考试吧文都：2012年12月英语四级真题答案及解析

　　Section C

　　Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail.

　　It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time.

　　Americans’ language is filled with references to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” “gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.”

　　The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.

　　Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.

　　【答案及解析】

　　36. foreign

　　37. accomplished

　　38. interpersonal

　　39. detail.

　　40. controlled

　　41. abruptly

　　42. references

　　43. indication

　　44. it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.

　　45. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America.

　　46. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.

　　【点评】本文讨论的是美国人的时间观念。开头提出美国人非常看重时间规划，以至于到了被认为“手表控制人”的地步，接下来从语言角度给出证明，最后又从原因角度解释说明。

　　本文的难点在于，开头有长难句，包含插入语、比较级等，容易造成困扰。而在语言角度探讨时，有给出一系列动词，容易出现漏听及注意力分散。同时，utmost, abruptly, reference, philosophy, productivity等较难词汇也会带来一定困扰。

　　空格整体分布较为均匀，除第三段两空间隔较近，第二个容易错过外，其它空填写时间均较为充足。所填词语格式比较重要，如-ed，-s等均是不可漏过的细节。