英語(yǔ)四級(jí)考試：2018年12月考試真題第2套

英語(yǔ)四級(jí)考試：2018年12月考試真題[第2套]PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayaboutacoursethathasimpressedyoumostincollege.Youshouldstatethereasonsandwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.PartIIListeningComprehension(30minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarkedA．B.C.andD.anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.1.A.Sheusedtobeinpoorhealth.B.Shewaspopularamongboys.C.Shewassomewhatoverweight.D.Shedidn'tdowellathighschool.2.A.Attheairport.B.Inarestaurant.C.Inabookingoffice.D.Atthehotelreception.3.A.Teachinghersonbyherself.B.Inarestaurant.C.Askingtheteacherforextrahelp.D.Tellinghersonnottoworry.4.A.Haveashortbreak.B.Taketwoweeksoff.C.Continueherworkoutdoors.D.Goonvacationwiththeman.5.A.Heistakingcareofhistwinbrother.B.Taketwoweeksoff.C.HeisworriedaboutRod'shealth.D.Hehasbeeninperfectcondition.6.A.Shesoldallherfurniturebeforeshemovedhouse.B.Shestillkeepssomeoldfurnitureinhernewhouse.C.Sheplanstoputallheroldfurnitureinthebasement.D.SheboughtanewsetoffurniturefromItalylastmonth.7.A.Thewomanwonderedwhythemandidn'treturnthebook.B.Thewomandoesn'tseemtoknowwhatthebookisabout.C.Thewomandoesn'tfindthebookusefulanymore.D.Thewomanforgotlendingthebooktotheman.8.A.Mostoftheman'sfriendsareathletes.B.Fewpeoplesharethewoman'sopinion.C.Themandoesn'tlooklikeasportsman.D.Thewomandoubtstheman'sathleticability.Questions9to12arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.9.A.Shehaspackeditinoneofherbags.B.Sheisgoingtogetitattheairport.C.Shehasprobablyleftitinataxi.D.Sheisafraidthatshehaslostit.10.A.Itendsinwinter.B.Itwillcostheralot.C.Itwilllastoneweek.D.Itdependsontheweather.11.A.Theplaneistakingoffsoon.B.Thetaxiiswaitingforthem.C.Theremightbeatrafficjam.D.Thereisalotofstufftopack.12.A.Athome.B.Attheairport.C.Intheman'scar.D.Bythesideofataxi.Questions13to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.13.A.Sheisthirstyforpromotion.B.Shewantsamuchhighersalary.C.Sheistiredofherpresentwork.D.Shewantstosavetravelexpenses.14.A.Translator.C.Languageinstructor.B.Travelagent.D.Environmentalengineer.15.A.Livelypersonalityandinquiringmind.B.Communicationskillsandteamspirit.C.Devotionandworkefficiency.D.Educationandexperience.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA.B.C.andD．.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions16to19arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.16.A.Theycarealotaboutchildren.B.Theyneedlookingafterintheiroldage.C.Theywanttoenrichtheirlifeexperience.D.Theywantchildrentokeepthemcompany.17.A.Theyareusuallyadoptedfromdistantplaces.B.Theirbirthinformationisusuallykeptsecret~C.Theirbirthparentsoftentrytoconcealtheirbirthinformation.D.Theiradoptiveparentsdon'twantthemtoknowtheirbirthparents.18.A.Theygenerallyholdbadfeelingstowardstheirbirthparents.B.Theydonotwanttohurtthefeelingsoftheiradoptiveparents.C.Theyhavemixedfeelingsaboutfindingtheirnaturalparents.D.Theyarefullyawareoftheexpensesinvolvedinthesearch.19.A.Earlyadoptionmakesforcloserparent-childrelationship.B.Most.peopleprefertoadoptchildrenfromoverseas.C.Understandingisthekeytosuccessfuladoption.D.Adoptionhasmuchtodowithlove.PassageTwoQuestions20to22arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.20.A.Hesufferedfrommentalillness.B.HeboughtTheWashingtonPost.C.Heturnedafailingnewspaperintoasuccess.D.Hewasonceareporterforamajornewspaper.21.A.ShewasthefirstwomantoleadabigU.S.publishingcompany.B.ShegotherfirstjobasateacherattheUniversityofChicago.C.Shecommittedsuicidebecauseofhermentaldisorder.D.Shetookoverherfather'spositionwhenhedied.22.A.Peoplecametoseetheroleofwomeninthebusinessworld.B.KatharineplayedamajorpartinreshapingAmericans'mind.C.AmericanmediawouldbequitedifferentwithoutKatharine.D.Katharinehadexertedanimportantinfluenceontheworld.PassageThreeQuestions23to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.23.A.It'llenablethemtoenjoythebestmedicalcare.B.It'llallowthemtoreceivefreemedicaltreatment.C.It'llprotectthemfrompossiblefinancialcrises.D.It'llpreventthedoctorsfromoverchargingthem.24.A.Theycan'timmediatelygetbackthemoneypaidfortheirmedicalcost.B.Theyhavetogothroughverycomplicatedapplicationprocedures.C.Theycanonlyvisitdoctorswhospeaktheirnativelanguages.D.Theymaynotbeabletoreceivetimelymedicaltreatment.25.A.Theydon'thavetopayforthemedicalservices.B.Theyneedn'tpaytheentiremedicalbillatonce.C.Theymustsendthereceiptstotheinsurancecompanypromptly.D.Theyhavetopayamuchhigherpricetogetaninsurancepolicy.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Final-ly,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Moreandmoreoftheworld'spopulationarelivingintownsorcities.Thespeedatwhichcitiesaregrowinginthelessdevelopedcountriesis(26)__________.Between1920and1960bigcitiesindevelopedcountriesincreasedtwoandahalftimesinsize,butinotherpartsoftheworldthegrowthwaseighttimestheirsize.The(27)__________sizeofgrowthisbadenough,buttherearenowalsoverydisturb-ingsignsoftroubleinthe(28)__________ofpercentagesofpeoplelivingintownsandper-centagesofpeopleworkinginindustry.Duringthenineteenthcenturycitiesgrew(29)__________thegrowthofindustry.InEuropetheproportionofpeoplelivingincitiesWasalwayssmallerthanthatoftheworkForceworkinginfactories.Now,however,the(30)__________isalmostalwaystreeinthenewlyindustrialisedworld:thepercentageofpeoplelivingincitiesismuchhigherthanthepercentageworkinginindustry.Withoutabaseofpeopleworkinginindustry,thesecitiescannot(31)__________theirgrowth;thereisnotenoughmoneytobuildadequatehousesforthepeoplethatlivethere,(32)__________thenewarrivals.Therehasbeenlittleopportunitytobuildwatersuppliesorother(33)__________So,thefiguresforthegrowthoftownsandcities(34)__________proportionalgrowthofunemploymentandunderemployment,agrowthinthenumberofhopelessand(35)__________parentsandstarvingchildren.PartⅡIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions36to45arebasedonthefollowingpassage.AsanAlaskanfisherman,TimothyJune,54,usedtothinkthathewassafefromindustrialpollutants(污染物)athishomeinHaines--atownwithapopulationof2,400peopleand4,000eagles,with8millionacresofprotectedwildlandnearby.Butinearly2007,Juneagreedtotakepartina36of35Americansfromsevenstates.Itwasabiomonitoringproject,inwhichpeople'sbloodandur/ne(尿)weretestedfor37ofchemicals--inthiscase,threepotentiallydangerousclassesofcompoundsfoundincommonhousehold38likefacecream,tincans,andshowercurtains.Theresults--39inNovemberinareportcalled"IsItinUs?"byanenvironmentalgroup--wereratherworrying.Everyoneoftheparticipants,40fromanminoisstatesenatortoaMassachusettsminister,testedpositiveforallthreeclassesofpollutants.Andwhilethe41presenceofthesechemicalsdoesnot42indicateahealthrisk,thefactthattypicalAmericanscarrythesechemicalsatall43Juneandhisfellowparticipants.Clearly,therearechemicalsinourbodiesthatdon't44there.Alarge,ongoingstudyconductedbytheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionhasfound148chemicalsinAmericansofallages.Andin2005,theEnvironmentalWorkingGroupfoundan45of200chemicalsinthebloodof10new-borns."Ourbabiesarebeingbornpre-polluted,"saysSharylePattonofCommonweal,whichcosponsored"IsItinUs?Thisisgoingtobethenextbigenvironmentalissueafterclimatechange."A.analysesB.averageC.belongD.demonstratedE.excessF.extendingG.habituallyH.necessarilyI.productsJ.rangingK.releasedL.shockedM.simpleN.surveyO.tracesSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.InHardEconomyforAllAges,OlderIsn'tBetter...It'sBrutal[A]Younggraduatesareindebt,outofworkandontheirparents'couches.Peopleintheir30sand40scan'taffordtobuyhomesorhavechildren.Retireesareearningnear-zerointerestontheirsavings.[B]Inthecurrentlistless(缺乏活力的)economy,everygenerationhasaclaimtohavingbeenmostinjured.ButtheLaborDepartment'slatestjobsreportsandotherrecentdatapresentastrongcaseforcrowningbabyboomers(二戰(zhàn)后生育高峰期出生的人)asthegreatestvictimsoftherecessionanditsdreadfulconsequences.[C]TheseAmericansintheir50sandearly60s--thosenearretirementagewhodonotyethaveaccesstoMedicareandSocialSecurity--havelostthemostearningspowerofanyagegroup,withtheirhouseholdincomes10percentbelowwhattheymadewhentherecoverybeganthreeyearsago,accordingtoSentierResearch,adataanalysiscompany.Theirretirementsavingsandhomevaluesfellsharplyattheworstpossibletime:justbeforetheyneededtocashout.Theyaresupportingbothagedparentsandunemployedyoung-adultchildren,earningthemtheunluckynickname"GenerationSqueeze."[D]Newresearchsuggeststhattheymaydiesooner,becausetheirhealth,incomesecurityandmentalwell-beingwerebattered(重創(chuàng))byrecessionatacrucialtimeintheirlives.ArecentstudybyeconomistsatWellesleyCollegefoundthatpeoplewholosttheirjobsinthefewyearsbeforebecomingqualifiedforSocialSecuritylostuptothreeyearsfromtheirlifeexpectanv'y(預(yù)期壽命),largelybecausetheynolongerhadaccesstoaffordablehealthcare.[E]UnemploymentratesforAmericansnearingretirementarefarlowerthanthoseforyoungpeople,whoarerecentlyoutofschool,withfewerskillsandashorterworkhistory.Butonceoutofajob,olderworkershaveamuchhardertimefindinganotherone.Overthelastyear,theaveragedurationofunemploymentforolderpeoplewas53weeks,comparedwith19weeksforteenagers,accordingtotheLaborDepartment'sjobsreportreleasedonFriday.[F]Thelengthyprocessispartlybecauseolderworkersaremorelikelytohavebeenlaidofffromindustriesthataredownsizing,likemanufacturing.Comparedwiththerestofthepopulation,olderpeoplearealsomorelikelytoowntheirownhomesandbelessmobilethanrenters,whocanmovetonewjobmarkets.[G]Olderworkersaremorelikelytohaveadisabilityofsomesort,perhapslimitingtherangeofjobsthatofferrealisticchoices.Theymayalsobelessinclined,atleastinitially,totakejobsthatpayfarlessthantheiroldpositions.[H]Displacedboomersalsobelievetheyarevictimsofagediscrimination,becauseemployerscaneasilyfindayoung,energeticworkerwhowillacceptlowerpayandwhocanpotentiallystickaroundfordecadesratherthanafewyears.[I]Inasurveyofolderworkerswhowerelaidoffduringtherecession,justoneinsixhadfoundanotherjob,andhalfofthatgrouphadacceptedpaycuts.14%ofthere-employedsaidthepayintheirnewjobwaslessthanhalfwhattheyearnedintheirpreviousjob."Ijustsaytomyself:'Whyme?WhathaveIdonetodeservethis?'"saidJohnAgati,56,whoselastfull-timejob,asaproductdeveloper,endedfouryearsagowhenhisemployerwentoutofbusiness.Thatpositionpaid$90,000,andhisresumelistsjobsatcompanieslikeAmericanExpress,DisneyandUSANetworks.Sincebeinglaidoff,though,hehasworkedaseriesofpart-time,low-wage,temporarypositions,includingsellingshoesatLord&Taylorandmakingsalescallsforacarcompany.[J]Thelastfewyearshavetakenatoilnotonlyonhisfamily'sfinances,butalsoonhisfeelingsofself-worth."Youjustgetsad,"Mr.Agatisaid."Iseepeoplegettingupinthemorning,goingouttotheircareersandgoinghome.IjustwishIwasdoingthat.Somepeopledon'tliketheirjobs,ortheyhaveproblemswiththeirjobs,butatleastthey'reworking.IjustwishIwasintheirshoes."Hesaidhecannotaffordtogobacktoschool,asmanyyoungerpeoplewithoutjobshavedone.Evenifhecouldaffordit,economistssayitisunclearwhetherolderworkerslikehimbenefitmuchfrommoreeducation.[K]"Itjustdoesn'tmakesensetoofferretrainingforpeople55andolder,"saidDanielHamermesh,aneconomicsprofessor."Discriminationbyage,long-termunemployment,andthefactthatthey'renowattheendofthehiringqueuejustdon'tmakeitsensibletoinvestinthem."[L]Manydisplacedolderworkersaretakingthismessagetoheartandleavingthelaborforceentirely.TheshareofolderpeopleapplyingforSocialSecurityearlyrosequicklyduringtherecessionaspeoplesoughtwhateverincometheycouldfind.Thepenaltytheywillpayispermanent,asretireeswhotakebenefitsatage62willreceiveasmuchas30%lessineachmonth'scheckfortherestoftheirlivesthantheywouldiftheyhadwaiteduntilfullretirementage(66forthosebornafter1942).[M]ThosenotyetqualifiedforSocialSecurityareincreasinglyapplyingforanother,comparablekindofincomesupportthatoftengoestopeoplewhoexpectnevertoworkagain:disabilitybenefits.Morethanoneineightpeopleintheirlate50sisnowonsomeformoffederaldisabilityinsuranceprogram,accordingtoProfessorMarkDugganattheUniversityofPennsylvania'sWhartonSchool.[N]TheveryoldestAmericans,ofcourse,werebatteredbysomeofthesameillwindsthattormented(折磨)thosenownearingretirement,butatleastthemostseniorwerecushionedbyamorereadilyavailablesocialsafetynet.Moreimportant,inastatisticaltwist,theymayhaveactuallybenefitedfromthefinancialcrisisinthemostfundamentalway:longerlives.[O]Deathratesforpeopleover65havehistoricallyfallenduringrecessions,accordingtoaNovember2011studybyeconomistsattheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis.Why?Theresearchersarguethatweakjobmarketspushmoreworkersintoacceptingrelativelyundesirableworkatnursinghomes,leadingtobettercareforresidents.46.Greatermobilityputsyoungerpeopleatanadvantageinseekingnewjobs.47.Manyoftheolderworkerslaidoffduringtherecessionhadtoacceptlowerpayintheirnewjobs.48.Thosewholosetheirjobsshortlybeforeretirementageliveashorter-than-averagelife.49.Seniorsatnursinghomescouldbenefitfromtheweakjobmarket.50.Agediscriminationinemploymentmakesitpointlessretrainingolderworkers.51.Accordingtorecentreportsanddataanalyses,boomerssuffermostfromtheweakeconomy.52.Unemployedboomersareatadisadvantageinjob-huntingbecauseemployerstendtohireyoungerworkers.53.Peopleintheirfiftiesandearlysixtiesbeartheheaviestfamilyburdens.54.PeoplewhotakebenefitsfromSocialSecuritybeforeofficialretirementagewillgetmuchlessfortherestoftheirlives.55.Olderworkers'choiceofjobscanbelimitedbecauseofdisability.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.Foreachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarked'A.B.C.andD．YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.NewYorkersaregraduallygettingusedtomorepedaling(騎車的)passengersonthoseshiningblueCitiBikes.Butwhataboutlocalbikeshops?IsCitiBikerollingupridersattheirexpense?AtGothamBikesinTribeca,managerW.Bensaidtheshophasseenanincreaseinitsoverallsalesduetothebike-shareprogram."It'sgettingmorepeopleontheroad,"hesaid.JamesRyan,anemployeeatDanny'sCyclesinGramercyalsosaidCitiBikeisagoodoptionforpeopletoeaseintobikinginacityfamedforitstrafficjamsandaggressivedrivers."Theycantryoutabikewithoutcommittingtobuyingone,"hesaid.RentalsarenotabigpartofthebusinessateitherGothamBikesorDanny'sCycles.ButforFrank'sBikeShop,asmallbusinessonGrandSt.,thebike-shareprogramhasbeenbadnews.OwnerFrankArroyosaidhisrentalbusinesshasdecreasedby90％sinceCitiBikewasrolledoutlastmonth.Arroyo'smainrentalcustomersareEuropeantourists,whohavesincebeendrawnawaybyCitiBikes.However,Bensaidthebike-shareisgoodforbikesalesathisshop."Peoplehaveusedthebike-shareandrealizedhowgreatitistobikeinthecity,thendecidethattheywantsomethingnicerforthemselves,"henoted.ChristianFarrellofWaterfrontBicycleShop,onWestSt.justnorthofChristopherSt.,saidinitiallyhewasconcernedaboutbike-share,though,headmitted,"Iwashappytoseepeopleonbikes."Farrell'searlyconcernswereechoedbyAndrewCrooks,ownerofNYCVelo,at64SecondAve."Itseemedlikeagreatidea,butonethatwouldbedifficulttoimplement,"CrookssaidofCitiBike.Hesaidheworriedaboutinexperiencedriders'lackofawarenessofbildngrulesandstrongnegativereactionfromnon-cyclists.However,hesaid,it'sstilltooearlytotellffhisbusinesshasbeenimpacted.Whileit'spossiblebike-sharewillcauseadropinbusiness,CrooksallowedthattheideaisapositivestepforwardforNewYorkCity.56.Whatistheauthor'schiefconcernabouttheincreasinguseofCitiBikesinNewYork?A.Hownon-cyclistswillrespondtoit.B.Whetherlocalbikeshopswillsuffer.C.Whetherlocalbikebusinesseswillopposeit.D.Howthesafetyofbikeriderscanbeensured.57.WhathappenedtoGothamBikesasaresultofthebike-shareprogram?A.Itfounditsbikesalesunaffected.B.Itshifteditsbusinesstorentals.C.Itsawitsbikesalesontherise.D.Itrentedmorebikestotourists.58.Whyisthebike-shareprogrambadnewsforFrank'sBikeShop?A.Itcannotmeetthedemandofthebike-shareprogram.B.ItscustomershavebeendrawnawaybyCitiBikes.C.Itsbikepriceshavetobeloweredagainandagain.D.Ithastocompetewiththecity'sbikerentalshops.59.WhydidAndrewCrooksthinkthatthebike-shareprogramwouldbedifficulttoexecute?A.Inexperiencedridersmightbreakbikingrules.B.Conflictsmightariseamongbikerentalshops.C.Trafficconditionsmightworseninthedowntownarea.D.Therearenotenoughlanestoaccommodatethebikes.60.WhatisthegeneralattitudeoflocalbikeshopstowardsCitiBike?A.Wait-and-see.B.Negative.C.Indifferent.D.Approving.PassageTwoQuestions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Variousstudieshaveshownthatincreasedspendingoneducationhasnotledtomeasurableimprovementsinlearning.Between1980and2008,staffandteachersatU.S.publicschoolsgrewroughlytwiceasfastasstudents.Yetstudentsshowednoadditionallearninginachievementtests.Universitiesshowsimilartrendsofincreasedadministrationpersonnelandcostswithoutgreaterlearning,asdocumentedinRichardArumandJosipaRoksa'srecentbookAcademicallyAdrift:LimitedLearningonCollegeCampuses.Asurveyshowsthat63%ofemployerssaythatrecentcollegegraduatesdon'thavethesldllstheyneedtosucceedand25%ofemployerssaythatentry-levelwritingskillsarelacking.Somesimplisticallyattributethedeclineinourpubliceducationsystemtothedrainofskilledstudentsbyprivateschools,butfarmoresignificanteventswereatwork.Publicschoolsworkedwelluntilaboutthe1970s.Infact,untilthattime,publicschoolsprovidedfarbettereducationthanprivateones.Itwastheunderperformingstudentswhowerethrownoutofpublicschoolsandwenttoprivateones.Aprominentreasonpublicschoolsdidwellwasthatmanyhighlyqualifiedwomenhadfewoptionsforworldngoutsidethehouseotherthanbeingteachersornurses.Theyacceptedrelativelylowpay,difficultworkingconditions,andgavetheirverybest.Havingsuchalargesupplyoftalentedwomenteachersmeantthatsocietycouldpaylessfortheirservices.Women'sliberationopenedupnewprofessionalopportunitiesforwomen,and,overtime,someofthebestleftteachingasacareeropt