2023英语四级原试题

2023英语四级原试题

PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowritealettertoaforeignfriendwhowantstolearnChinese.Pleaserecommendaplacetolearnandgiveyourreasons.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Theconceptofa"smartcity"isgainingpopularityworldwide.Itreferstoanurbanareathatusesdifferenttypesofelectronicmethodsandsensorstocollectdata.Insightsgainedfromthatdataareusedtomanageassets,resourcesandservices__(1)__;inreturn,thatdataisusedtoimprovetheoperationsacrossthecity.Thisincludesdatacollectedfromcitizens,devices,buildingsandassetsthatisthenprocessedandanalyzedtomonitorandmanagetrafficandtransportationsystems,powerplants,watersupplynetworks,wastemanagement,crime__(2)__,informationsystems,schools,libraries,hospitals,andothercommunityservices.Thesmartcityconcept__(3)__theintegrationofinformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)andvariousphysicaldevicesconnectedtotheInternetofthings(IoT)networktooptimizethe__(4)__ofcityoperationsandservicesandconnecttocitizens.Smartcitytechnologyallowscityofficialstointeractdirectlywithbothcommunityandcityinfrastructureandtomonitorwhatishappeninginthecityandhowthecityisevolving.ICTisusedtoenhancequality,performanceand__(5)__ofurbanservices,toreducecostsandresourceconsumption,andtoincreasecontactbetweencitizensandgovernment.Smartcityapplicationsaredevelopedtomanageurbanflowsandallowforreal-time__(6)__.Manycitieshavealreadyadoptedsuchtechnologies.Forinstance,smartparkingmeterscanguidedriverstoavailablespots,__(7)__trafficcongestion.Smartwastemanagementsystemsusesensorsinbinstooptimizecollectionroutes.However,the__(8)__ofsmartcitiesalsoraisesconcernsaboutdataprivacyandsecurity.Thevastamountofdatacollectedcouldbe__(9)__ifnotproperlyprotected.Furthermore,thehighcostofimplementationcan__(10)__asignificantfinancialburdenonsomemunicipalities.A)efficiencyB)detectionC)responseD)involvesE)effectivelyF)innovationG)reducingH)vulnerableI)interactionJ)imposeK)promotionL)growthM)abusedN)decisionO)emergenceSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.TheRiseofPlant-basedMeatAlternatives[A]Inrecentyears,themarketforplant-basedmeatalternativeshasexpandeddramatically.Whatwasonceanicheproductfoundprimarilyinhealthfoodstoresisnowavailableinmainstreamsupermarketsandfast-foodchainsworldwide.Thisshiftisdrivenbyagrowingawarenessoftheenvironmentalimpactofanimalagriculture,concernsaboutanimalwelfare,andarisinginterestinpersonalhealth.[B]Theenvironmentalargumentforplant-basedmeatsiscompelling.Livestockproductionisamajorcontributortogreenhousegasemissions,deforestation,andwaterpollution.Producingplant-basedalternativesgenerallyrequireslessland,water,andenergy,andgeneratesfeweremissions.Forconsumerslookingtoreducetheircarbonfootprint,switchingevenoccasionallytoplant-basedoptionscanseemlikeaneffectivepersonalaction.[C]Fromahealthperspective,theseproductsareoftenmarketedashealthierthantraditionalmeat.Manyarelowerinsaturatedfatandfreeofcholesterol.However,nutritionistscautionthatnotallplant-basedmeatsarecreatedequal.Somearehighlyprocessedandcancontainhighlevelsofsodium,additives,andsaturatedfatsfromcoconutoil.Consumersareadvisedtoreadlabelscarefully.[D]Thetechnologybehindtheseproductshasadvancedsignificantly.Earlyveggieburgerswereoftendry,crumbly,andborelittleresemblancetomeatintasteortexture.Moderncompaniesusefoodsciencetoisolateplantproteins—likepea,soy,orwheatprotein—andstructurethemtomimicthefibroustextureofanimalmuscle.Theyevenaddplant-basedheme(aniron-containingmoleculefoundinblood)fromsoyplantstoreplicatethe"bloody"tasteandappearanceofbeef.[E]Thistechnologicalinnovationhasattractedsignificantinvestment.Majormeatproducersandagriculturalcompaniesarenowinvestinginorlaunchingtheirownplant-basedlines,seeingitnotasathreatbutasagrowthopportunity.Thisinfluxofcapitalisacceleratingresearch,improvingproductquality,andloweringcosts.[F]Despitethegrowth,challengesremain.Tasteandpricearetwosignificantbarriersformanyconsumers.Whiletastehasimproved,someconsumersstillfindtheflavorormouthfeelunconvincingcomparedtoanimalmeat.Priceisanotherhurdle;plant-basedmeatsareoftenmoreexpensivethantheirconventionalcounterparts,thoughthegapisnarrowingasproductionscalesup.[G]Anotherchallengeistheperceptionofprocessing.The"cleanlabel"trend,whereconsumerspreferfoodswithsimple,recognizableingredients,conflictswiththecomplexprocessingoftenrequiredtomakeplantstastelikemeat.Somecriticsarguethatfocusingonultra-processedimitationsmightdistractfromthebenefitsofwholeplantfoodslikebeansandlentils.[H]Theregulatorylandscapeisalsoevolving.Debatescontinueaboutwhattheseproductscanbecalled.Traditionalmeatindustrygroupsinsomecountrieshavelobbiedforrestrictionsontermslike"burger,""sausage,"or"milk"forplant-basedproducts,arguingtheymisleadconsumers.Proponentsofplant-basedalternativescounterthatthesetermsclearlydescribetheproduct'sfunctionandform.[I]Lookingahead,thetrendseemslikelytocontinue.Astechnologyimproves,pricesfall,andconsumeracceptancegrows,plant-basedmeatsareexpectedtocapturealargershareoftheglobalproteinmarket.Theyareunlikelytocompletelyreplaceanimalmeatintheforeseeablefuture,buttheyofferaviablealternativeforflexitarians—peoplewhoprimarilyeataplant-baseddietbutoccasionallyconsumemeat.[J]Ultimately,theriseofplant-basedmeatsreflectsabroaderchangeinfoodculture.Ithighlightshowconsumervaluesregardinghealth,environment,andethicsareinfluencingfoodproductionandinnovation.Whetherasapermanentdietaryshiftoranoccasionaloption,thesealternativeshavesecuredaplaceonourplates.1.Someplant-basedmeatproductsmaynotbeashealthyasadvertisedduetoprocessingandadditives.2.Thedevelopmentofplant-basedmeatbenefitsfromfinancialinvestmentsfromestablishedfoodcompanies.3.Onecriticismofplant-basedmeatisthatitmightdrawattentionawayfromsimpler,wholeplantfoods.4.Theprimarymaterialsformakingmodernplant-basedmeatareplantproteinsdesignedtofeellikeanimaltissue.5.Comparedtolivestockfarming,producingplant-basedalternativesputslessstrainonnaturalresources.6.Thereareongoinglegaldisputesconcerningthenamingconventionsforplant-basedfoodproducts.7.Amajorreasonforthepopularityofplant-basedmeatisthepublic'sincreasedconcernfortheplanetandanimalwell-being.8.Thetextureandtasteofplant-basedmeathavebeengreatlyimprovedthankstoscientificmethods.9.Costandflavorarestillobstaclespreventingsomepeoplefromchoosingplant-basedmeat.10.Plant-basedmeatisbecomingmorecommoninordinaryshopsandrestaurants.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Youshoulddecideonthebestchoice.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Inanageofdigitaldistraction,thehumblepracticeofreadingbooksforpleasureisoftendeclaredtobeindecline.However,recentsurveysandsalesdatasuggestamorenuancedpicture.Whileitistruethatleisurereadingtimehasfacedcompetitionfromsmartphonesandstreamingservices,bookreadingremainsaresilientandvaluedactivityformany.Akeyfactorinthisresilienceistheadaptabilityofthebookitself.Theriseofe-booksandaudiobookshastransformed"reading"intoamoreflexibleactivity.Commuterscanlistentonovelsduringtheirdrive,andpeoplecancarryentirelibrariesontheirdevices.Thisdigitalshifthasn'tnecessarilyreplacedphysicalbooksbuthasexpandedthewayspeopleconsumestoriesandinformation.Furthermore,socialmediaplatformslikeBookTok(acornerofTikTokdedicatedtobooks)havecreatedvibrantonlinecommunitieswhereyoungreadersrecommend,discuss,andpassionatelyadvocateforbooks,oftenleadingtomassivespikesinsalesforfeaturedtitles.Anotherpointofoptimismistheenduringroleofpubliclibraries.Modernlibrarieshaveevolvedintocommunityhubsofferingnotjustbooks,butalsodigitalresources,workshops,andsafespaces.Theyactivelyhostauthoreventsandreadingclubs,fosteringasenseofcommunityaroundreading.Forchildren,librariesplayacrucialroleinliteracydevelopment,offeringsummerreadingprogramsandstoryhoursthatintroducethemtothejoyofbooksearlyon.Researchcontinuestohighlightthecognitivebenefitsofdeepreading—theimmersive,focusedengagementwithalengthytext.Thistypeofreadingstrengthensattentionspans,improvesempathybyallowingreaderstostepintoothers'experiences,andenhancescriticalthinking.Inaworldoffragmentedinformation,theabilitytoconcentrateonasustainednarrativeisavaluableskill.Thus,whiletheformatandchannelsforreadingmaychange,thefundamentalhumandesireforstories,knowledge,andquietreflectionendures.Theactofreadingabook,whetheritspagesarephysicalordigital,continuestoofferauniqueformofengagementthatothermediastruggletomatch.46.Whatisthemainideaofthepassage?A)Digitalmediaiscausingtheinevitabledeathofpleasurereading.B)Readingbooksforpleasureisdecliningrapidlyduetosocialmedia.C)Despitechallenges,bookreadingremainsadaptableandvaluable.D)Publiclibrarieshavelosttheirrelevanceinthedigitalage.47.Howhavedigitalformatsaffectedtheactivityofreadingaccordingtothepassage?A)Theyhavecompletelyreplacedthesaleofphysicalbooks.B)Theyhavemadereadingmorerigidandlessaccessible.C)Theyhavelimitedthewayspeoplecanenjoybooks.D)Theyhaveprovidedmoreflexibilityinhowpeopleread.48.WhatismentionedasapositiveeffectofonlinecommunitieslikeBookTok?A)Theydiscouragepeoplefrombuyingphysicalbooks.B)Theycansignificantlyincreasethesalesofcertainbooks.C)Theyreplacetheneedfortraditionalbookreviews.D)Theyshortentheattentionspanofyoungreaders.49.Whatroledomodernpubliclibrariesplayaccordingtothepassage?A)Theyareoutdatedinstitutionsthatonlyprovideprintedbooks.B)Theyactascommunitycentersofferingvariousresourcesandprograms.C)Theyfocussolelyonchildren'sliteracyandignoreadultreaders.D)Theyhavebeenlargelyreplacedbyonlinebookretailers.50.Whatisonecognitivebenefitof"deepreading"mentionedinthepassage?A)Itspeedsuptheprocessingoffragmentedinformation.B)Itprimarilyimprovesmathematicalskills.C)Ithelpsdeveloptheabilitytoconcentrateandempathize.D)Itislesseffectivethanwatchingeducationalvideos.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Theconceptof"flexiblework"hasmovedfromaperktoamainstreamexpectationformanyemployees.Initiallydrivenbynecessityduringglobaleventslikethepandemic,thewidespreadadoptionofremoteandhybridmodelshasledtoapermanentre-evaluationofwork-lifebalanceandofficeculture.Companiesarenowgrapplingwithhowtostructurethisneweraofwork.Proponentsofflexibleworkarrangementshighlightnumerousbenefits.Employeessavetimeandmoneyoncommuting,leadingtohigherjobsatisfactionandreducedstress.Theabilitytostructureone'sdaycanalsoboostproductivityforcertaintypesoftasks,especiallythoserequiringdeep,focusedwork.Foremployers,offeringflexibilitycanbeapowerfultoolforattractingandretainingtalent,especiallyincompetitivefields.Italsoallowscompaniestotapintoawider,geographicallydispersedtalentpool.However,theshiftisnotwithoutchallenges.Managersoftenstrugglewithmonitoringperformanceandmaintainingteamcohesionwhenemployeesarenotphysicallypresent.Theblurringofboundariesbetweenworkandhomelifecanleadtoburnout,asemployeesmayfindithardto"switchoff."Furthermore,notalljobsorindustriesaresuitedtoremotework.Rolesthatrequirehands-oncollaboration,accesstospecializedequipment,orface-to-facecustomerinteractionarelessadaptable.Anothersignificantconcernisthepotentialforinequality.Flexibleworkpoliciesmightinadvertentlyfavorcertaingroupsoverothers.Employeeswithquiet,dedicatedhomeofficesmaythrive,whilethoselivingincrowdedorunstableenvironmentsmaystruggle.There'salsoariskthatremoteworkersmightbeoverlookedforpromotionsorimportantprojects—aphenomenonsometimescalled"proximitybias,"wherethosephysicallypresentintheofficearemorevisibletoleadership.Asaresult,manyorganizationsareadoptingahybridmodelasacompromise,requiringemployeestobeintheofficeforasetnumberofdaysperweek.Thisapproachaimstobalancethebenefitsofflexibilitywiththeneedforcollaboration,mentorship,andculturalconnection.Successfulimplementationrequiresclearcommunication,trust,andafocusonmeasuringoutcomesratherthanhoursspentatadesk.Thefutureofworkislikelynotfullyremotenorfullyin-office,butacarefullymanagedblendthatprioritizesbothresultsandemployeewell-being.51.Whatisthecurrentstatusofflexibleworkaccordingtothepassage?A)Itisatemporarytrendthatwillsoondisappear.B)Itisnowacommonexpectationformanyworkers.C)Itisonlysuitableforafewspecificindustries.D)Itisopposedbymostemployers.52.Whichofthefollowingismentionedasanadvantageforemployersofferingflexiblework?A)Itcompletelyeliminatestheneedforofficespace.B)Itguaranteesanincreaseineveryemployee'sproductivity.C)Ithelpsinhiringandkeepingskilledworkers.D)Itautomaticallyimprovescommunicationwithinallteams.53.Whatisapotentialnegativeeffectofremoteworkonemployees?A)Italwaysleadstoadecreaseinsalary.B)Itmakescommutingmorestressful.C)Itcanmakeitdifficulttoseparateworkfrompersonallife.D)Itrequiresemployeestobuyexpensiveequipment.54.Whatdoestheterm"proximitybias"refertointhepassage?A)Thepreferenceforworkingclosetohome.B)Thetendencytofavoremployeeswhoworkintheoffice.C)Thebiasagainstusingnewtechnologyintheworkplace.D)Thepreferenceforflexibleschedulesoverfixedones.55.Whyaremanycompanieschoosingahybridworkmodel?A)Becauseitisthecheapestoptionforthecompany.B)Becauseitforcesallemployeestoworkthesamehours.C)Becauseitattemptstocombineflexibilitywiththeneedforin-personinteraction.D)Becauseiteliminatesallthechallengesofremotework.PartIIITranslation(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youarerequiredtotranslateapassagefromChineseintoEnglish.YoushouldwriteyouranswerontheAnswerSheet.中国书法（calligraphy）是一门独特的艺术，是世界上独一无二的艺术瑰宝。中国书法的发展历史悠久，可以追溯到几千年前。它不仅是书写汉字的方法，更是一种表达情感和个性的方式。书法家通过控制毛笔的力度和速度，创造出具有美感和节奏感的线条。练习书法需要耐心和专注，它有助于修身养性。今天，中国书法不仅被广泛欣赏，也继续作为一种爱好和文化实践被人们传承。AnswerKeyPartIWriting(Amodelanswer)DearAlex,Iwassogladtohearthatyou'reinterestedinlearningChinese.Basedonyourrequestforarecommendation,IbelievetheConfuciusInstitutewouldbeanexcellentplaceforyoutostart.TheConfuciusInstituteisanon-profitpubliceducationalorganizationaffiliatedwithChina'sMinistryofEducation.ItsprimarygoalistopromoteChineselanguageandcultureworldwide.Irecommenditforseveralreasons.First,itoffersstructuredcoursesforalllevels,frombeginnertoadvanced,ensuringyougetsystematictraining.Second,theteachersareprofessionallytrainedandoftennativespeakers,whichguaranteesauthenticpronunciationandculturalinsights.Moreover,theinstitutesusuallyorganizevariousculturalactivities,suchascalligraphyworkshopsandteaceremonies,allowingyoutoimmerseyourselfintheculturewhilelearningthelanguage.Thisholisticapproachmakeslearningmoreengagingandeffective.Ihopethissuggestionishelpful.Feelfreetoaskmeifyouneedmoreinformation.GoodluckwithyourChineselearningjourney!Bestwishes,[YourName]PartIIReadingComprehensionSectionA1.E)effectively2.B)detection3.D)involves4.A)efficiency5.L)growth(Note:"interaction"couldfit,but"gr