2016年12月（第一套）英语四级听力原文
Section A
A 16th century castle in Scotland is close to collapsing after lumps of soils were washed away by floods, threatening its foundations.
On Sunday, the castle’s owner John Gordon, 76, was forced to move out his property after the River Dee swept away about 60 feet of land, leaving the castle dangerous close to the river. According to the Scottish Daily Record.
Abergeldie castle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland was built by Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar who later became the Earl of Huntly.
The castle which is located on 11,700 acres was leased to members of the royal family between 1848 and 1970, including King Edward VII and George V.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued more than 35 flood warnings covering several regions, as Scotland continues to clean up the after Storm Frank hit the country last Wednesday.
“This means that rivers will rise more slowly, but then stay high for much longer.” the environmental agency said.
Q1. Why did John Gordon move out of Abergeldie castle?
Q2. What happened in Scotland last Wednesday?
Section A - 2
Rescue efforts were underway Thursday morning for 17 miners who were stuck in an elevator below ground at a Cargill rock salt mine near Lansing, New York, according to
Marcia Lynch.
Public information officer with Tompkins County’s emergency response department, emergency workers have made contact with the miners via a radio. And they all appear to be uninjured, said Jessica Verfuss, the emergency department’s assistant director.
Crews have managed to provide heat packs and blankets to the miners so that they can keep warm during the rescue operation, Verfuss said. Details about what led to the workers’ being trapped in the elevator went immediately available. The mine, along New York’s Cayuga Lake, processes salt used for road treatment. It produces about 2 million tons of salt that is shipped to more than 1,500 places in the northeastern United States, the rock salt mine is one of three operated by Cargill with the other two in Louisiana and Ohio.
Q3. What does the news report say about the salt miners?
Q4.What did the rescue team do?
Section A - 3
The U.S. Postal Service announced today that it is considering closing about 3,700 post offices over the next year because of falling revenues.
Facing an $8.3 billion budget deficit this year, closing post officers is one of several proposals the Postal Service has put forth recently to cut costs. Last week, for example, Postmaster General Pat Donahoe announced plans to stop mail delivery on Saturdays, a move he says could save $3 billion annually.
“We are losing revenue as we speak,” Donahoe said. “We do not want taxpayer
money. We want to be self-sufficient. So like any other business you have to make choices.”
Dean Granholm the vice president for delivery and post office operations said the first waves of closings would begin this fall. He estimated that about 3,000 postmasters, 500 station managers and between 500 and 1,000 postal clerks could lose their jobs.
Q5.What is the U.S. Postal Service planning to do?
Q6.What measure has been planned to save costs?
Q7.What will happen when the proposed measure come into effect?
Conversation 1
A: Mrs. Hampton, we've got trouble in the press room this morning.
B: Oh dear. What about?
A: One of the press operators arrived an hour and a half late.
B: But that's a straightforward affair. He will simply lose part of his pay. That's why we have a clock-in system.
A: But the point is the man was clocked-in at 8 o'clock. We have John standing by the time clock, and he swears he saw nothing irregular.
B: Is John reliable?
A: Yes, he is. That's why we chose him for the job.
B: Have you spoken to the man who was late?
A: Not yet. I thought I'd have a word with you first. He's a difficult man, and I think there's
been some trouble on the shop floor. I've got a feeling that trade union representative is behind this. The manager told me that Jack Green's been very active around the shop the last few days.
B: Well, what do you want me to do?
A: I was wondering if you'd see Smith, the man who was late, because you are so much better at handling things like this.
B: Oh, alright. I'll see him. I must say I agree with you about there being bad feelings in the works. I've had the idea for some time that Jack Green's been busy stirring things up in connection with the latest wage claim. He's always trying to make trouble. Well, I'll get the manager to send Smith up here.
Q8. What will happen to the press operator who was late for the work according to the
woman?
Q9. What does the man say about John who stands by the time clock?
Q10. Why does the man suggest the woman see the worker who was late?
Q11. What does the woman say about Jack Green?
Conversation 2 节选自http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/elementary-podcasts/series-04-episode-05
A: Our topic today is about somethings that foreigners nearly always say when they visit Britain. It's 'Why are the British so cold?' And they're talking about the British personality – the famous British 'reserve'. It means that we aren't very friendly, we aren't very open.
B: So do you think it's true?
A: It's a difficult one. So many people who visit Britain say it's difficult to make friends with British people. They say we're cold, reserved, unfriendly...
B: I think it's true. Look at Americans or Australians. They speak the same language, but they're much more open. And you see it when you travel, people - I mean strangers - speak to you on the street or on the train. British people seldom speak on the train. Or the bus. Not in London, anyway.
A: 'Not in London'. That's it. Capital cities are full of tourists and are never very friendly. People are different in other parts of the country.
B: Not completely. I met a woman once, an Italian. She's been working in Manchester for two years,
and no one - not one of her colleagues - had ever invited her to their home. They were friendly to her at work, but nothing else. She couldn't believe it. She said that would never happen in Italy.
A: You know what they say – 'an Englishman's home is his castle'. It’s really difficult to get inside.
B: Yeah. It's about being private. You go home to your house and your garden and you close the door. It's your place.
A: That's why the British don't like flats. They prefer to live in houses.
B: That’s true.
Q12. What do foreigners generally think of British people according to the woman?
Q13. What may British people typically do one the train according to the man?
Q14. What does the man say about the Italian woman working in Manchester?
Q15. Why do British people prefer houses to flats?
Passage One
In college, time is scarce, and consequently, very precious. At the same time, expenses in college pile up surprisingly quickly. A part time job is a good way to balance costs while ensuring there is enough time left over for both academic subjects and after-class activities.
If you are a college student looking for a part time job, the best place to start your job search is right on campus. There are tons of on-campus job opportunities, and as a student, you’ll automatically be given hiring
priority. Plus, on-campus jobs eliminate commuting time, and could be a great way to connect with academic and professional resources at your university. Check with your school’s career service or employment office for help to find a campus job. Of course, there are opportunities for part-time work off-campus, too. If you spend a little time digging for the right part time jobs, you’ll save yourself time when you find a job that leaves you with enough time to get your school work done, too. If you are a college student looking for work but worry you won’t have enough time to devote to academic subjects, consider working as a study hall or a library monitor. Responsibilities generally include supervising study spaces to ensure that a quiet atmosphere is maintained. It’s a pretty easy job, but one with lots of downtime-which means you will have plenty of time to catch up on reading, do homework or study for an exam.
Q16: What does the speaker say about college students applying for on-campus jobs?
Q17: What can students do to find a campus job according to the speaker?
Q18: What does the speaker say is a library monitor’s responsibility?
Passage Two
Agricultural workers in green tea fields near Mt. Kenya are gathering the tea leaves. It is beautiful to see. The rows of tea bushes are straight. All appears to be well. But the farmers who planted the bushes are worried. Nelson Kibara is one of them. He has been growing tea in the Kerugoya area for 40 years.
He says the prices this year have been so low that he has made almost no profit. He says he must grow different kinds of tea if he is to survive.
Mr. Kibara and hundreds of other farmers have been removing some of their tea bushes and planting a new kind of tea developed by the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya. Its leaves are purple and brown. When the tea is boiled, the drink has a purple color. Medical researchers have studied the health benefits of the new tea. They say it is healthier than green tea and could be sold for a price that is three to four times higher than the price of green tea.
But Mr. Kibara says he has not received a higher price for his purple tea crop.
He says the market for the tea is unstable and he is often forced to sell his purple tea for the same price as green tea leaves. He says there are not enough buyers willing to pay more for the purple tea.
Q19. Why have tea farmers in Kenya decided to grow purple tea?
Q20. What do researchers say about purple tea?
Q21. What does Mr. Kibara find about purple tea?
Passage Three
Today's consumers want beautiful handcrafted objects to wear and to have for their home environment. They prefer something unique and they demand quality. Craftsmen today are meeting this demand. People and homes are showing great change as more and more unique handcrafted items become available. Handcrafts are big business. No long does a good craftsman have to work in a job he dislikes all day and then try to create at night. He has earned his professional status. He is now a respected member of society. Parts of the fun of being a craftsman is
meeting other craftsmen. They love to share their ideas and materials and help others find markets for their work. Craftsmen have helped educate consumers to make wise choices. They help them become aware of design and technique. They help them relate their choice to its intended use. They often involve consumers in trying the craft themselves. When a group of craftsmen expends to include more members, a small craft organization is formed. Such an organization does a lot in training workshops in special media, craft marketing techniques, craft fairs and sales, festivals, TV appearances and demonstrations. State art councils help sponsor local arts and crafts festivals which draw crowds of tourist consumers. This boosts the local economy considerably because tourists not only buy crafts, but they also use the restaurants and hotels and other services of the area.
Q22. What does the speaker say about today's consumers?
Q23. What does the speaker say about a good craftsman in the past?
Q24. What do craftsmen help consumers do? Q25. Why do state art councilshelp sponsor local arts and crafts festivals?
2016年12月（第二套）英语四级听力原文 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. News Report One
New York State plans to shut off the thundering waters of Niagara Falls—again. At least, the American side of the falls. This \in a lifetime\event actually may take place twice in some folks' lives. The New York State parks system wants to turn off the falls on the American side sometime in the next
two to three years to replace two 115-year-old stone bridges that allow pedestrians, park vehicles and utilities access to Goat Island. The American side of the falls were shut off in 1969 to study the buildup of rock at the base of the falls. When that happened, people came from all over the world to see the falls turned off. People are curious by nature. They want to see what's underneath. In fact, those who first came to have a look did see something. They found millions of coins on the bottom.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
1. Why does New York State want to turn off Niagara Falls?
2. What did people find when Niagara Falls were shut off in 1969? News Report Two
The Tunisian government said Monday that 45 people have been killed after gunmen attacked a town near the border with Libya.
The Interior and Defense ministries said that the Tunisian government has closed its two border crossings with Libya because of the attack. The Tunisian military has sent reinforcements and helicopters to the area, and authorities have been hunting several attackers who were still at large. The violence came amid increasing international concern about Islamic State extremists in Libya. Officials of the Tunisian government are especially worried after dozens of tourists were killed in the attacks in Tunisia last year. Defense Minister Farhat Horchani said last week that German and American security experts were expected to come to help Tunisia devise a new electronic video supervision system on its border with Libya. Tunisia was targeted last year by three attacks that left 70 people dead and were claimed by Islamic State.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. What did the Tunisian government do after the gunmen's attack?
4. What were German and American security experts expected to do in Tunisia? News Report Three
Three university students in Santiago, Chile, have developed a plant-powered device to charge their mobile phones. The three engineering students got the idea for the device while sitting in their school's courtyard. Their invention is a small biological circuit they call E-Kaia. It captures the energy which plants produce during photosynthesis— a process of converting sunlight into energy. A plant uses only a small part of the energy produced by that process. The rest goes into the soil. E-Kaia collects that energy. The device plugs into the ground and then into a mobile phone. The E-Kaia solved two problems for the engineering students. They needed an idea for a class project. They also needed an outlet to plug in their phones. One of the student
inventors, Camila Rupcich, says the device changes the energy released from the plant into low-level power to charge phones. The E-Kaia is able to fully recharge a mobile phone in less than two hours.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5. What did the three university students invent?
6. When did they get the idea for the invention?
7. What does the speaker say about the invention? 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.
Conversation One
M: Good morning. What can I do for you?
W: Good morning. Could I talk to Jeffry Harding please? M: Speaking.
W: Hello, Jeff. It's Helen. I got your message on the answering machine. What's the problem?
M: Oh, Helen. Well, it's the Grimsby plant again, I'm afraid. The robots on Line 3 have gone wrong. And the line is at a standstill. W: Can't you replace them with the stand-ins?
M: I'm afraid not. The stand-ins are already in use on Line
6. And the ones from Line 6 are being serviced.
W: When did this happen, Jeff?
M: Well, they've been making a low continuous sound for a day or two. But they finally went dead at 2:30 this afternoon.
W: I see. What did you do? Have you tried the whole plant?
M: Not yet, Helen. I thought I'd better get your OK first.
W: OK. Get on the phone to Tom, and try to get their stand-ins over tonight. We have to be back at full capacity tomorrow morning. Is it a major job to repair our robots?
M: About a week. That's what the maintenance engineer says.
W: Right. Well, if you can get the ones from Hall, please ask Tom to inform Sheffield that he may need their stand-ins in case of emergency during the next week.
M: OK. Thank you very much, Helen. W: You are most welcome. M: Sorry to spoil your day off. W: It doesn't matter.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the
conversation you have just heard.
8. What did the man do before the telephone conversation?
9. What does the man say about line 3 in the Grimsby plant?
10. What is the man's purpose in calling the woman?
11. Where is the woman at the time of the conversation? Conversation Two
W: This is Kerry Burke from New York Daily News. I'm speaking to Delroy Simmonds, an unemployed Brooklyn man who missed a job interview Tuesday for the best of reasons: He was saving the life of a 9-month-old boy who was blown into the path of an oncoming subway train by a high wind.
M: Everybody is making me out to be some sort of superhero. I'm just an ordinary person, and a father of two. Anybody in that situation would have done what I did.
W: You were going to an interview when
the incident occurred, right?
M: Yes, I was on my way to apply for a maintenance position. I've been looking for a job for a year and more. I'm looking for something to support my family.
W: Tell us what happened at the station. M: There was a strong wind. It had to be 30 to 40 miles an hour. There was a woman with four kids. One was in a pushchair. The wind blew the baby onto the tracks.
W: Witnesses said people were looking on in horror as the child's mother, identified by sources as Maria Zamara, stood frozen in shock. In the distance, people could see the train rounding a bend, headed into the station. I guess you were not aware of any of these, right?
M: No. I just jumped down and grabbed the baby. The train was coming around the corner as I lifted the baby from the tracks. I really wasn't thinking.
W: What an amazing story. Thank you
very much.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. What did Kerry Burke from New York Daily News say about the man?
13. What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
14. What caused the incident?
15. How did the mother react when the incident occurred? 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. Passage One
There's one sound that gets a big reaction from kids on a hot day, the sound of an ice-cream truck. Maria McCartney has been in the mobile ice-cream business since 2005. \I was a little girl, I saw an ice-cream truck and knew I wanted to have one someday,\McCartney said. During the hot days of summer, Maria and her daughter drive an ice-cream truck through neighborhoods and parks in Billings. It's not about making money for this former elementary school teacher. Rather, she wants to preserve the tradition of the neighborhood ice-cream truck. \my favorite part is to see the kids jumping up and down and they just get so excited. It's great to build a memory for them too. There's not a lot of these ice-cream trucks around anymore. The parents come out barefoot and screaming, ready to buy ice-cream; they remember when they were kids and they saw a truck,\While the treats may be ice cold, Maria has a
warm heart for little faces. Her truck features a donation bucket for kids who don't have money for ice-cream. \there are three kids and only two of them have money, I always make sure the third one gets something because I can't drive away and have that third one not have something,\said.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. What does the speaker say about Maria McCartney?
17. Why does Maria go into the mobile ice-cream business?
18. Why does Maria put a donation bucket in her truck? Passage Two
We know we have to pay for what we get. If we buy food, we have to pay for it. If a doctor treats us, we know there will be a bill to pay. These are private bills. But there are also public bills to be paid. They are paid by
the government. In turn we get the needed services. We pay for these services through taxes. What would happen if everyone stopped paying taxes? The water supply would stop; the streets might not be cleaned; schools would be closed. We would not want to live in such a city. The chief duty of every government is to protect persons and property. More than three-fourths of government expenses are used for this purpose. The next largest amount of public money goes to teach and train our citizens. Billions of dollars each year are spent on schools and libraries. Also, a large amount of public funds is spent on roads. Most of the needed funds is raised by taxes. The law orders us to pay taxes. We have no choice in the matter. Years ago the government made money by selling public lands. But most of the best public lands have now been sold. There are still some public lands that contain oil, coal and other natural resources. They could
be sold, but we want to save them for future years. So, we all must pay our share for the services that make our lives comfortable.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. What does the speaker mainly talk about?
20. What is most of the government money used for?
21. How did the government raise money to pay public bills in the past? Passage Three
Did you know that, besides larger places like France and Germany, Europe is home to several extremely tiny countries? One of these countries contains less than a square mile of land. Another is surrounded on all sides by Italy. Yet each is an independent land, with its own government, trade, and customs. One of the best known of these small countries is Monaco. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by France on three sides.
Monaco became familiar to Americans when its ruler, Prince Rainier, married the American actress Grace Kelly. Rainier's family has ruled Monaco almost continuously since 1297. The land has been independent for over three hundred years. Andorra, with an area of some 200 square miles, is considerably larger than Monaco. This country is located in the Pyrenees Mountains, with France on one side and Spain on the other. Potatoes and tobacco are grown in Andorra's steep mountain valleys. One of the products it exports is clothing. Andorra is also known for its excellent skiing locations. Within the Alps in Central Europe is Liechtenstein, a tiny country of about 30,000 people who speak mostly German. Liechtenstein uses the same money as its neighbor Switzerland, but it has been an independent country since the 1860s. Taxes are low, so many businesses have their headquarters here. The country makes and exports a lot of machinery. Other small,
independent states in Europe are San Marino and Luxembourg. Each of these has unique qualities as well.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22. What does the speaker say about Monaco?
23. Why did Monaco become familiar to Americans according to the speaker?
24. What is one of the products Andorra exports?
25. What does the speaker mainly talk about?
This is the end of listening comprehension.
2016年6月（第一套）英语四级听力原文 News Report 1
The International Labor Organization says the number of people without jobs is increasing. In its latest update on global employment trends, the agency says projections of the number of unemployed people this year range from 210 million to nearly 240 million people. The report warns that 200 million poor workers are at risk of joining the ranks of people living on less than 2 dollars per day in the past three years. The director general of the International Labor Organization Juan Somavia notes that some countries have taken measures to address the effects of the global crisis.
However, he points out that many countries have not done so. And based on past experiences, it takes four to five years after economic recovery for unemployment to return to pre-crisis levels. Mr. Somavia says the International Labor Organization is
proposing a global jobs' agreement to deal with unemployment. 'It's key objective is to play so the center of recovery efforts, measures that would generate high levels of employment and provide basic social protection for the most vulnerable.'
Q1. What is the news report mainly about?
Q2. What does, Juan Somavia, the director general of the International Labor Organization say?
News Report 2
Big fast food chains in New York City have started to obey a first of its kind rule, requiring them to post calorie counts right on the menu. Cathy Nurses is with the New York City department of health, 'We wanted to give people an opportunity to actually see the calories before they purchased the food and make a decision and inform decision. That if
they want to make their healthier choice, if they want to eat fewer calories they can. And we expect this will have a huge impact on obesity. And of course, if it has an impact on obesity, it will have an impact on diabetes and heart disease and high blood pressure. 'The new rules will introduce as a part of anti-obesity campaign. That also includes a recent citywide ban and artificial trans-fats in restaurant food. The menu roll only applies to restaurants that serve standardized potion sizes and have fifty more locations nationwide. Starting last Saturday, chains big enough to fall under the rule will face penalties about 2000 dollars for not showing calorie information in a prominent spot on their menus preferably next to the price.
Q3. What are big fast food chains in New York City require to do according to the new rule?
Q4. What would happen to big restaurant chains that violate the new rule?
News Report 3
Almost all companies recognize the importance of innovation today. But not many are able to integrate innovation into their business.
A commentary in the Shanghai Daily points out that innovation doesn't mean piles of documents. It is something more practical. The article says many people tend to assume that innovation just means creating something new, but actually it's more than that. It's an attitude of doing things. A company should find ways to innovate not just in products but also in functions, business models and processes.
The article cites the global giant Procter & Gamble as an example, saying a real innovative company should develop an innovation culture and use it as a primary tool for success. Procter & Gamble has a “Corporate Innovation Fund” which offers
big rewards for high-risk ideas that succeed. It also has a special innovation facility for its employees. Sometimes its employees are released from their daily jobs for weeks and spend their time interacting in the innovation facility instead. In conclusion, the article says innovative ideas alone do not ensure success. It's pointless unless there is a repeatable process in place to turn inspiration into financial performance.
Q5. What is the problem with many companies according to the news report?
Q6. What do many people tend to think of innovation?
Q7. What does the company Procter & Gamble owe its success to?
Conversation One
M: So, Linzy, do you like to text message on your cell phone?
W: Yeah, I text message a lot.
M: I don't do it so much. I prefer to make
a call if I'm in a hurry.
W: Yeah, I go both ways. Sometimes I don’t really want to talk to the person. I just want to ask them one question, so it's much easier for me just to text message. If I call them, I'll have to have a long conversation. M: Yeah, I can see what you mean. But I get off the phone pretty quickly when I call. I'm not a big talker.
W: Yeah, that's true. You don't talk a lot. M: So are you fast at writing the messages with your thumb?
W: Well, when I first got a cell phone, I was so slow. I thought I would never text message. But then people kept text messaging me, so I felt obliged to learn how to text message. So now I'm pretty fast. What about you?
M: Actually I have the opposite problem. When I first got my cell phone, I thought it was so cool to text message all my friends who have one, and I was pretty fast with my
thumb then. But it seems like now I don't use it so much, I've got slower actually.
W: Yeah, I think text messaging actually is what you have to do with your age. For example, people in high school, they text message a lot. But I ask my father if he texted messages, and guess what he said? M: What?
W: He said he'd never text message. He thinks it's very childish and unprofessional to text message.
M: Yeah, I can see what he means. It's considered pretty informal to text message to someone.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you've just heard.
Q8: What does the man say about himself?
Q9: What does the woman tend to do while she is on the phone?
Q10: Why did the man text message all his friends when he first got his cell phone?
Q11: What does the woman's father think of text messaging?
Conversation Two
W: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. How can I help you?
M: Well, I'd like to talk to you about Tim Bond, the department manager.
W: What seems to be the problem?
M: Well, ever since Sandra left the department, I feel like I've been targeted to do all her work as well as mine. I'm expected to attend too many meetings and I seem to be spending a lot of my time doing unnecessary paper work.
W: I'm sorry to hear that.
M: And, on top of that, I'd specifically asked if I could leave early last Friday as I done a lot of overtime during the week. But that afternoon, even though I'd finished my assigned work, I was told to help other
colleagues finish their work, too.
W: But surely that's a positive sign showing that Mr. Bond has a lot of trust in you.
M: Yes, but other colleagues get to leave early, and they don't have such a lot of work to do.
W: So you feel he's really making unrealistic demands on you? M: Yes, absolutely.
W: Have you approached Mr. Bond about this particular problem?
M: I've tried, but it seems like he just has no time for me.
W: Well, at this stage, it would be better if you approached him directly. If nothing else showing that you've tried to solve the problem yourself before you take it further. Makes it clear that you're just not a complainer. Why don't you send an email requesting a meeting with him in private? M: Hmm, I've been a bit worried about
his reaction. But anyway I'll send him an email to request a meeting, and I'll see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice. W: Good luck. And let us know the outcome.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you've just heard.
Q12. What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
Q13. What is the man's chief complaint? Q14. How does the woman interpret the fact that the man was asked to help his colleagues with their work?
Q15. What did the woman advise the man to do? Passages
Passage One
The massive decline in sleep happened so slowly and quietly that few seemed to notice the trend. Was it because of the growing attraction of the Internet, video
games and endless TV channels? Never disconnecting from work? No matter how it happened, millions of Americans are putting their health, quality of life and even length of life in danger.
New evidence shows why getting enough sleep is a top priority. Some 40% of Americans get less than 7 hours of shut-eye on week nights. \link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease is becoming clearer and clearer.\says Lawrence Alberstaine, a sleep expert at Harvard University. For example, sleep duration has declined from some 8 hours in the 1950s to 7 in recent years. At the same time, high blood pressure has become an increasing problem. Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep. People who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, weight gain and other problems.
Sleeping better may help fight off illness.
\people are sleep-derived, there are higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies which can decrease immune function.\says Doctor Felice, of Northwestern University in Chicago. A university of Chicago study shows people who sleep well live longer. So say good night sooner and it may help you stay active and vital to a ripe old age.
Q16. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
Q17. What do we learn from the talk about today's Americans?
Q18. What does the speaker say will happen to people who lack sleep?
Passage Two
Parents and teachers will tell you not to worry when applying for a place at a university. But in the same breath will remind you that it is the most important decision of your life. The first decision is your choice of course. It will depend on what you want to get out of
university, what you are good at and what you enjoy. The next decision is where to apply. Aim high but within reason. Do you have the right combination of subjects and are your expected grades likely to meet entry requirements? The deadline is January 15th. But it is best to submit your application early because universities begin work as soon as forms start rolling in.
The most important part of the application is the much feared personal statement. This is your chance to convey boundless enthusiasm for the subject. So economy of expression is foremost. Omit dull and ineffective generalities and make sure you give concrete examples.
Admissions officers read every personal statement that arrives. It is not convincing if you say you have chosen the subject because you enjoy it. You have to get across what it is about a particular area that has inspired you. They will look for evidence that you have
reflected and thought about the subject.
Applicants should be honest. There is no point saying you run marathons, if you are going to be out of breath arriving at the interview on the second floor.
Q19. What is the first decision you should make in preparing to apply for a place at a university?
Q20. What is the most important part of the application?
Q21. What must applicants do in their personal statements?
Passage Three
It is widely believed that German invented the first car in 1885. It was actually a tricycle with a petrol motor at the rear. Soon, members of the royal family and other wealthy people took up motoring as a sport. Many of the early cars had 2 seats. There were no petrol pumps and few garages, so every driver had to be his own engineer for the
frequent breakdowns.
By 1905, cars began to look like cars of today, with head lamps, wind screen, rubble tires and number plates. Henry Ford's Model T introduced in America in 1909 was cheaper because it was made on the assembly line. It brought cars closer towards the reach of ordinary people. With the popularity of the car, registration became a must in 1903 with the motor car act. Competency tests were introduced in 1935.
Today, the legal driving age for a car in the UK is 17. You are not allowed to drive a car unsupervised until you have passed a driving test. In 1958, Britain celebrated the opening of its first motor way – the Preston Bypass. Until then, no one really understood what a motor way was, not even the laborers who were building it. The bypass held a new era in motor travel and was greeted with excitement and optimism. Service stations came with the motor way and the legend of the transport
cafe was born. Of course, the service station has diversified greatly. But whether it’s an English-cooked breakfast or a coffee and a sandwich, one thing has remained the same: the prices.
Q22. What does the speaker say about the first motor car?
Q23. What was the problem with the early cars in Britain?
Q24. Why did Henry Ford's Model T cars cost less?
Q25. What do we learn about the Preston Bypass?
2016年6月（第二套）英语四级听力原文
Part II Listening Comprehension News 1:
You probably think college students are experts at sleeping, but parties—preparations for test personal problems and generally stress can rewrite a student’s sleep habits which can be bad for the body and for mind. Texas University is even offering a class called improving your sleep habits. People suffering from sleep loss are suffering increased risk from obesity 1.psychological problems and car crashes. Students who don’t get enough sleep have poor attendance and lower grades. On top of all that, a new study published in the journey “Learning and Memory” finds you are probably better sleeping than making last-minute preparations for your test. 200 hundred college kids were talked about unfamiliar video games. Subjects who learn the games in the morning lost some skills
when they played again 12 hours later. 2.But they did much better after getting a good sleep. So if you really want to do your job well, don’t forget to get some sleep.
1.What is the news report mainly about? 2.What is the finding of the new study published in the journey learning and memory? News 2:
Longquses, the late flights are over-crowing at airports have become a almost much-talked topic conversation in Britain, as the traditional complaining about the weather. Meanwhile, there are complains that the poor service at London’s major airports is discouraging foreigners’ business in Britain. Much of the criticism is directed the British airport authority, which runs 7 major airports, including the 3 main ones serving in London. (3)The competition commission is now to investigate whether the British airport
authority needs to set off some the attacks. The idea is the competition between rival operators would lead to better service at airports. The British authority, recently bought by a Spanish company, says the route cause of the problem is not the ownership structure, (4) but a lack of long-way internal capacity, which is addressing through a program of heading investment.
Q3:What is the competition commission is going to investigate?
Q4: What is the route cause of the poor service at British airport according to the British airport authority? News 3:
She says Tobacco companies have to measure the nicotine content of every type of cigarettes and report the result. 5.The department of public health in Boston gather and make conclusions 1600 brains the can make contents 6.79 with young smokers that
worries the department nature that in San Francisco 10 percent higher than it was 16 years ago. Which means that is easier than 7.big company has always insisted that they are frank with the customers about dangerous smokers with enough detail to make decision. However, one of studies. And will discuss the detail contents of their products.
5.What do tobacco company do under the law
6.What do we learn from the study by public health in Boston?
7.What do we learn from the news report about big tobacco company?
SectionB Conversation 1.
Man: You know one thing that I want to ask you, it is greatly you have happy experiences of teaching in Indonesia and following are what you have just mentioned. What would
you to recommend for students to not live in English speaking country? And you know, they want to learn. I don’t know about affecting but they want at least to communicate decently. How can we go about this?
Woman: Yeah, it is really hard. That is the real struggle because right now (8) I do live in Holland but I really don’t socialize with those people. And my boyfriend’s English is so good that we just basically speak English all the time. So I have to make a real effort to practice. There are much exposure that I want. All I need to do is to turn on the TV. Man: And reading also, right?
Woman: Yeah, reading. There are plenty I can read and listen to. But for speaking, there really is no substitute for time to use and speak the language in a relaxed atmosphere. So I think that is really the challenge for people who live in a country (9)where their target language isn’t spoken. And for that, gush, what would I do? If I don’t
have people here, (10) probably try to find a club? In Sweden, they have a really cool system called study circles where it’s not. (11) It’s like a course, but really you just have a course leader, who is there sort of having a coaching guy and to help out. And you don’t get grades, and you go just because you want to learn.
Q8: Where does the woman live rightnow?
Q9:What does the woman say is the real challenge?
Q10: What does the woman suggest doing to learn to speak a foreign language? Q11: What does the woman say about the study circles in Sweden?
Conversation2
W: OK, Nathan, we are talking driving. Are there any rules you’d like to change? M: Sure, I want to change rules. I like the police to be strict with the rules. Like, if
the people jump the traffic lights, i don’t know if why there is no camera under the traffic lights to stop people from doing that. Or there is speeding, it is very easy to put speed cameras in certain places.
W: Maybe car manufacturers should have some responsibilities in limiting the power of their engines. What’s the point of producing the engines that is powerful enough to get 200 kilometers /h when the speed limit is only 100.
M: Right. There is no speed limit in Germany
W; People there drive responsible, though. Often, people break the law simply because the law is there. If the law isn’t there, people will drive with their ability range. When they got speed limits, this creates situation actually present dangers on the road.
M: Do you think Germans have better education on the personal responsibility when
driving?
W: Possibly, they have very good cars, M: Right.
W: If you’ve got good cars and go at a high speed, it is very nice to do that. M: i still with care.
W: so that is restriction that creates dangers sometimes MOK
W: Obviously, when driving through residential areas where there is a school, you have help from speed policeman M; speed-bumps
W: yes, the speed-bumps, they help you to slow down.
M: So you don’t think funding people is useful?
W: Not really, because the police don’t have time to police every single driver.
12. What do the speakers mainly talking about?
13. What do you think the car
manufacturers should do?
14. What can we learn about people driving in Germany? Section C
Passage One
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Behind the cards register at store in downtown San Francisco. Sam Azar swipes his credit card to pay for a pack of cigarettes. The store’s card beater fail to scan the card’s man-made script. Azar tried again and again, no luck. As customers began to queue, Mr. Azar reached beneath the counter for a plastic black bag. He ripes one wear the plastic on the card and tried again. Success, the send was completed. I don’t know how it works. It just does, said Mr. Azar who learned the trick for another clerk. Therefore, the company that makes the store card reader would not confirm or deny that plastic bag trick worked.
But it is one of the many low tech fixes for high tech failure that people went out engineering degrees have to discovered often out of destination and shared. Today’s shaky economy is likely to produce many more such tricks. In postwar Japan, the economy is doing the great, so you could not use news items like household clears. Says Liti Katiyama, author of Yowaza, a book named after the Japanese term for clever lifestyles and tricks. So people look for ways, today the Americans are finding their own tips and tricks malfunctioning devices with supplies simple as paper and glue. Some like Mr. Azar, plastic bags are open to argument as the holiday work, whether they really at work at all. But many tech can be explained by a little science. 16. What happened when Sam Azar swiped his credit card to pay for his purchase?
17. How did Sam Azar manage to complete his sale?
18. What is today’s shaky economy likely to do?
16. C .17. B. 18. A
Passage two
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
If you are a graduate student, you may depend on your adviser for many things including help with improving graduates,financial support,forming and examining committee and getting letters of recommendation. If you are a graduate teaching assistant,your adviser may be your boss. Academic apartments vary in procedure for assigning academic advisers to graduate students. In some departments, either the chairman or director of graduate studies serves to relive semester as a new student adviser. Then students select adviser based on shared academic interests. In other
departments, a new student is assigned a adviser based on some distribution of departments advisers. Graduates you must have among differing departments Later students may have opportunity to select adviser they prefer. 20.In many cases,new graduate students can learn who advisers or temporary advisers are by visiting or emailing departmental office by asking information. 21 Graduation requires specifies of the number you must earn own average you must achieve and distribution of graduates you must have for among differing study. In addition, it is necessary to apply for graduation, when you near the final, you will be completing graduation requirements. Since Some graduation requirements vary among the university. You should consult information, you should also direct to question or departmental office on academic adviser. 19 what does the speaker say about procedures for assigning academic advisers?
20 how can graduate students learn who their advisers are?
21what does the speaker say about the graduation requirements?
Passage Three
Question 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Joly Hoberd is a diet and nutrition expert who travels around the state to speak in middle and high schools. She primarily speaks to students in health classes but sometimes the school will arrange for her to speak to several different groups of girls. Her biggest concern is the emphasis American culture places business and negative ways of these girls today. Joly has the Ph.D nutrition but more important, she has personal experience, her mother tell her to diet when she was only 8 years old. Joly has created several different presentations, which she gives to different types of audiences and she
tries to establish an emotional connection with the students so that they will feel comfortable when asking questions or talking to her privately. She shows the pictures and images from popular culture of beautiful women and explain how computers are used to make the women look even more often and beautiful than their lives. She describes how the definition of beauty has changed over the years and even from culture to culture. She went on talks at issues and physical damage that can occur the result of dieting. Finally, she addresses self-respect and that notion the person sense of beauty must include more of person ways. Sometimes Joly feels that she succeeds persuading some students to cease dieting and other times she feels that she fails.
2015年12月（第一套）英语四级听力原文 Section A
News item one
Employers have the right to monitor their workers' online private messages, according to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). It comes after a Romanian man was fired for sending personal messages while at work.The Strasbourg court sided on Tuesday with the employer of a Romanian engineer who was dismissed from his job after using Yahoo Messenger to communicate with his fiancée and brother while at work.
During his time as an engineer, Bogdan Mihai Barbulescu was asked by his employer to create a Yahoo Messenger account to answer his clients' queries. However, he was informed in July that he had breached company rules by using the program for personal reasons, and was subsequently sacked. Barbulescu took his case against
Romania to the human rights court later, alleging that his employer's decision to end his contract was based on a violation of his right to confidential correspondence.
1. What is legal for employers
according to the ECHR?
2. What can we learn about Bogdan
Barbulescu?
News item two
At the Sifa Primary School outside Nairobi, Kenya, students pay their tuition with a new, local currency called the pesa. The school is one of several institutions that accepts the community currency. The currency is widely used by people in the Gatina Village. The pesas are equal in value to the Kenyan shilling and can be spent in the community just like cash.The new currency gives poor people more buying power than they would otherwise have. If members of the community have a shortage of the national
currency, they can use the community currency to get access to the goods and services they may need.
The non-profit group Grassroots Economics introduced the currency here last year. Community currency programs are being set up by non-profit organizations across the world. They help poor communities increase trade and create jobs, according to Grassroots Economics, based in Mombasa, Kenya. It “does not replace but rather supplements the national currency system,” reported the non-profit group.
3. What is the advantage of the pesa? 4. What can we learn about the
Grassroots Economics?
News item three
Health officials in Brazil have declared a state of emergency in several states. They are also warning women to not get pregnant. These extreme actions are the result of a
recent rise in birth defects. About 2,400 babies in Brazil were born recently with extremely small heads.
The babies have a condition called microcephaly. Microcephaly causes severe brain damage. To date, 29 of these babies have died. The number of microcephaly cases in Brazil is about 10 times higher than what the country usually sees in a year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the link between a virus infection and microcephaly is being investigated. The virus is called Zika. Zika is spread by mosquitos. Some babies in Brazil with microcephaly have tested positive for the Zika virus while others have tested negative. The CDC says that Brazil reported its first case of Zika virus in May 2015. Since then, the virus has spread and has caused infections in many Brazilian states and other countries in Latin America.
5. What situation is Brazil facing?
6. How many deaths have been
reported so far?
7. What is related to the situation according to the CDC?
Section B
Conversation one
W: Hi Leo, why do you say English would become the world language?
M: Well. For one thing, it's so commonly used. The only language that is used by more people is Chinese.
W: Why is English spoken by so many people?
M: It's spoken in many countries of the world because of the British Empire. And now of course there is the influence of America as well.
W: Many students find English a difficult language to learn.
M: Oh, all languages are difficult to learn. But English does have two great advantages.
W: What are they?
M: Well, first of all, it has a very international vocabulary. It has many German, Dutch, French, Spanish and Italian words in it. So speakers of those languages will find many familiar words in English. In fact, English has words for many other languages as well.
W: Why is that?
M: Well, partly because English speakers have travelled a lot, they bring back words with them. So English really does have an international vocabulary.
W: And what is the other advantage of English?
M: It's that English grammar is really quite easy. For example, it doesn't have dozens of different endings for its nouns, adjectives and verbs, not like Latin, Russian and German for example.
W: Why is that?
M: Well, it's quite interesting actually. It's because of the French. When the French
ruled England, French was the official language, and only the common people spoke English. They tried to make their language as simple as possible. So they made the grammar easier.
Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Questions 9. What does the man say about Chinese?
Questions 10. What made English a widely used language?
Questions 11. What is said to be special about English vocabulary?
Conversation two
Man： Hello。 Yes?
Woman： Hello。 Is that the sales department?
M： Yes， it is。
W：Oh， well。 My name is Jane Kingsbury of GPF limited。 We need some supplies for our design office。
M： Oh， what sort?
W：Well， first of all， we need one complete new drawing board。 M： DO44 or DO45?
W：Ah， I don’t know。 What’s the difference?
M： Well， the 45 costs 15 pounds more。
W：So what’s the total price then? M：It’s 387 pounds。
W：Dose that include valued-added tax? M： Oh， I’m not sure。 Most of the prices do。 Yes， I think it does。
W：What are the boards actually made of?
M： Oh， I don’t know。 I think it‘s a sort of plastic stuff these days。 It’s white anyway。
W：And how long does it take to deliver? M： Oh， I couldn’t really say。 It depends on how much work we’ve got and how many other orders there are to send out，
you know。 W：Ok， now we also want some drawing pens， ink and rulers， and some drawing paper。
M： Oh dear。 The girl who takes all those supplies isn’t here this morning。 So I can’t take those orders for you。 I only do the equipment you see。
W：Ok， well， perhaps I’ll ring back tomorrow。
M： So do you want the drawing board then? W：Oh， I have to think about it。 Thanks very much。 I’ll let you know。 Good-bye。 M： Thank you。 Good-bye。
Question 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you just heard。
Question 12： What is the woman’s purpose in making the phone call?
Question 13： What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
Question 14： What does the man say
about delivery? Question 15： What does the woman say she will possibly do tomorrow?
Section C 短文1
No one knows for sure just how old kites are. In fact， they have been in use for centuries。 25 centuries ago， kites were well-known in China。 These first kites were probably made of wood。 They may even have been covered with silk， because silk were used a lot at that time。 Early kites were built for certain uses。 In ancient China， they will use to carry ropes to cross rivers。 Once across， the ropes were tear down and wooden bridges would hang for them。 Legend tells of one General who flew musical kites over the enemies’ camp。 The enemy fled， believing the sounds to be the warming voices of angels。 By the 15th century， many people flew kites in Europe。 Marco Polo may
have brought the kite back from his visit to China。 The kite has been linked to great names and events。 For instance， Benjamin Franklin used kite to prove the lightening electricity。 He flew the kite in the storm。 He did this in order to draw lightening from the clouds。 He tied a metal key and a strip of silk to the kite line。 The silk ribbon would stop the lightening from passing through his body。 Benjamin’s idea was first laughed at。 But later on， it enlightened the invention of the lightening rod。 With such grand history， kite flying is short remain an entertaining and popular sport。
Question 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard。 Question 16： What does the speaker say about kite?
Question 17： What did ancient Chinese use cats to do?
Question 18： Why did BF flied a kite in
the storm?
短文2
I have learnt many languages， but I’m not mastered them the way the professional interpreter or translator has。 Still， they have open doors for me。 They have allowed me the opportunity to seek jobs in international contexts and help me get those jobs。 Like many people who have lived overseas for a while， I simply got crazy about it。 I can’t image living my professional or social life without international interactions。 Since 1977， I have spent much more time abroad than in the United States。 I like going to new places， eating new foods and experiencing new cultures。 If you can speak the language， it’s easier to get to know the country and its people。 If I had the time and money。 I would live for a year in as many countries as possible。 Beyond my career， my facility with
languages has given me a few rare opportunities。 Once， just after I returned my year in Vienna。 I was asked to translate for a German judge at Olympic level horse event and learned a lot about the sport。
In Japan， once when I was in the studio audience of a TV cooking show， I was asked to go up on the stage and taste the beef dish that was being prepared and tell what I thought。 They asked” Was it as good as American beef?” It was very exciting for me to be on Japanese TV， speaking in Japanese about how delicious the beef was。
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you’ve just heard。
Question 19 What does the speaker say about herself?
Question 20 What does the speaker say about many people who have lived overseas for a while?
Question 21 How did the speaker experience of living in Vienna benefit her? Question 22 What was the speaker asked to do in the Japanese studio?
短文3
Dr。 Ben Carsen grew up in a poor single parent house-hold in Detroit。 His mother， who had only a 3rd grade education helds two jobs cleaning bathrooms。 To his classmates and even to his teachers he was thought of as the dummest kid in his class。 According to his own not so fond memories。
He had a terrible temper， and once threatened to kill another child。 Dr。 Carsen was headed down part of seld distraction until a critical moment in his youth。 His mother convinced that he had to do something dramatic preventing leading a life of failure laid down some rules。 He could not watch television except for two programs a week，
could not play with his friends after school until he finished his homework。 And had to read two books a week， and write book reports about them。 His mother’s strategy worked。 “Of course， I didn’t know she couldn’t read。 So there I was submitting these reports。” he said。 She would put check marks on them like she had been reading them。 As I began to read about scientists，economists and philosophers。 I started imaging myself in their shoes。 As he got into the hobbit of hard work， his grade began to soar。 Ultimately he received a scholarship to attending Yale University， and later he was admitted to the University of Michigan Medical School。
He is now a leading surgeon at Johns Hopkins Medical School and he is also the author of the three books。
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard。
Q23 What do we learn about Ben
Carsen ?
Q24 What did Ben Caren’s classmates and teachers think of him whenhe was first at school?
Q25 What did Ben Carsen’s mother tell him to do when he was a school boy?
2015年12月（第二套）英语四级听力原文 Questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.
There are more than 400 museums in the US that celebrate the history of the military. But not a single one devoted to American diplomacy. That’s about to change. A new museum celebrating the history of American diplomacy is being built at the US Department of State. The US Diplomacy Center (USDC) will feature 238 years of American diplomatic history, as well as an education area for students interested in diplomatic careers. The USDC has collected over 6 200 objects to display in the new, 20 000-square-foot museum.
Building started on the museum in 2014. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with five former Secretaries of State, was present for the ceremony. Once all the funding and design plans are completed, the museum is projected to open in 2017, said a spokesman for the
project.
1. What is the news report mainly about? 2. What can we learn about the project from the news report?
Questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item.
A conflict is forming on the streets of New York City between legal and illegal food trucks and carts. The city grants 5 100 food vending permits every two years. The permit is issued by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Most of the permit holders pay $200 to renew their permit every two years. Some permit holders rent their license, or permit, for a profit. Some cart or truck operators pay more than $20 000 for a food vending permit.
Because there is greater demand than supply of permits, a black market for the licenses has emerged. It is reported that transferring or renting these permits to
another vendor is illegal. But many vendors have turned to this illegal black market for permits. The vendors say getting a cart or truck permit can take 10 to 15 years. Some vendors work the street unlicensed.
3. How much should the permit
holders pay to renew the permit?
4. Why has a black market for the
licenses emerged?
Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item.
A burial place in Washington, DC is
using goats instead of poison to remove weeds. Congressional Cemetery is near Capitol Hill. There are more than 65 000 graves there.
In recent years, many weeds have
grown in the cemetery. Officials did not want to use poisons, to kill the weeds. The cemetery is near the Anacostia River. Officials have worked for many years to remove
pollutants from the river, which runs through the city. So cemetery officials decided to use goats. The animals are less costly than chemicals and do not hurt the environment. And the goats eat a lot of weeds.
The animals are owned by Mary
Bowen, a farmer. She operates a company called Browsing Green Goats. The cemetery pays her company more than $11 000 to have the goats remove unwanted plants from each hectare of the cemetery. But Mary Bowen says that is about half the cost of using herbicides. She hopes the goats will help more people understand that they can keep their property free of weeds without hurting the environment.
5. What new measure is taken to kill
the weeds in Congressional Cemetery?
6. Why is the new measure taken? 7. What does Mary Bowen do?
Section B
Conversation One
M: Ace Employment Agency. Good morning.
W: Good morning. I wonder if you can help me. I'm looking for a job.
M: I'll see what we can do. Uh... Have you been to us before?
W. No. But you've managed to get jobs for some of my friends. So I thought, perhaps, you know...
M: Yes, I see. First of all, could you give me your full name?
W: Yes, of course. Susan Hollies.
M: Good. And could I have your phone number?
W: Yes.7788992.
M: Fine. And your date of birth, please? W: Feb. 3rd, 1980.
M: Thank you. Now education. Which school did you go to?
W: I went to a secondary school in South Town.
M: And have you been to college?
W: No. I left full-time education when I was 18.
M: I see. Any qualifications?
W: Yes. I gained a shorthand and typing diploma at evening classes.
M: That's good. Now, where are you working at the moment?
W: Well, I've got a job as a shorthand-typist. But I'm not enjoying it very much and it doesn't pay very well.
M: I see. Have you applied for any other jobs?
W: Yes. I thought I'd like to be a policewoman. But they turned me down because I was too short.
M: What would you like to do now, then?
W: Well, I think I'd like to work in a travel agency.
M: I see. I think the best thing is for me to see what we might find for you. And then...
Question 8. How did the woman get to know about the man's company?
Question 9. What formal education did the woman receive?
Question 10. What do we learn about the woman's occupation? I
Question 11. What will the man probably do next?
Conversation TWO
W: Steve, can you tell me how long you've been a pub owner?
M: Well, four years, I suppose. I've been involved with pubs off and on for ten years. I've sortof done hotel work and I've also run a restaurant pub. And now I've got what you call agood old-fashioned pub. That is, a public bar, with all the social games going with it,which is what we've always wanted to have, you know.
W: It sounds like you've always worked
in pubs, but not always in this one.
M: No, no. I worked in quite a variety of pubs.
W: What makes a good pub? I mean, you said, you know, it has got a good variety of things.
M: Well, I think having the right customers to start with, selling the right beer, keeping itgood, and most of all, keeping a good attitude yourself, even though you probably feel very tired. But the idea is, if you generate from your side, it's got to affect the other side,if you're getting the right customers in.
W: Yeah. I must say that's one thing that has always struck me about being a pub owner. I mean, a lot of people seem to think that it's a nice job, you know. Everybody says, \pub.\But it seems to me that it's actually very hard work.
Question 12. What does the man say
about his involvement with pubs?
Question 13. What characterizes the old-fashioned pub according to the man?
Question 14. What does the man say is the most important in making a good pub?
Question 15. What does the woman think of running a country pub?
Section C
Passage ONE
To help ourselves and others, it's important to know something about drugs. A drug is a chemical substance. It can bring about a physical, emotional, or mental change in people. Alcohol and tobacco are drugs. Caffeine, a substance found in coffee and some soft drinks, is also a drug.
Drug abuse is the use of a drug, legal or illegal, that hurts a person or someone close to him. A drug user is the person who takes the drug. There are many kinds of drug users. Experimental users may try drugs once or
twice. They want to see what the effects will be. Recreational users take drugs to get high. They use drugs with friends or at parties to get into the mood of things. Regular users take drugs all the time. But they are often able to keep up with the normal routine of work. Dependent users can't relate to anything but drugs. Their whole life centers around drugs. They feel extreme mental or physical pain without drugs.
It's not always easy to tell that someone is using drugs. In the early stages, drug use is often hard to see. Sometimes, people like drugs or need drugs so much; they can't do without them. They are dependent upon drugs. Only a few kinds of drugs can cause physical dependence. But almost any drug, when it's misused, can make a person think he needs it all the time. By this time, it's too late and the person is hooked.
Question 16. What does the speaker say about drug abuse?
Question 17. What does the speaker say about recreational drug users?
Question 18. What does the speaker say about drug dependence?
Passage TWO
According to Charles Harper, Chairman of ConAgra, the Healthy Choice line of frozen dinners began with his own heart attack. It has been brought on by years of eating anything he could get his hands on. As he lay in the hospital recovering, Harper imagined the line of healthy frozen foods that tasted good. The Healthy Choice product line was carefully tested with consumers before being introduced to the general public. ConAgra's research and development staff spent a year working under the instruction \cost, don't sacrifice taste.\The first test market results surprised even the ConAgra team. The low-sodium, low-fat frozen dinners
sold much better than expected. According to the firm's vice-president of marketing and sales, \benefited from low expectations. The products were much better than people thought they would be.\ This finding supported ConAgra's decision to position the product against other high-quality frozen dinners rather than as a diet or health food. The new product's brand name and packaging were an important part of the development process. The name Healthy Choice was chosen for the positive implication it held for consumers. Because ConAgra felt the product would be an impulse purchase, it was important to make the item stand out in the freezer case. This was accomplished through the dark green packaging that not only differed from the competitors but also suggested freshness and richness in vitamins.
Question 19. What did Charles Harper think of while he was in hospital?
Question 20. What does the passage say
about the Healthy Choice product line before it went to market?
Question 21. What is said to contribute to ConAgra's business success?
Question 22. What does the speaker say about the name Healthy Choice?
Passage THREE
In the United States, 36 states currently allow capital punishment for serious crimes such as murder. Americans have always argued about the death penalty. Today, there is a serious question about this issue: Should there be a minimum age limit for executing criminals? In other words, is it right for convicted murderers who kill when they are minors — that is, under the age of 18 — to receive the death penalty?
In most other countries of the world, there is no capital punishment for minors. In the United States, though, each state makes its own decision. Of the 36 states that allow
the death penalty, 30 permit the execution of minors.
In the state of South Carolina, a convicted murderer was given the death penalty for a crime he committed while he was a minor. In 1977, when he was 17 years old, James Terry Roach and two friends cruelly murdered three people. Roach's lawyer fought the decision to execute him. The young murderer remained on Death Row for ten years while his lawyer appealed to the governor. The lawyer argued that it is wrong to execute a person for a crime he committed while he was a minor. In the United States, the governor of a state has the power to change a sentence from the death penalty to life in prison. Nonetheless, the governor of South Carolina refused to stop the execution. Roach was finally executed in 1986.
Question 23. What does the speaker say about the death penalty in the United States?
Question 24. What is the focus of the
debate around the death penalty?
Question 25. What does the speaker say about James Terry Roach?
十套四级真题录音原文
