2017年12月大学英语四级真题（第2套）及答案解析

A New Jersey black bear that walks upright on its two back legs and has become a social media darling has re-emerged and has been captured on video months after its last sighting. The bear named Pedals was spotted in the town of Oak Ridge. In a video posted to Facebook featuring the bear, it appeared to be in relatively good health and was moving quickly. Pedals apparently has an injured leg or paw that doesn't allow it to walk comfortably on all fours according to experts. Lawrence Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said officials expect the bear to make it through next winter. The bear first gained fame after it was spotted wandering around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and shown on national television. Last year, supporters pushed for Pedals to be moved to a shelter, but New Jersey officials have said they won't allow the bear to be captured and transferred to the facility "The bear would do better in its natural habitat and the agency would step in if its condition deteriorated," they said. fours according to experts.

It's not your imagination. Traffic in the US is actually getting worse. Americans drove more miles last year than any other year on record. The US Department of Transportation says Americans drove nearly 3,150 billion miles last year. That's about the same distance as 337 round trips from Earth to Pluto. The previous record was 3,003 billion miles in 2007, before the economic recession and high gas prices. The traffic increase comes at the same time as gas prices drop significantly. The current average gas price in the US is $1.71 per gallon. A year ago it was $2.31 per gallon and was often much higher in recent years. A transportation expert told the reporter that job growth likely plays a part as well, along with some people driving longer distances to and from work, and so all this means more traffic jams on the road. The Texas A&M Travel Institute found that rush-hour travelers spent an extra 42 hours on the road last year because of travel delays. Now, that is depressing. Transportation says Americans drove nearly 3,150 billion miles last year.

A 16-year-old asked a stranger at a grocery store to buy him and his mother some food in exchange for carrying man's groceries to his car. What happened next will pull at your heartstrings. A wonderful bond formed between the two, and within a couple of weeks, the stranger, named White, helped raise $190,000 on a website to support the Memphis teenager and his disabled mother. "When Chauncy approached me, it just pulled at my heart," White said. "Here comes Chauncy, just trying to get food for him and his mom off the grace of other people. When I looked at him and saw what he was doing and what he was asking for, I said he was my hero." "Chauncy is a top student who is doing his best to make it in a world with no money and very few resources." White explained on the crowd funding site. He wants to work and help his mother financially. "It's so rare that we get an opportunity to affect so much change on one life." White wrote. "I cannot thank you enough for caring about Chauncy. This is his big chance, and you're making it possible." exchange for carrying man's groceries to his car.

M: That was my last economics lecture of the week. And here is the weekend again. W: What are you up to tonight? I was just wondering if we could try out the new restaurant on Charles Street, then go on to Queen Victoria for a drink. M: Sorry, I am heading home this weekend for my brother's 18th birthday. W: Oh, that's great. M: All my relatives are gonna be there, as well as my brother's horrible friends of course. Listen, why don't you come along? Mom would be absolutely delighted to see you again. She is always asking after you. W: Yes, I'd love to see her too. M: So please, do come. It'll be great. And besides, with Jonathan's wild gang to contend with, I'd really welcome an ally. W: That sounds tempting. But I won't be ready till 5:00, as I've got my statistics seminar now. What time are you heading off? M: Well, I was going to leave right away. However, I can hang around for you if you like. It just means that I'll need to change my ticket. W: But would that be too much trouble for you? M: No, not at all. I'll go to the station first, and see if I can get tickets for us on the 6:30 train. Then, you can drive me there. I'll text you when it's done. W: Brilliant. Are you absolutely positive it's okay? I wouldn't want to impose. M: Don't worry. You are most welcome to join our party. And as I always say, the more, the merrier. W: Look, I'd better go, or I'll be late. So I'll meet you down at the station around 6:00? M: Fine, see you later.

M: Hi, Jane. How is everything going? W: So far so good. I've just finished my last exam. M: Good, the term is coming to an end. Do you think we should take a holiday overseas to relax and have fun? I've saved my tips for my waiter job these past few months and I should have enough by July. W: Yes, that's a wonderful idea. I've got a little put-aside for a rainy day, but I might need to earn a little more before we go. By the way, what's it like working in a restaurant? M: Well, it's really tough, as working a ten-hour shift is like hell. I am not sure if it'll suit you, but it's pretty cool if your bosses are right. Do you think we should invite some others to come along? W: Yes. We could ask Tom and Tracy if they are interested. I haven't been abroad for a long while. And it would be great to go somewhere by the sea. I can't wait. And, if Tom goes, we could go sailing. He has a lot of experience with boats. And it'll work out a lot cheaper to hire one if there's more of us to share the cost. M: So, that's a plan. We will save as much as we can and go sailing next July. Let's say Spain, or anywhere cheap we'll find. W: OK. But, first we'd better contact Tom and Tracy and see if they are up for it. If not, it'll be back to the drawing board.

Most people know Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner. Irene Curie was born on September 12, 1987. At the age of 10, Irene's talents and interest in mathematics were apparent. Irene entered Sevigne University in October, 1914, to prepare for her degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, she left Sevigne University to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued this work by developing X-ray facilities for military in France and Belgium. After the war she received a Military Medal for her work. In 1918, Irene became her mother's assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot visited the Institute where he met Marie Curie. Frederic became one of her assistants and Irene taught him the techniques required to work with radioactivity. Irene and Frederic soon fell in love and got married on October 29, 1926. Their daughter was born in 1927 and their son in 1932. Like her mother, Irene combined family with career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, Frederic, in 1935, for producing new radioactive elements. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed blood cancer because of her exposure to radiation. Irene Joliot-Curie died on March 17, 1956.

Have you ever heard of the Vikings? They were sea travelers from Norway. More than a thousand years ago, they made three important geographical discoveries. The Vikings' first major discovery occurred in the ninth century. A man called Naddod was on his way from Norway to the Faroe Islands, north of England, when his ship was caught in a storm. The storm blew the ship west for several days. When the weather cleared, Naddod found himself on the coast of a new land. Later, Viking travelers named it Iceland. In 982, a Viking called Eric the Red sailed west in search of new land. Five hundred miles west of Iceland, he and his men reached an icy rocky mass of land. They sailed around it until they reached the western side. Here, they found some green areas, so they named the island Greenland. Then, in 1001, the Vikings made their most important discovery. The son of Eric the Red, named Leif Ericson, had heard rumors about land west of Greenland. He sailed west and soon found it. He and his men landed in three places. They called the first one Helluland, which means land of flat stones. The Vikings then sailed south and made their second landing. They named this place Markland. The third landing was at a place they called Vinland. Leif Ericson and his men were the first Europeans to walk on the shores of North America, almost 500 years earlier than Columbus. named it Iceland.

Where do you think you will be in ten years? It's difficult to know exactly where you will be and what you will be doing. But everyone dreams about the future. You might imagine the job you will get when you finish school. You may daydream about meeting your life partner or live in a big house by the sea. In my dreams, I would have twins, a boy and a girl. We would live in a large two-story house with floors and the staircase made of wood. Now, at the age of 46, I look back on those dreams and smile. Things haven't turned out exactly as imagined. But I wouldn't change what I have now for that imaginary world. In college, I studied international business, and planned to enter a law school. In my third year of university, I realized that I didn't want to become a lawyer. I chose to become a language teacher. I did get married, but had more than two children. We had five. Do I live in the dream house with wooden floors? No, I don't. But I love my home and I wouldn't want to live in any other place. I believe that as a young person, it's important to dream and make plans. However, it's also important to realize that not all of your plans will turn out exactly as you wish. One of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is this: Be happy with what you have.