1、大学英语四级 16 及答案解析(总分：746.58，做题时间：130 分钟)一、Writing (30 minutes)(总题数：1，分数：30.00)1.For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to the president of your university. You should write at feast 120 words based on the outline given below in Chinese: 1. 学校教学应该注重学生学习方法的培养； 2. 学校应该丰富学生的校园生活。 （分数：
2、30.00）_二、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.00)How to Guess Your Age It seems to me that they are building staircases steeper than they used to. The risers are higher, or there are more of them, or something. Maybe this is because it is so much farther today from the first to the second floor, but Ive
3、 noticed it is getting harder to make two steps at a time any more. Nowadays it is all I can do to make one step at a time. Another thing Ive noticed is the small print theyre using lately. Newspapers are getting farther and farther away when I have them, and I have to squint to make them out. The o
4、ther day I had to back halfway out of a telephone booth in order to read the number on the coin box. It is obviously ridiculous to suggest that a person my age needs glasses, but the only other way I can find out whats going on is to have somebody read aloud to me, and thats not too satisfactory bec
5、ause people speak in such low voices these days that I cant hear them very well. Everything is farther than it used to be. Its twice the distance from my house to the station now, and theyve added a fair-sized hill that I never noticed before. The trains leave sooner too. Ive given up running for th
6、em, because they start faster these days when I try to catch them. You cant depend on timetables any more, and its no us asking the conductor. I ask him a dozen times a trip if the next station is where I get off, and he always says it isnt. How can you trust a conductor like that? Usually I gather
7、up my bundles and put on my hat and coat and stand in the aisle a couple of stops away, just to make sure I dont go past my destination. Sometimes I make doubly sure by getting off at the station ahead. A lot of other things are different lately. Barbers no longer hold up a mirror behind me when the
8、yve finished, so I can see the back of my head, and my wife has been taking care of the tickets lately when we go to the theater. They don t use the same material in clothes any more, either. Ive noticed that all my suits have a tendency to shrink, especially in certain places such as around the wai
9、st or in the seat of the pants, and the laces they put in shoes nowadays are harder to reach. Revolving doors revolve much faster than they used to. I have to let a couple of openings go past me before I jump in, and by the time I get up nerve enough to jump out again Im right back in the street whe
10、re I started. It s the same with golf. Im giving it up because these modern golf balls they sell arc so hard to pick up when I stoop over. Ive had to quite driving, too; the restrooms in filling stations are getting farther and farther apart. Usually I just stay home at night and read the papers, pa
11、rticularly the obituary columns. Its funny how much more interesting the obituary columns have been getting lately. Even the weather is changing. Its colder in winter and the summers are hotter than they used to be. Id go away, if it wasnt so far. Snow is heavier when I try to shovel it, and I have
12、to put on rubbers whenever I go out, because rain today is wetter than the rain we used to get. Draughts are more severe too. It must be the way they build windows now. People are changing too. For one thing, they re younger than they used to be when I was their age. I went back recently to an alumn
13、i reunion at the college I graduated from in 1943-that is, 1933-1 mean, 1923-and I was shocked to see the mere tots theyre admitting as students these days. The average age of the freshman class couldnt have been more than seven. They seem to be more polite than in my time, though; several undergrad
14、uates called me “Sir,“ anti one of them asked me if he could help me across the street. On the other hand, people my own age. are so much older than I am. I realize that my generation is approaching middle age (I define middle age roughly as the period between 21 and 110) but there is no excuse for
15、my classmates tottering into a state of advanced senility. I ran into my old roommate at the bar, and he d changed so much that he didnt recognize me. “Youve put on a little weight, George,“ I said “Its this modern food,“ George said,“ It seems to be more fattening.“ “How about another martini?“ I s
16、aid. “Have you noticed how much weaker the martinis are these days?“ “Everything is different,“ said George. “Even the food you get. Its more fattening.“ “How long since Ive seen you, George?“ I said. “It must be several years.“ “I think the last time was right after the election,“ said George. “Wha
17、t election was that?“ George thought for a moment. “Harding.“ I ordered a couple more martinis. “Have you noticed these martinis are weaker than they used to be? I said. “It isnt like the good old days,“ George said. “Remember when wed go down to the speak, and order some Orange Blossoms, and maybe
18、pick up a couple of flappers? Boy, could they neck? Hot diggety !“ “You used to be quite a cake-eater, George,“ I said. “Do you still do the Black Bottom?“ “I put on too much weight,“ said George. “This food nowadays seems to be more fattening.“ “I know,“ I said, “You mentioned that just a minute ag
19、e.“ “Did I7“ said George. “How about another martini?“ I said. “Have you noticed the martinis arent as strong as they used to be?“ “Yes,“ said George, “You said that twice before.“ “Oh,“ I said. I got to thinking about poor old George while I was shaving this morning, and I stopped for a moment and
20、looked at my own reflection in the mirror. They don t seem to use the same kind of glass in mirrors any more. （分数：71.00）(1).When tile author went back to an alumni reunion, an undergraduate student offered to help him across the street. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(2).The author finds he can no longer make t
21、wo steps at a time when he goes up the stairs because the risers are higher than they used to be. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(3).The authors talk about brandy, they always like to drink at the bar with his old roommate George. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(4).The author was still young because he often ran to catch t
22、he trains. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(5).The authors complaint about the small print in papers and his trouble in reading the number on the coin box in a telephone booth show that he suffers from poor eyesight. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(6).The real reason why the author believes everything is farther than it use
23、d to be is that now it takes him twice as much time to walk from his home to the railway station. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(7).The author and his old room-mate George didnt like the food and the drink of today. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).All of the following are the author s impressions of todays college stud
24、ents except that they pay 1and respect to old people. （分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(9).George are forgot what they 1and always repeated themselves. （分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(10).The authors purpose in writing this essay is probably to write with humor about 1 of growing old. （分数：7.10）填空项 1:_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分
25、数：15.00)A.He ate all the food.B.He cleaned the refrigerator.C.He worked day and night.D.He had a big lunch.A.Hes playing sports.B.Hes watching sports games.C.Hes driving.D.Hes fighting.A.She didnt feel well.B.She went dancing earlier.C.She came down to go dancing.D.She got mad at the woman.A.$5.00B.
26、$5.60C.$4.40D.$6.60A.In a shipping company office.B.In Professor Bensons office.C.In a publishers office.D.In a university store.A.They will have to take a different bus.B.The trip is too dangerous.C.They will have to wait.D.There is a problem with the bus.A.A secretary.B.A novelist.C.A newspaperman
27、.D.A businessman.A.In New York.B.In Boston.C.In Michigan.D.In Washington.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.00)A.The Defence Minister.B.The Energy Minister.C.The Prime Minister.D.The Science Minister.A.To complete the governments energy plans within two decades.B.To discuss the plans with the Opposition.C.To t
28、alk with anti - nuclear and environmentalist groups.D.To build more nuclear power stations.A.Nuclear power stations are not safe.B.Its too expensive to utilize nuclear power.C.The country has already a sufficient supply of electricity.D.Other sources of energy are more readily available.A.The womans
29、 husband.B.The owner of the apartment.C.The apartment manager.D.The tenant who occupies the apartment now.A.One.B.Two.C.Three.D.Four.A.Because she thought the apartment was too small.B.Because it was the first apartment she had seen.C.Because her husband had not seen it.D.Because the rent was too hi
30、gh.A.This evening.B.Tonight.C.Sometime next week.D.Tomorrow.A.sending them to the shop for some milk.B.telling them a dog has died.C.your shoe lace is undoneD.eating something delicious food on the ableA.her father lost a pen.B.her father didnt know where his penny was.C.she told the father that he
31、lost a penny.D.her father wanted to buy something.A.she fooled her father.B.she wanted her father to pick it up.C.her father was looking for the penny.D.all of the above were not true.A.Use of library facilities.B.Library regulations.C.Library personnel.D.Location of the library.A.Book publishers.B.
32、Librarians.C.New university students.D.Faculty members.A.Graduate students.B.Undergraduate students.C.Professors.D.Library employees.A.The art of saying thank you.B.The secret of staying pretty.C.The importance of good manners.D.The difference between elegance and good manners.A.They were nicer and
33、gentler.B.They paid more attention to their appearance.C.They were willing to spend more money on clothes.D.They were more aware of changes in fashion.A.By decorating our homes.B.By being kind and generous.C.By wearing fashionable clothes.D.By putting on a little make-up.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)T
34、he Tomato Growers Association, or TGA, has set out to grow a (36) 1 tomato at an (37) 2 farm near San Diego, California. biotechnology and developments in DNA research, the TGA has determined to grow the “tomato of tomorrow.“ By (38) 3 a repellent in the form of an odor, the tomato plant would be ab
35、le to fight off (39) 4 by insects. It would (40) 5 disease and rot, and would (41) 6 maintain its shape when (42) 7 at the bottom of a (43) 8 of tons of tomatoes. (44) 9. Its heavy, thick leaves would prevent it form becoming sunburned. All tomatoes on a plant would ripen at the same time, to preven
36、t the loss from machine harvest of under-or-over ripened fruit. (45) 10. While development of this plant will prove to be extremely expensive, TGA scientists believe that (46) 11. （分数：10.00）填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_七、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：2，分数：3
37、55.00)Recent research had claimed that an excess of positive ions in the air could have an ill effect on peoples physical or psychological health. What are positive ions? Well, the air is full of ions, electrically charged particles, and generally there is a rough balance. If the balance becomes dis
38、turbed and a larger proportion of positive ions are found. This happens naturally before thunderstorms, earthquakes or when winds such as the Mistral, Foehn, Hamsin or Sharav are blowing in certain countries. Or it can be caused by a build-up of static electricity indoors from carpets or clothing ma
39、de of man-made fibers, or from TV sets, duplicators or computer display screens. When a large number of positive ions are present in the air many people experience unpleasant effects such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, and some particularly sensitive people suffer nausea or even mental disturb
40、ance. Animals are also found to be affected, particularly before earth- quakes; snakes have been observed to come out of hibernation, rats to flee from their burrows, dogs howl and cats jump about unaccountably. This has led the US Geographical Survey to fund a network of volunteers to watch animals
41、 in an effort to foresee such disasters before they hit vulnerable areas such as California. Conversely, when large numbers of negative ions are present, then people have a feeling of well-being. Natural conditions that produce these large amounts are near the sea, close to waterfalls or fountains,
42、or in any place where water is sprayed, or forms a spray. This probably accounts for the beneficial effect of a holiday by the sea, or in the mountains with tumbling streams or waterfalls. To increase the supply of negative ions indoors, some scientists recommend the use of ionisers; small portable
43、machines that generate negative ions. They claim that ionisers not only clean and refresh the air but also improve the health of people sensitive to excess positive ions. Of course, there are the detractors, other scientists, who dismiss such claims and are skeptical about negative/positive in resea
44、rch. Therefore people can only make up their own minds by observing the effects on themselves, or on others, of a negative rich or poor environment. After all, it is debatable whether depending on seismic readings to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than watching the cat. （分数：177.50）(1).What
45、 effect does excessive positive ionization have on some people?（分数：35.50）A.They think they are mad.B.They feel very tired.C.They become violently sick.D.They are too tired to do anything.(2).According to the passage, static electricity can be caused by _.（分数：35.50）A.using home-made electrical goodsB
46、.wearing clothes made of natural materialsC.walking on artificial floor coveringsD.sorting food in a refrigerator(3).By observing the behavior of animals, scientists may be able to _.（分数：35.50）A.prevent disastersB.organize groups of peopleC.predict earthquakesD.control areas of California(4).A high
47、negative ion count is likely to be found _.（分数：35.50）A.near a pond with a water pumpB.close to a slow-flowing riverC.high in some barren mountainsD.by a rotation water sprinkler(5).People should be able to come to a decision about ions in the air if they _.（分数：35.50）A.note their own reactionsB.move
48、to a healthier, areaC.observe domestic animalsD.watch how wealthy people behaveAs the world excitedly greeted Snuppy, the first cloned (克隆) dog, critics celebrated our cleverness. Many feel proud that our age is marked by technological advances. But an article in British newspaper The Observer recently said true innovation (创新) has evaporated from our society. The writer was Peter Watson, author of the book “Ideas-A History from Fi
