月大學(xué)英語(yǔ)四級(jí)CET4真題試卷

1、2000年1月大學(xué)英語(yǔ)四級(jí)(CET-4)真題試卷Passage OneUnless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids (流星) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and

2、dont threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.Buy $50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists

3、 say, well have a way to change its course.Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldnt be cheap.Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk re: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Exp

4、erts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rarebut if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “If we dont take care of these big asteroids, theyll take care of us,” says one scientist. “Its that simple.”The cure, thoug

5、h, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday (毀滅性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them,” said a New York Times article.21.What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids

6、?A) They are heavenly bodies different in composition. B) They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.C) There are more asteroids than meteoroids. D) Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.22.What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?A) It is very unlikely but the da

7、nger exists.B) Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.C) Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.D) Its still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.23.What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the courses of a

8、steroids?A) It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.B) It may create more problems than it might solve.C) It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.D) Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.24.We can conclude from the pas

9、sage that _.A) while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the worldB) asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near futureC) the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetimeD) workable solutio

10、ns still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth25.Which of the following best describes the authors tone in this passage?A) Optimistic. B) Critical. C) Objective. D) Arbitrary.Passage TwoBelieve it or not, optical illusion (錯(cuò)覺(jué)) can cut highway crashes.Japan is a case in poin

11、t. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent stripes, called chevrons (人字形), painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.Now the American Automobile Association

12、Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japans success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.Excessive speed plays a major role in

13、as much as one fifth of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatestcurves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.Some studies suggest that straight, horizonta

14、l bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they reall

15、y are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction in highway sped and the number of traffic accidents.26.The passage mainly discusses _.A) a new way of highway speed control B) a new pattern for painting highwaysC) a new approach to training drivers D) a new

16、type of optical illusion27.On roads painted with chevrons, drivers tend to feel that _.A) they should avoid speed-related hazards B) they are driving in the wrong laneC) they should slow down their speed D) they are approaching the speed limit28.The advantage of chevrons over straight, horizontal ba

17、rs is that the former _.A) can keep drivers awake B) can cut road accidents in halfC) will have a longer effect on drivers D) will look more attractive29.The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety plans to _.A) try out the Japanese method in certain areas B) change the road si

18、gns across the countryC) replace straight, horizontal bars with chevrons D) repeat the Japanese road patterns30.What does the author say about straight, horizontal bars painted across roads?A) They are falling out of use in the United States.B) They tend to be ignored by drivers in a short period of

19、 time.C) They are applicable only on broad roads.D) They cannot be applied successfully to traffic circles.Passage ThreeAmtrak (美國(guó)鐵路客運(yùn)公司) was experiencing a downswing in ridership (客運(yùn)量) along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, wer

20、e the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly. At one time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, ti

21、mes change and the automobile became Americas standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their

22、attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.Two portions of the total market were targeted: 1) anxious fliersthose concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-loversthose viewing themselves as relaxed, casual, and interested in th

23、e travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful a

24、dventures.Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs invol

25、ving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.31.Whats the authors purpose in writing this passage?A) To show the inabi

26、lity of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.B) To stress the influence of the automobile on Americas standard of convenience.C) To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.D) To illustrate the important role of persuasive communication in changing

27、 consumer attitudes.32.It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that _.A) trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportationB) trains were not the fastest and most convenient form of transportationC) trains were not as fast and conve

28、nient as they used to beD) trains could not compete with planes in terms of luxury and convenience33.To encourage consumers to travel by train, DDB Needham emphasized _.A) the freedom and convenience provided on trains B) the practical aspects of train travelC) the adventurous aspects of train trips

29、 D) the safety and cleanliness of train trips34.The train ads were placed among family-oriented TV programs involving nature and America because _.A) they could focus on meaningful travel experiencesB) they could increase the effectiveness of the TV programsC) their profits could be increased by som

30、e 15 percentD) most travel-lovers and nervous fliers were believed to be among the audiences35.According to the passage, the Empire Builder enjoyed an increase in ridership and profits because _.A) the attractiveness of its name and route was effectively advertisedB) it provided an exciting travel e

31、xperienceC) its passengers could enjoy the great western outdoorsD) it was widely advertised in newspapers and magazines in Chicago and SeattlePassage FourWhy does cram go bad faster than butter? Some researchers think they have the answer, and it comes down to the structure of the food, not its che

32、mical compositiona finding that could help rid some processed foods of chemical preservatives.Cream and butter contain pretty much the same substances, so why cream should sour much faster has been a mystery. Both are emulsionstiny globules (小球體) of one liquid evenly distributed throughout another.

33、The difference lies in whats in the globules and whats in the surrounding liquid, says Brocklehurst, who led the investigation.In cream, fatty globules drift about in a sea of water. In butter, globules of a watery solution are locked away in a sea of fat. The bacteria which make the food go bad pre

34、fer to live in the watery regions of the mixture. “This means that in cream, the bacteria are free to grow throughout the mixture,” he says.When the situation is reversed, the bacteria are locked away in compartments (隔倉(cāng)室) buried deep in the sea of fat. Trapped in this way, individual colonies canno

35、t spread and rapidly run out of nutrients (養(yǎng)料). They also slowly poison themselves with their waste products. “In butter, you get a self-limiting system which stops the bacteria growing,” says Brocklehurst.The researchers are already working with food companies keen to see if their products can be m

36、ade resistant to bacterial attack through alterations to the foods structure. Brocklehurst believes it will be possible to make the emulsions used in salad cream, for instance, more like that in butter. The key will be to do this while keeping the salad cream liquid and not turning it into a solid l

37、ump.36.The significance of Brocklehursts research is that _.A) it suggested a way to keep some foods fresh without preservativesB) it discovered tiny globules in both cream and butterC) it revealed the secret of how bacteria multiply in cream and butterD) it found that cream and butter share the sam

38、e chemical composition37.According to the researchers, cream sours fast than butter because bacteria _.A) are more evenly distributed in cream B) multiply more easily in cream than in butterC) live on less fat in cream than in butter D) produce less waste in cream than in butter38.According to Brock

39、lehurst, we can keep cream fresh by _.A) removing its fat B) killing the bacteriaC) reducing its water content D) altering its structure39.The word “colonies” (Line 2, Para. 4) refers to _.A) tiny globules B) watery regions C) bacteria communities D) little compartments40.Commercial application of t

40、he research finding will be possible if salad cream can be made resistant to bacterial attack _.A) by varying its chemical composition B) by turning it into a solid lumpC) while keeping its structure unchanged D) while retaining its liquid formPart III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)41.She oug

41、ht to stop work; she has a headache because she _ too long.A) has been reading B) had read C) is reading D) read42.Niagara Falls is a great tourist _, drawing millions of visitors every year.A) attention B) attraction C) appointment D) arrangement43.I dont mind _ the decision as long as it is not to

42、o late.A) you to delay making B) your delaying makingC) your delaying to make D) you delay to make44.The hopes, goals, fears and desires _ widely between men and women, between the rich and the poor.A) alter B) shift C) transfer D) vary45.Corn originated in the New World and thus was not known in Eu

43、rope until Columbus found it _ in Cuba.A) being cultivated B) been cultivated C) having cultivated D) cultivating46.The sale usually takes place outside the house, with the audience _ on benches, chairs or boxes.A) having seated B) seating C) seated D) having been seated47.This kind of glasses manuf

44、actured by experienced craftsmen _ comfortably.A) is worn B) wears C) wearing D) are worn48.Some diseases are _ by certain water animals.A) transplanted B) transformed C) transported D) transmitted49.Wouldnt you rather your child _ to bed early?A) go B) went C) would go D) goes50.Although Anne is ha

45、ppy with her success she wonders _ will happen to her private life.A) that B) what C) it D) this51.The words of his old teacher left a _ impression on his mind. He is still influenced by them.A) staying not B) not to stay C) that he would not stay D) that he not stay52.Mikes uncle insists _ in this

46、hotel.A) whatever B) whomever C) whichever D) whoever53.We agreed to accept _ they thought was the best tourist guide.A) whatever B) whomever C) whichever D) whoever54.It is our _ policy that we will achieve unity through peaceful means.A) consistent B) continuous C) considerate D) continual55.Betwe

47、en 1974 and 1997, the number of overseas visitors expanded _27%.A) by B) for C) to D) in56.Although many people view conflict as bad, conflict is sometimes useful _ it forces people to test the relative merits of their attitudes and behaviors.A) by which B) to which C) in that D) so that57.He is _ a

48、bout his chances of winning a gold medal in the Olympics next year.A) optimistic B) optional C) outstanding D) obvious58.Sometimes I wish I _ in a different time and a different place.A) be living B) were living C) would live D) would have lived59.The director was critical _ the way we were doing th

49、e work.A) at B) in C) of D) with60.In a sudden _ of anger, the man tore up everything within reach.A) attack B) burst C) split D) blast61._ she realized it was too late to go home.A) No sooner it grew dark than B) Hardly did it grow dark thatC) Scarcely had it grown dark than D) It was not until dar

50、k that62.In Britain people _ four million tons of potatoes every year.A) swallow B) dispose C) consume D) exhaust63.Id _ his reputation with other farmers and business people in the community, and then make a decision about whether or not to approve a loan.A) take into account B) account for C) make

51、 up for D) make out64.It is essential that these application forms _ back as early as possible.A) must be sent B) will be sent C) are sent D) be sent65.She cooked the meat for a long time so as to make it _ enough to eat.A) mild B) slight C) light D) tender66.We take our skin for granted until it is

52、 burned _ repair.A) beyond B) for C) without D) under67.The computer revolution may well change society as _ as did the Industrial Revolution.A) certainly B) insignificantly C) fundamentally D) comparatively68._ in this way, the situation doesnt seem so disappointing.A) To look at B) Looking at C) L

53、ooked at D) To be looked at69.A lot of ants are always invading my kitchen. They are a thorough _.A) nuisance B) trouble C) worry D) anxiety70.Some women _ a good salary in a job instead of staying home, but they decided not to work for the sake of the family.A) must make B) should have made C) would make D) could have madePart IV Cloze (15 minutes)In a telephone survey of more than 2,000 adults, 21% sai