2012年12月4级考试真题(3)12804.pdf
2012年12月四级考试真题(3)Part IIReading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)Directions:In this part,you willhave 15 minutesto go over the passage quicklyand answerthe questions onAnswer Sheet1.For questions 17,choosethebest answer fromthefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Forquestions 810,completethesentenceswith theinformation given inthepassage.Suffering in silenceDespitea lawdesignedto protectthem,many peoplewithdisabling conditionsare unaware of theirrights.CaroleConcha-Belltellsofherexperiences.Beingdiagnosedwitha disabling conditionis always a shock.Learning to livewithoutthe guaranteeofhealthis like having to unlearna previous life.Theimplicationsforyour working life may seem intimidating.There is the Disability DiscriminationAct(DDA),of course.Butdoes it really provide theprotectionin theworkplacethat parliamentintended?Areemployers merely paying lip serviceto the DDA?Orare theyevenaware of anemployerslegaldutiesandresponsibilities?Inmy experience,it is thelatter.I have received littlesupportfromemployers to whomI have revealed mycondition.Thishas often left me feeling at a disadvantage andwondering why I bothered doing so in the firstplace.I hadbeen strugglingwithillness long before I wasdiagnosed.Inpracticaltermsthediagnosisdidlittleto aidme.Ofcourse,it enabled me to understandmybody,mylimitationsand set me on a course to stabilisemysymptoms.Butit brought a newdilemma.WhereI hadpreviouslystruggledto workwhileill,ignorantof why mybody wasmisbehaving,I nowhad a name for mydaily struggle:Lupus(狼疮).Thisis achronic(慢性的),auto-immune disorderthatcanaffectvirtuallyany system in thebody.Italso leaves a huge,darkquestion hangingover myhead whenseeking employment:should I tell myemployers I have a condition?It is a dilemmathatcontinuesto be a rootcauseof anxietyboth formyself andforthousandsof otherUK employees.Therocky road to myunfortunateenlightenmentabout workand disability beganjust after graduationwhenId set mysights on a career in communicationsand landed mydream job witha respectedpublicrelationsconsultancy(咨询公司)in Bristol.ButwhileI waslearningtheartof mediarelations,my body wasntquitemaking it in health terms.I often wentto workwithswollenlimbsand fevers.Atmyfirst and lastperformancereview,my boss wasamazed that,despitemy many capabilities,I hadnt quite takencontrolof myresponsibilities.Afewmonthslater,mycontractwasnt renewedand I plungedfurtherinto newdepthsof illhealth.However,I wasdeterminednot to bebeatenand returnedto the interview trail.Mynextjob wasinpublishing.Butdespitea shiningperformanceat the interview,I felt like a fraud.How long wouldit bebefore Isankintoill healthanddepressionagain?Thejobwasto end witha monumentalbang whenI became so poorly I could no longer function.Afewfeverish weeksin bedended in a specialist appointment,whereI wasdiagnosedwithLupusand rushedintohospitalforfearthatit may have attackedmy internalorgans.Thenext 12 monthswerefilled withconfusion.I hadno ideaabout benefits,feltalienated(被视为另类)bythemedicalestablishment andlived off my savings untilI wasbroke.I realisedI neededhelpfrommy family andmoved toLondon.Assoon as I felt better,I marchedinto a marketingrecruitmentconsultancy and,within10 minutes,I hadimpressedtheinterviewerenoughto be offereda jobwiththeagency.We agreedon a decentsalary andI toldhimIhadarthritis(关节炎)andwouldneedto worka four-dayweek.Thingswentwellat the startbut soon the client meetingsbegan to fall on my day off,andI rarely left theofficeon time.I begantoslipbothinhealthandprofessionalterms.The10-hourdayscrashedaroundmy head;no amountofmake-upcoulddisguisemy illhealthasI battledagainsttheoddstoprovetomyselfthatI couldstillmakeitinthebusinessworld.I oftencriedon thebuson thewaybackfromwork.Notlongbeforemy contractwasduetobe madepermanent,I wascalledtothebosssofficeandgiventhe“talk”abouthowmy performancewasslipping,howawfulI looked.I felttooweakto fightbackandagreedtoleave.No attemptstoofferadjustmentstomy job,suchas beingabletoworkfromhome,wereevermade.I hadacaseforunfairdismissalundertheDDA,butwasignorantof thisatthetime.An estimated10 millionpeopleintheUK,or17%ofthepopulation,qualifyfordisabilitystatusundertheDDA.Ihaveencounteredanumberof them:theliver-diseasedboss;theco-workerwithaheartcondition;andmyasthmatic(哮 的)trainee-teacherfriend.Nonehaddisclosed(透露)theirconditionstoemployers,andallwerefeelingthestrainofnotdoingso.To accessyourrightsundertheDDA andtorequest“reasonableadjustments”toyourworkingconditionsoryourworkplacerequiresdisclosure.I hadwarnedmy formeremployeraboutmy conditionbutitservedlittlepurpose.Theywereignorantabouttheirobligationstotheirdisabledstaff.However,thereareplentyof forward-thinkingorganisationsthathaveinclusiverecruitmentpolicies;aremorelikelytoemployaworkerwithadisability;andaremoreawareof theirlegalduties.Thepublicsectorout-performstheprivate,butnotalwaysthevoluntary,accordingto studiesfortheDisabilitiesRightsCommission.I decidedtogivethevoluntarysectora go andwassurprisedtobe offeredflexibleworkingconditionsandothersolutionstomeetmy needsasan employee.Butgiventhechoice,I wouldstillprefera careerintheprivatesector,whichforme ismoredynamic,hasmoreattractivesalariesandoffersbetterprospectsthanthevoluntaryorpublicsectors.DespitetheadvancesoftheDDA,therewillalwaysbe an armyofworkerswhowillsoldieron,maybeawareof theirrightsbutchoosingto remainsilentforpersonalreasons.Itisimportant,though,to recognisethesignificanceoftheact,theprotectionitaffordsandtheobligationsthatemployershavetousasemployeesandashumanbeings.1.Whatispeoplesimmediateresponsewhentheyarefirstdiagnosedwitha disablingcondition?ATheyreportthesituationtotheiremployers.BTheycometorealisethevalueofgoodhealth.CTheyfeelnervousabouttheirworkprospects.DTheytrytoseekprotectionfromtheDDA.2.Whentheauthorrevealedherconditiontoheremployers,they_.AwerequitesympathetictowardherBdidnotgiveherthesupportsheneededCmadeadjustmentstomeetherneedsDwereannoyednottobeinformedearlier3.WhentheauthorwasdiagnosedwithLupus,shewasina dilemmawhethersheshould_.AaskforassistancefromherfellowworkersBfindemploymentata differentcompanyCignoreherlimitationsandstruggletoworkDinformheremployersofherdisabilitystatus4.TheauthorlostherjobatthepublicrelationsconsultancyinBristolbecause_.Aherbosshadfounda muchbetterreplacementBshewasinno moodatalltodischargeherdutiesCherperformancewasdisappointingtoherbossDshefailedtoshowup forherperformancereview5.Why didtheauthorfeellikea fraudwhenshegothersecondjob?AShe knew she wouldfallill any timeagain.BShe wasnotascompetentassheappearedto be.CShe concealedthefactthatshehadjust beenfired.DShe pretendedto beverykeen onthejob.6.Why didtheauthormove to London?AToget helpfromherfamily.BToreceive bettermedicalcare.CTostartaconsultingbusiness.DToseek a moresuitablejob.7.Theauthorworked hardatthemarketing recruitment consultancy in orderto _.Aearnthebosss appreciationandclients recognitionBdemonstrateherstrongwillpowerto conquer illnessCprovide forherselfwithoutprotectionfromtheDDADprove herselfcapableof successin thebusinessworld8.Although many people qualify for disability status in the UK,theywould rathernot tell their employersabout_.9.Theauthorwas offeredflexible working conditionsin the voluntarysector,butif she hada choice,she wouldstill like to work in _.10.Theauthorstresses that it is importantto recognise employers_to their disabledemployees.PartIVReadingComprehension(Reading inDepth)(25minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,thereis a passage withten blanks.Youare required to select one wordfor eachblank froma list of choices given in a wordbank followingthe passage.Readthe passage throughcarefullybeforemaking your choices.Eachchoice in the bank is identifiedby a letter.Please mark the correspondingletterforeachitemon AnswerSheet2 witha singlelinethroughthecentre.Youmay not use any of the wordsin the bank morethanonce.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.So many peopleuse thecell phoneso frequentlyeveryday.But47littleis certainaboutthehealtheffectsof its use.Manufactures 48 thatcell phones meet government standardsfor safe radio-frequencyradiationemission,butenoughstudiesarebeginningto documenta possible49 in rarebraintumors(肿瘤),headachesandbehavioral disordersin childrento causeconcern.So far,theevidence isnt 50 on whetherthe use of cellphones51 to any increasedrisk of cancer.In a new trial,researchersasked 47 volunteers to52in aproject to measureglucose(葡萄糖)consumptionin thebrainby scanningthebrainto see how cells use energy.Forboth50-minutescans,the volunteers hada cell phone53 to each ear.Duringthe firstscan,the deviceswere turned off,but for the second scan,the phone on the right ear was54on and receivedarecorded-message call,althoughthe volume wasmuted(消音)so the noise wouldnt bias the results.Theresultsof the second scan showed that the55of the brain nearest to the devicehad higher rates of glucoseconsumptionthanthe restof the brain.Thestudy shows thatcell phonescan changebrainactivity,and56awhole new avenue for scientific inquiry,thoughit doesnt sayanything aboutwhethercell-phone radiationcancausecancer.AconclusiveFimmenselyKparticularBcontributesGincreaseLprovidesCderiveHmaintainMregionsDexpressesImissionNsurprisinglyEfixedJparticipateOswitchedSection BDirections:Thereare 2 passages in this section.Eachpassage is followed by some questions or unfinishedstatements.Foreachof themthereare fourchoicesmarked A,B,CandD.You shoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmark thecorresponding letteronAnswerSheet2 witha singlelinethroughthecentre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Itsno secret thatsomeof theresolutionsthatmany of us vowed to pursuein thenew year eathealthy,loseweight,quit smoking,save moremoney have already fallenby thewayside.Many of themarelikely thesameresolutionsthatwe abandonedlastJanuary.Andits a good thingforthosewho sell healthclub memberships,quit-smokingprograms andotherproducts thathelp us think we can improveourlives.Many gyms see new memberships doublein January,making up for the thirdof theirmembers who do notreneweach year.Andmany who sign upin Januarywill beno-shows by February.“IfI try one quickfix andit doesnt work,I may be morelikely to try thenext quickfix,”LisaLahey,whocoachesexecutiveshowto sustainbehavior change,toldTheTimes.TheBiggestLoser Resort atFitness Ridgedoesnt offerany quickfixes,just a12-hour schedule fullof exercise,a 1,200-calories-a-daydietanda fee of$2,000a week.Theresortteaches its clients that“weight management”is acombinationof fitness,dietandemotionalhealth.“Givenmy recent weight gain,andthe fact thatI was turning50,”Jennifer ConlinwroteinTheTimes,“Iwantedto starta program thatwouldmake 2012 theyear I finally gotin shape.”“Foryears,theadviceto theoverweight peoplehasbeenthatwe simply needto eatless andexercisemore,”TaraParker-Popewrote.“While thereis truthto this guidance,it fails to take into accountthatthe humanbodycontinues to fightagainstweightloss long afterdietinghasstopped.Thistranslatesintoasobering(令人清醒的)reality:once we become fat,mostof us,despiteourbestefforts,will probably stay fat.”Of course thisrevelation(揭示),if proven trueby further study,is notgoodnews fortheweight-lossindustry.Butchancesareitwont have much impactonthehuman tendencytoresolve togettothegym moreandavoid chocolatecakewhentheclockstrikes midnight onDecember31.57.Whatdowe learnfromthefirstparagraph aboutnewyear resolutions?AThey arehardto sustain.BThey testones strength.CThey helpshedbadhabits.DThey promisea good year.58.Whodo newyear resolutionseventuallybenefit?ASocietyin general.BBusinessexecutives.CHealthclub members.DHealthindustries.59.Whatis special abouttheBiggestLoser Resortsweightmanagement program?AIt gives toppriority to emotionalhealth.BIt doesnotresortto any quickfixes.CIt focuses on ones behavior change.DIt is notcheap butextremelyeffective.60.Whathappenswhenpeoplestopdieting?AThey regaintheirappetite.BThey usually stay in shape.CTheirweightbounces back.DTheirhealthis likely to fail.61.Whatdopeopletendto doaboutnewyear resolutions?AThey keep making themyear afteryear.BThey abandonthemonce progressis made.CThey keep trying untilthey finally succeed.DThey make themforthesake of making them.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.When Universityof California-Berkeleyreleased a studythis monthshowing alarmingly high teacherturnover(人员流动)ratesatLosAngelescharter schools,I wasnt surprised.Thats not a slamat local charter schools.Itsjust thatthe study echoed somethingIdobserved many times,startingwithmy niece.Brightand cheerful,my niece longed to teach high-needs children.Shestartedout in the SanFranciscopublic schools,where shewasassigned to the districtstoughestelementary school.Fifth-gradersthrew chairsacrossthe room and ather.Parentsrefusedto show up for conferences.She wasntwilling to deal with this level of indifferenceand teacher abuse,so she switchedto a highlyregardedcharter elementary school in the Bay Areawhere she pouredher energyintoher joband it showed.Herstudentstestscoreswereashighasthose inanearbywealthyschool district,despitethe obstacles these childrenfaced.Yetby herfourthyear,myniece waswornout,depleted(耗尽)of theenergy it tookto work with aclassroomof sweetbut deeplyneedy childrenwho pleadedto stay in her classroomwhen it wastimeto leave.Theprincipalsofferof a$10,000raisecouldntstop her from givingnotice.She wentto work atthat wealthyschooldistrict next door for less money.Over theyears,Ivemet manyimpassioned(充满激情的)teachers at charter schools,onlyto callthem the next year and findtheyveleft.The authors of the Berkeleystudy theorize that the teachers leavebecauseoftheextraordinarydemands:longhours,intense involvement in studentscomplicated lives,continualsearches for newways to raise scores.Even thestrongest supportersof thereform movementconcede that the task of raising achievementamong disadvantagedstudents is hardwork.Itsunlikely thatwecan build large-scaleschoolreform on a platformofcontinual newdemands onteachers more time,more energy,more devotion,more responsibility evenif schoolsfindways to paythem better.This is thebiggerchallenge facingschools.We needa moreuseful answerto theBerkeleystudythan“Yeah,its really hardwork.”62.Whywasntthe author surprisedatthe highteacher turnover ratesatLosAngles charter schools?AShe had participatedin the Berkeleystudy.BShe had noticed the phenomenonrepeatedly.CShe had been involvedin the local school reform.DShe had been informedof the problemby her niece.63.What do welearnabout the students in the publicschool the authorsniecetaught?ATheywereundisciplined.BTheyweretoughand strong.CMany of them enjoyedless parental care.DMany of them droppedoutof school halfway.64.What does the author say about her nieces work in the charter elementary school?AIt wonhighpraise from her school and colleagues.BIt wascited by the Berkeleystudyasanexample.CIt contributedto the successof the school reform.DIt waswellreceivedby the disadvantagedchildren.65.Whywerethe teacher turnover ratesso highaccordingto the Berkeleystudy?AThe s
