2011年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案（北京新东方）

　　2011年12月四六级考后试题、答案、解析：【】

　　新东方名师微访谈：

　　作文题：

　　For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong Will by commenting on the humorous saying, "Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I've done it hundreds of times." You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

　　参考范文（北京新东方学校 王菲老师 @新东方王菲）

　　Nothing Succeeds Without a Strong Will

　　No great work can be performed without will. We envy famous men and imagine that fame was due to some trick of luck. But when we know their histories, we find that it is long years of will and constant effort that have brought about their success. Just as we can’t reach the top of a mountain without climbing, we can’t achieve success without will.

　　The modern society provides people with more opportunities than before, and there are stories which tell us the possibility of becoming successful overnight. Actually that is not the case. Before these people become successful, a lot of hard work has been done, unnoticed mostly. What we usually see is the result, but what we ignore is a long process of struggling forward and wrestling with internal or external obstacles. Take “quitting smoking” for example, which is , to most people , a difficult task, so people always give up the idea for they don’t have the strong will.

　　In a nutshell, strong will is an important condition or role of the success the individual should desire to maintain forever. There is no instant success in this world. Strong will is the best policy to make your life distinct and your dreams come true.

　　快速阅读 北京新东方学校 @张一鑫老师

　　Why Integrity Matters

　　What is Integrity?

　　"Integrity" is defined as "adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty." The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation.

　　What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals.

　　Risky Business

　　We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future.

　　Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense.

　　"But Everybody Does It"

　　Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they're taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions.

　　To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.

　　Evaluating Risks

　　To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; Suspension or Dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category.

　　Getting Away With It--Or Not

　　Those who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works.

　　Cheating Hurts Others, Too

　　Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree.

　　Why Integrity Matters

　　If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education.

　　In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.

　　Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)

　　1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______.（A）

　　A) sticks to them in their daily life

　　B) makes them known to others

　　C) understands their true values

　　D)sees that others also follow them

　　2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships?（C）

　　A) It helps to create team spirit

　　B) It facilitates communication

　　C) It is the basis of mutual trust

　　D) It inspires mutual respect

　　3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take？（A）

　　A. To ensure we make responsible choices.

　　B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress.

　　C. so that we don’t break any rules.

　　D. so that we don’t run into trouble.

　　4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______?（B）

　　A. it has caused no harm.

　　B. it is claimed to be unintentional.

　　C. it has gone unnoticed.

　　D. it is committed with good intentions.

　　5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself?（A）

　　A. Avoid making excuses.

　　B. Listen to other people’s advice.

　　C. Make his intensions public.

　　D. Have others watch over his shoulder.

　　6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______.（C）

　　A. will often become more cautious

　　B. are usually very aggressive

　　C. value immediate benefits most.

　　D. may lose everything in the end

　　7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______.（A）

　　A) pay more dearly

　　B) become more confident

　　C) be widely admired

　　D) feel somewhat lucky

　　8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to stealing a grade

　　9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s honesty and good faith.

　　10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of the Watergate scandal.

　　听力短对话原文：

　　11.W：This crazy bus schedule has got me completely confused .I cannot figure out when my bus to Cleveland leaves?

　　M: Why don’t you just go to the ticket window and ask ?

　　Q: what does the man suggest the woman do ?

　　12.W：I really enjoy the TV Special about ??? last night ? did you get how many time to see it ?

　　M : oh yes ,but I wish I could have stayed awake long enough to the see the whole thing

　　Q: what does the man mean ?

　　W: Airport ,please .I’m learning a little late .so just take the fastest way,even if it’s not the most direct

　　M: sure ,but there’s a lot of traffic everywhere today because of the football game

　　Q: what do we learn about the women from the conversation?

　　14. W:May I make a recommendation ,sir ,our seafood with the special source is very good

　　M: thank you , but I don’t eat shellfish. I ‘m allergic to it

　　Q: where does the conversation most probably take place ?

　　15. W: Now one more question if you don’t mind. What position in the company appeals you most?

　　M: Well. I’d like the position of sales manager, if that position is still vacant。

　　Q: What do we learn about the man?

　　16. M: I don’t’ think I want to live in the dormitory next year. I need more privacy。

　　W: I know what you mean, but check out the cost of renting an apartment first. I won’t be surprised if you change your mind。

　　Q: What does the woman imply?

　　17. M: You’re on the right track. I just think you need to narrow the topic down。

　　W: Yeah. You’re right. I always start by choosing too broad a topic when I’m doing a research paper。

　　Q: What do we learn about the conversation?

　　18. W: This picnic sure beats the last one we went to, doesn’t it?

　　M: Oh yeah, we had to spend the whole time inside. Good thing the weather is cooperative this time。

　　Q: What do we learn about the speakers from the conversation?