2019年12月英语四级第2套听力原文及题目

2019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
The British government has called for more men to consider a career in nursing. Figures show the number of male nurses has fallen in the last three years. Now, the number of men working in the nursing sector has reached a seven-year low. Numbers of male nurses increased between 2011 and 2014 and reached a peak of 7168. This figure has dropped to only 6924 in 2017. The UK Health Secretary said this is clearly a cultural problem, and probably one that exists in many parts of the world. But we can make efforts to change that now. We want to persuade males to think about career options of going into nursing. There is absolutely no reason why men can’t go into this profession. The health secretary said that the government already has plans to attract a more varied workforce into nursing. She stated, we are leading the way on workforce planning. We will become the first nation in Europe to publish a national health and care workforce plan.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What problem is Britain facing?
Question 2: What is the cause of the problem according to the UK Health Secretary?

1.
A) The number of male nurses has gone down.
B) There is discrimination against male nurses.
C) There is a growing shortage of medical personnel.
D) The number of nurses has dropped to a record low.

2.
A) Working conditions.
B) Educational system.
C) Inadequate pay.
D) Cultural bias.

News Report 2
A man from Libya was enjoying a walk along the sands at Southport beach. When he was about half a mile out from the dock, he felt a bit tired. So he lay down and fell asleep, but the tide swept in quickly at the beach. And the man was shocked to wake up and find the tide had come in and completely surrounded him, cutting him off from the shore. Fortunately for him, the beach lifeguards were quickly on the scene to stop him from drowning. They act professionally to ensure the man was comfortable until an ambulance arrived. He was then taken to hospital. He is now in a stable condition. When interviewed, Keith porter of the Southport beach said, our beach is so flat that it’s very common for the tide come around the back of people and cut them off from the beach. Thankfully the emergency services have again worked well together to ensure a positive outcome. And we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What does the news report say about the Libyan man?
Question 4: What did Keith Porter say at an interview?

3.
A) He fell out of a lifeboat.
B) He was almost drowned.
C) He lost his way on a beach.
D) He enjoyed swimming in the sea.

4.
A) The lifeboats patrol the area round the clock.
B) The beach is a good place to watch the tide.
C) The emergency services are efficient.
D) The beach is a popular tourist resort.

News Report 3
A raccoon, a small cat-like animal climbed to the top of a 25-story skyscraper early on Wednesday. It was captured after becoming an online star across the world. At a little before three a. m., the animal made it to the roof of the building, after it took a long break on a 17th-floor window edge. At the top of the building, animal control officers put cat food in traps and captured the raccoon. A private wildlife management company will release the animal into the wild. The raccoons’ upward journey began on Monday. The brown animal was spotted stuck on a narrow window edge of the office tower. On Tuesday, the raccoon slowly climbed the building. It reached the 23rd floor, and its legend continued to grow on social media with every floor it climbed. As it went up, people gathered on the sidewalk below to take photos and cheer for its safety. Online office workers posted photos and videos of the raccoon, resting on window edges and climbing up the building’s concrete exterior. One online post said that the raccoon has succeeded in uniting the country the way no politician could.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard:
Question 5: What does the news report say about the raccoon, a small cat-like animal?
Question 6: What will the wildlife management company do with the captured raccoon?
Question 7: What did one online post say?

5.
A) It climbed 25 storeys at one go.
B) It broke into an office room.
C) It escaped from a local zoo.
D) It became an online star.

6.
A) Release it into the wild.
B) Return it to its owner.
C) Send it back to the zoo.
D) Give it a physical checkup.

7.
A) A racoon can perform acts no human can.
B) A racoon can climb much higher than a cat.
C) The raccoon did something no politician could.
D) The raccoon became as famous as some politicians.

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: I have really amazing news. I just got a text message from my bank, saying my salary has been deposited in my account.
M: Getting paid is good. But I don’t understand why you’re so excited. It happens every month.
W: Well, I’ve been working for a few years. In fact, I worked all through university, but I only had part-time jobs then. So this is the first time I’ve ever been paid for a month of full-time work.
M: Well, then you must feel great. I mean, it’s been two decades, but I can still remember when I got my first real salary. I was happy for days. And I felt like it was a small fortune, even though it wasn’t.
W: Yeah, I’ve never earned so much money before. And there are so many things I’d like to do with it. What did you do with your first pay?
M: I bought a new suit for work and took my parents to a nice restaurant to celebrate. Maybe you could do the same.
W: I have enough professional clothes. And my parents are across the country. So seeing them is impossible. But some people from the office are members of a gym I want to join. And my university classmates are arranging a trip to visit our old campus, and I’d love to go with them, but I can’t afford both.
M: If I were you. I join the gym because it’s a good way to stay healthy, and it might help you build a stronger relationship with your colleagues. And good relationships are key to a successful career.
W: Hm. You’re right. Thanks for the advice. I’m taking it.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: Why did the woman feel excited?
Question 9: When did the man get his first full-time job?
Question 10: What did the man do when he got his first pay?
Question 11: What does the woman say she is going to?

8.
A) She received a bonus unexpectedly.
B) She got a well-paying job in a bank.
C She received her first monthly salary.
D) She got a pay raise for her performance.

9.
A) Two decades ago.
B) Several years ago.
C) Just last month.
D) Right after graduation.

10.
A) He sent a small check to his parents.
B) He treated his parents to a nice meal.
C) He took a few of his friends to a gym.
D) He immediately deposited it in a bank.

11.
A) Join her colleagues for gym exercise.
B) Visit her former university campus.
C) Buy some professional clothes.
D) Budget her salary carefully.

Conversation 2
W: What’s going on with you lately? You seem so distracted. Like you aren’t really listening to anything I say.
M: I know. I’m sorry. I can’t seem to focus on anything, because I still haven’t decided if I should accept the offer for that Ph. D. program in London, or if I should take the job offer in New York.
W: Look, it’s a tough decision, but you’re running out of time, aren’t you? I thought you said the company expected an answer by the end of the month.
M: Actually, it’s the beginning of next month for the job, but the university needs a decision by the end of the week. So I have to act quickly.
W: You definitely need advice for the important decision like this. So who have you talked to about it? What does your family think? Any adviser for your Master’s program?
M: I’ve asked their advice and that’s part of the problem. My parents want me to get a degree, but my advisor thinks it’s time for me to get more work experience.
W: What do you mean by part of the problem? Oh, wait, it’s your girlfriend, isn’t it? You’ve been dating since your first year of university, so that six years now. She must have an opinion about all this. I mean isn’t it time for you to think about getting married?
M: Well, I do want to get married, but she thinks we need to wait until we’ve launched our careers. Plus, she’s not sure what she’ll be doing next year. She’s considering a job in England and one in Australia. And her parents are pushing for the latter.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: Why does the man seem to be distracted?
Question 13: What does the woman say the man should do?
Question 14: What does the man say is part of his problem?
Question 15: Why doesn’t the man’s girlfriend agree to get married right now?

12.
A) He has just too many things to attend to.
B) He has been overworked recently.
C) He has a difficult decision to make.
D) He has just quarreled with his girlfriend.

13.
A) Turn to his girlfriend for assistance.
B) Give priority to things more urgent.
C) Think twice before making the decision.
D) Seek advice from his family and advisor.

14.
A) His girlfriend does not support his decision.
B) He is not particularly keen on the job offered.
C) He lacks the money for his doctoral program.
D) His parents and advisor have different opinions.

15.
A)They need time to make preparations.
B) They haven’t started their careers yet.
C) They need to save enough money for it.
D) They haven’t won their parents’ approval.

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
Analytical skills are our ability to understand and solve problems using information we have available. These skills are extremely important for our professional, social, and intellectual lives. What are the best ways to improve them? One way is to expand your world view. Unfortunately, this takes time. Ultimately, it will help you better evaluate information and analyze different ideas and outcomes. Traveling is a great way to expand your world view, although it can be expensive. An entertaining way of enhancing your analytical skills is to engage them by playing brain games. These are games that challenge you to think deeply and to develop your analytical skills. These games will get you used to thinking in a certain way. As a result, they will help improve your ability to think. However, opinions vary on whether video games are effective. The general consensus is that the best ones avoid mindless violence, and instead focus on strategy and challenge us to solve problems and achieve broad goals. Joining a debate or reading club or group is also a good idea. This provides people with the opportunity to come together and discuss ideas, literature and problems. Groups like these will help you refine your analytical skills and enable you to express yourself better. Any social group that encourages free exchange of ideas and pursuit of knowledge is beneficial. It helps you to actively develop your analytical skills.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What kind of ability do analytical skills refer to in the passage?
Question 17: What does the passage say is an entertaining way of enhancing one’s analytical skills?
Question 18: What else does the speaker advise people to do to improve their analytical skills?

16.
A) Expressing ideas and opinions freely.
B) Enriching social and intellectual lives.
C) Acquiring information and professional knowledge.
D) Using information to understand and solve problems.

17.
A) Traveling to different places in the world.
B) Playing games that challenge one’s mind.
C) Improving mind-reading strategies.
D) Reading classic scientific literature.

18.
A) Participate in debates or discussions.
B) Expose themselves to different cultures.
C) Discard personal biases and prejudices.
D) Give others freedom to express themselves.

Passage 2
There’s an endless amount of scientific data proving that dogs can develop strong bonds with their owners. People aren’t kidding when they say they love their dog or their dog loves them, but were rather ignorant about the nature of the relationships that form between dogs. In an effort to understand the matter further, I spoke with doctors Mark Beckhoff, a researcher and former professor of animal behavior. The doctors’response to the question of whether or not dogs can fall in love like humans do was a straight “Of course!” He went on to say that if love is defined as a long-term commitment, meaning dogs seek one another out when they’re apart, they’re happy when they’re reunited, they protect one another, they feed one another, they raise their children together. Then, of course, dogs love each other. Now our furry friends don’t really experience romantic love, like in the movies, but they can form deep and lasting bonds with their fellow dogs as well as humans. In fact, evidence shows almost dogs stay with one partner their whole lives. In actuality, love between dogs can be even more intimate than human relationships. When they interact, they aren’t afraid to smell each other and will express themselves clearly and honestly. Once again, it seems we have a lot to learn from dogs.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What does the passage say we don’t know much about?
Question 20: What does Dr. Mark Beckhoff say about dogs?
Question 21: What does the speaker say about most dogs?

19.
A) Why dogs can be faithful friends of humans.
B) The nature of relationships between dogs.
C) The reason a great many people love dogs.
D) How dogs feel about their bonds with humans.

20.
A) They behave like other animals in many ways.
B) They have an unusual sense of responsibility.
C) They can respond to humans’ questions.
D) They can fall in love just like humans.

21.
A) They stay with one partner for life.
B) They have their own joys and sorrows.
C) They experience true romantic love.
D) They help humans in various ways.

Passage 3
A piece of history has been found thanks to a boy tripping on a rare, 1.2-million-year-old animal fossil. In November 2016, Jude Sparks, now 10, was on an outing with his family near their New Mexico home, when he tripped over what he thought was a cow bone. Now, researchers at New Mexico State University preserving this discovery, which was identified as an ancient elephant-like animal. Kyle Sparks, father of Jude, said he let his son decide what to do with the fossil. So Jude reached out to Peter Houde, a professor at New Mexico State University who had experience with the same type of fossil in the past. The next day, Houde came out to see the fossil for himself. Houde told ABC News that he was quite excited about the find. It was fortunate that the family didn’t try to dig up the fossil because that could destroy the specimen; they did the right thing by calling someone who would know what to do. “It’s great for the community because now everybody can appreciate it,” he added. Houde and his fellow faculty members dug up the fossil in late May. They hope to return to the site with geologists for an additional search as there could be more fossils near the site. Jude and his family had been invited by the researchers to see the fossil being preserved at the university.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What did the boy Jude Sparks think he had discovered?
Question 23: What are the researchers at New Mexico State University doing with the boy’s discovery?
Question 24: What did professor Peter Houde say when interviewed by ABC News?
Question 25: What do the researchers plan to do?

22.
A) A rare animal.
B) A historical site.
C) A cow bone.
D) A precious stone.

23.
A) Dating it.
B) Preserving it.
C) Measuring it.
D) Identifying it.

24.
A) The channel needs to interview the boy.
B) The boy should have called an expert.
C) The boy’s family had acted correctly.
D) The site should have been protected.

25.
A) Conduct a more detailed search.
B) Ask the university to reward Jude.
C) Search for similar fossils elsewhere.
D) Seek additional funds for the search.

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