2006年12月四级真题

2006年12月英语四级真题 Part II Reading Comprehension  (Skimming and Scanning)  (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer sheet1. Six Secrets of High-Energy PeopleThere's an energy crisis in America, and it has nothing to do with fossil fuels. Millions of us get up each morning already weary over the day holds. “I just can’t get started.” People say. But it’s not physical energy that most of us lack. Sure, we could all use extra sleep and a better diet. But in truth, people are healthier today than at any time in history. I can almost guarantee that if you long for more energy, the problem is not with your body.What you’re seeking is not physical energy. It’s emotional energy. Yet, sad to say life sometimes seems designed to exhaust our supply. We work too hard. We have family obligations. We encounter emergencies and personal crises. No wonder so many of us suffer from emotional fatigue, a kind of utter exhaustion of the spirit. And yet we all know people who are filled with joy, despite the unpleasant circumstances of their lives. Even as a child I observed people who were poor or disabled or ill, but who nonetheless faced life with optimism and vigor. Consider Laura Hillenbrand, who despite an extremely weak body wrote the best-seller Seabiscuit. Hillenbrand barely had enough physical energy to drag herself out of be to write. But she was fueled by having a story she wanted to share. It was emotional energy that helped her succeed.Unlike physical energy, which is finite and diminishes with age, emotional energy is unlimited and has nothing to do with genes or upbringing. So how do you get it? You can’t simply tell yourself to be positive. You must take action. Here are six practical strategies that work. 1.Do something new.Very little that’s new occurs in our lives. The impact of this sameness on our emotional energy is gradual, but huge: It's like a tire with a slow leak. You don't it at first, but eventually you'll get a flat. It's up to you to plug the leak--even though there are always a dozen reasons to stay stuck in your dull routines of life. That's where Maura, 36, a waitress, found herself a year ago.Fortunately, Maura had a lifeline--a group of women friends who meet regularly to discuss their lives. Their lively discussions spurred Maura to make small but nevertheless life altering changes. She joined a gym in the next town. She changed her look with a short haircut and new black T-shirts. Eventually, Maura gathered the courage to quit her job and start her own business.Here's a challenge: If it's something you wouldn't ordinarily do, do it. Try a dish you've never eaten. Listen to music you'd ordinarily tune out. You'll discover these small things add to your emotional energy. 2.Reclaim life's meaning.So many of my patients tell me that their lives used to have meaning, but that somewhere along the line things went state.The first step in solving this meaning shortage is to figure out what you really care about, and then do something about it. A case in point is Ivy, 57, a pioneer in investment banking. "I mistakenly believed that all the money I made would mean something." she says. "But I feel lost, like a 22-year-old wondering what to do with her life." Ivy's solution? She started a program that shows Wall Streeters how to donate time and money to poor children. In the process, Ivy filled her life with meaning. 3.Put yourself in the fun zone.Most of us grown-ups are seriously fun-deprived. High-energy people have the same day-to-day work as the rest of us, but they manage to find something enjoyable in every situation. A real estate broker I know keeps herself amused on the job by mentally redecorating the houses she shows to clients. "I love imagining what even the most run-down house could look like withy a little tender loving care," she says. "It's a challenge--and the least desirable properties are usually the most fun."We all define fun differently, of course, but I can guarantee this: If you put just a bit of it into your day, you energy will increase quickly. 4.Bid farewell to guilt and regret.Everyone's past is filled with regrets that still cause pain. But from an emotional energy point of view, they are dead weights that keep us from us from moving forward. While they can't merely be willed away, I do recommend you remind yourself that whatever happened is in the past, and nothing can change that. Holding on to the memory only allows the damage to continue into the present.5.Make up your mind.Say you’ve been thinking about cutting your hair short. Will it look stylish – or too extreme?You endlessly think it over. Having the decision hanging over your head is a huge energy drain.Every time you can’t decide, you burden yourself with alternatives. Quit thinking that you have to make the right decision; instead, make a choice and don’t look back. 6.Give to get.Emotional energy has a kind of magical quality; the more you give, the more you get back.. This is the difference between emotional and physical energy. With the latter. You have to get it to be able to give it. With the former, however, you get it by giving it.Start by asking everyone you meet, “How are you?” as if you really want to know, then listen to the reply. Be the one who hears. Most of us also need to smile more often. If you don’t smile at the person you love first thing in the morning, you’re sucking energy out of your relationship. Finally, help another person—and make the help real, concrete. Give a massage (按摩) to someone you love, or cook her dinner, Then, expand the circle to work. Try asking yourself what you’d do if your goal were to be helpful rather than efficient. After all, if it’s true that what goes around comes around, why not make sure that what’s circulating around you is the good stuff? 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。1. The energy crisis in America discussed here mainly refers to a shortage of fossil fuels.2. People these days tend to lack physical energy.3. Laura Hillenbrand is an example cited to show how emotional energy can contribute to one’s success in life.4. The author believes emotional energy is inherited and genetically determined.5. Even small changes people make in their lives can help increase their emotional energy.6. They filled her life with meaning by launching a program to help poor children.7. The real-estate broker the author knows is talented in home redecoration.8. People holding on to sad memories of the past will find it difficult to__________.9. When it comes to decision-making. One should make a quick choice without_________.10. Emotional energy is in a way different from physical energy in that the more you give, _____. Part III Listing ComprehensionSection ADirections: 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 decline which is the bet answer. Then marked the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.　　11. M: Christmas is around the corner. And I’m looking for a gift for my girlfriend. Any suggestions?　　W: Well you have to tell me something about your girlfriend first. Also, what’s your budget?Q: What does the woman want the man to do?A)Plan his budget carefully B)Give her more information.C)Ask someone else for advice.D)Buy a gift for his girlfriend. 　　12. M: What would you like for dessert? I think I’ll have apple pie and ice cream.　　W: The chocolate cake looks great, but I have to watch my weight. You go ahead and get yours.Q: What would the woman most probably do?A)She’ll have some chocolate cake.B)She’ll take a look at the menu.C)She’ll go without dessert.D)She’ll prepare the dinner.　　 13. W: Having visited so many countries, you must be able to speak several different languages.　　M: I wish I could. But Japanese and, of course English are the only languages I can speak.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?A)The man can speak a foreign language.B)The woman hopes to improve her English.C)The woman knows many different languages.D)The man wishes to visit many more countries. 　　14. M: Professor Smith asked me to go to his office after class. So it’s impossible for me to make it to the bar at ten.　　W: Then it seems that we’ll have to meet an hour later at the library.Q: What will the man do first after class?A)Go to the library.B)Meet the woman.C)See Professor Smith.D)Have a drink in the bar. 　　15. M: It’s already 11 now. Do you mean I ought to wait until Mr. Bloom comes back from the class?　　W: Not really. You can just leave a note. I’ll give it to her later.Q: What does the woman mean?A)She isn’t sure when Professor Bloom will be backB)The man shouldn’t be late for his class.C)The man can come back sometime later.D)She can pass on the message for the man. 　　16. M: How is John now? Is he feeling any better?　　W: Not yet. It still seems impossible to make him smile. Talking to him is really difficult and he gets upset easily over little things.Q: What do we learn about John from the conversation?A)He has a strange personality.B)He’s got emotional problems.C)His illness is beyond cure.D)His behavior is hard to explain. 　　17. M: Do we have to get the opera tickets in advance?　　W: Certainly. Tickets at the door are usually sold at a higher price.Q: What does the woman imply?A)The tickets are more expensive than expected.B)The tickets are sold in advance at half price.C)It’s difficult to buy the tickets on the spot.D)It’s better to the tickets beforehand. 　　18. M: The taxi driver must have been speeding.　　W: Well, not really. He crashed into the tree because he was trying not to hit a box that had fallen off the truck ahead of him.Q: What do we learn about the taxi driver?A)He turned suddenly and ran into a tree.B)He was hit by a fallen box from a truck.C)He drove too fast and crashed into a truck.D)He was trying to overtake the truck ahead of him. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just beared.　　W: Hey, Bob, guess what? I’m going to visit Quebec next summer. I’m invited to go to a friend’s wedding.　　But while I’m there I’d also like to do some sightseeing.　　M: That’s nice, Shelly. But do you mean the province of Quebec, or Quebec City?　　W: I mean the province. My friend’s wedding is in Montreal. I’m going there first. I’ll stay for five days. Is Montreal the capital city of the province?　 　M: Well, Many people think so because it’s the biggest city. But it’s not the capital. Quebec City is. But Montreal is great. The Saint Royal River runs right through the middle of the city. It’s beautiful in summer.　　W: Wow, and do you think I can get by in English? My French is OK, but not that good. I know most people there speak French, but can I also use English?　　M: Well, People speak both French and English there. But you’ll hear French most of the time. And all the street signs are in French. In fact, Montreal is the third largest French speaking city in the world. So you’d better practice your French before you go.　　W: Good advice. What about Quebec City? I’ll visit a friend from college who lives there now. What’s it like?　　M: It’s a beautiful city, very old. Many old buildings have been nicely restored. Some of them were built in the 17th or 18th centuries. You’ll love there.W: Fantastic. I can’t wait to go. 　19. What’s the woman’s main purpose of visiting Quebec?　 A) To go boating on the St. Lawrence River   B) To go sightseeing in Quebec Province   C) To call on a friend in Quebec City   D) To attend a wedding in Montreal20. What does the man advise the woman to do before the trip?A) Study the map of Quebec Province   B) Find more about Quebec Province   C) Brush up on her French   D) Learn more about the local customs21. What does the man say about the Quebec City?A) It’s most beautiful in summer   B) It has many historical buildings.   C) It was greatly expanded in the 18th century.   D) It’s the only French-speaking city in Canada. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just beared.　　M: Hi, Miss Rowling, how old were you when you started to write? And what was your first book?　　W: I wrote my first Finnish (finished) story when I was about six. It was about a small animal, a rabbit, I mean. And I’ve been writing ever since?　　M: Why did you choose to be an author?　　W: If someone asked me how to achieve happiness. Step One would be finding out what you love doing most. Step two would be finding someone to pay you to do this. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be able to support myself by writing　　M: Do you have any plans to write books for adults?　　W: My first two novels were for adults. I suppose I might write another one. But I never really imagine a target audience when I’m writing. The ideas come first. So it really depends on the ideas that grasp me next.　　M: where did the ideas for the “Harry Potter” books come from?　　I’ve no ideas where the ideas came from. And I hope I’ll never find out. It would spoil my excitement if it turned out I just have a funny wrinkle on the surface of my brain, which makes me think about the invisible train platform.　 　M: How did you come up with the names of your characters?　　I invented some of them. But I also collected strange names. I’ve got one from ancient saints, maps, dictionaries, plants, war memoirs and people I met.　　M: Oh, you are really resourceful.22. What do we learn from the conversation about Miss Rowling’s first book?　 A) It was about a little animal.   B) It took her six years to write.   C) It was adapted from a fairy tale.   D) It was about a little girl and her pet.23. Why does Miss Rowling consider her so very lucky?A) She knows how to write best-selling novels.   B) She can earn a lot of money by writing for adults.   C) She is able to win enough support from publishers.   D) She can make a living by doing what she likes.24. What dictates Miss Rowling’s writing?A) The characters.   B) Her ideas.   C) The readers.   D) Her life experiences.25. According to Miss Rowling where did she get the ideas for the Harry Porter books?A) She doesn’t really know where they originated    B) She mainly drew on stories of a