2019年12月大学英语四级考试模拟试题及答案（二）

Part I Reading Comprehension

Passage 1

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:

In Washington D.C., 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a very special address. It is the address of the White House, the home of the president of the United States.

Originally the White House was gray and was called the Presidential Palace. It was built from 1792 to 1800. at this time, the city of Washington itself was being built; it was to be the nation’s new capital city. George Washington, the first president, and Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place for the new city. L’Enfant then planned they city. The president’s home was an important part of the plan.

A contest was held to pick a design for the president’s home. An architect named James Hoban won. He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.

President Washington never lived in the President Palace. The first president to live there was John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his wife Mrs. Adams did not really like hew new house. In her letters, she often complained about the cold. Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house warm!

In 1812 the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814 the British invaded Washington. Theu burned many buildings, including the Presidential Palace.

After the war James Hoban, the original architect, partially rebuilt the president’s homes. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House.

The White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Every year more than 1.5 million visitors go through the five rooms that are open to the public.

1. The White House was built in Washington .

A. because a French engineer was invited to design it

B. because President George Washington liked to live in it

C. because the British invaders lived in it in 1812-1814

D. because it was to be the nation’s capital city

2. The Presidential Palace was .

A. painted gray and white B. made of gray stone

C. made of white stone D. made very warm in winter

3. The president’s home and the city of Washington were .

A. built by the American army B. built by the British troops

C. planned by George Washington D. planned by the French

4. The original home of the president needed to be rebuilt .

A. because John Adam’s wife did not like it

B. because it was cold in winter even with 50 fireplaces

C. because it had burned down during the war

D. because George Washington was not willing to live in it

5. The new presidential home was painted white to .

A. cover the marks of fire B. attract tourist from France

C. to please Mrs. John Adams D. keep it warm in winter

Passage 2

Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:

There are two kinds of memory: shot-term and long-term. Information in long-term memory can be remembered at a later time when it is needed. The information may be kept for days or weeks. However, information over and over. The following experiment shows how short-term memory has been studied.

Henning studied how students who are learning English as a second language remember vocabulary. The subjects in his experiment were 75 college students. They represented all levels of ability in English: beginning, intermediate, and native-speaking students.

To begin, the subjects listened to a recording of a native speaker reading a paragraph in English. Following the recording, the subjects took a 15-question test to see which words they remembered, each question had four choices. The subjects had to circle the word they had heard in the recording. Some of the questions had four choices that sound alike. For example, weather, whether, wither, and wetter are four words that sound alike. Some of the questions had four choices that have the same meaning. Method, way, manner, and system would be four words with the same meaning. Finally the subjects took a language proficiency test.

Henning found that students with a lower proficiency in English made more of their mistakes on words that sound alike; students with a higher proficiency made more of their mistakes on words that have the same meaning. Henning’s results suggest that beginning students hold the sound of words in their short-term memory, and advanced students hold the meaning of words in their short-term memory.

6. Henning made the experiment in order to study .

A. how students remember English vocabulary by short-term memory

B. how students learn English vocabulary

C. how to develop students’ ability in English

D. how long information in short-term memory is kept

7. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Information in short-term memory is different from that in long-term memory.

B. Long-term memory can be achieved only by training.

C. It is easier to test short-term memory than long-term memory.

D. Henning gave a separate test on vocabulary to his students.

8. From Henning’s result we can see that .

A. beginners have difficulty distinguishing the pronunciation of words

B. advanced students remember words by their meaning

C. it is difficult to remember words that sound alike

D. it is difficult to remember words that have the same meaning

9. The word “subjects” in the passage means .

A. memory B. the theme of listening material

C. a branch of knowledge studied D. the students experimented on

Passage 3

Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:

The cowboy is the hero of many movies,. He is, even today, a symbol of courage and adventure. But what was the life of the cowboy really like?

The cowboy’s job is clear from the word cowboy. Cowboy were men who took care of cows and other cattle. The cattle were in the West and in Texas. People in the cities of the East wanted beef these cattle. Trains could take the cattle east. But first the cattle had to get to the trains. Part of the cowboy’s job was to take the cattle hundreds of miles to the railroad town. The trips were called cattle drivers. A cattle drive usually took several months. Cowboys rode for sixteen hours a day. Because they rode so much, each cowboy brought along about eight horses. A cowboy changed horses several times each day.

The cowboys had to make sure that cattle arrived safely. Before starting on a drive, the cowboys branded the cattle. They burned a mark on the cattle to show who they belonged to. But these marks didn’t stop rustlers, or cattle thieves. Cowboys had to protect the cattle from rustlers. Rustlers made the dangerous trip even more dangerous.

Even though their work was very difficult and dangerous, cowboys did not earn much money. They were paid badly. Yet cowboys liked their way of life. They lived in a wild and open country. They lived a life of adventure and freedom.

11. A cowboy is a symbol of .

A. courage and adventure B. a hard life and big pay

C. movies in the past D. cows and other cattle

12. The cowboys’ job was .

A. to be a hero in real life B. to be a hero of the movie

C. to take care of cattle D. to be a dangerous rustler

13. During a cattle driver, cowboys took a group of cows from a wild and open country to .

A. the West states and Texas B. the cities of the East States

C. the people who eat beef in cities D. the railroad towns hundred miles away

14. On their way of cattle drivers, the cowboys protected the cattle by .

A. burning a mark on their cows B. keeping an eye on cattle thieves

C. making the trip more dangerous D. looking after eight cows each person

15. Cowboys enjoyed themselves because .

A. they liked their way of life B. they made a lot of money

C. they had a vary difficult job D. they were heroes in movies

Passage 4

Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

Successful innovations have driven many older technologies to extinction and have resulted in higher productivity, greater consumption of energy, increased demand of raw materials, accelerated flow of materials through the economy and increased quantities of metals and other substances in use each person. The history of industrial development abounds with examples.

In 1870, horses and mules were the prime source of power on U.S. farms. One horse or mule was required to support four human beings a ratio that remained almost constant for many decades. At that time, had a national commission been asked to forecast the population for 1970, its answer probably would have depended on whether its consultants were of an economic or technological turn of mind. Had they been “economists”, they would probably have projected the 1970 horses or mule population to be more than 50 million. Had they been “technologists”, they would have recognized that the power of steam had already been harnessed to industry and to learn and ocean transport. They would have recognized further that it would be the prime source of power on the farm. It would have been difficult for them to avoid the conclusion that the horse and mule population would decline rapidly.

16. According to the passage, what supplied most of the power on U.S. farms in 1870?

A. Animals B. Humans C. Engines D. Water

17. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by the author as a consequence of new technological developments?

A. Older technologies die away. 

B. The quality of life is Improved.

C. Overall productivity increase. 

D. More raw materials become necessary.

18. It can be inferred from the passage that by 1870 .

A. technology began to be more economical

B. the steam engine had been invented

C. the U.S. horse population was about 10 million

D. a national commission was about 10 million

19. In the second paragraph, the author suggests that “economists” would .

A. plan the economy through yearly forecasts

B. fail to consider the influence of technological innovation

C. value the economic contribution of farm animals

D. consult the national commission on the economy

20. What is the author’s attitude toward changes brought on by technological innovations?

A. He is excited about them. 

B. He accept them as natural.

C. He is disturbed by them. 

D. He questions their usefulness.

Part II Vocabulary and Structure

Directions: In this part there are forty incomplete sentences. Each sentence is followed by four choices. Choose the one that best completes the sentence and then mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.

21. the difficulties associated with the project, we’ll go on with it.

A. Given B. In spite of C. Thank to D. Because of

22. It was almost dark in the streets a few very powerful spotlights.

A. excluding B. but for C. except D. except for

23. today, he would get there by Friday.

A. Would he leave B. If he leaves

C. Was he leaving D. Were he to leave

24. He gave me some very advice on buying a house.

A. precious B. expensive C. wealthy D. dear

25. His goal is not to become a sportsman, a champion in a certain field.

A. but rather became B. but rather to become

C. but rather becoming D. but rather to becoming

26. I just met her on the way home from the bookstore.

A. on purpose B. by accident C. in accident D. in case

27. I don’t know about him, comment on him behind his back.

A. let alone B. let go C. leave alone D. take leave

28. My transistor radio is out of order. It .

A. need to be repaired B. need repairing

C. needs repairing D. needs to repair

29. No one could tell us anything about the stranger.

A. conscious B. mysterious C. serious D. previous

30. Mary all foolish comments and kept on working.

A. excluded B. ignored C. denied D. discharged

31. I agree with him , but not entirely.

A. until a certain point B. to some point

C. to some extent D. until a certain extent

32. People in some parts of the world often take their water for . they use as much water as they wish.

A. granted B. sure C. certain D. pleasure

33. Color-blind people often find it difficult to between blue and green.

A. separate B. compare C. contrast D. distinguish

34. Thousands of people on the city to welcome the visiting guests.

A. turned off B. turned up C. turned out D. turned over

35. The mountain place is beautiful, but the working conditions, it’s terrible.

A. when mentioned B. when it comes to

C. when it is said D. when it dies to

36. Are you spending more money on the space program?

A. in favor of B. by favor of C. in favor to D. out of favor

37.In the of my parents, standards of education in the public school are actually falling.

A. idea B. thought C. opinion D. principle

38. from space, our earth, with water covering 70% of its surface, appears as a “blue planet”.

A. Seeing B. To be seen C. Seen D. having seen

39. This year’s total output value of industry and agriculture will increase 5 percent over last years.

A. by B. to C. of D. with

40. Mary is the top student in the class. She studies harder .

A. than any student B. than all the students

C. than any other student D. than some other student

41. Many people have applied for the position.

A. empty B. bare C. vacant D. blank

42. My new shoes cost me 50 yuan (RMB). The price was that the last pair I bought a month ago.

A. two time more than B. twice as much as

C. as twice D. as much as twice

43. Almost everyone failed on the first day.

A. pass his driver’s test B. to have passed his driver’s test

C. to pass his driver’s test D. passing his driver’s test

44. Over the traditional festival people visit each other and greetings.

A. exchange B. wish C. congratulate D. present

45. It was because he was tired out that he fell asleep standing up.

A. publicly B. openly C. specially D. obviously

46. The young man was accused of the lady of her money.

A. stealing B. robbing C. taking D. grasping

47. No matter where our Party needs us, we will her call.

A. give answer for B. respond to

C. have response to D. answer to

48. It is astonishing that a person of your intelligence be cheated so easily.

A. could B. should C. might D. would

49. We were completely when we finally reached the destination.

A. worn off B. worn down C. worn out D. worn away

50. Many things impossible in the past are common today.

A. considered B. to consider C. considering D. to be considered

51. Not until many years later known.

A. was the whole truth become B. did the whole truth become

C. the whole truth became D. the whole truth had became

52. We didn’t know his telephone number, otherwise we him.

A. would telephone B. would have telephoned

C. had telephoned D. must have telephoned

53. There is no point with him, since he has already made up his mind.

A. argue B. to argue C. in arguing D. of arguing

54. I appreciate that letter for me.

A. you to write B. your writing C. you write D. that you writing

55. I’d like to a special seat for the connect of May 5.

A. serve B. reserve C. preserve D. conserve

56. that son is well again, you no longer have anything to worry about.

A. Since B. Now C. When D. After

57. Generally speaking, all kinds of materials will expand when heated but will when cooled.

A. contrast B. contract C. survive D. return

58. You won’t know if it fits you until you it on.

A. will try B. are trying C. are to try D. have tried

59. After all efforts in vain, he had to accept the result .

A. regularly B. shallowly C. physically D. painfully

60. The rest of his life is to the cause of international exchanges of visiting scholars.

A. added B. put C. saved D. committed

Part III Cloze

Directions: There are twenty blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices. Choose the one that best fits into the passage and then marks your answer on the Answer Sheet.

In 1982, Mark Thatcher, the son of Mrs. Thatcher was reported 61 in the Sahara Desert while competing in the Grand Prix motor race from Paris to Dakar. This sad news, so 62 , shook the usually calm and unperturbed seasoned politician 63 her balance. Though she did her best to pretend as if 64 had happened and made her public appearances as usual, people could not 65 to notice that she was no longer the old 66 prime minister who always had everything 67 control. 68 she had become a very sad mother who was unable to recover from her shock.

One day, when she was to speak at a luncheon party, a reporter caught her 69 her guard by 70 up the subject of her missing son again. She was totally mentally 71 for the question and lost her self control. Tears were rolling down her eyes as she sobbingly told the reporter that there 72 still no news of Mark and that she was very worried about him. She said that all the countries 73 had promised to do their best to help her find her son. 74 that she broke down completely and sobbed silently for quite a while. Gradually she 75 down and started to speak as 76. it was a very moving scene which 77 a new side of Mrs. Thatcher’s character the public do not usually see, 78 people began to talk about the Iron Woman’s maternal love, a sentiment that is 79 to all human kind.

Later Mark returned 80 and sound to his mother’s side, good-humored and all smiles as usual, as if nothing unusual had ever happened. The Iron Woman, however, broke down again as was sobbing for the second time.

61. A. missing B. missed C. wanting D. wanted

62. A. expected B. expecting C. unexpected D. unexpecting

63. A. with B. on C. out D. off

64. A. something B. anything C. nothing D. everything

65. A. miss B. fail C. pretend D. expect

66. A. reassured B. self-assured C. assuring D. self-assuring

67. A. for B. beneath C. below D. under

68. A. Instead B. however C. Therefore D. So

69. A. into B. out of C. on D. off

70. A. putting B. bringing C. taking D. giving

71. A. ready B. prepared C. unprepared D. unexpected

72. A. was B. were C. should be D. would be

73. A. concerning B. concerned C. worrying D. worried

74. A. At B. Before C. After D. With

75. A. sat B. broke C. calmed D. became

76. A. planned B. planning C. plans D. a plan

77. A. explained B. exposed C. excluded D. exclaimed

78. A. however B. instead C. so D. but

79. A. universal B. unique C. single D. strange

80. A. safe B. safely C. sight D. hearing

Part IV Translation

To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House. (Passage One)

Part IV Translation

The subjects in his experiment were 75 college students. They represented all levels of ability in English: beginning, intermediate, and native-speaking students. (Passage Two)

Part IV Translation

Yet cowboys liked their way of life. They lived in a wild and open country. They lived a life of adventure and freedom. (Passage Three)

Part IV Translation

One horse or mule was required to support four human beings a ratio that remained almost constant for many decades. (Passage Four)