Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)

　　Section A Conversations

　　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.

　　1. A)He watched television with his friend.

　　B)He stayed at home talking with his friend.

　　C)He went to see a film with his friend.

　　D)He went to see his schoolmate.

　　2. A)A sunny day.B)A raincoat.

　　C)An attractive hut.D)A lovely hat.

　　3. A)$5.B)$6.C)$4.9.D)$15.

　　4. A)They are sorry to finish their friendship.

　　B)They are happy that the semester is finished.

　　C)They are going to climb a mountain.

　　D)They are talking about a test.

　　5. A)April.B)May.C)June.D)July.

　　6. A)He had to travel by train.

　　B)He broke the speed limit.

　　C)He made an improper turn.

　　D)He slowed down at the wrong time.

　　7. A)Mary.B)Paul.

　　C)Jim.D)The bakery.

　　8. A)Once every week.B)Twice every week.

　　C)Three or four times every week.

　　D)Five times every week.

　　9. A)The job is tiring.

　　B)The job is low paying.

　　C)The job is interesting.

　　D)The job is demanding.

　　10. A)His car is in good condition.

　　B)He is willing to lend them the car.

　　C)He prefers to go on foot.

　　D)He will take them if he can.

　　Section B Passages

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

　　11. A)He was a tax collector.

　　B)He was a government official.

　　C)He was once a friend of the ruler.

　　D)He was once a school teacher in India.

　　12. A)To reward outstanding tax collectors.

　　B)To declare new ways of collecting tax.

　　C)To collect money from the persons invited.

　　D)To entertain those who had made great contributions to the government.

　　13. A)They were excused from paying income tax.

　　B)They were given some silver and gold coins by the ruler.

　　C)They tried to collect more money than the ruler asked for.

　　D)They enjoyed being invited to dinner at the ruler's palace.

　　Passage Two

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

　　14. A)They liked travelling.

　　B)The reasons are unknown.

　　C)They were driven out of their homes.

　　D)They wanted to find a better place to live in.

　　15. A)They are unfriendly to Gypsies.

　　B)They admire the musical talent of the Gypsies.

　　C)They are envious of Gypsies.

　　D)They try to put up with Gypsies.

　　16. A)They are now taught in their own language.

　　B)They are now allowed to attend local schools.

　　C)Special schools have been set up for them.

　　D)Permanent homes have been built for them.

　　Passage Three

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

　　17. A)They will be much bigger.

　　B)They will have more seats.

　　C)They will have three wheels.

　　D)They will need intelligent drivers.

　　18. A)It doesn't need to be refueled.

　　B)It will use solar energy as fuel.

　　C)It will be driven by electrical power.

　　D)It will be more suitable for long distance travel.

　　19. A)Passengers in the car may be seated facing one another.

　　B)The front seats will face forward and the back seats backward.

　　C)Special seats will be designed for children.

　　D)More seats will be added.

　　20. A)Choose the right route.

　　B)Refuel the car regularly.

　　C)Start the engine.

　　D)Tell the computer where he / she wants to go.

　　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.

　　Passage One

　　Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

　　Now here is a bright idea: when 12.5 percent of your people are out of work, just have everybody work a few hours less a week and you will suddenly create more jobs. Sure, people will have less money-but they'll have more time to spend it. Unemployment declines, and economy revives.

　　If this sounds ridiculous it is the pride and joy of the French Labor Minister: a way to replace the vicious circle of unemployment with the "virtuous circle" of more, better work and increased leisure time.

　　Women already make up 85 percent of all part time workers. For most, working less is far from a blessing. The majority has it imposed on them. Their position in the workplace is deteriorating. With unemployment on the rise, women are subject to hints from traditionalists who believe that they block higher (male) employment. One important Government adviser says:"There are large numbers of women at work who are spending a lot of money now on child care, and who we think would be happy to work less." In truth, part-time work hasn't done much to ease the stresses of working women and their families. Because they often work random hours, women who work reduced schedules don't necessarily get time to spend with their children.

　　By supporting a reduction of the workweek, the government is in part playing with widespread voter anxiety over declining French"family values". And, in part, it is spooning out a little sugar to help the bitter medicine of budgetary severity to go down. It is also simply desperate. "We've come up with no other solutions," admits a close adviser to the government.

　　The adviser certainly meant that there are no politically appealing solutions. If the reduction of the workweek is going to become a reality, somebody is going to have to agree to earn less money. But people with some measure of financial security are unwilling to give it up for those without. Some French laborers chose to be fired than accept working just a few hours a day, since they can get a big portion of their salaries on France's generous unemployment program.

　　21. The first sentence of the passage "here is a bright idea" tells us that the author is being________.

　　A) ironicalB) critical

　　C) objective D) emotional

　　22. What is the most likely interpretation for "virtuous circle" to replace the vicious circle in the second paragraph?

　　A) It's a play on words-they sound so similar.

　　B) Women can both work and enjoy family life.

　　C) Women can work more both at home and outside.

　　D) Women become more virtuous staying at home.

　　23. What is the real reason for the French government to reduce the workweek for women?

　　A) Women are spending much money on baby-sitting.

　　B) Women are willing to work part-time.

　　C) There are not enough jobs around.

　　D) Working less is a blessing for women.

　　24. The most appropriate interpretation for the first two sentences in the fourth paragraph is that the French government________.

　　A)does not take seriously the voters' concern for the declining family values

　　B) cannot offer any effective medicine to save the declining family values

　　C) has come to the end of its resources and is therefore desperate

　　D) pretends to be doing something good to make people accept its tight budget

　　25. Why do the French workers prefer to be out of work rather than working just a few hours a day?

　　A) Because they are willing to earn less money.

　　B) Because they have some measure of financial security.

　　C) Because the unemployment program pays them enough money.

　　D) Because there is nothing they can do about the situation.

　　Passage Two

　　Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

　　Rodney Mace, 35, is married with two young children, and is a part-time teacher of architectural history." I am constantly surprised by other people's surprise, when they come to the house and see me cleaning a floor or hanging out the washing. Their eyes open wide at the sight of it! Much of the comment comes from men, but I am even more surprised at the number of women who comment too.

　　His wife Jane, an Oxford graduate in modern languages, has a demanding full-time job. She is director of the Cambridge House literacy scheme for adults in South London. Her working week involves several evenings and Saturdays, and at these times her husband is in sole charge of home and family. Apart from this, they share household jobs and employ a child-minder for the afternoons. This enables him teach two days a week and to do what he considers his principal work-writing. He has written several books and spends much of his time in the British Museum Reading Room, cycling there from his home in Brixton.

　　People ask the Maces if they think that their children miss them. One can argue that satisfied parents generally have satisfied children, but in any case the Maces are careful to reserve time and energy to play with their children. "And they have now developed relationships with other adults and children."

　　Previously, Rodney Mace worked full-time and Jane only part-time. Then 18 months ago, the director of file literacy scheme left."It seemed to me that Jane was very well suited to do this job. She was very doubtful about it. But I urged her to apply. She did, and she got it."Jane Mace confirms that she needed this encouragement, as so many women initially do.

　　Did his male ego suffer from the change-over? Nothing like that occurred. But he still seems amazed at the way it changed his thinking. "I felt that we were finally going to be partners. I felt enormous relief. I wasn't avoiding responsibility, but changing it. Our relationship is so much better now. It has been a change for the good for both of us-I think for all of us, in every aspect of our lives, I cannot overemphasize that: in every aspect, I think it is fundamental that the woman works. The idea of equal partnership is an illusion if one partner doesn't work."

　　26. The word "ego" in the last paragraph can be substituted for________.

　　A) self-esteemB) self-confidence

　　C) self-service D) self-pity

　　27. The article is about a couple whose married life is happier because________.

　　A) they have a truly equal partnership

　　B) their home is a good one

　　C) they earn more money

　　D) the wife has a full time job

　　28. Jane finally decided to apply for her present job because________.

　　A) she thought she had better qualifications than others

　　B) her husband had persuaded her to

　　C) it was very well paid

　　D) some of her friends had encouraged her to

　　29. It is implied in the passage that________.

　　A) the Maces believe a good career is even more important than their family life

　　B) Rodney's children are quite happy with the family situation

　　C) even capable women sometimes need encouragement from their families

　　D) the practice of sharing household jobs between husband and wife is common-place in London

　　30. We can infer from the passage that a change-over of roles in the family____ __.

　　A) is quite necessary in modern life

　　B) is probably based on some practical reasons

　　C) aims solely at a complete emancipation of women

　　D) shows women are not necessarily inferior to men

　　Passage Three

　　Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

　　Researchers generally agree that acid rain arises primarily from the burning of coal and oil. The emissions(散发物) contain oxides of nitrogen and sulfur(硫磺), which can be carried hundreds of miles on the prevailing westernly winds. They eventually return to earth as dry gases and particulates and react with ground waters to form nitride or sulfuric acid. They may also be converted to the acids in the atmosphere by chemical processes that are still not fully understood.

　　However the acids are formed, they have already been charged with a substantial list of damages. Corrosion(腐蚀) of metal structures in windward areas of the country has been well-documented, but is a relatively minor entry on the list. Other forms of damage are far more insidious and longer-lasting. There is evidence, for example, that the acids leach heavy metal-aluminum, lead, and mercury-from the soil, which then poison plant roots and deprive them of vital nutrients. In lakes and rivers the acid alters the blood chemistry in fish. The metals, meanwhile, irreversibly damage the gill systems of certain species, such as bass and walleye. As the concentration of poison rises, egg hatching is reduced and the number of deformed embryos(胚胎) increases.

　　Effects of acid rain are more severe in the eastern part of the country, for two reasons. First, most coal burning occurs in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana, according to Eville Gorham, professor of ecology and botany at the University of Minnesota and a modern pioneer in the study of acid rain. These states produce about a quarter of all U. S. sulfur oxide emissions, he told this year's American Chemical society meeting in Las Vegas, and the airborne particulates tend to wind up in the Northeast.

　　The second reason is the varying chemical makeup of North American soils. Western soils are relatively rich in neutralizing compounds like magnesium and calcium carbonates, but the coarse, shallow eastern soils have much less of this buffering capacity. Together, these factors explain what Gorham calls a "pool of acid air pollution" over the Northeast that is strongly suspected of having killed or injured aquatic life in more than 200 lakes in New York's Adirondack region.

　　31. Which of the following is the primary reason for the formation of acid rain?

　　A) Chemical processes in the atmosphere.

　　B) Dry gases and particulates.

　　C) The burning of coal and oil.

　　D) The prevailing wind.

　　32. The least serious damage caused by acid rain is________.

　　A) poisoning of plant roots

　　B) leaching of heavy metals

　　C) changing the blood chemistry in fish

　　D) corrosion of metal structures

　　33. The damaging effects of acid rain are felt less in the West because________.

　　A) western parts produce much less than a quarter of sulfur oxide emissions

　　B) western soils can neutralize the acid

　　C) westernly wind spread participants out of the western regions

　　D) chemical industry is less developed in the western states

　　34. The airborne particulates tend to wind up in the Northeast. "Airborne" here means ________.

　　A) produced by airB) emerged in the air

　　C) floating D) polluting

　　35. According to the passage, acid rain ________.

　　A) adds minerals to the grain

　　B) travels with the prevailing westernly wind

　　C) leads to birth defects in fish

　　D) and its formation have been fully understood

　　Passage Four

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

　　Everyone seems to be in favor of progress. But"progress" is a funny word. It doesn't necessarily mean that something has become stronger, wiser or better. It simply means changing it from being one thing to another and sometimes it turns out to be worse than before.

　　Consider medicine, for instance. No one can deny that medical progress has enriched our lives tremendously. Because of medical advancements, we eat better, live easier and are able to take care of ourselves more efficiently. We can cure disease with no more than one injection or a pill. If we have a serious accident, surgeons can put us back together again. If we are born with something defective, they can repair it. They can make us happy, restore our normality, ease our pain, replace worn parts and give us children. They can even bring us back from the dead. These are wonderful achievements, but there is a price we have to pay.

　　Because medicine has reduced infant mortality and natural death so significantly, the population has been rising steadily, in spite of serious efforts to reduce the rate of population growth. Less than a century ago in the United States, infant mortality claimed more than half of the newborn within the first year of life.

　　Medical advances, however, have now reduced that rate to nearly zero. A child born in the United States today has better than a 90% chance of survival. Furthermore, medical advances have ensured that most of those infants will live to be seventy years of age or more, and even that life expectancy increases every year. The result of this progress is an enormous population increase that threatens the quality of life, brought about by progress in the medical profession.

　　36. According to the passage,"progress"doesn't mean that________.

　　A) something has become stronger and better

　　B) something has been changed from being one thing to another

　　C) something has become funny

　　D) something turns out to be worse than before

　　37. The children born in the United States today________.

　　A) have a higher chance of survival than those in other countries

　　B) have as much chance of survival as before

　　C) will certainly live to be more than 70 years old

　　D) have a higher chance of survival

　　38."A price we have to pay"in the last sentence of Paragraph 2 means________.

　　A) something we have to lose or suffer

　　B) a large sum of money

　　C) something very expensive

　　D) something desirable

　　39. This passage implies that population increase is________.

　　A) not beneficial B) helpful

　　C) threatening D) dangerous

　　40. The main idea of the passage is that ________.

　　A) progress doesn't always bring about an improvement

　　B) modern medicine has made our lives better in some ways

　　C) the growth in population is partly the result of medical progress

　　D) progress is too difficult to understand

　　Part III Vocabulary and Structure (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.

　　41. Columbus discovered America but did not________the new continent.

　　A) discover B) display

　　C) explore D) expose

　　42. More money is needed for the preservation of________buildings and monuments.

　　A) historical B) histrionic

　　C) historic D) historian

　　43. When he spoke, she had an unpleasant ________into what life would be like as his wife.

　　A) hint B) suggestion

　　C) thinking D) insight

　　44. I regret that a(n)________engagement prevents me from accepting your kind invitation.

　　A) agoB) before

　　C) previousD) prior

　　45. ________for many years, the novelist suddenly became famous.

　　A) Having ignored him

　　B) Having been ignored

　　C) It have been ignored

　　D) To be ignored

　　46. Smoking is a very unhealthy________.

　　A) fashionB) custom

　　C) manner D) habit

　　47. A country which has few natural________ has to count on the import of raw materials from other countries.

　　A) reserves B) resources

　　C) assets D) funds

　　48. Earthquakes are among nature's most devastating events, causing an________ loss of life and property.

　　A) incalculable B) unprofitable

　　C) ineffable D) insurmountable

　　49. The young should be________towards their elders and teachers.

　　A) respectable B) respectful

　　C) respect D) respected

　　50. In many a country, the metric system has been________for all measurement.

　　A) adapted B) adopted

　　C) adhered D) abandoned

　　51. The scheme to build a new theatre has ________.

　　A) fallen out B) fallen through

　　C) fallen down D) fallen off

　　52. The doctor is________of performing the operation.

　　A) empowered B) permissible

　　C) capable D) able

　　53. When you travel, you should take some medicine with you________an emergency.

　　A) whatever B) for the sake of

　　C) no matter what D) for fear of

　　54. The accused man refused to make an ________of his guilt.

　　A) acceptanceB) admission

　　C) revelation D) concession

　　55. It is important that we________take measures against the enemy.

　　A) shallB) mostC) ought to D) should

　　56. Fish________in this river. Why not catch some for dinner?

　　A) is abound B) abound

　　C) abounds D) are abound

　　57. I can say nothing________his qualification for a promotion, as I have never worked with him.

　　A) on account of B) with regard to

　　C) for the purpose of D) with a view to

　　58. Mr. Smith is a good teacher, but he often gives________lectures.

　　A) sound B) excellent

　　C) extensive D) tedious

　　59. Since everyone would like to find an apartment near the University, there are very few________apartments in the area.

　　A) freeB) vacantC) emptyD) reserved

　　60. Peter will________as managing director when Bill retires.

　　A) take to B) take on

　　C) take over D) take up

　　61. London is________its historical churches and other buildings grouped on either side of the Thames.

　　A) characterized byB) classified as

　　C) sorted from D) abundant in

　　62. A beautiful autumn day like this ________ for the wet summer we have had.

　　A) compensates B) complemented

　　C) preceded D) presided

　　63. Digestion________the necessary chemical changes in the food which must occur before it can be absorbed.

　　A) consists of B) consists in

　　C) consists with D) consists

　　64. Electric power can be________the sun-warmed surface waters of the ocean.

　　A) derived from B) come from

　　C) arisen from D) stemmed from

　　65. I think it is important to invest________ new machinery rather than to increase wages.

　　A) onB) in C) toD) for

　　66. The floor was so rotten that it almost ________under his weight.

　　A) gave away B) gave over

　　C) gave way D) gave up

　　67. The teacher was using many new words,and the children could not________what he was teaching.

　　A) take in B) take to

　　C) take away D) take about

　　68. P. O.________Post Office or postal order.

　　A) stands as B) stands for

　　C) stands like D) stands by

　　69. There's no beer left and the pubs are shut so you have to________.

　　A) go for B) go off

　　C) go without D) go through

　　70. Old Mr. Brown's condition looks very serious and it is doubtful if he will ________.

　　A) pull through B) pull back

　　C) pull up D) pull out

　　Part IV Short Answer Questions (15 minutes)

　　Directions: In this part there is a short passage with five questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully, then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words (not exceeding 10 words).

　　People may ask how you define success. This is more difficult. Success is relative; not everybody wants to put together a four-billion-dollar company, or become President of the United States, or win the Nobel Peace Prize. It is usually a mistake to begin with such great ambitions, which tend to sink into lazy daydreams.

　　The best way to succeed is to begin with a reasonably realistic goal and attain it, rather than aiming at something so far beyond your reach that you are bound to fail. It's also important to make a habit of succeeding, and the easiest way to start is to succeed in something, however small, every day, gradually increasing the level of your ambitions and achievements like a runner in training, who begins with short distances and works up to Olympic levels.

　　Try to think of success as a journey, an adventure, not a specific destination. Your goal may change during the course of that journey, and your original ambitions may be replaced by different, larger ones. Success will certainly bring you the material things you want, and a good, healthy appetite for the comforts and luxuries of life is an excellent road to success, but basically you will know you have reached your goal when you have gone that one step further, in wealth, fame or achievement, than you ever dreamed was possible.

　　A lot depends on your profession, of course. There is a great deal of difference between setting out to become a success in a millionaire family and trying to become vice president of a bank, but the differences simply consist of contrasting social customs and of what is the appropriate way to get ahead in a given profession or business. Whether you're hoping to take over a numbers game or an executive desk, you have to make the right moves for your circumstances. In the former example, you might have to kill someone; in the latter, you might only have to find ways of making your rivals look foolish or inefficient. In either ease, you have to accept the rules of the game and play to win, or find some other games.

　　Questions:

　　S1. Why may a boy's hope of winning the Nobel Prize turn into just a daydream?

　　S2. What advice would the author most probably give to a boy in order to develop his sense of success?

　　S3. Why does the author persuade us to think of success as a journey?

　　S4. According to paragraph three, final success is usually________.

　　S5. An executive desk in paragraph four refers to________.

　　Part V Writing (30 minutes)

　　Directions:For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic "Going on a Diet". You should base your composition on the following outlines (given in Chinese) and write no less than 120 words.

　　1. 节制饮食的好处(使人健康、苗条等);

　　2. 高度节制饮食的危险性;

　　3. 节制饮食应适当,以保持健康为准则。

　　2004年大学英语四级考试模拟试题(二)听力录音原文、参考答案及解析

　　[听力录音原文]

　　Part I Listening Comprehension

　　Section A Conversations

　　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.

　　1. W:Did you see the film on Channel 4 last night?

　　M:Well.I meant to see it,but a friend of mine came to see me.We had a nice talk about our school days.

　　Q:What did the man do last night?

　　2. M:Is that nice-looking straw hat light and strong?

　　W:Yes, you can wear it rain or shine.

　　Q:What are they talking about?

　　3. W:I'd like to exchange this green table cloth that I bought last week for the red one.

　　M:Let's see now.The red one is only $10, and the green one is $15.Well, here is the red table cloth and here is your extra money.

　　Q:How much is the extra money?

　　4. W:OK, Richard.That's terrific.The semester is over.

　　M:Let's go to the rock concert tomorrow.

　　Q:What are they talking about?

　　5. M:I thought Francis and Mike were getting married in June.

　　W:No, that's when his cousin's wedding is. They are getting married the following month.

　　Q:When are Francis and Mike getting married?

　　6. M:I heard Harry got a ticket yesterday.What did he do?

　　W:He drove too fast in the downtown area.

　　Q:Why did Harry get a ticket?

　　7. M:Mary, did you bake the cake for Jim's party?

　　W:I had Paul do it.

　　Q:Who baked the cake?

　　8. M:Emily is really enthusiastic about her ballet class, isn't she?

　　W:Yes, she used to take lessons only one day a week, but now she goes every other day after school.

　　Q:How often does Emily take her ballet lessons now?

　　9. M:You look very tired these days.

　　W:It's my new job.It's challenging and sometimes I have to work overtime.

　　Q:What does the woman think of her job?

　　10. W:So you're going to give us a ride to the game.

　　M:If my car's running okay.

　　Q:What does the man mean?

　　Section B Passages

　　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

　　A friend of mine told me that when he was a young man, he went to work as a teacher in one of the states of India.One day, he received an invitation to dinner at the ruler's palace.Very pleased, he went to tell his colleagues.They laughed, and told him the meaning of the invitation.They had all been invited. Each person who was invited had to bring with him a certain number of silver and gold coins.The number of coins varied according to the person's position in the service of the government.My friend's income was not high, so he did not have much to pay.Each person bowed before the ruler, his gold went onto one heap, his silver went onto another heap.And in this way he paid his income tax for the year.This was a simple way of collecting income tax.The tax on property was also collected simply.The ruler gave a man the power to collect a tax from each owner of land or property in a certain area, if this man promised to pay the ruler a certain amount of money. Of course, the tax collector managed to collect more money than he paid to the ruler.The difference between the sum of money he collected and the sum of money he gave to the ruler was his profit.

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

　　11.What do we know about the speaker's friend?

　　12.What was the real purpose of the ruler's invitation?

　　13.What does the passage say about the tax collectors?

　　Passage two

　　Around the year 1000 A.D, some people from northwest India began to travel westward.Nobody knows why.After leaving their homes, they did not settle down again, but spent their lives moving from one place to another.Their later generations are called the Romany people, or Gypsies.There are Gypsies all over the world, and many of them are still travelling with no fixed homes.There are about 8 million of them, including 3 million in Eastern Europe.Gypsies sometimes have a hard time in the countries where they travel, because they are different.People may be afraid of them, look down on them, or think that they are criminals.The Nazis treated the Gypsies cruelly, like the Jews, and nobody knows how many of them died in Hitler's concentration camps.Gypsies have their own language, Romany.They liked music and dancing,and they often work in fairs and travelling shows.Travelling is very important to them, and many Gypsies are unhappy if they have to stay in one place.Because of this, it is difficult for Gypsy children to go to school, and Gypsies are often unable to read and write.In some places, the education authorities try to arrange special travelling schools for Gypsy children, so they can get the same education as other children.

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

　　14.Why did the ancestors of Gypsies leave their homes?

　　15.What is the attitude of some people toward Gypsies?

　　16.What measure has been taken to help Gypsy children?

　　Passage Three

　　What kind of car will we drive by the year 2010? Rather different from the type we know today. With the next decade bringing greater change than the past 50 years, people who will design the models of tomorrow believe that environmental problems may well ac-celerate the pace of the car's development. The vision is that of a machine with 3 wheels instead of 4, electrically-powered, environmentally clean and able to drive itself along intelligent roads, equipped with built-in power supplies. Future cars will pick up the fuel during long journeys from a power source built into the road, or stored in small quantities for travelling in the city. Instead of today' s seating arrangement two in front, two or three behind, all facing forward, the 2010 car will have an interior with adults and children in a family circle. This view of the future car is based on a much more sophisticated road system. Cars will be automatically controlled by a computer. All the driver will have to do is say where to go and the computer will do the rest. It will become impossible for cars to crash into one another. The technology already exists for the car to become a true automobile.

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

　　17.What is the designer's vision of the cars of tomorrow?

　　18.What else does the passage tell us about the future car?

　　19.What is the seating arrangement for future cars?

　　20.What is the only thing the driver of the future car has to do?

　　[参考答案及解析]

　　Part I Listening Comprehension

　　1-5 B)D)A)B)D)

　　6-10 B)B)C)D)D)

　　11-15 D)C)C)B)A)

　　16-20 C)C)C)A)D)

　　Part II Reading Comprehension

　　21. A).纵观全文,作者是以一种嘲讽的口气在说话,第一句作者明显用的是反语.故A)是正确答案.

　　22. B).作者并非是在玩文字游戏,是用"良性循环"和"恶性循环"两个音形相近但意义截然不同的词形成强烈鲜明的对比.所以B)是正确答案.

　　23. C).从第一段我们就知道政府采取此法的目的是要创造更多的就业机会.所以C)为正确答案。

　　24. D).从第四段第一句话可以看出,政府为安抚人们的不安情绪,摆出一副帮助解决实际问题的样子.但第二句却告诉我们,政府实际是想降低预算,并想让人们愉快地接受,就像在苦药中放糖一样.D)与原文意思相符.

　　25. C).文章最后一段讲许多法国人宁愿失业,是因为可以从政府慷慨的失业救济金中得到大部分工资.所以C)是正确答案.

　　26. A).根据上下文可知,迈斯负责照顾家庭.是对他个人"自尊"的挑战,答案为A).

　　27. A).最后一段中丈夫的一席话:有了平等的伙伴关系,婚姻生活才日趋幸福.正确答案为A).

　　28. B).根据最后一段可知,珍妮需要丈夫的鼓励,而后下决心争取到目前的职位,所以是她丈夫说服她如此做的,答案为B).

　　29. B).从第二段关于迈斯家孩子们的描述可以看出,迈斯夫妇与他们的孩子保持足够的交流时间,孩子也能与其他孩子和成人交流.因此答案为B),其他选项均不正确.

　　30. D).从文章最后一段可以看出,妇女并不一定要比男人低一等.因此答案为D).

　　31. C).文章第一段第一句就说明酸雨的成因:煤炭和石油的燃烧形成酸雨.C)是正确答案.

　　32. D).第二段中对酸雨所造成的一系列危害进行了比较,其中第二句说,对处于迎风地区的金属建筑物的腐蚀早有记载,但与其他危害相比,这还是较轻的.故D)是正确答案.

　　33. B).文章最后一段第二句可知,西部土壤中的化学成分可以中和碳酸镁、碳酸钙等,所以对酸雨的感觉小些.B)是正确答案.

　　34 C).根据该词所在上下文,可以推知其为"漂浮的"意思.C)是正确答案.

　　35. C).根据第二段后半部分酸雨对鱼类造成的危害说明中,可知C)是正确答案.

　　36. A).根据第一段的内容即可找出progress所不具有的含义是A)项的内容.

　　37. D).文章最后一段第二句和选项D)的内容完全一致,正确答案为D).

　　38. A).首先注意wonderful achievements后的but代表句意的转折,a price是与achievements相反的意思,再根据后面的内容,知道这是一种代价,也就是我们要失去或要遭受什么.所以正确答案为A).

　　39. A).本题用排除法.根据文章内容,先排除B).另外,文章并没有论述population increase造成的严重后果,只是说有一些不利情况,不是"危险的",排除C) 和D).正确答案为A).

　　40. A).第一段中It doesn't necessarily mean that something has become stronger, wiser or better.是主题句.后面的内容均为举例论证.因此,正确答案为A).

　　Part III Vocabulary and Structure

　　41.C).explore 探索,探测;discover发现;display展示;expose暴露.根据句意应选explore.

　　42.C).最容易混淆的是historical和historic.historic指历史上重要的,具有历史意义的;historical指任何过去存在过的事物.

　　43.D).insight感觉,领悟;hint暗示,提示;suggest建议,提议,而thinking显然不正确,根据句意选D).

　　44.C).previous指(时间或顺序上)在前的,是形容词;ago和before均无法放在名词前作修饰语;prior要和to连用.

　　45.B).此句需要使用现在分词的被动语态作状语,表示已经完成或过去的被动动作.

　　46.D).fashion指时髦,时尚;custom指一个地区、社会或民族的风俗习惯,不用于指个人的习惯;manner态度;habit习惯,符合题意.

　　47.B).reserves储备物,矿藏;resources资源,财力;assets指(固定或流动)资产,财产;funds资金、基金、存款等.根据句意,B是正确答案.

　　48. A).incalculable不可估量的,符合题意;unprofitable无利可获的;ineffable无法表达的,不可言喻的;insurmountable难以超越的.

　　49. B).respectable可敬的,值得尊敬的,是被动的意思;respectful充满敬意的,尊敬的,恭维他人的,是主动的意思,符合题意;respect和respected分别为respect一词的动词原形和过去分词形式.

　　50.B).adapt (使)适应;adopt采用,收养.因此,根据题意应选B).

　　51.B).fall out脱落,吵架;fall through成为泡影;fall down跌倒,倒塌;fall off跌落,偏离.根据题意应选B).

　　52.C).empower使……有能力;permissible可允许的;capable有能力的,常用的搭配为be capable of...;able应和to连用,在此不合适.

　　53. D).whatever和no matter what的意思为"不论什么";for the sake of是"为了……的缘故/好处",均不符合题意;D)for fear of的意思为"以防","担心",符合句意.

　　54.B). acceptance接受(别人给予的东西);admission意为"承认",含有坦白之意;revelation泄露;concession让步.根据句意选B).

　　55.D).It is important后面所接的主语从句应该用虚拟语气,其谓语形式是"动词原形"或"should+动词原形".

　　56.B).abound为不及物动词.fish既可表单数,又可表复数,本题中应为复数意义.因此,答案为B).

　　57.B).on account of因为;with regard to 关于;for the purpose of为……目的;with a view to旨在.根据句意选B).

　　58.D).句中的but有转折之意,只有答案D)tedious"乏味的"符合题意.

　　59.B).free免费的;reserved(人或其性格)含蓄的.这两项都不合适.B)和C)都表示"空"的意思.empty 强调"什么也没有,空无一物",vacant意为"未被占用",根据句意选B).

　　60.C).take to开始,喜欢;take on呈现(新面貌等); take over接收,接任;take up拿起,开始.根据题意选C).

　　61.A).A)characterized by以……为特点;B) classified as认为是;C)sorted from ……从……中区别开;D) abundant in 富于.根据题意选A).

　　62.A).compensates意为"弥补",常与介词for搭配.其他三个动词均不能与for搭配,均不符合题意.

　　63.A).A) consists of 由……构成,包含有……;B) consists in在于,主要是,用作动词时主语常为抽象名词;C) consists with符合,与……一致.根据题意应选A).

　　64.A).A) derived from取得,获得,可用于被动语态.B),C),D)三项均不用于被动式.

　　65.B).invest in是一固定搭配,意为"投资于……".

　　66. C).give away出卖,泄露;give over停止,交出;give way倒塌; give up放弃.根据句意只能选C).

　　67. A).take in理解,接受;take to喜欢,从事;take away减去;take about常用于被动语态,是"受惊吓"之意.根据句意应选A).

　　68. B).stand for表示,代表;stand by支持;其他两个选项都不是习语.根据句意选B).

　　69. C).go without 忍受没有……之苦,符合题意.

　　70. A).pull through(从重病中)恢复过来;pull back恢复(到原来的状态),但后面要有to;pull up使停止;pull out 拔出.根据句意选A).

　　Part IV Short Answer Questions

　　S1 Because it is very difficult to make it come true.根据第一段中作者所说:...not everybody...or win the Nobel Peace Prize. It is usually a mistake to begin with such great ambitions, 可以概括出上面的答案.

　　S2 To set up a realistic goal. 根据第二段中:The best way to succeed is to begin with a reasonably realistic goal and attain it,可以总结出"树立现实的目标"这一答案.

　　S3 Because our ambitions keep on changing.阅读第三段的第1、2句可知,第2句话是对第1句话的解释和说明,也就是作者劝我们把获取成功想象为旅行的原因.

　　S4 unexpected / beyond your dreams根据第三段最后一句来提炼答案.这个句子比较复杂,将句子简化一下,它可以概括为:You have reached your goal than you ever dreamed.

　　S5 a leading position根据上下文,executive desk是一种比喻的用法,用它来指代a high or leading position.

　　Part V Writing

　　Going on a Diet

　　With the development of social economy, people pay more and more attention to their health and going on a diet becomes extremely popular. It keeps people from growing too fat and saves them from many inconveniences and diseases related to obesity. At the same time, it provides people with sufficient nutrition and keeps them in a fit condition. Besides its good effects on people's health, going on a diet can also help many young girls become slim and bring their dream into reality.

　　However, if carried too far, going on a diet could become very dangerous. It often happens in the cases of some young girls. With all their eagerness to have a beautiful figure, they will even risk their lives to lose weight. The tragedy of a young singer has proved this. Even if it doesn't cost their lives, it will damage their health to a certain degree.

　　Thus, apart from its positive effects, going on a diet has its bad side effects. The proper way to use it is to put health first. If it is good for your health, stick to it; if not, just abandon it.

　　(文/戚润东 李树德 常征; 英语通大学英语四级考试版2004年第4期;版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)