1、2013年 9月国家公共英语（四级）笔试真题试卷及答案与解析 PART A Directions: For Questions 1-5, you will hear a conversation. While you listen, fill out the table with the information you have heard. Some of the information has been given to you in the table. Write only 1 word in each numbered box. You will hear the recording
2、 twice. You now have 25 seconds to read the table below. 0 PART B Directions: For Questions 6-10, you will hear a passage. Use not more than 3 words for each answer. You will hear the recording twice. You now have 25 seconds to read the sentences and the questions below. 5 PART C Directions: You wil
3、l hear three dialogues or monologues. Before listening to each one, you will have 5 seconds to read each of the questions which accompany it. While listening, answer each question by choosing A, B, C or D. After listening, you will have 10 seconds to check your answer to each question. You will hear
4、 each piece ONLY ONCE. 11 World AIDS Day is a day to （ A） consider the treatment of individuals with the AIDS virus. （ B） show the importance of the AIDS Association. （ C） call on doctors to place more importance on AIDS patients. （ D） celebrate the achievements in the control of AIDS. 12 What is th
5、e theme for the next year s AIDS campaign? （ A） Development of a cure for AIDS. （ B） Fair treatment of AIDS patients. （ C） Progress in AIDS research. （ D） Courage to live with AIDS. 13 How many women were infected with the AIDS virus last year? （ A） 2 million. （ B） 4 million. （ C） 19 million. （ D） 3
6、9 million. 14 What did Biko study in the university? （ A） Politics. （ B） Black nationalism. （ C） Medicine. （ D） Government policies. 15 When did Biko become the honorary president of the Black People s Convention? （ A） 1968. （ B） 1972. （ C） 1973 （ D） 1977 16 What did the South African Government do
7、with the Black Consciousness Movement at the beginning? （ A） Put up with it. （ B） Restricted its activities. （ C） Arrested its leaders. （ D） Granted limited approval. 17 What is the purpose of Left-handers International? （ A） To help left-handers find better jobs. （ B） To change public attitudes tow
8、ards left-handers. （ C） To rid left-handers of their prejudices. （ D） To show the public the talents of left-handers. 18 What have researchers found in their studies of hand preference? （ A） Children dont show strong hand preference until six. （ B） Children under three tend to have a favorite eye an
9、d ear. （ C） There are as many male left-handers as female ones. （ D） Left-handers are more interesting than right-handers. 19 Left-handers seem more athletic because they （ A） are more energetic. （ B） persist in physical training. （ C） possess a creative impulse. （ D） have a better sense of space. 2
10、0 What is the problem some left-handers might suffer from? （ A） Slowness in communication. （ B） Awkwardness in action. （ C） Speech defect. （ D） Difficulty in writing. 一、 Section II Use of English (15 minutes) Directions: Read the following text. Choose the best word for each numbered blank and mark
11、A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. 20 Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that has had a major impact on American culture from the late 19th century to the present. Pragmatism calls【 C1】 _ideas and theories to be tested in practice, by【 C2】 _whether acting upon the idea or theory produces desirable
12、or undesirable results. The ideas of the pragmatists were considered【 C3】 _when they first appeared. To some critics, pragmatism s【 C4】 _to affirm any absolute standards carried negative implications for society. 【 C5】 _, pragmatists do not believe that a single absolute idea of goodness or justice
13、exists, but【 C6】 _that these concepts are changeable and depend on the【 C7】_in which they are being discussed. The【 C8】 _of these absolutes, critics feared, could result in a(n) 【 C9】 _in moral standards. The pragmatists denial of absolutes, 【 C10】 _, challenged the foundations of religion, governme
14、nt, and schools of thought. 【 C11】 _, pragmatism influenced developments in psychology, sociology, and many other schools and movements. 【 C12】 _political groups have also drawn【 C13】 _the assumptions of pragmatism, from the progressive movements of the early 20th century to later experiments in soc
15、ial reform. Pragmatism is best【 C14】 _in its historical and cultural context. It arose during the late 19th century, a period of rapid scientific advancement【 C15】 _by the theories of British biologist Charles Darwin, whose theories【 C16】 _to many thinkers that humanity and society are in a【 C17】 _s
16、tate of progress. During this same period, a decline in【 C18】_religious beliefs and values accompanied the industrialization and material progress of the time. In【 C19】 _, it became necessary to rethink【 C20】 _ideas about values, religion, science, community, and individuality. 21 【 C1】 （ A） for （ B
17、） in （ C） out （ D） off 22 【 C2】 （ A） discussing （ B） predicting （ C） assessing （ D） questioning 23 【 C3】 （ A） reasonable （ B） credible （ C） revolutionary （ D） attractive 24 【 C4】 （ A） effort （ B） refusal （ C） intention （ D） hesitation 25 【 C5】 （ A） In turn （ B） Above all （ C） For example （ D） In add
18、ition 26 【 C6】 （ A） rather （ B） also （ C） still （ D） even 27 【 C7】 （ A） domain （ B） vicinity （ C） context （ D） surrounding 28 【 C8】 （ A） subject （ B） defect （ C） existence （ D） absence 29 【 C9】 （ A） change （ B） decline （ C） correction （ D） interest 30 【 C10】 （ A） therefore （ B） nevertheless （ C） any
19、way （ D） moreover 31 【 C11】 （ A） As a rule （ B） On the contrary （ C） As a result （ D） On average 32 【 C12】 （ A） Particular （ B） Various （ C） Significant （ D） Few 33 【 C13】 （ A） on （ B） in （ C） up （ D） forth 34 【 C14】 （ A） simulated （ B） handled （ C） practiced （ D） understood 35 【 C15】 （ A） typified
20、（ B） systemized （ C） generalized （ D） justified 36 【 C16】 （ A） supposed （ B） contributed （ C） implied （ D） suggested 37 【 C17】 （ A） perpetual （ B） consistent （ C） prosperous （ D） temporary 38 【 C18】 （ A） universal （ B） prevalent （ C） traditional （ D） representative 39 【 C19】 （ A） consequence （ B） re
21、ality （ C） essence （ D） contrast 40 【 C20】 （ A） confusing （ B） fundamental （ C） controversial （ D） dominant Part B Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D . Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. 40 A Food and Drug Administration(FDA)adv
22、isory committee has concluded that a novel new treatment can greatly help rheumatoid arthritis patients. The panel recommended approving Enbrel for use alone in patients who haven t responded to other drugs or in combination with methotrexate, a cancer drug that has been the main treatment for rheum
23、atoid arthritis. The FDA must make a final decision by early November, and the drug s maker says it could be on the market by year s end. In rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 2.1 million Americans, the immune system attacks healthy joints. A major wrongdoer in this process is a protein called “tum
24、or killing factor“ , or TNF, which interacts with a special molecule, or TNF receptor, on cells surfaces. To keep inflammation in check, cells normally release some receptors to mop up excess TNF, rendering it inactive. Apparently, rheumatoid arthritis patients dont have enough free-floating TNF rec
25、eptors. Enbrel consists of genetically engineered TNF receptors. In a six-month study, 234 patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis received one of two doses of Enbrel or a placebo(harmless substance given as if it were medicine)in twice-a-week injections. They took injections for six months. By
26、the end, 40% of patients on the larger Enbrel dose saw symptoms, such as swelling and joint pain, cut in half. Only 5% on the placebo did that well. The main side effect was minor irritation at the injection site. Because some TNF is needed for a normal immune response, there is at least a theoretic
27、al risk of infections or even cancer in patients who take Enbrel, so the FDA panel urged long-term safety studies. Last week, the FDA approved Arava, an oral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that is similar to methotrexate. While calling both Enbrel and Arava “potentially very important“ , Brian B
28、utcher, vice president for research at the Arthritis Foundation, notes they have been tested in relatively few patients. Butcher says their safety should be closely monitored once they re widely available. 41 Enbrel as recommended by FDA advisory committee （ A） could be a substitute for methotrexate
29、 in the near future. （ B） might bring hope to rheumatoid arthritis patients. （ C） should be administered to all rheumatoid arthritis patients alike. （ D） would distinguish itself for its cancer-killing effect. 42 Which of the following is responsible for the inflammation of the joints? （ A） A specia
30、l molecule on cell s surface. （ B） A free-floating receptor. （ C） A tumor-killing protein. （ D） Inactive TNF. 43 We learn from Paragraph 6 that （ A） Enbrel treatment in large doses could reduce the patients symptoms. （ B） arthritis patients presented symptoms after Enbrel treatment. （ C） arthritis p
31、atients with treatment of a placebo were rid of symptoms. （ D） only 5% on the placebo got symptoms such as swelling and joint pain. 44 The wide use of the new drug Enbrel relies much on （ A） justification of the new treatment. （ B） a new monitoring system. （ C） mass production of the drug. （ D） long
32、-term safety studies. 45 Which of the following might be an appropriate title for the text? （ A） TNF and Immune System （ B） Enbrel versus Methotrexate （ C） Arthritis Drug on Path to Approval （ D） Study on Rheumatoid Arthritis 45 How far away you are from retirement plays a large part in how you shou
33、ld invest your retirement money. According to Leslie Wright of Westminster Portfolio Services Ltd., there are three stages to a long-term regular savings plan for retirement: capitalization, consolidation and conservation. In the first stage, people should be most concerned with building up their re
34、tirement savings investment. According to Wright, these investors can “take as aggressive an outlook as their nerves can stand,“ because at this point there is little capital to risk. The second step, consolidation, makes up the bulk of your savings plan; balance the aggressive investments with some
35、 tamer ones, to better protect your existing possessions. The final change, from consolidation to conservation, when your investments should aim to preserve the capital you have, should take place one to three years before you retire. The exact timing of all these should take current market conditio
36、ns into account, although Wright warns against risky betting on future growth. “Greed must not be allowed to blind prudence,“ he says. Whatever vehicles you choose for your retirement share-holding, be sure to take advantage of dollar-cost averaging. By investing a fixed amount at regular intervals,
37、 you 11 be able to avoid the risk of poorly timed investments by averaging out the peaks and valleys of the market. Plus, regular contributions will let you avoid the temptation to drop out when the market falls, and to buy too much when prices are high. Those who are well along the road to retireme
38、nt may have cause for concern these days. The plunging stock and property markets have shrunk savings, for retirement and otherwise; and some people have not planned for their retirement at all. You won t be that rash, of course, but what if you re already in mid-career and don t have a retirement p
39、lan in place? If you dont make some serious cuts in your spending and save heavily now, youll have to sacrifice in your golden years. Of course, it s better still to get off on the right foot by starting your planning early. “No one should have to compromise his living standards when he retires,“ sa
40、ys Wright. “ Retirement is a time to really enjoy life. We have all worked so hard. “ And one of the things you should be working hard on right now is planning for those days of enjoyment. 46 In the first stage of saving for retirement, people can take an aggressive investment strategy because （ A）
41、they have a long-term regular savings plan in view. （ B） they can well stand losses that might occur. （ C） there is no risk in long-term investment. （ D） chances can balance possible risks. 47 To avoid the risk of poorly timed investments, one should （ A） adopt dollar-cost averaging strategy. （ B） s
42、et a limit to his investment at regular intervals. （ C） suppress the temptation to drop out untimely. （ D） stop buying shares when the prices are too high. 48 What does the phrase “in your golden years“(Line 3, Paragraph 4)mean? （ A） Youth. （ B） Middle age. （ C） Mid-career. （ D） Old age. 49 The auth
43、or might agree to the argument that （ A） one will have to change his spending habits when growing old. （ B） it s far better to end up with too much money than not enough. （ C） it s advisable to open a savings account instead of buying stock shares. （ D） people should spend less on living after their
44、 retirement. 50 Which of the following might be an appropriate title for the text? （ A） Savings Strategy （ B） Enjoy Your Later Years （ C） Plan for Retirement （ D） Risky Stock Market 50 In the 400s BC, the Sophists, a group of wandering teachers, began to teach in Athens. The Sophists claimed that th
45、ey could teach any subject or skill to anyone who wished to learn it. They specialized in teaching grammar, logic, and rhetoric, subjects that eventually formed the core of the liberal arts. The Sophists were more interested in preparing their students to argue persuasively and win arguments than in
46、 teaching principles of truth and morality. Unlike the Sophists, the Greek philosopher Socrates sought to discover and teach universal principles of truth, beauty, and goodness. Socrates, who died in 399 BC, claimed that true knowledge existed within everyone and needed to be brought to consciousnes
47、s. His educational method, called the Socratic method, consisted of asking probing questions that forced his students to think deeply about the meaning of life, truth, and justice. In 387 BC Plato, who had studied under Socrates, established a school in Athens called the Academy. Plato believed in a
48、n unchanging world of perfect ideas or universal concepts. He asserted that since true knowledge is the same in every place at every time, education, like truth, should be unchanging. Plato described his educational ideal in The Republic, one of the most notable works of Western philosophy. Plato s
49、Republic describes a model society, or republic, ruled by highly intelligent philosopher-kings. Warriors make up the republic s second class of people. The lowest class, the workers, provide food and other products for all the people of the republic. In Plato s ideal educational system, each class would receive a different kind of instruction to prepare for their various roles in society. In 335 BC Plato s student, Aristotle, founded his own school in Athens ca
