1、大学英语四级模拟试卷 498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: Statistics of Family Expenses in Shanghai. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:1根据上图描述该城市家庭支出的变化 2分析产生这些变化的原因 3说明这些变化对个人和社
2、会产生的影响 Statistics of Family Expenses in Shanghai 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. For questions 1-7, mark： Y (for YES) if the state
3、ment 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 Fireworks If you have ever been to an aerial fireworks show at an amusement park, baseball game, F
4、ourth of July celebration or on New Years Eve, then you know that fireworks have a special and beautiful magic all their own-a good show is absolutely amazing! Have you ever wondered how this magic works? What is launched into the sky to make these beautiful displays? In this article, you will learn
5、 all about aerial fireworks. Basic Components Just about everyone in the United States has some personal experience with fireworks, either from Fourth of July or New Years Eve celebrations. For example, you have probably seen both sparklers and firecrackers. It turns out that if you understand these
6、 two pyrotechnic (有关烟火制造术的 ) devices, then you are well on your way to understanding aerial fireworks! The sparkler demonstrates how to get bright, sparkling light from a firework, and the firecracker shows how to create an explosion. Firecrackers have been around for hundreds of years. They consist
7、 of either black powder (also known as gunpowder) or flash powder in a tight paper tube with a fuse to light the powder. Black powder, discussed briefly in How Rocket Engines Work, contains charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate. A composition used in a firecracker might have aluminum instead of or
8、in addition to charcoal in order to brighten the explosion. Sparklers are very different from firecrackers. A sparkler burns over a long period of time (up to a minute) and produces extremely bright and showery light. Sparklers are often referred to as “snowball sparklers“ because of the ball of spa
9、rks that surrounds the burning portion of the sparkler. If you look at Patent #3,862,865: Sparkler composition, you can see that a sparkler consists of several different compounds: A fuel An oxidizer Iron or steel powder A binder The fuel is charcoal and sulfur, as in black powder. The binder can be
10、 sugar or starch. Mixed with water, these chemicals form a slurry that can be coated on a wire (by dipping) or poured into a tube. Once it dries, you have a sparkler. When you light it, the sparkler bums from one end to the other (like a cigarette). The fuel and oxidizer are proportioned, along with
11、 the other chemicals, so that the sparkler burns slowly rather than exploding like a firecracker. It is very common for fireworks to contain aluminum, iron, steel, zinc or magnesium dust in order to create bright, shimmering sparks. The metal flakes heat up until they are incandescent and shine brig
12、htly or, at a high enough temperature, actually burn. A variety of chemicals can be added to create colors. See lights and colors for a good explanation of the chemistry and physics of color in fireworks. Aerial Fireworks An aerial firework is normally formed as a shell that consists of four parts:
13、Container-usually pasted paper and string formed into a cylinder Stars-spheres, cubes or cylinders of a sparkler-like composition Bursting charge-firecracker-like charge at the center of the shell Fuseprovides a time delay so the shell explodes at the right altitude The shell is launched from a mort
14、ar. The mortar might be a short, steel pipe with a lifting charge of black powder that explodes in the pipe to launch the shell. When the lifting charge fires to launch the shell, it lights the shells fuse. The shells fuse bums while the shell rises to its correct altitude, and then ignites the burs
15、ting charge so it explodes. Simple shells consist of a paper tube filled with stars and black powder. Stars come in all shapes and sizes, but you can imagine a simple star as something like sparkler compound formed into a ball the size of a pea or a dime. The stars are poured into the tube and then
16、surrounded by black powder. When the fuse bums into the shell, it ignites the bursting charge, causing the shell to explode. The explosion ignites the outside of the stars, which begin to bum with bright showers of sparks. Since the explosion throws the stars in all directions, you get the huge sphe
17、re of sparkling light that is so familiar at fireworks displays. Multibreak Shells. More complicated shells burst in two or three phases. Shells like this are called multibreak shells. They may contain stars of different colors and compositions to create softer or brighter light, more or less sparks
18、, etc. Some shells contain explosives designed to crackle in the sky, or whistles that explode outward with the stars. Multibreak shells may consist of a shell filled with other shells, or they may have multiple sections without using additional shells. The sections of a multibreak shell are ignited
19、 by different fuses. The bursting of one section ignites the next. The shells must be assembled in such a way that each section explodes in sequence to produce a distinct separate effect. The explosives that break the sections apart are called break charges. The pattern that an aerial shell paints i
20、n the sky depends on the arrangement of star pellets (颗粒状物 ) inside the shell. For example, if the pellets are equally spaced in a circle, with black powder inside the circle, you will see an aerial display of smaller star explosions equally spaced in a circle. To create a specific figure in the sky
21、, you create an outline of the figure in star pellets, surround them as a group with a layer of break charge to separate them simultaneously from the rest of the contents of the shell, and place explosive charges inside those pellets to blow them outward into a large figure. Each charge has to be ig
22、nited at exactly the fight time or the whole thing is spoiled. 2 If you understand sparklers and firecrackers, then you are well on your way to understanding aerial fireworks. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 3 Firecrackers have been around for a short time. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 4 Firecrackers consist of eith
23、er black powder or flash powder. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 5 Sparklers are similar to firecrackers. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 6 A sparkler consists of three different compounds. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 7 It is very common for fireworks to contain aluminum, iron, steel, zinc or magnesium dust. （ A） Y （ B） N （
24、C） NG 8 An aerial firework is normally formed as a shell. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 9 Simple shells consist of a paper tube filled with stars and _. 10 Multibreak shells burst in _. 11 The pattern that an aerial shell paints in the sky depends on the arrangement of _. Section A Directions: In this secti
25、on, 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 pause, you must read the
26、 four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer. （ A） Because she didnt know how to use the new oven. （ B） Because there was something wrong with her oven. （ C） Because she wanted to have her refrigerator fixed. （ D） Because there is something wrong with the food. （ A） Bob wi
27、ll see Susan tomorrow evening. （ B） Bob asked the woman to come another time. （ C） Bob and Susan have decided to go on a holiday. （ D） Bob might be at home late tomorrow evening. （ A） Stay in the dormitory. （ B） Find out the cost of living in the dormitory. （ C） Ask for a reduction in his rent. （ D）
28、 Move into an apartment with a roommate. （ A） She has bought a new one. （ B） She has none at present. （ C） She only has an old one. （ D） Her sister has given her one. （ A） The trees are being cut down. （ B） He needs more air-conditioning. （ C） The trees help cool his house. （ D） The trees are blocki
29、ng his view. （ A） John is a fast worker. （ B） John did Jack s homework. （ C） John has not finished his homework. （ D） John didnt do the homework on his own. （ A） Thursday night. （ B） Monday night. （ C） Friday morning. （ D） Thursday morning. （ A） The man attended the concert, but didnt like it. （ B）
30、The man was tarry to miss the football game. （ C） The man was more interested in football than in classical music. （ D） The man was sorry that he missed the concert. （ A） She was impressed by it. （ B） It was a waste of money. （ C） She was amazed it had opened so soon. （ D） She didnt like it as much
31、as the other wings. （ A） He took a tour of the city. （ B） He read about it. （ C） He wrote an article about it. （ D） He worked there as a guide. （ A） It was made of aluminum. （ B） It wasnt large enough. （ C） It wouldnt move in the wind. （ D） It was too heavy to put up. （ A） Places the man has visited
32、. （ B） A paper the woman is writing for a class. （ C） School activities they enjoy. （ D） The womans plans for the summer. （ A） She has never been to Gettysburg. （ B） She took a political science course. （ C） Her family still goes on vacation together. （ D） Shes interested in the United States Civil
33、War. （ A） Why her parents wanted to go m Gettysburg. （ B） Why her familys vacation plans changed ten years ago. （ C） Where her family went for a vacation ten years ago. （ D） When her family went on their last vacation. （ A） Its far from where she lives. （ B） Her family went there without her. （ C） S
34、he doesnt know a lot about it. （ D） Shes excited about going there. 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
35、 the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. （ A） To find out how clever monkeys were. （ B） To test intelligence of different animals. （ C） To tell the difference between man and the monkeys. （ D） To find out how monkeys search food. （ A） To give the monkey a surprise. （ B） To see ho
36、w the monkey ate from the box. （ C） To see how soon the monkey could find it. （ D） To find out how the monkey would open the box. （ A） By looking through the keyhole. （ B） By looking through the window. （ C） By taking pictures of the monkey. （ D） By hiding himself behind the box. （ A） On the ground.
37、 （ B） In cold places. （ C） On the highest branches of trees. （ D） Inside three trunks. （ A） To avoid predators. （ B） To expose the eggs to stronger sunlight. （ C） To have a better view of predators. （ D） To save labor. （ A） How birds learn to build nests. （ B） Why birds lay eggs. （ C） How birds nest
38、s have evolved. （ D） Why some birds nests are considered primitive. （ A） Automobile safety. （ B） Increasing fuel efficiency. （ C） Californias pollution laws. （ D） Electric-powered cars. （ A） They are cheaper. （ B） They do not pollute as much. （ C） They are simpler to drive. （ D） They are faster. （ A
39、） It is not comfortable. （ B） It is difficult to steer. （ C） It cannot go long distance without recharging. （ D） Its engine easily overheats. （ A） Its publication was banned by the British government. （ B） It was the first weekly newspaper. （ C） It caused a prison revolt. （ D） It was the first magaz
40、ine ever published. 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 w
41、ith the exact words 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 Mr. Smith was a【 B1】 _industrialist, but he was not satisfied with life. He di
42、dnt sleep well and his food did not【 B2】 _with him. This【 B3】 _lasted for some time. Finally, he decided to【 B4】 _his doctor. The doctor【 B5】 _a change of【 B6】 _.“Go abroad, “he said. “But Im not good at foreign language,“ said Mr. Smith. “It doesnt matter,“ said the doctor. “Go on a【 B7】 _Take plen
43、ty of exercise. Try to reduce your【 B8】 _“ Mr. Smith went to Switzerland.【 B9】 _He attended a physical training course.【 B10】_After a time, he refreshed and forgot the troublesome problems of his factory.【 B11】_. 37 【 B1】 38 【 B2】 39 【 B3】 40 【 B4】 41 【 B5】 42 【 B6】 43 【 B7】 44 【 B8】 45 【 B9】 46 【 B
44、10】 47 【 B11】 Section A Directions: In this section, there is a passage 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 ide
45、ntified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. 47 After 1785, the production of childrens books in the United States increased but remained largely reprints of British books,
46、often those【 S1】 _by John Newbery. Ultimately, however, it was not the cheerful, commercial-minded Newhery, but Anglo-Irish author Maria Edgeworth who had the strongest influence on this period of American childrens literature. The eighteenth century had seen a gradual【 S2】 _away from the spiritual
47、intensity of earlier American religious writings toward a more generalized moralism. Americans looked on childrens books as vehicles for instruction, not amusement, though they would accept a moderate amount of fictional entertainment for the【 S3】 _of more successful instruction. As the childrens bo
48、ok market expanded what both public and publishers wanted was the kind of fiction Maria Edgeworth wrote: stories interesting enough to【 S4】_children. American reaction against imported books for children set in after the War of 1812 with the British. A wave of nationalism permeated(渗透 )everything, a
49、nd the self-conscious new nation found foreign writings(particularly those from the British monarchy)【 S5】 _for the children of a democratic republic, a slate of self-governing, equal citizens. Publishers of childrens books began to【 S6】 _American writers to write for American children. When they responded, the pattern established by Maria Edgeworth was at hand,【 S7】_to most of them for both its
