Archive四月 2021

2020年12月英语四级第2套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: 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 Report 1
A waiter has returned a check worth nearly $424,000 to a retired social worker who lost it. The waiter found a bank envelope while cleaning off a table last Saturday at restaurant. He ran outside but the customer was gone. He opened the envelop and got a shock. After an unsuccessful search, the restaurant’s owner called the Daily News for help. The “relieved” customer was reunited with her check on Wednesday. It contained money from her apartment sale, already planned for a down payment on a new home. The customer did not tip the waiter after her meal. She tried to give him money later on, but he graciously declined. The waiter, who’s working his way through school, did accept the customer’s apology and gratitude and said it was happy to have helped her.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What does the news report say about the waiter?
Question 2: What did the customer try to do when she got her check back?

1.
A) He wanted to buy a home.
B) He suffered from a shock.
C) He lost a huge sum of money.
D) He did an unusual good deed.

2.
A) Invite the waiter to a fancy dinner.
B) Tell her story to the Daily News.
C) Give some money to the waiter.
D) Pay the waiter’s school tuition.

News Report 2
The village of Maref in Alaska voted on Tuesday to move to the state’s mainland. The move is due to global warming and rising sea levels. Most of the village’s 169 registered voters took part in the town hall meeting. They decided in a vote of 89 to 78 to move from their land on Sarichef Island, near the Arctic Circle. Maref Council Secretary Donna Barr said the vote was largely symbolic. It will be costly financially to the community. “About 15 years ago, they estimated the cost at $180 million. I would figure it’s much higher now,” Barr said. “We don’t see the move happening in our lifetime because of the funding”. The village’s roughly 650 residents have seen warming temperatures melt sea ice and permanently frozen land. This has resulted in houses falling into the water. At least 31 villages in Alaska face “immediate threats” due to climate change, the Government Accountability Office reported in 2009.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What is Maref’s vote on Tuesday about?
Question 4: Why did Donna Barr say they wouldn’t see the plan carried out any time soon?

3.
A) Whether or not to move to the state’s mainland.
B) How to keep the village from sinking into the sea.
C) Where to get the funds for rebuilding their village.
D) What to do about the rising level of the seawater.

4.
A) It takes too long a time.
B) It costs too much money.
C) It has to wait for the state’s final approval.
D) It faces strong opposition from many villagers.

News Report 3
A man in Halifax, Canada wanted to find out if people were thankful for someone holding the door open for them. The social experiment showed that 99 out of 100 people expressed gratitude. “I didn’t think we were going to get 99. I don’t know why, but I was pleasantly surprised because it went beyond just ‘thank you’, people got into conversations with us,” said Steve Foran, CEO of Gratitude At Work. “What we know from research is that from grateful people come good things,” he said. “A simple way to induce gratitude in people is opening doors and so we went to six places and open the doors for people”. For the experiment, Foran’s team went to a shopping center, a mall, two office buildings and a coffee shop. The door was held for 15 to 20 people at a time at each location. “We did have one that didn’t say thank you. We’re not here to judge them, because on any given day, that could be me or you. I suspect out of the 100 people, there were probably a bunch of them having a bad day, but grateful people make people grateful,” said Foran.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What is the purpose of the social experiment?
Question 6: What did Steve Foran and his team do in the experiment?
Question 7: What do we learn from the news report?

5.
A) To investigate whether people are grateful for help.
B) To see whether people hold doors open for strangers.
C) To explore ways of inducing gratitude in people.
D) To find out how people express gratitude.

6.
A) They induced strangers to talk with them.
B) They helped 15 to 20 people in a bad mood.
C) They held doors open for people at various places.
D) They interviewed people who didn’t say thank you.

7.
A) People can be educated to be grateful.
B) Most people express gratitude for help.
C) Most people have bad days now and then.
D) People are ungrateful when in a bad mood.

Section B
Direction: 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.

Conversation 1
W: Raise Solar. Lisa’s speaking. How can I help?
M: Hi, my name is Winston. I wish to enquire about solar panel installations.
W: Yes. What would you like to know?
M: Well, my neighbor installed panels on his roof about a year ago in order to power his hot water. He tells me it has saved him over $500 thus far. Does that sound about right to you?
W: Well, I’m not familiar with your neighbor or his particular setup, but that amount is definitely possible. I can tell you that the average four-bedroom house may typically have a roof with 50 square metres of surface area. Four panels on one side of that roof could save a family of four around $300 a year.
M: OK. That sounds about right then. My house is about the size you described, but my neighbor’s is bigger. I’m not sure how many panels he has up there, but he does have a large family of six.
W: Are you interested in installing some solar panels on your roof, sir?
M: Yes, I’m considering it.
W: If you wish to come into our office, we could show you the different solutions we offer.
M: OK. I might do that. But just quickly if you don’t mind, could you tell me approximately how much a typical installation costs, like, say, four panels?
W: Prices do vary depending on different factors, but as a rough estimate, it’s around $2,000. But you know, a typical household will make back that initial investment in about five years.
M: OK. I see. Thank you.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What is the man’s purpose for calling the woman?
Question 9: What do we learn about the man’s neighbor from the conversation?
Question 10: What is one of the man’s chief concerns?
Question 11: How long will it take a typical household to make back the initial investment?

8.
A) To order a solar panel installation.
B) To report a serious leak in his roof.
C) To enquire about solar panel installations.
D) To complain about the faulty solar panels.

9.
A) He plans to install solar panels.
B) He owns a four-bedroom house.
C) He saves $300 a year.
D) He has a large family.

10.
A) The service of the solar panel company.
B) The cost of a solar panel installation.
C) The maintenance of the solar panels.
D) The quality of the solar panels.

11.
A) One year and a half.
B) Less than four years.
C) Roughly six years.
D) About five years.

Conversation 2
M: Good afternoon. Sorry to have kept you waiting. How can I help you?
W: Oh, no problem. I’m interested in booking a holiday to Australia and wonder if you could tell me what deals you have.
M: Sure. Are you only looking for flights or a package holiday with everything included?
W: When you say “everything”, what do you mean?
M: Well, a package holiday would include your flights, hotels, meals, day trips to different places of interest and transport to and from the airport.
W: Yeah, that sounds pretty good. I’m going with my family, so it would be nice to have everything taken care of. So, what sort of deals do you have for package holidays then?
M: All sorts, really. How long do you want to go for? And on what dates?
W: Two weeks around Christmas time would be great.
M: OK, let me check that for you. Here’s one, 14 nights in southeastern Australia. 5 nights in Sydney and 5 nights in Melbourne, and then for the other 4 nights you can choose from a list of trips to other places nearby. You could visit Canberra, for example, or the Blue Mountains, or you could go for a drive down the Great Ocean Road. Also, if you’re interested in wine, you could go on a tour of the places where they grow grapes and make wine.
W: That sounds great. It’s good we can choose some activities ourselves.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: Where is the conversation taking place?
Question 13: Why is the woman interested in package holidays?
Question 14: How long does the woman want to go for the holiday?
Question 15: What does the woman say she likes about the holiday package?

12.
A) At a travel agency.
B) At an Australian airport.
C) At an airline transfer service.
D) At a local transportation authority.

13.
A) She would be able to visit more scenic spots.
B) She wanted to save as much money as possible.
C) She would like to have everything taken care of.
D) She wanted to spend more time with her family.

14.
A) Four days.
B) Five days.
C) One week.
D) Two weeks.

15.
A) Choosing some activities herself.
B) Spending Christmas with Australians.
C) Driving along the Great Ocean Road.
D) Learning more about wine making.

Section C
Direction: 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.

Passage 1
Tourists taking a holiday in the Indonesian island of Bali are facing a new $14-per-person tax when they arrive on the holiday island from next year. But this is a green tax, which Bali Governor Wayan Koster has been working on for months, and which is designed to help clean up the island’s natural environment, and with good reason, too. Indonesia is drowning in plastics. Recycling is not one of the country’s strong points. It’s not uncommon to be offered many more plastic bags than one could ever need when visiting supermarkets and shopping malls, but slowly things are starting to change for the better. Back in 2016, the medium sized city of Banjarmasin banned single-use plastic bags. The city of Bogor followed suit in 2018. A few months ago, Koster announced a plan that would not only ban single-use plastic bags from supermarkets and convenience stores, but plastic bags and straws across the island. The regulation will come into full effect next month. “We received a fast and quick response from the Balinese people. Not only positive responses from the Balinese, we received good responses from the central government, other local governments, and even from overseas,” Koster told the Sydney Morning Herald this week during an interview. The governor is a determined environmentalist and he has more laws planned to protect the island’s waterways in particular, and to support the introduction of electric vehicles, too.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What would tourists have to do when they visit Indonesia’s Bali Island?
Question 17: What does the passage say about Indonesia?
Question 18: What is the new plan Governor Koster recently announced?

16.
A) Bring their own bags when shopping.
B) Use public transport when traveling.
C) Dispose of their trash properly.
D) Pay a green tax upon arrival.

17.
A) It has not been doing a good job in recycling.
B) It has witnessed a rise in accidental drowning.
C) It has not attracted many tourists in recent years.
D) It has experienced an overall decline in air quality.

18.
A) To charge a small fee on plastic products in supermarkets.
B) To ban single-use plastic bags and straws on Bali Island.
C) To promote the use of paper bags for shopping.
D) To impose a penalty on anyone caught littering.

Passage 2
An endangered species of whale is experiencing a small baby boom off the coast of America. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest species of whale on the planet numbering only about 411. But the Center for Coastal Studies said Friday that its aerial survey team spotted a mom with two babies in Cape Cod Bay a day earlier. That brings the number seen in nearby waters alone this year to 3. That’s big news because the whale population has been falling, and no baby whales were seen last year. In all, seven baby whales have been spotted so far this year. The whale population has become endangered due to commercial whaling activities in recent years. This is because they are sometimes hunted for their meat or their skin. Over-hunting could lead to the disappearance of the whale population, possibly causing major problems to the global food chain. The whales give birth off the southeast coast of America in the winter and travel to feeding grounds off the northeast coast in the early spring. Northeast coast is a critically important source of food. The animals often feed close to shore. This provides watchers on land with unbeatable views of one of the rarest of marine mammals. It’s illegal to get within 1,500 feet of the animals without a federal research permit, so whale watchers are discouraged from attempting to get close to the whales.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What do we learn from the passage about the North Atlantic right whale?
Question 20: What has caused the decline of the whale population in recent years?
Question 21: Why do whales travel to the northeast coast of America in the early spring?

19.
A) It gives birth to several babies at a time.
B) It is the least protected mammal species.
C) Its breeding grounds are now better preserved.
D) Its population is now showing signs of increase.

20.
A) Global warming.
B) Polluted seawaters.
C) Commercial hunting.
D) Decreasing birthrates.

21.
A) To mate.
B) To look for food.
C) To escape hunters.
D) To seek breeding grounds.

Passage 3
An average person consumes 144 pints of milk a year, but 40% of that is poured onto cereal, and 60% of those people are children. But what was once advertised as nutritious is becoming unpopular. Americans drink 37% less milk than they did in the 1970s. And in the UK, dairy consumption overall has fallen by a third in the past 20 years. Milk is increasingly being described in a negative light. A recent blog suggested: “Maybe people are drinking less milk because it is poisonous to many of us”. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and dairy products. It needs a series of complex proteins to break it down. Without enough of these proteins, the lactose is broken down by bacteria in the human body. This can cause physical pain and produce gas in the stomach. However, after we have finished breast or formula feeding, most of us don’t continue producing the complex proteins in our body, which are necessary to break down the lactose. Despite the problems in digesting milk, it does provide many benefits. Milk is nutritious, it contains vitamins A and D as well as protein and isn’t full of calories. You can test yourself by drinking a large glass of milk. If you get sick in your stomach within the next 24 hours, you are lacking the proteins to digest milk.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the passage say about Americans?
Question 23: How do Americans and British people think of milk nowadays?
Question 24: Why does drinking milk cause pain in some people?
Question 25: What does the passage say is a benefit of milk?

22.
A) They prefer to drink low-fat milk.
B) They think milk is good for health.
C) They consume less milk these days.
D) They buy more milk than the British.

23.
A) It is not as healthy as once thought.
B) It is not easy to stay fresh for long.
C) It benefits the elderly more.
D) It tends to make people fat.

24.
A) They drink too many pints every day.
B) They are sensitive to certain minerals.
C) They lack the necessary proteins to digest it.
D) They have eaten food incompatible with milk.

25.
A) It is easier for sick people to digest.
B) It provides some necessary nutrients.
C) It is healthier than other animal products.
D) It supplies the body with enough calories.

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2020年07月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: 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 Report 1
Good morning! In today’s headlines, Scotland’s transport minister has warned of potentially “extreme” weather conditions as heavy snow is forecast across the country later this week. Orange warnings are in force for many areas for Wednesday and Thursday. The transport minister advised people in parts of Scotland covered by the orange alert to avoid travel on Wednesday. This is what he said to us: “The orange warning may be raised to red in some areas. That is a warning for snow that has never been seen since the modern system came into place in Scotland.” The orange warning has been extended until 6 p.m. on Thursday. Trains, planes and ferries are also likely to be affected, with a wind chill that could see parts of Britain feeling as cold as -15℃. The head of road policing said, “I would urge drivers to take extra care on the roads for their journeys. Drivers should make sure they are prepared for their journey with warm clothing, food and drink, sufficient fuel and a charged mobile phone. There could be significant traffic delays, so please start to plan your journey now and consider if you really need to travel when conditions are this poor.”
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What were people in parts of Scotland advised to do?
Question 2: What did the head of road policing urge drivers to do?

1.
A) Watch the weather forecast.
B) Evacuate the area with the orange alert.
C) Avoid travel on Wednesday.
D) Prepare enough food and drink.

2.
A) Pay more attention to the roads.
B) Stay at a safer place.
C) Bring more mobile phones.
D) Take a train home.

News Report 2
Romania’s wetlands are coming back to life thanks to help from local communities, the World Wildlife Fund, and funding from the European Union.
Roughly 2,224 acres of the picturesque Danube Delta – home to 300 species of birds – have filled with wildlife. The land has been connected to the network of lakes and streams in the area.
“A lot of birds have migrated to the area, and one doesn’t need to travel long hours anymore or go to other lakes to watch the birds,” says Ion Meuta, Deputy Mayor of Mahmudia. The area around Mahmudia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the third-most biodiverse in the world, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands.
Groups used earth-moving equipment to restore the waterways. Government officials proposed to protect the area’s endangered wild fish by issuing a fishing ban over the next decade.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What is the news report mainly about?
Question 4: What did government’s officials propose to do to protect the endangered fish?

3.
A) There is only one ecosystem in Europe.
B) Romania’s wetlands thrive again.
C) The wildlife in Romania isn’t well protected.
D) There are 200 species of birds in Romania’s wetlands.

4.
A) Block the waterways.
B) Restore the fishing ban.
C) Use monitoring equipment.
D) Prohibit fishing in the next 10 years.

News Report 3
Scott Dunn, recently awoke from the medically-induced sleep he’d been in after a car accident. He was heartbroken after realizing he’d missed his high school graduation, so his classmates decided to give him another chance. It was just a month ago that East Juniata High School seniors met in the school’s auditorium for graduation. And last week, they did it again. Scott’s car accident was on May 22, just 3 days before the ceremony. “I remember waking up in the hospital and asking mom, ‘what date it was’, she told me it was the 28th,” he said. “I looked at her and said, ‘I missed my graduation’.”
The school’s principal, Mr. Fausey, called Scott’s mom Karen and said that everybody “wanted to do something special for him”. Students wore their caps and gowns and sat in the front of the auditorium. Scott’s parents, Karen and Scott Senior, sat front and center. After brief speeches, Scott’s name was called, only Scott’s name. He walked across the stage as the audience cheered. A graduation for one. “I’m speechless,” Scott said. “I don’t know how to even explain it. I’m speechless to know that so many people are behind me.”
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What happened to Scott a month ago?
Question 6: What did Scott ask about when he regained consciousness?
Question 7: Why was Scott speechless at the graduation ceremony?

5.
A) He had a car accident.
B) He attended his graduation ceremony.
C) He had a heart attack.
D) He gave a performance in the auditorium.

6.
A) What happened to him.
B) What date it was.
C) When the graduation ceremony was.
D) Where he was.

7.
A) He was really touched by his classmates.
B) He didn’t know what happened at all.
C) He couldn’t remember what to say.
D) His parents wore caps and gowns.

Section B
Direction: 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.

Conversation 1
M: How do you like your new flexible working arrangement? Do you enjoy working from home?
W: Yes and no. I find the isolation challenging at times. Apart from my mother, not too many people I know have time for phone chats during working hours. I tried the library but found I wasn’t really keen on working there.
M: No, neither would I. I find the library a bit too quiet. I’d lack inspiration or stimulation, which would be counter-productive to getting a lot of work done.
W: I found the same thing. So, lately, I’ve been going out to cafés occasionally. I love the noise, the people, the busyness of a café, the sense of being out in the world.
M: Coffee shops seem to have effectively become office spaces for so many people in this digital age. Though I’m not sure how café owners feel about it – having so many people who go to their places to work rather than drink and eat.
W: Yes, some people seem to spend a lot of time there and not order much. The most annoying ones for café owners must truly be those, usually only two of them, who occupy a table for six with their laptops and paperwork.
M: They should sit at a table for two, not at a table for six. Some obviously stay so long, they need to plug their laptops into a power outlet. I nearly tripped over someone’s computer electrical lead the other day in my local café.
W: It’s a double-edged sword, no doubt about that, for a café owner. While remote workers help to keep the café full in quiet times, they can take up valuable table space in busy periods.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What does the woman say is the disadvantage of working from home?
Question 9: What does the man say is counter-productive to getting work done in the library?
Question 10: What does the woman like about doing one’s work in a café?
Question 11: What is most annoying for café owners according to the woman?

8.
A) Her children’s disruption.
B) Quiet atmosphere.
C) A sense of isolation.
D) Longer working hours.

9.
A) It doesn’t offer coffee.
B) It’s too quiet.
C) It doesn’t have free Wi-Fi.
D) It lacks the material he needs.

10.
A) The sense of being out in the world.
B) The coffee it provides.
C) The coffee table.
D) The comfortable working condition.

11.
A) People don’t order anything.
B) People bring their laptops and paperwork.
C) People occupy valuable table space in quiet times.
D) People of two occupy a table for six.

Conversation 2
W: I’m going to start looking for another job. I can’t see myself getting an opportunity to progress at my company anytime in the near future. And I really think my skills and abilities deserve a higher salary.
M: You are not going to quit, are you?
W: I’m thinking I might as well. Then I can devote more time and energy to finding a better position at another company.
M: But you’ve been in your present company less than two years, haven’t you? This would be the third time you’ve left your job in the last five years. If you do several jobs in a relatively short span of time, prospective employers might perceive that you lack loyalty. That could make them worry and reluctant to employ you.
W: Unfortunately, loyalty doesn’t pay. Even if I get a promotion at my company, it’s likely to be less sizeable than if I were to get a job elsewhere. And even if I get a promotion, I’m not guaranteed to get a raise. I had that experience at another company I worked at.
M: They wanted you to take on more work and responsibility but for the same amount of money?
W: More or less, yes. The way I see it, through having different jobs, I’ve gathered a lot of experience in different jobs and in different industries.
M: But potential employers might worry that that experience is not deep, or thorough enough.
W: Perhaps, but I feel pretty confident that I can sell myself. You know what they say, fortune favors the brave.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What makes the woman think about changing her job?
Question 13: What does the man say about people who keep changing their jobs?
Question 14: What does the woman say would happen even if she got promoted in her current company?
Question 15: What benefit has the woman gained from changing her jobs frequently?

12.
A) She is not satisfied with the salary.
B) She is not capable of the job.
C) She often works overtime.
D) She’s received a job offer from another company.

13.
A) They may be considered as less loyal.
B) They won’t get the promotion opportunities.
C) They should take more responsibility at work.
D) They will be given hiring priority.

14.
A) She might have to do extra work every day.
B) She might not get a pay rise.
C) She might not get enough vacation.
D) She might not gain more experience.

15.
A) Experience.
B) Confidence.
C) Fortune.
D) Opportunity.

Section C
Direction: 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.

Passage 1
There is a saying that goes something along the lines of ‘You must love yourself first before you can love someone else.’ Similarly, I personally believe that you must be comfortable and happy in your own company before you can truly be yourself in the company of others. There is a massive difference between being lonely and being alone. Loneliness is a horrible feeling. However, you don’t have to actually be alone to feel that way. Many times, I’ve felt lonely when surrounded by a big group of people. In contrast, being alone can actually be a blessing, particularly, when you’ve actively chosen it. In my experience, being bored and alone is dangerous and can easily lead to the feeling of loneliness. The trick is to be active. Get outside, stretch your legs, do something cultural, buy yourself something tasty to eat or something pretty to wear. You don’t have to take anyone else into consideration and can do whatever you please. Spending time alone also allows you to more efficiently take care of problems. And then, when it’s time to be social and meet up with your friends, you will be fully there, because you won’t have too much other stuff floating around in your mind. Having been alone for a bit, you will also appreciate your friends’ company more and chances are your time spent together will be more worthwhile.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What does the speaker say about being alone?
Question 17: What does the speaker say helps reduce one’s feeling of loneliness?
Question 18: What is an advantage of spending one’s time alone?

16.
A) It’s a horrible feeling.
B) It can be a blessing.
C) It’s boring and dangerous.
D) It’s the most comfortable state.

17.
A) To be active.
B) To meet up with your friends.
C) To travel abroad.
D) To seek advice from others.

18.
A) It provides a chance for people to think deeply.
B) It makes us treasure the time.
C) It enables one to identify true friends.
D) It helps us take care of problems more efficiently.

Passage 2
When I turned twelve, I worked summers at my father’s small brick-cleaning business. I remember the harsh acid smell of the cleaning solution, and the scraping sound of stiff iron brushes against rough brick. It was tempting to hurry your job just to finish. But anybody who worked for Thomas Cahoon had to meet his standards, and that included me. If I messed up, he made me stay late until I got it right. My father wasn’t being mean. He demanded the same of himself. Every brick he cleaned on the house stood out like a red jewel in a white setting. It was his signature. In 1970, when I was twenty, I got married, and moved out my parents’ modest place into a housing project. Drugs and gang violence were just beginning to plague the projects. Some of my friends went to jail. Some were killed. My wife, Valen, was eighteen, and nobody gave our marriage a chance. But we believed in each other. And our faith made us strong. When we married, I worked as a stock clerk at Southwest Superfoods. It was hard, tedious work. Each Friday night a truck came, with cases of food that had to be unloaded, priced and placed on shelves. Most of stock clerks tried to get Friday night off. But I was always ready to work. By Saturday morning, all the cans and jars in my aisle would be placed with labels facing smartly out, like a line of soldiers on review. That was my signature. I took pride in a job nobody wanted.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What do we learn about the speaker’s father?
Question 20: What does the speaker say about the housing project?
Question 21: What do we learn about the speaker as a stock clerk?

19.
A) He is a harsh person.
B) He is mean to others.
C) He is very demanding in his work.
D) He usually works very late.

20.
A) He moved out and divorced.
B) It was plagued by drugs and gang violence.
C) He lived there for 20 years.
D) His parents would move into his new house.

21.
A) He was only responsible for unloading food.
B) He had to sign his name on every label.
C) It was a hard and tedious job.
D) He was required to work at Friday night.

Passage 3
Watching more than 3 hours of television a day doubles memory loss in older people, a new study of more than 3,000 adults suggests. Scientists at University College London used memory and fluency tests on the same group of people 6 years apart. They found that those who watched on average less than 3 hours’ television a day showed a decline of around 4 to 5 percent, while those who tended to watch more than 3 hours a day declined by an average of 8 to 10 percent. The research team say they believe “alert-but-passive” nature of television watching may be creating stress on the mind, which contributes to memory decline.
Older people who watch more television are also less likely to undertake activities known to preserve mental functioning such as reading, or interactive screen-based pursuits such as using the internet or playing video games. The researchers say that television viewing may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, but more research was needed to establish a link.
While watching television may have educational benefits and relaxation benefits, the researchers advise that adults over the age of 50 should try and ensure that television viewing is balanced with other contrasting activities. If you’re concerned that the amount of television you’re watching could have a negative impact on your health, you should limit the amount of TV watch each day and undertake some healthy hobbies.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: By what means does scientist at University College London measure memory loss?
Question 23: What contributed to memory decline in the participants?
Question 24: What did the researchers say about their finding concerning the link between TV viewing and Alzheimer’s disease?
Question 25: What do the researchers suggest older people do?

22.
A) By recording the time people spend on TV.
B) By tracking people’s living habits.
C) By using memory and fluency tests.
D) By scanning people’s brains.

23.
A) Watching television for hours.
B) Playing video games.
C) Reading books and magazines.
D) Surfing the Internet.

24.
A) Television viewing may be a potential factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
B) Alzheimer’s patients tend to watch television more than 3 hours a day.
C) Some research has confirmed the link between them.
D) Television watching is beneficial to Alzheimer’s patients.

25.
A) Watch television no more than 3 hours each day.
B) Balance television viewing with other contrasting activities.
C) Watch some educational TV programs.
D) Take more physical exercise.

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2020年09月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: 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 Report 1
A NASA satellite orbiting over Portugal took photographs that reveal the effects of pollution from ships. One of the photos shows a thin film of clouds above the brilliant blue of the North Atlantic, cut by white lines of thicker clouds that look like scars. NASA officials explained those thicker clouds are signs of ship traffic below. When ships power their ways through the ocean, they pump exhaust into the atmosphere, just as cars do. And those massive amounts of particles can cause clouds to form. Get enough of those particles in one place, as from the exhaust of a ship, and they can lead to the creation of new clouds easily visible from space. “These clouds can be huge, some of them stretch hundreds of kilometers from end to end”, NSAS officials said. It’s likely that these sorts of clouds are having some effect on the global climate, according to NASA officials. But scientists aren’t yet sure what effect it has.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What has caused the thick clouds in the photos taken by a NASA satellite?
Question 2: What do NASA officials think about the thick clouds?

1.
A) Warm currents in the ocean.
B) Ship traffic in the Atlantic.
C) Particles emitted by power plants.
D) Exhaust from cars in Europe.

2.
A) They need to be taken seriously.
B) They have a huge effect on fishery.
C) They may be affecting the world’s climate.
D) They might be causing trouble to air flights.

News Report 2
Staff at a suburban supermarket in Melbourne say they feel unsafe at work after security guards were removed. This came after a series of physical attacks and verbal abuse by customers. More than 50 workers at the store have signed a letter calling for a permanent security guard following a series of incidents, including a customer threatening to attack a supervisor with a knife. “A security worker had guarded the store each night from 7pm until 12am, but that had stopped suddenly on Monday,” employees said. One worker said an angry customer had thrown a chicken at his head after complaining about how long she had waited to be served. Another worker said the lack of protection at the store made her feel uncomfortable at work. However, the spokesman of the supermarket said the store had taken strong action in response to incidents, “We have found very few instances of bad customer behavior at our store in the past year. In the rare cases we have seen bad behavior, we have taken strong action in response, including banning a customer from the store.”
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: For what purpose, did the staff at the supermarket in Melbourne sign a letter?
Question 4: What did the spokesman of the supermarket say, regarding the employees’ demand?

3.
A) To appeal for higher wages.
B) To demand better health care.
C) To dismiss the bad-tempered supervisor.
D) To call for a permanent security guard.

4.
A) It was seeking help from the police.
B) It would put customers’ needs first.
C) It had already taken strong action.
D) It would take their appeal seriously.

News Report 3
Drivers on their way to the Polish capital of Warsaw on Wednesday morning found the road blocked by an unusual obstacle – tons of liquid chocolate that spilled onto the motorway.
A truck carrying the sweet load hit a road barrier and overturned, blocking two lanes. The cracked tank spilled a pool of rapidly hardening chocolate, which quickly covered the width of the road. While the driver was taken to hospital with a broken arm, firefighters struggle to remove a reported 12 tons of solid chocolate from the road.
A representative for the firefighters told the local TV that removing the chocolate was worse than dealing with snow. After contacting the chocolate manufacturer, the firefighters resorted to spraying hot, pressurized water to get rid of the sticky substance.
The local TV also noted that the cleanup spanned more than a mile, because drivers simply drove through the chocolate after the crash, leaving a long chocolate trail. But despite the sticky situation, firefighters and police attending to the cleanup were reportedly cheerful about the long task ahead. After all, who could be mad about 12 tons of chocolate?
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What did drivers on the motorway to Warsaw find?
Question 6: What does the report say about the accident?
Question 7: What did the firefighters’ representative tell the local TV?

5.
A) The road was blocked.
B) The road was flooded.
C) The road was frozen with snow.
D) The road was covered with spilled gas.

6.
A) A truck hit a barrier and overturned.
B) The truck driver dozed off while driving.
C) The heavy snow made driving very difficult.
D) A truck plunged into a pool of liquid chocolate.

7.
A) It was fortunate that no passenger got injured.
B) It was a hard task to remove the spilled substance.
C) It was a long time before the cleanup was finished.
D) It was difficult to contact the manufacturer.

Section B
Direction: 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.

Conversation 1
M: Lisa, why did you pay for you meal with cash instead of the payment apps on your phone?
W: Well, I’ve gone back to cash, I’m only using payment apps if that’s the only option. I’m trying to save money for a new phone, and I find that using cash rather than payment apps helps me to save.
M: But how? Money is money, isn’t it? I don’t think it matters whether you take it out to the bank and put it into wallet, or simply transfer from your bank account to the sellers’ bank account using an app.
W: No, I believe it does matter. It’s a psychological phenomenon. I believe we have less connection with a value of our money, when we just tap the approve buttons on our phones.
M: You might have a point, since I stop carrying cash around, and start to using my phone apps to pay, I may have developed a tendency to buy more small or non-essential items.
W: That’s highly possible, think about the amount of time we spend with our phones in our hands, and all the things we do with our phones. It’s sometimes seems that our phone is buying the product for us, not ourselves.
M: So, cash is payment affects our ability to budget?
W: I believe so, if we spend a hundred Yuan in cash, we realize that we don’t have that hundred Yuan to spend on something else. But if we spend in electronically, we’re less likely to make that mental calculation.
M: I stopped using my credit card because I’m fond of spending excessively. Perhaps I should take the same approach of paying using my phone.
W: It’s worth considering.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: Why did the woman decide to go back to cash for payment?
Question 9: What happens when people use apps for payment according to the woman?
Question 10: What might the man tend to buy with payment apps?
Question 11: What does the man think of electronic payment?

8.
A) She found it much safer to use cash.
B) She could enjoy discounts with cash.
C) She wanted to save for a new phone.
D) She bad been cheated using phone.

9.
A) They derive greater pleasure from buying things.
B) They are less aware of the value of their money.
C) They find it less difficult to make purchases.
D) They can save a lot more time and trouble.

10.
A) More valuable items.
B) Electronic devices.
C) Everyday necessities.
D) More non-essential things.

11.
A) It may lead to excessive spending.
B) It is altering the way of shopping.
C) It can improve shopping efficiency.
D) It appeals more to younger people.

Conversation 2
W: Hello Mr. Brown. I was expecting your call. My secretary told me you were having some problems with the wooden table, is that right?
M: No, no, the table is fine. The problem is the chairs.
W: Oh, the chairs, so, what exactly is the issue?
M: Well, put simply, these are not the chairs my wife and I selected in your store last week. There must be some confusion with our order.
W: Oh, I see. I’m looking through my files now. And I see that the delivery was this morning. Is that correct?
M: Yes.
W: Do you mind describing the chairs that were delivered to your apartment, Mr. Brown?
M: Sure. These have a flat back with a round top and very heavy. They are light brown and look kind of cheap. The ones we ordered were dark brown to match the table.
W: Right. Of course. It says here you purchased the Arlington table and four Milano chairs. As you said. There must be some confusion with the order. I’m terribly sorry. We’ll send a van to collect those four and replace them with the Milano you purchased. Will tomorrow 9 a.m. be ok Mr. Brown?
M: Yes. That would be great. Thank you.
W: Good. Did everything else you ordered from us arrive ok?
M: Yes. I think so. Let me check. The mirror and two paintings are here. The two coffee tables are also here. And the sofa. Yes. We haven’t noticed anything else wrong or missing. But if we do. We’ll certainly let you know.
W: OK. Great. Once again. I’m sorry for the confusion and trouble caused.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: Why did the man call the woman?
Question 13: What did the woman ask the man to do?
Question 14: What did the woman promise to do for the man?
Question 15: What did the woman do at the end of the conversation?

12.
A) He wanted the furniture store to give him a refund.
B) He had a problem with the furniture delivered.
C) He had to change the furniture delivery time.
D) He wanted to order some wooden furniture.

13.
A) Send the furniture back to the store.
B) Buy another brand of furniture.
C) Collect the furniture he ordered.
D) Describe the furniture he received.

14.
A) Improve their service.
B) Apologize to his wife.
C) Correct their mistake.
D) Give the money back.

15.
A) She recommended a new style.
B) She decided all the items with the man.
C) She offered some gift to the man.
D) She apologized to the man once more.

Section C
Direction: 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.

Passage 1
Do you have too much stuff? Are you dare we say it “untidy”? Say hello to a TV show called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”. A home improvement show based on her widely popular book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. In the show, Marie Kondo acts as a tiny garbage fairy for messy people, visiting their houses to share the wisdom of the “KonMari” method. This method is simple in theory but can be endlessly complex in practice. You divide all the stuff in your house – all of it – into several categories, and then examine each item – all of them – to see if it sparks joy. If it does, you keep it. If it doesn’t, you thank it, and neatly discard it.
So, is the TV show inspiring people to tidy up? Firsthand accounts seem to indicate a small wave of people bringing piles of donation bags to used good stores. One store received thousands of bags of used possessions in one day. January is usually the store’s slow season for donations, because it’s cold and people don’t want to bother. But not this January. People seemed determined to clean up their homes. One used bookstore received a month’s worth of books in donations in a week when a man gave over 50 boxes of books from his home. It seems Marie’s TV show is having a big impact after all.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16. What is Maire Kondo’s TV show about?
Question 17. What things can be kept in one’s home, according to Maire Kondo?
Question 18. What do we learn about one used bookstore this January?

16.
A) Tidying up one’s home.
B) Reading books of wisdom.
C) Donating to charity.
D) Sharing with others.

17.
A) Things that occupy little space.
B) Things that are becoming rare.
C) Things that make one happy.
D) Things that cost a lot of money.

18.
A) It did little business because of the unusual cold weather.
B) It received an incredibly large number of donated books.
C) It sold as many as fifty boxes of books.
D) It joined the city’s clean-up campaign.

Passage 2
At just twelve years old, Mike Hannon is making a difference in his community – one lunch at a time. “Mike’s Lunches of Love” has fed more than 2,000 of the town’s most vulnerable residents. Mike delivers meals to the homeless. “It’s like a way to give people joy, maybe spark something in them that can change them,” Mike told WBZ-TV. The mayor of Mike’s town feels that Mike is a great community leader, especially in such times of so much negative news. While his father commented on how proud he was of his son, yet Mike isn’t looking for praise, but kindness in return. He hopes his active charity will influence others to spread positive actions in their own towns. Mike includes a handwritten message of joy on each bag. His message and star power has spread all over the country. To date, his online page to raise funds has brought in more than 44,000 dollars and counting, raising more than 17,000 dollars in just one day, with the hope of many famous actors and others. People from all over the county are sending special handcraft bags to help the young man with his mission to help those in need. Many are hoping the simple active kindness spreads. Mike is seemed as the hope for the future of the town, the country and the world.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What does Mike Hannon do to help people in his town?
Question 20: What does Mike hope others will do?
Question 21: How are people all over the country responding to what Mike is doing?

19.
A) Give free meals to the homeless.
B) Provide shelter for the homeless.
C) Call for change in the local government.
D) Help the vulnerable to cook lunches.

20.
A) Promote understanding.
B) Strengthen co-operation.
C) Follow his example.
D) Win national support.

21.
A) Spreading news of his deeds.
B) Sending him hand-made bags.
C) Following the example he sets.
D) Writing him thank-you notes.

Passage 3
In a recent study carried out by psychologists on the disruptive effects of smart phones, two groups of college students were given word-search puzzles. The first group was told to complete the puzzles with its participants’ smart phones in their line of sight. The second group, however, was told that the phones would interfere with the equipment in the experiment and would need be moved away from the testing area. Midway through the second group’s solving of the puzzles, the experiment called one of the phones and let it ring for a while before hanging up. Many of the students in that group were unable to focus from then on, becoming anxious and performing more poorly than the first group.
Use of electronics has also been known to lead to a decline in human interactions. Rather than having real-life conversations, many express emotions and engage in deep conversations through social media sites. Many students use their phones and computers during class for non-academic activities, which leads to poor grades. Perhaps the most dramatic impact is the reduction in amount of sleep, which lead to poor health and weight gain.
Technology is a great tool. However, it’s important to recognize its downsides. Lack of sleep, reduction of productivity, and weight gain are only a few. If we are not careful about all these mind problems right now, the effect on the future generation is going to be much bigger.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What were the college students in both groups required to do in the study?
Question 23: What do we learn about many of the students in the second test group after the phone ring?
Question 24: According to the passage, what is the most dramatic impact of smart phone use?
Question 25: What does the speaker suggest people do?

22.
A) To install some audio equipment in a lab.
B) To test their eyesight using a phone app.
C) To send smartphone messages.
D) To solve word search puzzles.

23.
A) They could no longer concentrate on their task.
B) They could not go on until the ringing stopped.
C) They grabbed the phone and called back right away.
D) They asked their experimenter to hung up the phone.

24.
A) A decline in sports activities.
B) A rise in emotional problems.
C) A decline in academic performance.
D) A reduction in the amount of sleep.

25.
A) Ensure they have sufficient sleep every day.
B) Realize the disruptive effects of technology.
C) Take effective measures to raise productivity.
D) Protect the eyesight of the younger generation.

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2020年12月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: 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 Report 1
A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the Mediterranean, warned scientists. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although fatalities are rare, the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish, often known as Devil Firefish, is a highly invasive species. And environmentalists fear its arrival could endanger other types of marine life. After being spotted in the Mediterranean, a marine scientist says, “The fish is spreading, and that’s a cause for concern.”
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What is reported in the news?
Question 2: What is the environmentalists’ concern of the spread of Devil Firefish in the Mediterranean?

1.
A) A deadly fish has been spotted in the Mediterranean waters.
B) Invasive species are driving away certain native species.
C) The Mediterranean is a natural habitat of Devil Firefish.
D) Many people have been attacked by Devil Firefish.

2.
A) It could add to greenhouse emissions.
B) It could disrupt the food chains there.
C) It could pose a threat to other marine species.
D) It could badly pollute the surrounding waters.

News Report 2
Almost half the centre of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to mark World Car-Free Day. This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first World Car Free Day last year. Hidalgo also has supported a Paris Breathes Day. On the first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road. About 400 miles of streets will be closed to cars. It is expected to bring significant reduction in pollution levels. “Last year’s car-free day showed a 40% drop in pollution levels in some parts of the city, according to an independent air pollution monitor”, reports the Guardian, “and some levels dropped by 50% in the city centre.”
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What will happen on World Car Free Day in Paris?
Question 4: What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car Free Day in her city?

3.
A) Cars will not be allowed to enter the city.
B) About half of its city center will be closed to cars.
C) Buses will be the only vehicles allowed on its streets.
D) Pedestrians will have free access to the city.

4.
A) The rising air pollution in Paris.
B) The worsening global warming.
C) The ever-growing cost of petrol.
D) The unbearable traffic noise.

News Report 3
A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to clear out his possessions and change locations.Then, a good luck charm that he had kept under his bed changed his life. The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off a coastal island in the Philippines ten years ago. When he was forced to sell it, the shocked tourist agent at Puerto Princesca told him that the 77-pound giant pearl that he had kept hidden in his rundown wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world, which was valued at £76 million. The pearl of Allah, which is currently on display in a New York museum, only weighs 14 pounds. That is five times smaller than the pearl that the fisherman just handed in. The monstrous pearl, measured at 1 foot wide and 2.2 feet long, is going to be verified by local experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more tourists in the little town.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?
Question 6: What was the fisherman forced to do?
Question 7: What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?

5.
A) Many of his possessions were stolen.
B) His house was burnt down in a fire.
C) His fishing boat got wrecked on a rock.
D) His good luck charm sank into the sea.

6.
A) Change his fishing locations.
B) Find a job in a travel agency.
C) Spend a few nights on a small island.
D) Sell the pearl he had kept for years.

7.
A) A New York museum has the world’s biggest pearl.
B) The largest pearl in the world weighs 14 pounds.
C) His monstrous pearl was extremely valuable.
D) His pearl could be displayed in a museum.

Section B
Direction: 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.

Conversation 1
W: Mr. Smith, It’s a pleasure meeting you!
M: Nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?
W: Well, I’m here to show you what our firm can do for you. Astro Consultants has branches in over fifty countries, offering different business services. We’re a global company with 75 years of history. And our clients include some of the world’s largest companies.
M: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astro Consultants is a famous company. But you said you would show me what you could do for me. Well, what exactly can your firm do for my company?
W: We advise businesses on all matters, from market analysis to legal issues. Anything a business like yours could meet. Our firm offers expert advice. Could I ask you, Mr. Smith, to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face? That way, I could better respond as to how we can help you.
M: OK, sure. This is a family business started by my grandfather in 1950. We employ just over 100 people. We manufacture an export stone for buildings and other constructions. Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design. And that’s what we do in our factory. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising, and we’re losing competitive advantages to stone produces in India.
W: I see. That’s very interesting. I will suggest that you let us first conduct a financial analysis of your company, together with the analysis of your competitors in India. That way, we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What do we learn about the woman’s company?
Question 9: What does the man say about his own company?
Question 10: What is the main problem with the man’s company?
Question 11: What does the woman suggest doing to help the man’s company?

8.
A) It boasts a fairly long history.
B) It produces construction materials.
C) It has 75 offices around the world.
D) It has over 50 business partners.

9.
A) It has about 50 employees.
B) It was started by his father.
C) It has a family business.
D) It is over 100 years old.

10.
A) Shortage of raw material supply.
B) Legal disputes in many countries.
C) Outdated product design.
D) Loss of competitive edge.

11.
A) Conducting a financial analysis for it.
B) Providing training for its staff members.
C) Seeking new ways to increase its exports.
D) Introducing innovative marketing strategies.

Conversation 2
W: Wow, congratulations, Simon! The place looks absolutely amazing!
M: Really? You think so?
W: Of course. I love it. It looks like you had a professional interior designer. But you didn’t, did you?
M: No. I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother, Greg. He’s actually in the construction business, which was really helpful.
W: Honestly, I’m impressed! I know I can probably repaint the walls in my house over a weekend or something, but not a full renovation. Where did you get your ideas? I wouldn’t know where to start.
M: Well, for a while now, I’ve been regularly buying home design magazines. Every now and then, I’d saved the pictures I liked. Believe it or not, I have a full notebook of magazine pages. Since by overall style was quite minimal, I thought and hoped a whole renovation wouldn’t be too difficult. And sure enough, with Greg’s help, it was very achievable.
W: Wasn’t it expensive? I have imagined a project like this could be.
M: Actually, it was surprisingly affordable. I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and put that extra money towards the new material. Greg was also able to get some discount materials from a recent project he was working on as well.
W: Great! If you don’t mind, I’d like to pick your brain a bit more. Johansson and I are thinking of renovating our sitting room, not the whole house, not yet anyway. And we’d love to get some inspiration from your experience. Are you free to come over for a coffee early next week?
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?
Question 13: Where did the man get his ideas for the project?
Question 14: What did the man say about the project he recently completed?
Question 15: Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?

12.
A) She is a real expert at house decorations.
B) She is well informed about the design business.
C) She is attracted by the color of the sitting room.
D) She is really impressed by the man’s house.

13.
A) From his younger brother Greg.
B) From home design magazines.
C) From a construction businessman.
D) From a professional interior designer.

14.
A) The effort was worthwhile.
B) The style was fashionable .
C) The cost was affordable.
D) The effect was unexpected.

15.
A) She’d like him to talk with Jonathan about a new project.
B) She wants him to share his renovation experience with her.
C) She wants to discuss the house decoration budget with him.
D) She’d like to show him around her newly-renovated house.

Section C
Direction: 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.

Passage 1
Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost £3m a year, a study suggests. Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases – 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% from ears. Every year, an average of 1,218 nose and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. According to England’s Hospital Episode Statistics, children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors for a foreign object in their nose. Five to nine year olds come to the hospital with something in their ear the most. Jewelry items accounted for up to 40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses. Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.
According to the study, the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects. Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular danger. In all cases, prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What does England spend an annual £3m on?
Question 17: What do we learn from England’s Hospital Episode Statistics?
Question 18: What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?

16.
A) Providing routine care for small children.
B) Paying hospital bills for emergency cases.
C) Doing research on ear, nose and throat diseases.
D) Removing objects from patients’ noses and ears.

17.
A) Many children like to smell things they find or play with.
B) Many children like to put foreign objects in their mouths.
C) Five-to nine-year-olds are the most likely to put things in their ears.
D) Children aged one to four are often more curious than older children.

18.
A) They tend to act out of impulse.
B) They want to attract attention.
C) They are unaware of the potential risks.
D) They are curious about these body parts.

Passage 2
Good morning! Today, I’d like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle. But before that, let me introduce someone. This is Leila Rahimi. She was so scared when she first moved to New Zealand that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days working up the courage to walk to the supermarket for basic supplies. After a few months of being quite down and unhappy, she was invited to join a local bike club. At this time, ReBicycle got involved and gave Leila a second-hand bicycle. In weeks, her depression had begun to ease as she cycled. The bicycle totally changed her life, giving her hope and a true feeling of freedom.
To date, ReBicycle has donated more than 200 bikes to those in need, and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars. With a bike, you can travel farther but for almost no cost. The three hours a day that used to spend on walking to and from English language lessons has been reduced to just one hour. Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking for more volunteers. Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult as an adult, and this can take days and weeks, rather than hours. So, if any of you have some free time during the weekend, please come join us at ReBicycle and make a difference in someone’s life.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What did ReBicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?
Question 20: What is ReBicycle doing to help those in need?
Question 21: What do we learn from the passage about the ReBicycle?

19.
A) It paid for her English lessons.
B) It gave her a used bicycle.
C) It delivered her daily necessities.
D) It provided her with physical therapy.

20.
A) Expanding bike-riding lessons.
B) Asking local people for donations.
C) Providing free public transport.
D) Offering walking tours to visitors.

21.
A) It is a language school.
B) It is a charity organization.
C) It is a counseling center.
D) It is a sports club.

Passage 3
Thanks to the International Space Station we know quite a bit about the effects of low gravity on the human body, but NASA scientists want to learn more. To that end, they have been studying how other species deal with low gravity, specifically focusing on mice. The results are both interesting and humorous.
The scientists first send some mice in a specially designed cage to the International Space Station. The cage allowed them to study the behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video. As you noticed in the video, the mice definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around clumsily, drifting within the small confines of the cage and do their best to figure out which way is up, but without success. However, it’s not long before the mice begin to catch on. They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even using the lack of gravity to their advantage as they push themselves around the cage.
That’s when things really get wild. The 11th day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity change but actually seem to be enjoying it. Several of the mice are observed running around the cage walls.
The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth. The study showed that the mice kept much of their routines intact, including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What do Nasa scientists want to learn about?
Question 23: What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?
Question 24: What was observed about the mice on the 11th day of the experiment?
Question 25: What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?

22.
A) How mice imitate human behavior a space.
B) How low gravity affects the human body.
C) How mice interact in a new environment.
D) How animals deal with lack of gravity.

23.
A) They were not used to the low-gravity environment.
B) They found it difficult to figure out where they were.
C) They found the space in the cage too small to stay in.
D) They were not sensitive to the changed environment.

24.
A) They tried everything possible to escape from the cage.
B) They continued to behave as they did in the beginning.
C) They already felt at home in the new environment.
D) They had found a lot more activities to engage in.

25.
A) They repeated their activities every day.
B) They behaved as if they were on Earth.
C) They begin to eat less after some time.
D) They changed their routines in space.

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