1、公共英语四级试题一 2015 年及答案解析(总分：36.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Use of English(总题数：1，分数：20.00)The loudest outcry about poverty seemed to come in the wealthiest country by far in the world. According to most calculations, _ most of the 1945-1970 period the United States had a standard of living well _ Europes and many t
2、imes above the world _ . Yet _ about grinding poverty, hunger, and dreadful need proceed more from the United States than from countries with one-fortieth of their living standard. An annual per capita income of eight dollars is _ of much of Africa and Asia and not a little of South America. It woul
3、d seem strange to these people _ they only aware of the fact that American radicals demand a _ from an American _ to the far corners of the globe so that the money thus saved can be spent raising the standard of living of _ Americans. What this last point suggests is not so much that human _ are nev
4、er to be satisfied though this is doubtlessly true, and the American suburbanite _ of his second car and his color TV suffers just as _ as an African farmer in need of a second cow and a screen door. Rather, it suggests the _ of contemporary breach of social _ the emancipation of the individual self
5、 People have learned to consider any _ to personal fulfillment an _ insult. They have greatly expanded the circle of self-awareness. They no longer accept sharp limitations on individual desires in the _ of the group. The amount of potential human discontent has always been _ misery, failure, misfi
6、tting, bitterness, hatred, envy _ telling. It has usually failed of _ , and in the past it was accepted passively as being beyond help.（分数：20.00）A.untilB.throughC.inD.ontoA.overB.aboveC.againstD.belowA.averageB.commonC.meanD.ordinaryA.stormsB.rageC.protestsD.furyA.now thatB.regardlessC.ignorantD.typ
7、icalA.wasB.beingC.wereD.to beA.retreatB.compromiseC.restraintD.detachmentA.confinementB.commitmentC.complementD.concealmentA.underprivilegedB.misguidedC.underlinedD.overjoyedA.anticipationsB.sheltersC.shortagesD.wantsA.informedB.deprivedC.ensuredD.relievedA.acutelyB.abnormallyC.aggressivelyD.initial
8、lyA.marginB.scopeC.rangeD.extentA.libertiesB.normsC.institutionsD.practicesA.accessB.exceptionC.obstacleD.approachA.incomprehensibleB.uninterpretableC.intolerableD.negligibleA.faceB.companyC.nameD.wakeA.bulkyB.promptC.momentaryD.infiniteA.atB.beyondC.onD.withA.utteranceB.admittanceC.complianceD.impo
9、rtance二、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：4，分数：16.00)No one should be forced to wear a uniform under any circumstance. Uniforms are demeaning to the human spirit and totally unnecessary in a democratic society. Uniforms tell the world that the person who wears one has no value as an individual but only lives
10、 to function as a part of the whole. The individual in a uniform loses all self-worth. There are those who say that wearing a uniform gives a person a sense of identification with a large, more important concept. What could be more important than the individual oneself? If an organization is so weak
11、 that it must rely on cloth and buttons to inspire its members, that organization has no right to continue its existence. Others say that the practice of making persons wear uniforms, say in school, eliminates all envy and competition in a matter of dress, such that a poor person who cannot afford g
12、ood-quality clothing, why would anyone strive to be better? It is only a short step from forcing everyone to wear the same clothing to forcing everyone to drive the same car, have the same type of house, eat the same type of food. When this happens, all incentive to improve ones life is removed. Why
13、 would parents bother to work hard so that their children could have a better life than they had when they know that their children are going to be forced to have exactly the same life that they had? Uniforms also hurt the economy. Right now, billions of dollars are spent on the fashion industry yea
14、rly. Thousands of persons are employed in designing, creating, and marketing different types of clothing. If everyone were forced to wear uniforms, artistic personnel would be unnecessary. Salespersons would be superfluous as well: why bother to sell the only items that are available? The wearing of
15、 uniforms would destroy the fashion industry which in turn would have a ripple effect on such industries as advertising and promotion. Without advertising, newspapers, magazines, and television would not be able to remain in business. Our entire information and entertainment industries would founder
16、分数：4.00）(1).The authors viewpoint on uniforms can best be described as _. （分数：0.80）A.practicalB.hystericalC.radicalD.critical(2).Judged from its style, this passage might be found in _. （分数：0.80）A.a childrens comics bookB.an editorial in a paperC.a sociology textbookD.a political platform(3).It ca
17、n be inferred that the author believes that _. （分数：0.80）A.individuals have no self-worth when they become part of an organizationB.individuals are more important than organizationsC.individuals are not so important as organizationsD.individuals are the same important as organizations(4).The author b
18、rings in the example of a parent striving to make life better for his children to make the point that _. （分数：0.80）A.parents have responsibilities for their childrenB.uniforms would be less expensive than clothing for childrenC.uniforms cause dissension between parents and childrenD.individual motiva
19、tion would be destroyed by uniforms(5).The last word of the passage “founder“ probably means _. （分数：0.80）A.collapseB.shrinkC.disappearD.establishA report consistently brought back by visitors to the US is how friendly, courteous and helpful most Americans were to them. To be fair, this observation i
20、s also frequently made of Canada and Canadians, and should best be considered North American. There are, of course, exceptions. Small-minded officials, rude waiters, and ill-mannered taxi drivers are hardly unknown in the US. Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment. For
21、a long period of time and in many parts of the country, a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dull existence. Dullness and loneliness were common problems of the families who generally lived distant from one another. Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion, and brought new
22、s of the outside world. The harsh realities of the frontier also shaped this tradition of hospitality. Someone traveling alone, if hungry, injured, or ill, often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin or settlement. It was not a matter of choice for the traveler or merely a charitable impul
23、se on the part of the settlers. It reflected the harshness of daily life: if you didnt take in the stranger and take care of him, there was no one else who would. And someday, remember, you might be in the same situation. Today there are many charitable organizations which specialize in helping the
24、weary traveler. Yet, the old tradition of hospitality to strangers is still very strong in the US, especially in the smaller cities and towns away from the busy tourist trails. “I was just traveling through, got talking with this American, and pretty soon he invited me home for dinneramazing.“ Such
25、observations reported by visitors to the US are not uncommon, but are not always understood properly. The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as the result of a historically developed cultural tradition. As is true of any develope
26、d society, in America a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions, and conventions underlies all social interrelationships. And, of course, speaking a language does not necessarily mean that someone understands social and cultural patterns. Visitors who fail to “translate“ cultural meanings prope
27、rly often draw wrong conclusions. For example, when an American uses the word “friend“, the cultural implications of the word may be quite different from those it has in the visitors language and culture. It takes more than a brief encounter on a bus to distinguish between courteous convention and i
28、ndividual interest. Yet, being friendly is a virtue that many Americans value highly and expect from both neighbors and strangers.（分数：4.00）(1).In the eyes of visitors from the outside world, _. （分数：1.00）A.rude taxi drivers are rarely seen in the USB.small-minded officials deserve a serious commentC.
29、Canadians are not so friendly as their neighborsD.most Americans are ready to offer help(2).It could be inferred from the last paragraph that _. （分数：1.00）A.culture exercises an influence over social interrelationshipB.courteous convention and individual interest are interrelatedC.various virtues man
30、ifest themselves exclusively among friendsD.social interrelationships equal the complex set of cultural conventions(3).Families in frontier settlements used to entertain strangers _. （分数：1.00）A.to improve their hard lifeB.in view of their long-distance travelC.to add some flavor to their own daily l
31、ifeD.out of a charitable impulse(4).The tradition of hospitality to strangers _. （分数：1.00）A.tends to be superficial and artificialB.is generally well kept up in the united StatesC.is always understood properlyD.has something to do with the busy tourist trailsToday, there are many avenues open to tho
32、se who wish to continue their education. However, nearly all require some break in ones career in order to attend school full time. Part-time education, that is, attending school at night or for one weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts the completion of a degree program
33、out of reach of many people. Additionally, such programs require a fixed time commitment which can also impact negatively on ones career and family time. Of the many approaches to teaching and learning, however, perhaps the most flexible and accommodating is that called distance learning. Distance l
34、earning is an educational method, which allows the students the flexibility to study at his or her own pace to achieve the academic goals, which are so necessary in todays world. The time required to study many be set aside at the students convenience with due regard to all lifes other requirements.
35、 Additionally, the student may enroll in distance learning courses from virtually any place in the world, while continuing to pursue their chosen career. Tutorial assistance may be available via regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet. Good distance lear
36、ning programs are characterized by the inclusion of a subject evaluation tool with every subject. This precludes the requirement for a student to travel away from home to take a test. Another characteristic of a good distance-learning program is the equivalence of the distance-learning course with t
37、he same subject materials as those students taking the course on the home campus. The resultant diploma or degree should also be the same whether distance learning or on-campus study is employed. The individuality of the professor/student relationship is another characteristic of a good distance-lea
38、rning program. In the final analysis, a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual students but also the corporation or business that wants to work in partnership with their employees for the educational benefit, professional development, and business growth of the organi
39、zation. Sponsoring distance learning programs for their employees gives the business the advantage of retaining career-minded people while contributing to their personal and professional growth through education.（分数：4.00）(1).According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of p
40、art-time education? （分数：0.80）A.It requires some break in ones career.B.It tends to last too long for many people to complete a degree program.C.It affects ones career.D.It gives the student less time to share with the family.(2).Which of the following is NOT an advantage of distance learning? （分数：0.
41、80）A.The students may choose his or her own pace.B.The students may study at any time to his or her convenience.C.They can pursue their chosen career while studying.D.Their tutorial assistance comes through regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, etc.(3).What benefit will distance-learning pr
42、ogram bring to a business? （分数：0.80）A.Recruitment of more talented people.B.Good image of the business.C.Better cooperation with universities.D.Further training of employees and business growth.(4).What benefit will distance learning bring to an employee of a business? （分数：0.80）A.Professional growth
43、B.Good relationship with the employer.C.Good impression on the employer.D.Higher salary.(5).Which is not the characteristic of distance learning? （分数：0.80）A.It includes a subject evaluation tool with every subject.B.Its course uses the same subject materials as those students taking the course on t
44、he home campus.C.A distance-learning program has a place only for students.D.The relationship of the professor/student is characterized by individuality.I remember the way the light touched her hair. She turned her head, and our eyes met, a momentary awareness in that raucous fifth grade classroom.
45、I felt as though Id been struck a blow under the heart. Thus began my first love affair. Her name was Rachel, and I mooned my way through the grade and high school, stricken at the mere sight of her, tongue-tied in her presence. Does anyone, anymore, linger in the shadows of evening, drawn by the pa
46、le light of a windowher windowlike some hapless summer insect? That delirious swooning, asexual but urgent and obsessive, that made me awkward and my voice crack, is like some impossible dream now. I would catch sight of her, walking down an aisle of trees to or from school, and Id become paralyzed.
47、 She always seemed so poised, so self-possessed. At home, Id relive each encounter, writhing at the thought of my inadequacies. We eventually got acquainted and socialized as we entered our adolescence, she knew I had a case on her, and I sensed her affectionate tolerance for me. “Going steady“ impl
48、ied a maturity we still lacked. Her Orthodox Jewish upbringing and my own Catholic scruples imposed an inhibited grace that made even kissing a distant prospect, however fervently desired. I managed to hold her once at a dancechaperoned, of course. Our embrace made her giggle, a sound so trusting th
49、at I hated myself for what Id been thinking. At any rate, my love for Rachel remained unrequited. We graduated from high school, she went on to college, and I joined the Army. When World War II engulfed us, I was sent overseas. For a time we corresponded, and her letters were the highlight of those grinding en
