大学英语四级考试（模拟题测试）第二套

Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)

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 will be based on the following news item.

点击播放音频收起音频

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.

Long Conversation One

Long Coversation Two

Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the center.

Passage One

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

Passage Two

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

Passage Three

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

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. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Although food cooked at home is __25__ more healthful than meals eaten at restaurants, Americans are dinning out more than ever, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Tuesday. Restaurant food __26_ for 39 percent of U.S. meals bought in 1996, up from 26 percent in 1970, the department said in a report, “Away-From-Home Foods __27__ Important to Quality of American Diet.” “While the nutritional quality of foods consumed by Americans has improved overall, foods prepared at home are generally much more healthful than away-from-home foods,” the department said. “Despite nutritional gains at home, Americans will find it __28__ to improve their diets because they purchase so many meals outside the home,” the study said. While the nutritional content of food __29__ both at home and in restaurants has improved in _30__ years, food eaten out contains more of the nutrients Americans typically eat too much of, including fat and saturated fat (饱和脂肪), and less of what is __ 31__ from most diets, such as calcium, fiber and iron. The department recommended nutrition education programs should place more __32__ on teaching U.S. consumers about how to order healthful meals when dining out. Improved diets have __33__ found to prevent risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis-related hip fractures (与骨质疏松症有关的髋关节骨折) and some other diseases. Osteoporosis-related hip fractures cost up to $10.6 billion each year in the United States in __34__ care expenses, missed work and premature (过早的) deaths, the department said.

Section B

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.

How to Keep a Good Marriage?

A) It is natural that couples are longing for a happy life and sustained marriage throughout their life. They will do their utmost to keep harmony with each other both physically and emotionally, especially in their life together at home. But how to keep a good marriage and are there any tricks we can learn or comply with? Read the following story and draw something beneficial for your own purpose.

B) One evening when Linda Bunfield asked her husband, Dennis, about his workday, he shrugged, mumbling something about being exhausted. It was the second time in a few days that Dennis had kept to himself like that.

C) Linda knew something was bothering him, but he wouldn’t talk about it. To her this was yet another warning sign that their marriage needed improvement.

D) The next day she signed them up for a weekend couple’s workshop given by Howard Markham at the University Denver. There Dennis admitted he had work problems but “didn’t want to burden” Linda with them. The workshop convinced him that they needed to share such concerns in order to have a strong marriage.

E）“People think marriages end with an affair or something equally explosive,” says John Gottman, author of Why Marriage Succeed or Fail. “In fact, most end gradually, sliding down a slope of complaint, criticism, defensiveness and withdrawal until it’s difficult to scramble back up. Yet there are usually early warnings that the relationship could be headed for trouble.”

F) Here are some of the most common warning lights that can alert you to take stock of your marriage: Separate date books

G) Linda Bunfield acknowledges that she and Dennis had been keeping “his” and “her” calendars. Each had a full schedule that, however unintentionally, excluded the other.

H) In these exciting times, going separate ways is commonplace. It can also be a warning of possible breakdown ahead, according to therapist Michele Weiner-Davis, author of Divorce Busting. “Careers, children, hobbies, volunteer work—people put all these things ahead of their relationships,” Weiner-Davis says. Her suggestion: an “our” calendar that puts your relationship first. Make it a priority to pencil in dates for dinner out, day trips and just spending time together at home. Thinking the worst

I) In the early days of a marriage, spouses assume only the finest of motives for the other’s actions. Take, for instance, the new husband who’s late arriving for dinner. He’s probably stuck in traffic, his wife thinks, or he probably had to stay longer at work. When he arrives, no matter what time, she greets him warmly.

J) Later in the marriage, however, as dinners grow cold and the kids are hungry, she becomes annoyed. He could have called, she may think. He never considers anyone but himself. Or she continues to think angrily or sadly about other, less kindly explanations, such as another woman or a stop at the neighborhood bar.

K) “It’s a bad sign when partners don’t give each other the benefit of the doubt, “says Markham, co-author of Fighting for Your Marriage. In solid relationships partners cut each other some slack. No more pinches (肌肤接触）

L) When Pat and Tom Sanders walk down the street, friends watch with amusement. The California couple has been married 33 years, yet they still walk hand in hand.

M) When a relationship is new, there’s plenty of touching. The two can scarcely pass each other without an affectionate pat. But for many couples, that casual intimacy eventually vanishes. “They don’t pinch each other anymore,” Gottman says. “They don’t giggle together over private jokes or offer compliments such as ‘Thanks for that wonderful dinner last night.” Growing out of touch

N) One workshop exercise at the Seattle Marital and Family Institute has couples answer such questions as “What’s your partner’s favorite way to spend an evening?” and “Who’s your partner’s enemy at work?” One husband was stumped (难以回答）when asked, “What are your partner’s concerns and worries?”

O) It’s potential trouble when a spouse no longer knows a partner’s likes and dislikes, or doesn’t recognize issues that make the partner anxious. Gritted teeth

P) A Seattle woman’s husband would frequently switch on the television after dinner. In the early days of their marriage, she protested regularly. “But after a while,” she says, “I gritted my teeth and put up with it. But the anger never went away.”

Q) Says Markham: “Too much peace can lead to a cold, distant relationship. Unless the partners speak up and resolve their differences and fight for their marriage, eventually there’ll be an explosion—or a walkout.” History turns scornful

R) Alan met Lyllian when he came to pick up her roommate for a date. Marge and Tom met when he and his buddies (伙伴）gathered to get a look at the new teachers who’d come to their small Iowa town. Couples are delighted in telling these stories, often with laughter and affection.

S) But with other couples, sometimes the laughter disappears, and the fanciful tone gives away to sarcasm: “She trapped me—that’s how it happened,” or “He chased me until I got tired of running.” This is a tip-off that shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, some marriage researchers say they can predict which couples are headed for a breakup simply by asking questions such as “How did you happen to get married? ” and then watching their reactions.

T) If a warning signal lights up on your marital dashboard, here’s what the experts advise: Speak softly

U) Don’t challenge your spouse. Introduce your concern gently and with politeness and respect.

V) One couple in a Gottman workshop had just had a second child. As the mother was nursing the newborn in bed, with the older child lying between his parents, the husband suddenly realized there were now two bodies separating him from his wife. Sensing something was wrong, she asked, “What’s the problem, John?” “Oh, I’m just having a pity party,” he replied. “That was a wonderful answer,” Gottman says. “His wife understood he was feeling neglected without his withdrawing or complaining.” Don’t wait

W) When you know things have gotten off track, speak up: “I don’t like the way things have been going between us lately. Can we talk about it?” Couples who stay happily married only let a few difficult days pass before they look for a resolution. Don’t blame easily

X) “Remove blame from the discussion,” Gottman advises. “Say, ‘This is what’s bothering me, what can we do about it?’ Not, ‘You lout (胖子）！Why do you behave that way?’” Be flexible

Y) Smart couples look for ways to ease tensions before they become out of control. In that regard, says Gottman, “a little give makes a big difference.”

Section C-Passage One

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.

 

Passage One

Questions 45 to 49 are based on the following passage.

 

   To say that the child learns by imitation and that the way to teach is to set a good example over-simplifies. No child imitates every action he sees. Sometimes, the example the parent wants him to follow is ignored while he takes over contrary patterns from some other example. Therefore we must turn to a more subtle theory than “Monkey see, monkey do.”

   Look at it from the child’s point of view. Here he is in a new situation lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he lacks ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result. The child looks for an authority or expert who can show what to do.

   There is a second element at work in this situation. The child may be able to attain his immediate goal only to find that his method brings criticism from people who observe him. When shouting across the house achieves his immediate end of delivering a message, he is told emphatically that such a racket (叫嚷) is unpleasant, that he should walk into the next room and say his say quietly. Thus, the desire to solve any objective situation is overlaid with the desire to solve it properly. One of the early things the child learns is that he gets more affection and approval when his parents like his response. Then other adults reward some actions and criticize others. If one is to maintain the support of others and his own self-respect, he must adopt responses his social group approves.

   In finding trial responses, the learner does not choose models at random. He imitates the person who seems a good person to be like, rather that a person whose social status he wishes to avoid. If the pupil wants to be a good violinist, he will observe and try to copy the techniques of capable players; while some other person may most influence his approach to books.

   Admiration of one quality often leads us to admire a person as a whole, and he becomes an identifying figure. We use some people as models over a wide range of situations, imitating much that they do. We learn that they are dependable and rewarding models because imitating them leads to success.

Section C-Passage Two

Passage Two

Questions 50 to 54 are based on the following passage.

Most shoplifters(商店扒手) agree that the January sales offer wonderful opportunities for the hard-working thief. With the shops so crowded and the staff so busy, it does not require any extraordinary talent to help you to take one or two little things and escape unnoticed. It is known, in the business, as “hoisting”.

But the hoisting game is not what it used to be. Even at the height of the sales, shoplifters today never know if they are being watched by one of those evil little balls that hang from the ceilings of so many department stores above the most desirable goods.

As if that was not trouble enough for them, they can now be filmed at work and obliged to attend a showing of their performance in court.

Selfridges was the first big London store to install closed-circuit videotape equipment to watch its sales floors. In October last year the store won its first court case for shoplifting using a evidence a videotape clearly showing a couple stealing dresses. It was an important test case which encouraged other stores to install similar equipment.

When the balls, called sputniks, first make an appearance in shops, it was widely believed that their only function was to frighten shoplifters. Their somewhat ridiculous appearances, the curious holes and red lights going on and off, certainly make the theory believable.

It did not take long, however, for serious shoplifters to start showing suitable respect. Soon after the equipment was in operation at Selfridges, store detective Brian Chadwick was sitting in the control room watching a woman secretly putting bottles of perfume into her bag.

“As she turned to go,” Chadwick recalled, “she suddenly looked up at the ‘sputnik’ and stopped. She could not possibly have seen that the camera was trained on her because it is completely hidden, but she must have had a feeling that I was looking at her.”

“For a moment she paused, but then she returned to counter and started putting everything back. When she had finished, she opened her bag towards the camera to show it was empty and hurried out of the store.”