2025 年 12 月大学英语四级考试真题（第 3 套）
Part IWriting(30 minutes)
Directions: Suppose your university is organizing a forum on how students can make the best use of on-campus resources for academic development. 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.
You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
Part IIListening Comprehension(25分钟)
Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
1. What do we learn from the news report about the egg price in the U. S.?
A) It has gone up sharply.
B) It has been fluctuating.
C) It has risen because of bird flu.
D) It has been consumers' concern.
2. What does the news report say about most people arriving at American borders with eggs?
A) They don't want to abandon their eggs.
B) They don't know they will be heavily fined.
C) They don't know they are forbidden to bring eggs.
D) They don't declare their eggs during the inspection.
3. What do we learn from the news report about the restaurant Nettie's House?
A) It is no longer critical of younger customers.
B) It has banned kids under 10 from dining there.
C) It is no longer as noisy and crowded as before.
D) It has implemented a decision to expand business.
4. What do supporters say in response to the restaurant's new policy?
A) It is fully aware of frequent customers' feelings.
B) It caters to the tastes of different customers.
C) It is entitled to adopt any rules it wants.
D) It should announce its decisions online.
5. What does the report say security officers were searching for?
A) A missing pet.
B) A grown-up snake.
C) A huge animal skin.
D) A snake specialist.
6. Where does the report say the discovery was made?
A) In a government office.
B) In a deserted house.
C) At a local zoo.
D) At a construction site.
7. What did the government say would be done if security officers found what they were searching for?
A) Figuring out where it came from.
B) Curing it of any possible diseases.
C) Protecting its babies against harm.
D) Determining how to catch it safely.
Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear two passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
8. Why does the woman say she swears it?
A) The man doesn't agree Hannah is poor.
B) The man doesn't believe what she says.
C) The man doesn't think she can be a millionaire.
D) The man doesn't consider her to be trustworthy.
9. What do we learn about Hannah from the conversation?
A) She no longer has any money left.
B) She has been betrayed by her family.
C) She can no longer hold on to her job.
D) She has been robbed of 5 million Euros.
10. What does the man think really matters to people?
A) Fortune.
B) Family.
C) Harmony.
D) Happiness.
11. What does Hannah's husband say he'll do if she sells the new car?
A) Divorce her.
B) Leave home.
C) Buy her a more expensive model.
D) Let the best thing happen to them.
12. What does the man say about Jake?
A) He is not outstanding in Science and Math.
B) He does not have a strong academic record.
C) He is not yet mature enough to live on his own.
D) He does not like Westwood Elementary School.
13. Why does the woman feel uncomfortable about sending Jake to Lakeview school?
A) It is too far away.
B) It is newly opened.
C) It lacks outdoor sports facilities.
D) It has too few first-class teachers.
14. What does the man say about their local school?
A) It has a beautiful campus.
B) It is within walking distance.
C) It has a wonderful arts program.
D) It is helpful to Jake's breathing problems.
15. What does the woman suggest at the end of the conversation?
A) Asking Jake which school he himself prefers to enroll in.
B) Thinking twice about what is best for Jake's education next year.
C) Consulting her mother about which school Jake is to attend.
D) Sending Jake to the school near the biome of the man's mother.
Section C
Directions: In this section you will hear three recordings of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The recordings will be played only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
16. What does the passage say is a major flaw of analytical decision-making?
A) It is time consuming.
B) It is unfit for crucial issues.
C) It relies too much on solid data.
D) It dulls a leader's sense of urgency.
17. What does a leader tend to do when they are committed to analytical decision-making?
A) Depend on digital technology.
B) Make assumptions and guesses.
C) Ignore others' thoughts and ideas.
D) Lay emphasis on thinking flexibly.
18. What is a key strength of analytical decision-making?
A) Maximizing the advantage of available resources.
B) Minimizing the possibility of a wrong decision.
C) Discovering new potential markets.
D) Perfecting promotional strategies.
19. What do we learn about Brañas Morera?
A) She is one of the world's best-known pianists.
B) She celebrated her 110th birthday this April.
C) She moved to the U.S. at a young age.
D) She is the world's oldest individual.
20. What is one of Brañas Morera's secrets to living a long life?
A) Being always active on social media.
B) Doing regular and vigorous exercise.
C) Playing the piano from a young age.
D) Following a specific diet every day.
21. What does Brañas Morera think also contributes to a long life?
A) Eating as little as one can possibly manage.
B) Having the ability to forget things selectively.
C) Figuring out the positive properties of each food item.
D) Knowing how to remember major events in one's life.
22. What is of great importance to students, according to the speaker?
A) The ability to learn.
B) The first day of school.
C) How teachers perceive them.
D) Where they sit in the classroom.
23. What did one study find about students seated in the middle of the classroom?
A) They often received close attention from the instructors.
B) They obtained the highest grade average in their class.
C) They actually wanted a clear vision of the blackboard.
D) They scored higher than students sitting behind them.
24. What can eye contact, visibility, and more interaction probably bring about?
A) A higher grade average among all students of a class.
B) A better connection between instructors and students.
C) A stronger support for a student-centered teaching approach.
D) A more favorable atmosphere for effective classroom learning.
25. What do we learn about extremely shy students sitting in the front row of the classroom? That's the end of Listening Comprehension.
A) They may experience some unwanted stress.
B) They may try hard to show their preparedness.
C) They may receive extra attention from the instructor.
D) They may feel helpless when called on by the instructor.
Part IIIReading Comprehension(40分钟)
Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth's natural resources for future generations. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in the United States and on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox (春分) occurs throughout the ___26___ of the world.
Environmental activism during the 1960s ___27___ Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to create a ___28___ celebration uniting the environmental movement. With the help of Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University, Nelson organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, educating participants in the ___29___ of environmental protection. Attended by 20 million people across the United States, the event ___30___ support for legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.
In 1990, Hayes organized a global Earth Day, with more than 200 million participants in 140 countries. Earth Day now brings ___31___ citizens and activists from around the world to raise awareness and take action regarding such environmental ___32___ as global warming and renewable energy.
Today, the Earth Day Network, which rallies more than 20,000 ___33___ and organizations in 190 countries, supports the Earth Day mission year-round. This mission is founded on the proposition that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or ___34___, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. The Earth Day Network ___35___ this mission through education, public policy, and activism campaigns.
A) concernsB) expansionC) forthD) geographyE) importanceF) imposedG) inspiredH) nationalI) partnersJ) potentialK) pursuesL) rescuesM) restN) strengthenedO) together
Section B
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.
Looking for a job after 45
A) Ageism and long-term unemployment are most damaging for those in the second half of their careers. Changing careers is hard. Getting back into work after you've been laid off is even harder. Those over 45 make up the bulk of the long-term unemployed, in America and elsewhere. Hiring managers admit they are reluctant to hire those over 40 or 45, arguing they probably won't be a good "fit," their experience won't be relevant to the workplace, and they'll be unable or unwilling to learn new skills.
B) But the one thing that can really make a difference? More education and training. These are the results from a new study by Generation, a nonprofit founded by former McKinsey consultants. They've just published a global survey on midcareer employment, based on surveys of over 5,000 workers and managers in seven countries.
C) "Older midcareer workers...make up the bulk of the long-term unemployed in many countries," Generation's analysts write in their report. Those over 45 comprise over 40% of the long-term unemployed, for example. And if you're out of work past the age of 45, there's nearly a two in three chance you'll be out of work for over a year, they find. "Midcareer individuals are finding it harder to get jobs," they write. "People age 45+ face persistent and rising pressure in the global job market. They are unemployed for much longer than the average, and their age is indeed one of the greatest barriers to their finding a job."
D) A substantial part of this, they report, is "widespread ageism" on the part of hiring managers. Although such managers admit that post-45 hires turn out on average to be just as good as or better than younger workers, they still don't want to hire them. "Hiring managers have a strong perception bias against 45+ job candidates — they believe that members of this age group have poor skills and low adaptability," Generation's analysts report.
E) The survey results are remarkable. Hiring managers are three times as likely to rate job applicants age 35-44 as a better "fit" than those over 45. They rate the post-45 job seekers lower on average on all three measures — even experience — than those ages 18 to 34. This is true even though nearly nine managers in 10 also said their post-45 workers were as good as or better than younger employees in the same jobs.
F) Their biggest fears about hiring those over 45? Managers said they worry that older hires will be reluctant to try new technologies, and will be unable to learn new skills. Besides, the majority of hiring managers are under 45 — and seem reluctant to hire people older than themselves.
G) But here's the good news. Older workers who've actively engaged in more education and training relevant to their jobs turn this pretty much on its head. Three-quarters of hiring managers said they'd be more likely to hire an over-45 who had relevant education, training or credentials (文凭). Among those over 45 who'd successfully switched careers, 74% said training helped them get their new job.
H) "Midcareer switchers overwhelmingly say that training enabled them to shift to a new career path," the analysts write. And when they asked over-45 candidates about their attitudes, they found that "those who are excited by training are unemployed for less time, receive more job offers, and are more satisfied by the job offers they receive."
I) Hiring managers said training was three times more likely to get them to hire applicants over age 45 than, say, government subsidies (补贴). What training are we talking about? Obviously it depends on the job. And, yes, managers are most likely to be impressed by industry qualifications you get in school. These things cost money, and time. But these aren't the only things helpful. Those who had successfully changed careers after 45 told Generation that education and training had been a big help — and that included in-person, on-the-job training, "informal learning," and online courses — with or without certification.
J) If they think we're too old to learn new skills after we're 45, just learning some new skills may have an effect on its own. There's a downside to this. The people least interested in retraining are more likely to come from historically disadvantaged communities, more likely to have low incomes, and are more likely to have the least schooling after getting their high-school diploma or earlier. On average, post-45 job switchers with higher incomes participate in 2.5 training programs each. Those with lower incomes: 0.9 programs on average.
K) Many years ago, I wrote about a study which found that employers are much more likely to hire a college graduate who has some work experience in the industry than a college graduate who took the "right" degree. A bank is more likely to hire a literature graduate who spent their summers working in their local bank than a finance or economics graduate who spent their summers surfing or traveling around Italy. They've learned through long experience. The person who worked in the bank is more likely ready, willing and able to be part of the team and do the job from day 1.
L) We can rail against "ageism" all we like. It gets us nowhere. And it's easy to forget that employers, like everyone else, are under time pressure and are just trying to solve problems. Any and all "training," including inexpensive and informal training, is going to help resolve their worries about hiring someone over 45. And it has never been easier or cheaper to gain instruction in new skills, thanks to the internet. Online schools like Udemy and Lynda.com offer sweet deals at signup. And courses on YouTube are free.
M) Bottom line? Yes, it really can be difficult getting a new job after age 45, let alone changing careers. One of the best things we can do to help ourselves is to go online and learn new, relevant skills. Sadly, the people who most need the help are least likely to take it — which raises a challenge for society as a whole. Not only do we not want to see lives go to waste, but we all benefit if more people are working and fewer are unemployed.
36. Hiring managers believe unemployed workers over 45 lack good skills and are less adaptable. ______
37. Switching to a new career is difficult and getting reemployed after a layoff is even tougher. ______
38. People from poor neighborhoods tend to have the least interest in retraining. ______
39. Hiring managers who are not yet 45 years old seem unwilling to hire people their senior. ______
40. Some analysts find age 45+ jobless workers are most likely to be unemployed for more than a year. ______
41. People who had succeeded in career change after 45 told a nonprofit organization they owed a great deal to the education and training they had received. ______
42. Older workers who actively pursue more education and training have a good chance of being hired. ______
43. A new study finds that more education and training helps midcareer individuals find a new job. ______
44. Owing to the internet, it is now more convenient than ever to receive training in new skills. ______
45. People over 45 stimulated by training suffer shorter periods of unemployment, get more job offers and have greater satisfaction in them. ______
Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C), and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage 1
New York's Eleven Madison Park became the first vegan restaurant to receive three Michelin stars, the highest rating a restaurant can achieve. The award, in the 2024 Michelin guide, was a major milestone for plant-based dining.
Eleven Madison Park was founded in 1998 and became one of the world's most celebrated restaurants, earning three Michelin stars in 2017 for its lavish tasting menus featuring high-end ingredients like lobster and duck. In 2021, chef Daniel Humm made the dramatic decision to remove all animal products from the menu, a move that shocked the fine dining world.
Humm said he wanted to help build a more sustainable food system. He believed the current food system, with its heavy reliance on animal agriculture, was not sustainable. "We knew this was going to be the hardest thing we've ever done," Humm said. "But even if we fail, it was worth trying."
The restaurant lost its three-star rating following the switch to a fully plant-based menu. Michelin's 2022 New York guide awarded Eleven Madison Park only one star but praised the restaurant's "bold and forward-thinking vision" for the future of fine dining.
However, the restaurant persisted, and the gamble paid off. In 2024, Michelin restored all three stars, making Eleven Madison Park the first vegan restaurant in the world to achieve this distinction. Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guides, said the award was "a recognition of the increasing importance of plant-based cuisine in the fine dining world."
46. What do we learn about New York's Eleven Madison Park?
A) It is the first vegan restaurant to receive the highest Michelin rating.
B) It is the first restaurant in the city to remove meat from its menu.
C) It was famed throughout the U.S. for its fancy regional dishes.
D) It was established as a three-star Michelin restaurant in 2011.
47. Why did Daniel Humm decide to remove meat from the menu of his restaurant?
A) To encourage more customers to be vegan.
B) To contribute to a sustainable food system.
C) To show the appeal of a plant-based menu.
D) To strive for the three-star Michelin rating.
48. What did Daniel Humm think of his move to a meat-free menu?
A) It was a worthwhile effort even though he was unsure of its success.
B) It would set a model for many more restaurants to follow.
C) It was a mad gamble few chefs in the fine dining world would risk taking.
D) It would prove a right step to take in today's catering business.
49. What does Michelin's 2022 New York guide say about Eleven Madison Park's decision?
A) It elevates the restaurant's cooking to an art form.
B) It proves the validity of ratings awarded by Michelin.
C) It shows a daring foresight regarding future fine dining.
D) It is an effort to transform the restaurant into a luxury one.
50. What does the awarding of three Michelin stars to Eleven Madison Park indicate?
A) An optimistic vision of vegan foods becoming mainstream.
B) A greater responsibility for the culinary world to undertake.
C) A strong incentive for more restaurants to offer healthier foods to their customers.
D) An explicit recognition of the rising importance of restaurants serving vegan food.
Passage 2
Genetic tests are being used for a growing number of purposes, from diagnosing diseases to finding out about our ancestors. But how accurate are these tests? And what does accuracy even mean in this context? There are important things to understand about genetic testing accuracy.
The accuracy of a genetic test depends on the specific question being asked and how complex the genetics behind a trait are. For relatively simple genetic conditions where a single gene is responsible, tests tend to be quite reliable. For example, tests for conditions like cystic fibrosis (囊性纤维化) or sickle cell disease (镰状细胞病) are generally very accurate because we understand the genetic basis of these diseases well.
However, for most common diseases, the picture is more complicated. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and most cancers are influenced by hundreds of genes, each contributing a small amount of risk. They are also affected by environmental factors and lifestyle choices. For these multi-factorial conditions, genetic health tests can only identify a fraction of the potential disease risk on their own.
What makes genetic tests for multi-factorial traits particularly tricky to interpret is the interaction between genes. Even if we know that hundreds of genes are involved in a trait, predicting how those genes will interact with each other is extremely difficult. The combined effect of multiple genes is not simply the sum of their individual effects.
Some companies also offer DNA tests that claim to predict personality traits, athletic ability, or even help you find a romantic partner. At present, using DNA to predict such complex traits does not have a solid scientific basis. The genetics behind personality and talents involve thousands of genes and complex environmental interactions, making any predictions essentially meaningless with current technology.
51. What does the passage say is of importance regarding genetic tests?
A) Knowing their accuracy.
B) Evaluating their applicability.
C) Utilizing the information they provide.
D) Weighing the consequences they have.
52. What kind of genetic tests tend to be comparatively reliable?
A) Those complex enough to reveal the genetics behind a trait.
B) Those looking for traits responsible for certain diseases.
C) Those focusing on the specific questions being asked.
D) Those looking for traits determined by a single gene.
53. What do we learn about genetic health tests from the passage?
A) They are unable to identify certain hereditary diseases by themselves.
B) They are generally unable to separate genetic and non-genetic factors.
C) They cannot independently identify the majority of potential diseases.
D) They cannot tell apart the impact of lifestyle and that of the environment.
54. What makes genetic tests for multi-factorial traits tricky to interpret?
A) The challenge in determining the role of each individual gene.
B) The difficulty of foretelling how the various genes will interact.
C) The difficulty of telling genetic factors from environmental ones.
D) The enormous work to identify the hundreds of genes involved.
55. What does the passage say about DNA tests to predict personality or talents?
A) They are solid scientific bases for application.
B) They are helpful in finding a romantic match.
C) They do not look promising at the moment.
D) They do not make any sense at present.
Part IVTranslation(30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
中国政府十分重视绿色经济的发展。通过加强森林资源保护、加大污染治理力度等一系列措施，许多地区的生态环境得到了显著改善。绿水青山(lucid waters and lush mountains)促进了当地的旅游、健康等产业的发展，创造了可观的经济效益。如今，生态环境与人类社会和谐共存的观念在中国已深入人心。绿色经济的推进不仅能为中国可持续发展做出贡献，也为全球环境保护提供了宝贵经验。