2009年12月英语四级考试模拟训练及答案(二)

　　W:Oh, I’m sorry, Sammy. I wasn’t thinking.

　　M:No problem. I had a good evening too. Just across the street from my flat is a new karaoke bar. I went in there with my wife and she sang a few songs. She loves karaoke but I don’t .

　　W:Well, there’s certainly plenty to do here. I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we all have dinner together here in the hotel this evening ? Bring your wife and we’ll have a really good time.

　　Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard,

　　22. What is Sammy’s nationality ?

　　23.What did Cindy do after saying “Good night” to Sammy ?

　　24.According to the passage, Sammy’s wife _______________.

　　25.Cindy’s idea is that _________________.

　　Section B

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　Passage One

　　According to the best historical records and archaeological findings, it is judged that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth’s population to reach the total 250 million which existed at the end of the first century after Christ. For some time after that, illnesses, lack of food and wars kept the population growth down to less than 1 per cent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot up to the 1 billion mark, and today it has reached 5 billion. It is said by the United Nations officials that in the next 10 years the population of the world will reach 6 billion by the year 2000.

　　Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　26.What will the population size be by the year 2000 ?

　　27.The reasons why the population growth was slow include _________.

　　28.What is the general tendency of the population growth over the recent centuries ?

　　Passage Two

　　The key question for any only child is this: why were you an only chid ? It’s a key question for at least two reasons. If your parents had wanted several children but could have only you, they are most likely to pour into you all the energy and attention that had been intended for several children.I call this the “special jewel” phenomenon. Only children who are special jewels often arrive when their parents are older―usually in their thirties. These special jewels can become very spoilded and self-centered.

　　On the other hand, you may be an only child because your parents planned for only one and stuck to their plan. Your parents may give you a very strict and well-structured education to make you “a little adult” Many only children grow up feeling unhappy because they always had to be such “little adults”.

　　Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　29. Who are likely to treat their only children as “special jewels” ?

　　30.Why do some only children become “little adults” ?

　　31.What does the passage mainly discuss ?

　　32.Why do sme only children feel unhappy ?