2006年12月23日大学英语新四级(CET-4)真题试卷

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上。

Directions:   For this part, you are allowed 30 minute to write a short essay on the topic of students selecting their lectures. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given bellow:

1.     许多人喜欢在除夕夜看春节晚会

2.     但有些人提出取消春节晚会

3.     我的看法

Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)

Directions:   In this part, you will have 15 minute to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.

For questions 1-7, mark

Y (for YES)                             if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;

N (for NO)                              if statement contradicts the information given in the passage;

NG (for NOT GIVEN)           if the information is not given in the passage.

For question 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

Six Secrets of High-Energy People

There’s an energy crisis in America, and it has nothing to do with fossil fuels. Millions of us get up each morning already weary over the day holds. “I just can’t get started,” people say. But it’s not physical energy that most of us lack. Sure, we could all use extra sleep and a better diet. But in truth, people are healthier today than at any time in history. I can almost guarantee that if you long for more energy, the problem is not with your body.

What you’re seeking is not physical energy. It’s emotional energy. Yet, sad to say, life sometimes seems designed to exhaust our supply. We work too hard. We have family obligations. We encounter emergencies and personal crises. No wonder so many of us suffer from emotional fatigue, a kind of utter exhaustion of the spirit.

And yet we all know people who are filled with joy, despite the unpleasant circumstances of their lives. Even as a child, I observed people who were poor, or disabled, or ill, but who nonetheless faced life with optimism and vigor. Consider Laura Hillenbrand, who despite an extremely weak body, wrote the best-seller Seabiscuit. Hillenbrand barely had enough physical energy to drag herself out of bed to write. But she was fueled by having a story she wanted to share. It was emotional energy that helped her succeed.

Unlike physical energy, which is finite and diminishes with age, emotional energy is unlimited and has nothing to do with genes or upbringing. So how do you get it? You can’t simply tell yourself to be positive. You must take action. Here are six practical strategies that work.

1. Do something new.

Very little that’s new occurs in our lives. The impact of this sameness on our emotional energy is gradual, but huge: It’s like a tire with a slow leak. You don’t notice it at first, but eventually you’ll get a flat. It’s up to you to plug the leak—even though there are always a dozen reasons to stay stuck in your dull routines of life. That’s where Maura, 36, a waitress, found herself a year ago.

Fortunately, Maura had a lifeline—a group of women friends who meet regularly to discuss their lives. Their lively discussions spurred Maura to make small but nevertheless life altering changes. She joined a gym in the next town. She changed her look with a short haircut and new black T-shirts. Eventually, Maura gathered the courage to quit her job and start her own business.

Here’s a challenge: If it’s something you wouldn’t ordinarily do, do it. Try a dish you’ve never eaten. Listen to music you’d ordinarily tune out. You’ll discover these small things add to your emotional energy.

2. Reclaim life’s meaning.

So many of my patients tell me that their lives used to have meaning, but that somewhere along the line things went stale.

The first step in solving this meaning shortage is to figure out what you really care about, and then do something about it. A case in point is Ivy, 57, a pioneer in investment banking. “I mistakenly believed that all the money I made would mean something,” she says. “But I feel lost, like a 22-year-old wondering what to do with her life.” Ivy’s solution? She started a program that shows Wall Streeters how to donate time and money to poor children. In the process, Ivy filled her life with meaning.

3. Put yourself in the fun zone.

Most of us grown-ups are seriously fun-deprived. High-energy people have the same day-to-day work as the rest of us, but they manage to find something enjoyable in every situation. A real estate broker I know keeps herself amused on the job by mentally redecorating the houses she shows to clients. “I love imagining what even the most run-down house could look like with a little tender loving care,” she says. “It’s a challenge—and the least desirable properties are usually the most fun.”

We all define fun differently, of course, but I can guarantee this: If you put just a bit of it into your day, you energy will increase quickly.

4. Bid farewell to guilt and regret.

Everyone’s past is filled with regrets that still cause pain. But from an emotional energy point of view, they are dead weights that keep us from moving forward. While they can’t merely be willed away, I do recommend you remind yourself that whatever happened is in the past, and nothing can change that. Holding on to the memory only allows the damage to continue into the present.

5. Make up your mind.

Say you’ve been thinking about cutting your hair short. Will it look stylish—or too extreme?

You endlessly think it over. Having the decision hanging over your head is a huge energy drain.

Every time you can’t decide, you burden yourself with alternatives. Quit thinking that you have to make the right decision; instead, make a choice and don’t look back.

6. Give to get.

Emotional energy has a kind of magical quality; the more you give, the more you get back. This is the difference between emotional and physical energy. With the latter, you have to get it to be able to give it. With the former, however, you get it by giving it.

Start by asking everyone you meet, “How are you?” as if you really want to know, then listen to the reply. Be the one who hears. Most of us also need to smile more often. If you don’t smile at the person you love first thing in the morning, you’re sucking energy out of your relationship. Finally, help another person—and make the help real, concrete. Give a massage (按摩) to someone you love, or cook her dinner. Then, expand the circle to work. Try asking yourself what you’d do if your goal were to be helpful rather than efficient.

After all, if it’s true that what goes around comes around, why not make sure that what’s circulating around you is the good stuff?

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1.     The energy crisis in America discussed here mainly refers to a shortage of fossil fuels.

2.     People these days tend to lack physical energy.

3.     Laura Hillenbrand is an example cited to show how emotional energy can contribute to one’s success in life.

4.     The author believes emotional energy is inherited and genetically determined.

5.     Even small changes people make in their lives can help increase their emotional energy.

6.     Ivy filled her life with meaning by launching a program to help poor children.

7.     The real-estate broker the author knows is talented in home redecoration.

8.     People holding on to sad memories of the past will find it difficult to ________.

9.     When it comes to decision-making, one should make a quick choice without ________.

10.   Emotional energy is in a way different from physical energy in that the more you give, ________.

Part III Listing Comprehension (35 minutes)

Section A

Directions:   In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer, then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line though the centre.

注意：此部分答题在答题卡2上作答。

11.   A) Plan his budget carefully.

B) Give her more information.

C) Ask someone else for advice.

D) Buy a gift for his girlfriend.（B）

12.   A) She’ll have some chocolate cake.

B) She’ll take a look at the menu.

C) She’ll go without dessert.

D) She’ll prepare the dinner.（C）

13.   A) The man can speak a foreign language.

B) The woman hopes to improve her English.

C) The woman knows many different languages.

D) The man wishes to visit many more countries.（A）

14.   A) Go to the library.

B) Meet the woman.

C) See Professor Smith.

D) Have a drink in the bar.（C）

15.   A) She isn’t sure when Professor Bloom will be back.

B) The man shouldn’t be late for his class.

C) The man can come back sometime later.

D) She can pass on the message for the man.（D）

16.   A) He has a strange personality.

B) He’s got emotional problems.

C) His illness is beyond cure.

D) His behavior is hard to explain.（B）

17.   A) The tickets are more expensive than expected.

B) The tickets are sold in advance at half price.

C) It’s difficult to buy the tickets on the spot.

D) It’s better to buy the tickets beforehand.（D）

18.   A) He turned suddenly and ran into a tree.

B) He was hit by a fallen box from a truck.

C) He drove too fast and crashed into a truck.

D) He was trying to overtake the truck ahead of him.（A）

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

19.   A) To go boating on the St. Lawrence River.

B) To go sightseeing in Quebec Province.

C) To call on a friend in Quebec City.

D) To attend a wedding in Montreal.（D）

20.   A) Study the map of Quebec Province.

B) Find more about Quebec Province.

C) Brush up on her French.

D) Learn more about the local customs.（C）

21.   A) It’s most beautiful in summer.

B) It has many historical buildings.

C) It was greatly expanded in the 18th century.

D) It’s the only French-speaking city in Canada.（B）

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

22.   A) It was about a little animal.

B) It took her six years to write.

C) It was adapted from a fairy tale.

D) It was about a little girl and her pet.（A）

23.   A) She knows how to write best-selling novels.

B) She can earn a lot of money by writing for adults.

C) She is able to win enough support from publishers.

D) She can make a living by doing what she likes.（D）

24.   A) The characters.

B) The readers.

C) Her ideas.

D) Her life experiences.（B）

25.   A) She doesn’t really know where they originated.

B) She mainly drew on stories of ancient saints.

C) They popped out of her childhood dreams.

D) They grew out of her long hours of thinking.（A）

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 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

26.   A) Monitor students’ sleep patterns.

B) Help students concentrate in class.

C) Record students’ weekly performance.

D) Ask students to complete a sleep report.（C）

27.   A) Declining health.

B) Lack of attention.

C) Loss of motivation.

D) Improper behavior.（B）

28.   A) They should make sure their children are always punctual for school.

B) They should ensure their children grow up in a healthy environment.

C) They should help their children accomplish high-quality work.

D) They should see to it that their children have adequate sleep.（D）

Passage Two

Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.

29.   A) She stopped being a homemaker.

B) She became a famous educator.

C) She became a public figure.

D) She quit driving altogether.（C）

30.   A) A motorist’s speeding.

B) Her running a stop sign.

C) Her lack of driving experience.

D) A motorist’s failure to concentrate.（D）

31.   A) Nervous and unsure of herself.

B) Calm and confident of herself.

C) Courageous and forceful.

D) Distracted and reluctant.（A）

32.   A) More strict training of women drivers.

B) Restrictions on cell phone use while driving.

C) Improved traffic conditions in cities.

D) New regulations to ensure children’s safety.（B）

Passage Three

Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

33.   A) They haven’t devoted as much energy to medicine as to space travel.

B) Three are too many kinds of cold viruses for them to identify.

C) It is not economical to find a cure for each type of cold.

D) They believe people can recover without treatment.（B）

34.   A) They reveal the seriousness of the problem.

B) They indicate how fast the virus spreads.

C) They tell us what kind of medicine to take.

D) They show our body is fighting the virus.（D）

35.   A) It actually does more harm than good.

B) It causes damage to some organs of our body.

C) It works better when combined with other remedies.

D) It helps us to recover much sooner.（A）

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 numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

注意：此部分试题在答题卡2上；请在答题卡2上作答。

You probably have noticed that people express similar ideas in different ways depending on the situation they are in. This is very (36) ________. All languages have two general levels of (37) ________: a formal level and an informal level. English is no (38) ________. The difference in these two levels is the situation in which you use a (39) ________ level. Formal language is the kind of language you find in textbooks, (40) ________ books and in business letters. You would also use formal English in compositions and (41) ________ that you write in school. Informal language is used in conversation with (42) ________, family members and friends, and when we write (43) ________ notes or letters to close friends.

Formal language is different from informal language in several ways. First, formal language tends to be more polite. (44) ________________________________. For example, I might say to a friend or a family member “Close the door, please,” (45) ________________________________.

Another difference between formal and informal language is some of the vocabulary. (46) ________________________________. Let’s say that I really like soccer. If I am talking to my friend I might say “I am just crazy about soccer!” But if I were t, alking to my boss, I would probably say “I really enjoy soccer.”

Part IV Reading Comprehension (reading in depth) (25 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 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.

Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.

The flood of women into the job market boosted economic growth and changed U.S. society in many ways. Many in-home jobs that used to be done __47__ by women—ranging from family shopping to preparing meals to doing __48__ work—still need to be done by someone. Husbands and children now do some of these jobs, a __49__ that has changed the target market for many products. Or a working woman may face a crushing “poverty of time” and look for help elsewhere, creating opportunities for producers of frozen meals, child care centers, dry cleaners, financial services, and the like.

Although there is still a big wage __50__ between men and women, the income working women __51__ gives them new independence and buying power. For example, women now __52__ about half of all cars. Not long ago, many cars dealers __53__ women shoppers by ignoring them or suggesting that they come back with their husbands. Now car companies have realized that women are __54__ customers. It’s interesting that some leading Japanese car dealers were the first to __55__ pay attention to women customers. In Japan, fewer women have jobs or buy cars—the Japanese society is still very much male-oriented. Perhaps it was the __56__ contrast with Japanese society that prompted American firms to pay more attention to women buyers.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答

Section B

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 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.

Reaching new peaks of popularity in North America is Iceberg Water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Arthur von Wiesenberger, who carries the title Water Master, is one of the few water critics in North America. As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily. Even then, he kept a water journal, noting the brands he liked best. “My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water,” He says.

But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all. In fact, New York’s municipal water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity. Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive.

Nevertheless, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share—this despite the fact that over 25 percent of bottled water comes from tap water: PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani are both purified tap water rather than spring water.

As diners thirst for leading brands, bottlers and restaurateurs salivate (垂涎) over the profits. A restaurant’s typical mark-up on wine is 100 to 150 percent, whereas on bottled water it’s often 300 to 500 percent. But since water is much cheaper than wine, and many of the fancier brands aren’t available in stores, most diners don’t notice or care.

As a result, some restaurants are turning up the pressure to sell bottled water. According to an article in The Street Journal, some of the more shameless tactics include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners if they want it.

Regardless of how it’s sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear cultivated, and even a longing for lost purity.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

57.   What do we know about Iceberg Water from the passage?

A) It is a kind of iced water.

B) It is just plain tap water.

C) It is a kind of bottled water.

D) It is a kind of mineral water.（C）

58.   By saying “My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water” (Line 4 Para. 2), von Wiesenberger wants to convey the message that ________.

A) plain tap water is certainly unfit for drinking

B) bottled water is clearly superior to tap water

C) bottled water often appeals more to dogs taste

D) dogs can usually detect a fine difference in taste（B）

59.   The “fancier brands” (Line 3 Para. 5) refers to ________.

A) tap water from the Thames River

B) famous wines not sold in ordinary stores

C) PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani

D) expensive bottled water with impressive names（D）

60.   Why are some restaurants turning up the pressure to sell bottled water?

A) Bottled water brings in huge profits.

B) Competition from the wine industry is intense.

C) Most diners find bottled water affordable.

D) Bottled water satisfied diners’ desire to fashionable.（A）

61.   According to passage, why is bottled water so popular?

A) It is much cheaper than wine.

B) It is considered healthier.

C) It appeals to more cultivated people.

D) It is more widely promoted in the market.（B）

Passage Two

As we have seen, the focus of medical care in our society has been shifting from curing disease to preventing disease—especially in terms of changing our many unhealthy behaviors, such as poor eating habits, smoking, and failure to exercise. The line of thought involved in this shift can be pursued further. Imagine a person who is about the right weight, but does not eat very nutritious (有营养的) foods, who feels OK but exercises only occasionally, who goes to work every day, but is not an outstanding worker, who drinks a few beers at home most nights but does not drive while drunk, and who has no chest pains or abnormal blood counts, but sleeps a lot and often feels tired. This person is not ill. He may not even be at risk for any particular disease. But we can imagine that this person could be a lot healthier.

The field of medicine has not traditionally distinguished between someone who is merely “not ill” and someone who is in excellent health and pays attention to the body’s special needs. Both types have simply been called “well.” In recent years, however, some health specialists have begun to apply the terms “well” and “wellness” only to those who are actively striving to maintain and improve their health. People who are well are concerned with nutrition and exercise, and they make a point of monitoring their body’s condition. Most important, perhaps, people who are well take active responsibility for all matters related to their health. Even people who have a physical disease or handicap (缺陷) may be “well,” in this new sense, if they make an effort to maintain the best possible health they can in the face of their physical limitations. “Wellness” may perhaps best be viewed not as a state that people can achieve, but as an ideal that people can strive for. People who are well are likely to be better able to resist disease and to fight disease when it strikes. And by focusing attention on healthy ways of living, the concept of wellness can have a beneficial impact on the ways in which people face the challenges of daily life.

62.   Today medical care is placing more stress on ________.

A) keeping people in a healthy physical condition

B) monitoring patients’ body functions

C) removing people’s bad living habits

D) ensuring people’s psychological well-being（C）

63.   In the first paragraph, people are reminded that ________.

A) good health is more than not being ill

B) drinking, even if not to excess, could be harmful

C) regular health checks are essential to keeping fit

D) prevention is more difficult than cure（B）

64.   Traditionally, a person is considered “well” if he ________.

A) does not have any unhealthy living habits

B) does not have any physical handicaps

C) is able to handle his daily routines

D) is free from any kind of disease（D）

65.   According to the author, the true meaning of “wellness” is for people ________.

A) to best satisfy their body’s special needs

B) to strive to maintain the best possible health

C) to meet the strictest standards of bodily health

D) to keep a proper balance between work and leisure（B）

66.   According to what the author advocates, which of the following groups of people would be considered healthy?

A) People who have strong muscles as well as slim figures.

B) People who are not presently experiencing any symptoms of disease.

C) People who try to be as possible, regardless of their limitations.

D) People who can recover from illness even without seeking medical care.（C）

Part V Cloze (15 minutes)

Directions:   There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four 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 Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Language is the most astonishing behavior in the animal kingdom. It is the species-typical behavior that sets humans completely __67__ from all other animals. Language is a means of communication, __68__ it is much more than that. Many animals can __69__. The dance of the honeybee communicates the location of flowers __70__ other members of the hive (蜂群). But human language permits communication about anything, __71__ things like unicorn (独角兽) that have never existed. The key __72__ in the fact that the units of meaning, words, can be __73__ together in different ways, according to __74__, to communicate different meanings.

Language is the most important learning we do. Nothing __75__ humans so much as our ability to communicate abstract thoughts, __76__ about the universe, the mind, love, dreams, or ordering a drink. It is an immensely complex __77__ that we take for granted. Indeed, we are not aware of most __78__ of our speech and understanding. Consider what happens when one person is speaking to __79__. The speaker has to translate thoughts into __80__ language. Brain imaging studies suggest that the time from thoughts to the __81__ of speech is extremely fast, only 0.04 seconds! The listener must hear the sounds to __82__ out what the speaker means. He must use the sounds of speech to __83__ the words spoken, understand the pattern of __84__ of the words (sentences), and finally __85__ the meaning. This takes somewhat longer, a minimum of about 0.5 seconds. But __86__ started, it is of course a continuous process.

67.   A) apart

B) off

C) up

D) down（A）

68.   A) so

B) but

C) or

D) for（B）

69.   A) transfer

B) transmit

C) convey

D) communicate（D）

70.   A) to

B) from

C) over

D) on（A）

71.   A) only

B) almost

C) even

D) just（C）

72.   A) stays

B) situates

C) hides

D) lies（D）

73.   A) stuck

B) strung

C) rung

D) consisted（B）

74.   A) rules

B) scales

C) laws

D) standards（A）

75.   A) combines

B) contains

C) defines

D) declares（C）

76.   A) what

B) whether

C) while

D) if（B）

77.   A) prospect

B) progress

C) process

D) produce（C）

78.   A) aspects

B) abstracts

C) angles

D) assumptions

79.   A) anybody

B) another

C) other

D) everybody

80.   A) body

B) gesture

C) written

D) spoken

81.   A) growing

B) fixing

C) beginning

D) building

82.   A) put

B) take

C) draw

D) figure

83.   A) identify

B) locate

C) reveal

D) discover

84.   A) performance

B) organization

C) design

D) layout

85.   A) prescribe

B) justify

D) interpret

86.   A) since

B) after

C) once

D) until

Part VI Translation (5 minutes)

Directions:   Complete the sentences by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets. Please write you translation on Answer Sheet 2.

87.   Specialists in intercultural studies say that it is not easy to ________ (适应不同文化中的生活).

88.   Since my childhood I have found that ________ (没有什么比读书对我更有吸引力).

89.   The victim ________ (本来会有机会活下来) if he had been taken to hospital in time.

90.   Some psychologists claim that people ________ (出门在外时可能会感到孤独).

91.   The nation’s population continues to rise ________ (以每年1200万人的速度).