2013年6月大学英语四级真题试卷(第3套)

2013年6月大学英语四级真题试卷（第3套）

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

1． For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of learning basic skills. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

As is described in the picture, a teacher is teaching multiplication. However, one of her students holds the opinion that these basic skills might be outdated by the time they're in the job market. Nowadays, more and more students tend to believe it is unnecessary to learn basic skills. In my mind, it is important for us to learn basic skills mainly for two reasons. For one thing, mastering the basic skills can not only help us acquire advanced skills but also cultivate our characters. As the famous British philosopher Francis Bacon said, \"Histories make men wise; poems witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.\" For another, the basic skills will never be out of date and they are very practical in our daily life and work. We need to excel in arithmetic to calculate our household expenses as well as to draw up financial plans.

In short, the basic skills are essential for our success. The more basic skills we master, the more likely we are to find a satisfactory job.

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

Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions attached to the passage. For questions 1-7, mark：

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

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

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

America's recession began quietly at the end of 2007. Since then it has evolved into a global crisis. Reasonable people may disagree about whom to blame. Financiers who were not as clever as they thought they were? Regulators falling asleep at work? Consumers who borrowed too much? Politicians who thoughtlessly promoted home-ownership for those who could not afford it? All are guilty; and what a mess they have created.

Since 2007 America has shed 5 million jobs. More than 15% of the workforce are jobless or underemployed—roughly 25 million workers. The only industries swelling their payrolls are

health care, utilities and the federal government. The value of listed shares in American firms collapsed by 57% from its peak in October 2007 to a low in March this year, though it has since bounced back somewhat. Industrial production fell by 12.8% in the year to March, the worst slide since the Second World War. Mark Zandi, an economist at Moody's Economy, com, predicts that the recession will shrink America's economy by 3. 5% in total. For most executives, this is the worst business environment they've ever seen.

Times are so tough that even bosses are taking pay cuts. Median(中位数的)pay for chief executives of S&P 500 companies fell 6.8% in 2008. The overthrown business giants of Wall Street took the biggest knock, with average pay cuts of 38% and median bonuses of zero. But there was some pain for everyone: median pay for chief executives of non-financial firms in the S&P 500 fell by 2. 7% .

Nearly every business has a sad tale to tell. For example, Arne Sorenson, the president of Marriott hotels, likens the crisis to the downturn that hit his business after September 11th, 2001. When the twin towers fell, Americans stopped travelling. Marriott had its worst quarter ever, with revenues per room falling by 25% . This year, without a terrorist attack, the hotel industry is \" putting the same numbers on the board\" , says Mr Sorenson.

The hotel bust(不景气), like most busts, was preceded by a breathtaking boom. Although many other big firms resisted the temptation to over-borrow, developers borrowed heavily and built bigger and fancier hotels as if the whole world were planning a holiday in Las Vegas. When the bubble burst, demand collapsed. Hotel owners found themselves with a huge number of empty rooms even as a lot of unnecessary new hotels were ready to open.

Other industries have suffered even more. Large numbers of builders, property firms and retailers have gone bankrupt. And a disaster has hit Detroit. Last year the American car industry had the capacity to make 17 million vehicles. Sales in 2009 could be barely half of that. The Big Three American carmakers—General Motors, Ford and Chrysler—accumulated ruinous costs over the postwar years, such as gold-plated health plans and pensions for workers who retired as young as 48. All three are desperately restructuring. Only Ford may survive in its current form.

Hard times breed hard feelings. Few Americans understand what caused the recession. Some are seeking scapegoats(替罪羊). Politicians are happy to take advantage. Bosses have been summoned to Washington to be scolded on live television. The president condemns their greed. Extravagance(奢侈)is out

Businessfolk are bending over backwards to avoid seeming extravagant. Meetings at resorts are suddenly unacceptable. Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, cancelled a conference in Las Vegas at the last minute and rebooked it in San Francisco, which cost more but sounded less fun. Anyway, the pain will eventually end. American business will regain its shine. Many firms will die, but the survivors will emerge leaner and stronger than before. The financial sector's share of the economy will shrink, and stay shrunk for years to come. The importance of non-financial firms will accordingly rise, along with their ability to attract the best talent. America will remain the best place on earth to do business, so long as Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress resist the temptation to interfere too much, and so long as organised labour does not overplay its hand.

The crisis will prove hugely disruptive(破坏性的), however. Bad management techniques will be exposed. Necessity will force the swift adoption of more efficient ones. At the same time, technological innovation(创新)will barely pause for breath, and two big political changes seem

likely.

Mr Obama's plan to curb carbon dioxide(C02)emissions(排放), though necessary, will be far from cost-free, whatever his sunny speeches on the subject might suggest. The shift to a low-carbon economy will help some firms, hurt others and require every organisation that uses much energy to rethink how it operates. It is harder to predict how Mr Obama's proposed reforms to the failing health-care system will turn out. If he succeeds in curbing costs—a big if—it would be a huge gain for America. Some businesses will benefit but the vast bulk of the savings will be captured by workers, not their employers.

In the next couple of years the businesses that thrive will be those that are tight with costs, careful of debt, cautious with cash flow and extremely attentive to what customers want. They will include plenty of names no one has yet heard of.

Times change, and corporations change with them. In 1955 Time's Man of the Year was Harlow Curtice, the boss of GM. His firm was leading America towards \" a new economic order\" , the magazine wrote. Thanks to men like Curtice, \"the bonds of scarcity\" had been broken and America was rolling \"to an all-time high of prosperity\". Soon, Americans would need to spend \"comparatively little time earning a living\".

Half a century later GM is a typical example of poor management. In March its chief executive was fired by Time's current Man of the Year, Mr Obama. The government now backs up the domestic car industry, lending it money and overseeing its turnaround plans. With luck, this will be short-lived. But there is a danger that Washington will end up micromanaging not only Detroit but also other parts of the economy. And clever as Mr Obama's advisers are, history suggests they will be bad at this.

2． From the first paragraph, we learn that America's recession is the result of______. A．a messy real estate market B．a combination of causes C．unregulated competition D．financiers' mismanagement

3． At the worst time, the total value of listed shares in American firms shrank by______. A．57% B．15% C．0.128 D．0.035

4． According to Arne Sorenson, the president of Marriott hotels, the current recession______. A．was the worst he had ever seen since World War II B．reduced his revenues to a quarter of normal years C．hit his business as hard as the 9/11 terrorist attack D．spoiled his plans to build more hotels in Las Vegas

5． The Big Three American carmakers need restructuring to survive because______.

A．their production capacity has shrunk to less than half of the previous year B．their technology has fallen behind their competitors' elsewhere in the world C．they have borrowed too heavily and accumulated too large amounts of debt D．they cannot cope with the ruinous costs accumulated over the post-war years

6． Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, cancelled a conference in Las Vegas in order to______. A．raise its efficiency B．cut unnecessary costs C．avoid seeming wasteful D．have fun in San Francisco

7． The author of this report seems to be______.

A．against too much government interference in the economy B．optimistic about Obama's effort to reduce CO2 emissions C．interested in political and economic reforms D．concerned about the interests of the workforce

8． According to the author, Obama's plan to limit carbon dioxide emissions will______.

A．not benefit America's industry B．benefit the whole nation C．do good to the environment D．by no means be inexpensive

9． Because Harlow Curtice's firm was leading America in creating \"a new economic order\was named by Time magazine as ______in 1955.

10． In March, General Motors' chief executive was fired by Mr Obama for______.

11． The author is afraid that the Obama administration will end up ______ America's economy. Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section A

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

12． A．The man hates to lend his tools to other people. B．The man hasn't finished working on the bookshelf. C．The tools have already been returned to the woman. D．The tools the man borrowed from the woman are missing. 13． A．Save time by using a computer. B．Buy her own computer. C．Borrow Martha's computer. D．Stay home and complete her paper.

14． A．The man doesn't have money for his daughter's graduate studies. B．The man doesn't think his daughter will get a business degree. C．The man insists that his daughter should pursue her studies in science. D．The man advises his daughter to think carefully before making her decision.

15． A．The cinema is some distance away from where they are. B．He would like to read the film review in the newspaper. C．They should wait to see the movie at a later time. D．He'll find his way to the cinema. 16． A．He's been to Seattle many times. B．He has chaired a lot of conferences. C．He has a high position in his company. D．He lived in Seattle for many years.

17． A．Teacher and student. B．Doctor and patient. C．Manager and office worker. D．Travel agent and customer.

18． A．She knows the guy who will give the lecture. B．She thinks the lecture might be informative. C．She wants to add something to her lecture. D．She'll finish her report this weekend. 19． A．The houses for sale are of poor quality. B．The houses are too expensive for the couple to buy. C．The housing developers provide free trips for potential buyers. D．The man is unwilling to take a look at the houses for sale. 20.A．How to study English well. B．Which courses to choose. C．How to write computer games. D．Which books to read.

21． A．Physical sciences. B．Maths and physics. C．Art and design. D．Electronics and computer-programming. 22． A．Her English is very good. B．She is interested in English. C．Her English writing is poor. D．Her oral English is bad.

23． A．Applying for a work experience. B．Applying for a part-time job. C．Taking an exam. D．Visiting an old friend. 24． A．Students in the first half of their courses. B．Students who will graduate soon. C．Students in the second half of their courses. D．Students who have just graduated from universities.

25． A．Explain the procedures to the students. B．Work regular hours. C．Write a comprehensive report. D．Send a report about the woman's work.

26． A．In two weeks. B．In three weeks. C．In the second half of her course. D．Not decided yet. Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D.

27． A．Synthetic fuel. B．Solar energy. C．Alcohol. D．Electricity. 28． A．Air traffic conditions. B．Traffic jams on highways. C．Road conditions. D．New traffic rules.

29． A．Go through a health check. B．Carry little luggage. C．Arrive early for boarding. D．Undergo security checks.

30． A．Beauty. B．Loyalty. C．Luck. D．Durability.

31． A．He wanted to follow the tradition of his country. B．He believed that it symbolized an everlasting marriage. C．It was thought a blood vessel in that finger led directly to the heart. D．It was supposed that the diamond on that finger would bring good luck.

32． A．The two people can learn about each other's likes and dislikes. B．The two people can have time to decide if they are a good match. C．The two people can have time to shop for their new home. D．The two people can earn enough money for their wedding.

33． A．In a fast-food restaurant. B．At a shopping center. C．At a county fair. D．In a bakery. 34． A．Avoid eating any food. B．Prepare the right type of pie to eat. C．Wash his hands thoroughly. D．Practice eating a pie quickly.

35． A．On the table. B．Behind his back. C．Under his bottom. D．On his lap. 36． A．Looking sideways to see how fast your neighbor eats. B．Eating from the outside toward the middle. C．Swallowing the pie with water. D．Holding the pie in the right position. Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. 37． 【B1】 38． 【B2】 39． 【B3】 40． 【B4】 41． 【B5】 42． 【B6】 43． 【B7】 44． 【B8】 45． 【B9】

46． 【B10】 47． 【B11】

Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Just when you had figured out how to manage fat in your diet, researchers are now warning against another common mealtime pitfall(陷阱)—salt.

A study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco( UCSF), Standford University and Columbia University shows that even a【S1】______ decrease in daily salt intake(摄入)can lead to dramatic health benefits. The authors【S2】______ an annual drop of as many as 120,000 cases of heart disease, 66,000【S3】______ of stroke and 99,000 heart attacks【S4】______ by high blood pressure after a 3-g-per-day reduction in salt.

The advantages, not surprisingly, were greater for African Americans, who are more likely to【S5】______ high blood pressure than other ethnic groups, and for the elderly, since blood vessels stiffen with age, which can lead to higher blood pressure.

\" Everyone in the U. S. is consuming salt far in【S6】______ of what is good for them,\" says lead author Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo of UCSF. \" What we are suggesting is that a population-wide effort to reduce salt intake, even【S7】______ , will have health benefits. \" The team conducted a computer-based analysis to determine the【S8】______ of a 3-g-per-day reduction in salt intake on rates of heart disease and death. They also calculated the cost savings emerging from the amount of disease that would be【S9】______ because of lower blood pressure. The conclusion: by cutting salt intake nationwide, the U. S. could save $ 10 billion to $ 24 billion【S10】______ in health care costs. A)accidents I)excess B)annually J)impact C)avoided K)instances D)caused L)modest

E)considerable M)revised F)develop N)slightly

G)documented O)undertake H)dramatically 48． 【S1】 49． 【S2】 50． 【S3】 51． 【S4】 52． 【S5】 53． 【S6】 54． 【S7】 55． 【S8】 56． 【S9】

57． 【S10】 Section B

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice.

The Gatais used to frown when they received power bills that routinely topped $200. Last September the couple moved into a 1,500-square-foot home in Premier Gardens, a subdivision of 95 \"zero-energy homes\"(ZEH)just outside town. Now they're actually eager to see their electricity bills. The grand total over the 10 months they've lived in the three-bedroom house: $ 75. For the past two months they haven't paid a cent.

ZEH communities are the leading edge of technologies that might someday create houses that produce as much energy as they consume. Premier Gardens is one of a half-dozen subdivisions in California where every home cuts power consumption by 50% , mostly by using low-power appliances and solar panels.

Aside from the panels on the roof, Premier Gardens looks like a community of conventional homes. But inside, special windows cut power bills by blocking solar heat in summer and retaining indoor warmth in winter.

The rest of the energy savings comes from the solar units. They don't just feed the home they serve. If they generate more power than the home is using, the excess flows into the utility's power grid(电网). The residents are billed by \"net metering\" : they pay for the amount of power they tap off the grid, less the kilowatts(千瓦)they feed into it. If a home generates more power than it uses, the bill is zero.

That sounds like a bad deal for the power company, but it's not. Solar homes produce the most power on the hot sunny afternoons when everyone rushes home to turn up the air conditioner. \" It helps us lower usage at peak power times,\" says solar expert Mike Keesee. \" That lets us avoid building costly plants or buying expensive power at peak usage time. \"

What's not to like? Mostly the costs. The special features can add $ 25,000 or more to the purchase price of a house. Tax breaks bring the cost down, especially in California, but in many states ZEHs can be prohibitively expensive. For the consumer, it's a matter of paying now for the hardware to save later on the utilities.

58． Why are the Gatais eager to see their electricity bills now?

A．They want to see how much they have saved. B．They want to cut down their utility expenses. C．They want to know if they are able to pay. D．They want to avoid being overcharged. 59． What is special about the ZEH communities? A．They have created cutting-edge technologies. B．They aim to be self-sufficient in power supply. C．They are subdivided into half a dozen sections. D．They are built in harmony with the environment.

60． How are the residents in the ZEH communities billed for electricity use?

A．They are only charged for the amount of power they consume on rainy days. B．They needn't pay a single cent for their power consumption on sunny days. C．They only pay for the excess power that flows into the utility's power grid. D．They pay for the electricity from the grid less their home-generated power.

61． What does the \"net metering\" practice mean to the power company?

A．More pressure at peak time. B．Less profits in the short term. C．Increased electricity output.

D．Reduced operational costs.

62． The author believes that buying a house in a ZEH community______. A．is but a dream for average consumers B．gives the owner substantial tax benefits C．is a worthy investment in the long run D．contributes to environmental protection

Romantic love has clear evolutionary roots but our views about what makes an ideal romantic relationship can be swayed by the society we live in. So says psychologist Maureen O'Sullivan from the University of San Francisco. She suggests that humans have always tried to strengthen the pair-bond to maximise(使最大化)reproductive success.

Many societies throughout history and around the world today have cultivated strong pressures to stay married. In those where ties to family and community are strong, lifelong marriages can be promoted by practices such as the cultural prohibition of divorce and arranged marriages that are seen as a contract between two families, not just two individuals. In modern western societies, however, the focus on individuality and independence means that people are less concerned about conforming to(遵守)the dictates of family and culture. In the absence of societal pressures to maintain pair-bonds, O'Sullivan suggests that romantic love has increasingly come to be seen as the factor that should determine who we stay with and for how long. \" That's why historically we see an increase in romantic love as a basis for forming long-term relationships,\" she says.

According to O'Sullivan culture also shapes the sorts of feelings we expect to have, and actually do experience, when in love. Although the negative emotions associated with romantic love—fear of loss, disappointment and jealousy—are fairly consistent across cultures, the positive feelings can vary. \" If you ask Japanese students to list the positive attributes they expect in a romantic partner, they rate highly things like loyalty, commitment and devotion,\" says O'Sullivan. \" If you ask American college women, they expect everything under the sun: in addition to being committed, partners have to be amusing, funny and a friend. \"

We judge a potential partner according to our specific cultural expectations about what romantic love should feel like. If you believe that you have found true romance, and your culture tells you that this is what a long-term relationship should be based on, there is less need to rely on social or family pressures to keep couples together, O'Sullivan argues.

63． What does the author say about people's views of an ideal romantic relationship? A．They vary from culture to culture. B．They ensure the reproductive success. C．They reflect the evolutionary process. D．They are influenced by psychologists.

． We can infer from the passage that strong family and community ties______. A．largely rely on marriage contracts B．can contribute to stable marriages C．often run counter to romantic love D．make divorces virtually unacceptable

65． Without social pressures to keep pair-bonds, romantic love______.

A．will be a substitute for marriage in human relationships B．plays a key role in maintaining long-term relationships C．is likely to replace the dictates of family and society D．is a way to develop individuality and independence

66． O'Sullivan believes that when people from different cultures fall in love, ______.

A．they expect different things from their partner B．they tend to exaggerate each other's positive qualities C．they often fail to see each other's negative qualities D．they lay more emphasis on commitment and devotion

67． We can conclude from the passage that______.

A．cultural differences often tear apart a family built on romantic love B．marriages are hard to sustain without social or family pressures C．romantic love is becoming increasingly important in family relationships D．romantic love tends to yield where family or social pressures are strong Part V Cloze (15 minutes)

Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. UK households are cutting back on spending at the fastest rate since 1980. This is【C1】______ to the worst economic slowdown in three decades.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics( ONS)showed【C2】______ spending fell by 1. 2% in the first three months of the year. People spent less on housing, household goods and services,【C3】______ those who went on holiday abroad also spent【C4】______ less.

Consumers tightened their belts【C5】______ the face of job losses, pay【C6】______ or freezes and sharply reduced City bonuses. The figures showed employees'【C7】______ falling by 1.1% in the quarter, the largest fall【C8】______ records began in 1955. Wages and salaries declined,【C9】______ lower bonus payments in the financial sector than normal, while【C10】______ also fell. The data was【C11】______ as part of the ONS's latest assessment of the UK economy, which【C12】______ that gross domestic product(GDP)shrank by 1.9% in the first quarter,【C13】______ sharpest decline since 1979. GDP stood 4.1%【C14】______ than a year ago, the biggest annual fall since 1980.

\" The breakdown(分析)of first-quarter GDP gives a pretty【C15】______ picture of weakness right across the【C16】______ in the early months of this year,\" said Jonathan Loynes of Capital Economics.

\"With【C17】______ components like household spending and investment set to fall considerably further in【C18】______ to the weakness in the housing market, the labour market and bank lending, we【C19】______ unconvinced that recent ' green shoots'(经济复苏迹象)will translate【C20】______ a return to decent growth next year. \" 68． 【C1】

A．submitting B．resorting C．contributing D．extending 69． 【C2】

A．personnel B．consumer C．folk D．client 70． 【C3】

A．while B．although C．because D．but 71． 【C4】

A．instantly B．simultaneously C．significantly D．actively 72． 【C5】

A．at B．in C．up D．over 73． 【C6】

A．dives B．pauses C．halts D．cuts 74． 【C7】

A．composition B．conservation C．compensation D．construction 75． 【C8】

A．since B．when C．as D．until 76． 【C9】

A．to B．by C．for D．with 77． 【C10】

A．competition B．employment C．achievement D．attraction 78． 【C11】

A．released B．relieved C．related D．relaxed 79． 【C12】

A．promoted B．justified C．confirmed D．advocated 80． 【C13】

A．whose B．this C．their D．its 81． 【C14】

A．poorer B．slimmer C．weaker D．lower 82． 【C15】

A．amazing B．depressing C．blurring D．puzzling 83． 【C16】

A．economy B．finance C．business D．commerce 84． 【C17】

A．right B．free C．cheap D．key 85． 【C18】

A．opposition B．response C．regard D．contrast 86． 【C19】

A．remain B．maintain C．retain D．sustain 87． 【C20】

A．toward B．through C．into D．beyond Part VI Translation (5 minutes)

Directions: Complete the sentences in the blanks by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.

88． ______(不管你出了多少错), you are still ahead of those who won't try. ． When he came to, he found himself______(躺在一个陌生人的房间里).

90． The new approach is quite different from the traditional one and______(结果远不令人满意).

91． I have not seen John for years, nor______(他的父母也没有收到他的音讯). 92． It is sad to see some people cross the street,______(全然不理会交通信号).