大学英语四级考试

Part II Listening Comprehension

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.

News Item 1

There have long been allegations of corruption at the highest levels of world sports—and now

there's evidence to bear them out.FIFA,

soccer's world governing body has been forced to ban two of its executive members,

after they were accused often to sell their votes on who's to host the world cup in return for cash.

Amos Adamu of Nigeria will be banned from the sport for three years,

and the president of the Oceania Football Federation, Reynald Temarii,

faces a oneyear ban.They've also both been fined.

FIFA'S ethics committee also suspended and fined four other officials for their alleged roles

in the bribery scandal.All six men can appeal their punishments.

The chairman of FIFA's ethics committee Claudio Sulser admitted the affair has damaged FIFA.

“When one talks of FIFA,” he says, “there is generally a negative attitude out there,

there's talk of corruption.And so I ask myself the following question: this is rather peculiar,

but on the other hand it's no joke because FIFA is a big organization with many interests

and where there are many interests, certain things can go awry.

The difference, now, is we're trying to work in complete transparency.”

News Item 2

President Goodluck Jonathan ended the strike after just one day by promising to raise the minimum

wage, which is now about $50 a month.

Political science professor Isitoah Ozoemene says the president gets credit for ending

the walkout so quickly, but risks greater political losses if he fails to deliver on higher wages

before next year's vote.

Ozoemene says the economy is an emotional issue for Nigerian voters,

who are frustrated that lawmakers have taken so long to raise public wages when there appears to

be no limit to how much money politicians make.

“Nigerians are suffering,” said Ozoemene. “They don't have food on the table.

Yet they see those who are supposed to be their public servants living in extravagant ways.

Nobody approved their salaries, so why should it be the case \

President Jonathan is campaigning on what he says is evidence that he has got the economy

back on track after a drop in oil revenues,

which account for 85 percent of the federal budget.

News Item 3

Microfinance is a fastgrowing part of the financial industry in many developing countries.

Micro lenders give small loans to poor people to start or expand businesses.

Microcredit offers a chance to improve lives and reduce poverty.

But officials in Andhra Pradesh, in southern India, are investigating if debt

collections are linked to a series of suicides among borrowers.

Reddi Subrahmanyam is a rural development official in that state.

REDDI SUBRAHMANYAM: “The feeling from the community is that, you know,

many of these deaths have occurred immediately after the recovery

agents of the microfinance institutions have either visited the house or have done something insulting.”

Reports of corruption and abuses have led to emergency measures in Andhra Pradesh

to ban some collection methods.These rules also aim to limit costly fees and high interest

rates on loans.

The Asian Development Bank says microfinance institutions in the Asia

Pacific area charge interest of thirty to seventy percent a year.Charges can

be even higher when other costs are added.

But micro lenders also face higher operating costs compared to traditional lenders.

Groups like the Asian Development Bank oppose limits on interest rates because

of these high business costs.

Section B

Directions:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation,

Now you'll hear the two long conversations.

Conversation One

M: Wow! This apartment looks pretty decent! The prospect from this balcony is breathtaking.

I also can enjoy reading on the balcony.

W: The balcony is very beautiful, but I don't like the fact that it faces north.

M: Why? What's wrong with its facing north?

W: You don't know that, if the balcony faces north, it will get cool in the summer,

but too cold in the winter.

M: Don't worry about it. We have the heating system in winter, don't we?

W: The best houses face south. In that case, we will enjoy the cool wind in the summer

and own the warm sunshine in the winter.

M: Oh, darling! I am sorry, but we don't have that kind of money for a south facing house.

W: Well, forget it. I was just talking. The surrounding area of this apartment is quite and safe.

And it's got a lot of trees and plants. I am satisfied with it.

M: Thanks. The location is easily accessible. It's close to public transportation.

So it's convenient for you to go to work and to go shopping.

W: Yes. If we have a child later, it's also convenient for our child to go to school.

That's really satisfying me.

M: I am most attracted by the price. You know, this type of apartment building costs the least

in this block.

W: The cheapest? Are you sure?

M: Yes. I have seen so many and compared all, this is the cheapest building here.

W: Can we buy this house on mortgage?

M: Yes, we got the urban housing provident fund to pay for part of it. It's not very difficult

for us to come up with the money for down payment.

W: That's great! Wish to move in earlier.

Questions9.

Q:What does the man say about the balcony?

Questions10.

Q:What aspect of the house are they both pleased with?

Questions11.

Q:How do they intend to make the payment?

Conversation Two

M: Are you heading to class later? Do me a favor and bring this note to Professor Chen.

W: Sure, no problem. Asking for leave again?

You have been absent from his class many times

this semester.

M: I know. If there's anything interesting in his class,I'd love to.

But attending his class is just waste of time.

No more than one third of his students will go to his class.

W: I agree that Professor Chen doesn't teach so well.

Most students either sleep or do other things in his class.

M: Yeah, my roommate plays video games with me in the class.

Or I chat with my friends through text messages.

W: Fortunately his class is just an elective course, not as important as compulsory courses.

M: Right, and the exam of an elective course is easy to pass.

So we can spare some time to attend selective courses.

W: Oh, I think you'd better give an excuse on this note. Why don't you go to class today?

M: Well, I have things to do in the school drama club. You know, I'm Chairman of this club.

We are going to take in new members. So I have dozens of things to do now.

But this is my last time asking for leave. Or I will have a bad record.

W: Yeah, besides, your credit will be deducted. That is kind of serious.

M: I have been absented from many classes this semester just because of my work in the drama club.

W: You can't write with one hand and draw with the other.If I were you,

I would give priority to the course work.

M: I am thinking about quitting my job in the club. But before that, I must do my job.

I'd leave now. Don't forget about that note.

W: You can count on me.

Questions 12 to 15 are based on the converstaion you've just heard.

Questions12

What does the man ask the woman to do?

Questions13

In Professor Chen's class, which behavior of the students is NOT mentioned?

Questions14

What's the reason that the man often plays truant?

Questions15

What's the woman's attitude towards the man's behavior?

Section C

Directions:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage,

you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.

After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the

four choices marked A), B), C）and D). Then mark the corresponding letter

on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

The world we see is filled with color. Color is important in art and in various cultures around the world.

People of the world see color differently. This is because tradition, religion,

and symbolism affects how people feel about color. Like emotions, colors also symbolize different things.

Color symbolism can have a powerful effect on human emotion. The color black represents evil or sadness.

This is why the color black is used more in funerals.Black is also used when

celebrating birthdays of people reaching middle age.The reason for this is that everyone is supposed

to be sad that the person is getting old. The color white symbolizes purity and life.

This is why you see the color white in weddings and usually see angels dressed in white gowns.

Colour symbolism is also important to companies around the world. When we think of certain colors and

shapes we think of certain companies.

McDonalds had yellow arches, Starbucks has a green and white symbol.

Color symbolizes different things in different parts of the world. For example,

in Asia and the orient, the color white is considered a sad color. In the western world,

the color red is seen frequently of symbolizing anger or aggression.Some car insurance companies charge

more for red cars because some of the owners of red cars are more aggressive or take more risks.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

Questions16

Which one of the following has no influence on people's feeling about color?

Questions17

Why does a man dress in black on his middleaged friend's birthday?

Questions18

Why does a red car should pay more for the insurance?

Passage Two

In April 1994, I turned 30. I made swimming the English Channel a 30th birthday present to myself

and focused on this goal for three years. After worked out detailed plans,

I set out to deal with each one. For the actual swimming distance,

I increased my swimming to over 25 miles each week and included several hours' long straight swims.

I also started to lift weights again. For the isolation I experienced in my training,

I developed ways to keep myself occupied and amused.

I also spent time in fog and with various types of marine life so I would know how to deal with each of

them. And certainly not least of all,

there was the cold Channel water which I correctly anticipated would be in the low 60's.

I put on 15 pounds while adjusting myself to the point where 58 degree water felt “warm”.

In a quick blink, it was the day I began my swim.None of those “horror stories”

that we've all heard about applied to my swim. Weather conditions were fairly calm.

I never felt cold or exhausted and never cried or begged to get out.

My left shoulder hurt but that was my own doing.

I didn't get seasick or meet with any calamities.

I was doing that day what I felt I could do: swim the English Channel.

And all the preparation was paying off.

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

Questions19

Why did the author swim with marine life?

Questions20

In order to avoid cold feeling in seawater, what did the author do?

Questions21

What's the author's feeling about the swimming?

Passage Three

Over the past week, two stories in the press have suggested that scientists have been very wrong

about some very big issues. First, a new paper seemed to suggest that dark energy—the mysterious

force that makes up three quarters of the universe,

and is pushing the galaxies further apart—might not even exist. Second,

a Nasa probe that captured material from a comet found glycine, an amino acid,

in the samples, suggesting that the evolution of life on Earth had only begun after a push from space.

Do these findings mean that all the work on other theories was just a waste of time?

Not a bit of it. In this particular case, there are many doubts about the claim over dark energy,

as it relies on people's perception of the universe.

But the more important point is that science is an unending discovery: as time goes on,

new mysteries will come into focus, and new ideas will take over existing theories.

More than 300 years ago, for example, Isaac Newton showed that the force that makes apples fall

is the same as the gravity that holds planets in their orbits.Newton's mathematics were good enough

for us to fly rockets into space and guide probes around planets—but at very high speeds,

or in very strong gravity, his theories didn't quite work. So, along came Einstein,

whose Theory of Relativity offered deeper insights into the nature of gravity, space and time.

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

Questions22

According to the passage, what is the main component of the universe?

Questions23

What does the speaker say about the two findings?

Questions24

Why does the speaker take Newton's theory as an example?

Questions25

When does Newton's theory not quite work?

Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, 

a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. 

He died on February 14, 269 AD, the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries.

Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter,

who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine”.

Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the

reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 AD，

 Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine. 

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St.

Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.

The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. 

There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is regarded as the person

who sends the first valentine cards.

Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialised. 

The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14.

The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and 

children exchange valentine cards at school.

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

Questions19

Which opinion about St. Valentine isn't mentioned in the passage?

Questions20

Which of the following doesn't belong to the activities on February 14 ?

Questions21

Which is true about Miss Esther Howland?

Passage Three

Passive smoking is breathing in other people's smoke. Over the past 30 years,

a growing body of scientific evidence has concluded that passive smoking increases

the risk of heart disease in nonsmokers.

Nonsmokers with long term exposure to tobacco smoke in their home have an

estimated 20% to 30% increased risk of heart disease compared to nonexposed nonsmokers.

Even though a nonsmoker would inhale less smoke than an active smoker,

the effect of passive smoking on their heart disease risk is as high as one

third the effect of active smoking. 

Passive smoking causes both short and long term harm to the hearts of nonsmokers. 

In as little as 30 minutes,chemicals in tobacco smoke change the actions of blood vessels 

in nonsmokers, to a similar extent found in smokers.

This effect and other changes to the blood chemistry help to build up fatty deposits

in blood vessels, narrow the blood vessels, cause blood clots and inflammation, 

which may eventually lead to heart attack.

Passive smoking reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream,

replacing it with carbon monoxide. As a result，this increases the demand on the heart.

The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

has estimated that 77 coronary deaths occur each year in never

smokers in Australia that could be due to smoking by their spouses at home.

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

Questions22

What's the effect of passive smoking concluded by scientific evidence?

Questions23

How does smoking cause heart attack to the nonsmokers?

Questions24

Which statement about passive smoking is true?

Questions25

What could be the cause of the coronary deaths in neversmokers in Australia?