1、大学英语四级 184 及答案解析(总分：746.56，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 composition on the topic What Has SARS Brought to US. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below: 1悲观者认为 SARS 是人类的灾难。 2乐观者认为人类终将制服一切，SARS 也不例
2、外。 3SARS 究竟给我们带来什么警醒。 （分数：30.00）_二、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.00)ABSENTEEISM IN NURSING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY Absence from work is a costly and disruptive problem for any organization. The cost of absenteeism in Australia has been put at 1.8 million hours per day or $1400 million annually. The
3、 study reported here was conducted in the Prince William Hospital in Brisbane. Australia, where, prior to this time few active steps had been taken to measure, understand or manage the occurrence of absenteeism. Nursing Absenteeism A prevalent(普遍的) attitude amongst many nurses in the group selected
4、for study was that there was no reward or recognition for not utilizing the paid sick leave entitlement allowed them in their employment conditions. Therefore. they believed they may as well take the days offsick or otherwise. Similar attitudes have been noted by James(1989), who noted that sick lea
5、ve is seen by many workers as a right, like annual holiday leave. Miller and Norton(1986), in their survey of 865 nursing personnel, found that 73 percent felt they should be rewarded for not taking sick leave, because some employees always used their sick leave. Further. 67 per cent of nurses felt,
6、 that administration was not sympathetic to the problems shift work causes to employees personal and social lives. Only 53 per cent of the respondents felt that every effort was made to schedule staff fairly. In another longitudinal study of nurses working in two Canadian hospitals, Hackett. Bycio a
7、nd Gnion (1989) examined the reasons why nurses took absence from work. The frequent reason stated for absence was minor illness to self. Other causes, in decreasing order of frequency, were illness in family, family social function, work to do at home and bereavement. Method In an attempt to reduce
8、 the level of absenteeism amongst the 250 registered and enrolled nurses in the present study, the Prince William management introduced three different, yet potentially complementary, strategies over 18 months. Strategy 1: Non-financial (material) incentives Within the established wage and salary sy
9、stem it was not possible to use hospital funds to support this strategy. However, it was possible to secure incentives(刺激) from local businesses; including free passes to entertainment parks, theatres, restaurants, etc. At the end of each roster period, the ward with the lowest absence rate would wi
10、n the prize. Strategy 2: Flexible fair rostering Where possible, staff were given the opportunity to determine their working schedule within the limits of clinical needs. Strategy 3: Individual absenteeism and counseling Each month, managers would analyze the pattern of absence of staff with excessi
11、ve sick leave (greater than ten days per year for full-time employees). Characteristic patterns of potential voluntary absenteeism such as absence before and after days off, excessive weekend and night duty absence and multiple single days off were communicated to all ward(病房) nurses and then, as ne
12、cessary, followed up by action. Results Absence rates for the six months prior to the incentive scheme ranged from 3.69 per cent to 4. 32 per cent. In the following six months they ranged between 2.87 per cent and 3.96 per cent. This represents a 20 per cent improvement. However, analyzing the absen
13、ce rates on a year-to-year basis, the overall absence rate was 3.60 per cent in the first year and 3.43 per cent in the following year. This represents a 5 per cent decrease from the first to the second year of the study. A significant decrease in absence over the two-year period could not be demons
14、trated. Discussion The non-financial incentive scheme did appear to assist in controlling absenteeism in the short term. As the scheme progressed it became harder to secure prizes and this contributed to the programs losing momentum and finally ceasing. There were mixed results across wards as well.
15、 For example, in wards with staff members who had long-term genuine illness, there was little chance of winning, and to some extent the staff on those wards were disempowered. Our experience would suggest that the long-term effects of incentive awards on absenteeism are questionable. Over the time o
16、f the study, staff were given a larger degree of control in their rosters. This led to significant improvements in communication between managers and staff. A similar effect was found from the implementation of the third strategy. Many of the nurses had not realized the impact their behavior was hav
17、ing on the organization and their colleagues but there were also staff members who felt that talking to them about their absenteeism was picking on them and this usually had a negative effect on management-employee relationships. Conclusion Although there has been some decrease in absence rates, no
18、single strategy or combination of strategies has had a significant impact on absenteeism per se (本身). Notwithstanding the disappointing results, it is our contention(论点) that the strategies were not in vain. A shared owner ship of absenteeism and a collaborative approach to problem solving has facil
19、itated improved cooperation and communication between management and staff. It is our belief that this improvement alone, while not tangibly measurable, has increased the ability of management to manage the effects of absenteeism more effectively since this study. （分数：71.00）(1).The Prince William Ho
20、spital has been trying to reduce absenteeism amongst nurses for many years. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(2).Nurses in the Prince William Hospital study believed that there were benefits in taking as little sick leave as possible. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(3).Just over half the nurses in the 1986 study believed tha
21、t management understood the effects that shift work had on them. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(4).The Canadian study found that illness in the family was a greater cause of absenteeism than work to do at home. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(5).In relation to management attitude to absenteeism the study at the Prince Wil
22、liam Hospital found similar results to the two 1989 studies. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(6).The study at the Prince William Hospital aimed to find out the causes of absenteeism amongst 260 nurses. （分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(7).The study at the Prince William Hospital involved changes in management practices. （分数：7
23、.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).In the first strategy, wards with the lowest absenteeism in different period would win prizes donated by 1. （分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(9).In the second strategy, staff were given more control over their 1. （分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(10).Before Strategy 1 was applied, the absence rate varied from 1. （分
24、数：7.10）填空项 1:_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数：15.00)A.His baby is sick.B.He was next door the whole night.C.He didnt sleep.D.His baby cried all night.A.June 15th.B.June 20th.C.June 5th.D.June 10th.A.Buying books.B.Selling books.C.Reading books.D.Borrowing books.A.Sweater.B.Bored.C.Tired.D.Terrible.A
25、.He didnt go to Chicago.B.He had a good time in Chicago.C.He spent his vacation here.D.He didnt enjoy his trip.A.The news.B.TV programs.C.A piece of advertisement.D.Some cartoons.A.Bill repairs the tire himself.B.Bill paid to have his motorcycle fixed.C.Bill was silly to have wasted his money.D.Bill
26、 now works in a garage.A.He spends too much money.B.He bought an expensive watch.C.He really does like television.D.He should watch more television.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.00)A.To see how certain chemicals produce different flavors.B.To determine if a person can distinguish salty and sweet solutions
27、.C.To map the location of taste buds.D.To count the number of taste buds.A.Just five minutes.B.Slightly less than an hour.C.Between one and two hours.D.A little more than two hours.A.That taste buds arent located only on the tongue.B.That taste buds arent all the same size.C.That solutions must be m
28、easured and mixed carefully.D.That he shouldnt swallow the solutions.A.With an apology.B.With an example.C.With a compliment.D.With an invitation.A.At a fitness centre.B.At a clinic.C.At a school.D.At a club.A.He came too early for the appointment.B.He missed the bus here.C.He went to a wrong addres
29、s.D.He felt very bad when he got up.A.A weak heart.B.A skin disease.C.Bronchitis.D.Kidney trouble.A.To stay in bed for two or three days.B.To have a course of antibiotics.C.To take some cough mixture.D.To exercise more regularly.A.America.B.Britain.C.Australia.D.Hong Kong.A.A cup of tea.B.A cup of c
30、offee.C.A glass of water.D.A cup of Chinese liquor.ABecause she was thirsty.B.Because she liked drinking.C.Because she knew little about Chinese culture.D.Because she wanted to drink to her satisfaction.A.Two cups.B.One cup.C.Half a cup.D.About twelve cups.A.In the early 17th century.B.In the early
31、18th century.C.In the late 17th century.D.In the late 18th century.A.It included many everyday words.B.It presented good sentences to show the uses of each word.C.It defined easy words as well as hard ones.D.It was nothing more than a list of difficult words.A.It was a twenty-volume work.B.It was a
32、complete list of difficult words.C.It showed word histories.D.It gave good meanings to each word.A.A special way to put a message into code so that common people cannot read it.B.A special way of paying attention to an event that has a major impact on recalling it later.C.A special way to expand our
33、 memory capacity.D.A special way to slow down the process of losing our memory.A.Possibly because they have a wider range of interests.B.Possibly because they are more dependent on the environment.C.Possibly because they can focus their attention better.D.Possibly because they pay more attention on
34、their environment.A.Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness.B.Generally children have better memories than adults.C.Memory just relies on age.D.Visual cues cant help prevent absent-mindedness.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Sand covers not just sea-shores, but also ocean beds, deserts and mou
35、ntains. It is one of the most common substances on earth. And it is a (36) 1element in man-made materials too (37) 2is largely sand, while glass is made by melting sand and some other elements. What exactly is sand? In fact, according to the most generally (38) 3scheme of measurement, devised by the
36、 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, grains qualify as sand if their (39) 4is greater than 0.06 of a millimeter and less than 0.6 of a millimeter. Depending on its age and (40) 5, particular sand can consist of tiny pebbles or porous granules. Its grains may have the shape of (41) 6or spirals, th
37、eir edges jagged or smooth. They have come from the (42) 7of rocks, or from the skeletons of marine organisms, which accumulate on the (43) 8of the oceans, or even from volcanic eruptions. Usually, the older the granule, (44) 9. The fine, white beaches of northern Scotland, for instance, are recycle
38、d from sandstone several hundred million years old. (45) 10. Sand is an irreplaceable industrial factor, which has many uses; but it has one vital function you might never even notice. Sand cushions our land from the seas impact, (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
39、项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_七、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：2，分数：355.00)A Census Bureau (人口调查局) survey released Thursday shows a college graduate can expect to earn $ 2. 1 million working full-time between 25 and 64, which demographers (人口学家) call a typical work-life period. A master s degree-holder is pro
40、jected to earn 2.5 million, while someone with a professional degree, such as a doctor or lawyer, could make even more-$ 4.4 million. In contrast, a high school graduate can expect to make $ 1.2 million during the working years, according to the bureau report that tracked the influence of education
41、on lifetime earnings. Not all students look at college as an investment, “but I am sure parents do,“ said Jacque line King, policy analyst with the American Education Council, a higher education advocacy (拥护) group. “The college is to convince those high school students on the margins that it is rea
42、lly worth their time to go to college.“ Kevin Malecek, a graduate student in American politics at American University in Washington said most of his classmates find higher education to be worth the time and financial promise. “They go to every single class, and they are trying to get the most out of
43、 their own dollar,“ he said. The survey was conducted between March 1998 and March 2000. All estimates are based on 1999 salaries and probably will increase as salaries rise over time, Census Bureau analyst Jennifer Day said. The estimates do not account for inflation (物价上涨) or for differences in th
44、e earning potential of various fields of study. For example, people with computer science degrees tend to earn more than those with social work degrees. （分数：177.50）(1).The phrase “students on the margins“ in Line 3 of Paragraph 2 most probably refers to _.（分数：35.50）A.students Who actually regard hig
45、her education as an investmentB.students who cant afford the money to go to college or universityC.students who cant go to college because they have failed in the college entrance examinationD.students who don t know whether higher education can have great influence on their earnings(2).Most of Male
46、ceks classmates are trying to _.（分数：35.50）A.spend as much money as possible as college studentsB.get the most rewards from the money they have paidC.understand the influence of higher education on their lifetime earningsD.make as much money as possible before they graduate from the college(3).We can
47、 learn from the passage that _.（分数：35.50）A.higher-degree-holders are surely going to make more moneyB.college graduates in different majors usually get paid differentlyC.a masters degree-holder in social work will surely make more money than a bachelor s degree-holder in computer scienceD.if one wan
48、ts to earn $ 4.4 million, he or she has to try to get a professional degree such as a doctor or lawyer(4).The best title for this passage would be _.（分数：35.50）A.The Effect of Education on Lifetime EarningsB.How Much Can We Make During Our LifetimeC.The Way to Earn More Money through EducationD.How to Make an Investment in Higher Education(5).The result of the Census Bureaus survey seems to be _.（分数：35.50）A.roughB.accurateC.incorrectD.perfectHumanity uses a little less than half the water
