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2021年 12月大学英语四级考试真题（第 1 套）
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Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: Suppose your school is organizing an orientation program to help the freshmen
adapt to the new environment and academic studies. You are now to write a proposal, which
may include its aim, duration, participants and activities. You will have 30 minutes to write the
proposal. 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) It found a pet dog on board a plane to a city in Texas.
B) It had one of its cargo planes land at a wrong airport.
C) It sent two dogs to the wrong destinations.
D) It had two of its domestic flights mixed up.
2. A) Correct their mistake as soon as possible.
B) Give the two pets a physical checkup.
C) Hire a charter jet to bring the pets back.
D) Send another plane to continue the flight.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. A) She weighs 130 kilograms. C) She was brought from Africa.
B) She has had babies before. D) She has a big family of six.
4. A) It took 22 hours. C) It was smooth.
B) It had some complications. D) It was monitored by Dr.Sue Tygielski
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5. A) It enjoyed great popularity. C) It was frequented by newly-weds.
B) It started business three years ago. D) It was built above the sea-water.
6. A) Expand his business on the beach.
B) Replace the restauranfs wooden deck.
C) Post a picture of his restaurant online.
D) Celebrate his silver wedding anniversary.
7. A) She sold it for two thousand dollars. C) She posted its picture on Facebook.
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 1 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研B) She took it to the restaurant manager. D) She returned it to its owner right away.
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) The number of ducks has declined sharply in recent years.
B) Climate change has little effect on the lives of wild ducks.
C) Duck meat is not eaten in Australia, Canada and the U.S.
D) Duck hunting remains legal in many parts of the world.
9. A) Droughts. B) Bushfires. C) Farming. D) Hunting.
10. A) They are not easy to domesticate. C) It is not environmentally friendly.
B) Their meat is not that popular. D) It is not considered cost-eflective.
11. A) They hunted ducks as a traditional sport.
B) They killed wild ducks and geese fbr food.
C) They raised ducks and geese fbr their eggs.
D) They poisoned wild ducks in large numbers.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. A) Have her house repainted. C) Move into a newly-painted house.
B) Replace some of her old furniture. D) Calculate the cost of the paintjob.
13. A) How long the work will take. C) How the paintjob is to be done.
B) How much the work will cost. D) How many workers are needed.
14. A) Cover up her furniture. C) Stay somewhere else.
B) Ask some friends fbr help. D) Oversee the work herself.
15. A) She could have asked a friend fbr help with the paintjob.
B) Painting a house involves more trouble than she thought.
C) She should have repainted her house much earlier.
D) Moving her furniture is harder than the paintjob.
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.
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 2 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研16. A) To cultivate good habits. C) To review what is learned in class.
B) To prepare for secondary school. D) To stimulate interest in learning.
17. A) Discuss their academic achievements with them.
B) Create an ideal study environment fbr them.
C) Allow them to learn independently.
D) Check their homework promptly.
18. A) Finish them before they get tired.
B) Tackle the most difficult task first.
C) Start with something they enjoy.
D) Focus on the most important ones.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. A) Workers who meet its body weight standards.
B) Workers who can lose 30 pounds in a year.
C) Workers who try the hardest to lose weight.
D) Workers who are in the top 10% of the slimmest.
20. A) Impractical. C) Unmanageable.
B) Inconsistent. D) Unfair.
21. A) Offer them much fatter bonuses. C) Encourage healthy behaviors.
B) Improve working environment. D) Provide free lunch and snacks.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22. A) It has not done enough to help left-handed children.
B) It has treated left-handed children as being disabled.
C) It has not built facilities specially fbr the left-handed.
D) It has ignored campaigns on behalf of the left-handed.
23. A) They are as intelligent as other children.
B) They have a distinctive style of handwriting.
C) They sometimes have psychological problems.
D) They tend to have more difficulties in learning.
24. A) Punish teachers discriminating against left-handed students.
B) Lay more emphasis on improving children's mental health.
C) Encourage students to develop various professional skills.
D) Keep track of left-handed children's school performance.
25. A) How they can be reduced in number.
B) Why their numbers are so high.
C) What percentage they account for.
D) If their percentage keeps increasing.
2021年12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.
Many people believe that passion and commitment are the foundations of strong
romantic relationships. But a relationship is made of two 26 individuals. And the
personality traits (特'性)these individuals 27 or lack can often make a relationship
more- or less- likely to 28 . Recent research has found that one trait in particular
一humility (谦逊)一 is an important indicator of successful relationships.
Humility can sometimes be 29 with a lack of confidence. But researchers have
come to realize that being humble generally indicates the 30 of deeply admirable
personal qualities. Being humble means you have the ability to accurately 31 your
deficiencies without denying your skills and strengths. For example, you might recognize
that you are intelligent, but realize that you are not a 32 . Thus, humility leads to an
honest view of one's own advantages and shortcomings. Humble people do not ignore,
avoid, or try to deny their limits or deficiencies. They can 33 mistakes, see value in
things that are far from perfect and identify areas for improvement.
Perhaps it is not 34 , then, that humility appears to be a huge asset to relationships.
One study found that people tend to rate this quality 35 in their spouse. The study
also found that someone who is humble is more likely to initiate a romantic relationship,
perhaps because they are less likely to see themselves as “too good^^ fbr someone else. Thus,
a humble partner might be your ideal partner.
A) acknowledge I) possess
B) assess J) presence
C) confused K) puzzled
D) endure L) status
E) extremely M) surprising
F) genius N) thoroughly
G) highly O) unique
H) permanent
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.
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 4 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研There's a stress gap between men and women
A) “I used to work very hard. I love to create things, grow them and solve problems,said
Meng Li, a successful app developer in San Francisco. t4I didn't really care about my
mind and my body until they decided to go on strike.55
B) Ms. Li said her stress led to sleeplessness. When she did sleep, she experienced
"problem-solving dreams,“ which left her feeling unrested when she woke up. "After I
became a first-time mother, I quickly realized I was so busy caring for other people and
work that I felt like I'd lost myself,she said.
C) Ifs a common story- one we frequently ridicule and readily dismiss, for example, by
claiming that women tend to complain more than men, despite the growing sum of
research that underlines the problem. Women are twice as likely to suffer from severe
stress and anxiety as men, according to a 2016 study published in The Journal of Brain &
Behavior. The American Psychological Association reports a gender gap year after year
showing that women consistently report higher stress levels. Clearly, a stress gap exists.
D) “The difference is not really news to me, as a clinical psychologist,said Erin Joyce, a
women and couples therapist in Los Angeles. t4Ifs been well documented in extensive
research over the years that prevalence rates fbr the majority of the anxiety disorders are
higher in women than men.,, Some people may argue that this is merely reported data,
and they say many men feel the same pressures as women in terms of fulfilling
responsibilities at work and home. In other words, we're all really, really stressed.
E) “The difference, however, is in the nature and scope of these responsibilities in the
home environment in particular/? Dr. Joyce said. For example, the United Nations
reported that women do nearly three times as much unpaid domestic work as men. The
problem is, housework is often overlooked as work, even though it is often as laborious
(or in some cases, more so) as any paid job. As the scholar Silvia Federici put it in 1975,
the unpaid nature of domestic work reinforces the assumption that "housework is not
work, thus preventing women from struggling against it.”
F) It's not just inside the home, though. Research from Nova Southeastern University
found that female managers were more likely than male managers to display “surface
acting/5 or forcing emotions that are not wholly felt. "They expressed optimism,
calmness and sympathy even when these were not the emotions that they were
actually feeling,the study said.
G) Surface acting is a prime example of "emotional labor,5, a concept that the writer Jess
Zimmerman made familiar in a 2015 essay. The essay sparked a massive thread on the
internet community blog MetaFilter. Hundreds of women spoke up about their own
experience with emotional labor: the duties that are expected of them, but go
unnoticed. These invisible duties become apparent only when you don't do them. Like
domestic labor, emotional labor is generally dismissed and not labeled work. But
research shows it can be just as exhausting as paid work. Emotional labor can lead to
difficulty in sleeping and family conflict. Sure, circumstantial stress, like losing a job,
may lead to these same issues. But emotional labor is not circumstantial. Ifs an
enduring responsibility based on the socialized gender role of women.
H) Like Ms. Li, many women try to manage the added stress to reach what Dr. Joyce said
was an unattainable ideal. t4Some professional women aim to do it all. They want to
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 5 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研reach the top of the corporate ladder and fly like supermom,^^ she said. When women
don't reach this ideal, they feel guilty; and even more stressed. After her own struggle
with this, Ms. Li took a step back and used her experience to build Sanity & Self, a
seli-care app and platform for overworked women. "The realizations I had in that
process helped me gain insights and ultimately got me ready to integrate self- care into
my daily she said.
I) The stress problem extends beyond mental health when you consider the link between
stress, anxiety and heart health. Worse, most of what we know about heart disease
comes from studies involving men. However, "there are many reasons to think that ifs
different in women,,5 Harvard Medical School reported. For example, women are more
likely to experience disturbed sleep, anxiety and unusual fatigue before a heart attack.
Stress is so normalized that it is easy fbr women to shrug off those symptoms as simply
the consequences of stress. Many women also do not experience chest pain before a
heart attack the way men do, which leads to fewer women discovering problematic
heart issues. Harvard reports that women are “much more likely than men to die within
a year of having a heart attack" and "many women say their physicians sometimes don5t
even recognize the symptoms.
J) The good news is, women are more likely than men to take charge of their stress and
manage it, the American Psychological Association reports. The concept of self-care, at
its core, is quite simple. 4tThe basics of adequate sleep, healthy diet and exercise are a
good place to start,5, Dr. Joyce said. "Support from trusted relationships is vital. This
includes professional support from various health and wellness providers if stress is
becoming increasingly overwhelming.5,
K) Disconnecting from work and home responsibilities is also obviously important. But ifs
much easier said than done. It is important to understand what causes your stress in the
first place. "Get really specific with what's stressing you out," Ms. Li said. t4We often
chalk up our stress to broad experiences like work. But work stress can take many
different forms. Is a colleague being disrespectful of your time? Is a boss undermining
your day-to-day control over decision making? These are different causes of stress and
can benefit from different kinds of sell-care.
L) Ideally, your spouse or partner will be supportive, rather than dismissive, of your
stress. It is important to talk through these issues before they come to a head. 4'Women
working outside of the home should make an effort to have a conscious conversation
with their partners about more equitable sharing of household and family
responsibilities,5, Dr. Joyce said.
36. Some career women who aim high tend to feel guilty if they fail to achieve their goals.
37. The unpaid housework done by women is triple that done by men.
38. It is reported that women consistently suffer more from severe stress than men.
39. Women are advised to identify the specific causes of their stress so that steps can be
taken to deal with it.
40. One study showed that women managers often expressed positive emotions that they
didn't really feel.
41. Women tend to mistake signs of heart attacks fbr symptoms of stress.
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 6 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研42. For a time an app developer in America was so busy attending to work and family that
she suffered from sleeplessness.
43. The emotional labor women do is noticed only when it is not done.
44. Dr. Joyce suggests that apart from self-care, women should seek professional support if
they experience severe stress.
45. Some people believe that there may not exist a stress gap between men and women.
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.
As many office workers adapt to remote work, cities may undergo fundamental change
if offices remain under-utilized. Who will benefit if working from home becomes the norm?
Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers shift
from office to home work. However, these savings result from passing costs on to workers.
Unless employees are fully compensated, this could become a variant of parasitic (寄
生的)capitalism, whereby corporate profits increasingly rely on extracting value from the
public- and now personal- realm, rather than on generating new value.
Though employers are backed by a chorus of remote work advocates, others note the
loneliness, reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work.
If working from home becomes permanent, employees will have to dedicate part of
their private space to work. This requires purchasing desks, chairs and office equipment.
It also means having private space dedicated to work: the space must be heated, cleaned,
maintained and paid for. That depends on many things, but fbr purposes of illustration, I have
run some estimates fbr Montreal. The exercise is simple but important, since it brings these
costs out of the realm of speculation into the realm of meaningful discussion.
Rough calculations show that the savings made by employers when their staff works
from home are of similar value to the compensation workers should receive for setting up
offices at home.
What does this mean fbr offices in cities? One of two things may happen: Employers
pass these costs onto employees. This would be a form of expropriation (侵 占)，with
employees absorbing production costs that have traditionally been paid by the employer.
This represents a considerable transfer of value from employees to employers.
When employees are properly compensated, employers5 real estate savings will be
modest. If savings are modest, then the many advantages of working in offices- such as
lively atmosphere, rapidity of communication, team-building and acclimatization (适应环境)
of new employees- will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and, like
Yahoo in 2013, encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.
46. What does the author say about working from home?
A) It will become the norm sooner or later.
B) It requires employees to adapt promptly.
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 7 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研C) It benefits employers at the expense of employees.
D) It will force cities to transform their infrastructure.
47. Why do some people oppose working from home?
A) It discourages team spirit.
B) It invades employees? privacy.
C) It undermines traditional values.
D) It negatively impacts productivity.
48. Why did the author run the estimates for Montreal?
A) To provide convincing data for serious discussion.
B) To illustrate the ongoing change in working patterns.
C) To show the impact of remote working on productivity.
D) To exemplify how remote working affects the economy.
49. What can we conclude from the author's calculations?
A) There is no point in transferring office work to working from home.
B) Employees can benefit as much from remote working as their employers.
C) Employers' gain from remote working should go to employees as compensation.
D) Effective measures should be taken to motivate employees to set up offices at home.
50. What is the author's opinion on working from home?
A) It should be avoided if possible.
B) It is only a temporary measure.
C) It can reduce companies5 real estate costs.
D) It may affect employees5 corporate loyalty.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The human thirst fbr knowledge is the driving force behind our successful
development as a species. But curiosity can also be dangerous, leading to setbacks or even
downfalls. Given curiosity's complexity, scientists have found it hard to define.
While pinning down a definition has proven tricky, the general consensus is ifs some
means of information gathering. Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically (内在地)
motivated.
Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn't any single
"curiosity gene“ that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment. That said,
curiosity does have a genetic component. Genes and the environment interact in many
complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior, including their curiosity.
Regardless of their genetic makeup, infants have to learn an incredible amount of
information in a short time, and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to
accomplish that gigantic task.
Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. It's what motivates non-human
animals, human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things
before growing less interested in them after continued exposure.
But curiosity often comes with a cost.
In some situations, the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth. For
instance, many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers, but they decide to try walking
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 8 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研because there ?s more to see and do when they stand upright. But this milestone comes at a
small cost. A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these
children fell down a lot. Seventeen times per hour, to be exact. But walking is faster than
crawling, so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking.
Sometimes, however, testing out a new idea can lead to disaster. For instance, the Inuit
people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of
living in northern climates, but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people
that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.
51. What does the author say about curiosity?
A) It is too complex for non-scientists to understand.
B) It is the force that pushes human society forward.
C) It is a unique trait specific to the human race.
D) It is often the major cause for human failures.
52. What is the general understanding of curiosity?
A) It motivates people to seek information.
B) It is destined to transform human genes.
C) It does people more good than harm.
D) It underlies all human behaviors.
53. What do we learn about how genes shape people's behavior?
A) They determine people's way of thinking.
B) They account for age differences in learning.
C) They enable people to undertake massive tasks.
D) They work in conjunction with the environment.
54. What do numerous studies show about infants?
A) They are far more curious than adults.
B) They prefer to go after all that is novel.
C) They have different interests than adults.
D) They show non-human animal behaviors.
55. What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate?
A) The cost of humans' curiosity to explore.
B) The incredible harshness of cold weather.
C) The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity.
D) The importance of learning from past failures.
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.
大运河(Grand Canal)是世界上最长的人工河，北起北京，南至杭州。它是中国历史上最宏伟
的工程之一。大运河始建于公元前4 世纪，公 元 13世纪末建成。修建之初是为了运输粮食，后来
也用于运输其他商品。大运河沿线区域逐渐发展成为中国的工商业中心。长久以来，大运河对中
国的经济发展发挥了重要作用，有力地促进了南北地区之间的人员往来和文化交流。
2021年12月英语四级真题第1套 第 9 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研2021年 12月大学英语四级考试真题（第 2 套）
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Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: Suppose your university student union is planning to hold a speech contest. You are
now to write a proposal for organizing the contest. The proposal may include the topic, aim,
procedure and selection of contestants. You will have 30 minutes to write the proposal. 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) She was pierced by a chicken bone. C) She suffered from lung cancer.
B) She was coughing all the time. D) She suffered from shock.
2. A) By eating chicken soup daily. C) Through a surgical operation.
B) Through regular exercising. D) By using traditional Chinese medicine.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
3. A) It was bom 13 years ago. C) It got injured in a big bushfire.
B) It was Alice Gray's lovely pet. D) It ran away into a nearby forest.
4. A) They rebuilt the fencing around their farm.
B) They spent seven years replanting their form.
C) They claimed damages for their heavy losses.
D) They installed a camera to monitor sheep activity.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
5. A) The disappearance of some gold and diamonds.
B) The transfer of tons of precious metal by air.
C) The crash of a Russian cargo airplane.
D) The loss of gold from an airplane.
6. A) It made an emergency landing. C) It contacted the goldmine company.
B) It informed the local police at once. D) It had a crew member fix the problem.
7. A) They will cooperate with the police.
B) They had checked the plane carefully.
C) They will be questioned by the police.
D) They took some gold bars and diamonds.
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 1 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研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) For the company's records. C) To follow the company's rule.
B) For future training purposes. D) To ensure information security.
9. A) To check her customer reference number.
B) To inquire about the price of office chairs.
C) To get her money back for the returned chair.
D) To make complaints about its customer service.
10. A) She had to update its information. C) She lost it about three days ago.
B) She forgot where she had left it. D) She was issued a new card.
11. A) Reconsider her options for payment methods.
B) Make a specific note on the company's system.
C) Update her bank card details on the company's website.
D) Upload her personal information to the company's website.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. A) He is feeling exhausted. C) He has to work late.
B) He is tired of cooking. D) He wants to try Asian foods.
13. A) Book a table. C) Download a menu.
B) Order a delivery. D) Locate a restaurant.
14. A) It is not tasty. C) It is too oily.
B) It is not healthy. D) It is too spicy.
15. A) She is too concerned about money. C) She is too picky about food.
B) She is too weight-conscious. D) She is too eager to please.
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) Owners' personalities affect their cats' behaviour and wellbeing.
B) Parents' personalities can affect the personalities of their children.
C) Parents and cat owners alike experience high levels of anxiety.
D) More and more people are treating pet cats like their children.
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 2 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研17. A) Give their pets behavioural training. C) Know their pets' feelings and desires.
B) Provide their pets with the best care. D) Interact with their pets in novel ways.
18. A) More convincing explanation. C) Collection of more data.
B) More extensive sampling. D) Further investigation.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. A) People should do more running than mere walking.
B) Running is the best exercise fbr extending one's life.
C) People should exercise at least 60 minutes every day.
D) Running is the easiest form of exercise fbr most people.
20. A) Improving their brain function.
B) Regulating their breathing rate.
C) Slowing down their ageing process.
D) Accelerating their blood circulation.
21. A) They found it easy to control their emotions.
B) They struggled to handle negative emotions.
C) They were more eager to enjoy a movie.
D) They were less affected by sad movies.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
22. A) He is a tour guide. C) He is a local entrepreneur.
B) He is a famous architect. D) He is the owner of the Hill House.
23. A) He studied the blueprints of other famous buildings.
B) He inquired about his client5s family background.
C) He observed his client5s life and habits.
D) He took a tour of his client's old home.
24. A) A house made of timber and brick. C) A house of the current fashion.
B) A house with a lot of free space. D) A house of a unique design.
25. A) They are well preserved and in pretty good shape.
B) They are copies built to the architect?s designs.
C) They were designed by another architect.
D) They were badly damaged but restored.
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.
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 3 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.
It is commonly believed that the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare
was bom in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. But it is impossible to know the 26
day on which he was bom.
Church records show he was baptized (施洗礼)on April 26, and three days was a
customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newly bom baby. Shakespeare 5s date
of death is 27 known, however: it was April 23, 1616. He was 52 and had retired to
Stratford three years before.
Although few plays have been performed or analyzed as extensively as the 38 plays
Shakespeare wrote, there are few surviving details about his life. This 28 of
biographical information is due primarily to his social 29 ; he was not a noble, but the
son of a leather trader.
Shakespeare 30 attended the grammar school in Stratford, where he would have
studied Latin and read 31 literature. He did not go to university and at age 18 married
Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his 32 . They had four children, including the
twins, Hamnet and Judith. Nothing is known of the period between the birth of the twins
and Shakespeare's 33 as a dramatist in London in the early 1590s.
In a million words written over 20 years, he 34 the full range of human emotions
and conflicts with a 35 that remains sharp today. As his great contemporary the poet
and dramatist Ben Jonson said, “He was not of an age, but for all time.
A) captured I) precision
B) classical J) probably
C) conclusively K) quality
D) emergence L) scarcity
E) exact M) senior
F) generated N) separated
G) particular O) systematically
H) position
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.
How to not be boring
A) Humans are creatures of habit. We love to establish a routine and stick with it. Then we
often put ourselves on auto-pilot. Routines can be incredibly useful in helping you get
things done. However, too much of a routine can also make you incredibly boring.
Nevertheless, many people live lives that are boringly predictable, or live a life where
everything is outlined or planned.
B) To tell the truth, interesting people are more popular among their friends. If you don't
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 4 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研arouse someone's curiosity or brighten someone's day, you probably come across as
being a little bit dull. But that doesn't mean your life has ended and you can't do
anything to change it. If you find yourself searching for something to say beyond small
talk, try these tactics to find more interesting approaches to conversation.
C) Recently, I was at a gathering of colleagues when someone turned to me and asked, "So,
whafs new with you?” Ordinarily, I think I'm a good conversationalist. After all, ifs
literally my job to talk to people and tell their stories or share their advice. And thafs
not exactly an unexpected question. Still, the only “new-to-me“ topics that came to
mind were my daughter's basketball tournament (锦标赛)and my feelings about that
morning's political headlines- neither amusing nor appropriate topics at that moment.
D) Oh, no, I thought. Have I become boring? But sharing our experiences in an authentic
way to connect with other people is what makes us interesting, says associate professor
Michael Pirson. The hesitation I felt in not sharing the ordinary things that were
happening in my life, and the wild mental search for something more interesting, may
have backfired and made me seem less interesting.
E) “If someone is making up some conversation that might be interesting, it's probably
not going to land well,^^ says Pirson, whose expertise includes trust and well-being,
mindfulness, and humanistic management. "It's going to feel like a made-up
conversation that people don't necessarily want to tune in to
F) The most interesting people aren't those who've gone on some Eat, Pray, Love journey
to find themselves. Instead, Pirson says, they're those who examine the ordinary. 4tOften,
the 'boring things5 may not be boring at all. Maybe they are actually little miracles,he
says. Share your observations about the world around you- interesting stories you
heard or things you noticed- and you may be surprised by the universal connection
they inspire.
G) This is essentially how Jessica Hagy starts her day. The author of How to Be Interesting,.
An Instruction Manual, Hagy spends a lot of time thinking about whafs interesting to
her. People who are interesting are persistently curious, she says.
H) Think about the everyday things around you and ask questions about them. What is
that roadside monument I see on my way to work every day? Who built that
interesting building in my city? What nearby attractions haven't I visited? Why do
people do things that way? Use what you find to ask more questions and learn more
about the world around you. "Having that sort of curiosity is almost like a protective
gear from getting into boredom,,5 she says. And when you find things that are truly
interesting to you, share them.
I) Television veteran Audrey Morrissey, executive producer of NBC's The Voice, is always
looking for what will make a person or story interesting to viewers: It's usually a
matter of individuality. "Having a strong point of view, signature style, or being a
super-enthusiast in a particular field makes someone interesting,she says. That means
embracing what is truly interesting or unique about yourself. "Many people are 'not
boring9 in the way that they can carry a conversation or can be good at a social
gathering, etc. To be interesting means that you have lived life, taken risks, traveled,
sought out experience to learn fbr yourself and share with others/ she says.
J) Of course, ifs possible to be a fountain of knowledge and a boring person, says public
relations consultant Andrea Pass. Paying attention to the listener is an important part of
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 5 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研having a conversation thafs interesting to both parties. Talking on and on about whafs
interesting to you isn't going to make you an interesting person, she says.
K) “If the listener is not paying attention, ifs your sign to shorten the story or change
direction. Make sure to bring the audience into the conversation so that it is not one-sided,
Pass says. Be a better listener yourself, and give others opportunities to participate in the
conversation by inviting them with questions or requests to share their own experiences
or thoughts, (e. g. , “Now, tell me about your favorite book," or "Have you ever been to
that attraction?^^) Questions are a powerful tool, especially when they encourage others to
disclose information about themselves. A 2012 study from the University of California,
Santa Barbara, found that roughly 40% of the time we are talking, we're disclosing
subjective information about our experience. And when we're doing so, our brains are
more engaged. So one strategy to leave others with the impression that you're a sparkling
conversation partner is to get others to talk about themselves.
L) Being relatable is also essential, Morrissey says. "The best entertainment and
storytelling comes from people who are relatable- those who don't shy away from
opening up but freely share who they are and what they care about. These are the
people viewers most relate to and find interesting. Being authentic, honest, and
vulnerable is always interesting.
M) I have now come to realize that being boring, in actuality, is not only about who you are
as a person, but also how you present yourself. No matter what, make sure you are
having fun in life. Because when you are enjoying, people around you will begin to
enjoy as well. Show some interest in them and they will definitely show some in you. If
you are a very reserved person, this could be a little difficult at first. But with a little
effort, you can definitely improve.
36. Pirson claims that some ordinary things may often prove to be miraculously interesting.
37. To make a conversation interesting, it is important that you listen to the other party
attentively.
38. A person who is unable to stimulate others5 curiosity or make their life enjoyable may
appear somewhat boring.
39. Interesting people usually possess certain unique qualities, according to a TV program
producer.
40. Be interested in others and they are sure to be interested in you.
41. The author considers himself usually good at conducting conversations.
42. Interesting people are always full of curiosity.
43. Falling into a routine can turn a person into an utter bore.
44. One strategy to be a good conversationalist is to motivate your partner to tell their own
stories.
45. Interesting as it might appear, a made-up conversation will probably turn out to be dull.
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.
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 6 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
With obesity now affecting 29% of the population in England, and expected to rise to
35% by 2030, should we now recognise it as a disease? Obesity, in which excess body fat
has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely affected, meets the
dictionary definition of disease, argues Professor John Wilding. He points out that more
than 200 genes influence weight. t4Thus body weight is strongly influenced by biology一it
is not an individuaFs fault if they develop obesity.^^ Yet the widespread view is that obesity
is self^induced and that it is entirely the individuaFs responsibility to do something about it.
Recognising obesity as a chronic disease with severe complications rather than a lifestyle
choice “should help reduce the stigma (耻辱)and discrimination experienced by many
people with obesity,he adds.
Professor Wilding disagrees that labelling a high proportion of the population as
having a disease removes personal responsibility or may overwhelm health services,
pointing out that other common diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, require
people to take action to manage their condition. He suggests that most people with obesity
will eventually develop complications. "But unless we accept that obesity is a disease, we
are not going to be able to tackle it,“ he concludes.
But Dr. Richard Pile, a physician with a special interest in diabetes, argues that
adopting this approach “could actually result in worse outcomes for individuals and society.”
He believes that the dictionary definition of disease “is so vague that we can classify almost
anything as a disease“ and says the question is not whether we can, but whether we should,
and to what end.
If labelling obesity as a disease was harmless then it wouldn't really matter, he writes.
But labelling obesity as a disease “risks reducing autonomy, disempowering and robbing
people of the intrinsic (内在的)motivation that is such an important enabler of change.
Whafs more, making obesity a disease “may not benefit patients, but it will benefit
healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical (制药的)industry when health insurance and
clinical guidelines promote treatment with drugs and surgery,“ he warns.
46. What does Professor John Wilding argue about obesity?
A) Its impact on society is expected to rise.
B) It is now too widespread to be neglected.
C) It should be regarded as a genetic disease.
D) Its dictionary definition should be updated.
47. What is the popular view of obesity?
A) It is difficult to define
B) It is a modem disease.
C) It has much to do with one's genes.
D) It results from a lack of self-control.
48. Why are some people opposed to labelling obesity as a disease?
A) Obese people would not feel responsible to take any action.
B) Obese people would not be able to afford the medical costs.
C) Obese people would be overwhelmed with anxiety.
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 7 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研D) Obese people would be discriminated against.
49. What does Dr. Richard Pile think of the dictionary definition of disease?
A) It is of no use in understanding obesity.
B) It is too inclusive and thus lacks clarity.
C) It helps little to solve patients5 problems.
D) It matters little to the debate over obesity.
50. What is Dr. Richard Pile's concern about classifying obesity as a disease?
A) It may affect obese people's quality of life.
B) It may accelerate the spread of obesity.
C) It may cause a shortage of doctors.
D) It may do little good to patients.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
Nationwide, only about three percent of early childhood teachers are male in the U. S.
Experts say this can have an impact on young children whose understanding of gender roles
and identity are rapidly forming. Research has found that having access to diverse teachers
is beneficial for children. For the youngest learners, it means they are more likely to get
exposed to different varieties of play and communication. It also helps them develop
healthy ideas around gender.
“In our world and our society, we have very specific stereotypes (模式化形象)of
gender roles,55 said Mindi Reich-Shapiro, an assistant professor in the teacher education
department of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and one of the authors of
a recent study. "It's important for children to see other possibilities and other paths they
can take.”
Despite mostly feeling supported by colleagues and family members, many of the
male educators surveyed in the study reported facing social or cultural resistance in their
careers as early education teachers. Some also reported that there were parents surprised or
concerned that their child had a male teacher. And they had been advised by colleagues or
other staff not to hug children.
Reich-Shapiro and fellow researchers made several recommendations to increase male
representation in the field. Low pay has long been acknowledged as a major issue in the
early childhood field. Over 70% of male educators who said they intended to stay in the
early education workforce noted an increased salary was a major motivating factor for them
to commit to the career long-term. The report suggests paying all early childhood educators
the way elementary school teachers are paid.
Cities and programs should establish support groups for male early childhood
educators and provide mentoring and professional development advice for male educators
and their program leaders.
The authors also suggest that traditional recruitment approaches for early childhood
educators “do not address the gender gap in the field.^^ They recommend providing young
men opportunities to work with children through training and volunteer programs, targeting
groups of men who are considering a career change, such as fathers.
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 8 页 共 9 页 by:光速考研51. What do we learn from the first paragraph about early childhood education in the U. S. ?
A) It helps raise children's awareness of gender roles.
B) It exposes children to different ways of interaction.
C) It is negatively impacted by a lack of male teachers.
D) It clearly aims to form children's identity through play.
52. What does Mindi Reich-Shapiro emphasize in her comment on childhood education?
A) The importance of broadening children's horizons.
B) The responsibilities of fathers fbr children's growth.
C) The urgency of creating teacher education programs.
D) The role of teachers in motivating children to learn.
53. What do we learn about male teachers from their responses in the study?
A) Some of them find it awkward when hugging children.
B) They feel pressured to keep up with female colleagues.
C) They find it hard to meet the expectations of kids5 parents.
D) Many of them feel prejudiced against socially and culturally.
54. What is needed fbr men to commit to early childhood education?
A) Higher pay.
B) Job security.
C) Social recognition.
D) Better working conditions.
55. What do the authors of the study recommend to bridge the gender gap in early
childhood education?
A) Recruiting young men who have a passion fbr educating young children.
B) Taking measures to attract prospective male teachers to work in the field.
C) Persuading prospective fathers to consider a change in their career.
D) Providing male teachers with more opportunities for advancement.
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.
坎儿井(Karez)是新疆干旱地区的一种水利系统，由地下渠道将水井连接而成。该系统将春
夏季节逡△ (seep into)地下的大量雨水及积雪融水收集起来，通过山体的自然坡度引到地面，用
于灌溉农田和满足人们的日常用水需求。坎儿井减少了水在地面的蒸 发 (evaporation),对地表破
坏很小，因而有效地保护了自然资源与生态环境。坎儿井体现了我国人民与自然和谐共存的智慧，
是对人类文明的一大贡献。
2021年12月英语四级真题第2套 第 9 页共9 页 by:光速考研2021年 12月大学英语四级考试真题（第 3 套）
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: Suppose you have just participated in a school project of collecting used books on
campus. You are now to write a report about the project, which may include its aim, organizers,
participants and activities. You will have 30 minutes to write the report. 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：2021年 12月大学英语四级考试共考了两套听力，本套的听力
内容与第二套相同，因此本套试题听力部分不再重复给出。
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
Section A
The sheets are damp with sweat. You're cold, but your heart is racing as if a killer just
chased you down a dark street. It was just a nightmare, you tell yourself; there's nothing to
be afraid of. But you're still filled with 26 .
Given how unsettling and haunting nightmares can be, is there a way fbr dreamers to
27 . or even turn off, these bad dreams as they happen?
Research is 28 , but some studies suggest that people who can master lucid
dreaming- that is, the ability to be 29 that a nightmare is happening and possibly
even control it without waking up- may hold the 30 .
Nightmares are part of the human experience, especially for kids. Doctors 31 don't
consider occasional nightmares a problem. They can just be symptoms of a sleep disorder
that can 32 from an unpleasant experience, stress, or certain drugs.
To treat the disorder, there are a number of medicines and therapies that are
backed by 33 research, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,
which analyzed the available research on the treatment of nightmare disorder in a recent
34 published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
However, nightmares are complicated, and researchers are still struggling to
understand them, said Dr. Rachel Salas, an expert on sleep disorders and an associate
professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. What we do know is that people 35
to have different kinds of nightmares at different points during the sleep cycle.
A) amount I) mechanical
B) answer J) result
C) avoid K) review
D) aware L) rigorous
E) depart M) tend
F) drastically N) timidity
G) fear O) typically
H) limited
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.
2021年12月英语四级真题第3套 第 1 页 共 6 页 by：光速考研Why it matters that teens are reading less
A) Most of us spend much more time with digital media than we did a decade ago. But
today's teens have grown up with smartphones. Compared with teens a couple of
decades ago, the way they interact with traditional media like books and movies is
fundamentally different.
B) Analysis of surveys of over one million teens in the United States collected since 1976
reveals a major shift in how teens are spending their leisure time. Paper books are being
ignored, in favor of screens. Digital devices are changing other behaviors, too. More
and more, young people choose spending time on their electronic devices over engaging
in other activities, regardless of the type. Indeed, by 2016, the average American high
school senior said they spent six hours a day writing text messages, on social media,
and online during their free time. And that covers just three activities, and if other
digital media activities were included, that estimate would no doubt rise.
C) Teens did not always spend that much time with digital media. Online time has doubled
since 2006, and social media use has moved from a periodic activity to a daily one in the
same period. By 2016, nearly nine out of ten young women in the 12th grade said they
visited social media sites every day. Meanwhile, time spent playing video games rose
from under an hour a day to an hour and a half on average. One out of ten American 8th
grade students in 2016 spent 40 hours a week or more playing video games. Let me
emphasize that this is equal to the time most adults spend per week at work.
D) If teens are spending so much time using electronic devices, does that mean they have
to give up some other activities? Maybe not. Over the years, many scholars have
insisted that time online does not necessarily take away time spent engaging with
traditional media or on other activities. Some people, they argue, are just more
interested in certain kinds of media and entertainment. Thus, using more of one type of
media does not necessarily mean less of the other.
E) That may be true, but that still does not tell us much about what happens across a whole
generation of people when time spent on digital media grows. Large surveys conducted
over the course of many years tell us that American youth are not going to the cinema
nearly as often as they did in the past. While 70 percent of 8th and 10th grade students
used to go to the movies once a month or more, now only about half do this. More and
more, watching a movie is something teens choose to do on their electronic devices.
Why is this a problem? One reason is that going to the cinema is generally a social
activity. Now, watching movies is something that most teens do alone. This fits a larger
pattern. In another analysis, researchers found that today's teens go out with their
friends much less often than previous generations did.
F) But the trends related to movies are less disturbing compared with the change in how
teens spend their time. Research has revealed an enormous decline in reading. In 1980,
about 60 percent of senior high school students said they read a book, newspaper or
magazine every day that was not assigned for school. By 2016, only 16 percent did.
This is a huge drop and it is important to note that this was not merely a decline in
reading paper books, newspapers or magazines. The survey allowed for reading
materials on a digital device.
G) Indeed, the number of senior high school students who said they had not read any books
for pleasure in the last year was one out of three by 2016. That is triple the number from
2021年12月英语四级真题第3套 第 2 页 共 6 页 by：光速考研two decades ago. For today's youth, books, newspapers and magazines have less and
less of a presence in their daily lives. Of course, teens are still reading. But they are
generally reading short texts. Most of them are not reading long articles or books that
explore deep themes and require critical thinking and reflection. Perhaps not
accidentally, in 2016 reading scores were the lowest they have ever been since 1972.
H) This might present problems for young people later on. When high school students go
on to college, their past and current reading habits will influence their academic
performance. Imagine going from reading texts as short as one or two sentences to
trying to read entire books written in complex language and containing sophisticated
ideas. Reading and comprehending longer books and chapters takes practice, and
American teens are no longer getting that practice.
I) So how can this problem be solved? Should parents and teachers take away teens'
smartphones and replace them with paper books? Probably not. Research has shown
that smartphones are currently American teens5 main form of social communication.
This means that, without a smartphone, teens are likely to feel isolated from their peers.
However, that does not mean teens need to use electronic devices as often as they do
now. Data connecting excessive digital media time to mental health issues suggests a
limit of two hours a day of free time spent with screens, a restriction that will also allow
time for other activities- like going to the movies with friends or reading longer, more
complicated texts.
J) The latter is especially important. I would argue that of all the changes brought about by
the widespread use of digital devices, the huge decline in reading is likely to have the
biggest negative impact on today's teens because reading books and longer articles is
one of the best ways to learn critical thinking. It helps people to understand complex
issues and to separate fact from fiction. Thus, deep reading is crucial for being a good
citizen, a successful college student and a productive employee. If serious reading dies,
a lot will go with it.
36. Many years' surveys reveal that young people in America are going to the cinema much
less often than they used to.
37. Survey analysis shows American teens now spend their leisure time on digital devices
rather than reading printed books.
38. The number of senior high schoolers not reading books for pleasure in a year increased
three times over 20 years.
39. Many scholars claim that spending time on electronic devices doesn't necessarily mean
a decrease of time for other activities.
40. Most people spend much more time interacting with digital media than they did ten
years ago.
41. The author claims that it will be a great loss if we no longer read books and longer articles.
42. Over a decade or so, American teens' social media use shifted from an occasional
activity to a routine one.
43. A more disturbing trend in America today is that teens are spending far less time
reading than around four decades ago.
44. Some five years ago, high school seniors in America generally spent more than six
2021年12月英语四级真题第3套 第 3 页 共 6 页 by：光速考研hours a day on electronic devices.
45. It was found that American youngsters today don't socialize nearly as much as the
earlier generations.
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.
Have you ever wondered how acceptable it is to hug or touch someone? While it may
sound safe to avoid all physical contact so as not to offend anyone, the lack of touching
might imply cold attitudes or indifference in interpersonal relationships.
So, what should we do? The simple answer is to thoroughly learn unique cultural
norms for physical contact. In nonverbal communication terminology ( 术语)，physical
contact and the study of touching are generally referred to as haptics.
Haptics in communication often suggest the level of intimacy. They are usually
classified into two groups: high-contact and low-contact.
Asia and quite surprisingly the United States, Canada and Britain belong to
low-contact cultures. People from the rest of the world, such as Latin America, are
considered to be in high-contact cultures, where they tend to expect touching in social
interactions and feel more comfortable with physical closeness. Despite the classification,
there are more complex factors such as relational closeness, gender, age, and context that
can affect how someone views physical contact.
One common French custom of greetings is cheek-kissing, but it is mostly restricted to
friends, close acquaintances and family members. While cheek-kissing for Latin Americans
is also a universal greeting form, it does not require such a high degree of relational
closeness. However, gender matters more for them because check-kissing often only
happens between women or a man and a woman but not two men.
In contrast, in certain Arabian, African, and Asian countries, men can publicly hold
hands or show physical affection as signs of brotherhood or friendship while these
behaviors may suggest a romantic relationship in other parts of the world. Although men's
touching is more normal in these cultures, physical contact between persons of opposite
sexes who are not family members is negatively perceived in Arabian countries.
These factors could definitely affect the degree to which someone is comfortable with
tactile (触觉的)communication and physical intimacy. Therefore, if you are someone who
loves to show physical affection, you should not be afraid to show it or drastically change
your behaviors- just ask for consent beforehand!
46. What does the author say in the first paragraph about physical contact?
A) Its role in interpersonal relationships is getting increasingly important.
B) It is becoming more acceptable to many who used to think it offensive.
C) Its absence might suggest a lack of warmth in interpersonal relationships.
D) It might prompt different responses from people of different social backgrounds.
2021年12月英语四级真题第3套 第 4 页 共 6 页 by：光速考研47. What does physical contact in communication suggest?
A) What social class people belong to.
B) How civilized the communicators are.
C) What family background people come from.
D) How close the communicators? relationships are.
48. What do we learn about people in high-contact cultures?
A) They are sensitive to the way people express their emotions.
B) They take touching as a cultural norm in social interactions.
C) They attach great importance to close ties among people.
D) They tend to be more open in interpersonal relationships.
49. What do we learn about social customs in Arabian countries?
A) Men can show friendship in public through physical affection.
B) Non-traditional romantic relationships are simply unacceptable.
C) Physical contact between unfamiliar people is negatively perceived.
D) People of different ages and genders show affection in different ways.
50. What does the author tell us to do concerning tactile communication?
A) Lay emphasis on nonverbal communication.
B) Learn to use appropriate body language first.
C) Pay attention to the differences between genders.
D) Take other people's preference into consideration.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
From climate change to the ongoing pandemic (大流彳亍病)and beyond, the issues
facing today's world are increasingly complex and dynamic. Yet solving problems like
these requires new approaches that extend beyond traditional ways of thinking. A study led
by Yale Professor of Psychology, Paul O'Keeffe, found that having a growth mindset (思维
彳顷向)of interest may spark this type of innovation.
Professor O'Keeffe established in earlier studies that people hold different beliefs about
the nature of interest. Those with a growth mindset of interest tend to believe that interests
can be developed and cultivated, while those with a fixed mindset of interest tend to believe
that interests are inherent (与生俱有的)and simply need to be 'found/ Building on these
findings, the latest research examined how a growth mindset of interest can boost
integrative thinking across the traditional disciplinary boundaries of arts and sciences.
For example, in one task, research participants were instructed to create new college
majors by combining two or more existing academic Arts or Science programs at their
university. After coding and analyzing the ideas they generated, the team found that people
with a growth mindset of interest were more likely to bridge programs across the arts and
sciences to create new majors like computational economics rather than creating majors
that drew from only one of those areas, like computational chemistry.
As Professor O'Keefe pointed out, “This research provides a useful direction for
organizations whose products and services call for integrated and creative solutions. Take
smartphones for example. You need not only computer science and engineering knowledge,
but also an understanding of psychology and visual design to create a better product.
Employees with a growth mindset may be more likely to devise innovative ideas that bridge
2021年12月英语四级真题第3套 第 5 页 共 6 页 by：光速考研multiple areas of knowledge to achieve better solutions.
The benefits of a growth mindset of interest may also extend to those seeking
employment. This is a pressing issue because many people are becoming unemployed due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a growth mindset of interest can help job seekers
expand their interests and become more adaptable to different fields, and take the initiative
to learn new skills.
51. What does the author say about the world today?
A) It faces problems that are getting more varied and complicated.
B) It has done away with many of the traditional ways of thinking.
C) It is undergoing radical and profound changes.
D) It is witnessing various types of innovations.
52. What did Professor O'Keeffe find in his earlier studies?
A) People's interests tend to change with age.
B) People's interests determine their mindsets.
C) People are divided about the nature of interest.
D) People of different ages have different mindsets.
53. What is the fbcus of Professor O'Keeffe's recent research?
A) How boundaries can be removed between arts and science disciplines.
B) How feasible it is to create new disciplines like computational economics.
C) How students in arts and sciences view the two types of mindset of interest.
D) How a growth mindset of interest can contribute to cross-disciplinary thinking.
54. What does the author want to illustrate with the example of smartphones?
A) Hi-tech products are needed in interdisciplinary research.
B) Improved technology gives birth to highly popular products.
C) Making innovative products needs multidisciplinary knowledge.
D) Hi-tech products can boost people's integrative thinking.
55. What is the author's suggestion to those who are seeking employment?
A) Learning practical skills.
B) Broadening their interests.
C) Staying safe in the pandemic.
D) Knowing their pressing issues.
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.
都江里(Dujiangyan)坐落在成都平原西部的岷江上，距成都市约50公里，始建于公元前三世
纪。它的独特之处在于无需用堤坝调控水流。两千多年来，都江堰一直有效地发挥着防洪与灌溉作
用，使成都平原成为旱涝保收的沃土和中国最重要的粮食产地之一。都江堰工程体现了我国人民
与自然和谐共存的智慧，是全世界年代最久、仍在使用、无坝控水的水利工程。
2021年12月英语四级真题第3套 第 6 页共6 页 by：光速考研
