2015年12月英语四级真题及答案（word版）.doc

2014年12月英语四级

Ban sugary drinks that will add fuel to the obesity war

[A] On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. He was pale and disfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity(肥胖的)leads to many nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him, including a couple of fatty children with swollen checks pressing against their eyes. These people are part of what is without exaggeration an epidemic(流行病)of obesity.

[B] But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea- far from new- that could spare millions of such people a lifetime of chronic(长期的)ill health, and at the same time save the National Health Service(NHS)at least ￡14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, be considerable public interest in it. This simple idea is that sugar is as good- or as bad- as poison and should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 years ago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us.

[C] In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction(瘾), to hormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic(新陈代谢的)malfunctions and obesity and from there to type 2 diabetes(糖尿病)and its many horrible complication. If people really grasped that, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the ― fat man of Europe‖ . They might even feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadly stuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance.

[D] It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests(既得利益集团)lined up against any sugar control- all the food and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easy pickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normally side, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in our lives.

[E]That is true, but people should realize that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state(保姆国家), to some degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another’s health insurance, through socialized medicine, then we are all closely involved in one another’s health, including everyone’s eating and drinking. That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yet to be admitted with overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and that number is predicted to double by the year 2050.Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripple the NHS.

[F]Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the alarm. Last month the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges(AMRC)published a report saying that obesity is the greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something.

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[G]The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of 20 percent on sugary drinks for at least a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. As Professor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are ―the ultimate bad food. You are just consuming neat sugar. Your body didn’t evolve to handle this kind of thing.‖

[H]Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt(which are very different)pale into insignificant compared with the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere.

[I]It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, fish or vegetables, that doesn’t have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailing scientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as the really serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity. [J]The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not very appetizing, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavor enhancer, often in the forms of syrups(糖浆)that had recently been developed from corn, and put it generously into most prepared foods and soft drinks.

[K]This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body’s metabolism, possibly via the activity of an appetite-controlling hormone. There’s plenty of evidence for this, for those who will accept the truth.

[L]Theoretically, people ought to make ―healthy choices‖ and avoid overeating. But sugar additives are not easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, over-drinking and over eating that makes people fat is not really their own fault: obesity is in large part something that is being done to them. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it.

[M]Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all the poisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They are poisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving small children sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse.

[N]Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation. But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools and banning vending machines(自动售货机)here and there — as suggested try the AMRC report — is not going to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning high levels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks.

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[O]In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the food industry and had not ruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However, nothing has happened yet. Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it.

46、Avoiding over-consumption of sugar can improve people’s health as well as save medical expenses. 47、Laws should be passed to make it illegal to produce overly sweet foods or drinks. 48、Giving small children sweet juices to drink all the time is equal to child abuse. 59、Looking around, the author found obesity quite widespread.

50、The number of obese people is expected to increase quickly in the next few decades.

51、If people really understood the horrible consequences of sugary foods and drinks, they would support government measures against sugar consumption.

52、It would be a very good beginning wo improve an additional tax on sugary drinks.

53、The government has not yet taken any action to regulate sugar consumption although it indicated its intention to do so some time ago.

54、Sugar is far more harmful to health than fat and salt.

55、Consumers of sweet foods are not really to blame because they cannot tell what food is sugary. Section C

The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history, comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly, often using Web-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet’s tremendous impacts has only just begun. ―Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,‖ Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book. The New Digital Age.

Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But if the book has one major shortcoming, it’s that authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes.

In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes — and more importantly predicts — how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.

At the core of the book is the idea that ―technology is neutral, but people aren’t.‖ By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对立观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimatel

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y be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they’re also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance(监视).

56、In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?

A.It transforms human history. B.It facilitates daily communication. C.It is adopted by all humanity. D.It revolutionizes people's thinking.

57、How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet? A.They are immeasurable. B.They are worldwide. C.They are unpredictable. D.They are contaminating.

58、In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate? A.It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology. B.It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet. C.It lacks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses. D.It does not address the technical aspects of Internet communication. 59、What will the future be like when everybody gets online? A.People will be living in two different realities. B.People will have equal access to information. C.People don’t have to travel to see the world. D.People don’t have to communicate face to face.

60、What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age? A.They leave many questions unanswered concerning the Internet. B.They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution. C.They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world. D.They don’t take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet.

In 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry. And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage(抵押贷款)payments on an average home with just 13.4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly eamings.

Other members of the autoworker’s family, however might be less inclined to tried the present for the past. His retired parents would certainly have had less economic security back then. Through-out much

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of the 1960s,more than a quarter of men and women and women age 65 and older lived below the poverty level, compared to less than 10 percent in 2010.

In most stales, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection against family violence.

Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的人),white racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying into the suburban neighborhoods being built for white working –class families.

Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past. Some people may long for an era when divorce was still hard to come by. The spread of no -fault divorce has reduced the bargaining power of whichever spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakup of such marriages has caused pain for many families.

The growing diversity of family life comes with new possibilities as well as new challenges. According to a recent poll, more than 80 percent of Americans believe that their current family is as close as the one in which they grew up, or closer. Finding ways to imaginary golden age. 61、What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950? A.They had less job security than they do today. B.It was not too difficult for them to buy a house. C.Their earnings were worth twice as much as today. D.They were better off than workers in other industries. 62、What does the author about retired people today? A.They invariably long to return to the golden past. B.They do not depend so much on social welfare. C.They feel more secure economically than in the past. D.They are usually unwilling to live with their children.

63、Why couldn’t black workers buy a house in a whitc suburban neighborhood ? A .They lacked the means of transportation. B .They were subjected to racial inequality. C .They were afraid to break the law. D .They were too poor to afford it.

64、What is the result of no-fault divorce ? A .Divorce is easier to obtain. B .Domestic violence is lessened. C .It causes little pain to either side. D It contributes to social unrest.

65 、What does the author suggest society do?

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A.Get prepared to face any new challenges. B.Try to better the current social security. C.Narrow the gap between blacks and whites. D.Improve the lives of families with problems Part IV Translation

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

翻译题一：大熊猫是一种温顺的动物，长着独特的黑白皮毛。因其数量极少，大熊猫已被列为濒危物种。大熊猫对于世界自然基金会有着特殊意义。自1961年该基金会成立以来，大熊猫就一直是它的徽标。大熊猫是熊科中最稀有的成员，主要生活在中国西南部的森林里。目前，世界上大约有1000只大熊猫。这些以竹为食的动物正面临许多威胁。因此，确保大熊猫的生存比以往更重要。 翻译题二：中国的互联网是全世界发展最快的，2010年，中国大概有4.2亿网民，而且人数还在迅速的增长，互联网的日渐流行带来了重大的社会变化，中国的网民往往不同与国外的网民，美国的网民更都多的是受实际需要的驱使，用互联网为工具发电子邮件，买卖商品，科学研究，规划形成或者付款，中国网民更多都是出于社交的原因使用互联网，因而更广泛的使用论坛、博客，聊天室等。

翻译题三：越来越多的中国年轻人正对旅游产生兴趣，这是近年来的新趋势。年轻游客数量的不断增加，可以归因于他们迅速提高的收入和探索外部世界的好奇心，随着旅行多了，年轻人在大城市和著名景点花的时间少了。他们反而更为偏远的地方所吸引。有些人甚至选择长途背包旅行。最近调查显示，很多年轻人想要通过旅行来体验不同的文化，丰富知识，拓展视野。

参考答案

写作部分：

【印象最深的活动：参考范文】

When it comes to ―what campus activity that has benefited you most‖,I can’t help remembering the change4life campaign. This campus activity rallies us to protect our physical health.

There are,to my mind,plenty of identifiable factors.To begin with, this campus activity has informed me that physical health is most precious to us. Nothing can replace with our fitness. What’s more, this campus campaign holds varieties of health clubs, which give me numerous tips on how to keep our fitness. Last but not least, by taking part in this campus activity, I develop some good habit. For example, every morning, I run for a while. Again, Ispend the bulk of every weekend on climbing Xiang Mountain. Therefore, I confirm that the change4life campaign is the campus activity that has benefited me most.If it had not been,I could not have enjoyed my health. 【印象最深的课程：参考范文】

When it comes to a course that leaves the deepest impression in university, different people stand on

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different grounds. As for me, the most impressive course in college is ―Appreciation of English Movies‖, which I like best. I prefer this curriculum to others owing to the following factors.

On one hand, the professor in charge of this course has impressed me most because she is not only knowledgeable but also patient. More importantly, it is this respectable teacher who spurs my interest to English harder and broadens my horizon as well. Until now, what she said in the class often occurs to my mind. On the other hand, there are many discussions in the classroom when we have lessons. We are allowed to talk freely about a movie, the topic ranging from the theme of a film to its casting. So, during the talk, we become increasingly open-minded. And undoubtedly a brain open to everything carries great importance to study, work and life.

Generally speaking, the course on appreciating English films has impressed me most for it is not only instructive but also entertaining. And therefore, I suggest that more similar courses should be offered in the university.

【印象最深的同学：参考范文】

Without question, Lisa is the person who has influenced my college life most. She is my classmate, who always leaves a deep impression on you by demonstrating her passion for life and the spirit of never yielding, even in the face of extreme challenges. She is the most courageous person I have ever known. During my college years, it is Lisa that kept teaching me how to live through setbacks in the life journey. I’ll never forget that when I failed in my English examination and I felt overwhelmed, Lisa taught me that failure teaches success, everyone had to persevere and face up to innumerable setbacks, as long as I face my problems bravely, I would create my own wonderful life . With her help , I finally gained the confidence and passed the exam. Thanks to Lisa, I have learned the importance of courage, which is the indispensable characteristic in my life. She also let me know the importance of confidence. It means a lot to me and still in my head till this day.

阅读理解答案： 选词填空

36—40 F critical D contemporary K led N proportions C closely 41—45 E courses B actually I especially G declining H degrees 长篇阅读

46—50 BNMAE 51—55 CGCHL

46-55ETDOK BECLG 仔细阅读

56—60 BBCAD 61—65 BCBAD

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翻译部分

【大熊猫：参考译文】The giant panda is a docile animal with unique black and white fur. Because of their small number, giant pandas have been listed as an endangered species. The giant pandas are of special significance for WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Since the establishment in 1961, the fund has been using the giant panda as its logo. The giant panda is the rarest member of the bear family. They mainly live in the forests of southwestern China. Currently, there are about 1,000 giant pandas in the world. The bamboo-eating animals are facing many threats. Therefore, to ensure the survival of the giant panda is more important than ever.

【旅游：参考译文】More and more young people are interested in Chinese tourism, which is a new trend in recent years. Increasing number of young tourists, they can be attributed to the rapid increase of income and to explore the world outside of curiosity, with travel much, young people in big city and famous scenic spots to spend less time. Instead they are more attracted to a remote place. Some people even choose long backpacking trip. According to a recent survey, many young people who want to experience a different culture, travel through the rich knowledge, the development field of vision.

【互联网：参考译文】The Internet community of China is developing in the fastest way in the world.China has about 420 million netizens in 2010,and the number is still growing rapidly.The growing popularity of Internet has brought significant changes to the society.And Chinese netizens are often different from the netizens in America.American netizens are more motivated by actual needs,using the Internet as a tool to send e-mails, buying and selling goods,plan trips or payment.Chinese netizens are more use the Internet for social reasons.Hence,they use QQ and chat-rooms for a wider range.

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