真题中的每一部分都是完整的一个模式，如果太过于细化讲解每篇句子，罗列很多看起来很“专业”的讲解，很容易使考生陷入不知所措的混沌状态，效果会适得其反。下面是小编收集推荐的大学英语专业历年四级真题，仅供参考，欢迎阅读。
2018年12月英语四级考试真题( 第3套)
四级写作
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the challenges of starting a career after graduation. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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四级听力
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)
说明：由于2018年6月四级考试全国共考了两套听力, 本套真题听力与前两套内容相同, 只是选项顺序不同, 因此在本套真题中不再重复出现。
四级阅读
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
Section A
Directions: 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 bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
A few months ago, I was down with a terrible cold which ended in a persistent bad cough. No matter how many different __ 26__ I tried, I still couldn't get rid of the cough Not only did it __ 27__ my teaching but also my life as a whole Then one day after class, a student came up to me and __28__ traditional Chinese medicine. From her description, Chinese medicine sounded as if it had magic power that worked wonders. I was __ 29__ because I knew so little about it and have never tried it before. Eventually, my cough got so much __ 30__ that I couldn't sleep at night, so I decided to give it a try. The Chinese doctor took my pulse and asked to see my tongue, both of which were new __ 31__ to me because they are both non-existent in Western medicine. Then the doctor gave me a scraping（刮） treatment known as "Gua Sha". I was a little __ 32__ at first because he used a smooth edged tool to scrape the skin on my neck and shoulders A few minutes later, the __ 33__ strokes started to produce a relieving effect and my body and mind began to __ 34__ deeper into relaxation. I didn't feel any improvement in my condition in the first couple of days, but after a few more regular visits to the doctor, my cough started to __ 35__. Then within a matter of weeks, it was completely gone!
A) deepen
B) experiences
C) hesitant
D) inconvenience
E) lessen
F) licenses
G) pressured
H) recommended
I) remedies
J) scared
K) sensitive
L) sink
M) temporary
N) tremble
O) worse
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Is it really ok to eat food that's fallen on the floor?
A) When you drop a piece of food on the floor, is it really OK to eat if you pick it up within five seconds? An urban food myth contends that if food spends just a few seconds on the floor, dirt and germs won't have much of a chance to contaminate it. Research in my lab has focused on how food becomes contaminated, and we've done some work on this particular piece of wisdom.
B) While the "five-second rule" might not seem like the most pressing issue for food scientists to get to the bottom of, it's still worth investigating food myths like this one because they shape our beliefs about when food is safe to eat.
C) So is five seconds on the floor the critical threshold（门槛）that separates a piece of eatable food from a case of food poisoning? It's a bit more complicated than that. It depends on just how many bacteria can make it from floor to food in a few seconds and just how dirty the floor is.
D) Wondering if food is still OK to eat after it's dropped on the floor is a pretty common experience. And it's probably not a new one either A well-known, but inaccurate, story about Julia Child may have contributed to this food myth. Some viewers of her cooking show, The French Chef, insist they saw Child drop lamb on the floor and pick it up, with the advice that if they were alone in the kitchen, their guests would never know.
E) In fact it was a potato pancake, and it fell on the stovetop, not on the floor Child put it back in the pan, saying, "But you can always pick it up and if you're alone in the kitchen, who's going to see it?" But the misremembered story persists. It's harder to pin down the origins of the oft-quoted five- second rule, but a 2003 study reported that 70% of women and 56% of men surveyed were familiar with the five-second rule and that women were more likely than men to eat food that had dropped on the floor.
F) So what does science tell us about what a few moments on the floor means for the safety of your food? The earliest research report on the five-second rule is attributed to Jillian Clarke, a high school student participating in a research project at the University of Illinois. Clarke and her colleagues introduced bacteria to floor tiles（瓷砖）and then placed cookies on the tiles for varying times. They reported bacteria were transferred from the tiles to the cookies within five seconds, but didn't report the specific amount of bacteria that made it from the tiles to the food.
G) But how many bacteria actually transfer in five seconds? In 2007, my lab at Clemson University published a study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology. We wanted to know if the length of time food is in contact with a contaminated surface affected the rate of transfer of bacteria to the food. To find out, we introduced bacteria to squares of tile, carpet or wood. Five minutes after that, we placed either bacon or bread on the surface for 5, 30 or 60 seconds, and then measured the number of bacteria transferred to the food. We repeated this exact procedure after the bacteria had been on the surface for 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours.
H) We found that the number of bacteria transferred to either kind of food didn't depend much on how long the food was in contact with the contaminated surface--whether for a few seconds or for a whole minute. The overall number of bacteria on the surface mattered more, and this decreased over time after the initial introduction. It looks like what's at issue is less how long your food stays on the floor and much more how contaminated with bacteria that patch of floor happens to be.
I) We also found that the kind of surface made a difference as well. Carpets, for instance, seem to be slightly better places to drop your food than wood or tile. When a carpet was contaminated, less than 1% of the bacteria were transferred. But when the food was in contact with tile or wood, 48-70% of bacteria were.
J) Last year, a study from Aston University in the UK used nearly identical parameters（参数）to our study and found similar results. They also reported that 87% of people asked either would eat or had eaten food fallen on the floor.
K) Should you eat food fallen on the floor then? From a food safety standpoint if you have millions or more bacteria on a surface, 0. 1% is still enough to make you sick. Also, certain types of bacteria are extremely harmful, and it takes only a small number to make you sick. For example, 10 bacteria or less of an especially deadly strain of bacteria can cause severe illness and death in people with compromised immune systems. But the chance of these bacteria being on most surfaces is very low.
L) And it's not just dropping food on the floor that can lead to bacterial contamination. Bacteria are carried by various "media", which can include raw food, moist surfaces where bacteria have been left, our hands or skin and from coughing or sneezing（打喷嚏）. Hands, foods and utensils（器皿）can carry individual bacteria living in communities contained within a protective film. These microscopic layers of deposits containing bacteria are known as biofilms and they are found on most surfaces and objects. Biofilm communities can harbor bacteria longer and are very difficult to clean. Becteria in these communities also have an enhanced resistance to sanitizers（清洁剂）and antibiotics compared to bacteria living on their own.
M) So the next time you consider eating fallen food, the odds are in your favor that you can eat it without getting sick. But in the rare chance that there is a micro-organism that can make you sick on the exact spot where the food dropped, you can be fairly sure that the bug is on the food you are about to put in your mouth.
N) Research or common sense tells us that the best thing to do is keep your hands, utensils and other surfaces clean.
36. A research project found bacteria made their way to the food on the floor in five seconds.
37. Whether food is contaminated depends much on the number of bacteria that get onto it.
38. Food contamination may result from various factors other than food dropping on the floor.
39. Males are less likely than females to eat food that may have been contaminated.
40. The author's research centers around how food gets contaminated.
41. Keeping everything clean is the best way to stay healthy.
42. Chances are you will not fall sick because of eating food picked up from the floor.
43. For a long time people have had the experience of deciding whether or not to eat food picked up from the floor.
44. Some strains of bacteria are so harmful that a tiny few can have deadly consequences.
45. Researchers found how many bacteria got onto the food did not have much to do with how long the food stayed on a contaminated floor.
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 with the exact words you have just heard. Finally，when the passage is read for the third time，you should check what you have written.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
The latest in cat research reveals that the lovely animal seems to have a basic grasp on both the laws of physics and the ins and outs of cause and effect.
According to a newly published study, cats seem to be able to predict the location of hiding prey（猎物）using both their ears and an inborn（天生的）understanding of how the physical world works
In a recent experiment, Japanese researchers taped 30 domestic cats reacting to a container that a team member shook Some containers rattled（发出响声）; others did not. When the container was tipped over, sometimes an object fell out and sometimes it didn't.
It turns out that the cats were remarkably smart about what would happen when a container was tipped over. When an object did not drop out of the bottom of a rattling container, they looked at it for a longer time than they did when the container behaved as expected.
"Cats use a causal-logical understanding of noise or sounds to predict the appearance of invisible objects," lead researcher Saho Takagi says in a press release. The researchers conclude that cats' hunting style may have developed based on their common-sense abilities to infer where prey is, using their hearing.
Scientists have explored this idea with other endearing creatures: babies. Like cats, babies appear to engage in what's called "preferential looking"—looking longer at things that are interesting or unusual than things they perceive as normal.
When babies' expectations are violated in experiments like the ones performed with the cats, they react much like their animal friends. Psychologists have shown that babies apparently expect their world to comply with the laws of physics and cause and effect as early as two months of age.
Does the study mean that cats will soon grasp the ins and outs of cause and effect? Maybe, Okay, so cats may not be the next physics faculty members at America's most important research universities. But by demonstrating their common sense, they've shown that the divide between cats and humans may not be that great after all.
46. What do we learn from a newly published study about cats?
A) They can be trained to understand the physical world.
B) They know what kind of prey might be easier to hunt.
C) They have a natural ability to locate animals they hunt.
D) They are capable of telling which way their prey flees.
47. What may account for the cats' response to the noise from the containers?
A) Their inborn sensitivity to noise. C) Their special ability to perceive.
B) Their unusual sense of direction. D) Their mastery of cause and effect.
48. What is characteristic of the way cats hunt, according to the Japanese researchers?
A) They depend on their instincts. C) They wait some time before attack.
B) They rely mainly on their hearing. D) They use both their ears and eyes.
49. In what way do babies behave like cats?
A) They focus on what appears odd. C) They do what they prefer to do
B) They view the world as normal. D) They are curious about everything.
50. What can we conclude about cats from the passage?
A) They have higher intelligence than many other animals.
B) They interact with the physical world much like humans.
C) They display extraordinarily high intelligence in hunting.
D) They can aid physics professors in their research work.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
Imagine you enter a car with no steering wheel, no brake or accelerator pedals（踏板）. Under a voice-activated command, you say an address. "The fastest route will take us 15.3 minutes. Should I take it?" You say "yes" and you are on your way. The car responds and starts moving all by itself. All you have to do is sit back and relax.
How weird would it be if, one day in the future, everyone had such a car No crazy driving，no insults，no cutting in; traffic laws would be respected and driving much safer. On the other hand, imagine the cost savings for local police enforcement and town budgets without all those speeding and parking tickets.
A new technology has the potential to change modem society in radical ways. There's no question that self-driving vehicles could be an enormous benefit. The potential for safer cars means accident statistics would drop: some 94% of road accidents in the U.S. involve human error. Older drivers and visually-or physically-impaired people would gain a new level of freedom. Maintaining safe speeds and being electric, self-driving cars would drastically reduce pollution levels and dependency on non- renewable fuels. Roads would be quieter, people safer.
But we must also consider the impact of the new technology on those who now depend on driving for their livelihoods. According to the U.S Department of Labor, in May 2015 there were 505,560 registered school bus drivers. The American Trucking Association lists approximately 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the U.S.
The companies developing self-driving vehicles should be partnering with state and federal authorities to offer retraining for this massive workforce, many of whom will be displaced by the new technology. This is similar to what's happening in the coal and oil industries, a situation that fuels much of the current political discontent in this country.
New technologies will, and should, be developed. This is how society moves forward. However, progress can't be one-sided. It is necessary for the companies and state agencies involved to consider the ethical consequences of these potential changes to build a better future for all.
51. What would be the impact of the extensive use of driverless cars?
A) People would be driving in a more civilized way.
B) It would save local governments a lot of money.
C) More policemen would be patrolling the streets.
D) Traffic regulations would be a thing of the past.
52. How would the elderly and the disabled benefit from driverless cars?
A) They could enjoy greater mobility. C) They would have no trouble driving.
B) They would suffer no road accidents. D) They could go anywhere they want.
53. What would be the negative impact of driverless cars?
A) The conflict between labor and management intensify.
B) The gap between various sectors of society would be widened.
C) Professional drivers would have a hard time adapting to new road conditions.
D) Numerous professional drivers would have to find new ways of earning a living.
54. What is the result of the introduction of new technologies in energy industries?
A) Political dissatisfaction. C) Fossil fuel conservation.
B) Retraining of employees. D) Business restructuring.
55. What does the author suggest businesses and the government do?
A) Keep pace with technological developments.
B) Make new technologies affordable to everyone.
C) Enable everyone to benefit from new technologies.
D) Popularize the use of new technologies and devices.
四级翻译
Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
过去几年里，移动支付市场在中国蓬勃发展随着移动互联网的出现，手机购物逐渐成为一种趋势。18到30岁的年轻人构成了移动支付市场的最大群体。由于现在用手机付款很容易，许多消费者在购物时宁愿用手机付款而不愿用现金或信用卡为了鼓励人们多消费，许多商店给使用移动支付的顾客打折。专家预测，中国移动支付市场未来仍有很大发展潜力。
四级答案
2018年12月四级部分真题参考答案(完整版)
Part Ⅰ Writing
The Challenges of Starting a Career After Graduation
Recent years have witnessed a sharp rise in the number of college students who successfully start their career after graduation. However, many others fail to do so because the transition from a student to an employee is actually full of challenges.
First of all, you might not be popular with every colleague, which is frustrating for a newcomer of the workplace. So you'd better try to make a good first impression on all of your workmates, especially your boss. Furthermore, there probably is a gap between what you've learned at school and what you are required at work. You have to learn actively and quickly, and avoid making too many mistakes. Finally, the low payment for a new graduate and various living expenses make it difficult to make ends meet, so you may find yourself always on a tight budget.
As the old proverb goes, "Well begun is half done." If you can handle these challenges successfully after graduation, you will clear the path for future career development, such as job promotion or starting your own business. So hold on and never give up!
Part III Reading Comprehension
26-35：IDHCO BJGLE
36-45：FCLEA NMDKH
46-55：CDBAB BADAC
Part IV Translation
The mobile payment market has thrived in China during the past few years. With the advent of the mobile Internet, mobile shopping has gradually become a trend. Young people aged from 18 to 30 have constituted the largest group of the mobile payment market. Because it is quite easy to make a payment by phone, many consumers would rather pay by mobile phone than in cash or by credit card. In order to encourage people to spend more, many stores offer discounts to consumers who use the mobile payment. As is predicted by experts, the mobile payment market in China still has great potential for development in the future.
2018年12月英语四级考试真题( 第2套)
四级写作
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the challenges of studying abroad. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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四级听力
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)
听力音频MP3文件，点击进入听力真题页面
Section A News Report
Directions： In this section， you will hear three news reports。 At the end of each news report， you will hear two or three questions。 Both the news report 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 1 with a single line through the centre。
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
1.A) A man was pulled to safety after a building collapse.
B) A beam about ten feet long collapsed to the ground.
C) A rescue worker got trapped in the basement.
D) A deserted 100-year-old building caught fire.
2.A) He suffered a fatal injury in an accident.
B) He once served in a fire department.
C) He was collecting building materials.
D) He moved into his neighbor's old house.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3.A) Improve the maths skills of high school teachers.
B) Change British people's negative view of maths.
C) Help British people understand their paychecks.
D) Launch a campaign to promote maths teaching.
4.A) Children take maths courses at an earlier age.
B) The public sees the value of maths in their life.
C) British people know how to do elementary calculations.
D) Primary school teachers understand basic maths concepts.
Questions 5 and 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5.A) He owns a fleet of aircraft.
B) He is learning to be a pilot.
C) He regards his royal duties as a burden.
D) He held a part-time job for over 20 years.
6.A) He can demonstrate his superior piloting skills.
B) He can change his focus of attention and relax.
C) He can show his difference from other royalty.
D) He can come into closer contact with his people.
7.A) They enjoyed his company.
B) They liked him in his uniform.
C) They rarely recognised him.
D) They were surprised to see him.
Section B Conversation
Directions： In this section， you will hear two long conversations。 At the end of each conversations you will hear four questions。 Both the conversations and the question-s 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 1 with a single line through the centre.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
8.A) They were skilled carpenters themselves.
B) It didn't need much capital to start with.
C) Wood supply was plentiful in Romania.
D) They saw a business opportunity there.
9.A) Provide quality furniture at affordable prices.
B) Attract foreign investment to expand business.
C) Enlarge their company by hiring more workers.
D) Open some more branch companies in Germany.
10.A) They are from her hometown.
B) They are imported from Germany.
C) They all come from Romania.
D) They come from all over the continent.
11.A) All across Europe.
B) Throughout the world.
C) Mostly in Bucharest.
D) In Romania only.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12.A) Go to a concert with him and his girlfriend.
B) Try out a new restaurant together in town.
C) Go with him to choose a pearl for Susan.
D) Attend the opening of a local restaurant.
13.A) It is sponsored by local restaurants.
B) It specializes in food advertizing.
C) It is especially popular with the young.
D) It provides information on local events.
14.A) They design a special set of menus for themselves.
B) They treat themselves to various entertainments.
C) They go to eat at different stylish restaurants.
D) They participate in a variety of social events.
15.A) More restaurants will join Restaurant Week.
B) This year's Restaurant Week will start soon.
C) Bigger discounts will be offered this Restaurant Week.
D) More types of food will be served this Restaurant Week.
Section C Passage
Directions： In this section， you will hear three passages。 At the end of each passage， you will hear three or four 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 1 with a single line through the centre.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16.A) Rewarding them for eating vegetables.
B) Exposing them to vegetables repeatedly.
C) Improving the taste of vegetable dishes for them.
D) Explaining the benefits of eating vegetables to them.
17.A) They were disliked most by children.
B) They were considered most nutritious.
C) They were least used in Belgian cooking.
D) They were essential to children's health.
18.A) Vegetables differ in their nutritional value.
B) Children's eating habits can be changed.
C) Parents watch closely what children eat.
D) Children's choices of food vary greatly.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19.A) Space exploration has serious consequences.
B) India has many space exploration programs.
C) There is quite a lot to learn about the moon.
D) A lot of garbage has been left on the moon.
20.A) It is costly to bring back.
B) It is risky to destroy.
C) It is of no use on Earth.
D) It is damaged by radiation.
21.A) Record details of space exploration.
B) Monitor the change of lunar weather.
C) Study the effect of radiation and vacuum on its materials.
D) Explore the possibility of human settlement on the moon.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22.A) It is likely to remain a means of business communication.
B) It is likely to be a competitor of various messaging apps.
C) It will gradually be replaced by social media.
D) It will have to be governed by specific rules.
28.A) Save the message in their file.
B) Make a timely response.
C) Examine the information carefully.
D) See if any action needs to be taken.
24.A) It is to be passed on.
B) It is mostly junk.
C) It requires no reply.
D) It causes no concern.
25.A) Make it as short as possible.
B) Use simple and clear language.
C) Adopt an informal style of writing.
D) Avoid using capitals for emphasis.
四级阅读
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
Section A
Directions: 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 bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Have you ever used email to apologize to a colleague? Delivered a __26__ to a subordinate（下属）with a voice-mail message? Flown by plane across the country just to deliver important news in person? The various communication options at our fingertips today can be good for __27__ and productivity-and at the same time very troublesome. With so many ways to communicate, how should a manager choose the one that's best--- __28__ when the message to be delivered is bad or unwelcome news for the recipient? We've __29__ business communication consultants and etiquette（礼仪）experts to come up with the following guidelines for __30__ using the alternative ways of delivering difficult messages.
First of all, choose how personal you want to be. A face-to-face communication is the most __31__. Other choices, in descending order of personalization, are; a real-time phone call, a voice-mail message, a handwritten note, a typewritten letter, and the most __32__ is email. Some of these may change order according to the __33__ situation or your own preferences; for example, a handwritten note might seem more personal than voice-mail. How do you decide on the best choice for the difficult message you've got to deliver? "My __34__ concern is: How can I soften or civilize this message?" says etiquette expert Dana Casperson. "So when I apologize, usually choose in-person first, or a phone conversation as my top alternative, and maybe a handwritten note next. Apologizing by email is something I now totally __35__."
A）avoid
B）convenience
C）effectively
D）escape
E）intimate
F）particularly
G）primary
H）prompt
I）reward
J）silent
K）specific
L）surveyed
M）unfriendly
N）warning
O）witnessed
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
How a Poor，Abandoned Parisian Boy Became a Top Chef
A) The busy streets in Paris were uneven and caked in thick mud, but there was always a breathtaking sight to see in the shop windows of Patisserie de la Rue de la Paix. By 1814, people crowded outside the bakery, straining for a glimpse of the latest sweet food created by the young chef who worked inside.
B) His name was Marie-Antoine Carême, and he had appeared, one day, almost out of nowhere. But in his short lifetime, which ended exactly 184 years ago today, he would forever revolutionize French gourmet food（美食）, write best-selling cook books and think up magical dishes for royals and other important people.
C) Carême's childhood was one part tragedy, equal part mystery. Born the 16th child to poor parents in Paris in either 1783 or 1784, a young Carême was suddenly abandoned at the height of the French Revolution. At 8 years old, he worked as a kitchen boy for a restaurant in Paris in exchange for room and board. By age 15, he had become an apprentice（学徒）to Sylvain Bailly, a well-known dessert chef with a successful bakery in one of Paris's most fashionable neighborhoods.
D) Carême was quick at learning in the kitchen. Bailly encouraged his young apprentice to learn to read and write. Carême would often spend his free afternoons at the nearby National Library reading books on art and architecture. In the back room of the little bakery, his interest in design and his baking talent combined to work wonders-he shaped delicious masterpieces out of flour, butter and sugar.
E) In his teenage years, Carême fashioned eatable copies of the late 18th century's most famous buildings-cookies in the shape of ruins of ancient Athens and pies in the shape of ancient Chinese palaces and temples. Sylvain Bailly, his master, displayed these luxuriant creations-often as large as 4 feet tall-in his bakery windows.
F) Carême's creations soon captured the discriminating eye of a French diplomat, Charles Maurice de
Talleyrand-Perigord. Around 1804, Talleyrand challenged Carême to produce a full menu for his personal castle, instructing the young baker to use local, seasonal fruits and vegetables and to avoid repeating main dishes over the course of an entire year. The experiment was a grand success and Talleyrand's association with French nobility would prove a profitable connection for Carême.
G) French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was known to be unimpressed by the declining taste of early
18th century cooking, but under pressure to entertain Paris's high society, he too called Carême to his kitchen at Tuileries Palace. In 1810, Carême designed the extraordinary cake for the wedding of Napoleon and his second bride, Marie-Louise of Austria. He became one of the first modern chefs to focus on the appearance of his table, not just the flavor of his dishes. "I want order and taste. A well-displayed meal is enhanced one hundred percent in my eyes," he later wrote in one of his cook books.
H) In 1816, Carême began a culinary（烹饪的）journey which would forever mark his place as history's first top chef. He voyaged to England to cook in the modern Great Kitchen of the prince regent（摄政王）, George IV, and crossed continents to prepare grand banquets for the tables of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Never afraid to talk up his own accomplishments, a boastful Carême made a fortune as wealthy families with social ambitions invited him to their kitchens. Later, in his cook books, he would often include a sketch of himself, so that people on the street would be able to recognize-and admire-him.
I) Carême's cooking displays became the symbol of fine French dining; they were plentiful, beautiful and imposing. Guests would fall silent in wonder as servants carried Carême's fancy creations into the dining hall. For a banquet celebrating the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia's visit to George IV's Brighton Pavillion on Jan. 18, 1817, the menu featured 120 different dishes, highlighting eight different soups, 40 main courses, and 32 desserts.
J) As he traveled through the homes of early 19th century nobility, Carême forged the new art of French gourmet food. Locked in hot kitchens, Carême created his four "mother sauces." These sauces-béchamel, velouté, espagnole and allemande-formed the central building blocks for many French main courses. He also perfected the soufflé-a baked egg dish, and introduced the standard chef's uniform-the same double-breasted white coat and tall white hat still worn by many chefs today. The white clothing conveyed an image of cleanliness, according to Carême-and in his realm, appearance was everything.
K) Between meals, Carême wrote cook books that would be used in European kitchens for the next century. His manuals including The Royal Parisian Baker and the massive five-volume Art of French Cooking Series (1833-1847, completed after his death) first systematized many basic principles of cooking, complete with drawings and step-by-step directions. Long before television cooking shows, Carême walked readers through common kitchen tasks, instructing them to "try this for yourself, at home" as famous American Chef Julia Child might do, many years later.
L) In the end, however, it was the kitchen that did Carême in. Decades of working over coal fires in tight, closed spaces with little fresh air (to ensure his dishes would not get cold) had fatally damaged his lungs. On Jan.12, 1883, Carême died just before he turned 50.
M) But in his lifetime, Carême, ever confident, could see beyond his short domination in the kitchen.
He wanted to "set the standard for beauty in classical and modern cooking, and prove to the distant future that the French chefs of the 19th century were the most famous in the world," as he wrote in his papers.
N) Decades later, chef Auguste Escoffier would build upon Carême's concept of French cuisine（烹饪）.But in the very beginning, there was just Carême, the top chef who elevated dining into art.
36. Carême was among the first chefs who stressed both the appearance and flavor of dishes.
37. Carême wanted to show to later generations that French chefs of his time were most outstanding in the world.
38. Carême benefited greatly from serving a French diplomat and his connections.
39. Carême learned his trade from a famous dessert chef in Paris.
40. Carême's creative works were exhibited in the shop windows by his master.
41. Carême's knowledge of art and architecture helped him create extraordinary desserts out of ordinary ingredients.
42 . Many people in Paris were eager to have a look at the latest sweet food made by Carême.
43. Carême became extremely wealthy by cooking for rich and socially ambitious families.
44. Carême's writings dealt with fundamental cooking principles in a systematic way.
45. Carême's contribution to French cooking was revolutionary.
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 with the exact words you have just heard. Finally，when the passage is read for the third time，you should check what you have written.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Roughly the size of a soda can, sitting on a bookshelf, a relatively harmless gadget may be turning friends away from your home. The elephant in your living room is your Internet-connected security camera, a device people are increasingly using for peace of mind in their homes. But few stop to think about the effect these devices may have on house guests. Should you tell your friends, for instance, that they're being recorded while you all watch the big game together?
"It's certainly new territory, especially as home security cameras become easier to install, "says Lizzie Post, president of the Emily Post Institute, America's foremost manners advisors. "I think it will be very interesting to see what etiquette（礼仪）emerges in terms of whether you tell people you have a camera or not, and whether guests have a right to ask that it be turned off, if it's not a security issue."
Post wants to make clear that she's not talking about legal rights, but rather personal preferences. She also wants to explain that there are no right or wrong answers regarding manners on this front yet, because the technology is just now becoming mainstream. Besides, the Emily Post Institute doesn't dictate manners.
When it comes to security cameras, Post says it's a host's responsibility to make sure guests feel comfortable within their home. "I'm always a fan of being open and honest." For instance, if the host casually acknowledges that there is a camera in the room by telling a story about it, that may be enough to provide an opening for a guest to say if they are uncomfortable.
However, if a contractor is working in your home, you don't need to tell them that there are cameras watching. Then again, the air of accountability that the camera generates can also work in contractors' favor. "If anything does go wrong while they're in the house, they don't want to be blamed for it," she says. "In fact, the camera could be the thing that proves that they didn't steal the $20, or knock the vase off the table."
46. For what reason may your friends feel reluctant to visit your home?
A) The security camera installed may intrude into their privacy.
B) They don't want their photos to be circulated on the Internet.
C) The security camera may turn out to be harmful to their health.
D) They may not be willing to interact with your family members.
47. What does Lizzie Post say is new territory?
A) The effect of manners advice on the public.
B) Cost of applying new technologies at home.
C) The increasing use of home security devices.
D) Etiquette around home security cameras.
48. What is Lizzie Post mainly discussing with regard to the use of home security cameras?
A) Legal rights.
B) Moral issues.
C) Likes and dislikes of individuals.
D) The possible impact on manners.
49. What is a host's responsibility regarding security cameras, according to Lizzie Post?
A) Making their guests feel at ease.
B) Indicating where they are.
C) Turning them off in time.
D) Ensuring their guests' privacy.
50. In what way can the home security camera benefit visitors to your home?
A) It can satisfy their curiosity.
B) It can prove their innocence.
C) It can help them learn new technology.
D) It can make their visit more enjoyable.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
PepsiCo is to spend billions of dollars to develop drinks and snacks and reformulate existing ones with lower sugar, salt and fat, as consumers demand healthier options and regulatory pressure intensifies amid an obesity epidemic（流行病）.
The maker of Mountain Dew and Gatorade has been one of the earlier movers in the industry to offer products with reduced levels of unhealthy ingredients-PepsiCo claims a packet of its chips now contains less salt than a slice of white bread. However, its new 10-year plan makes clear it believes it still has a long way to go.
Shifting eating habits, including a sharp drop in consumption of sparkling drinks, have forced radical change on the industry. But those shifts have yet to be reflected in record obesity levels, which stand at 36.5%overall in the US.
Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chairman, said the plan to make its products healthier was important for the company's growth. But on the subject of obesity, she pointed out that consumers' lifestyles have changed significantly, with many people being more sedentary（久坐不动的）not least because more time is spent in front of computers. She said PepsiCo's contribution was to produce healthier snacks that still tasted good.
"Society has to change its habits," she added. "We can't do much to alter sedentary lifestyles, but we can provide consumers with great-tasting products, low in salt, sugar and fat. In the past we had to have a taste trade-off. But we're breaking that trade-off."
PepsiCo's plan for its foods and drinks is based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation, which last week backed using taxes on sparkling drinks to reduce sugar consumption. Initiatives also include efforts to reduce its environmental impact, water consumption and materials used in packaging by 2025.
PepsiCo did not say exactly how much it planned to invest to reach its goals. However, Dr Mehmood Khan, chief scientific officer, said the company had doubled research and development spending in the past five years and was "committed to sustaining investment", adding that companies cannot cost-cut their way to increasing sales. PepsiCo's research and development budget in 2015 was $754 million.
51. Why is PepsiCo making a policy change?
A) To win support from the federal government.
B) To be more competitive in the global market.
C) To satisfy the growing needs for healthy foods.
D) To invest more wisely in the soft drink industry.
52. What does PepsiCo think it will have to do in the future?
A) Invest more to develop new snacks.
B) Reduce levels of obesity in the US.
C) Change consumers' eating habits.
D) Keep on improving its products.
58. Why does PepsiCo plan to alter its products, according to Indra Nooyi?
A) To ensure the company's future development.
B) To adapt to its customers' changed taste.
C) To help improve its consumers' lifestyles.
D) To break the trade-off in its product design.
54. What does Indra Nooyi say about the obesity epidemic?
A) It is mainly caused by overconsumption of snacks.
B) It results from high sugar and salt consumption.
C) It is attributable to people's changed lifestyles.
D) It has a lot to do with longer working hours.
55.What has PepsiCo been doing to achieve its objective?
A) Studying WHO's guidelines.
B) Increasing its research funding.
C) Expanding its market overseas.
D) Cutting its production costs.
四级翻译
Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
越来越多的中国人现在的确离不开手机了。他们中的许多人，包括老年人，都使用手机应用程序（apps）保持联系并拓宽朋友圈。他们也用手机购物、查找信息，因为手机便于携带。此外，使用手机应用程序通信比传统电话便宜。然而，这种新趋势导致人们在社交时过度依赖手机。事实上，一些年轻人已经变得十分上瘾，以至于忽视了与家人和朋友面对面的交流。
四级答案
2018年12月四级部分真题参考答案(完整版)
Part Ⅰ Writing
The Challenges of Studying Abroad
①As is universally acknowledged, it is by no means easy to study abroad ② since you could come across a list of unexpected difficulties and setbacks which you cannot imagine before going abroad.
③First of all, the top challenge is the culture shock, which means you may not adapt to the exotic life during the first few days or even months. ④ secondly, the language barrier could be a nightmare for many foreign students who possess poor mastery of the official language of the country where they study.⑤ Last but not least, you could be overwhelmed by the academic requirements if you are not well prepared. Long lists of reference books, numerous projects, papers and professors with varying personalities could wear you out.
⑥ Despite all these terrifying challenges, you will finally manage to come through this "dark age" with your hard work, persistence and endurance. And then a bright future will await you.
Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension
1. A
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. D
6. B
7. C
8. D
9. A
10. C
11. A
12. B
13. D
14. C
15. B
16. B
17. A
18. B
19. D
20. A
21. C
22. A
23. B
24. C
25. D
Part III Reading Comprehension
26-35：NBFLC EMKGA
36-45：GMFCE DAHKB
46-55：ADCAB CDACB
Part IV Translation
It is a fact that more and more Chinese can hardly live without their mobile phones nowadays. Many of them, including senior citizens, use mobile apps to keep in touch with others and expand their circles of friends. They also use mobile phones to shop online and search for information because they are portable. What's more, communication through mobile apps costs less than traditional phone calls. However, this new trend results in the over-reliance on mobile phones when people are socializing. As a matter of fact, some young people have become so addicted to mobile phones that they have neglected the face-to-face communication with their family and friends.
2018年12月英语四级考试真题( 第1套)
四级写作
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the challenges of living in a big city. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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四级听力
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)
听力音频MP3文件，点击进入听力真题页面
Section A News Report
Directions： In this section， you will hear three news reports。 At the end of each news report， you will hear two or three questions。 Both the news report 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 1 with a single line through the centre。
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
1. A) Land a space vehicle on the moon in 2019.
B) Design a new generation of mobile phones.
C) Set up a mobile phone network on the moon.
D) Gather data from the moon with a tiny device.
2. A) It is stable.
B) It is durable.
C) It is inexpensive.
D) It is sophisticated.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. A) It lasted more than six hours.
B) No injuries were yet reported.
C) Nobody was in the building when it broke out.
D) It had burned for 45 minutes by the time firefighters arrived.
4. A) Recruit and train more firefighters.
B) Pull down the deserted shopping mall.
C) Turn the shopping mall into an amusement park.
D) Find money to renovate the local neighborhood.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5. A) Shrinking potato farming.
B) Heavy reliance on import.
C) Widespread plant disease.
D) Insufficient potato supply.
6. A) It intends to keep its traditional diet.
B) It wants to expand its own farming.
C) It is afraid of the spread of disease.
D) It is worried about unfair competition.
7. A) Global warming.
B) Ever-rising prices.
C) Government regulation.
D) Diminishing investment.
Section B Conversation
Directions： In this section， you will hear two long conversations。 At the end of each conversations you will hear four questions。 Both the conversations and the question-s 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 1 with a single line through the centre.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
8. A) Informative.
B) Inspiring.
C) Dull.
D) Shallow.
9. A) She types on a keyboard.
B) She does recording.
C) She takes photos.
D) She takes notes.
10. A) It keeps her mind active.
B) It makes her stay awake.
C) It enables her to think hard.
D) It helps her kill time.
11. A) It enables her to improve her pronunciation.
B) It helps her better remember what she learns.
C) It turns out to be an enjoyable way of learning.
D) It proves to be far more effective than writing.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. A) To spend her honeymoon.
B) To try authentic Indian food.
C) To take photos of the Taj Mahal.
D) To trace the origin of a love story.
13. A) In memory of a princess.
B) In honor of a great emperor.
C) To mark the death of an emperor of the 1600s.
D) To celebrate the birth of a princess's 14th child.
14. A) It looks older than expected.
B) It is built of wood and bricks.
C) It stores lots of priceless antiques.
D) It has walls decorated with jewels.
15. A) Their streets are narrow.
B) They are mostly crowded.
C) Each one has a unique character.
D) Life can be tedious in some places.
Section C Passage
Directions： In this section， you will hear three passages。 At the end of each passage， you will hear three or four 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 1 with a single line through the centre.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. A) They help spread the latest technology.
B) They greatly enrich people’s leisure life.
C) They provide residents with the resources needed.
D) They allow free access to digital books and videos.
17. A) By helping them find jobs.
B) By inspiring their creativity.
C) By keeping them off the streets.
D) By providing a place of relaxation.
18. A) Their interaction with teenagers proved fruitful.
B) They used libraries less often than teenagers.
C) They tended to visit libraries regularly.
D) Their number increased modestly.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. A) It is the cleverest cat in the world.
B) It is the largest cat in Africa.
C) It is an unusual cross breed.
D) It is a large-sized wild cat.
20. A) They are as loyal as dogs.
B) They have unusually long tails.
C) They are fond of sleeping in cabinets.
D) They know how to please their owners.
21. A) They shake their front paws.
B) They teach them to dive.
C) They shower with them.
D) They shout at them.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22. A) Anxious and depressed.
B) Contented and relieved.
C) Excited but somewhat sad.
D) Proud but a bit nervous.
23. A) It is becoming parents biggest concern.
B) It is gaining increasing public attention.
C) It depends on their parents for success.
D) It starts the moment they are born.
24. A) Set a good example for them to follow.
B) Read books and magazines to them.
C) Help them to learn by themselves.
D) Choose the right school for them.
25. A) Their intelligence.
B) Their home life.
C) The effort they put in learning.
D) The quality of their school.
四级阅读
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
Section A
Directions: 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 bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Millions die early from air pollution each year. Air pollution costs the global economy more than $5 trillion annually in welfare costs, with the most serious ___26___ occurring in the developing world.
The figures include a number of costs ___27___ with air pollution. Lost income alone amounts to $225 billion a year.
The report includes both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Indoor pollution, which includes ___28___ like home heating and cooking, has remained ___29___ over the past several decades despite advances in the area. Levels of outdoor pollution have grown rapidly along with rapid growth in industry and transportation.
Director of Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Chris Murray ___30___ it as an “urgent call to action.” One of the risk factors for premature deaths is the air we breathe, over which individuals have little ___31___, he said.
The effects of air pollution are worst in the developing world, where in some places lost-labor income ___32___ nearly 1% of GDP. Around 9 in 10 people in low and middle-income countries live in places where they ___33___ experience dangerous levels of outdoor air pollution.
But the problem is not limited ___34___ to the developing world. Thousands die prematurely in the U. S. as a result of related illnesses. In many European countries, where diesel (柴油) ___35___ have become more common in recent years, that number reaches tens of thousands.
A) ability
B) associate
C) consciously
D) constant
E) control
F) damage
G) described
H) equals
I) exclusively
J) innovated
K) regularly
L) relates
M) sources
N) undermine
O) vehicles
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Food-as-Medicine Movement Is Witnessing Progress
A) Several times a month, you can find a doctor in the aisles of Ralph's market in Huntington Beach, California, wearing a white coat and helping people learn about food. On one recent day, this doctor was Daniel Nadeau, wandering the cereal aisle with Allison Scott, giving her some idea on how to feed kids who persistently avoid anything that is healthy. "Have you thought about trying fresh juices in the morning?" he asks her. "The frozen oranges and apples are a little cheaper, and fruits are really good for the brain. Juices are quick and easy to prepare; you can take the frozen fruit out the night before and have it ready the next morning."
B) Scott is delighted to get food advice from a physician who is program director of the nearby Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center, part of the St. Joseph Hoag Health alliance. The center's "Shop with Your Doc" program sends doctors to the grocery store to meet with any patients who sign up for the service, plus any other shoppers who happen to be around with questions.
C) Nаdеаu nоtісеѕ thе рrе-mаdе mасаrоnі（通心粉）-аnd-сhееѕе bохеѕ іn Ѕсоtt'ѕ ѕhорріng саrt аnd suggests she switch to whole grain macaroni and real cheese. "So I'd have to make it?" she asks, her enthusiasm fading at the thought of how long that might take, just to have her kids reject it. "I'm not sure they'd eat it. They just won't eat it."
D) Nadeau says sugar and processed foods are big contributors to the rising diabetes rates among children. "In America, over 50 percent of our food is processed food," Nadeau tells her. "And only 5 percent of our food is plant-based food. I think we should try to reverse that." Scott agrees to try more fruit juices for the kids and to make real macaroni and cheese. Score one point for the doctor, zero for diabetes.
E) Nadeau is part of a small revolution developing across California. The food-as-medicine movement has been around for decades, but it's making progress as physicians and medical institutions make food a formal part of treatment, rather than relying solely on medications（药物）. By prescribing nutritional changes or launching programs such as "Shop with Your Doc", they are trying to prevent, limit or even reverse disease by changing what patients eat. "There's no question people can take things a long way toward reversing diabetes, reversing high blood pressure, even preventing cancer by food choices," Nadeau says.
F) In the big picture, says Dr. Richard Afable, CEO and president of St. Joseph Hoag Health, medical institutions across the state are starting to make a philosophical switch to becoming a health organization, not just a health care organization. That feeling echoes the beliefs of the Therapeutic Food Pantry program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, which completed its pilot phase and is about to expand on an ongoing basis to five clinic sites throughout the city. The program will offer patients several bags of food prescribed for their condition, along with intensive training in how to cook it. "We really want to link food and medicine, and not just give away food," says Dr. Rita Nguyen, the hospital's medical director of Healthy Food Initiatives. "We want people to understand what they're eating, how to prepare it, the role food plays in their lives."
G) In Southern California, Loma Linda University School of Medicine is offering specialized training for its resident physicians in Lifestyle Medicine—that is a formal specialty in using food to treat disease. Research findings increasingly show the power of food to treat or reverse diseases, but that does not mean that diet alone is always the solution, or that every illness can benefit substantially from dietary changes. Nonetheless, physicians say that they look at the collective data and a clear picture emerges: that the salt, sugar, fat and processed foods in the American diet contribute to the nation's high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of deaths from heart disease and stroke are caused by high blood, pressure, tobacco use, elevated cholesterol and low consumption of fruits and vegetables.
H) "It's a different paradigm（范式）of how to treat disease," says Dr. Brenda Rea, who helps run the family and preventive medicine residency program at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. The lifestyle medicine specialty is designed to train doctors in how to prevent and treat disease, in part, by changing patient's nutritional habits. The medical center and school at Loma Linda also has a food cupboard and kitchen for patients. This way, patients not only learn about which foods to buy, but also how to prepare them at home.
I) Many people don't know how to cook, Rea says, and they only know how to heat things up. That means depending on packaged food with high salt and sugar content. So teaching people about which foods are healthy and how to prepare them, she says, can actually transform a patient's life. And beyond that, it might transform the health and lives of that patient's family. "What people eat can be medicine or poison," Rea says. "As a physician, nutrition is one of the most powerful things you can change to reverse the effects of long-term disease."
J) Studies have explored evidence that dietary changes can slow inflammation（炎症）, for example, or make the body inhospitable to cancer cell. In general, many lifestyle medicine physicians recommend a plant-based diet—particularly for people with diabetes or other inflammatory conditions.
K) "As what happened with tobacco, this will require a cultural shift, but that can happen," says Nguyen. "In the same way physicians used to smoke, and then stopped smoking and were able to talk to patients about it, I think physicians can have a bigger voice in it."
36. More than half of the food Americans eat is factory-produced.
37. There is a special program that assigns doctors to give advice to shoppers in food stores.
38. There is growing evidence from research that food helps patients recover from various illnesses.
39. A healthy breakfast can be prepared quickly and easily.
40. Training a patient to prepare healthy food can change their life.
41. One food-as -medicine program not only prescribes food for treatment but teaches patients how to cook it.
42. Scott is not keen on cooking food herself, thinking it would simply be a waste of time.
43. Diabetes patients are advised to eat more plant-based food.
44. Using food as medicine is no novel idea, but the movement is making headway these days.
45. Americans' high rates of various illnesses result from the way they eat.
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 with the exact words you have just heard. Finally，when the passage is read for the third time，you should check what you have written.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
California has been facing a drought for many years now, with certain areas even having to pump freshwater hundreds of miles to their distribution system. The problem is growing as the population of the state continues to expand. New research has found deep water reserves under the state which could help solve their drought crisis. Previous drilling of wells could only reach depths of 1,000 feet, but due to new pumping practices, water deeper than this can now be extracted （抽取）. The team at Stanford investigated the aquifers（地下蓄水层）below this depth and found that reserves may be triple what was previously thought.
It is profitable to drill to depths more than 1,000 feet for oil and gas extraction, but only recently in California has it become profitable to pump water from this depth. The aquifers range from 1,000 to3,000 feet below the ground, which means that pumping will be expensive and there are other concerns. The biggest concern of pumping out water from this deep is the gradual setting down of the land surface. As the water is pumped out, the vacant space left is compacted by the weight of the earth above.
Even though pumping from these depths is expensive, it is still cheaper than desalinating（脱盐）the ocean water in the largely coastal state. Some desalination plants exist where feasible, but they are costly to run and can need constant repairs. Wells are much more reliable sources of freshwater, and California is hoping that these deep wells may be the answer to their severe water shortage.
One problem with these sources is that the deep water also has a higher level of salt than shallower aquifers. This means that some wells may even need to undergo desalination after extraction, thus increasing the cost. Research from the exhaustive study of groundwater from over 950 drilling logs has just been published. New estimates of the water reserves now go up to 2,700 billion cubic meters of freshwater.
46. How could California's drought crisis be solved according to some researchers?
A) By building more reserves of groundwater.
B) By drawing water from the depths of the earth.
C) By developing more advanced drilling devices.
D) By upgrading its water distribution system.
47. What can be inferred about extracting water from deep aquifers?
A) It was deemed vital to solving the water problem.
B) It was not considered worth the expense.
C) It may not provide quality freshwater.
D) It is bound to gain support from the local people.
48. What is mentioned as a consequence of extracting water from deep underground?
A) The sinking of land surface.
B) The harm to the ecosystem.
C) The damage to aquifers.
D) The change of the climate.
49. What does the author say about deep wells?
A) They run without any need for repairs.
B) They are entirely free from pollutants.
C) They are the ultimate solution to droughts.
D) They provide a steady supply of freshwater.
50. What may happen when deep aquifers are used as water sources?
A) People's health may improve with cleaner water.
B) People's water bills may be lowered considerably.
C) The cost may go up due to desalination.
D) They may be exhausted sooner or later.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The AlphaGo programs victory is an example of how smart computers have become.
But can artificial intelligence (AI) machines act ethically, meaning can they be honest and fair?
One example of AI is driverless cars. They are already on California roads, so it is not too soon to ask whether we can program a machine to act ethically. As driverless cars improve, they will save lives. They will make fewer mistakes than human drivers do. Sometimes, however, they will face a choice between lives. Should the cars be programmed to avoid hitting a child running across the road, even if that will put their passengers at risk? What about making a sudden turn to avoid a dog? What if the only risk is damage to the car itself, not to the passengers?
Perhaps there will be lessons to learn from driverless cars, but they are not super-intelligent beings. Teaching ethics to a machine even more intelligent than we are will be the bigger challenge.
About the same time as AlphaGo's triumph, Microsoft's 'chatbot' took a bad turn. The software, named Taylor, was designed to answer messages from people aged 18-24. Taylor was supposed to be able to learn from the messages she received. She was designed to slowly improve her ability to handle conversations, but some people were teaching Taylor racist ideas. When she started saying nice things about Hitler, Microsoft turned her off and deleted her ugliest messages.
AlphaGo's victory and Taylor's defeat happened at about the same time. This should be a warning to us. It is one thing to use AI within a game with clear rules and clear goals. It is something very different to use AI in the real world. The unpredictability of the real world may bring to the surface a troubling software problem.
Eric Schmidt is one of the bosses of Google, which owns AlphaGo. He thinks AI will be positive for humans. He said people will be the winner, whatever the outcome. Advances in AI will make human beings smarter, more able and "just better human beings."
51. What does the author want to show with the example of AlphaGo's victory?
A) Computers will prevail over human beings.
B) Computers have unmatched potential.
C) Computers are man's potential rivals.
D) Computers can become highly intelligent.
52. What does the author mean by AI machines acting ethically?
A) They are capable of predicting possible risks.
B) They weigh the gains and losses before reaching a decision.
C) They make sensible decisions when facing moral dilemmas.
D) They sacrifice everything to save human lives.
53. What is said to be the bigger challenge facing humans in the AI age?
A) How to make super-intelligent AI machines share human feelings.
B) How to ensure that super-intelligent AI machines act ethically.
C) How to prevent AI machines doing harm to humans.
D) How to avoid being over-dependent on AI machines.
54. What do we learn about Microsoft's "chatbot" Taylor?
A) She could not distinguish good from bad.
B) She could turn herself off when necessary.
C) She was not made to handle novel situations.
D) She was good at performing routine tasks.
55. What does Eric Schmidt think of artificial intelligence?
A) It will be far superior to human beings.
B) It will keep improving as time goes by.
C) It will prove to be an asset to human beings.
D) It will be here to stay whatever the outcome.
四级翻译
Part Ⅳ Translation (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
由于通信网络的快速发展，中国智能手机用户数量近年来以惊人速度增长。这极大地改变了许多人的阅读方式。他们现在经常在智能手机上看新闻和文章，而不买传统报刊。大量移动应用程序（apps）的开发使人们能用手机读小说和其他形式的文学作品。因此，纸质书籍的销售受到了影响。但调查显示，尽管智能手机阅读市场稳步增长，超半数成年人仍喜欢读纸质书。
2018年12月四级部分真题参考答案(完整版)
Part Ⅰ Writing
The Challenges of Living in a Big City
①With the development of economy and urbanization, the number of big cities is constantly increasing in China. ②While big cities are attracting more and more people, they also bring many challenges, such as traffic jam and pollution, just to name a few.
③The first problem that really bothers me is the traffic congestion during rush hours. I hate waiting for buses and being late for school or work. ④The next problem is that the large population in big cities makes them so crowded that we can hardly find a peaceful place unless staying at home. Supermarkets are always crowded, so are cinemas and parks. ⑤Another consequence of the large population is that it intensifies the inadequacy of high-quality medical and educational resources, thus decreasing residents' sense of happiness.
⑥As a result, although I am frequently asked whether I like to live in a big city or not, my answer is always: "no, definitely not." What about you?
Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. C
7. A
8. C
9. D
10. A
11. B
12. A
13. A
14. D
15. B
16. C
17. B
18. D
19. C
20. A
21. C
22. C
23. D
24. A
25. B
Part III Reading Comprehension
26-35：FBMDG EHKIO
36-45：DBGAI FCJRG
46-55：BBADC DCBAC
Part IV Translation
Because of the rapid development of communication network, the number of smartphone users in China has increased at an astonishing rate in recent years, which has significantly changed the way many people read. Nowadays they often read news and articles on smartphones instead of buying traditional newspapers and periodicals. The development of numerous mobile apps has enabled people to read novels and other forms of literary works on their mobile phones. Therefore, the sales of paper books have been affected. But surveys show that though smartphone reading market has grown steadily, over half of adults still enjoy reading paper books.
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