1、大学英语四级 281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.A recent investigation shows that about 80 percent of pupils have private tutors. In this part, you are to write a composition of 120 words about The Advantages and Disadvantages of Private Tutoring.（分数：30.00）_二、Reading Co
2、mprehensio(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 study reported here was conducted in the Pri
3、nce 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 for study was that there was no reward or rec
4、ognition 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 leave is seen by many workers as a right, like a
5、nnual 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, that administration was not sympathetic to t
6、he 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 and Gnion (1989) examined the reasons why nurs
7、es 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 the level of absenteeism amongst the 250 reg
8、istered 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 system it was not possible to use hospital fund
9、s 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 win the prize. Strategy 2: Flexible fair roster
10、ing 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 excessive sick leave (greater than ten days per year
11、 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 necessary, followed up by action. Results Absen
12、ce 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 absence rates on a year-to-year basis, the overall
13、 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 demonstrated. Discussion The non-financial incentiv
14、e 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. For example, in wards with staff members who
15、 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 of the study, staff were given a larger degree
16、 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 having on the organization and their colleagues
17、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 single strategy or combination of strategies
18、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 facilitated improved cooperation and communication
19、 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 Hospital has been trying to reduce absenteeism
20、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 that management understood the effects that shif
21、t 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 William Hospital found similar results to the tw
22、o 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：7.10）A.YB.NC.NG(8).In the first strategy, ward
23、s 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. （分数：7.10）填空项 1:_三、Listening Comprehens(总题数：1，分数
24、：15.00)A.Steves directions are not clear.B.It will be impossible for them to go camping.C.Shes been to the campground many times.D.Steve has no idea how to get to the campground.A.Hes never played professional basketball.B.Hes never seen a professional basketball game in person.C.He seldom watches t
25、elevision.D.He plans to attend a professional basketball game soon.A.When she will answer the questions.B.Where she drove.C.What kind of car she has.D.Why she asked so many questions.A.He should have left after 2 hours.B.His roommate should have seen the doctor too.C.Hes exaggerating the length of t
26、he wait.D.His roommate cant always be believed.A.Read an article on political science.B.Read more than one article.C.Present a different theory to the class.D.Choose a better article to read.A.Hes better.B.Hes feeling worse.C.Hes sick in bed.D.He has recovered.A.He will return from Paris in two week
27、s.B.He is studying French in Paris.C.He is having a vacation in Paris.D.He is planning to go back to Paris in a year.A.The man went to Australia during Christmas.B.The man visited Australia during the summer vacation.C.They didnt have a good time because of the different weather.D.He remained home w
28、hile his parents went to see his uncle.四、Section B(总题数：2，分数：10.00)A.To make an apology.B.To place an order.C.To ask about delivery.D.To cancel an appointment.A.Trucks.B.Printers.C.Phones.D.Cameras.A.For the late payment.B.For the damaged products.C.For the lost goods.D.For the delayed delivery.A.A w
29、eek ago.B.Yesterday.C.Tomorrow morning.D.10 or 11 days later.A.In spring.B.In summer.C.In autumn.D.In winter.A.Drive them out.B.Request them not to speak their language.C.Request them not to speak so loudly.D.Request them to sleep earlier.A.The food was delicious.B.There were all kinds of food in th
30、e restaurant.C.The waiters were very helpful.D.The service is far from satisfactory.A.He took them to watch a basketball game.B.He trained them to play European football.C.He let them compete in getting balls out of a basket.D.He taught them to play an exciting new game.A.The players found the baske
31、t too high to reach.B.The players had trouble getting the ball out of the basket.C.The players had difficulty understanding the complex rules.D.The players soon found the game boring.A.By removing the bottom of the basket.B.By lowering the position of the basket.C.By simplifying the complex rules.D.
32、By altering the size of the basket.A.Because the bird couldnt repeat his masters name.B.Because the bird screamed all day long.C.Because the bird uttered the wrong word.D.Because the bird failed to say the name of the town.A.The cruel master.B.The man in the kitchen.C.The pet bird.D.The fourth chick
33、en.A.The bird had finally understood his threat.B.The bird managed to escape from the chicken house.C.The bird had learned to scream back at him.D.The bird was living peacefully with the chickens.A.Because its near their home.B.Because the rates are lower out of season.C.Because they can swim there.
34、D.Because the weather is good there.A.By car.B.By train.C.By plane.D.By ship.A.They had breakfast outdoors near the pool every day.B.They went sightseeing every morning.C.They went swimming or water-skiing in the afternoon.D.They dance in the evening.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Coming in all shapes a
35、nd sizes, Christmas trees serve as one of the most potent symbols of Christmas, and for many people their decorations and lights (36) 1the “magic“ of Christmas. The tradition of using an evergreen tree as a symbol of Christmas (37) 2back before recorded history. The Druids in ancient England and Gau
36、l and Romans in Europe both used evergreen (38) 3 to decorate their homes and public building to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Over the years, these traditions were (39) 4 by Christians, who (40) 5 them as part of their Christmas holiday celebration. Trees used (41) 6to celebrate Christmas are ment
37、ioned in the early 1600s in Germany and (42) 7countries. The families would set up these trees in a (43 ) 8location of their home and decorate them with colored paper, small toys, food, and sometimes candles. Gifts were placed beneath the tree. (44) 9. Through the years many different things were us
38、ed to decorate Christmas trees. As the world moved in the 1900s, many trees were decorated with strings of popcorn, home-made cards and pictures, cotton to look like snow, candy in all shapes and sizes, and occasionally, fancy store-made glass balls and hand-blown glass figurines. (45) 10. Tradition
39、ally people went by themselves into the forest to find their tree, cut it down, and bring it back home. (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：355.00)Millions of U. S. college students will have to shoulder more
40、 of the cost of their education under federal rules imposed late last month through a bureaucratic adjustment requiring neither congressional approval nor public comment of any kind. The changes, only a slight alteration in the formula governing financial aid, are expected to diminish the government
41、s contribution to higher education by hundreds of millions of dollars, starting in the autumn of 2004. But they will also have a ripple effect across almost every level of financial aid, shrinking the pool of students who qualify for federal awards, tightening access to billions of dollars in state
42、and institutional grants, and heightening the reliance on loans to pay for college. How much more money this may require of students and their parents will vary widely, changing with each familys set of circumstances. Some families may be expected to pay an extra $100 or less each year, while others
43、 may owe well over $ 1,000 more. While many college administrators characterized the change as a backdoor way to cut education spending, without public discussion, the Department of Education said it was simply executing its responsibilities under federal law. Whether furnished by colleges, states o
44、r the federal government, the vast majority of the nations $ 90 billion in financial aid is dictated by a single, intricate equation known as the federal need analysis, Its purpose is to decipher how much of a familys income is truly discretionary, and therefore fair game for covering college expens
45、es. Much like the federal income tax, the formula allows families to deduct some of what they pay in state and local taxes. But, this year, the department significantly reduced that amount, in some cases cutting it in half. On paper, at least, that leaves families with more money left over to pay fo
46、r college, even though state and local taxes have gone up over the last year, not down. In the 20042005 academic year, when the changes first take effect, parents who earn $50,000 a year may be expected to contribute $700 or so beyond what they are already paying, according to an independent analysi
47、s conducted by a consulting firm that helps universities set enrollment and aid. Those earning about $ 25,000 may owe only an extra $165 or less, while families earning $ 80,000 could be expected to pay an additional $1,100 or more. （分数：177.50）(1).The word “shoulder“ (Line 1, Para. 1) most likely me
48、ans“ _ “.（分数：35.50）A.bearB.liftC.bareD.accept(2).The rule changes are likely to.（分数：35.50）A.provide $ 90 billion in financial aidB.lower the amount of financial aid provided by the governmentC.cost each family an average of $1,000 per yearD.have a ripple effect across federal income taxes(3).According to the article, some have criticized the changes because they.（分数：35.50）A.ignore local and state taxesB.were not discussed in publicC.are not in accordance with federal lawD.leave many families unable to pay for co
