大学英语4-test1阅读短文1

46. 题干： What does the author say is remarkable about the fish we eat?题干翻译：根据作者观点，关于我们吃的鱼，什么是值得关注的？抄写定位句：What’s really remarkable, though, is where that fish comes from. For the first time in human history, most of our aquatic food now comes from farming rather than fishing.翻译定位句：但是，真正值得关注的是这些鱼的来源。

我们消费的水产品中，大多数都是来自养殖而非捕鱼，这是人类历史上首次出现这样的情况。

抄写正选：B) They are mostly farmed.翻译正选：它们大多是养殖的。

正选解析：B. 根据题干定位信息remarkable在文章开头找值得关注的点，定位在首段末句What’s really remarkable, though, is where that fish comes from.紧接着的二段开头继续讲now comes from farming rather than fishing.强调的是来自养殖业。

故A为正确选项。

同义替换：farming既是农业也是养殖业错选排除：A 项“繁殖”无中生有；C 项 as...as... 以及 D 项 longer 皆属于比较关系，C 项是将鱼和粮食比较，D 项是将鱼和人类历史比较，显然，原文没有这样的比较。

47. 题干：What do we need to do if we keep consuming fish at the current rate?题干翻译：如果按照目前的速度吃鱼，我们需要做什么？抄写定位句：To keep eating fish at the current rate, we’re definitely going to need to keepaquaculture developing.抄写正选：D) Expand the scale of fish-farming continuously.翻译正选：D) 不断扩大养鱼规模。

They once seemed more at home on the bustling streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and Bangkok but cycle powered rickshawscan now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city, close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution.In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new mode of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks."It is completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy," said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year.While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis' green ethics, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashionin Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997."It's better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train," said Ulf Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. "It feels so free.""This is something out of the ordinary you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin," said another traveller.In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped offanother passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi.Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past.Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not required to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment.1. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?A. Delhi, Berlin, Paris.B. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi.C. Athens, London, Berlin.D. Berlin, Amsterdam, London.2. Why are rickshaws no longer as widely used in India as in the past?A. They are a reminder of a bad period in India's history.B. They have been banned because they are too cruel.C. The streets of India are too crowded for them to move through easily.D. Indians now prefer to travel by car because they are richer.3. Which of the following is mentioned in the text?A. Rickshaws may need to pay tax for causing traffic jams.B. Rickshaws and taxis are treated differently in London.C. Rickshaws will eventually take the place of taxis.D. Rickshaws will always be a cheap means of transport.词汇及短语：Bustling: adj. 熙熙攘攘的；忙乱的rickshaw: 人力车；黄包车close-up: 特写镜头，特写；小传tourist attraction: 观光胜地renewable: adj. 可再生的；可更新的；可继续的out of fashion: 过时的；不流行的drop off: [口语]把…从车上卸下；(让…)下车，从(交通工具)上下来着backward: (发展)迟缓的，缓慢的，进步慢的；落后的DAB答案解析：1. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?A. Delhi, Berlin, Paris.B. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi.C. Athens, London, Berlin.D. Berlin, Amsterdam, London.解析：D正确从第一句话和最后一段可以知道人力车在欧洲越来越受欢迎，所以选择欧洲的城市。

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及答案（一）一There are three kinds of goals: short-term,medium-range and long-term goals.Short-range goals are those that usually deal with current activities,which we can apply on a daily basis.Such goals can be achieved in a week or less,or two weeks,or possible months.It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation ,out long-term goals cannot amount to very munch without the achievement of solid short-term goals.Upon completing our short-term goals,we should date the occasion and then add new short-term goals that will build on those that have been completed.The intermediate goals bukld on the foundation of the short-range goals.They might deal with just one term of school or the entire school year,or they could even extend for several years.Any time you move a step at a time,you should never allow yourself to become discouraged or overwhelmed. As you complete each step,you will enforce the belief in your ability to grow adn succeed.And as your list of completion dates grow,your motivation and desire will increase.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__.a.if we complete our short-range goalsb.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 goalsc.current activitiesd.the goals that have been completed3.When we complete each step of our goals ,__.a.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,__.a.we should stick to them until we complete themb.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 that ___.a.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二The economy of the United states after 1952 was the econnomy of a well-fed,almost fully employed people. Despit occasional alarms, the country escaped any postwar depression and livedin a state of boom. A n economic survey of the year 1955, a typical ye ar of the 1950’s, may be typical as illustrating the rapid economic growth of the decade. The national output was value at10 percent above that of 1954 (1955 output was estimated at 392 billion dollars). The productionof manufacturers was about 40 percent more than it had averaged in the years immediatelypent about 30billion dollars for new factories and following World War 2. The country’s business smachinery. National income available for spending was almost a third greater than it had been ithad been in 1950. Consumers spent about 256 billion dollars; that is about 700 million dollars aday ,or about twenty-five million dollars every hour , all round the clock. Sixty-five million peopleheld jobs and only a little more than two million wanted jobs but could not find them . Only agriculture complained that it was not sharing in the room. To some observers this was an ominousecho of the mid-1920’s . As farmer’s shre of their products declined , marketing costs rose. But there were , among the observers of the national economy, a few who were not as confident as the majority . Those few seemed to fear that the boom could not last and would eventually lead to theoppsite-depression.1. What is the best title of the passage?a. The Agriculatural Trends of 1950’sb. The Unemployment Rate of 1950’sc. U.S. Economy in the 50’sd. The Federal Budget of 19522. In Line 4 , the word “boom”could best be replaced by______.a. nearby explosionb. thunderous noisec. general public supportd. rapid economic growth3. It can be inferred the national from the passage that most people in the United States in1955 viewed the national economy with an air of _________.a. confidenceb. confusionc. disappointmentd. suspicion4. Which of the following were LEAST satisfied with the national economy in the 1950’s?a. Economistsb. Frmaersc. Politiciansd. Steelworkers5. The passage states that incom available for spending in the U.S. was greater in 1955 thanin 1950 . How much was it ?a. 60%b. 50%c. 33%d. 90%答案：cdabc三Women are also underrepresented in the administration and this is because there are so few women full professors. In 1985,Regent Beryl Milburn produced a report blasting the University of Texas System adminitration for not encouraging women.The University was rated among the lowest for the system.In a 1987 update ,Milburn commended the progress that was made and called for even more improvement.One of the positive results from her study was a System-wide program to inform women of available administrative jobs.College of Communication Associate Dean Patrica Witherspoon,said it is important that woman be flexible when it comesto relocating if they want to rise in the ranks.Although a woman may face a chilly climate on campus , many times in order for her to succeed , she must rise above the problems around her and concentrate on her work.Until women make up a greater percentage of the senior positions in the University and all academia,inequities will exist."Women need to spend their energies and time doing scholarly activities that are important here at the University." Spirduso said. "If they do that will be successful in this system.If they spend their time in little groups mourning the sexual discrimination that they think exists here, they are wasting valuable study time."1.According to Spirduso,women need to ____.a.produce a report on sexual discriminationb.call for further improvement in their working conditionsc.spend their energies and time fighting against sexual discriminationd.spend more time and energy doing scholarly activities2.From this passage ,we know that _____.a.there are many women full professors in the University of Texasb.women play an important part in adminitrating the Universityc.the weather on the campus is chillyd.women make up a small percentage of the senior positions in the University3.Which of the following statements is true?a.the number of women professors in the University in 1987 was greater than that of 1985b.the number of women professors in the University in 1987 was smaller than that of 1985c.the number of women professors was the same as that of 1985d.more and more women professors thought that sexual discrimination did exit in the University4.One of the positive results from Milburn's study was that _____.a.women were told to con centrate on teir workb.women were given information about available administrative jobsc.women were encouraged to take on all the administrative jobs in the Unversityd.women were encouraged to do more scholarly activities5. The title for this passage should be _______.a.The University of Texasburn's Reportc.Women Professorsd.Sexual Discrimination in Academia答案：ddabd四Today ,as in every other day of the year ,more than 3000 U.S. adlescents will smoke their first cigarette on their way to becoming regular smokers as adults. During their lifetime,it can be expected that of these 3000 about 23 will be murdered,30 will die in traffic accidents, and nearly750 will be killed by a smoking-related disease. The number of deaths attributed to cigarette smoking outweithts all other factors, whether voluntary or involuntary, as a cause of death.Since the late 1970s, when daily smoking among high school seniors reached 30 precent , smoking rates among youth have declined . While the decline is impressive ,several important issues must be raised.First, in the past several years,smoking rates among youth have declined very little. Second,in the late 1970s ,smoking among male high school seniors exceeded that among femaleby nearly 10 percent . The statistic is reversing.Third ,several recent studies have indicate high school dropouts have excessively high smoking rates, as much as 75 percent .Finally, thouth significant declines in adolescent smoking have occurred in the past decade,no definite reasons for the decline exist. Within this context,the Naional Cancer Instiute (NCI) beganits current effort to determine the most effecive measures to reduce smoking levesl among youth.1.According to the author, the deaths among youth are mainly caused by _____.a.traffic accidentsb.smoking-related deseasec.murderd.all of these2.Every day there are over_____high school strdents who will become regular smoker.a.75b.23c.30d.30003.By "dropout" the author means______.a.students who failed the examinationb.students who left schoolc.students who lost their wayd.students who were driven out of school4.The reason for declining adolescent smoking is that ________.a.NCI has taken effective measuresb.smoking is prevented among high school seniorsc.there are many smokers who have died of cancerd.none of these5.What is implied but not stated by the author is that ________.a.smoking rates among youth have declined very littleb.there are now more female than male smokers among high school seniorsc.high smoking rates are due to the incease in wealthd.smoking at high school are from low socio-economic backgrounds答案：bdbdb五The food we eat seems to have profound effects on our health.Although science has made enormous steps in making food more fit to eat ,it has, at the same time,made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shown that perhaps eighty percent of all human illnesses are related to dietand forty percent of cancer is related to the diet as well,especially cancer of the colon. Different cultures are more likely to cause certain different illnesses because of the food that is characteristic in these cultures. That food is related to illness is nto a new discovery. In 1945, about 35 years ago, government researchers realized that nitrates, commonly used to preserve color in meats,and other food additivies,caused cancer. Yet, these carcinogenic additives remain in our food, and it becomes more difficult all the time to know which things on the packaging labels of processed food are helpful or harmful. The additives which we eat are not all so direct. Farmers often give penicillinto beef and living animals, and because of this ,penicillin has been found in the milk of treated cow. Sometimes similar drugs are given to animals not for medical purposes,but for financial reasons. The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to obtain a higher price on the market. Although the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has tried repeatedly to control these procedures, the practices continue.1.What is the best possible title of the passage?a.Drug and Foodb.Cancer and Healthc.Food and Healthd.Health and Drug2.Which of the following statements is NOT ture?a.Drugs are always given to animals for medical reasonsb.Some of the additives in our food are added to the food itself and some are given to the living animalsc.Researchers have known about the potential dangers of food additives for over thirty-five years.d.Food may cause forty percent of cancer in world.3.How has science done something harmful to mankind?a.Because of science , diseases caused by polluted food haven been virtually eliminated.b.It has caused a lack of information concerning the value of food.c.Because of the application of science,some potentially harmful substances have been added to food.d.The scientists have preserved the color of meats,but not of vegetables.4.What are nitrates used for?a.They preserve flavor in packaged foods.b.They preserve the color of meats.c.They are the objects of research.d.They cause the animals to become fatter.5.The word 'carcinogenic' most nearly means '_____'.a.trouble-makingb.color-retainingc.money-makingd.cancer-causing答案：cacbdWhat is your favourite colour? Do you like yellow , orange ,red? If you do ,you must be anoptimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer greysand blues? Then you are probably quiet,shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend to be a pessimist. At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know,because they have been seriously studying the meaning of colours preference, as well as the effect that colours have on human beings. They tells us, among other facts,that we do not choose our favourite clour as we grow up----we are born with our preference.If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon asyou opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.Colours do influence our moods----there is no doubt about it .A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand ,black is depressing. A black bridge overthe Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides than any other bridge in the area ----until it was repainter green.The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply ;perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.Light and bright colours make people not only hppier but more active. It is an established fact that factory workers work better,harder ,and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or grey.1."You would rather follow than red" means_______.a.you don't like to follow othersb.you would be a member rather than a leaderc.you would be afraid of following othersd.you would like to be a leader rather than a follower2.If one enjoys life, one is sure to prefer________.a.red to yellowb.blue to orangec.red to greyd.blue to yellow3."They tell us, among other facts,that we don't choose our favourite colours as we grow up." "Among other facts" means______.a.besides other factsb.in regard to other factsc.not considering other factsd.according to other facts4.Which of the following is facts?a.People's preference of one colour to another is instinctb.People's preference of one colour to another is acquired as they grow up.c.More people happen to love brown because they saw something brown when they were bornd.Colours have little influence on our moods5.Those who committed suicide preferred the bridge over the Thames River near london to others because of _______.a.its shapeb.its structurec.its colourd.its building materials答案：bcaac十二Social customs and ways of behaving change. Things which were considered impolite many years ago are now acceptable. Just a few years ago, it was considered impolite behaviour for a man to smoke on street. No man who thought of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room.Customs also differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should leave one in your lap,or on the table?The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a wonman or offer their seat to a woman , and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is , if a dinner invitation is for 7 o'clock , the dinner guest either arrives closeto that time or calls up to explain his delay.The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable-----especially if they are your guests. When the food was served , one of the guests strated to eat his peas with a knife . The other guests were amused or shocked , but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable.1.If one has accepted a dinner invitation ,what should he do if he is tobe late for the dinner?a.He should find an excuseb.He should adk for excuse.c.He should say sorryd.He should telephone to explain his being late.2."It would have been bad manners to make his guests feel foolish or uncomfortable." "Bad manners " means ________.a.uglyb.dishonestc.impolited.shameful3.which of the following do you think is the best tiltle for this passage?a.Social Customs and Customsb.Social Lifec.American and British Customsd.Promptness Is Important4.According to the text, the best host_______.a.tries his best to make his guests feel comfortableb.makes his guests feel excitedc.tries to avoid being naughty to his guestsd.tries to avoid being foolish5.The author of this article may agree with which of the following?a.The guest who ate his peas with a knifeb.The other guests who were amused or shockedc.The host who picked up his knife and began eating in the same wayd.None of the above答案：dcaac十三New Orleans, Louisiana, was established as part of the French Empire in 1718.Its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River gave it control of the American hinerland and it became strategically important to many nations. It was transferred from France to Spain, returned to France,and finally sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803. The city was the site of a famous battle fought in 1815 between the British, who hoped to control it , and the Americans under General And rew Jackson.The riverbed of the Mississippi is constantly silting and the river is now actually higher thanthe city. Levees hold back the river and giant pumps are used to move water from the city into the river.Although New Orleans haas beena part of the United States for almost two centuries, its population takes great pride in its French heritage. Louisiana still retains parts of the Code Napoleon which,form many years,was its only law.New Orleans is carefree city and it boasts its hot, spicy Creole seafood and its native Dixieland Jazz. The jackson Square neighborhood maintains its French colonial homes and in other sections are pre-Civil War mansions. Visitors are surprised to find that behind this interesting facade of yesteryear, is a busy industrial and port city. Grain and coal come from the Midwest and foreigh cargoes are unloaded here. New Orleans is no longer a sleepy Southern town----but it's still fun to visit.1.What accounts for the levees and pumps in New Orleans?a.The Mississippi frequently floods the city.b.The riverbed has raised inthe past 200 years.c.The torrential rains flood the city frequently.d.The high humidity cannot otherwise be comtrolled.2.The battle of New Orleans was fought by jackson against______.a.Franceb.Britainc.Spaind.The North3.The Code Napoleon was _______.a.an agreement to sell Louisianab.a body of lawsc.a city pland.a military code for the army4.Which of the following elements does not apply to the attiude of the inhabitants of New Orleans?a.Pride in their French heritage.b.A desire to retain picturesque colonial buildings.c.A refusal to engage in trade and commerced.A praising of Dixieland Jazz.5.Tourists visiting New Orleans are surprised to encounter_____.a.Creole foodb.Dixieland jazzc.bustling cityd.authentic colonial homes答案：bbbcc十四The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world's technology. So says more than one study in recent years. One of the reasons for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U.S. scientists and engineers.Since 1976,employment of scientists and engineers is up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year-olds--the near term source of future PH.D.s-is declining. Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields-law,medicine,business,etc. While the number of U.S. PH.D.s in science and engineering declines,the award of PH.D.s to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly.Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master's degree holders. Too often, promising PH.D.candidates, confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education,find the attraction of industry irresistible.1.The U.S.will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ________.a. the number of PH.D. degree holders is decliningb. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasingc. the number of 22-year-ilds is decliningd. scientists and engineers are not employed2.The field of science and engineering is facing a competition from ________ .a. technologyb. foreign nationalsc. such fields as law, medicine and businessd. postgraduatesrge-scale enterprises now need _______.a. bright graduates and postgraduatesb. new inventionsc. advanced technologyd. engineers4.Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PH.D. degree because _________.a. they are not encouraged to be engaged in scienceb. industry does not require PH.D. holdersc. they have financial difficultiesd. they will spend much time and energy completing PH.D.5.PH.D. candidates "find the attraction of industry irresistible" means that _________.a. they find industry is attracting more and more college studentsb. they don't think they can prevent themselves from working for industryc. they cannot resist any attraction from all sidesd. they cannot work for industry any longer答案：bcadb十五Newdays,a standard for measuring power has changed.These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power.No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength ofits military forces. Of course, military effectiveness will remain a primary primary measure of power.But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without its military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new standard ofopwer and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on the ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping world events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to adapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess over most of this period was unchallenged. It is ironic that it is just this prowess that has enabled other countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the Department of Defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutional forces in our society-government,industry,and education. That is not to say that the Defense Department will not be a strong force in the process because we will. But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior of American industry.1. Now a nation's political influence depends on _________.a. the strength of its military forcesb. its ability to compete in industryc. economic marketsd. both a and b2. The Soviet Union was not listed as a third-world nation just because of _________.a. its powerful military forcesb. its vast landc. its industrial competitivenessd. its contributions to world peace3. The author indicates that ______ is threatening American political power.a. other countriesb. the declining U.S. industrial basec. a new standard for measuring powerd. less advanced technology4. America succeeded in shaping world events over past 40 years probably because of ___________.a. its ability to adapt technologyb. its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its peoplec. its ability to compete in the world marketsd. both a and b5. The purpose of writing this article is __________.a. to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring powerb. to demonstrate American political influence in the worldc. to emphasize that efforts must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. industrial based. to show American industrial prowess答案：dabdc。

CET4 仔细阅读真题练习一For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else. "While we teach, we learn," said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date. They're documenting why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn, and designing innovative ways for young people to engage in instruction.Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who're learning only for their own sake. But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings (兄弟姐妹). This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings. Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this model to academic subjects. They engage college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the "teachable agent"—a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil. Computer scientists have created an animated (动画的) figure called Betty's Brain, who has been "taught" about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students. Student teachers are motivated to help Betty master certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their own understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.Feedback from the teachable agents further enhances the tutors' learning. The agents' questions compel student tutors to think and explain the materials in different ways, and watching the agent solve problems allows them to see their knowledge put into action.Above all, it's the emotions one experiences in teaching that facilitate learning. Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtualpupils succeed as they derive pride and satisfaction from someone else's accomplishment.46. What are researchers rediscovering through their studies?A) Seneca's thinking is still applicable today.B) Better learners will become better teachers.C) Human intelligence tends to grow with age.D) Philosophical thinking improves instruction.47. What do we learn about Betty's Brain?A) It is a character in a popular animation.B) It is a teaching tool under development.C) It is a cutting-edge app in digital games.D) It is a tutor for computer science students.48. How does teaching others benefit student tutors?A) It makes them aware of what they are strong at.B) It motivates them to try novel ways of teaching.C) It helps them learn their academic subjects better.D) It enables them to better understand their teachers.49. What do students do to teach their teachable agents?A) They motivate them to think independently.B) They ask them to design their own questions.C) They encourage them to give prompt feedback.D) They use various ways to explain the materials.50. What is the key factor that eases student tutors' learning?A) Their sense of responsibility.B) Their emotional involvement.C) The learning strategy acquired.D) The teaching experience gained.。

英语四级阅读题库含答案解析1.Passage OneGlobal warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21 st century, but regardless of whether it is orisn ’t –we won’t do much about it. We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoidit. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely theyare to be observed.Al Gore calls global warming an “inconvenient truth, ” as if merely recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we don ’t know enough to relieve global warming, and –without major technological breakthroughs— we can ’t do much about it.From 2003 to 2050, the world ’s population is projected to grow from 6.4 billion to 9.1billion, a 42% increase. If energy use per person and technology remain the same, total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. but that ’s too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economicgrowth unless we condemn the world ’ s poor to their present poverty and freezeeveryone else ‘ s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050.No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personalfreedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back globalwarming. Still, politicians want to showthey ’re “doing something.” Consider the KyotoProtocol (京都议定书 ). It allowed countries that joined to punish those thatdidn ’t. But ithasn ’ t reduced CO2 emissions (up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories ( 签字国) didn ’ t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets.The practical conclusion is that if global warming is a potential disaster, the only solution is new technology. Only an aggressive research and development program might find ways of breaking dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it.The trouble with the global warming debate is that it has become a moral problem whenit ’ sreally an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don ’t solve theengineering problem, we ’re helpless.57. What is said about global warming in the first paragraph?A) It may not prove an environmental B)It is an issue requiring world widecrisis atall. commitments.C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid D) Very little will be done to bring it underor stop it. control.58. According to the author ’s understanding, what is Al Gore ’s view on global warming?A)It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of.B)It is a phenomenon that causes us many inconveniences.C)It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized.D)It is an area we actually have little knowledge about.59. Green house emissions will more than double by 2050 because of _______.A) economic growth C) wasteful use of energyB) the widening gap between the rich and D) the rapid advances of science and poor technology60.The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________.A) politicians have started to do something to better the situationB) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy useC) reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warmingD) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems61.What is the message the author intends to convey?A)Global warming is more of a moral issue than a practical one.B)The ultimate solution to global warming lies in new technologyC) The debate over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs.D)People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming.Passage TwoSomeday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Websites you ’ve visited. Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your creditcard purchase or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits. In fact, it ’s likely some of these things have already happened to you.Who wouldwatch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you neverintended to be seen — the 21 st century equivalent of being caught naked.Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it ’s important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. Thedigital bread crumbs ( 碎屑 ) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simpleGoogle search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in aworld where you simple cannot keep a secret.The key question is: Does that matter?When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned aboutlosing it. A survey found an overwhelming pessimism about privacy, with 60 percent ofrespondents saying they feel their privacy is “ slipping away, and that bothers me. ”But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny fraction of Americans changeany behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount attollbooths ( 收费站 ) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will surrender personalinformation like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-offcoupon (优惠券 ).But privacy does matter –at least sometimes. It ’ s like health: When you have it, you don ’t notice it. Only when it ’s gone do you wish you ’d done more to protect it.62.What does the author mean by saying “the 21 st century equivalent of being caughtnaked ”(Lines 3-4, Para.2)?A) People ’ s personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge.B) In the 21 st century people try every means to look into others ’ secrets.C)People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age.D)Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology.63. What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?A) Friends should open their hearts to C) There should be a distance even each other. between friends.B) Friends should always be faithful to D) There should be fewer disputes each other. between friends.64. Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret ”(Line 5, Para.3)?A)Modern society has finally evolved into an open society.B)People leave traces around when using modern technology.C) There are always people who are curious about others ’ affairs.D) Many search engines profit by revealing people ’s identities.65. What do most Americans do with regard to privacy protection?A) They change behaviors that might disclose their identity.B) They use various loyalty cards for business transactions.C) They rely more and more on electronic D) They talk a lot but hardly do anything devices.about it.66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________. A) people will make every effort to keep it woman.B) its importance is rarely understoodC) it is something that can easily be lostTherearemanyreasonsD) people don ’t cherish it until they lose it this-typically, men take more risks forthanwoman and are morelikely to drink and smokebut perhapsmoreimportantly,men don ’t go to the doctor.“Men aren ’ t seeing doctors as often2.Passage Oneas they should,” says Dr. Gullotta, “ThisQuestions 57 to 61 are based on theisparticularlyso for the over-40s,whenfollowing passage. diseases tend to strike. ”If you are a male and you are reading Gullotta says a healthymanshouldthis ,congratulations: you are adoctorevery year or two. Forvisitthesurvivor .According to statistics .you arethose over 45,it should be at least once amorethan twice as likely to die of skinyear.cancer than a woman ,and nine timesTwomonthsago Gullottasawamore likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you 50-year-old mawhohad delayed doingmake it to the end of your natural term,anything about his smoker’s cough for aabout 78 years for men in Australia, youyear.will die on average five years beforea“When I finally saw him it had alreadyspread and he has since died from lung cancer ” he says, “Earlier detection andtreatment may not have cured him, but itwould have prolonged this life ”According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“ A lot of men think they are invincible （不可战胜的）” Gullotta says “ They onlycome in when a friend drops dead on thegolf course and they think ” Geez, if itcould happen to him.Then there is the ostrich approach, ”some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies, ”Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men couldbe addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men wouldinevitably place strain on the public purse,Cartmill says. ” But prevention ischeaperin the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate costis far greater: it is called prematuredeath. ”57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. men drink and smoke much more thanwomenB. men don ’t seek medical care as oftenas womenC. men aren ’ t as cautions as women in face of dangerD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59.Which of the following best completesthe sentence “Geez, if it could happen tohim ⋯’(line2,para,8)?A. it could happen to me, tooB.I should avoid playing golf C. Ishould consider myself lucky D.it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “ the ostrich approach ”(line q para.9)A. a casual attitude towards one ’s health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fearof the pain involved disease because of fear61.What does Cartmill say about regularcheck-ups for men?A.They may increase public expensesB.Theywill save money in the long run C.They may cause psychological strains on menD.They will enable men to live as longas womenPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service ispreached( 宣扬 ) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than doneShoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives,co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.D. unwillingness to find out about one ’s Store managers are often the last tohear complaints, and often find out onlywhen their regular customers decidetfrequent their competitors, according to astudy jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school“ Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers, ”said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group. ”the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement. ”On average, every unhappy customerwill complain to at least four other, andwill no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect ”can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered themost problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints includefilledparking lots, cluttered (塞满了的 ) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting （业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople shouldbe diplomatic and polite with angrycustomers.“ Retailers who ’ re responsive andfriendly are more likely to smooth overissues than those who aren ’ t so friendly. ”said Professor Stephen Hoch. “ Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help. ”Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaintsto the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they haveno idea what is wrong.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答62.Why are store managers often the lastto hear complaints?A Most customers won ’ t bother to complaineven if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “ ⋯ the shopper must also find a replacement ” (Line 2, Para. 4)?A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not complaining to the manager causesthe shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlightingpolice as parking attendants so that shoppers_____A can stay longer browsing in the storeB won ’t have trouble parking their carsC won ’t have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65.What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeople BHiring of efficient employees CHuge supply of goods for sale DDesign of the store layout.66.To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to_________.A exert pressure on stores to improve their serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between stores3.The January fashion show, called Future Fashion , exemplified howfar green design has come. Organized by the New York-based nonprofitEarth Pledge, the show inspired many top designers to work with sustainablefabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges to include organic fabrics in their lines.The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate,which uses all-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials canstill be tough to fine . “Most designers with existing labels are findingthere aren ’t comparable fabrics that can just replace what you ’re doingand shat your customers are used to, ” he says. For example, cotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable organiconcewoven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, stillhave few eco-friendly equivalents.Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support.Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stopped charging its participation fee for young green entrepreneurs (企业家 ) who attend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gavespecial recognition to designers whose collections are at least 25% sustainable . It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewerthan a dozen two years ago. This week Wal-Mart is set to announce amajor initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buytransitional(过渡型的 ) cotton at higher prices , thus helping to expand the supply of a key sustainable material . “ Mainstream is about to occur, ”says Hahn.Some analysts ( 分析师 ) are less sure . Among consumers, only 18%are even aware that ecofashion exists, up from 6% four years ago.Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer, when asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied:“ Not that I ’m aware of. ” Like most consumers, she finds little time toshop, and when she does, she ’s on the huntfor “cute stuff thatisn’t tooexpensive. ” By her own admission, green just isn ’t yet on her mind. But–thanks to the combined efforts of designers, retailers and suppliers –one day it will be.57.What is said about Future Fashion?A)It inspired many leading designers to start going green.B)It showed that designers using organic fabrics would go far.C)It served as an example of how fashion shows should be organized.D)It convinced the public that fashionable clothes should be madedurable.58. According to Scott Hahn, one big challenge to designers who will goorganic is that .A)much more time is needed to finish a dress using sustainable materials .B)they have to create new brands for clothes made of organic materials .C)customers have difficulty telling organic from non-organic materials .D)quality organic replacements for synthetics are not readily available .59. We learn from Paragraph 3 that designers who undertake greenfashion .A)can attend various trade shows free .B)are readily recognized by the fashion worldC)can buy organic cotton at favorable prices .D)are gaining more and more support .60. What is Natalie Hormilla ’s attitude toward ecofashion?A) She doesn ’t seem to care about it. C) She is doubtful of itspractical value.B) She doesn ’ t think it is sustainable opposed to the idea D) She isvery much61.What does the author think of green fashion?A)Green products will soon go mainstream.B)It has a very promising future.C)Consumers have the final say.D)It will appeal more to young people.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a personhas lived using a strand( 缕 ) of hair , a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims .The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinkingwater show up in people ’s hair.“You ’re what you eat and drink, and that ’s recorded in you hair, ”said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah.While U.S diet is relatively identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as raid clouds move.Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable , but traces ofboth elements are also present as heavier isotopes (同位素 ) . The heaviest raid falls first .As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavier water to California than to Utah.Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand ofhair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months.Cerling ’ s team collected tap water samples from 600 cities andconstructed a mop of the regional differences. They checked theaccuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops.They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad regionsroughly corresponding to the movement of raid systems.“It ’s not good for pinpointing (精确定位 ),” Cerling said . “ It ’s good for eliminating many possibilities. ”Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learnmore about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was foundnear Great Salt Lake.The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt andseveral strands of hair.When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researchers. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before herdeath, she moved about every two months.She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be morespecific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming.“It ’s still a substantial area, ” Park said “But it narrows it waydown for me. ”62. What is the scientists ’ new discovery?A)One ’s hair growth has to do with the amount of water they drink.B)A person ’ s hair may reveal where they have lived.C)Hair analysis accurately identifies criminal suspects.D)The chemical composition of hair varies from person to person.63. What does the author mean by “You ’re what you eat and drink ”(Line 1, Para.3)?A) Food and drink affect one ’s personality development.B) Food and drink preferences vary with individuals.C) Food and drink leave traces in one ’ s body tissues.D) Food and drink are indispensable to one ’s existence.64. What is said about the rainfall in America ’ s West?A)There is much more rainfall in California than in Utah.B)The water it delivers becomes lighter when it moves inland.C)Its chemical composition is less stable than in other areas.D)It gathers more light isotopes as it moves eastward.65.What did Cerling ’s team produce in their research?A)A map showing the regional differences of tap water.B)A collection of hair samples from various barber shops.C)A method to measure the amount of water in human hair.D)A chart illustrating the movement of the rain system.66. What is the practical value of Cerling ’s research?A)It helps analyze the quality of water in different regions.B)It helps the police determine where a crime is committed.C)It helps the police narrow down possibilities in detective work.D)It helps identify the drinking habits of the person under investigation.4.Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on thepresidential candidates and how they ’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I ’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might beable to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-Americanwoman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world ’s attention.And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get upclose and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.Usually, the livesof black women go largely unexamined. Theprevailing theory seems to be that we ’ re all hot-tempered single mothers who can ’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, blackwomen still can ’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic ( 酗酒的 ) mothers. Theseimages have helped define the way all women are including Michelle Obama.Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity orfoundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicatedduty may be simple to be herself.viewed,It won ’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis.For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogshave written about what they ’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House — mainly showing the world that a black woman can support herman and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to pleaseeveryone — an impossible task. But for many African-American womenlike me, just a little of her poise ( 沉着 ), confidence and intelligence will goa long way in changing an image that57. Why does Michelle Obama ’s been around for far too long.hold a strong fascination for theauthor?A)She serves as a role model for African women.B)She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.C) She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.D)She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.58. What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?A)They are victims of violence. B) They are of an inferior violence.C)They use quite a lot of body language. D) They live on charity andsocial welfare.59. What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?A)Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.B)How Michelle should behave as a public figure.C)How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.D)What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House. 60.What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?A)However many fans she has, she should remain modest,B)She shouldn ’ t disappoint the African-American community.C) However hard she tries, she can ’ t expect to please everybody.D) She will give priority to African-American women ’ s concerns.61.What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obamawill do?A) Help change the prevailing view about black women. B)Help her husband in the task of changing America. C)Outshine previous First Lady.D) Fully display her finequalities. Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.When next year ’s crop of high-school graduates arrive atOxfordUniversity in the fall of 2009,they’ll be joined by a new face; AndrewHamilton, the 55-year-old provost ( 教务长) ofYale, who ’ ll b ecomeOxford ’s vice-chancellor — a position equivalent to university presidentin America.Hamilton isn ’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools inFrance, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hiresfrom abroad. Higher education has become abigand competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it ’s gone global. Yet the talent flow isn ’ t universal. High-level personnel tend to head in onlyone direction: outward from America.The chief reason is that American schools don ’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the Universityof Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university ’s budget. “ We didn ’t do any global consideration, ” says Patricia Hayes, the board ’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-oldColorado businessman and political activist ( 活动家 ) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising.Fund-raising is a distinctively American thing, since U.S. schools relyheavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product ofexperience and necessity.Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependenton government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student number. The decline in government support hasmade funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry for Americans.In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison。

2024年6月英语四级阅读理解两篇(第1套)阅读理解第一篇Lao Zi once said, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”老子曾经说过:“在意别人怎么想，你将永远是他们的囚徒。

”People-pleasing, or seeking self-worth through others’approval, is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life.取悦他人，或者从他人的认可中寻求自我价值，是徒劳的，是一种令人疲惫的生活方式。

Why do we allow what others think of us to have so much power over how we feel about ourselves?为什么我们允许别人对我们的看法对我们自己的感受产生如此大的影响?If it’s true that you can’t please all people all of the time, wouldn’t it make sense to stop trying?如果你真的无法做到一直让所有人都满意，那么停止尝试不是更有道理吗?Unfortunately, sense often isn’t driving our behavior.遗憾的是，我们的行为往往不受理智的驱动。

For social beings who desire love and belonging, wanting to be liked, and caring about the effect we have on others, is healthy and allows us to make connections. 对于渴望爱和归属感的社会人而言，想要被人喜欢并且在意我们对他人的影响，这是健康的，可以让我们与他人建立人际关系。

If you think a high-factor -sunscree(防晒霜）keeps you safe from harmful rays, you may be wrong.如果你认为防晒指数高的防晒霜能够使你免遭有害射线的辐射，那你可能就错了。

Research in this week’s Natureshows that while factor 50 reduces the number of melanomas(黑瘤）and delays their occurrence, it can’t prevent them.本周《自然》杂志的一项研究显示，尽管防晒指数为50的防晒霜能够减少黑瘤的数量，并延缓其出现，但是并不能阻止其产生。

Melanomas are the most aggressive skin cancers.黑瘤是最具侵犯性的皮肤癌。

You have a higher risk if you have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or sunburn easily, or if a close relative has had one.如果你拥有红发或金发，浅色皮肤，蓝色或绿色眼睛，或者容易晒伤，又或者有近亲患此疾病，那么你患此病的风险就会相对较高。

Melanomas are more common if you have periodic intense exposure to the sun. Other skin cancers are increasingly likely with long term exposure.如果你周期性高强度地暴露于太阳下，黑瘤则会更为常见。

长期暴露于太阳下，患其他皮肤癌的可能性也会逐渐增加。

There is continuing debate as to how effective sunscreen is in reducing melanomas—the evidence is weaker than it is for preventing other typesof skin cancer.关于防晒霜在减少黑瘤方面的有效性的争论一直不断，相比防晒霜对于其他种类皮肤癌的预防作用，其对黑瘤的预防作用不太显著。

2024年06月大学英语四级考试真题（第1套）Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: Suppose your university is seeking students’ opinions on whether university libraries should be open to the public. You are now to write an essay to express your view. You will have 30 minutes for the task. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.PartⅡListening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B), C) and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) Due to a fire alarm in their apartments.B) Because of the smoke and heat damage.C) Due to the water used to extinguish the flames.D) Because of the collapse of the three-story building.2. A) Investigating the cause of the incident.B) Helping search for the suspect of the crime.C) Rescuing the businessmen trapped in the building.D) Checking town records for the property developer.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) It plays a less important role in one’s health than nutrient intake.B) It impacts people’s health to a lesser degree than sun exposure.C) It is associated with people’s mental health conditions.D) It is linked with older adults’ sympt oms of depression.4. A) It was indefinite. C) It was straightforward.B) It was systematic. D) It was insignificant.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) It has helped solve several murder cases.B) It has become a star police dog in Beijing.C) It has surpassed its mother in performance.D) It has done better than naturally born dogs.6. A) To speed up investigation into criminal cases. C) To cut down training expenses.B) To test the feasibility of cloning technology. D) To reduce their training time.7. A) Cloning is too complicated a process. C) Cloning is ethically controversial.B) The technology is yet to be accepted. D) The technology is too expensive.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A），B），C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) He read it somewhere online. C) He read an article reviewing it.B) He heard about it from a coworker. D) He watched a TV series based on it.9. A) His publications. C) His address.B) His first book. D) His name.10. A) Collect a lot more data. C) Clarify many new concepts.B) Relax a bit less often. D) Read more reference books.11. A) Find out the show’s most interesting episodes. C) Get an e-copy of the book to read.B) Watch the series together with the woman. D) Check to see when the show starts.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) To check the prices of his farm produce.B) To ask the way to the Newcastle City Hall.C) To inquire about the vegetarian food festival.D) To seek the man’s help with her work on the farm.13. A) Bakers. C) Vegetarians.B) Vendors. D) Organisers.14. A) The issuing of certificates to vendors. C) The festival they are organising.B) The completion of the baking task. D) The deadline for application.15. A) The closing date of submission. C) The details of the ceremony.B) The website of his company. D) The organiser’s address.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) Most scenic sites have been closed. C) Health experts advise going outdoors.B) Access to official campsites is limited. D) People have more time during the summer.17. A) It is strongly opposed by nearby residents. C) It has caused environmental concerns.B) It leads to much waste of public money. D) It has created conflicts among campers.18. A) Look for open land in Scotland. C) Avoid getting close to wilderness.B) Leave no trace of their camping. D) Ask for permission from authorities. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They outcompete mythical creatures. C) They truly exist in the Amazon region.B) They usually mind their own business. D) They resemble alarmingly large snakes.20. A) Scar tissue from dolphins’ fighting. C) Unhealed wounds from snake bites.B) Skin infection from water pollution. D) Swimming along in seasonal floods.21. A) It has been shrinking at an astonishing pace.B) It has been placed under international protection.C) It has been appealing to both freshwater and sea dolphins.D) It has been abandoned as a battleground for male dolphins.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) About 58% of young adults call parental support the new normal.B) Most adult children enjoy increasing sources of financial support.C) A full 70% of the young adults cannot afford to buy a car by themselves.D) Most early adults cannot sustain their lifestyles without parental support.23. A) It renders them dependent. C) It makes them mentally immature.B) It causes them to lose dignity. D) It hinders them from getting ahead.24. A) It challenges one’s willpower. C) It calls for due assistance.B) It results from education. D) It defines adulthood.25. A) Current lifestyles. C) College loans.B) Poor budgeting. D) Emergency expenses.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 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．It’s well known that physical exercise is beneficial not just to physical health but also to mental health. Yet whereas most countries have 26 , evidence-backed guidelines on the type and intensity of exercise 27 for various physical health benefits, such guidelines do not yet exist for exercise and mood.This is 28 due to a lack of necessary evidence. However, a new systematic review brings us usefully up-to-date on the current findings in this area.Before 29 into some of the key take-aways, an important 30 made in the review is between aerobic exercise and anaerobic. The former 31 such things as walking, jogging and cycling and means exercising in such a way that your body is able to use oxygen to burn fat for energy. In contrast, anaerobic exercise—such as lifting heavy weights—is of such 32 intensity that your body does not have time to use oxygen to create energy and so instead it breaks down glucose (葡萄糖) in your blood or muscles.Beginning first with the influence of exercise intensity on the mood benefits of aerobic exercise, the researchers, led by John Chan at Shenzhen University, found 33 results from19 relevant studies. Some favoured higher intensity, others low, while seven studies found that intensity made no 34 to mood benefits.In relation to the intensity of anaerobic exercise, however, the results were far clearer—the optimum (最佳选择) for improving mood is 35 intensity, perhaps because low intensity is too dull while high intensity is too unpleasant.Section BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Why Do Americans Work So Much?A)How will we all keep busy when we only have to work 15 hours a week? That was thequestion that worried the British economist John Maynard Keynes when he wrote his short essay “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren” in 1930. Over the next century, h e predicted, the economy would become so productive that people would barely need to work at all. For a while, it looked like Keynes was right. In 1930 the average working week was47 hours in the United States. But by 1970, the number of hours Americans worked onaverage had fallen to slightly less than 39.B)But then something changed. Instead of continuing to decline, the duration of the workingweek remained stable. It has stayed at just below 40 hours for nearly five decades. So what happened? Why are people working just as much today as in 1970?C)There would be no mystery in this if Keynes had been wrong about the power of technologyto increase the economy’s productivity, which he thought would lead to a standard of living “between four and eight times as high as it is today.” But Keynes got that right: Technology has made the economy massively more productive. According to Benjamin M. Friedman, an economist at Harvard, the U.S. economy is right on track to reach Keynes’s eight-fold (八倍) multiple by 2029. That is a century after the last data Keynes would have had access to.D)In a new paper, Friedman tries to figure out why that increased productivity has nottranslated into increased leisure time. Perhaps people just never feel materially satisfied, always wanting more money to buy the next new thing. This is a theory that appeals tomany economists. “This argument is, at best, far from sufficient,” he writes. If that were the case, why did the duration of the working week decline in the first place?E)Another theory Friedman considers is that, in an era of ever fewer settings that provideeffective opportunities for personal connections and relationships, people may place more value on the socializing that happens at work. There is support for this theory. Many people today consider colleagues as friends. But Friedman argues that the evidence for this theory is far from conclusive. Many workers report that they would like to spend more time with family, rather than at work. Furthermore, this theory cannot explain the change in trend in the U.S. working week in the 1970s.F) A third possibility proves more convincing for Friedman. That is: American inequalitymeans that the gains of increasing productivity are not widely shared by everyone. In other words, most Americans are too poor to work less. Unlike the other two explanations Friedman considers, this one fits chronologically (按年代). Inequality declined in America during the period following World War II, along with the duration of the working week.But since the early 1970s it has risen dramatically.G)Keynes’s prediction of a shorter working week rests on the idea that the standard of livingwould continue rising for everyone. But Friedman says that this is not what has happened.Although Keynes’s eight-fold figure holds up for the economy as a whole, it is not at all the case for the median (中位数的) American worker. For them, output by 2029 is likely to be around 3.5 times what it was when Keynes was writing. This is a bit below his four- to eight-fold predicted range.H)This can be seen in the median worker’s income over this time period, complete with a shiftin 1973 that fits in precisely with when the working week stopped shrinking. According to Friedman, between 1947 and 1973 the average hourly wage for normal workers (those who were not in management roles) in private industries other than agriculture nearly doubled in terms of what their money could buy. But by 2013 the average hourly wage for ordinary workers had fallen 5 percent from the 1973 level in terms of actual purchasing power. Thus, though American incomes may have gone up since 1973, the amount that American workers can actually buy with their money has gone down. For most Americans, then, the magic of increasing productivity stopped working around 1973. Thus, they had to keep working just as much in order to maintain their standard of living.I)What Keynes predicted was a very optimistic version of what economists call technologicalunemployment. This is the idea that less labor will be necessary because machines can do so much. In Keynes’s vision, the resulting unemployment would be distributed more or less evenly across society in the form of increased leisure. But Friedman says that, for Americans, reality is much darker. Americans now have a labor market in which millions of people—those with fewer skills and less education—are seeking whatever poorly paid work they can get. This is confirmed by a recent poll that found that, for half of hourly workers, their top concern is not that they work too much but that they work too little. This is most likely not because they like their jobs so much. Rather, we can assume it is because they need the money.J)This explanation leaves an important question. If the very rich—the workers who have reaped above-average gains from the increased productivity since Keynes’s time—can afford to work less, why do they continue to work so much? (Indeed, research has shownthat the highest earners in America tend to work the most.) Friedman believes that for many top earners, work is a labor of love. They are doing work they care about and are interested in, and doing more of it is not necessarily a burden. For them, it may even be a pleasure.These top earners derive meaning from their jobs and work is an important part of how they think of themselves. And, of course, they are compensated for it at a level that makes it worth their while.K)Friedman concludes that the prosperity(繁荣) Keynes predicted is here. After all, the economy as a whole has grown even more brilliantly than he expected. But for most Americans, that prosperity is nowhere to be seen. And, as a result, neither are those shorter working weeks.36. Some people view socializing at the workplace as a chance to develop personal relationships.37. As ordinary American workers’ average hourly pay had decreased despite increasing productivity, they had to work just as many hours as before to keep their living standards.38. American workers’ average weekly working time has not changed for nearly half a century.39. Friedman believes inequality in the U.S. largely explains why increasing productivity has not resulted in reduced working hours.40. Man y economists assume people’s thirst for material things has prevented them from enjoying more leisure time.41. An economist’s prediction about a shorter average working week seemed to be correct fora time in the 20th century.42. In the U.S. labor market, the primary concern of people with less schooling and fewer skills is to secure any employment even if it is low-paid.43. Keynes was right in predicting that technology would make the economy much more productive.44. Many of the highest earners have a keen interest in and love for what they are doing.45. According to Keynes, there would be a shorter working week with everyone’s standard of living continuing to rise.Section CDirections: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 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Lao Zi once said, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”People-pleasing, or seeking self-worth through oth ers’ approval, is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life. Why do we allow what others think of us to have so much power over how we feel about ourselves? If it’s true that you can’t please all people all of the time, wouldn’t it make sense t o stop trying?Unfortunately, sense often isn’t driving our behavior. For social beings who desire love and belonging, wanting to be liked, and caring about the effect we have on others, is healthy and allows us to make connections. However, where we get into trouble is when our self-worth is dependent upon whether we win someone’s approval or not.This need to be liked can be traced back to when we were children and were completely dependent on others to take care of us: Small children are not just learning how to walk and communicate, they are also trying to learn how the world works. We learn about who we are and what is expected of us based on interactions with others, so, to a four-year-old, if Mommy or Daddy doesn’t like him or her, there is the danger that they will abandon them. We need to understand that when we desperately want someone to approve of us, it’s being driven by that little kid part of us that is still terrified of abandonment.As you become more capable of providing yourself with the approval you seek, your need for external validation will start to vanish, leaving you stronger, more confident, and yes, happier in your life. Imagine how much time we lose each moment we restrain our authentic selves in an effort to be liked.If we base our worth on the opinions of others, we cheat ourselves of the power to shape our experiences and embrace life not only for others but also for ourselves, because ultimately, there is no difference. So embrace the cliché (老话) and lo ve yourself as it’s highly doubtful that you’ll regret it.46. What can we conclude from Lao Zi’s quotation?A) We should see through other people’s attempt to make a prisoner of us.B) We can never really please other people even if we try as hard as we can.C) We can never be truly free if taking to heart others’ opinion of us.D) We should care about other people’s view as much as they care about our own.47. What will happen if we base our self-worth on other people’s approval?A) Our desire to be loved will be fulfilled.B) Our life will be unfruitful and exhausting.C) Our identity as social beings will be affected.D) Our sense of self will be sharpened and enhanced.48. What may account for our need to be liked or approved of?A) Our desperate longing for interactions with others.B) Our understanding of the workings of the world.C) Our knowledge about the pain of abandonment.D) Our early childhood fear of being deserted.49. What can we do when we become better able to provide ourselves with the desired approval?A) Enjoy a happier life. C) Receive more external validation.B) Exercise self-restraint. D) Strengthen our power of imagination.50. What does the author advise us to do in the last paragraph?A) Embrace life for ourselves and for others. C) See our experiences as assets.B) Base our worth on others’ opinions. D) Love ourselves as we are.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom. However, a growing body of research suggests that late-in-life learning is possible. In reality, education does an aging brain good.Throughout life, people’s bra ins constantly renovate themselves. In the late 1960s, British brain scientist Geoffrey Raisman spied growth in damaged brain regions of rats through an electron microscope; their brains were forging new connections. This meant brains may change every time a person learns something new.Of course, that doesn’t mean the brain isn’t affected by the effects of time. Just as height usually declines over the years, so does brain volume: Humans lose about 4 percent every decade starting in their 40s. But that re duction doesn’t necessarily make people think slower; as long as we are alive and functioning, we can alter our brains with new information and experiences.In fact, scientists now suspect accumulating novel experiences, facts, and skills can keep people’s minds more flexible. New pathways can strengthen our ever-changing mental structure, even as the brain shrinks.Conventional fixes like word puzzles and brain-training apps can contribute to mental durability. Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.A desire for new life challenges can further boost brainpower. Research about aging adults who take on new enterprises shows improved function and memory as well as a reduced risk of mental disease. Openness—a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge—may also help folks pass brain tests. Some folks are born with this take-in-the-world attitude, but those who aren’t as genetically gifted aren’t necessarily out of luck. While genes can encourage an interest in doing new things, a 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences, which can, in turn, refresh the brain. That’s why brain scientist Richard Kennedy says “It’s not that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. It’s that maybe old dogs don’t realize why they should. ”51. What do some people think of aging adults?A) Their wisdom grows as time goes by. C) They can benefit from late-in-life learning.B) Their memory gradually deteriorates. D) They are likely to have mental health issues.52. What can we conclude from Geoffrey Raisman’s finding?A) Brain damage seriously hinders one’s learning.B) Brain power weakens slower than we imagine.C) Brains can refresh and improve with learning.D) Brains forge connections under new conditions.53. What is one thing that helps maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks?A) Doing daily routines by conventional means.B) Avoiding worrying about our mental durability.C) Imitating old dogs’ way of learning new tricks.D) Approaching everyday tasks in novel ways.54. What does the author say can contribute to the improvement of brain function?A) Being curious and desiring knowledge.B) Being eager to pass brain tests at an old age.C) Rising to life’s challenges and avoiding risks.D) Boosting immunity to serious mental diseases.55. What is the finding of the 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging?A) Wishing to solve puzzles enhances one’s reasoning power.B) Playing number games unexpectedly stimulates one’s memory.C) Desiring new experiences can help to renovate the brain.D) Learning new tricks should not be confined to old dogs only.Part ⅣTranslation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.四合院（siheyuan）是中国一种传统的住宅建筑，其特点是房屋建造在一个院子的四周，将院子合围在中间。

CET4 阅读(一)Passage 1Oceanography has been defined as 'The application of all sciences to the study of the sea'.Before the nineteenth century, scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in-his writings, but he was reluctant (不愿意) to go to sea to further his work.For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travellers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, 1et alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that the question 'What is at the bottom of the oceans?' had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed.The engineers had to know the depth profile (起伏形状)of the mute to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s,Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings(测深) were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea. The cable was laid, but not until 1866was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts ofthe sea. Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872Thomson led a scientific expedition (考察), which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.1. The passage implies that the telegraph cable was built mainly_____A)for oceanographic studies C)for business considerationsB)for military purposes D)for investigating the depths of the oceans2.It was_____ that asked Maury for help in oceanographic studies.A)the American Navy B)some early intercontinental travellersC)those who earned a living from the seaD)the company which proposed to lay an undersea cable3.The aim of voyages Maury encouraged in the 1840s was____A)to make some sound experiments in the oceansB)to collect samples of sea plants and animalsC)to estimate the length of cable that was to be madeD)to measure the depths of two oceans4.'Defied' in the 5th paragraph probably means_____A)'doubted' C)'challenged' B)'gave proof to' D)'agreed to'5.This passage is mainly about________A)the beginnings of oceanographyB)the laying of the first undersea cableC)the investigation of ocean depthsD)the early intercontinental communications6.The author's attitude in this passage is _____A)critical B)objective C)warmhearted D)sadPassage 2The speaker, a teacher from a community college, addressed a sympathetic audience. Heads nodded in agreement when he said, "High school English teachers are not doing their jobs." He described the inadequacies of his students, all high school graduates who can use language only at a grade 9 level. I was unable to determine from his answers to my questions how this grade 9 level had been established.My topic is not standards nor its decline (降低).What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like a mature adult.My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it is inevitable. It is also human nature to l∞k for the reasons for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language deficiencies(缺陷).But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack.The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they assume the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of sensitive adults. The language of the young always seems inadequate.Since this concern about the decline and fall of the English language is not perceived as a generational phenomenon but rather as something new and peculiar to today's young people, it naturally follows that today 's English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. Otherwise, young people would not commit offenses against the language.1.The speaker the author mentioned in the passage believed thatA) the language of the younger generation is usually inferior to that of the older generationB) the students had a poor command of English because they didn't work hard enoughC) he was an excellent language teacher because he had been teaching English for sixteen yearsD) English teachers should be held responsible for the students, poor command of English2.In the author's opinion, the speakerA) gave a correct judgement of the English level of the studentsB) had exaggerated the language problems of the studentsC) was right in saying that English teachers were not doing their jobsD) could think and speak intelligently3.The author's attitude towards the speaker's remarks is________ .A) neutral C) critical B) positive D)compromising4.It can be concluded from the passage thatA) it b justifiable to include English as a school subjectB) the author disagrees with the speaker over the standard of English at Grade9levelC) English language teaching is by no means an easy jobD) Language improvement needs time and effort5.In the passage the author argues thatA) it is unfair to blame the English teachers for the language deficiencies of the studentsB) young people would not commit offences against the language if the teachers did their jobs properlyC) to eliminate language deficiencies one must have sensitive eyes and earsD) to improve the standard of English requires the effort of several generations 答案：Passage 1: CDDCABPassage 2: DBCDA。