2010年12月大学英语四级考试全真预测试卷二Model Test Two.doc

2010年12月大学英语四级考试全真预测试卷二Model Test TwoPart I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: WILL PHONES KILL LETTER WRITING? You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below in Chinese:1. 年轻人越来越趋向于打电话 恒星英语学习网2. 信件是否会被电话取缔3. 我的观点Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Holy Squid! Photos Offer First Glimpse of Live Deep-Sea GiantLike something straight out of a Jules Verne novel, an enormous tentacle creature looms out of the inky blackness of the deep Pacific waters.But this isnt science fiction. A set of extraordinary images captured by Japanese scientists mark the first-ever record of a live giant squid (Architeuthis) in the wild.The animalwhich measures roughly 25 feet (8 meters) longwas photographed 2,950 feet (900 meters) beneath the North Pacific Ocean. Japanese scientists attracted the squid toward cameras attached to a baited fishing line.The scientists say they snapped more than 500 images of the massive cephalopod before it broke free after snagging itself on a hook. They also recovered one of the giant squids two longest tentacles, which severed during its struggle.The photo sequence, taken off Japans Ogasawara Islands in September 2004, shows the squid homing in on the baited line and enveloping it in a ball of tentacles.Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum in Tokyo and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association report their observations this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.Architeuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected, using its elongated feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey, the researchers write.They add that the squid was found feeding at depths where no light penetrates even during the day.Giant BreakthroughDespite peoples fascination with this deep-sea behemoth, the giant squids life and habits have remained largely a mystery. The little information known has been mostly based on dead and dying specimens that were caught by commercial fishing boats or washed ashore.The mysterious creature has inspired countless sea monster tales and has been the subject of various scientific expeditions.Since the mid 1990s there have been a number of research trips in search of giant squid. Cameras attached to deep-diving subs or sperm whales have been used to try to capture the elusive animals on film, but without success.The Japanese researchers used sperm whales as guides to help them pinpoint likely giant squid haunts. Over the years whalers have reported finding a high number of large squid beaks in the mammals stomachs, pegging sperm whales as primary predators of large squid.The images are generating considerable excitement among squid experts.I think its wonderful that weve finally got a picture of a living giant squid, said Richard Ellis, a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and author of The Search for the Giant Squid.I thought it would only be a matter of time before someone got images of Architeuthis, he added.After all, its not an endangered species, not even all that rare, and its one of the largest of all invertebrates. So the Japanese film finaly breaks through and renders the statement nobody has ever seen a living giant squid inoperative.Squid expert Martin Collins of the British Antarctic Survey based in Cambridge, England, says the new images are a fantastic achievement.The marine biologist says he was skeptical that a dedicated giant squid hunt would succeed. He thought the first wild sighting would probably come by accident.Fair play to these guys whove made the effort, gone out there and looked in what they thought was a good area, and found it, he said.Hunting for CluesCollins is especially interested in clues the images might provide to the way giant squid swim and hunt in the deep ocean.Seeing the animals on film gives you a tremendous insight into how they live down there, he said. It shows they are pretty active animals, and that answers a big question thats been out there for some time.Collins says there were two competing schools of thought among giant squid experts.One was the idea that giant squid were fairly inactive and just drifted around, dangling their tentacles below them like fishing lures to catch what came by, he said.The other theory was that they were actually quite active. This new evidence supports this, suggesting they are active predators which can move reasonably quickly.The efforts the squid went to untangle itself from the baited fishing line also shows they are capable of quite strong and rapid movement, he added.The study team reports that the severed tentacle repeatedly gripped the boat deck and crew after it was hauled aboard. The squids tentacles are armed with suckers, each ringed with tiny teeth to help snare prey.Measuring 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, analysis of the tentacle confirmed it came from a giant squid and allowed the researchers to estimate the total length of the animal.But the researchers caution that their data assume the tentacle was severed at it base. If not, the squid may have been considerably larger. The longest giant squid on record measured 59 feet (18 meters), including its two elongated tentacles.Shedding Light on Giant SquidGiant squid, along with their close cousins colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis), have the largest eyes of any animal.Giant squid do have particularly large eyes, which would suggest vision is important to them. Having a large eye isnt unusual in deep-sea animals-you see it quite often in fish.The fact that the animal caught on film was swimming in total darkness suggests the species detects prey using alternative light sources. The only light down there is likely to be light produced by other animals, said Collins of the British Antarctic Survey.The Japanese team thinks that research techniques similar to their own could be used to bring about more close encounters with giant squid. Ellis of the American Museum of Natural History agrees.Im sure we can learn a lot from an analysis of these images, he said. And now that we have an idea of where to look for the squid, we will undoubtedly get more pictures.1. The passage talks mainly about the studying of a live giant squid by American scientists.2. The giant squid was photographed 2,950 feet beneath the North Pacific Ocean.3. The observations by Tsunemi Kubodera and Kyoichi Mori was reported in the journal Proceedings of Royal Society B.4. The Japanese film is a breakthrough in the study of the giant squids life and habits.5. There are three competing schools of thought among giant squid experts.6. The giant squid are capable of quite strong and rapid movement.7. The longest giant squid on record measured 18 feet.8. Giant squid, along with their close cousins colossal squid, have the largest _.9. The giant squid swimming in total darkness detects prey using _.10. The Japanese team thinks that research techniques similar to their own could be used to bring about more _. From: /CET46/CET4/moni/2010-09-29/122780.htmlPart IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this part there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the staements in the fewest possible words. Write your answers in the spaces provided on Answer Sheet 2.Culture shock is so named because of the effect it has on people when they enter a new culture. Experts have been interested in these effects and have agreed on five basic stages of culture shock. These stages are general and should only be used as a reference. Not every individual will go through each stage, and one stage may last longer than another for different individuals.The hardest thing for most travelers to deal with is the emotional roller coaster they seem to be riding. One moment they feel very positive toward the new culture, and the next moment very negative. It seems common that international visitors and immigrants vacillate (犹豫不定)between loving and hating a new country. Feelings of separation and alienation can be intensified if they do not have a sense of fitting in or belonging.Fatigue is another problem people face when entering a new culture. There can be a sense of a greater need for sleep. This is due not only to physical tiredness, but also to mental fatigue. This mental fatigue comes from straining to comprehend the language, and coping with new situations.The impact of culture shock can vary from person to person. There can be significant differences because some people may be better prepared to enter a new culture. Four factors which play into these are personality, language ability, length of stay, and the emotional support received.It is logical to think that when people are deprived of their familiar surroundings they will feel disoriented. One solution some have found is to bring a few small reminders of home. Pictures, wall hangings, favorite utensils, and keepsakes(纪念品)are all good candidates to make things feel more familiar. Another helpful activity is to establish little routines that become familiar over time. Even better is fitting things that were part of the regular routine back in the home country into the routine established in the new culture. This will make people feel more at home.47. According to the 1st paragraph, experts have interests in _.48. Emotional roller coaster refers to _.49. When entering a new culture, the problems people face are _.50. Coping with new situations may result in _.51. According to the author, the more effective way to solve cultural shock is _.Section B来源：恒星英语学习网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 C. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.Passage OneQuestions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.Sixteen years ago, Eileen Doyles husband, an engineer, took his four children up for an early morning cup of tea, packed a small case and was never seen or heard of again. Eileen was astonished and in a state of despair. They had been a happy family and, as far as she knew, there had been nothing wrong with their marriage.Every day of the year, a small group of men and women quietly pack a few belongings and without so much as a note or a good-bye close the front door for the last time, leaving their debts, their worries and their confused families behind them.Last year, more than 1,200 men and nearly as many women were reported missing from homethe highest in 15 years. Many did return home within a year, but others rejected the past completely and are now living a new life somewhere under a different identity.To those left behind this form of desertion is a terrible blow to their pride and self-confidence. Even the finality of death might be preferable. At least it does not imply rejection or failure. Worse than that, people can be left with an unfinished marriage, not knowing whether they will have to wait seven years before they are free to start a fresh life.Clinical psychologist Paul Brown believes most departures of this kind to be well planned rather than impulsive. Its typical of the kind of personality which seems able to ignore other peoples pain and difficulties. Running away, like killing yourself, is a highly aggressive act. By creating an absence the people left behind feel guilty, upset and empty.The Salvation Armys Investigation Department has a 70 percent success rate in tracking missing people down. According to Lt. Co. Bramwell Pratt, head of the department, men and women run away for very different reasons though lack of communication is often the biggest motive. The things that disturb a mans personality are problems like being tied up in debt or serious worries about work. And some women make impossible demands on their husbands. Women usually leave for more obvious reasons but fear is at the root of it. Men are more often prepared to give their marriage another try than women, but we are aware that, for some wives, it would be a total impossibility to return after the way theyve been treated.52. When her husband left home, Eileen Doyle _ .A could not forgive him for taking the children C could not understand whyB had been expecting it to happen for some time D blamed herself for what had happened53. Most people who leave their families behind them _.A do so without warning C come back immediatelyB do so because of their debts D change their names54. The man or woman left behind usually _.A admits responsibility for the situationB wishes the person who has left were deadC feels embarrassed and uselessD will have no legal marriage life for seven years55. Paul Brown regards leaving home in such circumstances as _.A an act of despair C the result of a sudden decisionB an act of selfishness D the result of the enormous sense of guilt56. The Salvation Army believes that _.A most men run away because of the impossible demands of their wivesB mens reasons are more understandable than womensC some women never give their men another chanceD women are often afraid to start marriage againPassage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based in the following passage.The English have the reputation of being very different from all other nationalities. It is claimed that living on an island separated from the rest of Europe has much to do with it. Whatever the reasons, it may be fairly stated that the Englishman has developed some attitudes and habits distinguishing him from other nationalities.Broadly speaking, the Englishman is a quiet, shy, and reserved person among people he knows well. Before strangers he often seems inhibited, even embarrassed. You have only to witness a railway compartment any morning or evening to see the truth. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or dozing(打盹)in a corner, and no one speaks. An English wit once suggested to overseas visitors, On entering a railway compartment shake hands with all the passengers. Needless to say, he was not being serious. There is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior, which, if broken, makes the person immediately the object of suspicion.It is well known that the English seldom show openly extremes of enthusiasm, emotion etc. Of course, an Englishman feels no less than any other nationality. Imagine a man commenting on the great beauty of a young girl. A man of more emotional temperament might describe her as a marvelous jewel, while the Englishman will flatly state Um, shes all right. An Englishman may recommend a highly successful and enjoyable film to friends by commenting, Its not bad. The overseas visitors must not be disappointed by this apparent lack of interest. They must realize that all right, not bad are very often used with the sense of first class, excellent. This special use of language is particularly common in English.57. One explanation for the different character of English people is that _.A they are geographically isolated from the European continentB they have nothing to do with the other EuropeansC they like to keep quiet among their acquaintancesD they tend to be reserved by nature 恒星英语学习网 58. The word inhibited (Line 2, Para. 2) in this passage probably means _ .A unable to have good manners C able to act properlyB unable to express and relax freely D able to talk freely59. According to the passage, on entering a railway compartment, an overseas visitor is expected to _ .A inquire about the code of behavior in the train C shake hands with the person he knowsB shake hands with all the passengers D behave like an Englishman60. The English way of commenting on something or somebody suggests that _.A the English are modest in most circumstancesB the English feel no less than any other nationalityC the English tend to display less emotion than they feelD the English dont take a strong interest in making comment61. What does the passage mainly discuss?A The differences between the English and the other Europeans.B The different character of the Englishman and its reason.C The reasons for English peoples shyness.D The code of behavior of the nationalities in Europe. From: /CET46/CET4/moni/2010-09-29/122780_3.htmlPart V Cloze (15 minutes)Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D on the ri