四级模拟二.doc

大学英语四级考试模拟试题二Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic of Foreigners Learning Chinese. You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below.1. 国外掀起学汉语热2. 出现这种现象的原因3. 我的看法Foreigners Learning Chinese _ _ _ _ _ _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, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Artificial Intelligence (AI)We often dont notice it, but artificial intelligence (AI) is all around us. It is present in computer games, in the cruise control in our cars and the servers that route our email.Wicked robotIn June 2002, a robot called Gaak gave an alarming demonstration of its independence. It made a dash for freedom from an exhibit at the Magna science centre in Rotherham. Gaak crept along a barrier until it found a gap and squeezed through. Having left the building, it reached Magnas exit by the M1 motorway before it was discovered.What is AI?So, can a machine behave like a person? This question underlies artificial intelligence (AI), the study of intelligent behavior in machines. In the 1980s, AI research focused on creating machines that could solve problems and reason like humans.One of the most difficult problems in artificial intelligence is that of consciousness. A consciousness gives us feelings and makes us aware of our own existence. But scientists have found it difficult getting robots to carry out even the simplest of cognitive tasks.Creating a self-aware robot with real feelings is a significant challenge faced by scientists hoping to imitate human intelligence in a machine.Since the early 1990s, researchers have concentrated on developing smaller, independent robots instead of trying to recreate human intelligence. The model for many of these machines is insect intelligence, which is in its own way very sophisticated.SupercomputerWhen it is completed in late 2004, the worlds most powerful computer will be ASCI Purple, built by IBM. It is expected to carry out 100 trillion operations per second (or 100 teraflops). A supercomputer with double this processing power is expected within the next two years. It is being built to replace ASCI White formerly the worlds most powerful computer which occupies a space the size of two basketball courts at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California.A spokesman for IBM said that ASCI Purple was approaching the processing power of the human brain. But some scientists believe our brains can carry out around 10,000 trillion operations per second. HAL, the supercomputer that rebels against its human handlers in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), is a bold reference to IBM. The letters H, A and L, precede I, B and M in the alphabet.Turing TestIn 1950, mathematician Alan Turing devised a test to identify whether a machine displayed intelligence. In the Turing Test, two people (A and B) sit in a closed room, while an interrogator (询问者) (C) sits outside. Person A tries to fool the interrogator about their gender, while person B tries to assist the interrogator in their identification. Turing suggested a machine take the place of person A. If the machine consistently fooled the human interrogator, it was likely to be intelligent.Film starsThe possible dangers posed by intelligent machines have inspired countless science fiction films. In The Terminator (1984), a computer network attacks the human race in order to achieve control. This network then manufactures intelligent robots called “Terminators” which it programs to destroy human survivors.In The Matrix (1999) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003), a machine enslaves humanity, using people as batteries to power its mainframe. Steven Spielbergs AI: Artificial Intelligence (2002) paints a more sympathetic view of artificial life, depicting (描绘) sensitive robots that are abused by brutal, selfish human masters.Smart gamesOne place where artificial intelligence has found a natural home is in the development of computer games. AI in computer games is becoming increasingly sophisticated as consumer appetites for better, faster, more challenging games grows. In games, AI is often present in opponents you play against, or in allies or other team members.From circuit board to chess boardIn 1997, then world chess champion Carry Kasparov played against IBMs Deep Blue supercomputer and lost. After six games, the mighty Kasparov lost 2.5 to 3.5 to the silicon upstart. In February 2003, Kasparov saved some credibility for humanity by drawing against the Israeli-built supercomputer Deep Junior. Kasparov went on to draw 2-2 against US company X3D Technologies supercomputer X3D Fritz in November 2003, proving that the human brain can keep up with the latest developments in computing (at least in chess).Social skillsDespite these entertaining applications, the original point of AI research was to create machines that could understand us. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), scientists have designed a robot called Kismet that can have realistic conversations with people. Kismet is capable of seven different facial expressions and can vary the tone of its voice. It also adjusts its gaze and the direction of its head towards the person it is speaking to.Scientists at HP have designed an electronic DJ. The “hpDJ” selects beats and baselines from its memory bank and mixes them. Its makers say it could be made to react to the mood of operators.At the University of Texas, Dallas, researchers have designed a vivid human face capable of 28 facial movements, including smiling, sneering, frowning and arching its eyebrows. It could be used to put a human face to the artificial brains of the future.The future of the robot(1) Building bridgesA computer program developed at Brandeis University in Massachusetts has learnt how to design and build bridges, cranes and tables all by itself. It reinvented support structures such as the brace and the triangle without prior knowledge of them.(2) Fraud detectingCredit card companies use a computer program called The Falcon to detect card fraud. The Falcon works by constantly updating a profile of how customers use their credit cards. It then looks for uncharacteristic patterns of credit card use in the data.(3) Roving eyes (灵动的眼睛)A robotic head built by a Scottish robotics company can determine a womans attractiveness. It works by examining faces to determine how “feminine” or “masculine” they are. It doesnt work in reverse because mens appeal is supposedly not based as much on looks. Perhaps jokingly, researchers say it could be put to use as an artificial receptionist.(4) Consumer gadgetsRobots designed for the consumer market and employing very basic forms of AI have become increasingly popular in recent years. Sonys Aibo robot dog behaves like a puppy when it is first activated. But it “learns” new behavior as it spends more time with its human owner.(5) AirwareA software program called FACES could stop mid-air collisions between planes. When tested in a flight simulator (模拟器), the software prevented a pile-up between 35 planes sharing airspace.Brave new worldOver the coming century, breakthroughs in nanotechnology, the science of ultra-small machines constructed at the molecular level, may help us build more sophisticated machines that are more compact.We may also see breakthroughs from scientists who are experimenting with connecting biological cells to silicon circuits a phenomenon called wetware.1. How did the robot called Gaak shock the visitors at an exhibit?A It had run onto the MI motorway.B It had demonstrated thirst for independence.C It could solve problems and reason like humans.D It had escaped from the exhibit without being noticed.2. Since the early 1990s, researchers have focused their attention on developing .A smaller but independent robotsB self-aware robots with real feelingsC very sophisticated insect intelligenceD robots carrying out simple cognitive tasks3. ASCI White will be replaced by a supercomputer with a processing power of . A 100 teraflops B 200 teraflops C 10,000 teraflops D 20,000 teraflops4. Turing Test in 1950 was intended to show . A how machine interrogated humanB whether a machine can identify genderC whether a machine was intelligentD how a machine consistently fooled human5. In which of the following films human shows more sympathy for artificial life? A The Terminator. B The Matrix. C The Matrix Reloaded. D AI: Artificial Intelligence.6. With the growth of more challenging computer games, AI in computer games is becoming _. A more and more hostile B more and more sophisticated C less and less independentD less and less cooperative7. The hpDJ is a special robot that can . A have a high value of entertaining application B imitate the tone of any human talking with it C play all kinds of musical instruments D demonstrate some kind of social skills8. By frequently updating a profile of credit card use, The Falcon works to .9. Researchers made a robotic head which can examine womens faces to determine their .10. Wetware is a phenomenon referring to the connection of biological cells to .Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)Section ADirections: 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 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A Work is preferable. B He hopes to get a job soon. C Studying at school is no more interesting than work. D Studying is more interesting so hell study seriously at school.12. A Both editions are the same price now. B It has two editions with the same cover. C The paperback edition is on sale. D The hard cover edition is more expensive.13. A He is ashamed of Prof. Brown. B He will congratulate Prof. Brown. C He will tell Prof. Brown the bad news. DHe will help Prof. Brown paint his car.14. A They are very rewarding. B They are too troublesome. C They are not helpful at all. D They are too time-consuming.15. A In a library.B In an elevator. C In a hospital.D At a railway station.16. A He is not very enthusiastic about his English lessons. B He has made great progress in his English. C He is a student of the music department. D He is not very interested in English songs.17. A Two.B Four.C Eight.D Twelve.18. A The train is late. B The train is empty. C The train is crowded. D The train is on time.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A Her mother is ill. B She wont go home for the holiday. C She didnt get a scholarship to study chemistry. D Her favorite teacher is ill20. A Old and tired.B Serious and healthy. C Patient and popular.D Retired and healthy.21. A Mr. Amald.B Miss Stiff. C Mr. Cobette.D The womans mom.22. A Sad about them.B Bad about their teaching. C Lucky to have had them.D They feel happy that they are retired.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A A project about an actress. B A project about a movie director. C A project about a movie. D A project about Europe.24. A Going to the cinema. B Conducting an opinion poll. C Doing an internet search. D Reading a magazine.25. A Her mother. B An actress. C Her roommate. D Her classmate.Section BDirections: 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 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A They own a restaurant. B They often hold parties. C They love cooking at home. D They have relatives in Europe.27. A He was famous for his slows on Food TV. B He could prepare meals in a small kitchen. C He was good at using eggs to make sandwiches. D He could cook cheap, delicious and simple meals.28. A He is clever but lonely. B He is friendly and active. C He enjoys traveling around. D He often changes his menus.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A Your eyesight. B Your driving ability. C The mechanical condition of your car. D Your knowledge of traffic regulations.30. A To practice driving with an experienced driver. B To drive under normal highway condition. C To have the car checked by the license officer. D To use it as an identification card.31. A The license office provides the test vehicle. B The examiner shows how to start, stop or park. C The examiner watches you driving in your car. D The test is carried out where there is little traffic.32. A Drivers-to-be. B Traffic regulation makers. C License examiners. D Policemen.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 33. A Because she felt tired of taking care of patients. B Because she had suffered a lot of mental pressure. C Because she needed the right time to look after her children. D Because she wanted to earn more money to support her family.34. A Because they look like people raising pigs. B Because they look down upon cleaners. C Because they never do their work carefully. D Because they always make a mess in their offices.35. A Light-hearted because of her fellow workers. B Happy because the building is fully lit. C Tired because of the heavy workload. D Bored because time passed slowly.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 your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Modern mass-production methods lower the cost of making goods, and thus give us better values. At the same time, American (36) _ and science are constantly at work (37) _ the quality of products. In this way, better quality products at good (38) _ are continually being brought to the people of all (39) _ groups.As an example of how this works, when facial tissues were first put on the market in 1924, they were made in (40) _ quantities and sold at 65 cents per box of 200. People liked these facial tissues immediately and began asking for them when they went into different stores. Because there was such a (41) _ for the product, manufacturers began making tissues in larger and larger quantities. Because the makers were making tissues in greater (42) _, their production costs were (43) _ so that the cost of tissues went down. In the meanwhile, (44) _, and each manufacturer strove to make his product better than his competitors. (45) _. (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 be