全国大学四、六级英语考试1月8日举行，报考人数达到600万人。英语四级考试的时间为8日上午9：00至11：20，英语六级考试时间为下午3：00至5：20。以下为1月8日四级英语考试B卷试题。
2005年1月8日大学英语四级考试B卷
Part I Section A Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)
听力语音：
Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each convers-ation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Example:
You will hear:
You will read."
A) At the office.
B) In the waiting room.
C) At the airport.
D) In a restaurant.
From the conversation we know that the two were talking about some work they had to finish in the evening. This conversation is most likely to have taken place at the office. Therefore, A) "At the office" is the best answer. You should choose [A] on the Answer Sheet and mark it with a single line through the centre.
Sample Answer [A] [B] [C] [D]
1.A) The man lives far from the subway.
B) The man enjoys traveling by car.
C) The man used to own a car.
D) The man is good at driving.
2. A) She can''t meet Tony so early in the morning.
B) Tony can choose another science course.
C) She approves of Tony''s decision.
D) Tony should continue taking the course.
3. A) She has to study for the exam.
B) She''s eager to watch the new play.
C) She is particularly interested in plays.
D) She can lend her notes to the man.
4.A) They will attract fewer kids as on-line education expands.
B) They will continue to exist along with on-line education.
C) They will limit their teaching to certain subjects only.
D) They will be replaced by on-line education sooner or later.
5. A) Most students don''t want jobs advertised in the newspapers.
B) Most students would like to work for a newspaper.
C) Most students find a job by reading advertisements.
D) Most students find it hard to get a job after they graduate.
6. A) Finish his assignment.
B) Repair the washing machine.
C) Turn the basement into a workshop.
D) Move the washing machine to the basement.
7.A) The professor has brought extra copies of his assignment.
B) Some students at the back cannot hear the professor.
C) Some of the students are not on the professor''s list.
D) The professor has changed his reading assignment.
8. A) She doesn''t want to talk about the contest.
B) She''s spent two years studying English in Canada.
C) She''s very proud of her success in the speech contest.
D) She''s modest about her success in the contest.
9. A) Reading newspapers.
B) Talking about sports.
C) Writing up local news.
D) Putting up advertisements
10.A) They''d better change their mind.
B) They shouldn''t change their plan.
C) Weather forecasts are not reliable.
D) The tennis game won''t last long.
Section B Compound Dictation
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 S1 to S7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from S8 to SIO you are required to fill in the missing information. 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.
There are a lot of good cameras available at the moment--most of these are made in Japan but there are also good (S1)_____________models from Germany and the USA. We have (S2)_______________range of different models to see which is the best (S3)___________________money. After a number of different tests and interviews with people who are (S4)_________________assessed, our researchers (S5)______________________with the different cameras being the Olympic BY model as the best auto-focus camera available at the moment. It costs $200 although you may well want to spend more--(S6)_______________much as another $200--on buying (S7)_________________lenses and other equipment. It is a good Japanese camera, easy to use. S8)_________________________________________________________________ whereas the American versions are considerably more expensive The Olympic BY model weighs only 320 grams which is quite a bit less than other cameras of a similar type. Indeed one of the other models we looked at weighed almost twice as much. (S9)__________________________________________________________. ALL the people we interviewed expressed almost total satisfaction with it (Sl0)___________________________________________________________________
Part II Reading Comprehension(35 minutes)
Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. 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 the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Passage ONE
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.
In a time of low academic achievement by children in the United States, many Americans are turning to Japan, a country of high academic achievement and economic success, for possible answers. However, the answers provided by Japanese preschools are not the ones Americans expected to find. In'' most Japanese preschools, surprisingly little emphasis is put on academic instruction. In one investigation, 300 Japanese and 210 American preschool teachers, child development specialists, and parents were asked about various aspects of early childhood education. Only 2 percent of the Japanese respondents (答问卷者)listed "to give children a good start'' academically" as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. In contrast, over half the American respondents chose this as one of their top three choices. To prepare children for success ful careers in first grade and beyond, Japanese schools do not teach reading, writing, and math emetics, but rather skills such as persistence, concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group. The vast majority of young Japanese children are taught to read at home by their parents.
In the recent comparison of Japanese and American preschool education, 91 percent of Japanese respondents chose providing children with a group experience as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. Sixty-two percent of the more individually oriented (强调个性发展的) Americans listed group experience as one of their top three choices. An emphasis on the importance of the group seen in Japanese early childhood education continues into elementary school education.
Like in America, there is diversity in Japanese early childhood education. Some Japanese kindergartens have specific aims, such as early musical training or potential development. In large cities, some kindergartens are attached to universities that have elementary and secondary schools.
Some Japanese parents believe that if their young children attend a university-based program, it will increase the children''s chances of eventually being admitted to top-rated schools and universities. Several more progressive programs have introduced free play as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing in some Japanese kindergartens.
11. We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe
A)Japan''s higher education is superior to theirs
B) Japan''s economic success is a result of its scientific achievements
C) Japanese preschool education emphasizes academic instruction
D) Japanese parents are more involved in preschool education than American parents
12. Most Americans surveyed believe that preschools should also attach importance to
A) parental guidance
B) problem solving
C) group experience
D) individually-oriented development
13. In Japan''s preschool education, the focus is on
A) tapping children''s potential
B) shaping children''s character
C) preparing children academically
D) developing children''s artistic interests
14. Free play has been introduced in some Japanese kindergartens in order to
A) enrich children''s knowledge
B) cultivate children''s creativity
C) broaden children''s horizon
D) lighten children''s study load
15. Why do some Japanese parents send their children to university:based kindergartens?
A) They can do better in their future studies.
B) They can be individually oriented when they grow up.
C) They can have better chances of getting a first-rate education.
D) They can accumulate more group experience there.
Passage TWO Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.
Exercise is one of the few factors with a positive role in long-term maintenance of body weight.Unfortunately, that message has not gotten through to the average American, who would rather try switching to "light" beer and low-calorie bread than increase physical exertion. The Centers for Disease Control, for example, found that fewer than one-fourth of overweight adults who were trying to shed pounds said they were combining exercise with their diet.
In rejecting exercise, some people may be discouraged too much by caloric-expenditure charts;for example, one would have to briskly walk three miles just to work off the 275 calories in one delicious Danish pastry (小甜饼). Even exercise professionals concede half a point here. "Exercise by itself is a very tough way to lose weight," says York Onnen, program director of the President''s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Still, exercise''s supporting role in weight reduction is vital. A study at the Boston University Medical Center of overweight police officers and other public employees confirmed that those who dieted without exercise regained almost all their old weight, while those who worked exercise into their daily routine maintained their new weight.
If you have been sedentary (极少活动的) and decide to start walking one mile a day, the added exercise could burn an extra 100 calories daily. In a year''s time, assuming no increase in food intake, you could lose ten pounds. By increasing the distance of your walks gradually and making other dietary adjustments, you may lose even more weight.
16. What is said about the average American in the passage?
A) They usually ignore the effect of exercise on losing weight.
B) They prefer "light" beer and low-calorie bread to other drinks and food.
C) They know the factors that play a positive role in keeping down body weight.
D) They tend to exaggerate the healthful effect of "light" beer.
17. Some people dislike exercise because
A) they find it hard to exercise while on a diet
B) they don''t think it possible to walk 3 miles every day
C) they think it is physically exhausting
D) they find consulting caloric-expenditure charts troublesome
18. "Even exercise professionals concede half a point here" (Line 3, Para. 2) means "They
A) are not fully convinced that dieting can help maintain one''s new weight
B) agree that the calories in a small piece of pastry can be difficult to work off by exercise
C) are not sufficiently informed of the positive role of exercise in losing weight
D) partially believe diet plays a supporting role in weight reduction
19. What was confirmed by the Boston University Medical Center''s study?
A) Weight reduction is impossible without exercise.
B) Even occasional exercise can help reduce weight.
C) Controlling one''s calorie intake is more important than doing exercise.
D) One could lose ten pounds in a year''s time if there''s no increase in food intake.
20. What is the author''s purpose in writing this article?
A) To stress the importance of maintaining proper weight.
B) To support the statement made by York Onnen.
D) To show the most effective way to lose weight.
D) To justify the study of the Boston University Medical Center.
Passage THREE
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold orflu ( ~,~ ) may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu(流感), and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That''s because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner aperson starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.
The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for eitherillness, but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine ( ~-~ ), which is, for most people, the bestway to fight the flu, according to the ALA.
But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have manysimilarities, there are some obvious signs to look for.
Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.
The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.
Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However,children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome(综合症)，a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.Reye syndrome .
There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of Catching one.
21. According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help
A) prevent people from catching colds and the flu
B) the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs
C) the patient buy medicine over the counter
D) shorten the duration of the illness
22. We learn from the passage that
A) over-the-counter drugs can be taken to ease the misery caused by a cold or the flu
B) one doesn''t need to take any medicine if he has a cold or the flu
C) aspirin should not be included in over-the-counter medicines for the flu
D) delayed treatment of the flu will harm the liver and central nervous system
23. According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively,
A) one should take medicine upon catching the disease
B) one should identify the virus which causes it
C) one should consult a doctor as soon as possible
D) one should remain alert when the disease is spreading
24. Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?
A) A sore throat.
B)A stuffy nose.
C) A dry cough.
D) A high temperature.
25. If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents
A) are encouraged to take them to hospital for vaccination
B) are advised not to give them aspirin
C) should watch out for signs of Reye syndrome
D) should prevent them from mixing with people running a fever
Passage FOUR Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
Lead deposits, which accumulated in soil and snow during the 1960''s and 70''s, were primarily the result of leaded gasoline emissions originating in the United States. In the twenty years that the Clean Air Act has mandated unleaded gas use in the United States, the lead accumulation world-wide has decreased significantly.
A study published recently in the journal Nature shows that air-borne leaded gas emissions from the United States were the leading contributor to the high concentration of lead in the snow in Greenland. The new study is a result of the continued research led by Dr. Charles Boutron, an expert on the impact of heavy metals on the environment at the National Center for Scientific Research in France. A study by Dr. Boutron published in 1991 showed that lead levels in arctic(北极的) snow were declining.
In his new study, Dr. Boutron found the ratios of the different forms of lead in the leaded gasoline used in the United States were different from the ratios of European, Asian and Canadian gasolines and thus enabled scientists to differentiate (分区) the lead sources. The dominant lead ratio found in Greenland snow matched that found in gasoline from the United States.
In a study published in the journal Ambio, scientists found that lead levels in soil in the North-eastern United States had decreased markedly since the introduction of unleaded gasoline.
Many scientists had believed that the lead would stay in soil and snow for a longer period.
The authors of the Ambio study examined samples of the upper layers of soil taken from the same sites of 30 forest floors in New England, New York and Pennsylvania in 1980 and in 1990.
The forest environment processed and redistributed the lead faster than the scientists had expected.
Scientists say both studies demonstrate that certain parts of the ecosystem (生态系统) respond rapidly to reductions in atmospheric pollution, but that these findings should not be used as a license to pollute.
26. The study published in the journal Nature indicates that
A) lead deposits in arctic snow are on the increase
B) the Clean Air Act has not produced the desired results
C) the US is the major source of lead pollution in arctic snow
D) lead will stay in soil and snow longer than expected
27. Lead accumulation worldwide decreased significantly after the use of unleaded gas in the US
A) was introduced
B) was discouraged
C) was prohibited by law
D) was enforced by law
28. How did scientists discover the source of lead pollution in Greenland?
A) By analyzing the data published in journals like Nature and Ambio.
B) By studying the chemical elements of soil and snow in Northeastern America.
C) By comparing the chemical compositions of leaded gasoline used in various countries.
D) By observing the lead accumulations in different parts of the arctic area.
29. The authors of the Ambio study have found that
A) forests get rid of lead pollution faster than expected
B) lead deposits are widely distributed in the forests of the US
C) lead accumulations in forests are more difficult to deal with
D) the upper layers of soil in forests are easily polluted by lead emissions
30. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that scientists
A) lack sufficient means to combat lead pollution
B) still consider lead pollution a problem
Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)
Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
31. Salaries for positions seem to be higher than for permanent ones.
A) temporary
B) voluntary
C) optional
D) legal
32. Mrs. gmithwas so about everything that no servants could please her.
A)precise
B)particular
C)speCific
D)speCial
33. His temper and personalky show that he can become a soldier of the top
A) circle
B) category
C) grade
D) rank
34. There has been a collision a number of cars on the main road to town.
A) engaging
B) composing
C) involving
D) consisting
35. Norman Davis will be remembered by many with not only as a great scholar but also as a most delightful and faithful friend.
A) friendliness
B) affection
C) kindness
D) warmth
36. Science and technology have in important ways to the improvement of agricultural production.
A)witnessed
B) assisted
C) attached
D)contributed
37. He never arrives on time and my is that he feels the meetings are useless.
A) conference
B) inference
C) preference
D) reference
38. Only those who can to lose their money should make high-risk investments.
A) afford
B) endure
C) sustain
D) maintain
39. Ten days ago the young man info~ed his boss of his intention to
A) reject
B) retreat
C) resign
D) replace
40. Though she began her by singing in a local pop group,she is now a famous Hollywood movie star.
A) profession
B) employment
C) occupation
D) career
41. As he has our pratience,we’ll not wait for him any longer.
A) exhausted
B) wasted
C) torn
D) consumed
42. Tomorrow the mayor is to a group of Canadian businessmen on a tour of the city.
A) cooperate
B) accompany
C) coordinate
D) associate
43. Most people agree that the present role of women has already affected U.S. society.
it has affected the traditional role of men.
A) Above all
B) In all
C) At most
D) At last
44. It is obvious that this new rule is applicable to everyone without
A) exclusion
B) substitution
C) modification
D) exception
45. As one of the world''s highest paid models, she had her face. for five million dollars
A) despoiled
B) measured
C) insured
D) assured
46. The machine looked like a large,，old-fashioned typewriter.
A) clumsy
B) tricky
C) forceful
D) intense
47. Within two weeks of arrival, all foreigners had to with the local police
A) inquire
B) register
C) consult
D) profession
48. I''m enough to know it is going to be a very difficult situation to compete against three strong teams.
A) aware
B) conscious
C) radical
D) realistic
49, He found the media attention intolerable and decided to go abroad.
A) constant
B) sufficient
C) steady
D) plenty
50, elephants are different from wild elephants in many aspects, including their tempers.
A) Civil
B) Tame
C) Cultivated
D) Regulated
Part IV Cloze (15 minutes)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D) on the right side of the paper You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Wise buying is a positive way in which you can make your money go further. The 61 go about purchasing an article or a service can actually 62 you money or can add 63 the cost.
Take the 64 example of a hairdryer. If you are buying a hairdryer, you might 65 you are making the 66 buy if you choose one 67 look you like and which is also the cheapest 68 price. But when you get it home you may find that it 69 twice as long as a more expensive 70 to dry your hair. The cost of the electricity plus the cost of your time could well 71 your hairdryer the most expensive one of all.
So what principles should you 72 when you go out shopping?
If you_ 73 your home, your car or any valuable 74 in excellent condition, you''ll be saving money in the long 75 Before you buy a new 76 , talk to someone who owns one.If you can,use it or borrow it to check it suits your particular 77 .
Before you buy an expensive 78 ,or a service,do check the price and 79 is on offer. If possible, choose 80 three items or three estimates.
61. A) formL
B) way
C) method
D) fashion
62. A)raise
B)retain
C) save
D) preserve
63. A) to
B) on
C) up
D) in
64.A) single
B) simple
C) easy
D) similar
65. A) convince
B) examine
C) accept
D) think
66.A) best
B) most
C) proper
D) reasonable
67.A) which
B) whose
C) its
D) what
68. A) on
B) for
C) in
D) with
69. A) spends
B) lasts
C) consumes
D) take
70. A) mode
B) copy
C)model
D) sample
71.A) make
B) cause
C) leave
D) prove
72.A) lay
B) stick
C) adopt
D) adapt
73. A) keep
B) store
C)reserve
D) decorate
74. A) products
B) material
C) ownership
D) possession
75. A) interval
B) period
C) run
D) time
76. A) equipment
B) appliance
C) utility
D) facility
77.A) goal
B) task
C) function
D) purpose
78. A) item
B) element
C) particle
D) component
79. A) this
B) which
C) what
D) that
80. A) in
B) from
C) of
D) by
Part V Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a campaign speech in support of your election to the post of chairman of the student union. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese.
A Campaign Speech
1你认为自己具备是什么条件(能力，性格，爱好)可以胜任学生会主席工作，
2如果当选你将会为本校同学做什么？
