1、大学英语四级模拟试卷 555及答案与解析 一、 Part I Writing (30 minutes) 1 For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic My Approach to Personal Success. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese: My Approach to Personal Success 1. 个人竞争力和成功的重要性 ;
2、 2. 你的成功经验 ; 3. 你认为如何达到个人的成功 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 statement agrees with the
3、 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 The year 1972 was marked by publication of a controversial book, The Limits to Growth. This study of the worlds future
4、, done by a team of MIT scientists with the aid of computer “models“ of the future of our society, forecast a planetwide disaster unless humankind sharply limits its population growth and consumption of natural resources. Most people were caught by surprise when the book came out. Many refused to be
5、lieve that disaster is possible, probable, inevitable if we dont change our mode of running Spaceship Earth. But science fiction people were neither surprised nor outraged. The study was really old news to them. Theyd been making their own “models“ of tomorrow and testing them all their lives. For w
6、hat the scientists attempted with their computer model is very much like the thing that science fiction writers and readers have been doing for decades. Instead of using a computer to “model“ a future world society, science fiction writers have used their human imaginations. This gives the writers s
7、ome enormous advantages. One of the advantages is flexibility. Science fiction writers are not in the business of predicting the future. They do something much more important. They try to show the many possible futures that lie open to us. For there is not simply a future, a time to come that s inev
8、itable. Our future is built, bit by bit, minute by minute, by the actions of human beings. One vital role of science fiction is to show what kinds of future might result from certain kinds of human actions. To communicate the ideas, the fears and hopes, the shape and feel of all the infinite possibl
9、e futures, science fiction writers lean heavily on another of their advantages: the art of fiction. For while a scientist s job has largely ended when hes reduced his data to tabular or graph form, the work of a science fiction writer is just beginning. His task is to convey the human story: the sci
10、entific basis for the possible future of his story is merely the background. Perhaps “merely“ is too limiting a word. Much of science fiction consists of precious little except the background, the basic idea, the gimmick. But the best of science fiction, the stories that make a lasting impact on gen
11、erations of readers, are stories about people. The people may be non-human. They may be robots or other types of machines. But they will be people, in the sense that human readers can feel for them, share their joys and sorrows, their dangers and their ultimate successes. The art of fiction has not
12、changed much since prehistoric times. The formula for telling a powerful story has remained the same: create a strong character, a per- son of great strengths, capable of deep emotions and decisive action. Give him a weakness. Set him in conflict with another powerful character-or perhaps with natur
13、e. Let his exterior conflict be the mirror of the protagonists own interior conflict, the clash of his desires, his own strength against his own weakness. And there you have a story. Whether its Abraham offering his only son to God, or Paris bringing ruin to Troy over a woman, or Hamlet and Claudius
14、 playing their deadly game, Faust seeking the worlds knowledge and power the stories that stand out in the minds of the readers are those whose characters are unforgettable. To show other worlds, to describe possible future societies and the five problems lurking ahead, is not enough. The writer of
15、science fiction must show how these worlds and these futures affect human beings. And something much more important, he must show how human beings can and do literally create these future worlds. For our future is largely in our own hands. It doesnt come blindly rolling out of the heavens; it is the
16、 joint product of the actions of billions of human beings. This is a point thats easily forgotten in the rush of headlines and the hectic badgering of everyday life. But its a point that science fiction makes constantly, the future belongs to us whatever it is. We make it, our actions shape to morro
17、w. We have the brains and guts to build paradise(or at least try). Tragedy is when we fail, and the greatest crime of all is when we fail even to try. Thus science fiction stands as a bridge between science and art, between the engineers of technology and the poets of humanity. Never has such a brid
18、ge been more desperately needed. Writing in the British journal New Scientist, the famed poet and historian Robert Graves said in 1912, “Technology is now warring openly against the crafts, and science covertly against poetry. “ What Graves is expressing is the fear that many people have: technology
19、 has already allowed machines to replace human muscle power; now it seems that machines such as electronic computers might replace human brainpower. And he goes even further, criticizing science on the grounds that truly human endeavors ours such as poetry have a power that scientists cant recognize
20、. 2 According to the passage, it is hardly surprising that this book came out. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 3 Science fiction people got angry when they learned that book forecast such an planetwide disaster. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 4 Science fiction people use their imagination to figure out what the future
21、 will be while soientists at tempt to do it with their computer mode. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 5 The Best of science fiction can make a lasting impact on generations of readers. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 6 Science fiction people like to object to the opinion of scientist, no matter what they say. （ A） Y （
22、B） N （ C） NG 7 Apparently Graves sees scientists as a sober, plodding phalanx of soulless thinking machines, never making a step that hasnt been carefully thought out in advance. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 8 One of the important aspect science fiction have to show is how these worlds and these features a
23、ffeet human beings. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 9 According the passage, to build paradise needs _. 10 The formula for telling a powerful story has _ except strong character. 11 The fear mentioned in the last Part, in fact, is a fear to _. Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conve
24、rsations 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 four choices marked A, B, C an
25、d D, and decide which is the best answer. （ A） He couldnt find Professor Smiths classroom. （ B） Professor Smith speaks too slowly. （ C） He didnt understand Professor Smiths lecture. （ D） Professor Smith kept the class late. （ A） Get the concert tickets. （ B） Call Jane about the tickets. （ C） Finish
26、his paper. （ D） Go to the concert. （ A） Someone already borrowed her newspaper. （ B） Shell get the newspaper back from the man later. （ C） She cant lend he man the newspaper. （ D） She hasnt had time to read the newspaper yet. （ A） She is likely to get lost at the bus station. （ B） He may be able to
27、identify her. （ C） He is an old friend of hers. （ D） He has already picked her up at the bus station. （ A） She doesnt understand what the man wants. （ B） She forgot to order the flounder. （ C） She made a mistake with the mans order. （ D） Shell eat the crab cakes instead. （ A） He decided to attend ex
28、tra history classes. （ B） He hopes to meet the woman at the student center. （ C） He was too sick to work on his paper. （ D） Hes been busy working on his paper. （ A） Give the woman a ride home. （ B） Borrow the womans car to get home. （ C） Take a different way home. （ D） Share the expense of the drive
29、 home. （ A） Pick up the man at 1: 00. （ B） Meet her friends at the restaurant. （ C） Make lunch for the man. （ D） Do her errands after lunch. （ A） Hiking. （ B） Fishing. （ C） Mountain biking. （ D） Beach excursion. （ A） The man had placed them in their car. （ B） The man had forgotten to bring them. （ C
30、） The woman had lent them to the hotel owner. （ D） The woman had left them next to the picnic table. （ A） Sleep at the campground. （ B） Play a card game in their car. （ C） Return home after the rain stopped. （ D） Stay at a hotel at the foot the mountain. （ A） To make a business report to the woman.
31、（ B） To be interviewed for a job in the womans company. （ C） To resign form his position in the womans company. （ D） To exchange stock market information with the woman. （ A） He is head of a small trading company. （ B） He works in an international insurance company. （ C） He leads a team of brokers i
32、n a big company. （ D） He is a public relations officer in a small company. （ A） The woman thinks Mr. Saunders is asking for more than they can offer. （ B） Mr. Saunders will share one third of the womans responsibilities. （ C） Mr. Saunders believes that he deserves more paid vacations. （ D） The woman
33、 seems to be satisfied with Mr. Sounders past experience. （ A） She is worried about the seminar. （ B） The man keeps interrupting her. （ C） She finds it too hard. （ D） She lacks interest in it. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will
34、 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） The sailor spoke several languages. （ B） The parrot knew many bad words. （ C） The man had a very big vocabula
35、ry. （ D） The guests often embarrassed the bird. （ A） He put it in a cage and starved it. （ B） He beat and cursed the bird. （ C） He gave it up to a guest. （ D） He threw it into the freezer. （ A） Because it wanted to behave as well as the chickens. （ B） Because it didnt like to be put into the refrige
36、rator. （ C） Because it was afraid of being killed, just like the chickens. （ D） Because it decided to leave a good impression on its owner. （ A） David had made a lot of money in stocks. （ B） David wore expensive clothes when driving. （ C） David ran into a boyhood friend twenty years ago. （ D） David
37、taught business at a local community college. （ A） Because he has made enough money to make a good living. （ B） Because he likes teaching business in a local college. （ C） Because he cannot get support from his family. （ D） Because he feels much stressed. （ A） People can make more money in stocks th
38、an in teaching. （ B） The proverb “No pains, no gains“ is confirmed. （ C） To become rich is every mans ambition. （ D） Being rich is not equal to being happy. （ A） He is becoming too old （ B） He has trouble in hearing. （ C） He can no longer accomplish mental tasks. （ D） He is in a depressed emotional
39、state. （ A） Richard and Maurice McDonald. （ B） Ray, Kroc, a 56-year-old salesman. （ C） A person in San Bernadino, California. （ D） Not mentioned in the passage. （ A） 228 （ B） 1,283 （ C） 7 million （ D） 7,063 （ A） It is too big to help ordinary people. （ B） It is actively involved in community activit
40、ies. （ C） It has set up some childrens hospitals. （ D） It provides free food and shelter for sick children and their parents. 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. Whe
41、n 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 information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just
42、 heard or write down the 36 We human beings are land animals, but we are also closely tied to the sea. Throughout history, the sea has【 B1】 _our needs. The sea has provided us with food, and【 B2】 _way to travel to many parts of the world. Today, experts【 B3】 _that nearly 2/3 of the worlds population
43、 live within 80 kilometers off the sea coast. In the modern【 B4】 _world, the sea offers many resources to help us survive. Resources on land are beginning to grow less. The sea, however, still offers hope to supply many of our needs. The riches of the sea yet to be developed by technology are【 B5】 _
44、.Oil and gas explorations have existed for nearly 30 years.【 B6】 _amounts of minerals, such as iron, nickel and copper exist on the ocean floor ready to be mined. Fish farming promised to be a good way to produce large【 B7】 _of food. Tile【 B8】 _of fish and shellfish is an ancient skill practiced in
45、the past mainly by oriental people. Besides oil and gas, the sea may offer new source of energy.【 B9】 _such as hydro-electric power. Technology is enabling people to explore ever deeper under the sea. The new under-sea technology is providing divers with diving suits and under-sea chambers that are
46、kept at sea-level pressure.【 B10】 _ The technology to harvest the sea continues to improve.【 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 blanks. You are required to sele
47、ct 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 single line through the center. Yo
48、u may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. 47 It turns out that measuring the distance to a star is an interesting problem! Astronomers have【 S1】 _up with two different techniques to estimate how far away any given star is. The first【 S2】 _uses triangulation(三角测量 ). The Earths【 S3】_a
49、round the sun has a diameter of about 186 million miles(300 million kilometers ). By looking at a star one day and then looking at it again 6 months later, an astronomer can see a【 S4】 _in the viewing angle for the star. With a little trigonometry(三 角学 ), the different angles yield a distance. This technique【 S5】 _for stars within about 400 light years of earth. There is no direct method currently【 S6】 _to measure the distance
