文档内容
2020年 09月大学英语四级考试真题（第 1 套）
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on online libraries. You
can start your essay with the sentence “Online libraries are becoming increasingly popular”.
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) Ship traffic in the Atlantic. C) Exhaust from cars in Europe.
B) Warm currents in the ocean. D) Particles emitted by power plants.
2. A) They need to be taken seriously.
B) They have a huge effect on fishery.
C) They might be causing trouble to air flights.
D) They may be affecting the world's climate.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. A) To appeal for higher wages. C) To call for a permanent security guard.
B) To demand better health care. D) To dismiss the bad-tempered supervisor.
4. A) It had already taken strong action. C) It would take their appeal seriously.
B) It would put customers9 needs first. D) It was seeking help from the police.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5. A) The road was flooded. C) The road was frozen with snow.
B) The road was blocked. D) The road was covered with spilled gas.
6. A) A truck plunged into a pool of liquid chocolate.
B) The heavy snow made driving very difficult.
C) The truck driver dozed off while driving.
D) A truck hit a barrier and overturned.
7. A) It was a long time before the cleanup was finished.
B) It was a hard task to remove the spilled substance.
C) It was fortunate that no passenger got injured.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 1 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研D) It was difficult to contact the manufacturer.
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) She wanted to save for a new phone. C) She could enjoy discounts with cash.
B) She found it much safer to use cash. D) She had been cheated using phone apps.
9. A) They can save a lot more time and trouble.
B) They find it less difficult to make purchases.
C) They derive greater pleasure from buying things.
D) They are less aware of the value of their money.
10. A) More valuable items. C) Everyday necessities.
B) More non-essential things. D) Electronic devices.
11. A) It can improve shopping efficiency. C) It may lead to excessive spending.
B) It is altering the way of shopping. D) It appeals more to younger people.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. A) He wanted to order some wooden furniture.
B) He had to change the furniture delivery time.
C) He had a problem with the furniture delivered.
D) He wanted the furniture store to give him a refund.
13. A) Send the furniture back to the store. C) Collect the furniture he ordered.
B) Describe the furniture he received. D) Buy another brand of furniture.
14. A) Correct their mistake. C) Apologize to his wife.
B) Improve their service. D) Give the money back.
15. A) She recommended a new style.
B) She offered some gift to the man.
C) She apologized to the man once more.
D) She checked all the items with the man.
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.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 2 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. A) Reading books of wisdom. C) Sharing with others.
B) Tidying up one's home. D) Donating to charity.
17. A) Things that make one happy. C) Things that occupy little space.
B) Things that are becoming rare. D) Things that cost a lot of money.
18. A) It joined the city's clean-up campaign.
B) It sold as many as fifty boxes of books.
C) It received an incredibly large number of donated books.
D) It did little business because of the unusual cold weather.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. A) Give free meals to the homeless.
B) Provide shelter for the homeless.
C) Help the vulnerable to cook lunches.
D) Call fbr change in the local government.
20. A) Strengthen co-operation. C) Win national support.
B) Promote understanding. D) Following his example.
21. A) Spreading news of his deeds. C) Following the example he sets.
B) Writing him thank-you notes. D) Sending him hand-made bags.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22. A) To solve word search puzzles.
B) To send smartphone messages.
C) To test their eyesight using a phone app.
D) To install some audio equipment in a lab.
23. A) They could not go on until the ringing stopped.
B) They could no longer concentrate on their task.
C) They grabbed the phone and called back right away.
D) They asked their experimenter to hang up the phone.
24. A) A rise in emotional problems.
B) A decline in sports activities.
C) A reduction in the amount of sleep.
D) A decline in academic performance.
25. A) Protect the eyesight of the younger generation.
B) Take effective measures to raise productivity.
C) Realize the disruptive effects of technology.
D) Ensure they have sufficient sleep every day.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 3 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研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.
Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.
There5re three main types of financial stress people encounter. The first type is
apparent in people being stressed about the 26 ups and downs of investment markets
一actually not so much the ups, but 27 the downs. These people are usually unable or
unprepared to endure the long haul.
The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt. In a 28 percentage
of cases of debt-induced financial stress, credit cards and loans will be a central element.
Often there511 be a car loan and perhaps a mortgage, but credit cards often seem to be the
gateway to debt-related financial difficulties for many.
The third type of stress and 29 the least known is inherited financial stress,
which is the most destructive. It is experienced by those who have grown up in households
where their parents regularly 30 and fought about money. Money therefore becomes a
stressful topic, and so the thought of sitting down and planning is an unattractive 31 .
Those suffering inherited financial anxiety 32 to follow one of two patterns.
Either they put their head in the sand: they would 33 examining their financial
statements, budgeting, and discussing financial matters with those closest to them.
Alternatively, they would go to the other 34 , and micro-analyze everything, to the
point of complete 35 . They're convinced that whatever decision they make will be the
wrong one.
A) appearance I) normal
B) argued J) possibly
C) avoid K) proposition
D) considerable L) rebelled
E) definitely M) statement
F) extreme N) tend
G) inaction O) traditional
H) incredibly
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.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 4 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研Doctor's orders: Let children just play
A) Imagine a drug that could enhance a child's creativity and critical thinking. Imagine that
this drug were simple to make, safe to take, and could be had for free. The nation's
leading pediatricians (儿科医生)say this miracle compound exists. In a new clinical
report, they are urging doctors to prescribe it liberally to the children in their care.
B) “This may seem old-fashioned, but there are skills to be learned when kids aren't told
what to do,“ said Dr. Michael Yogman, a Harvard Medical School pediatrician who led
the drafting of the call to arms. Whether it's rough physical play, outdoor play or
pretend play, kids derive important lessons from the chance to make things up as they
go, he said.
C) The advice, issued Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, may come as a
shock to some parents. After spending years fretting (烦 T齿)over which toys to buy,
which apps to download and which skill-building programs to send their kids to after
school, letting them simply play- or better yet, playing with them- could seem like a
step backward. The pediatricians insist that ifs not. The academy?s guidance does not
include specific recommendations fbr the dosing of play. Instead, it asks doctors to
advise parents before their babies turn two that play is essential to healthy development.
D) “Play is not silly behavior,the academy's report declares. It fosters children's creativity,
cooperation, and problem-solving skills- all of which are critical fbr a 21 st-century
workforce. When parents engage in play with their children, it builds a wall against the
harmful effects of all kinds of stress, including poverty, the academy says. In the
pediatricians? view, essentially every life skill thafs valued in adults can be built up
with play. "Collaboration, negotiation, decision-making, creativity, leadership, and
increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through
play,“ they wrote. The pediatricians? appeal comes as kids are being squeezed by
increasing academic demands at school and the constant invasion of digital media.
E) The trends have been a long time coming. Between 1981 and 1997, detailed time-use
studies showed that the time children spent at play declined by 25 percent. Since the
adoption of sweeping education reforms in 2001, public schools have steadily increased
the amount of time devoted to preparing for standardized tests. The focus on academic
“skills and drills^^ has cut deeply into recess (课间休息)and other time for free play.
F) By 2009, a study of Los Angeles kindergarten classrooms found that five-year-olds were
so burdened with academic requirements that they were down to an average of just 19
minutes per day of “choice time,“ when they were permitted to play freely with blocks,
toys or other children. One in four Los Angeles teachers reported there was no time at all
fbr "free play." Increased academic pressures have left 30 percent of U.S. kindergarten
classes without any recess. Such findings prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics
to issue a policy statement in 2013 on the “crucial role of recess in school.^^
G) Pediatricians aren't the only ones who have noticed. In a report titled “Crisis in the
Kindergarten,5, a group of educators, health professionals and child advocates called the
loss of play in early childhood “a tragedy, both fbr the children themselves and for our
nation and the world.^^ Kids in play-based kindergartens “end up equally good or better
at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well-adjusted
healthy people,5, the Alliance fbr Childhood said in 2009. Indeed, new research
demonstrates why playing with blocks might have been time better spent, Yogman said.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 5 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研The trial assessed the effectiveness of an early mathematics intervention （干预）aimed at
preschoolers. The results showed almost no gains in math achievement.
H） Another playtime thief: the growing proportion of kids' time spent in front of screens
and digital devices, even among preschoolers. Last year, Common Sense Media
reported that children up through age eight spent an average of two hours and 19
minutes in front of screens each day, including an average of 42 minutes a day for those
under two. This increase of digital use comes with rising risks of obesity, sleep
deprivation and cognitive （认知的），language and social-emotional delays, the American
Academy of Pediatrics warned in 2016.
I） “I respect that parents have busy lives and it's easy to hand a child an iPhone,“ Yogman
said. "But there5s a cost to that. For young children, ifs much too passive. And kids
really learn better when they5re actively engaged and have to really discover things.
J） The decline of play is a special hazard for the roughly 1 in 5 children in the United
States who live in poverty. These 14 million children most urgently need to develop
the resilience （韧劲）that is cultivated with play. Instead, Yogman said, they are
disproportionately affected by some of the trends that are making play scarce:
academic pressures at schools that need to improve test scores, outside play areas that
are limited or unsafe, and parents who lack the time or energy to share in playtime.
K） Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids.
“The notion that as parents we need to schedule every minute of their time is not doing
them a great service/5 he said. Even well-meaning parents may be “robbing them of the
opportunity to have that joy of discovery and curiosity- the opportunity to find things
out on their own.^^
L） Play may not be a hard sell to kids. But UCLA pediatrician Carlos Lemer acknowledged
that the pediatricians5 new prescription may meet with skepticism （'怀疑）from parents,
who are anxious for advice on how to give their kids a leg up in the world. They should
welcome the simplicity of the message, Lemer said. "It's liberating to be able to offer
them this advice: that you spending time with your child and letting him play is one of the
most valuable things you can do J he said. "It doesn't have to involve spending a lot of
money or time, or joining a parenting group. Ifs something we can offer thafs achievable.
They just don't recognize it right now as particularly valuable.
36. Increased use of digital devices steals away children's playtime.
37. Since the beginning of this century, an increasing amount of time has been shifted in
public schools from recess to academic activities.
38. It has been acknowledged that while kids may welcome pediatricians? recommendation,
their parents may doubt its feasibility.
39. According to some professionals, deprivation of young children's playtime will do harm
not only to children themselves but to the country and the world.
40. By playing with children, parents can prevent them from being harmed by stress.
41. Playing with digital devices discourages kids from active discovery, according to
pediatrician Dr. Michael Yogman.
42. The suggestion of letting children simply play may sound like going backwards to
parents who want to help build their children's skills.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 6 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研43. Dr. Michael Yogman believes the idea that parents should carefully schedule children's
time may not be helpful to their growth.
44. One quarter of teachers in an American city said that children in kindergartens had no
time for playing freely.
45. According to a pediatrician, no matter what kind of play children engage in, they are
learning how to create things.
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.
Americans spend billions of dollars each year trying to change their weight with diets,
gym memberships and plastic surgery.
Trying to live up to the images of “perfect“ models and movie heroes has a dark side:
anxiety, depression, as well as unhealthy strategies for weight loss or muscle gain. It also
has a financial cost. Having an eating disorder boosts annual health care costs by nearly
US$2,000 per person.
Why is there both external and internal pressure to look “perfect"? One reason is that
society rewards people who are thin and healthy-looking. Researchers have shown that
body mass index is related to wages and income. Especially for women, there is a clear
penalty at work fbr being overweight or obese. Some studies have also found an impact for
men, though a less noticeable one.
While the research literature is clear that labor market success is partly based on how
employers and customers perceive your body image, no one had explored the other side of
the question. Does a person's own perception of body image matter to earnings and other
indicators of success in the workplace?
Our recently published study answered this question by tracking a large national
random sample of Americans over a critical time period when bodies change from teenage
shape into adult form and when people build their identities.
As in other research, women in our sample tend to over-perceive their weight- they
think they're heavier than they are- while men tend to under-perceive theirs.
We found no relationship between the average person's self^ perception of weight and
labor market outcomes, although self-perceived weight can influence self-esteem (自 尊心),
mental health and health behaviors.
While the continued gender penalty in the labor market is frustrating, our finding that
misperceived weight does not harm workers is more heartening.
Since employers5 perception of weight is what matters in the labor market, changing
discrimination laws to include body type as a category would help. Michigan is the only
state that prohibits discrimination on the basis of weight and height. We believe expanding
such protections would make the labor market more fair and efficient.
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 7 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研46. What does the author say may have an adverse impact on people?
A) Undergoing plastic surgeries in pursuit of beauty.
B) Imitating the lifestyles of heroes and role models.
C) Striving to achieve perfection regardless of financial cost.
D) Attempting to meet society's expectation of appearance.
47. What have researchers found out about people's earnings?
A) They are closely related to people's social status.
B) They have to do with people's body weight and shape.
C) They seem to matter much less to men than to women.
D) They may not be equal to people's contributions.
48. What does the author's recent study focus on?
A) Previous literature on indicators of competitiveness in the workplace.
B) Traits that matter most in one's pursuit of success in the labor market.
C) Whether self-perception of body image impacts one's workplace success.
D) How bosses, perception of body image impacts employees5 advancement.
49. What is the finding of the author 5s recent research?
A) Being overweight actually does not do much harm to the overall well-being of employees.
B) People are not adversely affected in the workplace by false self^perception of body weight.
C) Self-esteem helps to combat gender inequality in the workplace.
D) Gender inequality continues to frustrate a lot of female employees.
50. What does the author think would help improve the situation in the labor market?
A) Banning discrimination on the basis of employees? body image.
B) Expanding protection of women against gender discrimination.
C) Helping employees change their own perception of beauty.
D) Excluding body shape as a category in the labor contract.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The work-life balance is dead. By this, I'm not advocating that you should give up
your pursuit of having a fulfilling career and a thriving personal life, and I'm definitely not
saying that you have to give up one to have the other. I also acknowledge that we have a
work-life problem, but I'm arguing that the concept of balance has never been helpful,
because ifs too limiting. You see, our language makes a difference, and how we refer to
things matters because it affects our thinking and therefore our actions.
At the minimum, most of us work because we want to be able to support ourselves,
our families, and the people around us. In the ideal world, we're all doing work that we're
proud of and that provides meaning and purpose to us. But even if your job doesn't give
you shivers of joy each new day, working is a part of what each of us does and the
contribution we make to society. When you separate work and life, it's a little bit harder to
make that connection. But when you think of work as part of a full life and a complete
experience, it becomes easier to see that success in one aspect often supports another.
Losing your balance and falling isn't pleasant. A goal to balance suggests that things
could quickly get off balance, and that causes terrible outcomes. It's more constructive to
think of solutions that continue to evolve over shifts in life and work. Rather than falling or
failing, you may have good days or better days or not-so-good days. These variations are
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 8 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研normal, and ifs more useful to think of life as something that is ever evolving and changing,
rather than a high-risk enterprise where things could go wrong with one misstep.
How we talk to ourselves matters, and how we talk about issues makes a difference.
Lefs bury 4'work-life balance^^ and think bigger and better about work-life fulfillment to do
a little less balancing and a lot more living.
51. What does the author suggest by saying “The work-life balance is dead”?
A) The hope of achieving a thriving life is impossible to realize.
B) The pursuit of a fulfilling career involves personal sacrifice.
C) The imbalance between work and life simply doesn't exist anymore
D) The concept of work-life balance contributes little to a fulfilling life.
52. What does the author say about our use of language?
A) It impacts how we think and behave.
B) It changes with the passage of time.
C) It reflects how we communicate.
D) It differs from person to person.
53. What does the author say we do in an ideal world?
A) We do work that betters the lives of our families and friends.
B) We do work that gives us bursts of joy each new day.
C) We do meaningful work that contributes to society.
D) We do demanding work that brings our capacity into full play.
54. What does the author say about life?
A) It is cyclical. C) It is fulfilling.
B) It is dynamic. D) It is risky.
55. What does the author advise us to do?
A) Make life as simple as possible. C) Balance life and work in a new way.
B) Talk about balance in simpler terms. D) Strive for a more fulfilling life.
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.
茅 台 (Moutai)是中国最有名的白酒，在新中国成立前夕，被选为国宴用酒。
据说赤水沿岸的村民四千年前就开始酿造茅台。在西汉时期，那里的人们生产出了高质量的
茅台，并把它贡给皇帝。自唐朝开始，这种地方酒通过海上丝绸之路运往海外。
茅台味道柔和，有一种特殊的香味；适量饮用可以帮助缓解疲劳，有镇静作用，因而广受国内
外消费者的喜爱。
2020年9月英语四级真题第1套 第 9 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研2020年 09月大学英语四级考试真题（第 2 套）
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on the use of
PowerPoint (PPT) in class. You can start your essay with the sentence "The use of
PowerPoint is becoming increasingly popular in class”. You should write at least 120 words
but no more than 180 words.
Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)
淘宝店铺【光速考研工作室】温馨提示：由于2020年 9 月四级考试共考了 1套听力，本套试题听力内
容与第1套一致，因此在本套真题中不再重复出现。
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.
Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.
It can be seen from the cheapest budget airlines to the world5s largest carriers： Airlines
across the globe 26 various shades of blue in their cabin seats, and it is no 27 .
There does appear to be some psychology behind it. Blue is 28 with the positive
qualities of trust, efficiency, quietness, coolness, reflection and calm.
Nigel Goode is a leading aviation designer who works at a company which has been
delivering aircraft interiors for airlines for 30 years. t4Our job as designers is to reinforce the
airline's brand and make it more 29 I he says. "But our primary concern is to deliver
an interior that 30 comfort to create a pleasant environment.
"It's all about making the travelling experience less 31 and blue is said to induce
a feeling of calm. While some of the budget airlines might use brighter, bolder shades, most
others go with softened tones. The 32 aim is to create a home-like relaxing feel, so
airlines tend to use soft colors that feel domestic, 33 and earthy for that reason.^^
Ifs also a trend that emerged decades ago and has 34 stuck. "Blue became the
color of choice because it's a conservative, agreeable, corporate shade that 35 being
trustworthy and safe. Thafs why you see it used in all of the older airlines like British
Airways/ Nigel Goode added.
A) associated I) maximizes
B) coincidence J) natural
C) determined K) principal
D) drastically L) recognizable
E) enormous M) simply
F) imitate N) stressful
G) indication O) symbolizes
H) integrate
2020年9月英语四级真题第2套 第 1 页 共 7 页 by:光速考研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.
Why Are Asian Americans Missing from Our Textbooks?
A) I still remember my fourth-grade social studies project. Our class was studying the Gold
Rush, something all California fourth-graders learned. I was excited because I had
asked to research Chinese immigrants during that era. Growing up in the San Francisco
Bay Area, I had always known that “San Francisco“ translated to “Gold Mountain^^ in
Chinese. The name had stuck ever since Chinese immigrants arrived on the shores of
Northern California in the 1850s, eager to try their luck in the gold mines. Now I'd have
the chance to learn about them.
B) My excitement was short-lived. I remember heading to the library with my class and
asking for help. I remember the librarian's hesitation. She finally led me past row after
row of books, to a comer of the library where she pulled an oversized book off the shelf.
She checked the index and turned over to a page about early Chinese immigrants in
California. That was all there was in my entire school library in San Francisco, home of
the nation's first Chinatown. That was it.
C) I finally had the opportunity to learn about Asian Americans like myself, and how we
became part of the fabric of the United States when I took an introductory class on
Asian-American history in college. The class was a revelation. I realized how much had
been missing in my textbooks as 1 grew up. My identity had been shaped by years of
never reading, seeing, hearing, or learning about people who had a similar background
as me. Why, I wondered, weren't the stories, histories, and contributions of Asian
Americans taught in K-12 schools, especially in the elementary schools? Why are they
still not taught ?
D) Our students- Asian, Latino, African American, Native American, and, yes, white
一stand to gain from a multicultural curriculum. Students of color are more engaged
and earn better grades when they see themselves in their studies. Research has also
found that white students benefit by being challenged and exposed to new perspectives.
E) For decades, activists have called for schools to offer anti-racism or multicultural
curricula. Yet a traditional American K-12 curriculum continues to be taught from a
Eurocentric point of view. Being multicultural often foils back on weaving children of
color into photographs, or creating a few supporting characters that happen to be
ethnic- an improvement, but superficial nonetheless. Elementary school classrooms
celebrate cultural holidays- Lunar New Year! Red envelopes! Lion dancers!- but
they're quick to gloss over (掩饰)the challenges and injustices that Asian Americans
have faced. Most students don't, for example, learn about the laws that for years
excluded Asians from immigrating to the U.S. They don't hear the narratives of how
and why Southeast Asian refugees (难 民)had to rebuild their lives here.
F) Research into what students learn in school has found just how much is missing in their
studies. In an analysis, Christine Sleeter, a professor in the College of Professional
Studies at California State University, Monterey Bay, reviewed California^ history and
social studies framework, the curriculum determined by state educators that influences
2020年9月英语四级真题第2套 第 2 页 共 7 页 by:光速考研what is taught in K-12 classrooms. Of the nearly 100 Americans recommended to be
studied, 77% were white, 18% African American, 4% Native American, and 1% Latino.
None were Asian American.
G） Worse, when Asian Americans do make an appearance in lesson books, it is often laced
with problems. t4There hasn't been much progress,5, says Nicholas Hartlep, an assistant
professor at Metropolitan State University. His 2016 study of K-12 social studies
textbooks and teacher manuals found that Asian Americans were poorly represented at
best, and subjected to racist caricatures （拙劣的模仿）at worst. The wide diversity of
Asian Americans was overlooked; there was very little mention of South Asians or
Pacific Islanders, for example. And chances were, in the images, Asian Americans
appeared in stereotypical （模式化的）roles, such as engineers.
H） Teachers with a multicultural background or training could perhaps overcome such
curriculum challenges, but they're few and far between. In California, 65% of K-12
teachers are white, compared with a student population that is 75% students of color.
Nationwide, the gap is even greater. It isn't a requirement that teachers share the same
racial or ethnic background as their students, but the imbalance poses challenges, from
the potential for unconscious bias to a lack of knowledge or comfort in discussing race
and culture.
I） How race and ethnicity is taught is crucial, says Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, an
Asian-American studies professor at San Francisco State University. She added that ifs
not so much about the teacher5s background, but about training. "You can have a great
curriculum but if you don't have teachers dedicated （专注于）to teaching it well,^^ she
says, “it won't work as well as you want it to.”
J） Some teachers are finding ways to expose students to Asian-American issues- if not
during school hours, then outside of them. This summer, Wilson Wong will lead a class of
rising fifth-graders at a day camp dedicated to Chinese culture and the Chinese-American
community in Oakland, California. His students, for instance, will learn about how
Chinese immigrants built the railroads in California, and even have a chance to
“experience“ it themselves: They will race each other to build a railroad model on the
playground, with some students being forced to “work" longer and faster and at cheaper
wages. Wong, a middle school teacher during the school year, hopes he's exposing the
students to how Chinese Americans contributed to the U.S., something that he didn't get
as a student growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. UI planted the seeds early,“ he
says. "That's what I'm hoping fbr.”
K） And, despite setbacks, the tide may finally be turning. California legislators passed a
bill last year that will bring ethnic studies to all its public high schools. Some school
districts, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, already offer ethnic studies at its
high schools. High schools in Portland, Chicago, and elsewhere have either
implemented or will soon introduce ethnic studies classes. And, as more high schools
begin teaching it, the door could crack open fbr middle schools, and, perhaps inevitably,
elementary schools, to incorporate a truly more multicultural curriculum. Doing so will
send an important message to the nation's youngest citizens: Whatever your race or
ethnicity, you matter. Your history matters. Your story matters.
36. While cultural holidays are celebrated, the injustices experienced by Asian Americans
are not exposed in elementary school classrooms.
2020年9月英语四级真题第2套 第 3 页 共 7 页 by:光速考研37. Little information can be found about Chinese immigrants in the author5s school library.
38. A middle school teacher is making a great effort to help students learn about the
contributions made by Chinese immigrants to America.
39. No Asian Americans were included in the list of historical figures recommended for
study in K-12 classrooms.
40. There is an obvious lack of teachers with a multicultural perspective to meet the
curriculum challenges in America.
41. Students of ethnic backgrounds learn better from a multicultural curriculum.
42. Now more and more high schools in America are including ethnic studies in their
curriculums.
43. A study of some K-12 textbooks and teacher manuals showed that Asian Americans
were inadequately and improperly represented in them.
44. When taking a class in college, the author realized that a lot of information about Asian
Americans was left out of the textbooks he studied.
45. An Asian-American studies professor placed greater emphasis on teacher training than
on teachers5 background.
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.
When is cleaning walls a crime? When you5re doing it to create art, obviously. A number
of street artists around the world have started expressing themselves through a practice
known as reverse graffiti （涂鸦）.They find dirty surfaces and paint them with images or
messages using cleaning brushes or pressure hoses （高压水管）.Either way, ifs the same
principle: the image is made by cleaning away the dirt. Each artist has their own individual
style, but all artists share a common aim: to draw attention to the pollution in our cities. The
UK's Paul Curtis, better known as Moose, operates around Leeds and London and has been
commissioned by a number of companies to make reverse graffiti advertisements.
Brazilian artist, Alexandre Orion, turned one of Sao Paulo5s transport tunnels into an
amazing wall painting in 2006 by getting rid of the dirt. Made up of a series of white skulls
（颅骨），the painting reminds drivers of the effect their pollution is having on the planet.
“Every motorist sits in the comfort of their car, but they don't give any consideration to the
price their comfort has fbr the environment and consequently for themselves,5, says Orion.
The anti-pollution message of the reverse graffiti artists confuses city authorities since
the main argument against graffiti is that it spoils the appearance of both types of property:
public and private. This was what Leeds City Council said about Moose's work: "Leeds
residents want to live in clean and attractive neighbourhoods. We view this kind of
advertising as environmental damage and will take strong action against it." Moose was
ordered to “clean up his act”. How was he supposed to do this: by making all property he
had cleaned dirty again?
2020年9月英语四级真题第2套 第 4 页 共 7 页 by:光速考研As for the Brazilian artisfs work, the authorities were annoyed but could find nothing
to charge him with. They had no other option but to clean the tunnel- but only the parts
Alexandre had already cleaned. The artist merely continued his campaign on the other side.
The city officials then decided to take drastic action. They not only cleaned the whole
tunnel but every tunnel in Sao Paulo.
46. What do we learn from the passage about reverse graffiti?
A) It uses paint to create anti-pollution images.
B) It creates a lot of trouble for local residents.
C) It causes lots of distraction to drivers.
D) It turns dirty walls into artistic works.
47. What do reverse graffiti artists try to do?
A) Publicise their artistic pursuit.
B) Beautify the city environment.
C) Raise public awareness of environmental pollution.
D) Express their dissatisfaction with local governments.
48. What do we learn about Brazilian artist Alexandre Orion?
A) He was good at painting white skulls.
B) He chose tunnels to do his graffiti art.
C) He suggested banning all polluting cars.
D) He was fond of doing creative artworks.
49. What does the author imply about Leeds City Council's decision?
A) It is simply absurd. C) It is rather unexpected.
B) It is well-informed. D) It is quite sensible.
50. How did Sao Paulo city officials handle Alexandre Orion's reverse graffiti?
A) They made him clean all the tunnels in Sao Paulo.
B) They took drastic action to ban all reverse graffiti.
C) They charged him with polluting tunnels in the city.
D) They made it impossible for him to practice his art.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The practice of paying children an allowance became popular in America about 100
years ago. Nowadays, American kids on average receive about $800 per year in allowance.
But the vast majority of American parents who pay allowance tie it to the completion of
housework. Although many parents believe that paying an allowance fbr completing chores
benefits their children, a range of experts expressed concern that tying allowance very
closely to chores may not be ideal. In foct, the way chores work in many households
worldwide points to another way.
Suniya Luthar, a psychologist, is against paying kids fbr chores. Luthar is not opposed
to giving allowances, but she thinks ifs important to establish that chores are done not
because they will lead to payment, but because they keep the household running. Luthar's
suggested approach to allowance is compatible with that of writer Ron Lieber, who advises
that allowances be used as a means of showing children how to save, give, and spend on
things they care about. Kids should do chores, he writes, "for the same reason adults do,
because the chores need to be done, and not with the expectation of compensation.^^
2020年9月英语四级真题第2套 第 5 页 共 7 页 by:光速考研This argument has its critics, but considering the way chores are undertaken around
the world may change people's thinking. Professor David Laney of Utah State University
has studied how families around the world handle chores. At about 18 months of age,
Laney says, most children become eager to help their parents, and in many cultures, they
begin helping with housework at that age. They begin with very simple tasks, but their
responsibilities gradually increase. And they do these tasks without payment. Laney
contrasts this with what happens in America. "We deny our children's bids to help until
they are 6 or 7 years old,^^ Laney says, “when many have lost the desire to help and then try
to motivate them with payment. The solution to this problem is not to try to use money as
an incentive to do housework, but to get children involved in housework much earlier,
when they actually want to do it.”
51. What do some experts think about paying children for doing chores?
A) It may benefit children in more ways than one.
B) It may help children learn the worth of labor.
C) It may not turn out to be the best thing to do.
D) It may not be accepted by low-income parents.
52. According to Suniya Luthar, doing chores will help children learn to .
A) share family responsibilities C) cultivate the spirit of independence
B) appreciate the value of work D) manage domestic affairs themselves
53. What does Ron Lieber think should be the goal of giving children allowances?
A) To help to strengthen family ties.
B) To teach them how to manage money.
C) To motivate them to do more housework.
D) To show parents' appreciation of their help.
54. What does David Laney say about 18-month-olds?
A) They have a natural instinct to help around the house.
B) They are too young to request money for what they do.
C) They should learn to understand family responsibilities.
D) They need a little incentive to get involved in housework.
55. What does David Laney advise American parents to do?
A) Set a good example for children in doing housework.
B) Make children do housework without compensation.
C) Teach children how to do housework.
D) Accept children's early bids to help.
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.
茶拥有5, 000年的历史。传说，神农氏(ShenNong)喝开水时，几片野树叶子落进壶里，开水
顿时散发出宜人的香味。他喝了几口，觉得很提神。茶就这样发现了。
自此，茶在中国开始流行。茶园遍布全国，茶商变得富有。昂贵、雅致的茶具成了地位的象征。
今天，茶不仅是一种健康的饮品，而且是中国文化的一个组成部分。越来越多的国际游客一边
品茶，一边了解中国文化。
2020年9月英语四级真题第2套 第 6 页 共 7 页 by:光速考研2020年 09月大学英语四级考试真题(第3 套)
淘宝店铺【光速考研工作室】温馨提示：2020年9 月第3 套试题除翻译和写作外，其余题目与第
2 套完全一致，故而未重复给出。
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on online dictionaries.
You can start your essay with the sentence ' Online dictionaries are becoming increasingly
popular You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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.
你如果到北京旅游，必须做两件事：一件是登长城，另一件是吃北京烤鸭。闻名遐迩的北京烤
鸭曾仅限于宫廷，而现在北京数百家餐厅均有供应。
北京烤鸭源于600年前的明代。来自全国各地的厨师被挑选出来到京城为皇帝做饭。人们认
为在皇宫做饭是一种莫大的荣誉，只有厨艺出众者才能获得这份工作。事实上，正是这些宫廷厨师
使北京烤鸭的烹饪艺术日臻完善。
2020年9月英语四级真题第3 套第1 页共1 页by：光速考研
