2021 年 12 月大学英语四级考试真题(第 1 套）

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: Suppose your university student union is planning to hold a speech

contest. You are now to write a proposal for organizing the contest. The proposal may
include the topic, aim, procedure and selection of contestants. You will have 30
minutes to write the proposal. You should write at least 120 words but no more than
180 words.

Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)

Section A

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 l and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
1. A) She was pierced by a chicken bone.
B) She was coughing all the time
C) She suffered from lung cancer.
D) She suffered from shock
2.A) Вy eating chicken soup daily.
B) Through regular exercising.
с) Through a surgical operation.
D) Вy using traditional Chinese medicine.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. A) It was born 13 years ago.
B) It was Alice Gray’s lovely pet.
C) It got injured in a big bushfire.
D) It ran away into a nearby forest.
4. A) They rebuilt the fencing around their farm.
B) They spent seven years replanting their farm.
C) They claimed damages for their heavy losses.
D) They installed a camera to monitor sheep activity.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5. A) The disappearance of some gold and diamonds.
B) The transfer of tons of precious metal by air.
C) The crash of a Russian cargo airplane.
D) The loss of gold from an airplane.·
6. A) It made an emergency landing.
B) It informed the local police at once.
C) It contacted the goldmine company.
D) It had a crew member fix the problem.
7.A) They will cooperate with the police.
B) They had checked the plane carefully.
C) They will be questioned by the police.
D) They took some gold bars and diamonds.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each
conversation, you will hear, four questions. Both the conversation and the questions
will be spoken only once. After you hear c 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) For the company’s records.
B) For future training purposes.
C) To follow the company’s rule.
D) To ensure information security.
9. A) To check her customer reference number.
B) To inquire about the price of office chairs.
C) To get her money back for the returned chair.
D) To make complaints about its customer service.
10.A) She had to update its information.
B) She forgot where she had 1eft it.
C) She lost it about three days ago.
D) She was issued a new card.
11.A) Reconsider her options for payment methods.
B) Make a specific note on the company’s system.
C) Update her bank card details on the company’s website.
D) Upload her personal information to the company’s website.
Questions l2 to l5 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12.A) He is feeling exhausted.
B) He is tired of cooking.
C) He has to work late.
D) He wants to try Asian foods.
13.A) Book a table.
B) Order a delivery.
C) Download a menu.
D) Locate a restaurant.
14. A) It is not tasty.
B) It is not healthy.
C) It is too oily
D) It is too spicy.
15.A) She is too concerned about money.
B) She is too weight-conscious.
C) She is too picky about food.
D) She is too eager to please.

Section C
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 l6 to l8 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16.A) Owners’ personalities affect their cats’ behaviour and wellbeing.
B) Parents' personalities can affect the personalities of their children.
C) Parents and cat owners alike experience high levels of anxiety.
D) More and more people are treating pet cats like their children.
17.A) Give their pets behavioural training.
B) Provide their pets with the best care.
C) Know their pets' feelings and desires.
D) Interact with their pets in novel ways.
18. .A) More convincing explanation.
B) More extensive sampling.
C) Collection of more data.
D) Further investigation.
Questions 19 to 2l are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. A) People should do more running than mere walking.
B) Running is the best exercise for extending one's life.
C) People should exercise at least 60 minutes every day
D) Running is the easiest form of exercise for most people.
20.A) Improving their brain function.
B) Regulating their breathing rate.
C) Slowing down their ageing process.
D) Accelerating their blood circulation.
21.A) They found it easy to control their emotions.
B) They struggled to handle negative emotions.
C) They were more eager to enjoy a movie.
D) They were less affected by sad movies.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22. A) He is a tour guide.
B) He is a famous architect.
C) He is local entrepreneur.
D) He is the owner of the Hil1 House.
23.A) He studied the blueprints of other famous buildings.
B) He inquired about his client's family background.
c) He observed his client's 1ife and habits.
D) He took a tour of his client’s old home.
24.A) A house made of timber and brick.
B). A house with a lot of free space.
C) A house of the current fashion.
D) A house of a unique design.
25.A) They are well preserved and in pretty good shape.
B) They are copies built to the architect's designs
C) They were designed by another architect.
D) They were badly damaged but restored.

Part II 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 for
each item 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.
The sheets are damp with sweat. You’re cold, but your heart is racing as if a
killer just chased you down a dark street. It was just a nightmare, you tell yourself;
there's nothing to be afraid of. But you're still filled with_ 26__.
Given how unsettling and haunting nightmares can be, is there a way for dreamers to_
27 , or even turn off, these bad dreams as they happen?
Research is_ 28_, but some studies suggest that people who can master lucid
dreaming that is, the ability to be_ 29_ that a nightmare is happening and possibly
even control it without waking up - may hold the_ 30__.
Nightmares are part of the human experience, especially for kids. Doctors_ 31_
don’t consider occasional nightmares a problem. They can just be symptoms of a
sleep disorder that can 32 from an unpleasant experience, stress, or certain drugs.
To treat the disorder, there are a number of medicines and therapies that are
backed by_ 33 research, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,
which analyzed the available research on the treatment of nightmare disorder in a
recent_ 34 published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
However, nightmares are complicated, and researchers are still struggling to
understand them, Said Dr. Rachel Salas, an expert on sleep disorders and an associate
professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. What we do know is that people_
35__ to have different kinds of nightmares at different points during the sleep cycle.
A) amount
B) answer
C) avoid
D) aware
E) depart
F) drastically
G) fear
H) limited
1) mechanical
J ) result
K) review
L) rigorous
M) tend
N) timidity
O) typically
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.
Why it matters that teens are reading less
[A] Most of us spend much more with digital media than we did a decade ago. But
today’s teens have grown up with smartphones. Compared with teens a couple of
decades ago, the way they, interact with traditional media like books and movies is
fundamentally different.
[B] Analysis of surveys of over one million teens in the United States collected since
1976 reveals a major shift in how teens are spending their leisure time. Paper books
are being ignored, in favor of screens. Digital devices are changing other behaviors,
too. More and more, young people choose spending time on their electronic devices
over engaging in other activities, regardless of the type. Indeed, by 2016, the average
American high school senior said they spent six hours a day writing text messages, on
social media, and online during their free time. And that covers just three activities,
and if other digital media activities were included, that estimate would no doubt rise.+
[C] Teens did not always spend that much time with digital media. Online time has
doubled since 2006, and social media use has moved from a periodic activity to a
daily one in the same period. By 2016,nearly nine out of ten young women in the 12th
grade said they visited social media sites every day. Meanwhile, time spent playing
video games rose from under an hour a day to an hour and a half on average, One out
of ten American 8th grace students in 2016 spent 40 hours a week or more playing
video games. Let me emphasize that this is equal to the time most adults spend per
week at work.
[D] If teens are spending so much time using electronic devices, does that mean they
have to give up some other activities? Maybe not.Over the years, many scholars have
insisted that time online does not necessarily take away time spent engaging with
traditional media or on other activities. Some people,they argue, are just more
interested in certain kinds of media and entertainment. Thus,using more of one type of
media does not necessarily mean less of the other.
[E] That may be true, but that still does not tell us much about what happens across a
whole generation of people when time spent on digital media grows. Large surveys
conducted over the course of many years tell us that American youth are not going to
the cinema nearly as often as they did in the past. While 70 percent of 8th and 10th
grade students used to go to the movies once a month or more, now only about half do
this, More and more, watching a movie is something teens choose to do on their
electronic devices. Why is this a problem? One reason is that going to the cinema is
generally a social activity. Now, watching movies is something that most teens do
alone. This fits a larger pattern. In another analysis, researchers found that today's
teens go out with their friends much less often than previous generations did.
[F] But the trends related to movies are less disturbing compared with the change in
how teens spend their time. Research has revealed an enormous decline in reading. In
1980, about 60 percent of senior high school students said they read a book,
newspaper or magazine every day that was not assigned for school. By 2016, only 16
percent did. This is a huge drop and it is important to note that this was not merely a
decline in reading paper books, newspapers or magazines. The survey allowed for
reading materials on a digital device.
[G] Indeed, the number of senior high school students who said they had not read any
books for pleasure in the last year was one out of three by 2016.That is triple the
number from two decades ago. For today's youth, books ,newspapers and magazines
have less and less of a presence in their daily lives. Of course, teens are still reading.
But they are generally reading short texts. Most of them are not reading long articles
or books that explore deep themes and require critical thinking and reflection. Perhaps
not accidentally, in 2016 reading scores were the lowest they have ever been since
1972.
[H] This might present problems for young people later on. When high school
students go on to college, their past and current reading habits will influence their
academic performance. Imagine going from reading texts as short as one or two
sentences to trying to read entire books written in complex language and containing
sophisticated ideas. Reading and comprehending longer books and chapters takes
practice, and American teens are no longer getting that practice.
[I] So how can this problem be solved? Should parents and teachers take away teens'
smartphones and replace them with paper books? Probably not. Research has shown
that smartphones are currently American teens main form of social communication.
This means that, without a smartphone, teens are likely to feel isolated from their
peers. However,that does not mean teens need to use electronic devices as often as
they do now. Data connecting excessive digita media time to mental health issues
suggests a limit of two hours a day of free time spent with screens, a restriction that
will also allow time for other activities- like going to the movies with friends or
reading longer, more complicated texts.
[J] The latter is especially important. I would argue that of all the changes brought
about by the widespread use of digital devices, the huge decline in reading is likely to
have the biggest negative impact on today's teens because reading books and longer
articles is one of the best says to learn critical thinking. It helps people to understand
complex issues and to separate fact from fiction. Thus, deep reading is crucial for
being a good citizen, a successful college student and a productive employee. If
serious reading dies, a lot will go with it.
36.Many years’ surveys reveal that young people in America are going to the cinema
much less often than they used to.
37. Survey analysis shows American teens now spend their leisure time on digital
devices rather than reading printed books
38.The number of senior high schoolers not reading books for pleasure in a year
increased three times over 20 years.
39. Many scholars claim that spending time on electronic devices doesn’t necessarily
mean a decrease of time for other activities.
40. Most people spend much more time interacting with digital media than they did
ten years ago.
41. The author claims that it will be a great loss if we no longer read books and longer
articles.
42. Over a decade or so, American teens’ social media use shifted from an occasional
activity to a routine one.
43. A more disturbing trend in America today is that teens are spending far less time
reading than around four decades ago.
44. Some five years ago, high school seniors in America generally spent more than six
hours a day on electronic devices.
45. It was found that American youngsters today don't socialize nearly as much as the
earlier generations.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some
questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked
A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding
letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Have you ever wondered how acceptable it is to hug or touch someone? While it
may sound safe to avoid all physical contact so as not to offend anyone, the lack of
touching might imply cold attitudes or indifference in interpersonal relationships.
So, what should we do? The simple answer is thoroughly learn unique cultural
norms for physical contact. In nonverbal communication terminology (术语), physical
contact and the study of touching are generally referred to as haptics.
Haptics in communication often suggest the level of intimacy. They are usually
classified into two groups:high-contact and low-contact.
Asia and quite surprisingly the United States. Canada and Britain belong to
low-contact cultures. People from the rest of the world such as Latin America,are
considered to be in high-contact cultures, where they tend to expect touching in social
interactions and feel more comfortable with physical closeness. Despite the
classification,there are more complex factors such as relational closeness, gender,
age.and context that can affect how someone views physical contact.
One common French custom of greetings is cheek-kissing, but it is mostly
restricted to friends, close acquaintances and family members. While cheek-kissing
for Latin Americans is also a universal greeting form, it does not require such a high
degree of relational closeness. However, gender matters more for them because
check-kissing often only happens between women or a man and a woman but not two
men.
In contrast,in certain Arabian,African, and Asian countries ,men can publicly
hold hands or show physical affection as signs of brotherhood or friendship while
these behaviors may suggest a romantic relationship in other parts of the world
Although men’s touching is more normal in these cultures, physical contact between
persons of opposite sexes who are not family members is negatively perceived in
Arabic countries.
These factors could definitely affect the degree to which someone is comfortable
with tactile ( 触 觉 的 ) communication and physical intimacy. Therefore, if you are
someone who loves to show physical affection, you should not be afraid to show it or
drastically change your behaviors - just ask for consent beforehand!
46. What does the author say in the first paragraph about physical contact?
A) Its role in interpersonal relationships is getting increasingly important.
B) It is becoming more acceptable to many who used to think it offensive.
C) Its absence might suggest n lack of warmth in interpersonal relationships.
D) It might prompt different responses from people of different social backgrounds.
47. A)What does physical contact in communication suggest?
B) How civilized the communicators are.
C) What family background people come from.
D) How close the communicators’ relationships are.
48. What do we learn about people in high-contact cultures?
A) They are sensitive to the way people express their emotions.
B) They take touching as a cultural norm in social interactions.
C) They attach great importance lo close ties among people.
D) They tend 1o be more open in interpersonal relationships.
49.What do we learn about social customs in Arabian countries.
A) Men can show friendship in public through physical affection.
B) Non-traditional romantic relationships are simply unacceptable.
C) Physical contact between unfamiliar people is negatively perceived.
D) People of different ages and genders show affection in different ways.
50. What does the author tell us to do concerning tactile communication?
A) Lay emphasis on nonverbal communication.
B) Learn to use appropriate body language first.
C) Pay attention to the differences between genders.
D) Take other people's preference into consideration.
Passage Two
Questions 5l to 55 are based on the following passage.
From climate change to the ongoing pandemic ( 大 流 行 病 ) and beyond, the
issues facing today’s world are increasingly complex and dynamic. Yet solving
problems like these requires new approaches that extend beyond traditional ways of
thinking. A study led by Yale Professor of Psychology, Paul O’Keefe, found that
having a growth mindset (思维倾向) of interest may spark this type of innovation.
Professor O’Keefe established in earlier studies that people hold different beliefs
about the nature of interest. Those with a growth mindset of interest tend to believe
that interests can be developed and cultivated, while those with a fixed mindset of
interest tend to believe that interests are inherent (与生俱有的) and simply need to be
‘found’.Building on these findings, the latest research examined how a growth
mindset of interest can boost integrative thinking across the traditional disciplinary
boundaries of arts and sciences.
For example,in one task,research participants were instructed to create new
college majors by combining two or more existing academic Arts or Science
programs at their university. After coding and analyzing the ideas they generated,the
team found that people with a growth mindset of interest were more likely to bridge
programs across the arts and sciences to create new majors like computational
economics rather than creating majors that drew from only one of those areas, like
computational chemistry.
As Professor O’Keefe pointed out, “This research provides a useful direction for
organizations whose products and services call for integrated and creative solutions.
Take smartphones for example.You need not only computer science and engineering
knowledge, but also an understanding of psychology and visual design to create a
better product. Employees with a growth mindset may be more likely to devise
innovative ideas that bridge multiple areas of knowledge to achieve better solutions.”
 The benefits of a growth mindset of interest may also extend to those seeking
employment. This is a pressing issue because many people are becoming unemployed
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Having a growth mindset of interest can help job
seekers expand their interests and become more adaptable to different fields, and take
the initiative to learn new skills.
51. What does the author say about the world today?
A) It faces problems that are getting more varied and complicated.
B) It has done away with many of the traditional ways of thinking.
C) It is undergoing radical and profound changes.
D) It is witnessing various types of innovations.
52. What did Professor O’Keefe find in his earlier studies?
A) People’s interests tend to change with age.
B) People’s interests determine their mindsets.
C) People are divided about the nature of interest.
D) People of different ages have different mindsets.
53.What is the focus of Professor O’Keefe’s recent research?
A) How boundaries can be removed between arts and science disciplines.
B) How feasible it is to create new disciplines like computational economics.
C) How students in arts and sciences view the two types of mindset of interest.
D) How a growth mindset of interest can contribute to cross-disciplinary
thinking.
54.What does the author want to illustrate with the example of smartphones?
A) Hi-tech products are needed in interdisciplinary research.
B) Improved technology gives birth to highly popular products.
C) Making innovative products needs multidisciplinary knowledge.
D) Hi-tech products can boost people's integrative thinking.
55. What is the author’s suggestion to those who are seeking employment?
A) Learning practical skills.
B) Broadening their interests.
c) Staying safe in the pandemic.
D) Knowing their pressing issues.
Part IV Translation (30 mninutes)

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.
都江堰(Dujiangyan)坐落在成都平原西部的岷江上，距成都市约 50 公里，始
建于公元前三世纪。它的独特之处在于无需用堤坝调控水流。两千多年来，都江
堰一直有效地发挥着防洪与灌溉作用，使成都平原成为旱涝保收的沃土和中国最
重要的粮食产地之一。都江堰工程体现了我国人民与自然和谐共存的智慧,是全
世界年代最久、仍在使用、无坝控水的水利工程。

2021 年 12 月大学英语四级考试真题(第 2 套)

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: Suppose you have just participated in a school project of collecting used
books on campus. You are now to write a report about the project, which may include
its aim, organizers, participants and activities. You will have 30 minutes to write the
report. You should write at least 120 words but no more than180 words.

Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)

Section A

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 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) It found a pet dog on board a plane to a city in Texas.
B) It had one of its cargo planes land at a wrong airport
C) It sent two dogs to the wrong destinations.
D) It had two of its domestic flights mixed up.
2. A) Correct their mistake as soon as possible.
В) Give the two pets a physical checkup.
C) Hire a charter jet to bring the pets back.
D) Send another plane to continue the flight.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. A) She weighs 130 kilograms
B) She has had babies before
C) She was brought from Africa.
D) She has a big family of six.
4.A) It took 22 hours.
B) It had some complications
C) It was smooth.
D) It was monitored by Dr. Sue Tygielski
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5.A) It enjoyed great popularity.
B) It started business three years ago
с) It was frequented by newly-weds
D) It was built above the sea-water.
6.А) Expand his business on the beach.
B) Replace the restaurant's wooden deck
C) Post a picture of his restaurant online.
D) Celebrate his silver wedding anniversary.
7.A) She sold it for two thousand dollars
B) She took it to the restaurant manager
C) She posted its picture on Facebook
D) she returned it to its owner right away
Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each
conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
8.A) The number of ducks has declined sharply in recent years.
B) Climate change has little effect on the lives of wild ducks.
C) Duck meat is not eaten in Australia, Canada and the U.S.
D) Duck hunting remains legal in many parts of the world.
9. A) Droughts. B) Bushfires.
C) Farming D) Hunting.
10. A) They are not easy to domesticate. B) Their meat is not that popular.
C) It is not environmentally friendly. D) It is not considered cost-effective
11 A) They hunted ducks as a traditional sport. B) They killed wild ducks and geese
for food.
C) They raised ducks and geese for their eggs. D) They poisoned wild ducks in
large numbers.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12.A) Have her house repainted B) Replace some of her old furniture
C) Move into a newly-painted house D) Calculate the cost of the paint job
13.A) How long the work will take. B) How much the work will cost.
C) How the paint job is to be done. D) How many workers are needed.
14.A) Cover up her furniture B) Ask some friends for help
C)Stay somewhere else D) Oversee the work herself
15.A) She could have asked a friend for help with the paint job
B) Painting a house involves more trouble than she thought
C) she should have repainted her house much earlier
D) Moving her furniture is harder than the paint job
Section C

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) To cultivate good habits.
B) To prepare for secondary school.
C) To review what is learned in class
D) To stimulate interest in learning.
17.A) Discuss their academic achievements with the
B) Create an ideal study environment for them
C) Allow them to learn independently
D) Check their homework promptly
18.A) Finish them before they get tired
B) Tackle the most difficult task first
C) Start with something they enjoy
D) Focus on the most important ones

Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.

19.A) Workers who meet its body weight standard
B) Workers who can lose 30 pounds in a year
C) Workers who try the hardest to lose weight
D)Workers who are in the top 10% of the slimmest
20.A) Impractical
B) Inconsistent
C) Unmanageable
D) Unfair
21.A) Offer them much fatter bonuses.
B) Improve working environment.
C) Encourage healthy behaviors
D) Provide free lunch and snacks

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

22.A) It has not done enough to help left-handed children.
B) It has treated left-handed children as being disabled.
C) It has not built facilities specially for the left-handed.
D) It has ignored campaigns on behalf of the left-handed.
23.A) They are as intelligent as other children.
B) They have a distinctive style of handwriting
C) They sometimes have psychological problems.
D) They tend to have more difficulties in learning.
24.A) Punish teachers discriminating against left-handed students
B) Lay more emphasis on improving children' s mental health
C) Encourage students to develop various professional skills
D) Keep track of left-handed children’s school performance
25.A)How they can be reduced in number.
B)Why their numbers are so high.
C)What percentage they account fore
D)If their percentage keeps increasing

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 for
each item 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.
It is commonly believed that the great English dramatist and poet William
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. But it is impossible to
know the_ 26_ day on which he was born. Church records show he was baptized(施
洗 礼 )on April 26, and three days was customary amount of time to wait before
baptizing a newly born baby. Shakespeare's date of death is_ 27 known, however: it
was April 23, 1616. He was 52 and had retired to Stratford three years before
Although few plays have been performed or analyzed as extensively as the 38
plays Shakespeare wrote, there are few surviving details about his 1ife.This_ _28_ of
biographical information is due primarily to his social_ 29 ; he was not a noble, but
the son of a leather trader.
Shakespeare_ 30_ attended the grammar school in Stratford, where he would
have studied Latin and read_ 31_ literature. He did not go to university and at age 18
married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his 32 .They had four children,
including the twins, Hamnet and Judith. Nothing is known of the period between the
birth of the twins and Shakespeare's 33 as a dramatist in London in the early 1590s.
In a million words written over 20 years, he_ 34 the full range of human
emotions and conflicts with a_ 35_ that remains sharp today. As his great
contemporary the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson said, “He was not of an age, but for
all time.”
A)captured I)precision
B) classical J)probably
C)conclusively K)quality
D) emergence L)scarcity
E) exact M) senior
F) generated N)separated
G)particular O) systematically
H) position

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 to not be boring
[A] Humans are creatures of habit. We love to establish a routine and stick with
it. Then we often put ourselves on auto-pilot. Routines can be incredibly useful in
helping you get things done. However, too much of a routine can also make you
incredibly boring. Nevertheless, many people live lives that are boringly predictable,
or live a life where everything is outlined or planned.
[B] To tell the truth, interesting people are more popular among their friends. If
you don’t arouse someone’s curiosity or brighten someone's day, you probably come
across as being a 1ittle bit dull. But that doesn't mean your life has ended and you
can't do anything to change it. If you find yourself searching for something to say
beyond small talk, try these tactics to find more interesting approaches to
conversation.
[C] Recently, I was at a gathering of colleagues when someone turned to me and
asked, “So, what's new with you?” Ordinarily, I think I'm a good conversationalist.
After all,it’s literally my job to talk to people and tell their stories or share their advice.
And that's not exactly an unexpected question. Still, the only new-lo-me” topics that
came to mind were my daughter’s basketball tournament (锦标赛 ) and my feelings
about that morning's political headlines- --either amusing nor appropriate topics at
that moment.
[D] Oh, no, I thought.Have I become boring? But sharing our experiences in an
authentic way to connect with other people is what makes us interesting, says
associate professor Michael Pirson.The hesitation I felt in not sharing the ordinary
things that were happening in my life, and the wild mental search for something more
interesting, may have backfired and made me seem less interesting.
[E] “If someone is making up some conversation that might be interesting, it’s
probably not going to land well,” says Pirson, whose expertise includes trust and
well-being, mindfulness, and humanistic management. “It’s going to feel like a
made-up conversation that people don’t necessarily want to tune in to.”
[F] The most interesting people aren’t those who've gone on some Eat, Pray,
Love journey to find themselves. Instead, Pirson says, they're those who examine the
ordinary.” Often, the 'boring things’ may not be boring at all. Maybe they are actually
little miracles,” he says. Share your observations about the world around you ---
interesting stories you heard or things you noticed--- and you may be surprised by the
universal connection they inspire.
[G] This is essentially how Jessica Hagy starts her day. The author of How to Be
Interesting: An Instruction Manual, Hagy spends a lot of time thinking about what's
interesting to her. People who are interesting are persistently curious, she says.
[H] Think about the everyday things around you and ask questions about them.
What is that roadside monument I sec on my way to work every day? Who built that
interesting building in my city? What nearby attractions haven't I visited? Why do
people do things that way? Use what you find to ask more questions and learn more
about the world around you. Having that sort of curiosity is almost like a protective
gear from getting into boredom," she says. And when you find things that are truly
interesting to you, share them.
[I] Television veteran Audrey Morrissey, executive producer of NBC''s The
Voice, is always looking for what will make a person or story interesting to viewers.
It's usually a matter of individuality. Having a strong point of view, signature style, or
being a super-enthusiast in a particular field makes someone interesting,”she says.
That means embracing what is truly interesting or unique about yourself. Many
people are ‘not borin’ in the way that they can carry a conversation or can be good at
a social gathering, etc. To be interesting means that you have lived life, taken risks,
traveled, sought out experience to learn for yourself and share with others,” she says.
[J] Of course, it's possible to be a fountain of knowledge and a boring person,
says public relations consultant Andrea Pass, Paying attention to the listener is an
important part of having a conversation that's interesting to both parties. Talking on
and on about what's interesting to you isn't going to make you an interesting person,
she says.
[K] If the listener is not paying attention, it's your sign to shorten the story or
change direction. Make sure to bring the audience into the conversation so that it is
not one-sided," Pass says. Be a better listener yourself, and give others opportunities
to participate in the conversation by inviting them with questions or requests to share
their own experiences or thoughts.(e.g., Now,tell me about your favorite book," or
Have you ever been to that attraction?") Questions are a powerful tool, especially
when they encourage others to disclose information about themselves. A 2012 study
from the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that roughly 40% of the time
we are talking, we're disclosing subjective information about our experience. And
when we' re doing so, our brains are more engaged. So one strategy to leave others
with the impression that you're a sparkling conversation partner is to get others to talk.
about themselves.
[L] Being relatable is also essential, Morrissey says."The best entertainment and
storytelling comes from people who are relatable--those who don’t shy away from
opening up but freely share who they are and what they care about.These are the
people viewers most relate to and find interesting. Being authentic, honest, and
vulnerable is always interesting.”
[M] I have now come to realize that being boring, in actuality, is not only about
who you are as a person, but also how you present yourself. No matter what, make
sure you are having fun in life. Because when you are enjoying, people around you
will begin to enjoy as well. Show some interest in them and they will definitely show
some in you. If you are a very reserved person, this could be a little difficult at first.
But with a little effort, you can definitely improve.
36.Pirson claims that some ordinary things may often prove to be miraculously
interesting.
37.To make a conversation interesting, it is important that you listen to the other party
attentively.
38. A person who is unable to stimulate others"' curiosity or make their life enjoyable
may appear somewhat boring.
39. Interesting people usually possess certain unique qualities, according to a TV
program producer.
40.Be interested in others and they are sure to be interested in you
41.The author considers himself usually good at conducting conversations.
42. Interesting people are always full of curiosity.
43.Falling into a routine can turn a person into an utter bore.
44.One strategy to be a good conversationalist is to motivate your partner to tell their
own stories.
45. Interesting as it might appear, a made-up conversation will probably turn out to be
dull.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some
questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked
A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding
letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
With obesity now affecting 2% of the population in England, and expected to
rise to 35% by 2030, should we now recognise if as a disease? Obesity, in which
excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely
affected, meets the dictionary definition of disease, argues Professor John Wilding.
He points out that more than 200 genes influence weight. Thus body weight is
strongly influenced by biology---it is not an individual's fault if they develop obesity."
Yet the widespread view is that obesity is self- induced and that it is entirely the
individual's responsibility to do something about it. Recognising obesity as a chronic
disease with severe complications rather than a lifestyle choice should help reduce the
stigma (HI4 ) and discrimination experienced by many people with obesity." he adds.
Professor Wilding disagrees that labelling a high proportion of the population as
having a disease removes personal responsibility or may overwhelm health services,
pointing out that other common diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes,
require people to take action to manage their condition. He suggests that most people
with obesity will eventually develop complications. But unless we accept that obesity
is a disease, we are not going to be able to tackle it." he concludes.
But Dr.Richard Pile, a physician with a special interest in diabetes, argues that
adopting this approach “could actually result in worse outcomes for individuals and
society.” He believes that he dictionary definition of disease is so vague that we can
classify almost anything as a disease” and says the question is not whether we can, but
whether we should, and to what end.
If labelling obesity as a disease was harmless then it wouldn't really matter, he
writes. But labelling obesity as a disease risks reducing autonomy, disempowering
and robbing people of the intrinsic( 内 在 的 )motivation that is such an important
enabler of change." What's more, making obesity a disease may not benefit patients,
but it will benefit healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical(制药的)industry when
health insurance and clinical guidelines promote treatment with drugs and surgery,"
he warns.
46.What does Professor John Wilding argue about obesity?
A) Its impact on society is expected to rise.
B) It is now too widespread to be neglected.
C) It should be regarded as a genetic disease.
D)Its dictionary definition should be updated.
47.What is the popular view of obesity?
A) It is difficult to define.
B) It is a modem disease.
C) It has much to do with one's genes.
D) It results from a lack of self-control.
48.Why are some people opposed to labelling obesity as a disease?
A)Obese people would not feel responsible to take any action.
B) Obese people would not be able to afford the medical costs.
C) Obese people would be overwhelmed with anxiety.
D)Obese people would be discriminated against.
49.What does Dr. Richard Pile think of the dictionary definition of disease?
A) It is of no use in understanding obesity.
B)It is too inclusive and thus lacks clarity.
C) It helps ittle to solve patients' problems.
D) It matters lttle to the debate over obesity.
50. What is Dr. Richard Pile's concern about classifying obesity as a disease?
A) It may affect obese people's quality of life.
B) It may accelerate the spread of obesity.
C) It may cause a shortage of doctors.
D) It may do little good to patients.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
Nationwide, only about three percent of early childhood teachers are male in the
U.S. Experts say this can have an impact on young children whose understanding of
gender roles and identity are rapidly forming. Research has found that having access
to diverse teachers is beneficial for children. For the youngest learners, it means they
are more likely to get exposed to different varieties of play and communication. It
also helps them develop healthy ideas around gender.
“In our world and our society, we have very specific stereotypes (模式化印象)
of gender roles,” said Mindi Reich- Shapiro, an assistant professor in the teacher
education department of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and one of
the authors of 'a recent study.” It's important for children to see other possibilities and
other paths they can take.
Despite mostly feeling supported by colleagues and family members,many of the
male educators surveyed in the study reported facing social or cultural resistance in
their careers as early education teachers. Some also reported that there were parents
surprised or concerned that their child had a male teacher. And they had been advised
by colleagues or other staff not to hug children.
Reich-Shapiro and fellow researchers made several recommendations 1o
increase male representation in the field. Low pay has long been acknowledged as a
major issue in the early childhood field. Over 70% of male educators who said they
intended to stay in the early education workforce noted an increased salary was a
major motivating factor for them to commit to the career long-term. The report
suggests paying all early childhood educators the way elementary school teachers are
paid.
Cities and programs should establish support groups for male early childhood
educators and provide mentoring and professional development advice for male
educators and their program leaders
The authors also suggest that traditional recruitment approaches for early
childhood educators do not address the gender gap in the field." They recommend
providing young men opportunities to work with children through training and
volunteer programs, targeting groups of men who are considering a career change,
such as fathers.'
51.What do we learn from the first paragraph about early childhood education in
the U.S.?
A) It helps raise children's awareness of gender roles.
B) It exposes children to different ways of interaction.
C) It is negatively impacted by a lack of male teachers.
D) It clearly aims to form children's identity through play.
52. What does Mindi Reich- Shapiro emphasize in her comment on childhood
education?+
A)The importance of broadening children's horizons.
B) The responsibilities of fathers for children's growth.
C)The urgency of creating teacher education programs.
D)The role of teachers in motivating children to learn.
53. What do we learn about male teachers from their responses in the study?
A) Some of them find it awkward when hugging children.
B)They feel pressured to keep up with female colleagues.
C)They find it hard to meet the expectations of kids parents.
D)Many of them feel prejudiced against socially and culturally.
54. What is needed for men to commit to early childhood education?
A) Higher pay.
B) Job security .
C) Social recognition.
D) Better working conditions.
55.What do the authors of the study recommend to bridge the gender gap in early
childhood education?
A) Recruiting young men who have a passion for educating young children.
B) Taking measures to attract prospective male teachers to work in the field.
C) Persuading prospective fathers to consider a change in their career.
D) Providing male teachers with more opportunities for advancement.

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.
大运河(Grand Cana1)是世界上最长的人工河，北起北京，南至杭州。它是中
国历史上最宏伟的工程之一。大运河始建于公元前 4 世纪，公元 13 世纪末建成。
修建之初是为了运输粮食,后来也用于运输其他商品。大运河沿线区域逐渐发展
成为中国的工商业中心。长久以来,大运河对中国的经济发展发挥了重要作用,有
力地促进了南北地区之间的人员往来和文化交流.

2021 年 12 月大学英语四级考试真题(第 3 套)

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: Suppose your school is organizing an orientation program to help the

freshmen adapt to the new environment and academic studies. You are now to write a
proposal, which may include its aim, duration, participants and activities. You will
have 30 minutes to write the proposal. You should write at least 120 words but no
more than 180 words.

Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)

说明:由于 2021 年 12 月四级考试全国共考了两套听力，本套真题听力与前面两

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。

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 for
each item 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.
Many people believe that passion and commitment are the foundations of strong
romantic relationships. But a relationship is made of two_ 26 individuals. And the
personality traits (特性) these individuals_ 27 or lack can often make a relationship
more- or less - likely to28_. Recent research has found that one trait in particular-
humility (谦逊)- is an important indicator of successful relationships.
Humility can sometimes be_ 29 with a lack of confidence. But researchers have
come to realize that being humble generally indicates the_ 30_ of deeply admirable
personal qualities. Being humble means you have the ability to accurately 31_ your
deficiencies without denying your skills and strengths. For example, you might
recognize that you are intelligent, but realize that you are not a 32. Thus, humility
leads to an honest view of one's own advantages and shortcomings. Humble people do
not ignore, avoid, or try to deny their limits or deficiencies. They can_ 33 mistakes,
see value in things that are far from perfect and identify areas for improvement.
Perhaps it is not_ 34_, then, that humility appears to be a huge asset to
relationships. One study found that people tend to rate this quality_ 35_ in their
spouse. The study also found that someone who is humble is more likely to initiate a
romantic relationship, perhaps because they are less likely to see themselves as “too
good” for someone else. Thus, a humble partner might be your ideal partner.
A) acknowledge
B) assess
C) confused
D) endure
E) extremely
F) genius
G) highly
H) permanent
I) possess
J) presencer
K) puzzled
L) status
M) surprising
N) thoroughly
O) unique

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.

There’s a stress gap between men and women

[A] I used to work very hard. I love to create things, grow them and solve problems,"
said Meng Li, a successful app developer in San Francisco. I didn't really care about
my mind and my body until they decided to go on strike.”
[B] Ms. Li said her stress led to sleeplessness. When she did sleep, she experienced
“problem- solving dreams,” which left her feeling unrested when she woke up. “After
I became a first-time mother, I quickly realized I was so busy caring for other people
and work that I felt like I‘d lost myself,” she said.
[C] It’s a common story- one we frequently ridicule and readily dismiss, for example,
by claiming that women tend to complain more than men, despite the growing sum of
research that underlines the problem. Women are twice as likely to suffer from severe
stress and anxiety as men, according to a 2016 study published in The Journal of
Brain & Behavior. The American Psychological Association reports a gender gap
year after year showing that women consistently report higher stress levels. Clearly, a
stress gap exists.
[D] “The difference is not really news to me, as a clinical psychologist,” said Erin
Joyce, a women and couples therapist in Los Angeles. It’s been well documented in
extensive research over the years that prevalence rates for the majority of the anxiety
disorders are higher in women than men.” Some people may argue that this is merely
reported data, and they say many men feel the same pressures as women in terms of
fulfilling responsibilities at work and home. In other words, we're all really, really
stressed.
[E] The difference, however, is in the nature and scope of these responsibilities in the
home environment in particular," Dr. Joyce said. For example, the United Nations
reported that women do nearly three times as much unpaid domestic work as men.
The problem is housework is often overlooked as work, even though it is often as
laborious (or in some cases, more so) as any paid job. As the scholar Silvia Federici
put it in 1975, the unpaid nature of domestic work reinforces the assumption that
“housework is not work, thus preventing women from struggling against it.”
[F] It’s not just inside the home, though. Research from Nova Southeastern University
found that female managers were more likely than male managers to display surface
acting,” or forcing emotions that are not wholly felt. They expressed optimism,
calmness and sympathy even when these were not the emotions that they were
actually feeling,” the study said.
[G] Surface acting is a prime example of “emotional labor,” a concept that the writer
Jess Zimmerman made familiar in a 2015 essay. The essay sparked a massive thread
on the internet community blog MetaFilter. Hundreds of women spoke up about their
own experience with emotional labor: the duties that are expected of them, but go
unnoticed. These invisible duties become apparent only when you don't do them. Like
domestic labor, emotional labor is generally dismissed and not labeled work. But
research shows it can be just as exhausting as paid work. Emotional labor can 1ead to
difficulty in sleeping and family conflict. Sure, circumstantial stress, 1ike losing a job,
may lead to these same issues. But emotional labor is not circumstantial. It's an
enduring responsibility based on the socialized gender role of women.
[H]Like Ms. Li, many women try to manage the added stress to reach what Dr. Joyce
said was an unattainable ideal. “Some professional women aim to do it all. They want
t0 reach the top of the corporate ladder and fly 1ike supermom,” she said. When
women don't reach this ideal, they feel guilty; and even more stressed. After her own
struggle with this, Ms. Li took a step back and used her experience lo build Sanity &
Self, a self-care app and platform for overworked women. “The realizations I had in
that process helped me gain insights and ultimately got me ready to integrate self-care
into my daily life,” she said.
[I]The stress problem extends beyond menial health when you consider the 1ink
between stress, anxiety and heart health. Worse, most of what we know about heart
disease comes from studies involving men. However, “there are many reasons to think
that it’s different in women,” Harvard Medical School reported. For example, women
are more likely to experience disturbed sleep, anxiety and unusual fatigue before a
heart attack. Stress is so normalized that it is easy for women to shrug off those
symptoms as simply the consequences of stress. Many women also do not experience
chest pain before a heart attack the way me do, which leads to fewer women
discovering problematic heart issues. Harvard reports that women are “much more
likely than men to die within a year of having a heart attack” and many women say
their physicians sometimes don’t even recognize the symptoms.”
[J]The good news is, women are more 1ikely than men to take charge of their stress
and manage it, the American Psychological Association reports. The concept of
self-care, at its core, is quite simple. “The basles of adequate sleep, healthy diet and
exercise are a good place to start,” Dr.Joyce said. “Support from trusted relationships
is vital. This includes professional support from various health and wellness providers
if stress is becoming increasingly overwhelming.”
K) Disconnection from work and home responsibilities is also obviously important.
But it’s much easier said than done. It is important to understand what causes your
stress in the first place. “Get really specific with what's stressing you out,” Ms. Li said.
We often chalk up our stress to broad experiences like work. But work stress can take
many different forms. Is a colleague being disrespectful of your time? Is a boss
undermining your day-to-day control over decision making? These are different
causes of stress and can benefit from different kinds of self- care.”
[L] Ideally, your spouse of partner will be supportive, rather than dismissive, of your
stress. It is important to talk through these issues before they come to a head. Women
working outside of the home should make an effort to have a conscious conversation
with their partners about more equitable sharing of 'household and family
responsibilities,” Dr. Joyce said.
36. Some career women who aim high tend to feel guilty if they fail to achieve their
goals.
37. The unpaid housework done by women is triple that done by men.
38. It is reported that women consistently suffer more from severe stress than men.
39. Women are advised to identify the specific causes of their stress so that steps can
be taken to deal with it.
40. One study showed hat women managers often expressed positive emotions that
they didn’t really feel
41. Women tend to mistake signs of heart attacks for symptoms of stress.
42. For a time an app developer in America was so busy attending to work and family
that she suffered from sleeplessness.
43. The emotional labor women do is noticed only when it is not done.
44. Dr. Joyce suggests that apart from self-care,women should seek professional
support if they experience severe stress
45. Some people believe that there may not exist a stress gap between men and
women.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some
questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked
A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding
letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
As many office workers adapt to remote work, cities may undergo fundamental
change if offices remain under-utilized. Who will benefit if working from home
becomes the nor?
Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers
shift from office to home work. However, these savings result from passing costs on
to workers.
Unless employees are fully compensated, this could become a variant of
parasitic ( 寄 生 的 ) capitalism, whereby corporate profits increasingly rely on
extracting value from the public - and now personal - realm, rather than on generating
new value.
Though employers are backed by a chorus of remote work advocates, others note
the loneliness, reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work.
If working from home becomes permanent, employees will have to dedicate part
of their private space to work. This requires purchasing desks, chairs and office
equipment.
It also means having private space dedicated to work: the space must be heated,
cleaned, maintained and paid for. That depends on many things, but for purposes of
illustration, I have run some estimates for Montréal. The exercise is simple but
important, since it brings these costs out of the realm of speculation into the realm of
meaningful discussion.
Rough calculations show that the savings made by employers when their staff
works from home are of similar value to the compensation workers should receive for
setting up offices at home.
What does this mean for offices in cities? One of two things may happen:
Employers pass these costs onto employees. This would be a form of expropriation
(15), with employees absorbing production costs that have traditionally been paid by
the employer. This represents a considerable transfer of value from employees to
employers.
When employees are properly compensated, employers' real estate savings will
be modest. If savings are modest, then the many advantages of working in offices -
such as lively atmosphere, rapidity of communication, team-building and
acclimatization (适应环境) of new employees- will encourage employers to shelve
the idea of remote work and, like Yahoo in 2013, encourage employees to work most
of the time from corporate office space.
46.What does the author say about working from home?
A) It will become the norm sooner or later.
B) It requires employees to adapt promptly
C) It benefits employers at the expense of employees.
D) It will force cities to transform their infrastructure.
47.Why do some people oppose working from home?
A) It discourages team spirit.
B) It invades employees' privacy.
C) It undermines traditional values.
D) It negatively impacts productivity.
48.Why did the author run the estimates for Montréal?
A) To provide convincing data for serious discussion
B) To illustrate the ongoing change in working patterns.
C) To show the impact of remote working on productivity.
D) To exemplify how remote working affects the economy.
49.What can we conclude from the author's calculations?
A) There is no point in transferring office work to working from home.
B) Employees can benefit as much from remote working as their employers.
C) Employers' gain from remote working should go to employees as compensation.
D) Effective measures should be taken to motivate employees to set up offices at
home.
50.What is the author’s opinion on working from home?
A) It should be avoided if possible
B) It is only a temporary measure.
C) It can reduce companies' real estate costs.
D) It may affect employees' corporate loyalty.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful
development as a species. But curiosity can also be dangerous, leading to setbacks or
even downfalls. Given curiosity’s complexity, scientists have found it hard to define.
While pinning down a definition has proven tricky, the general consensus is it's
some means of information gathering. Psychologists also agree curiosity is
intrinsically (内在的) motivated.
Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn’t any single
“curiosity gene” that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment.
That said, curiosity does have a genetic component. Genes and the environment
interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior,
including their curiosity.
Regardless of their genetic makeup, infants have to learn an incredible amount of
information in a short time, and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to
accomplish that gigantic task
Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. It's what motivates
non-human animals, human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek
out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure.
But curiosity often comes with a cost.
In some situations, the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth. For
instance, many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers, but they decide to try walking
because there’s more to see and do when they stand upright. But this milestone comes
at a small cost.A study of 12- to 19- month- olds learning how to walk documented
that these children fell down a lot. Seventeen times per hour, to be exact. But walking
is faster than crawling, so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking.
Sometimes, however, testing out a new idea can lead to disaster. For instance,
the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the
challenges of living in northern climates, but what we forget about are the tens of
thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.+
51. What does the author say about curiosity?
A) It is too complex for non-scientists to understand.
B) It is the force that pushes human society forward.
C) It is a unique trait specific to the human race.
D) It is often the major cause for human failures.
52. What is the general understanding of curiosity?
A) It motivates people to seek information.
B) It is destined to transform human genes.
C) It does people more good than harm.
D) It underlies all human behaviors.
53. What do we lean about how genes shape people’s behavior?
A) They determine people's way of thinking.
B) They account for age differences in learning.
C) They enable people to undertake massive tasks.
D) They work in conjunction with the environment.
54. What do numerous studies show about infants?
A) They are far more curious than adults.
B) They prefer to go after all that is novel.
C) They have different interests than adults.
D) They show non-human animal behaviors.
55.What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate?
A)The cost of humans' curiosity to explore.
B) The incredible harshness of cold weather.
C) The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity.
D) The importance of learning from past failures.

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.
坎儿井(Karez)是新疆干旱地区的一种水利系统，由地下渠道将水井连接而
成。该系统将春夏季节渗入(seep into)地下的大量雨水及积雪融水收集起来，通
过山体的自然坡度引到地面，用于灌溉农田和满足人们的日常用水需求。坎儿井
减少了水在地面的蒸发(evaporation)，对地表破坏很小，因而有效地保护了自然
资源与生态环境。坎儿井体现了我国人民与自然和谐共存的智慧，是对类文明的
一大贡献。