考试吧恩波：2008年12月四级预测试卷及解析(四)

　　Discovery and Exploration

　　Instead of spending time off lamenting your unemployed status, ask yourself: “Is there something I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t because of the demands of my job?”

　　Michael Ross, 42, a former IT administrator in El Cerrito, Calif., recently spent his 10 months of unemployment playing guitar and exploring his lifelong interest in scriptwriting and the movie business. “After 18 years at my former employer and how hard I had worked, I knew I had to recover, to get restored,” he says, “I looked at this as an opportunity, rather than a penalty. This was very much about clearing space for me.”

　　At the executive level, even a very efficient and successful job search may be quite lengthy. It makes sense to spend that time in an enriching and productive manner. These job seekers pursued service, continuing education and shoring up family bonds. How you’ll look back on a period of unemployment depends on what you do with it.

　　1. This passage mainly tells that being unemployed is actually lucky.

　　2. Lisa Perez found a new interest in homemaking during the period of unemployment.

　　3. Lisa Perez was always idle during the period of her unemployment.

　　3. Being a volunteer is helpful because volunteer assignments can provide you with chances to meet powerful and well-connected people.

　　4. After she got a new job, Lisa Perez regretted that she had done volunteering work.

　　5. Unemployment means a lot of time, especially for those hard-charging executives who are not used to having any free time.

　　6. Mr. Bellavance spent the rest of his search updating his skills such as computing.

　　7. When unemployed, in addition to pursuing training or volunteering, some careerists take the opportunity to be in charge of all the domestic affairs.

　　8. After staying with his sick mother as caregiver in Arkansas for six months, Mr. Rappaport unexpectedly gained .

　　9. Michael Ross resigned and spent part of his unemployment time playing guitar and exploring his lifelong interest in .

　　10. During the off-work period, the unemployed people can pursue service, continuing education and .

　　Part Ⅲ Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)

　　Section A

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line though the centre.

　　11. A) Two blocks. B) Five blocks.

　　C) Three blocks. D) Four blocks.

　　12. A) He suggests that she buy the sweater in another color.

　　B) He suggests that she buy a jacket instead of the sweater.

　　C) He suggests that she buy the sweater at its original price.

　　D) He suggests that she buy the sweater on Friday.

　　13. A) It was cleaned. B) There was a large sale.

　　C) The employees had to work very late. D) There was a robbery.

　　14. A) Be a bad boy. B) Eat too fast.

　　C) Go to a game. D) Skip his lunch.

　　15. A) A salesman. B) A telephone repairman.

　　C) A plumber. D) An electrician.

　　16. A) She didn’t understand what Eva was saying.

　　B) Eva should have been more active.

　　C) Eva didn’t seem to be nervous at all during her presentation.

　　D) Eva needs training in public speaking lessons.

　　17. A) Whether to change his job.

　　B) Asking for a higher salary.

　　C) Accepting a new secretary.

　　D) Getting a better position.

　　18. A) He could help her with the problems.

　　B) He could go out together with her.

　　C) She should go out for a while.

　　D) She should do the problems herself.