2023年大学英语四级模拟试卷一及参考答案.doc

大学英语四级模拟试卷一及参照答案

Part I Writing(30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic Choosing an Occupation. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:1. 选择职业是一种人要面对旳众多难题之一。2. 需要花时间去选择职业。3. 选择职业时可以向多人寻求提议和协助。Choosing an OccupationPart 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 on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked［A］,［B］,［C］and ［D］. For questions 8-10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Will We Run Out of Water?Picture a “ghost ship” sinking into the sand, left to rot on dry land by a receding sea. Then imagine dust storms sweeping up toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers from the dry seabed and spewing them across towns and villages.Seem like a scene from a movie about the end of the world? For people living near the Aral Sea in Central Asia, it’s all too real. Thirty years ago, government planners diverted the rivers that flow into the sea in order to irrigate(provide water for)farmland. As a result, the sea has shrunk to half its original size, stranding ships on dry land. The seawater has tripled in salt content and become polluted, killing all 24 native species of fish.Similar large-scale efforts to redirect water in other parts of the world have also ended in ecological crisis, according to numerous environmental groups. But many countries continue to build massive dams and irrigation systems, even though such projects can create more problems than they fix. Why? People in many parts of the world are desperate for water, and more people will need more water in the next
century.“Growing populations will worsen problems with water,” says Peter H. Gleick, an environmental scientist at the Pacific Institute for studies in Development, Environment, and Security, a research organization in California. He fears that by the year 2025, as many as one  third of the world’s projected 8.3 billion people will suffer from water shortages.Where Water GoesOnly 2.5 percent of all water on Earth is freshwater, water suitable for drinking and growing food, says Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project in Amherst, Mass. Two-thirds of this freshwater is locked in glaciers and ice caps.In fact, only a tiny percentage of freshwater is part of the water cycle, in which water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere, then condenses and falls back to Earth as precipitation(rain or snow).Some precipitation runs off land to lakes and oceans, and some becomes groundwater, water that seeps into the earth. Much of this renewable freshwater ends up in remote places like the Amazon river basin in Brazil, where few people live.In fact, the world’s population has access to only 12,500 cubic kilometers of freshwater—about the amount of water in Lake Superior. And people use half of this amount already. “If water demand continues to climb rapidly,” says Postel, “there will be severe shortages and damage to the aquatic environment.”Close to HomeWater woes may seem remote to people living in rich countries like the United States. But Americans could face serious water shortages, too especially in areas that rely on groundwater. Groundwater accumulates in aquifers, layers of sand and gravel that lie between soil and bedrock. (For every liter of surface water, more than 90 liters are hidden underground.)Although the United States has large aquifers, farmers, ranchers, and cities are tapping many of them for water faster than nature can replenish it. In northwest Texas, for example, over pumping has shrunk groundwater supplies by 25 percent, according to Postel.Americans may face even more urgent problems from pollution. Drinking water in the United States is generally safe and meets high standards. Nevertheless, one in five Americans every day unknowingly drinks tap water contaminated with bacteria and chemical wastes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In Milwaukee, 400,000 people fell ill in 1993 after drinking tap water tainted with cryptosporidium, a microbe that causes fever, diarrhea and vomiting.The SourceWhere do contaminants come from? In developing countries, people dump raw sewage into the same streams and rivers from which they draw water for drinking and cooking; about 250 million people a year get sick from water borne diseases.In developed countries, manufacturers use 100,000 chemical compounds to make a wide range of products. Toxic chemicals pollute water when released untreated into rivers and lakes. (Certain compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, have been banned in the United States.)But almost everyone contributes to water pollution. People often pour household cleaners, car antifreeze, and paint thinners down the drain; all of these contain hazardous chemicals. Scientists studying water in the San Francisco Bay reported in 1996 that 70 percent of the pollutants could be traced to household waste.Farmers have been criticized for overusing herbicides and pesticides, chemicals that kill weeds and insects but that pollute water as well. Farmers also use nitrates, nitrogen-rich fertilizer that help plants grow but that can wreak havoc on the environment. Nitrates are swept away by surface runoff to lakes and seas. Too many nitrates “over enrich” these bodies of water, encouraging the buildup of algae, or microscopic plants that live on the surface of the water. Algae deprive the water of oxygen that fish need to survive, at times choking off life in an entire body of water.What’s the Solution?Water expert Gleick advocates conservation and local solutions to water-related problems; governments, for instance, would be better off building small-scale dams rather than huge and disruptive projects like the one that ruined the Aral Sea. “More than 1 billion people worldwide don’t have access to basic clean drinking water,” says Gleick. “There has to be a strong push on the part of everyone—governments and ordinary people—to make sure we have a resource so fundamental to life.”1.What caused the Aral Sea to shrink?
［A］The rivers flowing into it have been diverted.
［B］Farmers used its water to irrigate their farmland.
［C］Government planners over-pumped its water.
［D］High temperature made its water badly evaporate.2.The construction of massive dams and irrigation projects .
［A］does more good than harm
［B］solves more problems than what they created
［C］does more harm than good
［D］brings more water to people than expected3.The chief causes of water shortage include .
［A］population growth and water waste
［B］water pollution and dry weather
［C］water waste and pollution
［D］population growth and water pollution4.Americans could suffer from greatly serious water shortages?
［A］living in rich areas
［B］living in big cities but poor condition
［C］depending on groundwater
［D］bearing high standards of safe drinking water in mind5.What is the main pollutant in developed countries?
［A］Untreated toxic chemicals from manufacturers.
［B］Raw sewage into rivers and streams.
［C］Herbicides and pesticides used by farmers.
［D］Household cleaners poured down the drain.6.How does algae make threats to life of a body of water?
［A］By covering the whole surface of the water.
［B］By competitively using oxygen life in water needs.
［C］By living more rapidly than other life in water .
［D］By releasing hazardous chemicals into water.7.According to Gleick, who should be responsible for solving water-related problems?
［A］government and housewives.
［B］farmers and manufacturers.
［C］ordinary people and manufacturers.
［D］government and every person.8. According to Peter H. Gleick, by the year 2025, as many as of the world’s people will suffer from water shortages.9.Two thirds of the freshwater on Earth is locked in.10.In developed countries, before toxic chemicals are released into rivers and lakes, they should be treated in order to avoid.
Part III Listening Comprehension(35 minutes)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 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. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.11.［A］Wait for the sale to start.
［B］Get further information about the sale.
［C］Call the TV station to be sure if the ad is true.
［D］Buy a new suit.12.［A］He doesn’t think that John is ill.
［B］He thinks that perhaps John is not in very good health.
［C］He is aware that John is ill.
［D］He doesn’t think that John has a very good knowledge of physics.13.［A］Before six.［B］At six.［C］After six.［D］After seven.14.［A］It is bigger.［B］It has a prettier color.
［C］It has a larger yard.［D］It is brighter.15.［A］Australian and American.［B］Guest and host.
［C］Husband and wife.［D］Professor and student.16.［A］1∶30.［B］11∶00.［C］9∶30.［D］10∶00.17.［A］He prefers staying at home because the bus is too late.
［B］He prefers staying at home because he doesn’t like to travel.
［C］He prefers taking a bus because the plane makes him nervous.
［D］He prefers traveling with the woman.18.［A］He thinks she should visit her cousin.
［B］Her cousin doesn’t visit very often.
［C］Her cousin is feeling a lot better today.
［D］He doesn’t think her cousin has been at home today.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.［A］Two different types of bones in the human body.
［B］How bones help the body move.
［C］How bones continuously repair themselves.
［D］The chemical composition of human bones.20.［A］They defend the bone against viruses.
［B］They prevent oxygen from entering the bone.
［C］They break down bone tissue.
［D］They connect the bone to muscle tissue.21.［A］They have difficulty identifying these cells.
［B］They aren’t sure how these cells work.
［C］They’ve learned how to reproduce these cells.
［D］They’ve found similar cells in other species.22.［A］To learn how to prevent a bone disease.
［B］To understand differences between bone tissue and other tissue.
［C］To find out how specialized bone cells have evolved.
［D］To create artificial bone tissue.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23.［A］A new fuel for buses.
［B］The causes of air pollution.
［C］A way to improve fuel efficiency in buses.
［D］Careers in environmental engineering.24.［A］Her car is being repaired.
［B］She wants to help reduce pollution.
［C］Parking is difficult in the city.
［D］The cost of fuel has increased.25.［A］A fuel that burns cleanly.
［B］An oil additive that helps cool engines.
［C］A material from which filters are made.
［D］An insulating material sprayed on engine partsSection 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］.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26.［A］From three to five months.［B］Three months.
［C］Five months.［D］Four months.27.［A］Watch traffic.［B］Obey commands.
［C］Cross streets safely.［D］Guard the door.28.［A］Three weeks. ［B］Two weeks.
［C］Four weeks. ［D］Five weeks.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29.［A］Two to four times.［B］Four to six times.
［C］Four to eight times.［D］Six to ten times.30.［A］Sleeping pills made people go into REM sleep quickly.
［B］People had more dreams after they took sleeping pills.
［C］People became angry easily because they didn’t take sleeping pills.
［D］Sleeping pills prevented people from going into REM sleep.31.［A］People dream so as to sleep better.
［B］People dream in order not to go into REM sleep.
［C］Because they may run into difficult problems in their dreams.
［D］Because in their dreams they may find the answers to their problems.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32.［A］A sales representative.［B］A store manager.
［C］A committee chairperson.［D］A class president.33.［A］To determine who will graduate this year.
［B］To discuss the seating arrangement.
［C］To choose the chairperson of the ceremonies.
［D］To begin planning the graduation ceremonies.34.［A］Their names, phone numbers and job preference.
［B］The names and addresses of their guests.
［C］The names of the committee they worked on last year.
［D］Their dormitory name, address and phone number.35.［A］In an hour.［B］Next week.
［C］In one month.［D］Next year.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 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 main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.In the English (36)system, students take three very important examinations. The first is the eleven-plus, which is (37) at the age of eleven or a little past. At one time the (38)or (39) shown on the eleven-plus would have (40)if a child stayed in school. Now, however, all children continue in (41) schools, and the eleven-plus determines which courses of study the child will follow. At the age of fifteen or sixteen, the students are (42)for the Ordinary (43)of the General Certificate of Education. (44). Once students have passed this exam, they are allowed to specialize, so that two thirds or more of their courses will be in physics, chemistry, classical languages, or whatever they wish to study at greater length. (45). Even
at the universities, students study only in their concentrated area, and very few students ever venture out-side that subject again. (46).
Part Ⅳ Reading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25 minutes)
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 identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use