大学英语四级考试阅读理解练习20篇
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The most interesting architectural phenomenon of the 1970's was the enthusiasm for refurnishing older building. Obviously, this was not an entirely new phenomenon. What is new is the whole scale in reusing the past, in recycling, in adaptive rehabilitation (更新). A few trial efforts, such as Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, proved their financial feasibility in the 1960's, but it was in the 1970's, with strong government support through tax incentives and rapid depreciation (贬值) , as well as growing interest in ecology (生态) issues, that recycling became a major factor on the urban scene. One of the most comprehensive ventures was the restoration and transformation of Boston's eighteenth century Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market, designed in 1824. This section had fallen on hard times, but beginning with the construction of a new city hall immediately nearby, it has returned to life with the intelligent reuse of these fine old buildings under the design leadership of Benjamin Thompson. He has provided a marvelous setting for dining, shopping, professional office, and simply walking.Butler Square, in Minneapolis, serves as an example of major changes in its complex of offices, commercial space, and public amenities carved out of a massive pile designed in 1906 as a hardware warehouse. The exciting interior timber structure of the building was highlighted by cutting light courts through the interior and adding large skylights.San Antonio, Texas, offers a big object lesson for numerous other cities combating urban decay. Rather than bringing in the bulldozers ( 推土机) , San Antonio's leaders rehabilitated existing structures, while simultaneously cleaning up the San Antonio River, which runs through the business district.26. The main idea of the passage is_______.A. during the 1970's, old building in many cities were recycled for modern useB. recent interest in ecology issues has led to the cleaning up of many riversC. the San Antonio example shows that bulldozers are not the right way to fight urban decayD. strong government support has made adaptive rehabilitation a reality in Boston27. According to the passage, Benjamin Thompson was the designer for a project inA. BostonB. San FranciscoC. MinneapolisD. San Antonio28. The space at Quincy Market is now used as_______.A. Boston's new city hallB. sports and recreational facilitiesC. commercial and industrial warehousesD. restaurants, offices, and stores29. What is the author's opinion of the San Antonio's project?A. It is clearly the best of the projects discussed.B. It is a good project that could be copied by other cities.C. The extensive use of bulldozers made the project unnecessarily costly.D. The work done on the river was more important than work done on thebuildings.30. The passage states that the San Antonio project differed from those in Boston and Minneapolis in that_______.A. it consisted primarily of new buildingsB. it occurred in the business districtC. it involved the environment as well as buildingsD. it was designed to combat urban decay答案:26. A 27. A 28. D 29. C 30. B。
大学英语四级考试阅读理解练习20篇大学英语四级考试阅读理解练习20篇大学英语四级考试阅读理解练习20篇When one looks back upon the fifteen hundred years that are the life span of the English language, he should be able to notice a number of significant truths. The history of our language has always been a history of constant change—at times a slow, almost imperceptible change, at other times a violent collision between two languages. Our language has always been a living growing organism, it has never been static. Another significant truth that emerges from such a study is that language at all times has been the possession not of one class or group but of many. 『At one extreme it has been the property of the common, ignorant folk, who have used it in the daily business of their living, much as they have used their animals or the kitchen pots and pans.』①At the other extreme it has been the treasure of those who have respected it as an instrument and a sign of civilization, and who have struggled by writing it down to give it some permanence, order, dignity, and if possible, a little beauty.As we consider our changing language, we should note here two developments that are of special and immediate importance to us. One is that since the time of the Anglo-Saxons there has been an almost complete reversal of the different devices for showing the relationship of words in a sentence. Anglo-Saxon (old English) was a language of many inflections. Modern English has few inflections. We must now depend largely on word order and function words to convey the meanings that the older language did by means of changes in the formsof words. Function words, you should understand, are words such as prepositions, conjunctions, and a few others that are used primarily to show relationships among other words. A few inflections, however, have survived. And when some word inflections come into conflict with word order, there may be trouble for the users of the language, as we shall seelater when we turn our attention to such maters as WHO or WHOM and ME or I. The second fact we must consider is that as language itself changes, our attitudes toward language forms change also. 『The eighteenth century, for example, produced from various sources a tendency to fix the language into patterns not always set in and grew, until at the present time there is a strong tendency to restudy andre-evaluate language practices in terms of the ways in which people speak and write.』②1.In contrast to the earlier linguists, modern linguists tend to .A. attempt to continue the standardization of the languageB. evaluate language practices in terms of current speech rather than standards or proper patternsC. be more concerned about the improvement of the language than its analysis or historyD. be more aware of the rules of the language usage 2.Choose the appropriate meaning for the word “inflection” used in line 4 of paragraph 2.A. Changes in the forms of words.B. Changes in sentence structures.C. Changes in spelling rules.D. Words that have similar meanings.3.Which of the following statements is not mentioned in the passage? A. It is generally believed that the year 1500 can be set as the beginning of the modern English language.B. Some other languages had great influence on the English language at some stages of its development.C. The English language has been and still in a state of relatively constant change.D. Many classes or groups have contributed to the development of the English language.4. The author of these paragraphs is probably a(an) .A. historianB. philosopherC. anthropologistD. linguist5.Which of the following can be best used as the title of the passage? A. The history of the English language.B. Our changing attitude towards the English language.C. Our changing language.D. Some characteristics of modern English.Vocabulary1. span n. 跨度,范围,一段时间,期间。
英语四级阅读理解精选练习及答案英语四级阅读理解练习一:Personality is , to large extent, inherent --A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is improtant to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor lives of their children.One place where children soak up A characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. 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 Bs. The would needs types, and schools have an important dutyto try to fit a childs personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.1. According to the author, what factors contribute to the building of personality?A. inheritanceb. inheritance, competition and environmentc. competitiond. environment2.Which of the following statements is not true according to the author of the passage?A. Schools usually adopt severe competitive policies.B. Students are often divided by competition results.C. School is place where children cultivate their characteristics.D. The stronger desire for winning, the better.3.The phrase "soak up" is closest in meaning to ____.A. pull up b. take up c. take in d. pull in4.What attitude does the author hold toward examinations in schools?A. positive b. negative c. doubtful d. neutral5.what suggestion does the author make concerning the management of schools?A. All students be made into competitive A types.B. A childs personality be considered in regard to his possible future job.C. All students be changed into B characteristics.D. Schools abolish all forms of examinations.答案:bdccb英语四级阅读理解练习二:Nearly everybody buys a used car sooner or later, as a primary vehicle (首要的交通工具) or as a second car. Indeed(当然), three out of four sales today are used cars, and theyre not cheap junkers (废物)either—the average price now is $ 5500, about half what a new car costs. Make the wrong selection and a major investment (投资)can be lost the moment you drive off the lot.There is far less chance of this happening to you if you know: when to buy, where to buy, how to examine (仔细检查) the car, how to conduct (进行) your own road test, and how to bargain over (讲价)the price.When to buyShop during the day. Lighting makes cars gleam (V 闪光)like jewels (宝石)at night. In daylight they look dull (黯淡的), but realistic.Dont shop in the rain. It can mask(掩盖) liquids (液体) that might be leaking (泄漏). If possible, shop in the winter when supplies are high and demand (需求)is low.Where to buyShop the suburbs. In more affluent (富有的)neighborhoods cars are more likely to have been well cared for.A private owner normally sells a car for less than a dealer(商人) does, but almost always "as is," with no guarantee(质量保证). Thats an acceptable risk if what youre looking for is a cheap second car to "drive to the station. "Even though a used-car dealer generally charges more, you can often get some type of limited guarantee. This is often a 50-50 plan, in which you each pay half on repairs for a period (一段时间)that may range from 30 days to a year. Ask the dealer about the availability of an optional(可选择的) service policy.Used-car dealers often claim (声称)to have gone over (仔细查看)the car, and many have. But remember that small dealers often buy cars that are auctioned (拍卖 ) because nobody else wants them.Some experts feel that a new-car dealer is the best place to buy a secondhand car, especially if youre laying out a large sum (一笔金钱) for a late model. Some of these dealers offer extensive (广阔的)guarantees, such as one on the "drive train," which covers any problems with engine (发动机), transmission(变速器) , drive shaft and differential (差速器 ). Expect to pay for this, as well as for the markup (标高的价格). But if you shop soon after the new models have arrived, when a dealer has a lot of trade-ins tying up his profits, he might deal. The visual examination (视觉上的检查)Youve found your dream car, and can hardly wait to get in and roar away. Wait.First, look for any flaws (瑕疵)or ripples(划痕) in the body that might indicate a past accident (暗示曾经出过事故). To see if a car has been repainted(重新漆过), look under the rubber seals around the door or under the chrome trim. Repainting may mask deep flaws (重新上漆可能隐藏深层的瑕疵).Check the odometer (计程器) for total mileage (英里数), and then compare that figure (数字)with any stickers still attached to door posts. Its illegal to change odometer readings, but it happens. If there are no stickers, be a little suspicious. Check pedals and controls: wear on these parts should agree with the mileage. If they are brand new, be suspicious. If they are worn out, beware.Check that the doors, hood and trunk all open smoothly and close with solid sound. Sight along the sides of the car from 30 feet away to be sure that the rear and front wheels line up.Look under the car for fluid leaks. Except for condensation from a working air conditioner on a hot day, no car should ever drip anything, any time.Now sit in the drivers seat and try the controls. The car should fit you—it should be comfortable. Check seat adjustment, door locks, window-raising mechanisms, horn, lights, directional signals, radio—all accessories.Start the engine. It should turn over quickly and then settle down to a rather fast idle. Give the engine a moment or two before you press the accelerator a bit. Watch for smoke from the rear. Blue smoke mightmean a complete engine overhaul (大修) , black a maladjusted carburetor (化油器). 2White smoke can be. Ignored if the engine is cold, but once it is warmed up, white smoke can mean a leaking head gasket (垫圈) : expensive. Reject this car.After the engine has warmed, shut it off, and then go wipe your finger inside the tailpipe (making sure its not too hot). The residue should be whitish-gay. If you get a black, oily mark, refuse the car—its probably an oil burner.Restart the engine and check the oil in an automatic transmission. It should be clean and clear, with no burned odor. The test drive The salesman may try to convince you that a short drive around the block is enough. Wrong. Make it clear that you plan to road test the car, and if he isnt happy with this look elsewhere.The test route you have mapped out should include dry city streets, a freeway, a hill, a bumpy road and an empty parking lot. All gauges(计量器) should read steady and normal throughout the test, especially oil pressure and engine heat. If not, dont buy the car.Drive to a traffic-free city street on your predetermined route and then accelerate smoothly to about 35 miles per hour. The automatic transmission should shift without jerking and with no noise.Slow to about 7 m. p. h. by gently applying the brakes. There should be no noise, no sharp sound or grinding. The car should slow in a straight line, with no pulling to the right or left.Pick up speed to about 15; then making certain nobody is behind you, hit the brakes hard! The car should come to an immediate stop without making noise or swerving.In an empty, level parking lot, brake to a complete stop. Shift into reverse and back up at about 4 m. p. h. , brake to a halt, shift into forward, etc. Do this four or five times to test the transmission. All shifting should be smooth, with no noise or hesitation.Accelerate up a hill to about 40 m. p. h. The car should not labor. If it does, you could have a rotten transmission. Go back down the hill. Stop halfway, shift into neutral and set the parking brake. The car should remain stationary when you take your foot off the brake pedal.Drive the car over the bumpy road, up a hill, and on the highway. Rarely will a car be perfect. However by now you should have a pretty good idea what needs to be done. How to bargainUse what youve learned from the visual exam, test drive and outside mechanic to get the price down. Have a maximum figure in mind, based on your inspection and on current prices from a used-car guide. Start your bidding lower than that. When you have nearly arrived at a price, get the seller to throw in certain repairs. It may be cheaper for him than further price cuts.1. Following the instructions here will help you make a good selection when buying a used car.2. Winter is a good time for purchasing a car because there is little rain in winter.3. You are more likely to pay less to a private owner for a car of poor quality.4. Refuse the car if you find any signs of a past accident in the visual examination.5. Dont buy the car if there is white smoke coming out of the rear because it is probably an oil burner.6. At certain speeds in the tests, a good car should not make any noise when the driver brakes either hard or gently.7. If you are patient and careful enough, you will certainly find a perfect used car.8. The last step before you make a decision to buy a car is______.9. Besides all gauges, the two very important systems mainly examined in the test drive are______.10. According to some experts, the best place to buy a second-hand car is______.答案:1. Y 2. N 3. Y 4. NG 5. N 6. Y 7. N 8. to bargain over the price 9. brake and transmission 10. a new-car dealer。
大学英语四级阅读理解试题12篇(含答案)Long-range goals may be related to our dreams of the future. They might cover five years or more. Life is not a static thing. We should never allow a long-term goal to limit us or our course of action.1.Our long-term goals mean a lot.B.if we cannot reach solid short-term goalsC.if we write down the datesD.if we put forward some plans2. New short-term goals are bulid upon.A.two yearsB.long-term goalsA.we will win final successB.we are overwhelmedC.we should build up confidence of successD.we should strong desire for setting new goals4. Once our goals are drawn up,.B. we may change our goals as we have new ideas and opportunitiesC.we had better wait for the exciting news of successD. we have made great decision5. It is implied but not stated in the passage thatA.those who habe long-term goals will succeedB.writing down the dates may discourage youC.the goal is only a guide for us to reach our desinationD.every should have a goal答案:adcbc。
英语四级阅读理解练习题及解析(1)【阅读练习】What is it about Americans and food? We love to eat,but we feel 1 about it afterward. We say we want only the bes t, but we strangely enjoy junkfood.We’re 2 with health an d weight loss but face an unprecedented epidemic of obesity(肥胖). Perhaps the 3 to this ambivalence(矛盾情结) lies in our history. The first Europeans cameto this con tinent searching for new spices but went in vain. The first cash crop经(济作物)wasn’t eaten but smoked. Then there was Prohibition, i ntended to prohibit drinking butactually encouraging more 4 ways of doing it.The immigrant experience, too, has been one of inharmony.Do as Romans do meanseating what ―real Americans‖ e at, but our nation’s food has come to be 5 by import—s piz za,say, or hot dogs. And some of thecountry’s most treas ured cooking comes from people whoarrived here in shack les.Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that food has been a medium for the nation’sdefining struggles, whether at the Boston Tea Party or the sit?ins at southern lunch c ounters.It is integral to our concepts of health and even m orality whether one refrains from alcohol forreligious reaso ns or evades meat for political 6But strong opinions have not brought 7 . Americans are a mbivalent about what they putin their mouths. We have b ecome 8 of our foods, especially as we learn more about what theycontain.The 9 in food is still prosperous in the American conscious ness. It’s no coincidence, then,that the first Thanksgiving holds the American imagination in such bondage( 束缚). It’s whatwe eat—and how we 10 it with friends, famil y, and strangers—that help define America as acommunity today.A.answer I. creativeB.result J. beliefC.share K. suspiciousD.guilty L. certaintyE.constant M. obsessedF.defined N. identifyG.vanish O. idealsH.adapted【答案及详解】1. D feel 是一个系动词,可以判断此处应填入一个形容词,通过上下文意思,以及后面介词about, 可以确定选项为D 项guilty, 短语feel guilty about sth. 对……感到有愧‖。
大学英语四级试练习卷一、阅读理解阅读理解(一)The United States is a federal union of 50 states.The capital of national government is in Washington,D.C.(District of Columbia).The federal constitution sets up the structures of the national government and lists its powers and activities.The constitution gives Congress the authority to make laws which are necessary for the common defense and the good of the nation.It also gives the federal government the power to deal with national and international problems that involve more than one state.All powers that are not given to the federal government by the constitution are the responsibility of the individual states.The federal government has three branches--the executive,the legislative,and the judicial.The legislative brandch makes the laws,executive branch carries out the laws,and judicial branch interprets the laws.The President heads the executive branch and the Supreme Court heads the judicial branch.The legislative branch includes both houses ofCongress--the Senate and the House of Reprsentatives.The constitution limits the powers of each branch and prevents one branch from gaining too much power.For example,Congress can pass a Law the President may sign it.Nevertheless,the Supreme Court can declare the law unconstitutionaland nullify it.All government in the United States is "of the people,by the people and for the people".The people elect the President and the members of Congress.However,the President appoints the heads of federal departments and the Supreme Court judges.Every citizen votes in secret.Consequently,no one knows for whom and indevidual votes.The people believe that their government should provide a frameword and order within which they are left free to run their own lives.1.Who makes the laws?A.The Congress.B.The Federal government.C.The President.D.The supreme Court.2.The capital of the United States lies in _____.A.the state of the COlumbiaB.none of the fifty statesC.the state of New YorkD.the state of Washington3.Based on what you can know from the ,which of the following statements is true?A.The heads of federal departments are elected by the people.B.The President sets up the structures of the federal governmentC.The judicial branch has the authority to explain the laws.D.The constitution gives all powers to the federal government.4.The constitution limits the powers of each branch of the federal government because _____.A.the U.S. has fifty statesB.the individual states have their own governmentsC.the federal government has three branchesD.any one branch should not have too much power5.The main point of this is ______.A.the three branches of the U.S. governmentB.American governmentC.the Federal ConsititutionD.the people should be left free to run their own lives阅读理解(二)Kite flying is the sport of sending up into the air,by means of the wind , a light frame covered with paper,plastic or cloth. The frame can be one of many different shapes and is attached to a long string held in the hand or wound on a drum. Kites have a long history of practical application and many different types of kite have been debeloped to serve various purposes.The ancient Chinese used bird-kites to carry ropes across rivers and valleys. The current folding kite which will dive excitingly is an improved type of such a kite. With its long flat body and single pair of bird-like wings,it looks just like a large bird in the air. The modernversion is usually made of tissue-paper rather than the traditional silk. Man-lifting kites were developed in ancient times, again by the Chinese, for getting information from walled cities and army camps. In fact , as recently as world 2 ,German U-boats flew kites from their towers to lift people into the air to watch the lanD. These kites ,which are no longer in existence,were made of light-weight cloth.They were much larger and stronger than the Chinese ones. Their design,however, was simply that of the cutter kite. Smaller in size,this type of kite is still very popular as a toy for children, being easy to make with a diamond-shaped frame,no wings and brown-paper covering. Box-kites are another type of kite found in toy shops today. The first box-kite,named for its box-like body,was developed in the nineteenth century to test theories of flight and this type of cotton-covered kite greatly assisted the success of early aeroplane.These kites are the ancestors of a heavier version of the box-kite,which consists of two main sections,placed side by side. Developed for the peacetime purpose of fishing in strong sea wind,it is the only modern kite described which has practical value . A long-lasting plastic material has to be used for this kite,which carries fishing lines.1.The ancient Chinese bird-kites were usually made of light frames covered with_____.A.silkB.paperC.clothD.plastic2.The kites used by German U-boats in would war 2 for the military purpose were made of _____.A.brown paperB.plastic materialC.light-weight clothD.traditional silk3.The ancient Chinese man-lifting kites were used_____.A.to carry ropes across rivers and valleysB.for the military purposeC.as toy for childrenD.for fishing in strong sea wind4.Which of the following statements is not ture?A.The frame of a kite is attached to long string held in the hand or wound on drum.B.The ancestor of the double box-kite.C.The cutter kite has a diamond-shaped body but no wings.D.The current folding kite is developed to test theories of flight.5.The best title for this may be______.A.The ancestors of modern kitesB.The history of the chinese kitesC.different types and uses of kitesD.the different between ancient and modern kites.二、完型填空完型填空(一)Dalton wondered why the heavier and lighter gases in the atmosphere did not separate as oil andwater do.He finally concluded that the constituent 1 must exist in the form of 2 particles or atoms andthat these 3 be completely mixed together in the 4 .This threw a new light in 5 laws ofdefiniteproportions.It was 6 necessary to suppose that the atoms 7 combinesintossmall groups of uniform 8 andso form more complex substance;9 the mystery of this law was 10 .Dalton suggested, for example, thatcarbon monoxide 11 formed bythe one with one 12 of atoms of carbon and oxygen, 13 carbon dioxideresults from a single 14 of carbon uniting with two atoms 15 oxygen.Assuming this to be true, 16 thedefinite proportions of Prout's law (17 all chemical compounds the different constituents 18 enter inunvarying proportions) would naturally 19 the relative weights of the many 20 kinds of atoms.1.A.gases B.pieces C.things D.gas2.A.timely B.trimmed C.tiny D.topical3.A.ought B.could C.will D.must4.A.sky B.atmosphere C.oxygen D.environment5.A.various B.many C.the D.those6.A.only B.too C.that D.extremely7.A.should B.were C.get D.could8.A.construct B.structure C.piece D.feature9.A.but B.also C.thus D.nevertheless10.A.solved B.discovered C.broked D.told11.A.must B.been C.were D.is12.A.putting B.pairing C.placing D.preparing13.A.while B.when C.therefore D.also14.A.piece B.type C.atom D.measure15.A.from B.in C.of D.for16.A.then B.so C.by D.that17.A.from B.in C.to D.for18.A.are B.wouldn’t C.always D.never19.A.describe B.unit C.mix D.reveal20.A.different ual C.important D.chemical完型填空(二)Generally speaking, a British is widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is ___1___only among those with whom he is acquainte D. When a stranger is at present, he often seems nervous, ___2___ embarrasse D. You have to take a commuter train any morning or evening to ___3___ the truth of this.Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or dozing in a corner; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered quite offensive.___4___, there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, ___5___ broken, makes the offender immediately the object of ___6___.It has been known as a fact that the a British has a ___7___ for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will talk about it ___8___. Some people argue that it is because the British weather seldom ___9___ forecast and hence becomes a source of interest and ___10___ to everyone. This may be so.___11___ a British cannot have much ___12___ in the weathermen, who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong ___13___ a cloud over the Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to be as accurate---or as inaccurate---as the weathermen in his ___14___.Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references ___15___ weather that the British make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are ___16___ by comments on the weather. "Nice day, isn't it?" "Beautiful!" may well be heard instead of "Good morning, how are you?" ___17___ the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. ___18___ he wants to start a conversation with a British but is ___19___ to knowswheresto begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will ___20___ an answer from even the most reserved of the British.1. A. relaxed B.frustrated C. amused D. exhausted2. A. yet B.otherwise C. even D. so3. A. experience B.witness C. watch D. undergo4. A. Deliberately B.Consequently C. Frequently D. Apparently5. A. unless B.once C. while D. as6. A. suspicion B.opposition C. criticism D. praise7. A. emotion B.fancy C. likeliness D. judgement8. A. at length B.to a great extent C. from his heart D. by all means9. A. follows B.predicts C. defies D. supports10. A. dedication passion C. contemplation D. speculation11. A. Still B.Also C. Certainly D. Fundamentally12. A. faith B.reliance C. honor D. credit13. A. if B.once C. when D. whereas14. A. propositions B.predictions C. approval D. defiance15. A. about B.on C. in D. to16. A. started B.conducted C. replaced D. proposed17. A. Since B.Although C. However D. Only if18. A. Even if B.Because C. If D. For19. A. at a loss B.at last C. insgroups D. on the occasion20. A. stimulate B.constitute C. furnish D. provoke三、单词拼写1.Mr. Li moved to the seashore in his f______(四十来岁).2.H______(听到) the good news, we all jumped with joy.3.I changed into my sports shoes so that I could walk more c_______(舒服).4.W_______(星期三) is the fourth day of a week.5.Walking every day keep me f_____(健康) than before.参考答案:一、阅读理解:阅读理解(一)答案:ABCDB阅读理解(二)答案:ACBDC二、完型填空1.【答案】A 根据上文中的 heavier and lighter gases 可以确定,本空中应填入“组成的气体”,即 constituent gases。
四级考试阅读理解练习20篇(9)导读:本文四级考试阅读理解练习20篇(9),仅供参考,如果觉得很不错,欢迎点评和分享。
工人阶级的家庭起居室的基本要素Directions: In this passage there are 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 1 to 10 are based on the following passage.Looking back on years of living in a working-class home in the North of England, I should say that a good living room must 11 three principal things: homeliness, warmth and plenty of good food. The living-room is the warm heart of the family and 12 often slightly stuffy to a middle-class visitor. It is not a social centre but a family center; little entertaining goes on there or in the front room, if there 13 to be one; you do not entertain in anything approaching the middle-class 14 The wife's social life outside her 15 family is found over the washing-line, at the little shop on the corner, visiting relatives at a moderate 16 occasionally, and perhaps now and again a visit with her husband to his pub or club. Apart from these two places, he has just his work and his football matches. They will have, each of them, friends at all these places, who may well not know what the inside of their house is like, havingnever "stepped across the threshold," as the old 17 phrase has it. The family hearth is 18 for the family itself, and those who are "something to us"(another favorite formula) and who look in for a talk or just to sit. Much of the free time of a man and his wife will 19 be passed at that hearth. Just staying in is still one of the most common leisure-time 20A. happensB. professionsC. senseD. neverthelessE. fashionedF. distanceG. immediateH. usuallyI. occupations J. preserved K. imitate L. provideM. therefore N reserved 0. contribute答案:11. L 12. M 13. A 14. C 15. G 16. F 17. E 18. N 19. H 20. I。
.英语四级阅读理解练习题及解析(1)【阅读练习】What is it about Americans and food? We love toeat ,but we feel 1 about it afterward. We say we want only the best, but we strangely enjoy junkfood.We’re 2 with health and weight loss but face an unprecedented epidemic of obesity(肥胖 ). Perhaps the 3 to this ambivalence(矛盾情结) lies in our history. The first Europeans cametothis continent searching for new spices but went in vain. The first cash crop(经济作物)wasn’t eaten but smoked. Then there was Prohibition, intended to prohibit drinking butactually encouraging more 4 ways of doing it.The immigrant experience, too, has been one of inharmony. Do as Romans do meanseating what“real Amer icans ” eat, but our nation ’s food has come to be5 by imports—pizza,say, or hot dogs. And some of the country ’s most treasured cooking comes from peo ple whoarrived here in shackles.Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that food has been a medium for the nation ’sdefining strug gles, whether at the Boston Tea Party or the sit?ins at southern lunch counters.It is integral to ourconcepts of health and even morality whether onere frains from alcohol forreligious reasons or evadesmeat for political 6But strong opinions have not brought 7 . Americansare ambivalent about what they putin their mouths.We have become 8 of our foods, especially as welea rn more about what theycontain.The 9 in food is still prosperous in the American c onsciousness. It ’s no coincidence, then,that the f irst Thanksgiving holds the American imagination in such bondage( 束缚 ). It ’s whatwe eat—and how we 10 it with friends, family, and strangers—that help define Americaas acommunity today.A. answer I. creativeB. result J. beliefC. share K. suspiciousD. guilty L. certaintyE. constant M. obsessedF. defined N. identifyG. vanish O. idealsH. adapted【答案及解】1.D feel 是一个系,可以判断此填入一个形容,通上下文意思,以及后面介about, 可以确定D guilty,短feel guilty about sth.“ ⋯⋯感到有愧”。
北大曹其军老师英语阅读理解20篇阅读理解单项练习Passage1In 1939 two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald, started a drive-in restaurant in San Bernadino, California. They carefully chose a busy corner for their location. They had run their own businesses for years, first a theater, then a barbecue(烤肉)restaurant., then another drive-in. But in their new operation, they offered a new, shortened menu: French fries, hamburgers, and sodas. To this small selection they added one new concept: quick service, no waiters or waitresses, and no tips. Their hamburgers sold for fifteen cents. Cheese was another four cents. Their French fries and hamburgers had a remarkable uniformity, for the brothers had developed a strict routine for the preparation of their food, and they insisted on their cooks’ sticking to their routine. Their new drive-in became incredibly popular, particularly for lunch. People drove up by the hundreds during the busy noontime. The self-service restaurant was so popular that the brothers had allowed ten copies of their restaurant to be opened. They were content with this modest success until they met Ray Kroc.Kroc was a salesman who met the McDonald brothers in 1954, when he was selling milkshake-mixing machines. He quickly saw the unique appeal of the brothers’ fast-food restaurants and bought the right to franchise(特许经营)other copies of their restaurants. The agreement struck included the right to duplicate the menu. The equipment, even their red and white buildings with the golden arches(拱门).Today McDonald’s is really a household name. Its names for its sandwiches have come to mean hamburger in the decades since the day Ray Kroc watched people rush up to order fifteen-cent hamburgers. In 1976, McDonald’s had over $ 1 billion in total sales. Its first twenty-two years is one of the most incredible success stories in modern American business history.1. This passage mainly talks abort.A)the development of fast food servicesB)how McDonald’s became a billion-dollar business C)the business careers of Mac and Dick McDonaldD)Ray Kroc’s business talent2. Mac and Dick managed all of the following businesses except.A) a drive-in B) a cinema C) a theater D) a barbecue restaurant3. We may infer from this passage that.A)Mac and Dick McDonald never became wealthy for they sold their idea to KrocB)The location the McDonalds chose was the only source of the great popularity of their drive-inC)Forty years ago there were numerous fast-food restaurantsD)Ray Kroc was a good businessman4. The passage suggests that.A)creativity is an important element of business successB)Ray Kroc was the close partner of the McDonald brothersC)Mac and Dick McDonald became broken after they sold their ideas to Ray KrocD)California is the best place to go into business5. As used in the second sentence of the third paragraph, the word ”unique” means.A) special B) attractive C) financial D) peculiarPassage2You’re busy filling out the application form for a position you really need; let’s assume you once actually completed a couple of years of college work or even that you completed your degree. Isn’t it tempting to lie just a little, to claim on the form that your diploma represents a Harvard degree? Or that you finished an extra couple of years back at State University?More and more people are turning to utter deception like this to land their job or to move ahead in their careers, for personnel officers, like most Americans, value degrees from famous schools. A job applicant may have a good education anyway, but he or she assumes that chances of being hired are better with a diploma from a well-known university. Registrars at most well-known colleges say they deal with deceitful claims like these at the rate of about one per week.Personnel officers do check up on degrees listed on application forms, then . If it turns out that an applicant is lying, most colleges are reluctant to accuse the applicant directly. One Ivy League school calls them “impostors 骗子”; another refers to them as “special cases.” one well-known West Coast school, in perhaps the most delicate phrase of all, says that these claims are made by “no such people.”To avoid outright (彻底的) lies, some job-seekers claim that they “attended” or “were associated with” a college or university. After carefully checking, a personnel officer may discover that “attending” means being dismissed after one semester. It may be that “being associated with” a college means that the job –seeker visited his younger brother for a football weekend. One school that keeps records of false claims says that the practice dates back at least to the turn of the century –that’s when they began keeping records, anyhow.If you don’t want to lie or even stretc h the truth, there are co MPA nies that will sell you a phony (假的)diploma. One co MPA ny, with offices in New York and on the West Coast, will put your name on a diploma from any number of nonexistent colleges. The price begins at around twenty dollars for a diploma from “Smoot State University.” The prices increase rapidly for a degree from the “University of Purdue.” As there is no Smoot State and the real school in Indiana is properly called Purdue University, the prices seem rather high for one sheet of paper.6. The main idea of this passage is that.A)employers are checking more closely on applicants nowB)lying about college degrees has become a widespread problemC)college degrees can now be purchased easilyD)employers are no longer interested in college degrees7. According to the passage, “special cases” refers to cases where.A)students attend a school only part-timeB)students never attended a school they listed on their application C)students purchase false degrees from commercial filmsD)students attended a famous school8. We can infer from the passage that.A)performance is a better judge of ability that a college degreeB)experience is the best teacherC)past work histories influence personnel officers more than degrees doD) a degree from a famous school enables an applicant to gain advantage over others in job competition9. This passage implies that.A)buying a false degree is not moralB)personnel officers only consider applicants from famous schools C)most people lie on applications because they were dismissed from schoolD)society should be greatly responsible for lying on applications10. As used in the first. Line of the second paragraph, the word “utter” means.A) address B) ultimate C) thorough D) decisivePassage 3Everyone has heard of the San Andreas fault (断层), which constantly threatens California and the West Coast with earthquakes. But how many people know about the equally serious New Madrid fault in Missouri?Between December of 1811 and February of 1812, three major earthquakes occurred, all centered around the town of New Madrid, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. Property damage was severe. Buildings in the area were almost destroyed. Whole forests fell at once, and huge cracks opened in the ground, allowing smell of sulfur (硫磺)to filter upward.The Mississippi River itself completely changed character, developing sudden rapids and whirlpools. Several times it changed its course, and once, according to some observers, it actually appeared to run backwards. Few people were killed in the New Madrid earthquakes, probably simply because few people lived in the area in 1811; but the severity of the earthquakes are shown by the fact that the shock waves rang bells in church towersin Charleston, South Carolina, on the coast. Buildings shook in New York City, and clocks were stopped in Washington, D.C.Scientists now know that America’s two major faults are essentially different. The San Andreas is a horizontal boundary between two major land masses that are slowly moving in opposite directions. California earthquakes result when the movement of these two masses suddenly lurches (倾斜) forward.The New Madrid fault, on the other hand, is a vertical fault; a some point, possibly hundreds of millions of years ago, rock was pushed up toward the surface, probably by volcanoes under the surface. Suddenly, the volcanoes cooled and the rock collapsed, leaving huge cracks. Even now, the rock continues to settle downwards, and sudden sinking motions trigger (触发) earthquakes in the region. The fault itself, a large crack in this layer of rock, with dozens of other cracks that split off from it, extends from northeast Arkansas through Missouri and into southern lllinois.Scientists who have studied the New Madrid fault say there have been numerous smaller quakes in the area since 1811; these smaller quakes indicate that larger ones are probably coming, but the scientists say have no method of predicting when a large earthquake will occur.11. This passage is mainly about.A)the New Madrid fault in MissouriB)the San Andreas and the New Madrid faults C)the causes of faultsD)current scientific knowledge about faults12. The New Madrid fault is.A)a horizontal faultB) a vertical fault C) a more serious fault than the San Andreas faultD)responsible for forming the Mississippi River13. We may conclude from the passage that.A)it is probably as dangerous to live in Missouri as in CaliforniaB)the New Madrid fault will eventually develop a mountain range in MissouriC)California will become an island in futureD) A big earthquake will occur to California soon14. This passage implies that.A)horizontal faults are more dangerous than vertical faults.B)Vertical faults are more dangerous than horizontal faultsC)Earthquakes occur only around fault areasD)California will break into pieces by an eventual earthquake15. As used in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, the word “essentially” means.A) greatly C) basicallyB) extremely D) necessarilyPassage 4Those who welcomed the railway saw it as more than a rapid and comfortable means of passing. They actually saw it as a factor in world peace. They did not foresee that the railway would be just one more means for the rapid movement of aggressive armies. None of them foresaw that the more we are together-the more chances there are of war. Any boy or girl who is one of a large family knows that.Whenever any new invention is put forward, those for it and those against it can always find medical men to approve or condemn. The anti-railway group produced doctors who said that tunnels would be most dangerous to public health: they would produce colds, catarrhs (粘膜炎) and consumptions. The deafening noise and the glare of the engine fire, would have a bad effect on the nerves. Further, being moved through the air at a high speed would do grave injury to delicate lungs. In those with high blood-pressure, the movement of the train might produce apoplexy (中风). The sudden plunging of a train into the darkness of a tunnel, and the equally sudden rush into full daylight, would cause great damage to eyesight. But the pro-railway group was of course able to produce equally famous medical men to say just the opposite. They said that the speed and swing of the train would equalize the circulation, promote digestion, tranquilize the nerves, and ensure good sleep.The actual rolling-stock was anything but comfortable. If it was a test of endurance to sit for four hours outside a coach in rain, or inside in dirty air, the railway offered little more in the way of comfort. Certainly the first-class carriages had cushioned seats; but the second-class had only narrow bare boards, while the third-class had nothing at all; no seats and no roof; they were just open trucks. So that third-class passengers gained nothing from the few mode except speed. In the matter of comfort, indeed they lost; they did, on the coaches, have a seat, but now they had to stand all the way, which gave opportunities to the comic (滑稽的) press. This kind of thing: ‘A man was seen yesterday buying a third-class ticket for the new London and Birmingham Railway. The state of his mind is being enquired into.’A writer in the early days of railways wrote feelingly of both second-and third-class carriages. He made the suggestion that the directors of the railways must have sent all over the world to find the hardest possible wood. Of the open third-class trucks he said that they had the peculiar property of meeting the rain from whatever quarter it came. He described them as horizontal shower-baths, from whose searching power there was no escape.16. All boys and girls in large families know that.A)a boy and a girl usually fight when they are togetherB)people tend to be together more than they used to be C) a lot of people being together makes fights likelyD)Railway leads the world to peace17. According to those who welcomed the railway, the railway itself should include all the following except.A)the railway enables people travel fastB)the railway brings comfort to people C)the railway makes the world peacefulD)the railway leads the world to war as well.18. According to the anti-railway group, all the followings are true but.A)tunnels are dangerous to public healthB)the noise and the glare of the engine fire may affect people’s nervesC)the rapid speed through the air does damage to people’s lungsD)to those with high blood-pressure, the rapid speed of the train causes them to die19. We may safely conclude that.A)the author belongs to the anti-railway groupB)the author belongs to the for-railway group C)the author speaks highly of the railwayD)the author may never take train because of its potential dangers20. What is the tone of this passage?A) Practical C) SatiricalB) Humorous.D) ExaggeratedPassage 5In 1960-1961, Chad (乍得) harvested 9800 tons of cotton seed for the first time in its history, and put out the flag a little too soon. The efforts of the authorities to get the peasants ‘back’ to work, as they had slacked off (松懈) a great deal the previous year during independence celebrations, largely contributed to it. Also, rains were well spaced, and continued through the whole month of October. If the 1961-1962 total is back to the region of 45000 tons, it is mostly because efforts slackened again and sowing was started too late.The average date of sowing is about July 1st. If this date is simply moved up fifteen or twenty days, 30000 to 60000 tons of cotton are gained, depending on the year. The peasant in Chad sows his millet (小米) first, and it is hard to criticize this instinct ive priority given to his ‘daily bread’ . An essential reason for his lateness with sowing cotton is that at the time when he should leave to prepare the fields he has just barely sold the cotton of the previous season. The work required to sow, in great h eat, is psychologically far more difficult if one’s pockets are full of money. The date of cotton sales should therefore be moved forward as much as possible, and purchases of equipment and draught animals encouraged.Peasants should also be encouraged to save money, to help them through the difficult period between harvests. If necessary they should be forced to do so, by having the payments for cotton given to them in installments (分期付款). The last payment would be made after proof that the peasant has planted before the deadline, the date being advanced to the end of June. Those who have done so would receive extra money whereas the last planters would not receive their last payment until later.Only the first steps are hard, because once work has started the peasants continue willingly on their way. Educational ca MPA igns among the peasants will play an essential role in this basic advance, early sowing, on which all the others depend. It is not a matter of controlling the peasants. Each peasant will remain master of his fields. One could, however, suggest the need for the time being of kind but firm rule, which, as long as it cannot be realized ‘by the people’ , should at least be ‘for the people.’21. In 1960-1961, Chad had a good harvest of cotton because.A)the government greatly encouraged peasantsB)rains favored the growth of cotton C)Chad gained independence in the previous yearD)Both A) and B)22. We learn from the passage that the date of sowing cotton is usually.A) on June 15th C) on July 1stB) on July 15th D) on July 20th23. As used in the third sentence of the second paragraph, “ daily bread” refers to.A) breakfast C) riceB) bread and butter D) millet24. In order to help them through the difficult time between harvests the peasants have to.A)sell cotton in advanceB)be encouraged to save money C)sow cotton in timeD)plant millet first25. Which of the following is NOT true?A)Educational ca MPA igns are very important to early sowing.B)Of all the advances that the writer hopes for, early sowing is the most important.C)Peasants should remain the masters of their fields.D)Government might as well make good and firm rule for peasants.Passage 6We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. “Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen?” “When I got that great job, did Jim really feel goodabout it, as a friend? Or did he envy my luck?” “And Paul-why didn’t pick up that he was friendly just because 1 had a car?” When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back, It’s too late.Why do we go wrong about our friends – or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, “You’re a lucky dog .” that’s being friendly. But “lucky dog”? There’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the “dog” bit puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that the doesn’t think you deserve your luck.“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for ” is another noise that says one thing and means another. It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn’t important. It’s telling you to think of a all the starving people in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture (姿态)? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people to you may save another mistake.26. This passage is mainly about.A)how to interpret what people sayB)what to do when you listen to others talking C)how to avoid mistakes when you communicate with peopleD)Why we go wrong with people sometimes27. According to the author, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that.A)We fail to listen carefully when they talkB)People tend to be annoyed when we check what they say C)People usually state one thing but means anotherD)We tend to doubt what our friends say28. In the sentence “Maybe he doesn’t see it himself.” In the second paragraph, the pronoun “it “refers to.A) being friendly C) lucky dogB) a bit of envy D) your luck29. When we listen to a person talking, the most important thing for us to do is.A)notice the way the person is talkingB)take a good look at the person talkingC)mind his tone, his posture and the look in his eyesD)examine the real meaning of what he says based on his manner, his tone and his posture30. The author most probably is a.A) teacher B) psychologist C) philosopher D) doctorPassage 7A moment’s drilling by the dentist may make us nervous and upset. Many of us cannot stand pain. To avoid the pain of a drilling that may last perhaps a minute or two, we demand the “needle”- a shot of novocaine (奴佛卡因)-that deadens the nerves around the tooth.Now it’s true that the human body has developed its millions of nerves to be highly aware of what goes on both inside and outside of it. This helps us adjust to the world. Without our nerves - and our brain, which is a bundle of nerves - we wouldn’t know what’s happening. But we pay for our sensitivity. We can feel pain when the slightest thing is wrong with any part of our body. The history of torture is based on the human body being open to pain.But there is a way to handle pain. Look at the Indian fakir(行僧) who sits on a bed of nails. Fakirs can put a needle right through an arm, and feel no pain. This ability that some humans have developed to handle pain should give us ideas about how the mind can deal with pain.The big thing in withstanding pain is our attitude toward it. if the dentist says, “This will hurt a little,” it helps us to accept the pain. By staying relaxed, and by treating the pain as an interesting sensation (感觉), we can handle the pain without falling apart. After all, although pain is an unpleasant sensation, it is still a sensation, and sensations are the stuff of life.31. The passage is mainly about.A) how to suffer painB) how to avoid pain C) how to handle painD) how to stop pain32. The sentence “But we pay for our sensitivity.” in the second paragraph implies that.A) we should pay a debt for our feelingB) we have to be hurt when we feel something C) our pain is worth feelingD) when we feel pain, we are suffering it33. When the author mentions the Indian fakir, he suggests that.A) Indians are not at all afraid of painB) people may be senseless of pain C) some people are able to handle painD) fakirs have magic to put needles right through their arms34. the most important thing to handle pain is.A) how we look at pain B) to feel pain as much as possibleC) to show an interest in pain D) to accept the pain reluctantly35. The author’s attitude towards pain is.A) pessimistic B) optimistic C) radical (极端的)D) practicalPassage 8Thirty-two people watched kitty Genovese being killed right beneath their windows. She was their neighbor. Yet none of the 32 helped her. Not one even called the police. Was this in gunman cruelty? Was it lack of feeling about one’s fellow man?“Not so,” say scientists John Barley and Bib Fatane. These men went beyond the headlines to probe the reasons why people didn’t act. They found that a person has to go through two steps before he can help. Firs t he has to notice that is an emergency.Suppose you see a middle-aged man fall to the side-walk. is he having a heart attack? is he in a coma (昏迷) from diabetes(糖尿病)? Or is he about to sleep off a drunk?is the smoke coming into the room from a leak in the air conditioning? Is it “steam pipes”? Or is it really smoke from a fire? it’s not always easy to tell if you are fa ced with a real emergency.Second, and more important, the person faced with an emergency must feel personally responsible. He must feel that he must help, or the person won’t get the help he needs.The researchers found that a lot depends on how many people are around. They had college students in to be “tested.” Some came alone. Some came with one or two others. And some came in large groups. The receptionist started them off on the “tests.” Then she went into the next room. A curtain divided the “testi ng room” and the room into which she went. Soon the students heard a scream, the noise of file cabinets falling and a cry for help. All of this had been pre-recorded on a tape-recorder.Eight out of ten of the students taking the test alone acted to help. Of the students in pairs, only two out of ten helped. Of the students in groups, none helped.In other words, in a group, Americans often fail to act. They feel that others will act. They, themselves, needn’t. They do not feel any direct responsibility.Are people bothered by situations where people are in trouble? Yes. scientists found that the peo0ple were emotional, they sweated, they had trembling hands. They felt the other person’s trouble. But they did not act. They were in a group. Their actions were shaped by the actions of those they were with.36. The purpose of this passage is.A) to explain why people fail to act in emergenciesB) to explain when people will act in emergencies C) to explain what people will do in emergenciesD) to explain how people feel in emergencies37. Which of the following is NOT true?A) When a person tries to help others, he must be clear that there is a real emergency.B) When a person tries to help others, he should know whether hey are worth his help.C) A person must take the full responsibility for the safety of those in emergencies if he wants to help.D) A person with a heart attack needs the most.38. The researchers have conducted an experiment to prove that people will act in emergencies when.A) they are in pairsB) they are in groups C) they are aloneD) they are with their friends39. The main reason why people fail to act when they stay together is that.A) they are afraid of emergenciesB) they are reluctant to get themselves involved C) others will act if they themselves hesitateD) they do not have any direct responsibility for those who need help40. The author suggests that.A) we shouldn’t blame a person if he fails to act in emergen ciesB) a person must feel guilty if he fails to helpC) people should be responsible for themselves in emergenciesD) when you are in trouble, people will help you anywayPassage 9People do not analyze every problem they meet. Sometimes they try to remember a solution from the last time they had a similar problem. They often accept the opinions or ideas of other people. Other times they begin to act without thinking; they try to find a solution by trial and error. However, when all these methods fail, the person with a problem has to start analyzing. There are six stages in analyzing a problem.First the person must recognize that there is a problem. For example, Sam’s bicycle is broken, and he cannot read it to class as he usually does. Sam must see that there is a problem with his bicycle.Next the thinker must define the problem. Before Sam can repair his bicycle. he must find the reason why it does not work. For instance, he must determine if the problem is with the gears, the brakes, or the frame. He must make his problem more specific.Now the person must look for information that will make the problem clearer and lead to possible solutions. For instance. suppose Sam decided that his bike does not work because there is something wrong with the gearwheels. At this time. he can look in his bicycle repair book and read about gears. He can talk to his friends at the bike shop. He can look at his gears carefully.after studying the problem, the person should have several suggestions for a possible solution. Take Sam as an illustration. His suggestions might be: put oil on the gear wheels; buy new gear wheels and replace the old ones; tighten or loosen the gear wheels.Eventually one suggestion seems to be the solution to the problem. Sometimes the final idea comes very suddenly because the thinker suddenly sees something new or sees something in a new way. Sam, for example, suddenly sees that there is a piece of chewing gum(口香糖)between the gear wheels. He immediately realizes the solution to his problem: he must clean the gear wheels.Finally the solution is tested. Sam cleans the gear wheels and finds that afterwards his bicycle works perfectly. In short, he has solved the problem.41. What is the best title for this passage?A) Six Stages for Repairing Sam’s BicycleB) Possible Ways to Problem-solving C) Necessities of Problem AnalysisD) Suggestions for Analyzing a Problem42. In analyzing a problem we should do all the following except.A) recognize and define the problemB) look for information to make the problem clearer C) have suggestions for a possible solutionD) find a solution by trial or mistake43. By referring to Sam’s broken bicycle, the author intends to.A) illustrate the ways to repair his bicycleB) discuss the problems of his bicycle C) tell us how to solve a problemD) show us how to analyses a problem44. Which of the following is NOT true?A) People do not analyze the problem they meet.B) People often accept the opinions or ideas of other people. C) People may learn from their past experienceD) People can not solve some problems they meet.45. As used in the last sentence, the phrase “in short” me ans.A) in the long run B) in detail C) in a word D) in the endPassage 10The poverty line is the minimum income that people need for an acceptable standard of living. People with incomes below the poverty line are considered poor. Economists study the causes of poverty in order to find solutions to the problem.。
大学英语四级考试阅读理解练习20篇
大学英语四级考试阅读理解练习20篇
When one looks back upon the fifteen hundred years that are the life span of the English language, he should be able to notice a number of significant truths. The history of our language has always been a history of constant change—at times a slow, almost imperceptible change, at other times a violent collision between two languages. Our language has always been a living growing organism, it has never been static. Another significant truth that emerges from such a study is that language at all times has been the possession not of one class or group but of many. 『At one extreme it has been the property of the common, ignorant folk, who have used it in the daily business of their living, much as they have used their animals or the kitchen pots and pans.』①At the other extreme it has been the treasure of those who have respected it as an instrument and a sign of civilization, and who have struggled by writing
it down to give it some permanence, order, dignity, and if possible, a little beauty.
As we consider our changing language, we should note here two developments that are of special and immediate importance to us. One is that since the time of the Anglo-Saxons there has been an almost complete reversal of the different devices for showing the relationship of words in a sentence. Anglo-Saxon (old English) was a language of many inflections. Modern English has few inflections. We must now depend largely on word order and function words to convey the meanings that the older language did by means of changes in the forms
of words. Function words, you should understand, are words such as prepositions, conjunctions, and a few others that are used primarily to show relationships among other words. A few inflections, however, have survived. And when some word inflections come into conflict with word order, there may be trouble for the users of the language, as we shall see
later when we turn our attention to such maters as WHO or WHOM and ME or I. The second fact we must consider is that as language itself changes, our attitudes toward language forms change also. 『The eighteenth century, for example, produced from various sources a tendency to fix the language into patterns not always set in and grew, until at the present time there is a strong tendency to restudy and
re-evaluate language practices in terms of the ways in which people speak and write.』②
1.In contrast to the earlier linguists, modern linguists tend to .
A. attempt to continue the standardization of the language
B. evaluate language practices in terms of current speech rather than standards or proper patterns
C. be more concerned about the improvement of the language than its analysis or history
D. be more aware of the rules of the language usage
2.Choose the appropriate meaning for the word “inflection” used in line 4 of paragraph 2.
A. Changes in the forms of words.
B. Changes in sentence structures.
C. Changes in spelling rules.
D. Words that have similar meanings.
3.Which of the following statements is not mentioned in the passage? A. It is generally believed that the year 1500 can be set as the beginning of the modern English language.
B. Some other languages had great influence on the English language at some stages of its development.
C. The English language has been and still in a state of relatively constant change.
D. Many classes or groups have contributed to the development of the English language.
4. The author of these paragraphs is probably a(an) .
A. historian
B. philosopher
C. anthropologist
D. linguist
5.Which of the following can be best used as the title of the passage? A. The history of the English language.
B. Our changing attitude towards the English language.
C. Our changing language.
D. Some characteristics of modern English.
Vocabulary
1. span n. 跨度,范围,一段时间,期间。