1、大学英语四级 273 及答案解析(总分：746.52，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. You should write at least 120 words, and bas a your composition on the outline given below in Chinese: 假设你是即将参加一英语考试的学生，需要几本相关参考书，请写封信给一书店销售部，你的信应包括： 1. 详细说明你想买
2、的那本书的特点； 2. 咨询付款方式； 3. 确定送货时间及方式。 （分数：30.00）_二、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：1，分数：71.00)Hurricane (飓风) Hurricane is a name given to violent storms that originate over the tropical (热带的) or subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or North Pacific Ocean east of the Internat
3、ional Date Line. Such storms over the North Pacific west of the International Date Line are called typhoons (台风); those elsewhere are known as tropical cyclones (热带气旋), which is the general name for all such storms including hurricanes and typhoons. These storms can cause great damage to property an
4、d loss of human life due to high winds, flooding, and large waves crashing against shorelines. The deadliest natural disaster in the United States history was caused by a hurricane that struck the coast of Texas in 1990. The costliest natural disaster in U.S. history stemmed from Hurricane Katrina i
5、n 2005. How hurricanes form Oceans can become warm enough in the summer for hurricanes to develop, and the oceans also retain summer heat through the fall. As a result, the hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, which comprises the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico, runs from Ju
6、ne 1 through November 30. At least 25 out-of-season storms, however, have occurred from 1887 through 2003, and 9 of these strengthened into hurricanes for at least a few hours. Hurricanes weaken and die out when cut off from warm, humid air as they move over cooler water or land but can remain dange
7、rous as they weaken. Hurricanes and other tropical cyclones begin as disorganized clusters of showers and thunderstorms. When one of these clusters becomes organized with its winds making a complete circle around a center, it is called a tropical depression (热带低气压). When a depressions sustained wind
8、s reach 63 km/h or more, it becomes a tropical storm and is given a name. By definition, a tropical storm becomes a hurricane when winds reach 119 km/h or more. For a tropical depression to grow into a hurricane, winds from just above the surface of the ocean to more than 12,000 m in altitude must b
9、e blowing from roughly the same direction and at the same speed. Winds that blow in opposite directions create wind shears-different wind speeds or direction at upper and lower altitudes (海拔)that can prevent a storm from, growing. Characteristics of hurricanes A hurricane consists of bands of thunde
10、rstorms that spiral (盘旋) toward the low-pressure center, or “eye“ of the storm. Winds also spiral in toward the center, speeding up as they approach the eye. Large thunderstorms create an “eye wall“ around the center where winds are the strongest. Winds in the eye itself are nearly calm, and the sky
11、 is often clear. Air pressures in the eye at the surface range from around 982 hectopascals (百帕) in a weak hurricane to lower than 914 hectopascals in the strongest storms. In a large, strong storm, hurricane-force winds may be felt over an area with a diameter of more than 100 km. The diameter of t
12、he area affected by gale winds and torrential rain can extend another 260 km or more outward from the eye of the storm. The diameter of the eye may be less than 16 km in a strong hurricane to more than 48 km in a weak storm. The smaller the diameter of the eye, the stronger the hurricane winds will
13、be. A hurricanes strength is rated from Category 1, which has winds of at least 119 km/h, to Category 5, which has winds of .more than 249 km/h. These categories, known as the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, were developed in the 1970s. In the tropics, hurricanes move generally east to west, steered
14、 by global-scale winds. Hurricane, typhoons, and cyclones usually “recurve“ in the direction of either the South Pole in the Southern Hemisphere or the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere. Eventually the storms move toward the east in the middle latitudes, but not all storms recurve. Hurricanes tr
15、avel at varying rates. In the lower latitudes the rate usually ranges from 8 to 32 km/h, and in the higher latitudes it may increase to as much as 80 km/h. In addition to generating large weaves that travel out in all directions, hurricane winds pile up water. This piling up of water is known as a s
16、torm surge, and it can raise the sea level more than 6 m when the storm hits land. The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history was the 1990 Galveston Texas hurricane, which killed an estimated 8,000 people. The storm surge accounted for most of the deaths. The costliest natural disaster in U.S. h
17、istory was caused by the storm surge, created by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hurricanes storm surge burst levees protecting New Orleans, Louisiana, flooding the city and forcing a complete evacuation. The worst tropical storm disaster since the 20th century began was a 1970 cyclone that struck Ea
18、st Pakistan when a storm surge killed an estimated 300,000 people. Since the last third of the 20th century, floods and landslides from heavy rain were the leading cause of hurricane and tropical storm deaths. In October 1998 Hurricane Mitchs torrential rain caused floods and landslides that killed
19、more than 9,000 people with another 9,000 missing and presumed dead in Central America, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Although the hurricane death toll steadily declined in the United States during the 20th century and at the start of the 21st century, the costs of damage soared a
20、s coastal populations grew and the value of property exceeded population, growth. Before Hurricane Katrina, the costliest U.S. natural disaster was Hurricane Andrew, which hit the Miami, Florida, metropolitan area in 1992, causing $26. 5 billion in damages, including both insured and uninsured losse
21、s. Some estimates of Hurricane Katrinas damages ran as high as $125 billion. In addition, federal relief efforts were expected to cost in the hundreds of billions. Hurricanes and global warming In recent years concerns have arisen that a general warming of the Earths climate could increase the numbe
22、rs or strength of hurricanes and tropical cyclones. In a January 2001 report the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said it had found no evidence that peak wind speeds or amounts of precipitation (降水量) in tropical cyclones had increased in the last half of the 20th century. Lon
23、g-term records do not provide enough information to conclude whether the global total of tropical cyclones increased during the 20th century. But detailed records of Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes show that the numbers of storms increase and decrease in cycles. Many hurricane res
24、earchers think the cycles are related to changes in Atlantic Ocean temperatures that last decades. From the late 19th century through the 1980s about one-third of the major hurricanes that formed in the Atlantic hit the United States, which means around ten such hurricanes could have been expected t
25、o hit from 1995 through 2003. Yet for reasons atmospheric scientists do not understand, only three such hurricanes hit the United States from 1995 through 2003. Researchers who study hurricanes and climate say that the computer models used to predict global climate changes do not look at weather in
26、the detail needed to forecast whether a warmer world would increase the number or strength of hurricanes. On the other hand, scientists have no reason to expect fewer or weaker hurricanes to form than has occurred in the past. They also have no reason to think that many storms will miss the United S
27、tates as they did in the 1990s and early 2000s. This means that no matter how global climate change affects hurricanes, increased population along the coasts places more people and property in harms way. （分数：71.00）(1).There are generally more than half of the out-of-season storms which can develop i
28、nto hurricanes.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(2).The winds are the strongest in the eye of a hurricane.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(3).Hurricanes are mainly formed in Gulf of Mexico.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(4).Some hurricanes, when formed will move in the same direction.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(5).The deadliest hurricane in U.S.
29、 history happened in Texas.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(6).Hurricane Andrew was the second costliest natural disaster in the United States.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(7).Despite the decline of the death toll in a hurricane, the costs of the damage are increasing greatly in the 20th century.（分数：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).The
30、 water piled up by the hurricane is called 1.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(9).It is 1that cause most of the deaths in a hurricane or tropical storm.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(10).From 1995 to 2003, the actual number of hurricanes that hit the United States is 1.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数：15.00)A.At a
31、theatre.B.At a booking office.C.At a railway station.D.At a restaurant.A.The man is inviting the woman to dinner.B.The woman is too busy to join the man for dinner.C.The woman is a friend of the Stevensons.D.The man is going to visit the Stevensons.A.The professors presentation was not convincing en
32、ough.B.The professors lecture notes were too complicated.C.The professor spoke with a strong accent,D.The professor spoke too fastA.The furnished apartment was inexpensive.B.The apartment was provided with some old furniture.C.The furniture in the market was on sale every Sunday.D.The furniture he b
33、ought was very cheap.A.The man is thinking about taking a new job.B.The man likes a job that enables him to travel.C.The man is sure that he will gain more by taking the job.D.The man doesnt want to stay home and take care of their child.A.Take the GRE test again in 8 weeks.B.Call to check his score
34、s.C.Be patient and wait.D.Inquire when the test scores are released.A.She read it selectively.B.She went over it chapter by chapter.C.She read it slowly.D.She finished it at a stretch.A.He was kept in hospital for a long time.B.He was slightly injured in a traffic accident.C.He was seriously wounded
35、 in a mine explosion.D.He was fined for speeding.A.Wait for a taxi.B.Buy some food.C.Go on a trip.D.Book train tickets.A.Its not as hard as expected.B.Its too tough for some students.C.Its much more difficult than people think.D.Its believed to be the hardest optional course.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.
36、00)A.This evening.B.Tomorrow morning.C.Tomorrow afternoon.D.Tomorrow evening.A.Because its the holiday season.B.Because the tickets are sold at a discount.C.Because only one or two flights are available each day.D.Because the other flights have been cancelled.A.Three.B.Four.C.Five.D.Six.A.The womans
37、 mother loves to cook, so she always cooks big, homemade meals.B.The mans family dine out a lot, because there are too many people to cook dinner for.C.The man has a brother who does translation work.D.The woman does not go home very often.A.At a conference hall.B.At an art gallery.C.At an airport.D
38、.At a hotel.A.To attend a conference.B.To see the planetarium.C.To change planes.D.To go sightseeing.A.She recently went there.B.Its not a very good one.C.Theres one in her home town.D.It will be closed when shes free.A.On foot and by boat.B.By car and on foot.C.By air and by car.D.By air and by bus
39、.A.Vacations.B.Wages.C.Overcrowded classrooms.D.Paid sick leaves.A.They want the teachers to resign.B.They want the teachers to return to work.C.They are very sympathetic toward the strike.D.They are refusing to comment on the situation.A.Parent Board.B.District Court.C.Teachers Union.D.School Commi
40、ttee.A.He was wounded in the Spanish civil war.B.He was interested in the study of wild animals.C.He started the organization Heifer International.D.He sold his cows to many countries in the world.A.To help starving families to become self-supporting.B.To make plans for the development of poor commu
41、nities.C.To teach people how to use new skills to raise animals.D.To distribute food to the poor around the world.A.They should help other families the way they have been helped.B.They should offer all baby animals to their poor neighbors.C.They should submit a report of their needs and goals.D.They
42、 should provide food for the local communities.A.It has improved animal breeding skills all over the world.B.It has helped relieve hunger in some developing countries.C.It has promoted international exchange of farming technology.D.It has bridged the gap between the rich and the poor in America.A.Ma
43、gazines.B.Newspapers.C.Television.D.Internet.A.17 minutes.B.11 minutes.C.48 minutes.D.38 minutes.A.The holders of brokerage accounts spend more time on newspapers than other people.B.The Internet becomes a key part of media consumption by the brokerage account holders.C.People between the age of 25
44、and 54 spend more time on TV than those in other ages.D.The holders of brokerage accounts spend more time on the Internet than college students.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)One night in April 1912, a huge new (36) 1liner, the Titanic, was (37) 2the Atlantic. She was just about the most (38) 3ship that
45、 had ever been built. She was going very fast, which was (39) 4because there were icebergs around and it was very dark that night. The passengers were all having a good time when the ship suddenly ( 40 ) 5one of the icebergs. The ship began to (41) 6and the passengers tried to (42) 7, but there were
46、 not enough lifeboats since nobody thought they would ever be necessary. Eight white rockets were (43) 8into the air in order to get help. Another ship, the Californian, was passing nearby. An officer and another sailor on it saw the rockets. (44) 9 and were just firing the rockets in fun. Anyway th
47、ey did wake the captain. But the captain was too sleepy to understand and the Californian just went on sailing away, in another direction. When the Titanic finally went down, (45) 10. They were trying to keep the passengers calm. Two thirds of the passengers were drowned. (46) 11. （分数：10.00）填空项 1:_填
48、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)The idea of a fish being able to generate electricity strong enough to light lamp bulbs-or even to run a small electric motor-is almost unbelievable, but several kinds of fish are able to do this. Even more strangely, this curious power has been acquired in different ways by fish belonging to very different families. Perhaps the best known are the electric rays, or torpedoes(电鳐), of which several kinds live in warm sea
