2017年英语四级阅读理解选词填空训练题

2016年12月英语四级选词填空真题及答案第一套PARTⅢReading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select oneword for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefullybefore making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by aletter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Many men and women have long bought into the idea that there are“male”and“female ”brains,believing that explains just about everydifference between the sexes.A new study 26 that belief, questioningwhether brains really can be distinguished by gender.In the study, Tel Aviv University researchers 27 for sex differences throughout the entire human brainAnd what did they find? Not much. Rather than offer evidence for 28brains as “male”or “female ”,research shows that brains fall into awide range , with most people falling right in the middle.Daphna Joel ,who led the study, said her research found that whilethere are somegender‐based 29 ,many different types of brain can’t always be distinguished by gender.While the “average”male and“average”female brains were 30different, you couldn ’t tell it by looking at individual brain scans. Only a small31of people had “all-male ”or“all-female ”characteristics.Larry Cahill, an American neuroscientist( 神经科学家) ，said the study is an important addition to a growing body of research questioning 32beliefs about gender and brain function. But he cautioned againstconcluding from this study that all brains are the same, 33 of gender.“There’s a mountain of evidence 34 the importance of sex influences at all levels of brain function , ”he told The Seattle Times.If anything, he said, the study 35that gender plays a very important role in the brain —“even when we are not clear exactly how. ”Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making yourchoices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.It ’s our guilty pleasure: Watching TV is the most common everyday activity,after work and sleep, in many parts of the world. Americans view five hours ofTV each day, and while we know that spending so much time sitting （36）can le ad to obesity ( 肥胖症) and other diseases, researchers have now quantified justhow（37）being a couch potato can be.In an analysis of data from eight large （38）published studies, a Harvard-led group reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that forevery two hours per day spent channel （39）, the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes( 糖尿病) rose 20% over 8.5 years, the risk of heart disease increased 15%over a （40）, and the odds of dying prematurely （41）13% during a seven-year follow-up. All of these （42）are linked to a lack of physical exercise. Butcompared with other sedentary( 久坐的) activities, like knitting, viewing TV maybe especially （43）at promoting unhealthy habits. For one, the sheer numberof hours we pass watching TV dwarfs the time we spend on anything else. And other studies have found that watching ads for beer and popcorn may make you morelikely to （44）them.Even so, the authors admit that they didn ’t compare different sedentary activities to （45）whether TV watching was linked to a greater risk of diabetes,heart disease or early death compared with, say, reading.A) climbed B) consume C) decade D) determine E) effective F) harmful G) outcomes范文 范例 指导学习H) passively I) previously J) resume K) suffered L) surfing M) term N) terminals O) twisting参考答案解析 ：36. passively解析： sitting passively 被动坐着从词性判断， 36题应该选一个副词来修饰s itting 这个动名词， 而备选项中只有两个副词，一个是 passively 被动地，一个是 previously 之前，再根据语义逻辑，坐着那看电视的行该是一，而不存在前后之分。

大学英语CET4阅读题及参考答案2017年大学英语CET4阅读精选题及参考答案The used key is the most bright.以下是店铺为大家搜索整理的2017年大学英语CET4阅读精选题及参考答案，希望能给大家带来帮助!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.For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.The Interaction of Body and MindThe concept of psychosomatic illnessPsycho, refers to mind, and soma, to body. Psychosomatic illness is the occurrence of bodily symptoms(症状) which are psychological or emotional in origin.Mind and body are not separate; one affects and is affected by the other. Who has not experienced some physical manifestation of emotional stress? Such experiences as a headache after a quarrel and urinary frequency or diarrhea before an examination are not uncommon, and for most people they are of a temporary nature. The symptoms disappear and are forgotten after the crisis has passed. No treatment may beneeded, or the patient may use simple remedies to relieve the discomfort. One person may find that a leisurely walk is the best cure for a headache; another may take aspirin.Certain conditions have been considered classic examples of psychosomatic illness: pepticulcer, eczema, colitis, and asthma. Personality profiles have been developed to describe the typical characteristics of persons who develop such illness. Another point of view is that human beings are more complex and varied in their responses than such profiles would indicate, and that the type of illness a patient develops in relation to stress varies with many additional factors, such as heredity and environment. Much remains to be learned about the relationship between stress and physical illness.Physical symptoms, such as palpitation, sweating, or disturbance of sleep, which reflect anxiety, may occur over a prolonged period. The symptoms may seem mysterious and threatening, because the patient is unaware of their cause. The patient whose heart beats more rapidly and forcefully as a manifestation of anxiety may report this symptom to his doctor, believing that something is wrong with his heart. Often the patient is not aware that he is anxious. He knows only that his heart keeps pounding for no apparent reason.Almost any symptom can have its origin in emotional stress. Some patients almost invariably have the same stress when they become anxious. One may have diarrhea, another asthma, and a third may develop hives or eczema. Some people develop two or several different symptoms; often the symptoms are experienced in an alternating fashion.The development of bodily symptoms is only one manifestation of anxiety. It may show up also symptoms that areprimarily mental, such as the inability to concentrate or to remember. Such symptom too, vary in degree. Many people occasionally experience symptoms like moodiness or depression. When such symptoms are severe or long- lasting, they interfere with the functioning of individual in daily life and with his relationship with others.Sometimes a person subconsciously develops an illness as a way of handling a desperate need, such as the need for affection. The only real cure is to satisfy the primary desire. An example is a woman who has pain in her heart, not because of organic heart disease, but because the symptom is a way of gaining, if only temporarily, the love and attention for which she longs. Her husband cannot leave her when she is so sick; her children are concerned. Her pain is just as severe as if it had a physical cause.The reality of psychosomatic illnessIs the patient with psychosomatic illness really sick, or does he merely imagine he is sick? Many people, including the families of patients and members of the health professions, believe that physical illness which is influenced by emotional stress is less real, or wholly imaginary. Acknowledging the reality of the patients' illness is important; it is the first step in helping him.Patients with psychosomatic illness are likely to be neglected. The same staff who give excellent care to other patients, not uncommonly ignore them. Some possible reasons may include the use of the term psycho as a prefix. Perhaps this conveys the idea that such patients are mentally iii, and therefore have no physical illness. Perhaps they are considered weaklings. One hears comments like, "He could snap out(克服) of it if he wanted to." Prejudice against these patients may be due to a belief that they are pretending illness in an attempt to get attention orfavors.A patient with psychosomatic illness may be confused with a malingerer, one who deliberately pretends illness in order to achieve secondary gain, such as financial compensation or excuse from work. Pretending illness is considered an unhealthy and unsatisfactory solution to the problems of life. Often it adds to the patient's difficulties, as he makes elaborate attempts to avoid detection. A malingerer can be helped sometimes to find ways of coping with difficulties. The essential difference between psychosomatic illness and malingering is that the malingerer pretends symptoms. It is a conscious process and he is aware that he is pretending to be sick. The patient with psychosomatic illness develops symptoms as manifestation of largely unconscious psychic conflicts. The symptoms are real.Condemnation(责难) of the patient with psychosomatic illness can persist despite intellectual understanding of theories about its cause. The patient can sense immediately whether those who care for him are trying to help him or not. It is important to understand that:·The patient with psychosomatic illness is really sick. He is not pretending or imagining his symptoms.·The idea that he can "snap out of it" at will is no more true than it is of those with diseases like pneumonia, whose need for care is readily acknowledged.1. The symptoms of some people with psychosomatic illness are experienced in an alternating fashion.2. Moodiness and depression are symptoms that don't last long.3. Psychosomatic sick people will stop cheating when they sense that those who care for them are belittling them.4. People with psychosomatic illness tend to be given less care than they deserve.5. Malingerers are those who pretend to be iii for some other purposes.6. The symptoms of people with psychosomatic illness are primarily mental.7. Today more and more people are suffering from psychosomatic illness.8. Such conditions as ___________ have been considered classic examples of psychosomatic illness.9. Psychosomatic symptoms may be primarily mental, such as the inability ______.10. The first and the most important step in helping the psychosomatic patients is to ______.试题详解1.Y 由题干中的关键词alternating fashion定位到第一个小标题下面第五段末句： Some people develop two or several different symptoms;often the symptoms are experienced in an alternating fashion，题目是原文的同义替换，由此得出题目说法正确。

2017年大学英语四级阅读题带答案2017年大学英语四级阅读题带答案2017年大学英语四级考试就要来临，考生要抓紧时间复习，多做阅读题。

接下来，店铺为你分享2017年大学英语四级阅读题，希望对你有帮助。

2017年大学英语四级阅读题(一)Directions: The passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.The medical world is gradually realizing that the quality of the environment in hospitals may play a significant role in the process of recovery from illness.As part of a nationwide effort in Britain to bring art out of the galleries and into public places, some of the country's most talented artists have been called in to transform older hospitals and to soften the hard edges of modern buildings. Of the 2,500 National Health Service hospitals in Britain, almost 100 now have significant collections of contemporary art in corridors, waiting areas and treatment rooms.These recent initiatives owe a great deal to one artist, Peter Senior, who set up his studio at a Manchester hospital in northeastern England during the early 1970s. He felt the artist had lost his place in modern society, and that art should be enjoyed by a wider audience.A typical hospital waiting room might have as many as 500 visitors each week. What better place to hold regular exhibitions of art? Senior held the first exhibition of his own paintings in theout-patients waiting area of the Manchester Royal Hospital in 1975. Believed to be Britain's first hospital artist, Senior was so much in demand that he was soon joined by a team of six young art school graduates.The effect is striking. Now in the corridors and waiting rooms the visitor experiences a full view of fresh colors, playful images and restful courtyards.The quality of the environment may reduce the need for expensive drugs when a patient is recovering from an illness. A study has shown that patients who had a view onto a garden needed half the number of strong pain killers compared with patients who had no view at all or only a brick wall to look at. 2017年大学英语四级阅读题目及答案1. According to the passage, "to soften the hard edges of modern buildings" means ______A. to pull down hospital buildingsB. to decorate hospitals with art collectionsC. to improve the quality of treatment in hospitalsD. to make the corners of hospital buildings round2. What can we say of Peter Senior?A. He is a pioneer in introducing art into hospitals.B. He is a doctor interested in painting.C. He is an artist who has a large collection of paintings.D. He is a faithful follower of hospital art.3. According to Peter Senior, ______.A. art is losing its audience in modern societyB. art galleries should be changed into hospitalsC. patients should be encouraged to learn paintingD. art should be encouraged in British hospitals4. After the improvement of the hospital environment, ______.A. patients no longer need drugs in their recoveryB. patients are no longer wholly dependent on expensive drugsC. patients need good-quality drugs in their recoveryD. patients use fewer pain killers in their recovery5. The fact that six young art school graduates joined Peter shows that ______.A. Peter's enterprise is developing greatlyB. Peter Senior enjoys great popularityC. they are talented hospital artistsD. the role of hospital environment is being recognized答案： 1. B 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. D2017年大学英语四级阅读题(二)Personality is, to large extent, inherent -- A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is improtant to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor lives of their children.One place where children soak up A characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. T oo many schools adopt the "win at all costs" moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying: "Rejoice, we conquer!".By far the worst form of competition in school is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare schoolthat allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into 'B's. They would needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child's personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.2017年大学英语四级阅读题目及答案1. According to the author, what factors contribute to the building of personality?A. inheritanceB. inheritance, competition and environmentC. competitionD. environment2. Which of the following statements is not true according to the author of the passage?A. Schools usually adopt severe competitive policies.B. Students are often divided by competition results.C. School is place where children cultivate their characteristics.D. The stronger desire for winning, the better.3. The phrase "soak up" is closest in meaning to ______.A. pull upB. take upC. take inD. pull in4. What attitude does the author hold toward examinations in schools?A. positiveB. negativeC. doubtfulD. neutral5. What suggestion does the author make concerning the management of schools?A. All students be made into competitive A types.B. A child's personality be considered in regard to his possible future job.C. All students be changed into B characteristics.D. Schools abolish all forms of examinations.答案：BDCCB。

公共英语四级pets4考试阅读2017年公共英语四级pets4考试阅读学习犹如逆水行舟，不进则退。

以下店铺整理的2017年公共英语四级pets4考试阅读题，希望对大家有所帮助，更多信息请关注应届毕业生网!阅读练习题一说明：阅读下面的短文，从短文后所给各项的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中选出能填入相应空白处的最佳选项。

"The headmaster wants you in his office." The ( 1) boy to whom a friend says one of these things gets to ( 2) about and suddenly everyone around ( 3) and shouts, "April Fool!" ( 4) this is April 1, or All fools' Day. In Britain and in some other countries, it is ( 5) to play tricks on people on that day. Children are ( 6) to play harmless jokes on their friends until twelve o'clock at night. Usually they ( 7) to trick other children (child的复数形式) into ( 8) foolish things. It is not only children ( 9) like such jokes. Grown-ups also enjoy tricking others. Even newspapers and radios (10) try to fool the (11) with a clever April Fools' story (故事，新闻报道).Some time ago, for example, a very (12) BBC TV program did a ten-minute (13) about spaghetti (实心面条) trees in Italy (意大利). The reporter (记者) said that (14) the recent bad weather, trees weren't (15) as much spaghetti as they (16) did. He said the (17) of spaghetti would (18). A lot of TV viewers who didn't know what spaghetti is made of actually (19) the story. Some housewives hurried to buy (20) food that was going to become in short supply.1.clever poor good excited2.frighten consider fear worry3.jumps speaks laughs quarrels4.For As Such So5.easy common comfortable moral (道德上的，道德，寓意)6.forbidden let made permitted7.imagine manage try order8.having doing taking making9.whatever however that those10.in time at times all the time fora time11.public readers listeners children12.curious famous popular serious13.report announcement show news14.about with to for15.collecting planting producing gathering16.normally possibly seldom before17.price quantity quality tastee over go off come down go up19.realized believed accepted understood20.a / the all答案:BDCAB DCBCB ADABC AADBC阅读练习题二The most obvious purpose of advertising is to inform the consumer of available products or services.The second (31)___is to sell the product.The second purpose might be more important to the manufacturers than the (32) ___.The manufacturers go beyond only telling consumers about their products.They also try to persuade customers to buy the(33) ___by creating a desire(34) ___it.Because of advertisement，consumers think that they want something that they do not need.After buying somethin9，the purchaser cannot always explain why it was(35) ___.Even(36) ___—the purchaser probably does not know why he or she bought something，the manufacturers (37) ___.Manufacturers have analyzed the business of(38) ___and buyin9.They know all the different motives that influence a consumer’s purchase--some rational and(39) ___emotional.Furthermore，they take advantage of this(40) ___.Why(41) ___so many products displayed at the checkout counters in grocery stores? The store management has some good(42) ___.By the time the customer is(43) ___to pay for a purchase，he or she has already made rational，thought—out decisions(44) ___what he or she needs and wants to buy.The(45)___feels that he or she has done a good job of choosing the items.The shopper is especially vulnerable at this point.The(46) ___of candy，chewing gum，and magazines are very attractive.They persuade the purchaser to buy something for emotional，not(47) ___motives.For example，the customer neither needs nor plans to buy candy.but while the customer is standing，waiting to pay money，he or shemay suddenly decide to buy(48) ___.This is exactly(49) ___the store and the manufacturer hope that the customer will(50) ___.The customer follows his or her plan.答案及解析：31.purpose 【解析】从文中的第一句话“The most obvious purpose...”可以看出后面还有别的目的，而不是仅仅有最明显的目的。

2016年12月英语四级选词填空真题及答案第一套PARTⅢ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select oneword for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Many men and women have long bought into the idea that there are “male”and“female”brains,believing that explains just about every difference between the sexes.A new study 26 that belief, questioning whether brains really can be distinguished by gender.In the study, Tel Aviv University researchers 27 for sex differences throughout the entire human brainAnd what did they find? Not much. Rather than offer evidence for 28 brains as “male” or“female”,research shows that brains fall into a wide range , with most people falling right in the middle.Daphna Joel ,who led the study, said her research found that while there are some gender‐based 29 ,many different types of brain can’t always be distinguished by gender.While the “average”male and“average”female brains were 30different, you couldn’t tell it by looking at individual brain scans. Only a small 31of people had “all-male”or“all-female”characteristics.Larry Cahill, an American neuroscientist(神经科学家)，said the study is an important addition to a growing body of research questioning 32 beliefs about gender and brain function. But he cautioned against concluding from this study that all brains are the same, 33 of gender.“There’s a mountain of evidence 34 the importance of sex influences at all levels of brain function ,”he told The Seattle Times.If anything, he said, the study 35that gender plays a very important role in the brain—“even when we are not clear exactly how.”Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are requir ed to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word ban k following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the cor responding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through th e centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.It’s our guilty pleasure: Watching TV is th e most common everyday activity, after work and sleep, in many parts of the world. Americans view five hours of TV each day, and while we know that spending so much time sitting （36）can le ad to obesity (肥胖症) and other diseases, researchers have now quantified just how（37） being a couch potato can be.In an analysis of data from eight large （38） published studies, a Harvard -led group reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that for every two hours per day spent channel （39）, the risk of developing Type 2 di abetes(糖尿病) rose 20% over 8.5 years, the risk of heart disease increased 15% over a （40）, and the odds of dying prematurely （41） 13% during a seven-yea r follow-up. All of these （42） are linked to a lack of physical exercise. But compared with other sedentary(久坐的) activities, like knitting, viewing TV may be especially （43） at promoting unhealthy habits. For one, the sheer number of hours we pass watching TV dwarfs the time we spend on anything else. And oth er studies have found that watching ads for beer and popcorn may make you more likely to （44）them.Even so, the authors admit that they didn’t compare different sedentary ac tivities to （45） whether TV watching was linked to a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease or early death compared with, say, reading.A) climbed B) consume C) decade D) determine E) effective F) harmful G) outcom esH) passively I) previously J) resume K) suffered L) surfing M) term N) terminal s O) twisting参考答案解析：36. passively解析：sitting passively 被动坐着从词性判断，36题应该选一个副词来修饰sitting这个动名词，而备选项中只有两个副词，一个是passively被动地，一个是previously之前，再根据语义逻辑，坐着那看电视的行为应该是一种被动行为，而不存在前后之分。

⼤学英语四级考试阅读理解真题 2017年⼤学英语四级考试在6⽉17⽇进⾏，下⾯是四级考试阅读理解真题，希望对⼤家有所帮助。

试卷⼀选词填空(⽂都教育版) 【原⽂】 Physical activity does the body good, and there’s growing evidence that it helps the brain too. Researchers in the Netherlands report that children who get more exercise, whether at school or on their own, 26　to have higher GPAs and better scores on standardized tests. In a 27　of 14 studies that looked at physical activity and academic　28　, investigators found that the more children moved, the better their grades were in school, 29　in the basic subjects of math, English and reading. The data will certainly fuel the ongoing debate over whether physical education classes should be cut as schools struggle to 30　on smaller budgets. The arguments against physical education have included concerns that gym time may be taking away from study time. With standardized test scores in the U.S.　31　in recent years, some administrators believe students need to spend more time in the classroom instead of on the playground. But as these findings show, exercise and academics may not be 32　exclusive. Physical activity can improve blood 33　to the brain, fueling memory, attention and creativity, which are 34　to learning. And exercise releases hormones that can improve 35　and relieve stress, which can also help learning. So while it may seem as if kids are just exercising their bodies when they’re running around, they may actually be exercising their brains as well. A)attendance B)consequently C)current D)depressing E)dropping F)essential G)feasible H)flow I)mood J)mutually K)particularly L)performance M)review N)survive O)tend 【答案解析】 26. (O) tend 本句缺少谓语动词，主语为children, 且为⼀般现在时，句⼦应⽤动词原形且要与to搭配，选O。

四级选词填空阅读练习题带答案四级选词填空阅读练习题(一)It seems you always forget—your reading glasses when you are rushing to work, your coat when you are going to the cleaners, your credit card when you are shopping...Such absent-mindedness may be 47 to you; now British and German scientists are developing memory glasses that record everything the 48 sees.The glasses can play back memories later to help the wearer remember things they have forgotten such as where they left their keys. And the glasses also 49 the user to "label" items so that information can be used later on. The wearer could walk around an office or a factory identifying certain 50 by pointing at them. Objects indicated are then given a 51 label on a screen inside the glasses that the user then fills in.It could be used in 52 plants by mechanics looking to identify machine parts or by electricians wiring a 53 device.A spokesman for the project said: "A car mechanic for 54 could find at a glance where a part on a certain car model is so that it can be identified and repaired. For the motorist the system could 55 accident black spots or dangers on the road."In other cases the glasses could be worn by people going on a guided tour, 56 points of interest or by people looking at panoramas where all the sites could be identified.[A] allow [B] instance[C] blank[D] industrial[E] frustrating[F] items[G] indicating[H] highlight [I] user [J] complicated [K] white [L] annoying [M] successful [N] article [O] simple四级选词填空阅读练习题答案47. E 空格处需填一形容词，即从E、J、L、M中选择。

2017年6月英语四级阅读选词填空真题及答案战士的意志要象礁石一样坚定，战士的性格要象和风一样温柔。

以下是店铺为大家搜索整理的2017年6月阅读选词填空真题及答案，希望能给大家带来帮助!更多精彩内容请及时关注我们应届毕业生网!Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Many men and women have long bought into the idea that there are “male” and “female” brains, believing that explains just about every difference between the sexes. A new study 26 that belief, questioning whether brains really can be distinguished by gender.In the study, Tel Aviv University researchers 27 for sex differences the entire human brain.And what did they find? Not much. Rather than offer evidence for 28 brains as “male” or “female,” research shows that brains fall into a wide range, with most people falling right in the middle.Daphna Joel, who led the study, said her research found that while there are some gender-based 29 , many different types of brain can’t always be distinguished by gender.While the “average” male and “average” female brains were 30 different, you couldn’t tell it by looking at individualbrain scans. Only a small 31 of peop le had “all-male” or “all-female” characteristics.Larry Cahill, an American neuroscientist (神经科学家),said the study is an important addition to a growing body of research questioning 32 beliefs about gender and brain function. But he cautioned against concluding from this study that all brains are the same, 33 of gender.“There’s a mountain of evidence 34 the importance of sex influences at all levels of brain function,” he told The Seattle Times.If anything, he said, the study 35 that gender plays a very i mportant role in the brain “even when we are not clear exactly how.”A) abnormal I) regardlessB) applied J) searchedC) briefly K) similaritiesD) categorizing L) slightlyE) challenges M) suggestsF) figure N) tastesG) percentage O) traditionalH) proving英语四级阅读选词填空答案:性别影响大脑功能26. [E] challenges27. [J] searched28. [D] categorizing29. [K] similarities30. [L] slightly31. [G] percentage32. [O] traditional33. [ I ] regardless34. [H] proving35. [M] suggests【解析】26. 根据简单句的基本句型尝试，此空格处应填入谓语动词，再根据时态和主谓一致原则，此处可填入的备选项为challenges和suggests或tastes，再根据前后文语境锁定答案为challenges，这里的challenge是动词，表“怀疑”。

（完整）2017年英语专四真题及答案（1）,推荐⽂档.docx2017 年英四真及答案III.⾔知：11.___B_____ combination of techniques authors use, all stories---from the briefest anecdotes to the longest novels ----havea plot.12.She followed the receptionist down a luxurious corridor to a closed door, ____B______the women gave a quick knock before opening it..13. Ms Ennab is one of the first Palestinian ______C____ with seven years ’racing experience.A. woman driversB. women driverC. women driversD. woman driver14.“I wondered if I could have a word with you. ”The past tense in the sentence refers to a __B___.A. past event for exact time referenceB. present event for tentativenessC. present event for uncertaintyD. past event for politeness15.“If I were you, I wouldn ’twait to propose to her. ”The subjunctive mood in the sentence isused to ____D______.A. alleviate hostilityB. express unfavorable feelingsC. indicate uncertaintyD. make a suggestion16. “It’s a shame that the city official should have gone back on his word.”The modal auxiliary SHOULD express __B_____.A obligationB disappointmentC future in the past D. tentativeness17. Timothy Ray Brown,the first man cured of HIV, initially opted against the stem cell transplantation that _____D______ history.A. could have later madeB. should have made laterC. might make laterD. would later make18.Some Martian rock structures look strikingly like structures on Earth that are known___C___by microbes.A. having been createdB. being createdC. to have been createdD. to be created19.At that moment, with the crowd watching me, I was not afraid in the ordinary sense, as ______if I ____A_______alone.A. would have been ? had beenB. should be ? had beenC. could be ? wereD. might have been ? were20. You must fire __C____ incompetent assistant of yoursA. theB. anC. thatD. whichever21. Some narratives seem more like plays, heavy with dialogue by which writers allow their__A___to reveal themselves.A. charactersB. characteristicsC. charisma D characterizations22.If you intend to melt the snow for drinking water, you can ___D_____ extra purity byrunning it through a coffee filter.A. assureB. insureC. reassureD. ensure23. The daisy-like flowers of chamomile have been used for centuries to ___B____anxiety and insomnia.A. declineB. relieve C quench D suppress24.Despite concern about the disappearance of the album in popular music, 2014 delivered a great crop of album ___C_______.A. publications B appearances C. releases D. presentations25. The party ’s reduced vote in the general election was___C______of lack of support for its policies.A. revealingB. confirmingC. indicativeD. evident26.He closed his eyes and held the two versions of La Mappa to his mind ’s __B______ to analyze their differences.27.Twelve pupils were killed and five ___A_____injured after gunmen attacked the schoolduring lunchtime.28. A 15-year-old girl has been arrested ___C_____ accusations of using Instagram to anonymously threaten her high-school.29.It was reported that a 73-year-old man died on an Etihad flight __D______to Germanyfrom Abu Dhabi.30.It ’s ____B_____ the case in the region; a story always sounds clear enough at a distanced, but the nearer you get to the scene of events the vaguer it becomes.A. unchangeablyB. invariablyC. unalterablyD. immovablyIV. 完形填空：A. alwaysB. barelyC. demiseD. emergenceE. gainedF. implicationsG. leafH. lostI. naturallyJ. objectK. oneL. onlineM. risingN. singleO. valueMILLIONS of people now rent their movies the Netflix way. They fill out a wish list fromthe 50,000 titles on the company's Web site and receive the first few DVD's in the mail; when theymail each one back, the next one on the list is sent. The Netflix model has been exhaustively analyzed for its disruptive, new-economy （31）implications. What will it mean for video stores like Blockbuster, which has, in fact, started a similar service? What will it mean for movie studios and theaters? What does it show about "long tail" businesses -- ones that combine many niche markets, like those for Dutch movies or classic musicals, into a (32)single large audience? But one other major implication has (33)barely been mentioned: what this and similar Internet-based businesses mean for that stalwart of the oldeconomy, the United States Postal Service.Every day, some two million Netflix envelopes come and go as first-class mail. They are joined by millions of other shipments from（34）online pharmacies, eBay vendors,/doc/51113b905a1b6bd97f192279168884868662b8c4.html and other businesses that did not exist before the Internet.The（35） demise of "snail mail" in the age of instant electronic communication predicted at least as often as the coming of the paperless office. But the consumption has been of paperkeeps （ 36） rising. It has roughly doubled since 1980. On average, an American household receives twice as many pieces of mail a day as it did in the 1970's.The harmful side of the Internet's impact is obvious but statistically less important than many would guess. People (37) naturally write fewer letters when they can send e-mail messages. To (38) leaf through a box of old paper correspondence is to know what has been_(39) lost i n this shift: the pretty stamps, the varying look and feel of handwritten and typed correspondence, the tangible (40) object that was once in the sender's hands.V. Reading comprehensionSection APassage one（1）When I was a young girl living in Ireland, I was always pleased when it rained, because that meant I could go treasure hunting. What’ sthe connection between a wet day and a search for buried treasure? Well, it’ s quite simple. Ireland, as some of you may already know, is the home of Leprechauns –little men who possess magic powers and, perhaps more interestingly, pots of gold.（2） Now, although Leprechauns are interesting characters, I have to admit that I was moreintrigued by the stories of their treasure hoard. This, as all of Ireland knows, they hide at the end ofthe rainbow. Leprechauns can be fearsome folk but if you can discover the end of the rainbow, theyhave to unwillingly surrender their gold to you. So whenever it rained, I would look up in the sky andfollow the curve of the rainbow to see where it ended. I never did unearth any treasure,but I did spend many happy, showery days dreaming of what I could do with the fortune if Ifound it.（3） As I got older, and started working, rainy days came to be just another nuisance and mychildhood dreams of finding treasure faded. But for some people the dream of striking it lucky neverfades, and for a fortunate few, the dream even comes true! Such is the case of Mel Fisher. Hisdream of finding treasure also began in childhood, while reading the great literature classics“ Treasure Island” and“ Moby Dick” . However, unlike myself, he chased his dream and in the end managed to become one of the most famous professional treasure hunters of all time, and for goodreason. In 1985, he fished up the priceless cargo of the sunken Spanish ship Atocha, which nettedhim an incredible $400 million dollars!（4） After the ship sank in 1622 off the coast of Florida, its murky waters became a treasure” . The aptly trove of precious stones, gold bars and silver coins known as “ pieces-namedofeight Fisher, who rana commercial salvaging operation, had been trying to locate the underwater treasure for over 16 yearswhen he finally hit the jackpot! His dreams had come true but findingand keeping the treasure wasn’allt plain sailing. After battling with hostile conditions at sea, Fisherthen had to battle in the courts. In fact, the State of Florida took Fisher to court overownership of the find and the Federal government soon followed suit. After more than 200 hearings,Fisher agreed to donate 20% of his yearly findings for public display, and so now thereis a museum in Florida which displays hundreds of the objects which were salvaged from the Atocha.（5） This true story seems like a modern-day fairytale: a man pursues his dream throughadversity and in the end, he triumphs over the difficulties - they all live happily ever after, right? Well,not exactly. Archaeologists object to the fact that with commercial salvaging operations likeFisher ’thes, objects are sold and dispersed and UNESCO are worried about protecting ourunderwater heritage from what it describes a s “ pillaging”.（6） The counter-argument is that in professional, well- run operations such as Fisher ’s,each piece is accurately and minutely recorded and that it is this information which is more importantthan the actual object, and that such operations help increase our wealth of archaeological knowledge. Indeed, as in Fisher’case, they make history more accessible to people through museum donations and information on web sites.（7） The distinction of whether these treasure hunters are salvaging or pillaging our underwater heritage may not be clear, but what is clear is that treasure hunting is not just innocent childanymore but profitable big business. I have learnt that the end of the rainbow is beyond my reach, but in consolation, with just a click of the mouse, I too can have a share in the riches that the Atocha has revealed. As Friedrich Nietzsche so wisely said:“ Our treasure lies in the beehive ofour knowledge.”41.In Para.4, the phrase “hit the jackpot ”means ______according to thetext. A. discovered the jackpot.B. found the treasureC. broke one of the objectsD. ran a salvaging operation42.It can be concluded from Paras. 5 and 6 that _________.A. people hold entirely different views on the issueB. UNESCO ’s view is different from archaeologists ’C. all salvaging operations should be prohibitedD. attention should be paid to the find ’s educational value43. How did the author feel about the treasure from the Atocha (Para. 7)?A. She was unconcerned about where the treasure came fromB. She was sad that she was unable to discover and salvage treasure.C. She was angry that treasure hunters were pillaging heritage.D. She was glad that people can have a chance to see the treasure.Passage two（1） PAUL was dissatisfied with himself and with everything. The deepest of his love belongedto his mother. When he felt he had hurt her, or wounded his love for her, he could not bear it. Now it was spring, and there was battle between him and Miriam. This year he had a good deal against her. She was vaguely aware of it. The old feelingthat she was to be a sacrifice to this love, whichshe had had when she prayed, was mingled in all her emotions. She did not at the bottom believe she ever would have him. She did not believe in herself primarily: doubted whether she could ever be what he would demand of her. Certainly she never saw herself living happily through a lifetimewith him. She saw tragedy, sorrow, and sacrifice ahead. And in sacrifice she was proud, in renunciation she was strong, for she did not trust herself to support everyday life. She was prepared for the big things and the deep things, like tragedy. It was the sufficiency of the smallday-life she could not trust.（2） The Easter holidays began happily. Paul was his own frank self. Yet she felt it would go wrong. On the Sunday afternoon she stood at her bedroom window, looking across at the oak-trees of the wood, in whose branches a twilight was tangled, below the bright sky of the afternoon.Grey-green rosettes of honeysuckle leaves hung before the window, some already, she fancied, showing bud. It was spring, which she loved and dreaded.（3）Hearing the clack of the gate she stood in suspense. It was a bright grey day. Paul came into the yard with his bicycle, which glittered as he walked. Usually he rang his bell and laughed towards the house. To-day he walked with shut lips and cold, cruel bearing, that had something ofa slouch and a sneer in it. She knew him well by now, and could tell from that keen-looking, aloofyoung body of his what was happening inside him. There was a cold correctness in the way he puthis bicycle in its place, that made her heart sink.（4）She came downstairs nervously. She was wearing a new net blouse that she thought became her. It had a high collar with a tiny ruff, making her, she thought, look wonderfully a woman, and dignified. At twenty she was full-breasted and luxuriously formed. Her face was still like a softrich mask, unchangeable. But her eyes, once lifted, were wonderful. She was afraid of him.He would notice her new blouse.（5） He, being in a hard, ironical mood, was entertaining the family to a description of a service given in the Primitive Methodist Chapel. He sat at the head of the table, his mobile face, with theeyes that could be so beautiful, shining with tenderness or dancing with laughter, now taking onone expression and then another, in imitation of various people he was mocking. His mockeryalways hurt her; it was too near the reality. He was too clever and cruel. She felt that when hiseyes were like this, hard with mocking hate, he would spare neither himself nor anybody else. ButMrs. Leivers was wiping her eyes with laughter, and Mr. Leivers, just awake from his Sunday nap,was rubbing his head in amusement. The three brothers sat with ruffled, sleepy appearance in theirshirt-sleeves, giving a guffaw from time to time. The whole family loved a "take-off" morethan anything.44.It can be learned from the beginning that Mariam’s attitude toward love between her and Paulis ________.A. indifferentB. desperateC. pessimisticD. ambiguous45.The narration in Para. 3 tells us that Miriam had all the following feelings except _______.A. delightB. expectationC. uncertaintyD. forebearing46.Which of the following statements is correct about the family ’s response to Paul’s mockery?A. Only the parents found it entertaining.B. Every member except Marriam was amusedC. The brothers found it hard to appreciate.D. Mariam also thought it was amusingPassage three（ 1） I ’ve written this article and you’re reading it. So we are members of the same club. We’reboth literate –we can read and write. And we both probably feel that literacy is essential to our lives.But millions of people all over the world are illiterate. Even in industrialised western countries, suchas the UK and the USA, approximately 20% of the population have 'low literacy levels'. But whatexactly does that mean?（2） My parents both left school at 14. They could read and write, but except for a quick look atthe daily newspaper, reading and writing didn't play a big part in their lives. There were very fewbooks in the house. My mother was amazed because the woman who lived next door always wrotea list of what she needed before she went to the supermarket. Why couldn't she remember? Welaughed about that for weeks. Our family didn't write lists! And when I was only 14 years old myfather gave me an important letter that he'd written to the bank and asked me to check it forgrammar and spelling mistakes. And there were quite a lot. He never usually wrote letters or postcards or even Christmas cards. So when he had to write he wasn't comfortable or confident. Does that mean that my father had a 'low level of literacy'?I don't think so.（ 3） There are lots of different definitions of literacy. Some experts define it as having the reading and writing skills that you need to be independent in your everyday life. So, for example, if you can read instructions, write a cheque, fill in a form, –anything that you need to do in everyday life –then you are 'functionally literate'.（4） Other people say that you are illiterate if you think that you are illiterate. In other words, if you feel that you can't read or write as well as you would like to.（5） If you live in a society where most people are literate then you will feel ashamed or embarrassed and avoid situations in which you have to read or write. The father of a friend of mine finally admitted to his family that he couldn't read when he was 45 years old. He bought the newspaper every day and pretended to read it - and believe it or not, his family had no idea.（6） We often forget that writing is a recent invention. Many years ago, the word 'literate' meant being able to communicate well in speaking, in other words what we now call 'articulate'. Story telling was an important activity in the past and still is today in some societies. Reading was oftena co-operative activity –someone would read aloud to a group, often from a religious text such as the Koran or the Bible.（7） Only a hundred years ago, in the United States, you were considered to be literate if you could sign your name to a piece of paper. It was an important skill. You were not allowed to vote if you couldn't sign the voting register, so literacy was connected with political rights, and many people were excluded from the democratic process.（8） Nowadays we see reading and writing as being connected, but that wasn't so in the past. Many people could read, but not write. Writing was a skilled profession. If you neededsomething written then you paid an expert to write it for you.（9） And of course, rich and important people have always employed people to write things for them. Important company bosses dictated letters to their secretaries or personal assistants. And now with new computer software you can dictate directly to your computer.（10） Being illiterate can have a big effect on people's lives. For example, a study in the UK showed that people who write and spell badly are seen as careless, immature and unreliable, andoften unintelligent. So it is more difficult for them to find jobs, even when reading and writing are not necessary for the work.（11）World-wide statistics show that literacy problems are associated with poverty and a lack of political power. More women than men are illiterate. Illiterate people have worse health, bigger families and are more likely to go to prison. So literacy campaigns must be a good thing. But don't forget that an illiterate person, or someone with a low level of literacy, isn't necessarily stupid or ignorant –and may not be unhappy at all. Knowledge and wisdom isn't only found in writing.47.Why does the author give two examples in Para 2?A. To show that literacy is interpreted in different ways.B. To show that Father was more literate than Mother.C. To indicate how important reading and writing are.D.To compare the level of literacy between neighbours.48.According to the author, the following are some of the defining features of literacyEXCETT________.A. psyhchologicalB. functionalC. socialD. independent49.Which of the following statements about reading and writing is CORRECT?A. Reading and writing have always been regarded as equally difficult.B. People had to read and write well in order to be allowed to vote.C. Reading often requires more immediate interaction than writing.D. Reading and writing have always been viewed as being connected.50.What do the last two paragraphs mainly focus on ?A. Effects of illiteracy and employment problems.B. Effects of illiteracy and associated problems.C. Effects of illiteracy on one ’s personality development.D. Effects of illiteracy on women’s career development.Section B. Short answer questions. (Answer each question with no more than ten words) Passage one.51. what does This in Para. 2 refer to?It refers to the treasure hoard of Leprechauns.52.Why did Fisher have to battle in the courts after he found the treasure (Para. 4)?Because he was sued over ownership of the treasure.Passage two.53.Why did Mariam wear a new net blouse on Sunday afternoon?Because she wanted to attract Paul’s attention.54.What is the meaning of the sentence “?he would spare neither himself nor anybody else ”in Para. 5? Everyone, including himself, would become the targets of his mockery.Passage three.55.Explain the meaning of the last sentence of Para. 11 according to the context.Illiterate people may also have knowledge and wisdom.。

2017年12月英语四级阅读真题及答案第1套选词填空A rat or pigeon might not be the obvious choice to tend to someone who is sick, but these creatures have some __26__ skills that could help the treatment of human diseases.Pigeons are often seen as dirty birds and an urban __27__ , but they are just the latest in a long line of animals that have been found to have abilities to help humans. Despite having a brain no bigger than the __28__ of your index finger, pigeons have a very impressive __29__ memory. Recently it was shown that they could be trained to be as accurate as humans at detecting breast cancer in images.Rats are often __30__ with spreading disease rather than __31__ it, but this long-tailed animal is highly __32__ . Inside a rat's nose are up to 1,000 different types of olfactory receptors (嗅觉感受器), whereas humans only have 100 to 200 types. This gives rats the ability to detect __33__ smells. As a result, some rats are being put to work to detect TB (肺结核). When the rats detect the smell, they stop and rub their legs to __34__ a sample is infected.Traditionally, a hundred samples would take lab technicians more than two days to __35__ , but for a rat it takes less than 20 minutes. This rat detection method doesn't rely on specialist equipment. It is also more accurate—the rats are able to find more TB infections and, therefore, save more lives.A.associatedB.examineC.indicateD.nuisanceE.peakF.preventingG.prohibitingH.sensitiveI.slight J.specify K.superior L.suspicious M.tip N.treated O.visualDo In-Class Exams Make Students Study Harder?Research suggests they may study more broadly for the unexpected rather than search for answers.[A]I have always been a poor test-taker. So it may seem rather strange that I have returned to college to finish the degree I left undone some four decades ago. I am making my way through Columbia University, surrounded by students who quickly supply the verbal answer while I am still processing the question.[B]Since there is no way for me to avoid exams, I am currently questioning what kind are the most taxing and ultimately beneficial. I have already sweated through numerous in-class midterms and finals, and now I have a professor who issues take-home ones. I was excited when I learned this, figuring I had a full week to do the research, read the texts, and write it all up. In fact, I was still rewriting my midterm the morning it was due. To say I had lost the thread is putting it mildly.[C]As I was suffering through my week of anxiety, overthinking the material and guessing my grasp of it, I did some of my own polling among students and professors. David Eisenbach, who teaches a popular class on U.S. presidents at Columbia, prefers the in-class variety. He believes students ultimately learn more and encourages them to form study groups. "That way they socialize over history outside the class, which wouldn't happen without the pressure of an in-class exam," he explained. "Furthermore, in-class exams force students to learn how to perform under pressure, an essential work skill."[D]He also says there is less chance of cheating with the in-class variety. In 2012, 125 students at Harvard were caught up in a scandal when it was discovered they had cheated on a take-home exam for a class entitled "Introduction To Congress." Some colleges have what they call an "honor code," though if you are smart enough to get into these schools, you are either smart enough to get around any codes or hopefully, too ethical to consider doing so. As I sat blocked and clueless for two solid days, I momentarily wondered if I couldn't just call an expert on the subject matter which I was tackling, or someone who took the class previously, to get me going.[E]Following the Harvard scandal, Mary Miller, the former dean of students at Yale, made an impassioned appeal to her school's professors to refrain from take-home exams. "Students risk health and well being, as well as performance in other end-of-term work, when faculty offers take-home exams without clear, time-limited boundaries," she told me. "Research now shows that regular quizzes, short essays, and other assignments over the course of a term better enhance learning and retention."[F]Most college professors agree the kind of exam they choose largely depends on the subject. A quantitative-based one, for example, is unlikely to be sent home, where one could ask their older brothers and sisters to help. Vocational-type classes, such as computer science or journalism, on the other hand, are often more research-oriented and lend themselves to take-home testing. Chris Koch, who teaches "History of Broadcast Journalism" at Montgomery Community College in Rockville, Maryland, points out that reporting is about investigation rather than the memorization of minute details. "In my field, it's not what you know—it's what you knowhow to find out," says Koch. "There is way too much information, and more coming all the time, for anyone to remember. I want my students to search out the answers to questions by using all the resources available to them."[G]Students' test-form preferences vary, too, often depending on the subject and course difficulty. "I prefer take-home essays because it is then really about the writing, so you have time to edit and do more research," says Elizabeth Dresser, a junior at Barnard. Then there is the stress factor. Francesca Haass, a senior at Middlebury, says, "I find the in-class ones are more stressful in the short term, but there is immediate relief as you swallow information like mad, and then you get to forget it all. Take-homes require thoughtful engagement which can lead to longer term stress as there is never a moment when the time is up." Meanwhile, Olivia Rubin, a sophomore at Emory, says she hardly even considers take-homes true exams. "If you understand the material and have the ability to articulate (说出) your thoughts, they should be a breeze."[H]How students ultimately handle tests may depend on their personal test-taking abilities. There are people who always wait until the last minute, and make it much harder than it needs to be. And then there are those who, not knowing what questions are coming at them, and having no resources to refer to, can freeze. And then there are we rare folks who fit both those descriptions.[I]Yes, my advanced age must factor into the equation (等式), in part because of my inability to access the information as quickly. As another returning student at Columbia, Kate Marber, told me, "We are learning not only all this information, but essentially how to learn again. Our fellow students have just come out of high school. A lot has changed since we were last in school."[J]If nothing else, the situation has given my college son and me something to share. When I asked his opinion on this matter, he responded, "I like in-class exams because the time is already reserved, as opposed to using my free time at home to work on a test," he responded. It seems to me that a compromise would be receiving the exam questions a day or two in advance, and then doing the actual test in class with the ticking clock overhead.[K]Better yet, how about what one Hunter College professor reportedly did recently for her final exam: She encouraged the class not to stress or even study, promising that, "It is going to be a piece of cake." When the students came in, sharpened pencils in hand, there was not a blue book in sight. Rather, they saw a large chocolate cake and they each were given a slice.36.Elderly students find it hard to keep up with the rapid changes in education.37.Some believe take-home exams may affect students' performance in other courses.38.Certain professors believe in-class exams are ultimately more helpful to students.39.In-class exams are believed to discourage cheating in exams.40.The author was happy to learn she could do some exams at home.41.Students who put off their work until the last moment often find the exams more difficult than they actually are.42.Different students may prefer different types of exams.43.Most professors agree whether to give an in-class or a take-home exam depends on type of course being taught.44.The author dropped out of college some forty years ago.45.Some students think take-home exams will eat up their free time.Passage OneThat people often experience trouble sleeping in a different bed in unfamiliar surroundings is a phenomenon known as the "first-night" effect. If a person stays in the same room the following night they tend to sleep more soundly. Yuka Sasaki and her colleagues at Brown University set out to investigate the origins of this effect.Dr. Sasaki knew the first-night effect probably has something to do with how humans evolved. The puzzle was what benefit would be gained from it when performance might be affected the following day. She also knew from previous work conducted on birds and dolphins that these animals put half of their brains to sleep at a time so that they can rest while remaining alert enough to avoid predators (捕食者). This led her to wonder if people might be doing the same thing. To take a closer look, her team studied 35 healthy people as they slept in the unfamiliar environment of the university's Department of Psychological Sciences. The participants each slept in the department for two nights and were carefully monitored with techniques that looked at the activity of their brains. Dr. Sasaki found, as expected, the participants slept less well on their first night than they did on their second, taking more than twice as long to fall asleep and sleeping less overall. During deep sleep, the participants' brains behaved in a similarmanner seen in birds and dolphins. On the first night only, the left hemispheres (半球) of their brains did not sleep nearly as deeply as their right hemispheres did.Curious if the left hemispheres were indeed remaining awake to process information detected in the surrounding environment, Dr. Sasaki re-ran the experiment while presenting the sleeping participants with a mix of regularly timed beeps (蜂鸣声) of the same tone and irregular beeps of a different tone during the night. She worked out that, if the left hemisphere was staying alert to keep guard in a strange environment, then it would react to the irregular beeps by stirring people from sleep and would ignore the regularly timed ones. This is precisely what she found.46.What did researchers find puzzling about the first-night effect?A.To what extent it can trouble people.B.What role it has played in evolution.C.What circumstances may trigger it.D.In what way it can be beneficial.47.What do we learn about Dr. Yuka Sasaki doing her research?A.She found birds and dolphins remain alert while asleep.B.She found birds and dolphins sleep in much the same way.C.She got some idea from previous studies on birds and dolphinsD.She conducted studies on birds' and dolphins' sleeping patterns.48.What did Dr. Sasaki do when she first did her experiment?A.She monitored the brain activity of participants sleeping in a new environment.B.She recruited 35 participants from her Department of Psychological Sciences.C.She studied the differences between the two sides of participants' brains.D.She tested her findings about birds and dolphins on human subjects.49.What did Dr. Sasaki do when re-running her experiment?A.She analyzed the negative effect of irregular tones on brains.B.She recorded participants' adaptation to changed environment.C.She exposed her participants to two different stimuli.D.She compared the responses of different participants.50.What did Dr. Sasaki find about the participants in her experiment?A.They tended to enjoy certain tones more than others.B.They tended to perceive irregular beeps as a threat.C.They felt sleepy when exposed to regular beeps.D.They differed in their tolerance of irregular tones.Passage TwoIt's time to reevaluate how women handle conflict at work. Being overworked or over-committed at home and on the job will not get you where you want to be in life. It will only slow you down and hinder your career goals.Did you know women are more likely than men to feel exhausted? Nearly twice as many women than men ages 18-44 reported feeling "very tired" or "exhausted", according to a recent study.This may not be surprising given that this is the age range when women have children. It's also the age range when many women are trying to balance careers and home. One reason women may feel exhausted is that they have a hard time saying "no." Women want to be able to do it all -- volunteer for school parties or cook delicious meals -- and so their answer to any request is often "Yes, I can."Women struggle to say "no" in the workplace for similar reasons, including the desire to be liked by their colleagues. Unfortunately, this inability to say "no" may be hurting women's health as well as their career.At the workplace, men use conflict as a way to position themselves, while women often avoid conflict or strive to be the peacemaker, because they don't want to be viewed as aggressive or disruptive at work. For example, there'sa problem that needs to be addressed immediately, resulting in a dispute over who should be the one to fix it. Men are more likely to face that dispute from the perspective of what benefits them most, whereas women may approach the same dispute from the perspective of what's the easiest and quickest way to resolve the problem -- even if that means doing the boring work themselves.This difference in handling conflict could be the deciding factor on who gets promoted to a leadership position and who does not. Leaders have to be able to delegate and manage resources wisely --including staff expertise. Shouldering more of the workload may not earn you that promotion. Instead, it may highlight your inability to delegate effectively.51.What does the author say is the problem with women?A.They are often unclear about the career goals to reach.B.They are usually more committed at home than on the job.C.They tend to be over-optimistic about how far they could go.D.They tend to push themselves beyond the limits of their ability.52.Why do working women of child-bearing age tend to feel drained of energy?A.They struggle to satisfy the demands of both work and home.B.They are too devoted to work and unable to relax as a result.C.They do their best to cooperate with their workmates.D.They are obliged to take up too many responsibilities.53.What may hinder the future prospects of career women?A.Their unwillingness to say "no".B.Their desire to be considered powerful.C.An underestimate of their own ability.D.A lack of courage to face challenges.54.Men and woman differ in their approach to resolving workplace conflicts in that ______.A.women tend to be easily satisfiedB.men are generally more persuasiveC.men tend to put their personal interests firstD.women are much more ready to compromise55.What is important to a good leader?A.A dominant personality.B.The ability to delegate.C.The courage to admit failureD.A strong sense of responsibility.26.K27.D28.M29.O30.A31.F32.H33.I34.C35.B36.I37.E38.C39.D40.B41.H42.G43.F44.A45.JPassage one46.D47.C48.A49.C50.BPassage two51.D52.A53.A54.C55.B2017年12月英语四级阅读真题及答案第2套选词填空We all know there exists great void (空白) in the public educational system when it comes to __26__ to STEM （Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics) courses. One educator named Dori Roberts decided to do something to change this system. Dori taught high school engineering for 11 years. She noticed there was a real void in quality STEM education at all __27__ of the public educational system. She said, "I started Engineering For Kids (EFK) after noticing a real lack of math, science and engineering programs to __28__ my own kids in."She decided to start an afterschool program where children __29__ in STEM-based competitions. The club grew quickly and when it reached 180 members and the kids in the program won several state __30__ , she decided to devote all her time to cultivating and __31__ it. The global business EFK was born.Dori began operating EFK out of her Virginia home, which she then expanded to __32__ recreation centers. Today, the EFK program __33__ over 144 branches in 32 states within the United States and in 21 countries. Sales have doubled from $5 million in 2014 to $10 million in 2015, with 25 new branches planned for 2016. The EFK website states, "Our nation is not __34__ enough engineers. Our philosophy is to inspire kids at a young age to understand that engineering is a great __35__ ."A.attractedB.careerC.championshipsD.degreesE.developingF.enrollG.exposureH.feasibleI.feeding J.graduating K.interest L.levels M.local N.operates O.participatedWhy aren't you curious about what happened?[A]"You suspended Ray Rice after our video," a reporter from TMZ challenged National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell the other day. "Why didn't you have the curiosity to go to the casino (赌场) yourself?" The implication of the question is that a more curious commissioner would have found a way to get the tape.[B]The accusation of incuriosity is one that we hear often, carrying the suggestion that there is something wrong with not wanting to search out the truth. "I have been bothered for a long time about the curious lack of curiosity," said a Democratic member of the New Jersey legislature back in July, referring to an insufficiently inquiring attitude on the part of an assistant to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who chose not to ask hard question about the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal. "Isn't the mainstream media the least bit curious about what happened?" wrote conservative writer Jennifer Rubin earlier this year, referring to the attack on Americans in Benghazi, Libya.[C]The implication, in each case, is that curiosity is a good thing, and a lack of curiosity is a problem. Are such accusations simply efforts to score political points for one's party? Or is there something of particular value about curiosity in and of itself?[D]The journalist Ian Leslie, in his new and enjoyable book Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It, insists that the answer to that last question is 'Yes'. Leslie argues that curiosity is a much-overlooked human virtue, crucial to our success, and that we are losing it.[E]We are suffering, he writes, from a "serendipity deficit." The word "serendipity" was coined by Horace Walpole in an 1854 letter, from a tale of three princes who "were always making discoveries, by accident, of things they were not in search of." Leslie worries that the rise of the Internet, among other social and technological changes, has reduced our appetite for aimless adventures. No longer have we the inclination to let ourselves wander through fields of knowledge, ready to be surprised. Instead, we seek only the information we want.[F]Why is this a problem? Because without curiosity we will lose the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. We will see unimaginative governments and dying corporations make disastrous decisions. We will lose a vital part of what has made humanity as a whole so successful as a species.[G]Leslie presents considerable evidence for the proposition that the society as a whole is growing less curious. In the U.S and Europe, for example, the rise of the Internet has led to a declining consumption of news from outside the reader's borders. But not everything is to be blamed on technology. The decline in interest in literary fiction is also one of the causes identified by Leslie. Reading literary fiction, he says, make us more curious.[H]Moreover, in order to be curious, "you have to be aware of a gap in your knowledge in the first place." Although Leslie perhaps paints a bit broadly in contending that most of us are unaware of how much we don't know, he's surely right to point out that the problem is growing: "Google can give us the powerful illusion that all questions have definite answers."[I]Indeed, Google, for which Leslie expresses admiration, is also his frequent whipping body (替罪羊). He quotes Google co-founder Larry Page to the effect that the "perfect search engine" will "understand exactly what I mean and give me back exactly what I want." Elsewhere in the book, Leslie writes: "Google aims to save you from the thirst of curiosity altogether."[J]Somewhat nostalgically (怀旧地), he quotes John Maynard Keynes's justly famous words of praise to the bookstore: "One should enter it vaguely, almost in a dream, and allow what is there freely to attract and influence the eye. To walk the rounds of the bookshops, dipping in as curiosity dictates, should be an afternoon's entertainment." If only![K]Citing the work of psychologists and cognitive (认知的) scientists, Leslie criticizes the received wisdom that academic success is the result of a combination of intellectual talent and hard work. Curiosity, he argues, is the third key factor—and a difficult one to preserve. If not cultivated, it will not survive: "Childhood curiosity is a collaboration between child and adult. The surest way to kill it is to leave it alone."[L]School education, he warns, is often conducted in a way that makes children incurious. Children of educated and upper-middle-class parents turn out to be far more curious, even at early ages, than children of working class and lower class families. That lack of curiosity produces a relative lack of knowledge, and the lack of knowledge is difficult if not impossible to compensate for later on[M]Although Leslie's book isn't about politics, he doesn't entirely shy away from the problem. Political leaders, like leaders of other organizations, should be curious. They should ask questions at crucial moments. There are serious consequence, he warns, in not wanting to know.[N]He presents as an example the failure of the George W. Bush administration to prepare properly for the after-effects of the invasion of Iraq. According to Leslie, those who ridiculed former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his 2002 remark that we have to be wary of the "unknown unknowns" were mistaken. Rumsfeld's idea, Leslie writes, " wasn't absurd—it was smart." He adds, "The tragedy is that he didn't follow his own advice."[O]All of which brings us back to Goodell and the Christie case and Benghazi. Each critic in those examples is charging, in a different way, that someone in authority is intentionally being curious. I leave it to the reader's political preference to decide which, if any, charges should stick. But let's be careful about demanding curiosity about the other side's weaknesses and remanding determinedly incurious about our own. We should be delighted to pursue knowledge for its own sake—even when what we find out is something we didn't particularly want to know.36.To be curious, we need to realize first of all that there are many things we don't know.37.According to Leslie, curiosity is essential to one's success.38.We should feel happy when we pursue knowledge for knowledge's sake.39.Political leaders' lack of curiosity will result in bad consequences.40.There are often accusations about politicians' and the media's lack of curiosity to find out the truth41.The less curious a child is, the less knowledge the child may turn out to have.42.It is widely accepted that academic accomplishment lies in both intelligence and diligence.43.Visiting a bookshop as curiosity leads us can be a good way to entertain ourselves.44.Both the rise of the Internet and reduced appetite for literary fiction contribute to people's declining curiosity.45.Mankind wouldn't be so innovative without curiosity.Passage OneAging happens to all of us, and is generally thought of as a natural part of life. It would seem silly to call such a thing a "disease."On the other hand, scientists are increasingly learning that aging and biological age are two different things, and that the former is a key risk factor for conditions such as heart disease, cancer and many more. In that light, aging itself might be seen as something treatable, the way you would treat high blood pressure or a vitamin deficiency.Biophysicist Alex Zhavoronkov believes that aging should be considered a disease. He said that describing aging as a disease creates incentives to develop treatments."It unties the hands of the pharmaceutical (制药的.industry so that they can begin treating the disease and not just the side effects," he said."Right now, people think of aging as natural and something you can't control," he said. "In academic circles,people take aging research as just an interest area where they can try to develop interventions. The medical community also takes aging for granted, and can do nothing about it except keep people within a certain health range."But if aging were recognized as a disease, he said, "It would attract funding and change the way we do health care. What matters is understanding that aging is curable.""It was always known that the body accumulates damage," he added. "The only way to cure aging is to find ways to repair that damage. I think of it as preventive medicine for age-related conditions."Leonard Hayflick, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said the idea that aging can be cured implies the human lifespan can be increased, which some researchers suggest is possible. Hayflick is not among them."There're many people who recover from cancer, stroke, or heart disease. But they continue to age, because aging is separate from their disease," Hayflick said. "Even if those causes of death were eliminated, life expectancy would still not go much beyond 92 years."46.What do people generally believe about aging?A.It should cause no alarm whatsoever.B.They just cannot do anything about it.C.It should be regarded as a kind of disease.D.They can delay it with advances in science.47.How do many scientists view aging now?A.It might be prevented and treated.B.It can be as risky as heart disease.C.It results from a vitamin deficiency.D.It is an irreversible biological process.48.What does Alex Zhavoronkov think of "describing aging as a disease"?A.It will prompt people to take aging more seriously.B.It will greatly help reduce the side effects of aging.C.It will free pharmacists from the conventional beliefs about aging.D.It will motivate doctors and pharmacists to find ways to treat aging.49.What do we learn about the medical community?A.They now have a strong interest in research on aging.B.They differ from the academic circles in their view on aging.C.They can contribute to people's health only to a limited extent.D.They have ways to intervene in people's aging process.50.What does professor Leonard Hayflick believe?A.The human lifespan cannot be prolonged.B.Aging is hardly separable from disease.C.Few people live up to the age of 92.D.Heart disease is the major cause of aging.Passage TwoFemale applicants to postdoctoral positions in geosciences were nearly half as likely to receive excellent letters of recommendation, compared with their male counterparts. Christopher Intagliata reports.As in many other fields, gender bias is widespread in the sciences. Men score higher starting salaries, have more mentoring (指导), and have better odds of being hired. Studies show they're also perceived as more competent than women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.fields. And new research reveals that men are more likely to receive excellent letters of recommendation, too.。