英语专业四级阅读理解考试题及答案解析

精品文库英语四级阅读题库含答案解析1.Passage OneGlobal warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21st century, but regardless of whether it is or isn’t–we won’t do much about it.We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoidit. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely theyare to be observed.Al Gore calls global warming an“inconvenient truth,” as if merely recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we don’t know enough to relieve global warming, and–without major technological breakthroughs— we can ’t do much about it.From 2003 to 2050, the world’s population is projected to grow from 6.4 billion to 9.1 billion, a 42% increase. If energy use per person and technology remain the same, totalenergy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. butthat ’s too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economicgrowth unless we condemn the world’ s poor to their present poverty and freeze everyone else ‘ s living standards.With modest growth,energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050.No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom(limits on electricity usage,driving and travel)that might cut back global warming. Still, politicians want to show they’re “doing something.” Consider the Kyoto Protocol(京都议定书 ). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didn’t. But it hasn ’ t reduced CO2 emissions (up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories( 签字国) didn ’ t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets.The practical conclusion is that if global warming is a potential disaster,the only solution is new technology.Only an aggressive research and development program might find ways of breaking dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it.The trouble with the global warming debate is that it has become a moral problem whenit ’ s really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don ’t solve the engineering problem, we’re helpless.57. What is said about global warming in the first paragraph?A) It may not prove an environmental B) It is an issue requiring world wide crisis at mitments.C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid D) Very little will be done to bring it underor stop it.control.58. According to the author’s understanding, what is Al Gore’s view on global warming?A)It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of.B)It is a phenomenon that causes us many inconveniences.C)It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized.D)It is an area we actually have little knowledge about.59. Green house emissions will more than double by 2050 because of _______.A) economic growth C) wasteful use of energyB) the widening gap between the rich and D) the rapid advances of science and poor technology60.The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________.A) politicians have started to do something to better the situationB) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy useC) reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warmingD) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems61.What is the message the author intends to convey?A)Global warming is more of a moral issue than a practical one.B)The ultimate solution to global warming lies in new technologyC) The debate over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs.D)People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming.Passage TwoSomeday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Websites you ’ve visited. Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your creditcard purchase or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.In fact, it ’s likely some of these things have already happened to you. Who wouldwatch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you neverintended to be seen—the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked.Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it’s important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. Thedigital bread crumbs ( 碎屑 ) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simpleGoogle search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in aworld where you simple cannot keep a secret.The key question is: Does that matter?When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned aboutlosing it. A survey found an overwhelming pessimism about privacy, with 60 percent ofrespondents saying they feel their privacy is“ slipping away, and that bothers me.”But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny fraction of Americans changeany behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount attollbooths( 收费站 ) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements.And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will surrenderpersonal information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful50-cents-off coupon (优惠券 ).But privacy does matter–at least sometimes. It’ s like health: When you have it, youdon ’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it.62.What does the author mean by saying “the 21 st century equivalent of being caughtnaked ”(Lines 3-4, Para.2)?A) People ’ s personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge.B) In the 21st century people try every means to look into others’ secrets.C)People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age.D)Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology.63.What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?A)Friends should open their hearts to C)There should be a distance even each other.between friends.B)Friends should always be faithful to D)There should be fewer disputes each other.between friends.64.Why does the author say“we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret”(Line 5, Para.3)?A)Modern society has finally evolved into an open society.B)People leave traces around when using modern technology.C) There are always people who are curious about others’ affairs.D) Many search engines profit by revealing people’s identities.65. What do most Americans do with regard to privacy protection?精品文库A)They change behaviors that might disclose their identity.B)They use various loyalty cards for business transactions.C) They rely more and more on electronic D) They talk a lot but hardly do anything devices.about it.66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________.A) people will make every effort to keep it woman.B) its importance is rarely understoodC) it is something that can easily be lost There are many reasonsD) people don ’t cherish it until they lose it this-typically,men take more risksfor thanwoman and are more likely to drink andsmoke but perhaps more importantly,men don ’t go to the doctor.“Men aren’ t seeing doctors as often2.Passage Oneas they should,” says Dr. Gullotta,“This Questions57 to61are based on theis particularly so for the over-40s,when following passage.diseases tend to strike.”If you are a male and you are readingGullotta says a healthy man should this,congratulations:you are adoctor every year or two.Forvisit thesurvivor .According to statistics .you arethose over 45,it should be at least once amore than twice as likely to die of skinyear.cancer than a woman ,and nine timesTwo months ago Gullotta saw a more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you50-year-old ma who had delayed doing make it to the end of your natural term,anything about his smoker’s cough for a about 78 years for men in Australia,youyear.will die on average five years before a“When I finally saw him it had alreadyspread and he has since died from lung cancer ” he says, “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but itwould have prolonged this life”According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between15and early40s see a doctor once a year,compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“ A lot of men think they are invincible（不可战胜的）” Gullotta says“ They only come in when a friend drops dead on thegolf course and they think ” Geez, if it could happen to him.Then there is the ostrich approach,”some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know,” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“ Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies, ”Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men couldbe addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.” But prevention ischeaperin the long run than having to treat the diseases.Besides,the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. men drink and smoke much more than womenB. men don’t seek medical care as oftenas womenC. men aren ’ t as cautions as women in face of dangerD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59.Which of the following best completesthe sentence “Geez, if it could happen tohim ⋯’(line2,para,8)?A. it could happen to me, tooB. Ishould avoid playing golf C. Ishould consider myself lucky D.it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “ the ostrich approach ”(line q para.9)A. a casual attitude towards one’s health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fearof the pain involved disease because of fear61.What does Cartmill say aboutregular check-ups for men?A.They may increase public expensesB.They will save money in the long runC.They may cause psychological strainson menD.They will enable men to live as longas womenPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service is preached( 宣 ) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives,co-workers,strangers-and anyone who will listen.D. unwillingness to find out about one’s Store managers are often the last tohear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to astudy jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school“ Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,”said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.”the store loses the customer,but the shopper must also find a replacement.”On average, every unhappy customerwill complain to at least four other,and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer,a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting“snowball effect”can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research,shoppers who purchased clothing encountered themost problems.ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots,cluttered(塞满了的 )shelves,overloaded racks, out-of-stock items,long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours,some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting（业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly,and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts,pre-stocking sales items,hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople shouldbe diplomatic and polite with angry customers.“ Retailers who ’ re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren’ t so friendly. ”said Professor Stephen Hoch. “ Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaintsto the retailer,instead of complaining to the rest of the world.Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they haveno idea what is wrong.注意：此部分在答卡 2 上作答62.Why are store managers often thelast to hear complaints?A Most customers won ’ t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying“ ⋯ the shopper must also find a replacement ” (Line 2, Para. 4)?A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find thesame products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not complaining to the manager causesthe shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlightingpolice as parking attendants so that shoppers_____A can stay longer browsing in the storeB won ’t have trouble parking their carsC won ’t have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65.What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeople BHiring of efficient employees CHuge supply of goods for saleD Design of the store layout.66.To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to_________.A exert pressure on stores to improve their serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between stores3.The January fashion show, called Future Fashion , exemplified howfar green design has come. Organized by the New York-based nonprofitEarth Pledge, the show inspired many top designers to work with sustainablefabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges to include organicfabrics in their lines.The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate,which uses all-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials canstill be tough to fine .“Most designers with existing labels are findingthere aren ’t comparable fabrics that can just replace what you’re doingand shat your customers are used to, ” he says. For example,organiccotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable once woven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, stillhave few eco-friendly equivalents.Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support.Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stoppedcharging its participation fee for young green entrepreneurs(企业家 ) whoattend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gavespecial recognition to designers whose collections are at least25% sustainable . It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewerthan a dozen two years ago. This week Wal-Mart is set to announce amajor initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buytransitional (过渡型的 ) cotton at higher prices , thus helping to expand thesupply of a key sustainable material .“ Mainstream is about to occur,”says Hahn.Some analysts ( 分析师 ) are less sure . Among consumers,only 18%are even aware that ecofashion exists, up from 6% four years ago.Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer, when asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied:“ Not that I ’m aware of. ” Like most consumers, she finds little time toshop, and when she does, she’s on the hunt for“cute stuff that isn’t too expensive. ” By her own admission, green just isn’t yet on her mind. But–thanks to the combined efforts of designers, retailers and suppliers–one day it will be.57.What is said about Future Fashion?A)It inspired many leading designers to start going green.B)It showed that designers using organic fabrics would go far.C)It served as an example of how fashion shows should be organized.D)It convinced the public that fashionable clothes should be madedurable.58. According to Scott Hahn, one big challenge to designers who will goorganic is that.A)much more time is needed to finish a dress using sustainable materials .B)they have to create new brands for clothes made of organic materials .C)customers have difficulty telling organic from non-organic materials .D)quality organic replacements for synthetics are not readily available .59. We learn from Paragraph 3 that designers who undertake greenfashion.A)can attend various trade shows free .B)are readily recognized by the fashion worldC)can buy organic cotton at favorable prices .D)are gaining more and more support .60. What is Natalie Hormilla’s attitude toward ecofashion?A) She doesn ’t seem to care about it.C) She is doubtful of itspractical value.B) She doesn ’ t think it is sustainable D) She is very muchopposed to the idea61.What does the author think of green fashion?A)Green products will soon go mainstream.B)It has a very promising future.C)Consumers have the final say.D)It will appeal more to young people.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a person has lived using a strand(缕) of hair , a technique that could help track themovements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims .The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinking water show up in people’s hair.“You ’re what you eat and drink, and that’s recorded in you hair,”said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah.While U.S diet is relatively identical, water supplies vary.The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as raid clouds move.Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable , but traces of both elements are also present as heavier isotopes(同位素 ) . The heaviestraid falls first .As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavierwater to California than to Utah.Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand ofhair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months.Cerling ’ s team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a mop o f the regional differences. They checked theaccuracy of the map b y testing 200 hair samples collected f rom65 barber shops.They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad regions roughly corresponding to the movement of raid systems.“It ’s not good for pinpointing (精确定位),” Cerling said .“ It’s good for eliminating many possibilities.”Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learnmore about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake.The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt and several strands of hair.When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researchers. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before herdeath, she moved about every two months.She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be morespecific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming.“It’s still a substantial area,” Park said“But it narrows it way down for me. ”62. What is the scientists’ new discovery?A)One ’s hair growth has to do with the amount of water they drink.B)A person ’ s hair may reveal where they have lived.C)Hair analysis accurately identifies criminal suspects.D)The chemical composition of hair varies from person to person.63. What does the author mean by“You’re what you eat and drink”(Line 1, Para.3)?A) Food and drink affect one’s personality development.B) Food and drink preferences vary with individuals.C) Food and drink leave traces in one’ s body tissues.D) Food and drink are indispensable to one’s existence.欢迎下载64. What is said about the rainfall in America’ s West?A)There is much more rainfall in California than in Utah.B)The water it delivers becomes lighter when it moves inland.C)Its chemical composition is less stable than in other areas.D)It gathers more light isotopes as it moves eastward.65.What did Cerling ’s team produce in their research?A)A map showing the regional differences of tap water.B)A collection of hair samples from various barber shops.C)A method to measure the amount of water in human hair.D)A chart illustrating the movement of the rain system.66. What is the practical value of Cerling’s research?A)It helps analyze the quality of water in different regions.B)It helps the police determine where a crime is committed.C)It helps the police narrow down possibilities in detective work.D)It helps identify the drinking habits of the person under investigation.4.Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on thepresidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I ’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might beable to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-Americanwoman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get upclose and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined.The prevailing theory seems to be that we ’ re all hot-tempered single mothers who can ’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit toa cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhapsmost complicated duty may be simple to be herself.It won ’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have donein-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis.For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogshave written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House — mainly showing the world that a black woman can support herman and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone — an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will goa long way in changing an image that57.Why does Michelle Obama author? ’s been around for far too long.hold a strong fascination for theA)She serves as a role model for African women.B)She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.C) She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.D)She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.58. What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?A)They are victims of violence. B) They are of an inferior violence.C)They use quite a lot of body language. D) They live on charity andsocial welfare.59. What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?A)Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.B)How Michelle should behave as a public figure.C)How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.D)What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House. 60.What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?A)However many fans she has, she should remain modest,B)She shouldn ’ t disappoint the African-American community.C) However hard she tries, she can’ t expect to please everybody.D) She will give priority to African-American women’ s concerns.61.What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obamawill do?A) Help change the prevailing view about black women.B) Help her husband in the task of changing America.C) Outshine previous First Lady.D) Fully display her fine qualities.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.When next year ’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, they’ll be joined by a new face; AndrewHamilton, the 55-year-old provost ( 教务长 ) of Yale, who ’ ll become Oxford ’s vice-chancellor—a position equivalent to university presidentin America.Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hiresfrom abroad. Higher education has become a big and competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it’s gone global. Yet the talent flow isn’ t universal. High-level personnel tend to head in onlyone direction: outward from America.The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the Universityof Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’ s budget.“ We didn ’t do any global consideration, ” says Patricia Hayes, the board ’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-oldColorado businessman and political activist (活动家 ) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents:fund-raising. Fund-raising is a distinctively American thing,since U.S.schools rely heavily on donations.The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependenton government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student number. The decline in government support hasmade funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry for Americans.In the past few years,prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison。

英语专业四级阅读理解考试题及答案解析英语专业四级阅读理解考试题及答案解析韩愈说过这样一句话：“业精于勤荒于嬉，行成于思毁于随””。

天才就是无止境刻苦勤奋的努力。

成绩优与良;才思浓与淡，都是由勤奋注定的。

以下是店铺为大家搜索整理的英语专业四级阅读理解考试题及答案解析，希望对正在关注的您有所帮助!As the merchant class expanded in the eighteenth?century North American Colonies, the silversmithand the coppersmith businesses rose to serve it.Only a few silversmiths were available in New Yorkor Boston in the late seventeenth century, but in theeighteenth century they could be found in all majorcolonial cities. No other colonial artisans rivaled thesilversmiths’ prestige. They handled the mostexpensive materials and possessed direct connections to prosperous colonial merchants. Theirproducts, primarily silver plates and bowls, reflected their exalted status and testified to theircustomers’ prominence. Silver stood as one of the surest ways to store wealth at a time beforeneighborhood banks existed. Unlike the silver coins from which they were made, silver articleswere readily identifiable. Often formed to individual specifications, they always carried thesilversmith’s distinctive markings and consequently could be traced and retrieved.Customers generally secure the silver for the silver object they ordered. They saved coins, tookthem to smiths, and discussed the type of pieces they desired. Silversmiths complied with theserequests by melting the money in a small furnace, adding a bit of copper to form a strongeralloy, and casting the alloy in rectangular blocks. They hammered these ingots to theappropriate thickness by hand, shaped them and pressed designs into them for adornment.Engraving was alsodone by hand. In addition to plates and bowls, some customers soughtmore intricate products, such as silver teapots. These were made by shaping or casting partsseparately and then soldering them together. Colonial coppersmithing also come of age in theearly eighteenth century and prospered in northern cities. Copper’s ability to conduct heatefficiently and to resist corrosion contributed to its attractiveness. But because it wasexpensive in colonial America, coppersmiths were never very numerous. Virtually all copperworked by Smiths was imported as sheets or obtained by recycling old copper goods. Copperwas used for practical items, but it was not admired for its beauty. Coppersmiths employed it tofashion pots and kettles for the home. They shaped it in much the same manner as silver ormelted it in a foundry with lead or tin. They also mixed it with zinc to make brass for maritimeand scientific instruments.?1、According to the passage, which of the following eighteenth century developments had strongimpact on silversmithsA. A decrease in the cost of silver.B. The invention of heat efficient furnaces.C. The growing economic prosperity of colonial merchants.D. The development of new tools used to shape silver.2.In colonial America, where did silversmiths usually obtain the material to make silver articles? ?A. From their own mines.B. From importers.C. From other silversmiths.D. From customers.3.The passage mentions all of the following as uses for copper in Colonial America EXCEPT ______A. cooking potsB. scientific instrumentsC. musical instrumentsD. maritime instruments4.According to the passage, silversmiths and coppersmiths in colonial America were similar inwhich of the following waysA. The amount of social prestige they had.B. The way they shaped the metal they worked with. ?C. The cost of the goods they made.D. The practicality of the goods they made.参考答案：1. C) 根据文章第一句“As the merchant classexpanded in the eighteenth?century North AmericanColonies,...”可知，随着在十八世纪的北美殖民地商人阶级膨胀起来，也就是说那时的商人财富有了很大的发展，银匠铜匠们有机会发挥他们的.专长了，这与选项C正好相符。

2016英语专业四级考试阅读理解试题及参考答案（4）For a long time, researchers have tried to nail down just what shapes us--or what, at least,shapes us most. And over the years, they've had a lot of exclamation moments. First it was ourparents, particularly our mothers. Then it was our genes. Next it was our peers, who show up lastbut hold great sway. And all those ideas were good ones--but only as far as they went.Somewhere, there was a sort of temperamental dark matter exerting an invisible gravitationalpull of its own. More and more, scientists are concluding that this unexplained force is our siblings.From the time we are born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and cautionary tales. They are our scolds, protectors, goads,tormentors, playmates, counselors, sources of envy, objects of pride. They teach us how toresolve conflicts and how not to; how to conduct friendships and when to walk away from them.Sisters teach brothers about the mysteries of girls; brothers teach sisters about the puzzle of boys.Our spouses arrive comparatively late in our lives; our parents eventually leave us. Our siblingsmay be the only people we'll ever know who truly qualify as partners for life. "Siblings," says familysociologist Katherine Conger, "are with us for the whole journey."Within the scientific community, siblings have not been wholly ignored, but research has beenlimited mostly to discussions of birth order.Older sibs were said to be strivers;younger onesrebels;middle kids the lost souls.The stereotypes were broad，if not entirely untrue，and therethe discussion mostly ended.But all that’s changin9.At research centers in the U.S.，Canada，Europe andelsewhere，investigators are launching a wealth of new studies into the sibling dynamic，lookingat ways brothers and sisters steer one another int0—or awayfrom--risky behavior how they forma protective buffer(减震器)against family upheaval;how they educate one another about theopposite sex;how all siblings compete for family recognition and come to terms--or blows--oversuch impossibly charged issues as parental favoritism.From that research，scientists are gaining intriguing insights into the people we become asadults.Does the manager who runs a harmonious office call on the peacemaking skills learned inthe family playroom? Does the student struggling with a professor who plays favorites summonup the coping skills acquired from dealing with a sister who was Daddy’s girl? Do husbands andwives benefit from the inter —gender negotiations they waged when their most important partnerswere their sisters and brothers? All that is under investigation.“Siblings have just been off theradar screen until now，”says Conger.But today serious work is revealing exactly how ourbrothers and sisters influence us.1.The beginning of the passage indicates thatA.researchers have found out what shapes us.B.our peer is the last factor influencing us.C.what researchers found contributes in a limited way.D.what researchers found is good and trustworthy.2.In the third paragraph, the author tries to demonstrate that our siblingsA.offer us much useful information.B.have great influences on us.C.are the ones who love us completely.D.accompany us throughout our life.3.In scientific community, previous research on siblingsA.mostly focused on the sibling order.B.studied the characteristics of the kids.C.studied the matter in a broad sense.D.wasn’t believable and the discussion ended.4.Which of the following is NOT sibling dynamic?A.A brother cautions his sister against getting into trouble.B.Sisters have quarrels with each other.C.Siblings compete for parental favoritism.D.Older kids in a family try hard to achieve.5.From the last paragraph，we can conclude thatA.managers learned management skills from the family playroom.B.spouses learnednegotiation skills from their siblings.C.studies on siblings are under the way。

英语专四试题及答案详解一、听力理解（共30分）1. A) 短对话理解（共10分）- 例题：What is the man going to do?A) Buy a book.B) Return a book.C) Borrow a book.- 答案：A- 解析：根据对话中男士说“Excuse me, where can I buy a book?”可知，男士打算买书。

2. B) 长对话理解（共10分）- 例题：What is the relationship between the two speakers?A) Colleagues.B) Friends.C) Teacher and student.- 答案：C- 解析：对话中出现“Remember to hand in your homework next time,” 说明其中一人为老师，另一人为学生。

3. C) 短文理解（共10分）- 例题：What is the main idea of the passage?A) The importance of sleep.B) The benefits of exercise.C) The effects of stress.- 答案：A- 解析：短文主要讨论了睡眠的重要性，因此选项A是正确答案。

二、词汇与语法（共20分）1. 词汇题（共10分）- 例题：Despite the heavy rain, the game continued,_______ the players' disappointment.A) to the delight ofB) to the dismay ofC) to the surprise of- 答案：B- 解析：根据句子中的“the players' disappointment”，可知球员们感到失望，因此选择B。

2. 语法题（共10分）- 例题：I don’t think he will be able to come to the meeting this afternoon, _______?A) will heB) won’t heC) isn’t he- 答案：A- 解析：在否定前移的句子中，疑问部分要与后面的主谓结构保持一致，因此选择A。

专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷56(题后含答案及解析) 题型有： 5. READING COMPREHENSIONPART V READING COMPREHENSION (25 MIN)Directions: In this section there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer.Climbing to the top of my nearest hill in San Francisco, my purpose is not to enjoy the view but to experience a bit of fresh air and nature. Some birds dwell in these urban islands of trees, bushes and soil. So few people are there, but they are happy, relaxed and friendly(unless insane and out to rob). I find the view of San Francisco Bay and the metropolis most disturbing, seeing in all directions the industrial activity and oil-fueled trade of questionable imported products. Massive port facilities dwarf the human scale of sustainable import/export. A very small number of sailboats for pleasure can’t quite offer a vision of renewable-energy travel and exchange. Passenger planes take off, military jets show off their ear-splitting capabilities, all against the backdrop of polluted air that is warming in general thanks to commercial activity and the mindless consumption by the individual. The hills are full of roads and energy-wasting houses. It’s not like this everywhere; the hills around Kyoto are pitch black at night, for they consist of forest, trails and small, outdoor temples. Seven million people surround me in this metropolitan area. Those among them who really care whether Barry Bonds used steroids to hit baseballs, or what pregnant celebrity has checked into a drug rehabilitation facility, are not likely to be trying to live lightly on the planet. Normal citizens under the spell of mass media want to consume, and be given answers and easy fixes. They may get what they want tonight, and again, and again, but it will come to an abrupt end, and will people pick up a shovel to plant food or pick up the gun to take others’ food? That depends on the area affected, the culture(urban U.S. or otherwise), and population size. Why should I be disturbed by what I see now, when all is basically calm? Or feel uneasy as I stroll about in the safety of my comfortable home? Is not San Francisco and the surrounding area a great city, with many wonderful people and activities to appreciate? What about the noble struggles of valiant, compromised hard-working people, or the dysfunctional and disabled folk who are really kind? The social injustice that is still pervasive, in our boastful age of scientific and technological power, is outrageous and occupies many of the best hearts and minds in the world who live in our very midst. Much of what ails people, it is thought, is that they do not have enough cheap, affordable energy or material things that are supposed to both satisfy and uplift. More public funds for health care, through an end to costly, imperialist wars, would be the ticket to a healthy society, in the eyes of more and more. Except, that selfless aspiration is becoming clouded with the uncertainty and fright growing around ourawakening to climate change. In the buzzing Bay Area and every other large and small city, we are behaving as if there is no threat to the climate and thus our future survival as a species. Just looking around at the unceasing traffic, it is clear that basic, radical but easy solutions are being kept on the shelf or buried. Tiny changes, usually just initiatives that don’t threaten the current life style(e.g., different engines), are called “green”. Green this and green that. But the big “greening”will be the rediscovery of community and working with others as if our survival depends on our collaboration as equals. Our bosses and political leaders have been as useful in the needed transition as—to borrow an expression from my late father—tits on a bull.1．What do the “few people” do on top of the hill?A．They are the rich residents of the city.B．They are there to enjoy the natural beauty.C．They are attracted by the view of San Francisco Bay.D．They attack the tourists and rob them.正确答案：B解析：根据第1段第3句的happy，relaxed and friendly及第1、2句的内容可以推断这些few people和作者一样上山是为了呼吸新鲜空气和亲近自然的，由此看来，B与原文内容最接近，选B。

专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷3(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1.5%. Much of the debt that students are taking on is provided or guaranteed by the government. Imposing write-offs on all taxpayers to benefit those with the best job prospects is unfair; and ripping up contracts between borrowers and private lenders is usually a bad idea. That said, student-loan systems in America and elsewhere are often badly designed for an extended period of high unemployment. In contrast to the housing crash, the risk from student debt is not of a sudden explosion in losses but of gradual financial suffocation. The pressure needs to be eased. One option is to change the bankruptcy laws. In America, Britain and elsewhere, these treat student debt as a special case: unlike other forms of debt, it cannot be wiped out. If student debt is not to bound existing graduates and put off future ones, the rules could be changed so that it is dischargeable in bankruptcy. Yet the reasoning behind the current bankruptcy provisions is logical enough; education is an asset that cannot be repossessed and that keeps on benefiting the individual through his or her lifetime. Some worry that graduates would rush to declare bankruptcy, handing losses to taxpayers. So a second option is preferable. Many countries, America included, have designed student debt primarily as a mortgage-like obligation: it is repaid to a fixed schedule. Other places, like Britain and Australia, make student-loan repayments contingent(依情况而定的)on reaching an income threshold so that the prospect of taking on debt is more acceptable to people from poorer backgrounds. That approach makes sense, especially when jobs are scarce. Barack Obama this week proposed to limit loan payments for some struggling American graduates to 10% of discretionary(任意的)income and forgive outstanding debt after 20 years. Income-based repayment ought to become the norm. Both changes would lead to a repricing of student debt. That would be a bad thing for taxpayers, but a good thing overall. If such information were made public, other useful data would follow—on the average financial returns to graduates of specific subjects, for example. Those studying less profitable subjects would have to pay more, or be subsidised more. It would be a controversial approach, but a more educated one.5．We can learn from the first two paragraphs that_____.A．high unemployment rates make it hard for students to get loansB．rising university fees is a valid way to balance the student loansC．student indebtedness has become an increasingly tricky issueD．credit quality has been improved including student debts正确答案：C解析：推理题。

专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷196(题后含答案及解析)题型有： 5. READING COMPREHENSIONPART V READING COMPREHENSIONSECTION AIn this section there are several passages followed by ten multiple-choice questions. For each question, there are four suggested answers marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. Choose the one that you think is the best answer.(1) The reader may rest satisfied that Tom’s and Huck’s windfall (意外之财) made a mighty stir in the poor little village of St. Petersburg. So vast a sum, all in actual cash, seemed next to incredible. It was talked about, gloated over, glorified, until the reason of many of the citizens tottered under the strain of the unhealthy excitement. Every “haunted” house in St. Petersburg and the neighboring villages was dissected, plank by plank, and its foundations dug up and ransacked (搜遍) for hidden treasure—and not by boys, but men—pretty grave, unromantic men, too, some of them. Wherever Tom and Huck appeared they were courted, admired, stared at. The boys were not able to remember that their remarks had possessed weight before; but now their sayings were treasured and repeated; everything they did seemed somehow to be regarded as remarkable; they had evidently lost the power of doing and saying commonplace things; moreover, their past history was raked up and discovered to bear marks of conspicuous originality. The village paper published biographical sketches (传略) of the boys. (2) The Widow Douglas put Huck’s money out at six per cent, and Judge Thatcher did the same with Tom’s at Aunt Polly’s request. Each lad (男孩) had an income, now, that was simply prodigious—a dollar for every week-day in the year and half of the Sundays. It was just what the minister got—no, it was what he was promised—he generally couldn’t collect it. A dollar and a quarter a week would board, lodge, and school a boy in those old simple days—and clothe him and wash him, too, for that matter. (3) Judge Thatcher had conceived a great opinion of Tom. He said that no commonplace boy would ever have got his daughter out of the cave. When Becky told her father, in strict confidence, how Tom had taken her whipping at school, the Judge was visibly moved; and when she pleaded grace for the mighty lie which Tom had told in order to shift that whipping from her shoulders to his own, the Judge said with a fine outburst that it was a noble, a generous, a magnanimous lie—a lie that was worthy to hold up its head and march down through history breast to breast with George Washington’s lauded Truth about the hatchet (短柄小斧) ! Becky thought her father had never looked so tall and so superb as when he walked the floor and stamped his foot and said that. She went straight off and told Tom about it. (4) Judge Thatcher hoped to see Tom a great lawyer or a great soldier some day. He said he meant to look to it that Tom should be admitted to the National Military Academy and afterward trained in the best law school in the country, in order that he might be ready for either career or both. (5) Huck Finn’s wealth and the factthat he was now under the Widow Douglas’ protection introduced him into society—no, dragged him into it, hurled him into it—and his sufferings were almost more than he could bear. The widow’s servants kept him clean and neat, combed and brushed, and they bedded him nightly in unsympathetic sheets that had not one little spot or stain which he could press to his heart and know for a friend. He had to eat with a knife and fork; he had to use napkin, cup, and plate; he had to learn his book, he had to go to church; he had to talk so properly that speech was become insipid (枯燥乏味的) in his mouth; whithersoever he turned, the bars and shackles (镣铐) of civilization shut him in and bound him hand and foot. (6) He bravely bore his miseries three weeks, and then one day turned up missing. For forty-eight hours the widow hunted for him everywhere in great distress. The public were profoundly concerned; they searched high and low, they dragged the river for his body. Early the third morning Tom Sawyer wisely went poking among some old empty hogsheads (大桶) down behind the abandoned slaughter-house, and in one of them he found the refugee. Huck had slept there; he had just breakfasted upon some stolen odds and ends of food, and was lying off, now, in comfort, with his pipe. He was unkempt (蓬乱的), uncombed, and clad in the same old ruin of rags that had made him picturesque in the days when he was free and happy.1．In Para. 2, the word “prodigious” probably means______.A．enormousB．trivialC．commonD．moderate正确答案：A解析：语义题。

专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷1(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1.4 million children out of the picture altogether. Equally worryingly, the consultation insists that any new poverty measure must resonate with the public. The latest British Social Attitudes survey shows just how widespread negative views of vulnerable groups in society are, but also makes clear that much of this shift in public opinion has been caused by current and previous government policies. So, should we expect better measures of child poverty as a result of the consultation? Not better for the children growing up in low-income families for sure. And given the broader costs to society of child poverty, not better for anyone else—except, perhaps, a government that we suspect may be trying to avoid being held to account.1．What will NOT lead vulnerable families to poverty according to the first paragraph?A．Sharp decline in tax credits.B．A three-year freeze in child benefit.C．Increasing unemployment benefits.D．The adoption of RPI instead of CPI.正确答案：D解析：细节题。

专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷58(题后含答案及解析) 题型有： 5. READING COMPREHENSIONPART V READING COMPREHENSION (25 MIN)Directions: In this section there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer.My job is to provide relevant, factually accurate information that is interesting, useful and entertaining to my readers, be they Brainstorm or ITWeb readers. My job is not to get your corporate message across. If you want to get your corporate message out to the market take an advertisement, or, failing that, do a good enough job that your clients get your message and spread it for you, then you wouldn’t be so desperate that you have to attempt to force me to do it. Secondly, my job is to take information from any sources as I feel are relevant or necessary, and process it into one smooth, seamless story that makes sense, and is easy and pleasant to read. It is not my job to print every single word of jargon and marketing waffle that spews from your lips. Should you choose to spew jargon and marketing waffle during an interview, it will not be used. Try plain, simple English in future. What my job reminds me of is to use comments and quotes that provide knowledge and insight, not to use anything you have said merely because you have said it. What I use and what I do not use in a story is my privilege. Should I choose not to use your quote there is nothing you can do about it. Further, my job is to write stories that my readers want to read, thus keeping the magazine or website’s ideas alive and kicking, and thus providing advertisers with an audience to advertise to. Should I write what you want me to write my readers will stop reading and you will have no vehicle for your marketing and advertising. Additionally, should you have a hissy fit and threaten to pull your ads, or never advertise again, because I ran a story you did not like, or did not use your quotes, or looked at you funny when you were having a bad day, you are not going to get a sympathetic response. You will get a positive and professional response. Nice people will kindly attempt to explain to you about press freedom, and what is enshrined in SA’s constitution, and that “really, really, we’re sorry but advertising people have no control over what those journalists do”. What you will get from me is the pleasure of never being interviewed by me again. I will not be blackmailed. I will not be bullied. And I most certainly will not interview you again, knowing that if you happen to take an ad for that feature you will assume I am running your quotes to keep you happy. Conversely, I will not do an interview knowing that if I do not run your quotes you will assume it is because you have not taken an ad. So the next time you have the urge to ask me if you can approve copy, or tell my sales team that you will not take an ad unless you are guaranteed editorial, remember the above and think about what you are actually doing. You areasking me to compromise my ethics, credibility, reputation, integrity and—ultimately —my career and I will not do that—for you or anyone.1．The author suggests that corporate message should be sent to the consumers primarily byA．committing to advertising.B．improving product quality.C．spreading public praise.D．attracting more readers.正确答案：A解析：题干中的primarily表明我们要查找传达商业信息的首选做法，第2段第2句中的or，failing that，表明其前面提到的take an advertisement就是首选做法，该句提到的其他做法都是在“广告”这个途径失败后才采取的，由此可见，本题应选A。

专四试题及答案2024一、听力理解（共20分）1. 短对话理解（共5分）- 根据所听对话，选择正确答案。

- 例：What is the man going to do?- A. Go to the library.- B. Go to the cinema.- C. Go to the concert.- 答案：A2. 长对话理解（共5分）- 根据所听对话，回答以下问题。

- 例：What is the main topic of the conversation?- 答案：The main topic is the upcoming holiday plans.3. 新闻听力（共5分）- 根据所听新闻，选择正确答案。

- 例：What is the news report mainly about?- A. A new policy.- B. A natural disaster.- C. A sports event.- 答案：B4. 听力填空（共5分）- 根据所听短文，填写空缺的单词或短语。

- 例：The project was completed on _______.- 答案：schedule二、阅读理解（共30分）1. 快速阅读（共10分）- 阅读文章，判断下列句子是否正确。

- 例：The article mainly discusses the benefits of exercise.- 答案：True2. 深度阅读（共20分）- 阅读文章，回答以下问题。

- 例：What is the author's opinion on the issue?- 答案：The author believes that the issue requires a balanced approach.三、词汇与语法（共20分）1. 词汇选择题（共10分）- 选择最合适的词填空。

- 例：The _______ of the new policy was met with mixed reactions.- A. introduction- B. conclusion- C. exclusion- 答案：A2. 语法填空（共10分）- 根据句子结构，填写正确的语法形式。