2012年12月英语四级真题及答案（三）

Doctoraldegree1,5501,2721,038712626444Master’sdegreeBachelor’sdegreeSomecollege,nodegreeHighschooldiplomaLessthanhighschooldegree2012年12月大学英语四级真题(3)PartⅠWriting(30minutes)注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上，请在答题卡1上作答。Direction:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteacompositionentitledEducationPaysbasedonthestatisticsprovidedinthechartbelow(Weeklyearningsof2010).Pleasewriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.Education:AWorthyInvestmentWeeklyearningsin2010($)Source:U.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsEducationPaysPartⅡReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswersheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.SufferinginsilenceDespitealawdesignedtoprotectthem,manypeoplewithdisablingconditionsareunawareoftheirrights.CaroleConcha-Belltellsofherexperiences.Beingdiagnosedwithadisablingconditionisalwaysashock.Learningtolivewithouttheguaranteeofhealthislikehavingtounlearnapreviouslife.Theimplicationsforyourworkinglifemayseemintimidating.ThereisthedisabilityDiscriminationAct(DDA),ofcourse.Butdoesitreallyprovidetheprotectionintheworkplacethatparliamentintended?AreemployersmerelypayinglipservicetotheDDA?Oraretheyevenawareofanemployer’slegaldutiesandresponsibilities?Inmyexperience,itisthelatter.IhavereceivedlittlesupportfromemployerstowhomIhaverevealedmycondition.ThishasoftenleftmefeelingatadisadvantageandwonderingwhyIbothereddoingsointhefirstplace.IhadbeenstrugglingwithillnesslongbeforeIwasdiagnosed.Inpracticaltermsthediagnosisdidlittletoaidme.Ofcourse,itenabledmetounderstandmybody,mylimitationsandsetmeonacoursetostabilizemysymptoms.Butitbroughtanewdilemma.WhereIhadpreviouslystruggledtoworkwhileill,ignorantofwhymybodywasmisbehaving,Inowhadanameformydailystruggle:Lupus(狼疮).Thisisachronic(慢性的),auto-immunedisorderthatcanaffectvirtuallyanysysteminthebody.Italsoleavesahuge,darkquestionhangingovermyheadwhenseekingemployment:shouldItellmyemployersIhaveacondition?ItisadilemmathatcontinuestobearootcauseofanxietybothformyselfandforthousandsofotherUKemployees.TherockyroadtomyunfortunateenlightenmentaboutworkanddisabilitybeganjustaftergraduationwhenI’dsetmysightsonacareerincommunicationsandlandedmydreamjobwitharespectedpublicrelationsconsultancy(咨询公司)inBristol.ButwhileIwaslearningtheartofmediarelations,mybodywasn’tquitemakingitinhealthterms.Ioftenwenttoworkwithswollenlimbsandfevers.Atmyfirstandlastperformancereview,mybosswasamazedthat,despitemymanycapabilities,Ihadn’tquitetakencontrolofmyresponsibilities.Afewmonthslater,mycontractwasn’trenewedandIplungedfurtherintonewdepthsofillhealth.However,Iwasdeterminednottobebeatenandreturnedtotheinterviewtrail.Mynextjobwasinpublishing.Butdespiteashiningperformanceattheinterview,Ifeltlikeafraud.HowlongwoulditbebeforeIsankintoillhealthanddepressionagain?ThejobwastoendwithamonumentalbangwhenIbecamesopoorlyIcouldnolongerfunction.Afewfeverishweeksinbedendedinaspecialistappointment,whereIwasdiagnosedwithLupusandrushedintohospitalforfearthatitmayhaveattackedmyinternalorgans.Thenext12monthswerefilledwithconfusion.Ihadnoideaaboutbenefits,feltalienated(被视为另类)bythemedicalestablishmentandlivedoffmysavingsuntilIwasbroke.IrealizedIneededhelpfrommyfamilyandmovedtoLondon.AssoonasIfeltbetter,Imarchedintoamarketingrecruitmentconsultancyand,within10minutes,Ihadimpressedtheinterviewerenoughtobeofferedajobwiththeagency.WeagreedonadecentsalaryandItoldhimhadarthritis(关节炎)andwouldneedtoworkafour-dayweek.Thingswentwellatthestartbutsoontheclientmeetingsbegantofallonmydayoff,andIrarelylefttheofficeontime.Ibegantoslipbothinhealthandprofessionalterms.The10-hourdayscrashedaroundmyhead;noamountofmake-upcoulddisguisemyillhealthasIbattledagainsttheoddstoprovetomyselfthatIcoldstillmakeitinthebusinessworld.Ioftencriedonthebusonthewaybackfromwork.Notlongbeforemycontractwasduetobemadepermanent,Iwascalledtotheboss’sofficeandgiventhe“talk”abuthowmyperformancewasslipping,howawfulIlooked.Ifelttooweaktofightbackandagreedtoleave.Noattemptstoofferadjustmentstomyjob,suchasbeingabletoworkfromhome,wereevermade.IhadacaseforunfairdismissalundertheDDA,butwasignorantofthisatthetime.Anestimated10millionpeopleinUK,or17%ofthepopulation,qualifyfordisabilitystatusundertheDDA.Ihaveencounteredanumberofthem:theliver-diseasedboss;theco-workerwithaheartcondition;andmyasthmatic(哮喘的)trainee-teacherfriend.Nonehaddisclosed(透露)theirconditionstoemployers,andallwerefeelingthestrainofnotdoingso.ToaccessyourrightsundertheDDAandtorequest“reasonableadjustments”toyourworkingconditionsoryourworkplacerequiresdisclosure.Ihadwarnedmyformeremployeraboutmyconditionbutitservedlittlepurpose.Theywereignorantabouttheirobligationstotheirdisabledstaff.However,thereareplentyofforward-thinkingorganizationsthathaveinclusiverecruitmentpolicies;aremorelikelytoemployaworkerwithadisability;andaremoreawareoftheirlegalduties.Thepublicsectorout-performstheprivate,butnotalwaysthevoluntary,accordingtostudie