2011年12月大学英语四级考试模拟试题(一)

英语自学网 · 发表于 2016-7-11 20:18:00

　　Part I Writing (30 minutes)
　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic “Education: Examination-Oriented or Quality-Oriented”. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:
　　1. 应试教育现状及其原因;
　　2. 素质教育的优点;
　　3. 你的观点。
　　Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)
　　Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly. 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.
　　Selling Expertise on the Internet for Extra Cash
　　Teresa Estes, a licensed mental-health counselor, watched as business at her private practice decreased last year. Then the single mother turned to her keyboard to boost her income.
　　Ms. Estes applied to become an “expert” on LivePerson Inc., a Web site where clients pay for online chat time with professionals and advisers of all fields. For $1.89 a minute — a rate she set — the 39-year-old from Marianna, Fla., dispenses advice to clients around the globe. She spends about four hours a day online, often at night, when her daughter has gone to bed.
　　“It was the economy,” she says of her move to take her skills online. “Live Person is more profitable than my private practice.” Ms. Estes had charged her private clients up to $75 an hour.
　　As the recession deepens, a small but growing number of people are taking their skills online, offering expertise or performing specified tasks for a fee. Labor-at-the-keyboard sites are gaining popularity as people increasingly turn to the Web in search of work. Internet job-search sites saw a 51% rise in traffic from January 2008 to January 2009, according to comScore Media Metrix, to 26.7 million unique visitors.

enfive · 发表于 2016-7-11 21:07:26

　　Among the many fee-for-service Web sites out there, at least three are attracting a significant number of users — though consumers should exercise a healthy degree of skepticism when consulting any of these sites. Live Person seeks out experts on a slew of topics, including mental health, financial services, shopping and fashion, as well as psychics and spiritual advisers. Mechanical Turk, a Web service run by Amazon.com Inc., pays workers to perform tasks, such as cataloging products online. Associated Content pays contributors to write articles on a wide range of subjects, from organic flower gardening to how to apply for financial aid.
　　Live Person went public in 2001, and the current version of the site was launched in late 2007. Today, the site has 30,000 registered experts, attracting an average of 100,000 people a year who pay for the offered services, says Chief Executive Officer Robert LoCascio. Roughly 3,500 people have made contributing to the site their full-time job, he says.
　　Live Person says it vets contributors’ qualifications, such as medical licenses or financial certification, through a third party, and relies heavily on its community reviews. Some 200 people a day apply to be Live Person experts, up from 120 a year ago, says Mr. LoCascio. Once cleared, advisers work with clients on a cost-per-minute basis set by the adviser. The site takes a commission of between 30% and 35%.
　　Associated Content, by contrast, reviews submissions in house and then decides how much to pay for them. The site, which specializes in how-to pieces and feature stories on news topics, had 237,000 registered contributors and more than one million content pieces as of February, both about double from the same month a year ago.
　　After posting the content, the site sells advertisements against it and distributes it to other companies, such as online shoe retailer Zappos, which use the content on their own Web sites. If Associated Content accepts a submission (it says it rejects about 25% of them), the author gets between $5 and $30, plus $1.50 for each 1,000 page views. An ability to write “search-engine-optimized” content, an industry term for generating good Google results, helps, says site founder Luke Beatty.
　　People are not only looking for payment but also establishing their credentials “as somebody with experience”, he says. Writing about a specific profession, such as law or real estate, helps raise a person’s profile online, enhancing his job searches, says Mr. Beatty.
　　Sabah Karimi, a 26-year-old from Orlando, Fla., left a career in marketing to become a full-time freelance writer and now spends between 8 and 10 hours a week writing for Associated Content. She has been at it for about three years and says she earns roughly $1,000 a month from her past and current submissions.
　　Ms. Karimi cautions newcomers to Associated Content that it takes time to build up earnings. She says she learned how to write articles that would bring traffic and often looks for newsy ideas that will attract readers.

enthree · 发表于 2016-7-11 21:19:05

　　Mechanical Turk, by contrast, is based on “crowd sourcing”, or breaking a task into lots of tiny pieces and giving it to a big group of people to complete quickly. Most of these jobs — which the site calls HITs, for human intelligence tasks — pay just a few cents. Efficient MTurkers, as they call themselves, can make more than $100 a week doing things such as finding someone’s email address or labeling images of a particular animal in a photograph.
　　Amazon says that MTurk now has 200,000 workers from 100 different countries, but it doesn’t keep track of past figures.
　　The site — named for an 18th-century stunt involving a turbaned chess-playing “machine” with an actual chess master hidden within — began as a way to help Amazon manage its product database, says Sharon Chiarella, vice president of Amazon Mechanical Turk. Amazon uses the site to help sort images and content, paying people a few cents a task. Mechanical Turk also serves a variety of companies who need Web tasks performed, especially those that require a human element. Test-prep startup Knewton Inc., for example, uses it extensively for focus-group-type tasks, as well as enlisting people to take its practice tests.
　　Keri Knutson, a mother of five from Independence, La., discovered Mechanical Turk when her eldest son was headed for college. Ms. Knutson, now 45, needed money for his tuition and fees. She took on all kinds of low-paying but easy tasks at the beginning, from finding a place to purchase a specific item to identifying the name of a street in a photograph.
　　People looking to make money online as fee-for-service experts should read the fine print. Live Person has one of the more formal payment systems, requiring users to sign up for an account before talking with an expert. Some sites, including Associated Content and Mechanical Turk, reserve the right to refuse payment if a task is not completed satisfactorily.
　　Most sites have a robust community of workers who regularly offer one another tips on which tasks pay the best. Mechanical Turk users have an independent site called Turker Nation (turkers.proboards80.com), which reviews the companies that solicit (索求) and pay for tasks so that workers can check a company’s record before taking on a task.
　　Consumers who use these sites also need to exercise caution. Relying on legal or medical advice from an unknown online source has obvious drawbacks, and the Web sites acknowledge that some users have registered complaints about the advice offered on the sites. LivePerson warns consumers to offer their financial and personal details with care.
　　For the workers on these sites, even incremental sources of income are helpful these days. Ms. Knutson now spends the majority of her time transcribing Web audio and video for clients, earning about $250 a week for 30 hours of work. She says she has seen more competition lately but is determined to keep up her weekly pace.
　　“If I didn’t have this money,” she says, “we’d be struggling to find what to eat every week.”

enfive · 发表于 2016-7-11 22:01:51

　　1. What is the passage mainly talking about?
　　A) The economic recession will last a few years.
　　B) More people are taking their skills online to make money.
　　C) Asking for advice through the Internet is a good way to solve your problems.
　　D) People shouldn’t release their financial and personal details online.
　　2. Live Person Inc. is a Web site where ___________.
　　A) people chat with each other and make friends freely
　　B) professionals and advisers help others for free
　　C) people pay money for applying to become an expert
　　D) clients pay for online chat time with professionals and advisers
　　3. Why are labor-at-the-keyboard sites gaining popularity?
　　A) Because people love to work on the Internet.
　　B) Because more people are finding jobs on the Internet.
　　C) Because people are being asked to work on the Internet.
　　D) Because working on the Internet is easier than other ways of working.
　　4. How much will an expert get through Live Person if a client pays $10?
　　A) $3 to $3.5. B) $10. C) $6.5 to $7. D) $5.
　　5. Mechanical Turk originated as a method to _________.
　　A) label images of a particular animal in a photograph
　　B) serve a variety of companies who need Web tasks performed
　　C) help Amazon manage its product database
　　D) find someone’s email address
　　6. What does Turker Nation do?
　　A) It reserves the right to refuse payment if a task is not completed satisfactorily.
　　B) It relies on legal or medical advice from an unknown online source.
　　C) It registers complaints about the advice offered on the site.
　　D) It reviews the companies that solicit and pay for tasks.
　　7. What does Ms. Knutson spend the majority of her time doing?
　　A) Finding a place to purchase a specific item.

enthree · 发表于 2016-7-11 22:32:05

　　B) Identifying the name of a street in a photograph.
　　C) Transcribing Web audio and video for clients.
　　D) Struggling to find what to eat every week.
　　8. Associated Content pays contributors to write articles on a wide range of subjects, from organic flower gardening to how to ______________.
　　9. Live Person says it vets contributors’ qualifications through a third party, and relies heavily on its _______.
　　10. Amazon says that MTurk now has 200,000 workers from ______________.
　　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.
　　11. A) It will be better to say nothing to Paul.
　　B) Paul himself will come to talk to them.
　　C) The man should be the one to speak to Paul.
　　D) The man should replace the radio before she talks to Paul.
　　12. A) Not give any suggestions to Jack.
　　B) Not see Jack any more.
　　C) Not listen to Jack’s words.
　　D) Not save his words on Jack.
　　13. A) They should give up talking.
　　B) They should both make a compromise.
　　C) They can meet next time.
　　D) They are both halfway.
　　14. A) He likes rings very much.
　　B) He often burns holes in his new coats.
　　C) He’s very extravagant with money.
　　D) He is very poor.
　　15. A) She missed the bus.
　　B) She caught the bus.
　　C) She got up five minutes earlier than usual.

entwo · 发表于 2016-7-11 23:05:39

　　D) She likes getting up early in the morning.
　　16. A) In the library.
　　B) In the college bookstore.
　　C) At a news-stand.
　　D) At a department store.
　　17. A) Teacher and student.
　　B) Doctor and patient.
　　C) Manager and office worker.
　　D) Travel agent and customer.
　　18. A) Move the washing machine to the basement.
　　B) Turn the basement into a workshop.
　　C) Repair the washing machine.
　　D) Finish her assignment.
　　Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
　　19. A) She will go to see her brother.
　　B) She will go to Hawaii with her family.
　　C) She will stay at home with her family.
　　D) She will find a part-time job.
　　20. A) Very exciting. B) Too bad.
　　C) Very boring. D) Not too bad.
　　21. A) A new bicycle. B) A new dictionary.
　　C) A new computer. D) A new cellphone.
　　Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
　　22. A) She has a good chance to study abroad but she doesn’t have enough money.
　　B) Her parents don’t want her to go too far away from them.
　　C) She won’t have as many vacations as she has as a student.
　　D) She wants to study abroad but she has been offered a good job.

enfour · 发表于 2016-7-12 00:40:45

　　23. A) It is not as good as studying abroad.
　　B) He thinks being a teacher is boring.
　　C) It is a good opportunity.
　　D) He thinks the salary for the job is too low.
　　24. A) Asking her friends for advice.
　　B) Making the choice by herself.
　　C) Asking her parents for advice.
　　D) Asking her teachers for advice.
　　25. A) Choose to be an English teacher.
　　B) Give up both opportunities.
　　C) Study overseas.
　　D) Teach English for a few years before going abroad.
　　■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).
　　Passage One
　　Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.
　　26. A) About 40%. B) About 46%. C) About 80%. D) About 54%.
　　27. A) People in South Korea are no longer interested in Hollywood movies.
　　B) It is much cheaper to see a local movie than a Hollywood one.
　　C) Hollywood’s films are not as good as before.
　　D) South Korea’s film industry has developed a lot.
　　28. A) They are releasing the movies first in America and then in other countries.
　　B) They are releasing the movies in America and other countries at the same time.
　　C) They send people who sell illegally copied movies to court.
　　D) They encourage people to buy legal DVDs by giving a high discount.
　　29. A) Many people believe that DVDs are not of good quality.
　　B) People are more likely to get movies from the Internet.
　　C) Some people think that DVDs are very expensive.

entwo · 发表于 2016-7-12 01:56:30

　　D) People like watching TV better than watching DVDs.
　　Passage Two
　　Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.
　　30. A) Once. B) Twice.
　　C) Three times. D) Four times.
　　31. A) He was the president with the longest presidency.
　　B) He led the American people through the Great Depression.
　　C) He led the American people through the First World War.
　　D) He was the most influential president in American history.
　　32. A) On April 12, 1944. B) On April 12, 1945.
　　C) On July 12, 1944. D) On July 12, 1945.
　　Passage Three
　　Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
　　33. A) Cooking food. B) Boiling water.
　　C) Killing bacteria. D) Generating electricity.
　　34. A) The parabolic cooker. B) The panel cooker.
　　C) The box cooker. D) It’s not mentioned.
　　35. A) Solar Cookers
　　B) How to Use Solar Ovens
　　C) How to Cook Meals
　　D) How to Choose Solar Ovens
　　■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.
　　Some people’s ears produce wax like busy little bees. This can be a problem even though earwax appears to serve an important purpose. Experts say it protects and cleans the ear. It (36)_______ dirt and other matter and keeps (37)_______ out. Doctors think it might also help protect against (38)_______. And the waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry. So earwax is good. It even has a medical name: cerumen. There are two kinds of cerumen. Most people of (39)_______ or African ancestry have the “wet” kind: thick and (40)_______. East Asians commonly have “dry” earwax.
　　But you can have too much of a good thing. The glands in the ear canal that produce the wax make too much in some people. Earwax is normally (41)_______; it falls out of the ear or gets washed away. But extra wax can (42)_______ and form a blockage that (43)_______ with sound waves and reduces hearing. (44)_____________________
　　_______________________. Earwax removal is sometimes necessary. But you have to use a safe method or you could do a lot of damage.

enthree · 发表于 2016-7-12 02:51:20

　　Experts suggest some ways to treat excessive earwax yourself. (45)_________________________. Another way to remove wax is known as irrigation. With the head upright, take hold of the outer part of the ear. Gently pull upward to straighten the ear canal. (46)__________________
　　____________________________. Then turn the head to the side to let the water out.
　　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. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
　　Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.
　　Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its 47 lie mainly in blues, rhythm and blues, country, folk, gospel, and jazz. The style subsequently spread to the rest of the world and developed further, leading ultimately to 48 rock music.
　　The term “rock and roll” now covers at least two different meanings, both in common usage. The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary both 49 rock and roll as synonymous with rock music.
　　50 , Allwords.com defines the term as referring specifically to the music of the 1950s.
　　Classic rock and roll is 51 played with one or two electric guitars, a string bass or an electric bass guitar, and a drum kit. In the 52 rock and roll styles of the late 1940s, either the piano or saxophone was often the lead instrument, but these were generally 53 or supplemented by the guitar in the middle to late 1950s.
　　The massive popularity and eventual worldwide view of rock and roll gave it a 54 social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll, as seen in movies and in the new medium of television, 55 lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. It went on to spawn various sub-genres, often without the initially 56 backbeat, that are now more commonly called simply “rock music” or “rock”.
　　A) define I) followed
　　B) characteristic J) modern
　　C) unique K) explanation
　　D) roots L) Conversely
　　E) usually M) replaced
　　F) Basically N) prepare
　　G) earliest O) seldom
　　H) influenced

entwo · 发表于 2016-7-12 03:06:01

　　■Section B
　　Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished sentences. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice.
　　Passage One
　　Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.
　　According to a report, around 30,000 pupils started secondary school last year with the math skills of a seven-year-old. MPs (国会议员) warned that many young people would need “expensive” remedial lessons in later life to get a job — posing major problems for the economy. The findings came just months after Ofsted(教育标准办公室)claimed almost half of math lessons in English schools were not good enough. It said many teachers relied on textbooks and mundane exercises to make sure pupils passed exams at the expense of a proper understanding of the subject. MPs backed the conclusions, saying too many pupils found lessons “boring”. They insisted improvements had been made under Labor but achievement had “leveled off” in recent years.
　　In 2008, 79 percent of pupils met the Government’s expected standard at the end of primary school, well short of the 85 percent target set for 2006. Around five percent moved to secondary school with the math skills of a seven- year-old, said the committee. In 2006, ￡2.3 billion was spent teaching the subject. It equates to around a quarter of the ￡10 billion total budget for primary teaching and support staff.
　　The report said the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) needed to “radically rethink its strategy for improving pupil attainment; otherwise we seriously doubt that the department will meet its 2011 target”. The target demands that 84.5 percent of pupils will make the necessary progress between 7 and 11.
　　Last year, the DCSF published a major review of math education in England to boost standards. It called for a math specialist in every primary school within 10 years and more emphasis on mathematical “play” in nursery schools. Mr. Leigh said, “The department’s 10-year program to train 13,000 specialist math teachers will not benefit some primary schools for another decade. That’s far too long; the department needs to look for ways to accelerate the program.” Sarah McCarthy Fry, the Schools Minister, said, “We have already accepted the main recommendation from a recent independent review of primary math that every school should have a specialist math teacher and have pledged ￡24 million over the next three years for a training program for teachers.”
　　Nick Gibb, the Tory shadow schools secretary, said, “The Government is not getting value for the money they have piled into education and the country is falling behind in international league tables as a result. The Government has failed to replace methods of teaching which have failed with tried and tested methods used in countries that have much higher levels of math achievement.”

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