1、2014 年 12 月四级真题（第 1 套）第一套：Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.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 n
2、ow 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 Internets tremendous impact has only just begun.“Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social
3、, 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 Int
4、ernet 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 ff the book has one major shortcoming, its that the authors dont spend enough time applying a critical eye to the
5、role of Internet businesses in these sweeping 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, in
6、stitutions, 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 arent.“ 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)
7、 that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately 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, theyre also realistic about the risk
8、s and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance (监视).注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。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
9、 history.B It facilitates daily communication. C It is adopted by all humanity.D It revolutionizes peoples 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
10、 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 Inter
11、net 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 dont have to travel to see the world.D People dont have to communicate face to face.60. What does the passage say a
12、bout 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 dont take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet.P
13、assage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.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 perc
14、ent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly earnings.Other members of the autoworkers family, however, might be less inclined to trade the present for the past. His retired parents would certainly have had less economic security back then.
15、 Throughout much of the 1960s, more than a quarter of men and women age 65 and older lived below the poverty level, compared to less than 10 percent in 2010.In most states, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a credit card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the
16、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 (职位相对的人 ), while racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from
17、 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 d
18、ivorce 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. Accord-ing to a recent poll,
19、 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 improve the lives of the remaining 20 percent seems more realistic than trying to restore an imaginary golden age.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答61. What do we learn abou
20、t 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 say about retired people today?A They
21、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 couldnt black workers buy a house in a white suburban neighborhood?A They lacked the mean
22、s 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 s
23、ocial unrest.65. What does the author suggest society do?A Get prepared to face any new challenges.B Try to better the current social security net.C Narrow the gap between blacks and whites.D Improve the lives of families with problems.第二套：Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following pas
24、sage.New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling (骑车的) passengers on those shining blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up riders at their expense?At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, manager W. Ben said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to t
25、he bike-share program.“Its getting more people on the road,“ he said. James Ryan, an employee at Dannys Cycles in Gramercy also said Citi Bike is a good option for people to ease into biking in a city famed for its traffic jams and aggressive drivers.“They can try out a bike without committing to bu
26、ying one,“ he said.Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Dannys Cycles. But for Franks Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90 since Citi Bike was rolled out las
27、t month.Arroyos main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.However, Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop.“People have used the bike- share and realized how great it is to bike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer
28、 for themselves,“ he noted.Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially he was concerned about bike-share, though, he admitted, “I was happy to see people on bikes.“Farrells early concerns were echoed by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYC Velo, at
29、64 Second Ave. “It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement,“ Crooks said of Citi Bike. He saidhe worried about inexperienced riders lack of awareness of bildng rules and strong negative reaction from non-cyclists. However, he said, its still too early to tell ff his bu
30、siness has been impacted.While its possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks allowed that the idea is a positive step forward for New York City.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。56. What is the authors chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?A How non-cyclists will respond
31、 to it.B Whether local bike shops will suffer.C Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.D How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.57. What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of the bike-share program?A It found its bike sales unaffected.B It shifted its business to rentals. C It saw its
32、bike sales on the rise.D It rented more bikes to tourists.58. Why is the bike-share program bad news for Franks Bike Shop?A It cannot meet the demand of the bike-share program.B Its customers have been drawn away by Citi Bikes.C Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.D It has to compete
33、with the citys bike rental shops.59. Why did Andrew Crooks think that the bike-share program would be difficult to execute?A Inexperienced riders might break biking rules.B Conflicts might arise among bike rental shops.C Traffic conditions might worsen in the downtown area.D There are not enough lan
34、es to accommodate the bikes.60. What is the general attitude of local bike shops towards Citi Bike?A Wait-and-see.B Negative.C Indifferent. D Approving.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to meas
35、urable improvements in learning. Between 1980 and 2008, staff and teachers at U.S. public schools grew roughly twice as fast as students. Yet students showed no additional learning in achievement tests.Universities show similar trends of increased administration personnel and costs without greater l
36、earning, as documented in Richard Arum and Josipa Roksas recent book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses.A survey shows that 63% of employers say that recent college graduates dont have the sldlls they need to succeed and 25% of employers say that entry-level writing skills are
37、 lacking.Some simplistically attribute the decline in our public education system to the drain of skilled students by private schools, but far more significant events were at work.Public schools worked well until about the 1970s. In fact, until that time, public schools provided far better education
38、 than private ones. It was the underperforming students who were thrown out of public schools and went to private ones.A prominent reason public schools did well was that many highly qualified women had few options for worldng outside the house other than being teachers or nurses. They accepted rela
39、tively low pay,difficult working conditions, and gave their very best.Having such a large supply of talented women teachers meant that society could pay less for their services. Womens liberation opened up new professional opportunities for women, and, over time, some of the best left teaching as a
40、career option, bringing about a gradual decline in the quality of schooling.Also around that time, regulations, government, and unions came to dictate pay, prevent acustments,and introduce bureaucratic (官僚的) standard for advancement. Large education bureaucracies and unions came to dominate the land
41、scape, confusing activity with achievement. Bureaucrats regularly rewrite curriculums, talk nonsense about theories of education, and require ever more admires“ trators. The end result has been that, after all the spending, students have worse math and reading skills than both their foreign peers an
42、d earlier generations spending far less on education-as all the accumulating evidence now documents.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答61. What do we learn from various studies on Americas public education?A Achievement tests have failed to truly reflect the quality of teaching.B Public schools-lack the resources t
43、o compete with private schools.C Little improvement in education has resulted from increased spending.D The number of students has increased much faster than that of teachers.62. How do some people explain the decline in public education?A Government investment does not meet schools needs.B Skilled
44、students are moving to private schools.C Qualified teachers are far from adequately paid.D Training of students basic skills is neglected.63. What was a significant contributor to the past glory of public schools?A Well-behaved students.B Efficient admirestration. C Talented women teachers.D Generou
45、s pay for teachers.64. Why did some of the best women teachers leave teaching?A New career opportunities were made available to them by womens liberation.B Higher academic requirements made it difficult for them to stay in their jobs.C They were unhappy with the bureaucratic administration in their
46、schools.D The heavy teaching loads left them little time and energy for family life.65. What does the author think is one of the results of government involvement in education?A Increasing emphasis on theories of education. B Highly standardized teaching methods.C Students improved academic performa
47、nce.D An ever-growing number of administrators.第三套：Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Children are a delight. They are our future. But sadly, hiring someone to take care of them while you go to work is getting more expensive by the year.Earlier this month, it was report
48、ed that the cost of enrolling an infant or small kid at a childcare center rose 3% in 2012, faster than the overall cost of living. There are now large strips of the country where daycare for an infant costs more than a tenth of the average married couples income.This is not necessarily a new trend,
49、 but it is a somewhat puzzling one. The price of professional childcare has been rising since the 1980s. Yet during that time, pay for professional childcare workers has stood still. Actually caregivers make less today, in real terms, than they did in 1990. Considering that labor costs are responsible for up to 80% of a daycare centers expenses, one would expect flat wages to have meant flat prices.So whos to blame for higher childcare costs?Childcare is a carefully regulated
