39. Being a member of a crafts group enhances one’s health and prolongs one’s life. 40. Knitting diverts people’s attention from their pain.
41. The author learnt to knit as a teenager, but it was not until she was much older that she became keenly interested.
42. When people are knitting, they tend to eat fewer snacks.
43. Survey findings show that knitting can help people relieve stress.
44. According to a study, knitters and crocheters are less likely to suffer mild cognitive damage. 45. The products of knitting can increase one’s sense of self-respect.
Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) andD). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Nobody really knows how big Lagos is. What’s indisputable is that it’s growing very quickly. Between now and 2050, the urban population of Africa could triple. Yet cities in sub-Saharan Africa are not getting richer the way cities in the rest of the world have. Most urban Africans live in slums (贫民窟); migrants are often not much better off than they were in the countryside. Why?
The immediate problem is poverty. Most of Africa is urbanising at a lower level of income than other regions of the world did. That means there’s little money around for investment that would make cities liveable and more productive. Without upgrades and new capacity, bridges, roads and power systems are unable to cope with expanding populations. With the exception of South Africa, the only light rail metro system in sub-Saharan Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Traffic jam leads to expense and unpredictability, things that keep investors away.
In other parts of the world, increasing agricultural productivity and industrialization went together. More productive farmers meant there was a surplus that could feed cities; in turn, that created a pool of labour for factories. But African cities are different. They are too often built around consuming natural resources. Government is concentrated in capitals, so is the money. Most urban Africans work for a small minority of the rich, who tend to be involved in either cronyish (有裙带关系的)businesses or politics. Since African agriculture is still broadly unproductive, food is imported, consuming a portion of revenue.
So what can be done? Though African countries are poor, not all African cities are. In Lagos, foreign oil workers can pay as much as $65,000 per year in rent for a modest apartment in a safe part of town. If that income were better taxed, it might provide the revenue for better infrastructure. If city leaders were more accountable to their residents, they might favour projects designed to help them more. Yet even as new roads are built, new people arrive. When a city’s population grows by 5% a year, it is difficult to keep up.
46. What do we learn from the passage about cities in sub-Saharan Africa? A) They have more slums than other cities in the world. B) They are growing fast without becoming richer. C) They are as modernised as many cities elsewhere. D) They attract migrants who want to be better off.
47. What does the author imply about urbanisation in other parts of the world? A) It benefited from the contribution of immigrants. B) It started when people’s income was relatively high. C) It benefited from the accelerated rise in productivity. D) It started with the improvement of people’s livelihood. 48. Why is sub-Saharan Africa unappealing to investors? A) It lacks adequate transport facilities. B) The living expenses there are too high. C) It is on the whole too densely populated. D) The local governments are corrupted.
49. In what way does the author say African cities are different? A) They have attracted huge numbers of farm labourers. B) They still rely heavily on agricultural productivity. C) They have developed at the expense of nature. D) They depend far more on foreign investment.
50. What might be a solution to the problems facing African cities? A) Lowering of apartment rent. C) More rational overall planning. B) Better education for residents. D) A more responsible government. Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
For the past several decades, it seems there’s been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America: Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home. But do Americans still believe in that path, and if they do, is it attainable?
The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what it takes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today, the idea of the American dream—and what it takes to achieve it—looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.
By and large, people felt that their actions and hard work—not outside forces—were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out. But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy.
In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority— 52 percent—think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.
Miguel Maeda, 42, who has a master’s degree and works in public health, was the first in his family to go to college, which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did.
While some, like Maeda, emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself, others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences.
Sixty-year-old Will Fendley, who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree, thinks “personal drive” is far more important than just going to college. To Fendley, a sense of drive and purpose, as well as an effective high-school education, and basic life skills, like balancing a checkbook, are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America. 51. It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America, one had to have ______.
A) an advanced academic degree C) a firm belief in their dream B) an ambition to get ahead D) a sense of drive and purpose
52. What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream? A) More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize. B) It remains alive among the majority of American people. C) Americans’ idea of it has changed over the past few decades. D) An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.
53. What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success? A) It still remains open to debate. B) It has proved to be beyond doubt.
C) It is no longer as important as it used to be. D) It is much better understood now than ever.
54. How do some people view college education these days? A) It promotes gender equality. C) It adds to cultural diversity. B) It needs to be strengthened. D) It helps broaden their minds. 55. What is one factor essential to success in America, according to Will Fendley? A) A desire to learn and to adapt. C) A willingness to commit oneself. B) A strong sense of responsibility. D) A clear aim and high motivation.
Part IV Translation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed SO minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
华山位于华阴市，距西安120公里。华山是秦岭的一部分，秦岭不仅分隔陕南与陕北，也分隔华南与华北。与从前人们常去朝拜的泰山不同，华山过去很少有人光临，因为上山的道路极其危险。然而，希望长寿的人却经常上山，因为山上生长着许多药草，特别是一些稀有的药草。自上世纪90年代安装缆车以来，参观人数大大增加。
2017年12月大学英语四级考试真题答案与详解
(第2套) Part I Writing
审题思路
此次话题师生关系贴近学生生活，因此写起来并不难。简单开篇之后，考生应该将重点放在第二段，给出处理好师生关系的一些建议。当然，这个话题还可以从不同的角度入手，比如老师应如何做，或者师生共同努力，等等。考生应结合自己的实际情况，从自己最擅长的角度写，这样容易做到言之有物。本文仅从学生角度给出了三条处理好师生关系的建议。 写作提纲
一、引出话题：从学生角度分享几条建立良好师生关系的建议(sharesome tips,from students’ perspective) 二、具体建议
1.留下良好的第一印象(leave a good first impression)
2.努力学习，课上积极表现(study hard and be active in class) 3.课下经常与老师交流(keep contact with your teacher after class)
三、得出结论：做到学业成绩良好、课上与老师配合或者与老师成为朋友，师生关系就不会复杂(nevercomplex) 范文点评 高分范文 Teacher-student Relationship Is Never Complex ① The relationship between teachers and students has been hotly discussed in recent years in China for more and more attention has been paid to education.② Today I would like to share some tips on how to get along well with teachers from students perspective. ③ First and foremost, leave a good first impression on your teacher. ④ As the saying goes, well begun is half done. A good first impression is important for teachers to remember your name among your fellow students.⑤ Secondly, study hard and be active in class. A student who loves study can definitely impress teachers deeply.⑥ Finally, keep contact with your teacher after class so that you could make friends with each other. ⑦ To conclude, teacher-student relationship is never complex if you could have an excellent academic performance, be cooperative in class or make friends with your teacher. 全文翻译 师生关系并不复杂
由于人们对教育越来越关注，师生关系近几年在中国引起热议。今天，我想从学生角度分享几条关于如何与老师和睦相处的建议。
首先，给老师留下良好的第一印象。常言道：良好的开端是成功的一半。良好的第一印象对于让老师从你的众多同学中记住你非常重要。第二，努力学习，在课堂上积极表现。一个热爱学习的学生一定会让老师印象深刻。最后，课下经常与老师沟通，这样你们就会成为
精彩点评 ①开门见山，描述现象：师生关系成为近几年热门话题。 ②切入主题：从学生角度给出自己的建议。③⑤⑥用First and foremost、Secondly和Finally具体列举建立良好师生关系的建议，层次分明。 ④引用谚语，给文章增加文采。 ⑦总结全文，给出结论：师生关系并不复杂。 加分亮点 attention...paid to sth.注意??(被动用法) Well begun is half done.良好的开端是成功的一半。 impress使??印象深刻 academic performance 学业表现 朋友。
总结而言，如果你学业表现良好、课上积极配合或与老师成为朋友，那么师生关系就绝对不会复杂。 拓展空间
主题词汇 advisor 导师 motivate使有动机；激发??的积极性 discourage 使??沮丧 be strict with sb.对某人严格要求 gain收获，获得 examination- oriented 应试的 evaluation评价，评估 Section A
News Report One
A New Jersey black bear that walks upright on its two back legs and has become a social media darling has re-emerged and has been captured on video months after its last sighting. The bear named Pedals was spotted in the town of Oak Ridge. In a video posted to Facebook featuring the bear, it appeared to be in relatively good health and was moving quickly. (1) Pedals apparently has an injured leg or paw that doesn’t allow it to walk comfortably on all fours according to experts. Lawrence Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said officials expect the bear to make it through next winter. (2) The bear first gained fame after it was spotted wandering around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and shown on national television. Last year, supporters pushed for Pedals to be moved to a shelter, but New Jersey officials have said they won’t allow the bear to be captured and transferred to the facility. “The bear would do better in its natural habitat and the agency would step in if its condition deteriorated,” they said.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
未听先知 预览两道题各选项，主语多为It，结合第1题选项中出现的its audience、catch people’s attention 和limbs可知，It指某个动物，因此本篇新闻内容与动物有关；再结合第2题选项中出现的spotted、television、 videos和social media等词可知，该动物因某种原因引起了媒体关注。
1. What is the probable reason the bear walks upright on its back legs?
D)。详解 新闻中提到，根据专家的说法，Pedals明显有一条腿或者爪子受伤，这导致它无法舒服地四肢着地行走，因此答案为D)。 2. How is the bear first known to the public?
C)。详解 新闻中提到，这头熊首次出名是因为它在居民区附近闲逛被人发现并且拍了视频上传到社交网站上，又在国家电视台播出。因此答案为C)。
News Report Two
It’s not your imagination. Traffic in the US is actually getting worse. (3) Americans drove more miles last year than any other year on record. The US Department of Transportation says Americans drove nearly 3,150 billion miles last year. That’s about the same distance as 337 round trips from Earth to Pluto. The previous record was 3,003 billion miles in 2007, before the economic recession and high gas prices. The traffic increase comes at the same time as gas prices
句式拓展 1. A good teacher-student relationship is + adj. for the student to… 良好的师生关系对学生??是??的。 2. The student may become lazy and stop working hard if teacher... 如果老师??，学生可能会变得懒惰，不再努力学习。 Part II Listening Comprehension