1991年6月大学英语四级真题及答案

Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)
Section A
1. (A) She paid ￥40.00 for the coat. (C) She bought the coat on her fortieth birthday.
(B) Her husband presented it to her as a gift. (D) Her friend sent it to her as a new one.
2. (A) To keep his old car and get a new one. (C) To sell his car for a new one.
(B) To leave it in the garage to be repaired. (D) To get his car repaired later.
3. (A) Husband and wife. (C) Doctor and patient.
(B) Father and daughter. (D) Teacher and student.
4. (A) The man went to the concert, but the woman didn't.
(B) The woman went to the concert, but the man didn't.
(C) The speakers did not go to the concert.
(D) Both speakers went to the concert.
5. (A) An England textbook. (C) A chemistry book.
(B) A Chinese textbook. (D) A history book.
6. (A) The woman goes to school during the day and works at night.
(B) The woman has to work to support herself.
(C) The woman's classes are not difficult.
(D) The woman studies at night.
7. (A) She feels that he won't accept anything.
(B) She's sure he already has a pocket calculator.
(C) She thinks he has almost everything he wants.
(D) She's afraid he wants more than she can afford.
8. (A) Tom survived the accident. (C) Someone saved Tom's life.
(B) Tom was killed in the accident. (D) It did little damage to Tom's car.
9. (A) The train is crowded. (C) The train is empty.
(B) The train is late. (D) The train is on time.
10. (A) No, all the rooms are taken. (C) Yes, there are some spare rooms.
(B) Yes, there is a double room. (D) Yes, there is a single room.
Section B
Passage One
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. (A) Her husband had got a higher position. (C) She wanted to have a cleaner house.
(B) Her husband had lost his job. (D) She wanted to move to New York.
12. (A) His telephone went out of order. (C) He began to work at 8 a.m.
(B) The buyers had to leave soon. (D) He had made an appointment with her for 8 a.m.
13. (A) They considered her lazy. (C) They considered her foolish.
(B) They saw something they had never seen. (D) They saw something familiar to them.
Passage Two
Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. (A) The silk T-shirt in white color. (C) The nylon T-shirt worn on playground.
(B) The cotton T-shirt with a slogan or picture. (D) The wool T-shirt worn for work.
15. (A) T-shirts feel soft and wash well. (C) T-shirts go well with trousers.
(B) T-shirt are smarts and comfortable. (D) T-shirts are suitable for evening wear.
16. (A) New technology is being employed. (C) New designs are being adopted.
(B) Advertisements are being widely used. (D) More synthetic materials are being introduced.
Passage Three
Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
17. (A) For protection against other animals. (C) Just for fun.
(B) For protection against other dogs. (D) For the purpose of guarding the house.
18. (A) Because they did not eat other animals. (C) Because they were good hunters.
(B) Because they were useful for protection. (D) Because they always obeyed their masters.
19. (A) For companionship. (C) For protection against robbery.
(B) For amusement. (D) For hunting.
20. (A) The city can be a lonely place. (C) People in the west are fond of animals.
(B) Life in the west can be very dangerous. (D) The dog is a useful and friendly animal.

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)
Passage One
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
There is a popular belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have taught in has ever ignored spelling or considered it unimportant as a basic skill. There are, however, vastly different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority (优先) it must be given over general language development and writing ability. The problem is, how to encourage a child to express himself freely and confidently in writing without holding him back with the complexities of spelling?
If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher's interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to "play safe". He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language. That's why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability.
I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience: "This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling errors and your writing is illegible (难以辨认)。" It may have been a sharp criticism of the pupil's technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad reflection on the teacher who had omitted to read the essay, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child's deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw attention to the errors, but if his priorities had centred on the child's ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more motivation to seek improvement.

21. Teachers differ in their opinions about ____ .
(A) the difficulties in teaching spelling
(B) the role of spelling in general language development
(C) the complexities of the basic writing skills
(D) the necessity of teaching spelling
22. The expression "play safe" probably means "____".
(A) to write carefully
(B) to do as teachers say
(C) to use dictionaries frequently
(D) to avoid using words one is not sure of
23. Teachers encourage the use of dictionaries so that ____.
(A) students will be able to express their ideas more freely
(B) teachers will have less trouble in correcting mistakes
(C) students will have more confidence in writing
(D) students will learn to be independent of teachers
24. The writer seems to think that the teacher's judgement on that sensitive piece of writing is ____.
(A) reasonable
(B) unfair
(C) foolish
(D) careless
25. The major point discussed in the passage is ____ .
(A) the importance of developing writing skills
(B) the complexities of spelling
(C) the correct way of making compositions
(D) the relationship between spelling and the content of a composition

Passage Two
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:
A breakthrough (突破) in the provision of energy from the sun for the European Economic Community (EEC) could be brought froward by up to two decades, if a modest increase could be provided in the EEC's research effort in this field, according to the senior EEC scientists engaged in experiments in solar energy at EEC's scientific laboratories at Ispra, near Milan.
The senior West German scientist in charge of the Community's solar energy programme, Mr. Joachim Gretz, told journalists that at present levels of research spending it was most unlikely that solar energy would provide as much as three per cent of the Community's energy requirements even after the year 2000. But he said that with a modest increase in the present sums, devoted by the EEC to this work it was possible that the breakthrough could be achieved by the end of the next decade.
Mr. Gretz calculates that if solar energy only provided three per cent of the EEC's needs, this could still produce a saving of about a billion pounds in the present bill for imported energy each year. And he believes that with the possibility of utilizing more advanced technology in this field it might be possible to satisfy a much bigger share of the Community's future energy needs.
At present the EEC spends about $2.6 millions a year on solar research at Ispra, one of the EEC's official joint research centres, and another $3 millions a year in indirect research with universities and other independent bodies.

26. The phrase "be brought forward" (Line 2, Para. 1) most probably means "______".
(A) be expected (C) be advanced
(B) be completed (D) be introduced
27. Some scientists believe that a breakthrough in the use of solar energy depends on ______.
(A) sufficient funding (C) advanced technology
(B) further experiments (D) well-equipped laboratories
28. According to Mr. Gretz, the present sum of money will enable the scientists to provide _____.
(A) more than 3% of the EEC's needs after the year 2000
(B) only 3% of the EEC's needs before the year 2000
(C) less than 3% of the EEC's needs before the year 2000
(D) 3% of the EEC's needs after the year 2000
29. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? ______
(A) The EEC spends one billion pounds on imported energy each year.
(B) At the present level of research spending, it is difficult to make any significant progress in the provision of energy from the sun.
(C) The desired breakthrough could be obtained by the end of the next decade if investment were increased.
(D) The total yearly spending of the EEC on solar energy research amounted to almost 6 million.
30. The application of advanced technology to research in solar energy ______.
(A) would lead to a big increase in research funding
(B) would make it unnecessary to import oil
(C) would make it possible to meet the future energy needs of the EEC
(D) would provide a much greater proportion of the Community's future energy needs

Passage Three
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
Just seven years ago, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart was being cheered as the model of human
creativeness. The sight of Barney Clark-alive and conscious after trading his diseased heart for a
metal-and-plastic pump-convinced the press, the public and many doctors that the future had
arrived. It hadn't. After monitoring production of the Jarvik-7, and reviewing its effects on the
150 or so patients (most of whom got the device as a temporary measure) the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration concluded that the machine was doing more to endanger lives than to save
them. Last week the agency cancelled its earlier approval, effectively banning (禁止) the device.
The recall may hurt Symbion Inc., maker of the Jarvik-7, but it won't end the request for
an artificial heart. One problem with the banned mode is that the tubes connecting it to an external
power source created a passage for infection. Inventors are now working on new devices that
would be fully placed, along with a tiny power pack, in the patient's chest. The first sample
products aren't expected for another 10 or 20 years. But some people are already worrying that
they'll work—and that America's overextended health—care programs will lose a precious
$2.5 billion to $5 billion a year providing them for a relatively few dying patients. If such
expenditures (开支) cut into funding for more basic care, the net effect could actually be a decline
in the nation's health.

31. According to the passage, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart proved to be _____.
(A) a technical failure
(B) a technical wonder
(C) a good life-saver
(D) an effective means to treat heart disease
32. From the passage we know that Symbion Inc. _____.
(A) has been banned by the government from producing artificial hearts
(B) will review the effects of artificial hearts before designing new models
(C) may continue to work on new models of reliable artificial hearts
(D) can make new models of artificial hearts available on the market in 10 to 20 years
33. The new models of artificial hearts are expected _____.
(A) to have a working life of 10 or 20 years
(B) to be set fully in the patient's chest
(C) to be equipped with an external power source
(D) to create a new passage for infection
34. The word "them" in Line 7, Para. 2 refers to _____.
(A) doctors who treat heart diseases
(B) makers of artificial hearts
(C) America's health-care programs
(D) new models of artificial hearts
35. Some people feel that _____.
(A) artificial hearts are seldom effective
(B) the country should not spend so much money on artificial hearts
(C) the country is not spending enough money on artificial hearts
(D) America's health-care programs are not doing enough for the nation's health

Passage Four
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓居地) spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with troublesome mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and western lines.
The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first transcontinental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish laborers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.
The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States.

36. The major problems with America's railroad system in the mid 19th century lay in _____.
(A) poor quality rails and unreliable stopping systems
(B) lack of financial support for development
(C) limited railroad lines
(D) lack of a transcontinental railroad
37. The building of the first transcontinental system _____.
(A) brought about a rapid growth of industry and farming in the west
(B) attracted many visitors to the construction sites
(C) attracted laborers from Europe
(D) encouraged people to travel all over the country
38. The best title for this passage would be ______.
(A) Settlements Spread Westward
(B) The Coast-to-Coast Railroad: A Vital Link
(C) American Railroad History
(D) The Importance of Trains in the American Economy
39. The construction of the transcontinental railroad took ______.
(A) 9 years (C) 4 years
(B) 7 years (D) 3 years
40. What most likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad?
(A) The possibility of government support for such a task.
(B) The need to explore Utah.
(C) The need to connect the east coast with the west.
(D) The need to develop the railroad industry in the west

Part III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)
41. We had a party last month, and it was a lot of fun, so let's have ______ one this month.
(A) another (C) the other
(B) more (D) other
42. It was difficult to guess what her _____ to the news would be.
(A) impression (C) comment
(B) reaction (D) opinion
43. I decided to go to the library as soon as I _____.
(A) finish what I did (C) would finish what I was doing
(B) finished what I did (D) finished what I was doing
44. There were some ______ flowers on the table.
(A) benefits (C) false
(B) unnatural (D) unreal
45. We are interested in the weather because it _____ us so directly ---- what we wear, what we do, and even how we feel.
(A) benefits (C) guides
(B) affects (D) effects
46. Will all those _____ the proposal raise their hands?
(A) in relation to (C) in excess of
(B) in contrast to (D) in favor of
47. Children are very curious ______.
(A) at heart (C) on purpose
(B) in person (D) by nature
48. The match was cancelled because most of the members _____ a match without a standard court.
(A) objected to having (C) objected to have
(B) were objected to have (D) were objected to having
49. The teacher doesn't permit _____ in class.
(A) smoke (C) smoking
(B) to smoke (D) to have a smoke
50. I like watching TV _____ to the cinema.
(A) more than to go (C) more than going
(B) than going (D) rather than to go
51. I appreciate ______ to your home.
(A) to be invited (C) having invited
(B) to have invited (D) being invited
52. I hope my teacher will take my recent illness into _____ when judging my examination.
(A) regard (C) account
(B) counting (D) observation
53. You _____ all those calculations! We have a computer to do that sort of thing.
(A) needn't have done (C) shouldn't have done
(B) must not have done (D) can not have done
54. Important people don't often have much free time as their work _____ all their time.
(A) takes away (C) takes up
(B) takes over (D) takes in
55. When I was very young, I was terribly frightened of school, but I soon ____ it.
(A) got off (C) got away
(B) got across (D) got over
56. Many people complain of the rapid ____ of modern life.
(A) rate (C) pace
(B) speed (D) growth
57. San Francisco is usually cool in the summer, but Los Angeles _____.
(A) is rarely (C) hardly is
(B) rarely is (D) is scarcely
58. The speaker, _____ for her splendid speeches, was warmly received by the audience.
(A) having known (C) knowing
(B) being known (D) known
59. American women were _____ the right to vote until 1920 after many years of hard struggle.
(A) ignored (C) refused
(B) neglected (D) denied
60. I couldn't find _____, and so I took this one.
(A) a large enough coat (C) a large coat enough
(B) an enough large coat (D) a coat enough large
61. I always _____ what I have said.
(A) get to (C) lead to
(B) hold to (D) see to
62. No sooner had we reached the top of the hill _____ we all sat down to rest.
(A) when (C) than
(B) then (D) until
63. Evidence came up _____ specific speech sounds are recognized by babies as young as 6 months old.
(A) what (C) that
(B) which (D) whose
64. He moved away from his parents, and missed them ______ enjoy the exciting life in New York.
(A) too much to (C) very much to
(B) enough to (D) much so as to
65. He was _____ of having asked such a silly question.
(A) sorry (C) ashamed
(B) guilty (D) miserable
66. The last time we had a family reunion was ______ my brother's wedding ceremony four years ago.
(A) in (C) during
(B) at (D) over
67. What _____ would happen if the director knew you felt that way?
(A) do you suppose (C) will you suppose
(B) you suppose (D) you would suppose
68. _____ the advances of science, the discomforts of old age will no doubt always be with us.
(A) As for (C) Except
(B) Besides (D) Despite
69. How close parents are to their children _____ a strong influence on the character of the children.
(A) have (C) having
(B) has (D) to have
70. He _____ when the bus came to a sudden stop.
(A) was almost hurt (C) was to hurt himself
(B) was hurt himself (D) was hurting himself

Part IV Cloze (15 minutes)
Geography is the study of the relationship between people and the land. Geographers (地理学家) compare and contrast 71 places on the earth. But they also 72 beyond the individual places and consider the earth as a 73 . The word geography 74 from two Greek words, ge, the Greek word for "earth" and graphein, 75 means "to write." The English word geography means "to describe the earth." 76 geography books focus on a small area 77 a town or city. Others deal with a state, a region, a nation, or an 78 continent. Many geography books deal with the whole earth. Another 79 to divide the study of 80 is to distinguish between physical geography and cultural geography. The former focuses on the natural world; the 81 starts with human beings and 82 how human beings and their environment act 83 each other. But when geography is considered as a single subject, 84 branch can neglect the other. A geographer might be described 85 one who observes, records, and explains the
86 between places. If all places 87 alike, there would be little need for geographers. We know, however, 88 no two places are exactly the same. Geography, 89 , is a point of view, a special way of 90 at places.

71. (A) similar (B) various (C) distant (D) famous
72. (A) pass (B) reach (C) go (D) set
73. (A) whole (B) unit (C) part (D) total
74. (A) falls (B) removes (C) results (D) comes
75. (A) what (B) that (C) which (D) it
76. (A) Some (B) Many (C) Most (D) Few
77. (A) outside (B) except (C) as (D) like
78. (A) extensive (B) entire (C) overall (D) enormous
79. (A) way (B) means (C) habit (D) technique
80. (A) world (B) earth (C) geography (D) globe
81. (A) second (B) later (C) next (D) latter
82. (A) learns (B) studies (C) realizes (D) understands
83. (A) upon (B) for (C) as (D) to
84. (A) neither (B) either (C) one (D) each
85. (A) for (B) to (C) as (D) by
86. (A) exceptions (B) sameness (C) differences (D) divisions
87. (A) being (B) are (C) be (D) were
88. (A) although (B) whether (C) since (D) that
89. (A) still (B) then (C) nevertheless (D) moreover
90. (A) working (B) looking (C) arriving (D) getting


Part V Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 100 words on Changes in People's Diet. study the following table carefully and your composition must be based on the information given in the table. Write three paragraphs to:
1. state the changes in people's diet (饮食) in the past five years;
2. give possible reasons for the changes.
3. draw your own conclusions.
4. you should quote as few figures as possible.

Food Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Grain 49% 47% 46.5% 45% 45%
Milk 10% 11% 11% 12% 13%
Meet 17% 20% 22.5% 23% 21%
Fruit and vegetables 24% 22% 20% 20% 21%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
91.6
Part I 1-20题
1. B 2. C 3. C 4. C 5. D 6. D 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. A
11. A 12. B 13. D 14. B 15. B 16. C 17. A 18. D 19. A 20. D

Part II ——Part III 21—90题
21. B 22. D 23. A 24. B 25. D 26. C 27. A 28. C 29. A 30. D
31. A 32. C 33. B 34. D 35. B 36. A 37. A 38. B 39. B 40. C
41. A 42. B 43. D 44. A 45. B 46. D 47. D 48. A 49. C 50. C
51. D 52. C 53. A 54. C 55. D 56. C 57. B 58. D 59. D 60. A
61. B 62. C 63. C 64. A 65. C 66. B 67. A 68. D 69. B 70. A
71. B 72. C 73. A 74. D 75. C 76. A 77. D 78. B 79. A 80. C
81. D 82. B 83. A 84. A 85. C 86. C 87. D 88. D 89. B 90. B