四级热身试题三
大学英语四级考试考前热身试题三
Part I Writing (30 minutes) 1. 专家正拟制订动物保护法，有人赞成2. 也有人反对3. 我的看法Do we need an Animal Protection Law? Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)
The Art of Public Speaking
If you were to tape-record one of David Letterman?s comedy routines, memorize it word for word, and stand up before your friends to recite it, would you get the same response Letterman does? Not very likely. And why not? Because you would not deliver the jokes as Letterman does. Of course, the jokes are basically funny. But David Letterman brings something extra to the jokes —his manner of presentation, his vocal inflections, his perfectly timed pauses, his facial expressions, his gestures. All these are part of an expert delivery.
No one expects your speech class to transform you into a multimillion-dollar talk show host. Still, this example demonstrates how important delivery can be to any public speaking situation. Even a common speech will be more effective if it is presented well, whereas a wonderfully written speech can be ruined by poor delivery.
This does not mean dazzling delivery will turn a mindless string of nonsense into a triumphant oration. You cannot make a good speech without having something to say. But having something to say is not enough. You must also know how to say it.
What Is Good Delivery?
Good delivery does not call attention to itself. It conveys the speaker?s ideas clearly, interestingly, and without distracting the audience. If you mumble (含糊地说) your words, gaze out the window, or talk in a dull tone, you will not get your message across. Nor will you be effective if you show off, strike a dramatic pose, or shout in ringing tones. Most audiences prefer delivery that combines a certain degree of formality with the best attributes of good conversation — directness, facial expressiveness, and a lively sense of communication.
Speech delivery is an art, not a science. What works for one speaker may fail for another. And what succeeds with tod ay?s audience may not with tomorrow?s. You cannot become a skilled speaker just by following a set of rules in a textbook. In the long run, there is no substitute for experience. But take heart! A textbook can give you basic pointers to get you started in the right direction.
Methods of Delivery
There are four basic methods of delivering a speech:
(1) reading from a manuscript
Certain speeches must be delivered word for word, according to a well-prepared manuscript. Examples include an engineer?s report to a professional meeting, or a president?s message to Congress. Absolute accuracy is essential. Every word of the speech will be analyzed by the press, by colleagues, perhaps by enemies. Timing may also be a factor in manuscript speeches. Much of today?s political campaigning is done on radio and television. If the candidate buys a one-minute spot and pays a great deal of money for it, that one minute of speech must be just right.
(2) reciting a memorized text
Among the feats of the legendary orators, none leaves us more in awe (敬畏) than their practice of presenting even the longest and most complex speeches entirely from memory. Nowadays it is no longer customary to memorize any but the shortest of speeches — toasts, introductions, and the like. If you are giving a speech of this kind and want to memorize it, by all means do so. However, be sure to memorize it so thoroughly that you will be able to concentrate on communicating with the audience, not on trying to remember the words. Speakers who gaze at the ceiling or stare out the window trying to recall what they have memorized are no better off than those who read
dully from a manuscript.
(3) speaking impromptu (即兴的)
An impromptu speech is delivered with little or no immediate preparation. Few people choose to speak impromptu, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. In fact, many of the speeches you give in life will be impromptu. You might be called on suddenly to “say a few words” or, in the course of a class discussion, business meeting, or committee report, want to respond to a previous speaker.
(4) speaking extemporaneously (即席的)
In popular usage, “extemporaneous” means the same as “impromptu”. But technically the two are different. Unlike an impromptu speech, which is totally unexpected, an extemporaneous speech is carefully prepared and practiced in advance. In presenting the speech, the extemporaneous speaker uses only a set of brief notes or a speaking outline to jog the memory. The exact wording is chosen at the moment of delivery.
This is not as hard as it sounds. Once you have your outline and know what topics you are going to cover and in what order, you can begin to practice the speech. Every time you run through it, the wording will be slightly different. As you practice the speech over and over, the best way to present each part will emerge and stick in your mind.
The Speaker’s Voice
Whatever the characteristics of your voice, you can be sure it is unique. Because no two people are exactly the same physically, no two people have identical voices. This is why voiceprints(声波纹) are sometimes used in criminal trials as guides to personal identity. The human voice is produced by a complex series of steps that starts with the exhalation (呼气) of air from the lungs. As air is exhaled, it passes through the larynx (喉) to generate sound. This sound is then made louder and modified as it resonates (共振) through the throat, mouth, and nose. Finally, the resonated sound is shaped into specific sounds by the movement of the tongue, lips, teeth, and roof of the mouth. The resulting sounds are combined to form words and sentences.
Nonverbal Communication
Posture, facial expression, gestures, eye contact — all affect the way listeners respond to a speaker. How we use these and other body motions to communicate is the subject of a fascinating area of study called kinesics (举止神态学). Studies have shown that in some situations these signals account for much of the meaning communicated by speakers.
Answering Audience’s Questions
The question-and-answer session is a common part of public speaking, whether the occasion is a press conference, business presentation, public hearing, or classroom assignment. Depending on the situation, questioning may take place throughout the presentation, or it may be reserved until after the speaker has completed his or her remarks. In either case, an answer to a question is often the final word an audience hears and is likely to leave a lasting impression. Effective speakers recognize that the question period can be as important as the speech itself.
1. Why wouldn?t we get the same response as David Letterman if we recited his comedy routine?
[A] We would not bring something extra to the jokes.
[B] We would not deliver the jokes the way of Letterman.
[C] Our manner of presentation is not part of an expert delivery.
[D] We would not expect ourselves to be a multimillion-dollar talk show host.
2. Making a good speech requires the speaker not only to have something to say but also to .
[A] know how to say it [B] turn nonsense into triumph
[C] write something wonderfully [D] know how to make himself public
3. One feature of good delivery of a public speech is that ______.
[A] it calls audience?s attention to speech itself
[B] it is presented in a ringing tone to attract the audience
[C] it presents the speaker?s idea in a clear and interesting way
[D] it effectively shows the speaker?s knowledge off
4. Although textbooks can not take the place of in the long run, they are still important in improving speech
delivery.
[A] accepted rules [B] basic pointers
[C] right direction [D] accumulated experience
5. Who is more likely to deliver a word-for-word speech according to a manuscript with absolute accuracy?
[A] An engineering reporting in a professional meeting. [B] A comedian hosting a program on TV.
[C] A presidential candidate talking at home. [D] A teacher lecturing to the students in the hall.
6. Thorough memorizing of the speech will help the speaker ______.
[A] read every word faster in the manuscript
[B] memorize the most complex speeches in the world
[C] remind the audience of what they have memorized
[D] focus his attention on communicating with the audience
7. Extemporaneous speech is different from impromptu speech in that ______.
[A] the exact wording in impromptu speech is chosen at the very moment of delivery
[B] extemporaneous speech requires careful preparation and practice beforehand
[C] extemporaneous speech is totally unexpected and requires immediate preparation
[D] impromptu speech only uses a speaking outline to jog the memory
8. V oiceprints can be used in criminal trials as guides to personal identity because each person?s voice is
____________________________.
9. The way listeners respond to a speaker can also be affected by ____________________________ such as posture,
facial expression, gestures and eye contact.
10. The speaker?s answer to a listener?s question will most probably give the listener ____________________________.
Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section A
11. [A] Harry likes to sing old songs.
[B] Harry wants to perform on the stage.
[C] The rumors about Harry are unbelievable.
[D] It?s unusual to start singing at Harry?s age.
12. [A] His mother. [B] His girlfriend.
[C] His teacher. [D] His boss.
13. [A] She doesn?t want to see the exhibit.
[B] She hasn?t gone to see that exhibit yet.
[C] She prefers to go to the art gallery rather than study.
[D] She hopes that they will take some of the paintings away.
14. [A] He didn?t go to the interview.[B] He forgot about the interview.
[C] He succeeded in the interview. [D] He was too nervous in the interview.
15. [A] In a library. [B] At a bookstore.
[C] In a printing shop. [D] In the restaurant.
16. [A] He didn?t work hard at school.
[B] He took a part-time job at school.
[C] He had no interest in social work.
[D] He had always been serious about study.
17. [A] He is sure the new chef is better.
[B] He?s going to see the new chef tonight.
[C] He wonders whether the new chef is an improvement.
[D] He hopes the new chef will stay longer than the old one did.
18. [A] She thinks a car wouldn?t be any faster.
[B] She thinks they don?t h ave to go to the concert.
[C] She proposes to go to the concert by underground.
[D] She believes that the man?s brother should let them use the car.
14. [A] He didn?t go to the interview.[B] He forgot about the interview. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19. [A] The size of the campus. [B] The city bus system.
[C] The length of time for each class. [D] The university bus system.
20. [A] The entire campus. [B] Part of the campus.
[C] The campus and the city. [D] Only the off-campus areas.
21. [A] Nothing. [B] Three dollars.
[C] A few cents. [D] Fifty cents.
22. [A] Red. [B] Green. [C] Yellow. [D] Blue. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
23. [A] It has so many buildings. [B] It?s so large.
[C] It?s so hard to get familiar with. [D] It?s easy to get around.
24. [A] Work out the layout of the campus.
[B] Locate the Darwin Building on the map.
[C] Attend their biology class.
[D] Talking about their first impression of the university.
25. [A] 9:30 [B] 10:00 [C] 10:15 [D] 11:00 Section B
Passage One
Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. [A] A social worker. [B] A fireman. [C] A teacher. [D] A gardener.
27. [A] It means more duties than being a teacher.
[B] It requires the mother to be well-educated.
[C] It prevents the mother from working outside.
[D] It takes more time than doing any other housework.
28. [A] 66. [B] 71. [C] 80. [D] 90.
29. [A] That housework is no easy job.
[B] That the kitchen is hard to clean.
[C] That a housewife needs to be paid for cleaning.
[D] That her husband has no time to clean the kitchen.
Passage Two
Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.
30. [A] Marriage that continues for many years without divorce.
[B] Marriage that can easily end in divorce.
[C] People will marry three or four times in one lifetime.
[D] Divorced people don?t stay single.
31. [A] In modern society, people?s lives don?t stay the same for very long.
[B] They are not consistent.
[C] Americans like to change partners.
[D] They don?t take marriage seriously.
32. [A] Marriage is not popular in America because of too many divorces.
[B] Eighty percent of divorced people still remarry in America.
[C] In the new century, most American people will marry two or three times in one lifetime.
[D] Americans rarely change their jobs and the places of living.
Passage Three
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
33. [A] They are read on the computer screen.
[B] They are published in European languages.
[C] They are broadcast on television and the radio.
[D] They are designed in the form of small-sized books.
34. [A] Language learners. [B] Magazine collectors.
[C] European journalists. [D] Professional travelers.
35. [A] They are very easy to read. [B] They are cheap and popular.
[C] They are translated into English. [D] They are convenient for the users.
Section C
Classified advertising is that advertising which is grouped in certain sections of the paper and is thus distinguished from display advertising. Such (36) ______ as “Help Wanted”, “Real Estate,” “Lost and Found” are made, the rate (37) ______ being less than that for display advertising. Classified advertisements are a (38) ______ to the reader and a saving to the advertiser. The reader who is interested in a (39) ______ kind of advertisement finds all advertisements of that type grouped for him. The advertiser may, on this account, use a very small advertisement that would be lost if it were placed among larger advertisements in the paper.
It is (40) ______ that the reader approaches the classified advertisement in a different frame of mind from that in which he (41) ______ the other advertisements in the paper. He turns to a page of classified advertisements to search for the particular advertisement that will meet his needs. As his attention is (42) ______, the advertiser does not need to (43) ______ very much on display type to get the reader?s attention.
(44) ______________________________________________________________________________________. With the increase in the number of such advertisements, however, (45) ______________________________________________________________________________________. In many cases the result has been an increase in the size of the space used and the addition of headlines and pictures. (46) ______________________________________________________________________________________.
Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)
Section A
Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.
Advice to “sleep on it” could be well founded, scientists say. After a good night?s sleep, a problem that seemed insurmountable(不能克服的) the night before can often appear more 47 , although the evidence until now has
been anecdotal (轶事的).
But researchers at the University of Luebek in Germany have designed an experiment that shows a good night?s sleep can 48 insight and problem-solving. Dr. Jan Born, a neuroscientist at the university, and his team taught volunteers two simple rules to help them 49 a string of numbers into a new order. There was also a third, 50 rule, which could help them increase their speed in solving the problem. The researchers divided the volunteers into two groups: half were allowed to sleep after the training while the 51 were forced to stay awake. They noticed that the group that had slept after the training were twice as 52 to figure out the third rule as the other group.
“You have a memory representation in your brain of the problem you want to solve, and then you sleep. Sleep can act on the problem,” Born said in a telephone interview. But he also admitted that how restructuring of memories occurs or what governs it is still 53 .
Other scientists say the 54 evidence supports the anecdotal suggestions that sleep can stimulate creative thinking.
Although the role of sleep in human creativity will 55 be a mystery, the research gives people good reason to 56 respect their periods of sleep.
[A] hidden [F] manageable [K] unknown
[B] experimental [G] complex [L] reminder
[C] fully [H] prevent [M] convert
[D] remainder [I] uninvented [N] improve
[E] strengthen [J] still [O] likely
Section B
Passage One
Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.
Australia?s foreign language skills are in decline. Voice of America has reported new figures show that only 13% of high-school students now graduate can speak a foreign language. But four decades ago, 40 percent had foreign language skills.
Professor Elise Tipton, from the University of Sydney, says increasingly students do not feel the need to learn another language to b oost their career. She believes that Australia?s economic boom, which is driven by red-hot demand for its minerals, is helping mask serious deficiencies (缺陷) in its language skills.
Australia does business very successfully in English with most of its trad ing partners. But as the world?s economic power shifts to emerging regions such as Asia, its language gap could soon be exposed. According to the new figures, less than 6.5 percent of high school graduates are proficient in an Asian language. Academics worry that this means Australia will increasingly be isolated from its economically important Asian neighbors. Dilip Dutta, from the economics and business faculty at Sydney University, says language skills can enhance trading opportunities. If Australians want to trade with Asian countries, it is very important for them to learn the language that will help them to get closer to the culture.
But students have different opinions about Asian language learning. Pippa McCowage, a 22-year-old Australian student, says many young Australians have a half-hearted approach to foreign language, and the language curriculum is often weak. “While we?re encouraged in high school to learn another language, it?s not really apparent to me as a realistic expectation that you will have to speak it,” said McCowage. “For example, I learned Japanese in high school. When I went on an exchange in Year 10, I found that the Japanese students of my age had a much greater proficiency in English than I did in Japanese. So in that sense, it a lmost discourages you.”
At present, about 70 percent of Australia?s major exports go to Asia and the Australian government has been keen on developing closer economic and diplomatic ties with Asia. Academics say that, as Asia becomes one of the world?s eco nomic powerhouses (经济体), Australia needs to improve its language skills if it is to take full advantage
of the business opportunities on its doorstep.
57. What percentage of high school graduates were proficient in foreign languages 40 years ago?
[A] Only 13 percent. [B] About 70 percent.
[C] Less than 6. 5 percent. [D] 40 percent.
58. What can be inferred about Australia from the passage?
[A] It has rich deposits of minerals.
[B] It is essentially a self-sufficient country.
[C] It has no intention to trade with Asian countries.
[D] Its students are not required to learn a foreign language.
59. According to Dilip Dutta, language skills can .
[A] improve your relation with your partner
[B] help settle international conflicts
[C] increase trading with foreign countries
[D] remove barriers in negotiations
60. What does McCowage mean by “… have a half-hearted approach to foreign language” (Lines 2-3, Para. 4)?
[A] Students have no idea of how to learn foreign language.
[B] Students give up learning Asian languages half-way.
[C] Many Australian students are not interested in learning foreign language.
[D] High schools fail to provide opportunity for students to speak a foreign language.
61. Why has the Australian government been keenly interested in strengthening ties with Asia?
[A] Australia?s major imports come from Asia countries.
[B] Asia is the destination of Australia?s major exports.
[C] Many Australians go and spend their holidays in Asia.
[D] Australia plays a big role in international affairs.
Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
The concept of obtaining fresh water from icebergs that are pulled to populated areas and dry regions of the world was once treated as a joke more appropriate to cartoons than real life. But now it is being considered quite seriously by many nations, especially since scientists have warned that human race will outgrow its fresh water supply faster than it runs out of food.
Glaciers (冰川) are a possible source of fresh water that has been overlooked until recently. Three quarters of the Earth?s fresh water supply is still tied up in glacial ice, a reservoir of untapped fresh water so immense that it could sustain all the rivers of the world for 1,000 years. Floating on the oceans are 7,659 trillion metric tons of ice encased (包围) in 10,000 icebergs that break away from the polar ice caps, more than ninety percent of them from Antarctica.
Huge glaciers that stretch over the shallow continental shelf give birth to icebergs throughout the year. Icebergs are not like sea ice, which is formed when the sea itself freezes; rather, they are formed entirely on land, breaking off when glaciers spread over the sea. As they drift away from the polar region, icebergs sometimes move mysteriously in a direction opposite to the wind, pulled by subsurface currents. Because they melt more slowly than smaller pieces of ice, icebergs have been known to drift as far north as 35 degrees south of the equator in the Atlantic Ocean. To corral them and steer them to parts of the world where they are needed would not be too difficult.
The difficulty arises in other technical matters, such as the prevention of rapid melting in warmer climates and the funneling (通过漏斗般流过) of fresh water to shore in great volume. But even if the icebergs lost half of their volume in hauling, the water they could provide would be far cheaper than that produced by desalinating or
removing salt from water.
62. What is the main topic of the passage?
[A] The movement of glaciers. [B] Icebergs as a source of fresh water.
[C] Future water shortages. [D] The future of the world?s rivers.
63. According to the passage, icebergs sometimes move in a direction opposite to wind .
[A] for unknown reasons
[B] owing to the force of wind
[C] because of the melting of ice due to the pull
[D] due to currents beneath the sea level
64. The word “corral” (Line 6, Para. 3) is closest in meaning to “”.
[A] protect by forming groups [B] capture and keep hold of
[C] cut into pieces [D] melt down
65. It can be inferred from the passage that .
[A] there will be a shortage of water but sufficient supply of food in the future
[B] there have been different opinions of future water sources
[C] icebergs can be used extremely efficiently
[D] the earth has 10,000 polar ice caps
66. With which of the following ideas would the author be likely to agree?
[A] Pulling icebergs to dry area is economically possible.
[B] Desalination of water is the best way to obtain drinking water.
[C] Using water from icebergs is a very short-term solution to water shortages.
[D] Icebergs could not be hauled very far before they would melt.
Part V Cloze (15 minutes)
New research conducted by brain researcher Avi Karni of the University of Haifa in Israel explores the possibility that naps help lock 67 sometimes fleeing long-term memories. A 90-minute daytime nap might help the most, the study 68 .
“We still don?t know the exact 69 of the memory process that occurs during sleep, but the 70 of this research suggest that it is possible to 71 up memory consolidation (巩固),” Karni said.
Long-term memory refers to memories that 72 with us for years, such as “what” memories — a car accident that happened yesterday —73 “how to” memories, such as one?s 74 ability to play the drums.
Karni, who co-authored the study in a recent 75 of the journal Nature Neuroscience, 76 participants to learn a 67. [A] in [B] with
[C] on [D] up
68. [A] conducts [B] finds
[C] carries [D] includes
69. [A] appliance [B] accessory
[C] machine [D] mechanism
70. [A] consequences [B] effects
[C] results [D] expectations
71. [A] speed [B] work
[C] pick [D] gather
72. [A] preserve [B] maintain
[C] stay [D] reserve
73. [A] and [B] but
[C] nor [D] or
74. [A] learned [B] required
[C] taught [D] suggested
75. [A] print [B] issue
[C] copy [D] publication
76. [A] informed [B] inquired
[C] instructed [D] impressed
complex thumb-tapping sequence, then split the study 77 into two groups: one that napped for an hour, and one that didn?t. The people who 78 an afternoon nap showed sizable improvement in their performance by that evening.
“After a night?s sleep the two groups were at the same 79 , but the group that slept in the afternoon 80 much faster than the group that stayed 81 ,” Karni said.
82 , the study also showed just how much 83 a 90-minute nap could help consolidate long-term memories.
“Daytime sleep can 84 the time …how to? memory becomes 85 to interference and forgetting,” Karni said. “86 of 6 to 8 hours, the brain consolidated the memory during the 90-minute nap.”77. [A] sponsors [B] conductors
[C] researchers [D] subjects
78. [A] took [B] made
[C] did [D] paid
79. [A] extent [B] level
[C] standard [D] range
80. [A] improved [B] recovered
[C] regained [D] strengthened
81. [A] conscious [B] sleepy
[C] aware [D] awake
82. [A] Afterwards [B] Furthermore
[C] Thus [D] Therefore
83. [A] slower [B] longer
[C] faster [D] shorter
84. [A] lessen [B] shorten
[C] extend [D] eliminate
85. [A] subject [B] resistant
[C] sensitive [D] immune
86. [A] Regardless [B] Because
[C] Instead [D] Out
Part VI Translation (5 minutes)
87. He would like to write letters to his friends, ________________________ (而不是面对面交流).
88. His company ________________________ (一定是在竞争中幸存下来了), for it is still running normally.
89. Lion dance on the Lantern Festival ________________________ (在中国传统文化中很有典型性).
90. ________________________ (除上升的出生率和移民外), the declining death rate contributed to the
population growth.
91. What he thought and did ________________________ (与这个问题毫无关系).