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2016 年 6 月大学英语四级考试真题（三）
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions： For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to express your thanks to your parents or
any other family member upon making a memorable achievement. You should write at least 120 words but no more
than 180 words.
Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)
说明：由于2016年6月四级考试全国共考了两套听力,本套真题听力与前两套内容相同，只是选项顺序不 同，
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.
Contrary to popular belief, older people generally do not want to live with their children. Moreover, most adult
children 26 every bit as much care and support to their aging parents as was the case in the “good old days"，and
most older people do not feel 27
About 80% of people 65 years and older have living children, and about 90% of them have 28 contact with
their children. About 75% of elderly parents who don,t go to nursing homes live within 30 minutes of at least one
of their children.
However, 29 having contact with children does not guarantee happiness in old age. In fact, some research
has found that people who are most involved with their families have the lowest spirits. This research may be 30
,however, as ill health often makes older people more 31 and thereby
increases contact with family members. So it is more likely that poor health, not just family involvement, 32
spirits.
Increasingly, researchers have begun to look at the quality of relationships, rather than at the frequency of
contact, between the elderly and their children. If parents and children share interests and values and agree on
childrearing practices and religious 33 , they are likely to enjoy each other,s
company. Disagreements on such matters can 34 cause problems. If parents are angered by their daughter,s divorce,
dislike her new husband, and disapprove of how she is raising their grandchildren, 35 are that they are not going
to enjoy her visits.
四级2016年6月 49A) abandoned F) dampens K) grant
B) advanced G) dependent L) merely
C) biased H) distant M) provide
D) chances I) frequent N) understandably
E) commitment J) fulfillment O) unrealistically
Section B
Directions： In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement
contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.
You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by
marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2.
Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?
A) For many years I have studied global agricultural, population, environmental and economic trends and their
interactions. The combined effects of those trends and the political tensions they generate point to the
breakdown of governments and societies. Yet I, too, have resisted the idea that food shortages could bring down
not only individual governments but also our global civilization.
B) I can no longer ignore that risk. Our continuing failure to deal with the environmental declines that are
undermining the world food economy forces me to conclude that such a collapse is possible.
C) As demand for food rises faster than supplies are growing, the resulting food-price inflation puts severe stress
on the governments of many countries. Unable to buy grain or grow their own, hungry people take to the streets.
Indeed, even before the steep climb in grain prices in 2008, the number of failing states was expanding. If the
food situation continues to worsen, entire nations will break down at an ever increasing rate. In the 20th century
the main threat to international security was superpower conflict； today it is failing states.
D) States fail when national governments can no longer provide personal security, food security and basic social
services such as education and health care. When governments lose their control on power, law and order begin
to disintegrate. After a point, countries can become so dangerous that food relief workers are no longer safe and
their programs are halted. Failing states are of international concern because they are a source of terrorists,
drugs, weapons and refugees (难民)，threatening political stability everywhere.
E) The surge in world grain prices in 2007 and 2008—and the threat they pose to food security-has a different, more
troubling quality than the increases of the past. During the second half of the 20th century, grain prices rose
dramatically several times. In 1972, for instance, the Soviets, recognizing their poor harvest early, quietly
cornered the world wheat market. As a result, wheat prices elsewhere more than doubled, pulling rice and corn
prices up with them. But this and other price shocks were event-driven-drought in the Soviet Union, crop-
shrinking heat in the U.S. Corn Belt. And the rises were short-lived： prices typically returned to normal with
the next harvest.
F) In contrast, the recent surge in world grain prices is trend-driven, making it unlikely to reverse without a reversal
in the trends themselves. On the demand side, those trends include the ongoing addition of more than 70 million
people a year, a growing number of people wanting to move up the food chain to consume highly grain-intensive
meat products, and the massive diversion (转向)of U.S. grain to the production of bio-fuel.
四级2016年6月 50G) As incomes rise among low-income consumers, the potential for further grain consumption is huge. But that
potential pales beside the never-ending demand for crop-based fuels. A fourth of this year,s U. S. grain harvest
will go to fuel cars.
H) What about supply? The three environmental trends-the shortage of fresh water, the loss of topsoil and the rising
temperatures-are making it increasingly hard to expand the world,s grain supply fast enough to keep up with
demand. Of all those trends, however, the spread of water shortages poses the most immediate threat. The
biggest challenge here is in irrigation, which consumes 70% of the world,s fresh water. Millions of irrigation
wells in many countries are now pumping water out of underground sources faster than rainfall can refill them.
The result is falling water tables (地下水位)in countries with half the world,s people, including the three big
grain producers-China, India and the U.S.
I) As water tables have fallen and irrigation wells have gone dry, China,s wheat crop, the world,s largest, has
declined by 8% since it peaked at 123 million tons in 1997. But water shortages are even more worrying in
India. Millions of irrigation wells have significantly lowered water tables in almost every state.
J) As the world,s food security falls to pieces, individual countries acting in their own self-interest are actually
worsening the troubles of many. The trend began in 2007, when leading wheat-exporting countries such as
Russia and Argentina limited or banned their exports, in hopes of increasing local food supplies and thereby
bringing down domestic food prices. Vietnam banned its exports for several months for the same reason. Such
moves may eliminate the fears of those living in the exporting countries, but they are creating panic in importing
countries that must rely on what is then left for export.
K) In response to those restrictions, grain-importing countries are trying to nail down long-term trade agreements
that would lock up future grain supplies. Food-import anxiety is even leading to new efforts by food-importing
countries to buy or lease farmland in other countries. In spite of such temporary measures, soaring food prices
and spreading hunger in many other countries are beginning to break down the social order.
L) Since the current world food shortage is trend-driven, the environmental trends that cause it must be reversed.
We must cut carbon emissions by 80% from their 2006 levels by 2020, stabilize the world,s population at eight
billion by 2040, completely remove poverty, and restore forests and soils. There is nothing new about the four
objectives. Indeed, we have made substantial progress in some parts of the world on at least one of these—the
distribution of family-planning services and the associated shift to smaller families.
M) For many in the development community, the four objectives were seen as positive, promoting development as
long as they did not cost too much. Others saw them as politically correct and morally appropriate. Now a third
and far more significant motivation presents itself ： meeting these goals may be necessary to prevent the
collapse of our civilization. Yet the cost we project for saving civilization would amount to less than $ 200
billion a year, 1/6 of current global military spending. In effect, our plan is the new security budget.
36. The more recent steep climb in grain prices partly results from the fact that more and more people want to
consume meat products.
37. Social order is breaking down in many countries because of food shortages.
38. Rather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitute the main threat
to world security.
四级2016年6月 5139. Some parts of the world have seen successful implementation of family planning.
40. The author has come to agree that food shortages could ultimately lead to the collapse of world civilization.
41. Increasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstacle to boosting the world,s grain production.
42. The cost for saving our civilization would be considerably less than the world,s current military spending.
43. To lower domestic food prices, some countries limited or stopped their grain exports.
44. Environmental problems must be solved to ease the current global food shortage.
45. A quarter of this year,s American grain harvest will be used to produce bio-fuel for cars.
Section C
Directions： There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished
statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A) , B), C) and D) . You should decide on the best
choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age, but certain aspects of brain function actually
begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.
The study, which followed more than 2,000 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 60, found that certain
mental functions—including measures of abstract reasoning, mental speed and puzzle-solving- started to dull as
early as age 27.
Dips in memory, meanwhile, generally became apparent around age 37.
On the other hand, indicators of a person,s accumulated knowledge-like performance on tests of vocabulary
and general knowledge-kept improving with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of
Aging.
The results do not mean that young adults need to start worrying about their memories. Most people,s minds
function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher Timothy Salthouse.
“These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that
the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one,s abilities, may increase
throughout all of adulth∞d if there are no diseases," Salthouse said in a news release.
The study included healthy, educated adults who took standard tests of memory, reasoning and perception at
the outset and at some point over the next seven years.
The tests are designed to detect 细微的)changes in mental function, and involve solving puzzles, recalling
words and details from stories, and identifying patterns in collections of letters and symbols.
In general, Salthouse and his colleagues found, certain aspects of cognition (认知能力） generally started to
decline in the late 20s to 30s.
The findings shed light on normal age-related changes in mental function, which could aid in understanding
the process of dementia (痴呆)，according to the researchers.
“By following individuals over time,” Salthouse said,“we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly
discover ways to slow the rate of decline.,,
The researchers are currently analyzing the study participants, health and lifestyle to see which factors might
influence age-related cognitive changes.
四级2016年6月 5246. What is the common view of mental function?
A) It varies from person to person. C) It gradually expands with age.
B) It weakens in one,s later years. D) It indicates one5s health condition.
47. What does the new study find about mental functions?
A) Some diseases inevitably lead to their decline.
B) They reach a peak at the age of 20 for most people.
C) They are closely related to physical and mental exercise.
D) Some of them begin to decline when people are still young.
48. What does Timothy Salthouse say about people,s minds in most cases?
A) They tend to decline in people,s later years.
B) Their flexibility determines one,s abilities.
C) They function quite well even in old age.
D) Their functioning is still a puzzle to be solved.
49. Although people,s minds may function less flexibly as they age, they.
A) may be better at solving puzzles
B) can memorize things with more ease
C) may have greater facility in abstract reasoning
D) can put what they have learnt into more effective use
50. According to Salthouse, their study may help us.
A) find ways to slow down our mental decline
B) find ways to boost our memories
C) understand the complex process of mental functioning
D) understand the relation between physical and mental health
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The most important thing in the news last week was the rising discussion in Nashville about the educational
needs of children. The shorthand ( 简 写 )educators use for this is “pre-K”-meaning instruction before
kindergarten-and the big idea is to prepare 4-year-olds and even younger kids to be ready to succeed on their K-12
journey.
But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape,
scope and cost of the ideal program.
The federal Head Start program, launched 50 years ago, has served more than 30 million children. It was based
on concepts developed at Vanderbilt University,s Peabody College by Susan Gray, the legendary pioneer in early
childhood education research.
A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are
not sustained through the third grade. It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than
pre-K, and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues related to educating a child.
Pre-K is controversial. Some critics say it is a luxury and shouldn,t be free to families able to pay. Pre-K
advocates insist it is proven and will succeed if integrated with the rest of the child,s schooling. I lean toward the
latter view.
四级2016年6月 53This is, in any case, the right conversation to be having now as Mayor Megan Barry takes office. She was the
first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming. The important thing is for all of us to keep in mind the
real goal and the longer, bigger picture.
The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干预)works. What government has
not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that
provides the early foundation.
For this purpose, our schools need both the talent and the organization to educate each child who arrives at the
schoolhouse door. Some show up ready, but many do not at this critical time when young brains are developing
rapidly.
51. What does the author say about pre- kindergarten education?
A) It should cater to the needs of individual children.
B) It is essential to a person,s future academic success.
C) Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it.
D) Parents regard it as the first phase of children’s development.
52. What does the new Peabody study find?
A) Pre-K achievements usually do not last long.
B) The third grade marks a new phase of learning.
C) The third grade is critical to children,s development.
D) Quality has not been the top concern of pre-K programs.
53. When does the author think pre-K works the best?
A) When it is accessible to kids of all families.
B) When it is made part of kids, education.
C) When it is no longer considered a luxury.
D) When it is made fun and enjoyable to kids.
54. What do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry?
A) She knows the real goal of education.
B) She is a mayor of insight and vision.
C) She has once run a pre-K program.
D) She is a firm supporter of pre-K.
55. What does the author think is critical to kids, education?
A) Teaching method. C) Early intervention.
B) Kids, interest. D) Parents5 involvement.
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.
乌镇是浙江的一座古老水镇，坐落在京杭大运河畔。这是一处迷人的地方，有许多古桥、中式旅店和 餐
馆。在过去一千年里，乌镇的水系和生活方式并未经历多少变化,是一座展现古文明的博物馆。乌镇所 有房屋
都用石木建造。数百年来，当地人沿着河边建起了住宅和集市。无数宽敞美丽的庭院藏身于屋舍 之间，游客
们每到一处都会有惊喜的发现。
四级2016年6月 54
