英语四级听力部分算是同学们考试时的难点，听力不能急于求成，需要耐心练习。因此文都四六级考试网小编整理了英语四级听力VOA练习题，希望大家可以在练习中掌握技巧。

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　　听力材料：

　　South Carolina withdrew from the United States onDecember 20, 1860. South Carolina seceded becausea Republican, Abraham Lincoln, had been electedpresident. Republicans wanted to stop slavery fromspreading.

　　But South Carolina and other southern states saidthey had a right to take property -- which, theybelieved, included slaves-- anywhere.

　　When South Carolina seceded, Abraham Lincoln had not yet taken office. James Buchanan wasstill president. His advisors were deeply divided about what to do.

　　The southern advisors wanted him to recognize South Carolina's independence. They saidthe president should order all federal troops out of the state – especially out of CharlestonHarbor.

　　But northern advisors said the president must not give up any federal property or rights. Theattorney general and the secretary of state even threatened to resign if President Buchananagreed to South Carolina's demands.

　　Buchanan finally agreed with his northern advisors. He said he would defend U.S. governmentproperty against all hostile action.

　　On the last day of 1860, he ordered the army to send federal troops and extra supplies to amilitary base in Charleston Harbor called Fort Sumter.

　　Congress tried to find a compromise that might prevent war. Lawmakers proposed a new lineacross the country. South of the line, slavery would be permitted. North of the line, slaverywould be illegal.

　　Many Republicans supported the proposal. But at least one rejected the idea completely.Abraham Lincoln said there could be no compromise on extending slavery.

　　“If there is,” he said, “then all our hard work is lost. If trouble comes, it is better to let it comenow than at some later time.”

　　The trouble came soon. By February 1, 1861, the southern states of Mississippi, Florida,Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas followed South Carolina out of the Union.

　　Their representatives met in Montgomery, Alabama. They agreed to create a new nation. Itwould be an independent republic called the Confederate States of America.

　　The convention approved a constitution for the new nation. The document was like theConstitution of the United States, but with major changes. The Confederate Constitution gavegreater importance to the rights of states. And it said there could be no laws against slavery.

　　The convention named former United States senator Jefferson Davis to be president of theConfederate States of America.

　　Davis did not want civil war. But he was not afraid of it. He said: “Our separation from the oldUnion is complete. The time for compromise has passed. Should others try to change ourdecision with force, they will smell southern gunpowder and feel the steel of southern swords.”

　　Jefferson Davis left his farm in Mississippi to become president of the Confederate States ofAmerica on February 11.

　　On that same day, Abraham Lincoln left his home in Illinois to become president of the UnitedStates.