1.Woman: When was the last time you dusted the apartment?
Man: When was the last time my mother came over?
Question: What does the man imply?

2.Woman: Hurry up Mark, there’s a bus coming now.
Man: Why run? There’ll be another one in 2 or 3 minutes.
Question: What does the man mean?
3.Man: Laura, it seems that you are up to your neck in work, how come you’ve been so busy?
Woman: Ms Smith has asked for a sick leave, and I have to take over her work for a couple of days.
Question: What do we learn about the woman?

4.Woman: Washing dishes at the cafeteria every day is really boring.
Man: Why don’t you quit and deliver the flowers with me?
Question: What does the man suggest the woman do?
5.Woman: Rod, you said you’d take this package to the post office yesterday.
Man: Oh, no, it must have slipped my mind.
Question: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?

6.Man: I’m not surprised that you didn’t like that movie. I find it really scary myself.
Woman: So did I. I don’t care much for horror movies as a rule.
Question: What do we learn from the conversation?

7.Man: My life experience tells me that love is filled with happiness but it hurts you too.
Woman: Your words remind me of the saying honey is sweet but the bee stings.
Question: What do we learn from the conversation?

8.Man: How many more chairs should I bring in for the forum, six or seven?
Woman: Bring in all you can find. I’m expecting at least 20 participants.
Question: What are the speakers talking about?

Long conversations

Conversation 1

Man: Do you think there's discrimination against women in England today?
Woman: Certainly, and not just in education and work either, in many other fields as well. The tax situation for women is very unfair, for example.
Man: Are women better off in other countries then?
Woman: It depends on the country. There's certainly much less discrimination in Scandinavia, and maybe in America, too.
Man: Do you think the position of English women will improve?
Woman: In some ways it will of course. I'm sure more women will go out to work in the next 20 years. But the women have a much greater problem than this to solve.
Man: What's that?
Women: The problem of men's attitudes. We can earn more money in the future, but I'm not sure we can change men' attitudes. You see, most men really think that women are inferior. Maybe we are physically weaker, but I don't think this means we are inferior. Then there's another problem.
Man: Yes?
Women: The problem of women's attitudes. Lots of women are unhappy with their present situation, but most of them probably don't want to fight for change. It could be that the women's liberation movement has to spend more time changing women's attitudes than it spends in changing men's.
Man: One last question, some supporters of the woman's liberation movement believed that marriages should be abolished. You agree?
Women: No, I don't. It can't happen. What may and should happen is that we teach men to spend more time looking after children and doing housework.

9. Where are women said to be less discriminated against?
10. What will happen in England in 20 years according to the conversation?
11. What does the woman think the women's liberation movement should do?

Conversation 2

Man: Cheers, Shirley
Women: Cheers, Paul. What a lovely place for a business lunch. I hope I can concentrate in this heat.
Man: I will sure you will when I tell you about my ideas.
Woman: You know, I must say I was pleased to hear from you, but from what you said on the phone, everything is so sudden.
Man: Well, my father-in-law, who is also the managing director of Jayal Motors, has given me two weeks to prepare a report on the possibility of moving into the export market.
Woman: Ah, now, just one thing Paul. Have you really thought the whole idea through?
Man: Of course I have.
Woman: Now the key thing in the whole operation is to get a good import agent, and you say the bank will help?
Man: I'm almost sure of it.
Woman: Preliminary studies are very good, Paul. But if the product can't sell, then there's little use in expanding the factory.
Man: Yes, I realize that, Shirley. But we have a very good product. The chief designer has just completed a new improved model.
Woman: I know your bikes have a very good reputation here, but you have to build up a reputation and mark it in Africa.
Man: Yes, of course. But the immediate problem is that my father-in-law wants a detailed report by next Monday. Two weeks isn't enough time to prepare a report, so I need your help.
Woman: OK, Paul, you've convinced me. I must say I admire your determination.

12. Where does the conversation most probably take place?
13. What do we learn about the men's father-in-law?
14. What does the woman think is important in the whole operation?
15. What does the woman admire in the man?

　　Passage 1

　　Scientists know how twins were born, now though, they are trying to explain how being half of the biological pair influences a twin’s identity. They want to know why many identical twins make similar choices even when they don’t leave near each other. For example, Jim Springer and Jim Louis are identical twins.　　
　　They were separatedwhen they were only 4 months old. The two Jims grew up in different families and did not meet for 39 years. When they finally met, they discovered some surprising similarities between them. Both men were married twice, their first wives were named Linda, and their second wives were both named Betty. Both twins named their first sons James Allen. Scientists want to know what influences are personality. They study pairs of identical twins who grew up in different surroundings, like Jim Springer and Jim Louis. These twins help scientists understand the connection between environment and biology. Researchers at the University of Minnesota, studies 350 sets of identical twins who did not grow up together. They discovered many similarities in their personalities. 　　
　　Scientists believed that personality characteristics such as friendliness, shyness and fears are not result of environment. These characteristics are probably inherited. Scientists continue to study identical twins because they are uncertain about them and have many questions. For example, they want to know ‘can twins really communicate without speaking’, ‘can one twin really feel another twin’s pain’. Perhaps with more research, scientists will find the answers。

　　16. What are scientists trying to explain according to the passage?

　　17. What do we learn about the twin Jims?

　　18. Why are scientists interested in studying identical twins raised in different families?

　　Passage 2

　　Today I’m going to talk about tents. Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday. And each year, over 3 million people take camping vocations, either here in Britain or aboard, mostly on the continent. Obviously, camping can’t be as comfortable as living in a permanent house, but modern tents can be very comfortable indeed, with windows, bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The most popular tent sold in Britain is the frame tent with 2 bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for 4 people. There is usually an outer tent of water-proofed fabric and a lighter inner tent or tents with a built-in ground sheet. The outer tent fits over the frame work. This is made of metal poles which are fitted together. The inner tent is attached to this frame. Generally, the inner tent is about half the area of the outer tent. The other half of the outer tent is the living area. This doesn’t usually have a ground sheet but you can buy one to fit, though it costs extra. The ordinary 4 bed frame tent doesn’t usually have a separate kitchen area, but the larger ones often do. You can buy a kitchen extension for many tents, and it’s worth buying one if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days.

　　19. What does the speaker say about camping?

　　20. What does the passage tell us about the most popular tent sold in Britain?

　　21. What does the speaker suggest buying if you plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days?

　　Passage 3

　　Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world, is located high in the mountains between France and Spain. The country covers only 179 square miles. 　　
　　That is less than half the size of New York City. High, rocky mountains surround Andorra. Until the 1930s, travelers had difficulty in reaching the country. Up until that time, people in Andorra lived in the way they had lived for centuries. Most Andorrans worked as farmers. Things did not change quickly. When roads were built from France and Spain to Andorra in the 1930s, life picked up speed. Tourist began to visit the small country. These tourists brought in a lot of money to spend while visiting. Many people in Andorra found new jobs in shops or hotels. These changes helped to keep young people in Andorra. There were many more jobs than before the roads were built. Today tourists provided 80 to 90 percent of Andorra’s income. More than a million people visit each year. They come to view the rough mountains. They enjoy the quiet way of life. Most people are also interested in the ancient buildings. There are many shops for tourists to browse in, clothes, watches, wines and other items are sold at low prices in Andorra. Import fees are low, so tourists enjoy the inexpensive shopping. Most of the businesses in Andorra are owned by its citizens. There are not many foreign businesses. Some Andorrans still farm and raise sheep and cattle. But most are now involved with the tourist trade。

　　22. How big does the speaker say Andorra is?

　　23. What can be said about Andorra before the 1930s?

　　24. What event changed the situation in Andorra?

　　25. What do most people do in Andorra do nowadays?

　　Dictation：Compound Dictation

　　Don’t take may English courses, they won’t help you get a decent job. Sign up for management classes, so you will be ready to join the family business when you graduate. Sound familiar? Many of us have heard suggestions like these put forward by parents or others close to us. Such comments often seem quite reasonable. Why then should suggestions like these be taken with caution? The reason is they relate to the decisions you should make. You are the one who must live with their consequences. One of the worst reasons to follow a particular path in life is that other people want you to. Decisions that affect your life should be your decisions. Decisions you make after you’ve considered various alternatives and chosen the path that suits you best. Making your own decisions does not mean that you should ignore the suggestions of others. For instance, your parents do have their own unique experiences that may make their advice helpful and having participated in a great deal of your personal history. They may have a clear view of your strength and weaknesses. Still, their views are not necessarily accurate. They may still see you as a child, and need care and protection. Or they may see only your strength or in some unfortunate cases, they may focus only on your flaws and shortcomings. People will always be giving your advice, ultimately, though you have to make your own judgments.

　　2014年12月英语四级听力答案
　　　　1. 女士问男士最近一次是什么时候为公寓除尘的，应该是嫌男士家里不干净，结果男士的回答却是那得看我妈上次是什么时候来的。言外之意就是其实都是他妈妈帮他搞卫生。对应答案B. He has not cleared the apartment since his mother’s visit.
　　2. 女士在催男士赶快跑，马上公交车来了。男士却说不用跑，下一班2、3分钟之后就到。言外之意是可以赶下一班车。对应答案C. They might as well take the next bus.
　　3. Up to one’s neck就是某人手头要做的事实在太多,多得没法应付。这句没听懂也不影响做题，因为后面男人又问“how come you’ve been so busy?” (你最近怎么会这么忙?)女人回答史密斯夫人请病假了， 所以她要代理一些工作。由此可得知，女人最佳不得不做一些额外的工作。对应答案C. She has to do extra work for a few days.
　　4. 女士说每天在咖啡馆洗盘子很无聊，男士让她和他一起去送花。也就是让她换工作。对应答案A change her job.
　　5. “Oh, no, it must have slipped my mind.”slip one’s mind指的是：忘记了。男人忘记了自己的诺言。对应答案D. He failed to do what he promised to do.
　　6. 男人对女人说，你不喜欢这部电影我一点也不惊讶。我自己也觉得很吓人。 女人说，确实。通常来说她都不喜欢恐怖电影。对应答案B. The woman does not like horror films.
　　本题可能的干扰内容是对as a rule的理解，as a rule 相当于in general: 通常来说。
　　7. 男人说就他个人经验来说爱可以是甜蜜的，但也会带来伤害。女人说着话让她想到一句谚语，蜂蜜虽甜蜜，但是蜜蜂却会扎人。由此可见，他们对爱的看法是一致的。对应答案C. The speakers share a common view on love.
　　8. 男人问女人要为论坛再准备几把椅子，6把还是7把。女人说，把所有能找到的椅子都带上。 由此可见，他们是在为一次论坛的召开做准备工作。对应答案A .Preparations for a forum.

　　长对话
　　Conversation One
　　9. 考查细节。在对话中，女方说“There’s certainly much less discrimination in Scandinavia, and maybe in America, too. ” 虽然Scandinavia这个词考生可能不认识，但根据发音理应能够识别。对应答案B. Scandinavia.
　　10. 考查细节。直接在对话中有所展示，“I’m sure more women will go out to work in the next 20 years.” 对应答案D. More women will work outside the family.
　　11. 考查细节。略有难度，在对话刚刚提到women’s liberation movement并未提到本题的答案，考生若不熟悉“liberation movement”可能会慌，但随后便会听到第三题的答案。对应答案D. Spend more time changing women’s attitudes.
　　Conversation Two
　　12. 推理判断。从开头能听出场景，两人是在用商务午餐。对应答案A. In a restaurant.
　　13. 考查细节。对话中Paul说“my father-in-law, who is also the managing director of Jayal Motors,”故得知。对应答案C. He is the Managing Director of Jayal Motors.
　　14. 考查细节。很明显，key thing也就是important，对话中说“Now the key thing in the whole operation is to get a good import agent,”故得知。对应答案B. To get a good import agent.
　　15. 考查细节。对话最后Shirley说，“I must say I admire your determination.故得知. 对应答案D. His determination.

　　短文理解
　　Passage One
　　16. 本篇文章开头即指出 “they(scientists) are trying to explain how being half of the biological pair influences a twin’s identity.” 由此可知科学家一直试图想要解释双胞胎的身份人格是如何受到影响的。对应答案A. How being an identical twin influences one’s identify.
　　17. 关键词即是Jim 这个名字。关于两个Jim的情况是：他们一直生长在不同家庭，直到39岁才见面。”… grew up in different families and did not meet for 39 years.” 他们都结过两次婚，第二次婚姻中，妻子都叫贝蒂。”Both men were married twice… and their second wives were both named Betty.” 而他们的第一个孩子都是儿子”Both twins named their first sons James Allen.” 对应答案B. They grew up in different surroundings.
　　18. 通过对两个Jim的研究， “These twins help scientists understand the connection between environment and biology.” 对应答案A. They want to find out the relationship between environment and biology.

　　Passage Two
　　19. 文章开头就说到”Camping is still one of the cheapest ways of having a holiday.” 这里的“the cheapest way of having a holiday” 正好就和选项中的“inexpensive way of spending a holiday” 同义互换。对应答案D. It is an inexpensive way of spending a holiday.
　　20. 关键抓“the most popular tent ”。通过这个关键表述，我们可以知道最受欢迎的帐篷有这样的特色：“The most popular tent… is the frame tent with 2 bedrooms and sleeping accommodation for 4 people. There is usually an outer tent… and a lighter inner tent or tents.” 对应答案B. It consists of an inner and an outer tent.
　　21.关键抓“camping in one place;for more than a few days”。文章最后讲到“You can buy a kitchen extension for many tents… plan to stay camping in one place for more than a few days.” 原文重现。如果在同一地点要旅行多日，则需要一个额外的厨房部分。对应答案C. A kitchen extension.

　　Passage Three
　　22. 文章开篇提到”The country covers only 179 square miles.” 对应答案A. It covers 197 square meters.
　　23. 文章接着提到”Until the 1930s, travelers had difficulty in reaching the country.” 对应答案D. It was cut off from the rest of the world.
　　24. 文章接着提到 “When roads were built from France and Spain to Andorra in the 1930s, life picked up speed.” 对应答案C. The building of roads connecting it with neighboring countries.
　　25. 文章结尾提到”But most are now involved with the tourist trade.” 对应答案B. They work in the tourist industry.

　　26. familiar

　　27. put forward

　　28. caution

　　29. live with

　　30. alternatives

　　31. ignore

　　32. participated

　　33. in need of

　　34. focus on

　　35. judgments

　　点评：本文主要表达当你在做决定时，应该如何有选择性的听取他人的意见。整体文章在理解上难度并不大。但在填入单词或词组的过程中需要同学们在拼写，时态与词组的连读上注意。比如alternatives，in need of等。十个空中，四个词组，三个名词，两个动词，一个形容词。词组难度不大，拼写也比较方便。关键还是在于同学们平日的词汇量的积累。