2010年英语专业四级考试真题

TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS(2010)

——GRADE FOUR——

PART I　DICTATION　[10 MIN]

Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given ONE minute to check through your work once more.

Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.

PART II　LISTENING COMPREHENSION　[20 MIN]

SECTION A TALK

In this section you will hear a talk. You will hear the talk ONCE ONLY. While listening, you may look at the task on ANSWER SHEET ONE and write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap. Make sure what you fill in is both grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may use the blank sheet for note-taking.

You have THIRTY seconds to preview the gap-filling task.

Now listen to the talk. When it is over, you will be given TWO minutes to check your work.

The Truth About Caffeine

1. Facts about caffeine

■ Comes from about(1)______different plants

■ Be known as a(2)_______

(1)____________

(2)____________

2. Effects of caffeine

■ Beneficial effects:

■ Helps you wake up and feel more alert

■ Makes(3)_______spans longer

■ (4)_______

(3)____________

(4)____________

■ Negative effects:

Depending on how much you drink

■ In small quantities:(5)_______heartbeat

■ In larger amounts: feel(6)_______and nervous

■ Over 600 mg per day: insomnia,(7)_______and digestion issues

(5)____________

(6)____________

(7)____________

3. (8)_______coffee consumption

■ Caffeine: less than 250 mg(9)_____

■ Soda: no more than(10)_______per day

(8)____________

(9)____________

(10)___________

SECTION B CONVERSATIONS

In this section you will hear two conversations. At the end of each conversation, five questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversations and the questions will be spoken ONCE ONLY. After each question there will be a ten-second pause. During the pause, you should read the four choices of A, B, C and D, and mark the best answer to each question on ANSWER SHEET TWO.

You have thirty seconds to preview the choices.

Now, listen to the conversations.

Conversation One

Questions 1 to 5 are based on Conversation One.

1. A. Number of travelers.

B. Number of tour days.

C. Flight details.

D. Room services.

2. A. Air tickets and local transport.

B. Local transport and meals.

C. Air tickets, local transport and breakfast.

D. Air tickets, local transport and all meals.

3. A. The traveler is reluctant to buy travel insurance.

B. The traveler is ready to buy travel insurance.

C. The traveler doesn’t have to buy travel insurance.

D. Travel insurance is not mentioned in the conversation.

4. A. Call the room service.

B. Buy credit on the hotel website.

C. Connect the computer with the cable.

D. Get the computer connected at the business center.

5. A. Heavy and light clothes.

B. An umbrella.

C. Some medicine.

D. Band-aids.

Conversation Two

Questions 6 to 10 are based on Conversation Two.

6. A. Mark knows the exact number of airport buses.

B. Mark knows the exact number of delegates’ spouse.

C. Mark doesn’t know the exact number of delegates yet.

D. Mark doesn’t know the number of guest speakers.

7. A. The arrival time of guest speakers.

B. The departure time of guest speakers.

C. The type of transport for guest speakers.

D. The number of guest speakers.

8. A. The guidebook.

B. A conference memo.

C. Conference gifts.

D. Name cards.

9. A. One.

B. Two.

C. Three.

D. Not mentioned.

10. A. Pan-Pacific Tours.

B. Johnson & Sons Events.

C. Conference delegates.

D. An airline company.

PART III　LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE　[10 MIN]

There are twenty sentences in this section. Beneath each sentence there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Choose one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET TWO.

11. Nancy’s gone to work but her car’s still there. She______by bus.

A. must have gone

B. should have gone

C. ought to have gone

D. could have gone

12. After______seemed an endless wait, it was his turn to enter the personnel manager’s office.

A. that

B. it

C. what

D. there

13. Fool______Jerry is, he could not have done such a thing.

A. who

B. as

C. like

D. that

14. Which of the following sentences is INCORRECT?

A. They each have two tickets.

B. They cost twenty yuan each.

C. Each they have bought the same book.

D. They were given two magazines each.

15. She seldom goes to the theatre,______?

A. doesn’t she

B. does she

C. would she

D. wouldn’t she

16. Dr. Johnson is head of the department,______an expert in translation.

A. or

B. either

C. but

D. and

17. When one has good health,______should feel fortunate.

A. you

B. they

C. he

D. we

18. In the sentence “It’s no use waiting for her”, the italicized phrase is______.

A. the object

B. an adverbial

C. a complement

D. the subject

19. Which of the following sentences has an object complement?

A. The directors appointed John manager.

B. I gave Mary a Christmas present.

C. You have done Peter a favour.

D. She is teaching children English.

20.______should not become a serious disadvantage in life and work.

A. To be not tall

B. Not being tall

C. Being not tall

D. Not to be tall

21. Due to personality______, the two colleagues never got on well in work.

A. contradiction

B. conflict

C. confrontation

D. competition

22. During the summer vacation, kids are often seen hanging______in the streets.

A. about

B. on

C. over

D. out

23. There were 150______at the international conference this summer.

A. spectators

B. viewers

C. participants

D. onlookers

24. School started on a______cold day in February.

A. severe

B. bitter

C. such

D. frozen

25. Because of the economic crisis, industrial output in the region remained______.

A. motionless

B. inactive

C. stagnant

D. immobile

26. Joan is in the dorm, putting the final______to her speech.

A. details

B. remarks

C. comments

D. touches

27. The teacher told the students to stay in the classroom and they did______.

A. absolutely

B. accidentally

C. accordingly

D. accurately

28. He listened hard but still couldn’t______what they were talking about.

A. make over

B. make up

C. make upon

D. make out

29. For the advertised position, the company offers a(n)______salary and benefits package.

A. generous

B. plentiful

C. abundant

D. sufficient

30. As there was no road, the travelers______up a rocky slope on their way back.

A. ran

B. hurried

C. scrambled

D. crawled

PART IV　CLOZE　[10 MIN]

Decide which of the words given in the box below would best complete the passage if inserted in the corresponding blanks. The words can be used ONCE ONLY. Mark the letter for each word on ANSWER SHEET TWO.

How men first learned to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain 31 to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be 32 to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, 33 written in letters, we call words.

The power of words, then, lies in their 34 —the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words 35 to us the happy and sad events of our past: and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us 36 .

Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal 37 to our minds and emotions. This 38 and telling use of words is what we call 39 style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will 40 our speech or writing silly and vulgar.

PART V　READING COMPREHENSION　[35 MIN]

SECTION A MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

In this section there are several passages followed by ten multiple-choice questions. For each questions, there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer and mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET TWO.

PASSAGE ONE

(1)What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?

(2)We all know that science plays an important role in the societies in which we live. Many people believe, however, that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first of these is the application of the machines, products and systems of applied knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. Through technology, science improves the structure of society and helps man to gain increasing control over his environment.

(3)The second aspect is the application by all members of society of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.

(4)What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is full of curiosity—he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually directs his attention towards problems which he notices have no satisfactory explanation, and his curiosity makes him look for underlying relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.

(5)He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and applies logical thought to the observations he makes. He utilizes the facts he observes to the fullest extent. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum.

(6)He is skeptical—he does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available—and therefore rejects authority as the sole basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively to verify them.

(7)Furthermore, he is not only critical of the work of others, but also of his own, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.

(8)Lastly, he is highly imaginative since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to make hypotheses of how processes work and how events take place.

(9)These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.

41. Which of the following statements about curiosity is INCORRECT?

A. It gives the scientist confidence and pleasure in work.

B. It gives rise to interest in problems that are unexplained.

C. It leads to efforts to investigate potential connections.

D. It encourages the scientist to look for new ways of acting.

42. It can be concluded from Para. 6 that a successful scientist would not_______

A. easily believe in unchecked statements.

B. easily criticize others’ research work.

C. always use his imagination in work.

D. always use evidence from observation.

43. What is the author’s attitude towards the topic?

A. Critical.

B. Objective.

C. Biased.

D. Unclear.

PASSAGE TWO

(1)Over the past several decades, the U.S., Canada, and Europe have received a great deal of media and even research attention over unusual phenomena and unsolved mysteries. These include UFOs as well as sightings and encounters with “nonhuman creatures” such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Only recently has Latin America begun to receive some attention as well. Although the mysteries of the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations have been known for centuries, now the public is also becoming aware of unusual, paranormal phenomena in countries such as Peru.

(2)The Nazca “lines” of Peru were discovered in the 1930s. These lines are deeply carved into a flat, stony plain, and form about 300 intricate pictures of animals such as birds, a monkey, and a lizard. Seen at ground level, the designs are a jumbled senseless mess. The images are so large that they can only be viewed at a height of 1,000 feet—meaning from an aircraft. Yet there were no aircraft in 300 B.C., when it is judged the designs were made. Nor were there then, or are there now, any nearby mountain ranges from which to view them. So how and why did the native people of Nazca create these marvelous designs? One answer appeared in 1969, when the German researcher and writer Erich von Daniken proposed that the lines were drawn by extraterrestrials as runways for their aircraft. The scientific community did not take long to scoff at and abandon von Daniken’s theory. Over the years several other theories have been put forth, but none has been accepted by the scientific community.

(3)Today there is a new and heightened interest in the Nazca lines. It is a direct result of the creation of the Internet. Currently there are over 60 sites dedicated to this mystery from Latin America’s past, and even respected scientists have joined the discussion through e-mail and chat rooms.

(4)Will the Internet help explain these unsolved mysteries? Perhaps it is a step in the right direction.

44. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

A. Latin America has long received attention for unusual phenomena.

B. Public attention is now directed towards countries like Peru.

C. Public interest usually focuses on North America and Europe.

D. Some ancient civilizations have unsolved mysteries.

45. We can infer from the passage that the higher the lines are seen, the______the images they present.

A. smaller

B. larger

C. clearer

D. brighter

46. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the passage?

A. Nonhuman Creatures.

B. Unsolved Mysteries.

C. The Nazca “Lines”.

D. UFOs.

PASSAGE THREE

(1)Graduation speeches are a bit like wedding toasts. A few are memorable. The rest tend to trigger such thoughts as, “Why did I wear such uncomfortable shoes?”

(2)But graduation speeches are less about the message than the messenger. Every year a few colleges and universities in the U.S. attract attention because they’ve managed to book high-profile speakers. And, every year, the media report some of these speakers’ wise remarks.

(3)Last month, the following words of wisdom were spread:

(4)“You really haven’t completed the circle of success unless you can help somebody else move forward.”(Oprah Winfrey, Duke University).

(5)“There is no way to stop change; change will come. Go out and give us a future worthy of the world we all wish to create together.”(Hillary Clinton, New York University).

(6)“This really is your moment. History is yours to bend.”(Joe Biden, Wake Forest University).

(7)Of course, the real “get” of the graduation season was first lady Michelle Obama’s appearance at the University of California, Merced. “Remember that you are blessed,” she told the class of 2009, “Remember that in exchange for those blessings, you must give something back... As advocate and activist Marian Wright Edelman says, ‘Service is the rent we pay for living... it is the true measure, the only measure of success’.”

(8)Calls to service have a long, rich tradition in these speeches. However, it is possible for a graduation speech to go beyond cliché and say something truly compelling. The late writer David Foster Wallace’s 2005 graduation speech at Kenyon College in Ohio talked about how to truly care about other people. It gained something of a cult after it was widely circulated on the Internet. Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs’ address at Stanford University that year, in which he talked about death, is also considered one of the best in recent memory.

(9)But when you’re sitting in the hot sun, fidgety and freaked out, do you really want to be lectured about the big stuff? Isn’t that like trying to maintain a smile at your wedding reception while some relative gives a toast that amounts to “marriage is hard work”? You know he’s right; you just don’t want to think about it at that particular moment. In fact, as is the case in many major life moments, you can’t really manage to think beyond the blisters your new shoes are causing.

(10)That may seem anticlimactic. But it also gets to the heart of one of life’s greatest, saddest truths: that our most “memorable” occasions may elicit the fewest memories. It’s probably not something most graduation speakers would say, but it’s one of the first lessons of growing up.

47. According to the passage, most graduation speeches tend to recall______memories.

A. great

B. trivial

C. unforgettable

D. unimaginative

48. It can be inferred from Para. 9 that at great moments people fail to______

A. remain clear-headed.

B. keep good manners.

C. remember others’ words.

D. recollect specific details.

PASSAGE FOUR

(1)Cultural rules determine every aspect of food consumption. Who eats together defines social units. For example, in some societies, the nuclear family is the unit that regularly eats together. The anthropologist Mary Douglas has pointed out that, for the English, the kind of meal and the kind of food that is served relate to the kinds of social links between people who are eating together. She distinguishes between regular meals, Sunday meals when relatives may come, and cocktail parties for acquaintances. The food served symbolizes the occasion and reflects who is present. For example, only snacks are served at a cocktail party. It would be inappropriate to serve a steak or hamburgers. The distinctions among cocktails, regular meals, and special dinners mark the social boundaries between those guests who are invited for drinks, those who are invited to dinner, and those who come to a family meal. In this example, the type of food symbolizes the category of guest and with whom it is eaten.

(2)In some New Guinea societies, the nuclear family is not the unit that eats together. The men take their meals in a men’s house, separately from their wives and children. Women prepare and eat their food in their own houses and take the husband’s portion to the men’s house. The women eat with their children in their own houses. This pattern is also widespread among Near Eastern societies.

(3)Eating is a metaphor that is sometimes used to signify marriage. In many New Guinea societies, like that of the Lesu on the island of New Ireland in the Pacific and that of the Trobriand Islanders, marriage is symbolized by the couple’s eating together for the first time. Eating symbolizes their new status as a married couple. In U.S. society, it is just the reverse. A couple may go out to dinner on a first date.

(4)Other cultural rules have to do with taboos against eating certain things. In some societies, members of a clan, a type of kin(family)group, are not allowed to eat the animal or bird that is their totemic ancestor. Since they believe themselves to be descended from that ancestor, it would be like eating that ancestor or eating themselves.

(5)There is also an association between food prohibitions and rank, which is found in its most extreme form in the caste system of India. A caste system consists of ranked groups, each with a different economic specialization. In India, there is an association between caste and the idea of pollution. Members of highly ranked groups can be polluted by coming into contact with the bodily secretions, particularly saliva, of individuals of lower-ranked castes. Because of the fear of pollution, Brahmans and other high-ranked individuals will not share food with, not eat from the same plate as, not even accept food from an individual from a low-ranking caste.

49. According to the passage, the English make clear distinctions between______

A. people who eat together.

B. the kinds of food served.

C. snacks and hamburgers.

D. family members and guests.

50. Which of the following can best serve as the topic of the passage?

A. Different kinds of food in the world.

B. Relations between food and social units.

C. Symbolic meanings of food consumption.

D. Culture and manners of eating.

SECTION B SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

In this section there are five short questions based on the passages in Section A. Answer the questions with NO more than TEN words in the space provided on ANSWER SHEET TWO.

PASSAGE ONE

51. What does the passage mainly discuss?

PASSAGE TWO

52. Why there has been increasing interest in the Nazca lines?

53. What can be inferred from the last sentence of the passage?

PASSAGE THREE

54. What does the author mean by saying “but it’s one of the first lessons of growing up”?

PASSAGE FOUR

55. What decides how people eat in India as suggested in the last paragraph?

PART VI　WRITING　[45 MIN]

It was recently reported in a newspaper that six students who shared a dorm at a local university hired a cleaner to do laundry and cleaning once a week. And each of them paid her 60 yuan a month. This has led to a heated debate as to whether college students should hire cleaners. Read carefully the following excerpt on college students hiring cleaners and then write your response in about 200 words, in which you should:

● summarize briefly the opinions from both sides;

● comment on whether college students should hire cleaners.

Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.

To hire or not to hire? Maids on campus stir debate

The manager of a local domestic service provider, surnamed Zhan, said since the new school year began, most of their customers were college students. “Most of them are girls and they don’t care what the price is, they almost never try to bargain,” Zhan told the Changsha Evening News.

Even with the booming business, Zhan is not happy. She didn’t expect college students to make up the majority of her customers. She is worried that college students, touted as elites, will not be able to be responsible for society if they can’t even be responsible for their dorms.

A school official responsible for students’ affairs strongly objected to this behavior. He said it would not help students’ comprehensive development, even though the school is not supposed to interfere in students’ personal affairs.

The students, however, think they are too busy to clean their rooms, and take the service for granted. “The dorm has been messy since the summer holiday and everyone now is busy with schoolwork, post-graduate exams or job-hunting,” said a junior waiting for a domestic cleaner in her messy dorm cluttered with personal belongings.

An art design student at Hunan Normal University explained to the paper that it is both fair and easy to hire workers because it is difficult for roommates to share cleaning duties. I’d derive more gratification from a building that is annoying than one that is utterly forgettable.

Write your response on ANSWER SHEET THREE.

—THE END—