2014年12月四级真题原文(第1套)

2014年12月四级真题（第1套）College English Test Band Four Part Two Listening ComprehensionSection A Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report 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. Questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.A report on online consumption trends released by Amazon revealed that women, senior citizens and youngsters have become a major driving force for mobile purchases. The report was based on data analysis of buying behavior of more than 300 million users between 2011 and 2015. According to the report, more than 70 percent of buyers of baby products, cosmetics and garments, and 60 percent of buyers of food, home furnishings, shoes and bags are women. Women, mainly aged 23 to 35, also account for 70 percent of online buyers of imported commodities. Commodities believed to be popular among young people have attracted more elderly people. Statistics showed that perfume consumption among users aged 50 to 70 has been growing. They spent around 11 million dollars on perfume last year alone. According to the report, youngsters make a major contribution to mobile purchases. Users who were born after 1990 made around 70 percent of purchases on their mobile applications.1. What can we conclude from the statistics?2. How much money did the elderly spend on perfume last year?Questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item.Electric car sales in China are expected to reach 220 000 to 250 000 this year, surpassing the US to rank first worldwide, China Association of Automobile Manufactures (CAAM) forecast. Worldwide electric car sales will hit 600 000 and the figure for the US market is estimated to be 180 000, said Xu Yanhua, deputy secretary-general of CAAM. Although China has achieved rapid development in electric vehicles, quality instead of quantity should be focused on for the sustainable development of the industry, Xu told an industry conference. In particular, vehicle safety and the quality of batteries should be carefully examined and supervised, she added. Chinas new energy vehicle sector has seen explosive growth in the past two years, thanks to the governments support policies including subsidies and tax cuts. In the first ten months, the sales of electric cars surged 290 percent year on year to 171 145, CAAM data showed.3. How many sales of electric cars are there in the US?4. What should be focused on for the sustainable development of electric vehicles?Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item.As the traffic in Nairobi worsens, primary school pupils who depend on public transportation seem to be suffering the most as they try to keep up with the demands of school. Some private and public primary school pupils wake up as early as 4:00 am to beat the traffic and be in class on time. In the evening, they may arrive home as late as 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The current floods in the city have not made life easier for the pupils. Last week, 11 pupils from Makini Schools waited for 10 hours to be rescued when their school bus was nearly covered in water during a traffic jam. The students were rescued and taken to Boma Hotel. It was almost dawn when their parents came to pick them up. A few years ago, the IBM Commuter Pain Index Report listed Nairobi among cities with the worlds longest traffic jams. The report concluded that traffic jams increase the level of stress and anger. This can create negative attitudes for commuters and affect their performance at work or school. The long-term effect is that traffic problems can create a negative attitude in the pupils towards school.5. What is the main idea of the news report?6. What happened to the 11 pupils from Makini Schools last week?7. What can we learn about traffic jams from the IBMs report? Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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.Conversation OneM: Do you think theres discrimination against women in England today?W: Certainly, and not just in education and work either, in many other fields as well. The tax situation for women is very unfair, for example. M: Are women better off in other countries then?W: It depends on the country. Theres certainly much less discrimination in Scandinavia, and maybe in America, too. M: Do you think the position of English women will improve?W: In some ways it will of course. Im sure more women will go out to work in the next 20 years. But women have a much greater problem than this to solve. M: Whats that?W: The problem of mens attitudes. We can earn more money in the future, but Im not sure we can change mens attitudes. You see, most men really think that women are inferior. Maybe we are physically weaker, but I dont think this means we are inferior. Then theres another problem. M: Yes?W: The problem of womens attitudes. Lots of women are unhappy with their present situation, but most of them probably dont want to fight for change. It could be that the womens liberation movement has to spend more time changing womens attitudes than it spends in changing mens. M: One last question, some supporters of the womens liberation movement believed that marriages should be abolished. You agree?W: No, I dont. It cant happen. What may and should happen is that we teach men to spend more time looking after children and doing housework. Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 8. Where are women said to be less discriminated against?9. What will happen in England in 20 years according to the conversation?10. What does the woman think the womens liberation movement should do?11. What does the woman suggest at the end of the conversation?Conversation TwoM: Cheers, Shirley. W: Cheers, Paul. What a lovely place for a business lunch. I hope I can concentrate in this heat. M: Im sure you will when I tell you about my ideas. W: You know, I must say I was pleased to hear from you, but from what you saidon the phone, everything is so sudden. M: Well, my father-in-law, who is also the Managing Director of Jayal Motors, has given me two weeks to prepare a report on the possibility of moving into the export market. W: Ah, now, just one thing Paul. Have you really thought the whole idea through?M: Of course I have. W: Now the key thing in the whole operation is to get a good import agent, and you say the bank will help?M: Im almost sure of it. W: Preliminary studies are all very good, Paul. But if the product cant sell, then theres little use in expanding the factory. M: Yes, I realize that, Shirley. But we have a very good product. The chief designer has just completed a new improved model. W: I know your bikes have a very good reputation here, but you have to build up a reputation and a market in Africa. M: Yes, of course. But the immediate problem is that my father-in-law wants a detailed report by next Monday. Two weeks isnt enough time to prepare a report, so I need your help. W: OK, Paul, youve convinced me. I must say I admire your determination. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12. Where does the conversation most probably take place?13. What do we learn about the mans father-in-law?14. What does the woman think is important in the whole operation?15. What does the woman admire in the man?Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear three 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 OneScientists understand how twins are born. Now though, they are trying to explain how being half of a biological pair influences a twins identity. They want to know why many identical twins make similar choices even when they dont live near each other. For example, Jim Springer and Jim Louis are identical twins. They were separated when they were only 4 months old. The two Jims grew up in different families and did not meet for 39 years. When they finally met, they discovered some surprising similarities between them. Both men were married twice. Their first wives were named Linda, and their second wives were both named Betty. Both twins named their first sons James Allen. Scientists want to know what influences our personality. They study pairs of identical twins who grew up in different surroundings, like Jim Springer and Jim Louis. These twins help scientists understand the connection between environment and biology. Researchers at the University of Minnesota studied 350 sets of identical twins who did not grow up together. They discovered many similarities in their personalities. Scientists believe that personality characteristics such as friendliness, shyness and fears are not a result of environment. These characteristics are probably inherited. Scientists continue to study identical twins because they are uncertain about them and have many questions. For example, they want to know “Can twins really communicate without speaking?” “Can one twin really feel another twins pain?” Perhaps with more research, scientists will find the answers. Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. What are scientists trying to explain according to the passage?17. What do we learn about the twin Jims?18. Why are scientists interested in studying identical twins raised in different families?Passage Two Today Im going to talk about tents. Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday. And each year, over three million people take camping vacations, either here in Britain or abroad, mostly on the Continent. Obviously, camping cant be as comfortable as living in a permanent house, but modern tents can be very comfortable indeed, with windows, bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The most popular tent sold in Britain is the frame tent with two bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for four people. There is usually an outer tent of water-proofed fabric and a lighter inner tent or tents with a built-in groundsheet. The outer tent fits over the frame work. This is made of metal poles which are fitted together. The inner tent is attached to this frame. Generally, the inner tent is about half the area of the outer tent. The other half of the outer tent is the living area. This doesnt usually have a groundsheet but you can buy one to fit, though it costs extra. The ordinary four-bed frame tent doesnt usually have a separate kitchen area, but the larger ones often do. You can buy a kitchen extension for many tents, and its worth buying one if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. What does the speaker say about camping? 20. What does the passage tell us about the most popular tent sold in Britain?21. What does the speaker suggest buying if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days?Passage ThreeAndorra, one of the smallest countries in the world, is located high in the mountains between France and Spain. The country covers only 179 square miles. That is less than half the size of New York City. High, Rocky Mountains surround Andorra. Until the 1930s, travelers had difficulty reaching the country. Up until that time, people in Andorra lived the way they had lived for centuries. Most Andorrans worked as