2019年12月英語四級聽力真題原文及答案：短篇新聞

News report 1

1）New York City police captured a cow on the loose in Prospect Park on Tuesday after the animal became an attraction for tourists while walking along the streets and enjoying the park facilities. The confused creature and camera-holding humans stared at each other through a fence for several minutes. At other times the cow wandered around the 526 acre park and the artificial grass field normally used for human sporting events. Officers use soccer goals to fence the animal in. However, the cow then moved through one of the nets knocking down a police officer in the process. Police eventually trapped the cow between two vehicles parked on either side of a baseball field’s bench area. An officer then shot an arrow to put it to sleep. Then officers waited for the drug to take effect. After it fell asleep they loaded the cow into a horse trailer. It was not clear where the cow came from or how it got lost. 2）Police turned it over to the animal control department after they caught it.

一頭奶牛于周二出現(xiàn)在公園里，警察最終抓住了它并將其送還至動物管理局。

Q1: What happened in New York's Prospect Park on Tuesday?

A) Many facilities were destroyed by a wandering cow

B) A wandering cow knocked down one of its fences

C) Some tourists were injured by a wandering cow.

D) A wandering cow was captured by the police.

Q2: What do we learn about the cow from the end of the news report?

A) It was shot to death by a police officer

B) It found its way back to the park's zoo

C) It became a great attraction for tourists

D) It was sent to the animal control department.

News report 2

Starting April 28 of this year, the National Museum of Natural History will begin renovating its fossil hall. The fossil hall, which displays some of the world’s oldest and largest fossil specimens, receives more than 2 million visitors each year. It’s one of the museum’s most famous attractions. 3）As a result, the museum plans to expand the hall, as well as add to its ancient birds collection. Bird lovers, both young and old, have already responded with excitement at the news. The museum’s social media account has been flooded with messages of support. In the meantime, the current collection will be closed. However, visitors will be compensated during the closure. Museum’s special exhibition area will now be free of charge. 4）This week, the resident exhibition is a display of ancient wall paintings on loan from Australia. They celebrate the cultural heritage of the country and will be available to view until Sunday. Next week, the exhibition will be taken over by the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. The winner of this year’s competition will be awarded a preview of the new fossil hall, as well as a cash prize.

4月28日起，自然歷史博物館的化石展廳由于擴建工程將關閉一段時間，本周將免費展出來自澳大利亞的古代壁畫。

Q3. What does the news report say about the fossil hall of the National Museum of Natural History?

A) It is the largest of its kind.

B) It is going to be expanded.

C) It is displaying more fossil specimens.

D) It is starting an online exhibition.

Q4. What is on display this week in the museum’s exhibition hall?

A) A collection of bird fossils from Australia.

B) Photographs of certain rare fossil exhibits.

C) Some ancient wall paintings from Australia.

D) Pictures by winners of a wildlife photo contest.

News report 3

5）Six birds have just been trained to pick up rubbish at a French historical theme park. According to the park’s manager, Mr. Villiers, the goal is not just to clear up the park. He says visitors are already good at keeping things clean. Instead, he wants to show that nature itself can teach us to take care of the environment. 6）He says that rooks, the chosen birds, are considered to be particularly intelligent. In the right circumstances, they even like to communicate with humans and establish a relationship through play. The birds will be encouraged to clean the park through the use of a small box that delivers a small amount of bird food. Each time, the rook deposits a cigarette end or a small piece of rubbish. So far, visitors to the theme park have been excited to see the birds in action. 7) However, some parents are concerned that it encourages their children to drop litter so they can watch the birds to pick it up.  Villiers is not concerned about this criticism. He maintains most of the feedback he has received has been overwhelmingly positive. He hopes now to train more birds.

法國歷史主題公園里被馴化的鳥會撿垃圾，家長們擔心孩子會故意扔垃圾來觀看鳥類撿垃圾。

Q5: What have six birds been trained to do at a French historical theme park?

A) Pick up trash

B) Amuse visitors

C) Deliver messages

D) Play with children

Q6: Why were rooks chosen by the park manager?

A) They are especially intelligent

B) They are children's favorite

C) They are quite easy to tame

D) They clean and pretty

Q7: What is the concern of some parents?

A) Children may be harmed by the rooks

B) Children may be tempted to drop litter.

C) Children may contract bird diseases

D) Children may overfeed the rooks