2010年12月英语四级考试真题

Part IWriting(30 minutes)

Directions：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write ashort essay entitled How Should Parents Help Children to Be Independent? Youshould write at least 150 words following the outline given below.

1. 目前不少父母为孩子包办一切

2. 为了让孩子独立,父母应该……

How ShouldParents Help Children to Be Independent?

注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上

Part IIReadingComprehension（Skimming andScanning) （15 minutes)

Directions: In thispart, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questionson Answer Sheet 1. For questions1-7, choose the best answer from the fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sen-tenceswith the information given in the passage.

A Grassroots Remedy

Most of us spend our lives seeking thenatural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in thegarden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in thesuburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The mostpopular leisure activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers (慢跑者) jog, they don’t run the streets. Everyone of them instinctively heads to the park or the river. It is my profoundbelief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether weknow we are doing so or not.

But despite this, our children are growingup nature-deprived (丧失). I spent my boyhood climbingtrees on Streatham Common, South London. These days, children are robbed ofthese ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of theopen spaces and odd new perceptions about what is best for children, that is tosay, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found.

The truth is to be found elsewhere. Astudy in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children wereassessed for ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (多动症). Those whose accommodation had morenatural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvementin material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%.

A study in Sweden indicated thatkindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illnessand greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. AUS study suggested that when a school gave children access to a naturalenvironment, academic levels were raised across the entire school.

Another study found that children playdifferently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create ahierarchy (等级) based on physical abilities,with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted withbushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchywas now based on imagination and creativity.

Most bullying (恃强凌弱) is found in schools where there is atarmac (柏油碎石) playground; the leastbullying is in a natural area that the children are encouraged to explore. Thisreminds me unpleasantly of Sunnyhill School in Streatham, with its harshtarmac, where I used to hang about in corners fantasising about wildlife.

But children are frequently discouragedfrom involvement with natural spaces, for health and safety reasons, for fearthat they might get dirty or that they might cause damage. So, instead, thedamage is done to the children themselves: not to their bodies but to theirsouls.

One of the great problems of modernchildhood is ADHD, now increasingly and expensively treated with drugs. Yet onestudy after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits toADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places.

The life of old people is measurably betterwhen they have access to nature. The increasing emphasis for the growingpopulation of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And studyafter study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in findingthat quality.

In wider and more difficult areas of life,there is evidence to indicate that natural surroundings improve all kinds ofthings. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced whenthere is contact with the natural world.

Dr William Bird, researcher from the RoyalSociety for the Protection of Birds, states in his study, “A naturalenvironment can reduce violent behaviour because its restorative process helpsreduce anger and impulsive behaviour.” Wild places need encouraging for thisreason, no matter how small their contribution.

We tend to look on nature conservation assome kind of favour that human beings are granting to the natural world. Theerror here is far too deep: not only do humans need nature for themselves, butthe very idea that humanity and the natural world are separable things isprofoundly damaging.

Human beings are a species of mammals (哺乳动物). For seven million years they lived onthe planet as part of nature. Our ancestral selves miss the natural world andlong for contact with non-human life. Anyone who has patted a dog, stroked acat, sat under a tree with a pint of beer, given or received a bunch of flowersor chosen to walk through the park on a nice day, understands that.

We need the wild world. It is essential toour well-being, our health, our happiness. Without the wild world we are notmore but less civilised. Without other living things around us we are less thanhuman.

Five ways to find harmony with the naturalworld

Walk: Break the rhythm of permanentlybeing under a roof. Get off a stop earlier, make a circuit of the park atlunchtime, walk the child to and from school, get a dog, feel yourself movingin moving air, look, listen, absorb.

Sit: Take a moment, every now and then, tobe still in an open space. In the garden, anywhere that’s not in the office,anywhere out of the house, away from the routine. Sit under a tree, look atwater, feel refreshed, ever so slightly renewed.

Drink: The best way to enjoy the naturalworld is by yourself; the second best way is in company. Take a drink outsidewith a good person, a good gathering: talk with the sun and the wind withbirdsong for background.

Learn: Expand your boundaries. Learn fivespecies of bird, five butterflies, five trees, five bird songs. That way, yousee and hear more: and your mind responds gratefully to the greater amount ofwildness in your life.

Travel: The places you always wanted tovisit: by the seaside, in the country, in the hills. Take a weekend break, aday-trip, get out there and do it: for the scenery, for the way through thewoods, for the birds, for the bees. Go somewhere special and bring specialnesshome. It lasts forever, after all.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1.What is the author’s profound belief?

［A］ People instinctively seek nature indifferent ways.

［B］ People should spend most of their livesin the wild.

［C］ People have quite different perceptionsof nature.

［D］ People must make more efforts to studynature.

2.What does the author say people prefer fortheir children nowadays?

［A］ Personal freedom.

［B］ Things that are natural.

［C］ Urban surroundings.

［D］ Things that are purchased.

3.What does a study in Sweden show?

［A］ The natural environment can help childrenlearn better.

［B］ More access to nature makes children lesslikely to fall ill.

［C］ A good playground helps kids developtheir physical abilities.

［D］ Natural views can prevent children fromdeveloping ADHD.

4.Children who have chances to explorenatural areas ________.

［A］ tend to develop a strong love forscience

［B］ are more likely to fantasise aboutwildlife

［C］ tend to be physically tougher inadulthood

［D］ are less likely to be involved inbullying

5.What does the author suggest we do to helpchildren with ADHD?

［A］ Find more effective drugs for them.

［B］ Provide more green spaces for them.

［C］ Place them under more personal care.

［D］ Engage them in more meaningfulactivities.

6.In what way do elderly people benefit fromtheir contact with nature?

［A］ They look on life optimistically. ［C］ They are able to live longer.

［B］ They enjoy a life of better quality. ［D］ They become good-humoured.

7.Dr William Bird suggests in his study that________.

［A］ humanity and nature are complementary toeach other

［B］ wild places may induce impulsivebehaviour in people

［C］ access to nature contributes to thereduction of violence

［D］ it takes a long time to restore natureonce damaged

8. It is extremely harmful tothink that humanity and the natural world can be______________

9.The author believes that wewould not be so civilised without ____________________

10. The five suggestions theauthor gives at the end of the passage are meant to encourage people to seek_________________ with the natural world.

Part IIIListening Comprehension(35 minutes)

Section A

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

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

11. ［A］ The man should visit the museums. ［C］The beach resort is a good choice.

［B］ She can’t stand the hot weather. ［D］ She enjoys staying in Washington.

12. ［A］Her new responsibilities in the company.

［B］ What her job prospects are.

［C］ What the customers’ feedback is.

［D］ The director’s opinion of her work

13. ［A］Combine her training with dieting.

［B］ Repeat the training every threedays.

［C］ Avoid excessive physical training.

［D］ Include weightlifting in the program.

14. ［A］When she will return home.

［B］ Whether she can go by herself.

［C］ Whether she can travel by air.

［D］ When she will completely recover.

15. ［A］ The woman knows how to deal with the police.

［B］ The woman had been fined manytimes before.

［C］ The woman had violated trafficregulations.

［D］ The woman is good at findingexcuses.

16. ［A］ Switch off the refrigerator for a while.

［B］ Have someone repair therefrigerator.

［C］ Ask the man to fix therefrigerator.

［D］ Buy a refrigerator of betterquality.

17. ［A］ He owns a piece of land in the downtown area.

［B］ He has got enough money to buya house.

［C］ He can finally do what he hasdreamed of.

［D］ He is moving into a biggerapartment.

18. ［A］ She is black and blue all over.

［B］ She has to go to see adoctor.

［C］ She stayed away from work fora few days.

［D］ She got hurt in an accidentyesterday.

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

19. ［A］ She was a bank manager.

［B］ She was a victim of therobbery.

［C］ She was a defence lawyer.

［D］ She was a witness to thecrime.

20. ［A］ A tall man with dark hair and a moustache.

［B］ A youth with a distinguishingmark on his face.

［C］ A thirty-year-old guy wearinga light sweater.

［D］ A medium-sized young mancarrying a gun.

21. ［A］ Identify the suspect from pictures. ［B］Go upstairs to sign some document.

［C］ Have her photo taken for theirfiles.［D］ Verify the record of what she had said.

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

22. ［A］ By reading a newspaper ad.［C］ By listening to the morning news.

［B］ By seeing a commercial on TV. ［D］ By calling an employment service.

23. ［A］ She could improve her foreign languages.

［B］ She could work close to herfamily.

［C］ She could travel overseasfrequently.

［D］ She could use her previousexperiences.

24. ［A］ Taking management courses.［C］ Working as a secretary.

［B］ Teaching English at auniversity. ［D］ Studying for a degree in French.

25. ［A］ Prepare for an interview in a couple of days.

［B］ Read the advertisement againfor more details.

［C］ Send in a written applicationas soon as possible.

［D］ Get to know the candidates onthe short list.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Boththe passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear aquestion, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked ［A］, ［B］, ［C］ and ［D］. Then mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

注意： 此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

Passage One

Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.

26.［A］ They cannot see thefirefighters because of the smoke.

［B］ They do not realize the dangerthey are in.

［C］ They cannot hear thefirefighters for the noise.

［D］ They mistake the firefightersfor monsters.

27.［A］ He travels all over America tohelp put out fires.

［B］ He often teaches children whatto do during a fire.

［C］ He teaches Spanish in a SanFrancisco community.

［D］ He provides oxygen masks tochildren free of charge.

28. ［A］ He saved the life of his brother choking on food.

［B］ He rescued a student from abig fire.

［C］ He is very good at publicspeaking.

［D］ He gives informative talks toyoung children.

29. ［A］ Firefighters play an important role in America.

［B］ Kids should learn not to beafraid of monsters.

［C］ Carelessness can result intragedies

［D］ Informative speeches can savelives.

Passage Two

Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.

30. ［A］ To satisfy the needs of their family.

［B］ To fully realize theirpotential.

［C］ To make money for earlyretirement.

［D］ To gain a sense of theirpersonal worth.

31. ［A］ They may have to continue to work in old age.

［B］ They may regret the time theywasted.

［C］ They may have nobody to dependon in the future.

［D］ They may have fewer jobopportunities.

32. ［A］ Making wise use of your time.

［B］ Enjoying yourself while youcan.

［C］ Saving as much as you can.

［D］ Working hard and playing hard.

Passage Three

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

33. ［A］ Hardworking students being accused of cheating.

［B］ Boy students being oftentreated as law-breakers.

［C］ Innocent people beingsuspected groundlessly.

［D］ Junior employees being made towork overtime.

34. ［A］ Forbidding students to take food out of the restaurant.

［B］ Requesting customers to paybefore taking the food.

［C］ Asking customers to leavetheir bags on the counters.

［D］ Allowing only two students toenter at a time.

35. ［A］ He was taken to the manager. ［B］ He was closely watched

［C］ He was asked to leave［D］ He was overcharged.

Section C

Directions: Inthis section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read forthe first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When thepassage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanksnumbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanksnumbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. Forthese blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or writedown the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read forthe third time, you should check what you have written.

注意：此部分试题在答题卡2上作答。

Writing keeps us in touch with otherpeople. We write to communicate with relatives and friends. We write to (36)_------_ our family histories so our children and grandchildren can learn and(37) ______their heritage (传统).With computers and Internet connections in so many (38) _____, colleges,business, people e-mailing friends and relatives all the time—or talking tothem in writing in online (39) ____ rooms. It is cheaper than calling longdistance, and a lot more (40) ________ than waiting until Sunday for thetelephone (41) _____ to drop. Students are e-mailing their professors to (42)_____ and discuss their classroom assignments and to (43) _____________ them.They are e-mailing classmates to discuss and collaborate (合作) on homework. (44) __________________.

Despite the growing importance ofcomputers, however, there will always be a place and need for the personalletter. (45) _____________. No matter what the content of the message, its realpoint is, “I want you to know that I care about you.” (46)__________________________, but only in the success of human relationships.

Part Ⅳ ReadingComprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)

Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.

What determines the kind of person youare? What factors make you more or less bold, intelligent, or able to read amap? All of these are influenced by the interaction of your genes and theenvironment in which you were47. The study of how genesand environment interact to influence 48 activityis known as behavioral genetics. Behavioral genetics has made important 49 to the biological revolution, providinginformation about the extent to which biology influences mind, brain andbehavior.

Any research that suggests that 50 to perform certain behaviors are based inbiology is controversial. Who wants to be told that there are limitations towhat you can 51 based on something that is beyond yourcontrol, such as your genes? It is easy to accept that genes control physicalcharacteristics such as sex, race and eye color. But can genes also determinewhether people will get divorced, how52 they are, or what careerthey are likely to choose? A concern of psychological scientists is the 53 to which all of these characteristics areinfluenced by nature and nurture(养育), by genetic makeup and the environment. Increasingly,science 54 that genes lay the groundwork for manyhuman traits. From this perspective, people are born 55 likeundeveloped photographs: The image is already captured, but the way it 56 appearscan vary based on the development process. However, the basic picture is therefrom the beginning.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

［A］ abilities［I］ extent

［B］ achieve［J］ indicates

［C］ appeal ［K］ proceeds

［D］ complaints［L］ psychological

［E］ contributions［M］ raised

［F］ displayed ［N］ smart

［G］ essentially［O］ standard

［H］ eventually

Section B

Passage One

Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.

It is pretty much a one-way street. Whileit may be common for university researchers to try their luck in the commercialworld, there is very little traffic in the opposite direction. Pay has alwaysbeen the biggest deterrent, as people with families often feel they cannotafford the drop in salary when moving to a university job. For some industrialscientists, however, the attractions of academia (学术界) outweigh any financial considerations.

Helen Lee took a 70% cut in salary whenshe moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a medical department atthe University of Cambridge. Her main reason for returning to academiamid-career was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose researchquestions. Some areas of inquiry have few prospects of a commercial return, andLee’s is one of them.

The impact of a salary cut is probablyless severe for a scientist in the early stages of a career. Guy Grant, now aresearch associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at theUniversity of Cambridge, spent two years working for a pharmaceutical (制药的) company before returning touniversity as a post-doctoral researcher. He took a 30% salary cut but felt itworthwhile for the greater intellectual opportunities.

Higher up the ladder, where a pay cut isusually more significant, the demand for scientists with a wealth of experiencein industry is forcing universities to make the transition (转换) to academia more attractive, accordingto Lee. Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not,such as how to build a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and negotiatecontracts. They are also well placed to bring something extra to the teachingside of an academic role that will help students get a job when they graduate,says Lee, perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or product development.“Only a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic career. Sosomeone leaving university who already has the skills needed to work in anindustrial lab has far more potential in the job market than someone who hasspent all their time on a narrow research project.”

注意： 此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

57. By “a one-way street” (Line1, Para. 1), the author means ________.

［A］ university researchers knowlittle about the commercial world

［B］ there is little exchangebetween industry and academia

［C］ few industrial scientistswould quit to work in a university

［D］ few university professors arewilling to do industrial research

58. The word “deterrent” (Line2, Para. 1) most probably refers to something that ________.

［A］ keeps someone from takingaction ［C］ attracts people’s attention

［B］ helps to move the traffic ［D］ brings someone a financialburden

59. What was Helen Lee’s majorconsideration when she changed her job in the middle of her career?

［A］ Flexible work hours. ［C］ Her preference for thelifestyle on campus.

［B］ Her research interests.［D］ Prospects of academicaccomplishments.

60. Guy Grant chose to work asa researcher at Cambridge in order to ________.

［A］ do financially more rewardingwork

［B］ raise his status in theacademic world

［C］ enrich his experience inmedical research

［D］ exploit better intellectualopportunities

61. What contribution canindustrial scientists make when they come to teach in a university?

［A］ Increase its graduates’competitiveness in the job market

［B］ Develop its students’potential in research.

［C］ Help it to obtain financialsupport from industry.

［D］ Gear its research towardspractical applications.

Passage Two

Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.

Being sociable looks like a good way toadd years to your life. Relationships with family, friends, neighbours, evenpets, will all do the trick, but the biggest longevity (长寿) boost seems to come from marriage or anequivalent relationship. The effect was first noted in 1858 by William Farr,who wrote that widows and widowers (鳏夫) were at a much higher risk of dying than their married peers.Studies since then suggest that marriage could add as much as seven years to aman’s life and two to a woman’s. The effect holds for all causes of death,whether illness, accident or self-harm.

Even if the odds are stacked against you,marriage can more than compensate. Linda Waite of the University of Chicago hasfound that a married older man with heart disease can expect to live nearlyfour years longer than an unmarried man with a healthy heart. Likewise, amarried man who smokes more than a pack a day is likely to live as long as adivorced man who doesn’t smoke. There’s a flip side, however, as partners aremore likely to become ill or die in the couple of years following theirspouse’s death, and caring for a spouse with mental disorder can leave you withsome of the same severe problems. Even so, the odds favour marriage. In a30-year study of more than 10,000 people, Nicholas Christakis of HarvardMedical School describes how all kinds of social networks have similar effects.

So how does it work? The effects arecomplex, affected by socio-economic factors, health-service provision,emotional support and other more physiological (生理的) mechanisms. For example, social contact can boostdevelopment of the brain and immune system, leading to better health and lesschance of depression later in life. People in supportive relationships mayhandle stress better. Then there are the psychological benefits of a supportivepartner.

A life partner, children and good friendsare all recommended if you aim to live to 100. The ultimate social network isstill being mapped out, but Christakis says: “People are interconnected, sotheir health is interconnected.”

注意： 此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

62. William Farr’s study andother studies show that _________.

［A］ social life provides aneffective cure for illness

［B］ being sociable helps improveone’s quality of life

［C］ women benefit more than menfrom marriage

［D］ marriage contributes a greatdeal to longevity

63. Linda Waite’s studiessupport the idea that _________.

［A］ older men should quit smoking to stay healthy

［B］ marriage can help make up for ill health

［C］ the married are happier than the unmarried

［D］ unmarried people are likely tosuffer in later life

64. It can be inferred from thecontext that the “flip side” (Line 4, Para. 2) refers to _________.

［A］ the disadvantages of beingmarried

［B］ the emotional problems arisingfrom marriage

［C］ the responsibility of takingcare of one’s family

［D］ the consequence of a brokenmarriage

65. What does the author sayabout social networks?

［A］ They have effects similar tothose of a marriage.

［B］ They help develop people’s community spirit.

［C］ They provide timely supportfor those in need.

［D］ They help relieve people oftheir life’s burdens.

66. What can be inferred fromthe last paragraph?

［A］ It’s important that we develop a social network when young.

［B］ To stay healthy, one should have a proper social network.

［C］ Getting a divorce means risking a reduced life span.

［D］ We should share our socialnetworks with each other.

Part Ⅴ Cloze(15 minutes)

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

Over half the world’s people now live incities. The latest “Global Report on Human Settlements” says a significantchange took place last year. The report 67 this week from U.N. Habitat, a United Nationsagency.

A century ago, 68 thanfive percent of all people lived in cities. 69 the middle of this century it could be seventypercent, or 70 six and a half billion people.

Already three-fourths of people in 71 countries live in cities. Now most urbanpopulation 72 is in the developing world.

Urbanization can 73 to social and economic progress, but also put 74 on cities to provide housing and 75.The new report says almost two hundred thousand people move 76 citiesand towns each day. It says worsening inequalities, 77 bysocial divisions and differences in78, could result in violenceand crime 79 cities plan better.

Another issue is urban sprawl (无序扩展的城区). This is where cities 80 quickly into rural areas, sometimes 81 a much faster rate than urban populationgrowth.

Sprawl is 82 in the United States. Americans move a lot. Ina recent study, Art Hall at the University of Kansas found that people aremoving away from the 83 cities to smaller ones. He sees a 84 toward“de-urbanization” across the nation.

85 urban economies still provide many 86 that rural areas do not.

67. ［A］ came on ［B］ came off ［C］ came over ［D］ came out

68. ［A］ more ［B］ other［C］ less ［D］ rather

69. ［A］ By ［B］ Through ［C］ Along ［D］ To

70. ［A］ really ［B］ barely ［C］ ever［D］ almost

71. ［A］ flourishing ［B］ developed［C］ thriving ［D］ fertile

72. ［A］ extension［B］ addition［C］ raise ［D］ growth

73. ［A］ keep［B］ turn ［C］ lead［D］ refer

74. ［A］ pressure ［B］ load ［C］ restraint［D］ weight

75. ［A］ surroundings ［B］ communities［C］ concerns［D］ services

76. ［A］ onto［B］ into ［C］ around［D］ upon

77. ［A］ pulled ［B］ driven ［C］ drawn［D］ pressed

78. ［A］ situation ［B］ wealt［C］ treasure［D］ category

79. ［A］ when ［B］ if［C］ unless ［D］ whereas

80. ［A］ expand［B］ split ［C］ invade ［D］ enlarge

81. ［A］ in［B］ beyond ［C］ with ［D］ at

82. ［A］ common ［B］ conventio［C］ ordinary［D］ frequent

83. ［A］ essential ［B］ prior［C］ primitive［D］ major

84. ［A］ trend［B］ style［C］ direction［D］ path

85. ［A］ Then［B］ But ［C］ For［D］ While

86. ［A］ abilities［B］ qualities ［C］ possibilities ［D］ realities

Part VI Translation(5 minutes)

Directions: Complete thesentences by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets. Pleasewrite your translation on Answer Sheet 2.

注意： 此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答，只需写出译文部分。

87. _________________________(为了确保他参加会议), I called him up in advance.

88. The magnificent museum______________(据说建成于) about a hundred years ago.

89. There would be no life onearth _____________(没有地球独特的环境).

90. __________(给游客印象最深的) was the friendliness andwarmth of the local people.

91. They requested that___________________(我借的书还回图书馆) by next Friday.