1、大学英语四级模拟试卷 224及答案与解析 一、 Part I Writing (30 minutes) 1 For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic How to Face College Pressures? You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese. 1. 大学里 有很多压力，比如 2. 一些学生的看法和态度。 3. 你的看法和打算。 二、 Part II R
2、eading 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. For questions 1-7, mark： Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N (for
3、 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 Organic Food Organic farming was among the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture during the 1990s. The value of retail sales of organic food was estimat
4、ed to be 16 billion in 2004. According to the Food Marketing Institute, more than half of Americans now buy organic food at least once a month. Why is organic food becoming so popular? What is Organic Food? In December 2000, the National Organic Standards Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
5、(USDA) established a national standard for the term “organic.“ Organic food, defined by how it can not be made rather than how it can be made, must be produced without the use of sewer-sludge(淤泥 ) fertilizers, most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic engineering (biotechnology), growth hor
6、mones, irradiation and antibiotics. A variety of agricultural products can be produced organically, including produce, grains, meat, dairy, eggs, and processed food products. Organic Farming The phrase “organic farming“ first appeared in Lord Northbournes book “Look to the Land,“ published in 1940.
7、But the truth is, organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture. Before the end of World War II, farming without the use of petroleum-based chemicals (synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) was the only option for farmers. Technologies developed during the war were found to be useful for agricult
8、ural production. For example, the chemical ammonium nitrate(硝酸钠氨 ), which was used as military supplies, became useful as fertilizer, and organophosphates(有机磷酸酯 )used for nerve gas were later used as insecticide. These days, farmers are switching to organic agriculture once again, but now with an ec
9、ologically based, systematic approach that includes long-term planning, detailed record keeping and major investment in equipment and supplies. Although it is still only a small industry, the number of organic farmers is growing by about 12 percent per year and now stands at more than 12,000 nationw
10、ide. Organic Farming in the U.S. Today The USDAs Economic Research Service reports that in 1997, the latest year for which data are available, farmers in 49 states used organic production methods and third-party organic certification services on 1.35 million acres out of a total of 828 million acres
11、 of farmland. Approximately two-thirds of the certified U.S. organic farmland was used for crops, and one-third was used as pasture. Large farms, mostly located in the Midwest and West, produced processed tomatoes, organic wine grapes and other high-value crops on a commercial scale, whereas numerou
12、s small farms, concentrated in the Northeast, specialized in mixed vegetable production for direct marketing to consumers and restaurants. While organic food can be found throughout the country, California was the leader in production of organic fruits and vegetables in 1997, followed closely by Ari
13、zona, Florida, Texas, and Washington in decreasing order of total yield. Farmers and ranchers in 23 states raised a small number of certified organic cows, hogs and sheep. New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota were the top producers of organic dairy cows. Production: Organic vs. Conventional As you can
14、imagine, organic agricultural practices are quite distinct from those of “conventional“ farming. Conventional farmers: Apply chemical fertilizers to the soil to grow their crops. Spray with insecticides to protect crops from pests and disease. Use synthetic herbicides to control weed growth. Organic
15、 farmers: Feed soil and build soil matter with natural fertilizer to grow their crops. Use insect predators, mating disruption, traps and barriers to protect crops from pests and disease. Make use of crop rotation, mechanical tillage and hand-weeding, as well as cover crops, mulches, flame weeding a
16、nd other management methods to control weed growth. As a last resort, organic farmers may apply certain botanical or other non-synthetic pesticides. How Do I Know If a Food is Organic? Look for the word “organic“ on vegetables or pieces of fruit, or on the sign above the organic produce display. The
17、 word “organic“ may also appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese and other single-ingredient foods. Foods labeled “100 percent organic“ must contain only organic ingredients. Products containing at least 70 percent organic content can be labeled “made with organic ingredients.“ T
18、hose foods labeled simply “organic“ must have at least 95 percent organic ingredients, by Weight or fluid volume, excluding water and salt. Anyone who knowingly sells or labels a product “organic“ that is not produced and handled in accordance with these regulations can face a civil penalty of up to
19、 10,000. Foods grown and processed according to the federal standards will in most cases bear the seal “USDA Organic.“ As its use is voluntary, companies may choose not to display the seal. Why is Organic Food So Expensive? Prices tend to be higher for organic than conventional products. As stated o
20、n the Web site of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), certified organic products are generally more expensive than their conventional counterparts because: The organic food supply is limited as compared to demand. Production costs for organic foods are typically h
21、igher because of greater labor input and because farmers dont produce enough of a single product to lower the overall cost. Post-harvest handling of relatively small quantities of organic foods results in higher costs because organic and conventional produce must be separated for processing and tran
22、sportation. Marketing and the distribution chain for organic products are relatively inefficient, and costs are higher because of relatively small volumes. The FAO also notes that as the demand for organic food and products increases, technological innovations and economies of scale should reduce co
23、sts of production, processing, distribution and marketing for organic produce. Is Organic Food Better Than Conventional Food? Organic and conventional food must meet the same quality and safety standards. Organic food differs from conventionally produced food simply in the way it is grown, handled a
24、nd processed. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that it is more nutritious or safer than conventional food. A recently published report indicates that organic food is less likely to contain pesticide residues than conventional food. Yet, according to the National Research Council, the trace
25、s of pesticides left on conventionally grown products are unlikely to cause an increased cancer risk. Also, if fruits and vegetables are properly washed, most of the chemicals can be removed. As for taste, thats up to you to decide what you like best. In general, people tend to find that the fresher
26、 a food is, the better it tastes, regardless of how it was produced. 2 The passage gives a general description of the organic agriculture in the U.S. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 3 The term “organic farming“ first appeared in 2000. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 4 Organic agriculture accounts for the biggest propor
27、tion of the American agriculture. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 5 Organic agriculture is quite different from the traditional one. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 6 The use of the seal “USDA Organic“ is not required. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 7 Organic food differs from conventional food only in the way it is grown. （ A）
28、 Y （ B） N （ C） NG 8 America is the leading country in organic agriculture. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 9 USDA in this passage stands for _. 10 The leading producer of organic fruits and vegetables in 1997 was _. 11 Those foods labeled simply “organic“ must have at least _ organic ingredients. Section A Di
29、rections: 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 only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the p
30、ause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer. （ A） Borrow Mr. Blairs car. （ B） Buy a car of their own. （ C） Drive Jenny to the hospital. （ D） Go anywhere the man wants to. （ A） Jim has called off the dinner. （ B） Jim is at a party now. （ C） Jims moth
31、er is out. （ D） Jim is with his girl friend now. （ A） In a conference room. （ B） In a factory. （ C） On board a ship. （ D） In a hospital. （ A） In an operating room. （ B） In a doctors office. （ C） In a teachers office. （ D） In a kindergarten. （ A） Officer and soldier. （ B） Teacher and student. （ C） Cu
32、stoms officer and traveler. （ D） Policeman and thief. （ A） The woman must ask the professor to take a longer vacation. （ B） The woman wont be able to get an extension. （ C） No one knows whether it is possible for the woman to get a longer time. （ D） There is a question about the period of time allow
33、ed for completion of the paper. （ A） Because it is much slower than the early one. （ B） Because it often arrives earlier. （ C） Because it is seldom on schedule. （ D） Because it arrives in the middle of the night. （ A） She will hitch a ride on the way. （ B） She will go together with the man. （ C） She
34、 will call on the man and wake him up. （ D） She will pick up the man. （ A） In the office. （ B） In a restaurant. （ C） At a hotel. （ D） In the bank. （ A） Because the man did not register his name. （ B） Because the man did not cheek in. （ C） Because the clerk forgot to register his name. （ D） Because t
35、he clerk registered his name incorrectly. （ A） 10. （ B） 20. （ C） $230.00 （ D） $200.00 （ A） He went around aimlessly. （ B） He asked the wrong people. （ C） He left the city center. （ D） He couldnt speak the language. （ A） She turned a deaf ear to him. （ B） She helped him whole-heartedly. （ C） She got
36、angry and flew into a fury. （ D） She called in the police. （ A） Interesting. （ B） Wonderful. （ C） Awful. （ D） Frightening. （ A） Birth. （ B） Environment. （ C） Education. （ D） Blood type. （ A） It is about English teachers in a school. （ B） It is about teachers accomplishments. （ C） It is about teacher
37、s frustrations. （ D） It is about training of English teachers. （ A） He has learned English and pedagogy. （ B） He has learned foreign cultures. （ C） He has learned both English and Chinese. （ D） He has learned new interactive ways of teaching. （ A） He was awarded a study-abroad scholarship. （ B） He r
38、an a teachers training program successfully. （ C） One of his students won first prize in a completion of English skills. （ D） He has gained rich teaching experience. （ A） By asking questions. （ B） By echoing Mr. Mas comments. （ C） By commenting on Mr. Mas responses. （ D） By keeping silent and being
39、a good listener. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 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,
40、 C and D. （ A） Broadening of horizon. （ B） Promoting hobbies and interests. （ C） Coping with social problems. （ D） Personal improvement. （ A） Dispensable. （ B） Partial. （ C） Crucial. （ D） Favorable. （ A） Overweight. （ B） Addiction. （ C） Depression. （ D） Malnutrition. （ A） 1.7 billion. （ B） 1.7 milli
41、on. （ C） 30 billion. （ D） 30 million. （ A） Smoking, malnutrition and obesity. （ B） Obesity, cancer and diabetes. （ C） Sugar, salt and fats. （ D） Drinking, smoking and obesity. （ A） 5 gms. （ B） 10 gms. （ C） 15 gms. （ D） 50 gms. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three time
42、s. 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 words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required t
43、o fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the 36 One of Americas most important【 B1】 _ is her modern music. American popular music is played all over the world. It is enjoyed by people of all ages in all countries. The m
44、usic has many origins in the United States. Country music, coming from the【 B2】 _ areas in the southern United States, is one【 B3】 _ . Country music【 B4】 _ simple themes【 B5】 _ day-to-day situations and the feelings of country people. Many people【 B6】 _ this music because of the emotions expressed b
45、y country music songs. A second origin of American popular music is blues. It【 B7】 _ mostly sad feelings【 B8】 _ the different lives of American blacks.【 B9】 _ , but it is popular with all Americans. 【 B10】 _ . Now popular songs are heard on the radio several times a day. Some songs become popular al
46、l over the world. People hear these songs sung in their original English or sometimes translated into other languages.【 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 passage with ten bla
47、nks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item with a singl
48、e line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. 47 Personal experiences, culture, religion, and age influence a persons 【 S1】 _ about death. Many people fear death. Others refuse to believe they will die. There are others who look forward to and 【 S2】 _ death.
49、 Attitudes and beliefs about death often change as a person 【 S3】 _ older. Changing circumstances also affect attitudes and beliefs. Attitudes about death are closely 【 S4】 _ to religious beliefs. Some believe in a life after death that is free of suffering and hardship. They also believe there will be reunion with family and loved ones. Many people believe there is punishment and suffering for sins and misdeeds in afterlife. Others do not
