2012年12月四六级备考快速阅读训练实战演练

Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) Why Integrity Matters What is Integrity? "Integrity" is defined as "adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty." The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation. What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals. Risky Business We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future. Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense. "But Everybody Does It" Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they’re taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions. To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself. Evaluating Risks To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits ("what's in it for me"), and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; Suspension or Dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category. Getting Away With It--Or Not Those who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works. Cheating Hurts Others, Too Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have aprofound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat, I can't compete with those who do.") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree. Why Integrity Matters If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education. In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.　1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______. A) sticks to them in their daily life B) makes them known to others C) understands their true values D)sees that others also follow them 2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships? A) It helps to create team spirit B) It facilitates communication C) It is the basis of mutual trust D) It inspires mutual respect 3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take? A. To ensure we make responsible choices. B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress. C. so that we don’t break any rules. D. so that we don’t run into trouble. 4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______? A. it has caused no harm. B. it is claimed to be unintentional. C. it has gone unnoticed. D. it is committed with good intentions. 5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself? A. Avoid making excuses. B. Listen to other people’s advice. C. Make his intensions public. D. Have others watch over his shoulder. 6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______. A. will often become more cautious B. are usually very aggressive C. value immediate benefits most. D. may lose everything in the end 7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______. A) pay more dearly B) become more confident C) be widely admired D) feel somewhat lucky 8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to _______ 9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s _______ 10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of _______.。

2012下半年英语四级快速阅读真题(网友版本)笔者为大家整理了2012下半年英语四级快速阅读真题,仅供参考！！1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______.A) sticks to them in their daily lifeB) makes them known to othersC) understands their true valuesD)sees that others also follow them2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships?A) It helps to create team spiritB) It facilitates communicationC) It is the basis of mutual trustD) It inspires mutual respect3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take?A. To ensure we make responsible choices.B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress.C. so that we don’t break any rules.D. so that we don’t run into trouble.4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______?A. it has caused no harm.B. it is claimed to be unintentional.C. it has gone unnoticed.D. it is committed with good intentions.5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself?A. Avoid making excuses.B. Listen to other people’s advice.C. Make his intensions public.D. Have others watch over his shoulder.6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______.A. will often become more cautiousB. are usually very aggressiveC. value immediate benefits most.D. may lose everything in the end7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______.A) pay more dearlyB) become more confidentC) be widely admiredD) feel somewhat lucky8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to _______9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s _______10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of _______.。

快速阅读：1.we do not know what....2.all your love....3.Giving someone....4.assurance that....5.missing until....6.expect love in return....7.lifetime to forget....8.appearance9.because you have10.enough sorrow to11.always put....12.Happiess...13.seem bright...14.It probably...15.The brightest......16.Everyone smiling ......17.You are the one ......18.Who have ......19.searched...20.Do not expect....21.There are moments ....22.In the center ...23.Youth means ...24.An individual ...25.Worry....26. Gradually ...27.Years may wrinkle ...28. We grow ...29.we had...30.foolishness...31. Heaven ...32.Slowly welling ...33.The mast ...34.Where IS that...35. Tell him to ...36. herrings37.gleaning38.kitchen with39.unprotected40. pale--greys41.watch chain42.exhibiting43.nervously44-46 没有答案选词填空：47.vigorously48.gentleman49.passion50.spade51.between52. breaking53.solitary54.sparsely55.extraordinary56.stretched仔细阅读：57. the …deliberately58. gracefully …59. but …settled60.sobbing…61.perhaps…62.Why…down63.would…in lodgings64.the…greenhouses65.they…displayed66.she took…完形填空：67.they got68.expecting69.Flanders70.respects71.exclaimed72.striking73.her brown74.persistently75.hurricane76.Now77.rushing78.but the small79.looking80.though81.rather82.trying83.major84.and乐乐工作室(99238566) 8:41:27 快速阅读：1.we do not know what....2.all your love....3.Giving someone....4.assurance that....5.missing until....6.expect love in return....7.lifetime to forget....8.appearance9.because you have10.enough sorrow to11.always put....12.Happiess...13.seem bright...14.It probably...15.The brightest......16.Everyone smiling ......17.You are the one ......18.Who have ......19.searched...20.Do not expect....21.There are moments ....22.In the center ...23.Youth means ...24.An individual ...25.Worry....26. Gradually ...27.Years may wrinkle ...28. We grow ...29.we had...30.foolishness...31. Heaven ...32.Slowly welling ...33.The mast ...34.Where IS that...35. Tell him to ...36. herrings37.gleaning38.kitchen with39.unprotected40. pale--greys41.watch chain42.exhibiting43.nervously44-46 没有答案选词填空：47.vigorously48.gentleman49.passion50.spade51.between52. breaking53.solitary54.sparsely55.extraordinary56.stretched仔细阅读：57. the …deliberately58. gracefully …59. but …s ettled60.sobbing…61.perhaps…62.Why…down63.would…in lodgings64.the…greenhouses65.they…displayed66.she took…完形填空：67.they got68.expecting69.Flanders70.respects71.exclaimed72.striking73.her brown74.persistently75.hurricane76.Now77.rushing78.but the small79.looking80.though81.rather82.trying83.major84.and乐乐工作室(99238566) 8:42:40考前仅供参考的乐乐工作室(99238566) 8:45:582012 12 22 四级考前快速阅读1. A.soil erosion, landslides and floods.2. C . The protection of habitat and prevent the loss of species.3. Rainforest trees closely rely on what? D plant and anima l.4. B. Because they can help prevent soil erosion.5. C.Because of human destruction of virgin forest.6. C the conservation of migratory species of rainforest.7. A increase species diversity.8. Rainforest deforestation increases the likelihood of soil erosion, landslides and floods9. Some reforestation efforts focused on the development of forest soon because the forest is key to many of the plane t's natural cycle, such as carbon and water cycles.10. installation of artificial bat roosts in defore sted are as can encourage these unique flight-enabled mammals (such as glasses flying fox ) seed dispersal and forest regeneration.选词填空47-56 nightmare hid native regained prominent acquired cou ntless effective consistently acceptance深度阅读57-61 Because they have many things to do.many women began to work full-time jobs the attraction of the televisionthe development of the superhighwaysthe changes of Americans’e ating customs 62-66 the development of a more sensational styleTo entertain people.companiesThey become famous newspaper in the United States of America history of American media sensationalism完形填空Cloze 67-86 suppose Beforetendencysearches accuratelycirculatingoutbreakstracktoinvolvedpatter nsinformativeout releaseautomaticallyavailableprivateconfidentiabeca useoccur翻译87-91（翻译不要全抄，避免被查出雷同试卷）edify sentiment(陶冶情操88.life's like a bar of chocolate(生活就像一块巧克力)89.to experience life (体验生活)90by all sectors of the warm welcome(受到各界人士的热烈欢迎)91.the air pollution is serious请参考以考中为主作文大家写第四套的4套：Education Pays（作文）Education Pays, published every three years, presents detailed evidence of the private and public benefits of higher educ ation. It also sheds light on the distribution of these ben efits by examining both the increases and the persistent dis parities in college participation and completion. In the thre e years between the publication of Education Pays 2007 and Education Pays 2010, median earnings for four-year college gr aduates increased more rapidly than those of high school gra duates and the gap between the unemployment rates of the tw o groups grew. In addition to earnings comparisons, the repo rt documents differences in lifestyles, health, and other out comes for people with and without college education. Differen ces in enrollment and completion patterns across demographic groups highlight the reality that gaps in educational attainm ent are explained by a combination of money and other facto rs.。

The Hydrogen Economy While fossil fuels have played an important role in getting society to the point it is at today, there are four big problems that fossil fuels create. Air pollution-When cars burn gasoline, they would ideally burn it perfectly and create nothing but carbon dioxide and water in their exhaust. Unfortunately, the internal combustion（燃烧）engine is not perfect. In the process of burning the gasoline, it also produces carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas; nitrogen oxides, the main source of urban smog; and unburned hydrocarbons, the main source of urban ozone . Catalytic converters （催化式排⽓净化器） eliminate much of this pollution, but they aren't perfect. Air pollution from cars and power plants is a real problem in big cities. It is bad enough now that, in the summer, many cities have dangerous levels of ozone in the air. Environmental pollution-The process of transporting and storing oil has a big impact on the environment whenever something goes wrong. An oil spill, pipeline explosion or well fire can create a huge mess. Global warming-When you burn a gallon of gas in your car, you emit about 5 pounds （2.3 kg） of carbon into the atmosphere. If it were solid carbon, it would be extremely noticeable-it would be like throwing a 5-pound bag of sugar out the window of your car for every gallon of gas burned. But because the 5 pounds of carbon comes out as an invisible gas, carbon dioxide, most of us are oblivious （不注意的）to it. The carbon dioxide coming out of every car's tailpipe is a greenhouse gas that is slowly raising the temperature of the planet. The ultimate effects are unknown, but it is a strong possibility that, eventually, there will be dramatic climate changes that affect everyone on the planet. For example, if the ice caps melt, sea level will rise significantly, flooding and destroying all coastal cities in existence today. That's a big side effect. Dependence-The United States, and most other countries, cannot produce enough oil to meet demand, so they import it from oil-rich countries. That creates an economic dependence. When Middle East oil producers decide to raise the price of oil , the rest of the world has little choice but to pay the higher price. Advantages of the hydrogen economy In the previous section we saw the significant, worldwide problems created by fossil fuels. The hydrogen economy promises to eliminate all of the problems that the fossil fuel economy creates. Therefore, the advantages of the hydrogen economy include: The elimination of pollution caused by fossil fuels-When hydrogen is used in a fuel cell to create power, it is a completely clean technology. The only byproduct is water. There are also no environmental dangers like oil spills to worry about with hydrogen. The elimination of greenhouse gases-If the hydrogen comes from the electrolysis （电解） of water, then hydrogen adds no greenhouse gases to the environment. There is a perfect cycle-electrolysis produces hydrogen from water, and the hydrogen recombines with oxygen to create water and power in a fuel cell. The elimination of economic dependence-The elimination of oil means no dependence on the Middle East and its oil reserves. Distributed production-Hydrogen can be produced anywhere that you have electricity and water. People can even produce it in their homes with relatively simple technology. The problems with the fossil fuel economy are so great, and the environmental advantages of the hydrogen economy so significant, that the push toward the hydrogen economy is very strong. Where does the hydrogen come from? In the hydrogen economy, there is no storehouse to tap into. We have to actually create the energy in real time. There are two possible sources for the hydrogen. Electrolysis of water-Using electricity, it is easy to split water molecules to create pure hydrogen and oxygen. One big advantage of this process is that you can do it anywhere. For example, you could have a box in your garage producing hydrogen from tap water, and you could fuel your car with that hydrogen. Reforming fossil fuels-Oil and natural gas contain hydrocarbons-molecules consisting of hydrogen and carbon. Using a device called a fuel processor or a reformer, you can split the hydrogen off the carbon in a hydrocarbon relatively easily and then use the hydrogen. You discard the leftover carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. The second option is, of course, slightly perverse. You are using fossil fuel as the source of hydrogen for the hydrogen economy. This approach reduces air pollution, but it doesn't solve either the greenhouse gas problem （because there is still carbon going into the atmosphere） or the dependence problem （you still need oil）. However, it may be a good temporary step to take during the transition to the hydrogen economy. When you hear about "fuel-cell-powered vehicles" being developed by the car companies right now, almost all of them plan to get the hydrogen for the fuel cells from gasoline using a reformer . The reason is because gasoline is an easily available source of hydrogen. Until there are "hydrogen stations" on every corner like we have gas stations now, this is the easiest way to obtain hydrogen to power a vehicle's fuel cell. The interesting thing about the first option is that it is the core of the real hydrogen economy. To have a pure hydrogen economy, the hydrogen must be derived from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels so that we stop releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Having enough electricity to separate hydrogen from water, and generating that electricity without using fossil fuels, will be the biggest change that we see in creating the hydrogen economy. How do you store and transport the hydrogen? At this moment, the problem with putting pure-hydrogen vehicles on the road is the storage/transportation problem. Hydrogen is a bulky gas, and it is not nearly as easy to work with as gasoline. Compressing the gas requires energy, and compressed hydrogen contains far less energy than the same volume of gasoline. However, solutions to the hydrogen storage problem are surfacing. For example, hydrogen can be stored in a solid form in a chemical called sodium borohydride （硼氢化物）, and this technology has appeared in the news recently because Chrysler is testing it. This chemical is created from borax （硼砂）. As sodium borohydride releases its hydrogen, it turns back into borax （硼砂） so it can be recycled. Once the storage problem is solved and standardized, then a network of hydrogen stations and the transportation infrastructure will have to develop around it. The main barrier to this might be the technological sorting-out process. Stations will not develop quickly until there is a storage technology that clearly dominates the marketplace. For instance, if all hydrogen-powered cars from all manufacturers used sodium borohydride, then a station network could develop quickly; that sort of standardization is unlikely to happen rapidly, if history is any guide. There might also be a technological breakthrough that could rapidly change the playing field. For example, if someone could develop an inexpensive rechargeable battery with high capacity and a quick recharge time, electric cars would not need fuel cells and there would be no need for hydrogen on the road. Cars would recharge using electricity directly. Prospects for the future You will hear more and more about the hydrogen economy in the news in the coming months, because the drumbeat is growing louder. The environmental problems of the fossil fuel economy are combining with breakthroughs in fuel-cell technology, and the pairing will allow us to take the first steps. The most obvious step we will see is the marketing of fuel-cell-powered vehicles. Although they will be powered initially by gasoline and reformers, fuel cells embody two major improvements over the internal combustion engine: they are about twice as efficient; they can significantly reduce air pollution in cities. Gasoline-powered fuel-cell vehicles are an excellent transitional step because of those advantages. Moving to a pure hydrogen economy will be harder. The power-generating plants will have to switch over to renewable sources of energy, and the marketplace will have to agree on ways to store and transport hydrogen. These hurdles will likely cause the transition to the hydrogen economy to be a rather long process. 1. What would gasoline give out if it were burned perfectly? A） Nitrogen oxides. B） Carbon monoxide. C） Unburned hydrocarbons. D） Carbon dioxide and water. 2. What will be the most possible consequence of gas emission? A） Raising sea level. B） Flooding coastal cities. C） Changing global climate. D） Endangering ozone level. 3. Hydrogen is a completely clean technology in that ________. A） it eliminates much of pollution B） it burns perfectly in all fuel cell C） it imposes no environmental dangers D） it only produces carbon dioxide and water 4. How can we produce more hydrogen in our homes? A） By using electricity and water B） By creating water in a fuel cell. C） By converting water into oxygen. D） By combining hydrogen with water. 5. One can obtain hydrogen from oil and natural gas by ________. A） a fuel cell B） a filter box C） a filter pump D） a fuel processer 6. Almost all the car companies plan to obtain the hydrogen for the fuel cells from gasoline because ________. A） gasoline is the cheapest source of hydrogen B） gasoline is a available source of hydrogen C） gasoline is an environmentally sound source D） gasoline is being used by many rich countries 7. The greatest part of the hydrogen economy lies in the derivation of hydrogen from ________. A） fossil fuels B） electrolytic water C） renewable sources D） hydrocarbon-molecules 8. The big problem with hydrogen involves its storage and transportation, for it is massive but not suitable for________________. 9. There is an obstacle for the construction of hydrogen stations and the transportation infrastructure, which can be overcome with the advent of a dominant _______________. 10. Cars using gasoline-powered fuel-cell have such advantages over traditional ones as higher efficiency andless.________________. ⽂章梗概： 本⽂介绍了氢⽓经济的优势、问题和前景。

2012.12cet4考题：英语四级测试阅读模拟考题Part II Reading Comprehension (skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.精品 2012年英语四级备考资料高清名师精品课程推荐2012年英语四级报考指南历年英语四级真题汇总For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Robot Cars to Do Battle in Desert RaceWhen 15 competitors lined up in Nevada last year for the U.S. Defense Department’s firstmillion-dollar robot race, hopes were high. The challenge: to drive a vehicle without a human driver or remote control some 150 miles (241 kilometers) through the Mojave Desert.But those hopes quickly went up in a cloud of dust as most robots barely managed to get off the starting line. The best performer, a modified Humvee built by engineers at Pennsylvania’s Carnegie Mellon University, traveled 7 miles (11 kilometers) before breaking down.To robot devotees(热爱者), however, it was a minor hiccup.No surprise, then, that 43 teams showed up to try out for this year’s race, dubbed(被称作) the Grand Challenge. For the past week, teams ranging from garage enthusiasts to well-funded university engineers have been fine-tuning their machines at qualifying rounds here at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. (Watch the robots in action in our exclusive video.)Twenty-three finalists were announced Thursday for Saturday’s Grand Challenge. The 175-mile(282-kilometer) course starts and finishes in Primm, Nevada.The race promises to be even tougher than last year’s run. But 18 months is an eternity in the robotics world, and the technology has vastly improved.Organizers believe several teams have a real shot of finishing the race in less than ten hours to earn the grand prize of two million U.S. dollars.“When the first team out of the chute(斜道)—Mojavaton, a small team out of Colorado—made it successfully around the 2.2-mile (3.5-kilometer) qualification course, I knew right there and then that we had something special,” said Ron Kurjanowicz, the chief of staff for the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is sponsoring the race.Unknown CourseThe aim of the Grand Challenge, Defense Department officials say, is to spur development of autonomous ground vehicles that can operate indangerous environments, such as war zones, keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.A U.S. Congress mandate(训令)requires thatone-third of military ground vehicles drive themselves by 2015, but the technology to meet that mandate does not yet exist.So the government looked to enterprising teams to develop the technology for driverless vehicles, sweetening its offer with the two-million-dollar purse.None of the 23 teams knows what lies ahead for this year’s race. DARPA won’t reveal the exact route until two hours before the start of the race on Saturday.But the obstacles on the Fontana qualification course-including a steel—enforced tunnel that wipes out a vehicle’s global positioning system—are made to resemble the rugged, real-life conditions that the vehicles will have to navigate.The vehicles use sensors such as lasers, cameras, and radar to help them avoid obstacles such as rocks and cliffs. The computer’s brain has to figure out howto resolve unexpected conflicts, like a boulder sitting in the middle of the road.“Think about all the decisions that you and I have to make when we drive from our house to the store,” Kurjanowicz said. “These vehicles have to do the same thing, without a driver.”Among the top contenders in Saturday’s race is TerraMax, a massive truck originally built by the Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Truck Corporation for the U.S. Marine corps.In last year’s race, TerraMax managed to go only 1.2 miles (2 kilometers). Team leader Gary Schmiedel expects to do much better this year. He pointed to the new all-wheel steering feature on the truck as an important addition.“We can move this large, 15-ton (13.5-metric ton) payload vehicle in a turn that’s equivalent to that of a Humvee,” he said.GhostriderThe resources of teams like TerraMax or Carnegie Mellon University, which has two vehicles in the race this year, are a far cry from those of some of the othercompetitors, including inventors, electricians, and even a high school team.One entry, from a Southern California team of engineers, racers, and hot-rodders, is called It Came From the Garage. It has a beer keg(小桶)stuck on the back and an on-off switch that says “brain.”“Most of the schools and organizations we’re up against are just accessorizing conventional vehicles,” said team leader Chris “C.J.” Pedersen, a former actor. “Our [vehicle] is a custom-built, 21st-century hot rod... complete with hood scoop and exhaust coming off the side.”Anthony Levandowski, a robotics builder from Berkeley, California, is back with Ghostrider, the only motorcycle robot in the qualifications. Studded with sensors and computers, it toppled (翻倒)over after 3 feet (1 meter) in last year’s race.Levandowski, who had to postpone his graduate studies when he couldn’t find a faculty advisor who believed it would be possible to build the motorcycle robot, says his vehicle has some distinct advantages.“We’re smaller and go a lot more places,” hesaid while tinkering with the robot before another trial run. “We’re also a lot less expensive. This bike costs as much as a tire or a wheel of some of these other guys’ machines.”Smart MoneyNeither Ghostrider nor It Came From the Garage made the final cut this week’s qualifying races.However, another crowd-pleaser, Cajunbot—or the Ragin’ Cajun—a converted all-terrain vehicle developed by a team from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, did.The smart money in Saturday’s race may be on Stanley, a converted Volkswagen Touareg made by a team at California’s Stanford University. It was the only vehicl e that didn’t hit an obstacle in the trial runs.Even if none of the vehicles finishes the race this year, DARPA’s Kurjanowicz said, the event has succeeded in galvanizing robotics developers and pushing the creation of new technologies.“The beauty of the Grand Challenge is that it doesn’t tell people how to solve the problem,” he said. “The community has come up with its own elegantsolutions.”1. The passage mainly describes the advantages and disadvantages of robot car races.2. Last year’s robot race in Nevada was a great success.3. It is a surprise that up to 43 teams came for this year’s race called the Grand Challenge.4. The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency(DARPA) is sponsoring the race.5. The aim of the Grand Challenge is to spur development of autonomous ground vehicles.6. Ghostrider and It Came From the Garage both made the final cut at this week’s qualifying races.7. TerraMax will finish the race and win the grand prize of two million U.S. dollars.8. The obstacles on the Fontana qualification course are made to resemble the ________________.9. The only motorcycle robot in the qualifications is ________________.10. The only vehicle that didn’t hit an obstacle in the trial runs is ________________.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming andScanning)1. N 本题考察文章的大意，可在做完后面9题后再解答。

2012年12月英语四级阅读理解3题型解题宝典一、深度阅读（2篇）首先是阅读文章，阅读的时候拿一支笔做笔记，需要注意的以下的“扎眼字符”：1.大写字母们——人名、地名、学校机构国家名称、专业特指的名词们，都会有大写字母表示（China,University of Phoenix,John等），既然提到了这么显眼的东西，很有可能在题目中就会拿这些说事；2.各类数字们——不管是百分比还是年代又或者是时间日期，这些以阿拉伯数字出现在阅读中的时候，应该是能第一时间抓住我们的眼球，我们会像亲人一般的，在茫茫的英文字符的海洋中一下找到它们；3.奇怪的符号们——逗号和句号满大街都是对吧，那么破折号呢？问号呢？引号呢？连词符号呢？括号（一般给出某个单词的中文解释）呢？它们也是如此的显眼和另类吧。

这样“非主流”的符号本身其实没什么，但是它们所在句子所说的内容，就一般不是那么简单啦。

读完文章之后就是做题目，在这之前需要明白一个最基本的技巧，大家要把它当作一个基本的概念来贯彻：正序出题——也就是说，第一道题，一定是在文章的第一部分（未必是第一段），而第二道题，一定在文章第一题所考察部分的后面，并且是在第三题所考察部分的前面。

依此类推，所以最基本的定位技巧，也就是如何找到答案在哪里，就是通过这个概念。

然后要说的最重要也是最实用的技巧就是：空语境。

说白了，很多时候大家会发现，错误的那些干扰项所说的内容，抛开文章来看的话，它们所描述的内容是完全正确的，是符合我们的常识和日常生活的认知的——但是依然不是正确的选项，那是因为在文章中，这些内容并没有被提起——它们是对的，只是他们出现在了错误的地方。

换句话说，就是常识正确的，未必是正确选项，我们需要通过上一步说的定位的相关技巧（正序出题），来看下原文在这个地方是不是真的说了这个事情，如果没有，那么不管它描述的多么符合我们的日常生活，也一定是错误的选项。

二、快速阅读（1篇）快速阅读最讲究的其实不是技巧，而是阅读的顺序以及做题的顺序。

2012年12月英语四级考试第一套快速阅读答案(网友版)中国教育在线讯2012年12月22日全国大学英语四、六级考试开考，本次考试报考人数达938万人。

中国教育在线外语频道为广大考生搜集了2012年12月英语四级考试第一套快速阅读答案，以供广大考生参考：英语四级快速阅读答案1. A.soil erosion, landslides and floods.2. C . The protection of habitat and prevent the loss of species.3. Rainforest trees closely rely on what? D plant and animal.4. B. Because they can help prevent soil erosion.5. C.Because of human destruction of virgin forest.6. C the conservation of migratory species of rainforest.7. A increase species diversity.8. Rainforest deforestation increases the likelihood of soil erosion, landslides and floods9. Some reforestation efforts focused on the development of forest soon because the forest is key to many of the planet's natural cycle, such as carbon and water cycles.10. installation of artificial bat roosts in defore sted areas can encourage these unique flight-enabled mammals (such as glasses flying fox ) seed dispersal and forest regeneration.温馨提示-专业文档供参考，请仔细阅读后下载，最好找专业人士审核后使用！。

2012下半年学英语六级测试快速阅读冲刺练习2012下半年学英语六级测试快速阅读冲刺练习这篇关于2012下半年学英语六级考试快速阅读冲刺练习，是笔者特地为大家整理的，希望对大家有所帮助！Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-4, mark Y(for YES)if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N(for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG(for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage. For questions 5to10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.StressThis may come as a surprise, but you need stress in your life. Leading stress management experts say that life without stress would be dull and unexciting. Stress adds flavor, challenge, and opportunity to life.However, too much stress can seriously affect your physical and mental well-being. A major challenge in today’s stress-filled world is to make the stress in your life work for you instead of against you. In today’s hectic, fast-paced world and with the booming economy, stress is our constant companion. It comes from mental or emotional activity and physical activity. T oo much emotional stress can result in physical illness, such as high blood pressure, ulcers, asthma, irritable colon, headaches, or even heart disease. On the other hand, physical stress from work or exercise rarely causes such ailments. In fact, physical exercise can help you to relax and to handle your mental or emotional stress. HansSelye, M.D., a recognized expert in the field, has defined stress as a “nonspecific response of the body to a demand”. The key to reducing stress is learning how our bodies respond to those demands. When stress becomes prolonged or particularly frustrating, it can becomeharmful-causing distress or “bad stress”. Recognizing the early signs of distress and then doing something about them can make a significant differencein the quality of your life. In order to use stress in a positive way and prevent it from becoming distress, you should be aware of your own reactions to stressful events. The body responds to stress by going through specific stages: (1) alarm, (2) resistance, and (3) exhaustion. Muscles tense, blood pressure and heart rate rise, and adrenaline and other stress-triggered hormones that increase the level of alertness are released. If the stress-causing conditions continue, your body will need time to make repairs, if that happens, you eventually may develop a physical problem that is related to stress, such as migraine headaches, high blood pressure, backaches, or insomnia. That’s why when stress occurs it’s important that you recognize and deal with it in a positive way. While it’s impossible to live completely free of stress and distress, it is possible to prevent some distress as well as to minimize its impact when it can’t be avoided. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers the following suggestions for ways to handle stress.Try Physical ActivityWhen you’re nervous, a ngry or upset, tryreleasing the pressure through exercise or physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis, or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise willrelieve your anxiety and worry and help you relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life.Share Your StressIt helps to talk with someone about your anxieties and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher, or counselor can help you achieve a more pos itive perspective on what’s troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. Knowing when to ask for help is a positive step in avoiding more serious problems later.Take Care of YourselfYou should make every effort to eat well and to get enough rest. If you’re irritable and tense from lack of sleep, or if you’re not eating properly, you’ll be more vulnera ble to stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult your doctor.Make Time for YourselfSchedule time for both work and recreation. Don’t forget, play can be just as important to your overall well-being as work. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun. Gowindow-shopping or work on a hobby. Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy.Make a List of the Things You Need to Do Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that “there’s so much to do, and no t enough time”. Trying to take care of everything at once can be overwhelming, and as a result, you may not accomplish anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Give priority to the most important tasks and do those first.Go Ahead and CryA good cry can be a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help yon avoid a headache or other physical consequence of anxiety and stress.Create a Quiet SceneYon can’t always run away, but you can allowyourself a mental “get-away”. A quiet country scene painted mentally, or on canvas, can transport you from the tension of a stressful situation to a more relaxing frame of mind. You also can create a sense of peace and tranquility by reading a good book or listening to beautiful music.Avoid Self-MedicationWhile yon can use prescription orover-the-counter medications to relieve stress temporarily, they do not remove the conditions that caused the stress in the first place. In fact, many medications may be habit-forming and also may reduce your efficiency, thus creating more stress than they eliminate. They should be taken only on the advice of your doctor.RelaxThe best strategy for reducing or avoiding stress altogether is to learn how to relax. Unfortunately, many people try to relax at the same pace that they lead the rest of their lives. That doesn’t work. Instead, try tuning out your worries about time, produ ctivity and “doing right”. Here are several relaxation techniques you may find helpful:-You should take a deep breath and exhale to help calm your mind, counter your body’s natural stress reaction and improve your response.-You should laugh. Many stress management expertsadvocate laughter as a relaxation technique for relieving tension.-You should take a warm bath or shower. Whether you prefer bubble baths or long hot showers, this is an excellent way to relax after a stressful day.-You should try progressive muscle relaxation. Individual contract and relax each muscle group of your body. Begin by tensing your toes for 10 seconds, then relax them for 20. Work all the way up your body, alternately tensing and relaxing, and finish with your facial muscles.By learning the “art” of relaxation, you’ll find satisfaction in just “being”, without trying or striving. Your focus on relaxation, enjoyment and health will reduce stress, anxiety and worry in your life. The result is, you will be calmer, healthier and happier.1. In today’s stressful world, we should get control of the stress in our life rather than being forced by it.2. According to the author, too much physical illness can lead to emotional stress.3. When stress becomes prolonged or particularly frustrating, it can become too harmful to cause distress or bad stress.4. If the conditions which cause stress continue, your body will need time, usually, three to five days, to make repairs.5. Although it’s impossible to live without stress and distress _____________________.6. A more positive perspective on what’s troubling you may be achieved with the help of_____________________.7. Disorganization and a feeling that “there’s so much to do, and not enough time” can _____________________.8. You can read a good book or listen to beautiful music_____________________. 9._____________________is the best strategy for reducing or avoiding stress. 10. The reduction of stress, anxiety and worry in your life is_____________________.Fast Reading(1-4) Y N Y NG 5. it is possible to prevent some distress and to minimize its impact when it can’t be avoided 6. a friend, family member, teacher, or counselor 7. result in stress 8. to create a sense of peach and tranquility 9. Learning how to relax 10. due to your focus on relaxation, enjoyment and health。

Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)1. B showmanship细节题。

这道题的答案对应原文第一句话，从putting on a show 可以推出showmanship。

when it came to putting on a show, nobody else in the computer industry, or any other industry for that matter, could match Steve Jobs.题干与原文的匹配度比较高，仔细阅读不难得出选择是B2. A He invented lots of functional gadgets.细节题。

原文第2段第2句话提到了乔布斯突出的三个方面，第三句话明确指出最后一个方面，也就是他在functional gadgets 上的贡献对人们的生活影响最大，对比第二题的选项，应选AHe stood out in three ways—as a technologist, as a corporate leader and as somebody who was able to make people love what had previously been impersonal, functional gadgets. Strangely, it is this last quality that may have the deepest effect on the way people live.3. B His keen interest in designing elegant and user-friendly gadgets.细节题。

答案在第三段第二句，“obsessed with product design and aesthetics, and with making advanced technology simple to use”。

单选Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.The more women and minorities make their way into the ranks of management, the more they seem to want to talk about things formerly judged to be best left unsaid. The newcomers also tend to see office matters with a fresh eye, in the process sometimes coming up with critical analyses of the forces that shape everyone’s experience in the organization.Consider the novel views of Harvey Coleman of Atlanta on the subject of getting ahead. Coleman is black. He spent 11 years with IBM, half of them working in management development, and now serves as a consultant to the likes of AT&T, Coca Cola, Prudential, and Merch. Coleman says that based on what he’s seen at big companies, he weighs the different elements that make for long term career success as follows: performance counts a mere 10%, image, 30%; and exposure, a full 60%. Coleman concludes that excellent job performance is so common these days that while doing your work well may win you pay increases, it won’t secure you the big promotion. He finds that advancement more often depends on how many people know you and your work, and how high up they are.Ridiculous beliefs? Not to many people, especially many women and members of minority races who, like Coleman, feel that the scales (障眼物) have dropped from their eyes. “Women and blacks in organizations work under false beliefs,” says Kaleel Jamison, a New York based management consultant who helps corporations deal with these issues. “They think that if you work hard, you’ll get ahead—that someone in authority will reach down and give you a promotion.” She adds, “Most women and blacks are so frightened that people will think they’ve gotten ahead because of their ** or color that they play down (使不突出) their visibility.” Her advice to those folks: learn the ways that white males have traditionally used to find their way into the spotlight.36. According to the passage, “things formerly judged to be best left unsaid” (Line 2, Para. 1) probably refers to“________”.A) criticisms that shape everyone’s experienceB) the opinions which contradict the established beliefsC) the tendencies that help the newcomers to see office matters with a fresh eyeD) the ideas which usually come up with usually come up with new ways of management in the organization37. To achieve success in your career, the most important factor, according to the passage, is to ________.A) let your superiors know how good you areB) project a favorable image to the people around youC) work as a consultant to your superiorsD) perform well your tasks given by your superiors38. The reason why women and blacks play down their visibility is that they ________.A) know that someone in authority will reach down and give them a promotionB) want to give people the impression that they work under false beliefsC) don’t want people to think that their promotions were due to ** or colorD) believe they can get promoted by reason of their ** or color39. The author is of the opinion that Coleman’s beliefs are ________.A) biasedB) popularC) insightfulD) superficial40. The best title for this passage would be ________.A) Role of Women and Minorities in ManagementB) The Importance of Being VisibleC) Job Performance and AdvancementD) ** and Career Success。

2012年12月英语六级试题答案(完整版)Part ⅠWritingMy View on University RankingIn recent years, all kinds of University Ranking Lists can be found on some educational websites, or newspapers. The ranking standards also vary. These lists have great influence on students. They are even becoming the only scale to evaluate the colleges and universities.People hold different views toward this phenomenon. Some believe that these lists help the students a lot, especially for those who will choose their university. While some other protest vigorously. In their points, the list is really ridiculous and harmful. In my view, the university ranking may have its own reference values, but its disadvantages overweigh its values.For those university-students-to-be, they are supposed to choose the school according to his or her own situation, but not the so-called Ranking List. What’s more, how about the university students? How do they feel about themselves when they see the ranking? The list may become some intangible shackles for them if their own school ranks poorly.In a nutshell, there is no easy method to rank these universities, but the Ranking, only helps students ignore the essentials, namely, their ninety-nine percent perspiration.此次六级作文的自由度很大，看似给出了提纲，实际上具体的观点全靠个人发挥。

20XX年12月22日英语四级考试真题答案（网友版）（快速阅读、听力、阅读理解、完形填空、作文范文）目录20XX年12月英语四级考试第一套快速阅读答案(网友版)120XX年12月英语四级第一套试卷听力答案(网友版)220XX年12月英语四级考试第一套阅读答案（网友版）420XX年12月英语四级考试第一套完形填空答案（网友版）520XX年12月英语四级作文题及范文（文都教育）620XX年12月英语四级考试第一套快速阅读答案(网友版)英语四级快速阅读答案1. A.soil erosion, landslides and floods.2. C . The protection of habitat and prevent the loss of species.3. Rainforest trees closely rely on what? D plant and animal.4. B. Because they can help prevent soil erosion.5. C.Because of human destruction of virgin forest.6. C the conservation of migratory species of rainforest.7. A increase species diversity.8. Rainforest deforestation increases the likelihood of soil erosion, landslides and floods9. Some reforestation efforts focused on the development of forest soon because the forest is key to many of the planet's natural cycle, such as carbon and water cycles.10. installation of artificial bat roosts in deforested areas can encourage these unique flight-enabled mammals (such as glasses flying fox ) seed dispersal and forest regeneration.20XX年12月英语四级第一套试卷听力答案(网友版)11.C) Fifteen12.D) use her computer13.C) coming back home14.D) telephone15.A) Six16.C) posters17.D) story18.B) Buy19.C) changes20.D) library21.B) Winters that are not too cold22.B) adventure23.B) buildings24.A) parks25.D) lifestyle26.C) countryside27.B) patience28.C) leisure time29.A) information30.D) temperature31.A) To attract32.C) cohabitation33.C) stressed34.A) sexist institution35.D) compensation36.B)ordinary37. )switch38. )enter39. )adopt40. )businesses41. )married20XX年12月英语四级考试第一套阅读答案（网友版）57. D. habitats58. C. disappeared59. A. for60. C. reassigning61. C. Since62. A. move63. D. maintenances64. C. sustaining65. D. Iimit66. D. rest20XX年12月英语四级考试第一套完形填空答案（网友版）67、integrate68、on69、worried70、collects71、off72、rearranging73、borrowers74、collapsed75、securit76、appre77、of78、pound79、tr开头的80、gr开头的81、rejected82、throughoud83、into84、sign85、investment86,、roken20XX年12月英语四级作文题及范文（文都教育）What is shown in the chart above is that those people with high degree earn more than those with lower. For example, staff with master’s degree receive a better payment than those with bachelor’s degree, according to asurvey of the payment to the employee. These survey indicates that education degree does have a relationship with earnings, contrary to the recent theory of useless education. Recently, there is a heated discussion about the significance of the education. Some people hold a view that higher education is useless since college education cannot mesh with the social needs. Some think that higher education is indispensable if you want to go far in both your studies and life. Now that survey has proved which part is wiser.As for me, I definitely support the view that education is necessary for people’s life. Reading can not only make me survive well in this society with fierce competition but also help me make sense of life.I pursue for it for my whole life.。

专业英语四级阅读理解辅导：先读文章后看题目有的考生在做阅读理解题的时候，喜欢先看题目后读文章。

他们认为这样会节省时间，但是大多数情况下结果与他们的初衷相反。

实际上，在做阅读理解题的时候先看题目不会节省时间，反而会浪费时间。

这是因为如果你先看题目，在你阅读文章的时候你的脑中就会充斥着这些题目，那么你就不能集中注意力。

你就会集中注意力寻找这些题目的答案，从而影响对文章整体的理解。

因此在做阅读理解时要先读文章，后看题目。

以下是一些具体的方法：1.在阅读文章时不要担心时间不够，否则就不能全神贯注于文章内容。

在阅读文章开头几句时，你要联想一下文章的大意：文章是关于什么内容、写的谁、谈论什么事物等。

2.当你继续阅读文章时，要努力识别出文章的文体，即是科普文章、文学作品，还是新闻报道或是别的;同时要识别出作者的写作手法，文章是写给谁看的，作者是带着一种什么样的感情写这篇文章的。

3.在读完文章一遍后，你会对文章的主题和文章的结构有了一定的印象，但是为了准确起见，在你回答问题的时候一定要回过头来再看一遍该文，以确认你的答案。

不要根据自己第一遍阅读时的印象答题，也不要根据自己所掌握的文章以外的知识答题。

4.在阅读题目的时候，要注意一些关键字眼，比如EXCEPT, CANNOT, NOT, INCORRECT 等出题者为了引起考生特别注意的大写词英语专业四级阅读理解面面观一、专四阅读理解十大话题社会话题:如商场偷窃(2004),体育商业化(2002)教育话题:如儿童择校(2001),大学教育(1997),教学方法(1997),科技话题:如轻型飞机(1993), 昆虫思维(1994),人物传记;某小说家(1992),个人历史(1996),姓氏溯源(2000)历史研究:北爱尔兰问题(1992),法国变化(1993)妇女话题:夫妻关系(2001),家电与妇女(2002)种族话题:民族矛盾(1998)自然话题:雪崩(1996),海啸(1997),潮汐(1992)健康话题:饮酒与心脏病(1995),经济话题:如瑞士银行(2000),中国经济特区(2004)二、阅读理解五种材料说明文、记叙文、议论文、描写文、应用文(尤其是新闻报道)三、题型分析及应对策略1．主旨类(1)What is the main idea (subject) of this passage ?(2)What does this passage mainly (primarily)concerned ?(3)The main theme of this passage is ___________.(4)The main point of the passage is__________.(5)Which of the following is the best title for the passage ?(6)The title that best expresses thetheme of the passage is ___________.我要收藏(7)On which of the following subject would the passage most likely be found in a textbook ?(8)The purpose of the writer in writing this passage _________.(9)Which of the following best describes the passage as a whole ?应对策略：跳读（skimming）文章的开头、结尾及段落的首句和尾句。

下半年英语四级快速阅读训练这篇关于2012年下半年英语四级快速阅读训练，是笔者特地为大家整理的，希望对大家有所帮助！Passage One Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage. Reaching new peaks of popularity in North America is Iceberg Water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Arthur von Wiesenberger, who carries the title Water Master, is one of the few water critics in North America. As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily. Even then, he kept a water journal, noting the brands he liked best. “My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water,” He says. But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all. In fact, New York’s municipal water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity. Similarly, amagazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive. Nevertheless, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share—this despite the fact that over 25 percent of bottled water comes from tap water: PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani are both purified tap water rather than spring water. As diners thirst for leading brands, bottlers and restaurateurs salivate (垂涎) over the profits. A restaurant’s typical mark-up on wine is 100 to 150 percent, whereas on bottled water it’s often 300 to 500 percent. But since water is much cheaper than wine, and many of the fancier brands aren’t available in stores, most diners don’t notice or care. As a result, some restaurants are turning up the pressure to sell bottled water. According to an article in The Street Journal, some of the more shameless tactics include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners if they want it. Regardless of how it’s sold,the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear cultivated, and even a longing for lost purity. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2012 年12 月英语六级考试快速阅读模拟试题We are surrounded by so much paper and card that it is easy to forget just how complex it is. There are many varieties and grades of paper materials, and whilst it is fairly easy to spot the varieties, it is far more difficult to spot the grades.It needs to be understood that most paper and card is manufactured for a specific purpose, so that whilst the corn-flake packet may look smart, it is clearly not something destined for the archives. It is made to look good, but only needs a limited life span. It is also much cheaper to manufacture than high grade card.Paper can be made from an almost endless variety of cellulose-based material which will include many woods, cottons and grasses or which papyrus is an example and from where we get the word "paper". Many of these are very specialized, but the preponderance of paper making has been from soft wood and cotton or rags, with the bulk being wood-based. Paper from WoodIn order to make wood into paper it needs to be broken down into fine strands.Firstly by powerful machinery and then boiled with strong alkalies such as caustic soda, until a fine pulp of cellulose fibers is produced. It is from this pulp that the final product is made, relying on the bonding together of the cellulose into layers. That, in a very small nutshell, is the essence of paper making from wood. However, the reality is rather more complicated. In order to give us our white paper and card, the makers will add bleach and other materials such as china clay and additional chemicals.A further problem with wood is that it contains a material that is not cellulose. Something called lignin. This is essential for the tree since it holds the cellulose fibres together, but if it is incorporated into the manufactured paper it presents archivists with a problem. Lignin eventually breaks down and releases acid products into the paper. This will weaken the bond between the cellulose fibers and the paper will become brittle and look rather brown and careworn. We have all seen this in old newspapers and cheap paperback books. It has been estimated that most paper back books will have a life of not greater than fifty years. Not what we need for our archives.Since the lignin can be removed from the paper pulp during manufacture, the obvious question is "why is it left in the paper?" The answer lies in the fact that lignin makes up a considerable part of the tree. By leaving the lignin in the pulp a papermaker can increase his paper yield from a tree to some 95%. Removing it meansa yield of only 35%. It is clearly uneconomic to remove the lignin for many paper and card applications.It also means, of course, that lignin-free paper is going to be more expensive, but that is nevertheless what the archivist must look for in his supplies. There is no point whatsoever in carefully placing our valuable artifacts in paper or card that is going to hasten their demise. Acid is particularly harmful to photographicmaterials, causing them to fade and is some cases simply vanish!So, how do we tell a piece of suitable paper or card from one that is unsuitable? You cannot do it by simply looking, and rather disappointingly, you cannot always rely on the label. "Acid-free" might be true inasmuch as a test on the paper may indicate that it is a neutral material at this time. But lignin can take years before it starts the inevitable process of breaking down, and in the right conditions it will speed up enormously.Added to this, as I have indicated earlier, paper may also contain other materials added during manufacture such as bleach, china clay, chemical whiteners and size. This looks like a bleak picture, and it would be but for the fact that there are suppliers who will guarantee the material that they sell. If you want tobe absolutely sure that you are storing in, or printing on,the correct material then this is probably the only way.Incidentally, acids can migrate from material to material. Lining old shoe boxes with good quality acid-free paper will do little to guard the contents. The acid will get there in the end.Paper from RagPaper is also commonly made from cotton and rag waste. This has the advantage of being lignin-free, but because there is much less cotton and rag than trees, it also tends to be much more expensive than wood pulp paper. You will still need to purchase from a reliable source though, since even rag paper and card can containundesirable additives.A reliable source for quality rag papers is a recognized art stockiest. Many water color artists insist on using only fine quality rag paper and board.The main lesson to learn from this information is that you cannot rely on purchasing archival materials from the high street. The only safe solution is to purchase from specialist suppliers. It may cost rather more, but in the end you will know that your important and valuable data and images have the best home possible.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1 上作答；8-10 题在答题卡1 上。

2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题汇总
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软雅黑’} 【编辑寄语】以下是笔者为大家搜索整理的2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题汇总，供大家参考！！
2012英语四级阅读理解考试模拟题汇总 1 2012年英语四
级阅读理解模拟题1 2 2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题2 3 2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题3 4 2012年英语四级
阅读理解模拟题4 5 2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题5 6 2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题6 7 2012年英语四级
阅读理解模拟题7 8 2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题8 9 2012年英语四级阅读理解模拟题9 不断更新中......
敬请期待！！笔者四六级考试频道 *说明:因各方面不断
调整变化,此信息仅供参考。

如有出入，请大家予以指正！。

2012.12大学英语四级阅读备测试题这篇关于2012.12大学英语四级阅读备考试题，是笔者特地为大家整理的，希望对大家有所帮助！Passage OneLong after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing the disputed refereeing (裁判)decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛)involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.Observers noted down the referees‘errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When theofficials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (的)distance is about 20 meters.There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.If FIFA, football‘s international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.He also says that FIFA‘s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.21.The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to ________.A) review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World CupB) analyse the causes of errors made by football refereesC) set a standard for football refereeingD) reexamine the rules for football refereeing22.The number of refereeing errors in the experimental matches was ________.A) slightly aboveaverageB) higher than in the 1998 World CupC) quite unexpectedD) as high as in a standard match23.The findings of the experiment show that ________.A) errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ballB) the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errorsC) the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occurD) errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot24.The word“officials”(Line 2, Para. 4)most probably refers to ________.A) the researchers involved in the experimentB) the inspectors of the football tournamentC) the referees of the football tournamentD) the observers at the site of the experiment25.What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?A) The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45B) Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.C) A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.D) An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition.Passage TwoWhile still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states—at leastin getting people off welfare. It‘s estimated that more than 2 million people have left the rolls since 1994.In the past four years, welfare rolls in Athens Country have been cut in half. But 70 percent of the people who left in the past tow years took jobs that paid less than $6 an hour. The result:The Athens County poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent—twice the national average.For advocates (代言人)for the poor, that‘s an indication much more needs to be done.“More people are getting jobs, but it‘s not making their lives any better, ”says Kathy Lairn, a policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.A center analysis of US Census data nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed households were earning money on their own, but that average income for these households actually went down.But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory.“Welfare was a poison. It was a toxin (毒素)that was poisoning the family, ”says Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst. “The reformin changing the moral climate in low-income communities. It‘s beginning to rebuild the work ethic (道德观), whi ch is much more important. ”Mr. Rector and others argued that once “the habit of dependency is cracked, ”then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards.26.From the passage, it can be seen that the author ________.A) believes the reform has reduced the government‘s burdenB) insists that welfare reform is doing little good for the poorC) is overenthusiastic about the success of welfare reformD) considers welfare reform to be fundamentally successful27.Why aren‘t people enjoying better lives when they have jobs?A) Because many families are divorced.B) Because government aid is now rare.C) Because their wages are low.D) Because the cost of living is rising.28.What is worth noting from the example of Athens County is that ________.A) greater efforts should be made to improve people‘s living standardsB) 70 percent of the people there have been employed for two yearsC) 50 percent of the population no longer relies on welfareD) the living standards of most people are going down29.From thepassage we know that welfare reform aims at ________.A) saving welfare fundsB) rebuilding the work ethicC) providing more jobsD) cutting governmentexpenses30.According to the passage before the welfare reform was carried out, ________.A) the poverty rate was loverB) average living standards were higherC) the average worker was paid higher wagesD) the poor used to rely on government aidPassage ThreeAmericans are pound of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian (百姓的)clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity (身份)than to step out of uniform?Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible (可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.31.It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality ________.A) still judge a man by his clothesB) hold the uniform in such high regardC) enjoy having a professional identityD) will respect anelevator operator as much as a general inuniform32.People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ________.A) suggests quality workB) discards his social identityC) appears to be more practicalD) looks superior to a person in civilian clothes33.The chief function of a uniform is to ________.A) provide practical benefits to the wearerB) make the wearer catch the pubic eyeC) inspire the wearer‘s confidence in himselfD) provide the wearer with a professional identity34.According to the passage, people wearing uniforms ________.A) are usually helpfulB) have little or no individual freedomC) tend to lose their individualityD) enjoy greater popularity35.The best title for this passage would be ________.A) Uniforms and SocietyB) The Importance of Wearing a UniformC) Practical Benefits of Wearing a UniformD) Advantages and Disadvantages of UniformsPassage FourSince we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances. Social support consists of the exchangeof resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to cope with major life changes and daily hassles (困难). People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, reveal that the presence of social support helps people fend off (挡开)illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.Social support cushions stress in a number of ways. First, friends, relatives, and co-workers may let us know that they value us. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Engaging in leisure-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting (转移„注意力)us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support—financial aid, materialresources, and needed services—that reduces stress by helping us resolve and cope with ourproblems.36.Interpersonal relationships are important because ________.A) they are indispensable to people ‘s social well-beingB) they awaken people‘s desire to exchange resourcesC) they help people to cope with life in the information eraD) they can cure a range of illnesses such as heart disease, etc37.Research shows that people‘s physical and mental health ________.A) relies on the social welfare systems which support themB) has much to do with the amount of support they get from othersC) depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troublesD) is closely related to their strength for coping with major changes in their lives38.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “cushions”(Line 1, Para. 2)?A) Adds up to.B) Does away with.C) Lessens the effect of.D) Lays the foundation for.39.Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work is an example of ________.A) instrumental supportB) informational supportC) social companionshipD) the strengthening ofself-respect40.Social companionship is beneficial inthat ________.A) it helps strengthen our ties with relativesB) it enables us to eliminate our faults and mistakesC) it makes our leisure-time activities more enjoyableD) it draws our attention away from our worries and troublesUnit 321.B 22.C 23.A 24.C 25.B 26.D 27.C 28.A 29.B 30.D31.B 32.A 33.D 34.C 35.D 36.A 37.B 38.C 39.A 40.D。