大学英语四级题库.doc

Part I. Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic My best friend. You should write at least 120 words, and base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:1. 你最好的朋友是个什么样子的人。2. 你们如何成为好朋友的。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. 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 questions8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Turning Failure into SuccessVicky-beautiful, talented, very bright, voted “Most Likely to Succeed” incollege-got a promising job with a large specialty store after graduation. Then, after two years without promotions, she was fired. She suffered a complete nervous breakdown. “It was panic,” she told me later. “Everything had always gone so well for me that I had no experience in coping with rejection. I felt I was a failure.”Vickys reaction is an extreme example of a common phenomenon, In a society that places so much emphasis on “making it,” we fail to recognize that what looks like failure may, in the long run, prove beneficial. When Vicky was able to think coolly about why she was fired, for example, she realized that she was simply not suited to a job dealing with people all the time. In her new position as a copy editor, she works independently. She is happy and once again “successful.”People are generally prone to what semanticist(语义学家) S. I. Hayakawa calls “the two-valued orientation.” We talk about seeing both sides of a question as if every question had only two sides. We assume that everyone is either a success or a failure when, in fact, infinite degrees of both are possible. As Hayakawa points out, theres a world of difference between “I have failed three times” and “I am a failure.” Indeed, the words failure and success cannot be reasonably applied to a complex, living, changing human being. They can only describe the situation at a particular time and place.Obviously no one can be a whizz(能手) at everything. In fact, success in one area often precludes success in another. An eminent politician once told me that his career had practically destroyed his marriage. “I have no time for my family,” he explained. “I travel a lot. And even when Im home, I hardly see my wife and kids. Ive got power, money, prestige-but as a husband and father, Im a flop.” Certain kinds of success can indeed be destructive. The danger of too early success is particularly acute whenever a child demonstrates special talent. I recall from my childhood a girl whose skill on ice skates marked her as “Olympic material.” While the rest of them were playing, bicycling, reading, making things and just loafing, this girl skated every day after school and all weekend. Her picture often appeared in the papers, and the rest of us envied her glamorous life. Years later, however, she spoke bitterly of those early triumphs. “I never prepared myself for anything but the ice,” she said. “I peaked at 17 and its been downhill ever since.”Success that comes too easily is also damaging. The child who wins a prize for a dashed-off essay, the adult who distinguishes himself at a first job by lucky accident faces probable disappointment when real challenges arise.Success is also bad when its achieved at the cost of the total quality of an experience. Successful students sometimes become so obsessed with grades that they never enjoy their school years. They never branch out into tempting new areas, because they dont want to risk their grade average.Success may, quite simply, cost too much-in strain (in fighting at the job, keeping a cheerful public face while your personal life falls apart) or loss of integrity(诚实，正直)(flattering, lying, going along with questionable actions). Above all, it may be too costly if the end result is fear of not repeating the success. One of the most successful hostesses I know has come to hate entertaining: “Ive acquired such a reputation,” she explains, “that my friends expect me to outdo myself. I cant disappoint them and Im worn out before my guests arrive.”Why are so many people so afraid of failure? Quite simply because no one tells us how to fail so that failure becomes a growing experience. We forget that failure is part of the human condition and that, as family therapist Virginia Satir observes, “every person has the right to fail.” Most parents work hard at either preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards. A mother describes her childs hastily made table as “perfect!” even though it wobbles(摇晃) on unevenness. Another way is to shift the blame. If John fails science, his teacher is unfair or stupid.When one of my daughters was ten, she decided to raise money for charity by holding a carnival(狂欢节). Proud of her, we rashly allowed her to put posters all over town. We realized too late that she couldnt possibly handle all the refreshments, shows and games promised in the posters. The whole family pitched in to prevent embarrassing failure and the next year she advertised an even more ambitious event. Why not? We had kept her from discovering her limitations.The trouble with failure-prevention devices is that they leave a child unequipped for life in the real world. The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything, no one can win all the time and that its possible to enjoy a game even when you dont win. A child whos not invited to a birthday party, who doesnt make the honor roll or the baseball team feels terrible, of course. But parents should not offer a quick consolation prize or say, “It doesnt matter,” because it does. The youngster should be allowed to experience disappointment-and then be helped to master it.Failure is never pleasurable. It hurts adults and children alike. But it can make a positive contribution to your life once you learn to use it. Step one is to ask, “Why did I fail?” Resist the natural impulse to blame someone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong, how you can improve. If someone else can help, dont be shy about inquiring.When I was a teenager, I failed to get a job Id counted on. I telephoned the interviewer to ask why. “Because you came ten minutes late,” I was told. “We cant afford employees who waste other peoples time.” The explanation was reassuring (I hadnt been rejected as a person) and helpful, too. I dont think Ive been late for anything since.Success, which encourages repetition of old behavior, is not nearly as good a teacher as failure. You can learn from a disastrous party how to give a good one; from an ill-chosen first house what to look for in a second. Even a failure that seems definitive can prompt fresh thinking, a change of direction. After 12 years of studying ballet a friend of mine auditioned(试演) for a professional company. She was turned down. “Would further training help?” she asked. The ballet master shook his head. You will never be a dancer,” he said. “You havent the body for it.”In such cases, the way to use failure is to take stock courageously, asking, “What have I left? What else can I do?” My friend put away her toe shoes and moved into dance therapy, a field where shes both competent and useful.Oddly enough, failure often brings with it a peculiar kind of freedom. Even a major life failure can be followed by a sense of “Its happened. I wish it hadnt, but its over now and I survived.”1. Vicky was fired after two years without promotion.2. After rejected, Vicky always felt depressed and unhappy.3. Hayakawa indicates that theres a great difference between “I have failed three times” and “I am a failure.”4. Evidently anyone cannot be suited to every job.5. Successful students are diligent and like studying.6. Virginia Satir thinks every person has the right to succeed.7. Failure always hurts children and doesnt hurt adults.8. The danger of too early success is particularly acute whenever a child _.9. Failure can _to your life once you learn to use it.10. Oddly enough, failure often brings with it _.Part III. Listening Comprehension （35 minutes）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 conversations 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 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A) He should run fast. B) He asks about the time. C) He wants to be president. D) He will not run for it.12. A) In a spacecraft. B) In an observatory.C) On the moon. D) In an astronomy class.13. A) Most people in this country like beef. B) Much of the best beef is for export. C) This country should export cheese.D) Beef in the country is the best.14. A) A mailman. B) A salesman.C) A house painter. D) A tax inspector.15. A) He cant sell cars. B) He makes a lot of money.C) He and his boss get on well. D) He becomes a fireman.16. A) He had a flight. B) He fell down.C) He was punished. D) He was knocked.17. A) About 6 P.M. B) At 3:30 P.M.C) About noon. D) After dinner18. A) The man would understand if he had Franks job. B) Frank could help him get a job on an airplane.C) Waiting on tables is an enjoyable job. D) She is tired of waiting for him there.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) In 1837. B) In 1860. C) In 1898. D) In 1839.20. A) It used to be a hospital. B) It is next to the school. C) It is opposite St Johns Church. D) It is a pub.21. A) One. B) Four C) Nine. D) Three.22. A) They were mainly connected to the building industry. B) They mainly produced daily necessities.C) Their products were mainly for office use. D) They mainly produced oil.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) It is very nice. B) It is very hard. C) It depends. D) It is very boring.24. A) Wrapping vegetables and fruits. B) Selling vegetables and fruits. C) A cashier in a supermarket. D) A manager in a supermarket.25. A) She heard that from Joe. B) She heard that from Jane. C) She heard that from John.D) She saw him do his new job.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passages 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 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) 1813. B) 1803.C) 1830. D) 1833.27. A) 21. B) 38. C) 18. D) 29.28. A) To popularize education. B) To tell children little stories.C) To teach children how to read. D) To teach children good behavior.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A) A duck. B) A skunk. C) A chameleon. D) A rabbit.30. A) Their bite. B) Their pigmentation.C) Their odor. D) Their quills.31. A) Claws. B) Sting. C) Bite. D) Pigmentation.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. A) Mr. Ellis. B) Mr. Ellis children. C) Mr. Ellis grandchildren. D) Mr. Ellis wife.33. A) He was probably suggesting that people had to learn to accept the changing reality. B) He was probably emphasizing the rapid change of the world. C) He was probably complaining about the rapid change of the world. D) He was probably encouraging people to learn new things.34. A) Four generations.B) Three generations.C) Two generations.D) Five generations.35. A) A generation gap results from social changes. B) It is surely the case that people of different generations can reach mutual understanding. C) It is harder for young people to understand old people than for old people to understand young people. D)Young people cannot understand old people but old people can often understand young people.Section CDirections: 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 numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in you own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.On the evening of November 29, 1993, despite near-freezing (36) , Yetta Adams (37) went to sleep on a bus bench in Washington, D.C. The next morning, this 43-year-old mother of three grown children was found dead on the bench, (38) by shopping bags and covered only by an old blanket. Adams had been a (39) face to office workers and homeless people in the neighborhood. Once an (40) of a preschool, she had long battled severe (41) and an addiction to painkilling drugs.Every winter, homeless people like Yetta Adams die on the streets during cold nights. (42) , there is little publicity attached to their deaths, and in some cases (43) can never even identify the dead. (44) : right across from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.(45) . In Great Britain, some 175,000 households accounting for about 400,000 people are accepted as homeless by the government and are given housing. An even larger number, perhaps 1 million people, are turned away from government assistance or are sharing a household with relatives or acquaintances but want separate accommodations. (46) .Part IV. Reading Comprehension ( Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section ADirections: 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.In an effort to produce the largest, fastest, and most 47 ship afloat, the British built the Titanic. It was so 48 to anything else on the seas that it was thought “unsinkable”. 49 sure of this were the owners that they provided lifeboats for only 950 of its possible 3,500 passengers. Many passengers were 50 in the night when it rammed an iceberg, only two days at sea and more than half way-between England and the New York destination. Because the luxury liner was traveling so fast, it was 51 to avoid the ghostly looking iceberg. An unextinguished fire also 52 to the ships submersion. 53 increased the number of casualties as people jumped into the icy water or fought to be among the few to board the lifeboats. Four hours after the mishap, another ship, the Carpathia, 54 the survivors less than a third of those 55 aboard. The infamous Titanic enjoyed only two days of sailing glory on its maiden voyage in 1912 before plunging into 12,000 feet of water near the coast of. Newfoundland, where it 56 today.A) contributed B) PanicC) impossibleD) excellentE) luxuriousF) helpedG) enoughH) cause I) superiorJ) liesK) SoL) rescuedM) ExcitementN) originallyO) aboardSection BDirections: 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 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61are based on the following passage.In a competitive economy, the consumer usually has the choice of several different brands of the same product. Yet underneath their labels, the products are often nearly identical. One manufacturers tooth paste tends to differ very little from another manufacturers. Thus, manufacturers are confronted with a problem-how to keep sales