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目录
2024年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套..................................1
2024年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................. 7
2023年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套.................................13
2023年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套.................................19
2023年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................ 26
2023年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................ 32
2023年03月大学英语四级听力原文全1套................................ 39
2022年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................ 45
2022年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................ 51
2022年09月大学英语四级听力原文全1套................................ 58
2022年06月大学英语四级听力原文全1套................................ 64
2021年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................ 71
2021年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................ 77
2021年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套.................................84
2021年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套.................................89
2020年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................ 95
2020年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................101
2020年09月大学英语四级听力原文全1套................................106
2020年07月大学英语四级听力原文全1套................................112
2019年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................117
2019年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................123
2019年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................129
2019年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................134
2018年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................139
2018年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................144
2018年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................150
2018年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................155
2017年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................161
2017年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................167
2017年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................172
2017年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................178
2016年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套................................189
2016年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套................................195
2016年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套............................... 201
淘宝店铺：叮当助考 温馨提示:历年历次四级考试共有3套题，其中第2、3套
试题共用1套听力。另：2023年3月，2022年9月和6月，2020年7月、9月考试特殊，实
考1套。2024年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
Six people had to move away from their home to another place after a fire broke
out in a building on main street Saturday, officials said. Firefighters responded to the
three-story building shortly after 1 p.m. for a reported structure fire, according to
Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Adam Markowitz.
Markowitz said crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the second floor
when they arrived. A team of about 25 firefighters then spent about 25 minutes
extinguishing the flames. Officials described the structure as a mixed-use building that
features commercial businesses on the first floor and residential on the second and
third floors.
Town records list four apartments in the building. Due to smoke and heat damage,
the four apartments were declared uninhabitable, and the six residents had to move to
another place, officials said. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire. The
Norwalk Fire Marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
1. why did the six residents have to find another place to stay?
2. what does the news report say the Norwalk Fire Marshal is doing?
News Report Two
A new study has cast doubt on historic research suggesting that the season or
month of someone's birth is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health
conditions. The study looks at symptoms of anxiety and depression among more than
70,000 older adults in Europe. A number of past studies have found the link between
season of birth and mental health diagnoses.
Researchers have suggested that such links could arise from various things. These
include nutrient intake, sun exposure, climate, and disease exposure varying across the
course of the year. However, evidence has been mixed, more recent studies have
suggested that factors such as social class or economic background have more to do
with these diagnoses than month of birth.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 1 页 共 206页Overall, the new study found no significant relationship between participants9
month of birth and symptoms of depression or anxiety. There was some variability in
some countries. In Poland, depressive symptoms fluctuated a little depending on birth
month. In the Czech republic, the same was true of anxiety symptoms. But on the whole,
there was no systematic pattern.
3. What have a number of past studies found about season of birth?
4. What did the new study find about the relationship between participants9 month of
birth and symptoms of depression?
News Report Three
Genetic researchers in China have made a clone of a star police dog, the clone was
bom in a laboratory in Beijing in December. Tests show that the clone and her mother
are almost identical genetically. The mother dog helped solve multiple murders and
many other crimes. The clone has already performed better than traditionally bred dogs
on several tests.
If the clone continues to perform as well as expected, it could mean a huge
reduction in the training time for police dogs, which usually takes about five years. The
ultimate goal of scientists is to produce clones of talented police dogs that can be trained
in months instead of years. However, this goal is not yet possible due to the current
costs of the technology.
This is not the first time a clone has been made of a star police dog. In South Korea,
six clones began working with the police in 2008.
5. What do the researchers9 tests show about the cloned dog?
6. What is the scientist9s purpose in cloning police dogs?
7. Why does the news report say the scientists9 goal is not yet possible?
Conversation One
M: Tom, did you see the article online about the new TV series based on the book The
Three Body Problem!
W: A colleague mentioned the book, but Fve been so busy writing my thesis that I
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 2 页 共 206页haven't been able to read for pleasure in months.
M: Well, sounds like if you're going to read anything for fun, this is the book. Ifs
written by a Chinese science fiction writer. I can't remember his name, but he's
written three books in all, and The Three Body Problem is the first in the series. I
don't want to say too much and spoil it fbr you, but it's definitely got some amazing
technological and sociological concepts in it.
W: It does sound like it would suit my taste, but if they are making a TV series based on
it now, I don't know if I should read the book or watch the show first.
M: I think it's better to read the book first. It's rare for the show or movie to be better
than the book. And then, you just end up ruining the book for yourself, if the show
isn't very good.
W: When is the show supposed to start? I'm a bit overwhelmed with the amount of data
I still need to collect to finish my thesis. But I still need to relax sometimes.
M: I can't remember exactly. It's pretty soon, and it's going to be quite long. There are
24 episodes. Well, maybe you could download an electronic copy of the book and
try to read it before the show starts.
W: Thafs a good idea, and then, maybe we can watch the series together. Thanks fbr
the tip, Alice.
M: No problem.
8. How did the man get to know about the book The Three Body Problem?
9. What does the woman say she can't remember about the book's author?
10. What does the man have to do to finish his thesis?
Conversation Two
M: Hello, good afternoon. I have an inquiry to make. It's about the vegetarian food
festival you are holding on the 19th of August at the Newcastle City Hall.
W: Yes, of course. My name's Philip. How can I help you?
M: It says on your website that you are still looking for vendors, and I grow organic
vegetables on my farm, as well as doing my own home baking. Would I be able to
sell both the vegetables and items baked from them at the festival?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 3 页 共 206页W: Thafs exactly the type of thing we are looking for. We're getting close to the
deadline, however. Do you prefer to fill out an application on the web, or to print it
out and fill it in by hand and then post it back to us? Remember that you will have to
have all your certificates to hand when you are filling out the forms, as the standards
are high and they511 be carefully checked before anyone will be able to sell their
produce at the event.
M: I should be fine with doing it on your website, and I already have all my certificates,
as we run a small farm shop too. But can you give me your details anyway?
W: Sure, please address it to the Organic Organization, Vendor Applications, 112
Queens Road, Newcastle, Northumbria. The postcode is NU 29 3LJ. Remember that
the closing date is next Tuesday, the 28th of June.
M: Thafs absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for your help, Goodbye.
12 .Why does the woman call the man?
13 .What is the man still looking for?
14 . What does the man say they are getting close to?
15 .What does the man finally ask the woman to remember?
Passage One
Supporters call it "wild camping^^; opponents call it "illegal camping”. What both
sides accept is that there has been a boom in the past few months, with increasing
numbers of visitors pitching their tents on any bit of land they fancy in the UK. In part,
this reflects the fact that official campsites have been wholly or partially closed, or are
overflowing in a summer when fewer people are going abroad. It is also cheap, at a time
when many are worried about what the economic future holds. But it may also be an
expression of a desire for going outdoors一a response to the months of lockdown.
Most of the coverage of the boom in wild camping has been negative. Camping in
public parks has now been banned fbr August and the early part of September because
campers dump litter, human waste, and even their tents on the grassland. Similar action
has been taken even in Scotland, where camping is usually permitted on most of its
open land.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 4 页 共 206页Clearly there have to be rules. It would make sense that wild campers need to ask
fbr permission to camp from landowners, especially outside Scotland, where the law is
far more restrictive. It would be common sense fbr people to use small tents and leave
no trace of their visit. They have been attracted by a patch of land this close to
wilderness, and it is their responsibility to keep it that way.
16. Why has wild camping become popular in the UK?
17. Why is camping banned fbr part of the summer in public parks?
18. What does the speaker suggest campers do?
Passage Two
Imagine boating down the amazon river, minding your own business一calmly
keeping an eye out fbr a alarmingly large snakes一and a curious pink dolphin appears to
swim alongside. While this May seem like a mythical creature, pink dolphins do exist in
the amazon region.
The Amazon river dolphin is a giant among its species, it can measure up to 2
meters long and weigh around 204 kilograms. Size isn't the only thing that sets the
amazon river dolphin a part, thriving in south American rivers and temporary lakes
caused by seasonal flooding, this freshwater dolphin is sometimes shockingly pink.
Although bom gray, males of the species are easily identified as they enter
adulthood by a decisive pink shade. Their unusual coloring is believed to be the result
of scar tissue from dolphin fights一 whether play fighting or a serious bid fbr a mate,
the deeper the pink, the more attractive the males are believed to be, and the older the
male, the more pink it will have.
There9 s also a theory that this color helps the dolphins more readily blend in with
their surroundings. During heavy rains, rivers along the Amazon rainforest turn a pink
shade, and with it male dolphins are harder to detect. The Amazon wetland system, fed
by the Amazon River, is a crucial place for pink dolphins to breed, and since 2018 has
been granted internationally protected status.
19. What does the passage say about pink dolphins?
20. What is the unusual coloring of pink dolphins believed to originate in?
21. What has become of the Amazon wetland system since 2018?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 5 页 共 206页Passage Three
In a new Merrill lynch /Age wave survey, a full 70 % of the early adults said they
received financial support from their parents in the past year and 58 % said they couldn't
afford their current lifestyles without it. The most common types of financial support
include cell phone plans, food, school costs and car expenses. Parental financial support
of early adults, said Ken Dychtwald, CEO of Age Wave, is "the new normal”.
But 64 % of the young adults surveyed said parents9 financial support to children
age 25 to 34 is "a bad thing”, because it makes those kids dependent. By contrast, only
29 % thought supporting men and women age 18 to 24 is bad; the remaining 71 %
thought that assistance “helps the adult children get ahead”.
Dychtwald believes the young women and men surveyed were saying that by 25,
younger adults ought to be financially independent. In fact, the respondents said,
financial independence defines adulthood. "Financial independence is something they
were struggling with and challenged by. And it scared them a bit,“ Dychtwald said. One
big reason they9re struggling is attributed to college loans, of which the average
amounts to $ 37,000. Many of the parents have taken on college loans for the kids, too,
sometimes at the expense of their own finances. In the survey, 60 % of early adults
define financial success as being debt-free. Whether thafs likely or even possible, any
time soon, is anyone's guess.
22. What do we learn from a new survey by Merrill Lynch/Age Wave?
23. Why did most young adults in the survey say financial support to children aged 25
to 34 is a bad thing?
24. What did the respondents in the survey say regarding financial independence?
25. What is one big reason young adults are struggling?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 6 页 共 206页2024年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
A JetBlue Airlines flight from West Palm Beach to New York City was forced to
turn around and land Sunday morning after the plane struck a bird. The flight from Palm
Beach International Airport to LaGuardia Airport turned around just minutes after
takeoff following the strike.
No injuries were reported on the plane, and the flight took off once again 7.5 hours
after the first attempt. "It was like a split second of panic...that resulted in this nervous
reaction on the plane/9 said passenger Brian Healy. "There was total quiet, and then
there was relief when the plane came to a stop." An email from JetBlue read, “Our team
is working to accommodate customers on later flights.59
1. What do we learn about the JetBlue Airlines flight from the news report?
2. How did the passengers feel when the plane came to a stop, according to Brian Healy?
News Report Two
A deadly snake, which had finally been tracked down after escaping a zoo, has
slipped away for the second time. The poisonous snake forced the closure of the
attraction last week when staff noticed the disappearance.
After six days of desperate searching, he was eventually found and placed in a
supposedly secure area. But it seems the animal is no fan of the zoo, because yet again he
is out on the loose. The snake is a relative newcomer to the zoo but has already been
frustrating its staff. The staff believe he squeezed himself out of a gap located around new
energy-saving bulbs installed inside the snake house. He was only found the first time
around because staff brought in a special machine to trace him inside a wall opening.
This kind of snake is one of the most deadly and poisonous in the wild, and they
can range from 3 to 5 meters in length.
3. What do we learn about the deadly snake from the news report?
4. How have the zoo staff been feeling about the snake?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 7 页 共 206页News Report Three
Electric bikes have been the craze in downtown Jacksonville since they were first
introduced earlier this month as a one-year pilot program. But they're leading to safety
concerns, mainly at night when some riders don*t follow the rules of the road.
As the night goes on, groups of riders are often seen traveling in just about every
direction in the streets and on pedestrian paths. That is increasing the probability of
dangerous accidents.
Electric bike riders have to follow all the same rules as you would if you were in
an automobile. That means no running red lights or traveling in the opposite direction of
traffic on one-way streets.
City Council Member Anna Cumber was instrumental in introducing the electric
bikes to Jacksonville as a way to bring new life into downtown. And she's aware of the
concerns. Cumber said, "People can have fun, but both drivers and riders are
responsible for paying attention while on the road. And never assume the driver is going
to stop or see you.^^
5. What do we learn from the news report about the introduction of electric bikes into
Jacksonville?
6. What are electric bike riders supposed to do?
7. Why did City Council member Anna Cumber advocate the introduction of electric
bikes into Jacksonville?
Conversation One
M: What's the best way to teach children how to save and spend their money?
W: You should make money a regular topic of discussion. Ifs best to start young, so
ifs instinctive rather than a scary subject.
M: In our family, we talk openly about things like the budget fbr holidays, how taxes
reduce your income, and how to shop around fbr the best deals.
W: Indeed. It's also essential to make money real for children through practical
examples. Working out how much we save using discount pizza coupons, fbr
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 8 页 共 206页example, is much more relevant than abstract sums.
M: We also give our kids pocket money, and the amount they get is linked to chores,
such as putting the bins out and emptying the dishwasher.
W: We do that too, and ifs paid according to their age. Two pounds fbr each year so
they can see some progression.
M: Teaching them to save is important. We opened a savings account when they were
young. After birthdays and Christmas, they would go to the branch and deposit their
gift money.
W: Oh, I hadn't considered doing that. In our house, we have transparent money boxes
fbr them to put small change in, so they can see their savings grow.
M: When the time is right, I'll start talking to our children about investing and show
them how the money saved fbr their further education has grown.
W: I am always talking to my elder daughter about the importance of saving into a
pension. She9s just started apart-time job and was thinking of not contributing to her
pension. Luckily, I managed to persuade her otherwise.
M: Yes, it's such an important lesson to learn.
8. What should we do with the topic of money, according to the woman?
9. How does the woman say money can be made real fbr children?
10. What is the common practice between the man and the woman?
11. What is the woman always talking about to her elder daughter?
Conversation Two
W: Welcome to Books in Review. Our guest today is John Banks, the author of the best
selling new book, Rewarding Success.
M: Glad to be here, Jane.
W: Your book has sold 2 million copies, but before we discuss why it's getting so much
attention, lefs talk about your background. You're an economist and spent two
decades teaching at universities?
M: I spent 25 years as a professor, actually, And then, for the last 10 years, I've worked
as a political consultant, advising politicians at the national level about problems in
our country.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 9 页 共 206页W: You discuss three of those problems in the book, improving public education,
reducing our nation's healthcare burden, and increasing personal savings. But your
ideas about education are the most controversial.
M: Absolutely. A lot of people think I'm trying to punish students who aren't doing
well, when actually my goal is to give all students more incentive to succeed.
W: I'm not sure I agree with you. Your proposal to pay cash rewards to students who
get good grades is a particular problem. What about students who don't get good
grades? It seems like you're blaming them fbr not succeeding, when poor
performance in school isn't a child9s fault.
M: But my proposal is not just to reward students with good grades, but also students
who show improvements.
W: Okay, another criticism of the plan is the cash rewards themselves. Where will the
money come from?
M: If students do better, we'll spend less on schooling. So, in the end, the rewards will
pay for themselves.
W: What about now? How will we fund the rewards in the meantime?
M: Well, by increasing taxes or moving money from other areas of the budget into
education.
12 .What do we learn about the man?
13 .What does the woman say is the most controversial?
14 . What does the man say is his real goal?
15 . What will be one option for funding the proposed rewards according to the man?
Passage One
I met three different people today, and each time, when I asked, "How are you?”
The reply was exactly the same. 'Tm busy”. Honestly, I hear the same answer from the
vast majority of people I meet. So I started to think: "Guess what? Everybody's busy!”
I'm busy, you're busy, everybody's busy. So you being busy doesn't make me
sympathetic at all, Because "busy" is the state of the world.
So I'm launching a campaign to stop people complaining about being "busy." It
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 10页 共 206页may sound harsh, but the truth is, nobody cares. In a busy world, "being busy“ doesn't
stand out, nor does it mean productive, creative, accomplished, or professional.
Steve Maraboli once said, "When someone tells you they are too 'busy', ifs not a
reflection oft heir schedule; it's a reflection of YOUR spot on their schedule." Donna
Lynn Hope has also remarked, "Busy doesn,t mean better. Fve never envied a busy
person- the one who likes to point out their busy lives to others.^^
The reality is, nobody is too busy- it's just about priorities. So the next time
someone asks you how you are, maybe respond differently. In my experience, the 'Tm
busy“ response is really covering up the fact that they're not actually accomplishing
their real purpose. And "being busy“ is the lie they tell themselves about why they can't
achieve it.
16. Why is the speaker launching a campaign?
17. What does the speaker advise us to do next time someone asks how we are?
18. Why do many people make the 'Tm busy“ response according to the speaker?
Passage Two
More and more people are taking up extreme sports, like snowboarding,
skateboarding, mountain biking, and many more. Why are these sports becoming so
popular?
One thing that extreme sports do better than perhaps anything else is to help you
stop being afraid. It may sound strange to say that their main function is to reduce fear.
But after a time, your fear response to other things in life will be dramatically reduced.
After all, if you can jump out of a plane or off a bridge, then you can face anything else
easily.
When doing extreme sports, you have to become more focused. You'll be pushed
to your limits, and if you aren't focused you911 make dangerous mistakes. Learning to be
this focused when enjoying extreme sports will help you to be focused at work, keeping
you more productive and ultimately more successful.
It's great to stay fit and healthy, but standard exercise routines and sports only
work the same muscles repeatedly. With extreme sports, you'll be working entirely
different muscles, and that means you get an all-over workout. Extreme sports also bum
a lot more calories than other sports. Skateboarding, for example, can bum as many as
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 11页 共 206页500 calories per hour. Basketball bums around 300 in the same time.
When you find that you can overcome the physical or mental challenges involved
in extreme sports, you'll feel superhuman and your self-confidence will be at an all-time
high.
19. What may sound strange to say about extreme sports?
20. Why should one be highly focused when doing extreme sports?
21. How can extreme sports benefit us more than standard exercise routines and sports?
Passage Three
Most of us have been in teams or organizations where we've had conflict with the
people that we're working with around the ideas or decisions that we*re discussing.
Conflict is natural. We all bring different life and work experiences to the table. We all
have different personality preferences and tendencies, We're not all going to have the
same ideas on how to approach policies, programs or problems.
But too often we get caught in this place where conflict is perceived to be
negative-something we want to avoid so that we can maintain the harmony of our
workplace. This could be because some people want to avoid conflict at all costs, after
all they still have to work together, But this kind of artificial harmony isn't the answer.
Productive conflict is a vital part of teams and organizations that want to push
forward and do more. Without conflict, we5re often stuck in this artificial harmony
where people don't express potentially innovative ideas fbr fear that they may start
conflict with others.
But if you're in a place where you have a basis of trust, conflict can be extremely
productive. It can lead to increased innovation and greater trust on teams. It may be an
uncomfortable process, but good leaders and healthy teams recognize that productive
and healthy conflict is an important part of how they function.
22. What does the passage say about conflict in organizations?
23. Why do some people want to avoid conflict at all costs?
24. Why is productive conflict important for teams and organizations?
25. What does productive conflict need as a basis?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 12页 共 206页2023年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
A police officer in the U.S. stopped a large SUV car that was going very slowly and
drifting across lanes on a highway. He expected to find the driver who was either very
drunk or having a medical emergency. Instead, the officer discovered a five-year-old boy
sat on the edge of the driver's seat. His feet could barely reach the brake, and his head was
only just high enough to see out of the windows. The child had taken the keys to the family
car while his teenage sister was napping. He then drove three kilometers across town before
getting on the highway, The boy later told confused officers that he was planning to travel
to California and buy a Lamborghini sports car. Although he only had $3 in his wallet, at
least he was driving in the right direction.
1. Why did the police officer stop the SUV car?
2 . What did the boy tell the police officers he was planning to do?
News Report Two
Mobile phones have changed the way we live- how we read, work, communicate, and
shop. But we already know this.
What we have not yet understood is the way the tiny machines in front of us are
changing our skeletons, possibly altering not just the way we behave but even the very
shape of our bodies.
New scientific research at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland,
Australia, suggests that young people are developing extra pieces of bone at the backs of
their heads. These pieces of bone are caused by the way people bend their heads when they
use the phone. This shifts weight onto the muscles at the back of the head and causes the
bone to grow in a way that is not normal. This process can be compared to the way the skin
hardens in response to constant rubbing or pressure. The result is a piece of bone like a horn
that sticks out from the head by the neck.
3. What does the report say we have not yet understood about mobile phones?
4. What happens to the skin when rubbed or pressed constantly?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 13页 共 206页News Report Three
A village is going to throw a birthday party for an orange cat named Wilbur, who has
become famous for making a regular appearance at local shops.
Wilbur has his own Internet pages as he approaches his 10th birthday on July 7.
Wilbur is both bold and friendly. He spends most of his time in shops and businesses
around the village. He'll just take himself into any shop, anywhere. There was one time
when the doctor's receptionist came back and he was sitting on her chair. Among his
favorite haunts are a local hairdresser, two pubs, and the Nottingham Primary School.
Lesley Harper, who runs one of the pubs, said the cat has been a big hit with their
customers. "He's been a regular visitor for most of this year J she told the Press Association.
"He's a very relaxed cat, happy for customers and villagers young and old to come in and
say hello.^^ She also said he is a cat of expensive tastes who likes his high priced cat food.
Sarah Godfrey, who is organizing Wilbur's party, told the local newspaper, "Wilbur is
part of our lives, as he is fbr everyone who lives in the village.
5. What does the report say the village is going to do for the cat Wilbur?
6. What do we learn from the report about the cat?
7. What does the pub owner Lesley Harper say about the cat?
Conversation One
M: So, where do you want to go fbr lunch?
W: I don't know. Do you have anything in mind?
M: What about the Sandwich Place on Camden Street?
W: Um, No, sorry. I don't feel like sandwiches today. Ifs a great place, but I think we go
there too often.
M: That's true. Remember that's where we saw Brigette Clark, the famous movie star.
W: Of course. How could I ever forget? There were crowds of people around her, asking for
a photo with her.
M: What about hamburgers, then? There's that American style diner on the way to the mall.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 14页 共 206页W: I like that place. Their chips are great, but their service takes a long time. And I need to
get back by 2:30 for a conference call. How about trying something new? We could try
Mario9s, the new Italian restaurant on the corner. It looks all right. Have you been there?
M: No, I haven't, but I've noticed that it has great reviews on the Internet. Ifs supposed to
be one of the best Italian's in town. I think Jeremy has been there and said it was
amazing. I'm up for that.
W: Cool. Have you asked Jeremy if he would like to come with us?
M: I already have. He says he can't He has brought his own lunch today, so he will stay in.
I think his wife made him soup.
W: Poor Jeremy. His wife is a terrible cook. He should throw that soup in the bin and join us.
8. What are the speakers talking about in this conversation?
9. Where did the speakers see Brigette Clark, the famous movie star?
10. Why does the woman say she needs to get back by 2:30?
11. Why does the woman say Jeremy should throw his soup in the bin?
Conversation Two
W: Hi, there. How are you today? Do you have a reservation with us already?
M: Good afternoon. Yes, we reserved our rooms yesterday morning on your website for
three nights. The name9s Patterson.
W: Okay. Let me have a look. Yes, we have it here. You brought the whole family with you,
I see.
M: Yes, the two kids, my wife and I, and her parents too.
W: Great. So we have a family room for you and your wife and the kids, and another double
room for your parents- in-law. They are right next to each other on the ground floor,
since you mentioned in your message that they have trouble with stairs.
M: That's wonderful. My father-in-law has had terrible problems getting up and down stairs
since his knee operation last April.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 15页 共 206页W: I'm sorry to hear that. And if you need any help to find transportation for the whole
family, we can definitely recommend someone for you.
M: We were thinking of renting a car, but we will explore all the options available for sure.
So, yes, that would be very helpful in comparing prices. We're also wondering what
tours and day trips are available.
W: We have bunches of brochures here. I would recommend getting out on a boat trip. The
kids will love it and there are so many islands nearby to explore. There9s also a great
night market further into town that has all kinds of food and cool little shops selling
souvenirs and local jewelry and clothing made by hand.
M: That all sounds marvelous.
W: Now, all I need is to photocopy your passports, and then I can get you all checked in and
show you to your rooms.
12. Who is the man talking to in the conversation?
13. What do we learn about the man's father-in-law from the conversation?
14. Why does the man say they will explore all the options available?
15. What does the woman suggest the man and his family do close to the end of the
conversation?
Passage One
Artificial intelligence agents play ever more influential roles in our lives. They do
everything from suggesting new friends to recommending purchases. They9re even
beginning to drive our cars. Another role that they are expected to take over is negotiating
on our behalf in commercial transactions or legal disputes.
So, ifs important to know whether using an artificial intelligence agent might affect
how we negotiate. Research indicates that it does.
In a new study, participants were told to imagine that they were negotiating fbr
something important to them, like a house. Next, they were told either that they would
negotiate fbr themselves, or they would program an artificial intelligence agent to negotiate
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 16页 共 206页for them. Participants then completed a survey indicating how tough, deceptive and pleasant
or otherwise they wanted to be or wanted their agent to be in the negotiations. For example,
participants could choose to be tough by making an opening demand far greater than what
they'd be willing to accept. They could also choose to express sympathy with their
opponent to appear pleasant. But they could also indicate that they,or their agent, would
strategically express anger toward the opponent to gain advantage, or they could opt to
convey dissatisfaction with the encounter so that the other party would think they were
losing interest. These are both examples of deceptive strategies. Participants were more
willing to employ deceptive strategies when assigned an agent to negotiate on their behalf.
16. What does the passage say about artificial intelligence agents?
17. What does the new study want to find out about using an artificial intelligence agent?
18. What did participants tend to do when assigned an AI agent to negotiate on their behalf?
Passage Two
New research has studied the effects of a seven-week healthy cooking course.
Academics measured the program's effect on cooking confidence and self-perceived
mental health. Researchers also measured participants9 overall satisfaction around cooking
and diet-related behaviors.What were the findings? Course participants saw significant
improvements in general health. They also reported improved mental health and subjective
vitality immediately after the program. These benefits remained six months after the
completion of the course.
What caused these improvements? Researchers have previously found the link
between eating more fruits and vegetables, and improved longer term mental health. This
would imply that the participants in the current study may have felt better due to improved
diet.
However, the study showed participants9 mental health improved even if their reported
diets did not change after completing the program.
Also, the mental health benefits were equal among participants who were overweight
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 17页 共 206页or obese, and those in a healthy weight range. This suggests a link between cooking
confidence and satisfaction around cooking, and mental health benefits.
Who benefits most from learning to cook? Gender plays a part. At the start of the
program, 77% of female participants were confident about cooking, but just 23% of males
were confident. At the end of the program, cooking confidence and skills were equal across
both counterparts.
This change in confidence could lead to a gender balance in home cooking. This, in
turn, could reduce consumption of unhealthy, high-calorie processed meals.
19. What do we learn about the benefits the participants gained from the healthy cooking course?
20. What do the new research findings suggest about mental health benefits?
21. What plays a role in determining who benefits most from learning to cook?
Passage Three
What is personal space? We often think of it as an invisible bubble of space
surrounding us that others can't enter, without causing discomfort. Research shows,
however, that we actually have bubbles of different sizes. Each of these bubbles applies to a
different set of people.
The smallest zone, called “intimate space”, extends outward from our bodies 18 inches
in every direction. Only family, pets and one's closest friends may enter it. A mere
acquaintance entering our intimate space makes us uncomfortable. Next is the bubble called
"personal space”, extending from 1.5 feet to 4 feet away. Friends and acquaintances can
comfortably occupy this zone, especially during informal conversations, but strangers are
forbidden. Extending from 4 to 12 feet away from us is "social space”. Here people feel
comfortable conducting routine social interactions with new acquaintances or total
strangers.
Those are the average sizes of American's personal bubbles, anyway. It is important to
keep in mind that personal space varies depending on culture and context. Furthermore,
there are significant individual differences. As we all know, cultural or individual
differences in personal bubble diameters are all too often the cause of discomfort. How did
these personal bubbles arise? According to research, we begin to develop our individual
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 18页 共 206页sense of personal space around age 3 or 4. The sizes of our bubbles are fixed by our teens.
These bubbles are constructed and monitored by the brain region involved in fear.
22. What does research show about our personal space?
23. What happens if a mere acquaintance enters our intimate space?
24. Where do people feel comfortable interacting with new acquaintances or strangers?
25. When are the sizes of our bubbles fixed?
2023年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
Have you noticed how similar you are to your friends? It may be because your brains
operate in harmony with each other.
We know that friends are more likely to be the same age, gender and ethnic
background as each other. Now it seems their brains are alike, too.
Researchers at the University of California scanned the brains of 42 classmates while
they watched videos intended to provoke varying responses. Some people might find a
romantic scene touching, for instance, while others would feel it was embarrassing.
The activity of friends9 brains was more similar than that of people who didn't know
each other, particularly in regions involved in attention, emotion and language. This
similarity was strong enough that it could be used to predict whether two people were
already friends or not.
The relationship probably goes two ways. We are drawn to people who think like us.
we then influence their thoughts over time, which may push their brain activity into more
closely resembling our own.
1. What may be the reason that friends are similar to each other, according to the recent research?
2. What does the news report say about the relationship between friends?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 19页 共 206页News Report Two
Two men who have been best friends for 60 years have just realized they are actually
brothers. Ifs reported that Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald met in the 6th grade at a
school in Hawaii. They have been best friends ever since.
Alan was given away for adoption soon after he was bom, and Walter never knew his
father. So recently, they made separate attempts on DNA-matching websites to discover
more about their ancestry. Walter was astonished to find that he matched with website user
Robi737. He knew immediately that this was his best friend Alan, whose friends call him
Robi and who flew 737 airplanes when he was a pilot. The pair were bom to the same
mother 15 months apart.
3. What did both Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald attempt to do on DNA matching
websites?
4. What did the news report say about Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald?
News Report Three
Amid all the election drama, air pollution problems and disease outbreaks, five
tourists9 good work is being spread online.
Yesterday two male and three female tourists were spotted walking the kilometer-long
beach, picking up trash.
One of the male tourists from Australia commented that although there was a lot of
trash, nobody was doing anything.
The beach was not as nice or beautiful as it should be. He felt so sad to see such a
gorgeous place littered with so much trash. Thus, he and his friends decided to grab a few
trash bags and clean it all up.
A man passing by decided to video their good deed and put it on the Internet. It was
unclear where the rest of the group was from, but they were most likely traveling together.
One local woman commented on being embarrassed that tourists were cleaning up
their beach. Another mentioned that it was actually the natives who brought food and drinks,
then left trash all along the island.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 20页 共 206页5. Why did one of the male tourists feel sad?
6. Who put the good deed video on the internet?
7. Why did one local woman say she was embarrassed?
Conversation One
W: Hello, Benjamin, Dan and I will be going for a run along the canal Saturday morning.
Would you like to join us?
M: rd love to, but I hurt my ankle last weekend playing football with work colleagues.
W: Oh dear, is it serious?
M: No, not at all. I landed badly during the fall and twisted it a little, but ifs not a big deal.
Ifs just a little swollen and I should be fine for next Saturday if you still want to go for
a jog then.
W: I won't be here next Saturday. I'm going to the zoo.
M: The zoo?
W: Yeah. My little nephew turns six, and he loves the zoo, so the whole family is going.
M: Oh, okay then. I haven't been to a zoo since I was a kid.
W: They are nowhere near as popular as they used to be when we were children. I
personally feel sorry for the poor animals stuck in cages, but there is no denying they
are fun and educational for children.
M: Do you know if Dan will be around next Saturday?
W: Yeah, I think he will. Just send him a text message. He's always keen on physical
activities.
M: Thafs true. Dan is extremely fit and healthy. He goes to the gym most days, plus tennis
two or three times a week.
W: So, what have you been doing to stay busy while you've had that swollen ankle?
M: I've been catching up on some reading. I was given three books over Christmas, and I'm
only now getting around to reading them.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 21页 共 206页8. Why can't the man go for a run Saturday morning?
9. Why is the woman's whole family going to the zoo next Saturday?
10. What do we learn about Dan from the man's description?
11. What has the man been doing since last weekend?
Conversation Two
W: Our guest on today's Book Talk is John Black, the author of the new bestseller, Retire
Early.
M: Thanks for having me on the show, Lisa.
W: John, your book is getting a lot of attention, partly because you write that most people
can retire by 40. Is that realistic?
M: Definitely. When researching this book, I interviewed hundreds of people who retired by
40.
W: Okay, but how much money does a person need to retire? I've read articles
recommending one million dollars as a good figure for retirement.
M: While most financial planners do give numbers, I don't think that's useful, as people are
living in different areas with different costs of living, and have different needs and
wants, which is why I suggest that people aim for financial independence.
W: What do you mean by financial independence?
M: Having investment income that's greater than monthly expenses.
W: That sounds risky to me. What if an accident happens or you get ill and need medical
treatment? Shouldn't people have extra cash fbr emergencies?
M: Too many people spend their lives working on jobs they hate because they're afraid, so I
counsel people to take risks. Retirement doesn,t have to be permanent, and if people
need to, they can go back to work.
W: But ifs not always easy to get back into the workforce after an extended absence.
M: True, but if you keep current with your skills, you will be attractive to employers.
W: Maybe, but how can anyone save enough to retire by 40 when most people can't retire
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 22页 共 206页at 60?
M: Simple, by cutting housing, food, and transport expenses, and investing half your
monthly income.
W: That sounds impossible.
M: I admit it's difficult, but it has worked for thousands.
12. What do we learn about the man's book published recently?
13. What do the articles the woman read recommend?
14. What does the man say about retirement?
15. How does the man say his proposal about retirement can be carried out?
Passage One
New research from America studies the role that the presence of individuals from
different social or racial groups has in influencing consumers9 food choices.
This research found college students were more likely to choose healthy food in the
presence of an observer of a different race, as opposed to an observer from their own race.
The same was true when they were with someone from a different university, compared to
someone from their own. Researchers say this was because participants anticipated more
negative judgment from an outsider group.
In contrast, they felt less judged by members of their own group. In one experiment,
participants were offered the choice between candy and fruit as a snack. When in the
presence of an unknown student from their own university, only 12% of students selected
the healthier option. However, this number was 31% when in the presence of an unknown
student from another university.
Other experiments showed similar results based on racial group. What's the reason for
this pattern?
The study found that people feel judged to a larger extent by members of other groups.
Because of this, they strategically use healthy food choices to make a positive impression.
There have been many attempts to help consumers make healthier choices, but
consumers often struggle to maintain a healthy diet. This research finds that one way to
promote a healthy diet could be to advertise the social benefits of healthy choices.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 23页 共 206页16. What was the finding of the new research from America about consumers9 food choices?
17. When 31% students in the experiment select the healthier option?
18. How could a healthy diet be promoted according to the findings of the new research?
Passage Two
For college students under pressure, a dog may be the best stress fighter around,
according to the finding of a recent study. "It's a really powerful finding,said Patricia
Pendry, who led the study. "'Universities are doing a lot of great work trying to help
students succeed academically, especially those who may be at risk due to a history of
mental health issues or academic and learning issues. This study shows that traditional
stress management approaches aren't as effective for this population compared with
programs that focus on providing opportunities to interact with therapy dogs.”
The researchers measured executive functioning in the students involved in the study.
Executive function is a term for the skills one needs to plan, organize, motivate, concentrate
and memorize. These are skills students need to succeed in college.
The researchers found that students who were most at risk had the most improvements
in executive functioning after interacting with therapy dogs. These results remained when
researchers followed up six weeks later.
Many universities provide academic stress management programs and workshops.
These are traditionally very similar to college classes. They often talk about ways to get
more sleep, set goals, or manage stress or anxiety.
Pendry acknowledges that these are really important topics and these workshops help
typical students succeed, but they're less helpful fbr struggling students. Pendry believes
those students may experience the programs as another lecture and feel even more stressed.
19. What does the recent study led by Patricia Pendry aim to examine?
20. What did the new study measure in the participants?
21. What does Patricia Pendry think traditional stress management programs may do?
Passage Three
Taking risks in business does not mean going into business blindly and then expecting
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 24页 共 206页great results. On the contrary, taking risks in entrepreneurship involves carefUl planning
and hard work.
Nobody can really be sure if risks will be met with success, no matter how calculated
they may be. But this should not stop you from taking risks, as risks are necessary if you
want your business to succeed.
Some risks may not work out, but an optimistic risk-taker will always look at failure as
an opportunity to learn. The willingness to experiment with new ideas is key to business
growth. As the old saying goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained.^^
Failure will teach you how to think and plan strategically. But just remember that not
all risks are good ones, and when you fail, learn from it and move forward.
Since most people tend to avoid risk, businesses that are brave enough to take risks
already have a competitive advantage. They are the ones setting the standard with new ideas,
fresh offers and bold inventions. Risk-takers are best at adapting in difficult times. Simply
put, when most individuals stay away from risk, it means less competition for risk-takers.
We don't know if you'll achieve what these risk-takers have achieved. But for as long as
you want to stay safe, and for as long as you are content with where your business is right
now, you will never find out.
22. What do entrepreneurs have to do when taking risks according to the passage?
23. What does the passage say is key to business growth?
24. What are we advised to do when we fail?
25. What does it mean to risk-taking businesses when most people tend to avoid risk?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 25页 共 206页2023年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
A woman was charged with allegedly violating a Rhode Island City law against
feeding wild animals. The 55-year-old woman's neighbors blame her for making the area's
rat problem worse. Newly installed cameras captured several rats active in the middle of the
day. Neighbors say that ifs even worse during the night.
The woman and her parents, who own the home, told reporters that she's being
charged for feeding birds. 66who would have known just loving animals gets you that much
trouble,she said.
It is prohibited to feed any wild animals, including birds in Rhode Island City.
Nevertheless, while the woman's intention was to feed birds, it is clear that rats were also
benefiting.
Anthony Moretti, director of the City Administration, said he saw more than 20 rats
near the woman's home. He said it will take months to get the problem under control.
1. What do we learn from the report about the 55-year-old woman?
2. What did the director of the city administration say at the end of the news report?
News Report Two
To prepare for eventually sending astronauts to Mars, NASA began taking applications
Friday for four people to live for a year in Mars Dune Alpha. That's a 1,700-square-fdot
Martian habitat inside a building in Houston.
The paid volunteers will work in an environment similar to Mars. They will have
limited communications with family, restricted food and resources.
NASA is planning three experiments with the first one starting in the fall next year.
Food will all be ready-to-eat space food. Some plants will be grown, but not potatoes like in
the movie The Martian.
“We want to understand how humans perform in them,“ said lead scientists Grace
Douglas. 66We are looking at Mars realistic situations.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 26页 共 206页The application process open Friday and they9re not seeking just anybody. The
requirements are strict, including a master's degree in a science, engineering or math field
or pilot experience. Only American citizens or permanent U.S. residents are acceptable.
Applicants must be between 30 and 55 and in good physical health.
Attitude is key, said former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. He said the
participants need to be super competent, resourceful, and not relying on other people to feel
comfortable.
3. What does NASA require the paid volunteers to do?
4. What will the participants in the project eat?
News Report Three
A Japanese mayor apologized Thursday for biting the Olympic gold medal of a softball
player.
Nagoya mayor Takashi Kawamura had praised athlete, Miu Goto, during a public
media event. He asked her to put the medal around his neck. Kawamura then bit into it.
Biting a medal in front of journalists and photographers has become a common pose
for Olympic medalists. However, it is only fbr the winners themselves, not others.
'Tm really sorry that I hurt the treasure of the gold medalist,Kawamura told reporters
Thursday. The mayor said the medal was undamaged, though he offered to pay fbr the cost
of a new one. Goto, however, has accepted the International Olympic Committee's offer of
a replacement, according to Japanese media reports.
The scene broadcast on television prompted thousands of complaints to city hall. Some
Olympians said they treat their medals as treasures and that it was disrespectful and
unacceptable for Kawamura to bite one. "I would cry if that happened to me,“ said another
athlete, Naohisa Takato. "I handle my own gold medal so gently that I would not scratch it.”
5. What does the news report say about the Japanese mayor Takashi Kawamura?
6. What did mayor Takashi Kawamura offer to do?
7. What did some Olympians say they would do with their medals
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 27页 共 206页Conversation One
M: What's that orange thing on your computer screen?
W: Ifs something I bought yesterday. Ifs a plastic sheet that blocks blue light. I have one
that I use to cover my phone screen too.
M: What do you mean by blue light?
W: Blue light includes natural light, but it also includes light that isn't natural, fbr example,
from computers, phones, televisions and other electronic devices.
M: So blue light is harmful and thafs why you want to block it.
W: It isn't that simple. Blue light isn't necessarily bad fbr us. In fact, we need blue light
during the day to be healthy. But too much blue light, especially from electronic devices,
can harm our health by weakening our vision and making it harder fbr us to fall asleep.
And poor sleep can cause all sorts of health problems.
M: Um not so sure that sleep is nearly as important as people always say it is. I haven't
slept enough in months because I have too much work to do, and I feel fine. And it's the
same for most of my friends. Poor sleep might be a problem for older people, but surely
young people can handle late nights.
W: Well, the research I've read shows that sleep is probably even more important than we
thought, and that not having enough sleep can contribute to serious health problems like
obesity and heart disease. And all the artificial blue light from electronic devices means
we have to try harder to sleep well.
M: Maybe you're right. I'm on my computer very late most nights, and that9s probably why
I don't sleep enough.
8. What did the woman do to her computer?
9. What does the woman say about blue light?
10. Why does the man say he hasn't slept enough fbr month?
11. What has the woman learned from the research she has read?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 28页 共 206页Conversation Two
W: As a kid, did you know what job you wanted to do when you grew up?
M: No, I didn't. And I got sick every time adults asked me what I wanted to be when I grew
up.
W: Ifs the same with me. And I'm tired of people asking that question of my 1 O-year-old
daughter. My daughter's stock answers are basketball player, pop singer, mechanical
engineer. Adults love that last one, as it's the perfect mix of the sensible and the
ambitious. When she was much younger, my daughter used to say she wanted to be
Queen of the Clouds, which I loved. Thafs the kind of goal-setting I like to see in
children, springing from their boundless imaginations.
M: Yes, we grown-ups can be tedious and limiting in our need for reality. And we teach a
very gloomy image of adulthood- that whatever our children's future holds, it must be
seen within the context of a job.
W: How utterly overwhelming and dull!
M: When people ask my son what he wants to be when he grows up, I have to swallow the
urge to say, “Hey, back off my kid's dreams!”
W: We can't dismiss the idea that teenagers have to plan to do something after they finish
school, and parents are entitled to hope it's more than simply spending 10 hours a day
playing computer games.
M: But asking "What do you want to be?" isn't going to lead a child to a fulfilled life.
Rather, it leads to false expectations and a high chance of disappointment.
W: Exactly. We should be helping our kids understand who they are, even if that means
letting go of who we think they should be.
12. What question were both speakers fed up with when they were kids?
13. What occupation do adults see as both sensible and ambitious according to the woman?
14. What kind of goal-setting does the woman like to see in children?
15. What does the woman suggest adults should do?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 29页 共 206页Passage One
Greater Internet access correlates directly with improved health care, education and
economic development. People living in rural areas, however, lag behind in online use,
which limits their access to government services, banking and job opportunities.
Nowhere is this challenge clearer than in Africa. Most Africans live in rural areas that
are tough to wire fbr Internet access.
Now, some phone companies are trying to introduce Internet-ready phones into
African markets. Certain companies have started selling simple smartphones fbr only $20.
Previously, the lowest price had been around $40, well out of reach fbr many people.
These devices are powered by software from the giant electronics company, KaiOS
Technologies Limited. Most companies are trying to make phones ever more powerful and
capable. But KaiOS went the other way. It made every effort to keep the essential
capabilities of smartphones, but strip out costs and preserve battery life for people who
likely have inadequate access to electricity.
The KaiOS devices offer an alternative to the more expensive models that remain out
of reach of many Africans and contribute to the digital divide. The body of KaiOS phones is
as basic as it gets. Instead of a touchscreen, they9re controlled with an old-school keypad.
They're designed fbr 3G networks because 4G coverage doesn't reach two thirds of
Afirica's customers. In total, KaiOS phones are made from about $15 worth of parts, while
Apple's top-of-the-line iPhone has $390 worth of stuff.
16. What are a number of phone companies trying to do in Africa?
17. How do KaiOS smartphones differ from smartphones o£ most other companies?
18. What are KaiOS smartphones equipped with?
Passage Two
For years, using recycled plastic to make plastic products was cheap. By contrast,
fossil fuel plastic was more expensive. Thus this sustainable option was an economic option
too. But now it is cheaper fbr major manufacturers to use new plastic.
According to one recent business report, recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 a
tonne compared with newly-made plastic. This may be because of consumer demands. They
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 30页 共 206页arepushing for more recycled plastics in new products. Meanwhile, new plastic is becoming
cheaper. This is because of a boom in petroleum chemical production from the US.
The price increase of recycled plastic could cost sustainable manufacturers an extra
$250 million a year. Smaller manufacturers may also be forced to use new plastic to reduce
costs. Makers of clear plastic bottles may also opt fbr new fossil-fuel based plastic to save
money.
Plastic packaging makers are being pressured to use more recycled plastic. This is
done in hopes of reducing the enormous amount of plastic pollution in the oceans. The UK
government plans to tax companies which don't use at least 30 % recycled plastic in their
products. Additionally, the government is planning to increase the quantity of recycled
plastic in the market.
This could mean incentives for new recycling plants. Additionally, recycling facilities
may be improved at a local council level and recycled plastic could be imported. This
would help increase the amount of recycled plastic in circulation.
19. What is said about using recycled plastic to make plastic products in the past?
20. What has led to more competitive price for new plastic?
21. What does the UK government plan to do about plastic?
Passage Three
At the Dreamery, a business in Manhattan, naps are for sale. A 45-minute session in a
darkened enclosure with peace and quiet costs $25. To be clear, this institution is no hotel.
This is a nap joint, it sells the idea of the nap as much as the nap itself.
Is a nap worth $25? The answer is obviously yes. Here, at this point in the argument,
ifs traditional for me to bring up all the studies that show the benefits of napping. But do
you really need experts to tell you that? Just look at the world around you at 2:30 in the
afternoon.
I've been working from home fbr more than 10 years now and the quality and quantity
of work I can do emerges directly from my ability to concentrate. I don't understand how
people have creative careers without napping. Every day at about 1 p.m., everyone faces the
same choice: sleep until 2 p.m. and then work until 5, or daydream and drift around social
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 31页 共 206页media and attend pointless meetings until 7 p.m.
The friends I have who still work in offices inform me their bosses insist that they take
the second option, and that napping is associated with laziness. I genuinely find it odd. For
if you nap properly, ifs like waking up from a full night's sleep and you can double your
day's worth of concentration.
22. What do we learn about the Dreamery, a business in Manhattan?
23. Why does the speaker ask us to look at the world around us at 2:30 in the afternoon?
24. What do we learn about the quantity and quality of the speaker's work?
25. What does the speaker say he finds odd?
2023年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
Police have reported a man being bitten by a 4-fdot snake when he lifted his toilet seat
on Sunday morning. The snake was not poisonous, so the man did not have to go to the
hospital, but his arm was medically treated at the scene. The police officer interviewed told
news reporters the snake didn't belong to the man and it was unclear how it got into the
apartment.
The snake was eventually captured by the local animal handlers and taken to an animal
hospital afterward. It was being treated fbr an outer skin infection. It was unclear who the
owner was. The snake may be taken to a local zoo for care if the owner does not come
forward.
Over the years, other creatures like frogs and fish have found their way into toilets. But
this was the first instance of a snake in recent years.
1 .What do we learn from the police report?
2 . What does the report say was still unclear?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 32页 共 206页News Report Two
Every week since last April, Andrea Belcher has been doing something slightly
unusual and amusing when she takes out her trash.
It all started off when a movie star shared a photo of herself putting her trash bins out
in a ball gown. This inspired Andrea to get dressed up to take out the trash.
She was too embarrassed to do it during the day. So one dark evening, she put on her
black off-the-shoulder gown and put her trash bin out. Her daughter filmed it and the whole
family laughed, but it seemed to go down well.
The following weeks, she found other outfits in her dressing-up box, and dressed up as
different characters and famous people, sharing her exploits on social media. Before long,
people started offering up their own fancy dresses for her to wear. And before she knew it,
she had done 20 weeks.
Explaining why she has kept up the videos, Andrea explained how nice it was to have
a little bit of fim and craziness that made people smile. Besides, it also helps to remind
people in the community to put out their trash bins each week.
3. what has Andrea Belcher been doing since last April?
4. Why has Andrea Belcher kept up her videos?
News Report Three
No money but still hungry? No problem! Welcome to Frank's restaurant where
customers are paying for meals and leaving receipts on a board. Anyone who is hungry and
wants something to eat can take one, no questions asked and hand it to the staff fbr some
food.
The idea for the board of free meals started after a donor came in with $100 for each
member of its staff. After two staffers returned their share, there was $700 leftover
according to Tarah Morris, the owner of the restaurant, so they decided to do something
more by creating the board.
The board of free meals inside the restaurant shows a host of potential meals already
paid fbr by customers, each costing about $10. The board has messages of kindness like, "if
you want more kindness in the world, put it here.^^
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 33页 共 206页The drive has been going on for two weeks and Morris said just under 50 customers
have picked up a free meal. There have been no reports of anyone taking advantage of the
situation. In fact, there are a lot more people giving tickets than receiving. It seems people
want to help and are driven by helping others.
5. What can people do at Frank's restaurant?
6. What does the owner of the restaurant say about the idea for the board of free meals?
7. What has happened at Frank's restaurant since the board of free meals was created?
Conversation One
W: Welcome to our program, Friends and Relationships. Our guest today is psychologist
Steve Pinker from MeGill University.
M: Glad to be here,Jane.
W: Hi, Steve. Our question today is why friends suddenly disappear. They may block us on
their social media accounts and stop responding to our emails. They simply vanish
without a trace.
M: The answer may lie in childhood, the way the person related to their mom and dad. Ifs
related to their attachment styles.
W: Attachment styles?
M: Yeah. There are two different attachment styles; an anxious attachment style and an
avoidant attachment style. When there is a relationship breakdown with their parents,
children with an anxious attachment style scream and cry to get their parents to come
back. But other children simply shut down and try to deal with their emotions by
ignoring the situation. And these attachment styles carry on into adulthood.
W: Does avoidance reduce their stress levels?
M: Not really. Their stress levels are actually the same as those experienced by the children
who yell and scream.
W: And I assume both might be termed insecure.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 34页 共 206页M: Exactly. And ifs a very insecure attachment.
W: How does an insecure attachment affect relationships between friends, co-workers and
romantic relationships?
M: It's the same as conflicts. So if you have a disagreement with a securely attached person,
they're not going to panic. They're able to hear what the other person is saying and
express their own feelings and thoughts effectively. However, an insecurely attached
person won't. They might either attack you, get defensive, or just disappear from your
life. To them, a difference, no matter how small in your eyes, signals the end of the
relationship.
W: That explains why they suddenly disappear.
8. What do we learn about the man?
9. What are the speakers mainly talking about?
10. How do children with an anxious attachment style react to a breakdown in their
relationship with parents?
Conversation Two
M: I hear you're going ta Japan soon.
W: Yes, thafs right.
M: Could I ask you a favor?
W: Sure. What is it?
M: I was wondering if you could get me some jeans while you're there. Pll pay you back, of
course.
W: A pair of jeans? Okay. I don't see why not. But whafs wrong with jeans here?
M: Well, I just love good jeans and Japan happens to make the best in the world. My friend
brought me a pair from there five years ago, and they still look new.
W: Really? I had no idea Japan made jeans. I would have thought America made the best
jeans because it's a typical American garment.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 35页 共 206页M: Yeah, I thought so too. But it turns out Japan still has some very old mills with the
traditional weaving tools used to make jeans the original way. Ifs a slower process of
making clothing. But the end result is surely superior. Also, the fabric they use is of a
higher quality and the dyes are natural. They have a denser weave,and are more durable
than any other jeans in the world.
W: That sounds cool. What size do you want and how much are they?
M: I have a 34 waist and size 30 or 32 in length. Either is fine. They should be around $500.
But make double certain they are made in Japan.
W: $500? Boy, thafs expensive. Do you typically spend that much on a pair of casual
trousers?
M: They are a little pricey, yes. But they are very special. Bear in mind, they will last me
several years and they're very fashionable too. I think they're totally worth it.
12. What makes the man choose to buy jeans made in Japan?
13. Why is the woman puzzled by the man's request?
14. What does the man say about the dyes of Japanese jeans?
15. What does the man say about Japanese jeans at the end of the conversation?
Passage One
Every time I walk out of a superhero movie, I feel the same way. I experience a sense
of longing, realizing that there should be more in life. The desire fbr adventure is a human
one. Superhero films capture this desire perfectly.
The plot of each superhero film has become relatively predictable; the world is in peril,
the world needs a hero, the hero is in peril, the hero resolves the peril, the hero saves the
world. Each film has an attractive lead, several expensive explosions, a few jokes to lighten
the mood, and numerous punches that land unrealistically well. Even though we basically
know what will happen, we keep coming back fbr more.
The elites of our society have rejected superhero films. They say the films lack any
form of artistry. These movies are criticized as being too simple. But they give the fans
what they want- entertainment.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 36页 共 206页No matter the form in which they reveal themselves, hero stories will always be
present in life. Ifs not just about being entertained, but also being inspired. One author has
mentioned that women desire to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure. "Most
young women want to be a part of something grand, something important.^^ It seems clear
that this principle applies to men, as well.
So next time you see your favorite superhero film, be entertained, but also be inspired.
Let that small longing you feel motivate you to make a difference.
16. How does the speaker feel every time he walks out of a superhero movie?
17. What does the passage say about the plot of all superhero movies
18. What do the elites of American society think of superhero movies?
Passage Two
Telling stories is one of the most powerful means leaders have to influence, teach and
inspire.
Storytelling forges connections among people. When it comes to our countries, our
communities, and our families, we understand instinctively that the stories we hold in
common are an important part of the ties that bind. This understanding also holds true in the
business world, where an organization's stories, and the stories its leaders tell, help solidify
relationships in a way that factual statements don't.
Good stories do more than create a sense of connection. They build familiarity and
trust. They allow the listener to enter the story, making them more open to learning. Good
stories can contain multiple meanings, so they're surprisingly economical in conveying
complex ideas in graspable ways. And stories are more engaging than the recital of data
points or a discussion of abstract ideas.
Stories about professional mistakes and what leaders learned from them are another
great avenue for learning. Because people identify so closely with stories, they can imagine
how they would have acted in similar circumstances. They9re able to work through
situations in a way that's risk-free. There are extra benefits for leaders: with a simple
personal story, they can convey fundamental values. They can offer insight into the
evolution of their own experience and knowledge, presenting themselves as more
approachable and then they are more likely to inspire others to want to know more.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 37页 共 206页19. What does the passage say about storytelling?
20. What can good stories do to listeners according to the passage?
21. What can leaders do with a simple personal story?
Passage Three
The U.S. was founded by successive waves of immigrants, and immigrants are still
contributing to America today- statistics prove it.
On two key measures of financial performance, immigrants out-perform native-born
Americans.
First, they're more likely to be entrepreneurs. From 1996 to 2016, the pace at which
immigrants started businesses was double that of U.S-born individuals. Immigrants aren't
just becoming entrepreneurs more frequently. They9re often succeeding. Over 40 % of
Fortune 500 companies had a founder who was either an immigrant or the child of one.
Another key measure of financial strength is debt level. Immigrants do better in this
area, too. Immigrants use credit less often for purchasing cars, homes, or starting businesses.
This results in significantly lower levels of debt than native-born Americans.
For example, 34 % of Americans bom in Latin America report no credit card or
installment loan debt. This can be compared to just 19%of the general population.
Why are immigrants doing so well? The values and habits they bring from their own
homelands help explain some of the success.
Unemployment tends to be higher in developing countries. That means more people
must become entrepreneurs. Credit is also scarcer in most developing countries. This means
individuals must save more in order to achieve their goals, or they borrow money from
friends and family rather than a bank. That means less debt and potentially better credit
outcomes when they reach the U.S.
22. What does the passage say statistics prove?
23. What do we learn about immigrants in the U.S. compared with native-born Americans?
24. What does the passage say about immigrants in the U.S.,in terms of financial strength?
25. What do immigrants do to achieve their goals in the U.S.?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 38页 共 206页2023年 03月大学英语四级听力原文全1 套
News Report One
African leaders plan to turn the continent into a continent without borders. They will
introduce a single passport policy, allowing free movement between countries. The idea
from the African Union has been modeled on the EU Schengen free movement deal. Europe
has abolished many internal borders. This enables visa-free movement across the continent.
Currently, 13 African countries have visa-free deals in place with each other. These allow
citizens to visit another country without a visa. Some countries offer visas on arrival. In
contrast, Americans are able to travel to 20 of the continent's countries without a visa, or
secure a visa on arrival. The African Union, which represents 54 states, wants to abolish the
requirement of a visa for Africans visiting other African countries. It also wants to establish
a free trade deal across the continent in the near future, as trade within the African continent
costs more than any other region.
1: What is the news report mainly about ?
2: What benefit will a free trade deal bring to African economy?
News Report Two
Researchers in Iceland found a new way of tackling climate change by pumping
carbon dioxide underground and turning it into stone. Other carbon capture and storage
methods store carbon dioxide as a gas. But problems include a high cost and concern about
leaks. This new method of burying carbon dioxide and turning it into stone is cheaper and
more secure, the Guardian reports. To turn carbon dioxide into stone, researchers with the
CarbFix project pumped the gas into volcanic rock and sped up the natural process, in
which the volcanic rock reacts with gas and forms carbon minerals. The gas turned into
solid in just two years, much faster than the hundreds or thousands of years researchers had
predicted. The research took place at Iceland's Hellisheidi power plant. Already, the project
in Iceland has been increased in scale to bury 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. One
potential difficulty is that fbr each ton of carbon dioxide buried, the technique requires 25
tons of water. However, the lead researcher said sea water could be used.
3. What new method has been developed to help fight climate change?
4. What is a potential difficulty in applying the new technique?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 39页 共 206页News Report Three
People in France are keeping away from the narrow French stick loaf in favour of
healthier, cheaper options, a millers9 association has said. The National Association of
French Millers says bread consumption is on the decline, with French people eating nine
grams less than in the previous year. The association is concerned about the effects this
trend will have on their trade and suggests three reasons why it is happening.
Firstly, the association cited changing diets, in particular, the switch to those low in
calories, as a factor in the reduction of bread consumption. This could explain why the
difference in consumption between genders is so big. Nowadays, men eat an approximate
average of 140 grams of bread daily, whereas women eat 80 to 90 grams. The second
reason they say is lifestyle changes in the country, with people dedicating less time to
breakfast when bread would traditionally be eaten with butter and jam. Finally, the rising
cost of bread is considered to be a factor, with the price of a French stick loaf increasing by
nearly 25% in the last 10 years.
5. What does the news report say about French people's bread consumption?
6. What do we learn about French women from the report?
7. What is said about lifestyle changes of the French people
Conversation One
W: Next, please.
M: Yes, rd like to book two train tickets to London tomorrow morning, please.
W: Okay. What time would you like to go?
M: Well, after the rush hour, I think. We'd like to avoid the crowds if possible. So,
probably sometime around 10 o'clock.
W: No problem. Just give me a minute. There's one here at 9:47, then one at 10:12, and
then a third at 10:26.
M: The one at 10:12 sounds good.
W: All right. Would you like to sit in first or second class?
M: Second class is fine. Thanks. Is there any chance we could have a window seat for one
ofthose?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 40页 共 206页W: No problem. And Fve booked those seats next to each other for you. The total price is
36 pounds, 50 cents. Is there anything else?
M: Yes, actually, we'll be taking our bicycles with us. What is the arrangement for that?
And will it cost extra?
W: Ifs no extra cost. The price will be the same. All you need to do is wait at the far end of
the platform. When the train arrives, tell the train guard where you9re going, and he will
help you secure the bicycles in the last carriage and give you a ticket. Then you can
walk down through the train to your carriage and take your seats. When you arrive in
London, hand the ticket to the guard and he will return the bicycles to you.
M: Thank you for the information. That's very helpful.
8. When would the man like to leave for London?
9. What is the man's other request?
10. Where should the man wait for the train?
11. What should the man do to collect the bicycles?
Conversation Two
M: Good morning. Our guest today is Karen Brook. Karen is the managing director of Cube
Movie Theater, located on Underhill Road. Thank you fbr coming, Karen.
W: Thank you fbr having me.
M: So, tell us about your cinema- Cube Movie Theater.
W: Sure. Cube Movie Theater has been around now fbr 11 years. It's located in what used
to be a hat factory.
M: Oh, really?
W: Yeah. There used to be many hat factories in Britain until around the 1950s, but fashion
changed and most people stopped wearing hats. So practically all of those factories had
to close down. This one, in particular, was closed fbr 47 years before we transformed it
into a movie theater.
M: I see. I hear there9s something else that makes your theater special. What is it that sets
you apart from other theaters?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 41页 共 206页W: We are the only movie theater in the whole country that only shows foreign movies.
M: Is there enough demand for that? I would have thought that in London, most people
don't speak foreign languages.
W: Sure, there9s enough demand. The fact that we have been open and in business for all
these years proves it. London is a very large and international city. There are lots of
people interested in watching such movies. Furthermore, I might add, all movies come
with English text at the bottom of the screen. So even if you don't understand what the
actors say, you can still read it.
M: Of course. What movie are you showing right now?
W: This week we're showing a musical from Pakistan. Ifs very popular.
12. What do we learn about hat factories in Britain?
13. What is special about Cube Movie Theater?
14. What does the man say about most people in London?
15. What does the woman say about foreign movies shown in London?
Passage One
Love them or hate them, smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives.
But should they be left outside the classroom?
Nick Gibb, Minister for School Standards in England, believes schools should ban
their pupils from bringing in smartphones.
Astrid Natley, a secondary school math teacher, incorporates phones into her
classroom. 66My school doesn't have money fbr tablets,“ she says. uWhen students use their
phones fbr research, they learn they have a powerful tool in their hands. If we stop children
using phones, we9re rejecting something they care about.^^
Meanwhile, Helen Lockhart, a registered nurse working fbr community education,
supports a complete ban.^^ I'm banned from mobile use at work, and my phone must be
handed in. If I'm caught with it in my pocket, I will be subject to disciplinary procedure,
which will impact on my career. We need to teach children how to behave like the
professionals they are striving to become.^^
Richard Stone, an English teacher, thinks there should be a clear separation between
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 42页 共 206页school and home. "Students should do things differently in the two environments. Children
are getting more than enough screen time in their lives without the need to bring their phone
into the classroom. The internet is too easy and too unreliable a research tool, so lefs leave
phones and laptops at home, and show them a different world in their lessons一one of
books and pens,^^ he says.
16. What do we learn about Astrid Natley, a secondary school math teacher?
17. Why does Helen Lockhart, a registered nurse, support a complete ban on smartphone
use in the classroom?
18. What should students do in the classroom according to Richard Stone, an English teacher?
Passage Two
Kate, a six-year-old girl, helped her brother wash windows to get a reward promised
by her mother, a purple doll that she wanted. She watched her mother order the doll online.
The next day Kate asked if she could check the shipping status, so her mom clicked on the
web page and then walked out of the room. Kate saw that her doll would be arriving the
next afternoon, but then she noticed something else, suggestions about other dolls and toys
she could order. 15 minutes and a few clicks later, with more than $350 worth of dolls in
her cart, Kate placed the order and ran off to play.
The next day, while checking on another online order, her mother noticed a long list of
dolls on the way. She was able to cancel two of them, but it was too late to cancel the rest.
She told her daughter that they were going to be returned. When the packages arrived, Kate
wanted to open them, but her parents said no. Instead of sending back the dolls, her father
suggested giving them to the local children's hospital. So the next week, Kate's family
loaded up their car and took all the dolls to the playroom at the children's hospital. Kate
was depressed at first, but then she sat with some girl patients and they opened up all the
boxes together, laughing and playing. She had a lot of fun and learned a really good lesson.
19. How did Kate earn the reward from her mother?
20. What did Kate do after her mother left the room?
21. What did Kate's family do after the packages arrived?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 43页 共 206页Passage Three
Can the date you were bom affect how successful your life is? According to recent
research done in Australia, the answer is yes. The researchers found that the time when a
person starts school has an enduring impact on their lives. Those who are relatively old,
compared to their classmates, have certain advantages over them. Previous research has
found older students achieve better results. They are also more likely to attend university
and become professional athletes, chief executives and even important politicians. But the
Australian researchers wanted to discover what was driving these differences. They
suspected older, more mature students obtained more self-confidence than their peers
because they achieved better grades.
To test this out, they conducted two studies. One was with high school students and the
other with more than a thousand Australian adults, age between 24 and 60 years old. In the
first study more than 600 high school students were surveyed about their tendency to take
risks and feel confident. In the second study, those bom on both sides of the cutoff date for
starting school were asked to complete online math questions and rate their performance.
They were also asked about the risks they took while riding bicycles and managing their
finances. The researchers found that older students displayed greater risk-taking tendencies.
While risk-taking can be considered a negative attribute, it's also a characteristic of
successful people, including athletes, political leaders and entrepreneurs.
22. According to recent research conducted in Australia, what has a lasting impact on one's
life?
23. What was the purpose of the Australian research?
24. Who were the participants in the researchers9 first study?
25. According to the researchers, what is one characteristic of successful people?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 44页 共 206页2022年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
Operations at one of Australia's largest gold mines had to be temporarily suspended on
Friday after a partial wall collapse at one of the mine's dams.
The wall collapse at the Cadia mine came just a few days after two earthquakes hit the
area.
The damage to the dam wall was noticed in the late afternoon on Friday when workers
found a section of the northern dam wall had collapsed into the southern dam.
The dams contain waste products of mining and can contain materials which are
harmful to the environment and human health.
The dams are generally constructed using earth-fill and are gradually raised over time.
The company was unable to confirm whether the recent earthquakes had contributed to
the dam's wall collapse, but said it was conducting a thorough investigation.
A company spokesperson said the operations at the site had been halted while the
investigation is ongoing and that the break had posed no safety threat to workers.
1: What happened at one of Australia's largest gold mines?
2: What did the spokesperson say about the incident?
News Report Two
Two boys and four girls were bom on Monday to the surprise of a young couple and
doctors who had expected five babies.
This was the first record of six babies being bom at the same time in that region. The
doctors prepared from early in the morning to help deliver five tiny citizens. They were in
the operating room with five teams of doctors, one fbr each baby.
The first five babies were delivered successfully, and all baby beds were occupied.
And then all of a sudden, it turned out there was another waiting to come out.
The doctor said the babies were in healthy condition, but could not go home
immediately. They needed to stay in the hospital for two to three months for medical
supervision.
The mother who is in stable condition could return home a day later if all physical tests
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 45页 共 206页came back normal. The babies, mother commented that they had already prepared room for
five babies at home, so they will have to rearrange things for their happy surprise. The new
parents have yet to name the sixth baby but are considering either Lily or Rose.
3. What did the hospital do for the delivery of the babies?
4. What did the doctor say about the newborns?
News Report Three
A Spanish island called Palmador has been bought by a family from Europe for 18
milion euros. The island is often described as heaven on earth by holidaymakers.
For decades tourists have been flocking to Palmador, which is located off the southeast
coast of Spain. They come to enjoy its unspoiled beaches and crystal clear waters. Its
natural beauty is protected as it lies inside a natural park.
Although Palmador is one of the most famous private islands in the world, its seafront
is public land and is a favorite destination fbr famous people. When the island was put up
for sale, it was offered to the local government but proved too expensive for the local
authorities. It is unclear whether the new owners have the power to ban tourists from the
island. But with their newfound luxury comes the responsibility for its protection and
maintenance. The island is less than two miles long and half a mile wide. It is said to have a
remarkable location that few other private islands of this size can match, according to estate
agents. Palmador is the perfect place to retreat to, somewhere to get away from the city
noise and relax in beautiful surroundings with zero stress.
5. What do we learn from the news report about the Spanish island Palmador?
6. What do holidaymakers come to Palmador to enjoy?
7. What do estate agents say about Palmador?
Conversation One
M: Hi, Christie's Gym Center. How can I help you?
W: Hi, I'm calling to ask about the newly scheduled gym classes. I'm just wondering if I
can get a discount on them.
M: Are you already a member?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 46页 共 206页W: Yes, I signed up two months ago, but I haven,t been to any of the group classes yet.
M: Can I take your name please?
W: Yes. My name is Carol Friedman.
M. Carol Friedman. Thafs right. And you signed up two months ago. Currently we are
offering existing members discounts off two of our brand new classes, hot yoga, and
advanced spinning, but the discount doesn't apply to any of our regular classes I'm
afraid.
W: I'm only interested in the new classes. So how much of a discount is there on these two
new classes?
M: The same discount of 20% is being offered to everyone at the door on a "first come, first
served^^ basis for the first month. Ifs a shame you missed out on the general discount.
W: I see.
M: But you can get 25% off if you sign up in advance. Which of the two classes are you
thinking about?
W: Well, I guess I am only really interested in hot yoga. Can you sign me up fbr the
10-week course on Thursday evenings?
M: Sure. Would you prefer to pay in advance?
W: No, I don't like giving my card details over the phone anyway.
M: Okay, then. As you are already a member, the fee of the class will just be added to your
monthly bill.
W: Thafs perfect. Thanks for your help.
M: See you Thursday.
8. What do we learn about t he woman from the conversation?
9. What is the gym center doing right now?
10. What does the man say is a pity fbr the woman?
11. Why is the woman unwilling to pay in advance?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 47页 共 206页Conversation Two
M: Well, I think that was quite a successful trip in the end. Don't you think, Jenny?
W: Absolutely. There are lots of great potential markets here in China. So I'm sure that the
head office in London will be pleased once we get back and present our research.
M: Okay. We've got a bit of spare time now. Can we discuss the return trip to the head
office?
W: Sure. Pve checked the availability of flights from Beijing to London on the 22nd and
you have a choice. There's a flight arriving the following morning, with a two-hour
stopover in Dubai, or a flight arriving at 11:30 in the evening, with a five-hour stopover
in Amsterdam.
M: Right. Well, thafs obvious then, isn't it?
W: Okay, so thafs Dubai. I've booked a room in a hotel about a mile from the office. The
nearest metro station is Earl's Court.
M: Great. Can you find a map that shows where the hotel is and send it to me online? Fve
never been to the head office, you know. I want to see if I can get one of those rental
bicycles and ride to the office just fbr fun. For the presentation, I'll bring my own laptop
and hook it up to their projector. Do you remember the capacity of their meeting room?
W: No, but ril check.
M: Just one more thing. I'll pay everything with my own card, right? And I'll submit my
claims form afterwards.
W: No problem. Just remember to keep all your receipts. You remember the trouble you
had last time.
M: Oh, don't remind me.
12. Why are the speakers in China?
13. Where will the man stop over on his way to London?
14. What does the man ask the woman to do?
15. What did the woman remind the man to do at the end of the conversation?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 48页 共 206页Passage One
A new study has demonstrated the importance of women's rights. The researchers
behind the study state that many parts of the world have made good economic progress, but
women's rights are often overlooked. Thus, they wanted to determine if there was a link
between protection of women's rights and public health.
The researchers analyzed databases which held information from 162 countries for the
period 2004 to 2010.
Countries were classified according to the respect they gave to women's economic and
social rights. There were three categories. They were high, moderate, and poor.
Analysis of the data showed that countries with strong women's rights had better
health than those where women's rights were not as respected.
The health indicators studied included disease prevention, reproductive health, death
rates, and life expectancy.
Furthermore, in countries where women's rights were most respected, but where
access to hospitals and doctors was below average, health outcomes were still better than in
countries rated as moderate or poor. This confirms that even with a lack of resources, if a
country has strong women's rights, the health outcomes are better.
Thus, the researchers argued that gender equality is not just a women's rights issue. It
is also a development issue. This is because better health aids economic development. They
note that the value of women's rights has often been questioned from an economic
standpoint. Some have argued that ensuring those rights would limit progress, but this study
indicates the opposite.
16. What did the researchers of the new study try to determine?
17. What does the passage say about countries lacking in medical resources?
18. W hat has often been questioned regarding women's rights?
Passage Two
Sunshine and high temperatures can mean picnics and parks and trips to beaches, but
they can make your body react in some strange ways.
First, sunshine can actually affect your breath. You may think that summer is the
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 49页 共 206页perfect time to go on a date or chat with an attractive boy or girl. But excessive heat can
cause you to lose water, which has been proven to have a pretty unattractive side
effect- bad breath.
When you are lacking water, your mouth becomes dry. Bacteria accumulate because
there isn't enough water in your mouth to wash it away. Sunshine can stop you from
sweating, too. The body's normal temperature is 36 to 37 degrees centigrade. But if it heats
up to 40 to 41 degrees, you may find yourself getting heatstroke. At that point, your heat
regulatory system can essentially quit, which stops you from sweating as your body tries to
keep water around your vital organs.
However, the sun can have a positive influence on your body by raising your energy
levels. You might feel like the sun is giving you extra energy fbr your day, which is actually
happening.
And vitamin D from sunshine can help your body to absorb certain minerals, which are
linked to building stronger bones. Therefore, I suggest you spend more time in the park with
your friends, but make sure you apply lots of skin protection and fill up those water bottles,
too.
19. What does the passage say about hot sunshine?
20. What does the passage say is a negative side effect of water loss?
21. What is said to be a positive effect of sunshine?
Passage Three
Left-handed people can find it inconvenient to do certain things, writing in a notebook
for example, but there are a number of advantages of being left-handed. Research found that
they were overrepresented among fighters in combat sports. Left-handed fighters also had
higher chances to win. This confirms the fighter theory.
Left-handers may also be better at remembering events. The explanation is that the two
brain spheres of left-handers are more strongly connected.
Being left-handed might be a factor in mathematical ability. An Italian study found
that fbr simple arithmetic there was little difference between right- and left-handed
performance, but fbr more difficult problem-solving, left-handers won out. No one
understands the reason for this.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 50页 共 206页Left-handed people may think differently. In one study, researchers showed the
participants columns of abstract illustrations and asked them which ones they would prefer.
Left-handed people were more likely to prefer the images on the left. Right-handed people
preferred the ones on the right. Both groups disliked stuff on their opposite side.
Left-handers are also overrepresented in professional, interactive sports. Researchers
have looked at the influence of being left-handed on performance and interactive sports.
Those that require the fastest reaction give left-handers the biggest advantage. So if you
have a left-handed child, you should encourage them to play table tennis, baseball and
tennis. Being left-handed maximizes their chances of success in these sports.
22. What does the passage say about left-handed people?
23. What is said to be special about left-handed people?
24. Why are left-handed people better at solving more difficult problems?
25. What should parents do about a left-handed child?
2022年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
The World Pipe Band Championships will take place in Glasgow on Saturday.
Over 120 of the world's best pipe bands will compete at the championships. Over 4,
000 pipers and drummers are expected to descend on the city for the annual event.
It will take place at the St. James Playing Fields in Glasgow on Saturday, 18 May from
10; 00 am until 7:00 pm. The event is free. Also, a free shuttle bus will run between the
event car parks and the competition site. Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes from 8:00
am until 8:00 pm.
Glasgow City Council says it is estimated to bring £ 300,000 to the local economy.
The first World Pipe Band Championships were held in Edinburgh in 1947. The event
first took place in Glasgow in 1948. It has been held regularly in Glasgow since 1986.
1. What event will take place in Glasgow?
2. What does Glasgow City Council say the event will do?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 51页 共 206页News Report Two
Summer doesn,t begin fbr two more days, but scientists are already sounding the alarm
about dangerous ice melts going on right now in Greenland.
The vast island usually locks away enough fresh water in its ice sheet, which if melted
can raise global sea levels by six meters. And research shows that in recent years its ice has
melted faster than ever before. This month, as temperatures in northwestern Greenland
approach all-time highs, researchers are encountering unusual, surprising levels of melting
ice in the region.
The most significant concern here is how early this is all happening. Greenland
experiences annual ice melt and growth cycles. But this year, the melting season began in
early May. That's a month earlier than normal and something that's happened only once
before in the historical record in 2016.
That means that not only is the ice melting very fast, it has more time to melt this
summer than it would in a normal climate system. Longer melt seasons like this one seem to
lead to much greater contributions to sea level rise than in previous decades.
3. What is scientists9 warning in the news report?
4. What do we learn about this year's ice melting season in Greenland?
News Report Three
Bundles containing thousands of pounds in cash keep turning up on the streets of
Blackhall Colliery in northern England, according to police.Residents of the village have
been coming across bundles of £ 20 notes- usually worth £ 2,000一in the former mining
village in County Durham.
The latest discovery was on Monday, meaning four of these cash bundles have been
handed in this year and 13 since 2014.
The bundles are usually left in plain sight and have been scattered across the small
coastal village. The owner has two weeks to collect the cash, which is then returned to the
finder if not claimed, according to Peterlee Police.
A Durham Police spokesperson said the money has been returned to the lucky finders
in all cases except yesterday.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 52页 共 206页Policeman John Forster said in a statement: "The circumstances remain a mystery so
we would welcome any information that will help us get to the bottom of these random
incidents.^^
He told The Northern Echo: "It isn't an affluent part of the world, so fbr them to find
cash of that amount and instantly think about taking it to the police stations shows the
community spirit there is.”
5. What happened on the streets of Blackhall Colliery?
6. What do the local police do with the money if not claimed in two weeks?
7. What did the policeman John Forster say about the villagers?
Conversation One
W: Ifs your birthday next week. What have you got planned?
M: I'm not sure. I often feel strange on my birthday. Ifs like my brain decides to have a
crisis.
W: It's not entirely unusual to feel anxious or sad around your birthday. Birthdays can tap
into a lot of things people worry about, including their achievements in life in the past
decade, or their accomplishments of the past year. Many begin to search for the
meaning of their existence, leading to behaviors such as ending or starting a relationship,
or plans, like starting a vigorous diet or fitness program.
M: I have wonderful friends and I love celebrating their birthdays.But I don't like being the
center of attention, receiving gifts and having a fuss made. It seems to trigger a type of
social anxiety. I think social media too can intensify things as birthdays now play out
more publicly. Birthday reminders can be helpful, but I kind of worry I won't be able to
drum up my own day and show it to look as exciting as it is supposed to be.
W: Well, to deal with the birthday blues, you should not isolate yourself. It's best to
gradually face your birthday with people you trust. That would help you learn
self-acceptance, or that it's okay to be the fbcus.
M: Perhaps. Or I could perceive my birthday as an opportunity to do something for others
like asking people to make a donation instead of buying a gift.
W: Exactly. Or even simply see your birthday as an opportunity to bring people together for
them to have fun.
8. How does the man often feel on his birthday?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 53页 共 206页9. What docs the woman say many people tend to do on their birthday?
10. What does the man say about birthday celebrations?
11. What docs the woman suggest the man do about his birthday celebration at the end of
the conversation?
Conversation Two
W: The metro was absolutely terrible this morning
M: Oh, was there a delay?
W: No, but the train was so packed that I could barely move, and it was difficult to breathe
too. At every station, more people squeezed in and I got pushed further and further
inside. When I got to my station, I could hardly get out. Once I did get out, I was totally
exhausted.
M: That sounds like a nightmare. Why didn't you take the bus?
W: The bus takes twice as long and ifs just as crowded.
M: Well, what's the alternative? Haven't you got a car?
W: I've got a driver's license, but thafs all. Fm saving up to buy something reasonably
small and cute, but it's still a bit expensive fbr me, and ifll take a while before I have
enough money.
M: Have you thought about getting an electric motorbike?
W: I consider that for maybe a minute. But honestly, I've just seen too many horrible
accidents involving those dangerous monsters.
M: What about those popular shared bikes? You could register to use one.
W: Yeah, thafs a possibility. There are always several of those bikes out in front of our
apartment complex.
M: Or you could just walk to work.
W: Well, it's five kilometers from home to the office. But you've given me a thought. I
could take a change of clothes and jog to work. But at this time of year, the air pollution
is a real problem.
M: Oh, yeah. I didn't think of that. You take a taxi if you really have to.
W: Well, thafs an expensive way to get to work.
M: Not if you use a ride sharing app.
W: Good idea.ril download one immediately.Thank you.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 54页 共 206页12. What does the woman say about her subway ride?
13. Why hasn't the woman got her own car?
14. What docs the woman say about electric motorbikes?
15. How was the woman going to get to work?
Passage One
Steve Miller began his career in IT back in the late 1980s. Being a deaf person in tech
required a huge amount of effort in organization. Because there was no email or text
message service, everything had to be done face to face, or by telephone. Communicating in
meetings was very difficult. He needed a sign language interpreter for every meeting, but it
was a huge effort to coordinate.
These days, although challenges still remain, it's a good time to be a deaf person in tech,
says Miller. Big advances in speech recognition technology have enabled communication
tools to turn live speech into text in real time on your smartphone or laptop, and sign
language into text as well.
New Tech coupled with improvements in hearing aid technology and medical
advances means that Miller is able to focus far more on his work. He has benefited to a
great extent from a tiny hearing device in his ear. It gives him a degree of hearing, and he
can use a variety of communication methods depending on the situation. He can employ
lip-reading and have meetings via video instead of on the phone. These things have made a
huge difference. He no longer has to worry about whether or not he can understand. He can
just concentrate on how interesting the meeting might be and what he needs to get out of it
in order to progress.
16. What do we learn about Steve Miller?
17. What does Miller say is making things better for people like him?
18. In what way can Miller benefit from attending meetings via video?
Passage Two
Colour is now spreading through our homes, up staircases, across wood frames and
ceilings, filling in neutral spaces.
According to one interior designer, when people return home, they want to see
colours that cheer them up and give them a hug. Pure white walls simply don't do that.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 55页 共 206页They don't look after you.
Another interior designer commented that certain combinations can key into something
on a deeper level, transporting you to a different moment in time. That's the power of
colour.
If you are thinking to try colour on some of your neutral walls, the advice is
refreshingly simple: Choose a colour you actually like.
Don't go for a colour because ifs in fashion, or you've seen it in a magazine.
If you're weary of full colour, test your tolerance with smaller spaces, such as the
inside of a cupboard or a bright window frame. If it gives you joy every time you open the
cupboard, you can start to take it further.
One can also paint the wooden frameworks the same colour as the walls, helping the
rooms look bigger. In the kitchen, painting the overhead cupboards and the walls in the
same colour can make it feel more spacious.
While painting the kitchen counters, a bold colour can make everything feel more open
and lighter. Additionally, a painted ceiling is a magical thing without being too obvious and
can affect how the space feels as well.
19. What do people want upon returning home according to the passage?
20. What does the passage say people should avoid doing in home decoration?
21. What can one do to make a room look bigger?
Passage Three
Parents often hear that reading to their children is critical for supporting development,
and the message is getting through to them. In fact, in the United States, a little over half of
children between the ages of three and five were read to every day in 2007, and 83% of
children in that age group in the same country were read to three or more times per week in
2012.
This is good news, because reading to young children helps their language and brain
development. In fact, recent research has found that both the quality and quantity of shared
book reading in infancy predicted later childhood vocabulary and reading skills. In other
words, the more time parents spend reading, the greater the developmental benefits in their
four-year-old children.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 56页 共 206页This is an important finding. But does it matter what books parents read? A new study
has investigated this question. It followed infants across the second six months of life and
found that when parents showed babies books that had faces or objects with specific labels,
they learned more. This is in contrast to books that did not name images, or books that had
the same label under each image. Books that named different characters also promoted
greater learning, So what does this mean for parents? Not all books are created equal, so
parents need to choose the books they share with their children with great care.
22. What does the passage say parents increasingly understand?
23. What can predict children's reading skills according to recent research?
24. What kind of books are said to help babies learn more?
25. What are parents advised to do at the end of the passage?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 57页 共 206页2022年09月大学英语四级听力原文全1套
News Report One
White meat, such as chicken, may raise blood cholesterol levels as much as red meat
does. This finding surprised researchers, who admitted they didn't expect that eating white
meat would lead to higher blood cholesterol levels.
In the study, researchers looked at 113 healthy people. The participants ate three
different diets. These were a red meat diet which is primarily beef, a white meat diet which
is mostly chicken and turkey, and a vegetarian protein diet. Each diet period was four weeks.
Between the diet periods, participants had a break, during which they ate their regular foods.
In addition, participants had blood tests at the start and finish of each new diet.
The results showed that white and red meat diets had the same effects on blood
cholesterol levels. Further, both diets increased blood cholesterol levels compared with the
diet built on vegetarian protein sources.
The team acknowledged that it is possible that white meat is better for our health than
red meat despite their findings. This is because other effects of red meat consumption could
contribute to heart disease independent of cholesterol. Their main recommendations are that
people eat less of both kinds of meat and more vegetarian protein.
1: What do we learn from the news report about the study?
2: What did the researchers acknowledge?
News Report Two
At around half past nine this morning, a trailer attached to a lorry turned over at the
crossing of High Street in Milton. Hundreds of frozen turkeys were spilled all over the road.
It is reported that nobody was hurt in the incident, but police said it may affect traffic and
Christmas dinners. With just one week to go before Christmas, there are worries that local
supermarket supplies of this holiday favorite may be affected.
A police spokeswoman said that officers were currently in attendance at the scene. She
stated that the driver of the lorry had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
The crossing on High Street is a well-known accident blackspot. This year alone, there
have been seven traffic accidents at this location. Thankfully, none of these accidents have
resulted in serious injury.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 58页 共 206页3 .What does the news report say about the accident at the crossing of High Street in Milton?
4. What do we learn about the crossing on High Street?
News Report Three
India launched its helicopter taxi service on Monday, promising to ferry customers the
40 miles between Bangalore's Electronic City tech hub and the International Airport
terminal in 15 minutes.
Customers can book their helicopter ride through a mobile app. The service, which
claims to be the first of its kind in India, offers only one route, but Bangalore airport will
add more once it gets approval.
Helicopter taxi is not an affordable option for many travelers. A car ride for the same
journey costs less than half as much. But Bangalore airport says it is a competitive
alternative to a car ride for tech executives in a hurry. "A large number of high-class
travelers, including CEOs, have to spend more than three hours by road to get there 一 and
that is a loss of time,“ a Bangalore airport spokesperson said. "This is not a low cost option,
but it is an option,“ she added.
The helicopters ferried around eight customers to the airport on their first day. The
company that owns and operates the service is called Thumby Aviation. It previously
specialized in private charter flights for government officials.
5 .What is Bangalore airport trying to do about the helicopter taxi service?
6 . What do we learn from the news report about the helicopter taxi ride?
7 . Who are the targeted customers of the helicopter taxi service?
Conversation One
W: Hi! I wish to buy some cheese for a barbecue this weekend.
M: What kind would you like?
W: Sorry, I don't know much about cheese. What type do you think would be suitable for a
barbecue?
M: That's easy. For a barbecue, you could have any cheese you want. I imagine there will
be different foods and people will just help themselves and eat at their own pace, right?
W: Yes, exactly. It will be very casual. We will just be a small group of friends gathering
together at Washington Park. There will be around 20 of us, including children.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 59页 共 206页M: Great! So you could have different types of cheese. How much would you like to spend?
W: Not very much. Lefs say, 30 dollars.
M: I would suggest having at least one soft cheese and one hard cheese. That will offer you
a good variety to suit different people's tastes.
W: That sounds good. What's the difference bet ween a soft cheese and a hard cheese?
M: Well, it depends. But generally speaking, soft cheeses are creamy and go well with
sweet things, like honey and jam. I would suggest something like this Spanish goat
cheese. Ifs only 15 dollars, a very good price. You can spread it on bread with a knife,
and then add a tiny bit of honey on top. Ifs delicious. Children love it.
W: OK , great! What about a hard cheese?
M: Yes, for hard cheese, I would recommend this Italian one here. It has a very strong smell
and a dry flavor. You can cut it into thin slices and eat it on its own. Ifs 16 dollars.
W: Okay, Til take both. Thank you for your help.
8: What does the woman plan to do for the weekend?
9: What does the man suggest the woman do?
10: What does the man say about Spanish goat cheese?
11: What is the woman going to do at the end of the conversation?
Conversation Two
M: Our school is replacing printed textbooks with e-textbooks next semester. I can't wait.
W: Really? What about the cost, not only buying all those tablets, but the software and
electronic infrastructure that goes with it, not to mention retraining all the teachers and
administration staff ?
M: Sure, the initial expenditure will be high, but much lower afterwards. Besides that, tablet
prices continue to drop and are becoming increasingly affordable. Anyway, tablets help
students learn up to 80% faster.
W: Not necessarily. Tablets have too many distractions. Students may pay attention to apps,
games and websites instead of their teachers. In fact, research suggests that people who
read printed text comprehend more, remember more and learn 30% more than those
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 60页 共 206页who read digital text.
M: Yes, but tablets contain many technological features that are not found in printed
textbooks. Think about it. Students are able to highlight and edit text, write notes and
search for information much more quickly than they can with printed textbooks. And
what about all those trees that are cut down to m a k e printed books?
W: Actually, manufacturing tablets is environmentally destructive and dangerous to human
health. The health impacts from making one electronic reader are 70 times greater than
those from making a single printed book. A lot of minerals are extracted from the earth
to make electronic readers. It does far more damage to the environment.
M: Yes, but the software fbr electronic readers can be updated instantly without the need for
buying a whole lot of new books. Thafs better fbr the environment.
W: But the core curriculum doesn't change that much. Printed textbooks that are not brand
new still contain the basic relevant information of core subjects.
M: Well, Fm looking forward to the change.
W: Fil stick with my printed books.
12: What does the woman say about using e-textbooks?
13: According to the man, how can the use of tablets benefit students?
14: W hat does the woman say about students using tablets?
15: What does the woman say about making electronic readers?
Passage One
In social psychology, the term "person perception^^ refers to the mental processes that
we use to form impressions of other people. It includes not just how we form these
impressions, but the conclusions we make about other people based on our impressions.
Consider how often you make this kind of judgment every day. When you meet with a new
coworker, you immediately begin to develop an initial impression of this person. When you
visit the grocery store, you might draw conclusions about the cashier who checks you out.
Obviously, person perception is a very subjective process that can be affected by a
number of variables, including the characteristics of the person you are observing, the
context of the situation, your own personal traits, and your past experiences.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 61页 共 206页One of the techniques we use in person perception is social categorization. In this process,
we mentally categorize people into different groups based on common characteristics.
Problems with this technique include the fact that it can lead to errors and prejudice.
Imagine that you are getting on a bus. There are only two seats available. One is next to a
small, elderly woman; the other is next to a muscular, fierce-looking man. You sit next to
the elderly woman, who unfortunately turns out to be quite skilled at picking pockets.
Because of social categorization, you immediately judge the woman as harmless and
the man as threatening, leading to the loss of your wallet.
Q16: What does the passage say we tend to do every day?
Q17: What do we learn about person perception from this passage?
Q18: What is the problem with using social categorization in person perception?
Passage Two
Despite smartphones and social media, young people today are as socially competent
as those from the previous generation. At least this is what a new study suggests.
For the study, researchers compared teacher and parent evaluations of American
children who started kindergarten in 1998, with those who began school in 2010. The
former group entered kindergarten when mobile phones were luxuries. The latter group
started school when mobile devices were widespread.
Results showed both groups of children were rated similarly on important social skills.
These included their ability to form and maintain friendships and get along with people who
are different. They were also rated similarly on self-control, such as the ability to regulate
their temper.
In virtually every comparison made , ratings of social skills either remain constant or
improved for the children bom later. There was one exception. Social skills were slightly
lower fbr children who accessed online games and social networking sites many times a
day.
Adults are worried when technological change starts to undermine traditional
relationships, particularly the parent-child relationship. The introduction of telephones,
automobiles and radio all led to moral panic among adults of the time because the
technology allowed children to enjoy more freedom.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 62页 共 206页Fears over screen-based technology represent the most recent panic in response to
technological change. But overall, the study found little evidence that time spent on screens
was hurting social skills for most children.
19: What does the new study suggest about young people today and those from the previous
generation?
20: What did the study find about children who accessed social networking sites many
times a day?
21: What is adults' worry about technological change?
Passage Three
It's easy to spend all day searching for inspiration. You can find incredible videos,
articles and news stories about the success of others. The problem is that consuming the
success and ideas of others is passive inspiration. Every time you read an article or listen to
an interview, you're practicing passive inspiration. You might learn something, but you
don't actually have to do anything. Hearing about other people's success isn't the same as
creating your own.
Instead, it is through the process of active inspiration一the act of creating things,
applying new ideas to our goals, and making mistakes- that we discover who we are and
what is important to us. Furthermore, active inspiration is what results in long-term passion
and enthusiasm. Watching someone else's success might leave you feeling excited for a few
minutes. However, taking action and applying a new idea to your life will inspire you more
than anything someone else can say.
Learning and listening can help you think about things in a different way. But creating,
producing, and experimenting is what drives you forward. Passive inspiration can give you
ideas, but active inspiration will give you power.
Too often we spend our lives consuming the world around us instead of creating it.
And what matters is the power your actions have to inspire you. The best inspiration comes
from the application of ideas, not the consumption of them.
22: What does the speaker say about inspiration from consuming others' ideas and success
stories?
23: What do we learn from the passage about active inspiration?
24: What does the passage say passive inspiration can do?
25: Where does the best inspiration come from according to the passage?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 63页 共 206页2022年06月大学英语四级听力原文全1套
News Report One
A new study finds that beverages containing added sugar might be harmful.
In the study, researchers analyzed information from over 80,000 women and 37,000
men. Participants worked in the health profession, They were followed fbr approximately
three decades. They completed surveys about their diet every four years. They also
answered questions about sleep and exercise and health every two years,
The more beverages containing added sugar that people drank, the greater their risk of
death was during the study period.
These beverages included soda, energy drinks and sports drinks. Beverages like pure
fruit juice which are sweet but do not contain added sugar were not part of the study.
The findings held even after the researchers considered other factors that could affect
people's health. These factors included lack of exercise and not eating enough vegetables.
They also included consuming too much meat.
The scientists say that their results support limiting beverages with added sugar. They
argue we should replace them with other drinks, with water being the best choice. However,
the researchers admit this is simply their recommendation. The study found only an
association: It did not prove that drinks with added sugar cause early death.
1. What do we learn about the new study from the news report?
2. What is the scientists9 recommendation?
News Report Two
German police appealed Friday fbr information about the possible owners of two
17th-century oil paintings.
Police said a 64-year-old man found the paintings in a garbage pile at a highway rest
stop last month. He later handed them in to the Cologne police.
An initial assessment by an art expert concluded the two framed paintings were
originals, police said.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 64页 共 206页One is a landscape painted by the Italian artist Pietro Bellotti dating to 1665. The other
is a painting of a boy by the 17th-century Dutch artist Samuel van Hoogstraten, date
unknown. Their combined worth is estimated to be around one million euros.
Authorities have not yet confirmed what will happen if the rightful owner is not found.
Nevertheless, it is speculated that they could either be handed over to the National Art
Museum of Cologne or sold to the public by the local government.
3. What did German police say about a 64-year-old man?
4. What is the art experfs conclusion about the two framed paintings?
News Report Three
A four-year-old girl has walked eight kilometers through a snowy forest to seek help
for her sick grandmother who later died of a heart attack. The young girl braved the threat
of bears, wolves and temperatures far below freezing. She made the journey through a
remote region in Siberia after waking up to find her grandmother motionless.
Named locally as Karla,she lives alone with her elderly grandmother and her blind
grandfather. As a result, the girUs mother is facing a criminal case. She stands accused of
leaving a minor in danger in the care of the elderly. She also faces investigation from
childcare services, who will also be asking why Karla was left alone with her vulnerable
relatives.
The journey took place in February when temperatures average negative 26 degrees
Celsius. Russian reports on social media suggest the forest may have been as cold as
negative 34 degrees Celsius. The journey was only recently confirmed by authorities.
But though she was suffering from the effects of extreme cold, the child reportedly
suffered no life-threatening effects. Last year, a three-year-old boy survived alone for three
days in a remote forest in the same region.
5. What did the four-year-old girl attempt to do?
6. What do we learn from the news report about the girl's mother?
7. What happened to the little girl according to the news report?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 65页 共 206页Conversation One
W: I've made a new friend recently. Her name is Susan and she's from South Africa.
M: How did you meet her?
W: We met over WeChat. She has very cool photos on her social media. The photos of her
hometown look amazing.
M: What's her hometown called?
W: Ifs called Cape Town. It's in the southwest of South Africa. She says ifs very green
and windy. The city was built by European settlers. And there8 9s 10 11 a big mountain that
overlooks the city. The mountain is called Table Mountain because it's flat at the top.
M: That sounds interesting. What are the people there like?
W: Well, Susan says South Africa is very mixed. There are black people and white people
and Indian people. Susan is white. She says her ancestors were from Britain. Many
languages are spoken in South Africa, but she only speaks English.
M: Didn't South Africa host the Football World Cup a few years ago? They must play
football a lot then, right?
W: I think they play football, but it's not as popular as rugby.
M: Rugby? What's rugby?
W: Rugby is a sport with two teams and the players carry the ball in their arms and throw it
at each other.The ball is not round and the players push each other. I don't really
understand the rules. I think it's very complicated.
M: That sounds like a very strange sport indeed. Is it only South Africa that plays it?
W: No, it's also popular in Britain and in other former British colonies like Australia and
New Zealand.
8. What does the woman say about her new friend Susan?
9. What does the woman say about Table Mountain?
10. What do we learn from the conversation about the woman's friend Susan?
11. What does the woman say about rugby in South Africa?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 66页 共 206页Conversation Two
M: Hi, Jennifer. I'm really struggling with this semester's workload. Do you have any
advice?
W: Have you considered making a study guide? It's a tool you can make yourself to take
the stress out of studying. Fve been using one since the start of last semester, and it has
really helped relieve a lot of study pressure.
M: Sounds like just what I need. My main problem is that my study folder is full of notes
and worksheets, and is badly disorganized, I don't know where to start.
W: Okay.Well, the main thing is to have everything in the right place. Whatever you're
reviewing, ifs important that ifs arranged for your particular needs of that subject, and
in the most user-friendly way you can. What kind of learner are you?
M: Um, Fm not sure,
W: Well, visual learners prefer using images, pictures, colors, and maps to organize
information. Logical learners have a linear mind and would rather use logic, reasoning
and systems. I'm an emotional learner, which means I need to connect to information
emotionally to understand it.
M: Oh! I'm very much dependent on vision as a way of taking in information.
W: Well, I suggest reorganizing your notes using color-coded sections in your study guides,
or using idea mapping to lay out the information and make it more quickly accessible.
M: So you think I should arrange my notes using color and pictures in place of text.
W: Yes, you'll probably start to grasp information a lot quicker that way. As an emotional
learner,! organize my notes into a story that I can connect to and recite to myself.
M: Thafs amazing. I didn't know there were so many different ways to learn.
12. What does the woman advise the man do?
13. What is the biggest problem the man has with his studies?
14. What kind of learner does the woman say she is?
15. What does the woman think the man can do with his notes?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 67页 共 206页Passage One
The golden rule is a moral principle which states that you should treat others the way
you want to be treated yourself. For example, if you want people to treat you with respect,
you should treat them with respect.
Different people tend to be exposed to different forms of the golden rule, based on
factors such as the religion in their society.
However, all forms of the golden rule revolve around the same concept. Namely, they
help you treat others better, by using the way you yourself would want to be treated as a
guide of how to behave.
A notable criticism of the golden rule is that its application can lead to undesirable
outcomes, when it conflicts with laws and ethical principles.
For example, if someone breaks the law, the golden rule would suggest that we should
let them go, because we would not want to be punished ourselves.
However, this issue with the golden rule can be dealt with in a general manner, by
viewing this principle as one of several principles that we use to guide our behavior as
individuals and as a society.
Specifically, in the example described above, most individuals and societies choose to
place laws and ethical principles above the golden rule. This means that they strive to
implement the golden rule whenever possible, as long as it doesn't clash with a more
important concept.
16. What do we learn from the passage about the golden rule?
17. What is a notable criticism of the golden rule?
18. What does the example of someone breaking the law serve to show?
Passage Two
Today, many large corporations stress the importance of diversity on their websites,
but current statistics show that the typical manager in America still tends to be white and
male. Obviously, the desire to bring about diversity has not translated into corporate reality.
Why useless? A team of researchers from the University of Basel published their new
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 68页 共 206页study about people's attitudes towards diversity at work. They found that people have a
wide range of opinions concerning diversity. On the one hand, many see value in diversity,
which can contribute a variety of perspectives, encourage new ideas, and generate
innovative solutions. On the other hand, they assume that it might be difficult to work with
someone who has completely different views, speaks a different language, or has a different
style of work.
The actual value they attribute to diversity depends on the decision-making perspective.
Doubts about the practicability of diversity have a greater weight if a person is directly
affected. In other words, when a person's own work group is involved, they tend to prefer
team members who are similar to themselves. But when people make decisions fbr others,
they typically put together a more diverse team. These findings could help organizations
become more diverse. Companies need to pay attention to who makes hiring and team
decisions.
These decisions should not only be made by those directly affected. People who are
not directly involved in the group's daily work should also take part.
19. What do we learn from the current statistics about diversity in large corporations?
20. What is the newly published study focused on?
21. What do the findings of the new study show?
Passage Three
Communication can essentially be divided into two categories: the written and the
spoken.
How the balance is struck between these two forms of communication一the point at
which one needs to be exchanged for another~~really depends on individual cultures.
Understanding when ifs appropriate to exchange one form for another can be a major
key to success in international business.
Many cultures place a much greater value on the spoken word than the American
working culture does.
In parts of the Middle East, you'll find spoken word agreements are seen as seriously
binding. A person's word is linked to their honor, so verbal agreements are seen as
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 69页 共 206页important, whereas written contracts are taken as memos of understanding.
Western working culture tends to place a high value on the written word, and this
reaches its highest level of intensity when it comes to contracts. In the US, France and
Germany, written contracts tend to be seen as something that must be strictly carried out.
By contrast, other cultures may not see written contracts as quite so binding. It can
prove a challenge to Western businesses if your business partner wants to renegotiate terms
that you thought were already agreed on.
For example, a Japanese firm may have signed a contract, but they may not feel bound
by every detail of it一particularly if circumstances later change.
Such differences in value that different working cultures place on the written word
tend to cause many problems when it comes to business relationships.
22. What is a major key to success in international business according to the passage?
23. What does the passage say about spoken word agreements in some Middle East countries?
24. What do we learn about the Western working culture?
25. How does a Japanese firm tend to view a written contract?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 70页 共 206页2021年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
United Airlines has apologised for mistakenly shipping an American family's pet dog
thousands of miles in the wrong direction to Japan.
The dog owner's beloved 10-year-old dog named Buddy took an unexpected 16-hour
flight to Tokyo following a mix-up by the airline.
The dog owner's family are currently in the process of moving. They were meant to be
reunited with the pet in their new home city in Texas.
But when they arrived at the United Airlines cargo facility in the southern U. S. state,
they found a stranger9 s dog waiting in Buddy9s place.
Both of the dogs had been sent to the wrong destinations on connecting flights from
Denver, with Buddy mistakenly being sent to Japan instead.
Buddy was given a physical checkup when he arrived at Tokyo's International Airport.
The dog was then sent back to the U. S. on a private charter jet.
'Tm so glad he's alive and coming home soon!^^ said the relieved dog owner.
“And an error occurred during the connections in Denver. We have notified our
customers that their pets arrived safely. We will arrange to return the pets to them as soon
as possible,a spokesperson of United Airlines said.
1. What does the news report say about United Airlines?
2. What did the spokesperson for United Airlines say they would do after the incident?
News Report Two
Officials at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson Arizona are celebrating the birth of a baby
elephant. Zoo officials say the baby was bom on Monday. It is a female and she weighs
nearly 130 kilograms.
Semba, her mother, is a 30-year-old African elephant. The pregnancy lasted 22 months.
Officials describe the baby elephant as "healthy, standing and nursing”.
The baby hasn't been given a name yet.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 71页 共 206页Semba has given birth before. Zoo officials said during this pregnancy, she was closely
monitored through physical exams and blood tests.
Dr. Sue Tygielski is the zoo's director of zoological operations. She said the elephant's
birth went smoothly and that there were no complications.
The new baby expands the zoo's elephant herd to six. That includes the baby's parents,
a sister, a brother and an adult female.
3. What do we learn about the mother elephant Semba?
4. What does the report say about the birth of the new baby elephant?
News Report Three
Three years ago, a couple was enjoying a meal at a beach restaurant. The restaurant
was built on a wooden structure above the sea-water. During the meal, the man's wedding
ring slipped off his finger. It fell through the wooden floorboards, apparently lost forever.
Recently, the restaurant manager Ryan Krivoy decided to replace the wooden deck and
he found an old gold coin, some $ 100 bills and a silver wedding ring while replacing the
deck.
The restaurant waitress Sasha Formica posted a picture of the ring on Facebook. The
post was shared about 5,000 times.
Three days later, the happy wife called to claim the ring. She even texted pictures of
her and her husband eating there in 2017 as proof.
The restaurant mailed the ring back to the happy couple. Meanwhile, Krivoy
discovered that the gold coin was very rare. It was from 1855 and worth as much as $ 2,000.
5. What do we learn about the restaurant?
6. What did the restaurant manager decide to do recently?
7. What did the waitress do about the recovered ring?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 72页 共 206页Conversation One
W: I can't believe that duck hunting is still legal in so many parts of the world. The
scientific evidence from countries like Australia, Canada and the USA clearly indicates
a decline in the birds8 9 10 11numbers.
M: But can anyone be sure if the decline is really caused by the hunting or by climate
change?
W: It's caused by both in fact. We see more droughts in countries like Australia. Ducks are
birds that feed and breed in areas where there is a lot of water, but their habitats have
been shrinking in recent decades because of the droughts.
M: And I guess with fewer places to inhabit, they concentrate in greater numbers in few
areas, which surely makes them easier targets fbr the hunters.
W: It does. My grandfather was a duck hunter. He told me hunting ducks and geese began
in the 19th century. They were easily found and plentifully available food source in
farming areas , especially for poor immigrants.
M: What do they use fbr hunting during that period?
W: They use new types of guns, and birds could easily be shot down in flight. And in such
great numbers, their commercial hunting of ducks and geese became an industry. Yet,
there5s no commercial farming of these birds nowadays. Their meat is hardly eaten in
Western countries.
M: No, duck hunting seemingly exists as the continuation of a tradition.
W: Well, ducks have never been popular with farmers like my grandfather anyway because
they sometimes destroy crops. In fact, farmers used to poison them in large numbers.
M: That somehow doesn't surprise me. Nobody places much value on the lives of these
poor birds or on their meat.
8. What does the woman find unbelievable?
9. What does the woman say has caused the shrinking of ducks' habitats in Australia?
10. Why is there no commercial farming of ducks and geese in Western countries?
11. What does the woman say about farmers in her grandfather^ time?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 73页 共 206页Conversation Two
M: Okay, Miss Bright. I've finished calculating. I estimate you have between 210 and 240
square meters of walls and ceiling.
W: So, how much would the paintjob cost?
M: That would depend on the quality of paint you choose. We carry two brands. One costs
60 cents every square meter, and the other 90 cents. The second is guaranteed to look
great for about 10 years, whereas the cheaper one will start to dull after around six or
seven years.
W: In that case, we would prefer the more expensive option.
M: All right, then. So including labor costs, taxes, and everything, this job would come to
$ 3, 000.
W: Um to be perfectly honest, thafs more than I expected.
?
M: Please bear in mind that the price includes moving all the furniture, and the whole task
would take two days.
W: Really? Why?
M: Well, we can't paint the walls without clearing all the furniture first. So every time we
paint a room, we first have to move the furniture to another room. So that takes more
time. Plus, it requires two people, which works out more expensive.
W: I see. But does that mean I could not live here in my own house during those two days?
M: That is correct.
W: Oh well, that changes everything, I'm afraid. I would have to stay with a friend or
check into a hotel. I hadn't considered any of that. I'm starting to realize that painting
my house is far more troublesome than I had anticipated.
M: This is usually the case. Most of our clients go through the same realization.
W: I see.
M: You have my number. Please feel free to call me for any further questions.
W: Thank you.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 74页 共 206页12. What is the woman planning to do?
13. What is the woman's chief concern?
14. What does the woman have to do while the paintjob is being done?
15. What has the woman come to realize at the end of the conversation?
Passage One
Homework is an important part of schooling, but the purposes of giving children
homework will change as they grow older. At the primary level, the main aim is to cultivate
good habits , like learning to plan and exercising self-discipline. During the secondary
school years, extending what is learned at school is positively related to academic
achievement, so the content of homework becomes more important.
So how can you help your child do their best?
Creating an ideal working environment will make it easier fbr them to get down to
their assignments quickly. Make sure it's free of distractions, and-fbr primary school
children at least-somewhere near you, so you can answer questions and offer
encouragement.
You probably have to help younger children plan their session, but ifs important that
by the end of primary school it's second nature. Get them to tell you everything they have
to do. Then encourage them to establish an order in which they do work.
When there are several different assignments, make sure they begin with one they
enjoy, so it seems easy to get started. It's best to take on the most difficult task second一
once they're settled , but before they get tired.
If older children have more than an hour of homework, encourage them to schedule a
short break to stretch.
If you encourage them to tell you what they've learned, they911 absorb the information
more deeply and remember it more readily.
16. What is the main aim of homework fbr primary school kids?
17. What does the passage suggest parents do to help their children?
18. What should children do to deal with multiple assignments?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 75页 共 206页Passage Two
Workers at Mexican oil company will receive a healthy incentive of almost $ 300 a
year if they meet certain body weight standards. To qualify for the bonus, they must
maintain a healthy weight. For those who are overweight or obese, they could receive the
bonus if they reduce their weight by 10% during the year.
Some applaud the policy as fair, because it rewards both the individuals who maintain
a healthy weight and those who are working towards achieving it.
But critics say the policy contradicts recommendations by many health experts, who
warn that a person's weight is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. That means
weight can be hard for individuals to control, which makes the bonus unfair.
Some experts say the policy is inconsistent with the science of what we know about
body weight regulation. These experts argue that focusing on wage is the wrong approach.
A more productive method of encouraging health among employees is to promote healthy
behaviors. For example, companies can give workers gym memberships, or encourage
participation in lectures on healthy eating and living. They can also reduce sweets and
provide healthier snacks in the office and healthier meals at the company canteen. Or they
can give employees more time during their lunch break to exercise. These are much better
and much more productive ways for companies to move forward on their employees9
wellbeing.
19. Who will qualify for the bonus in Mexican oil company?
20. What do critics think of Mexican oil company's bonus policy?
21. What do experts propose companies do about workers' wellbeing?
Passage Three
Campaigners have warned that the British government is not doing enough to prevent
left-handed pupils from falling behind their peers. They claim that thousands of children are
still being "penalized“ fbr being left-handed. This is due to a lack of action from ministers,
who've failed to take any meaningful action for years.
It is feared that a failure to address early-year challenges, such as poor handwriting,
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 76页 共 206页leads to much more serious problems down the line- with these pupils facing reduced
career prospects. Studies in recent years show that left-handed children are more likely to
suffer with learning difficulties and their scores are lower on IQ tests.
Campaigners feel ifs strange that children in British schools are penalized because
they happen to be left-handed. They don't understand why successive governments have
failed to act on this. They want the department of education to record which children are
left-handed and what their educational attainments are , since they make up some 10% of
the population.
In early-year education, left-handed children are struggling and making a mess of their
handwriting. Educators don't know how to deal with this. In many cases, there is no active
help and a lack of teacher training. Campaigners point out that a high percentage of the
prison population is left-handed. They say that these prison numbers are unusually high and
ask why it is the case.
22. Why are some people criticizing the British government?
23. What do studies in recent years show about left- handed children?
24. What do the campaigners demand the department of education do?
25. What do the campaigners want to know about left-handed prisoners?
2021年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
A 22-year-old Chinese woman who suffered from a persistent cough was shocked to
learn that she had a piece of chicken bone lodged in her lung.
The unnamed woman, from the province of Shandong, started to have coughing
problems when she was 7 or 8 years old. For 14 years, she made numerous hospital visits.
However, no doctor could identify any problem. Her uncontrollable coughing was a
mystery.
Finally, the woman got a full body scan at a hospital in the city of Qingdao. This
special medical procedure revealed she had a chicken bone stuck in her lung. Doctors
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 77页 共 206页performed surgery and removed the bone. The simple procedure went smoothly and the
woman has recovered fully. With the bone finally removed from her lung, the woman is
very happy that she no longer suffers from that annoying cough.
1. What was the woman's problem?
2 . How was the woman's problem eventually solved?
News Report Two
A white sheep named Prickles that ran away from an Australian farm during the 2013
bushfires, recently returned home .
According to farmer Alice Gray, Prickles was only a lamb when she ran away. The
bushfires that hit the area back then destroyed a large part of her family's massive property.
They thought Prickles had died in the fire. But instead, the young sheep escaped into a
200-acre forest near the farm. Once the fires were over, the family had to fix the damage
done to the farm, as it was such a large property. This included rebuilding about 50
kilometers of fencing. It was this huge fencing that prevented Prickles from finding her way
back. Over the years, the family spotted her a few times. They even recorded her with
cameras installed to monitor deer activity. But while they knew Prickles was alive, they
couldn't find her and never expected her to return by herself. Seven years late, they were
proven wrong.
3. What does the news report say about the white sheep Prickles?
4. What did the family do after the bushfires?
News Report Three
Tons of gold have fallen out of the sky in Russia after a cargo plane malfunctioned in
midair this morning.
The aircraft was carrying 265 million pounds worth of gold and diamonds, when the
door flew open- sending the precious metal back to earth.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 78页 共 206页According to the official news agency, Russian authorities have recovered more than
170 gold bars weighing 20 kilograms each. The plane was traveling from Yakutsk Airport
in a major diamond-producing region to the city Krasnoyarsk in Siberia.
However, the aircraft made an emergency landing in Magan after it began losing some
of its valuable cargo.
Reports suggest some bars of gold were scattered up to 15 miles away from the airport.
Nine tons of gold on plane AN-12 belonged to a goldmine company.
Police have sealed off the runway, and say it is unclear if it was an accident or an
attempted robbery. Technical engineers who worked on the plane prior to take-off are
reportedly going to be questioned by the police.
5. What is the news report mainly about?
6. What did the aircraft do when the incident happened?
7. What does the news report say about the technical engineers who worked on the plane
before take-ofF?
Conversation One
M: Hello, you're through to customer service. This is Michael speaking. Before we
continue, I just want to make you aware that this call is being recorded and may be used
in the future for training purposes. What can I help you with today?
W: Hi, my name is Jean Seimon. I recently bought an office chair from your company, but
I returned it about a week ago. I'm just calling to inquire when I will be able to get my
money back. It says on your website that your company will pay back the money within
three working days of you receiving the returned item. But ifs been five working days
and I haven't received anything.
M: I'm sorry to hear that, Miss Seimon. Whafs your customer reference number, please?
W: Ifs 389460.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 79页 共 206页M: Okay, 389460. I'm just looking on the system here. And according to our records, the
chair you returned was received by our warehouse on Friday morning. The payment was
made on Wednesday. But this seems to be a problem with your card number.
W: My card number? Oh, maybe it has something to do with my new card. It was sent to
me on Tuesday. Maybe the bank canceled my old one before you've made the payment.
M: Well, you'll need to update your card details directly on our website. Just make sure
you're logged in. And then under the description of your personal information, you
should see an option for updating payment methods.
W: I am logged in, and I'll give that a go.
M: Fil make a note here on the system for you, so that the payment will be made tomorrow
morning.
W: Thank you very much.
8. Why does the man have his conversation with the woman recorded?
9. What is the woman*s purpose of calling the furniture company?
10. What does the woman say about her bank card?
11. What does the man advise the woman to do?
Conversation Two
M: I'm getting a bit hungry.
W: Yes, me too. I'm starving. Are you going to prepare a meal for us?
M: No, sorry, I'm actually pretty worn out. Lefs just go out somewhere close to eat.
W: Well, I think we should stay in and save some cash. Can we get a meal delivered?
M: Yeah, great. I'll use that food delivery app on my phone. What do you want, fried
chicken, hamburgers, or fish and chips?
W: Oh, can we stay away from the junk food? How about something healthy?
M: Okay, well, there's a place that does salads.
W: Let me have a look at that. Yeah, that looks delicious. But to be honest, I'd prefer
something hot, not cold.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 80页 共 206页M: How about Indian food?
W: Thafs not the kind of hot I mean. Pm just not a fan of sauces. That made me sweat and
cry. I need something mild.
M: Okay. So would you consider Mexican? Oh no, sorry. There9s also very hot pepper in
that. Would you like some Italian food, perhaps? Ifs a bit heavy, but it's great food for
a cold night like this.
W: Pizza? Spaghetti with creamy sauce? I know it's really tasty and great comfort food,
but it's too fattening for me. Tm trying to keep a slim figure, you know.
M: Oh, you're really difficult to please. Well, there's a nice Chinese restaurant that
delivers.
W: Yes, I love Chinese food. Let me see. Oh, it's 15 kilometers away.
M: Thafs a bit too far away. Do you feel like Vietnamese food then?
W: Yeah, awesome. It's healthy, and we can afford it.
M: Great. Lefs order Vietnamese right away.
12. Why isn't the man going to cook?
13. What does the- man say hell do on his phone?
14. What does the woman think of Indian food?
15 . What does the man think of the woman?
Passage One
A new study carried out by the University of Lincoln has found a link between the
personalities of cat owners and the behaviour and wellbeing of their cats. The findings
suggest that, just as a parent9s personality can affect the personality of a child, the same is
true for a cat and its owner.
Owners-defined as individuals with high levels of anxiety, fear, anger, depression and
loneliness-were more likely to have cats with behavioural issues.
Such cats displayed more aggressive and anxious behavioural styles as well as more
stress-related sickness. They were also more likely to have an ongoing medical condition
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 81页 共 206页and be overweight.
The research also found that mentally well-adjusted owners had calmer, happier and
healthier cats.
The researchers explained that "Many owners regard their pets as a family member,
and form close social bonds with them.^^ The majority of owners want to provide the best
care for their pets and ifs therefore possible that pets could be affected by the way their
owners interact with and manage them. The study highlights an important relationship
between our personalities and the wellbeing of our pets. Further research is needed to
investigate the causal nature of this relationship and to look at how owners9 personalities
are directly influencing their pets' behaviour and wellbeing.
It is possible that the wellbeing of pets is driven by the underlying nature of the owner,
not simply by their conscious decisions and behaviours.
16. What do we learn from the new study by the University of Lincoln?
17. What does the passage say most pet owners want to do?
18. What does the passage say is still needed to understand the effects of owners '
personalities on their pets ?
Passage Two
“One 60-minute run can add seven hours to your life.^^ This was a claim made by The
Times last week. The claim was based on a new review of studies about the effects of
running. The review concluded that on average runners live three years longer than
non-runners and that running does more to extend life than any other form of exercise. But
there9s more to running than its health benefits. Research published in recent years has
shown that running changes your brain and mind in some fascinating ways, from increasing
your brain function to regulating your emotions. However, the precise effects vary
according to whether you engage in short, fast running or long-distance running.
For example, in one study, researchers compared participants9 ability to learn new
words after several minutes of intense running and after 40 minutes of gentle running.
Participants were able to learn 20 percent faster after the intense running and they showed a
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 82页 共 206页superior memory when tested again a week later.
In another study, researchers asked volunteers to jog for 30 minutes and then showed
them clips from a sad movie. Participants who usually struggled to handle negative
emotions were more intensely affected by the sad clips, just as you'd expect. But crucially,
this was less so if they had completed the 30-minute jog. The researchers said moderate
exercise appears to have helped those participants to be less vulnerable to the impact of the
sad movie.
19. What did the new review of studies claim?
20. What is one effect that running has on people according to recent research?
21. What did another study find about the participants after they had a 30-minute jog?
Passage Three
Welcome to the tour of the Hill House. This house built in 1904 is one of the most
well-known works of Charles Hill, the famous architect. It was designed and built fbr a
local entrepreneur and his family. Before starting the tour, let me give you a brief
introduction about the design of this amazing building.
Prior to beginning his design, the architect spent some time in the clienfs old home,
observing their life and studying their habits. This meant that he could design the house
according to the needs of the family.
The clienfs main desire was to have a home with the unique design, so the architect
was given complete freedom. The building style is radically different from what was the
fashion of the period. At the time, most large homes were constructed of timber and brick.
This one, however, is made of concrete, a novel construction material in those days. The
interior of the house, including fittings and furniture, was also designed by the same person.
Most of the furniture you will see is original and in good condition. However, those pieces
in the children's bedrooms are copies built to the designs of the architect. Fortunately, all
the blueprints for both the building and its contents have been preserved, so we've been
able to replace badly damaged furniture. Lefs begin our tour, starting from the rooms.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 83页 共 206页22. What do we learn about the speaker?
23. What did the architect do before beginning his design?
24. What did the architect9s client mainly want?
25. What do we learn about the pieces of furniture in the children's bedrooms?
2021年06月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
And finally in tonight9 s news, a 9-year-old boy named Joe, told not to draw in class,
wins a job decorating a restaurant with his drawings. Rather than shutting down the habit of
drawing in his school's workbook, Joe's parents decided to encourage his creativity by
sending their son to an after-school art class. His teacher recognized Joe's talent and posted
all his work online, which led to something pretty wonderful.
A restaurant named “Number 4" in Newcastle contacted Joe's teacher to ask if the
9-year-old could come and decorate its dining-room with his drawings. Every day after
school, Joe's dad drives him to the restaurant so he can put his ideas straight on the wall.
Once he's all done, the work will remain there permanently.
Joe's dad said Joe is a really talented little boy. He's excellent at school. He's great at
football. But drawing is definitely what he is most passionate about.
QI: What did Joe's parents decide to do?
Q2: What did the restaurant "Number 4" do?
News Report Two
Kirsteen Marshall, a 34-year-old mum of one, posted a tearful video on social media
Wednesday, begging for the safe return of her beloved pet dog. After combing through the
security video outside a Gorbals shop, Kirsteen has now posted an image of a man
suspected of stealing the dog. The image appears to show a man carrying the dog in his
arms. Kirsteen also believes the video obtained from the shop shows the dog being stolen
by a man before driving off in a car which had been waiting nearby. The family is now
offering a £5,000 reward fbr the safe return of the dog after launching a social media
campaign to find the thief. The dog is six and a half years old and was last seen wearing a
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 84页 共 206页red collar. Kirsteen said: "We'll pay that to anyone who brings him home as long as they
are not responsible for his disappearance.^^ Police are investigating the incident.
Q3: What is Kirsteen Marshall trying to do?
Q4: What does the news report say about Kirsteen Marshairs family?
News Report Three
London's Eggs & Bread cafe offers boiled eggs, toast, jam, and bacon, as well as tea,
coflee and orange juice. But at the end of the meal, customers don't have to worry about the
bill. Hungry customers can pay whatever amount they can afford to eat at the cafe, or
nothing at all.
Owner Guy Wilson says his cafe aims to build community, rather than profits. He
wants to provide a bridge for people to connect in an area that has been divided by class and
wealth by providing affordable breakfasts.
The cafe is open in the mornings every day of the year and has two members of staff or
supervisors on shift every day. The cafe doesn't use volunteers, but pays its staff to ensure
consistency in its service. It doesn't take donations and doesn't want to be seen as a charity.
Mr. Wilson says, when people start to know other people around them, they realize
they're not that different. And whatever their financial background, or their educational
background, most people will have something in common with each other. He says ifs
important that his cafe can offer his customers security and permanence.
Q5: What does Guy Wilson say his cafe aims to do?
Q6: What does the news report say about Eggs & Bread cafe?
Conversation One
M: So what time do you think we should have the party on Saturday?
W: How about inviting people to come at 6:00 p.m.? Then we'll have the afternoon to
prepare food and drink,and stuff like that.
M: Yes, I was thinking that around 6:00 would be good too. What food should we provide ?
W: Well, I had thought about baking a cake, and some biscuits. And now I think we should
prepare some sandwiches and snacks, and some other kinds of food, so that people can
just help themselves, rather than getting everyone to sit down at the table to eat a meal.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 85页 共 206页I think thafs a bit too formal. Ifs better to let people walk around and talk to each other,
or sit where they like.
M: Yes, that sounds good, ril go to the supermarket to get some drinks. I think I might try
that big new supermarket on the other side of town and see what they have. Fve not
been there before. I think we should get some beer and wine, and some fruit juice, and
other soft drinks. What do you think?
W: Sounds great. I think those drinks will be enough. And I heard that the new supermarket
offers some big discounts to attract customers. So going there should be a great idea.
What should we do about music?
M: Maybe we should ask Paul to bring his computer and speakers, so that we can play some
music. He has a great collection of different stuff.
W: Yes. All right.
Q 8: What are the speakers mainly talking about?
Q 9: Why does the woman say it is a good idea to serve foods that guests can help themselves to?
Q10: What does the woman say about the new supermarket?
Qll: What does the man suggest they ask Paul to do?
Conversation Two
W: I'm thinking of buying a car. I wouldn't need to use it every day, but I think it would be
very convenient to have one for the weekends.
M: Thafs exciting. Would this be your first car?
W: No, I actually owned a car for a little while when 1 lived in Miami. You see in America,
many cities don't have good public transport. So, most people need their own car to get
around.
M: I see. So have you got your mind set on a specific model?
W: No, not really. Fve heard that German cars are very reliable, but I haven't decided on a
specific model yet. Td also like it to be small, so that it's easy to drive in the city.
M: I have a friend who sells second-hand cars. In fact, I think his family owns the business.
He's a really nice guy, and he knows a lot about cars. I could give you his phone
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 86页 共 206页number if you want, and you could call him and ask him questions.
W: Hmm, that's nice of you, but I don't want to feel obliged to buy one of his cars.
M: Oh, no, he's not like that. He's a good friend of mine, and he would never try to pressure
you or cheat you.
W: Well, if you trust him, then, I guess it should be OK. To be honest, I could use some
help in deciding what type of vehicle would best suit my needs.Speaking to an expert
would be a good idea.
M: Exactly. You have nothing to worry about. He's a lovely guy, and he'll be happy to
help.
Q12: Why does the woman want to have a car?
Q13: What does the woman say about German cars?
Q14: What does the man recommend the woman do?
Q15: What do we learn about the man's friend from the conversation?
Passage One
Pigs are not native to North America. They were first introduced to California by
Spanish and Russian explorers and settlers many centuries ago. In the early times, pigs were
allowed to wander freely in search of.fbod. This practice also allowed many pigs to escape
from farms and live in the wild, which became a problem.
In fact, as one of the most damaging invasive species on the continent, wild pigs cause
millions of dollars in crop damage yearly. They also harbor dozens of diseases that threaten
both humans and farm animals. Forest patches with wild pigs have been found to have
considerably reduced plant and animal diversity. In addition to either eating other animals
or their food supply, wild pigs damage native habitats by rooting up grasses and rubbing on
trees. Their activities may also create opportunities fbr invasive plants to colonize these
areas. Wild pigs will eat almost anything containing calories. Mice, deer, birds, snakes and
frogs are among their victims. They can also harm other wild species through indirect
competition, rather than eating them or shrinking their food supply. On one particular
United States island, wild pigs themselves became an attractive food source for a species of
mainland eagle. The eagles began breeding on the island, and also feeding on a species of
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 87页 共 206页native fox. The foxes were almost wiped out completely.
Q16: What do we learn about early pigs in North America?
Q17: Why are wild pigs a threat to humans?
Q18: What does the passage say about the native foxes on the US island?
Passage Two
A pair of entrepreneurs are planning to build and launch a spacecraft that would carry
and roast coffee beans in outer space.
The craft will use the heat of re-entry to roast coffee beans as they float inside it in a
pressurised tank. The effect would be to roast the beans all over, and produce perfect coffee.
The businessmen say that on Earth, beans can easily break apart and get burned in the
roaster. But if gravity is removed, the beans float around in a heated oven, received 360
degrees of evenly distributed heat and roast to near perfection.
The spacecraft will reach a height of around 200 km. The beans would then be roasted
in the heat generated by the craft9s 20-minute re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
Temperatures in the pressurised tank will be kept to around 200℃.
Once back on Earth, the planefs first space-roasted beans would be used to make
coflee that would be sold for the first time in Dubai. This is where the pair's company is
based, it is not clear how much they would charge for a cup.
Surprisingly, the Space Roaster concept一 should it go ahead一 will not be the first
attempt to take coffee into space. In 2015, two Italian companies, collaborated on the
construction of a similar type of spacecraft, which was the first coffee machine designed for
use in space.
Q19: What are a pair of entrepreneurs planning to do?
Q20: What does the passage say about coffee beans roasted on Earth?
Q21: What did the two Italian companies do in 2015?
Passage Three
In cold and snowy Alaska, there's a village called Takotna. It has a population of a
mere 49 souls. Each March, this tiny village swells up in numbers, because it is located in
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 88页 共 206页the middle of a race that takes place every year. It is a seven-day race, called the Iditarod
Trail and participants stop at Takotna for their obligatory 24-hour rest. Lucky fbr them,
Takotna is famous for its delicious fruit pies.
Weeks before the competitors arrive, the residents of Takotna start preparing for what
is without question their biggest event of the year. The whole village chips in to help,
including the kids, who end up developing their baking skills at an early age. The exhausted
and hungry racers are greeted with delightful pies of all kinds, such as apple, orange, lemon
or banana. They consume the pies as stomach warming race fuel. The toughness of the race
allows fbr racers to eat pretty much whatever they want. The more calories, the better.
Takotna has gained a reputation for its dessert-based hospitality since the 1970s. It
started with one person, Jan Newton. Jan moved from Idaho with her husband in 1972 and
opened a restaurant. Her rich and filling-fruit pies quickly got the racers' attention, and the
village gained some fame as a result. Proud residents then started to refer to Jan as Queen of
Takotna.
Q22: Why do a lot of people come to the village of Takotna every March?
Q23: What is the village of Takotna famous for?
Q24: Who comes to help with the event of the year?
Q25: What does the passage say about Jan Newton?
2021年06月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
An 81-year-old man ended up in Germany by accident after trying to get from
Newcastle, Great Britain, to Rome, Italy. The old age pensioner was on a mission to see the
Pope, who is head of the Catholic Church, and decided to make his way there by car. He
was surprised when his GPS system told him he had arrived, although there were no signs
of any of the famous buildings or architecture. The man parked but didn't put on the
handbrake of his car properly. His car rolled backwards, and in a striking display of irony,
hit a sign saying "Rom" - the small town in North Germany he had mistakenly plugged
into the GPS system. Police said that the car had come to a halt after hitting the sign, but did
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 89页 共 206页not appear to be seriously damaged, although an ambulance was called to check on the
pensioner. The man, who lives in the UK and is originally Italian, might have been
confused by the fact that Rome is written "Roma" in Italian and "Rom" in German.
QI: What did the old age pensioner plan to do?
Q2: What finally happened to the old man?
News Report Two
Glasgow has pledged to become the first carbon neutral city in the UK. The city's
council and ScottishPower have announced a range of strategies in an attempt to reduce
carbon emissions ahead of the new national target of 2045.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the pledge and said: "Today's announcement
between ScottishPower and Glasgow City Council —— to make Glasgow the UK's first
net-zero city- is a very welcome step. Reaching our goals will need exactly this kind of
partnership approach- with government, business, local authorities and citizens all playing
their part.^^
Speaking ahead of the All Energy Conference being held in Glasgow, ScottishPower
chief executive Keith Anderson said: "We have a large supply of renewable energy on our
doorstep and one of the only two low emission zones in action across the UK. Now, we
need to invest in the technologies and programmes that transform the rest of Glasgow's
economy and make us net zero before anyone else.”
Q3: What do we learn from the news report?
Q4: What did ScottishPower^ chief executive say ahead of the All Energy Conference?
News Report Three
A Japanese IT firm has officially introduced an"office cat“ policy to combat the
stressful environment of the workplace.
A total of nine furry friends freely wander around in the office and do whatever their
little hearts desire.
Hidenobu Fukuda, who heads the firm, introduced the pet policy, upon request from
one of his employees, allowing staff to bring their own cats to work.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 90页 共 206页Employee Eri Ito is grateful for their animals' comforting ways. "Cats are sleeping
just beside us. Ifs healing.she said. Not only does Fukuda encourage bringing cats to the
job, but he also encourages his employees to rescue cats from overpopulated shelters or
streets. He gives 5,000 yen, about 45 US dollars a month to those who rescue a cat.
While the positives are many, there are still some obstacles. 46 Sometimes a cat will
walk on a phone and cut off the call, or they shut down the computers by walking onto the
off switch/9 Ito says.
Still, cats in the workplace have been a tremendous success for the company. The
policy has led to various other companies doing the same.
Q5: What do we learn from the news report about the Japanese IT firm?
Q6: What does Fukuda encourage his employees to do?
Q7: What does the news report say about the firm's policy?
Conversation One
M: Has Jimmy been coming in lately?
W: No, I haven't seen him around. Why? Has he been causing any trouble?
M: Not that I know of. But I need to see him, because my friends and I lent him some
money last month. We haven't heard from him since. I heard he comes here a lot, so I
thought rd come in and check with you.
W: Well, thafs funny.Some other fellow came in asking for Jimmy just yesterday, a real
nervous, pushy type of fellow, saying he needed Jimmy for some study project they
were working on. But I can't quite remember what it was all about. Is this a lot of
money we're talking about here?
M: No, just 60 pounds between the three of us, but still a bit too much to just let go. He told
us he'd got into an accident. Nothing serious, mind you, but he damaged someone's car
and wanted to get some money together to make up for the damage he'd caused.
W: Hmm, isn't that sort of thing usually, covered by insurance? And then, if you still
wanted to give money as some sort of apology or something, he probably shouldn't
have to go around borrowing it from people.
M: You think Jimmy's just making it all up? See, I did think it was a bit weird fbr him to be
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 91页 共 206页asking for money for that sort of thing. And his story was a bit vague to begin with. But
I thought maybe he doesn't want his parents to know about what happened. So he'd
rather come to us and keep things quiet. Anyway, Jimmy is a good guy. So we didn't
make a fuss about it.
Q 8: What does the man want to do?
Q 9: What do we learn about the man who came to see the woman yesterday?
Q10: What did Jimmy say happen to him one day?
Qll: Why did Jimmy borrow money according to the man?
Conversation Two
W: Hi, Max. How are you? Listen. I wanted to ask you about ordering shopping online. Fve
never done it before and I know that you've been doing it fbr ages.
M: Sure. I love getting my shopping delivered. It makes life so much simpler- no carrying
heavy shopping bags in the rain, or trying to park the car on those huge supermarket car
parks then not being able to find it again after you come out of the shops.
W: But there must be some problems. I mean, how do you know that you won't get bad
fruit, or that the eggs won't be broken?
M: Oh, come on. The food is exactly the same as the stuff you buy in a conventional shop.
They aren't going to deliver you food that is out of date. And if you get a broken egg,
well, that could happen in a conventional shop, too. If anything is really wrong, you can
just take photographs of the damage, and they will give you the money back or replace
the item.
W: How about delivery fees? Is it not more expensive to get everything delivered?
M: I actually found that it was cheaper for me, as I live quite far away from my local
supermarket. So with the deliveries, I'm actually saving on petrol.
W: I've never thought of that. If you aren't driving your own car, then you are saving on
fuel. Right, you've convinced me. Tm going to go on the computer now and give it a try.
So, which supermarket do you think is the best to order from?
M: Oh, no. That's definitely up to you. Otherwise, we'll be here all day.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 92页 共 206页12. What did the woman want to ask Max about?
13. What does the man think is a problem with shopping in supermarkets?
14. What is the woman's concern about shopping online?
Passage One
A recent study found that 10 percent of British children suffer from math anxiety. This
means they have overwhelming negative emotions towards the subject, ranging from rage to
despair. Other emotions triggered by math include feelings of tension and frustration.
Physical symptoms include a racing heart or struggling to catch breath.
The phenomenon of math anxiety is characterized as a general sense of feeling that the
subject is hard compared with other subjects leading to a subsequent lack or loss of
confidence.
Researchers said they investigated individuals9 attitudes towards mathematics because
of what could be referred to as a mathematics crisis in the UK. There's a widespread
misunderstanding that only low performing children suffer from math anxiety. People
automatically assume children are anxious about math because they are poor achievers.
In fact, more than three quarters of children with high levels of math anxiety are
normal to high achievers.
Probably their math anxiety will go unnoticed because their performance is good. But
in the long term their performance is negatively affected.
So the real danger here is that children who will completely able to do math at a
normal level may keep away from it because they feel anxious.
Math anxiety can severely disrupt students ' performance in the subject in both
primary and secondary school. But importantly- and surprisingly- this new study suggests
that the majority of students experiencing math anxiety have normal to high math ability.
16: What did a recent study find about some British children?
17: What is the widespread misunderstanding about math anxiety?
18: What does the passage say about British students with math anxiety?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 93页 共 206页Passage Two
People spend a lot of time using phones and computers. Much of that time is devoted
to text messages and social media. But many people choose to spend their time playing
computer games.
For years, parents and teachers have worried that these games might be addictive. And
now, the World Health Organization has recognized addiction to computer games as a
disease. The organization explains that this decision reflects general agreement among
experts around the world that some people have a problem with these games. They show a
pattern of behavior characterized by a lack of control. Such people make computer games a
priority over their responsibilities. They may play games instead of attending school, or
work, or socializing.
According to the World Health Organization experts, people's use of computer games
is different from their use of the Internet, social media and online shopping. These experts
claim there is not sufficient data to indicate that people's reliance on those other activities is
an addiction. But they argue that playing computer games to access is different. This
behavior can become a disorder. To meet the new definition fbr addiction, the behavior
must damage a person's relationships or performance at school or work, and this must last
for at least a year. Still not all behavior experts agree. Some argue that there's not enough
research on the subject. Thus, they claim it is too early to call computer game addiction a
disorder.
19: What conclusion has the World Health Organization come to recently?
20: What is said of people with addictive behavior?
21: What do some behavior experts think of addiction to computer games?
Passage Three
Maybe you carry the most powerful passport in the world, or perhaps the rarest
passport. Whatever the case, your passport will likely be one of four colors: red, blue, green
or black, although there are slight variations. Switzerland ' s passport is dark red, fbr
example, while most European countries prefer a shade of red. That's almost brown.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 94页 共 206页There are no official rules regarding passport colors, but countries follow a certain set
of norms when designing them. The International Civil Aviation Organization, which works
to define the principles of air travel, suggests that countries use a suitable type, size and
style fbr official documents like passports.
There are also a few compulsory aspects of passports. They must be made from a
material that bends. They should be able to be read by a machine at temperatures ranging
from 10 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius, under the conditions where the air can be
extremely dry or moist.
Despite these existing recommendations, there is nothing regarding the cover color.
Why? Simply put, countries stick to darker and more conservative colors because they
appear more official. And they can also hide dirt and wear. While there's little innovation
when it comes to passport cover color, the same cannot be said fbr the pages. The passports
of many countries can take images of their well-known geographical features and wildlife,
which also function as security features as some are only visible under a special light.
22: What do we learn about most European passports?
23: What does the passage say about the design of passports?
24: Why are dark colors chosen for passport covers?
25: What is one special function of the images inside many passports?
2020年12月大学英语四级听力原文第1套
News Report One
A poisonous fish which has a sting strong enough to kill a human is invading the
Mediterranean, warn scientists. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has
raised concerns after the poisonous fish was spotted in the waters around Turkey, Cyprus,
and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the potentially
deadly fish has poisonous hooks and a painful sting capable of killing people. Although
fatalities are rare, the stings can cause extreme pain and stop people breathing. The fish,
often known as Devil Firefish, is a highly invasive species, and environmentalists fear its
arrival could endanger other types of marine life. After being spotted in the Mediterranean,
a marine scientist says,“ The fish is spreading, and thafs a cause for concem.^^
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 95页 共 206页QI: What is reported in the news?
Q2: What is the environmentalist concerned about the spread of Devil Firefish in the
Mediterranean?
News Report Two
Almost half the center of Paris will be accessible only by foot or bicycle this Sunday to
mark World Car-Free Day. This is in response to rising air pollution that made Paris the
most polluted city in the world for a brief time. Mayor Anne Hidalgo promoted the first
World Car-Free Day last year. Hidalgo also has supported a66 Paris Breathesday. On the
first Sunday of every month, Paris clears traffic from eight lanes of the main road. About
400 miles of streets will be closed to cars. It is expected to bring significant reduction in
pollution levels. Last year's car-free day showed a 40 percent drop in pollution levels in
some parts of the city, according to an independent air pollution monitor, reports The
Guardian- and sound levels dropped by 50 percent in the city's center.
Q3: What will happen on World Car-Free Day in Paris?
Q4:What motivated the mayor of Paris to promote the first World Car-Free Day in her city?
News Report Three
A Philippine fisherman was feeling down on his luck when a house fire forced him to
clear out his possessions and change locations. Then a good luck charm that he had kept
under his bed changed his life.The unidentified man had fished out a giant pearl from the
ocean when his anchor got stuck on the rock while sailing off the coastal island in the
Philippines ten years ago. When he was forced to sell it, the shocked tourist agent at Puerto
Princesca told him that the 77-pound giant pearl that he'd kept hidden in his rund-down
wooden house was the biggest pearl in the world, which was valued at 76 million pounds.
The pearl of Allah which is currently on display in a New York museum only weighs 14
pounds. That is 5 times smaller than the pearl that the fisher man just handed in. The
monstrous pearl measured at one foot wide and 2.2 feet long is going to be verified by local
experts and international authorities before hopefully going on display to attract more
tourists in the little town.
Q5: What happened to the Philippine fisherman one day?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 96页 共 206页Q6: What was the fisherman forced to do?
Q7: What did the fisherman learn from the tourist agent?
Conversation One
W: Mr. Smith, ifs a pleasure meeting you.
M: Nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?
W: Well, I'm here to show you what our firm can do for you. Astra Consultants has
branches in over 50 countries, offering different business services. We are a global
company with 75 years of history, and our clients include some of the world9 s largest
companies.
M: Thank you, Mrs. Houston. I know Astra Consultants is a famous company, but you said
you would show me what you could do fbr me. Well, what exactly can your firm do for
my company?
W: We advise businesses on all matters, from market analysis to legal issues, anything a
business like yours could need,our firm offers expert advice. Could I ask you, Mr. Smith,
to tell me a little about your company and the challenges you face? That way I could
better respond as to how we can help you.
M: Okay, sure.This is a family business started by my grandfather in 195O.We employ just
over 100 people. We manufacture and export stone for buildings and other constructions.
Our clients usually want a special kind of stone cut in a special design.And that9 s what
we do in our factory. Our main challenge is that our national currency is rising, and
we9re losing competitive advantage to stone producers in India.
W: I see. That9 s very interesting. I would suggest that you let us first conduct a financial
analysis of your company, together with an analysis of your competitors in India. That
way we could offer the best advice on different ways forward for you.
Q 8: What do we learn about the woman's company?
Q 9: What does the man say about his own company?
Q10: What is the main problem with the man's company?
Qll: What does the woman suggest doing to help the man's company?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 97页 共 206页Conversation Two
W: Wow, Congratulations, Simon! The place looks absolutely amazing!
M: Really? You think so?
W: Of course! I love it. It looks like you had a professional interior designer. But you
didn't, did you?
M: No, I did it all by myself with a little help from my brother Greg. He's actually in the
construction business, which was really helpful.
W: I honestly am impressed. I knew I could probably repaint the walls in my house over a
weekend or something, but not a full renovation.Where did you get your ideas? I
wouldn,t know where to start.
M: Well, for a while now, I've been regularly buying home design magazines. Every now
and then, I'd save a picture I liked. Believe it or not, I had a full notebook of magazine
pages. Since my overall style was quite minimal, I thought and hoped a whole
renovation wouldn't be too difficult. And sure enough, with Greg's help, it was very
achievable.
W: Was it very expensive? I've imagined a project like this could be.
M: Actually it was surprisingly affordable.I managed to sell a lot of my old furniture and
put that extra money towards the new material. Greg was also able to get some discount
materials from a recent project he was working on as well.
W: Great! If you don't mind, I'd like to pick your brains a bit more. Jonathan and I are
thinking of renovating our sitting room, not the whole house, not yet anyway. And
we'd love to get some inspiration from your experience. Are you free to come over for a
coffee early next week?
Q12: What do we learn about the woman from the conversation?
Q13: Where did the man get his ideas for the project?
Q14: What did the man say about the project he recently completed?
Q15: Why does the woman invite the man to her house next week?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 98页 共 206页Passage One
Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost three million
pounds a year, a study suggests. Children were responsible fbr the vast majority of cases一
95 % of objects removed from noses and 85 % from ears. Every year an average of 1,218
nose and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. According to England's
Hospital Episode Statistics, children aged one to four were the most likely to need help
from doctors fbr a foreign object in their nose. Five-to nine-year-olds come to the hospital
with something in their ears the most. Jewellery items accounted fbr up to 40 % of cases in
both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next
most from noses. Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears. According to the study,
the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children
have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This resulted in the accidental entry of
foreign objects. Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful
objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular
danger. In all cases prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings
about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.
Q16: What does England spend an annual three million pounds on?
Q17: What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?
Q18: What is generally believed to account fbr children putting things in their ears or noses?
Passage Two
Good morning. Today, I would like to talk to you about my charity ReBicycle.But
before that, let me introduce someone. This is Lelia Rahimi. She was so scared when she
first moved to New Zealand that she struggled to leave the house and would spend days
working up the courage to walk to the supermarket fbr basic supplies. After a few months of
being quite down and unhappy, she was invited to join a local bike club. At this time,
ReBicycle got involved and gave Lelia a second-hand bicycle. Within weeks, her
depression had begun to ease as she cycled. The bicycle totally changed her life, giving her
hope and a true feeling of freedom. To date, ReBicycle has donated more than 200 bikes to
those in need, and is now expanding bike-riding lessons as demand soars.With a bike,
newcomers here can travel farther but fbr almost no cost. The three hours a day, they used
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 99页 共 206页to spend walking to and from English language lessons, has been reduced to just one hour.
Our bike-riding lessons are so successful that we are urgently looking fbr more volunteers.
Learning to ride a bike is almost always more difficult for an adult, and this can take days
and weeks, rather than hours. So if any of you have some free time during the weekend,
please come join us at ReBicycle and make a difference in someone's life.
Q19: What did ReBicycle do to help Leila Rahimi?
Q20: What is ReBicycle doing to help those in need?
Q21: What do we learn from the passage about ReBicycle?
Passage Three
Thanks to the International Space Station, we know quite a bit about the effects of low
gravity on the human body, but NASA scientists want to learn more. To that end, they have
been studying how other species deal with low gravity, specifically focusing on mice.The
results are both interesting and humorous. The scientists first sent some mice in a specially
designed cage to the International Space Station. The cage allowed them to study the
behavior of the mice remotely from Earth via video. As you'll notice in the video, the mice
definitely seem uncomfortable at the beginning of the experiment. They move around
clumsily, drifting within the small confines of the cage, and do their best to figure out which
way is up, but without success.However, ifs not long before the mice begin to catch on.
They adapt remarkably well to their new environment and even use the lack of gravity to
their advantage as they push themselves around the cage. Thafs when things really get wild.
The eleventh day of the experiment shows the mice are not just dealing with the gravity
change but actually seem to be enjoying it. Several of the mice are observed running around
the cage walls. The scientists wanted to see whether the mice would continue doing the
same kinds of activities they were observed doing on Earth. The study showed that the mice
kept much of their routines intact, including cleaning themselves and eating when hungry.
Q22: What do NASA scientists want to learn about?
Q23: What does the passage say about the mice at the beginning of the experiment?
Q24: What was observed about the mice on the eleventh day of the experiment?
Q25: What did the scientists find about the mice from the experiment?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 100页 共 206页2020年12月大学英语四级听力原文第2套
News Report One
A waiter has returned a check worth nearly $424,000 to the retired social worker who
lost it. The waiter found a bank envelope while cleaning off a table last Saturday at a
restaurant. He ran outside but the customer was gone. He opened the envelope and got a
shock. After an unsuccessful search, the restaurant9 s owner called the Daily News fbr help.
The “relieved“ customer was reunited with her check on Wednesday. It contained money
from her apartment sale,already planned for a down payment on a new home. The customer
did not tip the waiter after her meal. She tried to give him money later on, but he graciously
declined. The waiter, who's working his way through school, did accept the customer's
apology and gratitude and said he was happy to have helped her.
QI: What does the news report say about the waiter?
Q2: What did the customer try to do when she got her check back?
News Report One
The village of Maref in Alaska voted on Tuesday to move to the state's mainland. The
move is due to global warming and rising sea levels. Most of the village's 169 registered
voters took part in the town hall meeting. They decided in a vote of 89 to 78 to move from
their land on Sarichef Island, near the Arctic Circle. Maref Council Secretary Donna Barr
said the vote was largely symbolic.lt will be costly financially to the community. "About
15 years ago, they estimated the cost at $180 million.I would figure ifs much higher now,“
Barr said. "We don't see the move happening in our lifetime because of the funding.The
village's roughly 650 residents have seen warming temperatures melt sea ice and
permanently frozen land. This has resulted in houses falling into the water. At least 31
villages in Alaska face 46 immediate threats “ due to climate change, the Government
Accountability Office reported in 2009.
Q3: What is Maref's vote on Tuesday about?
Q4: Why did Donna Barr say they wouldn't see the plan carried out any time soon?
News Report Three
A man in Halifax, Canada, wanted to find out if people were thankful fbr someone
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 101页 共 206页holding the door open for them.The social experiment showed that 99 out of 100 people
expressed gratitude. "I didn't think we were going to get 99.1 don't know why, but I was
pleasantly surprised because it went beyond just "thank you.' People got into conversations
with us,“ said Steve Foran, CEO of Gratitude at Work. "What we know from research is
that from grateful people come good things,he said. "A simple way to induce gratitude in
people is opening doors and so we went to six places and opened the doors for people." For
the experiment, Foran's team went to a shopping center, a mall, two office buildings, and a
coflee shop. The door was held for 15 to 20 people at a time at each location. "We did have
one that didn't say thank you. We're not here to judge them because on any given day, that
could be me or you. I suspect out of the 100 people, there were probably a bunch of them
having a bad day, but grateful people make people grateful,said Foran.
Q5: What is the purpose of the social experiment?
Q6: What did Steve Foran and his team do in the experiment?
Conversation One
W: Rays Solar, Lisa's speaking. How can I help?
M: Hi, my name is Winston.I wish to enquire about solar panel installations.
W: Yes, what would you like to know?
M: Well, my neighbor installed panels on his roof about a year ago in order to power his hot
water. He tells me it has saved him over $500 thus far. Does that sound about right to
you?
W: Well, I'm not familiar with your neighbor or his particular setup, but that amount is
definitely possible. I can tell you that the average four-bedroom house may typically
have a roof with 50 square meters of surface area. Four panels on one side of that roof
could save a family of four around $300 a year.
M: OK. That sounds about right then. My house is about the size you described, but my
neighbor's is bigger. I'm not sure how many panels he has up there, but he does have a
large family of six.
W: Are you interested in installing some solar panels on your roof, sir?
M: Yes, I'm considering it.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 102页 共 206页W: If you wish to come into our office, we could show you the different solutions we offer.
M: OK. I might do that. But just quickly, if you don't mind, could you tell me
approximately how much a typical installation costs, like, say, four panels?
W: Prices do vary depending on different factors, but as a rough estimate, it's around
$2,000. But you know a typical household will make back that initial investment in
about five years.
M: OK. I see. Thank you.
Q8: What is the man's purpose for calling the woman?
Q9: What do we learn about the man's neighbor from the conversation?
Q10: What is one of the man's chief concerns?
QI 1: How long will it take a typical household to make back the initial investment?
Conversation Two
M: Good afternoon. Sorry to have kept you waiting. How can I help you?
W: Oh, no problem. I'm interested in booking a holiday to Australia and wonder if you
could tell me what deals you have.
M: Sure.Are you only looking for flights or a package holiday with everything included?
W: When you say "everything,“ what do you mean?
M: Well, a package holiday would include your flights, hotels, meals,day trips to different
places of interest and transport to and from the airport.
W: Yeah, that sounds pretty good. I'm going with my family, so it would be nice to have
everything taken care of. So, what sort of deals do you have fbr package holidays then?
M: All sorts, really. How long do you want to go for and what dates?
W: Two weeks around Christmas time would be great.
M: Okay, let me check that fbr you. Here's one, 14 nights in southeastern Australia. Five
nights in Sydney and five nights in Melbourne,and then for the other four nights you can
choose from a list of trips to other places nearby. You could visit Canberra, for
example,or the Blue Mountains, or you could go for a drive down the Great Ocean Road.
Also, if you're interested in wine,you could go on a tour of the places where they grow
grapes and make wine.
W: That sounds great.It9s good we can choose some activities ourselves.
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 103页 共 206页Q12: Where is the conversation taking place?
Q13: Why is the woman interested in package holidays?
Q14: How long does the woman want to go for the holiday?
Q15: What does the woman say she likes about the holiday package?
Passage One
Tourists taking a holiday in the Indonesian island of Bali are facing a new
$14-per-person tax when they arrive on the holiday island from next year.But this is a green
tax, which Bali Governor Way an Koster has been working on for months, and which is
designed to help clean up the island's natural environment, and with good reason, too.
Indonesia is drowning in plastics. Recycling is not one of the country9 s strong points. It's
not uncommon to be offered many more plastic bags than one could ever need when
visiting supermarkets and shopping malls. But, slowly, things are starting to change for the
better. Back in 2016, the medium-sized city of Banjarmasin banned single-use plastic bags.
The city of Bogor followed suit in 2018. A few months ago, Koster announced a plan that
would not only ban single-use plastic bags from supermarkets and convenience stores, but
plastic bags and straws across the island. The regulation will come into full effect next
month. "We received a fest and quick response from the Balinese people. Not only positive
responses from the Balinese, we received good responses from the central government,
other local governments and even from overseas.,, Koster told the Sydney Morning Herald
this week during an interview. The governor is a determined environmentalist and he has
more laws planned to protect the island's waterways, in particular, and to support the
introduction of electric vehicles too.
Q16: What would tourists have to do when they visit Indonesia's Bali Island?
Q17: What does the passage say about Indonesia?
Q18: What is the new plan Governor Koster recently announced?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 104页 共 206页Passage Two
An endangered species of whale is experiencing a small-baby boom off the coast of
America. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest species of whale on the planet,
numbering only about 411. But the Center for Coastal Studies said Friday that its aerial
survey team spotted a mum with two babies in Cape Cod Bay a day earlier. That brings the
number seen in nearby waters alone this year to three. That9 s big news because the whale
population has been falling, and no baby whales were seen last year. In all, seven baby
whales have been spotted so far this year. The whale population has become endangered
due to commercial whaling activities in recent years. This is because they are sometimes
hunted for their meat or their skin. Over-hunting could lead to the disappearance of the
whale population, possibly causing major problems to the global food chain. The whales
give birth off the southeast coast of America in the winter and travel to feeding grounds off
the northeast coast in the early spring. The Northeast coast is a critically important source of
food. The animals often feed close to shore. This provides watchers on land with
"unbeatable views of one of the rarest of marine mammals." Ifs illegal to get within 1,500
feet of the animals without a federal research permit, so whale watchers are discouraged
from attempting to get close to the whales.
Q19: What do we learn from the passage about the North Atlantic right whale?
Q20: What has caused the decline of the whale population in recent years?
Q21: Why do the whales travel to the northeast coast of America in the early spring?
Passage Three
An average person consumes 144 pints of milk a year, but 40% of that is poured onto
cereal. And 60% of those people are children. But what was once advertised as nutritious is
becoming unpopular. Americans drink 37% less milk than they did in the 1970s. And in the
UK, dairy consumption overall has fallen by a third in the past 20 years. Milk is
increasingly being described in a negative light. A recent blog suggested maybe people are
drinking less milk because it is poisonous to many of us. Lactose is the sugar found in milk
and dairy products. It needs a series of complex proteins to break it down. Without enough
of these proteins, the lactose is broken down by bacteria in the human body. This can cause
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 105页 共 206页physical pain and produce gas in the stomach. However, after we have finished breast or
formula feeding, most of us don't continue producing the complex proteins in our body,
which are necessary to break down the lactose. Despite the problems in digesting milk, it
does provide many benefits. Milk is nutritious. It contains vitamins A and D, as well as
protein and isn't full of calories. You can test yourself by drinking a large glass of milk. If
you get sick in your stomach within the next 24 hours, you are lacking in the proteins to
digest milk.
Q22: What does the passage say about Americans?
Q23: How do Americans and British people think of milk nowadays?
Q24: Why does drinking milk cause pain in some people?
Q25: What does the passage say is a benefit of milk?
2020年09月大学英语四级听力原文全1套
光速考研温馨提示：2020年9月四级真题听力实考1套
News Report One
A NASA satellite orbiting over Portugal took photographs that reveal the effects of
pollution from ships. One of the photos shows a thin film of clouds above the brilliant blue
of the North Atlantic, cut by white lines of thicker clouds that look like scars. NASA
officials explained those thicker clouds are signs of ship traffic below. When ships power
their way through the ocean, they pump exhaust into the atmosphere, just as cars do. And
those massive amounts of particles can cause clouds to form. Get enough of those particles
in one place, as from the exhaust of a ship, and they can lead to the creation of new clouds
easily visible from space. "These clouds can be huge, some of them stretch hundreds of
kilometres from end to end,“ NASA officials said. Ifs likely that these sorts of clouds are
having some effect on the global climate, according to NASA officials. But scientists aren't
yet sure what effect it has.
QI: What has caused the thick clouds in the photos taken by NASA satellite?
Q2: What do NASA officials think about the thick clouds?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 106页 共 206页News Report Two
Staff at a suburban supermarket in Melbourne say they feel unsafe at work after
security guards were removed. This came after a series of physical attacks and verbal abuse
by customers. More than 50 workers at the store have signed a letter calling for a permanent
security guard following a series of incidents, including a customer threatening to attack a
supervisor with a knife. A security worker had guarded the store each night from 7 p.m.
until 12 a.m., but that had stopped suddenly on Monday, employees said. One worker said
an angry customer had thrown a chicken at his head after complaining about how long she
had waited to be served. Another worker said the lack of protection at the store made her
feel uncomfortable at work. However, the spokesman of the supermarket said the store had
taken strong action in response to incidents. "We have found very few instances of bad
customer behavior at our store in the past year.In the rare cases we have seen bad behavior,
we have taken strong action in response, including banning a customer from the store.^^
Q3: For what purpose did the staff at a supermarket in Melbourne sign a letter?
Q4:What did the spokesman of the supermarket say regarding the employees9 demand?
News Report Three
Drivers on their way to the Polish capital of Warsaw on Wednesday morning found the
road blocked by an unusual obstacle: tons of liquid chocolate that spilled onto the motorway.
A truck carrying the sweet load hit a road barrier and overturned, blocking two lanes. The
cracked tank spilled a pool of rapidly-hardening chocolate, which quickly covered the width
of the road. While the driver was taken to hospital with a broken arm, firefighters struggled
to remove a reported twelve tons of solid chocolate from the road. A representative for the
firefighters told the local TV that removing the chocolate was worse than dealing with snow.
After contacting the chocolate manufacturer, the firefighters resorted to spraying hot,
pressurized water to get rid of the sticky substance. The local TV also noted that the cleanup
spanned more than a mile, because drivers simply drove through the chocolate after the
crash, leaving a long chocolate trail. But despite the sticky situation, firefighters and police
attending to the cleanup were reportedly cheerful about the long task ahead. After all, who
could be mad about twelve tons of chocolate?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 107页 共 206页Q5: What did drivers on the motorway to Warsaw find?
Q6: What does the report say about the accident?
Q7: What did the firefighters9 representative tell the local TV?
Conversation One
M: Lisa, why did you pay for your meal with cash instead of the payment apps on your
phone?
W: Well, I've gone back to cash. I'm only using payment apps if that9 s the only option.
I'm trying to save money fbr a new phone, and I find that using cash rather than
payment apps helps me to save.
M: But how? Money is money, isn't it? I don't think it matters whether you take it out to
the bank and put it in your wallet or simply transfer from your bank account to the
seller's bank account using an app.
W: No, I believe it does matter. Ifs a psychological phenomenon. I believe we have less
connection with the value of our money when we just tap the “Approve“ buttons on
our phones.
M: You might have a point. Since I stopped carrying cash around and started using my
phone apps to pay, I may have developed a tendency to buy more small or non-essential
items.
W: That's highly possible. Think about the amount of time we spend with our phones in our
hands, and all the things we do with our phones. It sometimes seems that our phone is
buying the product for us, not ourselves.
M: So cashless payment affects our ability to budget?
W: I believe so. If we spend a hundred yuan in cash, we realize that we don't have that
hundred yuan to spend on something else. But if we're spending electronically, we are
less likely to make that mental calculation.
M: I stopped using my credit card because I found I was spending excessively. Perhaps I
should take the same approach of paying using my phone.
W: It's worth considering.
Q 8: Why did the woman decide to go back to cash for payment?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 108页 共 206页Q 9: What happens when people use apps for payment according to the woman?
Q10: What might the man tend to buy with payment apps?
QI 1: What does the man think of electronic payment?
Conversation Two
W: Hello, Mr. Brown. I was expecting your call. My secretary told me you were having
some problems with the wooden table. Is that right?
M: No, no. The table is fine. The problem is the chairs.
W: Oh, the chairs. So what exactly is the issue?
M: Well, put simply, these are not the chairs my wife and I selected in your store last week.
There must be some confusion with our order.
W: Oh, I see. I'm looking through my files now, and I see that the delivery was this
morning. Is that correct?
M: Yes.
W: Do you mind describing the chairs that were delivered to your apartment, Mr. Brown?
M: Sure. These have a flat back with a rounded top and are very heavy. They are light
brown and look kind of cheap. The ones we ordered were dark brown to match the
table.
W: Right, of course. It says here you purchased the Arlington table and four Milano chairs.
As you said, there must have been some confusion with the order. Tm terribly sorry. We
will send a van to collect those four and replace them with the Milano you purchased.
Will tomorrow 9 a.m. be okay, Mr. Brown?
M: Yes, that would be great. Thank you.
W: Good. Did everything else you ordered from us arrive okay?
M: Yes, I think so. Let me check. The mirror and two paintings are here. The two coffee
tables are also here, and the sofa... Yes, we haven't noticed anything else wrong or
missing. But if we do, we will certainly let you know.
W: Okay, great. Once again, I'm sorry for the confusion and trouble caused.
Q12: Why did the man call the woman?
Q13: What did the woman ask the man to do?
英语四级听力原文汇编2016-2024第 109页 共 206页Q14: What did the woman promise to do for the man?
Q15: What did the woman do at the end of the conversation?
Passage One
Do you have too much stuff? Are you, dare we say it “untidy"? Say hello to a TV
show called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”, a home improvement show based on her
wildly popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. In the show,Marie Kondo
acts as a tiny garbage fairy for messy people, visiting their houses to share the wisdom of
the 46 KonMarimethod. This method is simple in theory but can be endlessly complex in
practice. You divide all the stuff in your house一 all of it一 into several categories, and then
examine each item- all of them- to see if it sparks joy. If it does, you keep it. If it doesn't,
you thank it and neatly discard it. So, is the TV show inspiring people to tidy up? Firsthand
accounts seem to indicate a small wave of people bringing piles of donation bags to used
goods stores. One store received thousands of bags of used possessions in one day.January
is usually the stores9 slow season for donations because ifs cold and people don't want
to bother, but not this January. People seemed determined to clean up their homes. One
used bookstore received a month' s worth of books in donations in a week when a man
gave over fifty boxes of books from his home. It seems Marie' s TV show is having
a big impact after all.
Q16: What is Marie Kondo's TV show about?
Q17: What things can be kept in one's home, according to Marie Kondo?
Q18: What do we learn about one used bookstore this January?
Passage Two
At just 12 years old, Mike Hannon is making a difference in his community 一 one
lunch at a time."Mike's Lunches of Love“ has fed more than 2,000 of the town9 s most
vulnerable residents. Mike delivers meals to the homeless.a
