该店的主要客源的欧洲游客都被Citi Bike抢走了(main rental customers...have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes) 。B项“顾客被Citi Bikes抢走了”与该句意思一致.
59. 答案：A
点睛解析：根据题干中的Andrew Crooks定位至第六段。题目问为什么Andrew Crooks认为公共自行车项目很难执行。B项“自行车出租店之间可能发生冲突”、C项“市中心的交通状况可能变得更差”、D项“没有足够的自行车道供自行车出行”都不属于文章中提到的两点原因，A项“缺乏经验的骑手可能会违反骑行规则”是原文中列举的第一个原因，为正确答案。
60. 答案：D
点睛解析：题目询问当地自行车店对Citi Bike的普遍态度。文中提到了不同的自行车店的态度，其态度往往体现在原文的转折对比处。A项“观望的”、B项“否定的”和C项“不关心的”都表消极否定，与原文对比转折处所暗含的肯定态度（positive）相违背。所以选D“赞成的”。
• Passage Two
61.答案：C
点睛解析：根据题干中的various studies可定位至第一段。本题询问在关于美国公立教育的大量研究中，我们可以得知什么。该段第一句Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to measurable improvements in learning.“大量研究表明教育投入的增加并未促使教育有显著改善。”C项中的has resulted from“由……产生”替换了原文中的has led to“导致”；选项中的little improvements和原文中的not led to measurable improvements属同义转换。所以正确答案是C“花费增加并未促使教育得到大的改善”。
62. 答案：B
点睛解析：根据题干中的decline in public education定位至第四段。题目问一些人认为公立教育衰落的原因是什么。Some simplistically attribute the decline in our public education system to the drain of skilled students by private schools, but far more significant events were at work.原因是高素质生源流失到了私立学校，B“高素质的学生都去了私立学校”与原文一致。
63. 答案：C
点睛解析：根据题干信息定位至第六段。本题问公立学校过去成功的重要原因是什么。该段提到A prominent reason public schools did well was that many highly qualified women had few options for working outside the house other than being teachers or nurses.“公立学校曾经很成功的首要原因是当时许多高素质的女性除了当老师或者护士之外，没有其他职业可以从事。”而第七段也重申了这些有才干的女教师(talented women teachers) 的重要性，C“有才干的女教师”复现了这一内容，为正确答案。
64.答案：A
点睛解析：根据题干中的best women teachers leave teaching定位至第七段。题目问为什么一些优秀的女教师要放弃教书。B“更高的学术要求使她们很难保住这份工作”，学术要求并未出现在文章中。C“她们不满学校里的官僚化管理”，最后一段出现了官僚机构，而且谈及了官僚机构管理对教学工作产生的负面影响，但是这些均不是优秀女教师离职的原因。D“过重的教学负担使她们没有时间和精力过家庭生活”，教学负担和家庭生活的关系不在本文讨论的范围之内。A项“妇女解放运动给她们带来了新的职业机会”符合原文。其中的new career opportunities是原文new professional opportunities的同义表达；made available同义替换了opened up，都表示“开辟了新的职业领域”。
65. 答案：D
点睛解析：根据题干信息定位至最后一段。题目问作者认为政府参与教育所导致的结果是什么。题干所说的government involvement in education，包括引入官僚晋升标准、支配整个教育系统等。第三句讲述了一些具体的措施：定期修改课表、吹嘘荒谬的教育理论、要求不断增加管理人员。D“不断增长的管理人员”是原文中要求增加管理人员的必然结果，所以为正确答案。
Part IV Translation
The Internet community in China develops at the fastest speed in the world. In 2010, China had an estimated 420 million netizens and the number is growing rapidly. The increasing popularity of the Internet has brought significant social changes. Chinese netizens are often different from those in America. Because American netizens are more driven by practical needs, they use the Internet as a tool to send e-mails, buy and sell goods, do research, plan tours or make payments. However, Chinese netizens make use of the Internet for social reasons in most cases. Therefore, forums, blogs and chat rooms and so on are more widely used. 超精讲，分类练，英语四级简单过