(完整版)大学英语专业四级阅读理解模拟试题(含答案)(07)
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专业英语四级(阅读理解)模拟试卷4(题后含答案及解析)题型有:1.B.After 1945.C.During the depression of the 1930’s.D.In 1966.正确答案:B解析:细节题。
第一段The depression of the 1930’s and the war had held back marriages.and the catching—up process began after 1945.经过二十世纪三十年代的经济危机,战争使结婚率下降,1945年之后爆发了婴儿潮。
3.The author suggests that in Canada during the 1950’s______.A.the urban population decreased rapidlyB.fewer people marriedC.economic conditions were poorD.the birth rate was very high正确答案:D解析:推理题.第一段The baby boom continued through the decade of the 1950’s,producing a population increase of nearly fifteen percent in the five years from 1951 to 1956.50年代一直持续着婴儿潮,从1951年到1956年人口增长为15%,我们可以推断出50年代加拿大的出生率很高。
4.The author mentions all of the following as causes of declines in population growth after 1957 EXCEPT______.A.people being better educatedB.people getting married earlierC.better standards of livingD.couples buying houses正确答案:B解析:细节题。
2021年大学英语四级词汇模拟试题及答案(卷七)1.In the long ________, the new information technologies may fundamentally alter our way of life.A) viewB) distanceC) jumpD) run2.All the arrangements should be completed ________ your departure.A) prior toB) superior toC) contrary toD) parallel to3.We need to create education standards that prepare our next generation who will be ________ with an even more competitive market.A) tackledB) encounteredC) dealtD) confronted4.In the late seventies, the amount of fixed assets required to produce one vehicle in Japan was ________ equivalent to that in the United States.A) rudelyB) roughlyC) readilyD) coarsely5.Many people believe we are heading for environmental disaster ________ we radically change way we live.A) butB) althoughC) unlessD) lest6.The machine looked like a large, ________, old-fashioned typewriter.A) forcefulB) clumsyC) intenseD) tricky7.Though she began her ________ by singing in a local pop group, she is now a famous Hollywood movie star.A) employmentB) careerC) occupationD) profession8.Within two weeks of arrival, all foreigners had to ________ with the local police.A) inquireB) consultC) registerD) resolve9.Considering your salary, you should be able to ________ at least twenty dollars a week.A) put forwardB) put upC) put outD) put aside10.As he has ________ our patience, we’ll not wait for him any longer.A) tornB) wastedC) exhaustedD) consumed1.答案:D参考译文:在长远来说,新的信息技术可能从根本上改变我们的生活方式。
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。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT ARacket, din clamor, noise, whatever you want to call it, unwanted sound is America's most widespread nuisance. But noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health. Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one is immune to this stress. Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it, the ear, in fact, never closes and the body still responds—sometimes with extreme tension, as to a strange sound in the night.The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress building up inside us. Indeed, because irritability is so apparent, legislators have made public annoyance the basis of many noise abatement programs. The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stress caused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention. Nevertheless, when we are annoyed or made irritable by noise, we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other thing may be happening to us, some of which may be damaging to our health.Of many health hazards to noise, hearing loss is the most clearly observable and measurable by health professionals. The other hazards are harder to pin down. For many of us, there may be a risk that exposure to the stress of noise increases susceptibility to disease and infection. The more susceptible among us may experience noise as a complicating factor in heart problems and other diseases. Noise that causes annoyance and irritability in health persons may have serious consequences for these already ill in mind or body.Noise affects us throughout our lives. For example, there are indications of effects on the unborn child when mothers are exposed to industrial and environmental noise. During infancy and childhood, youngsters exposed to high noise levels may have trouble falling asleep and obtaining necessary amounts of rest.Why, then, is there not greater alarm about these dangers? Perhaps it is because the link between noise and many disabilities or diseases has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Perhaps it is because we tend to dismiss annoyance as a price to pay for living in the modern world. It may also be because we still think of hearing loss as only an occupational hazard.1. In Paragraph 1, the phrase "immune to" are used to mean ___.A.unaffected byB.hurt byC.unlikely to be seen byD.unknown by2.3. The author's attitude toward noise would best be described as ___.A.unrealisticB.traditionalC.concernedD.hystericalWhich of the following best states the main idea of the passage?A.Noise is a major problem; most people recognize its importance.B.Although noise can be annoying, it is not a major problem.C.Noise is a major problem and has not yet been recognized as such.D.Noise is a major problem about which nothing can be done.4.5. The author condemns noise essentially because it ___.A.is against the lawB.can make some people irritableC.is a nuisanceD.in a ganger to people's healthThe author would probably consider research about the effects noise has on people to be ___.A.unimportantB.impossible.C.a waste of moneyD.essentialTEXT BWhat we know of prenatal development makes all this attempt made by a mother to mold the character ofher unborn child by studying poetry, art, or mathematics during pregnancy seem utterly impossible. How could such extremely complex influences pass from the mother to the child? There is no connection between their nervous systems. Even the blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly. An emotional shock to the mother will affect her child, because it changes the activity of her glands and so the chemistry her blood. Any chemical change in the mother's blood will affect the child for better or worse. But we can not see how a looking for mathematics or poetic genius can be dissolved in blood and produce a similar liking or genius in the child.In our discussion of instincts we saw that there was reason to believe that whatever we inherit must be of some very simple sort rather than any complicated or very definite kind of behavior. It is certain that no one inherits a knowledge of mathematics. It may be, however, that children inherit more or less of a rather general ability that we may call intelligence. If very intelligent children become deeply interested in mathematics, they will probably make a success of that study.As for musical ability, it may be that what is inherited is an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the hands or the vocal organs connections between nerves and muscles that make it comparatively easy to learn the movements a musician must execute, and particularly vigorous emotions. If these factors are all organized around music, the child may become a musician. The same factors, in other circumstance might be organized about some other center of interest. The rich emotional equipment might find expression in poetry. The capable fingers might develop skill in surgery. It is not the knowledge of music that is inherited, then nor even the love of it, but a certain bodily structure that makes it comparatively easy to acquire musical knowledge and skill. Whether that ability shall be directed toward music or some other undertaking may be decided entirely by forces in the environment in which a child grows up.6. Which of the following statements is not true?A. Some mothers try to influence their unborn children by studying art and other subjects during theirpregnancy.B. It is utterly impossible for us to learn anything about prenatal development.C. The blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly.D. There are no connection between mother's nervous systems and her unborn child's.A mother will affect her unborn baby on the condition that ____.A. she is emotionally shocked7.B.she has a good knowledge of inheritanceC. she takes part in all kind of activitiesD. she sticks to studying8.9. According to the passage, a child may inherit____.A. everything from his motherB. a knowledge of mathematicsC. a rather general ability that we call intelligenceD. her mother's musical abilityIf a child inherits something from his mother, such as an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the hands or of the vocal organs, he will ____.A. surely become musicianB. mostly become a poetC. possibly become a teacherD. become a musician on the condition that all these factors are organized around music10. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A. Role of Inheritance.B. An Unborn Child.C. Function of instincts.D. Inherited Talents.TEXT CThere are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably , some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual— the sort of environment in which he is brought up. If an individual is handicapped(不利) environmentally, it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intelligence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth processes were the same. When the twins were three months old, their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster(抚养) homes. Peter was raised by parents of low intelligence in an isolated community with poor educational opportunities. Mark was reared in the home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. He was read to as a child, sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually. This environmental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were given tests to measure their intelligence. Mark's I. Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities, the twins, having identical brains, would have tested at roughly the same level.11. This selection can best be titled____________.A. Measuring Your IntelligenceB. Intelligence and EnvironmentC. The Case of Peter and MarkD. How the Brain Influences Intelligence12.13. The best statement of the main idea of this passage is that _______.A. human brains differ considerablyB. the brain a person is born with is important in determining his intelligenceC. environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenceD. persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence According to the passage, the average I. Q. is_______.A. 85 .B. 100C. 110D. 12514. The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that_______.A. individuals with identical brains seldom test at the same levelB. an individual's intelligence is determined only by his environmentC. lack of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenceD. changes of environment produce changes in the structure of the brain15. This passage suggests that an individual's I. Q. _______.A. can be predicted at birthB. stays the same throughout his lifeC. can be increased by educationD. is determined by his childhoodTEXT DPersonality 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. Too 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 school that 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. The 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.16. According to the author, what factors contribute to the building of personality?A. inheritanceb. inheritance, competition and environmentc. competitiond. environment17. 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.18. The phrase "soak up" is closest in meaning to ____.A. pull upb. take upc. take ind. pull in19. What attitude does the author hold toward examinations in schools?A. positiveb. negativec. doubtfuld. neutral20. 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:1-5 ACCDD 6-10 BACDA 11-15 B C B C C 16-20 BDCCB。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT AAt some time in your life you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible. However, chances are that you don’t act on your impulse, but let it pass instead. You know that to commit the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior.Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change over the years within the same society, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting and unpleasant that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the publication of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.One of the newest taboos in American society is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is topic that Americans talk about constantly. It’s not taboo to talk about fat; it’s taboo to be fat. The “in” look is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, trim executives to sell their image as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline, and self-respect. In an image-conscious society like the U.S., thin is “in”, fat is “out”.I t’s not surprising, then, that millions of Americans have become obsessed with staying slim and “in shape”. The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the sole reason for America’s fascination with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the critical importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of North Americans has changed dramatically during the course of the last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor that people were once forced to do by hand. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people’s bodies can easily become weak and vulnerable to disease. In an effort to avoid such a fate, millions of Americans are spending more of their time exercising.1.From the passage we can infer taboo is__.A.a strong desire to do something strange or terrible.B.a crime committed on impulse.C.behavior considered unacceptable in society’s eyes.D.an unfavorable impression left on other people.2.Based on the ideas presented in the passage we can conclude “being fat” __ in American society.A.will always remain a taboo.B.is not considered a taboo by most people.C.has long been a taboo.D.may no longer be a taboo some day.3.The topic of fat is __ many other taboo subjects.A.the same asB.different fromC.more popular thanD.less often talked about than.4.In the U.S., thin is “in”, fat is “out”, this means__.A.thin is “inside”, fat is “outside”.B.thin is “diligent”, fat is “lazy”.C.thin is “youthful”, fat is “spiritless”.D.thin is “fashionable”, fat is “unfashionable”.5.Apart from this new understanding of the correlation between health and exercise, the main reason thepassage gives for why so many Americans are exercising regularly is__.A.their changed life-style.B.their eagerness to stay thin and youthful.C.their appreciation of the importance of exercise.D.the encouragement they have received from their companies.TEXT BThe discovery of the Antarctic not only proved one of the most interesting of all geographical adventures, but created what might be called “the heroic age of Antarctic exploration”. By their tremendous heroism, men such as Shakleton, Scott, and Amundsen caused a new continent to emerge from the shadows, and yet that heroic age, little more than a century old, is already passing. Modern science and inventions are revolutionizing the endurance, future journeys into these icy wastes will probably depend on motor vehicles equipped with caterpillar traction rather than on the dogs that earlier discoverers found so invaluable and hardly comparable.Few realize that this Antarctic continent is almost equal in size to South America, and enormous field of work awaits geographers and prospectors. The coasts of this continent remain to be accurately charted, and the maping of the whole of the interior presents a formidable task to the cartographers who undertake the work. Once their labors are completed, it will be possible to prospect the vast natural resources which scientists believe will furnish one of the largest treasure hoards of metals and minerals the world has yet known, and almost inexhaustible sources of copper, coal, uranium, and many other ores will become available to man. Such discoveries will usher in an era of practical exploitation of the Antarctic wastes.The polar darkness which hides this continent for the six winter months will be defeated by huge batteries of light, and make possible the establishing of air-fields for the future inter-continental air services by making these areas as light as day. Present flying routes will be completely changed, for the Antarctic refueling bases will make flights from Australia to South America comparatively easy over the 5,000 miles journey.The climate is not likely to offer an insuperable problem, for the explorer Admiral Byrd has shown that the climate is possible even for men completely untrained for expeditions into those frozen wastes. Some of his parties were men who had never seen snow before, and yet he records that they survived the rigors of the Antarctic climate comfortably, so that, provided that the appropriate installations are made, we may assume that human beings from all countries could live there safely. Byrd even affirms that it is probably the most healthy climate in the world, for the intense cold of thousands of years has sterilize this continent, and rendered it absolutely germfree, with the consequences that ordinary and extraordinary sickness and diseases from which man suffers in other zones with different climates are here utterly unknown. There exist no problems of conservation and preservation of food supplies, for the latter keep indefinitely without any signs of deterioration; it may even be that later generations will come to regard the Antarctic as the natural storehouse for the whole world.Plans are already on foot to set up permanent bases on the shores of this continent, and what so few years ago was regarded as a “dead continent” now promises to be a most active center of human life and endeavor.6.When did man begin to explore the AntarcticA.About 100years ago.B.In this century.C.At the beginning of the 19th century.D.In 1798.7.What must the explorers be, even though they have modern equipment and techniquesA.Brave and toughB.Stubborn and arrogant.C.Well-liked and humorous.D.Stout and smart.8.The most healthy climate in the world is___.A.in South America.B.in the Arctic Region.C.in the Antarctic Continent.D.in the Atlantic Ocean.9.What kind of metals and minerals can we find in the AntarcticA.Magnetite, coal and ores.B.Copper, coal and uranium.C.Silver, natural gas and uranium.D.Aluminum, copper and natural gas.10.What is planned for the continentA.Building dams along the coasts.B.Setting up several summer resorts along the coasts.C.Mapping the coast and whole territory.D.Setting up permanent bases on the coasts.TEXT CWithout regular supplies of some hormones our capacity to behave would be seriously impaired; without others we would soon die. Tiny amounts of some hormones can modify moods and actions, our inclination to eat or drink, our aggressiveness or submissiveness, and our reproductive and parental behavior. And hormones do more than influence adult behavior; early in life they help to determine the development of bodily form and may even determine an individual’s behavioral capacities. Later in life the changing outputs of some endocrine glands and the body’s changing sensitivity to some hormones are essential aspects of the phenomena of aging.Communication within the body and the consequent integration of behavior were considered the exclusive province of the nervous system up to the beginning of the present century. The emergence of endocrinology as a separate discipline can probably be traced to the experiments of Bayliss and Starling on the hormone secretion. This substance is secreted from cells in the intestinal walls when food enters the stomach; it travels through the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to liberate pancreatic juice, which aids in digestion. By showing that special cells secret chemical agents that are conveyed by the bloodstream and regulate distant target organs or tissues. Bayliss and starling demonstrated that chemical integration could occur without participation of the nervous system.The term “hormone” was first used with reference to secretion. Starling derived the term from the Greek hormone, meaning “to excite or set in motion. The term “endocrine” was introduced shortly thereafter “Endocrine” is used to refer to glands that secret products into the bloodstream. The term “endocrine” contrasts with “exocrine”, which is applied to glands that secret their products though ducts to the site of action. Examples of exocrine glands are the tear glands, the sweat glands, and the pancreas, which secrets pancreatic juice through a duct into the intestine. Exocrine glands are also called duct glands, while endocrine glands are called ductless.11.What is the author’s main purpose in the passage?A.To explain the specific functions of various hormones.B.To provide general information about hormones.C.To explain how the term “hormone” evolved.D.To report on experiments in endocrinology.12.The passage supports which of the following conclusions?A.The human body requires large amounts of most hormones.B.Synthetic hormones can replace a person’s natural supply of hormones if necessary.C.The quantity of hormones produced and their effects on the body are related to a person’s age.D.The short child of tall parents very likely had a hormone deficiency early in life.13.It can be inferred from the passage that before the Bayliss and Starling experiments, most people believed thatchemical integration occurred only___.A.during sleep.B.in the endocrine glands.C.under control of the nervous system.D.during strenuous exercise.14.The word “liberate” could best be replaced by which of the following?A.EmancipateB.DischargeC.SurrenderD.Save15.According to the passage another term for exocrine glands is___.A.duct glandsB.endocrine glandsC.ductless glandsD.intestinal glands.TEXT DIf the old maxim that the customer is always right still has meaning, then the airlines that ply the world’s busiest air route between London and Paris have a flight on their hands.The Eurostar train service linking the UK and French capitals via the Channel Tunnel is winning customers in increasing numbers. In late May, it carried its one millionth passenger, having run only a limited service between London, Paris and Brussels since November 1994, starting with two trains a day in each direction to Paris and Brussels. By 1997, the company believes that it will be carrying ten million passengers a year, and continue to grow from there.From July, Eurostar steps its service to nine trains each way between London and Paris, and five between London and Brussels. Each train carries almost 800 passengers, 210 of them in first class.The airlines estimate that they will initially lose around 15%-20% of their London-Paris traffic to the railways once Eurostar starts a full service later this year (1995), with 15 trains a day each way. A similar service will start to Brussels. The damage will be limited, however, the airlines believe, with passenger numbers returning to previous levels within two to three years.In the short term, the damage caused by the 1 million people-levels traveling between London and Paris and Brussels on Eurostar trains means that some air services are already suffering. Some of the major carriers say that their passenger numbers are down by less than 5% and point to their rivals-Particularly Air France-as having suffered the problems. On the Brussels route, the railway company had less success, and the airlines report anything from around a 5% drop to no visible decline in traffic.The airlines' optimism on returning traffic levels is based on historical precedent. British Midland, for example, points to its experience on Heathrow Leeds Bradford service which saw passenger numbers fold by 15%when British Rail electrified and modernized the railway line between London and Yorkshire. Two years later, travel had risen between the two destinations to the point where the airline was carrying record numbers of passengers.16.British airlines confide in the fact that__.A.they are more powerful than other European airlines.B.their total loss won’t go beyond a drop of 5% passengers.C.their traffic levels will return in 2-3 years.D.traveling by rail can never catch up with traveling by air.17.The author’s attitude towards the drop of passengers may be described as__.A.worried.B.delightedC.puzzled.D.unrivaled.18.In the passage, British Rail (Para 6) is mentioned to__.A.provide a comparison with Eurostar.B.support the airlines’ optimism.C.prove the inevitable drop of air passengers.D.call for electrification and modernization of the railway.19.The railway’s Brussels route is brought forth to show that__.A.the Eurostar train service is not doing good business.B.the airlines can well compete with the railway.C.the Eurostar train service only caused little damage.D.only some airlines, such as Air France, are suffering.20.The passage is taken from the first of an essay, from which we may well predict that in the following part theauthor is going to__.A.praise the airlines’ clear-mindedness.B.warn the airlines of high-speed rail services.C.propose a reduction of London/Paris flights.D.advise the airlines to follow British Midland as their model.答案: 1-5 CDBDB 6-10 AACBD 11-15 BDCBA 16-20 ABCB。
专业英语四级(阅读)模拟试卷60(题后含答案及解析)题型有:1.4 billion e-government program has seen online payment for the Inland Revenue’s pay-as-you-earn scheme, some Customs and Excise value added tax procedures, and claims for European Union subsidies for farmers all go live in the past month. At a presentation in Seattle today, Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder and chairman, will demonstrate the British system to 400 government officials from 80 countries to show how citizens and businesses can interact with government over the Internet. “Although some US states are using leading edge technology, Europe in general, and the UK in particular, is well ahead in implementing e-govemment initiatives. It should put the citizen at the center of government,” says Davide Vigano, general manager of public sector at the software group. “The projects have been implemented in just 15 weeks using Microsoft’s net technology,” said Andrew Pinder, the government’s e-envoy. “This is a key piece of infrastructure, brought in on time and on budget,”he said. The secure transaction technology is to be rolled out through about 200 central government departments and agencies and 482 local government institutions over the next five years in the drive to have all of the government online by 2005. The successful implementation is a coup for Microsoft which is trying to build up its enterprise software business and has targeted e-govemment. It has about 1,000 staff dedicated to government business. “This is a milestone for Microsoft,” said Barry Goffe, group manager, net enterprise solutions at the Redwood, Washington state-based company. “Two years ago, when the technology for successful integration did not exist, we would have walked away.” The hardware was supplied by Dell, and the servers are managed by Cable and Wireless. The technology is based on XML, a new language protocol that allows information to be labeled and then easily exchanged between computers on different platforms. “People want to hang on to their legacy systems which have been massive investments, but integrating these has proven difficult and expensive in the past. It’s astonishing how the friction has been wiped out by XML, which reduces paperwork, reduces complexity and slashes costs,” said Mr. Goffe.11.The online-transaction system has been first applied to the administration of______ in U.K.A.the distribution of agricultural subsidiesB.the adjustment of customs registrationC.the administration of importationD.the management of taxation正确答案:D解析:根据题干中的online-transaction system定位到第1、2句。
英语专业四级阅读理解模拟题及参考答案Within that exclusive group of literary characters who have survived through the centuries--from Hamlet to Huckleberry Finn--few can rival the cultural impact of Sherlock Holmes.Since his first public appearance20years ago,the gentleman with the curved pipe and a taste for cocaine,the master of deductive reasoning and elaborate disguise,has left his mark everywhere--in crime literature,film and television,cartoons and comic books.At Holmes'side,of course,was his trusted friend Dr.Watson.Looming even larger,however,was another doctor,one whose medical practice was so slow it allowed him plenty of time to pursue his literary ambition.His name:Arthur Conan Doyle.As the creator of these fictional icons, Conan Doyle has himself become something of a cult figure,the object of countless critical studies,biographies and fan clubs.Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh in1859,in a respectable middle-class Catholic family.Still, it was far from an easy life.There was never enough money;they moved frequently in search of lower rents;and his father,a civil servant and illustrator was an alcoholic who had to be institutionalized.Yet the early letters he wrote to his mother are surprisingly optimistic,concerned mainly with food,clothes,allowances and schoolwork.At14came his first unforgettable visit to London,including Madame Tussaud's,where he was"delighted with the room of Horrors,and the images of the murderers."A superb student,Conan Doyle went on to medical school,where he was attracted by Dr.Joseph Bell,a professor with an uncanny ability to diagnose patients even before they opened their mouths.For a time he worked as Bell's outpatient clerk and would watch,amazed,at how the location of a callus could reveal a man's profession,or how a quick look at a skin rash told Bell that the patient had once lived in Bermuda.In1886,Conan Doyle outlined his first novel,A Study in Scarlet,which he described as"a simple tale of mystery to make a little extra money."Its main character,initially called Sherringford Hope and later called Sherlock Holmes,was based largely on Bell.But Holmes'first appearance went almost unnoticed,and the struggling doctor devoted nearly all of his spare time to writing long historical novels in the style of Sir Walter Scott—novels that he was convinced would make his reputation.It wasn't to be.In1888,Holmes reappeared in A Scandal in Bohemia,a short story in Strand Magazine.And this time,its hero took an immediate hit and Conan Doyle's life would never be the same.1.The typical features of Sherlock Holmes were all EXCEPTA.rational.B.sociable.C.intelligent.D.cunning.2.Which of the following is NOT true about Conan Doyle and his family?A.He came from a middle-class family.B.They led a hard life in Edinburgh.C.His father was addicted to drinking.D.His mother had received little education.3.How did Conan Doyle feel about his first visit to London?A.It was horrible.B.It was pleasant.C.It was awful.D.It was memorable.4.We can infer from the last paragraph thatA.the more calluses a person has,the more professional he would be.B.writers often base their writing on personal experiences.C.Conan Doyle has gone through a period of hardship on his way to success.D.inspiration was very important for a person to create something.5.Conan Doyle's short story"A Scandai in Bohemia"has proved to be__at last.A.successfulB.powerfulC.ridiculousD.frustrating参考答案与解析:1.[B]细节判断题。
英语专业四级阅读理解模拟题A simple piece of rope hangs between some environmentally friendly Americans and their neighbors. On one side stand those who have begun to see clothes dryers as wasteful consumers of energy (up to 6% of total electricity) and powerful emitters of carbon dioxide (up to a ton of CO2 per household every year). As an alternative, they are turning to clotheslines as part of what Alexander Lee, an environmentalist, calls "what-I-can- do environmentalism."But on the other side are people who oppose air-drying laundry outside on aesthetic grounds. Increasingly, they have persuaded community and homeowners associations(HOAs) across the U.S. to ban outdoor clotheslines, which they say not only look unsightly but also lower surrounding property values. Those actions, in turn, have sparked a right-to-dry movement that is pressing for legislation to protect the choice to use clotheslines. Only three states--Florida, Hawaii and Utah--have laws written broadly enough to protect clotheslines. Right-to-dry advocates argue that there should be more.Matt Reck is the kind of eco-conscious guy who feeds his trees with bathwater and recycles condensation drops from his air conditioners to water plants. His family also uses a clothesline. But Otto Hagen, president of Reck's HOA in Wake Forest, N.C., notified him that a neighbor h, ad complained about his line. The Recks ignored the warning and still dry their clothes on a rope in the yard. "Many people claim to be environmentally friendly but don't take matters into their own hands," says Reck. HOAs Hagen has decided to hold off taking action. "I'm not going to go crazy," he says. "But if Matt keeps his line and more neighbors complain, I'll have to address it again."North Carolina lawmakers tried and failed earlier this year to insert language into an energy bill that would expressly prevent HOAs from regulating clotheslines. But the issue remains a touchy one with HOAs and real estate agents. "Most aesthetic restrictions are rooted, to a degree, in the belief that homogenous (统一协调的) exteriors are supportive of property value," says Sara Stubbins, executive director of the Community Association Institute's North Carolina chapter. In other words, associations worry that housing prices will fall if prospective buyers think their would-be neighbors are too poor to afford dryers.Alexander Lee dismisses the notion that clotheslines devalue property assets, advocating that the idea "needs to change in light of global warming." "We all have to do at least something to decrease our carbon footprint," Alexander Lee says.1.What is NOT mentioned as a disadvantage of using clothes dryers?A.Electricity consumption.B.Air pollution.C.Waste of energy.D.Ugly looking.2.Which of the following is INCORRECT?A.Opposers think air-drying laundry would devalue surrounding assets.B.Opposers consider the outdoor clothesline as an eyesore to the scenery.C.Right-to-dry movements led to the pass of written laws to protect clotheslines.D.Most of states in the US have no written laws to protect clotheslines.3.What is the HOAs' attitude towards the regulation of outdoor clotheslines?A.Concerned.B.Impartial.C.Supportive.D.Unclear.4.In the last paragraph Alexander Lee recommends thatA.clotheslines should be banned in the community.B.clotheslines wouldn't lessen the property values.C.the globe would become warmer and warmer.D.we should protect the environment in the community.5.An appropriate title for the passage might beA.Opinions on Environmental Protection.B.Opinions on Air-drying Laundry.C.What-I-Can-Do Environmentalism.D.Restrictions on Clotheslines.参考答案与解析:文章概要:本文探讨是否该用晾衣绳在室外晾晒衣服。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT AWe can begin our discussion of "population as global issue" with what most persons mean when they discuss "the population problem": too many people on earth and a too rapid increase in the number added each year. The facts are not in dispute, It was quite right to employ the analogy that likened demographic growth to "a long, thin powder fuse that burns steadily and haltingly until it finally reaches the charge and explodes."To understand the current situation, which is characterized by rapid increases in population, it is necessary to understand the history of population trends. Rapid growth is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographic history, we find that populations have been virtually stable or growing very slightly for most of human history. For most of our ancestors, life was hard, often nasty, and very short. There was high fertility in most places, but this was usually balanced by high mortality. For most of human history, it was seldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, while infancy and childhood were especially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger of extinction because death rates could exceed their birthrates. Thus, the population problem throughout most of history was how to prevent extinction of the human race.This pattern is important to notice. Not only does it put the current problems of demographic growth into a historical perspective, but it suggests that the cause of rapid increase in population in recent years is not a sudden enthusiasm for more children, but an improvement in the conditions that traditionally have caused high mortality.Demographic history can be divided into two major periods: a time of long, slow growth which extended from about 8,000 BC.till approximately AD. 1650. In the first period of some 9600 years, the population increased from some 8 million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650 and the present, the population has increased from 500 million to more than 4 billion. And it is estimated that by the year 2000 there will be 6.2 billion people throughout the world. One way to appreciate this dramatic difference in such abstract numbers is to reduce the time frame to something that is more manageable. Between 8000BC and 1650, an average of only 50,000 persons was being added annually to the world's population each year. At present, this number is added every six hours. The increase is about 80,000,000 persons annually.1.Which of the following demographic growth pattern is most suitable for the long thin powder fuse analogy?A.A virtually stable or slightly decreasing period and then a sudden explosion of population.B.A slow growth for a long time and then a period of rapid, dramatic increase.C.Too many people on earth and a few rapid increase in the number added each year.D.A long period when death rates exceeds birthrates and then a short period with higher fertility and lowermortality.2.During the first period of demographic history, societies were often in danger of extinction because___.A.only one in ten persons could live past 40.B.there was higher mortality than fertility in most places.C.it was too dangerous to have babies due to the poor conditions.D.our ancestors had little enthusiasm for more children.3.Which statement is true about population increase?A.There might be an increase of 2.2 billion persons from now to the year 2000.B.About 50,000 babies are born every six hours at present.C.Between 8000 BC and the present, the population increase is about 80,000,000 persons each year.D.The population increased faster between 8000BC and 1650 than between 1650 and the present.4.The author of the passage intends to___.A.warn people against the population explosion in the near future.pare the demographic growth pattern in the past with that after 1650.C.find out the cause for rapid increase in population in recent years.D.present us a clear and complete picture of the demographic growth.5.The word "demographic" in the first paragraph means___.A.statistics of human.B.surroundings study.C.accumulation of human.D.development of human.TEXT BChinese Americans today have higher incomes than Americans in general and higher occupational status. The Chinese have risen to this position despite some of the harshest discrimination and violence faced by any immigrants to the United States in the history of this country. Long confined to a narrow range of occupations they succeeded in those occupations and then spread out into other areas in later years, when opportunities finally opened up for them. Today much of the Chinese prosperity is due to the simple fact that they work more and have more (usually better) education than others. Almost one out of five Chinese families has three or more income earners compared to one out of thirteen for Puerto Ricans, one out of ten among American Indians, and one out of eight among Whites. When the Chinese advantages in working and educational are held constant, they have no advantage over other Americans. That is in a Chinese Family with a given number of people working and with a given amount of education by the head of the family, the income is not only about average for such families, and offer a little less than average.While Chinese Americans as a group are prosperous and well-educated Chinatowns are pockets of poverty, and illiteracy is much higher among the Chinese than among Americans in general. Those paradoxes are due to sharp internal differences. Descendants of the Chinese Americans who emigrated long ago from Toishan Province have maintained Chinese values and have added acculturation to American society with remarkable success. More recent Hong Kong Chinese are from more diverse cultural origins, and acquired western values and styles in Hong Kong, without having acquired the skills to proper and support those aspirations in the American economy. Foreign-born Chinese men in the United States are one-fourth lower incomes than native-born Chinese even though the foreign-born have been in the United States an average of seventeen years. While the older Hong Kong Chinese work tenaciously to sustain and advance themselves, the Hong Kong Chinese youths often react with resentment and antisocial behavior, including terrorism and murder. The need to maintain tourism in Chinatown causes the Chinese leaders to mute or downplay these problems as much as possible.6.According to the passage, today, Chinese Americans owe their prosperity to___.A.their diligence and better education than others.B.their support of American government.C.their fight against discriminations.D.advantages in working only.7.The passage is mainly concerned with___.A.chinese Americans today.B.social status of Chinese Americans today.C.incomes and occupational status of Chinese Americans today.D.problems of Chinese Americans today.8.Chinatowns are pockets of poverty, as is probably associated with___.A.most descendants of Chinese Americans are rebelling.B.most descendants of Chinese Americans are illiterate.C.sharp internal difference between Chinese coming from different cultural backgrounds.D.only a few Chinese Americans are rich.9.Which of the following statements is not true according to this articleA.As part of the minority, Chinese Americans are still experiencing discrimination in American today.B.Nowadays, Chinese Americans are working in wider fields.C.Foreign-born Chinese earn lower income than native-born Chinese Americans with the similar advantagesin the U.S.D.None of the above.10.According to the author, which of the following can best describe the older Hong Kong Chinese and theyoungerA.Tenacious; rebellion.B.Conservative; open-minded.C.Out-of-date; fashionable.D.Obedient; disobedient.TEXT CA controversy erupted in the scientific community in early 1998 over the use of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid ) fingerprinting in criminal investigations. DNA fingerprinting was introduced in 1987 as a method to identify individuals based on a pattern seen in their DNA, the molecule of which genes are made. DNA is present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. DNA fingerprinting has been used successfully in various ways, such as to determine paternity where it is not clear who the father of a particular child is. However, it is in the area of criminal investigations that DNA fingerprinting has potentially powerful and controversial uses.DNA fingerprinting and other DNA analysis techniques have revolutionized criminal investigations by giving investigators powerful new tools in the attempt to trove guilt, not just establish innocence. When used in criminal investigations, a DNA fingerprint pattern from a suspect is compared with a DNA fingerprint pattern obtained from such material as hairs or blood found at the scene of a crime. A match between the two DNA samples can be used as evidence to convict a suspect.The controversy in 1998 stemmed form a report published in December 1991 by population geneticists Richard C. Lewontin of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and Daniel L. Hartl called into question the methods to calculate how likely it is that a match between two DNA fingerprints might occur by chance alone. In particular, they argued that the current method cannot properly determine the likelihood that two DNA samples will match because they came from the same individual rather than simply from two different individuals who are members of the same ethnic group. Lewontin and Hartl called for better surveys of DNA patterns methods are adequate.In response to their criticisms, population geneticists Ranajit Chakraborty of the University of Texas in Dallas and Kenneth K.Kidd of Yale University in New Haven, Conn., argued that enough data are already available to show that the methods currently being used are adequate. In January 1998, however, the federal Bureau of Investigation and laboratories that conduct DNA tests announced that they would collect additional DNA samples form various ethnic groups in an attempt to resolve some of these questions. And, in April, a National Academy of Sciences called for strict standards and system of accreditation for DNA testing laboratories.11.efore DNA fingerprinting is used, suspects____.A.would have to leave their fingerprints for further investigationsB.would have to submit evidence for their innocenceC.could easily escape conviction of guiltD.cold be convicted of guilt as well12.DNA fingerprinting can be unreliable when ____.A.the methods used for blood- cell calculation are not accurateB.two different individuals of the same ethnic group may have the same DNA fingerprinting patternC.a match is by chance left with fingerprints that happen to belong to two different individualsD.two different individuals leave two DNA samples.13.To geneticists like Lewontin and Hartl, the current method ____.A.is not so convincing as to exclude the likelihood that two DNA samples can never come from twoindividualsB.is arguable because two individuals of the same ethnic group are likely to have the same DNA pattern.C.Is not based on adequate scientific theory of geneticsD.Is theoretically contradictory to what they have been studying14.The attitude of the Federal Bereau of Investigation shows that ____.A.enough data are yet to be collected form various ethnic groups to confirm the unlikelihood of two DNAsamples coming from two individual membersB.enough data of DNA samples should be collected to confirm that only DNA samples form the same personcan matchC.enough data are yet to be collected from various ethnic groups to determine the likelihood of two differentDNA samples coming form the same personD.additional samples from various ethnic groups should be collected to determine that two DNA samples areunlikely to come from the same person15.National Academy of Sciences holds the stance that ____.A.DNA testing should be systematizedB.Only authorized laboratories can conduct DNA testingC.The academy only is authorized to work out standards for testingD.The academy has the right to accredit laboratories for DNA testingTEXT DMost of us are taught to pay attention to what is said—the words. Words do provide us with some information, but meanings are derived from so many other sources that it would hinder our effectiveness as a partner to a relationship to rely too heavily on words alone. Words are used to describe only a small part of the many ideas we associate with any given message. Sometimes we can gain insight into some of those associations if we listen for more than words. We don't always say what we mean or mean what we say. Sometimes our words don't mean anything except " I'm letting off some steam. I don't really want you to pay close attention to what I'm saying. Just pay attention to what I'm feeling." Mostly we mean several things at once. A person wanting to purchase a house says to the current owner, "This step has to be fixed before I'll buy." The owner says, " It's been like that for years." Actually, the step hasn't been like that for years, but the unspoken message is: " I don't want to fix it. We put up with it. Why can't you?" The search for a more expansive view of meaning can be developed of examining a message in terms of who said it, when it occurred, the related conditions or situation, and how it was said.When a message occurs can also reveal associated meaning. Let us assume two couples do exactly the same amount of kissing and arguing. But one couple always kisses after an argument and the other couple always argues after a kiss. The ordering of the behaviors may mean a great deal more than the frequency of the behavior.A friend's unusually docile behavior may only be understood by noting that it was preceded by situations that required an abnormal amount of assertiveness. Some responses may be directly linked to a developing pattern of responses and defy logic. For example, a person who says "No!" to a serials of charges like "You're dumb," "You're lazy," and "You're dishonest," may also say "No!" and try to justify his or her response if the next statement is "And you're good looking."We would do well to listen for how messages are presented. The words, "If sure has been nice to have you over," can be said with emphasis and excitement or ritualistically. The phrase can be said once or repeated several times. And the meanings we associate with the phrase will change accordingly. Sometimes if we say something infrequently it assumes more importance; sometimes the more we say something the less importance it assumes.16.Effective communication is rendered possible between two conversing partners, if ___.A.they use proper words to carry their ideas.B.they both speak truly of their own feelings.C.they try to understand each other's ideas beyond words.D.they are capable of associating meaning with their words.17."I'm letting off some steam" in paragraph 1 means___.A.I'm just calling your attention.B.I'm just kidding.C.I'm just saying the opposite.D.I'm just giving off some sound.18.The house-owner's example shows that he actually means___.A.the step has been like that for years.B.he doesn't think it necessary to fix the step.C.the condition of the step is only a minor fault.D.the cost involved in the fixing should be shared.19.Some responses and behaviors may appear very illogical, but are justifiable if___.A.linked to an abnormal amount of assertiveness.B.seen as one's habitual pattern of behavior.C.taken as part of an ordering sequence.D.expressed to a series of charges.20.The word "ritualistically" in the last paragraph equals something done___.A.without true intention.B.light-heartedly.C.in a way of ceremony.D.with less emphasis.答案: 1-5 ABADA 6-10 ACCCA 11-15 CBABB 16-20 DBABC。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT AWe can begin our discussion of “population as global issue” with what most persons mean when they discuss “the population problem”: too many people on earth and a too rapid increase in the number added each year. The facts are not in dispute, It was quite right to employ the analogy that likened demographic growth to “a long, thin powder fuse that burns steadily and haltingly until it finally reaches the charge and explodes.”To understand the current situation, which is characterized by rapid increases in population, it is necessary to understand the history of population trends. Rapid growth is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographic history, we find that populations have been virtually stable or growing very slightly for most of human history. For most of our ancestors, life was hard, often nasty, and very short. There was high fertility in most places, but this was usually balanced by high mortality. For most of human history, it was seldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, while infancy and childhood were especially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger of extinction because death rates could exceed their birthrates. Thus, the population problem throughout most of history was how to prevent extinction of the human race.This pattern is important to notice. Not only does it put the current problems of demographic growth into a historical perspective, but it suggests that the cause of rapid increase in population in recent years is not a sudden enthusiasm for more children, but an improvement in the conditions that traditionally have caused high mortality.Demographic history can be divided into two major periods: a time of long, slow growth which extended from about 8,000 BC.till approximately AD. 1650. In the first period of some 9600 years, the population increased from some 8 million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650 and the present, the population has increased from 500 million to more than 4 billion. And it is estimated that by the year 2000 there will be 6.2 billion people throughout the world. One way to appreciate this dramatic difference in such abstract numbers is to reduce the time frame to something that is more manageable. Between 8000BC and 1650, an average of only 50,000 persons was being added annually to the world’s population each year. At present, this number is added every six hours. The increase is about 80,000,000 persons annually.1. Which of the following demographic growth pattern is most suitable for the long thin powder fuse analogy?A.A virtually stable or slightly decreasing period and then a sudden explosion of population.B.A slow growth for a long time and then a period of rapid, dramatic increase.C.Too many people on earth and a few rapid increase in the number added each year.D.A long period when death rates exceeds birthrates and then a short period with higher fertility and lowermortality.2.3. During the first period of demographic history, societies were often in danger of extinction because___.A.only one in ten persons could live past 40.B.there was higher mortality than fertility in most places.C.it was too dangerous to have babies due to the poor conditions.D.our ancestors had little enthusiasm for more children.Which statement is true about population increase?A.There might be an increase of 2.2 billion persons from now to the year 2000.B.About 50,000 babies are born every six hours at present.C.Between 8000 BC and the present, the population increase is about 80,000,000 persons each year.D.The population increased faster between 8000BC and 1650 than between 1650 and the present.4.5. The author of the passage intends to___.A.warn people against the population explosion in the near future.pare the demographic growth pattern in the past with that after 1650.C.find out the cause for rapid increase in population in recent years.D.present us a clear and complete picture of the demographic growth.The word “demographic” in the first paragraph means___.A.statistics of human.B.surroundings study.C.accumulation of human.D.development of human.TEXT BChinese Americans today have higher incomes than Americans in general and higher occupational status.The Chinese have risen to this position despite some of the harshest discrimination and violence faced by any immigrants to the United States in the history of this country. Long confined to a narrow range of occupations they succeeded in those occupations and then spread out into other areas in later years, when opportunities finally opened up for them. Today much of the Chinese prosperity is due to the simple fact that they work more and have more (usually better) education than others. Almost one out of five Chinese families has three or more income earners compared to one out of thirteen for Puerto Ricans, one out of ten among American Indians, and one out of eight among Whites. When the Chinese advantages in working and educational are held constant, they have no advantage over other Americans. That is in a Chinese Family with a given number of people working and with a given amount of education by the head of the family, the income is not only about average for such families, and offer a little less than average.While Chinese Americans as a group are prosperous and well-educated Chinatowns are pockets of poverty, and illiteracy is much higher among the Chinese than among Americans in general. Those paradoxes are due to sharp internal differences. Descendants of the Chinese Americans who emigrated long ago from Toishan Province have maintained Chinese values and have added acculturation to American society with remarkable success. More recent Hong Kong Chinese are from more diverse cultural origins, and acquired western values and styles in Hong Kong, without having acquired the skills to proper and support those aspirations in the American economy. Foreign-born Chinese men in the United States are one-fourth lower incomes than native-born Chinese even though the foreign-born have been in the United States an average of seventeen years. While the older Hong Kong Chinese work tenaciously to sustain and advance themselves, the Hong Kong Chinese youths often react with resentment and antisocial behavior, including terrorism and murder. The need to maintain tourism in Chinatown causes the Chinese leaders to mute or downplay these problems as much as possible.6. According to the passage, today, Chinese Americans owe their prosperity to___.A.their diligence and better education than others.B.their support of American government.C.their fight against discriminations.D.advantages in working only.7.8. The passage is mainly concerned with___.A.chinese Americans today.B.social status of Chinese Americans today.C.incomes and occupational status of Chinese Americans today.D.problems of Chinese Americans today.Chinatowns are pockets of poverty, as is probably associated with___.A.most descendants of Chinese Americans are rebelling.B.most descendants of Chinese Americans are illiterate.C.sharp internal difference between Chinese coming from different cultural backgrounds.D.only a few Chinese Americans are rich.9. Which of the following statements is not true according to this articleA.As part of the minority, Chinese Americans are still experiencing discrimination in American today.B.Nowadays, Chinese Americans are working in wider fields.C.Foreign-born Chinese earn lower income than native-born Chinese Americans with the similar advantagesin the U.S.D.None of the above.10. According to the author, which of the following can best describe the older Hong Kong Chinese and theyoungerA.Tenacious; rebellion.B.Conservative; open-minded.C.Out-of-date; fashionable.D.Obedient; disobedient.TEXT CLet children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time; if corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the languages he uses and the language those around him use. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people. In the same way, when children learn to do all the other things they learn to do without being taught-to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle-compare those performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his own mistakes for himself, let alone correct them. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he becomes dependent on the teacher. Let him do it himself. Let him work out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what answer is to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or not.If it is a matter of right answers, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such routine work? Our job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can’t find the way to get the right answer. Let’s end this nonsense of grades, exams, marks, Let us throw them all out, and let the children learn what all educated persons must some day learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to know what they know or do not know.Let them get on with this job in the way that seems sensible to them. With our help as school teachers if they ask for it. The idea that there is a body of knowledge to be learnt at school and used for the rest of one’s life is nonsense in a world as complicated and rapidly changing as ours. Anxious parents and teachers say, “But suppose they fail to learn something essential they will need to get in the world?” Don’t worry! If it is essential, they will go out into the world and learn it.11. What does the author think is the best way for children to learn things?A.by copying what other people do.B.by making mistakes and having them corrected.C.by listening to explanations from skilled people.D.by asking a great many questions.12. What does the author think teachers do which they should not do?A.They give children correct answers.B.They point out children’s mistakes to them.C.They allow children to mark their own work.D.They encourage children to mark to copy from one another.13. The passage suggests that learning to speak and learning to ride a bicycle are___.A.not really important skills.B.more important than other skills.C.basically different from learning adult skills.D.basically the same as learning other skills.14. Exams, grades, and marks should be abolished because children’s progress should only be estimated by___.cated persons.B.the children themselves.C.teachers.D.parents.15. The author fears that children will grow up into adults while being___.A.too independent of others.B.too critical of themselves.C.incapable to think for themselves.D.incapable to use basic skills.TEXT DComputers monitor everything in Singapore from soil composition to location of manholes. At the airport, it took just 15 seconds for the computerized immigration system to scan and approve my passport. It takes only one minute to be checked into a public hospital.By 1998, almost every household will be wired for interactive cable TV and the Internet, the global computer network. Shoppers will be able to view and pay for products electronically. A 24-hour community telecomputing network will allow users to communicate with elected representatives and retrieve information about government services. It is all part of the government’s plan to transform the nation into what it calls the “Intelligent Island”.In so many ways, Singapore has elevated the concept of efficiency to a kind of national ideology. For the past ten years, Singapore’s work force was rated the best in the world-ahead of Japan and the U.S.-in terms of productivity, skill and attitude by the Business Environment Risk Intelligence service.Behind the “Singapore miracle” is a man Richard Nixon described as one of “the ablest leaders I have met,”one who, “in other times and other places, might have attained the world stature of a Churchill.” Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore’s struggle for independence in the 1950s, serving as Prime Minister from 1959 unt il 1990. Today (1995), at 71, he has nominally retired to the office of Senior Minister, where he continues to influence his country’s future. Lee offered companies tax breaks, political stability, cheap labor and strike-free environment.Nearly 90 percent of Singaporean adults now own their own homes and thanks to strict adherence to the principle of merit, personal opportunities abound. “If you’ve got talent and work hard, you can be anything here,”says a Malaysian-born woman who holds a high-level civil-service position.Lee likes to boast that Singapore has avoided the “moral breakdown” of Western countries. He attributes his nation’s success to strong family ties, a reliance on education as the engine of advancement and social philosophy that he claims is superior to America’s.In an interview with Reader’s Digest, he said that the United States has “lost its bearings” by emphasizing individual rights at the expense of society. “An ethical society,” he said, “is one which matches human rights with respo nsibilities.”16. What characterizes Singapore’s advancement is its___.puter monitoring.B.work efficiency.C.high productivity.D.value on ethics.17. From Nixon’s perspective, Lee is___.A.almost as great as Churchill.B.not as great as Churchill.C.only second to Churchill in being a leader.D.just as great as Churchill.18. In the last paragraph, “lost its bearings” may mean___.A.become impatient.B.failed to find the right position.C.lost its foundation.D.grown band-mannered.19. “You can be anything here”(Paragraph 5) may be paraphrased as___.A.You can hope for a very bright prospect.B.You may be able to do anything needed.C.You can choose any job as you like.D.You will become an outstanding worker.20. In Singapore, the concept of efficiency___.A.has been emphasized throughout the country.B.has become an essential quality for citizens to aim at.C.is brought forward by the government in order to compete with America.D.is known as the basis for building the “Intelligent Island.”答案:1-5 ABADA 6-10 ACCCA 11-15 ABDBC 16-20 DDBAB。
专业英语四级(阅读)模拟试卷120(题后含答案及解析)题型有:1. 2.SECTION 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)Job stress and worrying about job security can both take a toll on a woman’s body, although the two issues affect female health differently, according to research presented last month at the American Heart Association’s Annual Meeting in Chicago. But whether chronic work-related stress is eating at your nerves or ballooning your waistline, there are natural solutions with no toxic side effects that you can use to relax the pressure. (2)In a recent study looking at work stress and women, researchers from Harvard and Brigham and Women’s Hospital studied more than 17,000 otherwise healthy women, generally in their 50s, enrolled in the Women’s Health Study for 10 years. Women who reported work-related strain, such as having little or no authority over decisions or being unable to contribute creativity and skills to the job, were up to 88 percent more likely to experience a heart attack than women who reported no work strain. Overall, working women reporting high job strain faced a 40 percent higher rate of cardiovascular(心血管的)disease, too. (3)Worrying about losing a job did not appear to increase heart attack risk, but it was linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol(胆固醇), all of which can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease. (4)Whether it’s a nightmarish cubicle neighbor, an unrelenting workload, or an ornery boss that has your stress meter ready to pop at any second, you can get a grip: It’s all about mind over matter. An August study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that students taking part in Integrative Body-Mind Training(IBMT)enjoyed changes in white brain matter(within 11 hours of practice)that seemed connected to better regulation of emotions and behavior. (5)Although not very common in the U.S. yet, IBMT involves the practice of maintaining a state of restful alertness to tap into body-mind awareness while a trained coach guides your breathing and mental imagery. It’s somewhat similar to more widely available mindfulness based stress reduction(MBSR), which involves focusing on your present-moment draughts and feelings in a non-judgmental way. MBSR has been shown to help people make clearer decisions in times of crisis, which could help when all health breaks loose at the office.(6)Previous research out of the University of Oregon has found that you could adopt stress-zapping properties of Integrative Body-Mind Training(IBMT)before the workweek’s out. After practicing it for 20 minutes a day for five days in a row, participants reported reduced stress and increased energy. Prevention suggests this intro IBMT exercise: Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and think of your mind as a full cup; as thoughts come and go, keep returning to an image of the cup becoming empty. Repeat for five minutes. (7)Regardless of your meditationstyle, know this: Compared to non-meditators, women who practice meditation enjoy up to a 66 percent drop in stress hormone levels, which can dramatically improve heart health. (8)If you’re in need of an emergency quick freak-out fix, reach for a piece of gum.(Avoid artificial sweetened gum, though—some are linked to health issues.)One study found that chewing gum boosts blood flow to the brain by up to 40 percent, helping you stay calm and in the present. This prevents you from pondering over some aggravating office event. (9)You don’t need to be a monk to enjoy the benefits of meditation. In fact, more and more Western integrative medicine practitioners are using it as a nontoxic health improver.1.According to the passage, which of the following can probably lead to women’s work-related strain?A.They are not creative enough in their work.B.They could not afford to lose their job.C.They have no say in decision-making.D.They are underpaid compared with men.正确答案:C解析:根据work—related strain定位到第2段。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT ARacket, din clamor, noise, whatever you want to call it, unwanted sound is America’s most widespread nuisance. But noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people’s health. Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one is immune to this stress. Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it, the ear, in fact, never closes and the body still responds—sometimes with extreme tension, as to a strange sound in the night.The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress building up inside us. Indeed, because irritability is so apparent, legislators have made public annoyance the basis of many noise abatement programs. The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stress caused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention. Nevertheless, when we are annoyed or made irritable by noise, we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other thing may be happening to us, some of which may be damaging to our health.Of many health hazards to noise, hearing loss is the most clearly observable and measurable by health professionals. The other hazards are harder to pin down. For many of us, there may be a risk that exposure to the stress of noise increases susceptibility to disease and infection. The more susceptible among us may experience noise as a complicating factor in heart problems and other diseases. Noise that causes annoyance and irritability in health persons may have serious consequences for these already ill in mind or body.Noise affects us throughout our lives. For example, there are indications of effects on the unborn child when mothers are exposed to industrial and environmental noise. During infancy and childhood, youngsters exposed to high noise levels may have trouble falling asleep and obtaining necessary amounts of rest.Why, then, is there not greater alarm about these dangers? Perhaps it is because the link between noise and many disabilities or diseases has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Perhaps it is because we tend to dismiss annoyance as a price to pay for living in the modern world. It may also be because we still think of hearing loss as only an occupational hazard.1.In Paragraph 1, the phrase “immune to” are used to mean .A.unaffected byB.hurt byC.unlikely to be seen byD.unknown by2.The author’s attitude toward noise would best be described as .A.unrealisticB.traditionalC.concernedD.hysterical3.Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?A.Noise is a major problem; most people recognize its importance.B.Although noise can be annoying, it is not a major problem.C.Noise is a major problem and has not yet been recognized as such.D.Noise is a major problem about which nothing can be done.4.The author condemns noise essentially because it .A.is against the lawB.can make some people irritableC.is a nuisanceD.in a ganger to people’s health5.The author would probably consider research about the effects noise has on people to be .A.unimportantB.impossible.C.a waste of moneyD.essentialTEXT BMost of us are taught to pay attention to what is said—the words. Words do provide us with some information, but meanings are derived from so many other sources that it would hinder our effectiveness as a partner to a relationship to rely too heavily on words alone. Words are used to describe only a small part of the many ideas we associate with any given message. Sometimes we can gain insight into some of those associations if we listen for more than words. We don’t always say what we mean or mean what we say. Sometimes our words don’t mean anything except “ I’m letting off some steam. I don’t really want you to pay close attention to what I’m saying. Just pay attention to what I’m feeling.” Mostly we mean several things at once. A person wanting to purchas e a house says to the current owner, “This step has to be fixed before I’ll buy.” The owner says, “ It’s been like that for years.” Actually, the step hasn’t been like that for years, but the unspoken message is: “ I don’t want to fix it. We put up with it. Why can’t you?” The search for a more expansive view of meaning can be developed of examining a message in terms of who said it, when it occurred, the related conditions or situation, and how it was said.When a message occurs can also reveal associated meaning. Let us assume two couples do exactly the same amount of kissing and arguing. But one couple always kisses after an argument and the other couple always argues after a kiss. The ordering of the behaviors may mean a great deal more than the frequency of the behavior.A friend’s unusually docile behavior may only be understood by noting that it was preceded by situations that required an abnormal amount of assertiveness. Some responses may be directly linked to a developing pattern of responses and de fy logic. For example, a person who says “No!” to a serials of charges like “You’re dumb,” “You’re lazy,” and “You’re dishonest,” may also say “No!” and try to justify his or her response if the next statement is “And you’re good looking.”We would do well to listen for how messages are presented. The words, “If sure has been nice to have you over,” can be said with emphasis and excitement or ritualistically. The phrase can be said once or repeated several times. And the meanings we associate with the phrase will change accordingly. Sometimes if we say something infrequently it assumes more importance; sometimes the more we say something the less importance it assumes.6.Effective communication is rendered possible between two conversing partners, if .A.they use proper words to carry their ideas.B.they both speak truly of their own feelings.C.they try to understand each other’s ideas beyond words.D.they are capable of associating meaning with their words.7.“I’m letting off some steam” in paragraph 1 means .A.I’m just calling your attention.B.I’m just kidding.C.I’m just saying the opposite.D.I’m just giving off some sound.8.The house-owner’s example shows that he actually means .A.the step has been like that for years.B.he doesn’t think it necessary to fix the step.C.the condition of the step is only a minor fault.D.the cost involved in the fixing should be shared.9.Some responses and behaviors may appear very illogical, but are justifiable if .A.linked to an abnormal amount of assertiveness.B.seen as one’s habitual pattern of behavior.C.taken as part of an ordering sequence.D.expressed to a series of charges.10.The word “ritualistically” in the last paragraph equals s omething done .A.without true intention.B.light-heartedly.C.in a way of ceremony.D.with less emphasis.TEXT CWhich is safer-staying at home, traveling to work on public transport, or working in the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low. However, what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact, the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any of human activity, and almost as safe as staying at home.The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby. It is this which makes chemical accidents so newsworthy. Fortunately, they are extremely rare. The most famous ones happened at Texas City (1947),Flixborough (1974), Seveso (1976), Pemex (1984) and Bhopal (1984).Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small. No one died at Seveso, and only 28 workers at Flixborough. The worst accident of all was Bhopal, where up to 3,000 were killed. The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552. The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbs of Mexico City took 542 lives, just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal.Some experts have discussed these accidents and used each accident to illustrate a particular danger. Thus theTexas City explosion was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate(硝酸铵),which is safe unless stored in greatquantity. The Flixborough fireball was the fault of management, which took risks to keep production going during essential repairs. The Seveso accident shows what happens if the local authorities lack knowledge of the danger on their doorstep. When the poisonous gas drifted over the town, local leaders were incapable of taking effective action. The Pemex fire was made worse by an overloaded site in an overcrowded suburb. The fire set off a chain reaction os exploding storage tanks. Yet, by a miracle, the two largest tanks did not explode. Had these caught fire, then 3,000 strong rescue team and fire fighters would all have died.11.Which of the following statements is true?A.Working at the office is safer than staying at home.B.Traverlling to work on public transport is safer than working at the office.C.Staying at home is safer than working in the chemical industry.D.Working in the chemical industry is safer than traveling by air.12.Chemical accidents are usually important enough to be reported as news because .A.they are very rareB.they often cause loss of lifeC.they always occur in big citiesD.they arouse the interest of all the readers13.According to passage, the chemical accident that caused by the fault of management h appened at .A.Texas cityB.FlixboroughC.SevesoD.Mexico City14.From the passage we know that ammonium nitrate is a kind of .A.natural gas, which can easily catch fireB.fertilizer, which can't be stored in a great quantityC.poisonous substance, which can't be used in overcrowded areasD.fuel, which is stored in large tanks15.From the discussion among some experts we may coclude that .A.to avoid any accidents we should not repair the facilities in chemical industryB.the local authorities should not be concerned with the production of the chemical industryC.all these accidents could have been avoided or controlled if effective measure had been takenD.natural gas stored in very large tanks is always safeTEXT DWhat we know of prenatal development makes all this attempt made by a mother to mold the character of her unborn child by studying poetry, art, or mathematics during pregnancy seem utterly impossible. How could such extremely complex influences pass from the mother to the child? There is no connection between their nervous systems. Even the blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly. An emotional shock to the mother will affect her child, because it changes the activity of her glands and so the chemistry her blood. Any chemical change in the mother’s blood will affect the child for better or wo rse. But we can not see how a looking for mathematics or poetic genius can be dissolved in blood and produce a similar liking or genius in the child.In our discussion of instincts we saw that there was reason to believe that whatever we inherit must be of some very simple sort rather than any complicated or very definite kind of behavior. It is certain that no one inherits a knowledge of mathematics. It may be, however, that children inherit more or less of a rather general ability that we may call intelligence. If very intelligent children become deeply interested in mathematics, they will probably make a success of that study.As for musical ability, it may be that what is inherited is an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the hands or the vocal organs connections between nerves and muscles that make it comparatively easy to learn the movements a musician must execute, and particularly vigorous emotions. If these factors are all organized around music, the child may become a musician. The same factors, in other circumstance might be organized about some other center of interest. The rich emotional equipment might find expression in poetry. The capable fingers might develop skill in surgery. It is not the knowledge of music that is inherited, then nor even the love of it, but a certain bodily structure that makes it comparatively easy to acquire musical knowledge and skill. Whether that ability shall be directed toward music or some other undertaking may be decided entirely by forces in the environment in which a child grows up.16.Which of the following statements is not true?A.Some mothers try to influence their unborn children by studying art and other subjects during theirpregnancy.B.It is utterly impossible for us to learn anything about prenatal development.C.The blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly.D.There are no connection between mother’s nervous s ystems and her unborn child’s.17. A mother will affect her unborn baby on the condition that .A.she is emotionally shockedB.she has a good knowledge of inheritanceC.she takes part in all kind of activitiesD.she sticks to studying18.According to the passage, a child may inherit .A.everything from his motherB.a knowledge of mathematicsC.a rather general ability that we call intelligenceD.her mother’s musical ability19.If a child inherits something from his mother, such as an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of thehands or of the vocal organs, he will .A.surely become musicianB.mostly become a poetC.possibly become a teacherD.become a musician on the condition that all these factors are organized around music20.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A. Role of Inheritance.B. An Unborn Child.C. Function of instincts.D. Inherited Talents.答案:1-5 ACCDD 6-10 DBABC 11-15 DBABC 16-20 BACDA。
大学英语专业四级模拟考试卷PART ⅠDICTATION1、Listen to the following passage, altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be read at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be read at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more.PART ⅡLISTENING COMPREHENSIONIn Sections A, B and C you will hear everything once only. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your answer sheet.SECTION A CONVERSATIONSIn this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow.Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the conversation.2、Why does the man assume the woman is not feeling well?A. She's unable to attend the study session.B. She has seen a doctor recently.C. She's concerned about medical care.D. She mentions the need for some medical tests.3、What does the woman hope to discuss tonight?A. Graduate school application procedures.B. Funding for university education.C. Winning the confidence of voters.D. Preparing for an important test.4、What does the woman hope Prof. Jackson will do for her?A. Tell her what to study for the history test.B. Write a favorable letter of recommendation.C. Advise her about how to run an election campaign.D. Suggest a topic for a research paper.Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the conversation.5、What problems do the students have?A. They've lost their suitcases.B. They can't find their dormitory.C. Their dorm rooms have been given to other students.D. They've missed the bus to their dormitory.6、What does the woman imply about the campus?A. It has no bus service.B. It is small.C. It is located outside of town.D. Itis very hilly.7、What is one disadvantage of living in Bundy Hall?A. It's far from the academic buildings.B. No buses go to it.C. There are few first-year students living there.D. It's older than the other dormitories.8、According to the man, what mistake do many first-year students make?A. They bring too many things with them.B. They waste their time.C. They don't familiarize themselves with the campus.D. They don't make realistic career plans.Questions 8 to 10 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the conversation.9、What is the woman doing at lunch time?A. Giving a lecture.B. Practicing English.C. Working on a language problem.D. Reading a novel.10、How do the students demonstrate that they really enjoy professor Howl's classes?A. They complete all their assignments.B. They study hard for his tests.C. They compete for the best seats in the class.D. They read all his books.11、How does Professor Howl feel about visitors at his lectures?A. They make him feel good.B. They make no impact on him.C. They bore him.D. They make him angry.SECTION B PASSAGESIn this section you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the passage.12、What was the main harmful effect of the pest killer DDT on bald eagles?A. It limited their supply of food.B. It made their egg shells too fragile.C. It destroyed many of their nests.D. It killed many baby bald eagles.13、What measure did the wild life biologists take to increase the number of bald eagles?A. They found ways to speed up the reproduction of bald eagles.B. They developed new types of feed for baby bald eagles.C. They explored new ways to hatch baby bald eagles.D. They brought in bald eagles from Canada.14、According to the speaker, what is the possible danger facing bald eagles?A. Pollution of the environment.B. A new generation of pest killers.C. Over-killing by hunters.D. Destruction of their natural homes.Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the passage.15、Where do we learn the bad news for the car industry?A. From the announcement of production cuts by the Austin-Rover.B. From the report of the sluggish market for the car industry.C. From the announcement of short-time working by Lucas.D. From the reductions in the schedules of some customers.16、Which of the following is true about the bad news?A. Workers would work a five-day week.B. Women would have to take early retirement.C. 8,000 workers would have fewer paid holidays than before.D. It will result in an increase of the decline of the area's economy.17、Which of the following is NOT produced by the West Midlands factories?A. Batteries.B. Horns.C. Headlamps.D. Alternators.18、How many workers would NOT be affected by the bad news?A. About 2,400.B. About 5,000.C. About 8,000.D. About 12,000.Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage. Atthe end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the passage.19、Which factor can most seriously endanger airplanes according to this passage?A. Crowded air traffic.B. The large size of airplanes.C. Mistakes by air traffic controllers.D. Bad weather.20、What happened to the two large jets?A. They bumped into each other over a swimming pool.B. They avoided each other by turning in different directions.C. They narrowly escaped crashing into each other.D. One plane climbed above the other at the critical moment.21、Why were the two large jets specially mentioned?A. To show the key role played by air traffic controllers.B. To show the great responsibility shouldered by the pilots.C. To give an example of air disasters.D. To show that air travel is far safer than driving a car.SECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section you will hear several news items. Listen to the news carefully and then answer the questions that follow.Questions 21 to 22 are based on the following news. At the end of the news, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.22、How many people could receive assistance under the plan announced by President Bush?A. 1.020,000.B. 1,200,000.C. 1,000,200.D. 2,000,200.23、Which of the following is NOT included in the plan to solve the subprime load troubles?A. Moving their mortgage into a loan secured by the government.B. Refinancing an existing loan into a new private mortgage.C. Freezing the homeowners' current interest rate for five years.D. Persuading them to sell their houses.Questions 23 to 24 are based on the following news. At the end of the news, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.24、Which of the following areas was affected by the storm?A. South Carolina.B. Maine.C. Virginia.D. Colorado.25、Which of the following details is INCORRECT?A. The severe storms had caused rain, snow and high winds.B. One person died in the severe storms.C. Several people were injured in western Nevada.D. In western Nevada, dozens of residents fled to local high school for shelter.Questions 25 to 26 are based on the following news, At the end of the news, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.26、When did Boris Yeltsin resign?A. 1991.B. 1999.C. 1998.D. 1992.27、Which of the following details is INCORRECT?A. Yeltsin became Russia's president in 1991.B. Yeltsin died at the age of 76.C. Russians decided to mourn the death of Boris Yeltsin the next day.D. Boris Yeltsin was conservative in Russian politics.Questions 27 to 28 are based on the following news. At the end of the news, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.28、According to the news, what had happened to lunar probe Change's?A. It carried out the first orbital correction.B. It sent back the first moon picture.C. It carried out the second orbital correction.D. It landed on the moon.29、What will be China's moon mission in 2017?A. The first rover will land on the moon.B. Lunar soil and stone samples will be brought back for scientific research.C. Astronauts will step on the moon.D. Plants will be brought to the moon.Questions 29 to 30 are based on the following news. At the end of the news, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.30、What is the news item mainly about?A. The compromise between Kenyan President and ODM over disputed election.B. ODM's reluctance to join the peace talks.C. Death tolls caused by the violence.D. The controversy in the election.31、What did Kenyan President decide to do to solve the political crisis?A. Toresign.B. To seek help from UN.C. To wage a war.D. To cooperate with ODM.PART ⅢCLOZEDecide which of the choices given below would best complete the passage if inserted in the corresponding blanks. Mark the best choice for each blank on your answer sheet.In order to comprehend the 32 realities of labor market discrimination 33 females, it is 34 to understand both its function and its origins. Functionally, labor market segmentation 35 a number of purposes. It provides a 36 labor supply to accommodate the anarchy of the market while reducing the risks to capital; it divides labor into antagonistic groups based on pre-existing social divisions, 37 prevents the recognition of the common conflict of all labor with employers; it allows employers to divide 38 the market and pay the 39 necessary price for each group of workers (just as the airlines divide up the 40 market among business travelers, youth, families, pensioners, vacationers, et cetera, so as to extract the 41 price from each group); and it provides the employer 42 different sets of labor characteristics that are required by 43 types and levels of operation.The origin of this labor market segmen- tation 44 in the transition from the household form of production, with its 45 division of labor, which recognizes power of the family, 46 the industrial capitalist form of production. Women as a group have never totally escaped from household production, 47 economically socially. The result is the relegation of women to those unskilled (in the sense of marketable credentials) jobs 48 that are a market extension of home production or, given to low productivity of homework, to the emerging labor intensive occupations that rely on low wages, such as clerical work. The women's role in reproduction has also encouraged a broken pattern of labor market participation that has traditionally blocked 49 to employers to the class struggle put up primarily by male workers 50 the degradation of work under industrial capitalism, which 51 the capture of high-productivity, high-wage jobs for the primary male work.32、A. economic B. economicalC. economyD. uneconomical33、A. in B. at C. against D. to34、A. needless B. necessaryC. unnecessaryD. necessarily35、A. provides B. servesC. deliversD. means36、A. various B. variantsC. variableD. vary37、A. that B. whichC. whoseD. who38、A. out B. upC. intoD. by39、A. minimum B. maximumC. highD. low40、A. passenger B. customerC. employeeD. staff41、A. minimum B. maximumC. muchD. great42、A. with B. againstC. fromD. by43、A. different B. sameC. similarD. differ44、A. relies B. comesC. liesD. takes45、A. sex B. sexualC. sexyD. sex's46、A. at B. onC. toD. with47、A. neither...nor B. either...orC. both...orD. either...and48、A. ghettos B. placesC. marketsD. slums49、A. area B. meansC. waysD. access50、A. in response B. in response toC. response toD. response51、A. lead to B. ledC. leadD. led toPART ⅣGRAMMAR AND VOCABULARYThere are thirty sentences in this section. Beneath each sentence there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Choose one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Mark your answers on your answer sheet.52、So addicted to the computer games______that the school authority forbids them to keep computers in their dorm.A. became the studentsB. become the studentsC. had the students becomeD. do the students become53、______a miracle can save her now.A. Nothing butB. Anything butC. No less thanD. Nothing more than54、Confidence is good characteristic, but if______to an excess it becomes vanity.A. carriesB. to carryC. carriedD. carrying55、Which of the following is CORRECT?A. There is a chocolate, delicious, round, mouth-wateringly cake in the baker's window.B. There is a round, mouth-wateringly, delicious chocolate cake in the baker's window.C. There is a mouth-wateringly, delicious, round, chocolate cake in the baker's window.D. There is a mouth-wateringly, chocolate, delicious, round cake in the baker's window.56、It is as a well-known scholar that he represents himself, and______he is warmly received.A. as suchB. such asC. as thatD. so that57、The party was hosted by the minister himself in grandeur, we______so casually.A. needn't dress upB. mustn't dress upC. needn't have dressed upD. shouldn't have dressed up58、Doing exercise regularly is a sure way to improve health, and this is especially important ______it comes to the youth.A. beforeB. whenC. asD. since59、I arrived at the shop______to find I'd left all my money at home.A. onlyB. justC. henceD. thus60、Which of the following is the correct response to "Susie had a wonderful time at the party"?A. So she had. and so did I.B. So had she, and so did I.C. So she did. and so did I.D. So did she, and so did I.61、Which of the following is right to be put after "Yesterday we noticed a hole in the roof. so now..."?A. the roof needed fixingB. we had the roof fixedC. we fixed the roof ourselvesD. we are having the roof fixed62、______us most was that the blind boy who lost his sights m a medical treatment could play several musical instruments skillfully.A. What amazedB. Which amazedC. That amazedD. It amazed63、The little town will never again have as a region the atmosphere of mystery as it ______when it was first known to the outside.A. couldB. wouldC. wasD. did64、______in the country, a huge reduction in crops and fruits is apparent.A. There being a serious droughtB. There has been a serious droughtC. Having a serious droughtD. There having been a serious drought65、Which of the following is INCORRECT?A. It is a beautiful place for traveling and worth a visit.B. The car isn't worth repairing.C. The problem is worth to be considered.D. The book is worthy of being read.66、Unless you have insured your property, you are not entitled______acompensation from the insurance company for the loss during the flood.A. toB. forC. withD. in67、Don't keep us in . Tell us what happened!A. suspensionB. suspenseC. tensionD. tense68、She is not______with all her roommates, yet she has nowhere else to live.A. considerateB. complimentaryC. compatibleD. concerned69、In order to live in a harmonious community, all the residents should______to the rules and regulations.A. conformB. confrontC. confirmD. conduct70、The demonstration for civil rights was cruelly______by the authority.A. depressedB. oppressedC. suppressedD. impressed71、After he ate the garlic, the smell______in his mouth for a whole afternoon.A. restedB. lingeredC. stayedD. sojourned72、When you are driving on the highway, make sure you get into the rightA. wayB. roadC. trackD. lane73、Most metals expand when it is hot, while they______as they grow cooler.A. contractB. reduceC. condenseD. compress74、This painting is said to be______, accomplished by a famous painter in Song Dynasty.A. worthlessB. pricelessC. valuelessD. worth75、We must take measures to______the situation.A. simplifyB. modifyC. verifyD. rectify76、Comparing the original and the revised version of the novel, I prefer the______one.A. latterB. lastC. lateD. later77、Despite the fact that a wide range of reading materials was specially written or______for language learning purposes, there is yet no comprehensive systematic program for the reading skills.A. adaptedB. acknowledgedC. assembledD. appointed78、She was very angry because she was______the opportunity to see her parents at school.A. deniedB. desertedC. declinedD. deprived79、These chocolates are______wrapped.A. individuallyB. independentlyC. irrespectivelyD. irregularly80、He didn't say anything like that at all. You are purposely______his idea to prove your point.A. revisingB. contradictingC. distortingD. distracting81、If a couple are divorced and their child lives with his mother, he is said to suffer from lack of______love.A. maternalB. fraternalC. paternalD. parentalPART ⅤREADING COMPREHENSIONIn 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. Mark your answers on your answer sheet.TEXT AStanding on the rim of the Grand Canyon, gazing across this giant wound in the Earth's surface, a visitor might assume that the events that produced the canyon, far from being sudden and cataclysmic, simply add up to the slow and orderly process of erosion.Many millions of years ago the Colorado Plateau in the Grand Canyon area contained 10,000 more feet of rock than it does today and was relatively level. The additional material consisted of some 14 layered formations of rock. In the Grand Canyon region these layers were largely worn away over the course of millions of years.Approximately 65 million years ago the plateau's flat surface in the Grand Canyon area bulged upward from internal pressure; geologists refer to this bulging action as upwarping; it was followed by a general elevation of the whole Colorado Plateau. a process that is still going on. As the plateau gradually rose, shallow rivers that meandered across it began to run more swiftly and cut more definite courses. One of these rivers, located east of the upwarp, was the ancestor of the Colorado. Another river system called the Hualapai, flowing west of the upwarp, extended itself eastward by cutting back into the upwarp; it eventually connected with the ancient Colorado and captured its waters. The new river then began to carve out the 277-mile-long trench that eventually became the Grand Canyon. Geologists estimate that this initial cutting action began no earlier than 10 million years ago.Since then, the canyon forming has been cumulative. To the erosive force of the river itself have been added other factors. Heat and cold, rain and snow. along with the varying resistance of the rocks, increase the opportunities for erosion. The canyon walls crumble; the river acquires a cutting tool, tons of debris; rainfall running off the high plateau creates feeder streams that carve side canyons. Pushing slowly backward into the plateau, the side canyons expose new rocks, and the pattern of erosion continues.82、What does the passage mainly discuss?A. Patterns of erosion in different mountain ranges.B. Forces that made the Grand Canyon.C. The increasing pollution of the Colorado River.D. The sudden appearance of the Grand Canyon.83、According to the passage, the first phenomenon to contribute to the formation of the Grand Canyon was______.A. a series of volcanic eruptionsB. the collapse of rock formations in the Colorado PlateauC. a succession of floods from the Hualapai River and what is now the Colorado RiverD. the Earth's internal pressure lifting the Colorado Plateau region84、The author mentions all of the following as causes of erosion EXCEPT______.A. windB. rainC. heatD. cold85、Which of the following conclusions about the Grand Canyon can be drawnfrom the passage?A. Its contours are constantly changing.B. It contains approximately 14 million tons of rock.C. Its eruptions have increased in recent years.D. It is being eroded by toxic waste and pollutants.TEXT BIn the People's Republic of China the odd prequake behavior of horses and other animals has been used successfully to warn people that earthquakes are about to occur. Recently, a group of American geologists and geophysicists visited China and listened with great interest to scientists there who explained how they have been able to predict many earthquakes in the past three years. The American scientists compared the influence of the unique Chinese program with the influence of Chinese acupuncture on Western medicine.The Chinese scientists use modern electronic equipment--but they also monitor strange signals such as various ground noises, the fluctuation of well water levels, and the strange behavior of animals. The results are quite interesting. Chinese earthquake experts, for example, successfully predicted two magnitude 6.9 quakes near the China-Burma border on May 29, 1976. The earthquake experts say that their predictions have been so precise that they were able to remove many of their people before an earthquake occurred, thus saving thousands of lives. On the other hand, the Chinese experts also admit that there have been some false alarms.In the most intensive effort on earth to predict earthquakes, an army of Chinese professional and amateur quake watchers is organized to obtain daily information about ground movements wherever a major tremor is anticipated. The volunteer observation teams use electronic instruments and listen for earthquake warning signals that have been described in old records. According to these historical records, farmers had known that something was very wrong in the earth beneath them whenever horses reared and raced, dogs howled, and fish leaped. Also animals such as snakes and rats that people saw rarely, suddenly came out of their hiding places by the dozen. Some records said that sounds like thunder could be heard coming from the ground in the days and hours just before an earthquake. In some cases, swimmers could hear underwater sounds that people on land did not hear. Also, clear well water usually became muddy and the water levels of the wells changed.The Chinese methods of prediction are probably based on intuition and experience with many major earthquakes. Three thousand years of historical records show that China suffered its greatest natural disaster when earthquake in 1556 killed more than 820,000 people. At present, China averages six quakes of at least 6.0 on the Richter scale each year, whereas the United States averages two or three per year, mainly in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.American scientists have heard stories of unusual prequake animal behavior before, but they never took them too seriously until their recent visit to China. "Maybe there's something to it," said Jack Everndon, a California earthquake expert, "We need some kind of short term warning. We need something."He didn't mention the kind of research he may be considering. "Some of us are thinking it's worthwhile enough to give a serious look," he commented. "Two years ago, we wouldn't have said that."86、According to paragraph 1, which statement is NOT true?A. The method of earthquake prediction in China is exactly the same as in the United States.B. Some American scientists are very interested in the explanation given by China's geologists.C. In order to learn more about earthquake prediction, a group of foreign scientists visited China.D. Recently, the earthquake experts of China have explained how they are able to predict earthquakes.87、According to paragraph 3, what can we conclude?A. To predict earthquakes, an army should be organized.B. Farmers are able to anticipate an earthquake precisely.C. Animals have the ability to foretell an earthquake.D. Peculiar behavior of animals can be used to assist scientists in making short term prediction of earthquakes.88、What is the main idea of this passage?A. The anticipating of earthquake in China.B. The difference between China and the U.S.A. in earthquake warning.C. Earthquakes in the history of China.D. The Americans' comments on animal behaviors.TEXT CEveryone has a moment in history which belongs particularly to him. It is the moment when his emotions achieve their most powerful sway over him, and afterward when you say to this person "the world today" or "life" or "reality", he will assume that you mean this moment, even if it is fifty years past. The world, through his unleashed emotions, imprinted itself upon him, and he carries the stamp of that passing moment forever.For me, this moment—four years in a moment in history—was the war. The war was and is reality for me. I still instinctively live and think in its atmosphere. These are some of its characteristics: Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the President of the United States, and he always has been. The other two eternal world leaders are Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin. America is not, never has been, and never will be what the songs and poems call it, a land of plenty. Nylon, meat, gasoline and steel are rare. There are too many jobs and not enough workers. Money is very easy to earn but rather hard to spend, because there isn't very much to buy. Trains are always late and always crowded with "service men". The war will always be fought very far from America, and it will never end. Nothing in America stands still for very long, including the people who are always either leaving or on leave. People in America cry often. Sixteen is the key and crucial natural age for a human being to be, and people of all other ages are ranged in an orderly manner ahead of and behind you as a harmonious setting for the sixteen year olds of the world. When you aresixteen, adults are slightly impressed and almost intimidated by you. This is a puzzle finally solved by the realization that they foresee your military future: fighting for them. You do not foresee it. To waste anything in America is immoral. String and tinfoil are treasures. Newspapers are always crowded with strange maps and names of towns, and every few months the earth seems to lurch from its path when you see something in the newspapers, such as the time Mussolini, who almost seemed one of the eternal leaders, is photographed hanging upside down on a meathook.89、Which statement best describes the main idea of the first paragraph?A. Reality is what you make of it.B. Time is like a river.C. Emotions are powerful.D. Every person has a special moment.90、Which statement is not supported in the first paragraph?A. Some moments last forever.B. Each person has his own reality.C. Reality is converted to emotion.D. All men are brothers.91、Which statement best describes the author's feelings about the war?A. It was very real for him, yet he was not actively involved.B. It was real for him because he was a soldier at that time.C. It was very unreal to him.D. The war was very disruptive to the people at home.92、Why does the author think adults are impressed with sixteen year olds?A. Adults would like to be young.B. Sixteen year olds do not waste things.C. Sixteen year olds read newspapers.D. They will be fighting soon for adults.TEXT DEvery profession or trade, every art, and every science has its technical vocabulary, the function of which is partly to designate things or processes which have no names in ordinary English, and partly to secure greater exactness in nomenclature. Such special dialects or jargons, are necessary in technical discussion of any kind. Being universally understood by the devotees of the particular science or art, they have precision of a mathematical formula. Besides, they save time, for it is much more economical to name a process than to describe it. Thousands of these technical terms are very properly included in every large dictionary, yet, as a whole, they are rather on the outskirts of the English language than actually within its borders.Different occupations, however, differ widely in the character of their special vocabularies. In trades and handicrafts and other vocations, such as fanning and fishing, which have occupied great numbers of men from remote times, the technical vocabulary is very old. It consists largely of native words, or of borrowed words that have worked themselves into the very fibers of our language. Hence, though highly technical in many particulars, these vocabularies are more familiar in sound, and more generally understood, than most other technicalities. The special dialects of law, in their older strata, become pretty familiar to cultivated persons, and have contributed much to the popular vocabulary. Yet, every vocation still possesses。
英语专业四级阅读模拟题及答案Nature's Gigantic Snow PloughOn January 10, 1962, an enormous piece of glacier broke away and tumbled down the side of a mountain in Peru. A mere seven minutes later, when cascading ice finally came to a stop ten miles down the mountain, it had taken the lives of 4,000 people.This disaster is one of the most“devastating”examples of a very mon event: an avalanche of snow or ice. Because it is extremely cold at very high altitudes, snow rarely melts. It just keeps piling up higher and higher. Glaciers are eventually created when the weight of the snow is so great that the lower layers are pressed into solid ice. But most avalanches our long before this happens. As snow aumulates on a steep slope, it reaches a critical point at which the slightest vibration will send it sliding into the valley below.Even an avalanche of light power can be dangerous, but the Peruvian catastrophe was particularly terrible because it was caused by a heavy layer of ice. It is estimated that the ice that broke off weighed three million tons. As it crashed down the steep mountainside like a gigantic snow plough, it swept up trees, boulders and tons of topsoil, and pletely crushed and destroyed the six villages that lay in its path.At present there is no way to predict or avoid such enormous avalanches, but, luckily, they are very rare. Scientists are constantly studying the smaller, more mon avalanches, to try to understand what causes them. In the future, perhaps dangerous masses of snow and ice can be found and removed before they take human lives.?1. The first paragraph catches the reader's attention with a ??.A. first hand report?B. dramatic description?C. tall tale?D. vivid world picture ?2. In this passage "devastating" means ??.A. violently ruinous?B. spectacularly interesting?C. stunning?D. unpleasant ?3. The passage is mostly about ??.?A. avalanchesB. glaciersC. PeruD. mountains1. A) 文章的第一段就像一个新闻报道,报道了在秘鲁发生的雪崩的灾难性后果,一下子就吸引了读者的注意力。
专业四级英语试题及答案一、听力理解(共20分)1. 根据所听对话或短文,选择正确答案。
A. 选项AB. 选项BC. 选项CD. 选项D[样例题目]根据对话内容,下列哪项是正确的?A. 他们计划去看电影。
B. 他们决定去图书馆。
C. 他们正在讨论作业。
D. 他们打算去公园。
[样例答案]B2. 根据所听短文,完成下列信息填空。
[样例题目]根据短文内容,填写以下信息:- 短文中提到的主要人物是________。
- 事件发生的时间是________。
[样例答案]- 主要人物:John Smith- 事件发生时间:2023年3月15日二、阅读理解(共30分)1. 阅读下列短文,回答后面的问题。
[短文内容][此处为短文正文][样例问题]根据短文内容,以下哪项是正确的?A. 选项AB. 选项BC. 选项CD. 选项D[样例答案]C2. 阅读下列短文,选择最佳标题。
A. 选项AB. 选项BC. 选项CD. 选项D[样例答案]B三、词汇与语法(共20分)1. 选择适当的单词或短语填空。
[样例题目]In the _______ of the meeting, he made an important announcement.A. presenceB. absenceC. silenceD. chaos[样例答案]A2. 根据句子结构,选择正确的语法形式。
[样例题目]If she _______ earlier, she would have caught the train.A. leavesB. leftC. is leavingD. had left[样例答案]D四、完形填空(共15分)[样例题目]阅读下面的短文,从所给选项中选择最佳答案填空。
[此处为短文正文][样例选项]A. 选项AB. 选项BC. 选项CD. 选项D[样例答案]1. B2. A3. D...10. C五、翻译(共15分)1. 将下列句子从中文翻译成英文。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT AWe can begin our discussion of "population as global issue" with what most persons mean when they discuss "the population problem": too many people on earth and a too rapid increase in the number added each year. The facts are not in dispute, It was quite right to employ the analogy that likened demographic growth to "a long, thin powder fuse that burns steadily and haltingly until it finally reaches the charge and explodes."To understand the current situation, which is characterized by rapid increases in population, it is necessary to understand the history of population trends. Rapid growth is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographic history, we find that populations have been virtually stable or growing very slightly for most of human history. For most of our ancestors, life was hard, often nasty, and very short. There was high fertility in most places, but this was usually balanced by high mortality. For most of human history, it was seldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, while infancy and childhood were especially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger of extinction because death rates could exceed their birthrates. Thus, the population problem throughout most of history was how to prevent extinction of the human race.This pattern is important to notice. Not only does it put the current problems of demographic growth into a historical perspective, but it suggests that the cause of rapid increase in population in recent years is not a sudden enthusiasm for more children, but an improvement in the conditions that traditionally have caused high mortality.Demographic history can be divided into two major periods: a time of long, slow growth which extended from about 8,000 BC.till approximately AD. 1650. In the first period of some 9600 years, the population increased from some 8 million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650 and the present, the population has increased from 500 million to more than 4 billion. And it is estimated that by the year 2000 there will be 6.2 billion people throughout the world. One way to appreciate this dramatic difference in such abstract numbers is to reduce the time frame to something that is more manageable. Between 8000BC and 1650, an average of only 50,000 persons was being added annually to the world's population each year. At present, this number is added every six hours. The increase is about 80,000,000 persons annually.1.Which of the following demographic growth pattern is most suitable for the long thin powder fuse analogy?A.A virtually stable or slightly decreasing period and then a sudden explosion of population.B.A slow growth for a long time and then a period of rapid, dramatic increase.C.Too many people on earth and a few rapid increase in the number added each year.D.A long period when death rates exceeds birthrates and then a short period with higher fertility and lowermortality.2.During the first period of demographic history, societies were often in danger of extinction because .A.only one in ten persons could live past 40.B.there was higher mortality than fertility in most places.C.it was too dangerous to have babies due to the poor conditions.D.our ancestors had little enthusiasm for more children.3.Which statement is true about population increase?A.There might be an increase of 2.2 billion persons from now to the year 2000.B.About 50,000 babies are born every six hours at present.C.Between 8000 BC and the present, the population increase is about 80,000,000 persons each year.D.The population increased faster between 8000BC and 1650 than between 1650 and the present.4.The author of the passage intends to .A.warn people against the population explosion in the near future.pare the demographic growth pattern in the past with that after 1650.C.find out the cause for rapid increase in population in recent years.D.present us a clear and complete picture of the demographic growth.5.The word "demographic" in the first paragraph means .A.statistics of human.B.surroundings study.C.accumulation of human.D.development of human.TEXT BChinese Americans today have higher incomes than Americans in general and higher occupational status. The Chinese have risen to this position despite some of the harshest discrimination and violence faced by any immigrants to the United States in the history of this country. Long confined to a narrow range of occupations they succeeded in those occupations and then spread out into other areas in later years, when opportunities finally opened up for them. Today much of the Chinese prosperity is due to the simple fact that they work more and have more (usually better) education than others. Almost one out of five Chinese families has three or more income earners compared to one out of thirteen for Puerto Ricans, one out of ten among American Indians, and one out of eight among Whites. When the Chinese advantages in working and educational are held constant, they have no advantage over other Americans. That is in a Chinese Family with a given number of people working and with a given amount of education by the head of the family, the income is not only about average for such families, and offer a little less than average.While Chinese Americans as a group are prosperous and well-educated Chinatowns are pockets of poverty, and illiteracy is much higher among the Chinese than among Americans in general. Those paradoxes are due to sharp internal differences. Descendants of the Chinese Americans who emigrated long ago from Toishan Province have maintained Chinese values and have added acculturation to American society with remarkable success. More recent Hong Kong Chinese are from more diverse cultural origins, and acquired western values and styles in Hong Kong, without having acquired the skills to proper and support those aspirations in the American economy. Foreign-born Chinese men in the United States are one-fourth lower incomes than native-born Chinese even though the foreign-born have been in the United States an average of seventeen years. While the older Hong Kong Chinese work tenaciously to sustain and advance themselves, the Hong Kong Chinese youths often react with resentment and antisocial behavior, including terrorism and murder. The need to maintain tourism in Chinatown causes the Chinese leaders to mute or downplay these problems as much as possible.6.According to the passage, today, Chinese Americans owe their prosperity to .A.their diligence and better education than others.B.their support of American government.C.their fight against discriminations.D.advantages in working only.7.The passage is mainly concerned with .A.chinese Americans today.B.social status of Chinese Americans today.C.incomes and occupational status of Chinese Americans today.D.problems of Chinese Americans today.8.Chinatowns are pockets of poverty, as is probably associated with .A.most descendants of Chinese Americans are rebelling.B.most descendants of Chinese Americans are illiterate.C.sharp internal difference between Chinese coming from different cultural backgrounds.D.only a few Chinese Americans are rich.9.Which of the following statements is not true according to this articleA.As part of the minority, Chinese Americans are still experiencing discrimination in American today.B.Nowadays, Chinese Americans are working in wider fields.C.Foreign-born Chinese earn lower income than native-born Chinese Americans with the similar advantagesin the U.S.D.None of the above.10.According to the author, which of the following can best describe the older Hong Kong Chinese and theyoungerA.Tenacious; rebellion.B.Conservative; open-minded.C.Out-of-date; fashionable.D.Obedient; disobedient.TEXT CA controversy erupted in the scientific community in early 1998 over the use of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid ) fingerprinting in criminal investigations. DNA fingerprinting was introduced in 1987 as a method to identify individuals based on a pattern seen in their DNA, the molecule of which genes are made. DNA is present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. DNA fingerprinting has been used successfully in various ways, such as to determine paternity where it is not clear who the father of a particular child is. However, it is in the area of criminal investigations that DNA fingerprinting has potentially powerful and controversial uses.DNA fingerprinting and other DNA analysis techniques have revolutionized criminal investigations by giving investigators powerful new tools in the attempt to trove guilt, not just establish innocence. When used in criminal investigations, a DNA fingerprint pattern from a suspect is compared with a DNA fingerprint pattern obtained from such material as hairs or blood found at the scene of a crime. A match between the two DNA samples can be used as evidence to convict a suspect.The controversy in 1998 stemmed form a report published in December 1991 by population geneticists Richard C. Lewontin of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and Daniel L. Hartl called into question the methods to calculate how likely it is that a match between two DNA fingerprints might occur by chance alone. In particular, they argued that the current method cannot properly determine the likelihood that two DNA samples will match because they came from the same individual rather than simply from two different individuals who are members of the same ethnic group. Lewontin and Hartl called for better surveys of DNA patterns methods are adequate.In response to their criticisms, population geneticists Ranajit Chakraborty of the University of Texas in Dallas and Kenneth K.Kidd of Yale University in New Haven, Conn., argued that enough data are already available to show that the methods currently being used are adequate. In January 1998, however, the federal Bureau of Investigation and laboratories that conduct DNA tests announced that they would collect additional DNA samples form various ethnic groups in an attempt to resolve some of these questions. And, in April, a National Academy of Sciences called for strict standards and system of accreditation for DNA testing laboratories.11.efore DNA fingerprinting is used, suspects .A.would have to leave their fingerprints for further investigationsB.would have to submit evidence for their innocenceC.could easily escape conviction of guiltD.cold be convicted of guilt as well12.DNA fingerprinting can be unreliable when .A.the methods used for blood- cell calculation are not accurateB.two different individuals of the same ethnic group may have the same DNA fingerprinting patternC.a match is by chance left with fingerprints that happen to belong to two different individualsD.two different individuals leave two DNA samples.13.To geneticists like Lewontin and Hartl, the current method .A.is not so convincing as to exclude the likelihood that two DNA samples can never come from twoindividualsB.is arguable because two individuals of the same ethnic group are likely to have the same DNA pattern.C.Is not based on adequate scientific theory of geneticsD.Is theoretically contradictory to what they have been studying14.The attitude of the Federal Bereau of Investigation shows that .A.enough data are yet to be collected form various ethnic groups to confirm the unlikelihood of two DNAsamples coming from two individual membersB.enough data of DNA samples should be collected to confirm that only DNA samples form the same personcan matchC.enough data are yet to be collected from various ethnic groups to determine the likelihood of two differentDNA samples coming form the same personD.additional samples from various ethnic groups should be collected to determine that two DNA samples areunlikely to come from the same person15.National Academy of Sciences holds the stance that .A.DNA testing should be systematizedB.Only authorized laboratories can conduct DNA testingC.The academy only is authorized to work out standards for testingD.The academy has the right to accredit laboratories for DNA testingTEXT DMost of us are taught to pay attention to what is said—the words. Words do provide us with some information, but meanings are derived from so many other sources that it would hinder our effectiveness as a partner to a relationship to rely too heavily on words alone. Words are used to describe only a small part of the many ideas we associate with any given message. Sometimes we can gain insight into some of those associations if we listen for more than words. We don't always say what we mean or mean what we say. Sometimes our words don't mean anything except " I'm letting off some steam. I don't really want you to pay close attention to what I'm saying. Just pay attention to what I'm feeling." Mostly we mean several things at once. A person wanting to purchase a house says to the current owner, "This step has to be fixed before I'll buy." The owner says, " It's been like that for years." Actually, the step hasn't been like that for years, but the unspoken message is: " I don't want to fix it. We put up with it. Why can't you?" The search for a more expansive view of meaning can be developed of examining a message in terms of who said it, when it occurred, the related conditions or situation, and how it was said.When a message occurs can also reveal associated meaning. Let us assume two couples do exactly the same amount of kissing and arguing. But one couple always kisses after an argument and the other couple always argues after a kiss. The ordering of the behaviors may mean a great deal more than the frequency of the behavior.A friend's unusually docile behavior may only be understood by noting that it was preceded by situations that required an abnormal amount of assertiveness. Some responses may be directly linked to a developing pattern of responses and defy logic. For example, a person who says "No!" to a serials of charges like "You're dumb," "You're lazy," and "You're dishonest," may also say "No!" and try to justify his or her response if the next statement is "And you're good looking."We would do well to listen for how messages are presented. The words, "If sure has been nice to have you over," can be said with emphasis and excitement or ritualistically. The phrase can be said once or repeated several times. And the meanings we associate with the phrase will change accordingly. Sometimes if we say something infrequently it assumes more importance; sometimes the more we say something the less importance it assumes.16.Effective communication is rendered possible between two conversing partners, if .A.they use proper words to carry their ideas.B.they both speak truly of their own feelings.C.they try to understand each other's ideas beyond words.D.they are capable of associating meaning with their words.17."I'm letting off some steam" in paragraph 1 means .A.I'm just calling your attention.B.I'm just kidding.C.I'm just saying the opposite.D.I'm just giving off some sound.18.The house-owner's example shows that he actually means .A.the step has been like that for years.B.he doesn't think it necessary to fix the step.C.the condition of the step is only a minor fault.D.the cost involved in the fixing should be shared.19.Some responses and behaviors may appear very illogical, but are justifiable if .A.linked to an abnormal amount of assertiveness.B.seen as one's habitual pattern of behavior.C.taken as part of an ordering sequence.D.expressed to a series of charges.20.The word "ritualistically" in the last paragraph equals something done .A.without true intention.B.light-heartedly.C.in a way of ceremony.D.with less emphasis.答案:1-5 ABADA 6-10 ACCCA 11-15 CBABB 16-20 DBABC。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT ARacket, din clamor, noise, whatever you want to call it, unwanted sound is America's most widespreadnuisance. But noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health. Dayand night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one isimmune to this stress. Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it, the ear, in fact, never closes and thebody still responds—sometimes with extreme tension, as to a strange sound in the night.The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress buildingup inside us. Indeed, because irritability is so apparent, legislators have made public annoyance the basis ofmany noise abatement programs. The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stresscaused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention. Nevertheless, when we are annoyed or madeirritable by noise, we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other thing may be happening to us,some of which may be damaging to our health.Of many health hazards to noise, hearing loss is the most clearly observable and measurable by healthprofessionals. The other hazards are harder to pin down. For many of us, there may be a risk that exposure to thestress of noise increases susceptibility to disease and infection. The more susceptible among us may experiencenoise as a complicating factor in heart problems and other diseases. Noise that causes annoyance and irritabilityin health persons may have serious consequences for these already ill in mind or body.Noise affects us throughout our lives. For example, there are indications of effects on the unborn child whenmothers are exposed to industrial and environmental noise. During infancy and childhood, youngsters exposedto high noise levels may have trouble falling asleep and obtaining necessary amounts of rest.Why, then, is there not greater alarm about these dangers? Perhaps it is because the link between noise andmany disabilities or diseases has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Perhaps it is because we tend todismiss annoyance as a price to pay for living in the modern world. It may also be because we still think ofhearing loss as only an occupational hazard.1.In Paragraph 1, the phrase "immune to" are used to mean ___.A.unaffected byB.hurt byC.unlikely to be seen byD.unknown by2.The author's attitude toward noise would best be described as ___.A.unrealisticB.traditionalC.concernedD.hysterical3.Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?A.Noise is a major problem; most people recognize its importance.B.Although noise can be annoying, it is not a major problem.C.Noise is a major problem and has not yet been recognized as such.D.Noise is a major problem about which nothing can be done.4.The author condemns noise essentially because it ___.A.is against the lawB.can make some people irritableC.is a nuisanceD.in a ganger to people's health5.The author would probably consider research about the effects noise has on people to be ___.A.unimportantB.impossible.C.a waste of moneyD.essentialTEXT BWhat we know of prenatal development makes all this attempt made by a mother to mold the character of her unborn child by studying poetry, art, or mathematics during pregnancy seem utterly impossible. How could such extremely complex influences pass from the mother to the child? There is no connection between their nervous systems. Even the blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly. An emotional shock to the mother will affect her child, because it changes the activity of her glands and so the chemistry her blood. Any chemical change in the mother's blood will affect the child for better or worse. But we can not see how a looking for mathematics or poetic genius can be dissolved in blood and produce a similar liking or genius in the child.In our discussion of instincts we saw that there was reason to believe that whatever we inherit must be of some very simple sort rather than any complicated or very definite kind of behavior. It is certain that no one inherits a knowledge of mathematics. It may be, however, that children inherit more or less of a rather general ability that we may call intelligence. If very intelligent children become deeply interested in mathematics, theywill probably make a success of that study.As for musical ability, it may be that what is inherited is an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the hands or the vocal organs connections between nerves and muscles that make it comparatively easy to learn the movements a musician must execute, and particularly vigorous emotions. If these factors are all organized around music, the child may become a musician. The same factors, in other circumstance might be organized about some other center of interest. The rich emotional equipment might find expression in poetry. The capable fingers might develop skill in surgery. It is not the knowledge of music that is inherited, then nor even the love of it, but a certain bodily structure that makes it comparatively easy to acquire musical knowledge and skill. Whether that ability shall be directed toward music or some other undertaking may be decided entirely by forces in the environment in which a child grows up.6.Which of the following statements is not true?A. Some mothers try to influence their unborn children by studying art and other subjects during theirpregnancy.B. It is utterly impossible for us to learn anything about prenatal development.C. The blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly.D. There are no connection between mother's nervous systems and her unborn child's.7. A mother will affect her unborn baby on the condition that ____.A. she is emotionally shockedB.she has a good knowledge of inheritanceC. she takes part in all kind of activitiesD. she sticks to studying8.According to the passage, a child may inherit____.A. everything from his motherB. a knowledge of mathematicsC. a rather general ability that we call intelligenceD. her mother's musical ability9.If a child inherits something from his mother, such as an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of thehands or of the vocal organs, he will ____.A. surely become musicianB. mostly become a poetC. possibly become a teacherD. become a musician on the condition that all these factors are organized around music10.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A. Role of Inheritance.B. An Unborn Child.C. Function of instincts.D. Inherited Talents.TEXT CThere are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably , some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he hasto begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So thesecond factor is what happens to the individual—the sort of environment in which he is brought up. If an individual is handicapped(不利) environmentally, it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intelligence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and theirgrowth processes were the same. When the twins were three months old, their parents died, and they wereplaced in separate foster(抚养) homes. Peter was raised by parents of low intelligence in an isolated community with poor educational opportunities. Mark was reared in the home of well-to-do parents who had been tocollege. He was read to as a child, sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually. This environmental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they weregiven tests to measure their intelligence. Mark's I. Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average andfully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities, the twins, having identical brains,would have tested at roughly the same level.11.This selection can best be titled____________.A. Measuring Your IntelligenceB. Intelligence and EnvironmentC. The Case of Peter and MarkD. How the Brain Influences Intelligence12.The best statement of the main idea of this passage is that _______.A. human brains differ considerablyB. the brain a person is born with is important in determining his intelligenceC. environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenceD. persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence13.According to the passage, the average I. Q. is_______.A. 85 .B. 100C. 110D. 12514.The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that_______.A. individuals with identical brains seldom test at the same levelB. an individual's intelligence is determined only by his environmentC. lack of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenceD. changes of environment produce changes in the structure of the brain15.This passage suggests that an individual's I. Q. _______.A. can be predicted at birthB. stays the same throughout his lifeC. can be increased by educationD. is determined by his childhoodTEXT DPersonality 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. Too 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 school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well.The merits of competition by examinationare 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. The 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.16.According to the author, what factors contribute to the building of personality?A. inheritanceb. inheritance, competition and environmentc. competitiond. environment17.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.18.The phrase "soak up" is closest in meaning to ____.A. pull upb. take upc. take ind. pull in19.What attitude does the author hold toward examinations in schools?A. positiveb. negativec. doubtfuld. neutral20.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: 1-5 ACCDD 6-10 BACDA 11-15 B C B C C 16-20 BDCCB。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT AOpen up most fashion magazines and you will see incredibly thin models with impossible hair and wearing unreasonably expensive, impracticably styled clothes. But shouldn't clothes be comfortably durable and make a principle of being simple for the individual who wears them? Why are we constantly told that we need to buy new clothes and add fresh pieces to our collection?Fashions change year after year so lots of people can make piles of money. If folks are convinced that they need a different look each season, that this year's sweater's length and shoes style are important, they can be persuaded to buy. The fashion industry would have you ignore your shortcomings and just make you feel beautiful and happy. In fact it is not only a phenomenon we can find in people's dressing.Fashion controls our lives. Fashion controls what we wear, what we eat, what we drink, the way we cut our hair, the makeup We buy and use, the color of the cars we drive. Fashion even controls our ideas.You don't believe me? How many. Of your friends are vegetarians? Why are they vegetarians? Because it is fashionable!Where does fashion come from? Often the reasons are quite logical. Scientists and historians study the fashions of the past and discover the secrets of each fashion.When girls see an attractive guy, their blood pressure rises and their lips become redder. That's why guys think that girls wearing lipstick are beautiful.Why do guys shave their heads? In the past soldiers shaved their heads to kill the insects that lived in their hair. Now guys shave their heads so that they look strong and masculine, like soldiers.People spend a lot of time and money on fashion. But are they wasting their money? Changes in fashion help to develop new technologies. Changes in style create work for people all over the world. Many people work in the fashion industry, particularly in the fashion capitals of London, New York, Paris and Milan.And finally, fashion makes you feel good, doesn't it? When you are dressed in the latest style, dancing to the most fashionable music, after watching the latest hit film, you feel great, don't you?1. What's the author's viewpoint about the models and their hairstyles and clothes?A. Unbiased.B. Indifferent.C. Critical.D. Appreciative.2. It is indicated by the author that clothes should beA. comfortable and durable.B. new and fresh.C. expensive and fashionable.D. simple and unique3. The fashion industry makes profits byA. selling the products at high prices.B. creating a need in you.C. helping you get rid of your shortcomings.D. making you look more beautiful.4. The author thinks what has been found about fashions by the scientists and the. historians isA. incredible.B. amazing.C. reasonable.D. creative.5. The passage mentions the advantages of fashion EXCEPT thatA. it can help promote technological development.B. it enables people to remain up-to-date.C. it can create more job opportunities for people.D. it can make people achieve a great feeling.TEXT BCalifornia is a land of variety and contrast. Almost every type of physical land feature, sort of arctic ice fields and tropical jungles can be found within its borders. Sharply contrasting types of land often lie very close to one another. People living in Bakersfield, for instance, can visit the Pacific Ocean and the coastal plain, the fertile San Joaquin Valley, the arid Mojave Desert, and the high Sierra Nevada, all within a radius of about 100 miles. In other areas it is possible to go snow skiing in the morning and surfing in the evening of the same day, without having to travel long distance. Contrast abounds in California. The highest point in the United States (outside Alaska) is in California, and so is the lowest point (including Alaska).Mount Whitney, 14,494 feet above sea level, is separated from Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, by a distance of only 100 miles. The two areas have a difference in altitude of almost three miles. California has deep, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe, the deepest in the country, but it also has shallow, salty desert lakes. It has Lake Tulainyo, 12,020 feet above sea level, and the lowest lake in the country, the Salton Sea, 236 feet below sea level. Some of its lakes, like Owens Lake in Death Valley, are not lakes at all: they are dried-up lake beds. In addition to mountains, lakes, valleys, deserts, and plateaus, California has its Pacific coastline, stretching longer than the coastlines of Oregon and Washington combined.1. Which of the following is the lowest point in the United States?A. Lake Tulainyo.B. Mojave desert.C. Death Valley.D. The Salton Sea.2. Where is the highest point in the United States located?A. Lake Tahoe.B. Sierra Nevada.C. Mount Whitney.D. Alaska.3. How far away is Death Valley from Mount Whitney?A. About 3 miles.B. Only 100 miles.C. 282 feet.D. 14,494 feet.4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as being within a radius of about 100 miles ofBakersfield?A. The Pacific Ocean.B. San Joaquin Valley.C. Mojave Desert.D. Oregon and Washington.5. Which statement best demonstrates that California is a land of variety and contrast?A. The highest lake in California is Lake Tulainyo.B. It is possible to go surfing and snow skiing in some parts of California without having to travel longdistance.C. Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert and the Pacific Ocean all lie within a radius of about 100miles.D. Owens Lake, in Death Valley, is not really a lake at all.TEXT CThis year, like lots of other people, I'm going to try to make my own Christmas presents. It's not the first time that I've promised myself this. Being a milliner, and an all-round crafty type, I've often thought I should put my money where my mouth is. But this year I'm really going to stick to it. It's partly that I'm short of cash, but also that I've recently returned from an inspiring trip around Britain, looking into "make do and mend" for BBC2's Newsnight.I dreamed up the trip a few months ago. The thought of traveling the country--making things as I went, meeting artists and craftspeople--sounded like the perfect way to spend the summer. I'd pack a tent and a sewing machine and off I'd go. But by the time I finalized my plans and hit the road, leaves were already crunching under foot. It seemed crazy to camp with winter on the way; instead, Newsnight viewers offered me board and lodging in return for help with a craft task. There was an overwhelming response.My tasks ranged from darning (缝补) a moth-eaten monk's jumper to making trousers for a stilt walker. Textile students in Harpenden offered to pay for my petrol in return for a talk about hats. In Derby, Amy needed help to transform an old pair of curtains.I was really struck by people's growing enthusiasm for making things. I asked a WI group in Sheffield how many could sew, and only a few put up their hands. But when I asked who wanted to learn, nearly everyone responded positively. At the Textile Workshop in Nottingham, the number of classes on offer has doubled in a year, and a knitting club in Leeds is growing by the week.Craft is definitely fashionable at the moment. But over and above fashion, we're learning to appreciate effort and quality again. Perhaps once people rediscover the pleasure to be gained from making something unique, it may stick.Sue Pilchard is curator (管理者) of quilts at the V&A, where next spring she'll be putting on the museum's first major quilting exhibition. Sue believes the return to crafting is wrapped up in how we are redefining ourselves. "There's certainly a movement.., towards a new domesticity. People, especially women, are starting to think about the way they live their lives. It's 40 years since the first women's liberation conference was held in Oxford.Since that time we've been in the workplace, and we've had the opportunity of choice. Now we're deliberately choosing to go back into the home."Whether you agree with that or not, there's something about Christmas that brings out the artistic streak in everyone. Whether it's baking mince pies or decking the halls, we're all prepared to have a go. So if you fancy pushing the boat out and making a few presents, try these really simple ideas, each inspired by my recent journey. They make ideal stocking fillers or small gifts, and take no longer than 30 minutes each. Play some carols, settle down with a steaming cup of cocoa, and forget the cold. You'll save yourself a bit of money and spread a little bit of love too!1. The author promised to make herself a Christmas present this year mainly becauseA. she wanted to save money.B. she couldn't afford to buy one.C. she was inspired by her trip for a BBC2 program.D. A lot of people make presents themselves.2. Which of the following is CORRECT about the author's trip to Britain?A. She met many artists and craftsmen on her way to Britain.B. She spent a whole summer in Britain making crafts.C. She was asked to sew clothes, pants and curtains and made a fortune.D. Many people were found to be interested in making things themselves.3. When was the author probably on her trip to Britain?A. Spring.B. Late Summer.C. Late Autumn.D. Winter.4. According to the passage, through crafting people learn toA. appreciate the efforts in manual things.B. keep up with fashion.C. stick to something interesting.D. understand craft better.5. What is the author's view on homemade Christmas presents?A. Making Christmas presents can just convey a bit of your love.B. It would take long time to prepare a Christmas present.C. You can drink a cup of hot cocoa when you make preparations.D. People can find their artistic talent in making Christmas presents.TEXT DAt the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous. It has yet to reach its full size and strength, and its owner his or her full intelligence; but at this age the likelihood of death is least. Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigor and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, however well we look after ourselves, and however well society, and our doctors, look after us.This decline in vigor with the passing of time is called ageing. It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way, that if we escape wars, accidents and disease we shall eventually "die of old age", and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person, so that there are heavy odds in favor of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty. Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer—on into a ninth or tenth decade. But the chances are against it, and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are.Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it. We are so familiar with the fact that man ages, that people have for years assumed that the process of losing vigor with time, of becoming more likely to die the older we get, was something self-evident, like the cooling of a hot kettle or the wearing-out of a pair of shoes. They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things "wear out".Most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do, if given the chance to live long enough; and mechanical systems like a wound watch, or the sun, do in fact an out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics (热力学) (whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present). But these are not analogous to what happens when man ages. A run-down watch is still a watch and can be rewound. An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending. But a watch could never repair itself—it does not consist of living parts, only of metal, which wears away by friction. We could,at one time, repair ourselves—well enough, at least, to overcome all but the most instantly fatal illnesses and accidents. Between twelve and eighty years we gradually lose this power; an illness which at twelve would knock us over, at eighty can knock us out, and into our grave. If we could stay as vigorous as we are at twelve, it would take about 700 years for half of us to die, and another 700 for the survivors to be reduced by half again.1. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. Our first twelve years represent the peak of human development.B. People usually are unhappy when reminded of ageing.C. Normally only a few of us can live to the eighties and nineties.D. People are usually less likely to die at twelve years old.2. The word "it" in the last sentence of Paragraph Two refers toA remaining alive until 65.B. remaining alive after 80.C. dying before 65 or after 80.D dying between 65 and 80.3. What is ageing?A. It is usually a phenomenon of dying at an old age.B. It is a fact that people cannot live any longer.C. It is a gradual loss of vigor and resistance.D. It is a phase when people are easily attacked by illness.4. What do the examples of watch show?A. Normally people are quite familiar with the ageing process.B. All animals and other organisms undergo the ageing process.C. The law of thermodynamics functions in the ageing process.D. Human's ageing process is different from that of mechanisms.5. Which of the following best fits the style of this passage?A. Argumentation.B. Exposition.C. Narration.D. Description.【答案解析】TEXT A1.[C]观点态度题。
PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]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.TEXT ARacket, din clamor, noise, whatever you want to call it, unwanted sound is America’s most widespread nuisance. But noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people’s health. Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one is immune to this stress. Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it, the ear, in fact, never closes and the body still responds—sometimes with extreme tension, as to a strange sound in the night.The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress building up inside us. Indeed, because irritability is so apparent, legislators have made public annoyance the basis of many noise abatement programs. The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stress caused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention. Nevertheless, when we are annoyed or made irritable by noise, we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other thing may be happening to us, some of which may be damaging to our health.Of many health hazards to noise, hearing loss is the most clearly observable and measurable by health professionals. The other hazards are harder to pin down. For many of us, there may be a risk that exposure to the stress of noise increases susceptibility to disease and infection. The more susceptible among us may experience noise as a complicating factor in heart problems and other diseases. Noise that causes annoyance and irritability in health persons may have serious consequences for these already ill in mind or body.Noise affects us throughout our lives. For example, there are indications of effects on the unborn child when mothers are exposed to industrial and environmental noise. During infancy and childhood, youngsters exposed to high noise levels may have trouble falling asleep and obtaining necessary amounts of rest.Why, then, is there not greater alarm about these dangers? Perhaps it is because the link between noise and many disabilities or diseases has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Perhaps it is because we tend to dismiss annoyance as a price to pay for living in the modern world. It may also be because we still think of hearing loss as only an occupational hazard.1.In Paragraph 1, the phrase “immune to” are used to mean ___.A.unaffected byB.hurt byC.unlikely to be seen byD.unknown by2.The author’s attitude toward noise would best be described as ___.A.unrealisticB.traditionalC.concernedD.hysterical3.Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?A.Noise is a major problem; most people recognize its importance.B.Although noise can be annoying, it is not a major problem.C.Noise is a major problem and has not yet been recognized as such.D.Noise is a major problem about which nothing can be done.4.The author condemns noise essentially because it ___.A.is against the lawB.can make some people irritableC.is a nuisanceD.in a ganger to people’s health5.The author would probably consider research about the effects noise has on people to be ___.A.unimportantB.impossible.C.a waste of moneyD.essentialTEXT BMost of us are taught to pay attention to what is said—the words. Words do provide us with some information, but meanings are derived from so many other sources that it would hinder our effectiveness as a partner to a relationship to rely too heavily on words alone. Words are used to describe only a small part of the many ideas we associate with any given message. Sometimes we can gain insight into some of those associations if we listen for more than words. We don’t always say what we mean or mean what we say. Sometimes our words don’t mean anything except “ I’m letting off some steam. I don’t really want you to pay close attention to what I’m saying. Just pay attention to what I’m feeling.” Mostly we mean several things at once. A person wanting to purchase a house says to the current owner, “This step has to be fixed before I’ll buy.” The owner says, “ It’s been like that for years.” Actually, the step hasn’t been like that for years, but the unspoken message is: “ I don’t want to fix it. We put up with it. Why can’t you?” The search for a more expansive view of meaning can be developed of examining a message in terms of who said it, when it occurred, the related conditions or situation, and how it was said.When a message occurs can also reveal associated meaning. Let us assume two couples do exactly the same amount of kissing and arguing. But one couple always kisses after an argument and the other couple always argues after a kiss. The ordering of the behaviors may mean a great deal more than the frequency of the behavior.A friend’s unusually docile behavior may only be understood by noting that it was preceded by situations that required an abnormal amount of assertiveness. Some responses may be directly linked to a developing pattern of responses and defy logic. For example, a person who says “No!” to a serials of charges like “You’re dumb,” “You’re lazy,” and “You’re dishonest,” may also say “No!” and try to justify his or her response if the next statement is “And you’re good looking.”We would do well to listen for how messages are presented. The words, “If sure has been nice to have you over,” can be said with emphasis and excitement or ritualistically. The phrase can be said once or repeated several times. And the meanings we associate with the phrase will change accordingly. Sometimes if we say something infrequently it assumes more importance; sometimes the more we say something the less importance it assumes.6.Effective communication is rendered possible between two conversing partners, if ___.A.they use proper words to carry their ideas.B.they both speak truly of their own feelings.C.they try to understand each other’s ideas beyo nd words.D.they are capable of associating meaning with their words.7.“I’m letting off some steam” in paragraph 1 means___.A.I’m just calling your attention.B.I’m just kidding.C.I’m just saying the opposite.D.I’m just giving off some sound.8.The house-o wner’s example shows that he actually means___.A.the step has been like that for years.B.he doesn’t think it necessary to fix the step.C.the condition of the step is only a minor fault.D.the cost involved in the fixing should be shared.9.Some responses and behaviors may appear very illogical, but are justifiable if___.A.linked to an abnormal amount of assertiveness.B.seen as one’s habitual pattern of behavior.C.taken as part of an ordering sequence.D.expressed to a series of charges.10.The word “ritualistically” in the last paragraph equals something done___.A.without true intention.B.light-heartedly.C.in a way of ceremony.D.with less emphasis.TEXT CWhich is safer-staying at home, traveling to work on public transport, or working in the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low. However, what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact, the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any of human activity, and almost as safe as staying at home.The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby. It is this which makes chemical accidents so newsworthy. Fortunately, they are extremely rare. The most famous ones happened at Texas City (1947),Flixborough (1974), Seveso (1976), Pemex (1984) and Bhopal (1984).Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small. No one died at Seveso, and only 28 workers at Flixborough. The worst accident of all was Bhopal, where up to 3,000 were killed. The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552. The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbsof Mexico City took 542 lives, just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal.Some experts have discussed these accidents and used each accident to illustrate a particular danger. Thus theTexas City explosion was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate(硝酸铵),which is safe unless stored in greatquantity. The Flixborough fireball was the fault of management, which took risks to keep production going during essential repairs. The Seveso accident shows what happens if the local authorities lack knowledge of the danger on their doorstep. When the poisonous gas drifted over the town, local leaders were incapable of taking effective action. The Pemex fire was made worse by an overloaded site in an overcrowded suburb. The fire set off a chain reaction os exploding storage tanks. Yet, by a miracle, the two largest tanks did not explode. Had these caught fire, then 3,000 strong rescue team and fire fighters would all have died.11.Which of the following statements is true?A.Working at the office is safer than staying at home.B.Traverlling to work on public transport is safer than working at the office.C.Staying at home is safer than working in the chemical industry.D.Working in the chemical industry is safer than traveling by air.12.Chemical accidents are usually important enough to be reported as news because ____.A.they are very rareB.they often cause loss of lifeC.they always occur in big citiesD.they arouse the interest of all the readers13.According to passage, the chemical accident that caused by the fault of management happened at ____.A.Texas cityB.FlixboroughC.SevesoD.Mexico City14.From the passage we know that ammonium nitrate is a kind of ____.A.natural gas, which can easily catch fireB.fertilizer, which can't be stored in a great quantityC.poisonous substance, which can't be used in overcrowded areasD.fuel, which is stored in large tanks15.From the discussion among some experts we may coclude that ____.A.to avoid any accidents we should not repair the facilities in chemical industryB.the local authorities should not be concerned with the production of the chemical industryC.all these accidents could have been avoided or controlled if effective measure had been takenD.natural gas stored in very large tanks is always safeTEXT DWhat we know of prenatal development makes all this attempt made by a mother to mold the character of her unborn child by studying poetry, art, or mathematics during pregnancy seem utterly impossible. How could such extremely complex influences pass from the mother to the child? There is no connection between their nervous systems. Even the blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly. An emotional shock to the mother will affect her child, because it changes the activity of her glands and so the chemistry her blood. Any chemical change in the mother’s blood will affect the child for better or worse. But we can not see how a looking for mathematics or poetic genius can be dissolved in blood and produce a similar liking or genius in the child.In our discussion of instincts we saw that there was reason to believe that whatever we inherit must be of some very simple sort rather than any complicated or very definite kind of behavior. It is certain that no one inherits a knowledge of mathematics. It may be, however, that children inherit more or less of a rather general ability that we may call intelligence. If very intelligent children become deeply interested in mathematics, they will probably make a success of that study.As for musical ability, it may be that what is inherited is an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the hands or the vocal organs connections between nerves and muscles that make it comparatively easy to learn the movements a musician must execute, and particularly vigorous emotions. If these factors are all organized around music, the child may become a musician. The same factors, in other circumstance might be organized about some other center of interest. The rich emotional equipment might find expression in poetry. The capable fingers might develop skill in surgery. It is not the knowledge of music that is inherited, then nor even the love of it, but a certain bodily structure that makes it comparatively easy to acquire musical knowledge and skill. Whether that ability shall be directed toward music or some other undertaking may be decided entirely by forces in the environment in which a child grows up.16.Which of the following statements is not true?A. Some mothers try to influence their unborn children by studying art and other subjects during theirpregnancy.B. It is utterly impossible for us to learn anything about prenatal development.C. The blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly.D. There are no connection between mother’s nervous systems and her unborn child’s.17. A mother will affect her unborn baby on the condition that ____.A. she is emotionally shockedB. she has a good knowledge of inheritanceC. she takes part in all kind of activitiesD. she sticks to studying18.According to the passage, a child may inherit____.A. everything from his motherB. a knowledge of mathematicsC. a rather general ability that we call intelligenceD. her mother’s musical ability19.If a child inherits something from his mother, such as an especially sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of thehands or of the vocal organs, he will ____.A. surely become musicianB. mostly become a poetC. possibly become a teacherD. become a musician on the condition that all these factors are organized around music20.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A. Role of Inheritance.B. An Unborn Child.C. Function of instincts.D. Inherited Talents.答案: 1-5 ACCDD 6-10 DBABC 11-15 DBABC 16-20 BACDA。