1990年1月大学英语四级真题及答案

Part 1 Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)
Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a line through the centre.
Example: You will hear:
You will read:
A) At the office. C) At the airport.
B) In the waiting room. D) In a restaurant.
From the conversation we know that the two were talking about some work they had to finish in the evening. This is most likely to have taken place at the office. There fore, A) “At the office” is the best answer. You should choose [A] on the Answer Sheet and mark it with a single line through the centre.
Sample Answer [A][B][C][D]
1. (A) The man wants to go to Los Angeles.
(B) The man wants to go to San Francisco.
(C) There are no flights to Los Angeles for the rest of the day.
(D) There are two direct flights to Los Angeles within the next two hours.
2. (A) He enjoys writing home every week.
(B) He never fails to write a weekly letter home.
(C) He doesn’t write home once a week now.
(D) He has been asked to write home every week.
3. (A) Because she has got an appointment.
(B) Because she doesn’t want to.
(C) Because she has to work.
(D) Because she wants to eat in a new restaurant.
4. (A) The teacher postponed the meeting.
(B) There won’t be a test this afternoon.
(C) The students will be attending the meeting.
(D) The students will take an English test this afternoon.
5. (A) On the whole, she liked the film.
(B) She didn’t see the film.
(C) The film was very exciting.
(D) The film wasn’t as good as she’d expected.
6. (A) Around 5:00. (C) At 2:00
(B) Around 3:00. (D) At 1:00
7. (A) he had to work overtime. (C) His car ran out of gas.
(B) He was held up in traffic. (D) He had a traffic accident.
8. (A) John Smith isn’t in right now.
(B) John Smith can’t come to the phone right now.
(C) John Smith doesn't want to speak to the caller.
(D) The caller dialed the wrong number.
9. (A) Yesterday. (C) Two days ago.
(B) Three days ago. (D) Early last week.
10.(A) She got up later than usual. (C) She forgot she had classes.
(B) The bus was late. (D) Her clock was slow.
Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. (A) 4,000 years ago. (C) 2,000 years ago.
(B) 3,000 years ago. (D) 1,000 years ago.
12. (A) The small bowl was put above the large bowl.
(B) The large bowl was put above the small bowl.
(C) The small bowl was put inside the large bowl.
(D) The large bowl consisted of two equal parts.
13. (A) Horsemen. (C) Drops of water.
(B) Brass doors. (D) Metal balls.
Passage Two
Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. (A) They are the most attractive women in Britain.
(B) They are the most popular film stars.
(C) They are the first women news announcers on British television.
(D)They appear almost every night in TV plays.
15. (A) At 10 in the evening. (C) At 9 in the morning.
(B) At 9 in the evening. (D) At 10 in the morning.
16. (A) People still talk a lot about it.
(B) Fewer people watched Susan’s programme from then on.
(C) Anna’s photographs appeared frequently in newspapers.
(D) The number of viewers of her programme that day increased by millions.
Passage Three
Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
17. (A) It is completely flat. (C) It has many large lakes.
(B) It has few rivers. (D) It is hilly.
18. (A) The soil has been overworked. (C) The weather is too dry.
(B) The climate is cold. (D) The soil is sandy.
19. (A) By raising cattle. (C) By working in factories.
(B) By working on farms. (D) By raising sheep.
20. (A) At school (C) From books.
(B) From their parents. (D) In factories.

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)
Directions: There are 4 reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A),B) C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
Oceanography has been defined as “The application of all sciences to the study of the sea”.
Before the nineteen century, scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctantto go to sea to further his work.
For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that question “What is at the bottom of the oceans?” had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineers had to know the depth profile（起伏形状）of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.
It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings（测身） were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea.
The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.
Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition(考察), which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.
21. The proposal to lay a telegraph cable from Europe to America made oceanographic studies take on ______.
A) an academic aspect C) a business aspect
B) a military aspect D) an international aspect
22. It was ______ that asked Maury for help in oceanographic studies.
A) the American Navy
B) some early intercontinental travelers
C) those who earned a living from the sea
D) the company which proposed to lay an undersea cable
23. The aim of the voyages Maury was responsible for in the 1840s was ______.
A) to make some sounding experiments in the oceans
B) to collect samples of sea plants and animals
C) to estimate the length of cable that was needed
D) to measure the depths of the two oceans
24. “Defied” in the 5th paragraph probably means “______”.
A) doubted C) challenged
B) gave proof to D) agreed to
25. This passage is mainly about ______.
A) the beginnings of oceanography
B) the laying of the first undersea cable
C) the investigation of ocean depths
D) the early intercontinental communications
Passage Two
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:
Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.
For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this imposes a constant pressure and strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. The effective word of maintaining discipline is usually performed by students who advise the academic authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does involve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career.
26. Normally a student would at least attend _____ classes each week.
A) 36 B) 20
C) 12 D) 15
27. According to the first paragraph an American student is allowed _______.
A) to live in a different university
B) to take a particular course in a different university
C) to live at home and drive to classes
D) to get two degrees from two different universities
28. American university students are usually under pressure of work because _______.
A) their academic performance will affect their future careers
B) they are heavily involved in student affairs
C) they have to observe university discipline
D) they want to run for positions of authority
29. Some students are enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably because ______.
A) they hate the constant pressure strain of their study
B) they will then be able to stay longer in the university
C) such positions help them get better jobs
D) such positions are usually well paid
30. The student organizations seem, to be effective in ______.
A) dealing with the academic affairs of the university
B) ensuring that the students observe university regulations
C) evaluating students’ performance by bringing them before a court
D) keeping up the students’ enthusiasm for social activities
Passage Three
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
Do you find getting up in the morning so difficult that it’s painful? This might be called laziness, but Dr. Kleitman has a new explanation. He has proved that everyone has a daily energy cycle.
During the hours when you labor through your work you may say that you’re “hot”. That’s true. The time of day when you feel most energetic is when your cycle of body temperature is at its peak, For some people the peak comes during the forenoon. For others it comes in the afternoon or evening. No one has discovered why this is so, but it leads to such familiar monologues (自言自语)as: “ Get up, John! You’ll be late for work again!” The possible explanation to the trouble is that John is at his temperature-and-energy peak in the evening. Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what these energy cycles mean, and which cycle each member of the family has. You can’t change your energy cycle, but you can learn to make your life fit it better. Habit can help, Dr. Kleitman believes. Maybe you’re sleepy in the evening but feel you must stay up late anyway. Counteract（对抗） your cycle to some extent by habitually staying up later than you want to. If our energy is low in the morning but you have an important job to do early in the day, rise before your usual hour. This won’t change your cycle, but you’ll get up steam（鼓起干劲）and work better at your low point.
Get off to a slow start which saves your energy. Get up with a leisurely yawn and stretch. Sit on the edge of the bed a minute before putting your feet on the floor. Avoid the troublesome search for clean clothes by laying them out the night before. Whenever possible, do routine work in the afternoon and save tasks requiring more energy or concentration for your sharper hours.
31. If a person finds getting up early a problem, most probably ______.
A) he is a lazy person
B) he refuses to follow his own energy cycle
C) he is not sure when his energy is low
D) he is at his peak in the afternoon or evening
32. Which of the following may lead to family quarrels according to the passage?
A) Unawareness of energy cycles.
B) Familiar monologues.
C) A change in a family member’s energy cycle.
D) Attempts to control the energy cycle of other family members.
33. If one wants to work more efficiently at his low point in the morning, he should _____.
A) change his energy cycle C) get up earlier than usual
B) overcome his laziness D) go to bed earlier
34. You are advised to rise with a yawn and stretch because it will ______.
A) help to keep your energy for the day’s work
B) help you to control your temper early in the day
C) enable you to concentrate on your routine work
D) keep your energy cycle under control all day
35. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
A) Getting off to work wit a minimum effort helps save one’s energy.
B) Dr. Kleitman explains why people reach their peaks at different hours of day.
C) Habit helps a person adapt to his own energy cycle.
D) Children have energy cycles, too.
Passage Four
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
We find that bright children are rarely held back by mixed ability teaching. On the contrary, both their knowledge and experience are enriched. We feel that there are many disadvantages in streaming (把……按能力分班)pupils. It does not take into account the fact that children develop at different rates. It can have a bad effect on both the bright and the not-so-bright child. After all, it can be quite discouraging to be at the bottom of the top grade!
Besides, it is rather unreal to grade people just according to their intellectual ability. This is only one aspect of their total personality. We are concerned to develop the abilities of all our pupils. To the full, not just their academic ability. We also value personal qualities and social skills, and we find that mixed-ability teaching contributes to all these aspects of learning.
In our classrooms, we work in various ways. The pupils often work in groups: this gives them the opportunity to learn to co-operate, to share, and to develop leadership skills. They also learn how to cope with personal problems as well as learning how to think, to make decisions, to analyze and evaluate, and to communicate effectively. The pupils learn from each other as well as from the teacher.
Sometimes the pupils work in pairs; sometimes they work on individual tasks and assignments, and they can do this at their own speed. They also have some formal class teaching when this is appropriate. We encourage our pupils to use the library, and we teach them the skills they need in order to do this efficiently. An advanced pupil can do advanced work: it does not matter what age the child is. We expect our pupils to do their best, not their least, and we give them every encouragement to attain this goal.
36. In the passage the author’s attitude towards “mixed-ability teaching” is _______.
A) critical C) approving
B) questioning D) objective
37. By “held back” (Line 1) the author means “______”
A) made to remain in the same classes
B) forced to study I the lower classes
C) drawn to their studies
D) prevented from advancing
38. The author argues that a teacher’s chief concern should be the development of the student’s
______.
A) personal qualities and social skills
B) total personality
C) learning ability and communicative skills
D) intellectual ability
39. Which of the following is NOT MENTIONED in the third paragraph?
A) Group work gives pupils the opportunity to learn to work together with other.
B) Pupils also learn to develop their reasoning abilities.
C) Group work provides pupils with the opportunity to learn to be capable organizers.
D) Pupils also learn how to participate in teaching activities.
40. The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to ______.
A) argue for teaching bright and not-so-bright pupils in the same class
B) recommend pair work and group work for classroom activities
C) offer advice on the proper use of the library
D) emphasize the importance of appropriate formal classroom teaching

Part III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)
Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four Choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer sheet with a single time through the centre.
41. The bridge was named _____ the hero who gave his life for the cause of the people.
A) after C) by
B) with D) from
42. There were no tickets _______ for Friday’s performance.
A) preferable C) possible
B) considerable D) available
43. It wasn’t such a good dinner ____ she had promised us.
A) that C) as
B) which D) what
44. They decided to chase the cow away _______ it did more damage.
A) unless C) before
B) until D) although
45. ____ student with a little common sense should be able to answer the question.
A) Each C) Either
B) Any D) One
46. All ____ is a continuous supply of the basic necessities of life.
A) what is needed C) the thing needed
B) for our needs D) that is needed
47. ____ with the size of the whole earth, the highest mountain does not seem high at all.
A)When compared C) While comparing
B) Compare D) Comparing
48. ____ she first heard of the man referred to as a specialist.
A) That was from Stephen C) It was from Stephen that
B) It was Stephen whom D) It was Stephen that
49. If these shoes are too big, ask the clerk to bring you a smaller ____.
A) suit C) one
B)set D) pair
50. Many new ____ will be opened up in the future for those with a university education.
A) opportunities C) realities
B) necessities D) probabilities
51. He must have had an accident, or he _____ then.
A) would have been here C) should be here
B) had to be here D) would be here
52. It was essential that the application forms ______ back before the deadline (截止日期).
A) must be sent C) be sent
B) would be sent D) were sent
53. We ______ our breakfast when an old man came to the door.
A) just have had C) just had
B) have just had D) had just had
54. The rain was heavy and _____ the land was flooded.
A) consequently C) constantly
B) continuously D) consistently
55. The children went there to watch the iron tower ______.
A) to erect C) erecting
B) be erected D) being erected
56. The engine _____ smoke and steam.
A) gives up C) gives away
B) gives in D) gives off
57. The manager promised to keep me _____ of how our business was going on.
A) to be informed C) informed
B) on informing D) informing
58. Don't _____ this news to the public until we give you the go-ahead.
A) release C) relate
B) relieve D) retain
59. She never laughed, _____ lost her temper.
A) or she ever did C) or did she ever
B) nor did she ever D) nor she ever did
60. The goals _____ he had fought all his life no longer seemed important to him.
A) after which C) with which
B) for which D) at which
61. I should like to rent a house, modern, comfortable and _____ in a quiet neighborhood.
A) all in all C) after all
B) above all D) over all
62. _____ we have finished the course, we shall start doing more revision work.
A) For now C) Ever since
B) Now that D) By now
63. What you have done is _____ the doctor's orders.
A) attached to C) resistant to
B) responsible to D) contrary to
64. John regretted _____ to the meeting last week.
A) not going C) not having been going
B) not to go D) not to be going
65. They _____ in spite of the extremely difficult conditions.
A) carried out C) carried on
B) carried off D) carried forward
66. Mrs. Brown is supposed _____ for Italy last week.
A) to have left C) to leave
B) to be leaving D) to have been left
67. My camera can be _____ to take pictures in cloudy or sunny conditions.
A) treated C) adopted
B) adjusted D) remedied
68. A new technique ______, the yields as a whole increased by 20 per cent.
A) wording out C) having been worded out
B) having worded out D) to have been worded out
69. Children who are over-protected by their parents may become ______.
A) hurt C) spoiled
B) damaged D) harmed
70. When Mr. Jones gets old, he will _____ over his business to his son.
A) take C) think
B) hand D) get

Part IV Cloze (15 minutes)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked (A), (B), (C) and (D) on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
The United States is well-known for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. 71 these wide modern Roads are generally 72 and well maintained, with 73 sharp curves and many straight 74 , a direct route is not always the most 75 one. Large highways often pass 76 scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally 77 large urban centres which means that they become crowded with 78 traffic during rush hours, 79 the "fast, direct" way becomes a very slow route.
However, there is 80 always another route to take 81 you are not in a hurry. Not far from the 82 new "superhighways", there are often older, 83 heavily traveled roads which go through the countryside. 84 of these are good two-lane (双车道) roads; others are uneven roads 85 through the country. These secondary routes may go up steep slopes, along high 86,or down frightening hillsides to towns 87 in deep valleys. Through these less direct routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places 88 the air is clean and the scenery (风景) is beautiful, and the driver may have a 89 to get a fresh, clean 90 of the world.
71. (A) Although (B) Because (C) Since (D) Therefore
72. (A) stable (B) splendid (C) smooth (D) complicated
73. (A) little (B) few (C) much (D) many
74. (A) selections (B) separations (C) series (D) sections
75. (A) terrible (B) possible (C) enjoyable (D) profitable
76. (A) to (B) into (C) over (D) by
77. (A) lead (B) connect (C) collect (D) communicate
78. (A) large (B) fast (C) light (D) heavy
79. (A) when (B)for (C)but (D) that
80. (A) yet (B) still (C)almost (D) quite
81. (A) unless (B) if (C) as (D) since
82. (A) relatively (B) regularly (C) respectively (D) reasonably
83. (A) and (B)less (C) more (D) or
84. (A) All (B) Several (C) Lots (D) or
85. (A) driving (B) crossing (C) curving (D) traveling
86. (A) rocks (B) cliffs (C) roads (D) paths
87. (A) lying (B) laying (C) laid (D) lied
88. (A) there (B) when (C) which (D) where
89. (A) space (B) period (C) chance (D) spot
90. (A) view (B) variety (C) visit (D) virtue

Part V Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition about What Would Happen If There Were No Power in three paragraphs. You are given the first sentence or part of the first sentence of each paragraph. Your part of the composition should be no less than 100 words, not including the words given. Remember to write clearly. You should write this composition on the Composition Sheet.
1. Ever since early this century, electricity has become an essential part of our modern life.
2. If there were no electric power.
3. Therefore.
参考答案
90.1
Part I 1——20 题
1. A 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. B 7. B 8. D 9. C 10. A
11. A 12. A 13. D 14. C 15. A 16. D 17. D 18. A 19. C 20. B

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