英语四级真题试卷答案解析

时间：2022-12-13 05:32:14 作者：坐在第一排综合材料收藏本文下载本文

“坐在第一排”通过精心收集，向本站投稿了10篇英语四级真题试卷答案解析，以下是小编帮大家整理后的英语四级真题试卷答案解析，欢迎大家收藏分享。

目录
第1篇：英语四级真题试卷答案解析第2篇：英语四级真题试卷及答案第3篇：英语四级真题试卷参考第4篇：英语四级考试真题试卷及答案第5篇：四级真题试卷答案完整版第6篇：四级听力真题答案解析第7篇：英语四级历年真题试卷第8篇：英语四级考试真题试卷第9篇：英语四级历年真题试卷第10篇：大学英语四级真题试卷

篇1：英语四级真题试卷答案解析

12月英语四级阅读真题

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

The fifth largest city in US passed a significant soda tax proposal that will levy (征税)1.5 cents per liquid ounce on distributors.

Philadelphil's new measure was approved by a 13 to 4 city council vote. It sets a new bar for similar initiatives across the country. It is proof that taxes on sugary drinks can win substantial support outside super-liberal areas. Until now, the only city to successfully pass and implement a soda tax was Berkeley, California, in 2014.

The tax will apply to regular and diet sodas, as well as other drinks with adder sugar, such as Gatorade and iced teas. It's expected to raise $410 million over the next five years, most of which will go toward funding a universal pre-kindergarten program for the city.

While the city council vote was met with applause inside the council room, opponents to the measure, including soda lobbyists, made sharp criticisms and a promise to challenge the tax in court.

“The tax passed today unfairly singles out beverages — including low —and no-calorie choices,” said Lauren Kane, spokeswoman for the American Beverage Association. “But most importantly, it is against the law. So we will side with the majority of the people of Philadelphia who oppose this tax and take legal action to stop it.”

An industry-backed anti-tax campaign has spent at least $4 million on advertisements. The ads criticized the measure, characterizing it as a “grocery tax”.

Public health groups applauded the approved tax as step toward fixing certain lasting health issues that plague Americans. “The move to recapture a small part of the profits from an industry that pushed a product that contributes to diabetes, obesity and heart disease in poorer communities in order to reinvest in those communities will sure be inspirational to many other places,” said Jim Krieger, executive director of Healthy Food America. “indeed, we are already hearing from some of them. It's not 'just Berkeley' anymore.”

Similar measures in California's Albany, Oakland, San Francisco and Colorado's Boulder are becoming hot-button issues. Health advocacy groups have hinted that even more might be coming.

46. What does the passage say about the newly-approved soda tax in Philadelphia?

A) It will change the lifestyle of many consumers.

B) It may encourage other US cities to fllow suit.

C) It will cut soda consumption among low-income communities.

D) It may influence the marketing strategies of the soda business.

47. What will the opponents probably do to respond to the soda tax proposal?

A) Bargain with the city council.

B) Refuse to pay additional tax.

C) Take legal action against it.

D) Try to win public support.

48. What did the industry-backed anti-tax campaign do about the soda tax proposal?

A) It tried to arouse hostile felings among consumers.

B) It tried to win grocers' support against the measure.

C) It kept sending ltters of protest to the media.

D) It criticized the measure through advertising.

49. What did public health groups think the soda tax would do?

A) Alert people to the risk of sugar-induced diseases.

B) Help people to fix certain long-time health issues.

C) Add to the fund for their rescarch on discases.

D) Benefit low-income people across the country.

50. What do we lear about similar measures concening the soda tax in some other citics?

A) They are becoming rather sensitive issues.

B) They are spreading panic in the soda industry.

C) They are reducing the incidence of sugar-induced diseases.

D) They are taking away a lot of proft from the soda industry.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Popping food into the microwave for a couple of minutes may seem utterly harmless, and Europe's stock of these quick-cooking ovens emit as much carbon as nearly 7million cars, a new study has found, and the problem is growing. With costs falling and kitchen appliances becoming “status” users, owners are throwing many microwave after an average of eight years. This is pushing sales of new microwave which are expected to reach 135 million annually in the EU by the end of the decade.

A study by the University of Manchester worked out the emissions of carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change -- at every stage of microwaves, from manufacture to waste disposal. “It is electricity consumption by microwaves that has the biggest impact on the environment,” say the authors, who also calculate that the emissions from using 19 microwaves over a year are the same as those from a car. According to the same study, efforts to reduce consumption should focus on improving consumer awareness and behaviour to use appliances more efficiently. For example, electricity consumption by microwaves can be reduced by adjusting the time of cooking to the type of food.“

However, David Reay, professor of carbon management argues that, although microwaves use a great deal of enery, their emissions are minor compared to those from cars. In the UK alone and these emit way more than all the emissions from microwaves in the EU. Backing this up, recent data show that passenger cars in the UK emitted 69m tonnes of CO2 in 2015. This is 10 times the amount this new microwave oven study estimates for annual emissions for all the microwave ovens in the whole of the EU.” further, the energy used by microwaves is lower than any other form of cooking. Among common kitchen appliances used for cooking, microwaves are the most energy efficient, followed by a stove and finally a standard oven. Thus, rising microwave sales could be seen as a positive thing.

51. What is the finding of the new study?

A) Quick-cooking microwave ovens have become more popular.

B) The frequent use of microwaves may do harm to our health.

C) CO2 emissions constitute a major threat to the environment.

D) The use of microwaves emits more CO2 than people think.

52. Why are the sales of microwaves expected to rise?

A) They are becoming more afrdabla.

B) They have a shorter life cycle than other appliances.

C) They are gtting much easier to operate.

D) They take less tine to cook than other ppliaces.

53. What recommendation does the study by the University of Manchester make?

A) Cooking food of dfferent varieties.

B) Improving microwave users' habits.

C) Eating less to cut energy consumption.

D) Using microwave ovens less frequently.

54. What does Professor David Reay try to argue?

A) There are far more emissions from cars than from microwaves.

B) People should be persuaded into using passenger cars less often.

C) The UK produces less CO2 than many other countries in the EU.

D) More data are needed to show whether microwaves are harmful.

55. What does Professor David Reay think of the use of microwaves?

A) It will become less popular in the coming decades.

B) It makes everyday cooking much more convenient.

C) It plays a positive role in envronmental protection.

D) It consumes more power than conventional cooking.

答案

Passage one

46.B

47.C

48.D

49.B

50.A

Passage two

51.D

52.A

53.B

54.A

55.C

6月英语四级考试真题试卷

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the importance of speaking ability and how to develop it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

________________________________________________________________________

Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: 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 before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Neon (霓虹) is to Hong Kong as red phone booths are to London and fog is to San Francisco. When night falls, red and blue and other colors 26 a hazy (雾蒙蒙的) glow over a city lit up by tens of thousands of neon signs. But many of them are going dark, 27 by more practical, but less romantic, LEDs (发光二极管).

Changing building codes, evolving tastes, and the high cost of maintaining those wonderful old signs have businesses embracing LEDs, which are energy 28 , but still carry great cost. “To me, neon represents memories of the past,” says photographer Sharon Blance, whose series Hong Kong Neon celebrates the city's famous signs. “Looking at the signs now I get a feeling of amazement, mixed with sadness.”

Building a neon sign is an art practiced by 29 trained on the job to mold glass tubes into 30 shapes and letters. They fill these tubes with gases that glow when 31 . Neon makes orange, while other gases make yellow or blue. It takes many hours to craft a single sign.

Blance spent a week in Hong Kong and 32 more than 60 signs; 22 of them appear in the series that capture the signs lighting up lonely streets—an 33 that makes it easy to admire their colors and craftsmanship. “I love the beautiful, handcrafted, old-fashioned 34 of neon,” says Blance. The signs do nothing more than 35 a restaurant, theater, or other business, but do so in the most striking way possible.

A) alternative B) approach C) cast D) challenging E) decorative F) efficient G) electrified H) identify I) photographed J) professionals K) quality L) replaced M) stimulate N) symbolizes O) volunteers

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

New Jersey School District Eases Pressure on Students—Baring an Ethnic Divide

A) This fall, David Aderhold, the chief of a high-achieving school district near Princeton, New Jersey, sent parents an alarming 16-page letter. The school district, he said, was facing a crisis. Its students were overburdened and stressed out, having to cope with too much work and too many demands. In the previous school year, 120 middle and high school students were recommended for mental health assessments and 40 were hospitalized. And on a survey administered by the district, students wrote things like, “I hate going to school,” and “Coming out of 12 years in this district, I have learned one thing: that a grade, a percentage or even a point is to be valued over anything else.”

B) With his letter, Aderhold inserted West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District into a national discussion about the intense focus on achievement at elite schools, and whether it has gone too far. At follow-up meetings, he urged parents to join him in advocating a “whole child” approach to schooling that respects “social-emotional development” and “deep and meaningful learning” over academics alone. The alternative, he suggested, was to face the prospect of becoming another Palo Alto, California, where outsize stress on teenage students is believed to have contributed to a number of suicides in the last six years.

C) But instead of bringing families together, Aderhold's letter revealed a divide in the district, which has 9,700 students, and one that broke down roughly along racial lines. On one side are white parents like Catherine Foley, a former president of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at her daughter's middle school, who has come to see the district's increasingly pressured atmosphere as opposed to learning. “My son was in fourth grade and told me, 'I'm not going to amount to anything because I have nothing to put on my resume,'” she said. On the other side are parents like Mike Jia, one of the thousands of Asian-American professionals who have moved to the district in the past decade, who said Aderhold's reforms would amount to a “dumbing down” of his children's education. “What is happening here reflects a national anti-intellectual trend that will not prepare our children for the future,” Jia said.

D) About 10 minutes from Princeton and an hour and a half from New York City, West Windsor and Plainsboro have become popular bedroom communities for technology entrepreneurs, researchers and engineers, drawn in large part by the public schools. From the last three graduating classes, 16 seniors were admitted to MIT. It produces Science Olympiad winners, classically trained musicians and students with perfect SAT scores.

E) The district has become increasingly popular with immigrant families from China, India and Korea. This year, 65 percent of its students are Asian-American, compared with 44 percent in 2007. Many of them are the first in their families born in the United States. They have had a growing influence on the district. Asian-American parents are enthusiastic supporters of the competitive instrumental music program. They have been huge supporters of the district's advanced mathematics program, which once began in the fourth grade but will now start in the sixth. The change to the program, in which 90 percent of the participating students are Asian-American, is one of Aderhold's reforms.

F) Asian-American students have been eager participants in a state program that permits them to take summer classes off campus for high school credit, allowing them to maximize the number of honors and Advanced Placement classes they can take, another practice that Aderhold is limiting this school year. With many Asian-American children attending supplementary instructional programs, there is a perception among some white families that the elementary school curriculum is being sped up to accommodate them.

G) Both Asian-American and white families say the tension between the two groups has grown steadily over the past few years, as the number of Asian families has risen. But the division has become more obvious in recent months as Aderhold has made changes, including no-homework nights, an end to high school midterms and finals, and an initiative that made it easier to participate in the music program.

H) Jennifer Lee, professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, and an author of the Asian American Achievement Paradox, says misunderstanding between first-generation Asian-American parents and those who have been in this country longer are common. What white middle-class parents do not always understand, she said, is how much pressure recent immigrants feel to boost their children into the middle class. “They don't have the same chances to get their children internships (实习职位) or jobs at law firms,” Lee said. “So what they believe is that their children must excel and beat their white peers in academic settings so they have the same chances to excel later. ”

I) The issue of the stresses felt by students in elite school districts has gained attention in recent years as schools in places like Newton, Massachusetts, and Palo Alto have reported a number of suicides. West Windsor-Plainsboro has not had a teenage suicide in recent years, but Aderhold, who has worked in the district for seven years and been chief for the last three years, said he had seen troubling signs. In a recent art assignments, a middle school student depicted (描绘) an overburdened child who was being scolded for earning an A, rather than an A+ , on a math exam. In the image, the mother scolds the student with the words, “Shame on you!” Further, he said, the New Jersey Education Department has flagged at least two pieces of writing on state English language assessments in which students expressed suicidal thoughts.

J) The survey commissioned by the district found that 68 percent of high school honor and Advanced Placement students reported feeling stressed about school “always or most of the time.” “We need to bring back some balance,” Aderhold said. “You don't want to wait until it's too late to do something. ”

K) Not all public opinion has fallen along racial lines. Karen Sue, the Chinese-American mother of a fifth-grader and an eighth-grader, believes the competition within the district has gotten out of control. Sue, who was born in the United States to immigrant parents, wants her peers to dial it back. “It's become an arms race, an educational arms race,” she said. “We all want our kids to achieve and be successful. The question is, at what cost?”

36. Aderhold is limiting the extra classes that students are allowed to take off campus.

37. White and Asian-American parents responded differently to Aderhold's appeal.

38. Suicidal thoughts have appeared in some students' writings.

39. Aderhold's reform of the advanced mathematics program will affect Asian-American students most.

40. Aderhold appealed for parents' support in promoting an all-round development of children, instead of focusing only on their academic performance.

41. One Chinese-American parent thinks the competition in the district has gone too far.

42. Immigrant parents believe that academic excellence will allow their children equal chances to succeed in the future.

43. Many businessmen and professionals have moved to West Windsor and Plainsboro because of the public schools there.

44. A number of students in Aderhold's school district were found to have stress-induced mental health problems.

45. The tension between Asian-American and white families has increased in recent years.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 46 and 50 are based on the following passage.

For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else. “While we teach, we learn,” said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date. They're documenting why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn, and designing innovative ways for young people to engage in instruction.

Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who're learning only for their own sake. But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings (兄弟姐妹). This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings. Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this model to academic subjects. They engage college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.

But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the “teachable agent”—a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil. Computer scientists have created an animated (动画的) figure called Betty's Brain, who has been “taught” about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students. Student teachers are motivated to help Betty master certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their own understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.

Feedback from the teachable agents further enhances the tutors' learning. The agents' questions compel student tutors to think and explain the materials in different ways, and watching the agent solve problems allows them to see their knowledge put into action.

Above all, it's the emotions one experiences in teaching that facilitate learning. Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtual pupils succeed as they derive pride and satisfaction from someone else's accomplishment.

46. What are researchers rediscovering through their studies?

A) Seneca's thinking is still applicable today.

B) Better learners will become better teachers.

C) Human intelligence tends to grow with age.

D) Philosophical thinking improves instruction.

47. What do we learn about Betty's Brain?

A) It is a character in a popular animation.

B) It is a teaching tool under development.

C) It is a cutting-edge app in digital games.

D) It is a tutor for computer science students.

48. How does teaching others benefit student tutors?

A) It makes them aware of what they are strong at.

B) It motivates them to try novel ways of teaching.

C) It helps them learn their academic subjects better.

D) It enables them to better understand their teachers.

49. What do students do to teach their teachable agents?

A) They motivate them to think independently.

B) They ask them to design their own questions.

C) They encourage them to give prompt feedback.

D) They use various ways to explain the materials.

50. What is the key factor that eases student tutors' learning?

A) Their sense of responsibility.

B) Their emotional involvement.

C) The learning strategy acquired.

D) The teaching experience gained.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

A new batch of young women—members of the so-called Millennial (千禧的) generation—has been entering the workforce for the past decade. At the starting line of their careers, they are better educated than their mothers and grandmothers had been—or than their young male counterparts are now. But when they look ahead, they see roadblocks to their success. They believe that women are paid less than men for doing the same job. They think it's easier for men to get top executive jobs than it is for them. And they assume that if and when they have children, it will be even harder for them to advance in their careers.

While the public sees greater workplace equality between men and women now than it did 20-30 years ago, most believe more change is needed. Among Millennial women, 75% say this country needs to continue making changes to achieve gender equality in the workplace, compared with 57% of Millennial men. Even so, relatively few young women (15%) say they have been discriminated against at work because of their gender.

As Millennial women come of age they share many of the same views and values about work as their male counterparts. They want jobs that provide security and flexibility, and they place relatively little importance on high pay. At the same time, however, young working women are less likely than men to aim at top management jobs: 34% say they're not interested in becoming a boss or top manager; only 24% of young men say the same. The gender gap on this question is even wider among working adults in their 30s and 40s, when many women face the trade-offs that go with work and motherhood.

These findings are based on a new Pew Research Center survey of 2,002 adults, including 810 Millennials (ages 18-32), conducted Oct. 7-27, 2013. The survey finds that, in spite of the dramatic gains women have made in educational attainment and labor force participation in recent decades, young women view this as a man's world—just as middle-aged and older women do.

51. What do we learn from the first paragraph about Millennial women starting their careers?

A) They can get ahead only by striving harder.

B) They expect to succeed just like Millennial men.

C) They are generally quite optimistic about their future.

D) They are better educated than their male counterparts.

52. How do most Millennial women feel about their treatment in the workplace?

A) They are the target of discrimination.

B) They find it satisfactory on the whole.

C) They think it needs further improving.

D) They find their complaints ignored.

53. What do Millennial women value most when coming of age?

A) A sense of accomplishment.

B) Job stability and flexibility.

C) Rewards and promotions.

D) Joy derived from work.

54. What are women in their 30s and 40s concerned about?

A) The welfare of their children.

B) The narrowing of the gender gap.

C) The fulfillment of their dreams in life.

D) The balance between work and family.

55. What conclusion can be drawn about Millennial women from the 2013 survey?

A) They still view this world as one dominated by males.

B) They account for half the workforce in the job market.

C) They see the world differently from older generations.

D) They do better in work than their male counterparts.

Part IV Translation (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

近年来，中国有越来越多的城市开始建设地铁。发展地铁有助于减少城市的交通拥堵和空气污染。地铁具有安全、快捷和舒适的优点。越来越多的人选择地铁作为每天上班或上学的主要交通工具。如今，在中国乘坐地铁正变得越来越方便。在有些城市里，乘客只需用卡或手机就可以乘坐地铁。许多当地老年市民还可以免费乘坐地铁。

Part Ⅰ Writing

The Importance of Speaking Ability and How to Develop It

As we all know, proficiency in speaking is necessary for us to become well-rounded communicators. However, the capacity to put words together in a meaningful way to reflect thoughts, opinions, and feelings is not something we're born with but needs some techniques and practice.

Firstly, build confidence and concentrate on getting our message across, which help us gain the attention of the audience return. Secondly, experiment with the things we know well instead of challenging ourselves with difficult words since fluency appears more important during oral communication. Lastly, create some opportunities to practice like narrating our daily life to ourselves or maintaining a regular chat with friends.

To sum up, only by being confident enough and using efficient methods can we enhance our speaking ability. Follow the steps to improve our speaking skills in order to achieve a higher standard in communication.

Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension

说明：由于206月四级考试全国共考了两套听力, 本套真题听力与前两套内容相同, 只是选项顺序不同, 因此在本套真题中不再重复出现。

Part III Reading Comprehension

26-35: CLFJE GIBKH

36-45: FCIEB KHDAG

46-55: ABCDB DCBDA

Part IV Translation

In recent years, more and more cities in China have begun to build subways. The development of subways can help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in cities. The subway has the advantages of safety, speed and comfort. More and more people choose the subway as the main means of transportation to work or school every day. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more convenient to take the subway in China. In some cities, passengers can use a card or a mobile phone to take the subway. Many local elderly citizens can also take the subway for free.

篇2：英语四级真题试卷及答案

2012月英语四级考试真题试卷

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to learn Chinese. Please recommend a place to him. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

________________________________________________________________________

Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)

听力音频MP3文件，点击进入听力真题页面

Section A News Report

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 are based on the news report you have just heard.

1. A) The number of male nurses has gone down.

B) There is discrimination against male nurses.

C) There is a growing shortage of medical personnel.

D) The number of nurses has dropped to a record low.

2. A) Working conditions.

B) Educational system.

C) Inadequate pay.

D) Cultural bias.

Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.

3. A) He fell out of a lifeboat.

B) He was almost drowned.

C) He lost his way on a beach.

D) He enjoyed swimming in the sea.

4. A) The lifeboats patrol the area round the clock.

B) The beach is a good place to watch the tide.

C) The emergency services are efficient.

D) The beach is a popular tourist resort.

Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.

5. A) It climbed 25 storeys at one go.

B) It broke into an office room.

C) It escaped from a local zoo.

D) It became an online star.

6. A) Release it into the wild.

B) Return it to its owner.

C) Send it back to the zoo.

D) Give it a physical checkup.

7. A) A racoon can perform acts no human can.

B) A racoon can climb much higher than a cat.

C) The racoon did something no politician could.

D) The raccoon became as famous as some politicians.

Section B Conversation

Directions： In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversations you will hear four questions. Both the conversations and the question-s 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 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

8. A) She received a bonus unexpectedly.

B) She got a well-paying job in a bank.

C She received her first monthly salary.

D) She got a pay raise for her performance.

9. A) Two decades ago.

B) Several years ago.

C) Just last month.

D) Right after graduation.

10. A) He sent a small check to his parents.

B) He treated his parents to a nice meal.

C) He took a few of his friends to a gym.

D) He immediately deposited it in a bank.

11. A) Join her colleagues for gym exercise.

B) Visit her former university campus.

C) Buy some professional clothes.

D) Budget her salary carefully.

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12. A) He has just too many things to attend to.

B) He has been overworked recently.

C) He has a difficult decision to make.

D) He has just quarreled with his girlfriend.

13. A) Turn to his girlfriend for assistance.

B) Give priority to things more urgent.

C) Think twice before making the decision.

D) Seek advice from his family and advisor.

14. A) His girlfriend does not support his decision.

B) He is not particularly keen on the job offered.

C) He lacks the money for his doctoral program.

D) His parents and advisor have different opinions.

15. A)They need time to make preparations.

B) They haven't started their careers yet.

C) They need to save enough money for it.

D) They haven't won their parents' approval.

Section C Passage

Directions： In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four 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.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A) Expressing ideas and opinions freely.

B) Enriching social and intellectual lives.

C) Acquiring information and professional knowledge.

D) Using information to understand and solve problems.

17. A) Traveling to different places in the world.

B) Playing games that challenge one's mind.

C) Improving mind-reading strategies.

D) Reading classic scientific literature.

18. A) Participate in debates or discussions.

B) Expose themselves to different cultures.

C) Discard personal biases and prejudices.

D) Give others freedom to express themselves.

Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.

19. A) Why dogs can be faithful friends of humans.

B) The nature of relationships between dogs.

C) The reason a great many people love dogs.

D) How dogs feel about their bonds with humans.

20. A) They behave like other animals in many ways.

B) They have an unusual sense of responsibility.

C) They can respond to humans' questions.

D) They can fall in love just like humans.

21. A) They stay with one partner for life.

B) They have their own joys and sorrows.

C) They experience true romantic love.

D) They help humans in various ways.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22. A) A rare animal.

B) A historical site.

C) A cow bone.

D) A precious stone.

23. A) Dating it.

B) Preserving it.

C) Measuring it.

D) Identifying it.

24. A) The channel needs to interview the boy.

B) The boy should have called an expert.

C) The boy's family had acted correctly.

D) The site should have been protected.

25. A) Conduct a more detailed search.

B) Ask the university to reward Jude.

C) Search for similar fossils elsewhere.

D) Seek additional funds for the search.

Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: 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 before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Finally, some good news about airplane travel. If you are on a plane with a sick passenger, you are unlikely to get sick. That is the __26__ of a new study that looked at how respiratory (呼吸道) viruses __27__ on airplanes. Researchers found that only people who were seated in the same row as a passenger with the flu, for example -- or one row in front of or behind that individual -- had a high risk of catching the illness. All other passengers had only a very __28__ chance of getting sick, according to the findings. Media reports have not necessarily presented __29__ information about the risk of getting infected on an airplane in the past. Therefore, these new findings should help airplane passengers to feel less __30__ to catching respiratory infections while traveling by air.

Prior to the new study, little was known about the risks of getting __31__ infected by common respiratory viruses, such as the flu or common cold, on an airplane, the researchers said. So, to __32__ the risks of infection, the study team flew on 10 different __33__ in the U.S. during the flu season. The researchers found that passengers sitting within two seats on __34__ side of a person infected with the flu, as well as those sitting one row in front of or behind this individual, had about an 80 percent chance of getting sick. But other passengers were __35__ safe from infection. They had a less than 3 percent chance of catching the flu.

A) accurate

B) conclusion

C) directly

D) either

E) evaluate

F) explorations

G) flights

H) largely

I) nearby

J) respond

K) slim

L) spread

M) summit

N) vividly

O) vulnerable

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal of the Day?

A) Along with old classics like “carrots give you night vision” and “Santa doesn't bring toys to misbehaving children”, one of the most well-worn phrases of tired parents everywhere is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many of us grow up believing that skipping breakfast is a serious mistake, even if only two thirds of adults in the UK eat breakfast regularly, according to the British Dietetic Association, and around three-quarters of Americans.

B) “The body uses a lot of energy stores for growth and repair through the night,” explains diet specialist Sarah Elder. “Eating a balanced breakfast helps to up our energy, as well as make up for protein and calcium used throughout the night.” But there's widespread disagreement over whether breakfast should keep its top spot in the hierarchy (等级) of meals. There have been concerns around the sugar content of cereal and the food industry's involvement in pro-breakfast research -- and even one claim from an academic that breakfast is “dangerous”.

C) What's the reality? Is breakfast a necessary start to the day or a marketing tactic by cereal companies? The most researched aspect of breakfast(and breakfast-skipping) has been its links to obesity. Scientists have different theories as to why there's a relationship between the two. In one US study that analysed the health data of 50,000 people over seven years, researchers found that those who made breakfast the largest meal of the day were more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who ate a large lunch or dinner. The researchers argued that breakfast helps reduce daily calorie intake and improve the quality of our diet -- since breakfast foods are often higher in fibre and nutrients.

D) But as with any study of this kind, it was unclear if that was the cause -- or if breakfast-skippers were just more likely to be overweight to begin with. To find out, researchers designed a study in which 52 obese women took part in a 12-week weight loss programme. All had the same number of calories over the day, but half had breakfast, while the other half did not. What they found was that it wasn't breakfast itself that caused the participants to lose weight: it was changing their normal routine.

E) If breakfast alone isn't a guarantee of weight loss, why is there a link between obesity and breakfast-skipping? Alexandra Johnstone, professor of appetite research at the University of Aberdeen, argues that it may simply be because breakfast-skippers have been found to be less knowledgeable about nutrition and health. “There are a lot of studies on the relationship between breakfast eating and possible health outcomes, but this may be because those who eat breakfast choose to habitually have health-enhancing behaviours such as regular exercise and not smoking,” she says.

F) A 2016 review of 10 studies looking into the relationship between breakfast and weight management concluded there is “limited evidence” supporting or refuting (反驳) the argument that breakfast influences weight or food intake, and more evidence is required before breakfast recommendations can be used to help prevent obesity.

G) Researches from the University of Surrey and University of Aberdeen are halfway through research looking into the mechanisms behind how the time we eat influences body weight. Early findings suggest that a bigger breakfast is beneficial to weight control. Breakfast has been found to affect more than just weight. Skipping breakfast has been associated with a 27% increased risk of heart disease, a 21% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in men, and a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in women. One reason may be breakfast's nutritional value -- partly because cereal is fortified (增加营养价值) with vitamins. In one study on the breakfast habits of 1,600 young people in the UK, researchers found that the fibre and micronutrient intake was better in those who had breakfast regularly. There have been similar findings in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the US.

H) Breakfast is also associated with improved brain function, including concentration and language use. A review of 54 studies found that eating breakfast can improve memory, though the effects on other brain functions were inconclusive. However, one of the review's researchers, Mary Beth Spitznagel, says there is “reasonable” evidence breakfast does improve concentration -- there just needs to be more research. “Looking at studies that tested concentration, the number of studies showing a benefit was exactly the same as the number that found no benefit,” she says. “And no studies found that eating breakfast was bad for concentration.”

I) What's most important, some argue, is what we eat for breakfast. High-protein breakfasts have been found particularly effective in reducing the longing for food and consumption later in the day, according to research by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. While cereal remains a firm favourite among breakfast consumers in the UK and US, a recent investigation into the sugar content of 'adult' breakfast cereals found that some cereals contain more than three-quarters of the recommended daily amount of free sugars in each portion, and sugar was the second or third highest ingredient in cereals.

J) But some research suggests if we're going to eat sugary foods, it's best to do it early. One study recruited 200 obese adults to take part in a 16-week-long diet, where half added dessert to their breakfast, and half didn't. Those who added dessert lost an average of 40 pounds more -- however, the study was unable to show the long-term effects. A review of 54 studies found that there is no consensus yet on what type of breakfast is healthier, and concluded that the type of breakfast doesn't matter as much as simply eating something.

K) While there's no conclusive evidence on exactly what we should be eating and when, the consensus is that we should listen to our own bodies and eat when we're hungry. “Breakfast is most important for people who are hungry when they wake up,” Johnstone says. “Each body starts the day differently -- and those individual differences need to be researched more closely,” Spitznagel says. “A balanced breakfast is really helpful, but getting regular meals throughout the day is more important to leave blood sugar stable through the day, which helps control weight and hunger levels,” says Elder. “Breakfast isn't the only meal we should be getting right.”

36. According to one professor, obesity is related to a lack of basic awareness of nutrition and health.

37. Some scientists claim that people should consume the right kind of food at breakfast.

38. Opinions differ as to whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

39. It has been found that not cating breakfast is related to the incidence of certain diseases in some countries.

40. Researchers found it was a change in eating habits rather than breakfast itself that induced weight loss.

41. To keep oneself healthy, eating breakfast is more important than choosing what to eat.

42. It is widely considered wrong not to eat breakfast.

43. More research is needed to prove that breakfast is related to weight loss or food intake.

44. Pecople who prioritise breakfasts tend to have lower calorie but higher nutritional intake.

45. Many studies reveal that eating breakfast helps people memorise and concentrate.

Section C

Directions: 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 with the exact words you have just heard. Finally，when the passage is read for the third time，you should check what you have written.

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

Textbooks represent an 11 billion dollar industry, up from $8 billion in 2014. Textbook publisher Pearson is the largest publisher -- of any kind -- in the world.

It costs about $1 million to create a new textbook. A freshman textbook will have dozens of contributors, from subject-matter experts through graphic and layout artists to expert reviewers and classroom testers. Textbook publishers connect professors, instructors and students in ways that alternatives, such as open e-textbooks and open educational resources, simply do not. This connection happens not only by means of collaborative development, review and testing, but also at conferences where faculty regularly decide on their textbooks and curricula for the coming year.

It is true that textbook publishers have recently reported losses, largely due to students renting or buying used print textbooks. But this can be chalked up to the excessively high cost of their books -- which has increased over 1,000 percent since 1977. A restructuring of the textbook industry may well be in order. But this does not mean the end of the textbook itself.

While they may not be as dynamic as an iPad, textbooks are not passive or lifeless. For example, over the centuries, they have simulated (模拟) dialogues in a number of ways. From 1800 to the present day, textbooks have done this by posing questions for students to answer inductively (归纳性地). That means students are asked to use their individual experience to come up with answers to general questions. Today's psychology texts, for example, ask: “How much of your personality do you think you inherited?” while ones in physics say: “How can you predict where the ball you tossed will land?”

Experts observe that “textbooks come in layers, something like an onion.” For an active learner, engaging with a textbook can be an interactive experience. Readers proceed at their own pace. They “customize” their books by engaging with different layers and linkages. Highlighting, Post-It notes, dog-ears and other techniques allow for further customization that students value in print books over digital forms of books.

46. What does the passage say about open educational resources?

A) They contribute to teaching as much as to learning.

B) They don't profit as much as traditional textbooks do.

C) They can't connect professors and students as textbooks do.

D) They compete fercely for customers with textbook producers.

47. What is the main cause of the publishers' losses?

A) Failure to meet student need.

B) Industry restructuring.

C) Emergence of e-books.

D) Flling sales.

48. What does the textbook industry need to do?

A) Reform its structures.

B) Cut its retail prices.

C) Find replacements for printed textbooks.

D) Change its business strategy periodically.

49. What are students expected to do in the learning process?

A) Think carefully before answering each question.

B) Ask questions based on their own understanding.

C) Answer questions using their personal experience.

D) Give answers showing their respective personality.

50. What do experts say about students using textbooks?

A) They can digitalize the prints easily.

B) They can leam in an interactive way.

C) They can purchase custonized versions.

D) They can adapt the material themselves.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

When we think of animals and plants, we have a pretty good way of dividing them into two distinct groups: one converts sunlight into energy and the other has to eat food to make its energy. Well, those dividing lines come crashing down with the discovery of a sea slug (海蛞蝓) that's truly half animal and half plant. It's pretty incredible how it has managed to hijack the genes of the algae (藻类) on which it feeds.

The slugs can manufacture chlorophyll, the green pigment (色素) in plants that captures energy from sunlight, and hold these genes within their body. The term kleptoplasty is used to describe the practice of using hijacked genes to create nutrients from sunlight. And so far, this green sea slug is the only known animal that can be truly considered solar-powered, although some animals do exhibit some plant-like behaviors. Many scientists have studied the green sea slugs to confirm that they are actually able to create energy from sunlight.

In fact, the slugs use the genetic material so well that they pass it on to their future generations. Their babies retain the ability to produce their own chlorophyll, though they can't generate energy from sunlight until they've eaten enough algae to steal the necessary genes, which they can't yet produce on their own.

“There's no way on earth that genes from an alga should work inside an animal cell,” says Sidney Pierce from the University of South Florida. “And yet here, they do. They allow the animal to rely on sunshine for its nutrition. So if something happens to their food source, they have a way of not starving to death until they find more algae to eat.”

The sea slugs are so good at gathering energy from the sun that they can live up to nine months without having to eat any food. They get all their nutritional needs met by the genes that they've hijacked from the algae.

51. What is the distinctive feature of a sea slug?

A) It looks like both a plant and an animal.

B) It converts some sea animals into plants.

C) It lives half on animals and half on plants.

D) It gets energy from both food and sunlight.

52. What enables the sea slug to live like a plant?

A) The genes it captures from the sea plant algae.

B) The mechanism by which it conserves energy.

C) The nutrients it hjacks from other species.

D) The green pigment it inberits from its ancestors.

53. What does the author say about baby sea slugs?

A) They can live without sunlight for a long time.

B) They can absorb sunlight right after their birth.

C) They can survive without algac for quite some time.

D) They can produce chlorophyl on their own.

54. What does Sidney Pierce say about genes fom an alga?

A) They are stolen from animals like the sea slug.

B) They can't function unless exposed to sunlight.

C) They don't usually function inside animal cells.

D) They can readily be converted to sca slug gencs.

55. What do we learn about sea slugs from the passage?

A) They behave the way most plant species do.

B) They can survive for months without eating.

C) They will turn into plants when they mature.

D) They will starve to death without sunlight.

Part IV Translation (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

中国的家庭观念与其文化传统有关。和睦的大家庭曾非常令人羡慕。过去四代同堂并不少见。由于这个传统，许多年轻人婚后继续与父母同住。今天，这个传统正在改变。随着住房条件的改善，越来越多年轻夫妇选择与父母分开住。但他们之间的联系仍然很密切。许多老年人仍然帮着照看孙辈。年轻夫妇也抽时间探望父母，特别是在春节和中秋节等重要节日。

2019年12月四级部分真题参考答案(完整版)

Part I Writing

Dear Mike,

How's everything going? Last time you said you felt inclined to learn Chinese but had no clue where to start. So I'm writing to recommend a place to you -- the Confucius Institute, an established language center aimed to promote Chinese language and culture.

The reasons for my recommendation are as follows. Firstly, this Chinese government-funded educational institute is staffed by the most experienced, professional Chinese teachers, which ensures high-quality instruction. You can turn to them whenever you encounter difficulties in mastering the tones and the characters. Secondly, students there are encouraged to take part in activities ranging from making traditional food to learning clligraphy, as a means of exposing them to the appealing aspects of Chinese culture. Besides, the organization is now widely embraced by more than two million students. That means you aren' t alone as a beginner and will probably forge deep friendships with other learmers.

Learming a language from scratch won't be easy. But I believe you'll find yourself having fun while improving your Chinese proficiency.

Best wishes,

Li Hua

Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension

1. A

2. D

3. B

4. C

5. D

6. A

7. C

8. C

9. A

10. B

11. A

12. C

13. D

14. D

15. B

16. D

17. B

18. A

19. B

20. D

21. A

22. C

23. B

24. C

25. A

Part III Reading Comprehension

26-35：BLKAO CEGDH

36-45：EIBGD JAFCH

46-55：CDACB DADCB

Part IV Translation

China's family values are related to its cultural traditions. Harmonious extended families used to be very enviable. It was not uncommon in the past for four generations of a family to live under the same roof. According to the tradition, many young people continued to live with their parents after marriage. Today, that tradition is changing. As housing conditions improve, more and more young couples are opting to live apart from their parents. But the connections between them still remain strong. Many old people still help to look after their grandchildren. And young couples take time to visit their parents, especially during important festivals such as the Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

篇3：英语四级真题试卷参考

历年英语四级真题

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the importance of reading ability and how to develop it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

________________________________________________________________________

Section 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 are based on the news report you have just heard.

1. A) The return of a bottled message to its owner's daughter.

B) A New Hampshire man's joke with friends on his wife.

C) A father's message for his daughter.

D) The history of a century-old motel.

2. A) She wanted to show gratitude for his kindness.

B) She wanted to honor her father's promise.

C) She had been asked by her father to do so.

D) She was excited to see her father's handwriting.

Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.

3. A) People were concerned about the number of bees.

B) Several cases of Zika disease had been identified.

C) Two million bees were infected with disease.

D) Zika virus had destroyed some bee farms.

4. A) It apologized to its customers.

B) It was forced to kill its bees.

C) It lost a huge stock of bees.

D) It lost 2.5 million dollars.

Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.

5. A) It stayed in the air for about two hours.

B) It took off and landed on a football field.

C) It proved to be of high commercial value.

D) It made a series of sharp turns in the sky.

6. A) Engineering problems.

B) The air pollution it produced.

C) Inadequate funding.

D) The opposition from the military.

7. A) It uses the latest aviation technology.

B) It flies faster than a commercial jet.

C) It is a safer means of transportation.

D) It is more environmentally friendly.

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.

Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

8. A) It seems a depressing topic.

B) It sounds quite alarming.

C) It has little impact on our daily life.

D) It is getting more serious these days.

9. A) The man doesn't understand Spanish.

B) The woman doesn't really like dancing.

C) They don't want something too noisy.

D) They can't make it to the theatre in time.

10. A) It would be more fun without Mr. Whitehead hosting.

B) It has too many acts to hold the audience's attention.

C) It is the most amusing show he has ever watched.

D) It is a show inappropriate for a night of charity.

11. A) Watch a comedy.

B) Go and see the dance.

C) Book the tickets online.

D) See a film with the man.

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12. A) Most of her schoolmates are younger than she is.

B) She simply has no idea what school to transfer to.

C) There are too many activities for her to cope with.

D) She worries she won't fit in as a transfer student.

13. A) Seek advice from senior students.

B) Pick up some meaningful hobbies.

C) Participate in after-school activities.

D) Look into what the school offers.

14. A) Give her help whenever she needs it.

B) Accept her as a transfer student.

C) Find her accommodation on campus.

D) Introduce her to her roommates.

15. A) She has interests similar to Mr. Lee's.

B) She has become friends with Catherine.

C) She has chosen the major Catherine has.

D) She has just transferred to the college.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four 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.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A) To investigate how being overweight impacts on health.

B) To find out which physical drive is the most powerful.

C) To discover what most mice like to eat.

D) To determine what feelings mice have.

17. A) When they are hungry.

B) When they are thirsty.

C) When they smell food.

D) When they want company.

18. A) They search for food in groups.

B) They are overweight when food is plenty.

C) They prefer to be with other mice.

D) They enjoy the company of other animals.

Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.

19. A) Its construction started before World War I.

B) Its construction cost more than $ 40 billion.

C) It is efficiently used for transport.

D) It is one of the best in the world.

20. A) To improve transportation in the countryside.

B) To move troops quickly from place to place.

C) To enable people to travel at a higher speed.

D) To speed up the transportation of goods.

21. A) In the 1970s.

B) In the 1960s.

C) In the 1950s.

D) In the 1940s.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22. A) Chatting while driving.

B) Messaging while driving.

C) Driving under age.

D) Speeding on highways.

23. A) A gadget to hold a phone on the steering wheel.

B) A gadget to charge the phone in a car.

C) A device to control the speed of a vehicle.

D) A device to ensure people drive with both hands.

24. A) The car keeps flashing its headlights.

B) The car slows down gradually to a halt.

C) They are alerted with a light and a sound.

D) They get a warning on their smart phone.

25. A) Installing a camera.

B) Using a connected app.

C) Checking their emails.

D) Keeping a daily record.

Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

An office tower on Miller Street in Manchester is completely covered in solar panels. They are used to create some of the energy used by the insurance company inside. When the tower was first 26 in 1962, it was covered with thin square stones. These small square stones became a problem for the building and continued to fall off the face for 40 years until a major renovation was 27 . During this renovation the building's owners, CIS, 28 the solar panel company, Solarcentury. They agreed to cover the entire building in solar panels. In 2004, the completed CIS tower became Europe's largest 29 of vertical solar panels. A vertical solar project on such a large 30 has never been repeated since.

Covering a skyscraper with solar panels had never been done before, and the CIS tower was chosen as one of the “10 best green energy projects”. For a long time after this renovation project, it was the tallest building in the United Kingdom, but it was 31 overtaken by the Millbank Tower.

Green buildings like this aren't 32 cost-efficient for the investor, but it does produce much less pollution than that caused by energy 33 through fossil fuels. As solar panels get 34 , the world is likely to see more skyscrapers covered in solar panels, collecting energy much like trees do. Imagine a world where building the tallest skyscraper wasn't a race of 35 , but rather one to collect the most solar energy.

A) cheaper B) cleaner C) collection D) competed E) constructed F) consulted G) dimension H) discovered I) eventually J) height K) necessarily L) production M) range N) scale O) undertaken

Section B

Some College Students Are Angry That They Have to Pay to Do Their Homework

A) Digital learning systems now charge students for access codes needed to complete coursework, take quizzes, and turn in homework. As universities go digital, students are complaining of a new hit to their finances that's replacing—and sometimes joining—expensive textbooks: pricey online access codes that are required to complete coursework and submit assignments.

B) The codes—which typically range in price from $ 80 to $ 155 per course—give students online access to systems developed by education companies like McGraw Hill and Pearson. These companies, which long reaped big profits as textbook publishers, have boasted that their new online offerings, when pushed to students through universities they partner with, represent the future of the industry.

C) But critics say the digital access codes represent the same profit-seeking ethos (观念) of the textbook business, and are even harder for students to opt out of. While they could once buy second-hand textbooks, or share copies with friends, the digital systems are essentially impossible to avoid.

D) “When we talk about the access code we see it as the new face of the textbook monopoly (垄断), a new way to lock students around this system,” said Ethan Senack, the higher education advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, to BuzzFeed News. “Rather than $250 (for a print textbook) you're paying $ 120,” said Senack. “But because it's all digital it eliminates the used book market and eliminates any sharing and because homework and tests are through an access code, it eliminates any ability to opt out.”

E) Sarina Harpet, a 19-year-old student at Virginia Tech, was faced with a tough dilemma when she first started college in 2015—pay rent or pay to turn in her chemistry homework. She told BuzzFeed News that her freshman chemistry class required her to use Connect, a system provided by McGraw Hill where students can submit homework, take exams and track their grades. But the code to access the program cost $ 120—a big sum for Harper, who had already put down $ 450 for textbooks, and had rent day approaching.

F) She decided to wait for her next work-study paycheck, which was typically $ 150- $ 200, to pay for the code. She knew that her chemistry grade may take a dive as a result. “It's a balancing act,” she said. “Can I really afford these access codes now?” She didn't hand in her first two assignments for chemistry, which started her out in the class with a failing grade.

G) The access codes may be another financial headache for students, but for textbook businesses, they're the future. McGraw Hill, which controls 21% of the higher education market, reported in March that its digital content sales exceeded print sales for the first time in 2015. The company said that 45% of its $ 140 million revenue in 2015 “was derived from digital products.”

H) A Pearson spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that “digital materials are less expensive and a good investment” that offer new features, like audio texts, personalized knowledge checks and expert videos. Its digital course materials save students up to 60% compared to traditional printed textbooks, the company added. McGraw Hill didn't respond to a request for comment, but its CEO David Levin told the Financial Times in August that “in higher education, the era of the printed textbook is now over.”

I) The textbook industry insists the online systems represent a better deal for students. “These digital products aren't just mechanisms for students to submit homework, they offer all kinds of features,” David Anderson, the executive director of higher education with the Association of American Publishers, told BuzzFeed News. “It helps students understand in a way that you can't do with print homework assignments.”

J) David Hunt, an associate professor in sociology at Augusta University, which has rolled out digital textbooks across its math and psychology departments, told BuzzFeed News that he understands the utility of using systems that require access codes. But he doesn't require his students to buy access to a learning program that controls the class assignments. “I try to make things as inexpensive as possible,” said Hunt, who uses free digital textbooks for his classes but designs his own curriculum. “The online systems may make my life a lot easier but I feel like I'm giving up control. The discussions are the things where my expertise can benefit the students most.”

K) A 20-year-old junior at Georgia Southern University told BuzzFeed News that she normally spends $ 500-$ 600 on access codes for class. In one case, the professor didn't require students to buy a textbook, just an access code to turn in homework. This year she said she spent $ 900 on access codes to books and programs. “That's two months of rent,” she said. “You can't sell any of it back. With a traditional textbook you can sell it for $ 30 - $ 50 and that helps to pay for your new semester's books. With an access code, you're out of that money. ”

L) Benjamin Wolverton, a 19-year-old student at the University of South Carolina, told BuzzFeed News that “it's ridiculous that after paying tens of thousands in tuition we have to pay for all these access codes to do our homework.” Many of the access codes he's purchased have been required simply to complete homework or quizzes. “Often it's only 10% of your grade in class.” he said. “You're paying so much money for something that hardly affects your grade—but if you didn't have it, it would affect your grades enough. It would be bad to start out at a B or C.” Wolverton said he spent $ 500 on access codes for digital books and programs this semester.

M) Harper, a poultry (家禽) science major, is taking chemistry again this year and had to buy a new access code to hand in her homework. She rented her economics and statistics textbooks for about $ 20 each. But her access codes for homework, which can't be rented or bought second-hand, were her most expensive purchases: $ 120 and $ 85.

N) She still remembers the sting of her first experience skipping an assignment due to the high prices. “We don't really have a missed assignment policy,” she said. “If you miss it, you just miss it. I just got zeros on a couple of first assignments. I managed to pull everything back up. But as a scared freshman looking at their grades, it's not fun.”

36. A student's yearly expenses on access codes may amount to their rent for two months.

37. The online access codes may be seen as a way to tie the students to the digital system.

38. If a student takes a course again, they may have to buy a new access code to submit their assignments.

39. McGraw Hill accounts for over one-fifth of the market share of college textbooks.

40. Many traditional textbook publishers are now offering online digital products, which they believe will be the future of the publishing business.

41. One student complained that they now had to pay for access codes in addition to the high tuition.

42. Digital materials can cost students less than half the price of traditional printed books according to a publisher.

43. One student decided not to buy her access code until she received the pay for her part-time job.

44. Online systems may deprive teachers of opportunities to make the best use of their expertise for their students.

45. Digital access codes are criticized because they are profit-driven just like the textbook business.

Section C

Passage One

Questions 46 and 50 are based on the following passage.

Losing your ability to think and remember is pretty scary. We know the risk of dementia (痴呆症) increases with age. But if you have memory slips, you probably needn't worry. There are pretty clear differences between signs of dementia and age-related memory loss.

After age 50, it's quite common to have trouble remembering the names of people, places and things quickly, says Dr. Kirk Daffner of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

The brain ages just like the rest of the body. Certain parts shrink, especially areas in the brain that are important to learning, memory and planning. Changes in brain cells can affect communication between different regions of the brain. And blood flow can be reduced as blood vessels narrow.

Forgetting the name of an actor in a favorite movie, for example, is nothing to worry about. But if you forget the plot of the movie or don't remember even seeing it, that's far more concerning, Daffner says.

When you forget entire experiences, he says, that's “a red flag that something more serious may be involved.” Forgetting how to operate a familiar object like a microwave oven, or forgetting how to drive to the house of a friend you've visited many times before can also be signs of something going wrong.

But even then, Daffner says, people shouldn't panic. There are many things that can cause confusion and memory loss, including health problems like temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep, high blood pressure, or depression, as well as medications (药物) like antidepressants.

You don't have to figure this out on your own. Daffner suggests going to your doctor to check on medications, health problems and other issues that could be affecting memory. And the best defense against memory loss is to try to prevent it by building up your brain's cognitive (认知的) reserve, Daffner says.

“Read books, go to movies, take on new hobbies or activities that force one to think in novel ways,” he says. In other words, keep your brain busy and working. And also get physically active, because exercise is a known brain booster.

46. Why does the author say that one needn't be concerned about memory slips?

A) Not all of them are symptoms of dementia.

B) They occur only among certain groups of people.

C) Not all of them are related to one's age.

D) They are quite common among fifty-year-olds.

47. What happens as we become aged according to the passage?

A) Our interaction skills deteriorate.

B) Some parts of our brain stop functioning.

C) Communication within our brain weakens.

D) Our whole brain starts shrinking.

48. Which memory-related symptom should people take seriously?

A) Totally forgetting how to do one's daily routines.

B) Inability to recall details of one's life experiences.

C) Failure to remember the names of movies or actors.

D) Occasionally confusing the addresses of one's friends.

49. What should people do when signs of serious memory loss show up?

A) Check the brain's cognitive reserve.

B) Stop medications affecting memory.

C) Turn to a professional for assistance.

D) Exercise to improve their well-being.

50. What is Dr. Daffner's advice for combating memory loss?

A) Having regular physical and mental checkups.

B) Taking medicine that helps boost one's brain.

C) Engaging in known memory repair activities.

D) Staying active both physically and mentally.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

A letter written by Charles Darwin in 1875 has been returned to the Smithsonian Institution Archives (档案馆) by the FBI after being stolen twice.

“We realized in the mid-1970s that it was missing,” says Effie Kapsalis, head of the Smithsonian Insitution Archives. “It was noted as missing and likely taken by an intern (实习生), from what the FBI is telling us. Word got out that it was missing when someone asked to see the letter for research purposes,” and the intern put the letter back. “The intern likely took the letter again once nobody was watching it.”

Decades passed. Finally, the FBI received a tip that the stolen document was located very close to Washington, D.C. Their art crime team recovered the letter but were unable to press charges because the time of limitations had ended. The FBI worked closely with the Archives to determine that the letter was both authentic and definitely Smithsonian's property.

The letter was written by Darwin to thank an American geologist, Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, for sending him copies of his research into the geology of the region that would become Yellowstone National Park.

The letter is in fairly good condition, in spite of being out of the care of trained museum staff for so long. “It was luckily in good shape,” says Kapsalis, “and we just have to do some minor things in order to be able to unfold it. It has some glue on it that has colored it slightly, but nothing that will prevent us from using it. After it is repaired, we will take digital photos of it and that will be available online. One of our goals is to get items of high research value or interest to the public online.”

It would now be difficult for an intern, visitor or a thief to steal a document like this. “Archiving practices have changed greatly since the 1970s,” says Kapsalis, “and we keep our high value documents in a safe that I don't even have access to.”

51. What happened to Darwin's letter in the 1970s?

A) It was recovered by the FBI.

B) It was stolen more than once.

C) It was put in the archives for research purposes.

D) It was purchased by the Smithsonian Archives.

52. What did the FBI do after the recovery of the letter?

A) They proved its authenticity.

B) They kept it in a special safe.

C) They arrested the suspect immediately.

D) They pressed criminal charges in vain.

53. What is Darwin's letter about?

A) The evolution of Yellowstone National Park.

B) His cooperation with an American geologist.

C) Some geological evidence supporting his theory.

D) His acknowledgement of help from a professional.

54. What will the Smithsonian Institution Archives do with the letter according to Kapsalis?

A) Reserve it for research purposes only.

B) Turn it into an object of high interest.

C) Keep it a permanent secret.

D) Make it available online.

55. What has the past half century witnessed according to Kapsalis?

A) Growing interest in rare art objects.

B) Radical changes in archiving practices.

C) Recovery of various missing documents.

D) Increases in the value of museum exhibits.

Part IV Translation (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

过去，乘飞机出行对大多数中国人来说是难以想象的。如今，随着经济的发展和生活水平的提高，越来越多的中国人包括许多农民和外出务工人员都能乘飞机出行。他们可以乘飞机到达所有大城市，还有很多城市也在筹建机场。航空服务不断改进，而且经常会有廉价机票。近年来，节假日期间选择乘飞机外出旅游的人数在不断增加。

四级部分真题参考答案(完整版)

Part Ⅰ Writing

The Importance of Reading Ability and How to Develop It

As the most frequently used way to get access to the original material, reading has always been considered one of the most important parts of language learning. This explains why reading skills should be highly emphasized.

Then how to improve our reading skills? First of all, scan the material before we begin. Whatever the purpose of our reading is, take a few minutes to look the piece over to check and see how the work is structured and presented. Secondly, try not to reach for the dictionary when we come to a word we don't know. Instead, try to guess the meaning of the word based on the context. Last but not least, write a few sentences to summarize what we've read since it is a way of checking that we understand what we're reading.

Above all, reading has important benefits and can help us learn the language faster and more completely, which encourages each language learner to develop their reading skills as suggested.

Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension

1. A) The return of a bottled message to its owner's daughter.

2. B) She wanted to honor her father's promise.

3. B) Several cases of Zika disease had been identified.

4. C) It lost a huge stock of bees.

5. A) It stayed in the air for about two hours.

6. C) Inadequate funding.

7. D) It is more environmentally friendly.

8. A) It seems a depressing topic.

9. D) They can't make it to the theatre in time.

10. C) It is the most amusing show he has ever watched.

11. B) Go and see the dance.

12. D) She worries she won't fit in as a transfer student.

13. C) Participate in after-school activities.

14. A) Give her help whenever she needs it.

15. D) She has just transferred to the college.

16. B) To find out which physical drive is the most powerful.

17. A) When they are hungry.

18. C) They prefer to be with other mice.

19. D) It is one of the best in the world.

20. B) To move troops quickly from place to place.

21. A) In the 1970s.

22. B) Messaging while driving.

23. D) A device to ensure people drive with both hands.

24. C) They are alerted with a light and a sound.

25. B) Using a connected app.

Part III Reading Comprehension

26-35: EOFCN IKLAJ

36-45: KDMGB LHFJC

46-55: ACACD BADDB

Part IV Translation

In the past, traveling by plane was unimaginable for most Chinese people. Today, with the development of China's economy and the improvement of people's living standards, more and more Chinese people, including many farmers and migrant workers, can travel by air. They can fly to all major cities, and many other cities are also planning to build airports. Air services continue to improve, and there are often cheap flights. In recent years, the number of people choosing to travel by air during holidays has been increasing.

篇4：英语四级考试真题试卷及答案

6月英语四级考试真题试卷

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

________________________________________________________________________

Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)