2009年12月大学英语四级考试模拟试题(一)

　　Section C

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

　　Some people’s ears produce wax like busy little bees. This can be a problem even though earwax appears to serve an important purpose. Experts say it protects and cleans the ear. It (36) traps dirt and other matter and keeps (37) insects out. Doctors think it might also help protect against (38) infections. And the waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry. So earwax is good. It even has a medical name: cerumen. There are two kinds of cerumen. Most people of (39) European or African ancestry have the “wet” kind: thick and (40) sticky. East Asians commonly have “dry” earwax.

　　But you can’t have too much of a good thing. The glands in the ear canal that produce the wax make too much in some people. Earwax is normally (41) expelled; it falls out of the ear or gets washed away. But extra wax can (42) harden and form a blockage that (43) interferes with sound waves and reduces hearing. (44) People can also cause a blockage when they try to clean out their ears — but only push the wax deeper inside. Earwax removal is sometimes necessary. But you have to use a safe method or you could do a lot of damage.

　　Experts suggest some ways to treat excessive earwax yourself. (45) They say the wax can be softened with mineral oil, or ear drops. Another way to remove wax is known as irrigation. With the head upright, take hold of the outer part of the ear. Gently pull upward to straighten the ear canal. (46) Use a device to gently direct water against the wall of the ear canal. Then turn the head to the side to let the water out.

　　Part IV Reading Comprehension

　　(Reading in Depth)

　　Section A

　　47. D)。此处需要一个名词。此处讲的是摇滚主要植根于布鲁斯、节奏布鲁斯、乡村音乐、民歌、福音歌以及爵士乐。

　　48. J)。此处需要一个形容词。参见上题解析可知，摇滚最终发展为现代的摇滚音乐。

　　49. A)。此处需要一个动词。根据前面出现的两个词典给出的解释及后面的内容可以推断，这里是对摇滚进行定义。

　　50. L)。此处需要一个副词。根据上下文可知，ALLwords.com与前两个词典的定义不同，它将摇滚定义为20世纪50年代的音乐而不是现代音乐。

　　51. E)。此处需要一个副词。根据上下文可知，古典摇滚乐通常由如下乐器合奏：一两把电吉他;一个弦贝司或电贝司;一组架子鼓。

　　52. G)。此处需要一个形容词。根据下文出现的1940s这个时间可知，这里讲的是20世纪40年代末期出现的最早的摇滚风格。

　　53. M)。此处需要一个动词。根据下文“or supplemented by the guitar”可知，钢琴与萨克斯风这些早期主打乐器被20世纪50年代中后期的吉他所取代或补充。