大学英语四级217及答案解析.doc

1、大学英语四级 217 及答案解析(总分：746.55，做题时间：130 分钟)一、Writing (30 minutes)(总题数：1，分数：30.00)1.For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic Wealth and Health. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below. 1) 有人认为财富比健康重要 2) 也有人认为健康比财富重要 3) 你的观点是 （分数：30.00）_二、

2、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.00)How Important Is Knowledge? Knowledge Makes the Difference between Poverty and Wealth Forty years ago, Ghana and the Republic of Korea had about the same income per capita. By 1990, Koreas income was six times higher than Ghanas. While part of the difference is du

3、e to more investment and more workers, half of the difference is attributed to Koreas greater success in organizing and using knowledge. Knowledge Makes the Difference between Sickness and Health Knowledge doesnt only mean higher economic growth and higher incomes. It can also mean a better quality

4、of life, such as a cleaner environment and better health. In recent decades, infant mortality rates have declined sharply for people in all income groups. Even very poor families suffer fewer infant deaths today than equally poor families suffered ten years ago. Reason: the advance of knowledge has

5、made possible new drugs and vaccines, better sanitation practices, and more effective public health campaigns. What Kind of Knowledge Our report focuses on two types of knowledge that are especially important to development. First, technical knowledge or simply know-how. Examples are nutrition and b

6、irth control, engineering and accounting. Poor countries and poor people have less know-how than others, and these knowledge gaps make it harder for people to escape poverty. Second, knowledge about attributes or characteristics, such as the purity of milk, the diligence of a worker, the solvency (偿

7、付能力) of a firm, and the security of a bank. When this information is lacking, markets function badly or fail. We call the difficulties arising from lack of this type of knowledge information problems. Information problems are often worse in developing countries and they especially hurt the poor. Kno

8、wledge Gaps and Information Problems in the Green Revolution The Green Revolution illustrates how dealing with both types of problems can improve peoples lives. The first steps in the Green Revolution involved narrowing knowledge gaps research to develop new seed and techniques, and teach the new te

9、chniques to farmers. But the potential of the Green Revolution could not be dug up unless poor farmers obtained loans to buy new seeds and fertilizer. As we will see, credit for the poor is a classic information problem. Lack of credit and other information problems turned out to be as important and

10、 difficult as the original agricultural research. One study in India found that for a typical family with a small parcel of land, the loss of potential income over five years from slow adoption and inefficient use of high-yielding varieties was nearly four times its annual income before the introduc

11、tion of the new seeds. As these problems were solved, through research, agricultural extension services and later through micro credit, the Green Revolution indeed helped the poor. Incomes of small farmers almost doubled and the incomes of landless laborers the poorest of the poor more than doubled.

12、 The two types of problem often overlap and interact, as in the case of the Green Revolution. To narrow knowledge gaps both between and within countries it is necessary to know how knowledge can be acquired, how it can be absorbed, and how it can be communicated. Acquiring Knowledge Most new knowled

13、ge is being created in richer countries, where spending on research and development is the highest. Fortunately, developing countries dont need to re-invent the light bulb, or the computer, or the vaccine for measles. In many cases, tapping global knowledge will be quickest and easiest way to narrow

14、 knowledge gaps. How? Foreign direct investment, trade, and in an era of strengthened intellectual property rights licensing are all important mechanisms for acquiring knowledge from abroad. And countries should not neglect the knowledge in their own backyard, such as traditional knowledge about eco

15、systems and medicinal plants. China, Brazil, India and Korea are building their own research capacity, to complement the acquisition of knowledge from abrade. Absorbing Knowledge Education is more important than ever before. In the past 20 years, the share of medium and high-technology goods in worl

16、d trade has more than doubled, to half of world trade. Basic education remains crucial, but it is no longer enough. To compete globally, a countrys workforce must include people with advanced technical training and higher education. At the household level, too, education is crucial. It is well known

17、 that educated women have healthier children and that farmers with more schooling are quicker to adopt new techniques. Despite great changes, too many poor people especially women remain illiterate. In low-income countries, four out of ten women do not know how to read. Communicating Knowledge Falli

18、ng communication costs offer new opportunities to cope with these old problems. Computing power and telephone lines cost only one ten-thousandth of what they cost two decades ago. Yet millions of people remain isolated. In the U.S. there are more than 600 telephone lines for every 1,000 people. But

19、in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, there are only 20 telephone lines for every 1,000 people. The problem isnt lack of demand. Worldwide about 28 million households and businesses in developing countries are on waiting lists for a telephone line. Many more would gladly pay if only service were ava

20、ilable. Breaking up monopolies and introducing more competition can help to increase the supply of phones. In Ghana the number of phone lines increased by 25 percent in the first year after the market was opened to competition. Chile used an innovative scheme to award subsidies to companies that ins

21、tall pay phones in remote villages. By the end of this year almost everybody in Chile will have access to a phone. Even if knowledge gaps were closed entirely, with everyone in the world having the same access to know-how as well-educated people in rich countries, people in poorer countries would st

22、ill face more serious information problems. Knowledge about attributes the quality of a product or the solvency of a firm cannot be stored for long. It must be generated on the spot and constantly refreshed. Many of the institutions needed to collect and spread this information are weak or lacking i

23、n developing countries. Information problems are especially important in three areas: poverty as is discussed above, finance, and environment. Finance The financial crisis in East Asia is clear reminder of the severity of information problems and the need to develop institutions to deal with them. B

24、y now the story is familiar. A build-up of short-term debt inevitably exposes a country to risk. But why was the withdrawal of funds so great? Part of the answer lies with inadequate information: depositors, unable to distinguish good banks from bad ones, withdrew their money from all banks; investo

25、rs, unable to distinguish good firms from bankrupt ones, dumped the shares of all companies. The importance of good accounting standards and the disclosure of information has now been revealed in the worst way possible. Part of the solution then lies in standardized balance sheets, income statements

26、, cash flow statements, loan loss provisions, realistic valuation of collateral (抵押品) and so on. Argentina has greatly strengthened its financial sector by adopting a “multiple eyes“ approach that involves as many agents as possible in monitoring bank behavior. Capital adequacy ratios are a stiff 11

27、.5 percent; foreign banks hold 45 percent of banking assets, the central bank provides on-line information about companies balance sheets and income statements, and overall supervision of the banks has been greatly strengthened. Environment Information problems underlie many environmental problems,

28、because information about environmental concerns is often unavailable. Some governments have discovered that by gathering and disclosing this information, they can make unexpected progress on tough issues. In Indonesia, the government created incentives for firms to reduce pollution by rating factor

29、ies environmental performance, from black for the worst water polluters to gold for the very cleanest. In barely a year, one-third of the firms found to be in violation of environmental lawssome of which had been polluting for years cleaned up enough to earn the blue rating of firms that comply with

30、 the law. Why? Partly because investors care about the environment. A recent World Bank study of stock markets in Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the Philippines found that bad environmental news about a company depressed the price of its shares by about 15 percent, while good news raised its share pri

31、ces about 20 percent. （分数：71.00）(1).This passage mainly discusses how knowledge can affect human life.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(2).Korea attributes its improved economy to the use of knowledge and more investment and workers.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(3).The skill to operate a computer is categorized as the seco

32、nd type of knowledge.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(4).The Green Revolution has also improved factory workers conditions by narrowing knowledge gaps.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(5).Developing countries had better re-invent some existing products so that they can raise their own research capacity.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(6).

33、Basic education is crucial, so poor countries do not have to develop higher education.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(7).Lack of information can be so severe as to cause a financial crisis.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).Knowledge not only influences peoples wealth but also_.（分数：7.10）_(9).Communicating knowledge is beco

34、ming easier today because of the_.（分数：7.10）_(10).Many environmental problems are caused by the lack of information about_.（分数：7.10）_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数：15.00)A.The man doesnt want to see Mr. Williams.B.Mr. Jones is in an inferior position than Mr. Williams.C.Mr. Jones used to be in charg

35、e.D.Mr. Williams doesnt want to do tomorrow.A.They need to make more efforts.B.Theyll have more work to do tomorrow.C.The others have done the greater part of it.D.Theyve finished more than half of it.A.She was feeling very sorry.B.She felt a bit annoyed.C.She was in a hurry.D.She was in her office.

36、A.Jane was telling a lie.B.The woman wasnt being sincere.C.Jane has already come back from Paris.D.Jane wasnt in Paris that day.A.The knife belongs to him.B.Bob should mind his own business.C.The man once borrowed Bobs knife.D.Bobs knife isnt as good as that of the man.A.Hell miss the meeting that a

37、fternoon.B.Hell have an appointment with the host.C.He wont miss the meeting.D.He is very hardworking.A.Because she wont fulfill her promise.B.Because her mother would be very angry.C.Because she cant finish the job ahead of schedule.D.Because she would be the last to finish the job.A.He always talk

38、s on the phone for that long if its toll free.B.They have so much free time to talk on the phone for that long.C.They talked on the phone for too long.D.He wants to know what they talked about.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.00)A.At a newspaper.B.At an advertising agency.C.At a furniture store.D.At a real e

39、state office.A.A two-bedroom apartment.B.A sofa.C.A chair.D.A roommate.A.Her phone number.B.The location of the apartment.C.The best time to call her.D.Her first name.A.$ 5.B.$ 15.C.$ 30D.$ 250.A.Typing letters for Mr. Black.B.Typing a report for Mrs. Smith.C.Typing a report for Mr. Black.D.Typing l

40、etters for Mrs. Smith.A.Detroit.B.Chicago.C.New York.D.Boston.A.Because her husband is out on business.B.Because her husband is at home on leave.C.Because her parents have come to help with housework.D.Because her parents are out on holiday.A.A Rolex.B.A Bulova.C.A Seiko.D.An Elgin.A.The liberation

41、movement of British women.B.Rapid economic development in Britain.C.Changing attitudes to family life.D.Reasons for changes in family life in Britain.A.Because millions of men died in the war.B.Because women had proved their worth.C.Because women were more skillful than men.D.Because factories prefe

42、rred to employ women.A.The concept of “the family“ as a social unit.B.The attitudes to birth control.C.The attitudes to religion.D.The ideas of authority and tradition.A.She sat back and relaxed.B.She decided to retire.C.She entered university.D.She worked out a new English program.A.8 years.B.20 ye

43、ars.C.16 years.D.30 years.A.Bring a great deal of useful experience to the university.B.Improve human relationships in the university.C.Bring a fear of aging among young students on the campus.D.Improve the reputation of the university.A.She is learning to perceive, not to judge.B.She is learning ho

44、w to make sound judgments.C.She is learning how to teach minority students.D.She is learning English and Drama.A.Whether it can be detected and checked.B.Whether it will lead to widespread food shortage.C.Whether global warming will speed up in the future.D.Whether it will affect their own lives.A.M

45、any species have moved further north.B.Many species have come into existence.C.Many species have developed a habit of migration.D.Many species have become less sensitive to climate.A.Storms and floods.B.Disease and fire.C.Less space for their growth.D.Rapid increase of the animal population.A.They w

46、ill gradually die out.B.They will be able to survive in the preserves.C.They will have to migrate to find new homes.D.They will face extinction without artificial reproduction.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Today I will be presenting a report on our findings on the condition of the worlds (36) 1. It may

47、 be a surprise to you that half the people in the world live on less than two dollars a day, and one billion people live on less than one dollar a day. I am going to look at (37) 2 and its relationship to issues. We must work fast if we hope to by half, by the year 2015. Our survey shows that the fi

48、rst step should be to (38) 3 health-care systems. In the worlds poorest countries, people are (39) 4to live just 49 years. One in ten children doesnt reach his or her first birthday. According to our study, poor health and are (40) 5. Women are affected most by poor health-care systems, especially (41) 6 women. The second job we have to do, as many of you can guess, is to (42) 7birth rates. We have found mat when given a choice, poor peopl