1、大学英语四级 235 及答案解析(总分：746.57，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 to write a composition on the topic The Value of Time. You should write at least 120 words and you should base your composition on the outline. 1时间比金钱更可贵； 2应当珍惜每寸光阴； 3要养成节约时间的好习惯。 （分数：30.00）
2、_二、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.00)How Important Is Knowledge? Knowledge Makes the Difference between Poverty and Wealth Forty years ago, Ghana and the Republic of Korea had about the same income per capita. By 1990, Koreas income was six times higher than Ghanas. While part of the difference is
3、 due to more investment and more workers, half of the difference is attributed to Koreas greater success in organizing and using knowledge. Knowledge Makes the Difference between Sickness and Health Knowledge doesnt only mean higher economic growth and higher incomes. It can also mean a better quali
4、ty of life, such as a cleaner environment and better health. In recent decades, infant mortality rates have declined sharply for people in all income groups. Even very poor families suffer fewer infant deaths today than equally poor families suffered ten years ago. Reason: the advance of knowledge h
5、as made possible new drugs and vaccines, better sanitation practices, and more effective public health campaigns. What Kind of Knowledge Our report focuses on two types of knowledge that are especially important to development. First, technical knowledge or simply know-how. Examples are nutrition an
6、d birth control, engineering and accounting. Poor countries and poor people have less know-how than others, and these knowledge gaps make it harder for people to escape poverty. Second, knowledge about attributes or characteristics, such as the purity of milk, the diligence of a worker, the solvency
7、 (偿付能力) of a firm, and the security of a bank. When this information is lacking, markets function badly or fail. We call the difficulties arising from lack of this type of knowledge information problems. Information problems are often worse in developing countries and they especially hurt the poor.
8、Knowledge Gaps and Information Problems in the Green Revolution The Green Revolution illustrates how dealing with both types of problems can improve peoples lives. The first steps in the Green Revolution involved narrowing knowledge gaps research to develop new seed and techniques, and teach the new
9、 techniques to farmers. But the potential of the Green Revolution could not be dug up unless poor farmers obtained loans to buy new seeds and fertilizer. As we will see, credit for the poor is a classic information problem. Lack of credit and other information problems turned out to be as important
10、and difficult as the original agricultural research. One study in India found that for a typical family with a small parcel of land, the loss of potential income over five years from slow adoption and inefficient use of high-yielding varieties was nearly four times its annual income before the intro
11、duction of the new seeds. As these problems were solved, through research, agricultural extension services and later through micro credit, the Green Revolution indeed helped the poor. Incomes of small farmers almost doubled and the incomes of landless laborers the poorest of the poor more than doubl
12、ed. The two types of problem often overlap and interact, as in the case of the Green Revolution. To narrow knowledge gaps both between and within countries it is necessary to know how knowledge can be acquired, how it can be absorbed, and how it can be communicated. Acquiring Knowledge Most new know
13、ledge is being created in richer countries, where spending on research and development is the highest. Fortunately, developing countries dont need to re-invent the light bulb, or the computer, or the vaccine for measles. In many cases, tapping global knowledge will be quickest and easiest way to nar
14、row knowledge gaps. How? Foreign direct investment, trade, and in an era of strengthened intellectual property rights licensing are all important mechanisms for acquiring knowledge from abroad. And countries should not neglect the knowledge in their own backyard, such as traditional knowledge about
15、ecosystems and medicinal plants. China, Brazil, India and Korea are building their own research capacity, to complement the acquisition of knowledge from abrade. Absorbing Knowledge Education is more important than ever before. In the past 20 years, the share of medium and high-technology goods in w
16、orld trade has more than doubled, to half of world trade. Basic education remains crucial, but it is no longer enough. To compete globally, a countrys workforce must include people with advanced technical training and higher education. At the household level, too, education is crucial. It is well kn
17、own that educated women have healthier children and that farmers with more schooling are quicker to adopt new techniques. Despite great changes, too many poor people especially women remain illiterate. In low-income countries, four out of ten women do not know how to read. Communicating Knowledge Fa
18、lling communication costs offer new opportunities to cope with these old problems. Computing power and telephone lines cost only one ten-thousandth of what they cost two decades ago. Yet millions of people remain isolated. In the U.S. there are more than 600 telephone lines for every 1,000 people. B
19、ut in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, there are only 20 telephone lines for every 1,000 people. The problem isnt lack of demand. Worldwide about 28 million households and businesses in developing countries are on waiting lists for a telephone line. Many more would gladly pay if only service were
20、available. Breaking up monopolies and introducing more competition can help to increase the supply of phones. In Ghana the number of phone lines increased by 25 percent in the first year after the market was opened to competition. Chile used an innovative scheme to award subsidies to companies that
21、install pay phones in remote villages. By the end of this year almost everybody in Chile will have access to a phone. Even if knowledge gaps were closed entirely, with everyone in the world having the same access to know-how as well-educated people in rich countries, people in poorer countries would
22、 still face more serious information problems. Knowledge about attributes the quality of a product or the solvency of a firm cannot be stored for long. It must be generated on the spot and constantly refreshed. Many of the institutions needed to collect and spread this information are weak or lackin
23、g in developing countries. Information problems are especially important in three areas: poverty as is discussed above, finance, and environment. Finance The financial crisis in East Asia is clear reminder of the severity of information problems and the need to develop institutions to deal with them
24、. By now the story is familiar. A build-up of short-term debt inevitably exposes a country to risk. But why was the withdrawal of funds so great? Part of the answer lies with inadequate information: depositors, unable to distinguish good banks from bad ones, withdrew their money from all banks; inve
25、stors, unable to distinguish good firms from bankrupt ones, dumped the shares of all companies. The importance of good accounting standards and the disclosure of information has now been revealed in the worst way possible. Part of the solution then lies in standardized balance sheets, income stateme
26、nts, cash flow statements, loan loss provisions, realistic valuation of collateral (抵押品) and so on. Argentina has greatly strengthened its financial sector by adopting a “multiple eyes“ approach that involves as many agents as possible in monitoring bank behavior. Capital adequacy ratios are a stiff
27、 11.5 percent; foreign banks hold 45 percent of banking assets, the central bank provides on-line information about companies balance sheets and income statements, and overall supervision of the banks has been greatly strengthened. Environment Information problems underlie many environmental problem
28、s, because information about environmental concerns is often unavailable. Some governments have discovered that by gathering and disclosing this information, they can make unexpected progress on tough issues. In Indonesia, the government created incentives for firms to reduce pollution by rating fac
29、tories environmental performance, from black for the worst water polluters to gold for the very cleanest. In barely a year, one-third of the firms found to be in violation of environmental lawssome of which had been polluting for years cleaned up enough to earn the blue rating of firms that comply w
30、ith the law. Why? Partly because investors care about the environment. A recent World Bank study of stock markets in Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the Philippines found that bad environmental news about a company depressed the price of its shares by about 15 percent, while good news raised its share
31、prices about 20 percent. （分数：71.00）(1).This passage mainly discusses how knowledge can affect human life.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(2).Korea attributes its improved economy to the use of knowledge and more investment and workers.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(3).The skill to operate a computer is categorized as the s
32、econd type of knowledge.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(4).The Green Revolution has also improved factory workers conditions by narrowing knowledge gaps.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(5).Developing countries had better re-invent some existing products so that they can raise their own research capacity.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(
33、6).Basic education is crucial, so poor countries do not have to develop higher education.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(7).Lack of information can be so severe as to cause a financial crisis.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).Knowledge not only influences peoples wealth but also_.（分数：7.10）_(9).Communicating knowledge is b
34、ecoming easier today because of the_.（分数：7.10）_(10).Many environmental problems are caused by the lack of information about_.（分数：7.10）_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数：15.00)A.She is underpaid.B.She wants a higher salary.C.She expresses here idea directly.D.Her boss permitted to give her a raise.A.Te
35、acher and student.B.Boss and clerk.C.Lawyer and client.D.Two colleagues.A.In a restaurant.B.In a supermarket.C.At an office.D.At home.A.He wants to go to the conference.B.He wants to be welcome.C.He want to see Mr. Jackson.D.He wants to cancel the appointment.A.Secretary and boss.B.Student and teach
36、er.C.Customer and shop-assistant.D.Interviewer and interviewee.A.It isnt small and young.B.It has good workers.C.It has a good future.D.He likes the company.A.The man wasnt a US citizen.B.The business company accepted the man.C.The man could not present sufficient credentials.D.The man was a very im
37、pressive person.A.He has to have the job.B.He likes difficulties.C.He is afraid of the projects.D.He was frightened.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.00)A.Relaxing.B.Watching TV.C.Knitting sacks.D.Collecting buttons.A.She thinks it is very helpful.B.She thinks it is a waste of time.C.She thinks it is very int
38、eresting.D.She thinks the man can learn a lot from it.A.Have a rest.B.Have a good time.C.Have a bath.D.Have an exercise.A.He likes doing things while he rests.B.He likes learning new things.C.He likes working.D.He likes doing nothing while he rests.A.Before finishing schoolB.Between school and unive
39、rsity.C.During her university course.D.After finishing university.A.Projects for people with no money.B.Projects involving sports and languages.C.Social and environmental projects.D.International childrens projects.A.Mainly come from England.B.Travel to many different countries.C.Come from different
40、 countries.D.Need work experience.A.A pupil.B.A graduate.C.A seminar.D.An undergraduate.A.To present their results.B.To show off their results.C.To make themselves brave.D.To become active people.A.To get information.B.To know the related areas.C.To know the latest news.D.To make friends.A.The begin
41、ning of the United States.B.The American Civil War.C.The 19th century.D.Its unclear.A.They appreciated it very much.B.They thought it would lay down a solid foundation for the new republic.C.They all hated it.D.Generally they were not satisfied with it.A.How did both the Constitution and democracy b
42、ecome so workable and sustainable?B.How did both the Constitution and republic become so workable and sustainable?C.How did the system of democracy become so workable and sustainable?D.Not given.A.The worlds largest black bears.B.The worlds largest brown bears.C.Black wolves.D.Monkeys.A.To gain supp
43、ort from the local community.B.To protect it from irresponsible development.C.To make it a better home for wildlife.D.To get funds in developing this area.A.More than 14,000 acres.B.About 14,000 acres.C.More than 4,000 acres.D.About 4,000 acres.A.Enforcing strict laws against wrong behavior.B.Raisin
44、g respect for the land among people.C.Working together with the local government.D.Working together with the local community.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)If you are a young college student, most of your concerns about your health and happiness in life are probably(S1) 1 on the present. Basically, you
45、want to feel good physically, mentally, and(S2) 2 now. You probably dont spend much time worrying about the(S3) 3 future, such as whether you will develop heart disease, or (S4) 4, how you will take care of yourself in your (S5) 5 years, or how long you are going to live. Such thoughts may have (S6)
46、 6 your mind once in a while, however, If you are in your thirties, forties, fifties, or older, such health related thoughts are likely to become (S7) 7important to you. (S8) 8 that will help you feel better physically and mentally. Recently researchers have found that, even in late adulthood, exerc
47、ise, strength training with weights, and better food can help elderly individuals significantly improve their health and add happiness to their life. (S9) 9 giving us the opportunity to avoid some of the health problems that have troubled them. (S10) 10.（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:_七、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：2，分数：355.00)Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists. Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids (流星) that race across the nigh
