2012年12月四级考试真题（第1套题）

2011年6月大学英语四级考试 真题 北京中考数学真题pdf四级真题及答案下载历年四级真题下载证券交易真题下载资料分析真题下载 2012年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第1套） Part I   Writing (30 minutes)         Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Education Pays based on the statistics provided in the chart below (Weekly earnings of 2010). Please give a brief description of the chart first and then make comments on it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Education: A Worthy Investment Weekly earnings in 2010($) Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 Education Pays Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Suffering in silence Despite a law designed to protect them, many people with disabling conditions are unaware of their rights. Carole Concha-Bell tells of her experiences. Being diagnosed with a disabling condition is always a shock. Learning to live without the guarantee of health is like having to unlearn a previous life. The implications for your working life may seem intimidating. There is the disability Discrimination Act (DDA), of course. But does it really provide the protection in the workplace that parliament intended? Are employers merely paying lip service to the DDA? Or are they even aware of an employer’s legal duties and responsibilities? In my experience, it is the latter. I have received little support from employers to whom I have revealed my condition. This has often left me feeling at a disadvantage and wondering why I bothered doing so in the first place. I had been struggling with illness long before I was diagnosed. In practical terms the diagnosis did little to aid me. Of course, it enabled me to understand my body, my limitations and set me on a course to stabilize my symptoms. But it brought a new dilemma. Where I had previously struggled to work while ill, ignorant of why my body was misbehaving, I now had a name for my daily struggle: Lupus (狼疮). This is a chronic (慢性的), auto-immune disorder that can affect virtually any system in the body. It also leaves a huge, dark question hanging over my head when seeking employment: should I tell my employers I have a condition? It is a dilemma that continues to be a root cause of anxiety both for myself and for thousands of other UK employees. The rocky road to my unfortunate enlightenment about work and disability began just after graduation when I’d set my sights on a career in communications and landed my dream job with a respected public relations consultancy (咨询公司) in Bristol. But while I was learning the art of media relations, my body wasn’t quite making it in health terms. I often went to work with swollen limbs and fevers. At my first and last performance review, my boss was amazed that, despite my many capabilities, I hadn’t quite taken control of my responsibilities. A few months later, my contract wasn’t renewed and I plunged further into new depths of ill health. However, I was determined not to be beaten and returned to the interview trail. My next job was in publishing. But despite a shining performance at the interview, I felt like a fraud. How long would it be before I sank into ill health and depression again? The job was to end with a monumental bang when I became so poorly I could no longer function. A few feverish weeks in bed ended in a specialist appointment, where I was diagnosed with Lupus and rushed into hospital for fear that it may have attacked my internal organs. The next 12 months were filled with confusion. I had no idea about benefits, felt alienated (被视为另类) by the medical establishment and lived off my savings until I was broke. I realized I needed help from my family and moved to London. As soon as I felt better, I marched into a marketing recruitment consultancy and, within 10 minutes, I had impressed the interviewer enough to be offered a job with the agency. We agreed on a decent salary and I told him I had arthritis (关节炎) and would need to work a four-day week. Things went well at the start but soon the client meetings began to fall on my day off, and I rarely left the office on time. I began to slip both in health and professional terms. The 10-hour days crashed around my head; no amount of make-up could disguise my ill health as I battled against the odds to prove to myself that I could still make it in the business world. I often cried on the bus on the way back from work. Not long before my contract was due to be made permanent, I was called to the boss’s office and given the “talk” abut how my performance was slipping, how awful I looked. I felt too weak to fight back and agreed to leave. No attempts to offer adjustments to my job, such as being able to work from home, were ever made. I had a case for unfair dismissal under the DDA, but was ignorant of this at the time. An estimated 10 million people in UK, or 17% of the population, qualify for disability status under the DDA. I have encountered a number of them: the liver-diseased boss; the co-worker with a heart condition; and my asthmatic (哮喘的) trainee-teacher friend. None had disclosed (透露) their conditions to employers, and all were feeling the strain of not doing so. To access your rights under the DDA and to request “reasonable adjustments” to your working conditions or your workplace requires disclosure. I had warned my former employer about my condition but it served little purpose. They were ignorant about their obligations to their disabled staff. However, there are plenty of forward-thinking organizations that have inclusive recruitment policies; are more likely to employ a worker with a disability; and are more aware of their legal duties. The public sector out-performs the private, but not always the voluntary, according to studies for the Disabilities Rights Commission. I decided to give the voluntary sector a go and was surprised to be offered flexible working conditions and other solutions to meet my needs as an employee. But given the choice, I would still prefer a career in the private sector, which for me is more dynamic, has more attractive salaries and offers better prospects than the voluntary or public sectors. Despite the advances of the DDA, there will always be an army of workers who will soldier on, maybe aware of their rights but choosing to remain silent for personal reasons. It is important, though, to recognize the significance of the act, the protection it affords and the obligations that employers have to us as employees and as human beings. 注意: 此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 1. What is people’s immediate response when they are first diagnosed with a disabling condition? A) They report the situation to their employers. B) They come to realize the value of good health. C) They feel nervous about their work prospects. D) They try to seek protection from the DDA. 2. When the author revealed her condition to her employers, they . A) were quite sympathetic toward her B) did not give her the support she needed. C) made adjustments to meet her needs D) were annoyed not to be informed earlier 3. When the author was diagnosed with Lupus, she was in a dilemma whether she should . A) ask for assistance from her fellow workers B) find employment at a different company C) ignore her limitations and struggle to work D) inform her employers of her disability status 4. The author lost her job at the public relations consultancy in Bristol because . A) her boss had fund a much better replacement B) she was in no mood at all to discharge her duties C) her performance was disappointing to her boss D) she failed to show up for her performance review 5. Why did the author feel like a fraud when she got her second job? A) She knew she would fall ill any time again. B) She was not as competent as she appeared to be. C) She concealed the fact that she had just been fired. D) She pretended to be very keen on the job. 6. Why did the author move to London? A) To get help from her family. B) To receive better medical care. C) To start a consulting business. D) To seek a more suitable job. 7. The author worked hard at the marketing recruitment consultancy in order to . A) earn the boss’s appreciation and clients’ recognition B) demonstrate her strong willpower to conquer illness C) provide for herself without protection from the DDA D) prove herself capable of success in the business world 8. Although many people qualify for disability status in the UK, they would rather not tell their employers about . 9. The author was offered flexible working conditions in the voluntary sector, but if she had a choice, she would still like to work in . 10. The author stresses that it is important to recognize employers’ to their disabled employees. Part III Listening 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 through the centre. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 11. A) He needs another week for the painting. B) The painting was completed just in time. C) The building won’t open until next week. D) His artistic work has been well received. 12. A) Go camping. B) Rent a tent. C) Decorate his house. D) Organize a party. 13. A) She talked with Mr. Wright on the phone. B) She is about to call Mr. Wright’s secretary. C) She will see Mr. Wright at lunch time. D) She failed to reach Mr. Wright. 14. A) He is actually very hard-working. B) He has difficulty finishing his project. C) He needs to spend more time in the lab. D) He seldom tells the truth about himself. 15. A) Rules restricting smoking. B) Ways to quit smoking. C) Smokers’ health problems. D) Hazards of passive smoking. 16. A) He is out of town all morning. B) He is tied up in family matters. C) He has been writing a report. D) He has got meetings to attend. 17. A) He is not easy-going. B) He is the speakers’ boss. C) He is not at home this weekend. D) He seldom invites people to his home. 18. A) Take a break. B) Refuel his car. C) Ask the way. D) Have a cup of coffee. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. A) They are as good as historical films. B) They give youngsters a thrill. C) They have greatly improved. D) They are better than comics on film. 20. A) The effects were very good. B) The acting was just so-so. C) The plot was too complicated. D) The characters were lifelike. 21. A) They triumphed ultimately over evil in the battle. B) They played the same role in War of the Worlds. C) They are popular figures among young people. D) They are two leading characters in the film. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22. A) It is scheduled on Thursday night. B) It is supposed to last nine weeks. C) It takes place once a week. D) It usually starts at six. 23. A) To make good use of her spare time in the evening. B) To meet the requirements of her in-service training. C) To improve her driving skills as quickly as possible. D) To get some basic knowledge about car maintenance. 24. A) Participate in group discussions. B) Take turns to make presentations. C) Listen to the teacher’s explanation. D) Answer the teacher’s questions. 25. A) Most of them are female. B) Some have a part-time job. C) They plan to buy a new car. D) A few of them are old chaps 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 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) She is not good at making friends. B) She is not well off. C) She enjoys company. D) She likes to go to concerts alone. 27. A) Their similar social status. B) Their interdependence. C) Their common interest. D) Their identical character. 28. A) Invite Pat to a live concert. B) Buy some gifts for Pat’s kids. C) Help take care of Pat’s kids. D) Pay for Pat’s season tickets. 29. A) It can develop between people with a big different in income. B) It can be maintained among people of different age groups. C) It cannot last long without similar family background. D) It cannot be sustained when friends move far apart. Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 30. A) Priority of students’ academic achievements. B) Equal education opportunities to all children. C) Social equality between teachers and students. D) Respect for students’ individuality. 31. A) Efficient. B) Complicated. C) Lengthy. D) Democratic. 32. A) To help them acquire hands-on experience. B) To try to cut down its operational expenses. C) To provide part-time jobs for needy students. D) To enable them to learn to take responsibility. Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 33. A) The best way to work through a finger maze. B) Individual doing better in front of an audience. C) Researchers having contributed greatly to psychology. D) Improvements on the classification of human behavior. 34. A) When you feel encouraged by the audience. B) When you try to figure out a confusing game. C) When you already know how to do something. D) When you compete with other people in a group. 35. A) Practicing constantly. B) Working by oneself. B) Learning by doing. D) Using proven methods. 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. 　　Americans today have different eating habits than they had in the past. There is a wide (36) of food available. They have a broader (37) of nutrition (营养), so they buy more fresh fruit and (38) than ever before. At the same time, Americans (39) increasing quantities of sweets and sodas. Statistics show that the way people live (40) the way they eat. American lifestyles have changed. There are now growing numbers of people who live alone, (41) parents and children, and double-income families. These changing lifestyles are (42) for the increasing number of people who must (43) meals or sometimes simply go without them. Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food. (44) . Moreover, Americans eat out nearly four times a week on average. It is easy to study the amounts and kinds of food that people consume. (45) . This information not only tells us what people eating, but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes. (46) . Instead, chicken, turkey and fish have become more popular. Sales of these foods have greatly increased in recent years. 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 the 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. So many people use the cell phone so frequently every day. But 47 little is certain about the health effects of its use. Manufacturers 48 that cell phones meet government standards for safe radio-frequency radiation emission, but enough studies are beginning to document a possible 49 in rare brain tumors (肿瘤), headaches and behavioral disorders in children to cause concern. So far, the evidence isn’t 50 on whether the use of cell phone 51 to any increased risk of cancer. In a new trial, researchers asked 47 volunteers to 52 in a project to measure glucose (葡萄糖) consumption in the brain by scanning the brain to see how sells use energy. For both 50-minute scans, the volunteers had a cell phone 53 to each ear. During the first scan, the devices were turned off, but for the second scan, the phone on the right ear was 54 on and received a recorded-message call, although the volume was muted (消音) so the noise wouldn’t bias the results. The results of the second scan showed that the 55 of the brain nearest to the device had higher rates of glucose consumption than the rest of the brain. The study shows that cell phones can change brain activity, and 56 a whole new avenue for scientific inquiry, though it doesn’t say anything about whether cell-phone radiation can cause cancer. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 A) conclusive B) contributes C) derive D) expresses E) fixed F) immensely G) increase H) maintain I) mission J) participate K) particular L) provides M) regions N) surprisingly O) switched 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. It’s no secret that some of the resolutions that many of us vowed to pursue in the new year — eat healthy, lose weight, quit smoking, save more money — have already fallen by the wayside. Many of them are likely the same resolutions that we abandoned last January. And it’s a good thing for those who sell health club memberships, quit-smoking programs and other products that help us think we can improve our lives. Many gyms see new memberships double in January, making up for the third of their members who do not renew each year. And many who sign up in January will be no-shows by February. “If I try one quick fix and it doesn’t work, I may be more likely to try the next quick fix,” Lisa Lahey, who coaches executives how to sustain behavior change, told The Times. The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge doesn’t offer any quick fixes, just a 12-hour schedule full of exercise, a 1,200-calories-a-day diet and a fee of $2,000 a week. The resort teaches its clients that “weight management” is a combination of fitness, diet and emotional health. “Given my recent weight gain, and the fact that I was turning 50,” Jennifer Conlin wrote in The Times, “I wanted to start a program that would make 2012 the year I finally got in shape.” “For years, the advice to the overweight people has been that we simply need to eat less and exercise more,” Tara Parker-Pope wrote. “While there is truth to this guidance, it fails to take into account that the human body continues to fight against weight loss long after dieting has stopped. This translates into a sobering (令人清醒的) reality: once we become fat, most of us, despite our best efforts, will probably stay fat.” Of course this revelation (揭示), if proven true by fu