2011年12月英语四级真题及答案

2011 年 12 月英语四级真题及答案 Part Ⅰ Writing (30 minutes) 注意：此部分试题在答题卡 1 上． For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong Will by commenting on the humorous saying, "Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I've done it hundreds of times." You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) Why Integrity Matters What is Integrity? The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation. What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals. Risky Business We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decisionmaking process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future. Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense. "But Everybody Does It" Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they're taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions. To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself. Evaluating Risks To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; suspension or dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category. Getting Away With It--Or Not Those who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys selfesteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works. Cheating Hurts Others, Too Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but ⑧.a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree. Why Integrity Matters If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. ⑨.We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, ⑩.Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education. In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live. 1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______。 A) sticks to them in their daily life B) makes them known to others C) understands their true values D) sees that others also follow them 2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships? A) It helps to create team spirit B) It facilitates communication C) It is the basis of mutual trust D) It inspires mutual respect 3. Why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take? A. To ensure we make responsible choices B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress C. so that we don’t break any rules D. so that we don’t run into trouble 4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______ A. it has caused no harm B. it is claimed to be unintentional C. it has gone unnoticed D. it is committed with good intentions 5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself? A. Avoid making excuses B. Listen to other people’s advice C. Make his intensions public D. Have others watch over his shoulder 6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______。 A. will often become more cautious B. are usually very aggressive C. value immediate benefits most D. may lose everything in the end 7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______ A. pay more dearly B. become more confident C. be widely admired D. feel somewhat lucky 8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to _______ 9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s _________________________ 10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of _______ Part III Listening Comprehension Section A 11. A. Read the notice on the window B. Get a new bus schedule C. Go and ask the staff D. Board the bus to Cleveland 12. A. He was looking forward to seeing the giraffes. B. He enjoyed watching the animal performance. C. He got home too late to see the TV special D. He fell asleep in the middle of the TV program. 13. A. She wants to take the most direct way. B. She may be late for the football game. C. She is worried about missing her flight. D. She is currently caught in a traffic jam. 14. A. At a restaurant B. In a fish shop C. At a clinic D. On a fishing boat 15. A. He is an experienced sales manager. B. He is being interviewed for a job. C. He is a close friend of the woman. D. He is good at answering tricky questions. 16. A. The man should consider his privacy first. B. The man will choose a low-rent apartment. C. The man is not certain if he can find a quieter place D. The man is unlikely to move out of the dormitory. 17. A. The woman is going to make her topic more focused. B. The man and woman are working on a joint project. C. One should choose a broad topic for a research paper. D. It tool a lot of time to get the man on the right track. 18. A. They went camping this time last year. B. They didn’t quite enjoy their last picnic. C. They learned to cooperate under harsh conditions. D. They weren’t experienced in organizing picnics. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. A. H e likes Sweden better than England. B. He prefers hot weather to cold weather. C. He is an Englishman living in Sweden. D. He visits London nearly every winter. 20. A. The bad weather B. The gloomy winter C. The cold houses D. The long night 21. A. Delightful B. Painful C. Depressing D. Refreshing 22. A. They often stay up late reading B. They work hard and play hard C. They like to go camping in summer D. They try to earn more and spend more Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 23. A. English Literature B. Management C. French D. Public Administration 24. A. English teaching B. Staff training C. Careers guidance D. Psychological counseling 25. A. Its generous scholarships B. Its worldwide fame C. Its well-designed courses D. Its pleasant environment Section B Passage One 26. A. Characteristics of Japanese artists B. Some features of Japanese culture C. The art of Japanese brush painting D. The uniqueness of Japanese art 27. A. To calm themselves down B. To enhance concentration C. To show their impatience D. To signal lack of interest 28. A. How listeners in different cultures show respect B. How speakers can win approval from the audience C. How speakers can misunderstand the audience D. How different Western and Eastern art forms are Passage Two 29. A. Directing personnel evaluation B. Buying and maintaining equipment C. Drawing up plans for in-service training D. Interviewing and recruiting employees 30. A. Some of his equipment was damaged in a fire B. The training program he ran was a failure C. Two of his workers were injured at work D. Two of his employees committed theft 31. A. A better relationship with his boss B. Advancement to a higher position C. A better-paying job in another company D. Improvement in the