2016年06月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

2016年06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
The International Labour Organization says the number of people without jobs is increasing. In its latest update on Global Employment Trends, the agency says projections of the number of unemployed people this year range from 210 million to nearly 240 million people. The report warns that 200 million poor workers are at risk of joining the ranks of people living on less than 2 dollars per day in the past three years. The director general of the International Labour Organization, Juan Somavia, notes that some countries have taken measures to address the effects of the global crisis. However, he points out that many countries have not done so. And based on past experiences, it takes four to five years after economic recovery for unemployment to return to pre-crisis levels. Mr. Somavia says the International Labour Organization is proposing a global jobs’ agreement to deal with unemployment. “Its key objective is to place the center of recovery efforts, measures that would generate higher levels of employment and provide basic social protection for the most vulnerable.”
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What is the news report mainly about?
Question 2: What does, Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labour Organization, say?

1.
A) The International Labor Organization’s key objective.
B) The basic social protection for the most vulnerable.
C) Rising unemployment worldwide.
D) Global economic recovery.

2.
A) Many countries have not taken measures to create enough jobs.
B) Few countries know how to address the current economic crisis.
C) Few countries have realized the seriousness of the current crisis.
D) Many countries need support to improve their people’s livelihood.

News Report 2
Big fast-food chains in New York City have started to obey a first-of-its-kind rule requiring them to post calorie counts right on the menu. Cathy Nonas is with the New York City Department of Health. “We wanted to give people an opportunity to actually see the calories before they purchase the food and make a decision, an informed decision, that if they want to make the healthier choice, if they want to eat fewer calories, they can. And we expect this will have a huge impact on obesity. And of course, if it has an impact on obesity, it will have an impact on diabetes, and heart disease, and high blood pressure.” The new rules were introduced as part of an anti-obesity campaign that also includes a recent citywide ban on artificial trans-fats in restaurant food. The menu rule only applies to restaurants that serve standardized portion sizes and have 15 or more locations nationwide. Starting last Saturday, chains big enough to fall under the rule will face penalties of up to 2000 dollars for not showing calorie information in a prominent spot on their menus, preferably next to the price.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What are big fast food chains in New York City required to do according to the new rule?
Question 4: What will happen to big restaurant chains that violate the new rule?

3.
A) Serve standardized food nationwide.
B) Put calorie information on the menu.
C) Increase protein content in the food.
D) Offer convenient food to customers.

4.
A) They will be fined.
B) They will be closed.
C) They will get a warning.
D) They will lose customers.

News Report 3
Almost all companies recognize the importance of innovation today. But not many are able to integrate innovation into their business. A commentary in the Shanghai Daily points out that innovation doesn’t mean piles of documents. It is something more practical. The article says many people tend to assume that innovation just means creating something new, but actually it’s more than that. It’s an attitude of doing things. A company should find ways to innovate not just in products but also in functions, business models and processes. The article cites the global giant Procter & Gamble as an example, saying a real innovative company should develop an innovation culture and use it as a primary tool for success. Procter & Gamble has a “Corporate Innovation Fund” which offers big rewards for high-risk ideas that succeed. It also has a special innovation facility for its employees. Sometimes its employees are released from their daily jobs for weeks and spend their time interacting in the innovation facility instead. In conclusion, the article says innovative ideas alone do not ensure success. It’s pointless unless there is repeatable process in place to turn inspiration into financial performance.
Questions 5 and 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What is the problem with many companies according to the news report?
Question 6: What do many people tend to think of innovation?
Question 7: What does the company Procter & Gamble owe its success to?

5.
A) Inability to implement their business plans.
B) Inability to keep turning out novel products.
C) Lack of a successful business model of their own.
D) Failure to integrate innovation into their business.

6.
A) It is the secret to business success.
B) It is the creation of something new.
C) It is a magic tool to bring big rewards.
D) It is an essential part of business culture.

7.
A) Its hardworking employees.
B) Its flexible promotion strategy.
C) Its innovation culture.
D) Its willingness to make investments.

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: So, Lyndsay, do you like to text message on your cell phone?
W: Yeah, I text message a lot.
M: I don’t do it so much. I prefer to make a call if I’m in a hurry.
W: Yeah, I go both ways. Sometimes I don’t really want to talk to the person. I just want to ask them one question, so it’s much easier for me just to text message. If I call them, I’ll have to have a long conversation.
M: Yeah, I can see what you mean. But I get off the phone pretty quickly when I call. I’m not a big talker.
W: Yeah, that’s true. You don’t talk a lot.
M: So are you fast at writing the messages with your thumb?
W: Well, when I first got a cell phone, I was so slow. I thought I would never text message. But then people kept text messaging me, so I felt obliged to learn how to text message. So now I’m pretty fast. What about you?
M: Actually I have the opposite problem. When I first got my cell phone, I thought it was so cool to text message all my friends who have one, and I was pretty fast with my thumb then. But it seems like now I don’t use it so much, I’ve got slower actually.
W: Yeah, I think text messaging actually sort of has to do with your age. For example, people in high school, they text message a lot. But I ask my father if he text messages, and guess what he said?
M: What?
W: He said he never text messaged. He thinks it’s very childish and unprofessional to text message.
M: Yeah, I can see what he means. It’s considered pretty informal to text message someone.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What does the man say about himself?
Question 9: What does the woman tend to do while she is on the phone?
Question 10: Why did the man text message all his friends when he first got his cell phone?
Question 11: What does the Woman’s father think of text messaging?

8.
A) He’s got addicted to technology.
B) He is not very good at socializing.
C) He is crazy about text-messaging.
D) He does not talk long on the phone.

9.
A) Talk big.
B) Talk at length.
C) Gossip a lot.
D) Forget herself.

10.
A) He thought it was cool.
B) He needed the practice.
C) He wanted to stay connected with them.
D) He had an urgent message to send.

11.
A) It poses a challenge to seniors.
B) It saves both time and money.
C) It is childish and unprofessional.
D) It is cool and convenient.

Conversation 2
W: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. How can I help you?
M: Well, I’d like to talk to you about Tim Bond, the department manager.
W: What seems to be the problem?
M: Well, ever since Sandra left the department, I feel like I’ve been targeted to do all her work as well as mine. I’m expected to attend too many meetings and I seem to be spending a lot of my time doing unnecessary paperwork.
W: I’m sorry to hear that.
M: And, on top of that, I’d specifically asked if I could leave early last Friday as I’d done a lot of overtime during the week. But that afternoon, even though I’d finished my assigned work, I was told to help other colleagues finish their work, too.
W: But surely that’s a positive sign showing that Mr. Bond has a lot of trust in you.
M: Yes, but other colleagues get to leave early, and they don’t have such a lot of work to do.
W: So you feel he’s been making unrealistic demands on you?
M: Yes, absolutely.
W: Have you approached Mr. Bond about this particular problem?
M: I’ve tried, but it seems like he just has no time for me.
W: Well, at this stage, it would be better if you approached him directly. If nothing else showing that you’ve tried to solve the problem yourself, before you take it farther, makes it clear that you’re not just a complainer. Why don’t you send an email requesting a meeting with him in private?
M: Hmm, I’ve been a bit worried about his reaction. But anyway I’ll send him an email to request a meeting, and I’ll see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice.
W: Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
Question 13: What is the man’s chief complaint?
Question 14: How does the woman interpret the fact that the man was asked to help his colleagues with their work?
Question 15: What did the woman advise the man to do?

12.
A) He wants to change his job assignment.
B) He is unhappy with his department manager.
C) He thinks he deserves extra pay for overtime.
D) He is often singled out for criticism by his boss.

13.
A) His workload was much too heavy.
B) His immediate boss did not trust him.
C) His colleagues often refused to cooperate.
D) His salary was too low for his responsibility.

14.
A) He never knows how to refuse.
B) He is always ready to help others.
C) His boss has a lot of trust in him.
D) His boss has no sense of fairness.

15.
A) Put all his complaints in writing.
B) Wait and see what happens next.
C) Learn to say no when necessary.
D) Talk to his boss in person first.

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
The massive decline in sleep happened so slowly and quietly that few seemed to notice the trend. Was it because of the growing attraction of the Internet, video games and endless TV channels? Never disconnecting from work? No matter how it happened, millions of Americans are putting their health, quality of life and even length of life in danger. New evidence shows why getting enough sleep is a top priority. Some 40 percent of Americans get less than seven hours of shut-eye on weeknights. “The link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease, is becoming clearer and clearer,” says Lawrence Epstein, a sleep expert at Harvard University. For example, sleep duration has declined from some eight hours in the 1950s to seven in recent years. At the same time, high blood pressure has become an increasing problem. Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep; people who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, weight gain and other problems. Sleeping better may help fight off illness. “When people are sleep-deprived, there are higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies, which can decrease immune function,” says Dr. Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University in Chicago. A University of Chicago study shows people who sleep well live longer. So say good night sooner, and it may help you stay active and vital to a ripe old age.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What is the speaker mainly talking about?
Question 17: What do we learn from the talk about today’s Americans?
Question 18: What does the speaker say will happen to people who lack sleep?

16.
A) The importance of sleep to a healthy life.
B) Reasons for Americans’ decline in sleep.
C) Some tips to improve the quality of sleep.
D) Diseases associated with lack of sleep.

17.
A) They are more health-conscious.
B) They are changing their living habits.
C) They get less and less sleep.
D) They know the dangers of lack of sleep.

18.
A) Their weight will go down.
B) Their mind function will deteriorate.
C) Their work efficiency will decrease.
D) Their blood pressure will rise.

Passage 2
Parents and teachers will tell you not to worry when applying for a place at university. But in the same breath will remind you that it is the most important decision of your life. The first decision is your choice of course. It will depend on what you want to get out of university, what you are good at and what you enjoy. The next decision is where to apply. Aim high but within reason. Do you have the right combination of subjects and are your expected grades likely to meet entry requirements? The deadline is January 15th. But it is best to submit your application early because universities begin work as soon as forms start rolling in. The most important part of the application is the much feared personal statement. This is your chance to convey boundless enthusiasm for the subject. So economy of expression is foremost. Omit dull and ineffective generalities and make sure you give concrete examples. Admissions officers read every personal statement that arrives. It is not convincing if you say you have chosen the subject because you enjoy it. You have to get across what it is about a particular area that has inspired you. They will look for evidence that you have reflected and thought about the subject. Applicants should be honest. There is no point saying you run marathons, if you are going to be out of breath arriving at the interview on the second floor.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What is the first decision you should make in preparing to apply for a place at university?
Question 20: What is the most important part of the application?
Question 21: What must applicants do in their personal statements?

19.
A) How much you can afford to pay.
B) What course you are going to choose.
C) Which university you are going to apply to.
D) When you are going to submit your application.

20.
A) The list of courses studied.
B) The full record of scores.
C) The references from teachers.
D) The personal statement.

21.
A) Specify what they would like to do after graduation.
B) Describe in detail how much they would enjoy studying.
C) Indicate they have reflected and thought about the subject.
D) Emphasize that they admire the professors in the university.

Passage 3
It is usually agreed that a German, Carl Benz, built the first motor car in 1885. It was actually a tricycle with a petrol motor at the rear. Soon, members of the Royal family and other wealthy people took up motoring as a sport. Many of the early cars had 2 seats. There were no petrol pumps and few garages, so every driver had to be his own engineer for the frequent breakdowns. By 1905, cars began to look like cars of today, with headlamps, windscreen, rubber tyres and number plates. Henry Ford’s “Model T”, introduced in America in 1909, was cheaper because it was made on the assembly line. It brought cars closer towards the reach of “ordinary people”. With the popularity of the car, registration became a must in 1903 with the Motor Car Act. Competency tests were introduced in 1935. Today, the legal driving age for a car in the UK is seventeen. You are not allowed to drive a car unsupervised until you have passed a driving test. In 1958, Britain celebrated the opening of its first motorway—the Preston bypass. Until then, no one really understood what a motorway was, not even the labourers who were building it. The bypass hailed a new era in motor travel and was greeted with excitement and optimism. Service stations came with the motorway and the legend of the transport cafe was born. Of course, the service station has diversified greatly. But whether it’s an English cooked breakfast or a coffee and sandwich, one thing has remained the same: the prices.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the speaker say about the first motor car?
Question 23: What was the problem with the early cars in Britain?
Question 24: Why did Henry Ford’s “Model T” cars cost less?
Question 25: What do we learn about the Preston bypass?

22.
A) It was equipped with rubber tyres.
B) It was built in the late 19th century.
C) It was purchased by the Royal family.
D) It was designed by an English engineer.

23.
A) They consumed lots of petrol.
B) They took two passengers only.
C) They were difficult to drive.
D) They often broke down.

24.
A) They were produced on the assembly line.
B) They were built with less costly materials.
C) They were modeled after British cars.
D) They were made for ordinary use.

25.
A) It made news all over the world.
B) It was built for the Royal family.
C) It marked a new era in motor travel.
D) It attracted large numbers of motorists.

关注微信公众号”立金云英语听力”，助您提高英语听力水平