英语四级考试题库

英语四级考试题库

PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessayonthetopicTheImpactofSocialMediaonInterpersonalCommunication.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Theconceptofa"smartcity"isgainingtractionworldwide.Itreferstoanurbanareathatusesdifferenttypesofelectronicmethodsandsensorstocollectdata.Insightsgainedfromthatdataareusedtomanageassets,resources,andservices__1__;inreturn,thatdataisusedtoimprovetheoperationsacrossthecity.Thisincludesdata__2__fromcitizens,devices,buildingsandassetsthatisthenprocessedandanalyzedtomonitorandmanagetrafficandtransportationsystems,powerplants,watersupplynetworks,wastemanagement,law__3__,informationsystems,schools,libraries,hospitals,andothercommunityservices.Thesmartcityconcept__4__informationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)andvariousphysicaldevicesconnectedtotheInternetofthings(IoT)networkto__5__theefficiencyofurbanoperationsandservicesandconnecttocitizens.Smartcitytechnologyallowscityofficialstointeract__6__withbothcommunityandcityinfrastructureandtomonitorwhatishappeninginthecityandhowthecityisevolving.ICTisusedtoenhancethequality,performanceandinteractivityofurbanservices,toreducecostsandresource__7__,andtoimprovecontactbetweencitizensandgovernment.Smartcityapplicationsaredevelopedtomanageurbanflowsandallowforreal-time__8__.Manycitieshavealreadyadoptedsuchtechnologies,thoughthedegreeofimplementationvaries__9__.Amajorchallengeremains:ensuringthatthebenefitsofthisdigitaltransformationare__10__distributedanddonotexacerbateexistingsocialinequalities.A)enforcementB)consumptionC)responsesD)integratesE)directlyF)collectedG)efficientlyH)widelyI)accessJ)optimizeK)evenlyL)derivedM)decisionsN)considerablyO)reactionSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.TheHiddenCostofConvenience:SubscriptionServices[A]Inthedigitalage,thesubscriptioneconomyhasboomed.Fromstreamingentertainmentandsoftwaretomealkitsandgroomingproducts,consumersareincreasinglyoptingformonthlyfeesoverone-timepurchases.Thismodelpromisesconvenience,personalization,andoften,costsavings.However,beneaththesurfaceofthisseamlessaccessliesapotentialfinancialtrap:subscriptioncreep.[B]Subscriptioncreepreferstothegradual,oftenunnoticed,accumulationofmultiplesubscriptionservices.Theinitialcostofeachservicemayseemlow—perhapsonly$10or$15permonth.Theproblemarisesfromthecollectivesum.Afewsubscriptionshereandtherecaneasilyadduptoasignificantmonthlyoutflow,silentlystrainingpersonalbudgets.[C]Thepsychologybehindthisislinkedtowhatbehavioraleconomistscallthe"painofpaying."Largeone-timepurchasestriggerimmediatepsychologicaldiscomfort.Incontrast,small,automatedmonthlypaymentsarelesssalient.Theyhappeninthebackground,reducingtheperceivedfinancialimpactandmakingiteasytolosetrackofthetotalexpenditure.[D]Furthermore,companiesdesigntheirservicestomakecancellationdifficult—apracticesometimescalled"roachmotel"design(easytogetin,hardtogetout).Usersmighthavetonavigatethroughmultiplewebpages,answersurveys,orevencallcustomerservicetocancel.Thisfrictionincreasesthelikelihoodthatauserwillsimplygiveupandcontinuepayingforaservicetheyrarelyuse.[E]Anotherfactoristhefreetrialthatconvertstoapaidsubscriptionautomatically.Userssignupforatrialperiod,oftenrequiringcreditcarddetails,andthenforgettocancelbeforethebillingcyclebegins.Theonusisplacedentirelyontheconsumertorememberthecancellationdate.[F]Theconsequencesextendbeyondindividualfinances.Thismodelcanchangeconsumptionpatterns.Peoplemightfeelpressuredtouseaservicemorefrequentlyto"gettheirmoney'sworth,"leadingtooverconsumptionofmediaorproducts.Conversely,theymayneglectothervaluablebutnon-subscriptionactivities.[G]So,howcanconsumerscombatsubscriptioncreep?Thefirststepisawareness.Expertsrecommendconductingaregular"subscriptionaudit."Listeveryactivesubscription,itscost,andhowoftenyouactuallyusetheservice.Thissimpleexercisecanrevealsurprisingredundanciesorforgottencharges.[H]Technologycanalsoassist.Severalappsandbankservicesnowofferfeaturesthattrackrecurringpaymentsandsendalerts.Settingcalendarremindersfortrialperiodenddatesisanothereffectivestrategy.Proactivelymanagingsubscriptionsiskey.[I]Whenconsideringanewsubscription,applyastrictvalueassessment.Askyourself:"HowmuchwillIgenuinelyusethis?"and"Doesthisreplaceorduplicateanexistingservice?"Impulsesign-upsforlimited-timeoffersareaprimaryculpritofcreep.[J]Ultimately,thesubscriptionmodelisnotinherentlybad.Itoffersflexibilityandaccessthatownershipsometimescannot.Thekeyismindfulconsumption.Bytreatingsubscriptionsnotastrivialbackgroundexpensesbutasdeliberatefinancialchoices,consumerscanenjoythebenefitsofconveniencewithoutfallingpreytoitshiddencumulativecost.11.Smallrecurringpaymentsarelessmentallynoticeablethanlargeone-timepurchases.12.Somecompaniesintentionallycreateobstaclesinthecancellationprocesstoretaincustomers.13.Thesubscriptionmodelcanpotentiallyleadtowastefuluseofservicesaspeopletrytojustifytheirspending.14.Apracticaltiptoavoidunwantedchargesafterafreetrialistosetareminderforthecancellationdeadline.15.Thefundamentalsolutiontomanagingsubscriptionsistomakeconsciousanddeliberatechoicesaboutthem.16.Theterm"subscriptioncreep"describestheslowbuildupofmultiplesubscriptionfees.17.Regularlyreviewingallactivesubscriptionscanhelpidentifyunnecessaryexpenses.18.Theconvenienceofthesubscriptioneconomycomeswiththeriskofunnoticedfinancialburden.19.Consumersthemselvesareresponsibleforcancelingbeforeafreetrialconvertstoapaidplan.20.Askingspecificquestionsaboutneedandusagebeforesubscribingisarecommendedstrategy.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Youshoulddecideonthebestchoice.PassageOneQuestions21to25arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Fordecades,thegiantpandahasbeentheglobalsymbolofwildlifeconservation.Itsstrikingblack-and-whitecoatandseeminglygentlenaturehavemadeitabelovedicon.Thisstatushastranslatedintosignificantconservationbenefits.ExtensiveeffortsinChina,supportedbyinternationalcooperation,havefocusedonprotectingpandahabitatsandbreedingpandasincaptivity.Theseeffortshavebeenlargelysuccessful;in2016,theInternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN)downgradedthegiantpanda'sstatusfrom"endangered"to"vulnerable,"citingareboundingwildpopulation.However,someconservationbiologistsarenowquestioningthe"panda-centric"modelofconservation.Theyarguethattheimmenseattentionandfundingdirectedtowardasingle,charismaticspeciescancomeattheexpenseofother,lessvisuallyappealingbutequallyimportantcreatures.Thisissometimescalled"conservationbias"orthe"flagshipspecies"dilemma.Themoneyspentonbuildingstate-of-the-artpandabreedingcentersandbambooforests,criticssay,couldhavebeenusedtoprotectentireecosystemsthatsupporthundredsofotherspecies.Furthermore,pandasareanevolutionaryanomaly.Theyarebearsthathaveevolvedtoeatalmostexclusivelybamboo,alow-nutrientfood.Thisdietdictatesasedentarylifestyle,aspandasmustconserveenergy.Theirreproductiverateisnotoriouslylow,bothinthewildandincaptivity.Somescientistscontendthatfromapurelyecologicalperspective,thepandamightbenaturallydestinedforextinction,andthatenormoushumaninterventionisrequiredtosustainthepopulation—interventionthatmightnotbesustainableorcost-effectiveinthelongrun.Proponentsofpandaconservationcounterthatthepanda'sappealispreciselyitsstrength.The"umbrellaspecies"conceptholdsthatbyprotectingthelargehabitatapandaneeds,countlessotherplantsandanimalsinthatecosystemarealsoprotected.Moreover,thepandaactsasapowerfulfundraisingtool.Theemotionalconnectionpeoplefeelforpandasgeneratespublicinterestandopenswalletsforbroaderconservationcauses,whichmightotherwisestruggletogainfunding.Thepanda,inthisview,isnotacompetitorforresourcesbutagatewaytothem.21.Whatwasamajorachievementingiantpandaconservationaround2016?A)Thediscoveryofnewpandahabitats.B)Asignificantincreaseinitscaptivepopulation.C)Itsofficialremovalfromtheendangeredspecieslist.D)AnimprovementinitsconservationstatusaccordingtotheIUCN.22.Whatisthemaincriticismofthe"panda-centric"conservationmodel?A)Ithasfailedtoincreasethepanda'swildpopulation.B)Itconsumesresourcesthatcouldbenefitawiderrangeofspecies.C)Itreliestooheavilyoninternationalfunding.D)Itignorestheimportanceofcaptivebreedingprograms.23.Whatdoesthepassagesayaboutthegiantpanda'sdietandlifestyle?A)Itishighlyefficientandallowsforanactivelife.B)Itisaresultofadaptationtoanutrient-richfoodsource.C)Itcontributestothespecies'lowreproductiverate.D)Itissimilartothatofotherbearspecies.24.Accordingtoproponents,howdoesfocusingonpandashelpotherspecies?A)Pandasdirectlyprotectsmalleranimalsintheirhabitat.B)Thefundingforpandasisstrictlyseparatefromotherprojects.C)Protectingpandahabitatsindirectlysafeguardsotherspecieswithinthem.D)Pandashaveahighreproductiveratethatbenefitstheecosystem.25.Whatistheauthor'sprimarypurposeinwritingthispassage?A)Toargueforanimmediateshiftawayfrompandaconservation.B)Topresentabalanceddiscussiononthedebatesurroundingpandaconservation.C)Todetailthebiologicalcharacteristicsofthegiantpanda.D)Tocriticizetheinefficiencyofinternationalconservationorganizations.PassageTwoQuestions26to30arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Thenotionof"grit"—definedasperseveranceandpassionforlong-termgoals—hasbeencelebratedineducationandpopularpsychologyasakeypredictorofsuccess.SincepsychologistAngelaDuckworth'sinfluentialresearch,theideathattalentaloneisinsufficientandthatsustainedefforttrumpsinnateabilityhasgainedwidespreadacceptance.Schoolshaveevenbegunimplementing"characterreportcards"thatmeasuretraitslikegrit.However,agrowingchorusofcriticswarnsagainstanuncriticalembraceofgrit.Theirconcernsaremultifaceted.First,theyarguethatanexcessivefocusonindividualperseverancecanleadtoblamingtheindividualforsystemicfailures.Ifastudentfromanunder-resourcedschoolstruggles,agrit-centricapproachmightimplytheysimplydidn'ttryhardenough,overlookingfactorslikeinadequatefunding,largeclasssizes,orlackofsupportathome.Second,themeasurementofgritisproblematic.Duckworth's"GritScale,"aself-reportquestionnaire,isoftenused.Criticspointoutthatself-reportingcanbebiased.Peoplemayoverestimatetheirperseverance,ortheiranswersmaybeinfluencedbyadesiretoappearvirtuous.Furthermore,gritisoftenconflatedwithcomplianceorthewillingnesstoendureunpleasanttaskswithoutquestion,whichmaynotbeconducivetocreativityorcriticalthinking.Third,andperhapsmostimportantly,criticsemphasizethatgritisnotequallyaccessibletoall.Chronicstress,economicinsecurity,andtraumacandepletetheverypsychologicalresourcesrequiredforperseverance.Tellingachildexperiencinghomelessnessorfoodinsecurityto"grittheirteethandtryharder"isnotonlyinsensitivebutalsoignorestheprofoundimpactoftheirenvironmentontheircapacitytoengage.Thisisnottosayperseveranceisunimportant.Thecritics'pointisthatitshouldnotberomanticizedasasingularsolution.Amoreholisticapproachisneeded—onethatcultivatesresiliencewhilealsoactivelyworkingtoremovethestructuralbarriersthatmakeperseverancesodifficultforsome.Successisnotmerelyafunctionofindividualcharacterbutalsooftheopportunitiesandsupportstructuresthatsurroundanindividual.26.WhatisthemainideapromotedbyAngelaDuckworth'sresearchongrit?A)Innatetalentisthemostcrucialfactorforachievement.B)Consistentefforttowardlong-termgoalsisvitalforsuccess.C)Intelligencetestsarethebestpredictorsoffutureperformance.D)Successdependsprimarilyonone'ssocioeconomicbackground.27.Accordingtocritics,whatisapotentialnegativeconsequenceofoveremphasizinggritineducation?A)Itmaydiscouragestudentsfrompursuinglong-termprojects.B)Itcouldleadtounfairattributionoffailuretostudentsthemselves.C)Ithasbeenproventoreducestudents'creativityandcriticalthinking.D)Itplacestoomuchresponsibilityonteachersandschooladministrators.28.Whatisoneissuewithmeasuringgritthroughself-reportingquestionnaires?A)Theyaretooexpensivetoadministerwidely.B)Respondentsmightnotanswerthequestionstruthfully.C)Theytaketoolongforstudentstocomplete.D)Theyrequirespecializedtrainingtointerpret.29.Whydocriticsarguethatgritisnotauniversallyaccessibletrait?A)Becauseitisageneticallyinheritedcharacteristic.B)Becausechallenginglifecircumstancescanundermineone'sabilitytopersevere.C)Becauseitisonlytaughtincertaineliteeducationalinstitutions.D)Becauseitcontradictsmostpeople'snaturaltendencies.30.Whatistheoverallstanceofthepassagetowardstheconceptofgrit?A)Itisanentirelyflawedandharmfulconceptthatshouldbeabandoned.B)Itisavaluabletraitbutsh