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2006年6月17日四级试题(B卷)

   partⅰ listening comprehension (20 minutes)
  section a
  directions: in this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. at the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what war said. both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once: after each question there will be a pause. during the pause, you maxi read the four choices marked a), b), c) and d), and decide which is, the best answer. then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the center.
  example: you will hear:
  you will read:
   a) at the office. b) in the waiting room. c) at the airport. d) in a restaurant
  from the conversation we know that the two were talking about some work they had to finish in the evening. this conversation is most likely to have taken place at the office. therefore, a) "at the office" is the best answer. you should choose [a] on the answer sheet and mark it with a single line through the centre.
  sample answer [a] [b] [c] id]
  1. a) they went a long way to attend the party.
  b) they didn't think much of the food and drinks.
  c) they knew none of the other guests at the party.
  d) they enjoyed the party better than the other guests.
  2. a) to the bookstore. c) to the market.
  b) to the dentist's. d) to the post office.
  3. a) dr. andrews has been promoted for his thoroughness.
  b) she disagrees with dr. andrews on many occasions.
  c) dr. andrews used to keep his patients waiting.
  d) she dislikes dr. andrews as much as the new physician.
  4. a) tom is usually talkative. c) tom has dozens of things to attend to.
  b) tom has a very bad temper. d) tom is disliked by his colleagues.
  5. a) to pickup the woman from the library.
  b) to make a copy of the schedule for his friend.
  c) to find out more about the topic for the seminar.
  d) to get the seminar schedule for the woman.
  6. a) the woman has to get the textbooks in other ways.
  b) the woman has sold her used textbooks to the bookstore.
  c) the man is going to buy his textbooks from a bookstore.
  d) the man doesn't want to sell his textbooks to the woman.
  7. a) attend a conference. c) meet his lawyer.
  b) give a speech. d) make a business trip.
  8 a) jessie always says what she thinks.
  b) jessie seems to have a lot on her mind.
  c) jessie is wrong to find fault with her boss.
  d) jessie should know the marketing director better. t
  9. a) heien is talkative. c) helen is sociable.
  b) helen is active. d) helen is quiet.
  10. a) jimmy will regret marrying a frenchwoman. b) jimmy is not serious in making decisions.
  c) jimmy is rich enough to buy a big house. d) jimmy's words are often not reliable.
  section b
  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 the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.
  passage one
  questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
  11. a) it can be used by farmers to protect large buildings.
  b) it was brought to the northern usa by asian farmers.
  c) it has done more harm than good in the southern usa.
  d) it was introduced into the usa to kill harmful weeds.
  12. a) people will have to rely on kudzu for a living.
  b) they will soon be overgrown with kudzu.
  c) they will become too hard to plough.
  d) people will find it hard to protect the soil.
  13. a) the farmers there have brought it under control.
  b) the factories there have found a good use for it.
  c) the climate there is unfavorable to its growth.
  d) the soil there is not so suitable for the plant.
  passage two
  questions 14 to 17 are based on the passage you have just heard.
  14. a) a business corporation. c) a society of legal professionals.
  b) the universe as a whole. d) an association of teachers and scholars.
  15. a) its largest expansion took place during that period.
  b) its role in society went through a dramatic change.
  c) small universities combined to form bigger ones.
  d) provincial colleges were taken over by larger universities.
  16. a) private donations. c) grants from corporations.
  b) government funding. d) fees paid by students.
  passage three
  questions 18 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
  17. a) he was wounded in the spanish civil war.
  b) he was interested in the study of wild animals.
  c) he started the organization heifer international.
  d) he sold his cows to many countries in the world.
  18. a) to help starving families to become self-supporting.
  b) to make plans for the development of poor communities.
  c) to teach people how to use new skills to raise animals.
  d) to distribute food to the poor around the world.
  19. a) they should help other families the way they have been helped.
  b) they should offer all baby animals to their poor neighbors.
  c) they should submit a report of their needs and goals.
  d) they should provide food for the local communities.
  20. a) it has improved animal breeding skills all over the world.
  b) it has helped relieve hunger in some developing countries.
  c) it has promoted international exchange of farming technology.
  d) it has bridged the gap between the rich and the poor in america.
partⅱ reading comprehension (35 minutes)
  directions: there are 4 passages in this part, each passage is followed by some questions at 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 the answer sheet with a single line through the center.
  questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
  interest in pursuing international careers has soared in recent years. enhanced by chronic (长久的 ) personnel shortages that are causing companies to search beyond their home borders for talent.
  professionals seek career experience outside of their home countries for a variety of reasons. they may feel the need to recharge their batteries with a new challenge. they may want a position with more responsibility that encourages creativity and initiative. or they may wish to expose their children to another culture, and the opportunity to learn a second language.
  when applying for a job, one usually has to submit a resume or curriculum vitae (cv). the two terms generally mean the same thing: a one- or two-page document describing one's educational qualifications and professional experience. however, guidelines for preparing a r6sum6 are constantly changing. the best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the corporate (公司) culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. the challenge will be to embrace two or more cultures in one document. the following list is a good place to start.
  "educational requirements differ from country to country. in almost every case of 'cross- border' job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not bean adequate description. provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience. " daohangtigong
  pay attention to the resume format you use-chronological or reverse-chronological order. chronological order means listing your 'oldest' work experience first. reverse-chronological order means listing your current or most recent experience first. most countries have preferences about which format is most acceptable. if you find no specific guidelines. the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format. "
  if you are submitting your resume in english, find out if the recipient (收件人) uses british english or american english because there are variations between the two versions. for example, university education is often referred to as 'tertiary education' in the united kingdom, but this term is almost never used in the united states. a reader who is unfamiliar with these variations may assume that your resume contains errors.
  21. companies are hiring more foreign employees because
  a) they find foreign employees are usually more talented
  b) they need original ideas from employees hired overseas
  c) they want to expand their business beyond home borders
  d) they have difficulty finding qualified personnel at home
  22. the author believes that an individual who applies to work overseas
  a) is usually creative and full of initiative
  b) aims to improve his foreign language skills
  c) is dissatisfied with his own life at home
  d) seeks either his own or his children's development
  23. when it comes to resume writing, it is best to
  a) take cultural factors into consideration
  b) learn about the company's hiring process
  c) follow appropriate guidelines for job hunting
  d) know the employer's personal likes and dislikes
  24. when writing about qualifications, applicants are advised to
  a) stress their academic potential to impress the decision maker
  b) give the title of the university degree they have earned at home
  c) provide a detailed description of their study and work experiences
  d) highlight their keen interest in pursuing a 'cross-border' career
  25. according to the author's last piece of advice, the applicants should be aware of
  a) the different educational systems in the us and the uk
  b) the differences between the varieties of english
  c) the recipient's preference with regard to the format
  d) the distinctive features of american and british cultures
  questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:
  educating girls quite possibly yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world. women's education may be unusual territory for economists, but enhancing women's contribution to development is actually as much an economic as a social issue. and economics, with its emphasis on incentives (激励), provides guideposts that point to an explanation for why so many girls are deprived of an education.
  parents in low-income countries fail to invest in their daughters because they do not expect them to make an economic contribution to the family: girls grow up only to marry into somebody else's family and bear children. girls are thus seen as less valuable than boys and art kept at home to do housework while their brothers are sent to school - the prophecy (预言) becomes self- fulfilling, trapping women in a vicious circle (恶性循环) of neglect.
  an educated mother, on the other hand, has greater earning abilities outside the home and faces an entirely different set of choices. she is likely to have fewer but healthier children and can insist on the development of all her children, ensuring that her daughters are given a fair chance. the education of her daughters then makes it much more likely that the next generation of girls, as well as of boys, will be educated and healthy. the vicious circle is thus transformed into a virtuous circle.
  few will dispute that educating women has great social benefits. but it has enormous economic advantages as well. most obviously, there is the direct effect of education on the wages of female workers. wages rise by 10 to 20 per cent for each additional year of schooling. such big returns are impressive by the standard of other available investments, but they are just the beginning. educating women also has a significant impact on health practices, including family planning.
  26. the author argues that educating girls in developing countries is
a) troublesome
b) labor-saving
c) rewarding
d) expensive
  27. by saying "... the prophecy becomes self-fulfilling ..." (lines 45. para. 2). the author means that
  a) girls will turn out to be less valuable than boys
  b) girls will be capable of realizing their own dreams
  c) girls will eventually find their goals in life beyond reach
  d) girls will be increasingly discontented with their life at home
  28. the author believes that a vicious circle can turn into a virtuous circle when
  a) women care more about education
  b) girls can gain equal access to education
  c) a family has fewer but healthier children
  d) parents can afford their daughters' education
  29. what does the author say about women's education?
  a) it deserves greater attention than other social issues.
  b) it is now given top priority in many developing countries.
  c) it will yield greater returns than other known investments.
  d) it has aroused the interest of a growing number of economists.
  30. 7be passage mainly discusses
  a) unequal treatment of boys and girls in developing countries
  b) the potential earning power of well-educated women
  c) the major contributions of educated women to society
  d) the economic and social benefits of educating women
  passage three
  questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
  speeding off in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch. but he is in for an unwelcome surprise. the car is fitted with a remote immobiliser (锁止器), and a radio signal from a control centre miles away will ensure that once the thief switches the engine off, he will not be able to start it again.
  the idea goes like this. a control box fitted to the car contains a mini-cellphone, a micro- processor and memory, and a gps (全球定位系统) satellite positioning receiver. ff the car is stolen, a coded cellphone signal will tell the control centre to block the vehicle's engine management system and prevent the engine being restarted. daoahngtigong
  in the uk, a set of technical fixes is already making life harder for car thieves. 'the pattern of vehicle crime has changed,' says martyn randall, a security expert. he says it would only take him a few minutes to teach a person how to steal a car, using a bare minimum of tools. but only if the car is more than 10 years old.
  modern cars are far tougher to steal, as their engine management computer won't allow them to start unless they receive a unique id code beamed out by the ignition (点火) key. in the uk, technologies like this have helped achieve a 31% drop in vehicle-related crime since 1997.
  but determined criminals are still managing to find other ways to steal cars, often by getting bold of the owner's keys. and key theft is responsible for 40% of the thefts of vehicles fitted with a tracking system.
  if the car travels 100 metres without the driver confirming their id, the system will send a signal to an operations centre that it has been stolen. the hundred metres minimum avoids false alarms due to inaccuracies in the gps signal.
  staff at the centre will then contact the owner to confirm that the car really is missing, and keep police informed of the vehicle's movements via the car's gps unit.
  31. what's the function of the remote immobilizer fitted to a car?
  a) to help the police make a surprise attack on the car thief.
  b) to allow the car to lock automatically when stolen.
  c) to prevent the car thief from restarting it once it stops.
  d) to prevent car theft by sending a radio signal to the car owner.
  32. by saying 'the pattern of vehicle crime has changed' (lines 1-2. para. 3). martyn randall suggests that
  a) it takes a longer time for the car thief to do the stealing
  b) self-prepared tools are no longer enough for car theft
  c) the thief has to make use of computer technology
  d) the thief has lost interest in stealing cars over 10 years old
  33. what is essential in making a modem car tougher to steal?
  a) a coded ignition key. c) a special cellphone signal.
  b) a unique id card. d) a gps satellite positioning receiver.
  34. why does the tracking system set a 100-metre minimum before sending an alarm to the operations centre?
  a) to leave time for the operations centre to give an alarm.
  b) to keep police informed of the car's movements.
  c) to give the driver time to contact the operations centre.
  d) to allow for possible errors in the gps system.
  35. what will the operations centre do first after receiving an alarm?
a) start the tracking system.
b) contact the car owner.
c) block the car engine.
d) locate the missing car.
  passage four
  questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
  psychiatrists 精神病专家) who work with older parents say that maturity can be an asset in child rearing - older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with their children. but raising kids takes money and energy. many older parents find themselves balancing their limited financial resources, declining energy and failing health against the growing demands of an active child. dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents' biggest, and often unspoken, fear. having late-life children, says an economics professor. often means parents, particularly fathers, "end up retiring much later." for many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream.
  henry metcalf. a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids. but he's also worried that his energy will give out first. sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he's learned that young at heart doesn't mean young. lately he's been taking afternoon naps (午睡) daohang to keep up his energy. "my body is aging," says metcalf. "you can't get away from that."
  often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock. therapists who work with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at. "they worry they'll be mistaken for grandparents, or that they'll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery school," says joann galst, a new york psychologist. but at the core of those little fears there is often a much bigger one: "that they won't be alive long enough to support and protect their child," she says.
  many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time. after marrying late and undergoing years of fertilily (受孕) treatment, marilyn nolen and her husband. randy, had twins. "we both wanted children," says marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth. the twins have given the couple what they desired for years, "a sense of family." kids of older dads are often smarter, happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives. 'the dads are older, more mature," says dr. silber, "and more ready to focus on parenting."
  36. why do psychiatrists regard maturity as an asset in child rearing?
  a) older parents are often better prepared financially.
  b) older parents can take better care of their children.
  c) older parents are usually more experienced in bringing up their children.
  d) older parents can better balance their resources against children's demands.
  37. what does the author mean by saying "for many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream" (lines 7-8, para. 1)?
  a) they are reluctant to retire when they reach their retirement age.
  b) they can't obtain the retirement benefits they have dreamed of.
  c) they can't get full pension unless they work some extra years.
  d) they have to go on working beyond their retirement age.
  38. the author gives the example of henry metcalf to show that
  a) older parents should exercise more to keep up with their athletic children
  b) many people are young in spirit despite their advanced age
  c) older parents tend to be concerned about their aging bodies
  d) taking afternoon naps is a good way to maintain energy
  39. what's the biggest fear of older parents according to new york psychologist joan galst?
  a) approaching of death. c) being laughed at by other people.
  b) slowing down of their pace of life. d) being mistaken for grandparents.
  40. what do we learn about marilyn and randy nolen?
  a) they thought they were an example of successful fertility treatment.
  b) not until they reached middle age did they think of having children.
  c) not until they had the twins did they feel they had formed a family.
  d) they believed that children born of older parents would be smarter.
  part iii vocabulary (20 minutes)
  directions: there are 30 incomplete sentences it: this part. for each sentence there are four choices marked a), b), c) and d). choose cite one answer that best completes the sentence. then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the center.
  4l. people's expectations about the future may have more influence on their sense of well-being than their state does.
a) current
b) initial
c) modern
d) primitive
  42. after working all day, he was so tired that he was in no to go to the party with us.
a) taste
b) mood
c) sense
d) emotion
  43. there is already clear to show that plants and animals are being affected by climate change.
   a) witness
   b) certification
c) identity
d) evidence
  44. many women still feel that they are being by a male culture, particularly in the professional services sector.
a) held back
b) held forth
c) held on
d) held out
  45. the findings paint a unique picture of the shopping habits of customers, plus their motivation and
a) privileges
b) possibilities
c) possessions
d) preferences
  46. it's good to know that quite a few popular english expressions actually from the bible.
a) acquire
b) obtain
c) derive
d) result
  47. tom, did it ever to you that you would be punished for cheating on exams?
a) happen
b) occur
c) reflect
d) strike
  48. in the us, 88 percent of smokers had started before they were 18, despite the fact that it is to sell
  cigarettes to anyone under that age.
a) liable
b) liberal
c) irrational
d) illegal
  49. according to the key witnesses, a peculiarly big nose is the criminal's most memorable facial
a) feature
b) hint
c) spot
d) signature
  50. brarll's constitution the military use of nuclear energy.
a) withdraws
b) forbids
c) interrupts
d) objects
  51. some people argue that the death does not necessarily reduce the number of murders.
a) plot
b) practice
c) penalty
d) pattern
  52. many personnel managers say it is getting harder and harder to honest applicants from the growing number of dishonest ones.
a) distinguish
b) disguise
c) dissolve
d) discount
  53. a study shows that students living in non-smoking dorms are less likely to the habit of smoking.
a) make up
b) turn up
c) draw up
d) pickup
  54. almost all job applicants are determined to leave a good on a potential employer.
a) illusion
b) reputation
c) impression
d) reflection
  55. a special feature of education at mit is the opportunity for students and faculty to together
  in research activities.
a) specialize
b) participate
c) consist
d) involve
  56. although they lost their jobs, savings and unemployment benefits allow the couple to
  their comfortable home.
a) come in for
b) catch up with
c) look forward to
d) hold on to
  57. although many experts agree that more children are overweight, there is debate over the best ways to
  the problem.
a) relate
b) tackle
c) file
d) attach
  58. an important factor in determining how well you perform in an examination is the of your mind.
a) state
b) case
c) situation
d) circumstance
  59. research shows that there is no relationship between how much a person earns and whether he feels good about life.
a) successive
b) subsequent
c)significant
d) sincere
60. sadly, as spending on private gardens has , spending on public parks has generally declined.
a) heightened
b) lifted
c) flown
d) soared
  61. lung cancer, like some other cancers, often doesn't produce until it is too late and has spread beyond the chest to the brain, liver or bones.
a) trails
b) therapies
c) symptoms
d) symbols
  62. with the increasing unemployment rate, workers who are 50 to 60 years old are usually the first to be
a) laid off
b) laid aside
c) laid out
d) laid up
  63. the physical differences between men and women can be directly to our basic n as hunters and child-bearers.
a) pursued
b) traced
c) switched
d) followed
  64. it is clear that the dog has a much greater of its brain devoted to smell than is the case with humans.
a) composition
b) compound
c) percent
d) proportion
  65. american college students are increasingly with credit card debt and the consequences can be rather serious.
a) boosted
b) burdened
c) discharged
d) dominated
  66. numerous studies already link the first meal of the day to better classroom
a) performance
b) function
c) behavior
d) display
  67. the most successful post-career athletes are those who can take the identity and fife skills the learned in sports and them to another area of life.
a) utilize
b) employ
c) apply
d) exert
  68. the technological advances made it possible for the middle classes to enjoy what had once been only to the very rich.
a) manageable
b) measurable
c) acceptable
d) affordable
  69. being out of work, lane can no longer friends to dinners and movies as she used to.
a) urge
b) treat
c) appeal
d) compel
  70. by the superstars on television, the young athletes trained hard and played intensely.
a) imitated
b) imposed
c) insured
d) inspired
  part iv cloze (15 minutes)
  directions: there are 20 blanks in the following passage. for each blank there are jour choices marked a). b). c) and d) on the right side of the paper. you should choose the one that best fits into the passage. then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.
  the part of the environmental movement that draws my firm's attention is the design of cities. buildings and products. when we designed america's first so-called "green" office building in new york two decades 7l_, we felt very alone. but today, thousands of people come to green building conferences, and the 72 that buildings can be good for people and the environment will be increasingly influential in years to 73 .
  back in 1984 we discovered that most manufactured products for decoration weren't designed for 74 use. the "energy-efficient" sealed commercial buildings constructed after the 1970s energy crisis 75 indoor air quality problems caused by materials such as paint, wall covering and carpet. so far 20 years. we've been focusing on these materials 76 to the molecules, looking for ways to make them 77 for people and the planet.
  home builders can now use materials-such as paints that release significantly _78_ amounts of organic compounds -that don't 79 the quality of the air, water, or soil. ultimately. 80_, our basic design strategy is focused not simply on being "less bad" but on creating 81 healthful materials that can be either safely returned to the soil _82_ reused by industry again and again. as a matter of _83, the world's largest carpet manufacturer has already _ 84_"_ a carpet that is fully and safely recyclable (可循环用的).
  look at it this way: no one __85 out to create a building that destroys the planet. but our current industrial systems are } 86 causing these conditions, whether we like it or not. so 87_ of simply trying to reduce the damage, we are _88_ a positive approach. we're giving people high-quality, healthful products and an opportunity to make choices that have a 89 effect on the world. it's not just the building industry, either. 90_ cities are taking these environmentally positive approaches to design, planning and building. portland, seattle and boston have said they want to be green cities. chicago wants to be the greenest city in the world.
  71. a) ago b) off c) before d) away
  72. a) practice b) outlook c) idea d) scheme
  73. a) go b) come c) arrive d) continue
  74. a) indoor b) inward c) relevant d) flexible
  75. a) displayed b) discovered c) exhibited d) revealed
  76. a) back b) down c) next d) near
  77. a) comfortable b) cautious c) safe d) stable
  78. a) reduced b) revised c) descended d) delayed
  79. a) deny b) depress c) dissolve d) destroy
  80. a) besides b) however c) anyhow d) anyway
  81. a)partially b) exactly c) completely d) superficially
  82.a)or b)and c) but d) nor
  83. a) interest b) fact c) principle d) course
  84. a) sketched b) constructed c) researched d) developed
  85. a) starts b) pulls c) looks d) makes
  86. a) basically b) originally c) traditionally d) inevitably
  87. a) because b) out c) instead d) regardless
  88. a) adjusting b) admitting c) adopting d) adapting
  89. a) functional b) beneficial c) precious d) sensible
  90. a) entire b) total c) full d) complete
  part v. writing (30 minutes)
  directions: for this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a poster recruiting volunteers. you should write at least 120 words following the outline given below:
  1.校学生会将组织一次暑假志愿者活动,现招募志愿者
  2.本次志愿者活动的目的、活动安排等
  3.报名条件及联系方式
  volunteers needed