2017年12月四级真题第2套

2017年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第二套）PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayonhowtobesthandletherelationshipbetweenteachersandstudents.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartIIListeningComprehension(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1and2arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.1.A)Ittriestoentertainitsaudience. B)Ittriestolookintothedistance. C)Itwantstocatchpeople’sattention.D)Ithasgotoneofitslimbsinjured.2.A)Itwasspottedbyanimalprotectionofficials. B)Itsvideoswerepostedonsocialmedia. C)Itwasfilmedbyalocaltelevisionreporter.D)Itspicturewonaphotographyprize.Questions3and4arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.3.A)Thedistancetravelled.B)Theincidenceofroadaccidents.C)Thespendingongas.D)Thenumberofpeopletravelling.4.A)Fewerpeoplearecommuting.B)Gasconsumptionissoaring.C)Jobgrowthisslowingdown.D)Rush-hourtrafficisworsening.Questions5to7arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.5.A)Hetoldastrangerthesadstoryabouthimself. B)Hehelpedastrangertocarrygroceriestohiscar. C)Hewentuptoastrangerandpulledathissleeves.D)Hewashedastranger’scarinreturnforsomefood.6.A)Heorderedalotoffoodforhisfamily.B)Hegavehimajobathisowncompany.C)Heraisedalargesumofmoneyforhim.D)Heofferedhimascholarshipforcollege.7.A)Heworkshardtosupporthisfamily. B)Heisanexcellentstudentatschool. C)Heisverygoodatmakingupstories.D)Hehasbeendisabledsinceboyhood.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversationyouwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationsandthequestion-swillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.8.A)Attendedaneconomicslecture. B)TakenawalkonCharlesStreet. C)HadadrinkatQueenVictoria.D)Haddinneratanewrestaurant.9.A)Treatacollegefriendtodinner.B)Makepreparationsforaseminar.C)Attendhisbrother’sbirthdayparty.D)Visitsomeofhishighschoolfriends.10.A)Gatherstatisticsforhislecture.B)Throwasurprisebirthdayparty.C)MeetwithJonathan’sfriendsontheweekend.D)Joinhiminhisbrother’sbirthdaycelebration.11.A)Bycar. C)Bytaxi.B)Bytrain. D)Bybus.Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)Takingavacationabroad.B)Reviewingforhislastexam.C)Savingenoughmoneyforarainyday.D)Findingabetterwaytoearnmoney.13.A)Preparingforhisfinalexams. B)Negotiatingwithhisbossforaraise. C)Workingparttimeasawaiter.D)Helpingthewomanwithhercourses.14.A)Finishhertermpaper. C)LearnalittlebitofSpanish.B)Saveenoughmoney. D)Askherparents’permission.15.A)Hehasrichsailingexperience. C)HeisalsoeagertogotoSpain.B)HespeaksSpanishfluently. D)Heiseasytogetalongwith.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreepassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.16.A)Shewenttothesameuniversityashermother.B)SheworkedasanurseintheFirstWorldWar.C)ShewontheNobelPrizetwotimes.D)ShewasalsoaNobelPrizewinner.17.A)Shefoughtbravelyinaseriesofmilitaryoperations.B)ShedevelopedX-rayfacilitiesformilitaryhospitals.C)Shehelpedtosetupseveralmilitaryhospitals.D)Shemadedonationstosavewoundedsoldiers.18.A)Bothdiedofbloodcancer. C)Bothwonmilitarymedals.B)BothfoughtinWorldWarI. D)Bothmarriedtheirassistants.Questions19to21arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.19.A)TheywerethefirstsettlersinEurope.B)TheyweretheconquerorsofNorway.C)TheydiscoveredIcelandintheninthcentury.D)TheysettledonasmallislandnorthofEngland.20.A)ItwassomefivehundredmileswestofNorway. B)Itwascoveredwithgreenmosttimeoftheyear.C)ItwastheVikings’mostimportantdiscovery.D)Itwasarockymassoflandcoveredwithice.21.A)TheVikings’oceanexplorations. C)TheVikings’everydaylife.B)ThemakingofEuropeannations. D)TheEuropeans’Arcticdiscoveries.Questions22to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.22.A)Workhardforabetterlife.B)Makemistakesnowandthen.C)Dreamaboutthefuture.D)Saveagainstarainyday.23.A)Teachforeignlanguagesfortherestofhislife.B)Changewhathehasforhispastimaginaryworld.C)Exchangehistwo-storyhouseforabeachcottage.D)Dwellonthedreamshehaddreamedwhenyoung.24.A)Criminallaw. C)Orientalarchitecture.B)Cityplanning. D)Internationalbusiness.25.A)Dreamandmakeplans.B)Takethingseasyinlife.C)Becontentwithwhatyouhave.D)Enjoywhateveryouaredoing.PartIIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions26to35arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Weallknowthereexistsgreatvoid(空白)inthepubliceducationalsystemwhenitcomesto26toSTEM(Science,Technology,Engineering,Mathematics),OneeducatornamedDoriRobertsdecidedtodosomethingtochangethissystem.Doritaughthighschoolengineeringfor11years.ShenoticedtherewasarealvoidinqualitySTEMeducationatall27ofthepubliceducationalsystem.Shesaid,“IstartedEngineeringforkids(EFK)afternoticingareallackofmath,scienceandengineeringprogramsto28myownkidsin.”Shedecidedtostartanafterschoolprogramwherechildren29inSTEM-basedcompetitions.Theclubgrewquicklyandwhenitreached180membersandthekidsintheprogramwonseveralstate30.Shedecidedtodevoteallhertimetocultivatingand31it.TheglobalbusinessEFKwasborn.DoribeganoperatingEFKoutofherVirginiahome,whichshethenexpandedto32recreationcenters.Today,theEFKprogram33over144branchesin32stateswithintheUnitedStatesandin21countries.Saleshavedoubledfrom$5millionin2014to$10millionin2015,with25newbranchesplannedfor2016.TheEFKwebsitestates,“Ournationisnot34enoughengineers.Ourphilosophyistoinspirekidsatayoungagetounderstandthatengineeringisagreat35.”A)attracted I)feedingB)career J)graduatingC)championships K)interestD)degrees L)levelsE)developing M)localF)enroll N)operatesG)exposure O)participatedH)feasibleSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.Whyaren’tyoucuriousaboutwhathappened?[A]“Yoususpendedrayriceafterourvideo,”areporterfromTMZchallengedNationalFootballLeagueCommissionerRogerGoodelltheotherday.“Whydidn’tyouhavethecuriositytogotothecasino(赌场)yourself?”Theimplicationofthequestionisthatamorecurious.[B]Theaccusationofincuriosityisonethatwehearoften,carryingthesuggestionthatthereissomethingwrongwithnotwantingtosearchoutthetruth.“Ihavebeenbotheredforalongtimeaboutthecuriouslackofcuriosity,”saidaDemocraticmemberoftheNewJerseylegislaturebackinJuly,referringtoaninsufficientlyinquiringattitudeonthepartofanassociatetoNewJerseyGovernorChrisChristiewhochosenottoaskhardquestionsabouttheGeorgeWashingtonBridgetrafficscandal“Isn’tthemainstreammediatheleastcuriousaboutwhathappened?”wroteconservativewriterJenniferRubinearlierthisyearreferringtotheattackonAmericansinBenghazi,Libya.[C]Theimplication,ineachcaseisthatcuriosityisagoodthing,andalackofcuriosityisaproblemaresuchaccusationssimplyeffortstoscorepoliticalpointsforone’sparty?Orisheresomethingofparticularvalueaboutcuriosityinandofitself.[D]ThejournalistIanLeslie,inhisnewandenjoyablebookCurious:TheDesiretoKnowandWhyYourFutureDependsonIt,insiststhattheanswertothatlastquestionisyes.Lesliearguesthatcuriosityisamuch-overlookedhumanvirtue,crucialtooursuccess,andthatwearelosingit.[E]Wearesuffering.Hewritesfroma“serendipitydeficit”.Theword“serendipity”wascoinedbyHoraceWalpoleinan1854letterfromataleofthreeprinceswhowerealwaysmakingdiscoveriesbyaccident,ofthingstheywerenotinsearchof.Leslieworriesthattheriseoftheinternet,amongothersocialandtechnologicalchanges,hasreducedourappetiteforaimlessadventuresnolongerhavewetheinclinationtoletourselveswanderthroughfieldsofknowledges,readytobesurprised.Instead,weseekonlytheinformationwewant.[F]Whyisthisaproblem?Becausewithoutcuriositywewilllosethespiritofinnovationandentrepreneurship.Wewillseeunimaginativegovernmentsanddyingcorporationsmakedisastrousdecisions.Wewillloseavitalpartofwhathasmadehumanityasawholesosuccessfulasaspecies.[G]Lesliepresentsconsiderableevidenceforthepropositionthatthesocietyasawholeisgrowinglesscurious.IntheU.SandEurope,forexample,theriseoftheInternethasledtoadecliningconsumptionofnewsfromoutsidethereader’sborders.Butnoteverythingistobeblamedontechnology.ThedeclineininterestinliteraryfictionisalsooneofthecausesidentifiedbyLeslie.Readingliteraryfiction,hesays,makeusmorecurious.[H]Moreover,inordertobecurious,“youhavetobeawareofagapinyourknowledgeinthefirstplace.”AlthoughLeslieperhapspaintsabitbroadlyincontendingthatmostofusareunawareofhowmuchwedon’tknowhe’ssurelyrighttopointoutthattheproblemisgrowing:“Googlecangiveusthepowerfulillusionthatallquestionshavedefiniteanswers.”[I]Indeed,Google,forwhichLeslieexpressesadmiration,isalsohisfrequentwhippingbody(替罪羊).HequotesGoogleco-founderLarryPagetotheeffectthattheperfectsearchenginewill“understandexactlywhatImeanandgivemebackexactlywhatIwant”elsewhereinthebook,Lesliewrites,“googleaimstosaveyoufromthethirstofcuriosityaltogether.”[J]Somewhatnostalgically(怀旧地),HequotesJohnMaynardKeynes’sjustlyfamouswordsofpraisetothebookstore:“Oneshouldenteritvaguely,almostinadream,andallowwhatistherefreelytoattractandinfluencetheeyetowalktheroundsofthebookshops,dippingcuriositydictates,shouldbeanafternoonsentertainment.”Ifonly![K]Citingtheworkofpsychologistsandcognitive(认知的)scientists,Lesliecriticizesthereceivedwisdomthatacademicsuccessistheresultofacombinationofintellectualtalentandhardwork.Curiosity,heargues,isthethirdkeyfactor—andadifficultonetopreserve,ifnotcultivated,itwillnotsurvive“Childhoodcuriosityisacollaborationbetweenchildandadult.Thesurestwaytokillitistoleaveitalone.”[L]Schooleducation,hewarns,isoftenconductedinawaythatmakeschildrenincurious:childrenofeducatedandupper-middle-classparentsturnouttobefarmorecurious,evenatearlyagesthanchildrenofworkingclassandlowerclassfamilies.Thatlackofcuriosityproducesarelativelackofknowledge,andthelackofknowledgeisdifficultifnotimpossibletocompensateforlateron.[M]AlthoughLeslie’sbookisn’taboutpolitics,hedoesn’tentirelyshyawayfromtheproblem.Politicalleaders,likeleadersofotherorganizations,shouldbecurious.Theyshouldaskquestionsatcrucialmoments.Thereareseriousconsequences,hewarns,innotwantingtoknow.[N]HepresentsasanexamplethefailureoftheGeorgeWBushadministrationtoprepareproperlyfortheafter-effectsoftheinvasionofIraq.AccordingtoLeslie,thosewhoridiculedformerDefenseSecretaryDonaldRumsfeldforhis2002remarkthatwehavetobewaryoftheun-knownunknownsweremistaken.Rumsfeld’sidea,Lesliewrites,“wasn’tabsurd—itwassmart.”Headds,“Thetragedyisthathedidn’tfollowhisownadvice.”[O]AllofwhichbringsusbacktoGoodellandtheChristiecaseandBenghazi.Eachcriticinthoseexamplesischanging,inadifferentwaythatsomeoneinauthorityisintentionallybeingincurious.Ileaveittothereader’spoliticalpreferencetodecidewhich,ifany,chargesshouldremainingdeterminedlyincuriousaboutourown.Weshouldbedelightedtopursueknowledgeforitsownsake—evenwhenwhatwefindoutissomethingwedidn’tparticularlywanttoknow.36.Tobecurious,weneedtorealizefirstofallthattherearemanythingswedon’tknow.37.AccordingtoLeslie,curiosityisessentialtoone’ssuccess.38.Weshouldfeelhappywhenwepursueknowledgeforknowledge’ssake.39.Politicalleaders’lackofcuriositywillresultinbadconsequences.40.Thereareoftenaccusationsaboutpoliticians’andthemedia’slackofcuriositytofindoutthetruth.41.Thelesscuriousachildis,thelessknowledgethechildmayturnouttohave.42.Itiswidelyacceptedthatacademicaccomplishmentliesinbothintelligenceanddiligence.43.Visitingabookshopascuriosityleadsuscanbeagoodwaytoentertainourselves.44.BoththeriseoftheInternetandreducedappetiteforliteraryfictioncontributetopeoplesdecliningcuriosity.45.Mankindwouldn’tbesoinnovativewithoutcuriosity.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Aginghappenstoallofus,andisgenerallythoughtofasanaturalpartoflife.Itwouldseemsillytocallsuchathinga“disease”.Ontheotherhand,scientistsareincreasinglylearningthatagingandbiologicalagearetwodifferentthings,andthattheformerisakeyriskfactorforconditionssuchasheartdisease,cancerandmanymore.Inthatlight,agingitselfmightbeseenassomethingtreatable,thewayyouwouldtreathighbloodpressureoravitamindeficiency.BiophysicistAlexZhavoronkovbelievesthatagingshouldbeconsideredadisease.Hesaidthatdescribingagingasadiseasecreatesincentivestodeveloptreatments.“Ituntiesthehandsofthepharmaceutical(制药的)industrysothattheycanbegintreatingthediseaseandnotjustthesideeffects,”hesaid.“Rightnow,peoplethinkofagingasnaturalandsomethingyoucan’tcontrol.”hesaid.“Inacademiccircles,peopletakeagingresearchasjustaninterestareawheretheycantrytodevelopinterventions.Themedicalcommunityalsotakesagingforgranted,andcandonothingaboutitexceptkeeppeoplewithinacertainhealthrange.”Butifagingwererecognizedasadisease,hesaid,“Itwouldattractfundingandchangethewaywedohealthcare.Whatmattersisunderstandingthatagingiscurable.”“Itwasalwaysknownthatthebodyaccumulatesdamage,”headded.“Theonlywaytocureagingistofindwaystorepairthatdamage.Ithinkofitaspreventivemedicineforage-relatedconditions.LeonardHayflick,aprofessorattheuniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco,saidtheideathatagingcanbecuredimpliesthehumanlifespancanbeincreased,whichsomeresearcherssuggestispossible.Hayflickisnotamongthem.“There’remanypeoplewhorecoverfromcancer,strokeorheartdisease.Buttheycontinuetoage,becauseagingisseparatefromtheirdisease,”Hayflicksaid.“Evenifthosecausesofdeathwereeliminated,lifeexpectancywouldstillnotgomuchbeyond92years.”46.Whatdopeoplegenerallybelieveaboutaging?A)Itshouldcausenoalarmwhatsoever.B)Theyjustcannotdoanythingaboutit.C)ItshouldberegardedasakindofdiseaseD)Theycandelayitwithadvancesinscience47.Howdomanyscientistsviewagingnow?A)Itmightbepreventedandtreated.B)Itcanbeasriskyasheartdisease.C)Resultsfromavitamindeficiency.D)Itisanirreversiblebiologicalprocess.48.WhatdoesAlexZhavoronkovthinkofdescribingagingasadisease?A)Itwillpromptpeopletotakeagingmoreseriously.B)Itwillgreatlyhelpreducethesideeffectsofaging.C)Itwillfreepharmacistsfromtheconventionalbeliefsaboutaging.D)Itwillmotivatedoctorsandpharmaciststofindwaystotreataging.49.Whatdowelearnaboutthemedicalcommunity?A)Theydifferfromtheacademiccirclesintheirviewonaging.B)Theynowhaveastronginterestinresearchonaging.C)Theycancontributetopeople’shealthonlytoalimitedextent.D)Theyhavewaystointerveneinpeople’sagingprocess.50.WhatdoesProfessorLeonardHayflickbelieve?A)Thehumanlifespancannotbeprolonged.B)Agingishardlyseparablefromdisease.C)Fewpeopleliveuptotheageof92.D)Heartdiseaseisthemajorcauseofaging.PassageTwoQuestion51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Femaleapplicantstopostdoctoralpositionsingeoscienceswerenearlyhalfaslikelytoreceiveexcellentlettersofrecommendation,comparedwiththeirmalecounterparts.ChristopherIntagliatareports.Asinmanyotherfields,genderbiasiswidespreadinthesciences.Menscorehigherinstartingsalaries,havemorementoring(指导),andhavebetteroddsofbeinghired.Studiesshowthey’realsoperceivedasmorecompetentthanwomeninSTEM(Science,Technology,Engineering,andMathematics)fields.Andnewresearchrevealsthatmenaremorelikelytoreceiveexcellentlettersofrecommendation,too.“Say,youknow,thisisthebeststudentI’veeverhad,”saysKuheliDutt,asocialscientistanddeliveryofficeratColumbiaUniversity’sLamontcampus.“Comparethoseexcellentletterswithamerelygoodletter:‘Thecandidatewasproductive,orintelligent,orasolidscientistorsomethingthat’sclearlysolidpraise,’butnothingthatsinglesoutthecandidateasexceptionaloroneifakind.”Duttandhercolleaguesstudiedmorethan1,200lettersofrecommendationforpostdoctoralpositionsingeoscience.Theywerealleditedforgenderandotheridentifyinginformation,soDuttandherteamcouldassignthemascorewithoutknowingthegenderofthestudent.Theyfoundthatfemaleapplicantswereonlyhalfaslikelytogetoutstandingletters,comparedwiththeirmalecounterparts.Thatincludeslettersofrecommendationfromallovertheworld,andwrittenby,yes,menandwomen.ThefindingsareinthejournalNatureGeoscience.Duttsaystheywerenotabletoevaluatetheactualscientificqualificationsoftheapplicantsusingthedatainthefiles.Butshesaystheresultsstillsuggestswomeningeoscienceareatapotentialdisadvantagefromtheverybeginningoft