1、大学英语四级模拟试卷 839（无答案）一、Part I Writing (30 minutes)1 For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter of refusal. You should write at least 120 words, and base your composition on the outline given below in Chinese:假设朋友 Gary 邀请你参加一个聚会，但你因故不能参加，写信向他说明原因，并祝聚会成功。二、Part II Reading Comprehension
2、(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 NO) if the statement co
3、ntradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.1 Organic FoodOrganic farming was among the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture during the 1990s. The value of retail sales of organic food was estimated to be $16 billion in 200
4、4. 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(USDA)established a national
5、standard for the term “organic“. Organic food, defined by how it cannot be made rather than how it can be made, must be produced without the use of sewer-sludge fertilizers, most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic engineering(biotechnology), growth hormones, irradiation and antibiotics. A
6、 variety of agricultural products can be produced organically, including produce, grains, meat, dairy, eggs, and processed Food products.“Organic“ does not mean “natural“. There .is no legal definition as to what constitutes a “natural“ food. However, the food industry uses the term “natural“ to ind
7、icate that a food has been minimally processed and is preservative-free. Natural foods can include organic foods, but not all natural foods are organic. Only foods labeled “organic“ have been certified as meeting USDA organic standards.Organic FarmingThe phrase “organic farming“ first appeared in Lo
8、rd Northbournes book Look to the Land, published in 1940. But the truth is, organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture. Be fore the end of World War , farming without the use of petroleum-based chemicals(synthetic fertilizers and pesticides)was the only option for farmers. Technologies develo
9、ped during the war were found to be useful for agricultural production. For example, the chemical ammonium nitrate, which was used as munitions, became useful as fertilizer, and organophosphates used for nerve gas were later used as insecticide.These days, farmers are switching to organic agricultur
10、e once again, but now with an eco logically 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 s
11、tands at more than 12,000 nationwide.Organic Farming in the U.S. TodayThe 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
12、of a total of 828 million acres 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 com
13、mercial scale, whereas numerous 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
14、1997, followed closely by Arizona, 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
15、vs. ConventionalAs you can imagine, organic agricultural practices are quite distinct from those of “conventional“ farming.Conventional farmers:apply chemical fertilizers to the soil to grow their cropsspray with insecticides to protect crops from pests and diseaseuse synthetic herbicides to control
16、 weed growthOrganic farmers:feed soil and build soil matter with natural fertilizer to grow their cropsuse insect predators, mating disruption, traps and barriers to protect crops from pests and diseasemake use of crop rotation, mechanical tillage and hand-weeding, as well as cover crops, mulches, f
17、lame weeding and other management methods to control weed growthAs 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 di
18、splay. The 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 ingre
19、dients.“ Those 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 penalt
20、y of up to $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 Should I Care if a Food is Organic?According to the USDA, organic food production allows farmers
21、to lower input costs, de crease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices, and boost farm income. Organic agriculture also has many important environmental benefits:It promotes sustainability by establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or p
22、est problems. In the long run, organic farms tend to conserve energy and protect the environment by maintaining ecological harmony.It enhances biodiversity, or the presence of multiple plant and/or animal species. Having a highly diverse genetic pool becomes useful in the future when beneficial char
23、acteristics can be tapped.Because organic agriculture utilizes practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic associations, cover crops and minimum tillage, the length of time that the soil is exposed to erosive forces is decreased, which minimizes nutrient losses and boosts soil produc
24、tivity.By not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic agriculture reduces pollution of groundwater.Organic agriculture helps to minimize the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to keep carbon in the soil.Why is Organic Food So Expensive?Prices tend to be higher for o
25、rganic than conventional products. As stated on 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.Productio
26、n costs for organic foods are typically higher 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 m
27、ust be separated for processing and transportation.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 a
28、nd economies of scale should reduce costs 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 simp
29、ly in the way it is grown, handled and 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
30、National Research Council, the traces 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 re moved. As for taste, thats up to you to decide what you like best. In general,
31、 people tend to find that the fresher a food is, the better it tastes, regardless of how it was produced.2 The passage is mainly about the differences between conventional and organic farming.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG3 Natural foods make up a small part of organic foods.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG4 Organic agriculture ha
32、s become a big industry as more and more farmers are Switching to it.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG5 Arizona produces more organic fruits and vegetables than Florida.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG6 Under no circumstances may organic farmers use any pesticides, including botanical pesticides.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG7 According to the FAO,
33、 as the demand for organic food and products increases, prices will be lower for organic products than conventional products.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG8 As scientific evidence suggests, organic food is more nutritious and safer than conventional food.（A）Y（B） N（C） NG9 Organic agriculture helps to minimize the g
34、reenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to _.10 The products labeled “made with organic ingredients“ must contain at least organic content _.11 Most of the foods grown and processed according to the federal standards will bear the seal _.Section ADirections: In this section, you will
35、 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 four choice
36、s marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer.（A）Satisfied.（B） Joyful.（C） Patient.（D）Discouraged.（A）Its hard to make dreams come true.（B） People shouldnt waste money.（C） He always worries about his money.（D）He hasnt saved enough money yet.（A）Reporting the loss of her cash.（B） Losing he
37、r passports.（C） Reporting the loss of her credit cards.（D）Getting lost on her trip.（A）Jill has recovered.（B） Jill resists practicing.（C） Jill is a weak girl.（D）Jill should have a rest.（A）The dog isnt as lovely as the man says.（B） She doesnt want the man to take the dog home.（C） She prefers to have a
38、 cat as a pet.（D）She doesnt like animals.（A）The man doesnt seem to be concerned much about the exams.（B） The woman is looking forward to the winter vacation.（C） The man and the woman have different understanding about the exams.（D）The man is quite worried about the final exams.（A）A handbag.（B） A dre
39、ss.（C） A watch.（D）A pair of shoes.（A）He doesnt know how to cook.（B） He always eats at the school canteen.（C） He is too busy to have dinners on time.（D）He is not allowed to cook at his apartment.（A）An employee in the city council at Birmingham.（B） Assistant Director of the Admissions Office.（C） Head
40、of the Overseas Students Office.（D）Secretary of Birmingham Medical School.（A）Nearly fifty percent are foreigners.（B） About fifteen percent are from Africa.（C） A large majority are from Latin America.（D）A small number are from the Far East.（A）She will have more contact with students.（B） It will bring
41、 her capability into fuller play.（C） She will be more involved in policy-making.（D）It will be less demanding than her present job.（A）When to move.（B） Where to live the following year.（C） How much time to spend at home.（D）Whose house to visit.（A）Take some money to the housing office.（B） Inform the di
42、rector of student housing in a letter.（C） Fill out a form in the library.（D）Maintain a high grade average.（A）Both live on campus:（B） Both live off campus.（C） The man lives on campus; the woman lives off campus.（D）The woman lives on campus; the man lives on campus.（A）Grades.（B） Privacy.（C） Sports.（D）
43、Money.Section BDirections: 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, C and D.（A）
44、Hard work is the most important thing for ones success.（B） Hard work may invite good luck.（C） Good luck plays an important role in ones success.（D）Success has nothing to do with luck.（A）Working hard may prepare yourself opportunity.（B） Success always depends on opportunity.（C） Opportunity can replac
45、e hard work in job hunting.（D）Working hard will ensure you success.（A）Its Columbus pure luck.（B） It proves that the earth is not round.（C） It enriched the American people.（D）Its one of the biggest lucky mistakes.（A）Their roots are unknown to us.（B） They came from France and Great Britain.（C） They ca
46、me from European countries.（D）They came from America.（A）To welcome the kings arrival.（B） To harvest more foods.（C） To help the king walk through their countryside.（D）To avoid their lands being destroyed by the kings roads.（A）By pulling down the fence.（B） By accepting the punishment.（C） By pretending
47、 to be mad.（D）By overthrowing the kings rule.（A）The smoke and flames of the volcano.（B） The red hot rock that came from the volcano.（C） The middle of the earth in the sea.（D）An island near Reykiavik in Iceland.（A）Because the volcano began on 14th November 1963.（B） Because they didnt stop until June
48、1967four years later.（C） Because they were able to watch the birth of a volcanic island.（D）Because they were staying until the volcano grew into an island.（A）A house.（B） A garden.（C） A park.（D）A farm.（A）10 meters high.（B） 175 meters high.（C） 60 meters high.（D）2 kilos high.Section CDirections: In thi
49、s 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 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 heard or write down the 36 Attention to detail is something everyone can and s
