2014年12月英语四级考试真题及答案(第1套)(2)

Isawquiteafewpeoplelikehim,includingacoupleoffattychildrenwithswollencheekspressingagainsttheireyes.Thesepeoplearepartofwhatiswithoutexaggerationanepidemic(流行病)ofobesity.[B]Butitisquiteunnecessary:thereisasimpleidea--farfromnew--thatcouldsparemillionsofsuchpeoplealifetimeofchronic(长期病)illhealth,andatthesametimesavetheNationalHealthService(NHS)atleast￡14billionayearinEnglandandWales.Therewould,youmightthink,beconsiderablepublicinterestinit.Thissimpleideaisthatsugarisasgood--orasbad--aspoisonandshouldbeavoided.Itispure,whiteanddeadly,asProfessorJohnYudkindescribedit40yearsagoinarevolutionarybookofthatname.ThesubtitlewasHowSugarIsKillingUs.[C]Initscountlesshiddenforms,inreadymeals,junkfoodandsweetdrinks,sugarleadstoaddiction(瘾),tohormonalupsetstotheappetite,tometabolic(新陈代谢的)maffunctionsandobesityandfromtheretotype2d/abetes(糖尿病)anditsmanyhorriblecomplications,ffpeoplereallygraspedthat,theywouldtrytokickthehabit,particularlyasBritainisthemanofEuropeTheymightevenfeeldriventosupportgovernmentmeasurestopreventpeoplefromconsumingthisdeadlystuff.Yetsofarthisideahasmetlittlebutresistance.[D]Itisnotdifficulttoimaginethevestedinterests(既得利益集团)linedupagainstanysugarcontrol--allthefoodanddrinkmanufacturers,processors,promotersandretailerswhomakesucheasypickingsoutofthemagicpowersofsugar.Thentherearetheliberals,withwhomIwouldnormallyside,whoprotestthatgovernmentregulationwouldbeyetanotherinstanceofinterferenceinourlives.[E]Thatistrue,butpeopleshouldrealisethatyoucannothaveawelfarestatewithoutanannystate(保姆国家),tosomedegree.Ifwearealltoberesponsibleforoneanother'shealthinsurance,throughsocialisedmedicine,then'weareallcloselyinvolvedinoneanother'shealth,includingeveryone'seatinganddrinking.Thathasalreadybeenadmitted,finally,withsmoking.Butithasyettobeadmittedwithovereating,eventhoughoneinfouradultsinthiscountryisobeseandthatnumberispredictedtodoublebytheyear2050.Quiteapartfromanythingelse,obesitywillcrippletheNHS.[F]Recently,though,therehavebeensignsthatthemedicalestablishmentistryingtosoundthealarm.LastmonththeAcademyofMedicalRoyalColleges(AMRC．publishedareportsayingthatobesityisthegreatestpublichealthissueaffectingtheUKandurginggovernmenttodosomething.[G]Thereportoffers10recommendations,ofwhichthefirstisimposingataxof20percentonsugarydrinksforatleastayear,ontopoftheexisting20percentvalue-addedtax.Thatatleastwouldbe'anexcellentstart.Theamountsofsugarinsoftdrinksarehorrifying,andturnstraighttofat.AsProfessorTerenceStephenson,headoftheAMRC,hassaid,sugarysoftdrinksare%ultimatebadfood.Youarejustconsumingneatsugar.Yourbodydidn'tevolvetohandlethiskindofthing.[H]Precisely.Therisksofeatingtoomuchfatorsalt(whichareverydifferent)paleintoinsignificancecomparedwiththeharmdonebysugar.Anditiseverywhere.[I]Itisdifficulttobuyanythinginasupermarket,otherthanplain,unpreparedmeat,fishorvegetables,thatdoesn'thavealargeamountofsugarinit.Thishascomeaboutbecausetheprevailingscientificviewsofthe1960sand1970signoredtheevidenceaboutsugar,andinsteadsawfatasthereallyseriousrisk,bothtotheheartandotherorgans,aswellasthecauseofobesity.[J]Thefashionwastoavoidfat.Butfindingthatfoodwithmuchofitsfatremovedisnotveryappetising,foodproducersturnedtosugarasamagicalternativeflavourenhancer,oftenintheformsofsyrups(糖浆)thathadrecentlybeendevelopedfromcorn,andputitgenerouslyintomostpreparedfoodsandsoftdrinks.[K]Thisstuffisnotjustfattening.Itisaddictive.Itinterfereswiththebody'smetabolism,possiblyviatheactivityofanappetite-controllinghormone.There'splentyofevidenceforthis,forthosewhowillacceptthetroth.[L]Theoretically,peopleoughttomakechoicesndavoidovereating.Butsugaradditivesarenoteasytoidentifyandarehardtoavoid.Sothesnacking,over-drinldngandover-eatingthatmakespeoplefatisnotreallytheirownfault:obesityisinlargepartsomethingthatisbeingdonetothem.Itshouldbestopped,orratherthegovernmentshouldstopit.[M]Goingroundmylocalsupermarket,Iamconstantlyastonishedthatitisstilllegaltosellallthepoisonsstackedhighontheshelves.Theproblemisthattheyareworsethanuseless.Theyarepoisonous.Theyareknowntobeaddictive.Theyareknowntomakepeopleobese.Andgivingsmallchildrensweetdrinksorbottlesoffakejuicealldaylongisnothinglessthanchildabuse.[N]Clearly,thesaleofsuchstuffoughttobeillegal.Ihatetothinkofyetmoregovernmentregulation,Butabitoftaxonsweetsodaandalittlemorehealtheducation,abitofcookinginschoolsandbanningvendingmachines(自动售货机)hereandthere--assuggestedbytheAMRCreport--isnotgoingtoachieveverymuch.Labellingisquiteinadequate.Whatisneededislegislationbanninghighlevelsofsugarysyrupsusedinfoodsanddrinks.[O]InJune2012,thethenministerforpublichealthsaidthegovernmentwasnotscaredofthefoodindustryandhadnotruledoutlegislation,becauseofthecostsofobesitytotheNHS.However,nothinghashappenedyet.WhynothaveanotherJammieDodgerbiscuitandforgetaboutit.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。46.Avoidingover-consumptionofsugarcanimprovepeople'shealthaswellassavemedicalexpenses.47.Lawsshouldbepassedtomakeitillegaltoproduceoverlysweetfoodsordrinks.48.Givingsmallchildrensweetjuicestodrinkallthetimeisequaltochildabuse.49.Lookingaround,theauthorfoundobesityquitewidespread.50.Thenumberofobesepeopleisexpectedtoincreasequicklyinthenextfewdecades.51.ffpeoplereallyunderstoodthehorribleconsequencesofsugaryfoodsanddrinks,theywouldsupportgovernmentmeasuresagainstsugarconsumption.52.Itwouldbeaverygoodbeginningtoimposeanadditionaltaxon.sugarydrinks.53.Thegovernmenthasnotyettakenanyactiontoregulatesugarconsumptionalthoughitindicateditsintentiontodososometimeago.54.Sugarisfarmoreharmfultohealththanfatandsalt.55.Consumersofsweetfoodsarenotreallytoblamebecausetheycannottellwhatfoodissugary.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA．,B．,C．andD．.YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.TheriseoftheInternethasbeenoneofthemosttransformativedevelopmentsinhumanhistory,comparableinimpacttotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph.Overtwobillionpeopleworldwidenowhaveaccesstovastlymoreinformationthaneverbefore,andcancommunicatewitheachotherinstantly,oftenusingWeb-connectedmobiledevicestheycarryeverywhere.ButtheInternet'stremendousimpacthasonlyjustbegun.doptionoftheInternetisdrivingoneofthemostexcitingsocial,cultural,andpoliticaltransformationsinhistory,andunlikeearlierperiodsofchange,thistimetheeffectsarefullyglobal,SchmidtandCohenwriteintheirnewbook,TheNewDigitalAge.PerhapsthemostprofoundchangeswillcomewhenthefivebillionpeopleworldwidewhocurrentlylackInternetaccessgetonline.TheauthorsdoanexcellentjobofexaminingtheimplicationsoftheInternetrevolutionforindividuals,governments,andinstitutionslikethenewsmedia.Butffthebookhasonemajorshortcoming,it'sthattheauthorsdon'tspendenoughtimeapplyingacriticaleyetotheroleofInternetbusinessesinthesesweepingchanges.Intheirbook,theauthorsprovidethemostauthoritativevolumetodatethatdescribes--andmoreimportantlypredicts--howtheInternetwillshapeourlivesinthecomingdecades.Theypaintapictureofaworldinwhichindividuals,companies,institutions,andgovernmentsmustdealwithtworealities,onephysical,andonevirtual.Atthecoreofthebookistheideathatisneutral,butpeoplearen't.Byusingthisconceptasastartingpoint,theauthorsaimtomovebeyondthenowfamiliaroptimistvs.pessimistdichotomy(对立观点)thathascharacterizedmanyrecentdebatesaboutwhethertheriseoftheInternetwillultimatelybegoodorbadforsociety.InaninterviewwithTIMEearlierthisweek,Cohensaidalthoughheandhisco-authorareoptimisticaboutmanyaspectsoftheInternet,they'realsorealisticabouttherisksanddangersthatlieaheadwhenthenextfivebillionpeoplecomeonline,particularlywithrespecttopersonalprivacyandstatesurveillance(监视).注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。56.InwhatwayistheriseoftheInternetsimilartotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph?A．Ittransformshumanhistory.B．Itfacilitatesdailycommunication.C．Itisadoptedbyallhumanity.D．Itrevolutionizespeople'sthinking.57.HowdoSchmidtandCohendescribetheeffectsoftheInternet?A．Theyareimmeasurable.B．Theyareworldwide.C．Theyareunpredictable.D．Theyarecontaminating.58.InwhatrespectisthebookTheNewDigitalAgeconsideredinadequate?A．ItfailstorecognizetheimpactoftheInternettechnology.B．ItfailstolookintothesocialimplicationsoftheInternet.C．ItlacksanobjectiveevaluationoftheroleofInternetbusinesses.D．ItdoesnotaddressthetechnicalaspectsofInternetcommunication.59.Whatwillthefuturebelikewheneverybodygetsonline?A．Peoplewillbelivingintwodifferentrealities.B．Peoplewillhaveequalaccesstoinformation.C．Peopledon'thavetotraveltoseetheworld.D．Peopledon'thavetocommunicatefacetoface.60.WhatdoesthepassagesayabouttheauthorsofTheNewDigitalAge?A．TheyleavemanyquestionsunansweredconcerningtheInternet.B．TheyareoptimisticaboutthefutureoftheInternetrevolution.C．Theyhaveexploredtheunknownterritoriesofthevirtualworld.D．Theydon'ttakesidesinanalyzingtheeffectsoftheInternet.PassageTwoQuestions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.In1950,ayoungmanwouldhavefounditmucheasierthanitistodaytogetandkeepajobintheautoindustry.Andinthatyeartheaverageautoworkercouldmeetmonthlymortgage(抵押贷款)paymentsonanaveragehomewithjust13.4percentofhistake-homepay.Todayasimilarmortgagewouldclaimmorethantwicethatshareofhismonthlyearnings.Othermembersoftheautoworker'sfamily,however,mightbelessinclinedtotradethepresentforthepast.Hisretiredparentswouldcertainlyhavehadlesseconomicsecuritybackthen.Throughoutmuchofthe1960s,morethanaquarterofmenandwomenage65andolderlivedbelowthepovertylevel,comparedtolessthan10percentin2010.Inmoststates,hiswifecouldnothavetakenoutaloanoracreditcardinherownname.In42states,ahomemakerhadnolegalclaimontheearningsofherhusband.Andnowheredidawifehavelegalprotectionagainstfamilyviolence.Mostblackworkerswouldnotwanttoreturntoatimewhen,onaverage,theyearned40percentlessthantheirwhitecounterparts(职位相对的人),whileraciallyrestrictiveagreementslargelypreventedthemfrombuyingintothesuburbanneighborhoodsbeingbuiltforwhiteworking-classfamilies.Today,newproblemshaveemergedintheprocessofresolvingoldones,butthesolutionisnottogobacktothepast.Somepeoplemaylongforanerawhendivorcewasstillhardtocomeby.Thespreadofno-faultdivorcehasreducedthebargainingpowerofwhicheverspouseismoreinterestedincontinuingtherelationship.Andthebreakupofsuchmarriageshascausedpainformanyfamilies.Thegrowingdiversityoffamilylifecomeswithnewpossibilitiesaswellasnewchallenges.Accord-ingtoarecentpoll,morethan80percentofAmericansbelievethattheircurrentfamilyisascloseastheoneinwhichtheygrewup,orcloser.Findingwaystoimprovethelivesoftheremaining20percentseemsmorerealisticthantryingtorestoreanimaginarygoldenage.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答61.WhatdowelearnaboutAmericanautoworkersin1950?A．Theyhadlessjobsecuritythantheydotoday.B．Itwasnottoodifficultforthemtobuyahouse.C．Theirearningswereworthtwiceasmuchastoday.D．Theywerebetteroffthanworkersinotherindustries.62.Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutretiredpeopletoday?A．Theyinvariablylongtoreturntothegoldenpast.B．Theydonotdependsomuchonsocialwelfare.C．Theyfeelmoresecureeconomicallythaninthepast.D．Theyareusuallyunwillingtolivewiththeirchildren.63.Whycouldn'tblackworkersbuyahouseinawhitesuburbanneighborhood?A．Theylackedthemeansoftransportation.B．Theyweresubjectedtoracialinequality.C．Theywereafraidtobreakthelaw.D．Theyweretoopoortoaffordit.64.Whatistheresultofno-faultdivorce?A．Divorceiseasiertoobtain.B．Domesticviolenceislessened.C．Itcauseslittlepaintoeitherside.D．Itcontributestosocialunrest.65.Whatdoestheauthorsuggestsocietydo?A．Getpreparedtofaceanynewchallenges.B．Trytobetterthecurrentsocialsecuritynet.C．Narrowthegapbetweenblacksandwhites.D．Improvethelivesoffamilieswithproblems.PartIVTranslation(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestotranslateapassagefromChineseintoEnglish.YoushouldwriteyouransweronAnswerSheet2.大熊猫(giantpandA．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(WWF)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。