2018上半年大学英语四级听力考试题

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 with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

Many college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from $1,000 to perhaps $5,000 or more. (26)_______, it is not uncommon for them to purchase (27) _______costing another several hundred dollars. Twenty years ago, computers were (28) _______, but they were very large and extremely expensive. Few, if any, (29)_______purchased computers for home use. Over the years, the price of the “guts” of a computer—its memory—has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory that prevailed twenty years ago. This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today than they used to. Moreover, (30) _______improvements have made it possible to (31) _______memory circuitry that is small enough to fit into the portable personal computers that many of us own and use. (32) _______, as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers.

(33) _______, improved agricultural technology, hybrid(杂交) seeds, (34) _______animal breeding and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce. The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of most other goods and services. As agricultural prices have fallen, many households have decreased their total expenses on food. Even though the (35) _______ of a product purchased generally increases when its price falls, total expenses on it may decline.

Section C

Many college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from $1,000 to perhaps $5,000 or more. In addition, it is not uncommon for them to purchase software costing another several hundred dollars. Twenty years ago, computers were available, but they were very large and extremely expensive. Few, if any, individuals purchased computers for home use. Over the years, the price of the“guts” of a computer—its memory—has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory that prevailed twenty years ago. This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today than they used to. Moreover, technological improvements have made it possible to manufacture memory circuitry that is small enough to fit into the portable personal computers that many of us own and use. In short, as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers.

By contrast, improved agricultural technology, hybrid seeds, scientific animal breeding and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce. The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of most other goods and services. As agricultural prices have fallen, many households have decreased their total expenses on food. Even though the quantity of a product purchased generally increases when its price falls, total expenses on it may decline.

Section C参考答案

26.【答案解析】In addition 空格处位于句首，且用逗号与其所在句隔开。鉴于该句主干结构完整，空格处所填词(组)应作状语，修饰整个句子。其形式可以是副词(词组)、介词短语、动词不定式短语、分词(短语)等。

27.【答案解析】software 空格所在句为主系表结构，其中it作形式主语，而包含空格的不定式结构为真正的主语。此外，空前的purchase和空后的costing表明，空格处应填名词性质的词(组)作purchase的宾语，而costing作所填词的后置定语。

28.【答案解析】available 空格所在处是一个由but连接的并列句，空格位于分句一中，该句缺少表语。所填词的形式可以是名词、形容词、现在分词、过去分词等。鉴于两个分句为并列关系且同为主系表结构， 由分句二的large和expensive推测，空格处填入形容词的概率更大。

29.【答案解析】individuals 空格所在句中，if any为插入语，purchase为谓语，computers为宾语，for home use为目的状语。而空格所填词与其修饰语few一起构成主语，由此推断，空格处应填可数名词的复数形式。进一步分析可知，purchase computers的执行者很可能是人，故该空应填表“人”的名词。

30.【答案解析】technological 空格所在句是一个主从复合句，空格与后面的improvements一起构成主句的主语。由此推断，空格处可能需要improvements的前置定语，所填词可以是名词(动名词)、形容词、现在分词等形式。

31.【答案解析】manufacture 空格所在句是一个主从复合句，空格位于主句中。分析后不难发现，该句中的it实为形式宾语，而动词不定式短语to memory circuitry为真正的宾语。鉴于空格所在部分是不定式结构，故本空应填入一个动词(词组)原形。

32.【答案解析】In short 空格所在句是一个主从复合句，且句子主干完整。鉴于空格位于句首且用逗号与其所在句隔开，该空应填入一个作状语的词(组)，修饰整个句子。其形式可以是副词(词组)、介词短语、动词不定式短语、分词等。

33.【答案解析】By contrast 与32题相似，本空同样位于句首，且用逗号与其所在句隔开，由此推断，该空也应填入一个作状语的词(组)，修饰整个句子。其形式可以是副词(词组)、介词短语、动词不定式短语、分词等。

34.【答案解析】scientific 空格所在句是一个主从复合句。分析可知，animal breeding(动物养殖)，improved agricultural technology(改善的农业技术)和hybrid seeds(杂交的种子)同为本句的并列主语。由此推断，空格处所填词很可能与improved和hybrid的词性一致，作定语修饰后面的名词breeding，故填入形容词的可能性更大。

35.【答案解析】quantity 空格所在句为Even though引导的让步状语从句，空格出现在该从句的主语部分。鉴于空格前为定冠词the，空格后是表所属关系的介词of，故该空应填入名词性质的词(组)。