2017年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案解析(共三套).doc

Part I Writing

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an

advertisement on your campus website to sell some of the course books you used at college. Your advertisement may include a brief description of their content, their condition and price, and your contact information. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

【参考范文】

My Books, Your Helper!

Are you still worrying about your English learning? Still in want of good learning materials? Now’s your chance!

This is a set of superb course books for English learners, gently used, the contents of which cover English listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation. These books will equip you with necessary knowledge for CET-4, CET-6, IELTS, TOFEL and so on. Besides, I sell the books here only at half price, which means you can save a great amount of money and use the savings on other important items. Last but not the least, there are many useful notes at the back of these books for your reference, which will allow you to yield twice the result with half the effort.

So what are you waiting for? Move on! Please contact me at Anna@123.com or by 12345678 if you are interested.

【解析】“half price”意思为“半价”；“yield twice the result with half the effort”意思为“事半功倍”。

Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report 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 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1. A) The man in the car was absent-minded.

B) The test driver made a wrong judgement. C) The self-driving system was faulty. D) The car was moving at a fast speed. 【答案】B

【解析】由“our test driver believed the bus was going to slow or stop to allow us to merge into the traffic, and that there would be sufficient space to do that.”可知，答案为B。

2. A) They have done better than conventional cars. B) They have caused several severe crashes. C) They have posed a threat to other drivers. D) They have generally done quite well. 【答案】D

【解析】由“The company's self-driving cars have done well over a million miles across various states in the US, and until now have only reported minor accidents.”可知，答案为D。

听力原文：

One of Google's self-driving cars crashed into a bus in California last month. There were no injuries. It is not the first time one of Google's famed self-driving cars has been involved in a crash, but it may be the first time it has caused one. On February 14th the self-driving car, travelling at 2mph (3km/h), pulled out in front of a public bus going 15mph (24km/h). The man in the Google vehicle reported that he assumed the bus would slow down to let the car out, and so he did not switch to the manual mode.

In a statement, Google said: \"We clearly bear some responsibility, because if our car hadn't moved, there wouldn't have been a crash.“ That said, our test driver believed the bus was going to slow or stop to allow us to merge into the traffic, and that there would be sufficient space to do that. “The company's self-driving cars have done well over a million miles across various states in the US, and until now have only reported minor accidents.

Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. 3. A) He works at a national park. B) He is a queen been specialist. C) He removed the Beyond from the boot.

D) He drove the bees away from his car. 【答案】A

【解析】由“Tom Moses who works at a nearby national park”可知，答案为A。 4. A) They were looking after the queen. B) They were making a lot of noise.

C) They were looking for a new box to live in. D) They were dancing in a unique way. 【答案】B

【解析】由“They were very close together and there was a lot of noise and movements”可知，答案为B。

听力原文：

Thousands of bees left a town after landing on the back of a car when their queen got stuck in its boot. Tom Moses who works at a nearby national park, noticed a “brown patch” on the back of the car after the owner parked it to do some shopping. When he looked closer he realized it was a huge group of bees. Moses said: “I have never seen that many bees in one spot. It was very unusual. They were very close together and there was a lot of noise and movements, it was interesting to see

such a strange sight. But there were a lot of people around and I was a bit worried about the bees and the people stopping to look. I thought that someone might do something stupid. Moses called two local bees specialists who helped removed the bees by attracting them into a box. Moses spent three hours looking after the bees and was stung five times, he said my stings are a bit painful but I am pleased that all worked out and I could help, people need to realize that bees are valuable and they should be looked after.

Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. 5. A) The discovery of a new species of snake. B) The second trip to a small remote island. C) The finding of 2 new species of frog. D) The latest test on a rare animal species. 【答案】A

【解析】由“A new species of snake has been discovered on a remote island in the Bahamas”可知，答案为A。

6. A) A poisonous snake attacked him on his field trip. B) He discovered a rare fog on a deserted island. C) A snake crawled onto his head in his sleep. D) He fell from a tall palm tree by accident. 【答案】C

【解析】由“One of the creatures made a dramatic appearance by moving on to the head of the team leader as he slept.”可知，答案为C。

7. A) From its genes. B) From its length. C) From its origin. D) From its colour. 【答案】D

【解析】由“because it is metallic colored and the first specimen found was climbing a silver palm”可知，答案为D。

听力原文：

A new species of snake has been discovered on a remote island in the Bahamas. Scientists identified 20 of the one meter-long snakes during two trips to the Caribbean islands. The second trip was made in October last year. One of the creatures made a dramatic appearance by moving on to the head of the team leader as he slept. The snake has been named silver Boa because it is metallic colored and the first specimen found was climbing a silver palm

tree. The team was led by Dr. Graham Reynolds, from Harvard University, the scientist confirmed the snake was a previously unknown species after conducting a genetic analysis of tissue samples.

Commenting on the find, snake expert Robert Henderson from the Museum of Natural History, said: “Worldwide new species of frogs are being discovered and described quite regularly. New species of snakes, however, are much rarer.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 8. A) The security check takes time. B) He has to check a lot of luggage.

C) His flight is leaving in less than 2 hours. D) The airport is a long way from the hotel. 【答案】C

【解析】由“My flight leaves in less than 2 hours. So, could you tell me, what's the quickest way to get there”可知，答案为C。

9. A) In cash. B) By credit card.

C) With a traveler’s check. D) With his smart phone. 【答案】B

【解析】由“I'll pay with my credit card”可知，答案为B。 10. A) Give him a receipt. B) Confirm his flight. C) Look after his luggage. D) Find a porter for him. 【答案】A

【解析】由“But I'll need a receipt, so I can charge it to my company”可知，答案为A。

11. A) Signing up for membership of S Hotel. B) Staying in the same hotel next time he comes. C) Loading her luggage onto the airport shuttle. D) Posting a comment on the hotel’s webpage. 【答案】D

【解析】由“Would you like to leave a comment on our web page when you have time”可知，答案为D。

听力原文：

W: Did you enjoy your stay with us, Mr. Brown?

M: Yes, very much. I had a wonderful time here. Now I'm going to the airport. My flight leaves in less than 2 hours. So, could you tell me, what's the quickest way to get there?

W: Well, we can call a taxi for you. We also have a free airport shuttle service.

M: That sounds great, but will the shuttle get me to the airport in time? W: Yes, it should. The next shuttle leaves in 15 minutes. And it takes some 25 minutes to get to the airport.

M: Fantastic! I'll just wait in the lobby. Will you please let me know when it's leaving?

W: Of course, sir.

M: Now I would like to settle my mini-bar bill. How much is that? W: Let's see. It comes to $37.50. How would you like to pay for it? M: I'll pay with my credit card. Thanks. But I'll need a receipt, so I can charge it to my company.

W: Absolutely! Here you are, sir. If you like, I can leave your bags with the porter. And he can load them onto the shuttle for you when it arrives.

M: That would be great. Thank you.

W: Would you like to leave a comment on our web page when you have time? M: Sure. I had a really good stay here, and I'd like to recommend your hotel to my friends and colleagues.

W: That’s very kind of you. Thank you again for staying at Sheraton Hotel. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12.A) He is the only boy in his family. B) He becomes tearful in wind.

C) He has stopped making terrible faces.

D) He is his teacher’s favorite student. 【答案】C

【解析】由“You know, Ben’s given up making those terrible faces he used to make.”可知，答案为C。

13. A) Tell him to play in her backyard. B) Do something funny to amuse him.

C) Give him some cherry stones to play with. D) Warn him of danger by making up a story. 【答案】D

【解析】由“I remember my aunt Mary used to say if you swallow a cherrystone, a tree would grow out of your mouth. And I’m still terrified today, sort of subconsciously.”可知，答案为D。

14. A) They could break pp’s legs. B) They could sometimes terrify adults. C) They could fly against a strong wind. D) They could knock pp unconscious. 【答案】A

【解析】由“The one that used to get me was that swans could break your leg when they blow of the wing. ”可知，答案为A。

15. A) One would get a spot on their tongues if they told a lie deliberately.

B) One would have to shave their head to remove a bat in their hair. C) One would go to prison if they put a stamp on upside down. D) One would have curly hair if they ate too much stale bread. 【答案】B

【解析】由“She said her grandmother reckoned you had to shave your head to get it out. My wife was really terrified.”可知，答案为B。

听力原文：

M: You know, Ben’s given up making those terrible faces he used to make. The other day, he came home from school almost in tears. His teacher said if he went on like that, his face would get stuck when the winds changed.

W: And he believed her?

M: Yeah, he’s only a little boy. Don’t you remember all those things we used to believe when we were little? I remember my aunt Mary used to say if you swallow a cherrystone, a tree would grow out of your mouth. And I’m still terrified today, sort of subconsciously. You know,

if I swallow one by mistake…

W: Yeah, I suppose you're right. The one that used to get me was that swans could break your leg when they blow of the wing.

M: They can, can’t they? I always thought they could.

W: No, they are not that strong. But there’s another one even more terrifying. That is, if you put a post stamp on upside down, you will go to prison.

M: No, never heard of that. But my grandmother was a terror for that kind of thing. For example, she would say,

you will get a spot on your tongue if you tell a lie. If you eat stale bread, your hair will curl. And here’s one more. We went on a campaign trip once in Italy, and my wife spent the whole time worrying about bats getting into her hair. She said her grandmother reckoned you had to shave your head to get it out. My wife was really terrified.

W: Silly, isn’t it? But that’s how some parents try to keep their kids from doing the wrong thing or getting into trouble.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four 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 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. A) Everything seemed to be changing. B) Meeting people.

C) People were excited to go traveling overseas. D) Trying new foods. 【答案】A

【解析】由“I was in my twenties, and everything was being renewed”可知，答案为A。

17. A) Watching TV at home.

B) He was able to make a lot of money. C) Drinking coffee.

D) He was a man full of imagination. 【答案】B

【解析】由“Meeting people was the thing”可知。答案为B。 18. A) He was interested in stylish dresses. C) He was a young student in the 1960s. B) People were formal and disciplined.

D) Things from the Victorian era came back alive. 【答案】C

【解析】由“of course, I was a student – or sitting around at home very much”可知，答案为C。

听力原文：

If I could go back in history and live when I liked, I wouldn't go back very far. In fact, I'd like to relive a period I've already lived – the 1960s.

I was in my twenties, and everything was being renewed. l and almost Victorian attitude, and you really felt anything was possible. Meeting people was the thing, and you went to coffee bars where you met friends and spent the evening. The cinema, the theater, all that was every exciting with new things coming out. In fact, we seemed to be out, all

the time! I don't really remember working – of course, I was a student – or sitting around at home very much. That just wasn't where the scene was, even eating! It was the first time, ordinary people started going out to eat. We were beginning to be adventurous about food, but we were more interested in meeting people than in eating or drinking. And dress, yes, that was the revolution. I mean, girls went around in really short skirts, and wore flowers

in their hair. And men were in jeans, and could wear their hair long too. It was a wonderful

period. It was like living in an age you could never have imagined, and that never has come back. We didn't have much money, but it didn't matter. And there was plenty of opportunity to do whatever you felt like doing.

Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. A) They avoid looking at them. B) It turns away to avoid conflict. C) They show anger on their faces. D) It focuses its eyes on their mouths. 【答案】A

【解析】由“they look away. New research shows that dogs limit their eye contact with angry humans. 可知，答案为A。

20. A) It turns to its owner for help. B) They run away immediately. C) It looks away and gets angry too. D) They make threatening sounds. 【答案】D

【解析】由“When dogs looked at expressions of angry dogs, their eyes rested more on the mouth, perhaps to interpret the threatening expressions.”可知，答案为D。

21. A) By observing their facial features carefully. B) By focusing on a particular body movement. C) By taking in their facial expressions as a whole. D) By interpreting different emotions in different ways. 【答案】C

【解析】由“The researchers also note that dogs scan faces as a whole to sense how people are feeling, instead of focusing on a given feature. They suggest this indicates that dogs aren't sensing emotions from a single feature, but piecing together information from all facial features just as humans do. 可知，答案为C。

听力原文：

Dogs, man's best friends, have a clear strategy for dealing with angry owners—they look away.

New research shows that dogs limit their eye contact with angry humans. The scientists suggest this may be an attempt to calm humans down. This behavior may have evolved as dogs gradually learned they could benefit from avoiding conflicts with humans.

To conduct the tests, the University of Helsinki researchers trained 31 dogs to rest in front of a video screen. Facial photos of dogs and humans were

displayed on the screen for 1.5 seconds. They showed threatening, pleasant and neutral expressions. Nearby cameras tracked the dogs' eye movements.

Dogs in the study looked most at the eyes of humans and other dogs to sense their emotions. When dogs looked at expressions of angry dogs, their eyes rested more on the mouth, perhaps to interpret the threatening expressions. And when looking at angry humans, they tended to turn away their gaze.

Dogs may have learned to detect threat signs from

humans and respond by trying to make peace, according to researcher Sanni Somppi. Avoiding conflicts may have helped dogs develop better bonds with humans.

The researchers also note that dogs scan faces as a whole to sense how people are feeling, instead of focusing on a given feature. They suggest this indicates that dogs aren't sensing emotions from a single feature, but piecing together information from all facial features just as humans do.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22. A) They have to look for food and shelter underground. B) They take little notice of the changes in temperature. C) They resort to different means to survive the bitter cold. D) They have difficulty adapting to the changed environment. 【答案】C

【解析】由“There are three main ways that animals survive the cold in winter: sleep, adapt or migrate. 可知，答案为C。

23. A) They have their weight reduced to the minimum. B) They consume energy stored before the long sleep.

C) They can maintain their heart beat at the normal rate. D) They can keep their body temperature warm and stable. 【答案】B

【解析】由“To prepare for this before winter, these animals eat extra food to become fat, which gives them the energy they need while they sleep”可知，答案为B。

24. A) By staying in hiding places and eating very little. B) By seeking food and shelter in people’s houses. C) By growing thicker hair to stay warm. D) By storing enough food beforehand. 【答案】D

【解析】由“So some animals, such as mice, collect extra food before winter, and hide it.”可知，答案为D。

25. A) To stay safe. B) To save energy. C) To keep company. D) To protect the young. 【答案】A

【解析】由“Some birds fly in groups for safety”可知，答案为A。 听力原文：

Winter in many places is very cold. There is lots of snow around, and the ground freezes, which can make life difficult for animals. People in cold places live in warm houses and have learned to adapt. What do animals do? There are three main ways that animals survive the cold in winter: sleep, adapt or migrate.

Some animals, such as bears, frogs and snakes, sleep all winter. They sleep very deeply and need little or no food. While sleeping, their body temperature drops, and their heart beat slows down. To prepare for this before

winter, these animals eat extra food to become fat, which gives them the energy they need while they sleep.

Other animals adapt. For example, by staying active in winter. It is often hard for them to find food. So some animals, such as mice, collect extra food before winter, and hide it. When winter comes, they return to their hiding places to eat the food. Some animals grow thicker fur, or live in tree holes or

underground to stay warm. Some birds migrate by flying to a warmer place for the winter, where they can find more food.

Some fly very long distances, including one kind of bird that flies from the remote north of the world, all the way to the distant south. Some birds fly in groups for safety, while others fly alone.

Part III Reading Comprehension 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 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.

As if you needed another reason to hate the gym, it now turns out that exercise can exhaust not only your muscles, but also your eyes. Fear not, however, for coffee can stimulate them again. During 26 exercise, our muscles tire as they run out of fuel and build up waste products. Muscle performance can also be affected by a __27__ called “central fatigue”,in which an imbalance in the body’s chemical messengers prevents the central nervous system from directing muscle movements __28__ . It was not known, however, whether central fatigue might also affect motor systems not directly __29__ in the exercise itself, such as those that move the eyes. To find out, researchers gave 11 volunteer cyclists a carbohydrate (碳水化合物) __30__ either with a moderate dose of caffeine (咖徘因),which is known to stimulate the central nervous system, or as a placebo (安慰剂)without, during 3 hours of __31 __ . After exercising, the scientists tested the cyclists with eye-tracking cameras to see how well their brains could still __32__ their visual system. The team found that exercise reduced the speed of rapid eye movements by about 8%, __33__ their ability to capture new visual information. The caffeine, the equivalent of two strong cups of coffee, was __34__ to reverse this effect, with some cyclists even displaying __35__ eye movement speeds. So it might be a good idea to get someone else to drive you home after that marathon.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

A) cautiously B) commit C) control D) cycling E) effectively

F) increased G) involved H) limited I) phenomenon J) preventing K) sensitive L) slowing M) solution N) sufficient O) vigorous 26.【答案】O

【解析】“vigorous exercise”意思为“精力充沛的练习”。 27.【答案】I

【解析】“a phenomenon called”意思为“一种现象被称为”。 28.【答案】E

【解析】出现了“问题”，就不可能那么“有效”。 29.【答案】G

【解析】“involve in”意思为“参与”。 30.【答案】M

【解析】“carbohydrate solution”意思为“碳水化合物溶液”。 31.【答案】D

【解析】由“cyclists”可知，可得出答案。 32.【答案】C

【解析】could后面需要加动词原型。 33.【答案】J

【解析】“preventing”现在分词作伴随状语。阻止了能力。 34.【答案】N

【解析】sufficient to意思为“足够于”。 35. 【答案】F

【解析】“increased eye movement speeds”意思为“增加眼球转速”。 Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the question by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

[A] At some point, almost all of us will experience a period of radical professional change. Some of us will seek it out: for others it will feel like an unwelcome intrusion into otherwise stable careers. Either way, we have choices about how we respond to it when it comes.

[B] We recently caught up with yoga entrepreneur Leah Zaccaria, who put herself through the fire of change to completely reinvent herself. In her search to live a life of purpose, Leah left her high-paying accounting job, her husband, and her home. In the process, she built a radically new life and career. Since then, she has founded two yoga studios, met a new life partner, and formed a new community of people. Even if your personal reinvention is less drastic, we think there are lessons from her experience that apply.

[C] Where do the seeds of change come from? The Native American Indians have a saying: “Pay attention to the whispers so you won’t have to hear the screams.” Often the best ideas for big changes come from unexpected places — it’s just a matter of tuning in. Great leaders recognize the weak signals or slight signs that point to big changes to come. Leah reflects on a time she listened to the whispers: “About the time my daughter was five years old. I started having a sense that ‘this isn’t right’.” She then realized that her life no longer matched her vision for it.

[D] Up until that point, Leah had followed traditional measures of success. After graduating with a degree in business and accounting, she joined a public accounting firm, married, bought a house, put lots of stuff in it, and had a baby. “I did what everybody else thought looked successful, she says. Leah easily could have fallen into a trap of feeling content, instead, her energy sparked a period of experimentation and renewal.

[E] Feeling the need to change, Leah started playing with future

possibilities by exploring her interests and developing new capabilities. First trying physical exercise and dieting. She lost some weight and discovered an inner strength. “ I felt powerful because I broke through my own limitations” , she recalls.

[F] However, it was another interest that led Leah to radically reinvent herself. “ I remember sitting on a bench with my aunt at a yoga studio, ” she said, “ and having a moment of clarity right then and there. Yoga is saving my life. Yoga is waking me up. I,m not happy and I want to change and I,m done with this.” In that moment of clarity Leah made an important leap, conquering her inner resistance to change and making a firm commitment to take bigger steps.

[G] Creating the future you want is a lot easier if you are ready to exploit the opportunities that come your way. When Leah made the commitment to change, she primed herself to new opportunities she may otherwise have overlooked. She recalls:

[H] One day a man I worked with, Ryan, who had his office next to mine, said, “Leah, let’s go look at this space on Queen Anne.” He knew my love for yoga and had seen a space close to where he lived that he thought might be good to serve as a yoga studio. As soon as I saw the location, I knew this was it. Of course I was scared, yet I had this strong sense of “I have to do this.” Only a few months later Leah opened her first yoga studio, but success was not instant.

[I] Creating the future takes time. That’s why leaders continue to manage the present while building toward the big nonlinear changes of the future. When it’s time to make the leap, they take action and decisively drop what’s no longer serving their purpose. Initially Leah stayed with her accounting job while starting up the yoga studio to make it all work. “I was working 60 hours a week and running a studio, so I wasn’t getting very much sleep, but it was good for me,” she says. Soon after, she knew she had to make a bold move to fully commit to her new future. Within two years, Leah shed the safety of her accounting job and made the switch complete. Such drastic change is not easy.

[J] “Be yourself”, Leah says. “Quit being the person people think you’re supposed to be. Find a way to dig deep into your courageous self to be who you are. Whatever that means as far as exploring your emotions, your identity, your profession, find one version of you that you are always and everywhere.” It was this sense of purpose that would carry Leah through the storms of change.

[K] Steering through change and facing obstacles brings us face to face with our fears. Leah reflects on one incident that triggered her fears, when her investors threatened to shut her down: “I was probably up against the most fear I’ve ever had,” she says. “I had spent two years cultivating this community, and it had become successful very fast, but within six months I was facing the prospect of losing it all.”

[L] She connected with her sense of purpose and dug deep, cultivating a tremendous sense of strength. “I was feeling so intentional and strong that I wasn’t going to let fear just take over. I was thinking, ‘OK, guys, if you want to try to shut me down, shut me down.’ And I knew it was a negotiation scheme, so I was able to say to myself, ‘This is not real.’” By naming her fears.

36. Readiness to take advantage of new opportunities will make it easier to create one’s desired future.

【答案】G

【解析】根据题干中的关键词take advantage of new opportunities 和 create one’s desired future 可定位至G段。

37. By conventional standards, Leah was a typical successful woman before she changed her career.

【答案】D

【解析】根据题干中的关键词conventional standards 和 a typical successful woman 可定位至D段。

38. Leah gained confidence by laying out her fears and confronting them directly.

【答案】L

【解析】根据题干中的关键词laying out her fears和confronting them directly可定位至L段。

39. In search of a meaningful life, Leah gave up what she had and set up her own yoga studios.

【答案】B

【解析】根据题干中的关键词gave up what she had和set up her own yoga studios可定位至B段。

40. Leah’s interest in yoga promoted her to make a firm decision to reshape her life.

【答案】F

【解析】根据题干中的关键词interest、make a firm decision和 reshape her life可定位至F段。

41. Small signs may indicate great changes to come and therefore merit attention.

【答案】C

【解析】根据题干中的关键词Small signs和indicate great changes可定位至C段。

42. Leah’s first yoga studio was by no means an immediate success. 【答案】H

【解析】根据题干中的关键词first yoga studio 和 by no means an immediate success 可定位至 H 段。

43. Some people regard professional change as an unpleasant experience that disturbs their career.

【答案】A

【解析】根据题干中的关键词professional change和an unpleasant experience可定位至A段。

44. The worst fear that Leah ever had was the prospect of losing her yoga business.

【答案】K

【解析】根据题干中的关键词worst fear和losing her yoga business可定位至K段。

45. As she explored new interests and developed new potentials, Leah felt powerful internally.

【答案】E

【解析】根据题干中的关键词explored new interests and developed new potentials和powerful internally 可定位至E段。

Section C

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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

Shoppers in the UK are spending less money on toilet paper to save money, research has shown.

Penny-pinching UK consumers choose cheaper products from discounters such as Aldi and Lidl rather than luxury alternatives.

This has wiped 6% off the value of the soft tissue paper market in the UK. It has shrunk from £1.19 billion in 2011 to £1.12 billion in 2015, according to a new report from market research company Mintel. Furthermore, the future of

the market looks far from rosy, with sales expected to fall further to £1.11 billion in 2016.

In the last year alone, despite an increase in the UK population and a subsequent rise in the number of households, sales of toilet paper fell by 2%, with the average household reducing their toilet roll spending from £43 in 2014 to £41 in 2015.

Overall, almost three in five people say they try to limit their usage of paper including facial tissue and kitchen roll—to save money. “Strength, softness and thickness remain the leading indicators of toilet paper quality, with just a small proportion of consumers preferring more luxurious alternatives, such as those with flower patterns or perfume, said Mintel analyst Jack Duckett. “These extra features are deemed unnecessary by the majority of shoppers, which probably reflects how these types of products are typically more expensive than regular toilet paper, even when on special offer.”

While consumers are spending less on toilet paper, they remain fussy in theory at least when it comes to paper quality. Top of Britons,toilet paper wish list is softness (57%) followed by strength (45%) and thickness (36%).

One in 10 buyers rank toilet rolls made from recycled paper among their top considerations, highlighting how overall the environment is much less of a consideration for shoppers than product quality. In a challenge for manufacturers, 81% of paper product users said they would consider buying recycled toilet tissue if it were comparable in quality to standard paper.

46. The market sales of toilet paper have decreased because_____. A) Britons have cut their spending on it B) its prices have gone up over the years C)its quality has seen marked improvement D)Britons have developed the habit of saving 【答案】A

【解析】由“Shoppers in the UK are spending less money on toilet paper to save money, research has shown.”可知，答案为A。

47. What does the author think of the future of the tissue paper market in the UK?

A)It will expand in time.

B) It will remain gloomy.

C)It will experience ups and downs. D) It will recover as population grows. 【答案】B

【解析】由“Furthermore, the future of the market looks far from rosy, with sales expected to fall further to £1.11 billion in 2016.”可知，答案为B。

48. What does Jack Duckett say about toilet paper? A)Special offers would promote its sales. B)Consumers are loyal to certain brands. C)Luxurious features add much to the price. D)Consumers have a variety to choose from. 【答案】C

【解析】由“with just a small proportion of consumers preferring more luxurious alternatives, such as those with flower patterns or perfume, said Mintel analyst Jack Duckett”可知，答案为C。

49. What do we learn about Britons concerning toilet paper? A)They are particular about the quality of toilet paper. B)They emphasize the strength of toilet paper the most. C)They prefer cheap toilet paper to recycled toilet paper. D)They reject using toilet paper with unnecessary features. 【答案】A

【解析】由“While consumers are spending less on toilet paper, they remain fussy in theory at least when it comes to paper quality.”可知，答案为A。

50. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A)More and more Britons buy recycled toilet paper to protect the environment.

B)Toilet paper manufacturers are facing a great challenge in promoting its sales.

C)Toilet paper manufacturers compete with one another to improve product quality.

D)Environmental protection is not much of a concern when Britons buy toilet paper.

【答案】D

【解析】由“One in 10 buyers rank toilet rolls made from recycled paper among their top considerations, highlighting how overall the environment is much less of a consideration for shoppers than product quality. 可知，答案为D。

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

“One of the reasons I find this topic very interesting is because my mom was a smoker when I was younger,” says Lindson-Hawley, who studies tobacco and health at the University of Oxford.

By studying about 700 adult smokers, she found out that her mom quit the right way—by stopping abruptly and completely.

In her study, participants were randomly (随机地)assigned to two groups. One had to quit abruptly on a given day, going from about a pack a day to zero. The other cut down gradually over the course of two weeks. People in both groups used nicotine(尼古丁)patches before they quit, in addition to a second form of nicotine replacement, like gum or spray. They also had talk therapy with a nurse before and after quit day.

Six months out, more people who had quit abruptly had stuck with it—more than one-fifth of them, compared to about one-seventh in the other group. Although these numbers appear low, it is much higher than if people try without support.

And the quit rates were particularly convincing given that before the study started, most of the people had said they’d rather cut down gradually before quitting. “If you’re training for a marathon, you wouldn’t expect to turn up and just be able to run it. And I think people see that for smoking as well. They think, ‘ Well, if I gradually reduce, it’s like practice,’” says Lindson-Hawley. But that wasn’t the case. Instead of giving people practice, the gradual reduction likely gave them cravings (痛)and withdrawal symptoms before they even reached quit day, which could be why fewer people in that group actually made it to that point. “Regardless of your stated preference, if you’re ready to quit, quitting abruptly is more effective,” says Dr. Gabriela Ferreira. “When you can quote a specific number like a fifth of the

patients were able to quit, that’s compelling. It gives them the encouragement, I think, to really go for it,” Ferreira says.

People rarely manage to quit the first time they try. But at least, she says, they can maximize the odds of success.

51. What does Lindson-Hawley say about her mother? A)She quit smoking with her daughter’s help. B)She succeeded in quitting smoking abruptly. C)She was also a researcher of tobacco and health. D)She studied the smoking patterns of adult smokers. 【答案】B

【解析】由“By studying about 700 adult smokers, she found out that her mom quit the right way—by stopping abruptly and completely. 可知，答案为B。

52. What kind of support did smokers receive to quit smoking in Lindson-Hawley’s study?

A)They were given physical training. B)They were looked after by physicians. C)They were encouraged by psychologists. D)They were offered nicotine replacements. 【答案】D

【解析】由“People in both groups used nicotine patches before they quit, in addition to a second form of nicotine replacement, like gum or spray.”可知。答案为D。

53. How does Dr. Gabriela Ferreira view the result of Lindson-Hawley’s experiment?

A)It is idealized. B) It is unexpected. C) It is encouraging. D) It is misleading. 【答案】C

【解析】由“When you can quote a specific number like a fifth of the patients were able to quit, that’s compelling. It gives them the encouragement, I think, to really go for it, Ferreira says.

”可知，答案为C。

54. The idea of “a marathon” (Line 2, Para.5) illustrates the popular belief that quitting smoking _____.

A)is something few can accomplish B) needs some practice first C)requires a lot of patience D) is a challenge at the beginning 【答案】C

【解析】由“If you’re training for a marathon, you wouldn’t expect to turn up and just be able to run it. And I think people see that for smoking as well”可知，答案为C。

55. What happens when people try to quit smoking gradually? A) They find it even more difficult. B) They are simply unable to make it. C) They show fewer withdrawal symptoms. D) They feel much less pain in the process. 【答案】A

【解析】由“Regardless of your stated preference, if you’re ready to quit, quitting abruptly is more effective”可知，答案为A。

Part IV Translation

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

长江是亚洲最长、世界上第三长的河流。长江流经多种不同的生态系统，是诸多濒危物种的栖息地，灌溉了中国五分之一的土地。长江流域居住着中国三分之一的人口。长江在中国历史、文化和经济上起着很大的作用。长江三角洲产出多达20%的中国国民生产总值。几千年来,长江一直被用于供水、运输和工业生产。长江上还坐落着世界最大的水电站。

【参考译文】

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. It flows through a

wide array of ecosystems and is habitat to several endemic and endangered species. The Yangtze River irrigates one-fifth of the land area of the People’

s Republic of China (PRC). Yangtze river basin is home to one-third of the country's population. The Yangtze plays a large role in the

history, culture and economy of China. The Yangtze River Delta generates as much as 20% of the PRC’s GNP. For thousands of years, the Yangtze River has been used for water supply, transportation and industrial production. The largest hydro-electric power station in the world is also located in the River.

【解析】“流经”翻译为“flow through”；“栖息地”翻译为“habitat”；“生态系统”翻译为“ecosystem”；“灌溉”翻译为“irrigate”；“水电站”翻译为“hydro-electric power station”。

2017年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案解析（第二套完整版）

Part I Writing

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an advertisement on your campus website to sell a bicycle you used at college. Your advertisement may include its brand, specifications/features, condition and price, and your contact information. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

【参考范文】 Bicycle on Sale

Do you want to be a beautiful view by riding a bicycle on campus? Still looking for a better bicycle at a lower price? Good news! Here’s an ideal bicycle to meet all your needs.

To begin with, it is a Forever mountain bike which I bought one year ago at the cost of 800 RMB. I was careful in the maintenance of the bike so that it’s in very good condition now. Besides, the bicycle is grass-green so it’s absolutely eye-catching. With a comfortable cushion and a highly sensitive braking system, its performance can be regarded as unrivalled. Last but not the least, the bicycle now is sold at half price and I will give a lock as a present to whoever buys it.

Time waits for no man. So just move on! If you are interested, please contact me at the number of 1234567. I’m looking forward to your calling!

【解析】“on sale”意思为“出售”；“maintenance”意思为“维护”；“braking system”意思为“刹车系统”；“performance”意思为“性能”；“unrivalled”意思为“无与伦比的”；“time waits for no man”意思为“时不我待”。

Part II Listening Comprehension Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report 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 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1. A)The majority of drivers prefer to drive and park themselves. B)Human drivers become easily distracted or tired while driving. C)Most drivers feel uncertain about the safety of self-driving cars. D)Most drivers have test driven cars with automatic braking features. 【答案】C

【解析】新闻中提及“those surveyed by AAA say they trust their own driving skills. Many feel the technology is too new and unproven.”，由此可推断出本题选C。

2. A)Their drivers would feel safe after getting used to the automatic devices.

B)They would be unpopular with drivers who only trust their own skills. C)Their increased comfort levels have boosted their sales. D)They are not actually as safe as automakers advertise. 【答案】A

【解析】新闻中在提及John Nielsen时说，“tests suggest drivers may be overestimating their own abilities. He also believes they will be more likely to trust self-driving cars as they become more familiar with features such as automatic braking or parking.”，这与A选项完全符合。

听力原文：

Automakers and tech companies are working hard to offer the first true self-driving car, but 75% of drivers say they wouldn’t feel safe in such a vehicle. Still, 60% of drivers would like to get some kind of self-driving feature such as automatic braking or self-parking the next time they buy a new car. The attitudes are published in a new AAA survey of 1,800 drivers. Advocates of self- driving cars argue they would be safer than in cars driven by humans because they wouldn’t get distracted or drive when tired. (1) But those surveyed by AAA say they trust their own driving skills. Many feel the technology is too new and unproven. (2) John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of automotive engineering and repair, said tests suggest drivers may be overestimating their own abilities. He also believes they will be more likely to trust self-driving cars as they become more familiar with features such as automatic braking or parking. He estimated that the “comfort lever” will increase considerably in five to ten years.

Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. 3. A) Thefts of snowmobile dogs in Alaska. B) A series of injuries to snowmobile drivers. C) Attacks on some Iditarod Race competitors. D) A serious accident in the Alaska sports event. 【答案】C

【解析】根据听力材料中的关键词“attack on competitors in the Iditarod Race in Alaska”可知本题答案为C项。

4. A) He stayed behind to look after his injured dogs. B) He has won the Alaska Iditarod Race four times.

C) He received a minor injury in the Iditarod Race. D) He has quit the competition in Alaska for good.

【答案】B

【解析】新闻中在提及Jeff King时用了“a four-time champion”一词，由此可知B选项正确。

听力原文：

(3) One dog has been killed tid multiple dogs have been injured by a snowmobile driver in what appears to be an intentional attack on competitors in the Iditarod Race in Alaska.

Aliy Zirkle was the first to report an attack. A snowmobile driver had repeatedly attempted to harm her and her team, and one of Zirkle’s dogs had received a non-life-threatening injury.

Zirkle reported the attack when she arrived in Nulato, Alaska, in the early hours of the morning. (4) Then Jeff King, a four-time champion, reported a similar attack. His team was hit by a snowmobile driver, injuring several dogs and killing a 3-year-old male dog.

(4) Reporter Zachariah Hughes, says that neither King nor Zirkle was injured. Although this incident very much alters the race of the two participants competing for a win, both are going to continue on their way toward the finish line.

Alaska State Troopers released a statement saying they’ve arrested Arnold Demoski, 26. He faces trial on several charges.

Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. 5. A) It sank into the sea due to overloading. B) It ran into Nicaragua’s Big Com Island. C) It disappeared between two large islands. D) It turned over because of strong winds. 【答案】D

【解析】新闻首句就提及“A tour boat turned over off the coast of Nicaragua”，根据关键词“turnedover”选出答案为D。

6. A) 13. B) 25. C) 30. D) 32. 【答案】D

【解析】新闻中提及，“The boat was carrying 32 people——25 Costa Ricans, 4 Americans and 3 Nicaraguans. The 13 dead were all Costa Rican…”，由此可排除A、B选项，C项未提及，故答案为D。

7. A) He has helped with the rescue effort. B) He is being investigated by the police. C) He was drowned with the passengers. D) He is among those people missing. 【答案】B

【解析】新闻中第一次提及the owner时说道，他同一些人一起被救起，由此排除C、D选项。后面又提及“he and a crew member are being investigated”，由此可知B选项正确。

听力原文：

(5) A tour boat turned over off the coast of Nicaragua, killing at least 13 people and leaving more passengers missing, officials said. (6) The boat was carrying 32 people—25 Costa Ricans, 4 Americans and 3 Nicaraguans. The 13 dead were all Costa Rican, the foreign ministry said.

(5) The boat, traveling between Nicaragua’s Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island, turned over Saturday near the larger island. Some passengers remain missing, the Costa Rican foreign ministry said, but did not specify how many. (7)A local radio said an unspecified number of people were rescued, including the tour boat’s owner, Hilario Blandon. (5) Nicaraguan naval authorities had banned sea travel in the area because of bad weather and strong winds, but the tour boat proceeded anyway. (7)Blandon, the boat’s owner, has been arrested by Nicaraguan authorities, the state-run news agency said. Both he and a crew member are being investigated for unintentional murder and exposing people to danger, according to police.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 8. A) At a shopping centre. B) At a community college. C) At an accountancy firm. D) At an IT company. 【答案】C

【解析】苏珊回答说“I’ve got a second interview with that big foreign accountancy firm in the city centre”，由此可知本题选C。

9. A) Helping out with data input.

B) Arranging interviews. C) Sorting application forms. D) Making phone calls. 【答案】A

【解析】苏珊在对话中对男士说道“The work is just helping out with data input.”，A选项正确。

10. A) He enjoys using computers. B) He needs the money badly.

C) He wants to work in the city centre. D) He has relevant working experience. 【答案】B

【解析】对话中詹姆斯说道“I really need the money and the experience will look good on my resume.”，由此可知，B选项正确。

11. A) Purchase some business suits. B) Learn some computer language. C) Improve his programming skills. D) Review some accountancy terms. 【答案】D

【解析】詹姆斯说“I think I can survive. I might just have to review a few accountancy terms.”，故答案选D。

听力原文： Conversation One

M: Hi, Susan, you are looking very smart today.

W: I always look smart, James. Actually, I’m on my way to a job interview. M: What job? Oh, you mean for the summer holidays?

W: Yeah, there’s only two weeks to go. (8) I’ve got a second interview with that big foreign accountancy firm in the city centre. You know the one.

M: That’s fantastic!

W: (9) The work is just helping out with data input. You know, but the pay isn’t too bad. It might suit you too. I know they have at least two temporary positions available. And I don’t think they have anyone else yet.

M: Um, if they take you on, tell them you know a friend who’d be really good too. (10) I really need the money and the experience will look good on my resume. Maybe we’ll be working together. The dream team!

W: Ok, we’ll do. If the boss likes me, I’ll mention it. It will be good to have someone around who I know. I’ll phone you afterwards. But perhaps you should put in an application anyway.

M: Thanks Susan, that’s great. Listen, do you want a lift to the city? I have my dad’s car today and nothing else to do this morning.

W: Sure, thanks James.

M: Let’s go then. The car is over there.

W: By the way, how is your knowledge of accountancy? The interviewer may ask you about it.

M: (11) No problem. I think I can survive. I might just have to review a few accountancy terms. Maybe you can give me a practice interview first.

W: Of course, let’s go then. Don’t want to be late.

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12. A) They are keen on high technology. B) They are poor at technology skills. C) They often listen to National Public Radio. D) They feel superior in science and technology. 【答案】B

【解析】男士出场时说道“Let’s start with the bad news that Americans are terrible at technology skills...”，由此可知答案选B。

13. Who performs the best in technology skills according to the man? 13. A) Japanese. B) Germans. C) Poles. D) Americans. 【答案】A

【解析】男士说日本在这方面表现最好。本題只要能听到“Japan did the best”这句话就不难选出答案。

14. A) Emailing. B) Texting. C) Science. D) Literacy. 【答案】D

【解析】对话中男士说道“Americans are terrible at technology skills, using e-mail,…or just texting someone.”，后面又说“In literacy, they were actually doing better than their peers in other countries.”，由此可知答案为D。

15. A) It is undergoing a drastic reform. B) It lays emphasis on creative thinking. C) It has much room for improvement.

D) It prioritizes training of practical skills. 【答案】C

【解析】对话中男士提及“when you look at Americans who have a high school diploma, they look a lot like other countries’ high school dropouts. We have a lot of work to do.”其中C选项是对原文“We have a lot of work to do.”的同义表述。故本题选C。

听力原文： Conversation Two

W: There is new data out today that confirms that many Americans are not good at Math. And when it comes to everyday technology skills, we are dead last when compared to other developed countries. Here’s Gabriel Emanuel of National Public Radio.

M: (12)/(14) Let’s start with the bad news that Americans are terrible at technology skills, using email, naming the file on a computer, using the link on a webpage or just texting someone.

W: No country scored below the U.S.?

M: Only one country. (13) Poland performed as poorly as we did. Who came out the first? Japan did the best, and then Finland.(14)If you look at data about reading and Math, you’ll notice something interesting. Younger adults who went to college or graduate school were doing pretty well. In literacy, they were actually doing better than their peers in other countries.

W: So that’s a bit of good news.

M: (15) But when you look at Americans who have a high school diploma, they look a lot like other countries’ high school dropouts. We have a lot of work to do. That is especially true, when it comes to Math. You go to the store and there is a sale. Buy one, get the second one half off. You decide to buy two. How much do you pay?

W: You mean high school graduates can’t do this task in general?

M: You are right. What does that tell us about our education system? Well, it tells us that we need to think about the preparedness of our students, as they are leaving high school.

W: Right, and schools, employers in fact we all need to do something about it. Thank you, Gabriel.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four 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 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. A) They have small roots. B) They grow white flowers. C) They taste like apples. D) They come from Central Africa. 【答案】A

【解析】听力中第一句话提到，约3.6亿年前，野生胡萝卜可能与其他开花植物进化而来。接着对野生胡萝卜进行了介绍：像苹果一样，胡萝卜源自中亚；野生胡萝卜的根是白色的，小小的、细细的。由此可知，A 项正确。

17. A) They turned from white to purple in color. B) They became popular on the world market. C) They became an important food for humans. D) They began to look like modern-day carrots. 【答案】D

【解析】材料中提及“Then in the late 1500s, food scientists in the

Netherlands cultivated large, straight, sweet, red carrots like the ones we eat today”，由此可知D项正确。

18. A) They were found quite nutritious. B) There were serious food shortages. C) People discovered their medicinal value. D) Farm machines helped lower their prices. 【答案】B

【解析】听力材料在提及两次世界大战时说道“carrots got their biggest boost during the two world wars when food shortages forced people to eat them”，由此可知选B。

听力原文：

(16) Wild carrots probably evolved with the other flowering plants about 360 million years ago. Like apples, carrots are native to Central Asia. That’s why horses, which also come from Central Asia, like both apples and carrots so much.

(16) With wild carrots, the roots are white, small and skinny, so you’d have to pick a lot of wild carrots to get enough to eat. Doctors used carrot seeds and roots as medicine on the theory that foods that taste bad must be good for you.

Around 800 AD, people in Central Asia managed to develop a new kind of carrot—a purple carrot that attracted more interest from international traders. (17) Then in the late 1500s, food scientists in the Netherlands cultivated large, straight, sweet, red carrots like the ones we eat today. But people still mostly fed carrots to horses, donkeys and pigs, and didn’t eat them themselves.

In the 1600s, people in China used carrots as medicine, but they also ate carrots boiled in soup. The red color was popular for Chinese New Year celebrations. (18) But carrots got their biggest boost during the two world wars when food shortages forced people to eat them, and governments told everyone how healthy carrots were; Today, cooler countries grow most of the world’s carrots. Machines do most of the planting and picking, and carrots are easy to store and ship, so they are cheap almost everywhere.

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

19. A) She could update her family any time she liked. B) She could call up her family whenever she liked. C) She could locate her friends wherever they were. D) She could download as many pictures as she liked. 【答案】A

【解析】听力材料中提及“Another thing Katherine loved about was that she didn’t have to think about time zones when updating family... was so convenient”，由此可知A选项正确。

20. A)She liked to inform her friends about her success. B)She enjoyed reading her friends’ status updates. C) She felt quite popular among them. D) She felt she was a teenager again. 【答案】B

【解析】听力材料中提及，Katherine很高兴看到那些在自己青少年时就相识的人们的成功，很高兴了解到他们结婚、生子或在旅行。而这些都是好友们在上更新的状态，由此可知她很喜欢看朋友们更新的状态，故B选项正确。

21. A) She could barely respond to all her 500 friends. B) She spent more time updating her friends than her family. C) She could barely balance updates and her work. D) She didn’t seem to be doing as well as her friends. 【答案】D

【解析】听力材料中提及“It began to make her feel bad that some people seem to be doing so much better than she was”，由此可知D选项正确。

听力原文：

Katherine loved . With , she could stay connected with her family no matter how far away they were. She could see their photos and read their status updates. With , she could keep her relatives up to date on what she was doing.

(19) Another thing Katherine loved about was that she didn’t have to think about time zones when updating family. Whenever she called her parents or other relatives, she always had to think about the time difference so that

she wouldn’t wake someone up or call when she knew they were in church. (19) was so convenient.

When Catherine joined , some of her classmates at high school started to add her as a friend. (20) At first, this didn’t bother her. She loved learning about the success of people she knew when she was just a teenager. She loved finding out people were getting married, having babies and travelling. (21) Soon however, Katherine found herself comparing herself with the people she was reading about on . It began to make her feel bad that some people seem to be doing so much better than she was. She was also spending a lot of time on . It took a lot of time and energy to keep up with everyone’s status updates. Katherine started to think. She looked at the list of over 500 friends she had on and realized some of them were not really friends at all.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22. A) They have strong muscles. B) They live a longer life than horses. C) They eat much less in winter. D) They can work longer than donkeys. 【答案】A

【解析】听力材料中提及“Mules have strong muscles like horses but they eat less, can work longer, and are gentler like donkeys”，由此可知A选项正确。

23. A) It was a pet of a Spanish king. B) It was bought by George Washington. C) It was brought over from Spain. D) It was donated by a U.S. ambassador. 【答案】C

【解析】听力材料提及“In 1785, King Charles III of Spain sent Washington a male donkey as a gift”，由此可知选C。

24. A)They met and exchanged ideas on animal breeding. B)They participated in a mule-driving competition. C)They showed and traded animals in the market. D)They fed mules with the best food they could find.

【答案】C

【解析】听力材料中提及“Farmers and farm animal breeders would bring their animals to market every April to show，buy and trade”，由此可知答案选C。

25. A) The wider use of horses. B) The arrival of tractors. C) A shrinking animal trade. D) A growing donkey population. 【答案】B

【解析】听力材料中提及“Eventually, tractors began to replace mules, making them less in demand”，由此可知B 选项正确。

听力原文：

Do you know where a mule comes from? It is the child of a donkey and a horse. (22) Mules have strong muscles like horses but they eat less, can work longer, and are gentler like donkeys. George Washington was the first person in the United States to own mules. He had heard that mules made good farm animals and he contacted the U.S. ambassador in Spain to ask about them. (23) In 1785, King Charles III of Spain sent Washington a male donkey as a gift. That male donkey became the father of the mule industry in the U.S.

Every April, Maury County holds a Mule Day celebration. (24) Held in Columbia, Tennessee, Mule Day had its beginnings as “Breeder’s Day” in the 1840s. Farmers and farm animal breeders would bring their animals to market every April to show, buy and trade. This was an important business before the days of tractors when many families made a living from farming, and mules were used as work animals. (25) Eventually, tractors began to replace mules, making them less in demand.

A parade was added to Mule Day in 1934 to attract more people. Over the years, other activities have been added. And today more than 200,000 people show up each year to watch and participate. If you visit during Mule Day celebrations, you might see mule-driving contests, square dances, horn shows, or even tree cutting competitions.

Part III Reading Comprehension 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 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.

America’s Internet is faster than ever before, but people still complain about their Internet being too slow. New York’s Attorney General’s office __26__ an investigation in the fall into whether or not Verizon, Cablevision and Time Warner are delivering broadband that’s as fast as the providers __27__ it is. Earlier this month, the office asked for the public’s help to measure their speed results, saying consumers __28__ to get the speeds they were promised. “Too many of us may be paying for one thing, and getting another,” the Attorney General said.

If the investigation uncovers anything, it wouldn’t be the first time a telecom provider got into __29__ over the broadband speeds it promised and delivered customers. Back in June, the Federal Communications Commission fined AT&T $100 million over __30__ that the carrier secretly reduced wireless speeds after customers consumed a certain amount of __31__ .

Even when they stay on the right side of the law, Internet providers arouse consumers’ anger over bandwidth speed and cost. Just this week, an investigation found that media and telecom giant Comcast is the most __32__ provider. Over 10 months, Comcast received 12,000 customer complaints, many __33__ to its monthly data cap and overage （超过额度的）charges.

Some Americans are getting so __34__ with Internet providers they’re just giving up. A recent study found that the number of Americans with high-speed Internet at home today __35__ fell during the last two years, and 15% of people now consider themselves to be “cord-cutters”.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 A) accusations B) actually C) claim D) communicating E) complain

F)data G) deserved H) frustrated I) hated J) launched K) relating L) times M) trouble N) usually O) worried 26. 【答案】J

【解析】此句缺少谓语，需填入一个动词。再结合上下文时态，此处应填动词过去时。根据句意，选项中只有launched符合句意。

27. 【答案】C

【解析】空格前是名词providers，空格后是it，此处应填一个动词。根据句意，选项中只有claim符合，故选C。

28. 【答案】G

【解析】空格处应填一个动词的过去式。选项中只有deserved符合，构成固定搭配deserve to表示“值得，应得”。故选G。

29. 【答案】M

【解析】空格前面是动词词组get into，后面应接一个名词。根据句意，选项中只有trouble一词符合，get into trouble表示“陷入麻烦、陷入困境”。故选M。

30. 【答案】A

【解析】空格前为介词over，空格后是that引导的同位语从句，故空格处应填入一个名词。根据句意，选项中只有accusations符合句意。故选A。

31. 【答案】F

【解析】空格前为a certain amount of，后面应接名词。根据句意，选项中只有data符合。故选F。

32. 【答案】D

【解析】空格前是形容词most，空格后是名词provider，此处应填一个形容词修饰名词。根据句意，选项中只有communicating符合。故选D。

33. 【答案】K

【解析】空格处应填入一个非谓语动词，再结合句意可知选项中只有relating符合。故选K。

34. 【答案】H

【解析】空格前是副词so，空格后是介词with，此处应填一个形容词且能和with构成搭配。根据句意，选项中只有frustrated符合。

35. 【答案】B

【解析】空格后是动词，此处应填一个副词来修饰动词。根据句意，选项中只有actually符合。故选B。

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the question by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

The Blessing and Curse of the People Who Never Forget

A handful of people can recall almost every day of their lives in enormous detail-and after years of research, neuroscientists are finally beginning to understand how they do it.

[A] For most of us, memory is a mess of blurred and faded pictures of our lives. As much as we would like to cling on to our past, even the saddest moments can be washed away with time.

[B] Ask Nima Veiseh what he was doing for any day in the past 15 years, however, and he will give you the details of the weather, what he was wearing, or even what side of the train he was sitting on his journey to work. “My memory is like 汪 library of video tapes, walk-throughs of every day of my life from waking to sleeping,” he explains.

[C] Veiseh can even put a date on when those tapes started recording: 15 December 2000, when he met his first girlfriend at his best friend’s 16th birthday party. He had always had a good memory, but the thrill of young love seems to have shifted a gear in his mind: from now on, he would start recording his whole life in detail. “I could tell you everything about every day after that.”

[D] Needless to say, people like Veiseh are of great interest to

neuroscientists （神经科学专家）hoping to understand the way the brain records our lives. A couple of recent papers have finally opened a window on these people’s extraordinary minds. And such research might even suggest ways for us all to relive our past with greater clarity.

[E] “Highly superior autobiographical memory” (or HSAM for short), first came to light in the early 2000s, with a young woman named Jill Price. Emailing the neuroscientist and memory researcher Jim McGaugh one day, she claimed that she could recall every day of her life since the age of 12. Could he help explain her experiences?

[F] McGaugh invited her to his lab, and began to test her: he would give her a date and ask her to tell him about the world events on that day. True to her word, she was correct almost every time.

[G] It didn’t take long for magazines and documentary film-makers to come to understand her “total recall” , and thanks to the subsequent media interest, a few dozen other subjects (including Veiseh) have since come forward and contacted the team at the University of California, Irvine.

[H] Interestingly, their memories are highly self-centred: although they can remember “autobiographical” life events in extraordinary detail, they seem to be no better than average at recalling impersonal information, such as random （任意选取的）lists of words. Nor are they necessarily better at remembering a round of drinks, say. And although their memories are vast, they are still likely to suffer from “false memories' Clearly, there is no such thing as a “perfect” memory~~their extraordinary minds are still using the same flawed tools that the rest of us rely on. The question is, how?

[I] Lawrence Patihis at the University of Southern Mississippi recently studied around 20 people with HSAM and found that they scored particularly high on two measures: fantasy proneness （倾向）and absorption. Fantasy proneness could be considered a tendency to imagine and daydream, whereas absorption is the tendency to allow your mind to become fully absorbed in an activity to pay complete attention to the sensations (感受)and the experiences. “I’m extremely sensitive to sounds, smells and visual detail,” explains Nicole Donohue, who has taken part in many of these studies. “I definitely feel things more strongly than the average person.”

[J] The absorption helps them to establish strong foundations for recollection, says Patihis, and the fantasy proneness means that they revisit those memories again and again in the coming weeks and months. Each time this initial memory trace is “replayed”，it becomes even stronger. In some ways, you probably go through that process after a big event like your wedding day but the difference is that thanks to their other psychological tendencies, the HSAM subjects are doing it day in, day out, for the whole of their lives.

[K] Not everyone with a tendency to fantasise will develop HSAM, though, so Patihis suggests that something must have caused them to think so much about their past. “Maybe some experience in their childhood meant that they became obsessed (着迷）with calendars and what happened to them,” says Patihis.

[L] The people with HSAM Fve interviewed would certainly agree that it can be a mixed blessing. On the plus side, it allows you to relive the most

transformative and enriching experiences. Veiseh, for instance, travelled a lot in his youth. In his spare time, he visited the local art galleries, and the paintings are now lodged deep in his autobiographical memories.

[M] “Imagine being able to remember every painting, on every wall, in every gallery space, between nearly 40 countries,” he says. “That’s a big education in art by itself.” With this comprehensive knowledge of the history of art, he has since become a professional painter.

[N] Donohue, now a history teacher, agrees that it helped during certain parts of her education: “I can definitely remember what I learned on certain days at school. I could imagine what the teacher was saying or what it looked like in the book.”

[O] Not everyone with HSAM has experienced these benefits, however. Viewing the past in high definition can make it very difficult to get over pain and regret. “It can be very hard to forget embarrassing moments,” says Donohue. “You feel the same emotions—it is just as raw, just as fresh… ou can’t turn off that stream of memories, no matter how hard you try.” Veiseh agrees: “It is like having these open wounds they are just a part of you,” he says.

[P] This means they often have to make a special effort to lay the past to rest. Bill, for instance, often gets painful “flashbacks”, in which unwanted memories intrude into his consciousness, but overall he has chosen to see it as the best way of avoiding repeating the same mistakes. “Some people are absorbed in the past but not open to new memories, but that’s not the case for me. I look forward to each day and experiencing something new.”

36. People with HSAM have the same memory as ordinary people when it comes to impersonal information.

【答案】H

【解析】根据题干中的关键词people with HSAM, ordinary people以及impersonal information 可定位至[H]段。

37. Fantasy proneness will not necessarily cause people to develop HSAM. 【答案】K

【解析】由题干中的关键词fantasy proneness 以及develop HSAM可定位至[K]段。 38. Veiseh began to remember the details of his everyday experiences after he met his first young love.

【答案】C

【解析】根据题干中的关键词Veiseh、 details of his everyday experiences 以及 his first young love 可定位至[C]段。

39. Many more people with HSAM started to contact researchers due to the mass media.

【答案】G

【解析】根据题干中的关键词Many more people with HSAM、contact researchers、due to the mass media可定位至[G]段。

40. People with HSAM often have to make efforts to avoid focusing on the past.

【答案】P

【解析】根据题干中的关键词make efforts 以及focusing on the past可定位至[P]段。

41. Most people do not have clear memories of past events. 【答案】A

【解析】根据题意可定位至[A]段。

42. HSAM can be both a curse and a blessing. 【答案】L

【解析】根据题干中的both a curse and a blessing可定位至[L]段。 43. A young woman sought explanation from a brain scientist when she noticed her unusual memory.

【答案】E

【解析】由题干中的关键词a young woman> a brain scientist 和unusual memory 可定位至[E]段。

44. Some people with HSAM find it very hard to get rid of unpleasant memories.

【答案】O

【解析】根据题意可定位至[O]段。

45. A recent study of people with HSAM reveals that they are liable to fantasy and full absorption in an activity.

【答案】I

【解析】根据题干中的关键词a recent study、people with HSAM、fantasy 以及full absorption可定位至[I]段。

Section C

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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

The phrase almost completes itself: midlife crisis. It’s the stage in the middle of the journey when people feel youth vanishing, their prospects narrowing and death approaching.

There’s only one problem with the cliche （套话）. It isn’t true. “In fact, there is almost no hard evidence for midlife crisis other than a few small pilot studies conducted decades ago,” Barbara Hagerty writes in her new book, Life Reimagined. The bulk of the research shows that there may be a pause, or a shifting of gears in the 40s or 50s, but this shift “can be exciting, rather than terrifying.”

Barbara Hagerty looks at some of the features of people who turn midlife into a rebirth. They break routines, because “autopilot is death.” They choose purpose over happiness—having a clear sense of purpose even reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. They give priority to relationships, as careers often recede （逐渐淡化）.

Life Reimagined paints a picture of middle age that is far from gloomy. Midlife seems like the second big phase of decision-making. Your identity has been formed; you’ve built up your resources; and now you have the chance to take the big risks precisely because your foundation is already secure.

Karl Barth described midlife precisely this way. At middle age, he wrote, “the sowing is behind; now is the time to reap. The run has been taken; now is the time to leap. Preparation has been made; now is the time for the venture of the work itself.”

The middle-aged person, Barth continued, can see death in the distance, but moves with a “measured haste” to get big new things done while there is still time.

What Barth wrote decades ago is even truer today. People are healthy and energetic longer. We have presidential candidates running for their first term in office at age 68, 69 and 74. A longer lifespan is changing the narrative structure of life itself. What could have been considered the beginning of a decent is now a potential turning point the turning point you are most equipped to take full advantage of.

46. What does the author think of the phrase “midlife crisis”？ A) It has led to a lot of debate. B) It is widely acknowledged. C) It is no longer fashionable. D) It misrepresents real life. 【答案】D

【解析】本题定位在第二段。

47. How does Barbara Hagerty view midlife? A) It may be the beginning of a crisis. B) It can be a new phase of one’s life. C) It can be terrifying for the unprepared. D) It may see old-age disease approaching. 【答案】B

【解析】根据题干中的关键词Barbara Hagerty可定位至第三、四段。 48. How is midlife pictured in the book Life Reimagined? A) It can be quite rosy. B) It can be burdensome.

C) It undergoes radical transformation. D) It makes for the best part of one’s life. 【答案】A

【解析】根据题干中的关键词pictured和Life Reimagined可定位至第五段第一句。 49. According to Karl Barth, midlife is the time . A) to relax B) to mature C) to harvest D) to reflect

【答案】C

【解析】根据题干中的关键词Karl Barth可定位至第六段。 50. What does the author say about midlife today? A) It is more meaningful than other stages of life. B) It is likely to change the narrative of one’s life. C) It is more important to those with a longer lifespan. D) It is likely to be a critical turning point in one’s life. 【答案】D

【解析】根据题干中的关键词midlife today可定位至最后一段。 Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

In spring, chickens start laying again, bringing a welcome source of protein at winter’s end. So it’s no surprise that cultures around the world celebrate spring by honoring the egg.

Some traditions are simple, like the red eggs that get baked into Greek Easter breads. Others elevate the egg into a fancy art, like the heavily jewel-covered “eggs” that were favored by the Russians starting in the 19th century.

One ancient form of egg art comes to us from Ukraine. For centuries, Ukrainians have been drawing complicated patterns on eggs. Contemporary artists have followed this tradition to create eggs that speak to the anxieties of our age: Life is precious, and delicate. Eggs are, too.

“There’s something about their delicate nature that appeals to me,” says New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Several years ago, she became interested in eggs and learned the traditional Ukrainian technique to draw her very modem characters. “I’ve broken eggs at every stage of the process 一 from the very beginning to the very, very end.”

But there’s an appeal in that vulnerability. “There’s part of this sickening horror of knowing you’re walking on the edge with this, that I kind of like, knowing that it could all fall apart at any second.” Chast’s designs, such as a worried man alone in a tiny rowboat, reflect that delicateness.

Traditional Ukrainian decorated eggs also spoke to those fears. The elaborate patterns were believed to offer protection against evil.

“There’s an ancient legend that as long as these eggs are made, evil will not prevail in the world,” says Joan Brander, a Canadian egg-painter who has been painting eggs for over 60 years, having learned the art from her Ukrainian relatives.

The tradition, dating back to 300 B.C., was later incorporated into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still endure. A decorated egg with a bird on it, given to a young married couple, is a wish for children. A decorated egg thrown into the field would be a wish for a good harvest.

51. Why do people in many cultures prize the egg? A) It is a welcome sign of the coming of spring. B) It is their major source of protein in winter. C) It can easily be made into a work of art. D) It can bring wealth and honor to them. 【答案】A

【解析】根据本题的关键词prize the egg可定位至第一段。 52. What do we learn about the decorated “eggs” in Russia? A) They are shaped like jewel cases. B) They are cherished by the rich. C) They are heavily painted in red. D) They are favored as a form of art. 【答案】D

【解析】根据本题的关键词Russia可定位至第二段。

53. Why have contemporary artists continued the egg art tradition? A) Eggs serve as an enduring symbol of new life. B) Eggs have an oval shape appealing to artists. C) Eggs reflect the anxieties of people today. D) Eggs provide a unique surface to paint on. 【答案】C

【解析】根据本题的关键词contemporary artists和tradition可定位至第三段。 54. Why does Chast enjoy the process of decorating eggs?

A) She never knows if the egg will break before the design is completed. B) She can add multiple details to the design to communicate her idea. C) She always derives great pleasure from designing something new. D) She is never sure what the final design will look like until the end. 【答案】A

【解析】本题定位至第五段。

55. What do we learn from the passage about egg-painting? A) It originated in the eastern part of Europe. B) It has a history of over two thousand years. C) It is the most time-honored form of fancy art. D) It is especially favored as a church decoration. 【答案】B

【解析】本题定位至最后一段。 Part IV Translation

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

珠江是华南一大河系，流经广州市，是中国第三长的河流，仅次于长江和黄河。珠江三角洲(delta) 是中国最发达的地区之一，面积约11000平方公里。它在面积和人口方面也是世界上最大的城市聚集 区。珠江三角洲九个最大城市共有5700多万人口。上世纪70年代末中国改革开放以来，珠江三角洲已成为中国和世界主要经济区域和制造中心之一。

【参考译文】

The Pearl River, an extensive river system in southern China, flows through Guangzhou City. It is China’s third-longest river, only after the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is one of the most developed regions in China with an area of about 11,000 square kilometers. It is the largest urban area in the world in both size and population. The nine largest cities of PRD have a combined population of over 57 million. Since the reform and opening up was adopted by the Chinese government in the late 1970s,

the Delta has become one of the leading economic regions and a major manufacturing center of China and the world.

【解析】“珠江”翻译为“The Pearl River”；“仅次于”翻译为“only after”；“改革开放”翻译为“the reform and opening up”；“主要经济区域”翻译为“leading economic regions”；“制造中心”翻译为“manufacturing center”。

2017年6月大学英语四级考试真题及答案解析（第三套完整版）

Part I Writing

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an advertisement on your campus website to sell a computer you used at college. Your advertisement may include its brand, specifications features, condition and price, and your contact information. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

【参考范文】

Your Ultimate Choice---the Ultimate Computer

Do you need a computer in the new semester? Still depressed for not being able to afford a new computer? Good news for you! My computer may be an available option for you to take into consideration.

To begin with, it’s an Apple laptop which was bought two years ago at the price of 10,000 RMB. It is now in good condition and fully functional. Besides, my laptop is portable so that you can take it to anywhere you want. The storage space is big enough for you to do any assignments, including editing and drawing. Finally, with the dual-core processor and high-performance video card, it can be unimpeded when you play online games and watch videos.

So if you are eager to have a computer of your own, please do not hesitate to call me at 1234567. I will offer you a 50% discount!

【解析】“available”意思为“可获得的”；“take into consideration”意思为“考虑”；“storage space”意思为“存储空间”；“dual-core processor”意思为“双核处理器”；“unimpeded”意思为“畅通无阻的”。

Part II Listening Comprehension 与第一套相同。

Part III Reading Comprehension 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 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.

The method for making beer has changed over time. Hops （啤酒花）, for example, which give many a modem beer its bitter flavor, are a __26__ recent addition to the beverage. This was first mentioned in reference to brewing in the ninth century. Now, researchers have found a __27__ ingredient in residue （残留物）from 5000-year-old beer brewing equipment. While digging two pits at a site in the central plains of China, scientists discovered fragments from pots and vessels. The different shapes of the containers __28__ they were used to brew, filter, and store beer. They may be ancient “beer-making tools”，and the earliest __29__ evidence of beer brewing in China, the researchers reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. To __30__ that theory, the team examined the yellowish, dried __31__ inside the vessels. The majority of the grains, about 80%, were from cereal crops like barley （大麦）and about 10% were bits of roots __32__ lily, which would have made the beer sweeter, the scientists say. Barley was an unexpected find: the crop was domesticated in Western Eurasia and didn’t become a __33__ food in central China until about 2,000 years ago, according to the researchers. Based on that timing, they indicate barley may have __34__ in the region not as food, but as __35__ material for beer brewing.

A) arrived B) consuming C) direct D) exclusively E) including F) inform G) raw H) reached I) relatively J) remains K) resources L) staple M) surprising N) suggest O) test

26. 【答案】I

【解析】分析句子结构，由空格前的冠词a和空格后的形容recent可知，空格处应填入一个副词来修饰recent。根据语义，可知relatively更为合适。故本题选I。

27. 【答案】M

【解析】由空格前的冠词a和空格后的名词ingredient可知，空格处应填入一个形容词来修饰ingredient。根据句子意思可知，填入surprising最为合适。故本题选M。

28. 【答案】N

【解析】分析句子结构，空格处可能缺少一个谓语动词，以引导后面的宾语从句。根据语意可知，填入suggest最为合适。故本题选N。

29. 【答案】C

【解析】空格处缺少一个形容词，与earliest一同修饰名词evidence。再根据语意可知，填入direct更为合适。故本题选C。

30. 【答案】O

【解析】空格处应填入一个动词原形。根据句意可知填入test最为合适。故本题选0。

31. 【答案】J

【解析】由空格前的形容词dried可知空格处应填入一个名词。根据语意可知remains最为合适。故本题选J。

32. 【答案】E

【解析】由空格前的about 10% were bits of roots以及空格后的lily，再根据句意可知，此处填入介詞including最为适合。故本题选E。

33. 【答案】L

【解析】根据语义，这里应填入staple—词，staple food表示“主食”的意思。故本题应选L。

34. 【答案】A

【解析】分析句子可知该从句为主谓结构，空格只可能和其前的may have组成谓语动词，根据语意可知填入arrived最为合适。故本题选A。

35. 【答案】G

【解析】空格处应填入一个形容词来修饰后面的material，根据语义可知填入raw最为合适，故本题选G。

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a

letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

Team spirit

[A] Teams have become the basic building blocks of organisations.

Recruitment advertisements routinely call for “team players' Business schools grade their students in part on their performance in group projects. Office managers knock down walls to encourage team building. Teams are as old as civilisation, of course: even Jesus had 12 co-workers. But a new report by Deloitte, “Global Human Capital Trends”，based on a survey of more than 7,000 executives in over 130 countries, suggests that the fashion for teamwork has reached a new high. Almost half of those surveyed said their companies were either in the middle of restructuring or about to embark on （开始）it; and for the most part, restructuring meant putting more emphasis on teams.

[B] Companies are abandoning conventional functional departments and organising employees into cross- disciplinary teams that focus on particular products, problems or customers. These teams are gaining more power to run their own affairs. They are also spending more time working with each other rather than reporting upwards. Deloitte argues that a new organisational form is on the rise: a network of teams is replacing the conventional hierarchy （等级）.

[C] The fashion for teams is driven by a sense that the old way of organising people is too rigid for both the modem marketplace and the expectations of employees. Technological innovation places greater value on agility （灵活性） John Chambers, chairman of Cisco Systems Inc., a worldwide leader in electronics products, says that “we compete against market

transitions （过渡），not competitors. Product transitions used to take five or seven years; now they take one or two.” Digital technology also makes it easier for people to co-ordinate their activities without resorting to hierarchy. The “millennials” （千禧一代） who will soon make up half the workforce in rich countries were raised from nursery school onwards to work in groups.

[D] The fashion for teams is also spreading from the usual corporate suspects (such as GE and IBM) to some more unusual ones. The Cleveland Clinic, a hospital operator, has reorganised its medical staff into teams to focus on particular treatment areas; consultants, nurses and others collaborate closely instead of being separated by speciality （专业）and rank. The US Army has gone the same way. In his book, Team of Teams, General Stanley McChrystal describes how the army’s hierarchical structure hindered its operations during the early stages of the Iraq war. His solution was to learn something from the rebels it was fighting: decentralising authority to self-organising teams.

[E] A good rule of thumb is that as soon as generals and hospital

administrators jump on a management bandwagon （追随一种管理潮流），it is time to ask questions. Leigh Thompson of Kellogg School of Management in Illinois warns that, “Teams are not always the answer—teams may provide insight, creativity and knowledge in a way that a person working independently cannot; but teamwork may also lead to confusion, delay and poor decision-making.” The late Richard Hackman of Harvard University once argued, “I have no question that when you have a team，the possibility exists that it will generate magic, producing something extraordinary... But don’t count on it.”

[F] Hackman (who died in 2013) noted that teams are hindered by problems of co-ordination and motivation that chip away at the benefits of collaboration. High-flyers （能干的人）who are forced to work in teams may be undervalued and free-riders empowered. Group-think may be unavoidable. In a study of 120 teams of senior executives, he discovered that less than 10% of their supposed members agreed on who exactly was on the team. If it is hard enough to define a team’s membership, agreeing on its purpose is harder still.

[G] Profound changes in the workforce are making teams trickier to manage. Teams work best if their members have a strong common culture. This is hard to achieve when, as is now the case in many big firms, a large proportion of staff are temporary contractors. Teamwork improves with time: America’s National Transportation Safety Board found that 73% of the incidents in its civil-aviation database occurred on a crew’s first day of flying together. However, as Amy Edmondson of Harvard points out, organisations increasingly use “team” as a verb rather than a noun: they form teams for specific purposes and then quickly disband them.

[H] The least that can be concluded from this research is that companies need to think harder about managing teams. They need to rid their minds of sentimentalism （感情用事）：the most successful teams have leaders who are able to set an overall direction and take immediate action. They need to keep teams small and focused: giving in to pressure to be more “inclusive” is a guarantee of dysfunction. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s boss, says that “If I see more than two pizzas for lunch, the team is too big”. They need to immunise teams against group-think: Hackman argued that the best ones contain “deviants” （离经叛道者）who are willing to do something that may be upsetting to others.

[I] A new study of 12,000 workers in 17 countries by Steelcase, a furniture-maker which also does consulting, finds that the best way to ensure

employees are “engaged” is to give them more control over where and how they do their work-which may mean liberating them from having to do everything in collaboration with others.

[J] However, organisations need to learn something bigger than how to manage teams better: they need to be in the habit of asking themselves whether teams are the best tools for the job. Team-building skills are in short supply: Deloitte reports that only 12% of the executives they contacted feel they understand the way people work together in networks and only 21% feel confident in their ability to build cross-functional teams. Loosely managed teams can become hotbeds of distraction employees routinely complain that they can’t get their work done because they are forced to spend too much time in meetings or compelled to work in noisy offices. Even in the age of open-plan offices and social networks some work is best left to the individual.

36. Successful team leaders know exactly where the team should go and are able to take prompt action.

【答案】H

【解析】由“They need to rid their minds of sentimentalism: the most successful teams have leaders who are able to set an overall direction and take immediate action.”可得出答案。

37. Decentralisation of authority was also found to be more effective in military operations.

【答案】D

【解析】由“The US Army has gone the same way. In his book, Team of Teams, General Stanley McChrystal describes how the army’s hierarchical structure hindered its operations during the early stages of the Iraq war. His solution was to learn something from the rebels it was fighting: decentralising authority to self-organising teams.”可得出答案。

38. In many companies, the conventional form of organisation is giving way to a network of teams.

【答案】B

【解析】由“Deloitte argues that a new organizational form is on the rise: a network of teams is replacing the conventional hierarchy.”可知，答案为B。

39. Members of poorly managed teams are easily distracted from their work. 【答案】J

【解析】由“Loosely managed teams can become hotbeds of distraction---employees routinely complain that they can’t get their work done because they are forced to spend too much time in meetings or compelled to work in noisy offices.”可知，答案为J。

40. Teamwork is most effective when team members share the same culture. 【答案】G

【解析】由“Teams work best if their members have a strong common culture.”可知，答案为G。

41. According to a report by Deloitte, teamwork is becoming increasingly popular among companies.

【答案】A

【解析】由“But a new report by Deloitte, “Global Human Capital Trends”, based on a survey of more than 7,000 executives in over 130 countries, suggests that the fashion for teamwork has reached a new high.”可知，答案为A。

42. Some team members find it hard to agree on questions like membership and the team’s purpose.

【答案】F

【解析】由“If it is hard enough to define a team’s membership, agreeing on its purpose is harder still.”可知，答案为F。

43. Some scholars think teamwork may not always be reliable, despite its potential to work wonders.

【答案】E

【解析】由“The late Richard Hackman of Harvard University once argued, “I have no question that when you have a team, the possibility exists that it will generate magic, producing something extraordinary... But don’t count on it.””可知，答案为E。

44. To ensure employee’s commitment, it is advisable to give them more flexibility as to where and how they work.

【答案】I

【解析】由“A new study of 12,000 workers in 17 countries by Steelcase, a furniture-maker which also does consulting, finds that the best way to ensure employees are “engaged” is to give them more control over where and how they

do their work-which may mean liberating them from having to do everything in collaboration with others.”可知，答案为I。

45. Product transitions take much less time now than in the past. 【答案】C

【解析】由“Product transitions used to take five or seven years; now they take one or two.”可知，答案为C。

Section C

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 center.

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

Urbanization — migration away from the suburbs to the central city — will be the biggest real estate trend in 2015, according to a new report.

The report says America’s urbanization will continue to be the most significant issue affecting the industry, as cities across the country imitate the walkability and transit-oriented development making cities like New York and San Francisco so successful.

As smaller cities copy the model of these “24-hour cities”，more affordable versions of these places will be created. The report refers to this as the coming of the “18-hour city”，and uses the term to refer to cities like Houston, Austin, Charlotte, and Nashville, which are “positioning themselves as highly competitive, in terms of livability, employment offerings, and recreational and cultural amenities.”

Another trend that looks significant in 2015 is that America’s largest population group, Millennials （千禧一代），will continue to put off buying a house. Apartments will retain their appeal for a while for Millennials, haunted by what happened to home-owning parents.

This trend will continue into the 2020s, the report projects. After that, survey respondents disagree over whether this generation will follow in their parents’ footsteps, moving to the suburbs to raise families, or will choose to remain in the urban core. The survey projects that this population cohort will

evolve and segment over time, and warns against painting the generation with too broad a brush.

Another issue affecting real estate in the coming year will be America’s failing infrastructure. Most roads, bridges, transit, water systems, the electric grid, and communications networks were installed 50 to 100 years ago, and they are largely taken for granted until they fail.

The report’s writers state that America’s failure to invest in

infrastructure impacts not only the health of the real-estate market, but also our ability to remain globally competitive.

Apart from the specific trends highlighted above, which cause some

investors to worry, the report portrays an overall optimism borne by the recent healthy real-estate “upcycle” and improving economy. Seventy-four percent of the respondents surveyed report a “good to excellent” expectation of real-estate profitability in 2015. While excessive optimism can promote bad investment patterns, resulting in a real- estate “bubble”，the report’s writers downplay that potential outcome in that it has not yet occurred.

Some respondents to the Emerging Markets survey call the urbanization trend “oversubscribed”，and the report concedes that there do exist some edge cities and suburbs with promise. But these places are few and far between. The most successful places are those built using urban-design principles — with density, walkability, and good transit.

Real-estate investors in 2015 need to pay attention to the two main conclusion of the report: if a property resembles or relies upon sprawl in any way, or doesn’t appeal to Millennials, think before you invest.

46. According to the new report, real estate development in 2015 will witness

A) an accelerating speed B) a shift to city centers C) a new focus on small cities D) an ever-increasing demand 【答案】B

【解析】根据题干关键词real estate development in 2015可定位至第一段。 47. What characterizes “24-hour cities” like New York? A) People can live without private care.

B) People are generally more competitive. C) People can employ services around the clock. D) People are in harmony with the environment. 【答案】C

【解析】根据题干关键词24-hour cities和New York可定位至第三段。 48. Why are Millennials are reluctant to buy a house? A) They can only afford small apartments. B) The house prices are currently too high. C) Their parents，bad experience still haunts them. D) They feel attached to the suburban environment. 【答案】C

【解析】根据题干关键词Millennials和buy a house可定位第四段。 49. What might hinder real estate development in the U.S.? A) The continuing economic recession in the country. B) The lack of confidence on the part of investors. C) The fierce global competition. D) The worsening infrastructure. 【答案】D

【解析】根据题干关键词hinder和real estate development可定位至第六、七段。 50. How do most of the respondents in the survey feel about the U.S. real-estate market in 2015?

A) Pessimistic. B) Hopeful. C) Cautious. D) Uncertain. 【答案】B

【解析】根据题干关键词respondents和real-estate market in 2015可定位至第八段。

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

The brain is truly a marvel. A seemingly endless library, whose shelves house our most precious memories as well as our lifetime’s knowledge. But is there a point where it reaches capacity? In other words, can the brain be “full”？

The answer is a resounding no, because, well, brains are more sophisticated than that. A study published in Nature Neuroscience earlier this year shows that instead of just crowding in, old information is sometimes pushed out of the brain for new memories to form.

Previous behavioural studies have shown that learning new information can lead to forgetting. But in a new study, researchers demonstrated for the first time how this effect occurs in the brain.

In daily life, forgetting actually has clear advantages. Imagine, for instance, that you lost your bank card. The new card you receive will come with a new personal identification number (PIN). Each time you remember the new PIN, you gradually forget the old one. This process improves access to relevant information, without old memories interfering.

And most of us will be able to identify with the frustration of having old memories interfere with new, relevant memories. Consider trying to remember where you parked your car in the same car park you were at a week earlier. This type of memory (where you are trying to remember new, but similar information) is particularly susceptible to interference.

When we acquire new information, the brain automatically tries to

incorporate it within existing information by forming associations. And when we retrieve information, both the desired and associated but irrelevant information is recalled.

The majority of previous research has focused on how we learn and remember new information. But current studies are beginning to place greater emphasis on the conditions under which we forget, as its importance begins to be more appreciated.

A very small number of people are able to remember almost every detail of their life. While it may sound like an advantage to many, people with this rare condition often find their unusual ability burdensome.

Some report an inability to think about the present or the future, because of the feeling of constantly living in the past, caught in their memories. And this is what we all might experience if our brains didn’t have a mechanism for superseding information that’s no longer relevant and did indeed fill up.

At the other end of the spectrum is a phenomenon called “accelerated long-term forgetting”，which has been observed in epilepsy and stroke patients. As the name suggests, these people forget newly learnt information at a much faster rate, sometimes within a few hours, compared to what’s considered normal.

It’s believed this represents a failure to “consolidate” or transfer new memories into long-term memory. But the processes and impact of this form of forgetting are still largely unexplored.

In a sense，forgetting is our brain’s way of sorting memories, so the most relevant memories are ready for retrieval. Normal forgetting may even be a safety mechanism to ensure our brain doesn’t become too full.

51.What have past behavioural studies found about our brain? A) Its capacity actually knows no limits. B) It grows sophisticated with practice.

C) It keeps our most precious memories until life’s end. D) New information learned pushes old information out. 【答案】D

【解析】根据题干中的关键词past behavioural studies可定位至第三段。 52. What is the benefit of forgetting? A) It frees us from painful memories. B) It helps slow down our aging process.

C) It facilitates our access to relevant information. D) It prevents old information from forming associations. 【答案】C

【解析】本题定位至第四段。

53. What is the emphasis of current studies of memory? A) When people tend to forget. B) What contributes to forgetting.

C) How new technology hinders memory capacity. D) Why learning and forgetting are complementary.

【答案】B

【解析】根据题干中的关键词emphasis和current studies可定位至第七段。 54. What do people find about their rare ability to remember every detail of their life?

A) It adds to the burden of their memory. B) It makes their life more complicated. C) It contributes to their success in life. D)It constitutes a rare object of envy. 【答案】A

【解析】根据题干中的关键词every detail of their life可定位至第八段。 55.What does the passage say about forgetting? A) It can enlarge our brain capacity. B) It helps get rid of negative memories. C) It is a way of organizing our memories. D) It should not cause any alarm in any way. 【答案】C

【解析】本题定位至最后一段。 Part IV Translation

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

黄河是亚洲第三、世界第六长的河流。”黄”这个字描述的是其河水浑浊的颜色。黄河发源 于青海，流经九个省份，最后注入渤海。黄河是中国赖以生存的几条河流之一。黄河流域(river basin)是中国古代文明的诞生地，也是中国早期历史上最繁荣的地区。然而，由于极具破坏力的洪水频发，黄河曾造成多次灾害。在过去几十年里，采取了各种措施防止灾害发生。

【参考译文】The Yellow River ranks the third longest in Asia and the sixth longest in the world. The word “yellow” describes the muddy water of the river. The Yellow River, one of several rivers for China to live on, originates from Qinghai, flows through nine provinces, and finally pours into the Bohai Sea. The river basin is not only the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization, but also the most prosperous region in the early history of

China. However, due to the frequent devastating floods, it has caused many disasters. In the past few decades, the government has taken various measures to prevent disasters.

【解析】由“黄河”翻译为“The Yellow River”；“发源于”翻译为

“originate”；“注入”翻译为“pour into”；“最繁荣的地区”翻译为“the most prosperous region”；“极具破坏力的洪水频发”翻译为“the frequent devastating floods”；“采取了各种措施”翻译为“taken various measures”。