大学英语四级讲义 reading in depth

2010年12月大学英语四级阅读与词汇真题及答案Part Ⅳ Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.What determines the kind of person you are? What factors make you more or less bold, intelligent, or able to read a map? All of these are influenced by the interaction of your genes and the environment in which you were 47 . The study of how genes and environment interact to influence 48 activity is known as behavioral genetics. Behavioral genetics has made important 49 to the biological revolution, providing information about the extent to which biology influences mind, brain and behavior.Any research that suggests that 50 to perform certain behaviors are based in biology is controversial. Who wants to be told that there are limitations to what you can 51 based on something that is beyond your control, such as your genes? It is easy to accept that genes control physical characteristics such as sex, race and eye color. But can genes also determine whether people will get divorced, how 52 they are, or what career they are likely to choose? A concern of psychological scientists is the 53 to which all of these characteristics are influenced by nature and nurture(养育), by genetic makeup and the environment. Increasingly, science 54 that genes lay the groundwork for many human traits. From this perspective, people are born 55 like undeveloped photographs: The image is already captured, but the way it 56 appears can vary based on the development process. However, the basic picture is there from thebeginning.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2013海天教育英语四级深度阅读（主讲：赵南望）第一部分外刊精读Text 1The greatest devastation of old age is the loss of mental faculties, and with the near doubling of life expectancy in the past century has come the mixed blessing of living longer and losing more. A few great thinkers and artists remained productive in their later years——Galileo, Monet, Shaw, Stravinsky, Tolstoy——but even they were not what they had been in their primes. In science, the boom falls sooner still: “A person who has not made his great contribution to science before the age of 30 will never do so,” said Einstein.Imagine if we could transplant old brains into younger bodies: would our minds stay young, or would we be senile teenagers, scaling mountains and skateboarding at 120, but forgetting where we put the car keys? Is the brain uniquely vulnerable to the ravages of time? Can anything be done?Incontrovertible evidence from many studies shows that a higher level of education and greater mental activity throughout life correlate with lower cognitive losses in old age. These benefits apply to all sorts of cognitive losses, including those associated with Alzheimer’s. Some researchers believe that mental application in early life produces complex neural connections that provide a reserve later on; others argue that education merely gives people the means to cope with and compensate for their losses.K. Warner Schaie, a professor of human development and psychology at Pennsylvania State University, has studied age-related change in more than 5,000 people, some for more than 40 years. Comparing earlier with later recruits, Mr. Schaie concludes that the rate of mental decline is slowing, a change he attributes to better education, healthier diet, lessened exposure to serious disease, and more mental activit y. “You’ve got to practice,” Mr. Schaie says, “If you don’t solve problems, you no longer can solve problems.” Retirement can be particularly hard, he adds, because for many people, work is their most challenging activity. “Retirement is good for peoplew ho’ve had routine jobs——they may find something more stimulating. But it’s disadvantageous for people in high-level jobs, who are less likely to find something as stimulating as the job they had.”K. Anders Ericsson, a psychology professor at Florida State University, confirms Mr. Schaie’s emphasis on the virtue of practice. Initially interested in expert performers like musicians, he found that many ostensible geniuses aren’t really so different from everyone else——they just practice harder and longer, benefiting from sheer labor, rather than from some special gift. Professional musicians who continue to practice assiduously as they age continue to play well, while amateurs who just play for pleasure show age-related declines.Mr. Ericsson’s studies failed to show significant generalized benefits from mental exercise. “If you play tennis, you improve your general fitness, but the greatest improvement is specific to tennis, not to other sports. It’s the same with cognitive exercise. You have to look at your l ife and pick what you want to improve.”Text 2Americans are proud of their economic system, believing it provides opportunities for all citizens to have good lives. Their faith is clouded, however, by the fact that poverty persists in many parts of the country. Government anti-poverty efforts have made some progress but have not eradicated the problem. Similarly, periods of strong economic growth, which bring more jobs and higher wages, have helped reduce poverty but have not eliminated it entirely.The federal government defines a minimum amount of income necessary for basic maintenance of a family of four. This amount may fluctuate depending on the cost of living and the location of the family. In 1998, a family of four with an annual income below $ 16,530 was classified as living in poverty.The percentage of people living below the poverty level dropped from 22.4 percent in 1959 to 11.4 percent in 1978. But since then, it has fluctuated in a fairly narrow range. In 1998, it stood at 12.7 percent.What is more, the overall figures mask much more severe pockets of poverty. In 1998, more than one-quarter of all African-Americans (26.1 percent) lived in poverty; though distressinglyhigh, that figure did represent an improvement from 1979, when 31 percent of blacks were officially classified as poor, and it was the lowest poverty rate for this group since 1959. Families headed by single mothers are particularly susceptible to poverty. Partly as a result of this phenomenon, almost one in five children (18.9percent) was poor in 1997. The poverty rate was 36.7 percent among African-American children and 34.4 percent among Hispanic children.Some analysts have suggested that the official poverty figures overstate the real extent of poverty because they measure only cash income and exclude certain government assistance programs such as Food Stamps, health care, and public housing. Others point out, however, that these programs rarely cover all of a family’s food or health care needs and that there is a shortage of public housing. Some argue that even families whose incomes are above the official poverty level sometimes go hungry, skimping on food to pay for such things as housing, medical care, and clothing. Still others point out that people at the poverty level sometimes receive cash income from casual work and in the “underground” sector of the economy, which is never recorded in official statistics.In any event, it is clear that the American economic system does not apportion its rewards equally. In 1997, the wealthiest one-fifth of American families accounted for 47.2 percent of the nation’s income, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington-based research organization. In contrast, the poorest one-fifth earned just 4.2 percent of the nation’s inco me, and the poorest 40 percent accounted for only 14 percent of income.Text 3One of the most pressing challenges that the United Stated——and indeed, the world——will face in the next few decades is how to alleviate the growing stress that human activities are placing on the environment. The consequences are just too great to ignore. Wildlife habitats are being degraded or disappearing altogether as new developments take up more land. Plant and animal species are becoming extinct at a greater rate now t han at any time in Earth’s history. As many as 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks are over-exploited. And the list goes on.Yet, there is reason to have hope for the future. Advances in computing power and molecular biology are among the tremendous increases in scientific capability that are helping researchers gain a better understanding of these problems. Recent developments in science and technology could provide the basis for some major, and timely actions that would improve our understanding of how human activities affect the environment.One priority for research is improving hydrological forecasting. It has been estimated that the world’s water use could triple in the next two decades. Already, widespread water shortages have occurred in parts of China, India, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. The need for water also is taking its toll on freshwater ecosystems in the United States. Only two percent of the nation’s streams are considered in good condition, and close to 40 percent of native fish species are rare to extinct. Using a variety of new remote sensing tools, scientists can learn more about how precipitation affects water levels, how surface water is generated and transported, and how changes in the landscape affect water supplies.To prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases in plants, animals, and humans, more study is needed on how pathogens, parasites, and disease-carrying species——as well as humans and other species they infect——are affected by changes in the environment. The overuse of antibiotics both in humans and in farm animals has contributed to the growth of antibiotic-resistant micro organisms. Researchers can take advantage of new technologies in genetics and computing to better monitor and predict the effects that environmental changes might have on disease outbreaks.Humans have made alterations to Earth’s surface——such as tropical deforestation, reduction of surface and ground water, and massive development——so dramatic that they approach the levels of transportation that occurred during glacial periods. Such alterations cause changes in local and regional climate, and will determine the future of agricultural. Recent advances in data collection and analysis should be used to document and better understand the causes and consequences of changes in land cover and use.第二部分2012年12月真题讲解Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.French fries, washed down with a pint of soda, are a favorite part of fast-food lunches and dinners for millions of American youngsters. But__47___a cue from health experts, a group of 19 restaurant companies are pledging to offer more-healthful menu options for children at a time when__48__is growing over the role of fast food in childhood obesity（肥胖症）.Burger King, the nation's second-largest fast food chain, for instance, will__49___automatically including French fries and soda in its kids' meals starting this month, although they will still be__50___. Instead, the company said Tuesday, its employees will ask parents whether they____51___such options as milk or sliced apples before assembling the meals. "We're asking the customers to___52___what they want," said Craig Prusher, the chain's vice president of government relations. Other participating chains, with a____53___of menu options, including Denny's, Chili's, Friendly's and Chevy's.As part of the Kids Live Well campaign -------- expected to be announced____54___Wednesday -------- participating restaurants must promise to offer at least one children's meal that has fewer than 600 calories（卡路里）,no soft drinks and at least two____55___from the following food groups: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins or low-fat dairy. Among other requirements, they must offer a side dish that meets similar____56___,with fewer than 200 calories and less than 35% of its calories from sugar.A) adaptB) availableC) beginD) concernE) criteriaF) itemsG) nationwideH) possibleI) preferJ) recommendingK) speciesL) specifyM) stopN) takingO) varietySection BDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A),B),C) and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.As you are probably aware, the latest job markets news isn't good: Unemployment is still more than 9 percent, and new job growth has fallen close to zero. That's bad for the economy, of course. And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping tochange careers right now. But it actually shouldn't matter to you nearly as much as you think.That's because job growth numbers don't matter to job hunters as much as job turnover（人员更替）data. After all, existing jobs open up every day due to promotions, resignations, terminations（解雇）,and retirements. (Yes, people are retiring even in this economy.)In both good times and bad, turnover creates more openings than economic growth does. Even in June of 2007, when the economy was still moving ahead, job growth was only 132, 000, while turnover was 4.7 million!And as it turns out, even today-with job growth near zero-over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.I don't mean to imply that overall job growth doesn't have an impact on one's ability to land a job. It's true that if total employment were higher. it would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from (and compete for).And it's true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening, regardless of whether it's a new one or not.But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don't is their ability to stay motivated. They're willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable skills; be creative about where and how to look; learn how to present themselves to potential employers; and keep going, even after repeated rejections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn't looked within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.So don't let the headlines fool you into giving up. Four million people get hired every month in the US. You can be one of them.57. The author tends to believe that high unemployment rate-____..A) deprives many people of job opportunitiesB) prevents many people from changing careersC) should not stop people from looking for a jobD) does not mean the US economy is worsening58. Where do most job openings come from?A) Job growth. C) Improved economyB) Job turnover. D) Business expansion.59. What does the author say about overall job growth?A) It doesn't have much effect on individual job seekers.B) It increases people's confidence in the economy.C) It gives a ray of hope to the unemployed.D) It doesn't mean greater job security for the employed.60. What is the key to landing a job according to the author?A) Education. B) Intelligence. C) Persistence. D) Experience.61. What do we learn from the passage about the unemployment figures in the U.S.?A) They clearly indicate how healthy the economy is.B) They provide the public with the latest information.C) They warn of the structural problems in the economy.D) They exclude those who have stopped looking for a job.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Our risk of cancer rises dramatically as we age. So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors---or doesn't it?While such vigilant（警觉的）tracking of cancer is a good thing in general, researchers areincreasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly. With the percentage of people over age 65 expected to nearly double by 2050. it's important to weigh the health benefits of screening against the risks and costs of routine testing.In many cases, screening can lead to surgeries to remove cancer, while the cancers themselves may be slow- growing and may not pose serious health problems in patients' remaining years. But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has become so deep-rooted that when health care experts recommended that women under 50 and over 74 stop screening for breast cancer, it caused a riotous reaction among doctors, patients and advocacy groups.It's hard to uproot deeply held beliefs about cancer screening with scientific data. Certainly, there are people over age 75 who have had cancers detected by routine screening. and gained several extra years of life because of treatment. And clearly, people over age 75 who have other risk factors for cancer, such as a family history or prior personal experience with the disease, should continue to get screened regularly. But for the remainder, the risk of cancer, while increased at the end of life, must be balanced with other factors like remaining life expectancy（预期寿命）.A recent study suggests that doctors start to make more objective decisions about who will truly benefit from screening- especially considering the explosion of the elderly that will soon swell our population.It's not an easy calculation to make, but one that makes sense for all patients. Dr. Otis Brawley said, "Many doctors are ordering screening tests purely to cover themselves. We need to think about the rational use of health care.”That means making some difficult decisions with elderly patients, and going against the misguided belief that when it comes to health care, more is always better.62. Why do doctors recommend routine cancer screening for elderly people?A) It is believed to contribute to long life.B) It is part of their health care package.C) The elderly are more sensitive about their health.D) The elderly are in greater danger of tumor growth.63. How do some researchers now look at routine cancer screening for the elderly?A) It adds too much to their medical bills. C) They are doubtful about its necessity.B) It helps increase their life expectancy. D) They think it does more harm than good.64. What is the conventional view about women screening for breast cancer?A) It applies to women over 50. C) It is optional for young women.B) It is a must for adult women. D) It doesn't apply to women over 74.65. Why do many doctors prescribe routine screening for cancer?A) They want to protect themselves against medical disputes.B) They want to take advantage of the medical care system.C) They want data for medical research.D) They want their patients to suffer less.66. What does the author say is the general view about health care?A) The more, the better. C) Better early than late.B) Prevention is better than cure. D) Better care, longer life.。

大学英语四级考试解题攻略——阅读篇大学英语四级考试题中，阅读题（Reading Comprehension）分为：一，快速阅读（Skimming and Scanning），限时15分钟完成；二，仔细阅读（Reading in Depth），25分钟完成，该题又分为Section A：选词填空（十五选十），Section B常规阅读（两篇）。

此题最大的特点就是题量大、时间短，因此掌握阅读题的解题技巧就成了该题的解题关键所在。

一、快速阅读（Skimm ing and Scanning）快速阅读理解要求考生在15分钟的时间里，阅读一篇长1000字左右，多达十段的文章，然后回答十个问题。

前七个要求回答“（Y）对”、“（N）错”、“（NG）原文未提及”，后三个问题属于补全句子。

具体方法是：第一，采用略读法（Skimming）读文章。

所谓略读法，就是有意地忽略一些字词、句子或段落，略读不是略去某些词不读，而是指不可以逐字逐词地阅读。

要抓住关键词，阅读句群，把握整体意思。

在一个句子里，最关键的是主语、谓语、宾语，其他的成分都是用来补充主、谓、宾的附加成分。

在使用略读法时，要省去各种细节的知识，如数字、公式、时间、地点、人物年龄等；要注意故事的主要情节，抓住中心意思。

在方法上，阅读时可以跳跃某些句子，但要注意关键词、关键段落和问题。

第二，利用寻读法（Scanning）寻找答案，也就是先看选项后看文章，即带着问题回到文章中寻找答案，分析题干和选项，确定信息词，当找到了所需要的信息时，要立即停下来。

然后，再慢慢地细读包含所需信息的那一行或那一句，确定答案。

第三，按顺序做题，找文章信息词。

快速阅读由于篇幅较长，所以出题人一般不会打乱出题顺序。

因此，考生应该严格按照出题顺序来做题。

一般第一题到文章前面找答案，最后一题到文章后半部分找答案。

信号词常用来连接细节或是强调内容，并可完成段落的转换，暗示读者下文要讲的内容，标志出作者要提出一个新的思想或者观点，或者是作者要对所论述的观点举例说明，或者要详细论述同一观点。

大学英语四级选词填空解题技巧一、题型分析选词填空出现在大学英语四级考试深度阅读(reading indepth)的第一部分．由一篇250—30o词的短文和15个选项构成题目要求从给出的l5个词中选择lO个填入短文的空格中。

该部分的分值占整个分值比例的5％，考试时间大概为9分钟。

纵观这几年的试卷分析，考生在该题目上的失分比较大，究其原因．一方面是因为该题目本身具有的难度，要求考生掌握词汇、语法、阅读等基础知识，并具有较强的语言综合运用能力，在段落及篇章中考查词汇的用法及含义。

另一方面则属于对该题的做题方法不是很熟悉，导致失分。

二、解题步骤第一步：通读全文read through (1分钟)考生首先要跳读全文，把握大意．快速通读全文，了解文章的中心思想，通过对文章的分析．把握文章的背景、主题，结合每段的首句和末句，把握文章的结构。

了解文章大意，带着文章脉络去找选项。

所以，务必先沉着地把文章读一遍，尤其注意gap 前后的位置，为寻找正确选项打下铺垫。

提醒：就算是通读，也别拿来就把头埋进去傻读。

先居高临下，花5秒钟把短文各个自然段的段首扫一遍。

第一句是不允许出题的，它对全文起概括、提示的作用。

所以，一定要认真看懂第一句。

第二步：整理选项classify the options (1分钟)这一步，公认的做法是先标出15个选项的词性(parts of speech)，名词前写n, 动词前写v等等。

目前四级考试只考实词（notional words）中的四种：名词n 做主语和宾语, 动词v做谓语，形容词adj做定语，副词adv做状语。

不考代词pron和数词num；也不考虚词form words（冠词art, 介词prep, 连词conj, 感叹词interj）动词归类要细分为v，ved, ving。

因为一个空可以填动词，但填原形还是过去式还是ing形式要自己根据语法判断。

对于四级的一般文章，选项有如下特点：15个单词中3个名词正确答案+1个名词干扰答案、3个动词正确答案+1个动词干扰答案、3个形容词正确答案+2个形容词干扰答案、1个副词正确答案+1个副词干扰答案。