2016年12月英語四級真題第三套PartIWriting(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessay.Supposeyouhavetwooptionsupongraduation:oneistofindajobsomewhereandtheothertostartabusinessofyourown.Youaretomakeadecision.Writeanessaytoexplainthereasonsforyourdecision.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PartIIListeningComprehensionSectionA(25minutes改編自2015年12月份真題1)Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1to2arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.(test2)1.A)Thenumberofadultgirlsisexpectedtodoubleby2050.B)ChildmarriageinAfricawillbeendedby2050.C)Halfwomenwillbemarriedbeforereachingadulthoodby2050.D)Thelegalmarriageagewillsetabove18by2050.2.A)Povertyandlackofeducation.B)Localculturethatundervalueschildren.C)Thelowlegalageformarriage.D)Highrisksofbecomingteenagemothers.Questions3to4arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.(test1)3.A)Theykillednomorethan50people.B)TheyfiredagainstNATOtroops.C)TheyattackedanairportinAfghanistan.D)Theykilled10children,andtwopoliceofficers.4.A)Withdrawalofcombattroopsfromothercountries.B)Falseclaimsofforeignmilitarytroops.C)Declineofthelocaltroops’strength.D)Lastyear’svictoryoverforeigntroops.Questions5to7arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.(test2)5.A)Gettinghighskilledpeople.B)Promotingcompany’stechnology.C)Findingenoughemployees.D)Increasingmembersofimmigrants.6.A)Thenumberofthemdecreasesdramatically.B)Theymainlymovefromsouthstates.C)TheycometoChicagowithoutworkvisa.D)Thenumberofthemincreasesaftertherecession.7.A)Thelawofimmigrants.B)Theenvironmentforcompanies.C)Thenumberofworkvisas.D)Highsalaryandbettertitles.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversationyouwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.8.A)Fromsomeofherfriends.B)Fromthewantedcolumn.C)Fromatelephonedirectory.D)Fromatelevisioncommercial.9.A)Shefinishedhersecondaryschool.B)Shestudiedinavocationalcollege.C)Shegraduatedfromanopenuniversity.D)Shereceivedfull-timeeducationabroad.10.A)Sheteachesaneveningclass.B)Sheworksasatourguide.C)Sheisapolicewoman.D)Sheisashorthand-typist.11.A)Ajobinatravelagency.B)Ajobinthegovernment.C)Ajobasapoliceman.D)Ajobasateacher.Questions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)Itwasinterruptedforfouryears.B)Ithasbeenoffandonfortenyears.C)Ithelpsenlargehiscustomernetwork.D)Itprovideshimwithcareeropportunities.13.A)Traditionalsetting.B)Individualizedservice.C)Socialgames.D)Home-madebeer.14.A)Thequalityofbeer.B)Theowner’sattitude.C)Theatmosphere.D)Therightlocation.15.A)Itmakesretireesfeeluseful.B)Ithelpsoldpeoplekilltime.C)Itisaprofitablebusiness.D)Itisarathertoughjob.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreepassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.16.A)Ithelpstheusertoescapereality.B)Itisbecomingincreasinglypopular.C)Ithurtsapersonandthosearoundthem.D)Itgivesrisetoserioussocialinstability.17.A)Theytakedrugstogethigh.B)Theyusedrugsjustforfun.C)Theyusedrugsasmedicine.D)Theykeepdruguseasecret.18.A)Itisfataltotheuser.B)Itishardtogetridof.C)Itisthecauseofvarioussocialproblems.D)Itisquitecommoninentertainmentcircles.Questions19to21arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.19.A)Takingupexercisesafterrecovery.B)Findingnewwaystocureheartdisease.C)Goingonadietuponleavingthehospital.D)Producingtastyhealthyfrozenfood.20.A)Itwascarefullytestedwithconsumers.B)Itwasdisapprovedbymanydietexperts.C)Itwaspromotedbyhealthorganizations.D)Itwashighlyexpectedbythegeneralpublic.21.A)Competitiveprice.B)Vigorouspromotion.C)Lowexpectations.D)Uniqueingredients.22.A)Ithasapositiveimplicationforconsumers.B)Ittrickstheeldersintoimpulsepurchasing.C)Itmatchesthefood’sdarkgreenpackaging.D)Itwassuggestedbythefirm’svice-president.Questions23to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.23.A)Itwillbeabolishedsoonerorlater.B)Itispracticedinmostofthestates.C)IthastobeapprovedbytheSupremeCourt.D)Ithasdrawnalotofcriticismfromoverseas.24.A)Whateffectitmighthaveonyoungsters.B)Whattypeofcriminalsshouldreceiveit.C)Whetherthereshouldbeaminimumagelimitforexecution.D)Whetherthepracticeshouldbeallowedtocontinueinfuture.25.A)Thecourtsentencedhimtolifeinprisonforkillingtwofriends.B)Thegovernorchangedhisdeathsentencetolifeinprison.C)HewasthefirstminortobeexecutedinSouthCarolina.D)Hewassentencedtodeathforacrimehecommittedasaminor.PartIIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecenter.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions26to35arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Whensomeonecommitsacriminalact,wealwayshopethepunishmentwillmatchtheoffense.Butwhenitcomestooneofthecruelestcrimes-animalfighting-things(26)workoutthatway.Dog-fightingvictimsare(27)andkilledforprofitand“sport,”yettheircriminalabusersoftenreceivea(28)sentenceforcausingalifetimeofpain.Roughlyhalfofallfederally-convictedanimalfightersonlygetprobation(緩刑).Someprogresshasbeenmadeintheprosecution(起訴)ofanimalfighters.ButfederaljudgesoftenrelyheavilyontheU.S.SentencingGuidelineswhenthey(29)penalties,andinthecaseofanimalfighting,thoseguidelinesareoutdatedandextremely(30).TheU.S.SentencingCommission,which(31)thesesentencingguidelines,isrevisitingthem,proposingtoraisetheminimumsentencefrom6-12to21-27months.Thisisastepintheright(32),butwe’dliketoseetheU.S.SentencingCommissionmakefurtherchangestotheguidelines.Alongwiththiseffort,we’reworkingwithanimaladvocatesandstateandfederallawmakersto(33)anti-crueltylawsacrossthecountry,aswellassupportinglawsandpoliciesthatassistoverburdenedanimal(34)thatcareforanimalfightingvictims.Thishelpis(35)importantbecausethehighcostofcaringforanimalvictimsisamajorfactorthatpreventspeoplefromgettinginvolvedincrueltycasesinthefirstplace.A)convenientB)createsC)criticallyD)determineE)directionF)hesitateG)inadequateH)inspiredI)methodK)rarelyL)sheltersM)strengthenN)sufferingsO)torturedJ)minimalSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.WhenWorkBecomesaGame[A]Whatmotivatesemployeestodotheirjobswell?Competitionwithcoworkers,forsome.Thepromiseofrewards,forothers.Pureenjoymentofproblem-solving,foraluckyfew.[B]Increasingly,companiesaretappingintothesedesiresdirectlythroughwhathascometobeknownas“gamification”:essentially,turningworkintoagame.“Gamificationisaboutunderstandingwhatitisthatmakesgamesengagingandwhatgamedesignersdotocreateagreatexperienceingames,andtakingthoselearningsandapplyingthemtoothercontextssuchastheworkplaceandeducation,”explainsKevinWerbach,agamificationexpertwhoteachesattheWhartonSchoolofBusinessattheUniversityofPennsylvaniaintheUnitedStates.[C]Itmightmeanmonitoringemployeeproductivityonadigitalleaderboardandofferingprizestothewinners,orgivingemployeesdigitalbadgesorstarsforcompletingcertainactivities.Itcouldalsomeantrainingemployeeshowtodotheirjobsthroughvideogameplatforms.CompaniesfromGoogletoL’OréaltoIBMtoWellsFargoareknowntousesomedegreeofgamificationintheirworkplaces.Andmoreandmorecompaniesarejoiningthem.Arecentreportsuggeststhattheglobalgamificationmarketwillgrowfrom$1.65billionin2015to$11.1billionby2020.[D]Theconceptofgamificationisnotentirelynew,Werbachsays.Companies,marketersandteachershavelonglookedforfunwaystoengagepeople’sreward-seekingorcompetitivespirits.CrackerJackshasbeen“gamifying”itssnackfoodbyputtingasmallprizeinsideformorethan100years,headds,andtheturn-of-the-centurysteelmagnate(巨頭)CharlesSchwabissaidtohaveoftencomeintohisfactoryandwrittenthenumberoftonsofsteelproducedonthepastshiftonthefactoryfloor,thusmotivatingthenextshiftofworkerstobeatthepreviousone.[E]Buttheword“gamification”andthewidespread,consciousapplicationoftheconceptonlybeganinearnestaboutfiveyearsago,Werbachsays.Thanksinparttovideogames,thegenerationnowenteringtheworkforceisespeciallyopentotheideaofhavingtheirworkgamified.“Weareatapointwhereinmuchofthedevelopedworldthevastmajorityofyoungpeoplegrewupplayingvideogames,andanincreasinglyhighpercentageofadultsplaythesevideogamestoo,”Werbachsays.[F]Anumberofcompanieshavesprungup—GamEffective,BunchballandBadgeville,tonameafew--inrecentyearsofferinggamificationplatformsforbusinesses.Theplatformsthataremosteffectiveturnemployees’ordinaryjobtasksintopartofarichadventurenarrative.“Whatmakesagamegame-likeisthattheplayeractuallycaresabouttheoutcome,”Werbachsays.“Theprincipleisaboutunderstandingwhatismotivatingtothisgroupofplayers,whichrequiressomeunderstandingofpsychology.”[G]Somepeople,Werbachsays,aremotivatedbycompetition.Salespeopleoftenfallintothiscategory.Forthem,therightkindofgamificationmightbeturningtheirsalespitchesintoacompetitionwithotherteammembers,completewithadigitalleaderboardshowingwhoiswinningatalltimes.Othersaremoremotivatedbycollaborationandsocialexperiences.OnecompanyWerbachhasstudiedusesgamificationtocreateasenseofcommunityandboostemployees’morale(士氣).Whenemployeeslogintotheircomputers,they’reshownapictureofoneoftheircoworkersandaskedtoguessthatperson’sname.[H]Gamificationdoesnothavetobedigital.MonicaCornettirunsacompanythatgamifiesemployeetrainings.Sometimesthisinvolvestechnology,butoftenitdoesnot.Sherecentlydesignedagamificationstrategyforasalestrainingcompanywithastorm-chasingtheme.Employeesformed“stormchaserteams”andcompetedinstorm-themededucationalexercisestoearnvariousrewards.“Rewardsdonothavetobestuff,”Cornettisays.“Rewardscanbeflexibleworkinghours.”Anothertraining,thisoneforpayrolllaw,usedaSnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarfstheme.“SnowWhite”isavailableforeveryonetouse,butthe“dwarfs”arestillundercopyright,soCornettiinventedsound-alikecharacters(GrumpyGus,DopeyDan)toillustratespecificpayrolllawprinciples.[I]Somepeopledonottakenaturallytogamifiedworkenvironments,Cornettisays.Inherexperience,peopleinpositionsofpowerorpeopleinfinanceorengineeringdonottendtolikethesoundoftheword.“Ifwearedesigningforengineers,I'mnottalkingabouta‘game’atall,”Cornettisays.“I'mtalkingabouta‘simulation’(模擬),I’mtalkingabout‘beingabletosolvethisproblem.’”[J]Gamificationis“notamagicbullet,”Werbachwarns.Agamificationstrategythatisnotsufficientlythoughtthroughorwell-tailoredtoitsplayersmayengagepeopleforalittlewhile,butitwillnotmotivatepeopleinthelongterm.Itcanalsobeexploitative,especiallywhenusedwithvulnerablepopulations.Forworkers,especiallylow-paidworkers,whodesperatelyneedtheirjobsyetknowtheycanbeeasilyreplaced,gamificationmayfeelmoreliketheHungerGames.WerbachgivestheexampleofseveralDisneylandhotelsinAnaheim,California,whichusedlargedigitalleaderboardstodisplayhowefficientlylaundryworkerswereworkingcomparedtooneanother.Someemployeesfoundtheboardmotivating.Toothers,itwastheoppositeoffun.Somebegantostoptakingbathroombreaks,worriedthatiftheirproductivityfelltheywouldbefired.Pregnantemployeesstruggledtokeepup.InaLosAngelesTimesarticle,oneemployeereferredtotheboardasa“digitalwhip.”“Itactuallyhadaverynegativeeffectonmoraleandperformance,”Werbachsays.[K]Still,gamificationonlystandstobecomemorepopular,hesays,“asmoreandmorepeoplecomeintotheworkforcewhoarefamiliarwiththestructuresandexpressionsofdigitalgames.”“Wearefarfromreachingthepeak,”Cornettiagrees.“Thereisnoreasonthiswillgoaway.”36.Somefamouscompaniesarealreadyusinggamificationandmorearetryingtodothesame.37.Gamificationisnotamiraclecureforallworkplacesasitmayhavenegativeresults.38.Toenhancemorale,onecompanyasksitsemployeestoidentifytheirfellowworkerswhenstartingtheircomputers.39.Theideaofgamificationwaspracticedbysomebusinessesmorethanacenturyago.40.Thereisreasontobelievethatgamificationwillbeheretostay.41.Videogamescontributedinsomewaystothewideapplicationofgamification.42.Whenturningworkintoagame,itisnecessarytounderstandwhatmakesgamesinteresting.43.Gamificationinemployeetrainingdoesnotalwaysneedtechnology.44.Themostsuccessfulgamificationplatformstransformdailyworkassignmentsintofunexperiences.45.Itisnecessarytousetermsotherthan“gamification”forsomeprofessions.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.RecentlyIattendedseveralmeetingswherewetalkedaboutwaystoretainstudentsandkeepyoungerfacultymembersfromgoingelsewhere.Itseemshighereducationhasbecomeanindustryofmeeting-holderswhosetaskitisto“solve”problems--realorimagined.Andinmypositionasaprofessoratthreedifferentcolleges,theactualproblemsineducatingouryoungpeopleandolderstudentshavedeepened,whilethenumberofpeoplehired--nottoteachbuttoholdmeetings--hasincreasedsignificantly.Everynewproblemcreatesanewjobforanadministrativefixer.TakeourCenterforTeachingExcellence.Contrarytoitstitle,thecenterisaclearinghouse(信息交流中心)forusingtechnologyinclassroomsandinonlinecourses.It'sanadministrativesham(欺詐)ofthekindthathasmultipliedoverthelast30years.Iofferasimplepropositioninresponse:Manyofourproblems--classattendance,educationalsuccess,studenthappinessandwell-being--mightbeimprovedbycuttingdownthebureaucratic(官僚的)mechanismsandmeetingsandinsteadhiringanarmyofgoodteachers.Ifwereplacedhalfofouradministrativestaffwithclassroomteachers,wemightactuallygetamajorityofourclassesbackto20orfewerstudentsperteacher.Thiswouldbeanenvironmentinwhichteachersandstudentsactuallykneweachother.Theteachersmustbefreetoteachintheirownway--thecurriculumshouldbeflexibleenoughsothattheycanusetheirindividualtalentstoachievethegoalsofthecourse.Additionally,theyshouldbeallowedtoteach,andberewardedfordoingitwell.Teachersarenotpeoplewhoaregreatatandconsumedbyresearchandhappentoappearinaclassroom.Goodteachingandresearcharenotexclusive,buttheyarealsonotautomaticcompanions.Teachingisanartandacraft,talentandpractice;itisnotsomethingthatjustanyonecanbegoodat.Itisutterlyconfusingtomethatpeopledonotrecognizethis,despitethefactthatprettymuchanyonewhohasbeenastudentcantellthedifferencebetweentheirbestandworstteachers.46.Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutpresent-dayuniversities?A)Theyareeffectivelytacklingrealorimaginedproblems.B)Theyoftenfailtocombineteachingwithresearch.C)Theyareover-burdenedwithadministrativestaff.D)Theylacktalenttofixtheirdeepeningproblems.47.Accordingtotheauthor,whatkindofpeopledouniversitieslackmost?A)Goodclassroomteachers.B)Efficientadministrators.C)Talentedresearchers.D)Motivatedstudents.48.Whatdoestheauthorimplyabouttheclassesatpresent?A)Theyfacilitatestudents’independentlearning.B)Theyhelpstudentsformcloserrelationships.C)Theyhavemoreolderstudentsthanbefore.D)Theyaremuchbiggerthanisdesirable.49.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofteachingability?A)Itrequirestalentandpractice.B)Itiscloselyrelatedtoresearch.C)Itisachieffactoraffectingstudents’learning.D)Itcanbeacquiredthroughpersistentpractice.50.Whatistheauthor’ssuggestionforimprovinguniversityteaching?A)Creatinganenvironmentforteacherstosharetheirteachingexperiences.B)Hiringmoreclassroomteachersandallowingthemtoteachintheirownway.C)Usinghightechnologyinclassroomsandpromotingexchangeofinformation.D)Cuttingdownmeetingsandencouragingadministrativestafftogotoclassrooms.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Thesecrettoeatinglessandbeinghappyaboutitmayhavebecrackedyearsago--byMcDonald’s.AccordingtoanewstudyfromCornellUniversity’sFoodandBrandLab,smallnon-foodrewards--likethetoysinMcDonald’sHappyMeals--stimulatethesamerewardcentersinthebrainasfooddoes.Theresearchers,ledbyMartinReimann,carriedoutaseriesofexperimentstoseeifpeoplewouldchooseasmallermealifitwaspairedwithanon-fooditem.Theyfoundthatthemajorityofbothkidsandadultsoptedforahalf-sizedportionwhencombinedwithaprize.Bothoptionswerepricedthesame.Evenmoreinterestingisthatthepromiseofafuturerewardwasenoughtomakeadultschoosethesmallerportion.Oneoftheprizesusedwasalotteryticket(彩票),witha$10,$50or$100payout,andthiswasaseffectiveasatangiblegiftinpersuadingpeopletoeatless.“Thefactthatparticipantswerewillingtosubstitutepartofafooditemforthemereprospectofarelativelysmallmonetaryawardisinteresting,”saysReimann.Hetheorizesthatitistheemotionalcomponentoftheseintangibleprizesthatmakethemeffective.Infact,vaguely-statedpossibilitiesofwinningaprizeweremoreeffectivethanoptionswithhardoddsincluded.“Oneexplanationforthisfindingisthatpossibleawardsmaybemoreemotionallyprovokingthancertaintyawards,”saysReimann.“Theuncertaintyofwinningprovidesaddedattractionanddesirabilitythroughemotional‘thrills.’Thepossibilityofreceivinganawardalsoproducesastateofhope--astatethatisinitselfpsychologicallyrewarding.”Inotherwords,there'sareasonwhypeoplelik