1、2011年 12月大学英语四级真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Part I Writing (30 minutes) 1 For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong Will by commenting on the humorous saying, “Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world. Ive done it hundreds of times.“ You s
2、hould write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong Will 二、 Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions attached to the passage.
3、For questions 1-7, mark： Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage. 1 Why Integrity Matters What Is Integrity? The key
4、to integrity is consistency not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each and every day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical (道德上的 ) standards even when making lifes
5、hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation. What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse (缺失 ) of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essen
6、tial in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals. Risky Business We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by st
7、ress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future. Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize ris
8、ks, because if we cant see the risks were taking, we cant make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesnt know the rules about plagiarism (剽窃 ) may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who f
9、ails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is “unintentional“ does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense. “But Everybody Does It“ Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts but
10、 manage to fool themselves about the risks theyre taking by using excuses: “Everyone else does it,“ “Im not hurting anyone,“ or “I really need this grade.“ Excuses can get very elaborate: “I know Im looking at anothers exam, but thats not cheating because Im just checking my answers, not copying.“ W
11、e must be honest about our actions and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing were not doing anything wrong, we cant see the real choice were making and that leads to bad decisions. To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions
12、 were public and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. If youd rather hide your actions, thats an indication that youre taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself. Evaluating Risks To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right
13、now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits and simply havent considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious and may include a “0“ on a test or assignment, an “F“ i
14、n the class, suspension ( 暂令停学 ) or dismissal from school and a ruined reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life and give others the power to impose punishment that you have no control over. This is an extremely vulnerable (脆弱 的 ) position. There may be some
15、matters of life and death or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there arent many things that fall in this category. Getting Away With It Or Not Those who dont get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesnt learn from the test, which deprives (剥夺 ) him/her of an education.
16、 Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-respect and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesnt get caught the fi
17、rst time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems “easier.“ This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/ she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Cheating Hu
18、rts Others, Too Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions “dont count“ and dont really hurt anyone. But individual choices have an intense cumulative (累积的 ) effect. Cheating can spread like a disease. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a
19、 curve, cheating hurts others grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating “poisons“ the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. (“If I dont cheat, I cant compete with those who do.“) Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students
20、learn, but a cheater says, “Im not interested in what youre trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others.“ The end result is a destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the university and harm those
21、who worked hard for their degree. Why Integrity Matters If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others. If not, we couldnt put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane the lis
22、t is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The Watergate scandal, for example, has undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. In sum, we a
23、ll have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live. 2 A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also_. （ A） sticks to them
24、in their daily life （ B） makes them known to others （ C） understands their true values （ D） sees that others also follow them 3 What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships? （ A） It helps to create team spirit. （ B） It facilitates communication. （ C） It is the basis of mu
25、tual trust. （ D） It inspires mutual respect. 4 Why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take? （ A） To ensure we make responsible choices. （ B） To avoid being overwhelmed by stress. （ C） So that we dont break any rules. （ D） So that we dont run into trouble. 5 Violation of a rule is mi
26、sconduct even if_. （ A） it has caused no harm （ B） it is claimed to be unintentional （ C） it has gone unnoticed （ D） it is committed with good intentions 6 What should one do if he doesnt wish to fool himself? （ A） Avoid making excuses. （ B） Listen to other peoples advice. （ C） Make his intensions p
27、ublic. （ D） Have others watch over his shoulder. 7 Those who take risks they regret later on_. （ A） will often become more cautious （ B） are usually very aggressive （ C） value immediate benefits most （ D） may lose everything in the end 8 According to the author, a cheater who doesnt get caught right
28、 away will_. （ A） pay more dearly （ B） become more confident （ C） be widely admired （ D） feel somewhat lucky 9 Cheaters in exams dont care about their education; all they care about is how to_ 10 Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on peoples_. 11 Many Americans lost faith in the in
29、tegrity of their political leaders as a result of_ Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken onl
30、y once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer. （ A） Read the notice on the window. （ B） Go and ask the staff. （ C） Get a new bus schedule. （ D） Board the bus to Cleveland. （ A） He was look
31、ing forward to seeing the giraffes. （ B） He enjoyed watching the animal performance. （ C） He got home too late to see the TV special. （ D） He fell asleep in the middle of the TV program. （ A） She wants to take the most direct way. （ B） She may be late for the football game. （ C） She is worried about
32、 missing her flight. （ D） She is currently caught in a traffic jam. （ A） At a restaurant. （ B） In a fish shop. （ C） At a clinic. （ D） On a fishing boat. （ A） He is an experienced sales manager. （ B） He is being interviewed for a job. （ C） He is a close friend of the woman. （ D） He is good at answeri
33、ng tricky questions. （ A） The man should consider his privacy first. （ B） The man will choose a low-rent apartment. （ C） The man is not certain if he can find a quieter place. （ D） The man is unlikely to move out of the dormitory. （ A） The woman is going to make her topic more focused. （ B） The man
34、and woman are working on a joint project. （ C） One should choose a broad topic for a research paper. （ D） It took a lot of time to get the man on the right track. （ A） They went camping this time last year. （ B） They didnt quite enjoy their last picnic. （ C） They learned to cooperate under harsh con
35、ditions. （ D） They werent experienced in organizing picnics. （ A） English Literature. （ B） Management. （ C） French. （ D） Public Administration. （ A） English teaching. （ B） Staff training. （ C） Careers guidance. （ D） Psychological counseling. （ A） Its generous scholarships. （ B） Its worldwide fame. （
36、 C） Its well-designed courses. （ D） Its pleasant environment. （ A） He likes Sweden better than England. （ B） He prefers hot weather to cold weather. （ C） He is an Englishman living in Sweden. （ D） He visits London nearly every winter. （ A） The bad weather. （ B） The gloomy winter. （ C） The cold house
37、s. （ D） The long night. （ A） Delightful. （ B） Painful. （ C） Depressing. （ D） Refreshing. （ A） They often stay up late reading. （ B） They work hard and play hard. （ C） They like to go camping in summer. （ D） They try to earn more and spend more. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3
38、short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. （ A） Characteristics of Japanese artists. （ B） Some features o
39、f Japanese culture. （ C） The art of Japanese brush painting. （ D） The uniqueness of Japanese art. （ A） To calm themselves down. （ B） To enhance concentration. （ C） To show their impatience. （ D） To signal lack of interest. （ A） How listeners in different cultures show respect. （ B） How speakers can
40、win approval from the audience. （ C） How speakers can misunderstand the audience. （ D） How different Western and Eastern art forms are. Passage Two （ A） They help us see the important values of a culture. （ B） They guide us in handling human relationships. （ C） They help us express ourselves more ef
41、fectively. （ D） They are an infinite source of human knowledge. （ A） Their wording may become different. （ B） The values they reflect may change. （ C） Their origins can no longer be traced. （ D） They may be misinterpreted occasionally. （ A） Certain values are shared by a large number of cultures. （
42、B） Some proverbs are assuming more and more importance. （ C） Old proverbs are constantly replaced by new ones. （ D） Certain values have always been central to a culture. （ A） Directing personnel evaluation. （ B） Buying and maintaining equipment. （ C） Drawing up plans for in-service training. （ D） In
43、terviewing and recruiting employees. （ A） Some of his equipment was damaged in a fire. （ B） The training program he ran was a failure. （ C） Two of his workers were injured at work. （ D） Two of his employees committed theft. （ A） A better relationship with his boss. （ B） Advancement to a higher posit
44、ion. （ C） A better-paying job in another company. （ D） Improvement in the companys management. （ A） She has more self-confidence than Chris. （ B） She works with Chris in the same division. （ C） She has more management experience than Chris. （ D） She is competing with Chris for the new job. Passage T
45、hree Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact w
46、ords you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the 36 Our lives are woven together. As much as I enjoy my own【 B1】 _, I no longer imagine I can get
47、 through a【 B2】 _day, much less all my life, 【 B3】_on my own. Even if I am on【 B4】 _in the mountains, I am eating food someone else has grown, living in a house someone else has built, wearing clothes someone else has【 B5】 _from cloth woven by others, using【 B6】_someone else is distributing to my ho
48、use. 【 B7】 _of interdependence is everywhere. We are on this【 B8】 _together. As I was growing up, 【 B9】 _. “Make your own way“, “Stand on your own two feet“, or my mothers favorite remark when I was face-to-face with consequences of some action: “Now that youve made your bed, lie on it!“ Total indep
49、endence is a dominant theme in our culture. I imagine that 【 B10】 _. But the teaching was shaped by our cultural images, and instead I grew up believing that I was supposed to be totally “independent“ and consequently became very reluctant to ask for help. 【 B11】 _ 37 【 B1】 38 【 B2】 39 【 B3】 40 【 B4】 41 【 B5】 42 【 B6】 43 【 B7】 44 【 B8】 45 【 B9】 46 【 B10】 47 【 B11】 Section A Directions: In this section, there is a p
