2012年英语专业四级考试真题及答案

the natural world demanding \

Biologists offer a theory about this primal impulse to clean every drawer and closet in the house at spring's first light, which has to do with mention, the sleepytime hormone(激素)our bodies produce when it's dark. When spring's light comes, the melatonin diminishes, and suddenly we are awakened to the dusty, virus-filled house we've been hibernating in for four months.

I tell my family about the science and psychology of good healthy cleaning at spring's arrival, I speak to them about life's greatest rewards waiting in the removal of soap scum from the bathtub, which hasn't been properly cleaned since the first snowfall.

\ \

Maybe after all these years, he's finally grasped the concept. Maybe he's expressing his rightful position as eldest child and role model. Or maybe he's going to Florida for a break in a couple of weeks and he's being nice to me who is the financial-aid officer. No matter. Seeing my adult son willingly cleaning that dirty bathtub gives me hope for the future of his 12-year-old brother who, instead of working, is found to be sleeping in the seat of the window he is supposed to be cleaning. \

86. According to the passage, ... Spring cleaning is a difficult notion for modern families to grasp\ [A] is no longer an easy practice to understand. [B] is no longer part of modern family life. [C] requires more family members to be involved. [D] calls for more complicated skills and knowledge.

101. Which of the following is LEAST likely to be included in family spring cleaning?

[A] Beating the rugs. [B] Cleaning the window. [C] Restoring Wi-Fi services [D] Cleaning the backyard. 102. Why does the author say \

[A] Because there will be more activities when it gets warmer. [B] Because the air is fresher and the breeze is lighter. [C] Because the whole family is full of energy at spring time. [D] Because the snow is melting and the ground is thawing.

103. Which of the following interpretations of the biologists' theory about melatonin is INCORRECT?

[A] The production of melatonin is our bodies varies at different times. [B] Melatonin is more likely to cause sleepiness in our bodies. [C] The reduction of melatonin will cause wakefulness in our bodies. [D] The amount of melatonin remains constant in our bodies.

104. Which of the following can best sum up the author's overall reaction to her adult son's positive response to spring cleaning?

[A] Surprised and skeptical. [B] Elated and hesitant. [C] Relieved and optimistic. [D] Optimistic and hesitant. TEXT C

These days lots of young Japanese do omiai, literally, \them do so willingly. In today's prosperous and increasingly conservative Japan, the traditional oniai kekkon, or arranged marriage, is thriving.

But there is a difference. In the original omiai, the young Japanese couldn't reject the partner chosen by his parents and their middleman. After World War II, many Japanese abandoned the arranged marriage as part of their rush to adopt the more democratic ways of their American conquerors. The Western ren'ai kekkon, or love marriage, became popular, Japanese began picking their own mates by dating and falling in love.

But the western way often found wanting in an important respect: it didn't necessarily produce a partner of the right economic, social, and educational qualifications. \social commentator.

What seems to be happening now is a repetition of a familiar process in the country's history, the \

of marrying for love is accommodated in a new omiai in which both parties are free to reject the match. \ Mrs. Akiyama says.

Many young Japanese now date in their early twenties, but with no though of marriage. When they reach the age-- in the middle twenties for women, the late twenties for men - they increasingly turn to omiai. Some studies suggests that as many as 40% of marriages each year are omiai kekkeon. It's hard to be sure, say those who study the matter, because many Japanese couples, when polled, describe their marriage as a love match even if it was arranged.

These days, doing omiai often means going to a computer matching service rather than to a nakodo. The nakodo of tradition was an old woman who knew all the kids in the neighbourhood and went around trying to pair them off by speaking to their parents; a successful match would bring her a wedding invitation and a gift of money. But Japanese today find it's less awkward to reject a proposed partner if the nakodo is a computer.

Japan has about five hundred computer matching services. Some big companies, including Mitsubishi, run one for their employees. At a typical commercial service, an applicant pays $80 to $125 to have his or her personal data stored in the computer for two years and $200 or so more if a marriage results. The stored information includes some obvious items like education and hobbies, and some not-so-obvious ones, like whether a person is the oldest child. (First sons, and to some extent first daughter, face an obligation of caring for elderly parents.)

105. According to the passage, today's young Japanese prefer

[A] a traditional arranged marriage [B] a new type of arranged marriage. [C] a Western love marriage. [D] a more Westernized love marriage. 106. Which of the following statement is CORRECT?

[A] A Western love marriage tends to miss some Japanese values.

[B] Less attention is paid to the partner's qualification in arranged marriage. [C] Young Japanese would often calculate their partner's wealth. [D] A new arrange marriage is a repetition of the older type.

107. According to the passage, the figure 40% (Paragraph Five) is uncertain because [A] there has been a big increase in the number of arranged marriage. [B] Western love marriage still remains popular among Japanese.

[C] young Japanese start dating very early in their life in a Western tradition. [D] the tendency for arranged marriages could be stronger than is indicated. 108. One of the big differences between a traditional nakodo and its contemporary version lies in the way.

[A] wedding gifts are presented. [B] a proposed partner is refused. [C] formalities are arranged [D] the middleman/ woman is chosen. 109. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?

[A] To tell the differences between an old and modern nakodo. [B] To provide some examples for the traditional nakodo. [C] To offer details of the computerized nakodo. [D] To sum up the main ideas and provide a conclusion. TEXT D

Cordia Harrubgton was tired of standing up all day and smelling like French fries at night. She owned and operated three McDonald's shops in Illinois, but as a divorced mother of three boys, she yearned for a business that would provide for her children and let her spend more time with them.

Her lucky moment came, strangely enough, after she was nominated in 1992 to be on the McDonald's bun committee.\to see bakeries around the world,\loved it. This was global!\

The experience opened her eyes to business possibilities. When McDonald's decided it wanted a new bun supplier, Harrington became determined to win the contract, even though she had no experience running a bakery.

Harrington studied the bakery business and made sure she was never off executives' radar. \says. \holding a sign that says ' I want to be your baker.\

she persistence paid off.

Harrington sealed the deal with a handshake, sold her shops, and borrowed $13.5 million. She was ready to build the fastest, most automated bakery in the world.

The Tennessee Bun Company opened ahead of schedule in 1997, in time for slump in U.S. fast-food sales for McDonald's. Before Harrington knew it, she was down to her last $20,000, not enough to cover payroll. And her agreement with McDonald's required that she sell exclusively to the company. \many nights,\

But Harrington worked out an agreement to supply Pepperidge Farm as well. \no benefit if we went out of business,\

Over the next eight years, Harrington branched out even more: She started her own trucking business, adding a cold- storage company, and now has three bakeries producing fresh buns and frozen dough-- all now known as the Bun Companies. Speed is still a priority: It takes 11 people at the main bakery to turn out 60,000 buns an hour for clients across 40 states, South America, and the Caribbean.

Grateful for the breaks she's had, Harrington is passionate about providing opportunities to all 230 employee. \give it away,\

The current economy is challenging. Some of her clients' sales have declined, but she's found new clients and improved efficiencies to help sustain the company's double-digit growth.

Cordia Harrington doesn't have to stand on her feet all day anymore. Two of her three sons now work for her. And she's remarried--her husband, Tom, is now her CFO.

\How can we best serve our employee? If we support them, they'll do their best to look after our client. That's how it works here.\

110. According to the passage, which of the following was most significant in her early career?

[A] Her nomination on the McDonald's bun committee.