1、大学英语四级卷二真题 2012 年 12 月及答案解析(总分：710.00，做题时间：120 分钟)一、Directions: For this(总题数：1，分数：142.00)1. （分数：142.00）_二、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.20)Should Sugar Be Regulated like Alcohol and Tobacco? Sugar poses enough health risks that it should be considered a controlled substance just like alcohol and
2、tobacco, argue a team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco(UCSF). In an opinion piece called “The Toxic（毒性的）Truth About Sugar“ published Feb. 1 in Nature, Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis argue that its wrong to consider sugar just “empty calories.“They writ
3、e: “There is nothing empty about these calories. A growing body of scientific evidence is showing that fructose（果糖）can trigger processes that lead to liver toxicity and a host of other chronic diseases. A little is not a problem, but a lot kills-slowly.“ Almost everyones heard of-or personally exper
4、ienced-the well-known sugar high, so perhaps the comparison between sugar and alcohol or tobacco shouldnt come as a surprise. But its doubtful that Americans will look favorably upon regulating their favorite vice. Were a nation thats sweet on sugar: the average US adult downs 22 teaspoons of sugar
5、a day, according to the American Heart Association, and surveys have found that teens swallow 34 teaspoons. To counter our consumption, the authors advocate taxing sugary foods and controlling sales to kids under 17. Already, 17% of US children and teens are obese（肥胖的）.and across the world the sugar
6、 intake（摄人）has increased three times in the past 50 years. The increase has helped create a global obesity plague that contributes to 35 million annual deaths worldwide from noninfectious diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Linda Matzigkeit, a senior vice president at Childrens He
7、althcare, said “We have to do something about this or our country is in danger. Its not good if your state has the second-highest obesity rate. Obese children turn into obese adults.“ “There are good calories and bad calories, just as there are good fats and bad fats. good amino acids（氨基酸） and bad a
8、mino acids,“ Lustig, director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health program at UCSF, said in a statement. “But sugar is toxic beyond its calories.“ The food industry tries to imply that “a calorie is a calorie.“ says Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesit
9、y at Yale University. “But this and other research suggests there is something different about sugar,“ says Brownell. The UCSF report emphasizes the metabolic（新陈代谢的）effects of sugar. Excess sugar can alter metabolism, raise blood pressure, affect the signaling of hormones and damage the liver -outco
10、mes that sound suspiciously similar to what can happen after a person drinks too much alcohol. Schmidt. co-chair of UCSFs Community Engagement and Health Policy program. noted on CNN: “When you think about it. this actually makes a lot of sense. Alcohol, after all. is simply made from sugar. Where d
11、oes vodka come from? Sugar.“ But there are also other areas of impact that researchers have investigated: the effect of sugar on the brain and how liquid calories are interpreted differently by the body than solids. Research has suggested that sugar activates the same reward pathways in the brain as
12、 traditional drugs of abuse like morphine or heroin. No one is claiming the effect of sugar is quite that strong, but, says Brownell, “it helps confirm what people tell you sometimes, that they hunger for sugar and have withdrawal symptoms when they stop eating it.“ Theres also something particularl
13、y tricky about sugary drinks. When calories come in liquids, the body doesnt feel as full,“says Brownell. “People are getting more of their calories than ever before from sugared drinks.“ Other countries, including France, Greece and Denmark, impose soda taxes, and the concept is being considered in
14、 at least 20 US cities and states. Last summer, Philadelphia came close to passing a 2-cents-per-ounce soda tax. The Rudd Center has been a strong advocate of a more modest 1-cent-per-ounce tax. But at least one study from 2010, has raised doubts that soda taxes would result in significant weight lo
15、ss: apparently people who are determined to eat-and drink-unhealthily will find ways to do it. Teens 一 no surprise-are good at finding ways to get the things they cant have, so state policies banning all sugar-sweetened drinks from public schools and providing only water, milk or 100% fruit juices h
16、avent had the intended effect of steering kids away from drinking sugared drinks: the average teen consumes about 300 calories per day-thats nearly 15% of his daily calories 一 in sweetened drinks, and the food and drink industry is only too happy to feed this need. Ultimately, regulating sugar will
17、prove particularly tricky because it goes beyond health concerns; sugar, for so many people, is love. A plate of cut-up vegetables just doesnt pack the same emotional punch as a tin of home-made chocolate chip cookies（饼千）,which is why I took my daughter out for a cupcake and not an apple as an after
18、-school treat today. We dont do that regularly-its the first time this school year, actually-and thats what made it special. As a society, could we ever reach the point where wed think apples 一 not a cupcake-are something to get excited over? Says Brindis, one of the reports authors and director of
19、UCSFs Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies: “We recognize that there are cultural and celebratory aspects of sugar. Changing these patterns is very complicated.“ For inroads（进展）to be made, say the authors in their statement, people have to be better educated about the hazards of sugar a
20、nd agree that somethings got to change: Many of the interventions（十预）that have reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for addressing the sugar problem. such as imposing special sales taxes, controlling access, and tightening licensing requirements on vending machines（自动售货机）and snack-b
21、ars that sell high sugar products in schools and workplaces “Were not talking prohibition.“Schmidt said. “Were not advocating a major imposition of the government into peoples lives. Were talking about gentle ways to make sugar consumption slightly less convenient, thereby moving people away from th
22、e concentrated dose. What we want is to actually increase peoples choices by making foods that arent loaded with sugar comparatively easier and cheaper to get.“（分数：71.20）(1).Why do some researchers think sugar should be considered “a controlled substance“?（分数：7.12）A.It contains nothing but empty cal
23、ories.B.It is as harmful as morphine and heroin.C.It works the same way as alcohol and tobacco in the human body.D.Excessive intake of sugar results in liver toxicity and various diseases.(2).What might be Americans attitude towards government regulation of sugar consumption?（分数：7.12）A.Enthusiastic.
24、B.Indifferent.C.Disapproving.D.Supportive.(3).What is a consequence of excessive sugar intake worldwide?（分数：7.12）A.It contributes to 35 million noninfectious disease-related deaths a year.B.It has increased the death toll nearly three times in the past 50 years.C.It contributes to the rise of prices
25、 of sugar and sugary foods.D.It has increased the global obesity rate to some 17 percent.(4).The food industry tries to relieve the public worry about sugar intake by suggesting that -|_|-.（分数：7.12）A.sugar is no more than a source of energyB.sugar is not harmful like alcohol or tobaccoC.the hazard o
26、f sugar to the body is exaggeratedD.the consumption of sugar is easily controllable(5).According to Brownell, liquid sugar -|_|-.（分数：7.12）A.is especially attractive to young childrenB.is much easier and quicker to absorb than solid sugarC.effectively stimulates peoples appetiteD.increases your calor
27、ie intake without your knowing it(6).What does the author think of the practice of imposing sugar taxes?（分数：7.12）A.It will harm the food and drink industry.B.It is unlikely to yield the intended effect.C.It is likely to alter peoples eating habits.D.It can steer kids away from sugary foods.(7).Regul
28、ating sugar will prove tricky because -|_|- .（分数：7.12）A.people consume sugar in large quantitiesB.nothing has been found to replace sugarC.sugar may convey a sense of loveD.many foods will become tasteless(8).In order to reduce sugar consumption, education should be conducted to raise peoples awaren
29、ess of its 1.（分数：7.12）填空项 1:_(9).To address the sugar problem, the author suggests that the licensing requirements on vending machines and snack- bars selling high sugar products be 1.（分数：7.12）填空项 1:_(10).A gentle way to steer people away from sugar is to make inexpensive, low-sugar foods 1.（分数：7.12
30、）填空项 1:_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数：56.96)A.Find a shortcut to the park.B.Buy some roses from the market.C.Plant trees in the east end of town.D.Go to the park to enjoy the flowers.A.She has been invited to give a talk.B.She is going to meet the man at 9:30.C.She cannot attend the presentation.D
31、.She cannot work because of her toothache.A.He has changed his business strategy.B.He is a very successful businessman.C.He is making plans to expand his operation.D.He was twenty when he took over the companyA.She is not as bright and diligent as Susan.B.She is a little bit surprised at the newsC.S
32、he has not read the news on the Net.D.She has every confidence in Susan.A.It is not always cheaper going by bus.B.It is more comfortable and convenient to take a bus.C.It is faster to go to Miami by train.D.It is worth the money taking a train to MiamiA.Antiques can improve their image.B.Preservatio
33、n of antiques is important.C.The old furniture should he replaced.D.They should move into a new office.A.The storm continued until midnightB.The man stayed at the lab the whole night.C.The man got home late due to the stormD.All roads were closed because of the flood.A.The womans sons might enjoy te
34、am sports.B.The womans kids can play soccer with his son.C.Children should play sports at least once a week.D.Many children feel bored when left alone.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：49.84)Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：21.36）A.Make phone calls to promote sales.B.Arran
35、ge business negotiations.C.Take orders over the phone.D.Handle complaints from customers.A.Customers questions could not be answered on the same day.B.Conflicts between them could not be properly solved.C.Customers often mistook one for the other.D.They had different business strategies.A.They are g
36、iven two weeks each.B.They like to spend it together.C.They have to take it by turns.D.They each take a week.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：28.48）A.At a road crossing.B.Near a school.C.Outside a police station.D.In front of a kindergarten.A.He did not notice
37、 it.B.He drove too fast to read it.C.It says 45 miles an hour.D.It is not clearly visible.A.It should have been renewed two months ago.B.It actually belongs to somebody else.C.It is no longer valid.D.It is not genuine.A.He was fined $35.B.He got a ticket.C.He had his drivers license canceled.D.He ha
38、d to do two weeks community servicePassage One Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：28.48）A.They behave as ff their memories have failed totally.B.They grab whatever they think is a good bargain.C.They become excited as if they had never been there.D.They care more abo
39、ut an items price than its use.A.Those with a VIP card.B.Those paying in cash.C.Those needing assistance.D.Those with 15 items or less.A.Change the items they have picked up.B.Go back and pick up more items.C.Take out some unwanted purchases.D.Calculate the total cost of the groceries.A.It requires
40、tolerance.B.It calls for carefulness.C.It involves communication skills.D.It needs a good knowledge of math.Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：21.36）A.A short presentation clearly delivered.B.A package of ideas formally presented.C.A clever use of visual
41、aids in presentation.D.A natural and spontaneous style of speech.A.The skillful use of gestures and facial expressions.B.Differences in style between writing and speaking.C.The importance of preparation.D.Different preferences of audiences.A.The key to becoming a good speaker.B.The increasing import
42、ance of public speaking.C.The significance of cross-cultural communication.D.The differences between American and Asian cultures.Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：21.36）A.By being given constant praise.B.By observing what their teachers do.C.By being r
43、epeatedly corrected by adults.D.By comparing his performance with others.A.All children should have equal opportunities.B.It is only natural for children to make errors.C.Children cannot detect their own mistakes.D.The best students are usually smart by nature.A.It is unhelpful to students learning.
44、B.It is unhealthy to students upbringing.C.It is beneficial to independent children.D.It is favorable to knowledge accumulation.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：71.20)Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the (36) 1 visitor. Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things(37) 2on t
45、ime (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep (38) 3 relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest (39) 4. It may seem to you that most Americans are completely (40) 5 by the little machines they wear on their wrist
46、s, cutting their discussions off(41) 6 to make it to their next appointment on time. Americans language is filled with(42) 7 to time, giving a clear(43) 8of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,“ to be “kept,“ “filled,“ “saved,“ “wasted,“ “gained,“planned,“ “given,“ “made the most of,
47、“even “killed.“ The international visitor soon learns that (44) 9 . Time is so valued in America because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes“ time and doesnt keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. (45) 10.Many American proverbs（谚语）stress the
48、 value of guarding time, using it wisely and setting and working toward specific goals(46) 11.（分数：71.20）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：1，分数：35.60)When Carly Fiorina became Hewlett-Packards first female chief executive officer, the existence of her househusband, Frank Fiorina, who had retired early from AT now this arrangement isnt_47_at all. Seven of the 18 women who are_48_CEOs of Fortune 500 c
