大学英语四级考试全真预测试卷
Model Test Four
Part I writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic Dormitory Life . You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:
1. 大学宿舍的集体生活是全新的体验。
2. 宿舍生活与在家生活的不同之处。
3. 宿舍生活利与弊。
Dormitory Life
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 Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked ［A］, ［B］, ［C］ and ［D］. For question 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage。
Animals on the Move
It looked like a scene from “Jaws” but without the dramatic music. A huge shark was lowly swimming through the water, its tail swinging back and forth like the pendulum of a clock。
Suddenly sensitive nerve ending in the shark’s skin picked up vibrations of a struggling fish. The shark was immediately transformed into a deadly, efficient machine of death. With muscles taut, the shark knifed through the water at a rapid speed. In a flash the shark caught its victim, a large fish, in its powerful jaws. Then, jerking its head back and forth, the shark tore huge chunks of flesh from its victim and swallowed them. Soon the action was over。
Moving to Survive
In pursuing its prey, the shark demonstrated in a dramatic way the important role of movement, or locomotion, in animals。
Like the shark, most animals use movement to find food. They also use locomotion to escape enemies, find a mate, and explore new territories. The methods of locomotion include crawling, hopping, slithering, flying, swimming, or walking。
Humans have the added advantage of using their various inventions to move about in just about any kind of environment. Automobiles, rockets, and submarines transport humans from deep oceans to as far away as the moon. However, for other animals movement came about naturally through millions of years of evolution. One of the most successful examples of animal locomotion is that of the shark. Its ability to quickly zero in on its prey has always impressed scientists. But it took a detailed study by Duke University marine biologists S. A. Wainwright, F. Vosburgh, and J. H. Hebrank to find out how the sharks did it. In their study the scientists observed sharks swimming in a tank at Marine land in Saint Augustine, Fla. Movies were taken of the sharks’ movements and analyzed. Studies were also made of shark skin and muscle。
Skin Is the Key
The biologists discovered that the skin of the shark is the key to the animal’s high efficiency in swimming through the water. The skin contains many fibers that crisscross like the inside of a belted radial tire. The fibers are called collagen fibers. These fibers can either store or release large amounts of energy depending on whether the fibers are relaxed or taut. When the fibers are stretched, energy is stored in them the way energy is stored in the string of a bow when pulled tight. When the energy is released, the fibers become relaxed。
The Duke University biologists have found that the greatest stretching occurs where the shark bends its body while swimming. During the body’s back and forth motion, fibers along the outside part of the bending body stretch greatly. Much potential energy is stored in the fibers. This energy is released when the shark’s body snaps back the other way。
As energy is alternately stored and released on both sides of the animal’s body, the tail whips strongly back and forth. This whip-like action propels the animal through the water like a living bullet。
Source of Energy
What causes the fibers to store so much energy? In finding the answer the Duke University scientists learned that the shark’s similarity to a belted radial tire doesn’t stop with the skin. Just as a radial tire is inflated by pressure, so, too, is the area just under the shark’s collagen “radials”. Instead of air pressure, however, the pressure in the shark may be due to the force of the blood pressing on the collagen fibers。
When the shark swims slowly, the pressure on the fibers is relatively low. The fibers are more relaxed, and the shark is able to bend its body at sharp angles. The animal swims this way when looking around for food or just swimming. However, when the shark detects an important food source, some fantastic involuntary changes take place。
The pressure inside the animal may increase by 10 times. This pressure change greatly stretches the fibers, enabling much energy to be stored。
This energy is then transferred to the tail, and the shark is off. The rest of the story is predictable。
Dolphin Has Speed Record
Another fast marine animal is the dolphin. This seagoing mammal has been clocked at speeds of 32 kilometers (20 miles) an hour. Biologists studying the dolphin have discovered that, like the shark, the animal’s efficient locomotion can be traced to its skin. A dolphin’s skin is made up in such a way that it offers very little resistance to the water flowing over it. Normally when a fish or other object moves slowly through the water, the water flows smoothly past the body. This smooth flow is known as laminar flow. However, at faster speeds the water becomes more turbulent along the moving fish. This turbulence muses friction and slows the fish down。
In a dolphin the skin is so flexible that it bends and yields to the waviness of the water。
The waves, in effect, become tucked into the skin’s folds. This allows the rest of the water to move smoothly by in a laminar flow. Where other animals would be slowed by turbulent water at rapid speeds, the dolphin can race through the water at record breaking speeds。
Other Animals Less Efficient
Not all animals move as efficiently as sharks and dolphins. Perhaps the greatest loser in locomotion efficiency is the slug. The slug, which looks like a snail without a shell, lays down a slimy trail over which it crawls. It uses so much energy producing the slimy mucus and crawling over it that a mouse traveling the same distance uses only one twelfth as much energy。
Scientists say that because of the slug’s inefficient use of energy, its lifestyle must be restricted. That is, the animals are forced to confine themselves to small areas for obtaining food and finding proper living conditions. Have humans ever been faced with this kind of problem?
1.According to the passage, a shark can use movement to do something except______________。
［A］to find food
［B］to avoid being chased by its enemies
［C］to find a new place to live
［D］to show its braveness
2.Examples of automobiles, rockets and submarines are used to show that _______________。
［A］humans are the most clever living creatures in the world
［B］human inventions enable us to travel in almost any kind of environment
［C］humans are very successful in inventing transportation tools
［D］humans can’t move like other animals in any circumstances
3.What is the key to the shark’s swift locomotion in water?
［A］The skin.［B］The tail.［C］The muscle.［D］The jaw。
4.According to the Duke University scientists, when does the shark stretch its collagen fibers to the greatest extent?
［A］When moving its tail rapidly。
［B］When finding its preys。
［C］When staying without any movement。
［D］When bending its body in swimming。
5.Why is the area just under the shark’s collagen fibers similar to a belted radial tire?
［A］Because it is also full of blood pressure。
［B］Because it is also filled of air pressure。
［C］Because it is also inflated by pressure。
［D］Because it also can be used again and again。
6.A laminar flow is formed when a fish swims________________。
［A］slowly through the water［B］rapidly through the water
［C］against the current［D］at the fastest speed in water
7.Consuming the equal amount of energy as a slug does, a mouse can travelas long as it______________。
［A］one twelfth times.［B］the same.［C］12 times.［D］1.2 times。
8.A shark finds its prey by________________。
9.According to the passage, _______________can be compared to the string of a bow for both of them store energy when stretched。
10.When the shark detects an important food source, __________________________take place。
Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)
Section A
Directions: 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 decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre。
11.［A］He had finished his work.［B］He came back to surprise his wife。
［C］He came back for lunch.［D］He came back to fetch some document。
12.［A］At a library.［B］In a bus。
［C］At the airport.［D］At a post office。
13.［A］There’s a paper by the door。
［B］The paper must have blown away。
［C］He should look further under the desk。
［D］He can buy another one at the corner。
14. ［A］11: 25.［B］11: 40.［C］11: 46.［D］11: 26.
15.［A］The rent is too high。
［B］He can’t afford the high taxes。
［C］He doesn’t want to live in the suburbs。
［D］It’s too far away from his office。
16.［A］No. He has to finish his homework。
［B］No. He doesn’t like going to the club。
［C］Yes. He’ll go after he finishes his homework。
［D］Yes. He’ll write his paper after he returns。
17. ［A］She lost her way. ［B］She lost her keys。
［C］She lost her car. ［D］She lost her handbag。
18.［A］Worried and frightened. ［B］Very relaxed。
［C］Quite unhappy. ［D］Angry with the professor。
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard。
19. ［A］In a classroom.［B］In a snack bar。
［C］In the dormitory.［D］In a camera shop。
20.［A］The man’s brother.［B］The man’s roommate。
［C］A neighbor.［D］A photographer。
21.［A］He’s noisy.［B］He’s messy。
［C］He doesn’t tell the truth.［D］He doesn’t close the door。
22.［A］He worked for a radio station.［B］He lived in a dormitory。
［C］He took a long trip.［D］He visited the man’s family。
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard。
23.［A］One of his classes finished early。
［B］He wanted to get some studying done。
［C］The library had a special display on the Industrial Revolution。
［D］His books were ten days overdue。
24. ［A］Checked them out。
［B］Took notes on them。
［C］Returned them to the shelves。
［D］Put them in his bookbag。
25. ［A］They are marked with colored labels。
［B］They are specially coded。
［C］They are checked out。
［D］They are inspected by the guard。
Section B
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］.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre。
Passage One
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard。
26. ［A］To show off their wealth。
［B］To feel good。
［C］To regain their memory。
［D］To be different from others。
27.［A］To help solve their psychological problems。
［B］To play games with them。
［C］To send them to the hospital。
［D］To make them aware of its harmfulness。
28. ［A］They need care and affection。
［B］They are fond of roundtheworld trips。
［C］They are mostly from broken families。
［D］They are likely to commit crimes。
Passage Two
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard。
29. ［A］He lost consciousness。
［B］He was slightly wounded。
［C］He was seriously injured。
［D］He was buried under an icebox。
30. ［A］About four days。
［B］Around eight days。
［C］A day and a half。
［D］More than six days。
31. ［A］His father pulled him out in time。
［B］He left the area before the earthquake。
［C］He stayed in an icebox。
［D］Their house escaped the earthquake。
Passage Three
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard。
32. ［A］They want to change the way English is taught。
［B］They learn English to find well-paid jobs。
［C］They want to have an up-to-date knowledge of English。
［D］They know clearly what they want to learn。
33. ［A］Professionals。
［B］College students。
［C］Beginners。
［D］Intermediate earners。
34. ［A］Courses for doctors。
［B］Courses for businessmen。
［C］Courses for reporters。
［D］Courses for lawyers。
35. ［A］Three groups of learners。
［B］The importance of business English。
［C］English for Specific Purposes。
［D］Features of English for different papacies。
Section C
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in you own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written。
Coal has not been used very extensively as an energy source recently. However, it (36)__________ will become a very important source of energy in the future because of dwindling (37)___________ of natural gas and oil. Although coal (38)______________to be black, it actually has black, yellow, orange, and red bands of color when it is examined under a powerful microscope。
Coal probably was formed about 300 million years ago by (39)______________trees and other plant life growing in (40)_____________. These trees and plants died and then fell into the water. They contained the elements oxygen, hydrogen, and (41)____________ . As the earth changed its (42)__________, the weight of the ground (43)____________ down on the trees and plants. Thus seams of coal were formed。
(44)_________________________. Strip mining is quicker and safer than underground mining, but it can leave the surface of the earth bare and ugly. (45)_____________________. While both underground and strip mines still can be hazardous, there no longer are as many accidents in coal mining as there once were. (46)_____________________. Many of today’s coal miners are earning good wages in an occupation which is quite safe and very important。