大学英语四六级考试终于迈出了改革的步伐。自2013年12月考试起，全国大学英语四、六级考试委员会将对英语四级、六级考试的试卷结构和测试题型作局部调整。调整后，英语四级和英语六级的试卷结构和测试题型相同。
英语四级，即CET-4，CollegeEnglishTestBand4的缩写。是由国家教育部高等教育司主持的全国性教学考试；考试的主要对象是根据教育大纲修完大学英语四级的大学本科生或研究生。大学英语四、六级标准化考试自1986年末开始筹备，1987年正式实施。目的是推动大学英语教学大纲的贯彻执行，对大学生的英语能力进行客观、准确的测量，为提高我国大学英语课程的教学质服务。
2005年，教育部宣布全面改革英语四六级考试积分体制、成绩报导方式和考试内容：自2005年6月考试（试点）起，采用满分710分的计分体制，不设及格线；考试合格证书改为成绩报告单，凡考试成绩在425分以上的考生，由国家教育部高教司委托"全国大学英语四六级考试委员会"发放成绩单；在考试内容和形式上，加大听力理解部分的题量和比例，增加快速阅读理解测试，增加非选择性试题的比例。
1月份，全国180所使用新教材的大学将试点全新四级考试，6月份开始以同等方式试行新的六级考试。
教育部规定，从2007年1月起，大学英语四六级考试只接受在校生报名。1月份全面实施改革后的四级考试，6月份全面实施改革后的六级考试。第一部分听力理解占35%，第二部分阅读理解占35%，第三部分综合测试占15%，第四部分写作占15%。
自2012年下半年起，教育部考试中心对英语四六级考试全面实施"多题多卷"的考试形式，跟以往采用一套试题，仅通过题目顺序变化实现"多卷"不同，此次改革推行同一考场内使用多套试卷进行考试，且每一套试卷的题目内容都不一样。
来自全国大学英语四六级考试网站的消息，今年12月起，四六级英语考试题型将发生变化：1.听写变成全部考查单词短语；2.快速阅读变成段落信息匹配题；3.翻译扩充至150～200字的整段中译英；4.不再考查完形填空。
SectionC
Americanstodayhavedifferenteatinghabitsthantheyhadinthepast.Thereisawide(36)______offoodavailable.Theyhaveabroader(37)______ofnutrition(营养),sotheybuymorefreshfruitand(38)_______thaneverbefore.Atthesametime,Americans(39)______increasingquantitiesofsweetsandsodas.Statisticsshowthatthewaypeoplelive(40)______thewaytheyeat.Americanlifestyleshavechanged.Therearenowgrowingnumbersofpeoplewholivealone,(41)______parentsandchildren,anddouble-incomefamilies.Thesechanginglifestylesare(42)______fortheincreasingnumberofpeoplewhomust(43)______mealsorsometimessimplygowithoutthem.ManyAmericanshavelesstimethaneverbeforetospendpreparingfood.(44)______________Moreover,Americanseatoutnearlyfourtimesaweekonaverage.Itiseasytostudytheamountsandkindsoffoodthatpeopleconsume.(45)_____________Thisinformationnotonlytellsuswhatpeopleareeating,butalsotellsusaboutthechangesinattitudesandtastes.(46)__Instead,chicken,turkeyandfishhavebecomemorepopular.Salesofthesefoodshavegreatlyincreasedinrecentyears.
从样卷看，10个答案中，共短语占2~3个。单词拼写难度两张试卷难度依然比较模糊，例如四级可以考到appropriately这样的难词，而六级也可以考出romantic这种四级在1998年就考过的词汇。几乎所有人都认为，取消句子听写会使得听写难度减弱，恰恰相反，这只会使考生的偶然得分率提高，而考生长期忽视听写和拼写的事实会导致必然失分率的增加。因为在过去的句子听写中，整句2%的分值可以至少保证考生写出句子中部分较为简单的单词继而得分，而新试卷中，一词(或一个短语)占1%的设计，会让得分和失分出现在转瞬之间。
你不妨做个测试，先看看以下几个中文词组，看能写出几个然后看下拉看答案。
易受伤害的;聪明的;抽象的;把事情搞清楚;
答案：
Vulnerableintelligentabstractfiguringthingsout
PartIIReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)
Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.
TheMagician
TherevolutionthatSteveJobsledisonlyjustbeginning
Whenitcametoputtingonashow,nobodyelseinthecomputerindustry,oranyotherindustryforthatmatter,couldmatchSteveJobs.Hisproductlaunches,atwhichhewouldstandaloneonablackstageandproduceasifbymagican"incredible"newelectronicgadget(小器具)infrontofanamazedcrowd,weretheperformancesofamastershowman.Allcomputersdoisfetchandworkwithnumbers,heonceexplained,butdoitfastenoughand"theresultsappeartobemagic".MrJobs,whodiedrecentlyaged56,spenthislifepackagingthatmagicintoelegantlydesigned,easy-to-useproducts.
Thereactiontohisdeath,withpeopleleavingcandlesandflowersoutsideApplestoresandpoliticianssingingpraisesontheinternet,isproofthatMrJobshadbecomesomethingmuchmoresignificantthanjustaclevermoney-maker.Hestoodoutinthreeways-asatechnologist,asacorporate(公司的)leaderandassomebodywhowasabletomakepeoplelovewhathadpreviouslybeenimpersonal,functionalgadgets.Strangely,itisthislastqualitythatmayhavethedeepesteffectonthewaypeoplelive.Theeraofpersonaltechnologyisinmanywaysjustbeginning.
Asatechnologist,MrJobswasdifferentbecausehewasnotanengineer-andthatwashisgreatstrength.Insteadhewaskeenlyinterestedinproductdesignandaesthetics(美学),andinmakingadvancedtechnologysimpletouse.Herepeatedlytookanexistingbuthalf-formedidea-themouse-drivencomputer,thedigitalmusicplayer,thesmartphone,thetabletcomputer(平板电脑)-andshowedtherestoftheindustryhowtodoitproperly.Rivalfirmscompetedwitheachothertofollowwhereheled.Intheprocesshebroughtaboutgreatchangesincomputing,music,telecomsandthenewsbusinessthatwerepainfulforexistingfirmsbutwelcomedbymillionsofconsumers.
Withinthewiderbusinessworld,amanwholikedtoseehimselfasahippy(嬉皮士),permanentlyinrevoltagainstbigcompanies,endedupbeinghailedbymanyofthosecorporategiantsasoneofthegreatestchiefexecutivesofhistime.Thatwaspartlyduetohistalents:showmanship,strategicvision,anastonishingattentiontodetailandadictatorialmanagementstylewhichmanybossesmusthaveenvied.Butmostofallitwastheextraordinarytrajectory(轨迹)ofhislife.Hisfallfromgraceinthe1980s,followedbyhisreturntoApplein1996afteraperiodinthewilderness,isaninspirationtoanybusinesspersonwhosecareerhastakenaturnfortheworse.ThewayinwhichMrJobsrevivedthefailingcompanyhehadco-foundedandturneditintotheworld'sbiggesttechfirm(biggereventhanBillGates'sMicrosoft,thecompanythathadoutsmartedApplesodramaticallyinthe1980s),soundslikesomethingfromaHollywoodmovie.
ButwhatwasperhapsmostastonishingaboutMrJobswastheabsoluteloyaltyhemanagedtoinspireincustomers.ManyAppleusersfeelthemselvestobepartofacommunity,withMrJobsasitsleader.Andtherewasindeedapersonallink.Apple'sproductsweredesignedtoaccordwiththeboss'stastesandtomeethisextremelyhighstandards.EveryiPhoneorMacBookhashisfingerprintsalloverit.Hisgreatachievementwastocombineanemotionalsparkwithcomputertechnology,andmaketheresultingproductfeelpersonal.AndthatiswhatputMrJobsontherightsideofhistory,astechnologicalinnovation(创新)hasmovedintoconsumerelectronicsoverthepastdecade.
Asourspecialreportinthisissue(printedbeforeMrJobs'sdeath)explains,innovationusedtospilloverfrommilitaryandcorporatelaboratoriestotheconsumermarket,butlatelythisprocesshasgoneintoreverse.Manypeople'shomesnowhavemorepowerful,andmoreflexible,devicesthantheirofficesdo;consumergadgetsandonlineservicesaresmarterandeasiertousethanmostcompanies'systems.Familiarconsumerproductsarebeingadoptedbybusinesses,governmentandthearmedforces.Companiesareemployingin-houseversionsofFacebookandcreatingtheirown"appstores"todeliversoftwaretoemployees.Doctorsusetabletcomputersfortheirworkinhospitals.Meanwhile,thenumberofconsumershungryforsuchgadgetscontinuestoswell.Apple'sproductsarenowbeingsnappedupinDelhiandDalianjustasinDublinandDallas.
MrJobshadareputationasacontrolfreak(怪人),andhiscriticscomplainedthattheproductsandsystemshedesignedwereclosedandinflexible,inthenameofgreatereaseofuse.Yethealsoempoweredmillionsofpeoplebygivingthemaccesstocutting-edgetechnology.Hisinsistenceonputtingusersfirst,andfocusingoneleganceandsimplicity,hasbecomedeep-rootedinhisowncompany,andisspreadingtorivalfirmstoo.ItisnolongerjustatApplethatdesignersask:"WhatwouldSteveJobsdo"
ThegapbetweenAppleandothertechfirmsisnowlikelytonarrow.Thisweek'sannouncementofanewiPhonebyamanagementteamledbyTimCook,whoreplacedMrJobsaschiefexecutiveinAugust,wasgenerallyregardedascompetentbutuninspiring.WithoutMrJobstoshowerhisstardustontheevent,itfeltlikejustanotherproductlaunchfromjustanothertechnologyfirm.AttherecentunveilingofatabletcomputerbyJeffBezosofAmazon,whosecompanyisdoingthebestjoboffollowingApple'sleadincombininghardware,software,contentandservicesinaneasy-to-usebundle,therewereseveralattacksatApple.ButbydoinghisbesttoimitateMrJobs,MrBezosalsoflattered(抬举)him.WithMrJobsgone,Appleisjustoneofmanytechnologyfirmstryingtoarousehisuncontrollablespiritinnewproducts.
MrJobswassaidbyanengineerintheearlyyearsofAppletoemita"realitydistortion(扭曲)field",suchwerehispowersofpersuasion.Butintheendhecreatedarealityofhisown,channelingthemagicofcomputingintoproductsthatreshapedentireindustries.Themanwhosaidinhisyouththathewantedto"putadingintheuniverse"didjustthat.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
1.WelearnfromthefirstparagraphthatnobodycouldmatchSteveJobsin.
A)intelligenceC)magicpower
B)showmanshipD)persuasionskills
2.WhatdidSteveJobsdothatmostdeeplyaffectedpeople'swayoflife
A)Heinventedlotsoffunctionalgadgets.
B)Hekeptimprovingcomputertechnology.
C)Hestartedtheeraofpersonaltechnology.
D)Heestablishedanewstyleofleadership.
3.WheredidMrJobs'sgreatstrengthlie
A)Hisprofoundinsightaboutconsumers'needsingeneral.
B)Hiskeeninterestindesigningelegantanduser-friendlygadgets.
C)Hisfirmdeterminationtowininthecompetitionagainsthisrivals.
D)Hisrichknowledgeasacomputerscientistandelectronicengineer.4.ManycorporategiantssawSteveJobsas.
A)oneofthegreatestchiefexecutivesofhistime
B)adictatorinthecontemporarybusinessworld
C)anunbeatablerivalinthecomputerindustry
D)themostadmirablehippyintoday'sworld
5.Forthosewhohavesufferedfailuresinbusiness,SteveJobs'slifeexperienceservesas.
A)asymbolC)anideal
B)astandardD)aninspiration
6.WhatwasthemostastonishingpartofMrJobs'ssuccess
A)Heturnedafailingcompanyintoaprofitablebusiness.
B)Hesetuppersonallinkswithmanyofhiscustomers.
C)HecommandedabsoluteloyaltyfromAppleusers.
D)HelefthisfingerprintsalloverAppleproducts.
7.Whatismentionedinthisissue'sspecialreportaboutinnovationnowadays
A)Itbenefitsciviliansmorethanthemilitary.
B)Newproductsarefirstusedinthemilitary.
C)Manynewideasfirstappearontheinternet.
D)Itoriginatesintheconsumermarket.
8.Inspiteoftheuser-friendlinessofAppleproducts,criticscomplainedthattheywere.
9.Amazon,byhavinghardware,software,contentandservicesinaneasy-to-usebundle,didthebestjobinfollowingApple'slead.
10.Bychannellingthemagicofcomputingintoproducts,SteveJobshadsucceededin.
四级本题共计9段，对应10题，这意味着必有一段对应两题;
六级本题共计15段，对应10题，这意味着必有5题是纯干扰段。
PartVITranslation(5minutes)
注意：此部分题请在答题卡2上作答，只需写出疑问部分。
87.IfinallygotthejobIdreamedabout.Neverbeforeinmylife___________(我感到如此激动)!
88.YesterdayJaneleftthemeetingearly.Otherwise,she____________________(可能会说一些后来会懊悔的话).
89.Withthenoisegoingonoutsidetheclassroom,Ihadgreatdifficulty________(集中注意力复习功课).
90.ThisisthefirsttimeI_______________________(听到他们用法语交流).
91.Alltheinformationyouneedtoapplyforyourvisais___________________(可以免费获取).
这是这次改革最难的一种题目。可以确定，如果不降低评分标准，这个项目将成为全国考生丢分的黑洞。
我们来看看样卷中的原文节选：
四级：人们常用剪纸美化居家环境。特别是在春节和婚庆期间，剪纸被用来装饰门窗和房间，以增加喜庆的气氛。
六级：各地欢度春节的习俗和传统有很大差异，但通常每个家庭都会在除夕夜团聚，一起吃年夜饭。为驱厄运、迎好运，家家户户都会进行大扫除。
从题目看，翻译难度确实和考研翻译及专八翻译不是一个量级。但是对基本从来不联系翻译的考生来说，词汇和短语其实只是第一道障碍，例如："喜庆的气氛""进行大扫除"，更多的障碍在于：遣词造句。以"增加喜庆的气氛"为例，"增加"一词，考生基本反应都是increase,而标准答案是：Toenhancethejoyousatmosphere.