cet4_2025_06_2

Writing

Directions: Suppose your university is conducting a survey to collect students’ opinions on the appropriate use of AI technology in assisting learning. You are now to write an essay to express your view. You will have 30 minutes to write the essay. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

In today’s world, AI has become a common tool used by the ordinary people. Is it really that good and has no disadvantages at all? I don’t think so. We should utilize AI in a more sensible way. Because AI is not always exporting the right things. I think we need to check the information it produced before applying it in our study.

On the other hand, AI is improving people’s life indeed. especially in the aspect of learning, it can assist us to understand and master knowledge more efficiently. With the correct use of AI, we can create more meaningful and practical things faster than before. All in all, trying to make use of AI and accept it as a natural tool is a important lessons for students to learn nowadays.

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In today’s world, AI has become a common tool used by ordinary people. However, is it really perfect and free from disadvantages? I do not think so. We should use AI in a more sensible and responsible way because it cannot always provide correct information. Therefore, students need to check the information generated by AI before applying it to their studies.

On the other hand, AI has indeed improved people’s lives, especially in the field of learning. It can help us understand and master knowledge more efficiently. With the proper use of AI, we are able to create more meaningful and practical work in less time than before. In conclusion, learning how to make good use of AI and accepting it as a natural learning tool is an important lesson for students nowadays.

Listening

• 00:10:47 - con 2
• 00:14:32 - long con 1
• 00:17:22 - long con 2
• 00:20:23 - long con 3

[1] A Florida teenager and an Atlanta woman won the overall men’s and women’s divisions Saturday at the annual 7 Mile Bridge Run.

division： [C + sing./pl. v.] (abbreviation Div.) (in Britain) one of the group of teams that a sport competition is divided into, especially in football (soccer) （英国体育运动，尤指足球比赛的）级
the first division/division one
甲级
a first-division team
甲级队

Vaclav Bursa, 15, of Big Pine Key, Florida, finished first overall. He completed the race in 41 minutes and 1 second and claimed the top spot in the men’s division. Bursa won third place in the 2022 race. He is a student at Marathon High School. Joanna Stephens, 28, of Atlanta, completed the course in 41 minutes and 12 seconds. She won the women’s division title and placed second overall. The race drew competitors from 41 US states. There were also runners from other countries, including Canada, the UK and Switzerland. The run closed the span between the Middle and Lower Keys to traffic for 3 hours Saturday.

the part of a bridge or an arch between one vertical support and another （桥或拱的）跨径，跨度，跨距
The bridge crosses the river in a single span.
河上的桥为单跨桥。

[2] The April contest is one of the most popular running events in the southeastern United States. The race field filled within minutes after online registration opened in January.

field: all the people or animals competing in a particular sports event （比赛项目的）全体参赛者
The field includes three world-record holders.
参赛运动员中有三位世界纪录的保持者。

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British astronaut Tim Peake is stepping down permanently from his role as a European astronaut. He’s going to take up a full-time position as ambassador for science and space instead—work he’s been doing since 2019.

takes up: to start or begin sth such as a job 开始从事
He takes up his duties next week.
他下周就要开始履行职责。

[3] The former British Army Air Corps helicopter pilot was selected as a European Space Agency astronaut in 2009. He flew to the space station for a 6-month tour in 2015. The tour saw him control a robot on earth remotely from orbit. He also helped dock two spacecraft. Tim said, “Being an astronaut has been the most extraordinary experience. I’ve had the privilege of working with an exceptional team of individuals during the past 13 years with the agency. [4] It has been incredibly exciting and rewarding. By assuming the role of an ambassador for human flights to space, I’ll continue to support the European and the UK space agencies.”

assume: ~ sth(formal) to take or begin to have power or responsibility 承担（责任）；就（职）；取得（权力） SYN take on

Rebel forces have assumed control of the capital.
反叛武装力量已控制了首都。
The court assumed responsibility for the girl’s welfare.
法庭承担了保障这个女孩福利的责任。

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[5] An Asda store in Wales is now home to five cats after they wandered in and made themselves comfortable.

The supermarket is known for its loyal customers, but now has a different kind of visitor that has appeared over the last year. Regular shoppers at the supermarket are familiar with the sight of several cats settling down in the shop aisles. The unusual situation started about 12 months ago, when one cat routinely started visiting the store. [6] Local newspapers reported that puzzled customers posted on Facebook groups to try to find out if the cat was lost. But its owner assured the concerned customers it was very much loved and fed at home. It just enjoyed visiting the shop. Staff did their best to discourage the pet from hanging around.

to wait or spend time somewhere, usually for no particular reason:
I spent most of my youth hanging around the bars of Dublin.
I thought I’d hang around for a while and see if she comes.

But instead of leaving and never coming back, it invited its friends round. [5] There are now at least five different cats who come almost on a daily basis. They visit the store so much that [7] staff have been forced to put up signs, asking their customers not to feed them.

“On a daily basis” means doing something every day or according to a daily routine. While it means the same thing as “daily,” it often implies a more formal, structured, or scheduled commitment to a task.

option: It might be a nuisance to the loyal shoppers.

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Dialog 1

W: [8] I’ve been thinking about moving off campus next semester.

M: Hmm… I don’t know if that’s a good idea as your mother and I would worry about you living all by yourself in an apartment so far from home. [9] And then there’s the expense, too. I’m not sure we can afford it.

W: Well, I wouldn’t be alone, actually. Three of my friends from the dormitory would share the place with me. And with four of us, it wouldn’t cost any more than living in the dorm.

M: Are you sure about that? [9] Rents in big cities are high, and then there’s the cost of electricity and gas. Have you factored those in?

W: We’ve budgeted for those, and for Internet and transportation. And if we move far enough from the city center, the rent is low enough for us to afford all of it.

M: What’s about the commute to and from campus? It sounds like you’ll be wasting several hours every day on the road instead of studying.

W: [10] It’s about an hour to campus, but there’s no reason I can’t study on the bus. After all, I did that during high school and my commute was even longer then.

M: That’s true. But I’m not sure why you want to leave campus and go through all that trouble when the cost is the same.

W: For a lot of reasons. We’d have a kitchen, so we could cook ourselves. And we’d each have our own bedroom, where we could study instead of going to the library. We just have more space and privacy.

M: [11] I’m not convinced that the benefits are greater than the disadvantages, but I’ll discuss this with your mother.

Dialog 2

[13]For that age group, our biggest seller this year has been this action figure. It’s called Bobo Man,and it’s incredibly popular.

Passage 1

We assume that if we offer our customers more choices, then they’ll be more likely to buy our products.[16]But here’s the paradox of choice: if a person is presented with too many choices, they are actually less likely to buy.[17]In 2012,psychologists published a study about jams. On a regular day at a local food market, people would find a display table with 24 different kinds of jams. Then on another day, at that same food market, people were given only 6 different types of jam choices. Guess which display table led to more sales?

jam: [U, C] a thick sweet substance made by boiling fruit with sugar, often sold in jars and spread on bread 果酱

strawberry jam
草莓酱
recipes for jams and preserves
果酱和蜜饯的制作方法
(BrE)
a jam doughnut
果酱炸面圈

The study found that while the bigger display table created more interest, people were almost 10 times less likely to purchase a jar of jam than in the case of the smaller display. Customer satisfaction takes a hit as well. In the study, the bigger display of jams leads to lower customer satisfaction than the smaller display. In an extensive study published in 2015, researchers analyzed a total of 99 choice studies and specifically looked at those cases in which reducing choices helped to boost sales. [18] They found four rules that motivate consumers to buy: when people want to make a quick and easy choice, when the product is complex, when it’s difficult to compare alternatives, and when consumers don’t have clear preferences. So as you can see, when it comes to choices, less is more.

Passage 2

The New Year has come and gone, and many may have already forgotten what they had resolved to do on January 1st.

resolved: [not before noun] ~ (to do sth)(formal) determined

I was resolved not to see him.
我决意不见他。

But if that resolution was to volunteer more, now is the best time to start. Volunteering can drop after the holiday season, and by February, some organizations lack the volunteers they had in surplus just a month ago. [19] According to one survey, only 26% of Americans volunteered, despite reports that many Americans view volunteering as worthwhile.

Why such a disconnect? [20] Most people cite time and conflicting work schedules as major barriers, but employees and employers would actually benefit if companies made employee volunteering part of the job. Researchers have found donating our time and talent to others can lower blood pressure, boost happiness and improve mental and physical health. Studies have also linked employee volunteer programs with more productive employees. With so much emphasis on employee wellness these days, company volunteer programs could be the perfect 2025 resolution. But for volunteering to benefit employees and the workplace, the entire organization needs to be involved. By allowing employees to donate their time during work hours, the workplace becomes an outlet for personal fulfillment without affecting personal time. [21] *In one survey, 89% of employees perceived companies that sponsored volunteer activities as creating a better working environment, and 75% said volunteering was critical to their well-being.
*

Passage 3

[22] The vast majority of the UK’s 200,000 tonnes of retail sectors annual food waste comes from supermarkets.

sector: a part of an area of activity, especially of a country's economy （尤指一国经济的）部门，领域，行业

the manufacturing sector
制造业
service-sector jobs (= in hotels, restaurants, etc.)
服务性行业的工作

But it’s a problem that impacts independent luxury food suppliers too. The scale is small. It’s estimated at less than one per cent of the UK’s food waste total. But the quality from these suppliers is high. Everything from specialist cheeses to sought-after coffee beans gets thrown away every day in the current food system.

This is where French entrepreneur Sophie André comes in. [23] In 2016 she moved to London and began by setting up a business delivering luxury hand-made food across the city. “Food delivery seems to be a big thing here,” She says. “So I started delivering products by bicycle. Talking with local producers I learned that a small part of the production is sometimes wasted due to problems with size or shape, but the quality of the products remains unchanged.” [24] Unlike many food waste projects that have sprung up in recent years, the idea is not simply to redistribute waste food, but to provide a high-quality product. André’s company Elysia offers breakfasts and snacks

specifically aimed at business meetings and events. Once sourced, Elysia uses waste products to create “simple, natural, straightforward” meals and snacks. [25] Perhaps unlike other waste food, the supply is regular. Suppliers will always have a certain amount of surplus. So the menus remain regular too. André believes this benefits both her business and her customers.

四级2025.6 第二章 27

Reading

Section A

Psychologists have long been interested in how we construct our identities and the sorts of strategies that we use to present ourselves in society. New findings suggest that the kinds of 26 complex and strategic self-presentation behaviour we see in adults appear at a much younger age than 27 previously known. Research shows that a child’s awareness of social standing comes from adults. Like grown-ups, kids want to be 28 accepted by those they admire. Interactive experiences may provide opportunities for children to learn about what 29 constitutes a desirable reputation and the kinds of strategies that are effective for 30 building a good reputation in their social environment. Five-year-olds aren’t just aware of their reputations, they also behave strategically to alter their outward image. They will 31 vary their behaviour in order to appear moral or socially good in the eyes of key observers. While we know that adults use a large variety of attributes to manage and create impressions, we don’t yet know whether children 32 understand and use the fact that different attributes are valuable at different times to different 33 audiences. It’s important for us to further consider where in this process children succeed in controlling their reputation and where they 34 struggle. A question to think about is, “What happens even earlier than age five?” Children don’t just show up to the first day of kindergarten and have the idea of reputation pop 35 suddenly into existence. The logical question to ask is, “What happens even earlier?”

A) accepted
B) audiences
C) building
D) complex
E) constitutes
F) deputies
G) previously
H) revolving
I) samples
J) selected
K) solemn
L) struggle
M) suddenly
N) understand
O) vary

Section B

Sir Alfred Hitchcock was an English movie director and producer. Famously referred to as “The Master of Suspense”, Hitchcock is one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He was an extraordinary director who entertained his audience with engaging and gripping suspense movies. His fascination with crime began at an early age when he was punished by his father who made him spend a few minutes inside a prison for his misconduct. Hence, his movies are symbolic of the guilt and innocence of the wrongdoer and the victim. He had a gift for creating stories that consisted of deceit, robbery, murder, corruption, and other criminal offences with incredible plot twists in the storyline. The principal characters in his movies were often ordinary people caught in unwanted and unavoidable situations. He was highly productive and his amazing body of work is considered fascinating by the critics. Most of his movies have stood the test of time and are considered to be masterpieces. He is also remembered by other filmmakers, for he continues to inspire them to be passionate about their work. He is also worshipped by people around the world for his entertaining and exciting stories.

juice 作动词，榨汁

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

A) Freshly juiced fruit has become a basic dietary item — especially for busy, health-conscious consumers who can save time on making (and perhaps even chewing) their food without missing out on nutrients. Fruit juice also has been linked to claims that it can help you both lose weight and stay healthy. All of which, of course, has made it highly profitable. The
global fruit and vegetable juices market was valued at $154 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow.
B) But is juicing really as healthy as we think? Most foods containing fructose—a naturally occurring sugar found in all fruits and fruit juices — don’t seem to have harmful effects as long as they’re not contributing to excess daily calories. This is because the fibre found in whole fruits is intact, and the sugar is contained within the fruit’s cells. It takes our digestive system a while to break these cells down and for fructose to enter the bloodstream.
C) But this is not the case with fruit juice. Unlike whole fruit, fruit juice has most of the fibre removed. This is why the fructose in fruit juices counts as ‘free sugars’ — which also include honey and the sugars added to foods. It’s recommended by the World Health Organisation that adults have no more than 30g of added sugar, the equivalent of 150ml of fruit juice, per day. The problem is that, with the fibre removed, fruit juice’s fructose is absorbed more quickly. Sudden increases in blood sugar cause the release of insulin (胰岛素) to bring it back down to a stable level. Over time, this mechanism can wear out increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In 2013, researchers analysed the health data of 100,000 people collected between 1986 and 2009 and found that fruit juice consumption was linked with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Another study found a relationship between fruit juice and type 2 diabetes after following the diets and diabetes status of more than 70,000 nurses over 18 years. The researchers explain that the possible reason for this may partly have been the lack of the other components found in whole fruit, like fibre.
D) Juices containing vegetables can provide more nutrients and less sugar than juices made up of just fruit — but they still lack valuable fibre. Diets high in fibre have been linked to a lower risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes, and it’s recommended adults consume 30g per day.

a sudden serious illness when a blood vessel (= tube) in the brain bursts or is blocked, which can cause death or the loss of the ability to move or to speak clearly 脑卒中；中风
to have/suffer a stroke
患中风
The stroke left him partly paralysed.
他因中风身体局部瘫痪了。

E) Aside from the link to type 2 diabetes, many studies agree that fruit juice is harmful if it contributes to an excess in calories. In an analysis of 155 studies, John Sievenpiper, associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, set out to understand if the associations between sugary soft drinks and health — including risk of diabetes and heart disease — were applicable to the food and drink we generally consume as part of a healthy diet. He compared studies looking into the effects of fructose-containing sugars with control diets free from or lower in these sugars. His aim? To isolate the effects of consuming too many calories from the effects of foods containing different sugars.

fructose-containing sugars “含有果糖的糖类”

control: [C] (specialist) a person, thing or group used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a scientific experiment; an experiment whose result is known, used for checking working methods 对照标准；（检验工作方法的）参照实验
One group was treated with the new drug, and the control group was given a sugar pill.
一组采用新药治疗，而对照检验组服用的则是糖丸。

~ from/of sth: not containing or affected by sth harmful or unpleasant 不含有害物的；不受…伤害（或影响等的）
free from difficulty/doubt/fear
没有困难；不怀疑；不害怕
free from artificial colours and flavourings
不含人工色素和人工调味料
It was several weeks before he was completely free of pain.
过了几星期他的疼痛才完全消除。

F) He found negative effects on blood sugar and insulin levels when food provided excess calories from sugars, including fruit juice. However, when the calories weren’t in excess overall, there were someadvantages to consuming whole fruit — and even fruit juice. Sievenpiper concludes that the recommended 150ml of fruit juice per day, which is an average serving, is reasonable. The paper concluded that foods containing fructose may have some small benefits for long-term blood sugar control when they don’t lead to over-consumption of calories. But when they do lead to too many calories, they risk raising blood sugar and insulin levels.
G) So while we know that fruit juice can cause diabetes if it’s part of a diet that has more calories overall, it’s less clear how juice affects the long-term health of those who aren’t overweight. But we have a higher risk of consuming more than the recommended daily number of calories (around 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men) on the days we drink juice, according to research. Numerous studies have shown that drinking fruit juice doesn’t make us consume any less of other foods throughout the day.
H) As it is easy to consume large amounts of fruit juice quite quickly, extra calories are taken in. And extra calories can contribute to weight gain. One way we can improve the effects of fruit juice on our health is making sure we select ripe fruit to retain as much of its goodness as possible, according to Roger Clemens, professor of pharmaceutical (药物的) sciences at the University of Southern California.
I) Another reason for fruit juice’s recent popularity is the argument that it can help to remove poisonous or harmful substances from the body. However, “the whole concept of a juice diet helping to remove poisonous or harmful substances from the body is completely false,” says Clemens. “We consume compounds every day that may be poisonous and our bodies do a wonderful job of removing and eliminating anything harmful from our bodies.”
J) And juice isn’t a cure-all for getting your nutrients, either. “There are a lot of nutrients contained in the parts of the fruits, such as in apple skins, that are excluded when you juice them,” says Heather Ferris, a professor of medicine. “You end up with sugary water with some vitamins.”
K) Plus, she adds, it’s not an ideal way to reach the advised ‘five a day’. “People try to get five servings of fruit and vegetables per day and don’t realise this isn’t just about getting vitamins,” she says. “It’s also about reducing the amount of grain carbs (碳水化合物) and protein and fats in our diet, and increasing fibre.” So while fruit juice is better than no fruit at all, there are limits. It particularly comes with risks when we consume more than 150ml of free sugars per day, or when it puts us over our recommended calorie intake. It provides us with vitamins — but fruit juice is far from a quick fix.

36. Fruit juice is different from whole fruit in that it contains much less fibre. C
37. Some people believe a juice diet helps to rid our body of harmful or poisonous substances.
38. A lot of research comes to the same conclusion that fruit juice does harm to the human body when it leads to surplus calories: E
39. The claimed health benefits of fruit and vegetable juices have rendered the industry very profitable. A
40. To increase the benefits of fruit juice to our health, we’d better choose ripe fruit to make juice.
41. Diets containing large amounts of fibre reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health hazards. D
42. According to a research paper, drinking fruit juice is beneficial on condition that it is consumed in reasonable amounts.
43. One expert claims that juicing wastes a lot of nutrients contained in fruits.
44. It takes some time for fruit’s cells to be digested and for fructose to be absorbed. B
45. A lot of research has demonstrated that drinking fruit juice does not reduce our daily consumption of other foods.

Translation

近年来，中国东北地区正在大力开发冰雪资源。例如，哈尔滨利用丰富的冰雪资源打造了极具地方特色的“冰雪大世界”，让游客在欣赏冰雪之美的同时也能体验当地独特的民俗文化。如今，曾令人畏惧的冰天雪地正吸引着四面八方的游客，成为深受欢迎的旅游胜地。冰雪旅游业正为当地的经济发展做出越来越大的贡献。

In recent years, companies in northeast China has been developed Ice resources. Take Harbin for example, it utilized a great number of ice and snow resources to make a place called ‘The great world of Ice’, letting tourists enjoy the beauty of Ice and Snow. At the same time they can also experience its local culture. Today, ‘The world of Ice and Snow’ which is used to be afraid has now attracted people all over the world, becoming a popular tourist site. It is bringing more and more contribution to its local economy. 68

In recent years, Northeast China has been vigorously developing its ice and snow resources. For example, Harbin has made use of its abundant ice and snow resources to create the highly distinctive “Ice and Snow World,” allowing visitors not only to appreciate the beauty of ice and snow, but also to experience the region’s unique folk culture. Today, the once-feared icy landscape is attracting visitors from all over the world and has become a popular tourist destination. The ice and snow tourism industry is making an increasing contribution to the local economy.

For example, Harbin has made use of its abundant ice and snow resources to create the highly distinctive “Ice and Snow World,” allowing visitors to simultaneously appreciate the beauty of ice and snow and experience the region’s unique folk culture.

被誉为“杂交水稻(hybrid rice)之父”的袁隆平和他的科研团队克服重重困难,研发出了一种超级杂交水稻。这项技术获得了举世公认的巨大成功。通过这项技术的应用,水稻抗旱抗病能力更强,能适应不同的气候和土壤条件,产量可提高 20-30%。超级杂交水稻营养丰富,口感更佳。目前,这项技术已经在许多国家得到广泛应用,为全球粮食安全做出了重大贡献。

Yuan LongPing, widely known as The ‘Father of hybrid rice’, with his scientific group has developed some kind of hybrid rice though a great deal of difficulties. This technology has gained much success acknowledged by the world. With the usage of this technology, rice now can resist drought, some illness and adapt to different climates, producing more about 20 to 30 precent. For now, the technology has been widely utilized by many countries, contributing vigorously to the world food security.

Refined Translation:

Yuan Longping, widely acclaimed as the “Father of Hybrid Rice,” and his research team overcame numerous challenges to develop a strain of super hybrid rice. This technology has achieved immense, globally recognized success. By applying this technology, rice has become more resistant to drought and disease, and can adapt to diverse climates and soil conditions, increasing yields by 20–30%. Super hybrid rice is not only highly nutritious but also tastes better. Currently, this technology has been widely adopted in many countries, making a significant contribution to global food security.

这项技术获得了举世公认的巨大成功
This technology is universally recognized as a major breakthrough.

yield /jiːld/
[C, U] the total amount of crops, profits, etc. that are produced 产量；产出；利润
a high crop yield
作物丰收
a reduction in milk yield
牛奶产量的降低
This will give a yield of 10% on your investment.
这会给你的投资带来 10% 的利润。

（水稻）产量可提高 20-30%
Rice productivity can be raised by 20–30%.

The technology has contributed immensely to global food security.