英语四六级练习

Passage 1Learning a foreign language requires action. Here are some ___1___ for you to follow. The most important factor for success is to be enjoyably ____2___ in the language. The next thing you need to do is listen to and read things that ___3__ you everyday, though you may not necessarily __4__ everything. Meanwhile, build up your __5__ through listening and reading. Another thing to remember is that you should take __6__ for your own learning. A teacher cannot make you __7__, but you can learn to become a fluent speaker if you can take __8__. Sometimes you may find yourself unable to __9__ or understand what you are learning. Do not worry about it. Relax and __10__ yourself. You may find things clearer in your brain later.学习一门语言需要行动。

这里有一些供你参考使得。

成功的最重要因素是愉快地2语言。

接下来你要做的就是听和读东西,每天3,虽然你不一定严格意义上的一切。

与此同时,建立你的延长到听力和阅读。

英语四级选词填空练习题及答案英语四级选词填空练习题及答案：There is evidence that the usual variety of high blood pressure is,in part,a familiar disease.Since families have similar genes as well as similar environments,familiar diseases could be due to shared genetic influences,to shared environmental factors,or to both.For some years,the role of one environmental factor commonly shared by families,namely dietary salt(i.e.,sodium chloride),has been studied at Brookhaven National Laboratory.These studies suggest that chromic excess salt ingestion can lead to high blood pressure in man and animals.Some individuals,however,and some rats consume large amounts of salt without developing high blood pressure.No matter how strictly all environmental factors were controlled in these experiments,some salt-fed animals never developed hypertension whereas a few rapidly developed very severe hypertension followed by early death.These marked variations were interpreted to result from differences in genetic constitution.By mating is successive generations only those animals that failed to develop hypertension from salt ingestion,a resistant strain(the "R" Strain)has been evolved in which consumption of large quantities of salt fails to influence the blood pressure significantly.In contrast,by mating only animals that quickly develop hypertension from salt,a sensitive strain("S" strain)has also been developed.The availability of these tow strains permits investgations not heretofore possible.They provide a plausible laboratory model on which to investigate some clinical aspects of the human prototypes of hypertension.More important,there might be the possibility of developing methods by which genetic susceptibility of human beings to high blood pressure can be defined without waiting for its appearance.Radioactive sodium 22 was an important "tool" in working out the characteristics of the sodium chloride metabolism.1.The study of the effects of salt on high blood pressure was carried out ______.a.as members of the same family tend to use similar amounts of saltb.to explore the long-term use of a sodium based substancec.because it was proven that salt caused high blood pressured.because of the availability of chemically pure salt and its derivatives2.The main difference between "S" and "R" rats is their ______.a.need for sodium 22b.rate of matingc.reaction to saltd.type of blood3.We can infer from the article that sodium 22 can de used to ______.a.control high blood pressureb.cure high blood pressure caused by saltc.tell the "S" rats from the "R" ratsd.determine what a sodium chloride metabolism is like4.The most beneficial results of the research might be ______.a.development of diets free of saltb.an early cure for high blood pressurec.control of genetic agents that cause high blood pressured.the early identification of potential high blood pressure victims5.Which of the statements best relates the main idea of this article?a.When salt is added rats and human beings react similarly.b.The near future will see a cure for high blood pressure.c.The medical field is desperately in need of research.d.A tendency toward high blood pressure may be a hereditary factor.答案：acddd英语四级选词填空练习题及答案：Directions: In this section, there is apassage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blankfrom a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read thepassage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bankis identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each itemon Answer Sheet2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any ofthe words in the bank more than once.What is itabout Americans and food? We love to eat, but we feel1__________ about itafterward. We say we want only the best, but we strangely enjoy junk food.Were 2__________ with health and weight loss but face an unprecedented epidemicof obesity(肥胖). Perhapsthe3__________ to this ambivalence(矛盾情结) lies in our history. The first Europeans came to this continentsearching for new spices but went in vain. The first cash crop(经济作物) wasnt eaten but smoked. Thenthere was Prohibition, intended to prohibit drinking but actually encouragingmore 4__________ ways of doing it.Theimmigrant experience, too, has been one of inharmony. Do as Romans do meanseating what “real Americans” eat, but our nations food has come to be 5__________ byimports—pizza, say, or hot dogs. And some of the countrys most treasuredcooking comes from people who arrived here in shackles.Perhaps itshould come as no surprise then that food has been a medium for the nationsdefining struggles, whether at the Boston Tea Party or the sit?ins at southernlunch counters. It is integral to our concepts of health and even moralitywhether one refrains from alcohol for religious reasons or evades meat forpolitical 6__________But strongopinions have not brought 7__________ . Americans are ambivalent about what theyput in their mouths. We have become 8__________ of our foods, especially as welearn more about what they contain.The 9__________ infood is still prosperous in the American consciousness. Its no coincidence,then, that the first Thanksgiving holds the American imagination in suchbondage(束缚). Its whatwe eat—and how we 10__________ it with friends, family, and strangers—that helpdefine America as a community today.A. answerB. resultC. shareD. guiltyE. constantF. definedG. vanishH. adaptedI. creativeJ. beliefK. suspiciousL. certaintyM. obsessedN. identifyO. ideals答案：1.E)essence2.H)doubles3.A)components4.K)devices5.O)technique6.F)inspiration7.L)manufacture8.I)solution9.C)standards10.B)advantage。

英语专业四级语法练习题（附答案详解）英语专业四级语法练习题than1.Mary is _______ than Alice. (1992)A. more experienced a teacherB. a more experienced teacherC. more an experienced teacherD. more experienced teacher2._______ the two, Bob is ________ student. (1995)A. Of, more diligentB. In, more diligentC. Of, the more diligentD. In, the more diligent3.Western Nebraska generally receives less snow than _______ Eastern Nebraska. (1996)A. inB. it receives inC. doesD. it does in4.The indoor swimming pool seems to be a great more luxurious than _______. (1998)A. is necessaryB. being necessaryC. to be necessaryD. it is necessary5.There ought to be less anxiety over the perceived risk of mountain climbing than ______ in thepublic mind today. (1999)A. existsB. existC. existingD. to exist6.The experiment requires more money than _______. (2002)A. have been put inB. being put inC. has been put inD. to be put in7.The less the surface of the ground yields to the weight of a fully-loaded truck, _______ to thetruck. (2003)A. the greater stress isB. greater is the stressC. the stress is greaterD. the greater the stressas8.Some dieters find that after their dieting is over, they ate twice _______ they did before theirdiet. (1993)A. more thanB. as many asC. much thanD. as much as/doc/fe8825904.html,nguage belongs to each member of the society, to the cleaner ___ to the professor. (1998)A. as far asB. the same asC. as much asD. as long as10.She did her work ______ her manager had instructed. (2002)A. asB. untilC. whenD. though11.The trumpet player was certainly loud. But I wasn’t bothered by his loudness ______ by hislack of talent. (2004)A. so much asB. rather thanC. asD. than12.His remarks were ________ annoy everybody at the meeting. (2005)A. so as toB. such as toC. such toD. as much as toA is toB whatC is to D13.Twelve is to three _______ four is to one. (1998)A. whatB. asC. thatD. like14.Intellect is to the mind ______ sight is to the body. (2001)A. whatB. asC. that15.John is _______ hardworking than his sister, but he failed in the exam. (1998)A. no lessB. no moreC. not lessD. no so16.Fat cannot change into muscle _______ muscle changes into fat. (1999)A. any more thanB. no more thanC. no less thanD. much more thanas / though / much as17.David Singer, my friend’s father, ______ raised and educated in New York, lived and lecturedin Africa most of his life. (1993)A. whoB. ifC. whileD. though18.______ he needed money for a new car, he decided not to borrow it from the bank. (1998)A. Much asB. Much thoughC. As muchD. Though much19.Fool _____ Jane is, she could not have done such a thing. (2002)A. whoC. thatD. like20.______ I like economics, I like sociology much better. (2003)A. As much asB. So muchC. How muchD. Much as21.______, Mr. Wells is scarcely in sympathy with the working class. (2005)A. Although he is a socialistB. Even if he is a socialistC. Being a socialistD. Since he is a socialist定语从句22.Above the trees are the hills, ________ magnificence the river faithfully reflects on the surface.(2003)A. whereB. of whoseC. whoseD. which23.Only take such clothes _______ really necessary. (1994)A. as wereB. as they areC. as they wereD. as are24.______ is often the case with a new idea, much preliminary activity and optimistic discussionproduced no concrete proposals. (1994)A. ThatB. ItC. ThisD. As25.This company has now introduced a policy _____ pay rises are related to performance at work.(1996)A. whichB. whereC. whetherD. what26.The Physicist has made a discovery, _______ of great importance to the progress of science andtechnology. (1997)A. I think which isB. that I think isC. which I think isD. which I think it is27.I have never been to London, but that is the city ______. (1997)A. where I like to visit mostB. I’d most like to visitC. which I like to visit mostlyD. where I’d like most to visit28.She remembered several occasions in the past ___ she had experienced a similar feeling. (98)A. whichB. beforeC. thatD. when29.I’ve never been to Lhasa, but that’s the city ______. (1999)A. I’d most like to visitB. which I like to visit mostlyC. where I like to visitD. I’d like much to visit30.Firms that use computers have found that the number of staff ______ is needed for qualitycontrol can be substantially reduced. (2000)A. whoseB. asC. whatD. that31.We’ve just installed two air-conditioners in our apartment, ______ should make greatdifferences in our life next summer. (2002)A. whichB. whatC. thatD. they32.They overcame all the difficulties and completed the project two months ahead of time, ______is something we had not expected. (2003)A. whichB. itC. thatD. what名词性从句33.We can assign the task to ______ is capable and trustworthy. (1994)A. whomeverB. whoC. whomD. whoever34.The team can handle whatever _____. (1997)A. that needs handlingB. which needs handlingC. it needs handlingD. needs to be handled35.After __ seemed an endless wait, it was her turn to enter the personnel manager’s office. (99)A. thatB. thereC. whatD. it36.Have you ever been in a situation _____ you know the other person is right yet you cannotagree with him? (2002)A. by whichB. thatC. in whereD. where非限定动词（不定式、动名词、分词）37.____ is not a serious disadvantage in life. (2001)A. To be not tallB. Not to be tallC. Being not tallD. Not being tall38.This may have preserved the elephant from being wiped out as well as other animals _____ inAfrica. (1996)A. huntedB. huntingC. that huntedD. are hunted39.The Clarks haven’t decided yet which hotel ______. (1998)A. to stayB. is to stayC. to stay atD. is for staying40.In international matches, prestige is so important that the only thing that matters is to avoid_____. (1996)A. from being beatenB. being beatenC. beatingD. to be beaten41.He resented _____ to wait. He expected the minister _____ him at once. (1995)A. to be asked, to seeB. being asked, to seeC. to be asked, seeingD. being asked, seeing42.I never regretted _____ the offer, for it was not where my interest lay. (1993)A. not to acceptB. not having acceptedC. having not acceptedD. not accepting43.He noticed the helicopter hovering over the field. Then tohis astonishment, he saw a ropeladder _____ out and three men climbing down it. (1995)A. throwingB. being thrownC. having thrownD. having been thrown44.Professor Johnson is said ____ some significant advance in his research in the past year. (99)A. having madeB. makingC. to have madeD. to make45.AIDS is said _____ the number-one killer of both men and women over the past few years inthat region. (2002)A. beingB. to beC. to have beenD. having been46.The Minister of Finance is believed _____ of imposing new taxes to raise extra revenue. (04)A. that he is thinkingB. to be thinkingC. that he is to thinkD. to think47.The three men tried many times to sneak across the border into the neighboring country, _____by the police each time. (1999)A. had been capturedB. being always capturedC. only to be capturedD. unfortunately captured48.This missile is designed so that once ______ nothing can be done to retrieve it, (1995)A. firedB. being firedC. they fireD. having fired49.______ , he can now only watch it on TV at home. (1998)A. Obtaining not a ticket for the matchB. Not obtaining a ticket for the matchC. Not having obtained a ticket for the matchD. Not obtained a ticket for the match50.Arriving at the bus stop, ______ waiting there. (1994)A. a lot of people wereB. he found a lot of peopleC. a lot of peopleD. people were found51._____ regular training in nursing, she could hardly cope with the work at first. (1994)A. Not receivedB. Since receivingC. Having receivedD. Not having received52.__B__ at in this way, the present economic situation doesn’t seem so gloomy. (2000)A. LookingB. LookedC. Having lookedD. To look53.There __ nothing more for discussion, the meeting came to an end half an hour earlier. (2000)A. to beB. to have beenC. beingD. be54._____ no cause for alarm, the old man went back to his room. (1996)A. There wasB. SinceC. BeingD. There being55.The country’s chief exports are coal, cars a nd cotton goods, cars _____ the most important ofthese. (1994)A. have beenB. areC. beingD. are being56.Agriculture is the country’s chief source of wealth, wheat _____ by far the biggest cereal crop.(2003)A. isB. beenC. beD. being57.If not _____ with the respect he feels due to him, Jack gets very ill-tempered and grumbles allthe time. (2004)A. being treatedB. treatedC. be treatedD. having been treated58.Time _____, the celebration will be held as scheduled. (2003)A. permitB. permittingC. permittedD. permits虚拟语气59._____ for the fact that she broke her leg, she might have passed the exam. (2002)A. Had it not beenB. Hadn’t it beenC. Was it notD. Were it not60.If you have really been studying English for so long, it’s about time you _____ able to writeletters in English. (1999)A. should beB. wereC. must beD. are61._____, I’ll marry him all the same. (2004)A. Was he rich or poorB. Whether rich or poorC. were he rich or poorD. Be he rich or poor62.If your car _____ any attention during the first 12 months, take it to an authorized dealer. (98)A. shall needB. should needC. would needD. will need63.It is imperative that students _____ their term papers on time. (2004)A. hand inB. would hand inC. have to hand inD. handed in64.If you explained the situation to your solicitor, he ________ able to advise you much betterthan I can. (2005)A. would beB. will have beenC. wasD. were情态动词65.You ______ Jim anything about it. It was none of his business. (2004)A. needn’t have toldB. needn’t tellC. mustn’t have toldD. mustn’t tell66.He ______ the 8:20 bus because he didn’t leave home till 8:25. (1994)A. couldn’t have caughtB. ought to have caughtC. shouldn’t have caughtD. must not have caught67.He _____ unwisely, but he was at least trying to do something helpful. (1999)A. may have actedB. must have actedC. should actD. would act时态68.How can I ever concentrate if you _____ continually ____ me with silly questions? (97)A. have … interruptedB. had … interruptedC. are … interruptingD. were … interrupting/doc/fe8825904.html,e and see me whenever ______. (97)A. you are convenientB. you will be convenientC. it is convenient to youD. it will be convenient to you70.For some time now, world leaders __ out the necessity for agreement on arms reduction. (02)A. had been pointingB. have been pointingC. were pointingD. pointed71.Jack _____from home for two days now, and I am beginning to worry about his safety. (03)A. has been missingB. has been missedC. had been missingD. was missed72._________ conscious of my moral obligations as a citizen.(05)A. I was and always will beB. I have to be and always will beC. I had been and always will beD. I have been and always will be73.So badly _____ in the car accident that he had to stay in hospital for a few months. (94)A. did he injureB. injured himC. was he injuredD. he was injured74.He is not under arrest, ______ any restriction on him. (95)A. or the police have placedB. or have the police placedC. nor the police have placedD. nor have the police placed75.___ both sides accept the agreement ___ a lasting peace be established in this region. (04)A. Only if, willB. If only, wouldC. Should, willD. Unless, would反意疑问句76.A hibernating animal needs hardly any food all through the winter, _____? (92)A. need itB. needn’t itC. does itD. doesn’t it77.You and I could hardly understand, ______? (95)A. could IB. couldn’t youC. couldn’t weD. could we78.When you have finished with that video tape, don’t forget to put it in my drawer, ___? (97)A. do youB. will youC. don’t youD. won’t you79.Do help yourself to some fruit, _____ you? (00)A. can’tB. don’tC. wouldn’tD. won’t80.She would have been more agreeable if she had changeda little bit, _____? (03)A. hadn’t sheB. hasn’t sheC. wouldn’t sheD. didn’t she1．an experienced teacher, 比较级加在形容词前，因此B。

大学英语四级试卷（满分120分，考试时间90分钟）一、选择题：（本题共20小题，每小题3分，共60分）1. After I heard that I took a deferred pass in botany, I was in a _____ emotional state.A. highlyB. doubtfullyC. greatlyD. nervously2. Since I could not see anything through the microscope, _______ my carefuladjustment, I gave up.A. for allB. above allC. after allD. in all3. When the Victorians had family reunions, the hosts went ______ their way to entertain the guests.A. in forB. overC. out ofD. back on4. He is such _______ selfish man that he hasn't ______ least concernfor others.A. /, theB. a, /C. a, theD. the, a5. Towards ______ evening ______ cold rain began to fall.A. the, aB. /, theC. /, aD. the, /6. My journey to Croydon proved to be a miserable one as the rain did not _____.A. dear upB. got offC. let upD. slow down7. The ordinary Zulu fighters were not _______ to Shala’s plan of throwing away their sandals.A. opposedB. objectedC. opposingD. conflicting8. Shakespeare’s ploy “The Taming of the Shrew” is on _______ 3 tonight.A. wavelengthB. postC. bandD. channel9. The tourists ________ through the fog, trying to read what was engraved on the gravestone Shakespeare had chosen for hiself.A. glancedB. glimpedC. peeredD. peeped10. After visiting the Holy Trinity Church, the boys _______ leaving so long that they almost missed the last train to London.A. put offB. delayedC. stoppedD. halted11. When our university laboratory bought this microscope we were givena one year’s _______.A. reservationB. securityC. proofD. guarantee12. Don’t _____ about lunch for the instructors, because they promised to get some on the way.A. brotherB. fussC. troubleD. think13. The football player had studied economics in the university for _____ of roughly six years.A. a decadeB. a timeC. an ageD. a period14. Caracas has been called the Los angles of South America; at _____ they look exactly the same.A. short noticeB. first sightC. first impressionD. first appearance15. A dictionary of the English language, _______ by Dr Samuel Johnson, was the first real attempt as a systematic and interestingly written survey of English usage.A. construckedB. composedC. compiledD. collected16. She said she wouldn't call us the next day, _____ she?A. wouldB. wouldn'tC. didD. didn't17. Nobody came to see me while I was out, _____?A. did theyB. didn't whileC. did sheD. didn't she18. There's no water in the bottle, ________?A. isn't thereB. is thereC. hasn't thereD. has there19. No one was absent from the meeting, _______?A. was sheB. weren't sheC. were theyD. weren't they20. You needn't speak so loudly, _____?A. don't youB. do youC. needn't youD. need you二、完型填空（共计20分）Many people wrongly believe that when people reach old age, their families place them in nursinghomes. They are left in the 1 of strangers for the rest of their lives.Their 2 children visit them onlyoccasionally,but more often, they do not have any 3 visitors.The truth is that this idea is an unfortunate myth-an 4story. In fact, family members provide over 80 percent of the care 5 elderly people nee D. SamuelPrestoon, a sociologist, studied 6 the American family is changing. He reported that by the time the 7American couple reaches 40 years of age, they have more parents than children. 8 , because people todaylive longer after an illness than people did years 9 , family members must provide long term care. Morepsychologists have found that all caregivers10 a common characteristic: All caregivers believe that theyare the best11 for the jo B. In other words, they all felt that they 12 do the job better than anyoneelse.Social workers 13 caregivers to find out why theytook 14 the responsibility of caring for an elderlyrelative.Many caregivers believed they had 15 to help their relative.Some stated that helping others 16them feel more useful.Others hoped that by helping 17 now, they would deserve care when they becameold and 18 .Caring for the elderlyand being taken care of can be a 19 satisfying experience for everyonewho might be 20 .1.A.hands B. arms C.bodies D.homes2.A.growing B. grown C.being grown D.having grown3.A.constant B. lasting C.regular D.normal4.A.imaginary B. imaginable C.imaginative D.imagery5.A.that B. this C.those D.these6.A.when B. how C.what D.wheremon B. ordinary C.standard D.average8.A.Further B. However C.Moreover D.Whereas9.A.before B. ago ter tely10.A.share B. enjoy C.divide D.consent11.A.person B. people C.character D.man12.A.would B. will C.could D.can13.A.questioned B. interviewed C.inquired D.interrogate14.A.in B. up C.on D.off15.A.admiration B. initiative C.necessity D.obligation16.A.cause B. enable C.make D.get17.A.someone B. anyone C.everyone D.anybody18.A.elderly B. dependent C.dependable D.independent19.A.similarly B. differently C.mutually D.certainly20.A.involved B. excluded C.included D.considered三、阅读理解：(共25分)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 lived in a state of boom. A n economic survey of the year 1955, a typical year of the 1950’s, may be typical as illustrating the rapid economic growth of the decade. The national output was value at 10 percent above that of 1954 (1955 output was estimated at 392 billion dollars). The production of manufacturers was about 40 percent more than it had averaged in the years immediately following World War 2. The country’s business spent about 30billion dollars for new factories and machinery. National income available for spending was almost a third greater than it had been it had been in 1950. Consumers spent about 256 billion dollars; that is about 700 million dollars a day ,or about twenty-five million dollars every hour , all round the clock. Sixty-five million people held jobs and only a little more than two million wanted jobs but could not find them . Only agriculturecomplained that it was not sharing in the room. To some observers this was an ominous echo 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 the oppsite-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 3, 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 in 1955 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 than in 1950 . How much was it ?A. 60％B. 50％C. 33％D. 90％四、书面表达：(满分15分)请你写封信给你的朋友Tony告诉他，请他关照下你的朋友小花,内容重点如下:1.告诉这个消息2.请他给你朋友小花一些建议并给予指导注意:字数应为120词左右参考答案：一、选择题：1-5题答案:AACCC6-10题答案:CADCB11-15题答案:DADBC16-20题答案:DABCD二、完型填空1.【答案】A 本句意为他们的业余生活要由陌生人来照料。

大学英语四级试练习卷一、阅读理解Water problems in the future will become nore intense and more complex. Our increasing population will tremendously increase urbanwastes,primarily sewage. On the other hand, increasing demands for water will decease substantialy the amount of water available for diluting wastes. Rapidly expanding industries which involve more and more complex chemical processes will produce large volumes of liquid wastes, and many of these will contain chemicals which are noxious. To feed our rapidly expanding population, agriculture will have to be intensifieD. This will involve ever-increasingquantities of agricultural chemicals, From this , it is apparent that drastic steps must be taken immediately to develop corrective measures for the pollution problem. There are two ways by which this pollution problem can be dwindleD. The first relates to the treatment of wastes to decrease their pollution hazarD. This involves the processing of solid wastes "prior to " disposal and the treatment of liquid wastes, or efflunets,to permit the reuse of the water or minimize pollution upon final disposal. A second approach is to develop an economic use for all or a part of thewastes. Farm manure is spread in fields as a nutrient or organic supplement . Effluents from sewage disposal plants are used in some areas both for irrigation and for the nutrients containeD. Efflunets from otherprocessing plants may also be used as a supplemental source of water. Many industries, such as meat and poultry processing plants, are currently converting former waste products into marketable byproducts. Other industries are potential eonomic uses for waste products.1.The purpose of this is ______.A.to alert the reader to the dwindling water supplyB.to explain industrial uses of waterC.to acquaint the reader with water pollution problemsD.to demostrate various measures to solve the pollution problem2.Which of the following points is NOT INCLUDED in the ?A.In dustrial development incudes the simplification of complex chemical processes.B.Diluting wastes needs certain amount of waterC.Demands for water will go up along with the expanding populationD.Intensive cultivation of land requires more and more chemicals3.The reader can conclued that________.A.countries of the world will work together on polution problemsB.byproducts from wastes lead to a more prosperous marketplaceC.science is making great progress on increasing water suppliesD.some industries are now ,aking economic use of wastes4.The author gives substance to the through the use of _______.A.interviews with authorities in the field of water controlsB.opinions and personal observationsC.definitions which clarify important termsD.strong arguments and persuasions5.The words "prior to "(para.2) probably mean______.A.afterB.duringC.beforeD.beyond二、完型填空完型填空（一）Most people have no idea of the hard work and worry that goes into the collecting of those fascinating birds and animals that they pay to see in the zoo. One of the questions that is always asked of me is (1) I became an animal collector in the first (2). The answer is that I have always been interested inanimals and zoos. According to my parents, the first word I was able to say with any (3) was not the conventional “mamma”or “daddy”, (4) the word “zoo”, which I would (5) over and over again with a shrill (6) until someone, in groups to (7) me up, would take me to the zoo. When I (8) a little older, welived in Greece and I had a great(9) of pets, ranging from owls to seahorses, and I spent all my sparetime(10) the countryside in search of fresh specimens to (11) to my collection of pets. (12) on I went fora year to the City Zoo, as a student (13) , to get experience of the large animals, such as lions, bears,bison and ostriches, (14) were not easy to keep at home. When I left, I (15) had enough money of myown to be able to (16) my first trip and I have beengoing (17) ever since then. Though a collector's jobis not an easy one and is full of (18), it is certainly a job which will appeal (19) all those who loveanimals and (20) .1.A.how B.where C. when D. whether2.A.region B.field C. place D. case3.A.clarity B.emotion C. sentiment D. affection4.A.except B.but C. except for D. but for5.A.recite B.recognize C. read D. repeat6.A.volume B.noise C. voice D. pitch7.A.close B.shut C. stop D. comfort8.A.grew B.was growing C. grow D. grown9.A.many B.amount C. number D. supply10.A.living B.cultivating C. reclaiming D. exploring11.A.increase B.include C. add D. enrichter B.further C. then D. subsequently13.A.attendant B.keeper C. member D. aide14.A.who B.they C. of which D. which15.A.luckily B.gladly C. nearly D. successfully16.A.pay B.provide C. allow D. finance17.A.normally B.regularly C. usually D. often18.A.expectations B.sorrows C. excitement D. disappointments19.A.for B.with C. to D. from20.A.excursion B.travel C. journey D. Trip完型填空（二）To others and themselves the British have a reputation for being conservative——not in the narrowpolitical sense, but in the sense of adherence to accepted ideas and unwilling to question them.Thereputation comes partly from their 1 .For 900 2 they have suffered 3 invasion nor revolution (except in1649 4 1688) nor disastrous defeat in 5 .Their monarchy (君主政体) survives 6 serious question.Underits normal 7 political arrangements have been 8 stable that, except for the 9 interruptions in theseventeenth 10 , they have been adopted throughout 11 centuries to meet changing needs without violent12 .Britain, in 1978, was 13 in managing without 14 written constitution; some fragmentary definitionsof 1688 still 15 .There had been 16 quarrels, social and economic as well 17 political, but the quarrelshad been 18 , usually 19 compromise.The underlying 20 had not been broken.nguage B.future C.history D.literature2.A.centuries B.years C.minutes D.seconds3.A.neither B.as C.or D.either4.A.too B.but C.or D.and5.A.home B.study C.peace D.war6.A.and B.without C.with D.neither B.people C.leadership D.enemy8.A.so B.very C.too D.such9.A.two B.one C.no D.couple10.A.month B.day C.year D.century11.A.a B.any C.the D.few12.A.changes B.change C.altered D.changedmon B.popular C.unique D.angry14.A.two B.a C.some D.their15.A.survive B.surviving C.survives D.survived16.A.bitter B.happy C.pleasant D.unhappy17.A.for B.as C.to D.at18.A.settling B.settles C.settle D.settled19.A.for B.at C.to D.by20.A.continue B.continuity C.continuous D.continued三、翻译1、所有的窗户都开着，他就睡着了。

英语四级考试练习题及答案（满分120分，考试时间90分钟）一、选择题：（本题共20小题，每小题3分，共60分）1. People were certain Thomas _____ his foot on the road to fame when he arrived in New York.A. putB. trodC. setD. Placed2. They designed ______ than a matchbox.A. no bigger a modelB. a no bigger modelC. a bigger model noD. a model no bigger3. American automobiles need ______ than imported cars do.A. more care precisionB. care precision moreC. more precision careD. precision care more4. This problem is ______ an economic than a political one.A. no moreB. no moreC. much moreD. no better5. John is ______ of the two boys.A. a more diligentB. the more diligentC. the most diligentD. more diligent6. Passengers may leave bulky articles under the stairs ______ the conductor's permission.A. atB. withC. onD. in7. You won't get in _____ the end of the act.A. tillB. atC. byD. in8. He said he was in debt and asked me for a loan ______ $50.A. onB. forC. withD. of9. What tremendous achievements we have made _______ all fronts in the past few years!A. inB. onC. atD. of10. John is unfortunately devoid _______ a sense of humour.A. withB. ofC. toD. from11. It will rain, _____ the barometer is falling.A. soB. forC. asD. since12. We won't encourage him to do that _______ he is in good health.A. even ifB. in caseC. even thoughD. when13. Nature not only gave the Middle Atlantic region fine harbors, ______ a first-class system of inland waterways.A. however endowed it onB. so endowing this onC. thus endowing this onD. but endowed it with14. I have little doubt about his competence; ____ he is well-qualified for the job.A. althoughB. moreoverC. yetD. because15. I am telling you this _______ you should make a mistake.A. so thatB. thoughC. untilD. lest16. Henry A dams felt so hungry that he ordered a double _____ of fish.A. pieceB. partC. portionD. section17. The highest mountain in New Zealand, Mount Cook, is now 10 feet shorter because some of the ____ at its top slid down in 1991.A. landB. soilC. earthD. dirt18. When Ken studied at Stanford University, he Cived _____ the University.A. out ofB. apart fromC. distant fromD. a long way from19. The king’s daughter threatened to drink the _____ chemical if he refused her request.A. deathlyB. deadlyC. fatalD. mortal20. The Sears Company recently made _______ because of financial troubles.A. CutsB. demandsC. omissionsD. orders二、翻译（共计10分）1. 电影开演半小时了。

大学英语四级试练习卷一、阅读理解阅读理解（一）Courses with the numbers800or above are open only to graduate students.Certain courses,generally those devoted to introductory material,are numbered400for undergraduate students and600for graduate students.Courses designed for students seeking a professional degree carry a500number for undergraduate students and a700munber for graduate students.A full-time graduate student is expected to take courses which total ten to sixteen credit hours.Students holding assistantships are expected to enroll for proportionately fewer hours.A part-time graduate student must register for a minimun of five credit hours.1.In order to be eligible to enroll in Mechanical Engineering850,a student must be______.A.a graduate studentB.a part-time studentC.a full-time studentD.an undergraduate student2.If an undergraduate student uses the number520to register for an accounting course,what number would a graduate student probably use to register for the same course?A.accounting520B.accounting620C.accounting720D.accounting8203.A student who register for eight credit hours is a______.A.full-time studentB.graduate studentC.part-time studentD.non-degree student4.A graduate student may not_____A.enroll in a course numbered610B.register for only one three-hour courseC.register for courses if he has an assistantshipD.enroll in an introductory course阅读理解（二）The accuracy of cientific observations and calculations is always at the mercy of the scientist's timekeeping methods.For this reason,scientists are interested in devices that give promise of more precise timekeeping. In their search for precision,scientists have turned to atomic clocks that depend on various vibrating atoms or molecules to supply their "ticking".This is possible because each kind of atom or molecule has its own characteristic rate of vibration.The nitrogen atom in ammonia, for example,vibrates or"ticks"24billion times a seconD.One such atomic clock is so accurate that it will probaly lose no more than a second in3000years.It will be of great improtance in fields such as astronomical is a sesium atom that vibrates9.2billion times a second when heated to the temperature of boiling water.An atomic clock that operates with an ammonia molecue may be used to check the accuracy ofpredictions based on Einstein's relativity theories,according to which a clock in motion and a clock at rest should keep time differently.Placed in an orbiting satellite moving at a speed of18000miles an hour,the clock could broadcast its time readings to a ground station,where they would be compared with the readings on a similar model.Whatever differences develop would be checked against the differences predicteD.1.Scientists expect that the atomic clocks will be______.A.more preciseB.absolutely accurateC.more durableD.indestructible2.The heart of the atomichron is_______.A.acesium atomB.an ammonia moleculeC.a nitrogen atomD.a hydrogen3.From theselection,we may assume that temperature changes_______.A.affect only ammonia moleculesB.may affect the vibration rate of atomsC.affect the speed at which atoms travelD.do not affect atoms in any way4.Identical atomic clocks may be used to check______.A.the effect of outer space on an atomic clockB.the actual speed of an orbiting sateliteC.the accuacy of predictions based on theories of relativityD.all of Einstein's theories5.Implied but not stated:_______.A.Precise timekeeping is essential in scienceB.Scientists expect to disprove Einstein's relativity theoriesC.Atomic clocks will be important in space flightD.The rate of vibration of an atom never varies二、完型填空完型填空（一）Exercise is good for you,but most people really know very little about how to exercise properly.1when you try,you can runsintostrouble.Many people2that when specific muscles are exercised,the fat in the neighbouring area is“3up”.Yet the4is that exercise burns fat from all over5.Studies show muscles which are not6lose their strength very quickly.To regain it needs48to72hours and exercise every other day will7a normal level of physical strength.To8weight you should always “work up a good sweat”when exercising.9sweating only10body temperature to prevent over heating.This is11water loss.12You replace the liquid,you replace the13.Walking is the best and easy-to-do exercise.It helps the circulation of blood14the body,and has a direct 15on your overall feeling of health.Experience says that20minutes’1617is minimun amount.18your breathing doesn’t return to normal state within minutes after you finish19,you’ve done20.1.A.While B.When C.As D.So2.A.understand B.believe C.hope D.know3.A.built B.burned C.piled D.grown4.A.reply B.possiblility C.truth D.reason5.A.arm B.leg C.stomach D.body6.A.exercised B.examined C.protected D.cured7.A.lose B.raise C.burn D.keep8.A.lose B.gain C.keep D.burn9.A.Certainly B.No C.Fortunately D.Probably10.A.raises B.reduces C.destroys D.keeps up11.A.how B.why C.nothing but D.more than12.A.While B.Once C.As D.Whenever13.A.weight B.muscle C.sweat D.strength14.A.over B.around C.throughout D.with15.A.effect e age D.affectcation B.sleep C.exercise D.rest17.A.one day B.a day C.everyday D.someday18.A.But if B.But C.If D.And if19.A.working B.walking C.exercising D.breathing20.A.enough B.much C.too much D.much too完型填空（二）Have you ever wondered what our future is like?Practically all people _1_a desire to predict their future_2_.Most people seem inclined to_3_ this task using causal reasoning.First we_4_recognize that futurecircumstances are_5_caused or conditioned by present ones.We learn that getting an education will_6_how much money we earn later and that swimming beyond the reef may bring an unhappy_7_with ashark.Second,people also learn that such_8_of cause and effect are probabilistic(可能的)in nature.Thatis,the effects occur more often when the causes occur than when the causes are_9_,butnotalways.Thus,students learn that studying hard_10_good grades in most instances,but not everytime.Science makes these concepts of causality and probability more_11_and provides techniques fordealing _12_then more accurately than does causal human inquiry.In looking at ordinary humaninquiry,we need to_13_between prediction and understanding.Often,even if we don't understandwhy,we are willing to act _14_the basis of a demonstrated predictive ability.Whatever the primitivedrives_15_motivate human beings,satisfying them depends heavily on the ability to_16_futurecircumstances.The attempt to predict is often played in a_17_of knowledge and understanding.If youcan understand why certain regular patterns_18_,you can predict better than if you simply observe thosepatterns.Thus,human inquiry aims_19_ answering both"what"and"why"question,and we pursue these_20_by observing and figuring out.1.[A]exhibit[B]exaggerate[C]examine[D]exceed2.[A]contexts[B]circumstances[C]inspections[D]intuitions3.[A]underestimate[B]undermine[C]undertake[D]undergo4.[A]specially[B]particularly[C]always[D]generally5.[A]somehow[B]somebody[C]someone[D]something6.[A]enact[B]affect[C]reflect[D]inflect7.[A]meeting[B]occurrence[C]encounter[D]contact8.[A]patterns[B]designs[C]arrangements[D]pictures9.[A]disappointde[B]absent[C]inadequate[D]absolute10.[A]creates[B]produces[C]loses[D]protects11.[A]obscure[B]indistinct[C]explicit[D]explosive12.[A]for[B]at[C]in[D]with13.[A]distinguish[B]distinct[C]distort[D]distract14.[A]at[B]on[C]to[D]under15.[A]why[B]how[C]that[D]where16.[A]predict[B]produce[C]pretend[D]precede17.[A]content[B]contact[C]contest[D]context18.[A]happen[B]occur[C]occupy[D]incur19.[A]at[B]on[C]to[D]beyond20.[A]purposes[B]ambitions[C]drives[D]goals三、翻译1、他用所有的积蓄为儿子买了一辆自行车。

Passage 1When Morn and Dad Grow OldA) The prospect of talking to increasingly fragile parents about their future can be "one of themost difficult challenges adult children will ever face," says Clarissa Green, a Vancouver therapist. "People often tell me they don't want to raise sensitive issues with their parents about bringing in caregivers or moving," she says. "They'll say, 'I don't want to see dad cry.'"But Green usually responds, "What's wrong with that?" Adult children, she says, need to try to join their parents in grieving their decline, acknowledge their living arrangements may no longer work and, if necessary, help them say goodbye to their beloved home. "It's sad. And it's supposed to be. It's about death itself."B) There are almost four million men and women over age 65 in Canada. Nearly two thirds ofthem manage to patch together enough support from family, friends, private and government services to live independently until virtually the day they die, according to Statistics Canada. C) Of the Canadian seniors who live to 85 and over, almost one in three end up being moved-sometimes kicking- to group living for the last years of their lives. Even in the best-case scenarios (可能出现的情况), such dislocations can bring sorrow. "Often the family feels guilty, and the senior feels abandoned," says Charmaine Spencer, a professor in the gerontology department of Simon Fraser University. Harassed with their own careers and children, adult children may push their parents too fast to make a major transition.D) Val MacDonald, executive director of the B. C. Seniors Services Society, cautions adult childrenagainst imposing their views on aging parents. "Many baby boomers can be quite patronizing (高人一等的)," she says. Like many who work with seniors, MacDonald suggests adult children devote many conversations over a long period of time to collaborating on their parents' future, raising feelings, questions and options gently, but frankly. However, many middle-aged adults, according to the specialists, just muddle (应付) through with their aging parents.E) When the parents of Nancy Woods of Mulmur Hills, Ont., were in their mid-80s, they made thedecision to downsize from their large family home to an apartment in Toronto. As Woods' parents, George and Bemice, became frailer, she believed they knew she had their best interests at heart. They agreed to her suggestion to have Meals on Wheels start delivering lunches and dinners. However, years later, after a crisis, Woods discovered her parents had taken to throwing out the prepared meals. Her dad had appreciated them, but Bemice had come to believe they were poisoned. "My father was so loyal," says Woods, "he had hid that my mother was overwhelmed by paranoia (偏执狂)." To her horror, Woods discovered her dad and mom were "living on crackers and oatmeal porridge" and were weakening from the impoverished diet. Her dad was also falling apart with the stress of providing for Bemice -- a common problem when one spouse tries to do everything for an ailing partner. "The spouse who's being cared for might be doing well at home," says Spencer, "but often the other spouse is burned out and ends up being hospitalized."F) Fortunately, outside help is often available to people struggling through the often-distressingprocess of helping their parents explore an important shift. Sons and daughters can bring in brochures or books on seniors' issues, as well as introduce government health-care workers or staff at various agencies, to help raise issues and open up discussions, says Val MacDonald, whose nonprofit organization responds to thousands of calls a year from British Columbiansdesperate for information about how to weave through the dizzying array of seniors services and housing options. The long list of things to do, says MacDonald, includes assessing their ability to live independently; determining your comfort level with such things as bathing a parent; discussing with all household members whether it would be healthy for an elderly relative to move in; monitoring whether, out of pure duty, you're over-committing yourself to providing a level of care that could threaten your own well-being.G) The shock phone call that flung Nancy Woods and her parents into action came from herdesperate dad. "I got this call from my father that he couldn't cope anymore. My mother was setting fires in the apartment," she says. "He didn't want to see it for what it was. Up to then he'd been in denial." Without knowing she was following the advice of experts who recommend using outside sources to stimulate frank discussion with parents, Woods grabbeda copy of The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease,Related Dementing Illness, and Memory Loss in Later Life. She read sections of the book to her dad and asked him, "Who does that sound like?" Her father replied, "It's mother. It's dementia (痴呆)." At that point, Woods said, her dad finally recognized their tragic plight (困境). She told her father she would help them move out of their apartment. "He nodded. He didn't yell or roar. He took it on the chin (忍受痛苦)H) Woods regrets that she "had not noticed small details signaling mom's dementia." But she'ssatisfied her dad accepted his passage into a group residence, where he and his wife could stay together in a secure unit where staff were trained to deal with patients with dementia."From the moment they moved into the Toronto nursing home, their physical health improved. On the other hand, it was the beginning of the end in terms of their mental abilities. Perhaps they couldn't get enough stimulation. Perhaps it was inevitable."I ) After my father died in 2002, the grim reality of my mother's sharply declining memory set instarkly. With her expanding dementia, mom insisted on staying in her large North Shore house, even though she was confused about how to cook, organize her day or take care of herself. For the next three years we effectively imposed decisions on her, most of them involving bringing in caregivers, including family members. In 2005 mom finally agreed, although she barely knew what was happening, to move to a nearby nursing home, where, despite great confusion, she is happier. As Spencer says, the sense of dislocation that comes with making an important passage can be "a very hard adjustment for a senior at the best of times. But it's worse if it's not planned out."46. Under the pressure and stress from their own careers and children, adult children tend to push their parents to group living.47. When Nancy Woods' father got to know their tragic plight, he finally agreed to move out of their apartment.48. When Nancy Woods' parents reached their mid-80s, they moved into an apartment.49. Clarissa Green suggests that adult children should try to share their fragile parents' grieving feelings.50. Val MacDonald's organization is non-profit and helps adult children with their aging parent issues through phone calls.51. Since Nancy Woods' parents moved into the Toronto nursing home, they became physically healthier, but had new problems with their mental abilities.52. When her mother set fires in the apartment, Nancy Woods' father was desperate and turned to her for help.53. According to Statistics Canada, most Canadian seniors older than 65 live independently until they die.54. Val MacDonald warns baby boomers not to force their parents to accept their views.55. Despite knowing little about what was happening, the author's mother lived more happily ina nearby nursing home.Passage 2Americans and Their CarsA) It has been one of the world's most enduring and passionate love affairs: Americans and theircars. It's no secret that America is a nation of cars. A recent survey of the number of cars on America's roads counted some 204 million vehicles in the U.S. There is an average of 1.9 motor vehicles for every household in America, and just to illustrate how many cars this is, consider that the average American household has only 1.8 drivers; America has more vehicles than it has drivers to drive them. By the time a middle-class American reaches 35 years of age, he or she has likely owned 3 cars in his or her life.B) The Unites States' lawmakers have done little to undermine the romance between theircitizens and their automobiles. Taxes on gasoline have been kept low, while massive highway building projects allow more and more cars to take to the road. Public transportation, on the other hand, has traditionally suffered from neglect. From the 1970s, since Americans have more than doubled their reliance on cars for long-distance tides, train and bus usage has largely stopped developing. Inner city transit systems in most cities were either deteriorating or crime-ridden, as in New York, or dysfunctional (机能不良的), as in Los Angeles.C) There are, however, signs that U.S. drivers are quietly looking for alternatives to car usagewith growing backing from legislators. Throughout the country a record number of commuters are taking buses and transit to work. In Washington DC, city officials say this summer has been the busiest in the history of the Metro rail system, with trains often carrying more than 600,000 passengers a day. In Cincinnati, transit authorities say there have been up to 50 percent more users this summer on some commuter routes. The Atlanta and Portland transit systems are also recording heavy usage. Nationwide, public transportation systems have recorded a 4.8 percent increase for the first quarter of 2003 over the same period in 2002, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).D) Transit officials say the main reason is the recent rise in gasoline prices. Feeling the impact ofcuts in production by oil-exporting countries, gasoline prices in the US shot up from a national average of $1.30 dollars a gallon (nearly 3.8 litres) late last year to high of $1.68 a gallon in June this year. In parts of the country, prices even reached $2 a gallon for the first time.E) While the price rise angered car drivers, many transportation experts feel it has turned attention to America's meager (不景气的) public transport. "The public transport system has been better now than in the past decades," says Delon Lowas, an urban planning analyst at the Sierra Club, the environmental group. According to APTA, a person commuting 10 miles to work every day by train instead of by car could save as much as 314 gallons (1193 liters) of gasoline annually -- thus reducing emissions of hydrocarbon gases and other pollutants.F) The oil price rise might just have been the induction to result in a new revolution in the travelhabits of US commuters, say environmentalists. As evidence, they point to the popularity of new light-rail systems in cities such as Portland. Even Los Angeles, whose residents are famous for their infatuation (迷恋) with cars, recently installed 17 miles of subway tracks. Now, US politicians are also warming to public transport. Federal and state governments are toying with some initiatives, such as tax breaks for people who use trains or buses.G) But public transportation continues to have its ideological critics. "It shouldn't be encouragedat the expense of private ownership of vehicles," says Ben Lieberman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). He asserts that the government's priority should be to make owning and driving a car more affordable by reducing environmental restrictions that push up the price of gasoline.H) The expansion of public transportation systems also draws opposition from those who areworried about the immense costs involved. They cite Los Angeles' subway expansion, which cost a record $4.7 billion, as an instance of how expensive public transport can be.I) Citing costs of construction, Tome DeLay, the powerful Republican Whip of the House ofRepresentatives, have moved to block funds for a proposed light-rail system in Houston. Mr.DeLay argues that the city should conduct a referendum（公民投票) before investing taxpayer's money. The result: the Houston authorities might well have to manage without federal funds or scrap the light-rail project entirely. Given the strong political pressure against it, some observers think the flirtation (对…的一时兴趣) with public transport will pass, not least because there are signs already that gas prices have started to fall. Mr. Lovaas, however, thinks that there has been "genuine grass-roots change" as people understand the environmental and social need for cutting down on automobile use. But he admitted that political opposition could take a long time to overcome. "The people at the top will be the last to get it."46. One factor for the sharp rising price of gasoline in the US this year was oil production cuts by oil-exporting countries.47. People who are concerned about the immense costs involved oppose the expansion of public transit.48. From the 1970s, train and bus usage in America has stopped developing to a great extent in that people have relied on cars more for their long-distance travel.49. Mr. Lovaas thinks that the change of travel habits can benefit the environment and society.50. According to environmentalists, the change of American commuters' travel habits might have been caused by the rise of oil price.51. A survey revealed recently that there are more than 200 million cars on America's roads.52. According to APTA, if a person commutes 10 miles a day taking a train instead of a car to work, he will save about 1193 liters of gasoline a year.53. CEI's Ben Lieberman is in favor of allowing people to have the right of owning private cars.54. Tax breaks are one of the initiatives federal and state governments are taking into consideration for people using buses.55. According to city officials, the underground railway system in Washington DC has been very busy this summerPassage 3Why DIY?A) The reasons why people engage in DIY have always been numerous and complex. For some,DIY has provided a rare opportunity for creativity and self-expression. For others it has been an unwelcome necessity, driven purely by economic considerations. Then there has been a group which feels that a building can never be a home unless it has been altered and modified to reflect a change of occupancy. A final group has traditionally taken the line that if you want a job done well, you must do it yourself.B) The same four basic species of DIYers exist today, although these various motives may nowoverlap very substantially. The perfectionist in search of the good job done well is often also driven by a desire for creativity. There are also two new categories of motive ~ the pursuit of DIY as a leisure activity and DIY as a form of occupational therapy. These, again, overlap with other reasons.DIY as necessityC) There is a significant number of young homemakers (38% of our informants) for whom there isno option but DIY. Their new home, whether bought on a mortgage which consumes a major slice of their income, or rented at similarly challenging rates, will often require essential rearrangement and even structural repair. Some of these people are reluctant first-time DIYers. They would much prefer to hire professionals, but can't afford to do so. The majority, however, welcome the opportunity that need has forced upon them to get involved for the first time in the real business of creating a home with all of its unfamiliar physical labour and the learning from scratch of new techniques. In time, many will migrate to one of the other categories of DIYer, continuing to exercise their new found talents and enthusiasm when no longer forced by financial constraints to do so.DIY as territorial markingD) Even those who have bought a brand new "starter home", the type which increasingly gainspopularity around the edges of our towns and cities, will feel compelled to add personal touches of a less dramatic kind to disguise its otherwise bland and expressionless nature.Putting a "personal stamp on the place" was one of the most frequently reported motives for DIY, with 72% of sample seeing this as being a very important aspect.DIY as self-expressionE) Many young people today are frustrated artists ~ their latent creative talents just waiting forthe chance to reveal themselves. There are also those seeking opportunities for a sense of achievement and personal fulfillment. DIY provided just such opportunities for the overwhelming majority of our informants (84%). This sense of creative achievement comes both from the choices made by the first-time DIYer the selection of colors, textures and components to apply to the "canvas" of the home and from the application of specific skills and techniques. The manufacturers of DIY materials clearly understand this and now providea wide range of "arty" products to fuel creative urges. At the same time, they make thematerials themselves much easier to use the DIY equivalent of painting by numbers. Special paint effects, which once required the specialist knowledge and training of the true professional, can now be achieved straight out of the can with a simple brush.DIY as perfection-seekingF) A large proportion of first-time DIYers (63%) distrust builders and decorators. They feel thatmost are "cowboys" and that even the more reputable ones are very unlikely to have thesame loving attention to detail and care as the DIYer. Some had previously suffered from the alleged bodge of small builders, while others were proud of the fact that no tradesman of this kind had ever set foot in their home. Within this group there were those who were content for builders to perform basic or structural work, and to undertake tasks such as plastering which are beyond the competence of most DIYers, particularly the younger novices in our sample. The finishing work, however, was something these people kept for themselves the final "perfecting" of what otherwise would be just a mediocre result.G) This drive for perfection was also evident among the "strippers" in this group. The idea ofputting wallpaper over existing paper, or even paint on the top of preceding coats, was anathema. Everything needed to be taken back to the bare plaster or the naked wood before any new decoration could be applied. Some informants recognized that this search for perfection could sometimes go too far: "It's an obsession for me really. I'm never happy with anything." The problem perfectionists face is that progress can be very slow. When perfectionists are obliged, by nagging or circumstance, to speed things up, other problems can result. DIY as leisure activityH) For a significant minority of first-timers (28%), DIY is seen as a novel and entertaining pastime.It is not really work, but something akin to entertainment, shared by both partners and even the children in the case of young families. "It's just great fun" enthused one of our sample.The idea that DIYing is akin to a trip to the lions of Longleat may seem strange. But for these informants home-making was sufficiently different from, and infinitely preferable to, the dull routines of weekday work to constitute a weekend break. The results of such activity were rewarding, but probably less so than engaging in the activity itself.DIY as therapyI) "It's therapeutic, isn't it? I'm always in my own little world when I'm doing DIY~ it's great." Sosaid a young man of 27 in our sample. "For me it's occupational therapy", said another informant. For them and others it was their way of getting rid of stress after a long day at work ~ a way of switching off and using the repetitive nature of many DIY tasks as a way of relaxing. Others hinted at a similar process, where DIY was almost an end in itself, rather than just a means to achieving a better home. In this sense they were similar to those who saw DIY as a form of leisure, but it was the psychological effects which were emphasized by 18% of our sample.46. It's found that most young DIY beginners are not competent for plastering.47. A brand new "starter home" becomes more and more popular around the border of towns and cities.48. Besides the traditional motives of DIY, the new categories of motive include the pursuit of DIY as a leisure activity.49. To those young homemakers, buying a new home on mortgage is as challenging as renting a house.50. About twenty-eight percent of the first-timers consider DIY as a novel and entertaining pastime.51. A large part of first-time DIYers use the term "cowboys" to refer to builders and decorators.52. "Strippers" are those people who are driven by the pursuit of DIY as perfection.53. Those reluctant first-time DIYers think it preferable to hiring professionals to do the homemaking.54. People who take DIY as a form of leisure and those who take DIY as therapy similarly think of DIY as almost an end in itself.55. At present~ special paint effects can be achieved by any DIYers with simple tools.Passage 4Want to Know Your Disease Risk? Check Your Exposome（环境暴露）A)When it comes to health, which is more important, nature or nurture? You may well thinkyour genes are a more important predictor of health and ill health. Not so fast. In fact, it transpires (得知) that our everyday environment outweighs our genetics, when it comes to measuring our risk of disease. The genome is out -- welcome the exposome.Ｂ）"The exposome represents everything a person is exposed to in the environment, that's not in the genes," says Stephen Rappaport, environmental health scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. That includes stress, diet, lifestyle choices, recreational and medicinal drug use and infections, to name a few. "The big difference is that the exposome changes throughout life as our bodies, diets and lifestyles change," he says. While our understanding of the human genome has been growing at an exponential (迅速发展的) rate over the last decade, it is not as helpful as we hoped in predicting diseases. "Genes only contribute 10 per cent to the overall disease burden," says Rappaport. "Knowing genetic risk factors can prove absolutely futile (无用的)," says Jeremy Nicholson at Imperial College London. He points to work by Nina Paynter at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who investigated the effects of 101 genetic markers implicated in heart disease. After following over 19,000 women for 12 years, she found these markers were not able to predict anything about the incidence of heart disease in this group.C) On the other hand, the impact of environmental influences is still largely a mystery. "There's animbalance between our ability to investigate the genome and the environment," says Chris Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, who came up with the idea of the exposome. In reality, most diseases are probably caused by a combination of the two, which is where the exposome comes in. "The idea is to have a comprehensive analysis of a person's full exposure history," says Wild. He hopes a better understanding of exposures will shed a brighter light on disease risk factors.D) There are likely to be critical periods of exposure in development. For example, the time frombirth to 3 years of age is thought to be particularly important. "We know that this is the time when brain connections are made, and that if you are obese by this age, you'll have problems as an adult," says Nicholson. In theory, a blood or urine sample taken from an individual could provide a snapshot of what that person has been exposed to. But how do you work out what fingerprints chemicals might leave in the body? The task is not as formidable (艰难的) as it sounds. For a start, researchers could make use of swathes of biobank information that has already been collected. "There has been a huge international funding effort in adult cohorts (一群) like the UK Biobank already," says Wild. "If we improved analysis, we could apply it to these groups."E) Several teams are also working towards developing wearable devices to measure personalexposure to chemicals in the environment. "We can put chemicals in categories," says Rappaport. "We could start by prioritizing toxic chemicals, and look for markers of these toxins in the blood, while hormones and metals can be measured directly." Rappaport islooking at albumin, a common protein in the blood that transports toxins to the liver where they are processed and broken down. He wants to know how it reacts with a range of chemicals, and is measuring the products. "You can get a fingerprint -- a display of all the products an individual has been exposed to."F) By combining this information with an enhanced understanding of how exposure affects health,the exposome could help better predict a person's true disease risk. And we shouldn't have to wait long -- Rappaport reckons we can reap the benefits within a generation. To this end, the U.S. National Institutes of Health has set up an exposure biology programme. "We're looking for interactions between genes and exposure to work out an individual's risk of disease.” says David Balshaw, who manages the programme. "It would allow you to tailor (使合适) the therapeutic response to that person's risk." An understanding of this interaction, reflected ina person's metabolic (新陈代谢) profiles, might also help predict how they will respond to adrug. Nicholson has been looking for clues in metabolite profiles of urine samples.G) Last year, his research group used these profiles to predict how individuals would metabolizeparacetamol（扑热息痛）. "It turned out that gut microbes were very important,”says Nicholson. We’ve sh own that the pre-dose urinary metabolite profile could predict the metabolism of painkilling drugs, and theref ore predict drug toxicity.” The findings suggest that metabolic profiles of exposure could help doctors tailor therapies and enable them to prescribe personalized medicines. Justin Stebbing at Imperial College London has already shown that metabolic profiles of women with breast cancer can predict who will respond to certain therapies. It is early days, but the initial findings look promising. "We're reaching me point where we are capable of assessing the exposome,” says Balashaw. With the implication for understanding the causes and risks, and a real prospect of developing personalized medicine, the exposome is showing more promise than the genome already, he adds. Bugging your biosphereH) How does air pollution or stress leave a trace in the blood? The US National Institutes ofHealth in Bethesda, Maryland, is trying to find out. One group funded by the NIH and led by Nongjian Tao at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute in Tempre is developing wearable wireless sensors to monitor an indivi dual’s exposure to env ironmental pollutants.Tao’s team started by creating software for Windows phones, but they are working on apps that could be used on any smart phone. In theory, anyone could pop on (戴) a sensor and download an app to receive real-tune reformation on exposure to environmental pollutants.At the same time, smart phones monitoring your location can combine the level of pollution with an exact time and place. Tao presented his sensor at the Circuits and Systems for Medical and Environmental Applications Workshop in Yucatan Mexico last week.I) “We are now moving prototypes into human studies, and progressing those products,”saysDavid Balshaw of the NIH. Earlier this year, Tao’s group tried out the sensor in individuals taking a stroll around Los Angeles, California. They were able to measure how exposure to pollutants changed as each person wandered near busy roads and petrol stations.46. It is Chris Wild who put forward the conception of exposome.47. Rappaport has confidence in the realization of exposome’s helping better predict people’s true disease risk.48. According to Jeremy Nicholson, knowing genetic risk factors of health turns out to be。

How Your Language Affect Your Wealth and HealthA. Doe the language we peak determine how healthy and rich we will be New reearch by Keith Chen of Yale Buine School ugget o. The tructure of language affect our judgment and deciion about the future and thi might have dramatic long-term conequence.Some people are better at delaying gratification ( 满足 ) than other. Thoe people have a better chance of accumulating wealth and keeping a healthy life tyle. They are le likely to be impule buyer or moker, or to engage in unafe e某.D. Chen recent finding ugget that an unlikely factor, language, trongly affect our future-oriented behavior. Some language trongly ditinguih the preent and the future. Other language only weakly ditinguih the preent and the future. Chen recent reearch ugget that people who peak language that weakly ditinguih the preent and the future are better prepared for the future. They accumulate more wealth and they are better able to maintain their health. The way thee people conceptualize the future i imilar to the way they conceptualize the preent. A a reult, the future doe not feel very ditant and it i eaier for them to act in accordance with their future interetS.He alo analyzed individual-level data on people retirement aet, moking and e某erciing habit, and general health in older age. Latly, he analyzed national-level data that inchide national aving rate, country GDP and GDP growth rate, country demographic, and proportion of people peaking different language.H. Similar analye howed that peaking a language that doe not have obligatory future marker, uch a Mandarin, make people accumulate more retirement aet, moke le, e某ercie more, and generally be healthier in older age. Countrie national aving rate are alo affected by language. Having a larger proportion of people peaking language that doe not have obligatory future marker make national aving rate higher.47. The tructure of language influence u when we are making a judgment or deciion about the future.48. Speaking a language that ha obligatory future marker and being unemployed nearly hare the ame percentage of decreaing the likelihood of aving.49. According to the well-known marhmallow tudie, people who can reit temptation tend to be ucceful in the future.50. People who peak language like Englih are more likely to feel that the future event are ditant.51. National aving rate of countrie are influenced by language a well.52. In Chen recent reearch, people who peak language in which the preent and the future are weakly ditinguihed are more prepared for the future.53. Recent finding how that it i poible to improve future-oriented behavior through making the future feel cloer to the preent.54. Through imple intervention, Ellen Langer and colleague made the phyical health of the older people changed for the better.55. Chen made an analyi of individual-level tatitic from 76 developed and developing nation【参考译文】语言如何影响你的财富与健康A.我们所说的语言是否会决定我们未来的健康和财富耶鲁商学院Keith Chen所做的一项新研究表明事实正是如此。

大学英语四级词汇练1.Even though he has lived in China for many years, Mark still can not _______ him self to the Chinese customs.A.adoptB.adjustC.adaptD.accept2.He tried to _______ with the manager for his salary.A.evaluateB.objectC.bargainD.pause3.To some _______, Mary still does not understand this unit. But she herself does not believe so.A.extendB.partC.extentD.content4.Great Britain and France will hold a _______ regarding some European economic problems.A.conferenceB.referenceC.conversionD.cooperation5.Since he often travels on business, he can _______ himself to sleeping in any place he can find.A.makeB.accustomC.forceD.let6.He has _______ much time and energy for his invention.A.containedB.proceededC.consumedD.paid7.A good teacher always tries to _______ students to ask question.A.encourageB.obeyC.recallD.spread8.If you want to see the chairman of the department, you’d better make an _______ with his secretary first.A.admissionB.agreementC.appointmentD.alphabet9.They say the new film is a(n) _______ picture so they won’t go to see it.A. internalB.oddC.interestingD.dull10.The judge _______ the murderer to twenty years in prison.A.requiredB.orderedC.indicatedD.sentenced11.This university has _______ a great deal since our last visit.A.appearedB.alteredC.approachedD.admired12.She is narrow minded and always _______ what other people have.A. jealousB.owesC.missesD.envies13.When he woke up from his dream, the frightened boy tried to _______ his mothers arm.A.grapeB.greyC.gripD.grave14.Mary has never been _______ a ship.A.abroadB.aboardC.aboveD.absorb15.The modern camera lens may be coated with more than ten _______ for each piece of its glass.A. levelsB.storiesyersD.formations16.The thief was _______ by the police at the railway station.A.carpetB.minedC.capturedD.mounted17.In fact, there is no _______ liberty in any country.A.adequateB.absoluteC.privateD.practical18.There is too much noise outside. I can not _______my attention on my work.A.connectB.flatC.fillD.concentrate19.While studying at U.C.L.A.,Mr.Wang _______ his old friend, whom he has notseen for nearly twenty years.A.encounteredB.whisperedC.swungD.maid20.The _______ production of engines in our factory has doubled this year.A.manualB.annualC.amountD.alike21.The Foreign Minister made an excellent _______ on the current international situation.mitteemandmentmission22.They _______ cattle mainly for the international market.A.carpenterB.districtC.oxD.breed23.He went to the dance last night but couldn’t find a _______ because of his strange clothes.A.pondB.saddleC.partnerD.salad24.Her father will never _______ of her going to study in the United States alone.A.proveB.agreeC.admitD.approve25.I wish I could _______ you somehow for your kindness.A.strawB.issueC.rewardD.own26.Our teacher was _______ by the funny story.A.nakedB.yieldedC.amusedD.expanded27.The young people made a new _______ to the governorA.proposalB.submergeC.tendencyD.thread28.In the film we saw last night, the hero _______ his wife to death with his sword.A.throatB.thrustC.trustD.thread29.If there is no other way to save a _______ person in a tall building on fire, firefighters may spread a net into which the person can jump.A.voltB.wrappedC.trappedD.deserted30.Since 1978, many new _______ have been developed in our university to meet the increasing demands of the students.A.disciplinesB.entrancesC.checksD.flames31.How can we finish the work in the _______ of any other helpers?A.eraB.hasteC.spareD.absence32.The wounded soldiers’ blood _______ the ground red at the front.A.diedB.dumpedC.drawedD.dyed33.There are two governments in this country. But neither of them is regarded as the _ ______ one by the otherA.panelB.legalC.purpleD.republic34.The question then ________: What are we going to do when we graduate from the university?A.raisesB.arousesC.arisesD.rises35.The _______ between the two playing periods of a football game is only a few min utes.A. internalB.reserveC.intervalD.radium36.What we need to learn is how to put theory into _______ when we begin our field work here.A.appearanceB.applicationC.accomplishD.achievement37.It is a _______ truth that man is the only animal that has the power to speak and reason.A.worthyB.virtualC.universalD.indefinite38.His speech _______ the young people to continue their study.A.glancedB.delayedC.inspiredD.created39.The ground around here is mostly _______ and not very good for farming.A.boardB.clayC.kidD.wax40.Some people say that education is the best _______ for children.A. investigationanizationC.investmentD.origin41.She likes the _______ flower instead of the natural one.A. articleB.adventureC.ancientD.artificial42.This highway runs _______ to the railway.A. identicalB.suitableC.parallelD.distribution43.The rent for this house is $ 250. But you need also pay $50 first as the _______.A.depositB.councilC.desiredD.submitted44.The rebuilding plan was _______ to the committee.A.tapedB.admittedC.desiredD.submitted45.Jack London worked very hard and finally he _______ success.A.madeB.foundC.soughtD.achieved46.It’s just _______ bite. There is nothing to worry about.A.a vesselB.a templeC.an insectD.an arbitrary47.Jack is _______ of stealing the books from the library.A.accusedB.witnessedC.strainedD.found48.Metals expand when they are heated and _______ when cooled.A. indicateB.eliminateC.conquerD.contract49.In order to _______ a good knowledge of English, he gave up his job and went to study in an English school.A.requireB.inquireC.acquireD.address50.He checked carefully to _______ the possible errors in his design.A.eliminateB.exceedC.enlargeD.vibrate答案:1.C2.C3.C4.A5.B6.C7.A8.C9.D 10.D 11.B 12.D 13.C 14.B 15.C 16.C 17.B 18.D19.A 20.B 21.C 22.D 23.C 24.D 25.C 26.C 27.A 28.B 29.C 30.A 31.D 32.D 33.B 34.C 35.C 36.B 37.C 38.C 39.B 40.C 41.D 42.C 43.A 44.D 45.D 46.C 47.A 48.D 49.C 50.A。