2003年12月大学英语四级真题

2003年12月大学英语四级(CET-4)真题试卷

Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the

conversation and the question 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 the Answer Sheet with a single line

through the centre.

Example:

You will hear:

You will read:

A) At the office.

B) In the waiting room.

C) At the airport.

D) In a restaurant.

From the conversation we know that the two were talking about some work they had to finish in the evening. This conversation is most likely to have taken place at the office. Therefore, A) “At the office” is the best answer. Y ou should choose [A] on the Answer Sheet and mark it with a single line through the centre.

Sample Answer [A] [B] [C] [D]

1. A) The man could come some time later.

B) The size the man wants will arrive soon.

C) The size of the skirt is ail right for the man.

D) The man could buy a shirt of a different color.

2. A) The woman is filming the lake.

B) The woman is running toward the lake.

C) The woman can’t take a photo of the man.

D) The woman is watching an exciting film with the man.

3. A) It’s quiet in the restaurant.

B) The restaurant is too far from their school.

C) The price is high in the restaurant.

D) The restaurant serves good food.

4. A) On a busy street.

B) In a Hong Kong hotel.

C) At an airport.

D) At a booking office.

5. A) The woman should confirm her appointment with the doctor.

B) The woman should have seen the doctor earlier.

C) The woman’s headache will go away by itself.

D) The woman has been complaining too much.

6. A) Put off his appointment with Mr. Johnson.

B) Help move things to Mr. Johnson’s office.

C) Help the woman move the items.

D) Hurry to Mr. Johnson’s office.

7. A) The man didn’t practice hard enough.

B) The man should find a new partner.

C) The man should not give up.

D) The man should not dream of being a superstar.

8. A) It doesn’t appeal to her.

B) It’s incr edibly delicious.

C) She has already tasted it.

D) There is no more left.

9. A) The man is a diligent student.

B) The man has bad study habits.

C) The man has made a mess of his midterm exam.

D) The man is usually the last to hand in his test paper.

10. A) The man has finished Ms assignment.

B) The man is willing to help the woman.

C) The man will drive the woman to school.

D) The man is losing patience with the woman.

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 the best

answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the

corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the

centre.

Passage One

Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.

11. A) The importance of good manners.

B) The art of saying thank you.

C) The secret of staying pretty.

D) The difference between elegance and good manners.

12. A) They were willing to spend more money on clothes.

B) They paid more attention to their appearance.

C) They were more aware of changes in fashion.

D) They were nicer and gentler.

13. A) By putting on a little make-up.

B) By decorating our homes.

C) By being kind and generous.

D) By wearing fashionable clothes.

Passage T wo

Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard.

14. A) Children don’t get enough education in safety.

B) The playgrounds are in poor condition.

C) The playgrounds are overcrowded.

D) Children are keen on dangerous games.

15. A) They should help maintain the equipment.

B) They should teach their children how to use the equipment.

C) They should stop their children from climbing ladders.

D) They should keep a watchful eye on their children.

16. A) They can be creative when they feel secure.

B) They may panic in front of high playground equipment.

C) They should be aware of the potential risks in the playground.

D) They tend to stay within shouting or running distance of their parents.

Passage Three

Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.

17. A) It’s admired worldwide.

B) It takes skill.

C) It pays well.

D) It’s a full-time job.

18. A) An old lady carrying a handbag on the left.

B) A mother with a baby in her arms.

C) A woman whose bag is hanging in front.

D) A lone female with a handbag at her right side.

19. A) A side pocket of his jacket.

B) The top pocket of his jacket.

C) A side pocket of his trousers.

D) The back pocket of his tight trousers.

20. A) Clothing stores where people are relaxed and off guard.

B) Hotels and restaurants in southeast London.

C) Airports where people carry a lot of luggage.

D) Theater lobbies with uniformed security guards.

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices

marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark

the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the

centre.

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

I’m usually fairly skeptical about any research that concludes that peopl e are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of themselves than they were 50 years ago. While any of these statements might be true, they are practically impossible to prove scientifically. Still, I was struck by a report which concluded that today’s children are

significantly more anxious than children in the 1950s. In fact, the analysis showed, normal children ages 9 to 17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years ago.

Why are America’s kids so stressed? The report cites two main causes: increasing physical isolation—brought on by high divorce rates and less involvement in community, among other things—and a growing perception that the world is a more dangerous place.

Given that we can’t turn the clock back, adults can still do plenty to help the next generation cope.

At the top of the list is nurturing (培育) a better appreciation of the limits of individualism. No child is an island. Strengthening social ties helps build communities and protect individuals against stress.

To help kids build stronger connections with others, you can pull the plug on TVs and computers. Y our family will thank you later. They will have more time for face-to-face relationships, and they will get more sleep.

Limit the amount of virtual (虚拟的) violence your children are exposed to. It’s not just video games and movies; children see a lot of murder and crime on the local news.

Keep your expectations for your children reasonable. Many highly successful people never attended Harvard or Y ale.

Make exercise part of your daily routine. It will help you cope with your own anxieties and provide a good model for your kids. Sometimes anxiety is unavoidable. But it doesn’t have to ruin your life.

21. The author thinks that the conclusions of any resear ch about people’s state of mind

are ________.

A) surprising

B) confusing

C) illogical

D) questionable

22. What does the author mean when he says, “we can’t turn the clock back” (Line 1,

Para. 3)?

A) It’s impossible to slow down the pace of change.

B) The social reality children are facing cannot be changed.

C) Lessons learned from the past should not be forgotten.

D) It’s impossible to forget the past.

23. According to an analysis, compared with normal children today, children treated as

mentally ill 50 years ago ________.

A) were less isolated physically

B) were probably less self-centered

C) probably suffered less from anxiety

D) were considered less individualistic

24. The first and most important thing parents should do to help their children is

________.

A) to provide them with a safer environment

B) to lower their expectations for them

C) to get them more involved socially

D) to set a good model for them to follow

25. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?

A) Anxiety, though unavoidable, can be coped with.

B) Children’s anxiety has been enormously exaggerated.

C) Children’s anxiety can be eliminated with more parental care.

D) Anxiety, if properly controlled, may help children become mature.

Passage T wo

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

It is easier to negotiate initial salary requirement because once you are inside, the organizational constraints (约束) influence wage increases. One thing, however, is certain: your chances of getting the raise you feel you deserve are less if you don’t at least ask for it. Men tend to ask for more, and they get more, and this ho lds true with other resources, not just pay increases. Consider Beth’s story:

I did not get what I wanted when I did not ask for it. We had cubicle (小隔间) offices and window offices. I sat in the cubicles with several male colleagues. One by one they were moved into window offices, while I remained in the cubicles, several males who were hired after me also went to offices. One in particular told me he was next in line for an office and that it had been part of his negotiations for the job. I guess they thought me content to stay in the cubicles since I did not voice my opinion either way.

It would be nice if we all received automatic pay increases equal to our merit, but “nice” isn’t a quality attributed to most organizations. If you feel you deserve a signi ficant raise in pay, you’ll probably have to ask for it.

Performance is your best bargaining chip (筹码) when you are seeking a raise. Y ou must be able to demonstrate that you deserve a raise. Timing is also a good bargaining chip. If you can give your boss something he or she needs (a new client or a sizable contract, for example) just before merit pay decisions are being made, you are more likely to get the raise you want.

Use information as a bargaining chip too. Find out what you are worth on the open market.

What will someone else pay for your services?

Go into the negotiations prepared to place your chips on the table at the appropriate time and prepared to use communication style to guide the direction of the interaction.

26. According to the passage, before taking a job, a person should ________.

A) demonstrate his capability

B) give his boss a good impression

C) ask for as much money as he can

D) ask for the salary he hopes to get

27. What can be inferred from Beth’s story?

A) Prejudice against women still exists in some organizations.

B) If people want what they deserve, they have to ask for it.

C) People should not be content with what they have got.

D) People should be careful when negotiating for a job.

28. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A) unfairness exists in salary increases

B) most people are overworked and underpaid

C) one should avoid overstating one’s performance

D) most organizations give their staff automatic pay raises

29. To get a pay raise, a person should ________.

A) advertise himself on the job market

B) persuade his boss to sign a long-term contract

C) try to get inside information about the organization

D) do something to impress his boss just before merit pay decisions

30. To be successful in negotiations, one must ________.

A) meet his boss at the appropriate time

B) arrive at the negotiation table punctually

C) be good at influencing the outcome of the interaction

D) be familiar with what the boss likes and dislikes

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to Grandma’s generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and

silver, and the dress code will be Sunday-best.

But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware (粗陶)-and-stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times.

Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs—one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4,000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier.

Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company “has been somewhat slow in catching up w ith the trend” toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television;

Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of lo ng work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it’s better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a “real” dinner party. Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine-patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time?

Y et the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette (礼节) that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (“Chew with your mouth closed.” “Keep your elbows off the table.”) must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

31. The trend toward casual dining has resulted in ________.

A) bankruptcy of fine china manufacturers

B) shrinking of the pottery industry

C) restructuring of large enterprises

D) economic recession in Great Britain

32. Which of the following may be the best reason for casual dining?

A) Family members need more time to relax.

B) Busy schedules leave people no time for formality.

C) People want to practice economy in times of scarcity.

D) Y oung people won’t follow the etiquette of the older generation.

33. It can be learned from the passage that Royal Doulton is ________.

A) a retailer of stainless steel tableware

B) a dealer in stoneware

C) a pottery chain store

D) a producer of fine china

34. The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is ________.

A) the increased value of the pound

B) the economic recession in Asia

C) the change in people’s way of life

D) the fierce competition at home and abroad

35. Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life

________.

A) are still a must on certain occasions

B) axe bound to return sooner or later

C) are still being taught by parents at home

D) can help improve personal relationships

Passage Four

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects.

Located on the shore of Sullivan’s Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane (飓风) Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.

Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of bu ilding codes wasn’t strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugo’s wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan’s Island should be ab le to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.

At first sight, the house on Sullivan’s Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern (灯笼)” at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The house’s wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength.

To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings—long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm surges. The pilings allow the surges to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water come ashore at

tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.

Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed by the house’s ground-to-roof shel l. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up,” said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.

36. After the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South

Carolina’s shore line are required ________.

A) to be easily reinforced

B) to look smarter in design

C) to meet stricter building standards

D) to be designed in the shape of cubes

37. The award-winning beach house is quite strong because ________.

A) it is strengthened by steel rods

B) it is made of redwood

C) it is in the shape of a shell

D) it is built with timber and concrete

38. Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to

________.

A) withstand peak winds of about 200 km/hr

B) anchor stronger pilings deep in the sand

C) break huge sea waves into smaller ones

D) prevent water from rushing into the house

39. The main function of the shell is ________.

A) to strengthen the pilings of the house

B) to give the house a better appearance

C) to protect the wooden frame of the house

D) to slow down the speed of the swelling water

40. It can be inferred from the passage that the shell should be ________.

A) fancy-looking

B) waterproof

C) easily breakable

D) extremely strong

Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)

Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best

completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer

Sheet with a single line through the centre.

41. He asked us to ________ them in carrying through their plan.

A) provide

B) arouse

C) assist

D) persist

42. A good many proposals were raised by the delegates, ________ was to be expected.

A) that

B) what

C) so

D) as

43. He was such a ________ speaker that he held our attention every minute of the

three-hour lecture.

A) specific

B) dynamic

C) heroic

D) diplomatic

44. Arriving home, the boy told his parents about all the ________ which occurred in

his dormitory.

A) occasions

B) matters

C) incidents

D) issues

45. The opening between the rocks was very narrow, but the boys managed to ________

through.

A) press

B) squeeze

C) stretch

D) leap

46. They are trying to ________ the waste discharged by the factory for profit.

A) expose

B) exhaust

C) exhibit

D) exploit

47. The manager urged his staff not to ________ the splendid opportunity.

A) drop

B) miss

C) escape

D) slide

48. ________ I admire David as a poet, I do not like him as a man.

A) Much as

B) Only if

C) If only

D) As much

49. Because of a ________ engagement, Lora couldn’t attend my birthday party last

Saturday.

A) pioneer

B) premature

C) prior

D) past

50. The continuous rain ________ the harvesting of the wheat crop by two weeks.

A) set back

B) set off

C) set out

D) set aside

51. Not having a good command of English can be a serious ________ preventing you

from achieving your goals.

A) obstacle

B) fault

C) offense

D) distress

52. It’s very ________ of you not to talk aloud while the baby is asleep.

A) concerned

B) careful

C) considerable

D) considerate

53. Many a player who had been highly thought of has ________ from the tennis scene.

A) disposed

B) disappeared

C) discouraged

D) discarded

54. She’s fainted. Throw some water on her face and she’ll ________.

A) come round

B) come along

C) come on

D) come out

55. All their attempts to ________ the child from the burning building were in vain.

A) regain

B) recover

C) rescue

D) reserve

56. Computer technology will ________ a revolution in business administration.

A) bring around

B) bring about

C) bring out

D) bring up

57. The university has launched a research center to develop new ways of ________

bacteria which have become resistant to drug treatments.

A) regulating

B) halting

C) interrupting

D) combating

58. The ________ goal of the book is to help bridge the gap between research and

teaching, particularly the gap between researchers and teachers.

A) joint

B) intensive

C) overall

D) decisive

59. The rapid development of communications technology is transforming the

________ in which people communicate across time and space.

A) route

B) transmission

C) vision

D) manner

60. When I go out in the evening I use the bike ________ the car if I can.

A) rather than

B) regardless of

C) in spite of

D) other than

61. There is no ________ evidence that people can control their dreams, at least in

experimental situations in a lab.

A) rigid

B) solid

C) smooth

D) harsh

62. Every culture has developed ________ for certain kinds of food and drink, and

equally strong negative attitudes toward others.

A) preferences

B) expectations

C) fantasies

D) fashions

63. It is reported that Uruguay understands and ________ China on human rights issues.

A) grants

B) changes

C) abandons

D) backs

64. Only a few people have ________ to the full facts of the incident.

A) access

B) resort

C) contact

D) path

65. His trousers ________ when he tried to jump over the fence.

A) cracked

B) split

C) broke

D) burst

66. So far, ________ winds and currents have kept the thick patch of oil southeast of the

Atlantic coast.

A) governing

B) blowing

C) prevailing

D) ruling

67. The author was required to submit an ________ of about 200 words together with

his research paper.

A) edition

B) editorial

C) article

D) abstract

68. As the old empires were broken up and new states were formed, new official

tongues began to ________ at an increasing rate.

A) bring up

B) build up

C) spring up

D) strike up

69. Many patients insist on having watches with them in hospital, ________ they have

no schedules to keep.

A) even though

B) for

C) as if

70. Some plants are very ________ to light; they prefer the shade.

A) sensible

B) flexible

C) objective

D) sensitive

Part IV Cloze (15 minutes)

Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D) on the right side of the paper. You should

choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the

corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the

centre.

It’s an annual back-to-school routine. One morning you wave goodbye, and that __71__ evening you’re burning the late-night oil in sympathy. In the race to improve educational standards, __72__ are throwing the books at kids. __73__ elementary school students are complaining of homework __74__. What’s a well-meaning parent to do?

As hard as __75__ may be, sit back and chill, expe rts advise. Though you’ve got to get them to do it, __76__ helping too much, or even examining __77__ too carefully, you

themselves. “I wouldn’t advise a parent to check

John Rose mond, author Of Ending the

for trial and error. Let your

look over the work of younger children

don’t want them to feel it has to be

—first, they should monitor how

a day in the early elementary years

standard, says Rosemond. For junior-high

hour and a half,” and two for high-school

than this, you may want to check __89__ other parents and then talk to the teacher about __90__ assignment

71. A) very

B) exact

C) right

D) usual

72. A) officials

B) parents

D) schools

73. A) Also

B) Even

C) Then

D) However

74. A) fatigue

B) confusion

C) duty

D) puzzle

75. A) there

B) we

C) they

D) it

76. A) via

B) under

C) by

D) for

77. A) questions

B) answers

C) standards

D) rules

78. A) off

B) without

C) beyond

D) from

79. A) single

B) piece

C) page

D) other

80. A) drop

C) cut

D) lack

81. A) acquire

B) earn

C) gather

D) reach

82. A) exercises

B) defects

C) mistakes

D) tests

83. A) perfect

B) better

C) unusual

D) complete

84. A) forget

B) refuse

C) miss

D) ignore

85. A) have

B) prepare

C) make

D) perform

86. A) classes

B) groups

C) grades

D) terms

87. A) about

B) no

C) much

D) few

88. A) previously

B) rarely

C) merely

D) consistently

89. A) with

B) in

C) out

D) up

90. A) finishing

B) lowering

C) reducing

D) declining

Part V Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter in reply to a friend’s inquiry about applying for admission to your college or university.

You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below in

Chinese:

1. 建议报考的专业及理由

2. 报考该专业的基本条件

3. 应当如何备考

A Letter in Reply to a Friend

December 27th, 2003 Dear,

___________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2003年12月四级参考答案20 / 20 2003年12月四级参考答案

Part I