大学英语四级期末考试A

烟台南山学院2009—2010学年第一学期期末考试

《大学英语四级试卷》A

(课程代码：0100150学习形式：公共选修课年级：07-08级)

本试题需在【答题册】作答。(试题总分100分)

I. Reading Comprehension (skimming and scanning).（共10题，每题2分，满分20分）

Directions: For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from choices marked A), B), C), and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

Economy Terrorized

From Wall Street to Main Street, Layoffs, Losses, and Little Hope

The popular word in business befor e September11 was “visibility”.Company after company complained about their gloomy future because of the worsening economy. Now, though, corporate America has a clear vision of the immediate future ---and it’s not a good one. “The attack has turned the business world upside down,” says Diane Swonk, chief economist at Bank One in Chicago.

Companies have been aware of the possible loss due to the terror attacks. Firms directly affected by the horror, such as Boeing and Marriott, warned of lower profits. Airline layoffs alone will top 100,000, pushing some analysts to say as one million workers may lose their jobs because of the post-attack repercussions (反应). On Capitol Hill, lawmakers and the Bush administration began preparing an economic emergency response. “The foundations of our free society remain sound, and I am confident that we will recover and prosper as we have in the past,” Federal Reserve Chai rman Alan Greenspan told Congress.

A chief executive of Frontier Airlines in Denver last week announced a 20 percent flight reduction and large scale layoffs.

On Wall Street, markets tumbled (下跌) amid the likelihood of recession and war: The Dow Jone s industrial average fell nearly 700 points Monday. “It is no longer about earning or the economy or interest rates anymore,” says Morgan Stanley market strategist Peter Canelo. “It is about fear.”

Some observers believe Washington’s response could be e ffective to prevent further economy deterioration. “The recovery could be much smoother than expected due to the fiscal and monetary stimulus we’re in store for,” says Richard Weiss, chief investment officer for City National Bank.

Restoring consumer confidence is a top priority for Greenspan and Congress, given that consumer spending accounts for about two third of the nation’s total output. To that end, the Fed has been flooding the markets with cash. Congress, meanwhile, is awash in plans to spend money, drawing down the $153 billion Social Security surplus. There’s even talk of further tax cuts.

The economy devastation of the worst disaster on American soil is far and wide. Last week, individual industries began to estimate the loss.

Airlines

While “recessions are bad for the airline industry, terrorism is worse,” says a senior vice president at aviation consultants Avitas. Now both are serious problems for airliners, as heavily indebted and cashpoor companies are seeing a drastic reduction in bookings. Some planes are flying less than half full. Experts predict that this will put some airliners out of business and the total industry losses will amount to 10 billion dollars by the end of next year.

When---and if---the industry recovers, it will have been fundamentally changed. Passengers might find fewer flights overall and limited service to smaller airports, as airlines focus on large, profitable hubs(交通枢纽).

Oil

As U.S. naval forces headed out from Norfolk (美国一个重要的海军基地) toward the Middle East, the oil market was nervous but focused as much on recession as on the threat of war. Crude prices slid downward due to the predicted economic slowdown and a drop in air travel which would reduce demand. Still, with the prospect of armed conflict very real, analysts see considerable risk of higher energy prices, especially when the war might involve Iraq, an oil-producing country.

But Michael Lynch of the research firm DRI-WEFA said that despite decreasing demand,

the terror attack had produced an “uncertainty effect” that would possibly drive oil prices higher in the weeks ahead. Lynch said that oil companies and large industrial users of oil very likely would attempt to build inventories amid uncertainty.

Retailing

Many shoppers stayed home during the week of the attack. Federated Department Stores, which owns Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, said sales during the week were $65million, or about 20 percent, below its forecasts. Other retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores and bookstore chains Borders Group and Barnes and Noble, as well as teen apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters, reported a fast decrease in sales but some rebound by last weekend. “For the most part, sales are starting to come back, but they’re not where we want them to be,” says Tracy Mullin, president of the National Retail Federation.

Consumers already planning the purchase of a new car, appliance, or other big-ticket item may go ahead, but forget those who had only begun to think about buying, says Marian Friestad, president of t he Society for Consumer Psychology. “This would be a time when people would not be particularly open to changing their purchase behavior or trying new things,” she says. Frivolous purchases, like perfume and fashion, will probably decline. Media

On Madison Avenue, advertising industry executives estimated their losses after nearly a week without network TV ads. But that is not all. Many companies felt it inappropriate to advertise during such a time of tragedy and canceled their commercials on TV.

This trend is likely to mean further losses for an industry already suffering from a sharp cutback in spending.

Already, the six TV networks reported an estimated $320 million in lost ad revenues due to the attack. And four of the country’s newspaper group s warned of a shortfall in third-quarter earnings because of canceled ads.

Entertainment

The most pressing question right now is what will happen in TV, already suffering from a big drop in advertising. Although the new season has been pretty well purged of any references that might be deemed offensive in the wake of the attack, there is serious doubt about viewers’ tastes in the future.

Two big-budget films—Big Trouble and Collateral Damage—were shelved indefinitely last week. Other movies with New York themes were pushed back. Still more were simply scrubbed clean of their references to terrorism and the World Trade Center. However, the entertainment industry may not suffer long-term damage, with losses expected to level off by the first quarter of next year, according to analysts.

Insurance

Already stunned by a plunge in profits and losses from storms in the first half of the year, property and casualty insurers now face even worse. “All profits will be wiped out,” says an analyst. Despite some loss, analysts are confident that the industry will be able to meet the estimated $30 billion in projected claims, a loss that could escalate if costly business-interruption and personal injury claims accelerate.

One thing is certain: There will be higher rates and more limited coverage for terrorist or war-related events, especially for airlines.

1.According to the passage, what is NOT the possible loss due to the terror attacks in the

U.S.?

A) Firms directly affected by the horror will suffer lower profits.

B) One million workers may lose their jobs because of the post-attack repercussions.

C) The Dow Jones industrial average fell about 700 points.

D) Washington also loses its confidence to prevent further economy deterioration.

2. The most important task for the Bush Administration is to _____.

A) restore consumer confidence

B) limit immigration

C) cut tax for all the companies

D) estimate an exact loss

3. Which of the following statements about airlines loss is WRONG?

A) Some airlines are seeing a drastic reduction in bookings.

B) Some planes are flying less than half full.

C) The total industry losses will reach $10 billion by the end of this year.

D) Some airliners will be put out of business.

4. The two serious problems for American airline mentioned in the passage are _____.

A) oil price and economy depression

B) recessions and terrorism

C) airline service and safety

D) layoffs and finance

5. The effect of this attack on the oil price is _____.

A) clear B) slim C) uncertain D) unprecedented

6. Which of the following statements about retailing is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A) Many shoppers stayed home during the week of the attack.

B) Some retailers are still optimistic about their sales in the coming Christmas season.

C) Some retailers reported a fast decrease in sales but some rebound by last weekend.

D) Such frivolous purchases as perfume and fashion will probably decline.

7. Already, the six TV networks reported an estimated _____ in lost ad revenues.

A) $10 million B) $65 million

C) $153 million D) $320 million

8. One big question for the entertainment industry is the viewers’ ____ in the future.

9. Reference to terrorism and ______ has been scrubbed from movies.

10. One certain effect of the attack on the insurance industry is the increased rated and

_______ for terrorist or war-related events, especially for airlines.

II. Fill in the blanks with the words in the box.（共10题，每题1分，满分10分）

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 blank is identified by a letter. Please write the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet.

What is suburbanization? If by “suburb” is meant an urban__11__that grows more rapidly than its already developed interior, the process of suburbanization began during the __12__ of the industrial city in the second quarter of the 19th century. Before that period the city was a small highly __13__ cluster in which people move about on foot and goods were __14__ by horse and cart. But the early factories built in the 1830s were __15__ along waterways and near railheads at the edges of cities, and housing was needed for the thousands of people drawn by the prospect of employment.

In time, the factories were __16__by proliferating mill towns of apartments and row houses that abutted the older, main cities. As a defense __17__ this encroachment and to enlarge their tax base, the cities appropriated their industrial neighbors. In 1854, for example, the city of Philadelphia __18__most of the Philadelphia County. Similar things __19__ place in Chicago and in New York. Indeed, most great cities of the United Sates __20__ such

III. Cloze.（共20题，每题1分，满分20分）

Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage, and for each blank there are 4 choices marked A), B)，C) and D) at the end of the passage. You should choose the ONE answer that best fits into the passage. Then write the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

Conversation begins almost the moment we come into contact with another and continues throughout the day__21__ the aid of cell phones and computers. However, we are so often absorbed in conversation that we __22__sight of its true purpose and value.

One important __23__of a good conversation is that the words are __24__ used to express thoughts and feelings. We are__25__deep thoughts and strong emotions，yet our vocabularies are not__26__for this expression, and many __27__little effort to expand that. Perhaps you see a movie that __28__you deeply，yet you have the following conversation: “So, what did you think of the film？” “Oh，my God，it was so sad，I swear. I went through __29__a box of tissues (面巾纸) I was in tears.” This dialogue is__30__an effective way of expressing feelings. It gives no__31__of how or why the movie truly__32__you. Such commonly-used phrases are certainly not enough to describe a deeply moving experience. However, not only__33__try to avoid overused words, you must __34__be careful in your selection. The purpose of expanding vocabulary is not to use the __35__or most impressive words, but to find those best suited.

What is lacking in many conversations is the ability to talk to another rather than just talking with that person. A__36__person will find that even in the most ordinary conversations, there are a thousand questions__37__to be asked if you have courage and a

desire for exchange. Good conversations should not be __38__nonsense, but of a meeting of two__39__the human condition. It should bring a better understanding of others and offer a release of emotions more than drive away__40__thoughts or kill time.

21. A. for B. at C. under D. with

22. A. lose B. have C. win D. miss

23. A. issue B. problem C. aspect D. question

24. A. funny B. careful C. only D. properly

25. A. lack of B. short of C. fond of D. full of

26. A. short B. enough C. much D. bad

27. A. take B. make C. get D. try

28. A. teaches B. pushes C. touches D. directs

29. A. using up B. to use C. used up D. using off

30. A. partly B. actually C. hardly D. truly

31. A. sign B. model C. pattern D. fact

32. A. infected B. infects C. affects D. affected

33. A. you will B. must you C. you must D. will you

34. A. too B. never C. also D. yet

35. A. bigger B. biggest C. big D. important

36. A. careless B. efficient C. thoughtful D. able

37. A. waiting B. wait C. waited D. waits

38. A. make up for B. made up of C. make up of D. made up for

39. A. are sharing B. shared C. sharing D. shares

40. A. clever B. pleasant C. unpleasant D. happy

Ⅳ. Translation.（共5题，每题2分，满分10分）

Directions: Complete the sentences by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets. Please write your translation on Answer Sheet.

41.The doctor managed to help ___________________(让她经受住) a long and

difficult illness.

42.Many a student ___________________(已经意识到学习一门外语的重要性).

43.She made the demand that ____________________(新闻记者应该立刻出发去伊拉

克).

44._____________________(我们昨晚本该学习的), but we went to the concert

instead.

45.It’s _____________________(再等她没有用). We may as well get there without her.

V. Reading Comprehension.（共10题，每题2分，满分20分）

Directions：There are two 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 write the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet. Passage 1

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage：

I hear many parents complain that their teenage children are rebelling. I wish it were so. At your age you ought to be growing away from your parents. You should be learning to stand on your own feet. But take a good look at the present rebellion. It seems that teenagers are all taking the same way of showing that they disagree with their parents. Instead of striking out boldly on their own, most of them are holding one another's hands for reassurance (放心).

They claim they want to dress as they please. But they all wear the same clothes. They set off in new directions in music. But they all end up listening to the same record. Their reason for thinking or acting in such a way is that the crowd is doing it. They have come out of their cocoon (茧) into a larger cocoon.

It has become harder and harder for a teenager to stand up against the popularity wave and to go his or her own way. Industry has firmly carved out a market for teenagers. These days every teenager can learn from the advertisements what a teenager should have and be. This is a great barrier for the teenager who wants to find his or her own path.

But the barrier is worth climbing over. The path is worth following. You may want to listen to classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is collecting records. You may have some thoughts that you don't care to share at once with your classmates. Well, go to it. Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come with the people who respect you for who you are. That's the only kind of popularity that really counts.

46. The author's purpose in writing this passage is to tell______.

A. readers how to be popular with people around

B. teenagers how to learn to make a decision for themselves

C. parents how to control and guide their children

D. people how to understand and respect each other

47. According to the author, many teenagers think they are brave enough to act on their own, but in fact most of them______.

A. have much difficulty in understanding each other

B. lack confidence

C. dare not cope with any problems alone

D. are very much afraid of getting lost

48. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage？

A. There is no popularity that really counts.

B. Many parents think that their children are challenging their authority.

C. It is not necessarily bad for a teenager to disagree with his or her classmates.

D. Most teenagers are actually doing the same.

49. The author thinks of advertisements as_____to teenagers.

A. inevitable

B. influential

C. instructive

D. attractive

50. The main idea of the last paragraph is that a teenager should______.

A. differ from others in as many ways as possible

B. become popular with others

C. find his real self

D. rebel against his parents and the popularity wave

Passage 2

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage：

Much unfriendly feeling towards computers has been based on the fear of widespread unemployment resulting from their introduction. Computers are often used as part of automated (自动化) production systems requiring a least possible number of operators，causing the loss of many jobs. This has happened, for example, in many steelworks.

On the other hand, computers do create jobs. They are more skilled and better paid，though fewer in number than those they replace. Many activities could not continue in their present form without computers, no matter how many people are employed. Examples are the check clearing (交换) system of major banks and the weather forecasting system.

When a firm introduces computers, a few people are usually employed in key posts (such as jobs of operation managers) while other staff are retrained as operators, programmers, and data preparation staff. After the new system has settled down, people in non-computer jobs are not always replaced when they leave, resulting in a decrease in the number of employees. This decrease is sometimes balanced by a substantial increase in the activity of the firm, resulting from the introduction of computers.

The attitudes of workers towards computers vary. There is fear of widespread unemployment and of the takeover of many jobs by computer-trained workers, making promotion for older workers not skilled in computers more difficult.

On the other hand, many workers regard the trend toward wider use of computers inevitable. They realize that computers bring about greater efficiency and productivity，which will improve the condition of the whole economy, and lead to the creation of more jobs. This view was supported by the former British Prime Minister, James Callaghan in 1979, when he made the point that new technologies hold the key to increased productivity，which will benefit the economy in the long run.

51. The unfriendly feeling towards computers is developed from______.

A. the possible widespread unemployment caused by their introduction

B. their use as part of automated production systems

C. the least possible number of operators

D. the production system in steelworks

52. The underlined word “They” (Line 1, Par. 2) refers to______.

A. computers

B. jobs

C. activities

D. systems

53. According to Paragraph 2, without computers______.

A. human activities could not continue

B. there could not be weather forecasting systems

C. many activities would have to change their present form

D. banks would not be able to go on with check clearing

54. According to the passage, what results from the introduction of computers？

A. After retraining, all employees in the firm get new jobs.

B. A considerable proportion of people are employed in key posts.

C. The firm keeps all of its original staff members.

D. The decrease in staff members may be balanced by the increase of firm activities.

55. James Callaghan's attitude towards computers can be best described as______.

A. doubtful

B. regretful

C. unfriendly

D. supportive

Ⅵ. Writing（满分20分）

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter. Suppose you are Li Feng who is going to reply to your sister Li Hong (who is in high school) on how to study English. Write to her some suggestions based on your own experience. You should write at least 100 words following the outline given bellow in Chinese.

1.学习英语很重要

2.简要介绍你的英语学习经验

3.鼓励她学好英语