1、大学英语四级模拟试卷 261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 title Hosting Olympic Games. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese: 1. 有人认为奥运会 应该在一个固定的地方举办； 2. 但是，有人认为奥运会应该在不同的地方举办； 3. 我的观点。 二、 P
2、art 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. For questions 1-7, mark： Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage
3、; 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 Do we need cities any more I dont want to live in a city. Perhaps we divide naturally into two types: those for whom cities are vibrant and exciting, a
4、 focus for human activity; and those for whom they are dirty, noisy and dangerous. It may be unfashionable, but Im in the latter camp. I do not believe that we are a species whose behavior improves in overcrowded conditions. A new study proposes a significant increase in the capacity of towns and ci
5、ties through a combination of increased housing densities, lower on-plot provision for cars and more on-street parking, and the re-use of marginal open space that is empty of any amenity value. The benefit of this approach is to reduce the loss of green fields and to help “move towards more sustaina
6、ble patterns of development“. This study suggests that it would be possible to achieve a 25% increase in density in a typical provincial city without changing the traditional street scene, although it would be necessary to reduce the size of the houses and substitute parking spaces for garages. Ther
7、efore, the cost of this approach is to have more people living in smaller homes at higher densities, along streets that are lined with parked cars. Can we really accept the notion that space within dwellings may be reduced even further? In times when, we are told, living standards are rising in real
8、 terms, is it realistic to seek to reduce personal space standards? The streets of many inner suburbs are already lined with cars on both sides, reducing movement to a single lane. Increasing densities means accepting urban streets that are designed as linear car parks, bounded by even smaller livin
9、g units and modified only by occasional trees growing from the tarmac. Would the benefits of higher density be worth the disadvantages of increasing on-street parking? Can we achieve a satisfactory visual environment from such raw materials? Higher urban densities may be communally good for us, but
10、they will fail to meet the desire of many prospective home owners. Those without economic choice can be directed to live in this way, but if we are to continue to rely on the private sector to produce this urban housing, it will need to appeal to the private developers customers. Who will choose to
11、live in these high-density developments of small dwellings, with minimal open space and a chance to park on the highway if you are lucky enough to find a space? The main consumers will be single people, couples without children, and perhaps some “empty nesters“. These are people who can choose to sp
12、end much of their time outside their home, making the most of those urban cultural opportunities or getting away at weekends to a country cottage of sporting activities. The combination of a young family and a mortgage restricts the mobility and spending power of many couples. Most people with a fam
13、ily will try to avoid bringing up their children in an overcrowded flat or house. Space for independent activity is important in developing the individual and in maintaining family balance. The garden is the secure place where the children can work off excess energy. There is danger that planners ma
14、y take a dispassionate, logical view of how we should live, and seek to force society into that shape. A few years ago a European Commission study provided a good example of this. It took the view, quite sensibly, that housing should not be under-occupied because this is a waste of resources. Theref
15、ore, it would be much better if the many thousands of old ladies who live alone in large detached houses would move into small urban flats, thus releasing the large houses for families. What the study failed to recognize was that many of those old ladies prefer to continue to live in their family ho
16、me with their familiar surroundings and, most importantly, with their memories. What is good for us is not necessarily what we want. The urban housing option may be technically sustainable, but individually unacceptable. There still seems to be a perception among planners that new housing investment
17、 can be forced into those areas that planners want to see developed, without proper consideration of where the prospective purchasers want to live. There is a fatal flaw in this premise. Housing developers run businesses. They are not unavoidably committed to building houses and they are not obliged
18、 to invest their resources in housing development. Unless there is a reasonable prospect of a profit on the capital at risk in a housing project, they may simply choose to invest in some other activity. 2 According to the author, we are a species whose behavior improves in overcrowded conditions. （
19、A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 3 It is proposed that the capacity of towns and cities be greatly increased. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 4 The author doubts that people can really accept the notion that space within dwellings may be reduced even further. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 5 For every family with a mortgage, their
20、 mobility and spending power is restricted. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 6 Most parents will try not to let their children grow up in an overcrowded flat or house. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 7 Space for independent activity contributes to creative thinking. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 8 What is good for us is usually
21、 what we want. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 9 According to the author, children are usually taken to _ to work off excess energy. 10 According to a European Commission study, housing should be fully-occupied to avoid _. 11 Without a _ of a profit, housing developers may simply choose to invest in some othe
22、r activity. 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 only once. After each question there will
23、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） They work at the zoo. （ B） They are going to do some artwork. （ C） They enjoy watching elephants. （ D） They are going to feed the elephants. （ A） Shes working all the time. （
24、B） Shes out all the time. （ C） She works every other day. （ D） She studies twice a day. （ A） Helping a friend find the right department. （ B） Buying himself some shoes. （ C） Taking a class at the gymnasium. （ D） Returning a jogging suit he bought. （ A） Apologize to Donna. （ B） Confront Donna directl
25、y. （ C） Excuse Donna to behavior. （ D） Write Donna a latter. （ A） She doesnt say. （ B） Some cigarettes. （ C） Some colorful dresses. （ D） White shirts and cigarettes. （ A） Shes putting it in a kennel. （ B） Ken is taking it on vacation. （ C） It will accompany her. （ D） It will be staying with Ken. （ A
26、） Not to go home for spring vacation. （ B） Not to take a vacation. （ C） Not to graduate. （ D） Not to go home after graduation in May. （ A） At a butcher shop. （ B） At a restaurant. （ C） At a bookstore. （ D） At a grocery store. （ A） In the countryside. （ B） At the top of a hill. （ C） By a river. （ D）
27、On a grassland. （ A） A lot of food. （ B） A basketball. （ C） A plenty of drink. （ D） Some toy cars. （ A） A group of people were hunting nearby. （ B） A flock of sheep were running toward them. （ C） A flock of dogs were fighting. （ D） A team of skiers were skiing. （ A） Chemicals. （ B） Water. （ C） Gas.
28、（ D） Vapor. （ A） By turning ordinary ice into steam. （ B） By passing steam over dry ice. （ C） By heating dry ice. （ D） By mixing dry ice with ordinary ice. （ A） It takes a long time to melt. （ B） It is lighter to carry. （ C） It is not so cold as ordinary ice. （ D） It is cleaner to use than ordinary
29、ice. （ A） To make an appointment. （ B） To ask for an interview. （ C） To have a negotiation. （ D） To promote advertisement. （ A） Impatient but then reluctant. （ B） Indifferent but then interested. （ C） Reluctant but then convinced. （ D） Impatient but then accepted. （ A） Customers can get the payment
30、back if theyre not satisfied with the products. （ B） The company will redo the products again and again until the costumers are satisfied. （ C） Customers should do exactly according to the contract. （ D） The company charges a proper amount of money. （ A） To check out some books from the library. （ B
31、） To apply for a new library card. （ C） To return some business books. （ D） To find out where the art books are located. （ A） The woman thinks he has an overdue book. （ B） The books he needs have been checked out by someone else. （ C） The woman is unable to locate the books that he needs. （ D） A lib
32、rary notice was sent to him at his previous address. （ A） The man has mistakenly received someone elses books. （ B） The man changed his major from art to business. （ C） The man recently moved off campus. （ D） There are two students named Robert Smith. （ A） See if he is related to any of the students
33、. （ B） Apply for a job as a library assistant. （ C） Use his middle name. （ D） Use a different library. 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 y
34、ou hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. （ A） Microwaves are strange electric waves. （ B） Microwaves travel in straight lines and do not follow the curve of the earths surface. （ C） There are not any wires to send microwaves. （ D） We must amplif
35、y microwaves in relay stations. （ A） From the starting point back to the earth. （ B） Several hundred kilometers. （ C） A certain height. （ D） About 50 kilometers. （ A） A computer specialist. （ B） A scientist. （ C） A television announcer. （ D） A teacher. （ A） A science fiction cartoon. （ B） A scientif
36、ic program. （ C） A movie on personality disorders. （ D） A drama set in New York City. （ A） To demonstrate the latest use of computer graphics. （ B） To raise funds for public television programming. （ C） To explain the working of the brain. （ D） To increase membership in professional medical societie
37、s. （ A） Because it is required of all science majors. （ B） Because it was made in New York City. （ C） Because it will be shown after working hours. （ D） Because it will be helpful with course work. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read f
38、or 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 to fill in the missing informa
39、tion. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the 38 My father died when I was nine. Im an only child. My mother and I were very poor for a time. She had a brother, who lived in【 B1】 _His name was John. Uncle John came to London several times to see us.
40、 He was very【 B2】 _of me and took me for walks in Hyde Park. But Australia is a long way away and we didnt see very much of him. I went to Art School when I was【 B3】 _, but what I really wanted to study was architecture. However, it is a difficult【 B4】 _to get into, and requires long training. I wor
41、ked for a time as a【 B5】 _illustrator but didnt make very much money from it. I even did office work for a time. When I got up to go to work in the mornings, I felt as if I were going to【 B6】 _That is how much I【 B7】 _it. One day, nine years ago, when I was twenty two, I got a letter from a【 B8】 _in
42、 Australia.【 B9】 _and that he had some other important news for me. He refused to say what it was until he came to London personally to see me. We met in a hotel in London a few weeks later. The news was that Uncle John had made quite a lot of money in Australia and had left it all to me.【 B10】 _. I
43、 felt like jumping up and down for joy. But I didnt of course.【 B11】 _. I used the rest to study architecture and then to start my own business. 39 【 B1】 40 【 B2】 41 【 B3】 42 【 B4】 43 【 B5】 44 【 B6】 45 【 B7】 46 【 B8】 47 【 B9】 48 【 B10】 49 【 B11】 Section A Directions: In this section, there is a pass
44、age with ten blanks. 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 i
45、tem with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. 49 Air Pollution refers to the addition of harmful substances to the atmosphere resulting in damage to the environment, human health, and【 S1】 _of life. One of many forms of pollution, air polluti
46、on occurs inside homes, schools, and offices; in cities; across continents; and even【 S2】 _. Air pollution makes people sick it causes breathing problems and【 S3】 _cancer and it harms plants, animals, and the ecosystems (生态系统 ) in which they live. Some air pollutants return to earth in the form of a
47、cid rain and snow, which destroy【 S4】 _and buildings, damage crops and forests, and make lakes and streams【 S5】 _for fish and other plant and animal life. Pollution is changing Earths atmosphere so that it lets in more harmful radiation from the Sun. At the same time, our polluted atmosphere is beco
48、ming a better insulator (绝缘体 ), which can【 S6】 _heat from escaping back into space and lead to a rise in global average temperatures. Scientists【 S7】 _that the temperature increase, referred to as global warming, will affect world food supply, alter sea level, make weather more【 S8】 _, and increase
49、the spread of tropical disease. Although the effects of future【 S9】 _change are unknown, some report that exaggerated weather conditions may【 S10】 _affect agriculture, for example, it may lead to severe drought and sharply decreasing agricultural yields in parts of Africa. A) globally B) promotes C) predict D) unsuitable E) science F) dramatically G) protect H) prevent I) quality J) cl
