Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to express your thanks to your parents or any other family member upon making a memorable achievement. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report 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.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1. A) The International Labour Organization's key objective. B) The basic social protection for the most vulnerable. C) Rising unemployment worldwide. D) Global economic recovery.
2. A) Many countries have not taken measures to create enough jobs. B) Few countries know how to address the current economic crisis. C) Few countries have realised the seriousness of the current crisis. D) Many countries need support to improve their people's livelihood. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. 3. A) Serve standardised food nationwide. B) Put calorie information on the menu. 4. A) They will be fined. B) They will be closed.
C) Increase protein content in the food. D) Offer convenient food to customers. C) They will get a warning. D) They will lose customers.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. 5. A) Inability to implement their business plans. B) Inability to keep turning out novel products. C) Lack of a successful business model of their own. D) Failure to integrate innovation into their business. 6. A) It is the secret to business success. B) It is the creation of something new. 7. A) Its hardworking employees. B) Its flexible promotion strategy.
C) It is a magic tool to bring big rewards. D) It is an essential part of business culture. C) Its innovation culture.
D) Its willingness to make investments.
Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 8. A) He's got addicted to technology. B) He is not very good at socializing. 9. A) Talk big. B) Talk at length.
10. A) He thought it was cool. B) He needed the practice. 11. A) It poses a challenge to seniors. B) It saves both time and money.
C) He is crazy about text-messaging. D) He does not talk long on the phone. C) Gossip a lot. D) Forget herself.
C) He wanted to stay connected with them. D) He had an urgent message to send. C) It is childish and unprofessional. D) It is cool and convenient.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12. A) He wants to change his job assignment. B) He is unhappy with his department manager. C) He thinks he deserves extra pay for overtime. D) He is often singled out for criticism by his boss.
13. A) His workload was much too heavy. C) His colleagues often refused to cooperate. B) His immediate boss did not trust him. D) His salary was too low for his responsibility. 14. A) He never knows how to refuse. B) He is always ready to help others. 15. A) Put all his complaints in writing. B) Wait and see what happens next.
Section C
Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four 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.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. A) The importance of sleep to a healthy life. B) Reasons for Americans' decline in sleep. C) Some tips to improve the quality of sleep.
C) His boss has a lot of trust in him. D) His boss has no sense of fairness. C) Learn to say no when necessary. D) Talk to his boss in person first.
D) Diseases associated with lack of sleep. 17. A) They are more health-conscious. B) They are changing their living habits. 18. A) Their weight will go down. B) Their mind function will deteriorate.
C) They get less and less sleep.
D) They know the dangers of lack of sleep. C) Their work efficiency will decrease. D) Their blood pressure will rise.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. A) How much you can afford to pay. B) What course you are going to choose. C) Which university you are going to apply to. D) When you are going to submit your application. 20. A) The list of courses studied. B) The full record of scores.
C) The references from teachers. D) The personal statement.
21. A) Specify what they would like to do after graduation. B) Describe in detail how much they would enjoy studying. C) Indicate they have reflected and thought about the subject. D) Emphasize that they admire the professors in the university. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22. A) It was equipped with rubber tyres. B) It was built in the late 19th century. 23. A) They consumed lots of petrol. B) They took two passengers only.
C) It was purchased by the Royal family. D) It was designed by an English engineer. C) They were difficult to drive. D) They often broke down.
24. A) They were produced on the assembly line. C) They were modeled after British cars. B) They were built with less costly materials. D) They were made for ordinary use. 25. A) It made news all over the world. B) It was built for the Royal family.
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Contrary to popular belief, older people generally do not want to live with their children. Moreover, most adult children 26 every bit as much care and support to their aging parents as was the case in the \"good old days\ 27 .
About 80% of people 65 years and older have living children, and about 90% of them have
C) It marked a new era in motor travel. D) It attracted large numbers of motorists.
28 contact with their children. About 75% of elderly parents who don't go to nursing homes live within 30 minutes of at least one of their children.
However, 29 having contact with children does not guarantee happiness in old age. In fact, some research has found that people who are most involved with their families have the lowest spirits. This research may be 30 , however, as ill health often makes older people more 31 and thereby increases contact with family members. So it is more likely that poor health, not just family involvement, 32 spirits.
Increasingly, researchers have begun to look at the quality of relationships, rather than at the frequency of contact, between the elderly and their children. If parents and children share interests and values and agree on childrearing practices and religious 33 , they are likely to enjoy each other's company. Disagreements on such matters can 34 cause problems. If parents are angered by their daughter's divorce, dislike her new husband, and disapprove of how she is raising their grandchildren, 35 are that they are not going to enjoy her visits. A)abandoned F)dampens K)grant B)advanced G)dependent L)merely C)biased H)distant M)provide D)chances I)frequent N)understandably E)commitment J)fulfillment O)unrealistically
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?
A) For many years I have studied global agricultural, population, environmental and economic trends and their interactions. The combined effects of those trends and the political tensions they generate point to the breakdown of governments and societies. Yet I, too, have resisted the idea that food shortages could bring down not only individual governments but also our global civilization.
B) I can no longer ignore that risk. Our continuing failure to deal with the environmental declines that are undermining the world food economy forces me to conclude that such a collapse is possible.
C) As demand for food rises faster than supplies are growing, the resulting food-price inflation puts severe stress on the governments of many countries. Unable to buy grain or grow their own, hungry people take to the streets. Indeed, even before the steep climb in grain prices in 2008, the number of failing states was expanding. If the food situation continues to worsen, entire nations will break down at an ever increasing rate. In the 20th century the main threat to international security was superpower conflict; today it is failing states.
D) States fail when national governments can no longer provide personal security, food security and basic social services such as education and health care. When governments lose their control on power, law and order begin to disintegrate. After a point, countries can become so dangerous that food relief workers are no longer safe and their programs are halted. Failing states are of international concern because they are a source of terrorists, drugs, weapons and refugees (难民) threatening political stability everywhere.
E) The surge in world grain prices in 2007 and 2008 -- and the threat they pose to food security -- has a different, more troubling quality than the increases of the past. During the second half of the 20th century, grain prices rose dramatically several times. In 1972, for instance, the Soviets, recognizing their poor harvest early, quietly cornered the world wheat market. As a result, wheat prices elsewhere more than doubled, pulling rice and corn prices up with them. But this and other price shocks were event-driven -- drought in the Soviet Union, crop-shrinking heat in the U.S. Corn Belt. And the rises were short-lived: prices typically returned to normal with the next harvest.
F) In contrast, the recent surge in world grain prices is trend-driven, making it unlikely to reverse without a reversal in the trends themselves. On the demand side, those trends include the ongoing addition of more than 70 million people a year, a growing number of people wanting to move up the food chain to consume highly grain-intensive meat products, and the massive diversion (转向) of U.S. grain to the production of bio-fuel.
G) As incomes rise among low-income consumers, the potential for further grain consumption is huge. But that potential pales beside the never-ending demand for crop-based fuels. A fourth of this year's U.S. grain harvest will go to fuel cars.
H) What about supply? The three environmental trends -- the shortage of fresh water, the loss of topsoil and the rising temperatures -- are making it increasingly hard to expand the world's grain supply fast enough to keep up with demand. Of all those trends, however, the spread of water shortages poses the most immediate threat. The biggest challenge here is irrigation, which consumes 70% of the world's fresh water. Millions of irrigation wells in many countries are now pumping water out of underground sources faster than rainfall can refill them. The result is falling water tables (地下水位) in countries with half the world's people, including the three big grain producers -- China, India and the U.S.
I) As water tables have fallen and irrigation wells have gone dry, China's wheat crop, the world's largest, has declined by 8% since it peaked at 123 million tons in 1997. But water shortages are even more worrying in India. Millions of irrigation wells have significantly lowered water tables in almost every state.
J) As the world's food security falls to pieces, individual countries acting in their own self-interest are actually worsening the troubles of many. The trend began in 2007, when leading wheat-exporting countries such as Russia and Argentina limited or banned their exports, in hopes of increasing local food supplies and thereby bringing down domestic food prices. Vietnam banned its exports for several months for the same reason. Such moves may eliminate the fears of those living in the exporting countries, but they are creating panic in importing countries that must rely on what is then left for export.
K) In response to those restrictions, grain-importing countries are trying to nail down long-term trade agreements that would lock up future grain supplies. Food-import anxiety is even
leading to new efforts by food-importing countries to buy or lease farmland in other countries. In spite of such temporary measures, soaring food prices and spreading hunger in many other countries are beginning to break down the social order.
L) Since the current world food shortage is trend-driven, the environmental trends that cause it must be reversed. We must cut carbon emissions by 80% from their 2006 levels by 2020, stabilize the world's population at eight billion by 2040, completely remove poverty, and restore forests and soils. There is nothing new about the four objectives. Indeed, we have made substantial progress in some parts of the world on at least one of these -- the distribution of family-planning services and the associated shift to smaller families.
M) For many in the development community, the four objectives were seen as positive, promoting development as long as they did not cost too much. Others saw them as politically correct and morally appropriate. Now a third and far more significant motivation presents itself: meeting these goals may be necessary to prevent the collapse of our civilization. Yet the cost we project for saving civilization would amount to less than $200 billion a year, 1/6 of current global military spending. In effect, our plan is the new security budget.
36. The more recent steep climb in grain prices partly results from the fact that more and more people want to consume meat products.
37. Social order is breaking down in many countries because of food shortages.
38. Rather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitute the main threat to world security.
39. Some parts of the world have seen successful implementation of family planning. 40. The author has come to agree that food shortages could ultimately lead to the collapse of world civilization.
41. Increasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstacle to boosting the world's grain production.
42. The cost for saving our civilization would be considerably less than the world's current military spending.
43. To lower domestic food prices, some countries limited or stopped their grain exports. 44. Environmental problems must be solved to ease the current global food shortage. 45. A quarter of this year's American grain harvest will be used to produce bio-fuel for cars.
Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age, but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.
The study, which followed more than 2,000 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 60, found that certain mental functions -- including measures of abstract reasoning, mental speed and puzzle-solving -- started to dull as early as age 27.
Dips in memory, meanwhile, generally became apparent around age 37.
On the other hand, indicators of a person's accumulated knowledge -- like performance on tests of vocabulary and general knowledge -- kept improving with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
The results do not mean that young adults need to start worrying about their memories. Most people's minds function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher Timothy Salthouse.
\"These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one's abilities, may increase throughout all of adulthood if there are no diseases,\" Salthouse said in a news release.
The study included healthy, educated adults who took standard tests of memory, reasoning and perception at the outset and at some point over the next seven years.
The tests are designed to detect subtle (细微的) changes in mental function, and involve solving puzzles, recalling words and details from stories, and identifying patterns in collections of letters and symbols.
In general, Salthouse and his colleagues found, certain aspects of cognition (认知能力) generally started to decline in the late 20s to 30s.
The findings shed light on normal age-related changes in mental function, which could aid in understanding the process of dementia (痴呆), according to the researchers.
\"By following individuals over time,\" Salthouse said, \"we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly discover ways to slow the rate of decline.\"
The researchers are currently analyzing the study participants' health and lifestyle to see which factors might influence age-related cognitive changes.
46. What is the common view of mental function? A) It varies from person to person. B) It weakens in one's later years.
C) It gradually expands with age. D) It indicates one's health condition.
47. What does the new study find about mental functions? A) Some diseases inevitably lead to their decline. B) They reach a peak at the age of 20 for most people. C) They are closely related to physical and mental exercise. D) Some of them begin to decline when people are still young. 48. What does Timothy Salthouse say about people's minds in most cases? A) They tend to decline in people's later years. B) Their flexibility determines one's abilities. C) They function quite well even in old age.
D) Their functioning is still a puzzle to be solved.
49. Although people's minds may function less flexibly as they age, they A) may be better at solving puzzles B) can memorize things with more ease C) may have greater facility in abstract reasoning D) can put what they have learnt into more effective use 50. According to Salthouse, their study may help us ________. A) find ways to slow down our mental decline B) find ways to boost our memories
C) understand the complex process of mental functioning D) understand the relation between physical and mental health Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The most important thing in the news last week was the rising discussion in Nashville about the educational needs of children. The shorthand (简写) educators use for this is \"pre-K\" -- meaning instruction before kindergarten -- and the big idea is to prepare 4-year-olds and even younger kids to be ready to succeed on their K-12 journey.
But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape, scope and cost of the ideal program.
The federal Head Start program, launched 50 years ago, has served more than 30 million children. It was based on concepts developed at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College by Susan Gray, the legendary pioneer in early childhood education research.
A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the third grade. It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than pre-K, and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues related to educating a child.
Pre-K is controversial. Some critics say it is a luxury and shouldn't be free to families able to pay. Pre-K advocates insist it is proven and will succeed if integrated with the rest of the child's schooling. I lean toward the latter view.
This is, in any case, the right conversation to be having now as Mayor Megan Barry takes office. She was the first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming. The important thing is for all of us to keep in mind the real goal and the longer, bigger picture.
The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干预) works. What government has not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that provides the early foundation.
For this purpose, our schools need both the talent and the organization to educate each child who arrives at the schoolhouse door. Some show up ready, but many do not at this critical time when young brains are developing rapidly.
51. What does the author say about pre-kindergarten education?
A) It should cater to the needs of individual children. B) It is essential to a person's future academic success. C) Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it. D) Parents regard it as the first phase of children's development. 52. What does the new Peabody study find? A) Pre-K achievements usually do not last long. B) The third grade marks a new phase of learning. C) The third grade is critical to children's development. D) Quality has not been the top concern of pre-K programs, 53. When does the author think pre-K works the best? A) When it is accessible to kids of all families. B) When it is made part of kids' education. C) When it is no longer considered a luxury. D) When it is made fun and enjoyable to kids. 54. What do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry? A) She knows the real goal of education. B) She is a mayor of insight and vision.
C) She has once run a pre-K program. D) She is a firm supporter of pre-K.
55. What does the author think is critical to kids' education? A) Teaching method. B) Kids' interest.
Part IV Translation (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
功夫(Kung Fu)是中国武术(martial arts)的俗称。中国武术的起源可以追溯到自卫的需要、狩猎活动以及古代中国的军事训练。它是中国传统体育运动的一种，年轻人和老年人都练。它已逐渐演变成了中国文化的独特元素。作为中国的国宝，功夫有上百种不同的风格，是世界上练得最多的武术形式。有些风格模仿了动物的动作，还有一些则受到了中国哲学思想、神话和传说的启发。
C) Early intervention. D) Parents' involvement.
2016年6月大学英语四级考试真题（第2套）参考答案
Part I Writing
Dear My Parents,
I would like to convey in this letter my heartfelt thanks to you. Without your support and encouragement, I wouldn’t have won the second prize in the National Mathematical Contest in Modeling.
First of all, you inspired me to participate in the contest and gave me the confidence that I could achieve a good result if I worked hard enough. In addition, you spent large sums of money on prestigious mathematical modeling teachers to help me with methods of mathematical modeling, thesis writing and computer programming, which laid a solid foundation for my outstanding performance in the contest. Finally, it is also worth mentioning that when I was downhearted in the face of difficulties and setbacks during the contest, it was you who raised me up to press forward.
All in all, your support in both spiritual and material terms made it possible for me to win a prize in the contest. So, thanks again for your kind help. I am looking forward to seeing you soon. Affectionately yours, Li Ming Part II Listening Comprehension 1. 6. C B 2. 7. A C 3. 8. B D 4. 9. A B 5. D 10. A 15. D 20. D 25. C 11. C 16. A 21. C 12. B 17. C 22. B 13. A 18. D 23. D 14. C 19. B 24. A Part III Reading Comprehension 26. K 31. G 36. F 41. H 46. B 51. C 27. A 32. F 37. K 42. M 47. D 52. A 28. I 33. E 38. C 43. J 48. C 53. B 29. L 34. N 39. L 44. L 49. D 54. D 30. C 35. D 40. B 45. G 50. A 55. C
Part IV Translation
Chinese martial art is commonly known as Kung Fu. Its origin can be traced to the need of self-defense, hunting activities and military training in ancient China. It is one of the Chinese traditional sports, which is practiced by both the young and the old. It has gradually evolved into the unique element of Chinese culture. As China’s national treasure, Kung Fu has hundreds of different styles and is the most practiced martial arts from in the world. Some styles imitate animals’ movements, while others are inspired by Chinese philosophies, myths and legends.
Part II Listening Comprehension 听力原文
Section A
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
The International Labor Organization says the number of people without jobs is increasing. In its latest update on Global Employment Trends, the agency says projections of the number of unemployed people this year range from 210 million to nearly 240 million people. The report warns that 200 million poor workers are at risk of joining the ranks of people living on less than two dollars per day in the past three years. The Director-General of the International Labor Organization Juan Somavia notes that some countries have taken measures to address the effects of the global crisis. However, he points out that many countries have not done so. And based on past experiences, it takes four to five years after economic recovery for unemployment to return to pre-crisis levels. Mr. Somavia says the International Labor Organization is proposing a global job’s agreement to deal with unemployment.
“Its key objective is to place so the center of recovery efforts, measures that would generate high levels of employment and provide basic social protection for the most vulnerable.”
1. What is the news report mainly about?
2. What does Juan Somavia, the Director-General of the International Labor Organization say?
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Big fast food chains in New York City have started to obey a first-of-its-kind rule requiring them to post calorie counts right on the menu. Cathy Nurses is with the New York City Department of Health.
“We wanted to give people an opportunity to actually see the calories before they purchase the food and make a decision, an informed decision that if they want to make the healthier choice, if they want to eat fewer calories, they can. And we expect this will have a huge impact on obesity. And of course, if it has an impact on obesity, it will have an impact on diabetes and heart disease and high blood pressure.”
The new rules will introduce as a part of anti-obesity campaign that also includes a recent citywide ban and artificial trans-fats in restaurant food. The menu rule only applies to restaurants that serve standardized portion sizes and have fifteen or more locations nationwide.
Starting last Saturday, chains big enough to fall under the rule will face penalties about 2000 dollars for not showing calorie information in a prominent spot on their menus, preferably next to the price.
3. What are big fast food chains in New York City required to do according to the new rule? 4. What will happen to big restaurant chains that violate the new rule?
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Almost all companies recognize the importance of innovation today. But not many are able to integrate innovation into their business. A commentary in the Shanghai Daily points out that
innovation doesn’t mean piles of documents. It is something more practical. The article says many people tend to assume that innovation just means creating something new, but actually it's more than that. It's an attitude of doing things. A company should find ways to innovate not just in products but also in functions, business models and processes.
The article cites the global giant Procter & Gamble as an example, saying a real innovative company should develop an innovation culture and use it as a primary tool for success. Procter & Gamble has a “Corporate Innovation Fund” which offers big rewards for high-risk ideas that succeed. It also has a special innovation facility for its employees. Sometimes its employees are released from their daily jobs for weeks and spend their time interacting in the innovation facility instead. In conclusion, the article says innovative ideas alone do not ensure success. It’s pointless unless there is a repeatable process in place to turn inspiration into financial performance.
5. What is the problem with many companies according to the news report? 6. What do many people tend to think of innovation?
7. What does the company Procter & Gamble owe its success to? Section B
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. M: So, Lyndsay, do you like to text message on your cell phone? W: Yeah, I text message a lot.
M: I don't do it so much. I prefer to make a call if I'm in a hurry.
W: Yeah, I go both ways. Sometimes I don’t really want to talk to the person. I just want to ask them one question, so it's much easier for me just to text message. If I call them, I'll have to have a long conversation.
M: Yeah, I can see what you mean. But I get off the phone pretty quickly when I call. I'm not a big talker.
W: Yeah, that's true. You don't talk a lot.
M: So are you fast at writing the messages with your thumb?
W: Well, when I first got a cell phone, I was so slow. I thought I would never text message. But then people kept text messaging me, so I felt obliged to learn how to text message. So now I'm pretty fast. What about you?
M: Actually I have the opposite problem. When I first got my cell phone, I thought it was so cool to text message all my friends who have one, and I was pretty fast with my thumb then. But it seems like now I don't use it so much, I've got slower actually.
W: Yeah, I think text messaging actually is what you have to do with your age. For example, people in high school, they text message a lot. But I ask my father if he texted messages, and guess what he said? M: What?
W: He said he'd never text message. He thinks it's very childish and unprofessional to text message.
M: Yeah, I can see what he means. It's considered pretty informal to text message someone.
8: What does the man say about himself?
9: What does the woman tend to do while she is on the phone?
10: Why did the man text message all his friends when he first got his cell phone? 11: What does the woman's father think of text messaging?
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. W: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. How can I help you?
M: Well, I'd like to talk to you about Tim Bond, the department manager. W: What seems to be the problem?
M: Well, ever since Sandra left the department, I feel like I've been targeted to do all her work as well as mine. I'm expected to attend too many meetings and I seem to be spending a lot of my time doing unnecessary paper work. W: I'm sorry to hear that.
M: And, on top of that, I'd specifically asked if I could leave early last Friday as I’d done a lot of overtime during the week. But that afternoon, even though I'd finished my assigned work, I was told to help other colleagues finish their work, too.
W: But surely that's a positive sign showing that Mr. Bond has a lot of trust in you. M: Yes, but other colleagues get to leave early, and they don't have such a lot of work to do. W: So you feel he's been making unrealistic demands on you? M: Yes, absolutely.
W: Have you approached Mr. Bond about this particular problem? M: I've tried, but it seems like he just has no time for me.
W: Well, at this stage, it would be better if you approached him directly. If nothing else, showing that you've tried to solve the problem yourself, before you take it further, makes it clear that you're just not a complainer. Why don't you send an email requesting a meeting with him in private? M: Hmm, I’d be a bit worried about his reaction. But anyway I'll send him an email to request a meeting, and I'll see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice. W: Good luck. And let us know the outcome.
12. What do we learn about the man from the conversation? 13. What is the man's chief complaint?
14. How does the woman interpret the fact that the man was asked to help his colleagues with their work?
15. What did the woman advise the man to do?
Section C
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
The massive decline in sleep happened so slowly and quietly that few seemed to notice the trend. Was it because of the growing attraction of the Internet, video games and endless TV channels? Never disconnecting from work? No matter how it happened, millions of Americans are putting their health, quality of life and even length of life in danger.
New evidence shows why getting enough sleep is a top priority. Some 40% of Americans get less than 7 hours of shut-eye on weeknights. \"The link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease is becoming clearer and clearer,\" says Lawrence Epstein, a sleep expert at Harvard University. For example, sleep duration has declined from some 8 hours in the 1950s to 7 in recent years. At the same time, high blood pressure has become an increasing problem. Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep. People who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, weight gain and other problems.
Sleeping better may help fight off illness. \"When people are sleep-deprived, there are higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies which can decrease immune function.\" says Doctor Felice, of Northwestern University in Chicago. A university of Chicago study shows people who sleep well live longer. So say good night sooner and it may help you stay active and vital to a ripe old age.
16. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
17. What do we learn from the talk about today's Americans? 18. What does the speaker say will happen to people who lack sleep?
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Parents and teachers will tell you not to worry when applying for a place at a university. But in the same breath we’ll remind you that it is the most important decision of your life.
The first decision is your choice of course. It will depend on what you want to get out of university, what you are good at and what you enjoy. The next decision is where to apply. Aim high but within reason. Do you have the right combination of subjects and are your expected grades likely to meet entry requirements? The deadline is January 15th. But it is best to submit your application early because universities begin work as soon as forms start rolling in.
The most important part of the application is the much feared personal statement. This is your chance to convey boundless enthusiasm for the subject. So economy of expression is foremost. Omit dull and ineffective generalities and make sure you give concrete examples.
Admissions officers read every personal statement that arrives. It is not convincing if you say you have chosen the subject because you enjoy it. You have to get across what it is about a particular area that has inspired you. They will look for evidence that you have reflected and thought about the subject.
Applicants should be honest. There is no point saying you run marathons if you are going to be out of breath arriving at the interview on the second floor.
19. What is the first decision you should make in preparing to apply for a place at a university? 20. What is the most important part of the application? 21. What must applicants do in their personal statements?
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
It is usually agreed that a German, Carl Benz, built the first motor car in 1885. It was actually a tricycle with a petrol motor at the rear. Soon, members of the royal family and other wealthy people took up motoring as a sport. Many of the early cars had 2 seats. There were no petrol pumps and few garages, so every driver had to be his own engineer for the frequent breakdowns. By 1905, cars began to look like cars of today, with head lamps, wind screen, rubble tyres and number plates. Henry Ford's Model T introduced in America in 1909 was cheaper because it was made on the assembly line. It brought cars closer towards the reach of ordinary people. With the popularity of the car, registration became a must in 1903 with the Motor Car Act. Competency tests were introduced in 1935.
Today, the legal driving age for a car in the UK is 17. You are not allowed to drive a car unsupervised until you have passed a driving test. In 1958, Britain celebrated the opening of its first motorway – the Preston Bypass. Until then, no one really understood what a motorway was, not even the laborers who were building it. The bypass held a new era in motor travel and was greeted with excitement and optimism. Service stations came with the motorway and the legend of the transport cafe was born. Of course, the service station has diversified greatly. But whether it’s an English-cooked breakfast or a coffee and a sandwich, one thing has remained the same: the prices.
22. What does the speaker say about the first motor car? 23. What was the problem with the early cars in Britain? 24. Why did Henry Ford's Model T cars cost less? 25. What do we learn about the Preston Bypass?
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