email, social networking and 300 talk minutes; for another $15, they get an additional 900 talk minutes. The name of the brand's new wireless plan: ―Beyond Talk.‖
Texting’s rise over conversation is changing the way we interact, social scientists and researchers say. We are now inclined to text to relay difficult information. We stare at our phone when we want to avoid eye contact. Rather than make plans in advance, we engage in what research have named ―micro-coordination‖—‖I’ll txt u in 10mins when I know wh/ restrnt.‖
Texting saves us time, but it steals from quiet reflection. ―When people have a mobile device and have even a little extra time, they will communicate with someone in their life,‖ says Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
And the phone conversation will never be completely obsolete. Deal makers and other professionals still spend much of the day on the phone. Researchers say people are more likely to use text-based communications at the preliminary stages of projects. The phone comes into play when there are multiple options to consider or important decisions to be made.
91. At the beginning of the passage, the author uses figures for the purpose of ________. A. introduction B. comparison C. explanation D. transition
92. According to the context, which of the following is closest in meaning to ―beside the point‖? A. Unimportant. B. Unacknowledged. C. Underestimated. D. Undeniable. 93. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a cause for texting’s popularity? A. Promotion of cheaper wireless packages. B. Increase in the number of adult texters.
C. Redesign of mobile devices. D. Rise of social media.
94. According to the passage, texting can help people to ________. A. face difficult situations B. make appointments in advance C. communicate wish strangers D. avoid awkward situations 95. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Texting’s popularity and effect. B. Role of texting in business. C. Preference to texting over thinking. D. Innovation of mobile devices. TEXT D
The healthy adolescent boy or girl likes to do the real things in life, to do the things that matter. He would rather be a plumber’s mate and do a real job that requires doing than learn about hydrostatics sitting at a desk, without understanding what practical use they are going to be. A girl would rather look after the baby than learn about child care. Logically we should learn about things before doing them and that is presumably why the pundits enforce this in our educational system. But it is not the natural way-nor, I venture to think, the best way. The adolescent wants to do things first for only then does he appreciate the problems involved and want to learn more about them.
They do these things better in primitive life, for there at puberty the boy joins his father in making canoes, patching huts, going out fishing or hunting. He is serving his apprenticeship in the actual
accomplishments of life. It is not surprising that anthropologists(人类学家) find that the adolescents of primitive communities do not suffer from the same neurotic(神经质的) ―difficulties‖ as those of civilized life. This is not, as some assume, because they are permitted more sexual freedom, but because they are given more natural outlets for their native interests and powers and are allowed to grow up freely into a full life of responsibility in the community.
In the 19th century this was recognized in the apprenticeship system, which allowed the boy to go out with the master carpenter, or ploughman, to engage in the actual work of carpentry or roof-mending, and so to learn his trade. In some agricultural colleges at the present time young men have to do a year’s work on a farm before their theoretical training at college. The great advantage of this system is that it lets the apprentice see the practical problems before he sets to work learning how to solve them, and he can therefore take a more intelligent interest in his theoretical work.
Since more knowledge of more things is now required in order to cope with the adult world, the period of growing-up to independence takes much longer than it did in a more primitive community, and the responsibility for such education, which formerly was in the hands of the parents, is now necessarily undertaken by experts at school. But that should not make us lose sight of the basic principle, namely the need and the desire of the adolescent to engage responsibly in the real pursuits of life and then to learn how —to learn through responsibility, not to learn before responsibility. 96. According to the author, what is the natural way of education? A. Doing things while learning. B. Doing things as an apprentice.
C. Doing things before learning. D. Learning practical knowledge first.
97. The main advantage of the natural way of education, whether in primitive or modern times, is that learners ________.
A. can learn the trade through solving problems at work B. can work with their masters throughout their learning C. are given more freedom in doing things and learning D. are given opportunities to develop their interest first
98. According to the context, ―this‖ in the third paragraph refers to ________. A. the way of learning in primitive communities B. the difficulties modern adolescents experience C. the amount of freedom in learning in primitive life
D. the kind of skills boys learned from their father
99. According to the author, learning should now be done in school for all the following reasons EXCEPT that ________.
A. more subjects are to be covered
B. more parents should be involved in teaching
C. there should be a deeper understanding of a subject D. more time is needed for becoming independent
100. Which of the following best sums up the author’s main point?
A. The apprenticeship system was effective in learning.
B. Students should be given mire freedom in learning. C. Students develop their interest through learning.
D. Learning to solve problem is learning through responsibility. PART VI WRITING [45 MIN]
SECTION A COMPOSITION [35 MIN]
An undergraduate of English at a university, in a recent letter to the university’s president, complained about the mandatory maths classes he had to take. He said that because a language major has little use for maths, he would forget all of his maths lessons soon after taking the required exams. What do you think of this opinion?
Write on ANSWER SHEET THREE a composition of about 200 words on the following topic: Should English Majors Study Maths? You are to write in three parts.
In the first part, state specifically what your opinion is.
In the second part, provide one or two reasons to support your opinion.
In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or make a summary.
Marks will be awarded for content, organization, language and appropriateness. Failure to follow the instructions may result in a loss of marks. SECTION B NOTE-WRITING [10 MIN]
Write on ANSWER SHEET THREE a note of about 50-60 words based on the following situation: As you are taking an exam, you do not have time to meet a former schoolmate of years at the railway station. Write a note to your friend Mark/Lily, politely asking him/her to meet your schoolmate for you and describing briefly what your schoolmate looks like.
Marks will be awarded for content, organization, language and appropriateness. —THE END—
TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2014)-GRADE FOUR-2014年英语专业四级参考答案 PART I DICTATION
Limiting the growth of technology throughout history man has changed his physical environment to improve his way of life. With the tools of technology man has altered many physical features of the earth. He has transformed wood lands into farmland: He has modified the face of the earth by cutting through mountains to build roads and railways. However these changes in the physical environment have not always had beneficial results. Today, pollution of the planet. Each day, thousands of tons of gases come out of the vehicles: smoke from factories pollutes the air of industrialized areas and the surrounding countryside. The air in cities is becoming increasingly unhealthy. The pollution of water is equally harmful. In the sea, pollution from oil is killing a lot of sea plant and fish. It is now necessary for man to limit the growth of technology in order to survive on the earth.
PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION SECTION A 1-5. CBBBD 6-10. CCDBC; SECTION B 11-15. BAADB 16-20. BCACB; SECTION C 21-25. BABBB 26-30. CBBAC PART III CLOZE 31-35. ADBBD 36-40.CACDD 41-45.BCABD 46-50.ACCBA PART IV GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY 51-55. DBDBA 56-60. BDACD 61-65. DCCAB 66-70. BDADB 71-75. AABCA 76-80. DBDDA
PART V READING COMPREHENSION A) 81-85.CADBC; B) 86-90.CABDC; C) 91-95.AACDA; D) 96-100. CDABD
PART IV GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY 答案详解