历年四级考试作文以及范文 第1篇

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一、印象最深活动

The Most Beneficial Activity in My Campus

It is well known that university is greatly different from high school mainly due to that university will hold a large number of activities, which benefits college students a lot. From my perspective, the most beneficial one is “Long-distance Running for Love” organized by the Students Union when I am a freshman. The money collected by this activity is contributed to Project Hope.

It is really my honor to participate the long running, because it benefits me greatly not only in body but also in mind. To begin with, the activity reminds me of the great importance of physical health. Before I go to college, I only focus on academic achievements while the physical health misses my attention. But, the long-running tells me in time that a sound mind lies in a sound body. Additionally, during my participation in this activity, I am informed well that there are still many children in rural areas who have to drop out of school because of impoverished families. Thus, for one thing, I fully realize the great importance of helping them fulfill their dreams. For another thing, I cherish the opportunity to study in university more, for when compared with those children in poverty-stricken areas, we should harbor a grateful heart.

By and large, although I have taken part in many campus activities, I deem the long running for love most beneficial to me. And I am looking forward to that more wonderful and meaningful activities will be held in our campus.

范文译文：

众所周知，大学与高中截然不同，主要原因是大学里会举办很多校园活动，而这些大学活动使大学生受益匪浅。我认为最有益的校园活动是大一时，由学生会举办的“爱心长跑”。这次长跑筹集的善款用于捐助希望工程。

我很荣幸参加了这次长跑，因为这次活动使我的身心都获得了很大裨益。首先，这次活动提醒我身体健康的重要性。在我上大学前，我只关心自己的学习成绩，而忽视了健康。但是，这次长跑及时提醒我――健康的身体孕育健康的灵魂。此外，通过参加此次长跑，我深刻了解到还有许多偏远山区的小孩因为家庭贫困被迫辍学。因此，一方面我充分意识到帮助这些小孩实现梦想是何其重要;另一方面，我更珍惜自己能上大学的机会。因为，和那些贫困地区的小孩相比，我们应该怀有一颗感恩的心。

总体而言，虽然我参加过许多校园活动，但是我认为这次爱心长跑最为有益。我也期待有更多精彩而有意义的校园活动举行。

二、印象最深课程

The Most Impressing Course in My College Life

印象最深的一门课

During the two years of college life, I have attended many special courses, among which the most impressed one is psychology. I still remembered the days when I was fed up with my major Math, which frustrated me so much. Till I fortunately select one of the most fascinating optional courses lectured by Professor Wang.

Time gone back to the first class of Mr. Wang, I found a little old man came in the classroom with a thick book of psychology. Mysteriously, I first unveiled and explored the myth within it by the vivid demonstration of Mr. Wang, and became fascinated with this course. In the following days, it enclosed an assorted of psychological phenomenon reflected in ordinary people’s daily lives by illustrating examples in reality.

To be frank, it is the psychology class that enlightens my soul of exploring the unknown world and stimulate my desire to learn. And it is no surprise to say that psychology is the most impressing course for me in college.

最^v^级写作点评：

今年12月20号的最^v^级写作的出题类型延续了6月的形式，较以往更加趋向于灵活性，重点考察的是考生的英语基础知识，不再依赖于过去的传统模版或套句。因此这样的考察形式更需要考生在平时英语的学习过程中去积累，注重英语书面表达运用技巧。而在出题的话题上也更偏向于大学生的校园学习和生活话题，文体形式比较自由。因此建议广大四级考生能通过平时的基础练习和专业课程指导，摒弃模版，达到理想的写作分数。

三、印象最深同学

In my memory, there are so many unforgettable men who have rendered me assistance。Among them, the most impressive one is Lucy, my roommate. During the freshman year with her, it has exerted considerable influence on me。

First and foremost, when I entered the university, Lucy set good examples to me in terms of independence. She adapts the new environment quickly. Moreover, she has a cheerful personality, and participates in the Students’ Union soon . With her advice, I soon follow her step and join more activities. Last but not least, what I have learnt most from her is the self-study ability. She spends much time in reading and mastering a new language in the library and often recommend me useful books and information 。

In a word, I really appreciate it for her modeling power. I wish I can be excellent like her and have a great friendship with Lucy.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第2篇

On the Senior Empty Nests

For most senior students in universities, the last academic year has nothing to do with academics. To the frustration of professors, few courses are attended by students. And dorms are almost vacant with few lodgers. This kind of phenomenon, which has been called “Senior Empty Nests”, is common among universities of China.

Where have those absent senior students gone? Some lucky dogs have gone to their new jobs while the majority are still striving to get a job or engaging in their internship outside of the campus. The severe employment pressure has pushed senior students into employment market earlier. The anxiety of getting a job before graduation disturbs the restless mind of every student, which leads to skipping school of most students.

In my view, with senior students leaving campus earlier, their time of education has been reduced, which puts them in a disadvantaged position in the employment market. Students should start job hunting after finishing the courses of the last academic year. At the same time, the universities should provide career education for senior students.

篇3：垃圾分类

The resources of the earth are limited. We should cherish and cherish these resources. So we"re going to do garbage sorting, and reuse the available resources again.

At home, remind everybody garbage classification, water bottles, cans, such as waste paper packed together to sell, resources recycling, and made money, the waste batteries, cartridges, etc in the recycling bins. In school, you can reuse and reuse garbage, put in two different trash cans, one is recyclable and one is unrecyclable. Learn from your classmates and discuss ways to classify rubbish. In the suburbs, we will use two bags to classify garbage, pick up the garbage that we see and classify it, so that it is the best young pioneers. This allows you to easily categorize.

Everyone is sorting garbage, and the earth is beautiful. We will see the thick wood, the clear water, the blue sky and the blue sea, everyone has a sweet smile.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第3篇

The most interesting place

Dear Pacival,

I am thrilled to know that you are going to visit my hometown and I can’t wait see you again. I miss everything that happened when I was in your city, and your parents and you were so kind to me that I will try my best this time to make your stay an enjoyable and memerable one.

My home town，Changsha, is the capital of Hunan province and best known as the star city for its well developed entertainment industry and tourism. There are numerous places and attractions worth recommending, and Yuelu Mountain is the first one that I’d like to introduce to you. Firstly, in the foot of Yuelu Mountain is the prominent Yuelu Academy. It has an exceedingly long history and its architecture is characteristic of Song Dynasty. Then, after a half hour, we will reach the Bird Forest. There are various rare birds there, and they can sing, perform, and interact with us. After about an hour, we will arrive at the peak, Baiyun Summit. The scenery there is spectacular and we can have a wonderful panorama of the whole city.

I bet you must be very excited about all these activities, and the Yuelu Mountain is waiting for us to explore. All you need to do is pack up and go, and I assure you that this trip will be a great fun.

Should you have any question and suggestion, please let me know.

I am looking forward to your arrival.

Yours sincerely,

Romeo

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第4篇

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else. “While we teach, we learn,” said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date. They"re documenting why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn, and designing innovative ways for young people to engage in instruction.

Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who"re learning only for their own sake. But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings (兄弟姐妹). This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings. Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this model to academic subjects. They engage college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.

But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the “teachable agent”—a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil. Computer scientists have created an animated (动画的) figure called Betty"s Brain, who has been “taught” about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students. Student teachers are motivated to help Betty master certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their own understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.

Feedback from the teachable agents further enhances the tutors" learning. The agents" questions compel student tutors to think and explain the materials in different ways, and watching the agent solve problems allows them to see their knowledge put into action.

Above all, it"s the emotions one experiences in teaching that facilitate learning. Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtual pupils succeed as they derive pride and satisfaction from someone else"s accomplishment.

46. What are researchers rediscovering through their studies?

"s thinking is still applicable today.

learners will become better teachers.

intelligence tends to grow with age.

thinking improves instruction.

47. What do we learn about Betty"s Brain?

is a character in a popular animation.

is a teaching tool under development.

is a cutting-edge app in digital games.

is a tutor for computer science students.

48. How does teaching others benefit student tutors?

makes them aware of what they are strong at.

motivates them to try novel ways of teaching.

helps them learn their academic subjects better.

enables them to better understand their teachers.

49. What do students do to teach their teachable agents?

motivate them to think independently.

ask them to design their own questions.

encourage them to give prompt feedback.

use various ways to explain the materials.

50. What is the key factor that eases student tutors" learning?

sense of responsibility.

emotional involvement.

learning strategy acquired.

teaching experience gained.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

A new batch of young women—members of the so-called Millennial (千禧的) generation—has been entering the workforce for the past decade. At the starting line of their careers, they are better educated than their mothers and grandmothers had been—or than their young male counterparts are now. But when they look ahead, they see roadblocks to their success. They believe that women are paid less than men for doing the same job. They think it"s easier for men to get top executive jobs than it is for them. And they assume that if and when they have children, it will be even harder for them to advance in their careers.

While the public sees greater workplace equality between men and women now than it did 20-30 years ago, most believe more change is needed. Among Millennial women, 75% say this country needs to continue making changes to achieve gender equality in the workplace, compared with 57% of Millennial men. Even so, relatively few young women (15%) say they have been discriminated against at work because of their gender.

As Millennial women come of age they share many of the same views and values about work as their male counterparts. They want jobs that provide security and flexibility, and they place relatively little importance on high pay. At the same time, however, young working women are less likely than men to aim at top management jobs: 34% say they"re not interested in becoming a boss or top manager; only 24% of young men say the same. The gender gap on this question is even wider among working adults in their 30s and 40s, when many women face the trade-offs that go with work and motherhood.

These findings are based on a new Pew Research Center survey of 2,002 adults, including 810 Millennials (ages 18-32), conducted Oct. 7-27, . The survey finds that, in spite of the dramatic gains women have made in educational attainment and labor force participation in recent decades, young women view this as a man"s world—just as middle-aged and older women do.

do we learn from the first paragraph about Millennial women starting their careers?

can get ahead only by striving harder.

expect to succeed just like Millennial men.

are generally quite optimistic about their future.

are better educated than their male counterparts.

do most Millennial women feel about their treatment in the workplace?

are the target of discrimination.

find it satisfactory on the whole.

think it needs further improving.

find their complaints ignored.

do Millennial women value most when coming of age?

sense of accomplishment.

stability and flexibility.

and promotions.

derived from work.

are women in their 30s and 40s concerned about?

welfare of their children.

narrowing of the gender gap.

fulfillment of their dreams in life.

balance between work and family.

conclusion can be drawn about Millennial women from the 2013 survey?

still view this world as one dominated by males.

account for half the workforce in the job market.

see the world differently from older generations.

do better in work than their male counterparts.

Passage one

Passage two

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第5篇

2017年6月英语四级考试真题试卷

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

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

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)

Section A News Report

Directions： In this section， you will hear three news reports。 At the end of each news report， you will hear two or three questions。 Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once。 After you hear a question， you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）， B）， C） and D）。 Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre。

Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.

1. A) The majority of drivers prefer to drive and park themselves.

B) Human drivers become easily distracted or tired while driving.

C) Most drivers feel uncertain about the safety of self-driving cars.

D) Most drivers have test driven cars with automatic braking features.

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

B) They would be unpopular with drivers who only trust their own skills.

C) Their increased comfort levels have boosted their sales.

D) They are not actually as safe as automakers advertise.

Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.

3. A) Thefts of snowmobile dogs in Alaska.

B) A series of injuries to snowmobile drivers.

C) Attacks on some Iditarod Race competitors.

D) A serious accident in the Alaska sports event.

4. A) He stayed behind to look after his injured dogs.

B) He has won the Alaska Iditarod Race four times.

C) He received a minor injury in the Iditarod Race.

D) He has quit the competition in Alaska for good.

Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.

5. A) It sank into the sea due to overloading.

B) It ran into Nicaragua"s Big Corn Island.

C) It disappeared between two large islands.

D) It turned over because of strong winds.

6. A) 13.

B) 25.

C) 30.

D) 32.

7. A) He has helped with the rescue effort.

B) He is being investigated by the police.

C) He was drowned with the passengers.

D) He is among those people missing.

Section B Conversation

Directions： In this section， you will hear two long conversations。 At the end of each conversations you will hear four questions。 Both the conversations and the question-s will be spoken only once。 After you hear a question。 You must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A），B），C）and D）。 Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

8. A) At a shopping centre.

B) At a community college.

C) At an accountancy firm.

D) At an IT company.

9. A) Helping out with data input.

B) Arranging interviews.

C) Sorting application forms.

D) Making phone calls.

10. A) He enjoys using computers.

B) He needs the money badly.

C) He wants to work in the city centre.

D) He has relevant working experience.

11. A) Purchase some business suits.

B) Learn some computer language.

C) Improve his programming skills.

D) Review some accountancy terms.

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12. A) They are keen on high technology.

B) They are poor at technology skills.

C) They often listen to National Public Radio.

D) They feel superior in science and technology.

13. A) Japanese.

B) Germans.

C) Poles.

D) Americans.

14. A) Emailing.

B) Texting.

C) Science.

D) Literacy.

15. A) It is undergoing a drastic reform.

B) It lays emphasis on creative thinking.

C) It has much room for improvement.

D) It prioritizes training of practical skills.

Section C Passage

Directions： In this section， you will hear three passages。 At the end of each passage， you will hear three or four questions。 Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once。 After you hear a question， you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A），B），C）and D）。Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A) They have small roots.

B) They grow white flowers.

C) They taste like apples.

D) They come from Central Africa.

17. A) They turned from white to purple in color.

B) They became popular on the world market.

C) They became an important food for humans.

D) They began to look like modern-day carrots.

18. A) They were found quite nutritious.

B) There were serious food shortages.

C) People discovered their medicinal value.

D) Farm machines helped lower their prices.

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

19. A) She could update her family any time she liked.

B) She could call up her family whenever she liked

C) She could locate her friends wherever they were.

D) She could download as many pictures as she liked.

20. A) She liked to inform her friends about her success.

B) She enjoyed reading her friends" status updates.

C) She felt quite popular among them.

D) She felt she was a teenager again.

21. A) She could barely respond to all her 500 Facebook friends.

B) She spent more time updating her friends than her family.

C) She could barely balance Facebook updates and her work.

D) She didn"t seem to be doing as well as her Facebook friends.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22. A) They have strong muscles.

B) They live a longer life than horses.

C) They eat much less in winter.

D) They can work longer than donkeys.

23. A) It was a pet of a Spanish king.

B) It was bought by George Washington.

C) It was brought over from Spain.

D) It was donated by a . Ambassador.

24. A) They met and exchanged ideas on animal breeding.

B) They participated in a mule-driving competition.

C) They showed and traded animals in the market.

D) They fed mules with the best food they could find.

25. A) The wider use of horses.

B) The arrival of tractors.

C) A shrinking animal trade.

D) A growing donkey population.

Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

As if you needed another reason to hate the gym, it now turns out that exercise can exhaust not only your muscles, but also your eyes. Fear not, however, for coffee can stimulate them again. During __26__ exercise, our muscles tire as they run out of fuel and build up waste products. Muscle performance can also be affected by a __27__ called ”central fatigue,“ in which an imbalance in the body"s chemical messengers prevents the central nervous system from directing muscle movements __28__. It was not known, however, whether central fatigue might also affect motor systems not directly __29__ in the exercise itself, such as those that move the eyes. To find out, researchers gave 11 volunteer cyclists a carbohydrate （碳水化合物的）__30__ either with a moderate dose of caffeine （咖啡因），which is known to stimulate the central nervous system, or as a placebo （安慰剂）without, during 3 hours of __31__. After exercising, the scientists tested the cyclists with eye-tracking cameras to see how well their brains could still __32__ their visual system. The team found that exercise reduced the speed of rapid eye movements by about 8%, __33__ their ability to capture new visual information. The caffeine, the equivalent of two strong cups of coffee, was __34__ to reverse this effect, with some cyclists even displaying __35__ eye movement speeds. So it might be a good idea to get someone else to drive you home after that marathon.

A) cautiously B) commit C) control D) cycling E) effectively F) increased G) involved H) limited I) phenomenon J) preventing K) sensitive L) slowing M) solution N) sufficient O) vigorous

Section B

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

Team spirit

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

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

C）The fashion for teams is driven by a sense that the old way of organising people is too rigid for both the modern marketplace and the expectations of employees. Technological innovation places greater value on agility（灵活性）. John Chambers, chairman of Cisco Systems Inc., a worldwide leader in electronics products, says that ”we compete against market transitions（过渡）, not competitors. Product transitions used to take five or seven years; now they take one or two. “ Digital technology also makes it easier for people to co-ordinate their activities without resorting to hierarchy. The ” millennials“ （千禧一代）who will soon make up half the workforce in rich countries were raised from nursery school onwards to work in groups.

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

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

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

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

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

I）A new study of 12,000 workers in 17 countries by Steelcase, a furniture-maker which also does consulting, finds that the best way to ensure employees are ”engaged“ is to give them more control over where and how they do their work—which may mean liberating them from having to do everything in collaboration with others.

J）However, organisations need to learn something bigger than how to manage teams better: they need to be in the habit of asking themselves whether teams are the best tools for the job. Team-building skills are in short supply: Deloitte reports that only 12% of the executives they contacted feel they understand the way people work together in networks and only 21% feel confident in their ability to build cross-functional teams. Loosely managed teams can become hotbeds of distraction—employees routinely complain that they can"t get their work done because they are forced to spend too much time in meetings or compelled to work in noisy offices. Even in the age of open-plan offices and social networks some work is best left to the individual.

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

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

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

of poorly managed teams are easily distracted from their work.

is most effective when team members share the same culture.

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

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

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

ensure employees" commitment, it is advisable to give them more flexibility as to where and how they work.

transitions take much less time now than in the past.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time，you should listen carefully for its general the passage is read for the second time，you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally，when the passage is read for the third time，you should check what you have written.

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

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

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

This has wiped 6% off the value of the soft tissue paper market in the UK. It has shrunk from billion pounds in 2011 to billion pounds in 2015, according to a new report from market research company Mintel. Furthermore, the future of the market looks far from rosy, with sales expected to fall further to billion pounds in 2016.

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

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

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

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

46. The market sales of toilet paper have decreased because ______.

A. Britons have cut their spending on it.

B. its prices have gone up over the years.

C. its quality has seen marked improvement.

D. Britons have developed the habit of saving.

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

A. It will expand in time.

B. It will remain gloomy.

C. It will experience ups and downs.

D. It will recover as population grows.

48. What does Jack Duckett say about toilet paper?

A. Special offers would promote its sales.

B. Consumers are loyal to certain brands.

C. Luxurious features add much to the price.

D. Consumers have a variety to choose from.

49. What do we learn about Britons concerning toilet paper?

A. They are particular about the quality of toilet paper.

B. They emphasize the strength of toilet paper the most.

C. They prefer cheap toilet paper to recycled toilet paper.

D. They reject using toilet paper with unnecessary features.

50. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

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

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

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

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

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

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

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

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

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

And the quit rates were particularly convincing given that before the study started, most of the people had said they"d rather cut down gradually before quitting. ”If you"re training for a marathon, you wouldn"t expect to turn up and just be able to run it. And I think people see that for smoking as well. They think, "Well, if I gradually reduce, it"s like practice,"“ says Lindson-Hawley. But that wasn"t the case. Instead of giving people practice, the gradual reduction likely gave them cravings （瘾）and withdrawal symptoms before they even reached quit day, which could be why fewer people in that group actually made it to that Point. ”Regardless of your stated preference, if you"re ready to quit, quitting abruptly is more effective,“ says Dr. Gabriela Ferreira. ”When you can quote a specific number like a fifth of the patients were able to quit, that"s compelling. It gives them the encouragement, I think, to really go for it,“ Ferreira says.

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

51. What does Lindson-Hawley say about her mother?

A. She quit smoking with her daughter"s help.

B. She succeeded in quitting smoking abruptly.

C. She was also a researcher of tobacco and health.

D. She studied the smoking patterns of adult smokers.

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

A. They were given physical training.

B. They were looked after by physicians.

C. They were encouraged by psychologists.

D. They were offered nicotine replacements.

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

A. It is idealized.

B. It is unexpected.

C. It is encouraging.

D. It is misleading.

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

A. is something few can accomplish

B. needs some practice first

C. requires a lot of patience

D. is a challenge at the beginning

55. What happens when people try to quit smoking gradually?

A. They find it even more difficult.

B. They are simply unable to make it.

C. They show fewer withdrawal symptoms.

D. They feel much less pain in the process.

Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes)

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

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

Part Ⅰ Writing

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Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension

1. drivers feel uncertain about the safety of self-driving cars.

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

3. on some Iditarod race competitors.

4. has won the Alaska Iditarod Race four times.

5. turned over because of strong winds.

6. .

7. is being investigated by the police.

8. an accountancy firm.

9. out with data input.

10. needs the money badly.

11. some accountancy terms.

12. are poor at technology skills.

13. .

14. .

15. has much room for improvement.

16. have small roots.

17. began to look like modern-day carrots.

18. were serious food shortages.

19. could update her family any time she liked.

20. enjoyed reading her friends" status updates.

21. didn"t seem to be doing as well as her Facebook friends.

22. have strong muscles.

23. was brought over from Spain.

24. showed and traded animals in the market.

25. arrival of tractors.

Part III Reading Comprehension

26-35：OIEGM DCJNF

36-45：HDBJG AFEIC

46-55：ABCAD BDCBA

Part IV Translation

The Yangtze River is the longest in Asia and the third longest in the world. The river, which flows through varied ecosystems along its passage, offers habitats for many endangered species and provides irrigation for 1/5 of China"s land. The Yangtze River basin is home to 1/3 of China"s population. The river plays a very important role in China historically, culturally and economically. The Yangtze River Delta contributes up to 20% of China"s GDP. For millennia, the Yangtze River has been used for water supply, shipment and industrial activities. The world"s largest hydropower station is also built on the river.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第6篇

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Popping food into the microwave for a couple of minutes may seem utterly harmless, and Europe"s stock of these quick-cooking ovens emit as much carbon as nearly 7million cars, a new study has found, and the problem is growing. With costs falling and kitchen appliances becoming “status” users, owners are throwing many microwave after an average of eight years. This is pushing sales of new microwave which are expected to reach 135 million annually in the EU by the end of the decade.

A study by the University of Manchester worked out the emissions of carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change -- at every stage of microwaves, from manufacture to waste disposal. “It is electricity consumption by microwaves that has the biggest impact on the environment,” say the authors, who also calculate that the emissions from using 19 microwaves over a year are the same as those from a car. According to the same study, efforts to reduce consumption should focus on improving consumer awareness and behaviour to use appliances more efficiently. For example, electricity consumption by microwaves can be reduced by adjusting the time of cooking to the type of food.“

However, David Reay, professor of carbon management argues that, although microwaves use a great deal of enery, their emissions are minor compared to those from cars. In the UK alone and these emit way more than all the emissions from microwaves in the EU. Backing this up, recent data show that passenger cars in the UK emitted 69m tonnes of CO2 in . This is 10 times the amount this new microwave oven study estimates for annual emissions for all the microwave ovens in the whole of the EU.” further, the energy used by microwaves is lower than any other form of cooking. Among common kitchen appliances used for cooking, microwaves are the most energy efficient, followed by a stove and finally a standard oven. Thus, rising microwave sales could be seen as a positive thing.

51. What is the finding of the new study?

A) Quick-cooking microwave ovens have become more popular.

B) The frequent use of microwaves may do harm to our health.

C) CO2 emissions constitute a major threat to the environment.

D) The use of microwaves emits more CO2 than people think.

52. Why are the sales of microwaves expected to rise?

A) They are becoming more afrdabla.

B) They have a shorter life cycle than other appliances.

C) They are gtting much easier to operate.

D) They take less tine to cook than other ppliaces.

53. What recommendation does the study by the University of Manchester make?

A) Cooking food of dfferent varieties.

B) Improving microwave users" habits.

C) Eating less to cut energy consumption.

D) Using microwave ovens less frequently.

54. What does Professor David Reay try to argue?

A) There are far more emissions from cars than from microwaves.

B) People should be persuaded into using passenger cars less often.

C) The UK produces less CO2 than many other countries in the EU.

D) More data are needed to show whether microwaves are harmful.

55. What does Professor David Reay think of the use of microwaves?

A) It will become less popular in the coming decades.

B) It makes everyday cooking much more convenient.

C) It plays a positive role in envronmental protection.

D) It consumes more power than conventional cooking.

Passage one

Passage two

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第7篇

Since the policy of Reform and Open in the last century, Chinese economy develops so rapidly. At the same time, the technology catches up with the world. The popular social communicational tool Wechat was created in China, but now it conquers the world and people is crazy about it.

The reason why people like to use Wechat is that the functions are all-sided. Before Wechat, the most popular social communicational tool like facebook though is creative, it has to download another software to better communication. While for Wechat, everything is simple, you don’t need to download another software. What’s more, you can pay and have the webcam with your friends. The comment that your friends give to you is more private, only the common friends can share. As it is so convenient, people say that they can do everything with a smart phone at hand.

Technology changes our life and people’s need promotes the improvement of technology. We use our wisdom and create the new things. We should be proud of us and show to the world that Chinese people are creative.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第8篇

Upon graduation, virtually all college students will confront the problem of the career choice，which is truly a tough choice. Students opinions differ greatly on this issue. Some hold that there is no better way to get a decent job than working in a stated-owned business which will guarantee my life after retirement, but others take the attitude that a joint venture outweighs any other jobs as it may provide higher income for employees.

As to myself, I prefer the latter view. A joint venture, especially a high-salary joint venture, exerts a tremendous fascination on a great number of people, with no exception to me. Although it might be impossible to make sure my retirement pension is good enough, high-salary is exactly what I need just now. In my view, our career choices largely depend on where we want to stay for the rest of life. For me, metropolis is the place where I can grasp loads of opportunities and achieve my personal dreams. As I hold the view that live in the moment, not the future, and also in order to finance myself in some aspects such as the transportation, the house-renting, or social activities, a joint venture can satisfy my needs for the consumption I mentioned above.

In short, a joint venture is the first and only consideration in my choice of career.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第9篇

Part I Writing(minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay based on the picture should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then comment on the kid"s understanding of going to should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

Part II Listening Comprehension(30 minutes)

Section A

Directions : In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long the end ofeach conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was theconversation and the questions will be spoken only each question there will bea the pause, you must read the four choices marked A., B), D),and decide which is the best mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

will give the woman some tips on the game.

woman has good reason to quit the game.

is willing to play chess with the woman.

woman should go on playing chess.

man can forward the mail to Mary.

can call Mary to take care of the mail.

probably knows Sally"s new address.

would like to resume contact with Sally.

handwriting has a unique style.

notes are not easy to read.

did not attend today"s class.

is very pleased to be able to help.

man had better choose another restaurant.

new restaurant is a perfect place for dating.

new restaurant caught her fancy immediately.

man has good taste in choosing the restaurant.

has been looking forward to spring.

has been waiting for the winter sale.

will clean the woman"s boots for spring.

will help the woman put things away.

woman is rather forgetful.

man appreciates the woman"s help.

man often lends books to the woman.

woman often works overtime at weekends.

to work on foot.

a sightseeing trip.

work earlier than usual.

a walk when the weather is nice.

plane is going to land at another airport.

flights have been delayed due to bad weather.

closing has disturbed the airport"s operation.

airport"s management is in real need of improvement.

Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

specializes in safety from leaks.

is headquartered in London.

has a partnership with LCP.

has a chemical processing plant.

is "s friend.

is a safety inspector.

is a salesman.

is a chemist.

of the safety department.

"s personal assistant.

of the personnel department.

public relations officer.

12. for to call back.

a message for .

details of their products and services.

a comprehensive description of their work.

Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

learned playing the violin from a famous French musician.

dreamed of working and living in a European country.

read a lot about European musicians and their music.

listened to recordings of many European orchestras.

began taking violin lessons as a small child.

was a pupil of a famous European violinist.

gave her first performance with her father.

became a professional violinist at fifteen.

gave her a chance to explore the city.

was the chance of a lifetime.

was a great challenge to her.

helped her learn classical French music.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short the end of each passage, you will hearsome the passage and the questions will be spoken only youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A., B), D ).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single linethrough the centre.

Passage One

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

are mysterious stories behind his works.

are many misunderstandings about him.

works have no match worldwide.

personal history is little known.

moved to Stratford-on-Avon in his childhood.

failed to go beyond grammar school.

was a member of the town council.

once worked in a well-known acting company.

18. of his time had no means to protect their works.

sources of clues about him were lost in a fire.

works were adapted beyond recognition.

of his time had little interest in him.

Passage Two

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

19. .

crash.

accidents.

20. the local customs.

hotel reservations.

tickets well in advance.

the right documents.

your agent.

a lift if possible.

official transport.

a friend meet you.

Passage Three

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

down production cost.

inexpensive products.

in gold ornaments.

the taste of his goods.

a national press conference.

a live television interview.

a local sales promotion campaign.

a meeting of top British businesspeople.

words of some businesspeople are just rubbish.

who never learns from the past is bound to fail.

should be a limit to one"s sense of humour.

is not laughed at, that laughs at himself first.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three the passage is read for the firsttime, you should listen carefully for its general the passage is read for thesecond time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have , when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what youhave written.

Looking at the basic biological systems, the world is not doing very economic indicators show the world is 26 Despite a slow start at the beginning of the eighties, global economic output increased by more than a fifth during the 27 The economy grew, trade increased, and millions of new jobs were can biological indicators show the 28 of economic indicators?

The answer is that the economic indicators have a basic fault: they show no difference between resource uses that 29 progress and those uses that will hurt main measure of economic progress is the gross national product (GNP). 30 , this totals the value of all goods and services produced and subtracts loss in value of factories and a half-century ago, GNP helped 31 a common way among countries of measuring change in economic some time, this seemed to work 32 well, but serious weaknesses are now indicated earlier, GNP includes loss in value of factories and equipment, but it does not 33 the loss of natural resources, including nonrenewable resources such as oil or renewable resources such as forests.

This basic fault can produce a 34 sense of national economic to GNP, for example, countries that overcut forests actually do better than those that preserve their trees cut down are counted as income but no subtraction is made for 35 the forests.

Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension ( 40 minutes) Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten are required to select one word for

each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the the passage through carefully before making your choice in the bank is identified by a mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet2 with a single line through the may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.

The of Education is making efforts to ensure that all students have equal access to a quality it is 36 the launch of the Excellent Educators for All initiative will help states and school districts support great educators for the students who need them most.

”All children are 37 to a high-quality education regardless of their race, zip code or family is 38 important that we provide teachers and principals the support they need to help students reach their full 39 ,“ of Education Arne Duncan said.” Despite the excellent work and deep 40 of our nation"s teachers and principals, students in high-poverty, high- minority schools are unfairly treated across our have to do leaders and educators will 41 their own creative solutions, but we must work together to 42 our focus on how to better recruit, support and 43 effective teachers and principals for all students, especially the kids who need them most.“

Today"s announcement is another important step forward in improving access to a quality education, a 44 of President Obama"s year of today, Secretary Duncan will lead a roundtable discussion with principals and school teachers from across the country about the 45 of working in high-need schools and how to adopt promising practices for supporting great educators in these schools.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to contains information given in one of the the paragraph from which the information is may choose a paragraph more than paragraph is marked with a the questions by marking thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

The Changes Facing Fast Food

firms have to be a thick-skinned experts regularly criticise them severelyfor selling food that makes people even complain that McDonald"s, whose logosymbolises calorie excess, should not have been allowed to sponsor the World arethings fast-food firms have learnt to cope not perhaps for much burgerbusiness faces more pressure from regulators at a time when it is already adapting strategies inresponse to shifts in the global economy.

B)Fast food was once thought to be consumers need to cut spending, the logicgoes, cheap meals like Big Macs and Whoppers become even more ”trading down“proved true for much of the latest recession, when fast-food companies picked up customers who could no longer afford to eat at casual was boosted in America, the home of fast food, with discounts and promotions, such as $1 menus and cheap combination meals.

C)As a result, fast-food chains have weathered the recession better than their more expensive sales at full-service restaurants in America fell by more than 6% , but total sales remained about the same at fast-food some markets, such as Japan, France and Britain, total spending on fast food sales in America at McDonald"s, the world"s largest fast-food company, did not decline throughout the Bread, an American fast-food chain known for its fresh ingredients, performed well, too, because it offers higher-quality food at lower prices than restaurants.

D)But not all fast-food companies have been as , such as Burger King, have seen sales a severe recession, while some people trade down to fast food, many others eat at home more frequently to save Palmer, an analyst at UBS, a bank, says smaller fast- food chains in America, such as Jack in the Box and Carl"s Jr., have been hit particularly hard in this downturn because they are competing with the global giant McDonald"s, which increased spending on advertising by more than 7% last year as others cut back.

fast-food companies also sacrificed their own profits by trying to give customers better the recession companies set prices low, hoping that once they had tempted customers through the door they would be persuaded to order more expensive in many cases that strategy did not year Burger King franchisees (特许经营人)sued (起诉)the company over its double-cheeseburger promotion, claiming it was unfair for them to be repuired to sell these for $1 when they cost$ to May a judge ruled in favour of Burger , the company may still be cursing its decision to promote cheap choices over more expensive ones because items on its ”value menu“ now account for around 20% of all sales, upfrom 12% last October.

expect the fast-food industry to grow modestly this the downturn is makingcompanies rethink their are now introducing higher-priced items to entice (引诱)consumers away from $1 , a division of Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Belland Pizza Hut, has launched a chicken sandwich that costs around $ in May Burger Kingintroduced barbecue (烧烤)pork ribs at $7 for eight.

are also trying to get customers to buy new and more items, including "s started selling better coffee as a challenge to ” McCafe“ line nowaccounts for an estimated 6% of sales in has sold rights to its Seattle"s Bestcoffee brand to Burger King, which will start selling it later this year.

fast-food companies shift from ”super size“ to ”more buys“, they need to keep customer traffichigh throughout the see breakfast as a big opporttmity, and not just for fatty "s will start selling porridge (粥)in America next has the potential to bevery profitable, says Sara Senatore of Bernstein, a research firm, because the margins can be companies are also adding midday and late-night snacks, such as blended drinks idea is that by having agreater range of things on the menu, ”we can sell to consumersproducts they want all day,“ says Rick Carucci., the .chief financial officer of Yum ! Brands.

what about those growing waistlines? So far, fast-food firms have cleverly avoided providing healthy options, like salads and low-calorie sandwiches, they have at leastgiven the impression of doing something about helping to fight obesity (肥胖症).These offeringsare not necessarily loss-leaders, as they broaden the appeal of outlets to groups of diners thatinclude some people who don"t want to eat a customers cannot be forced to ordersalads instead of fries.

the future, simply offering a healthy option may not be good enough.”Every packaged-food and restaurant company I know is concerned about regulation right now,“ says of "s health-reform bill, which Congress passed this year, requires restaurant chains with 20 ormore outlets to put the calorie-content of items they serve on the study by the NationalBureau of Economic Research, which tracked the effects on Starbucks of a similar calorie-postinglaw in New York City in , found that the average calorie-count per transaction fell 6% andrevenue increased 3% at Starbucks stores where a Dunldn Donuts outlet was nearby--a sign, it issaid, that menu-labelling could favour chains that have more healthy offerings.

order to avoid other legislation in America and elsewhere, fast-food companies will have tocontinue innovating (创新).Walt Riker of McDonald"s claims the change it has made in its menumeans it offers more healthy items than it did a few years ago.”We probably sell more vegetables,more milk, more salads, more apples than any restaurant business in the world,“ he therecent proposal by a county in California to ban McDonald"s from including toys in its high-calorie”Happy Meals“, because legislators believe it attracts children to unhealthy food, suggests there isa lot more left to do.

people propose laws be made to stop McDonald"s from attaching toys to its food specials for children.

finns may not be able to cope with pressures from food regulation in the near future.

King will start to sell Seattle"s Best coffee to increase sales.

fast-food firms provide healthy food to give the impression they are helping to tackle the obesity problem.

the recession, many customers turned to fast food to save money.

people eat out less often to save money in times of recession.

the recession, Burger King"s promotional strategy of offering low-priced items often proved ineffective.

restaurants can make a lot of money by selling breakfast.

fast-food companies now expect to increase their revenue by introducing higher-priced items.

newly-passed law asks big fast-food chains to specify the calorie count of what they serve on the menu.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this passage is followed by some questions orunfinished each of them there are four choices marked A., B), ).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.

If you think a high-factor sunscreen (防晒霜)keeps you safe from harmful rays, you may be in this week"s Nature shows that while factor 50 reduces the number of melanomas(黑瘤)and delays their occurrence, it can"t prevent are the most aggressive skin have a higher risk if you have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or sunburn easily, or if a close relative has had are more common if you have periodic intense exposure to the skin cancers are increasingly likely with long-term exposure.

There is continuing debate as to how effective sunscreen is in reducing melanomas the evidence is weaker than it is for preventing other types of skin Australian study of 1,621 people found that people randomly selected to apply sunscreen daily had half the rate of melanomas of people who used cream as second study, comparing 1,167 people with melanomas to 1,101 who didn"t have the cancer, found that using sunscreen routinely, alongside other protection such as hats,long sleeves or staying in the shade, did give some study said other forms of sun protection not sunscreen seemed most study relied on people remembering what they had done over each decade of their lives, so it"s not entirely it seems reasonable to think sunscreen gives people a false sense of security in the sun.

Many people also don"t use sunscreen properly applying insufficient amounts, failing to reapply after a couple of hours and staying in the sun too is sunburn that is most worrying recent research shows five episodes of sunburn in the teenage years increases the risk of all skin cancers.

The good news is that a combination of sunscreen and covering up can reduce melanoma rates, as shown by Australian figures from their slip-slop-slap if there is a heat wave this summer, it would be best for us, too, to slip on a shirt, slop on (抹上)sunscreen and slap on a hat.

is people"s common expectation of a high-factor sunscreen?

will delay the occurrence of skin cancer.

will protect them from sunburn.

will keep their skin smooth and fair.

will work for people of any skin color.

does the research in Nature say about a high-factor sunscreen?

is ineffective in preventing melanomas.

is ineffective in case of intense sunlight.

is ineffective with long-term exposure.

is ineffective for people with fair skin.

do we learn from the 2011 Australian study of 1,621 people?

should be applied alongside other protection measures.

people benefit the most from the application of sunscreen.

application of sunscreen does women more harm than good.

application of sunscreen helps reduce the incidence of melanomas.

does the author say about the second Australian study?

misleads people to rely on sunscreen for protection.

helps people to select the most effective sunscreen.

is not based on direct observation of the subjects.

confirms the results of the first Australian study.

does the author suggest to reduce melanoma rates?

both covering up and sunscreen.

in the shade whenever possible.

covering up instead of sunscreen.

the right amount of sunscreen.

Passage Two

Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

Across the rich world, well-educated people increasingly work longer than the of American men aged 62 -74 with a professional degree are in the workforce, compared with32% of men with only a high-school gap is part of a deepening divide between the well-educated well-off and the unskilled technological advance has raised the incomes of the highly skilled while squeezing those of the consequences, for individuals and society, are profound.

The world is facing an astonishing rise in the number of old people, and they will live longer than ever the next 20 years the global population of those aged 65 or more will almost double, from 600 million to experience of the 20th century, when greater longevity (长寿)translated into more years in retirement rather than more years at work, has persuaded many observers that this shift will lead to slower economic growth, while the swelling ranks of pensioners will create government budget problems.

But the notion of a sharp division between the working young and the idle old misses a new trend, the growing gap between the skilled and the rates are falling among younger unskilled people, whereas older skilled folk are working divide is most extreme in America, where well-educated baby-boomers (二战后生育高峰期出生的美国人)are putting off retirement while many less-skilled younger people have dropped out of the workforce.

Policy is partly European governments have abandoned policies that used to encourage people to retire life expectancy (预期寿命), combined with the replacement of generous defmed-benefit pension plans with less generous defined-contribution ones, means that even the better-off must work longer to have a comfortable the changing nature of work also plays a big has risen sharply for the highly educated, and those people continue to reap rich rewards into old age because these days the educated elderly are more productive than the preceding change may well reinforce that shift: the skills that complement computers, from management knowhow to creativity, do not necessarily decline with age.

is happening in the workforce in rich countries?

people are replacing the elderly.

people tend to work longer.

rates are rising year after year.

with no college degree do not easily find work.

has helped deepen the divide between the well-off and the poor?

life expectancies.

rapid technological advance.

changes in the workforce.

growing number of the well-educated.

do many observers predict in view of the experience of the 20th century?

growth will slow down.

budgets will increase.

people will try to pursue higher education.

will be more competition in the job market.

is the result of policy changes in European countries?

workers may choose to retire early.

people have to receive in-service training.

wealthy people must work longer to live comfortably in retirement.

may be able to enjoy generous defined-benefits from pension plans.

is characteristic of work in the 21st century?

will do more complicated work.

will be taken by the educated young.

jobs to be done will be the creative ones.

are highly valued regardless of age.

Part Ⅳ Translation ( 30 minutes)

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

中国是世界上最古老的文明之一。构成现代世界基础的许多元素都起源于中国。中国现在拥有世界上发展最快的经济，并正经历着一次新的工业革命。中国还启动了雄心勃勃的太空探索计划，其中包括到建成一个太空站。目前，中国是世界最大的出口国之一，并正在吸引大量外国投资。同时，它也在海外投资数十亿美元。，中国超越日本成为世界第二大经济体。

1.大学英语四级听力真题练习

月英语四级翻译真题练习：地铁报

3.英语四级写作预热练习

4.英语四级作文日常练习方法

5.英语四级练习题及答案

英语四级听力练习试题

7.英语四级练习试题

8.大学英语四级考试历年真题词汇详解

9.英语四级历年真题中最高频词汇排序及考试词频

月大学英语四级听力真题模拟练习

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第10篇

Directions：

Understanding is a drop of golden sun, is wellspring of life, and is a bridge between manand the soul of man. Understanding is tolerance, is a kind of se

lf?restraint. The world needs understanding.

Write an essay which should cover:

1) describing the drawing below,

2) stating its main idea, and

3) giving your comment

【范文】

The human being differs from the wild beast in that the latter is liable to have a hostileview of others and interact in an unreasonable and aggressive manner. Primitive humansmight have acted in such fashion, but civilized humans should cultivate more .

In the drawing above, a man carrying a large load accidentally steps on a woman"s that he gracefully apologizes, the woman both accepts his apology and assures him notto worry.

The man and woman depicted interact with each other in a courteous and compassionatemanner. The woman understands the man did not intentionally step on her foot, andtherefore whether or not she is in pain, she does not attack or blame him. Because she is ableto view the situation from his perspective, conflict is diverted. Mutual understanding such asthis is a fundamental aspect of civilized society.

Some people tend to think the worst of others and become angry over even the smallest ofmatters, regardless of how their own actions are disturbing in turn. Such intolerance onlyleads to more conflict. Disrespecting or mistreating people not only inflicts pain upon others,but can also harm one"s own conscience and attitude.

Having compassion for others is an important facet of social intercourse. Once one strivesto understand the experience and perspective of another, one can avoid much trouble andconflict, thus making life more peaceful and just for all.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第11篇

对白：

子：Dad, I"m a bit worried about disposing of nuclear waste(处理核废料)

父：If you can empty the dustbin(垃圾筒) here, you can do anything

Directions：

For this part，you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

烈日炎炎，轰轰烈烈，6月15日，小千万中国大学生参加的四六级考试今日开始。

上午的四级考试，最大的亮点之一，就是写作。亮点在于其命题形式：图画作文。

图画的内容和构图不难：父亲和男孩子的对话，孩子说“ Dad，I am a bit worried about disposing ofnuclear weapon. (爸爸，我有点担心清除^v^这个问题)”，父亲则回答“ If you can empty the dustbin, you can doanything. (如果你能把垃圾桶倒掉，你就能坐好任何事情)” ，说话间，手指着垃圾桶。

这幅图画和6月的六级漫画作文非常相似，当时的图中，也是两人对话，女儿和父亲。父亲问女儿：“ Hi, sweetie, how was your school today ? (嘿，小甜心，你在今天在学校过得怎么样?)” 女儿非常冷漠的回答：“Dad,youcan read all about it on my blogs. (爹O，你自己可以在我的博客上读到所有内容)”，然后呢，女儿拔腿出门，留下父亲一脸惊愕。

说回这个四级的作文题。

作文的第一段，要进行简单描绘图画内容，这是必须的，也是题目中强制要求的(a brief description of the picture)。描述的时候，只要把父子两的对话移植到第一段，然后把父亲手指垃圾桶的动作描绘一下就可以了，非常简单。

作文的第二段，进行主旨提炼并且论述。这幅图画很容易看出主题，那就是做大事之前，要先做小事(一屋不扫，何以扫天下),而且题目中其实早就已经透露了主题了 (express your views on the importance ofdoing small things before undertaking something big.)因此，第二段通篇论述小事做起的重要性就可以了。属于我在课堂上讲过的作文三大分类之“积极主题，论述意义”

作文第三段，总结。这一段再次强调小事做起的意义，我们不能低估他的威力。文章最后可以以名人名言作为结尾。

请看范文：

We can see from the cartoon that there is a father talking with his son. Havingheard his son’s words that “ Dad, I am a bit worried about disposing of nuclearweapon.” The father replies that “ If you can empty the dustbin here, you cando anything” and points the garbage can beside him.

Funny and common as the conversation sounds, it reflects that the father intends to advise his son to do small things beforeundertaking big. Definitely, doing small things is the first step of success and will lay root for doing something big. By doing something small, we are able to accumulate experience, master skills and train ourselves to be more patient. In other words, we can be well prepared for further challenges in the course of fulfilling small things. By contrast, those who desire to do something big at once will constantly be haunted by disappointment, frustrations or even failures, as with opportunities-“something big”- showing up , they can hardly seize them because of the lack of experience and confidence stems from doing small things. Taking the picture presented above as a case in point, how can the little boy succeed in disposing of nuclear weapons if he even doesn’t know how to empty the dustbin?

From my perspective, under no circumstances should we undervalue the power of doing small things. Instead, we should regard small things as the source of experience, skills and the prerequisite of success. “Great achievement only belongs to those who can do small things perfectly.” Aristotle also used to say.

范文译文：

如图所示，我们可以看见有一位父亲正在和他的儿子聊天。当父亲听到儿子说：“ 爸爸，我有点担心如何处理^v^这个问题” 的时候，父亲指着身边的垃圾桶，并且回答道：“ 如果你可以把垃圾桶倒掉，你就可以做到任何事情”。

尽管这段父子对话听起来滑稽、普通，然而他折射出父亲的意图，想劝告儿子在做大事之前，要先做好小事。很明显，做好小事情是成功的第一步，并且能为将来的大事情打下基础。通过做小事情，我们可以积累经验，掌握技能，并且让我们自己变得更加具有耐心。换句话说，我们可以在做小事情的过程中，为将来的大事情做好充分准备。相反的，哪些想要一上来就做大事情的人，通常会遭受失望、挫折甚至是失败，因为当机会这些“大事情”出现的时候，这部分人基本无法抓住机会，因为他们缺少源自于做小事过程当中的经验和自信。以所给的这幅图画为例，如果这个男孩都不知道如何倾倒垃圾桶，他怎么可能做成功处理^v^这样的大事呢?

在我看来，任何时候我们都不应该轻视做小事的威力。取而代之的是，我们应该将小事情视为经验、技能的源泉，和成功的先决条件。亚里士多德也曾经说过：“ 伟大的成就，只属于那些能够将小事情做到完美的人”。

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第12篇

历年四级真题解析

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the importance of speaking ability and how to develop it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

________________________________________________________________________

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Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Neon (霓虹) is to Hong Kong as red phone booths are to London and fog is to San Francisco. When night falls, red and blue and other colors 26 a hazy (雾蒙蒙的) glow over a city lit up by tens of thousands of neon signs. But many of them are going dark, 27 by more practical, but less romantic, LEDs (发光二极管).

Changing building codes, evolving tastes, and the high cost of maintaining those wonderful old signs have businesses embracing LEDs, which are energy 28 , but still carry great cost. “To me, neon represents memories of the past,” says photographer Sharon Blance, whose series Hong Kong Neon celebrates the city"s famous signs. “Looking at the signs now I get a feeling of amazement, mixed with sadness.”

Building a neon sign is an art practiced by 29 trained on the job to mold glass tubes into 30 shapes and letters. They fill these tubes with gases that glow when 31 . Neon makes orange, while other gases make yellow or blue. It takes many hours to craft a single sign.

Blance spent a week in Hong Kong and 32 more than 60 signs; 22 of them appear in the series that capture the signs lighting up lonely streets—an 33 that makes it easy to admire their colors and craftsmanship. “I love the beautiful, handcrafted, old-fashioned 34 of neon,” says Blance. The signs do nothing more than 35 a restaurant, theater, or other business, but do so in the most striking way possible.

A) alternative B) approach C) cast D) challenging E) decorative F) efficient G) electrified H) identify I) photographed J) professionals K) quality L) replaced M) stimulate N) symbolizes O) volunteers

Section B

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

New Jersey School District Eases Pressure on Students—Baring an Ethnic Divide

A) This fall, David Aderhold, the chief of a high-achieving school district near Princeton, New Jersey, sent parents an alarming 16-page letter. The school district, he said, was facing a crisis. Its students were overburdened and stressed out, having to cope with too much work and too many demands. In the previous school year, 120 middle and high school students were recommended for mental health assessments and 40 were hospitalized. And on a survey administered by the district, students wrote things like, “I hate going to school,” and “Coming out of 12 years in this district, I have learned one thing: that a grade, a percentage or even a point is to be valued over anything else.”

B) With his letter, Aderhold inserted West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District into a national discussion about the intense focus on achievement at elite schools, and whether it has gone too far. At follow-up meetings, he urged parents to join him in advocating a “whole child” approach to schooling that respects “social-emotional development” and “deep and meaningful learning” over academics alone. The alternative, he suggested, was to face the prospect of becoming another Palo Alto, California, where outsize stress on teenage students is believed to have contributed to a number of suicides in the last six years.

C) But instead of bringing families together, Aderhold"s letter revealed a divide in the district, which has 9,700 students, and one that broke down roughly along racial lines. On one side are white parents like Catherine Foley, a former president of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at her daughter"s middle school, who has come to see the district"s increasingly pressured atmosphere as opposed to learning. “My son was in fourth grade and told me, "I"m not going to amount to anything because I have nothing to put on my resume,"” she said. On the other side are parents like Mike Jia, one of the thousands of Asian-American professionals who have moved to the district in the past decade, who said Aderhold"s reforms would amount to a “dumbing down” of his children"s education. “What is happening here reflects a national anti-intellectual trend that will not prepare our children for the future,” Jia said.

D) About 10 minutes from Princeton and an hour and a half from New York City, West Windsor and Plainsboro have become popular bedroom communities for technology entrepreneurs, researchers and engineers, drawn in large part by the public schools. From the last three graduating classes, 16 seniors were admitted to MIT. It produces Science Olympiad winners, classically trained musicians and students with perfect SAT scores.

E) The district has become increasingly popular with immigrant families from China, India and Korea. This year, 65 percent of its students are Asian-American, compared with 44 percent in . Many of them are the first in their families born in the United States. They have had a growing influence on the district. Asian-American parents are enthusiastic supporters of the competitive instrumental music program. They have been huge supporters of the district"s advanced mathematics program, which once began in the fourth grade but will now start in the sixth. The change to the program, in which 90 percent of the participating students are Asian-American, is one of Aderhold"s reforms.

F) Asian-American students have been eager participants in a state program that permits them to take summer classes off campus for high school credit, allowing them to maximize the number of honors and Advanced Placement classes they can take, another practice that Aderhold is limiting this school year. With many Asian-American children attending supplementary instructional programs, there is a perception among some white families that the elementary school curriculum is being sped up to accommodate them.

G) Both Asian-American and white families say the tension between the two groups has grown steadily over the past few years, as the number of Asian families has risen. But the division has become more obvious in recent months as Aderhold has made changes, including no-homework nights, an end to high school midterms and finals, and an initiative that made it easier to participate in the music program.

H) Jennifer Lee, professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, and an author of the Asian American Achievement Paradox, says misunderstanding between first-generation Asian-American parents and those who have been in this country longer are common. What white middle-class parents do not always understand, she said, is how much pressure recent immigrants feel to boost their children into the middle class. “They don"t have the same chances to get their children internships (实习职位) or jobs at law firms,” Lee said. “So what they believe is that their children must excel and beat their white peers in academic settings so they have the same chances to excel later. ”

I) The issue of the stresses felt by students in elite school districts has gained attention in recent years as schools in places like Newton, Massachusetts, and Palo Alto have reported a number of suicides. West Windsor-Plainsboro has not had a teenage suicide in recent years, but Aderhold, who has worked in the district for seven years and been chief for the last three years, said he had seen troubling signs. In a recent art assignments, a middle school student depicted (描绘) an overburdened child who was being scolded for earning an A, rather than an A+ , on a math exam. In the image, the mother scolds the student with the words, “Shame on you!” Further, he said, the New Jersey Education Department has flagged at least two pieces of writing on state English language assessments in which students expressed suicidal thoughts.

J) The survey commissioned by the district found that 68 percent of high school honor and Advanced Placement students reported feeling stressed about school “always or most of the time.” “We need to bring back some balance,” Aderhold said. “You don"t want to wait until it"s too late to do something. ”

K) Not all public opinion has fallen along racial lines. Karen Sue, the Chinese-American mother of a fifth-grader and an eighth-grader, believes the competition within the district has gotten out of control. Sue, who was born in the United States to immigrant parents, wants her peers to dial it back. “It"s become an arms race, an educational arms race,” she said. “We all want our kids to achieve and be successful. The question is, at what cost?”

36. Aderhold is limiting the extra classes that students are allowed to take off campus.

37. White and Asian-American parents responded differently to Aderhold"s appeal.

38. Suicidal thoughts have appeared in some students" writings.

39. Aderhold"s reform of the advanced mathematics program will affect Asian-American students most.

40. Aderhold appealed for parents" support in promoting an all-round development of children, instead of focusing only on their academic performance.

41. One Chinese-American parent thinks the competition in the district has gone too far.

42. Immigrant parents believe that academic excellence will allow their children equal chances to succeed in the future.

43. Many businessmen and professionals have moved to West Windsor and Plainsboro because of the public schools there.

44. A number of students in Aderhold"s school district were found to have stress-induced mental health problems.

45. The tension between Asian-American and white families has increased in recent years.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 46 and 50 are based on the following passage.

For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else. “While we teach, we learn,” said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date. They"re documenting why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn, and designing innovative ways for young people to engage in instruction.

Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who"re learning only for their own sake. But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings (兄弟姐妹). This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings. Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this model to academic subjects. They engage college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.

But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the “teachable agent”—a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil. Computer scientists have created an animated (动画的) figure called Betty"s Brain, who has been “taught” about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students. Student teachers are motivated to help Betty master certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their own understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.

Feedback from the teachable agents further enhances the tutors" learning. The agents" questions compel student tutors to think and explain the materials in different ways, and watching the agent solve problems allows them to see their knowledge put into action.

Above all, it"s the emotions one experiences in teaching that facilitate learning. Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtual pupils succeed as they derive pride and satisfaction from someone else"s accomplishment.

46. What are researchers rediscovering through their studies?

A) Seneca"s thinking is still applicable today.

B) Better learners will become better teachers.

C) Human intelligence tends to grow with age.

D) Philosophical thinking improves instruction.

47. What do we learn about Betty"s Brain?

A) It is a character in a popular animation.

B) It is a teaching tool under development.

C) It is a cutting-edge app in digital games.

D) It is a tutor for computer science students.

48. How does teaching others benefit student tutors?

A) It makes them aware of what they are strong at.

B) It motivates them to try novel ways of teaching.

C) It helps them learn their academic subjects better.

D) It enables them to better understand their teachers.

49. What do students do to teach their teachable agents?

A) They motivate them to think independently.

B) They ask them to design their own questions.

C) They encourage them to give prompt feedback.

D) They use various ways to explain the materials.

50. What is the key factor that eases student tutors" learning?

A) Their sense of responsibility.

B) Their emotional involvement.

C) The learning strategy acquired.

D) The teaching experience gained.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

A new batch of young women—members of the so-called Millennial (千禧的) generation—has been entering the workforce for the past decade. At the starting line of their careers, they are better educated than their mothers and grandmothers had been—or than their young male counterparts are now. But when they look ahead, they see roadblocks to their success. They believe that women are paid less than men for doing the same job. They think it"s easier for men to get top executive jobs than it is for them. And they assume that if and when they have children, it will be even harder for them to advance in their careers.

While the public sees greater workplace equality between men and women now than it did 20-30 years ago, most believe more change is needed. Among Millennial women, 75% say this country needs to continue making changes to achieve gender equality in the workplace, compared with 57% of Millennial men. Even so, relatively few young women (15%) say they have been discriminated against at work because of their gender.

As Millennial women come of age they share many of the same views and values about work as their male counterparts. They want jobs that provide security and flexibility, and they place relatively little importance on high pay. At the same time, however, young working women are less likely than men to aim at top management jobs: 34% say they"re not interested in becoming a boss or top manager; only 24% of young men say the same. The gender gap on this question is even wider among working adults in their 30s and 40s, when many women face the trade-offs that go with work and motherhood.

These findings are based on a new Pew Research Center survey of 2,002 adults, including 810 Millennials (ages 18-32), conducted Oct. 7-27, . The survey finds that, in spite of the dramatic gains women have made in educational attainment and labor force participation in recent decades, young women view this as a man"s world—just as middle-aged and older women do.

51. What do we learn from the first paragraph about Millennial women starting their careers?

A) They can get ahead only by striving harder.

B) They expect to succeed just like Millennial men.

C) They are generally quite optimistic about their future.

D) They are better educated than their male counterparts.

52. How do most Millennial women feel about their treatment in the workplace?

A) They are the target of discrimination.

B) They find it satisfactory on the whole.

C) They think it needs further improving.

D) They find their complaints ignored.

53. What do Millennial women value most when coming of age?

A) A sense of accomplishment.

B) Job stability and flexibility.

C) Rewards and promotions.

D) Joy derived from work.

54. What are women in their 30s and 40s concerned about?

A) The welfare of their children.

B) The narrowing of the gender gap.

C) The fulfillment of their dreams in life.

D) The balance between work and family.

55. What conclusion can be drawn about Millennial women from the 2013 survey?

A) They still view this world as one dominated by males.

B) They account for half the workforce in the job market.

C) They see the world differently from older generations.

D) They do better in work than their male counterparts.

Part IV Translation (30 minutes)

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

近年来，中国有越来越多的城市开始建设地铁。发展地铁有助于减少城市的交通拥堵和空气污染。 地铁具有安全、快捷和舒适的优点。越来越多的人选择地铁作为每天上班或上学的主要交通工具。如今，在中国乘坐地铁正变得越来越方便。在有些城市里，乘客只需用卡或手机就可以乘坐地铁。许多当地老年市民还可以免费乘坐地铁。

四级部分真题参考答案(完整版)

Part Ⅰ Writing

The Importance of Speaking Ability and How to Develop It

As we all know, proficiency in speaking is necessary for us to become well-rounded communicators. However, the capacity to put words together in a meaningful way to reflect thoughts, opinions, and feelings is not something we"re born with but needs some techniques and practice.

Firstly, build confidence and concentrate on getting our message across, which help us gain the attention of the audience return. Secondly, experiment with the things we know well instead of challenging ourselves with difficult words since fluency appears more important during oral communication. Lastly, create some opportunities to practice like narrating our daily life to ourselves or maintaining a regular chat with friends.

To sum up, only by being confident enough and using efficient methods can we enhance our speaking ability. Follow the steps to improve our speaking skills in order to achieve a higher standard in communication.

Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension

说明：由于6月四级考试全国共考了两套听力, 本套真题听力与前两套内容相同, 只是选项顺序不同, 因此在本套真题中不再重复出现。

Part III Reading Comprehension

26-35: CLFJE GIBKH

36-45: FCIEB KHDAG

46-55: ABCDB DCBDA

Part IV Translation

In recent years, more and more cities in China have begun to build subways. The development of subways can help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in cities. The subway has the advantages of safety, speed and comfort. More and more people choose the subway as the main means of transportation to work or school every day. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more convenient to take the subway in China. In some cities, passengers can use a card or a mobile phone to take the subway. Many local elderly citizens can also take the subway for free.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第13篇

12月大学英语四级真题试卷一阅读答案及解析

Part III Reading Comprehension

Section A

26. [C] essential

27. [M] suspicion

28. [G] miserable

29. [A] constantly

30. [O] watching

31. [J] records

32. [K] removed

33. [F] load

34. [I] properly

35. [H] pressure

解析：

26题根据上下文得知，此处应该是说人与人之间信任的重要性。很明显答案C. essential符合条件，B选项有可信的意思，看到此选项可能下意识地会选这个答案，但翻译成“信任是可信的”，和主旨无关，此处还是讨论信任的重要性。

29题容易选一个名词比如records和”mistakes”并列，但是后面的选项并没有双引号，后面是一个动词reminding，可以推测前面需要填入副词来修饰reminding，根据语义“要求你做这做那”，可以推出是不断要求，而不是properly恰当地，排除完可以得出constantly.

31题，此处判断应填名词，有同学可能会和pressure弄混淆，但此处并不能得出公司要施加压力。公司出于自我保护和信任问题，对于任何交易记录都会留有根据和存根，这些都是记录，所以答案应该是records,

Section B

36. [G] The Chetty data shows that neighborhoods and places mattered for children born in the San Jose area of the 1980s.

37. [D] The reasons kids in San Jose performed so well might seem obvious.

38. [K] The idea that those at the bottom can rise to the top is central to America"s ideas about itself.

39. [B] Indeed, data suggests that this is one of the best places to grow up poor in America.

40. [J] But in today"s America-a land of rising inequality

41. [I] Leaders in San Jose are determined to make sure that the city regains its status as a place where even poor kids can access the resources to succeed.

42. [E] Indeed, the streets of San Jose seem, in some ways, to embody the best of America.

43. [C] By contrast, just percent of poor kids in Charlotte moved up to the top

44. [H] Some San Jose residents say that as inequality has grown in recent years

45. [F] But researchers aren "t sure exactly why poor kids in San Jose did so well.

解析：

38题干主旨表达的是如果该市的问题不解决将会动摇美国的根本信仰，对应K项中的America"s ideas about itself.和foundational belief.可以进行匹配。

41题干第一句该市的官员，可以定位到[I]选项第一句Leaders in San Jose, 且 该句直接表明了目的，就是为了提升贫困孩子触达成功的机会。

42题中的manifest词汇较为生僻，但后面的some of the best features可以理解说的是关于美国最好的几点特质，对应到[E]选项to embody the best of America.

44 题干关键信息是 increases in housing prices，快速浏览后可以定位到[H]项多次提到如Rent，homelessness problem, housing prices等与住房相关的信息

Section C

Passage One

46. [D] They lack the necessary resources to address pupils’ mental problems.

47. [A] They have deteriorated due to budget cuts.

48. [B] At school.

49. [C] Students are more comfortable seeking counselling in school.

50. [D] A change in the conception of what schools are.

解析：

46题A和B选项属于无中生有，C选项说的是学校在实施干预方面举措不利，但是根据原文第二段第二句，how ill-equipped they feel 可以看出主体是老师自己而不是学校，此处是一个偷换概念的陷阱，还是要基于文章的意思判断。

47题的C选项与原文第三段最后一句意义相反;B和D选项也是无中生有，A选项中出现了一个生词，但最后出现的budgets cuts还是可以帮助我们定位到第三段第二句。

49. A和B均属无中生有，D选项则偷换了概念，原文是指学生们更愿意在校内进行心理辅导而不是外面的心理咨询，D选项则替换成了校外活动。

Passage Two

51. [A] To illustrate people’s peculiar shopping behavior.

52. [D] To make customers believe they are getting a bargain.

53. [B] The E conomist’s promotional strategy works.

54. [C] To trap customers into buying the more pricey item.

55. [B] By comparing it with other choices.

解析：

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第14篇

Deep Reading in Modern Life

At the picture depicts, a father told his son that he should read deeply rather than merely pursue the quantity of reading materials. It reflects that people tend to browse and scan e-books without stopping to ponder even one question. The way we read is so superficial that it arouses great concern in modern life.

To be a better reader, we had better do as follows. For one thing, take notes about crucial details as we used to do. Taking notes can avoid the phenomenon that the more we read online or on smart phones, the less we seemed to memorize. For another, classics deserve to be savored by the contemporary people. For example, some classical novels can be read free on Kindle, which makes them popular among youngsters again. Whats more, if we did not make summaries from time to time, nothing that we learnt from e-books would truly be ours.

In conclusion, when we enjoy digital reading, we should consciously conducts deep reading. Try our best to keep those good habits which are acquired in the process of paper reading, such as intensive reading and deep thinking.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第15篇

Directions:

Study the following set of cartoons carefully and write an essay in which you should1)describe the cartoons,

2) state its main idea, and give your comment.

【范文】

These two cartoons show two contrasting scenes. While the male student spends all histime and money playing Internet games, the female student studies diligently. One could easilyargue that a bright future awaits the students who study hard, while those who waste tuitionplaying games have little to look forward to. The above images encourage students to valuetheir time in school and take advantage of educational opportunities.

While students dream of being accepted into college for years, they often become lost onceadmitted. Without their parents" constant support and advice, or because of with teachers, many students are unable to focus on their future goals. Suchconfusion leads some to forget their studies and resort to playing on the Internet, amongother forms of recreation.

Students should not only keep their ambitions in mind, but also seriously strive a clear purpose, one might easily waste crucial years neglecting one"s studies.

Constantly playing on the Internet leads to failure, while continuously studying guaranteessuccess. Students need to appreciate their time in school, and work hard in order to ensure agood future.

以上就是为大家整理的英语四级往年作文试题及范文，希望能够对大家的备考有所帮助。四级作文虽然不是分值最大的，但是却是最考验人英语水平的，所以大家一定要多看一些好的文章，提高自己的写作水平。

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第16篇

Directions:Study the following drawing carefullyand write an essay in which you should

1) describe the drawing,

2) interpret its meaning, and

3) support your view with examples.

【范文】

Groups of bees work together to produce honey. Their great efforts are not selfish,however, as the amount of honey they produce is for an entire group rather than a singleindividual.

The drawing above suggests that people should selflessly dedicate themselvesto theircommunity as a whole. This spirit of dedication requires faith. Selfless hard work is anembodiment of responsibility and strength.

The health of nations requires a spirit of devotion. Chinese teachers, doctors and athleteswho all work for the benefit of their country, for example, aredevoting themselves regardless offame or fortune. They are dedicated to the society they live within. No matter what type ofjob one holds, one should work hard and in earnest to improve one"s community.

The results of dedication, however, depend not only on one"s willingness to give but alsoon one"s ability. If you are enthusiastic about devoting yourself to your country, but do nothave the skills it takes to do so, you cannot effect much change. The more competent, one is,the greater one"s contribution. Therefore, it is essential that students focus on their studiesand enhance their skills in order to properly give back to society.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第17篇

Due to its high-quality and original tastes, green food appeals to more consumers. From supermmarkets to chain stores, green food is found everywhere.

Why is green food so popular even though its price is usually higher than other food? On the one hand, recently a series of issues on food safety makes customers disturbed and anxious. In order to have the reliable food, more housewives opt to select green food for their family. Green food has been labeled as a kind of healthy, delicious and fashionable food. This is perhaps the most important reason for the popularity of green food. On the other haod, with the advance in living standard, people will pay more attention to the quality of food and their raised income is enough to cover the expenditure of food with a comparatively high price.

With the development of the society, green food is certainly to hold a larger portion in the market. In the near future, people will be accustomed to enjoy the fresh vegetable, fruits and cereals without pesticide residues, artificial feed and contarnination.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第18篇

一 虚拟语气考查点

essential , important 等词后的`虚拟语气；

1) It was essential that the application forms___ back before the deadline （90年1月四级考试.）

A must be sent B would be sent C be sent D were sent（答案是C）

2) It is vital that enough money ___ to fund the project . （1月四级考试.）

A is collected B be collected C must be collected D can be collected （答案是C）

if only ,wish等词后的虚拟语气；

1) Look at the terrible situation I am in ! If I ___ your advice . （93年6月四级考试.）

A follow B had followed C would follow D have followed （答案是B）

2) I wish I ___ longer this morning ,but I had to get up and come to class. （95年6月四级考试.）

A have slept B slept C might have slept D could have slept （答案是D）

条件从句中的虚拟语气

1) H e must have had an accident , or he ___ then （90年1月四级考试.）.

A would have been here B should be here C had to be here D would be here （答案是A）

二 动词的 ing 形式和过去分词

分词的独立结构

1）名词 （代词）+ 分词

A new technique ______, the yields as a whole increased by 20 per cent. (90/1)

A） working out C) having been worked

B) having worked out D) to have been worked out (C)

With + 名词（代词）+ V--ed或V--ing

2) After the Arab states won independence , great emphasis was laid on expanding education , with girls as well as boys _______ to go to school . (97/1)

A) to be couraged B) being encouraged C) been encouraged D) be encouraged (B)

动名词短语做宾语

They are considering _______ before the prices go up. (89/1)

A of buying the house C buying the house

B with buying the house D to buy the house (C)

分词短语做状语

________with the picture, Mary tore it to pieces. (92/6)

A Dissatisfying thoroughly C Being thoroughly dissatisfied

B to dissatisfy thoroughly D To be thoroughly dissatisfied (C)

分词短语做定语

If I correct someone , I will do it with as much good bumor and self C restraint as if I were the one _______. (95/1)

A to correct B correctin

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第19篇

1. 短语动词

be about to do 刚要,即将

be friends with 与...友好

bear in mind 记住

bring into effect 实行;使生效

bring into operation 实施;使生效

can not help 禁不住,忍不住

carry into effect 施行;使生效

cast light on/upon 阐明,使了解

catch fire 着火,烧着

catch one“s breath 喘气,松口气;屏息

catch one”s eye 引人注目

catch sight of 看到,发现

come into effect 生效;实施

come into operation 施行,实行,生效

come to one“s senses 醒悟;苏醒

come true 实现

could not help 禁不住,忍不住

cut short 中断,打断

do one”s best 尽力,努力

enjoy oneself 过得快活

fall in love with 爱 上

find fault(with) 找岔

gain an advantage over 胜过,优于

get hold of 得到,获得

get rid of 丢弃,摆脱,

get the best of 战胜

get the better of 战胜,占上风

get together 会面,装配

give rise to 引起,导致

give way 让路,让步

go ahead 开始,进行

go into effect 施行,实行,生效

go into operation 生效,实施

go wrong 出错,出故障

had better 应该

had rather 宁愿

had rather...than 宁愿...而不愿...

have an advantage over 胜过,优于

have in mind 想到;记得;打算

have nothing to do with 和...毫无关系

have(something/much/little)to do with 和...(有些/有很大/没有什么)关系

help oneself 自用,自取

keep an eye on 留意,照看

keep in mind 记住

keep one“s head 保持镇静

keep one”s word 守信用

keep pace(with) (与...)齐步前进

lead the way 引路,带路

learn by heart 记住,背诵

leave alone 不打扰,不干预

let alone 更别提,不打扰

let go (of) 放,松手

lose heart 失去勇气,丧失信心

lose one“s head 慌乱,仓皇失措

lose one”s temper 发脾气,发努

lose sight of 忘记,忽略;看不见

make a /the difference 有影响,起作用

make friends 交朋友

make fun of 取笑,嘲弄

make one“s way 去,前往

make sense 讲得通,言之有理

make sure 查明;务必

make the best of 充分利用

make the most of 充分利用

make up one”s mind 下决心,打定主意

make use of 使用,利用

make way 让路,让出地方

may as well 还不如,不妨

never mind 不要紧;不用担心

pay attention to 注意

piece together 拼合

play a part(in) 起作用,参于

put into effect 实施;使生效

put into operation 实施;使生效

put into practice 实施;实行

put to use 使用

see to it that 注意,务必,保证

see that 注意,务必,保证

set fire to 使燃烧,点燃

take...for 把...认为是

take a chance 冒险,投机

take(a)delight in 以...为乐

take advantage of 利用,趁...之机

take care 当心,注意

take care of 照顾,照料

take charge 管理,接管

take effect 生效,起作用

take into account 考虑

take…… for granted 认为...理所当然

take one’s time 不着急,不着慌

take pains 努力,尽力,下苦功

take part (in) 参加,参于

take place 发生,进行,举行

take the place of 代替,取代

take turns 依次,轮流

think better of 经考虑改变对...的看法

try one“s best 尽力,努力

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第20篇

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.

1. A) The return of a bottled message to its owner"s daughter.

B) A New Hampshire man"s joke with friends on his wife.

C) A father"s message for his daughter.

D) The history of a century-old motel.

2. A) She wanted to show gratitude for his kindness.

B) She wanted to honor her father"s promise.

C) She had been asked by her father to do so.

D) She was excited to see her father"s handwriting.

Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.

3. A) People were concerned about the number of bees.

B) Several cases of Zika disease had been identified.

C) Two million bees were infected with disease.

D) Zika virus had destroyed some bee farms.

4. A) It apologized to its customers.

B) It was forced to kill its bees.

C) It lost a huge stock of bees.

D) It lost million dollars.

Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.

5. A) It stayed in the air for about two hours.

B) It took off and landed on a football field.

C) It proved to be of high commercial value.

D) It made a series of sharp turns in the sky.

6. A) Engineering problems.

B) The air pollution it produced.

C) Inadequate funding.

D) The opposition from the military.

7. A) It uses the latest aviation technology.

B) It flies faster than a commercial jet.

C) It is a safer means of transportation.

D) It is more environmentally friendly.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

8. A) It seems a depressing topic.

B) It sounds quite alarming.

C) It has little impact on our daily life.

D) It is getting more serious these days.

9. A) The man doesn"t understand Spanish.

B) The woman doesn"t really like dancing.

C) They don"t want something too noisy.

D) They can"t make it to the theatre in time.

10. A) It would be more fun without Mr. Whitehead hosting.

B) It has too many acts to hold the audience"s attention.

C) It is the most amusing show he has ever watched.

D) It is a show inappropriate for a night of charity.

11. A) Watch a comedy.

B) Go and see the dance.

C) Book the tickets online.

D) See a film with the man.

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

12. A) Most of her schoolmates are younger than she is.

B) She simply has no idea what school to transfer to.

C) There are too many activities for her to cope with.

D) She worries she won"t fit in as a transfer student.

13. A) Seek advice from senior students.

B) Pick up some meaningful hobbies.

C) Participate in after-school activities.

D) Look into what the school offers.

14. A) Give her help whenever she needs it.

B) Accept her as a transfer student.

C) Find her accommodation on campus.

D) Introduce her to her roommates.

15. A) She has interests similar to Mr. Lee"s.

B) She has become friends with Catherine.

C) She has chosen the major Catherine has.

D) She has just transferred to the college.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A) To investigate how being overweight impacts on health.

B) To find out which physical drive is the most powerful.

C) To discover what most mice like to eat.

D) To determine what feelings mice have.

17. A) When they are hungry.

B) When they are thirsty.

C) When they smell food.

D) When they want company.

18. A) They search for food in groups.

B) They are overweight when food is plenty.

C) They prefer to be with other mice.

D) They enjoy the company of other animals.

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

19. A) Its construction started before World War I.

B) Its construction cost more than $ 40 billion.

C) It is efficiently used for transport.

D) It is one of the best in the world.

20. A) To improve transportation in the countryside.

B) To move troops quickly from place to place.

C) To enable people to travel at a higher speed.

D) To speed up the transportation of goods.

21. A) In the 1970s.

B) In the 1960s.

C) In the 1950s.

D) In the 1940s.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22. A) Chatting while driving.

B) Messaging while driving.

C) Driving under age.

D) Speeding on highways.

23. A) A gadget to hold a phone on the steering wheel.

B) A gadget to charge the phone in a car.

C) A device to control the speed of a vehicle.

D) A device to ensure people drive with both hands.

24. A) The car keeps flashing its headlights.

B) The car slows down gradually to a halt.

C) They are alerted with a light and a sound.

D) They get a warning on their smart phone.

25. A) Installing a camera.

B) Using a connected app.

C) Checking their emails.

D) Keeping a daily record.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第21篇

四级写作:历年考试精选作文

Everyone has his ideals. A businessman wishes to make greater profit; a farmer expects plumper harvests; a student tries to learn more and better. And

However, one should be sensible about whether his ideal is well founded or not. If it is, one has to plan and work hard for its realization. Effort, skill and persistence are all necessary. And very often, one has to get help from others, including advice and support in one form or another.

My ideal is to become a doctor. It is said that the field of medicine is a well-paid profession, but I take it as a lofty profession entrusted with saving people’s lives. To realize my ideal I have concentrated on laboratory work to develop the analytical skills necessary to become a qualified doctor. Ijm sure^willjiealizejm^. (156 words)

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第22篇

英语四级写作:历年考试精选作文

Directions: Write a composition entitled The Brain and the Computer. You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below in Chinese:

有人认为预测电脑的功能将超过人脑。请就人脑与电脑的区别写一 篇作文，你可以从体积、运算速度和结构等方面进行对比。

【经典范文】

The Brain and the Computer

Some recent developments in computer industry make scientists predict that the gap between human beings and the machine will be closed by the year 0.

To understand the significance of this prediction, let us compare the human brain with existing computers. The brain consumes electrical energy at the rate of 25 watts and occupies volume of one tenth of a cubic foot. The brain houses between 10 billion and 100 billion items of information. Every brain cell is directly connected to many other cells. As a result, the cells in which information is stored can communicate with thousands of other cells. Incontrast,jhe^computer^consu；mes_1000,Lpower^and J:eeLofspace.^rhe^computermemoryjisJlike^acell ofpigeonholes^withnojhinking^.

In a word, thejel^Jinjcomgarison with the human brains. (151 words)

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第23篇

Along with the improvement of living standards, people are no longer content with being fed and clothed adequately. They are more concerned about how to enhance their sense of happiness.

To a large extent, happiness depends on individuals’ understanding about it. For some people, happiness relies on material basis, without which they can"t live comfortably and decently. For others, they believe that happiness has nothing to do with money. Thus to enhance happiness is not equal to improving one’s material living standards. Instead, people are supposed to confront their life with right attitude, to be active and grateful in order to have a happy life.

For my part, money does buy happiness, but only up to the point where it enables one to live comfortably. To boost one’s happiness not only needs the material but also the spiritual enrichment. It encompasses living a meaningful life, utilizing your gifts and your time, living with reflection and objective.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第24篇

Now the income gap is getting wider and wider. In some privately owned firms, joint-ventures, or foreign-fund companies, an executive"s yearly income is ten times or even a hundred times as much as an ordinary worker"s.

Faced with this situation, people will undoubtedly have different opinions. Some believe that it benefits the social and economic development since driving force is often derived from the gap. In other words, the gap inspires people and gives a push to advancement. Others speak of its side effect: income gap is often the root of social unrest and also contrary to our country"s principle.

From my point of view, while it is true that the income gap may stimulate the social development to some extent, it causes trouble as well. An income gap that is too wide for most people to bear can neither contribute to the stability of a country nor promote its economic development. Therefore, while we are advocating the rapid development of our country, we should tolerate the narrow income gap but narrow the wide one.

历年四级考试作文以及范文 第25篇

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

According to the majority of Americans, women are every bit as capable of being good political leaders as men. The same can be said of their ability to dominate the corporate boardroom. And according to a new Pew Research Center survey on women and leadership, most Americans find women indistinguishable from men on key leadership traits such as intelligence and capacity for innovation, with many saying they"re stronger than men in terms of being passionate and organized leaders.

So why, then, are women in short supply at the top of government and business in the United States? According to the public, at least, it"s not that they lack toughness, management talent or proper skill sets.

It’s also not all about work-life balance. Although economic research and previous survey findings have shown that career interruptions related to motherhood may make it harder for women to advance in their careers and compete for top executive jobs, relatively few adults in the recent survey point to this as a key barrier for women seeking leadership roles. Only about one-in-five say women"s family responsibilities are a major reason why there aren"t more females in top leadership positions in business and politics.

Instead, topping the list of reasons, about four-in-ten Americans point to a double standard for women seeking to climb to the highest levels of either politics or business, where they have to do more than their male counterparts to prove themselves. Similar shares say the electorate （选民）and corporate America are just not ready to put more women in top leadership positions.

As a result, the public is divided about whether the imbalance in corporate America will change in the foreseeable future, even though women have made major advances in the workplace. While 53% believe men will continue to hold more top executive positions in business in the future, 44% say it"s only a matter of time before as many women are in top executive positions as men. Americans are less doubtful when it comes to politics: 73% expect to see a female president in their lifetime.

do most Americans think of women leaders according to a new Pew Research Center survey?

A) They have to do more to distinguish themselves.

B) They have to strive harder to win their positions.

C) They are stronger than men in terms of willpower.

D) They are just as intelligent and innovative as men.

do we learn from previous survey findings about women seeking leadership roles?

A) They have unconquerable difficulties on their way to success.

B) They are lacking in confidence when competing with men.

C) Their failures may have something to do with family duties.

D) Relatively few are hindered in their career advancement.

is the primary factor keeping women from taking top leadership positions according to the recent survey?

A) Personality traits.

B) Gender bias.

C) Family responsibilities.

D) Lack of vacancies.

does the passage say about corporate America in the near future?

A) More and more women will sit in the boardroom.

B) Gender imbalance in leadership is likely to change.

C) The public is undecided about whether women will make good leaders.

D) People have opposing opinions as to whether it will have more women leaders.

do most Americans expect to see soon on America"s political stage?

A) A woman in the highest position of government.

B) More and more women actively engaged in politics.

C) A majority of women voting for a female president.

D) As many women in top government positions as men.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

People have grown taller over the last century, with South Korean women shooting up by more than 20cm on average, and Iranian men gaining . A global study looked at the average height of 18-year-olds in 200 countries between 1914 and .

The results reveal that while Swedes were the tallest people in the world in 1914, Dutch men have risen from 12th place to claim top spot with an average height of . Latvian women, meanwhile, rose from 28th place in 1914 to become the tallest in the world a century later, with an average height of .

James Bentham, a co-author of the research from Imperial College, London, says the global trend is likely to be due primarily to improvements in nutrition and healthcare. “An individual"s genetics has a big influence on their height, but once you average over whole populations, genetics plays e less key role,” he added.

A little extra height brings a number of advantages, says Elio Riboli of Imperial College. “Being taller is associated with longer life expectancy,” he said. “This is largely due to a lower risk of dying of cardiovascular (心血管的）disease among taller people.”

But while height has increased around the world, the trend in many countries of north and sub-Saharan Africa causes concern, says Riboli. While height increased in Uganda and Niger during the early 20th century, the trend has reversed in recent years, with height decreasing among 18-year-olds.

“One reason for these decreases in height is the economic situation in the 1980s,” said Alexander Moradi of the University of Sussex. The nutritional and health crises that followed the policy of structural adjustment, he says, led to many children and teenagers failing to reach their full potential in terms of height.

Bentham believes the global trend of increasing height has important implications. “How tall we are now is strongly influenced by the environment we grew up in,” he said. “If we give children the best possible start in life now, they will be healthier and more productive for decades to come.”

does the global study tell us about people"s height in the last hundred years?

A) There is a remarkable difference across continents.

B) There has been a marked increase in most countries.

C) The increase in people"s height has been quickening.

D) The increase in women"s height is bigger than in men"s.

does James Bentham say about genetics in the increase of people"s height?

A) It counts less than generally thought.

B) It outweighs nutrition and healthcare.

C) It impacts more on an individual than on a population.

D) It plays a more significant role in females than in males.

does Elio Riboli say about taller people?

A) They tend to live longer.

B) They enjoy an easier life.

C) They generally risk fewer fatal diseases.

D) They have greater expectations in life.

do we learn about 18-year-olds in Uganda and Niger?

A) They grow up slower than their peers in other countries.

B) They are actually shorter than their earlier generations.

C) They find it hard to bring their potential into full play.

D) They have experienced many changes of government.

does James Bentham suggest we do?

A) Watch closely the global trend in children"s development.

B) Make sure that our children grow up to their full height.

C) Try every means possible to improve our environment.

D) Ensure our children grow up in an ideal environment.

Passage one

Passage two