2013年12月大学英语四级(CET4)考试样卷改革后新题型(5)

Q: What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?

8. M: I really can’t stand the way David controls the conversation all the time. If he’s going to be at your Christmas party, I just won’t come.

W: I’m sorry you feel that way, but my mother insists that he come. Q: What does the woman imply? Conversation One

M: Hello, Professor Johnson.

W: Hello, Tony. So what shall we work on today?

M: Well, the problem is that this writing assignment isn’t coming out right. What I thought I was writing on was to talk about what a particular sport means to me—one I participate in.

W: What sport did you choose?

M: I decided to write about cross-country skiing. W: What are you going to say about skiing?

M: That’s the problem. I thought I would write about how peaceful it is to be out in the country.

W: So why is that a problem?

M: As I start describing how quiet it is to be out in the woods, I keep mentioning how much effort it takes to keep going. Cross-country skiing isn’t as easy as some people think. It takes a lot of energy. But that’s not part of my paper, so I guess I should leave it out. But now I don’t know how to explain that feeling of peacefulness without explaining how hard you have to work for it. It all fits together. It’s not like just sitting down somewhere and watching the clouds roll by. That’s different.

W: Then you’ll have to include that in your point. The peacefulness of cross-country skiing is the kind you earn by effort. Why leave that out? Part of your point you knew beforehand, but part you discovered as you wrote. That’s common, right? M: Yeah, I guess so …

Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 9. What is the topic of the man’s writing assignment?

10. What problem does the man have while working on his paper? 11. What does the woman say is common in writing papers? Conversation Two

W: Good evening, and welcome to this week’s ―Business World,‖ the program for and about businesspeople. Tonight we have Mr. Steven Kane who has just taken over an established bicycle shop. Tell us, Mr. Kane, what made you want to run your own store?

M: Well, I’ve always loved racing bikes and fixing them. When I was working full-time as a salesman for a big company, I seldom had time to enjoy my hobby. I knew then that as soon as I had enough money to get my own business going, I’d do

it. I had my heart set on it, and I didn’t let anything stand in my way. When I went

down to the bank and got a business loan, I knew I’d love being my own boss. Now my time is my own. I open the store when I want and leave when I want. W: You mean you don’t keep regular hours?

M: Well, the sign on my store says the hours are 10:00 to 6:00, but if business is slower than usual, I can just lock up and take off early. W: Have you hired any employees to work with you yet?

M: Yeah, a couple of friends of mine who love biking as much as I do. They help me out a few days a week. It’s great because … we play cards or just sit around and talk when there’re no customers.

W: Thank you, Mr. Kane. We wish you success in your new business. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12. What is the woman doing?

13. What did Mr. Kane do before he took over the bicycle shop? 14. Why did the man take over a bicycle shop?

15. What do we learn about the people working in the shop?

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage,

you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

I first met Joe Gans when we were both nine years old, which is probably the only reason he’s one of my best friends. If I had first met Joe as a freshman in high school, we wouldn’t even have had the chance to get to know each other. Joe is a day student, but I am a boarding student. We haven’t been in the same classes, sports, or extracurricular activities.

Nonetheless, I spend nearly every weekend at his house and we talk on the phone every night. This is not to say that we would not have been compatible if we had first met in our freshman year. Rather, we would not have been likely to spend enough time getting to know each other due to the lack of immediately visible mutual interests. In fact, to be honest, I struggle even now to think of things we have in common. But maybe that’s what makes us enjoy each other’s company so much.

When I look at my friendship with Joe, I wonder how many people I’ve known whom I never disliked, but simply didn’t take the time to get to know. Thanks to Joe, I have realized how little basis there is for the social divisions that exist in every community. Since this realization, I have begun to make an even more determined effort to find friends in unexpected people and places.

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.