1、大学英语四级 259及答案解析(总分：746.57，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 My Teacher. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below: 1张老师是我最敬爱的老师。 2张老师知识渊博，治学严谨。 3我要以张老师为榜样，努力学习。 （分数：30.00）_二、Re
2、ading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.00)Parts of the brain Most of us learn basic facts about the human brain in our middle or high school biology classes. We study the subcortex, the “old brain, which is found in the brain of most animals and is responsible for basic functions such as breathing, eating,
3、drinking, and sleeping. We learn about the neocortex, the “new brain“, which is unique to humans and is where complex brain activity takes place. We find that the cerebrum, which is responsible for all active thought, is divided into two parts, or hemispheres. The left hemisphere, generally, manages
4、 the right side of the body; it is responsible for logical thinking. The right hemisphere manages the left side of the body; this hemisphere controls emotional, creative, and artistic functions. And we learn that the corpus callosum (胼胝体) is the “bridge“ that connects the two hemisphere. Memorizing
5、the names for parts of the brain might not seem thrilling to many students, but new discoveries in brain function are exciting. Recent research is teaching us a lot about creativity, memory, the differences between men and women, and the relationship between mind and body. Left brain/right brain: cr
6、eativity Psychologists agree that most of us have creative ability that is greater than what we use in daily life. In other words, we can be more creative than we realize! The problem is that we use mainly one hemisphere of our brain the left. From childhood, in school, were taught reading, writing,
7、 and mathematics; we are exposed to very little music or art. Therefore, many of us might not “exercise“ our right hemisphere much, except through dreams, symbols, and those wonderful insights in which we suddenly find the answer to a problem that has been bothering usand do so without the need for
8、logic. Can we be taught to use our right hemisphere more? Many experts believe so. Classes at some schools and books (such as “The Inner Game of Tennis and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain“) claim to help people to “silence“ the left hemisphere and give the right a chance to work. Memory true
9、or false In the 1980s in the United States, there were many cases of adults who suddenly remembered, with the help of a psychologist, things that had happened to them in childhood. These memories had been repressedheld backfor many years. Some of these newly discovered memories have sent people to p
10、rison. As people remember crimes (such as murder or rape) mat they saw or experienced as children, the police have reopened and investigated old criminal cases. In fact, over 700 cases have been filled that are based on these repressed memories. However, new students in 1990s suggest mat many of the
11、se might be false memories. At a 1994 conference at Harvard Medical School, neuroscientists(神经学科学家们) discussed how memory is believed to work. It is known that small pieces of a memory (sound, right, felling, and so on) are kept in different parts of the brain; the limbic system, in the middle of th
12、e brain, pulls these pieces together into one compete memory. But its certain that people can “remember“ things that have never happened. Even a small suggestion can leave a piece of memory in the brain. Most frightening, according to Dr. Michael Nash of the University of Tennessee, is that “there m
13、ay be no structural difference“ in the brain between a false memory and a true one. Differences in male and female brains Watch a group of children as they play. Youll probably notice that the boys and girls play differently, speak differently and are interested in different things. When they grow i
14、nto men and women, the difference do not disappear. Many scientists are now studying the origins of these gender differences. Some are searching for an explanation in the human brain. Some of the findings are interesting. For example, theyve found that more men than women are left-handed; this refle
15、cts the dominance of the brains right hemisphere. By contrast, more women listen equally with both ears while men listen mainly with the right ear. Men are better at reading a map without having to turning the map again and again. Women are better at reading the emotions of people in photographs. On
16、e place to look for an explanation of gender differences is in the hypothalamus, just above the brain stem. This controls anger, thirst, hunger, and sexual desire. One recent study shows that there is a region in the hypothalamus that is larger in heterosexual (异性恋的) men than it is in women and homo
17、sexual(同性恋的) men. Another area of study is the corpus callosum, the thick group of nerves that allows the right and left hemispheres of the brain to communicate with each other. The corpus callosum is larger in women than in men. This might explain the mystery of “female intuition“, which is suppose
18、d to give women greater ability to “read“ and understand emotional clues. The mystery of the mind-body relationship There is more and more evidence every day to prove that our minds and bodies are closely connected. Negative emotions, such as loneliness, depression, and helplessness, are believed to
19、 cause a higher rate of sickness and death. Similarly, its possible that positive thinking can help people remain in good physical health or become well faster after an illness. Although some doctors are doubtful about this, most accept the success of new therapies (e.g., relaxation and meditation)
20、that help people with problems such as ulcers, high blood pressure, insomnia, and migraine headaches. （分数：71.00）(1).There is no neocortex in the brain of animals.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(2).Most people probably dont use all their creative experiences.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(3).Our memories can be improved by
21、 recalling childhood experiences.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(4).People can have memories of thing that never happened.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(5).Newly discovered memories from childhood are false memories.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(6).There is no real difference between the brains of males and those of females.（分数：7.1
22、0）A.YB.NC.NG(7).Theres a growing number of evidence to prove that our minds and bodies are closely connected.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).Positive thinking can help people 1 faster.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(9).When children grow into adults, the differences they demonstrated as youngsters 1.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(10).On
23、e place to look for an explanation of gender differences is in the 1.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数：15.00)A.She eats well when she reads.B.Time goes faster when she reads.C.She always has a lovely day she reads.D.She has more ability to manage life.A.Take a trip to the Great Lakes.B
24、.Take a trip to a nearby place.C.Work hard to earn her tuition.D.Save money and take a trip next year.A.John can share the magazine with her.B.She wants to borrow Johns card.C.Shell let John use the journal first.D.John should find another copy for himself.A.See if the walkman is working.B.Listen to
25、 the radio.C.Listen to some music.D.Fix it if her thinking is right.A.He wants her to pick up some stamps.B.He wants her to buy some staples.C.He wants her to buy a stapler.D.He wants her to buy some paper.A.She thinks he should wait a minute.B.She thinks its too late anyway.C.She thinks he should d
26、o things early.D.She thinks there might still be a chance even if it is last minute.A.To turn up the volume.B.To go and see a movie since he has two tickets.C.To go and see the final live since he has two tickets.D.To go and see the concert live since she has two tickets.A.Shed like to have the wind
27、ows open.B.She likes to have the air conditioner on.C.The air is heavily polluted.D.The windows are already open.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.00)A.The man wants to obtain an international drivers license that he can use both in the U.S. and in his country.B.The man wants to take a drivers test to get an
28、Arizona drivers license.C.The man wants to know whether he can use his international drivers license in Arizona.D.The man wants to fill out an application for an Arizona drivers license.A.Show his student ID and pay ten dollars.B.Use his international drivers license.C.Take a drivers test and apply
29、for a limited license.D.Show proof of temporary residence.A.Less than one year.B.Four years.C.Five years.D.Ten years.A.Fill out an application.B.Go back to the university to get his ID.C.Go to see his friend.D.Take a written exam and an eye exam.A.The mans lateness for class.B.The topic for their cl
30、ass presentation.C.The presentations of other students.D.Their bad luck and the Murphys Law.A.Because his car was broken.B.Because no one gave him a ride.C.Because it was a 30-minute bus ride.D.Because the bus ride was safe in bad weather.A.Business.B.Literature.C.History.D.Meteorology.A.60.B.45.C.3
31、0.D.20.A.He missed the appointment.B.He arrived late.C.He was sick.D.He was very busy.A.He was busy sightseeing.B.He couldnt reach Mr. Jordans office.C.He didnt want to see Mr. Jordan any more.D.He didnt want to take the trouble making it.A.The trip didnt do any good to his health.B.The trip was a c
32、omplete disappointment.C.The trip was enjoyable but not fruitful in terms of business.D.The trip helped him meet many interesting people.A.The story of a woman who died of a heart attack.B.The story of a car going through the highway-dividing fence.C.The story of a collision in which five people die
33、d.D.Large cars cause more highway accidents than small cars.A.Driving larger cars.B.Driving larger and lighter cars.C.Driving lighter and smaller cars.D.Driving oversized cars.A.It increases death toll on the highway.B.It results in the rapid depletion of our resources of petroleum.C.It brings pollu
34、tion to our environment.D.It carries more things.A.Because it was too heavy.B.Because it did not bend easily.C.Because it did not shoot far.D.Because its string was short.A.It went out of use 300 years ago.B.It was invented after the shortbow.C.It was discovered before fire and the wheelD.Its still
35、in use today.A.They are accurate and easy to pull.B.Their shooting range is 40 yards.C.They are usually used indoors.D.They took 100 years to develop.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Richard Henry, An American physicist, is (36) 1a new in which important days could fall on the same day of the week year af
36、ter year. Instead of the familiar Gregorian (罗马教皇的) 365-day year with one (37) 2day added every four years. The new (38) 3offers a 364-day year with a (39) 4week every five or six years. Richard Henry has taught physics and (40) 5courses in Johns Hopkins University for nearly thirty years. Although
37、the (41) 6remains essentially the same, the homework is due on different dates each year and the exam dates changed, too. So, each year, he has to make up a different (42) 7for his students. He said to himself, I dont mind doing that because I have to do it. But then one year I said, Wait, Im a (43)
38、 8astronomer. Let me see whether this is necessary or not. And quickly I discovered that it is not necessary at all. That is because, (44) 9. An astronomical year set by the motion of the earths rotation going a-round the sun is 365.2422 days long. And of course, 365 is not divisible by seven (45) 1
39、0. Each month in this revised year would have either 30 or 31 days, which means that eight months would be longer or shorter than they are now. (46) 11. （分数：10.00）填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_七、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：2，分数：355.00)Some houses are desig
40、ned to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects. Located on the shore of Sullivans Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashe
41、d to pieces by Hurricane (飓风) Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state. Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolinas shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasnt
42、strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugos wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivans Island should be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 2
43、09 kilometers per hour. At first sight, the house on Sullivans Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern (灯笼) “at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The houses wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to gi
44、ve it extra strength. To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings - long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elev
45、ate the house above storm surges. The pilings allow the surges to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,“ said Huff. Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed
46、 by the houses ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesnt look like its standing with its pant legs pulled up,“ said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained. （分数：177.50）(1).Afte
47、r the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolinas shore line are required _.（分数：35.50）A.to be easily reinforcedB.to look smarter in designC.to meet stricter building standardsD.to be designed in the shape of cubes(2).The award-winning beach house is quite strong because
48、_.（分数：35.50）A.it is strengthened by steel rodsB.it is made of redwoodC.it is in the shape of a shellD.it is built with timber and concrete(3).Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to_.（分数：35.50）A.withstand peak winds of about 200 km / hrB.anchor stronger pilings deep in the sandC.break huge sea waves into smaller onesD.prevent water from rushing into the house(4).The main function of the shell is_.（分数：
