英语四级阅读真题与答案

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 allowa 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：adcbcThe 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 agriculture complained 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 Agriculat ural 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％答案：cdabc大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之三（含答案）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 adminitrationfor 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大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之四（含答案）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 nearly 750 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 female by 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) began its 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大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之五（含答案）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 diet and 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 penicillin to 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 harmfulsubstances 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：cacbd大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之六（含答案）As the pace of life continues to increase ,we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift,being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.Stress is an natural part of everyday lift and there is no way to avoid it. In fact ,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be .A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation adn give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress.Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.1.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.a.they do not know how to enjoy themselvesb.they do not believe that relaxation is important for healthc.they are travelling fast all the timed.they are becoming busier with their work2.According to the writer ,the most important character for a good manager is his ________.a.not fearing stressb.knowing the art of relaxationc.high sense of responsibilityd.having control over performance3.Which of the follwing statements is ture?a.We can find some ways to avoid stressb.Stress is always harmful to peoplec.It is easy to change the hagit of keeping oneself busy with work.d.Different people can withstand different amounts of stress4.In Paragraph 3, "such a reaction" refers back to_______.a."making a choice between 'flight' or 'fight'"b."reaction to stress both chemically and physically"c."responding to crises quickly"d."losing heart at the signs difficulties"5.In the last sentence of the passage,"do so " refers to ______.a."expose ourselves to stress"b."find ways to deal with stress"c."remove stress from our lives"d."established links between diseases and stress"答案：dadbc大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之七（含答案）In the 1960s, many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society. They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S. epual. Some of them decided to "drop out" of American society and form their own societies . They formed utopian communities , which they called "communes," where they could follow their philosophy of "do your own thing." A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called "Drop City." Following the ideas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller they built domeshaped houses from pieces of old cars. Other groups, such as author Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters, the followers fo San Francisco poet Steve Gakin, and a group that called itself the Hog Farm, lived in old school huses and traveled around the United States. The Hog Farm become famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. Steve Gaskin's followers tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee, but they had to leave when some members of the gruop were arrested for growing marijuana.Not all communes believed in the philosophy of "do you own thing," however . Twin Oaks , a commune founded in Virgiania in the late 1960s, was based on the ideas of psychologist The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner's "conditioning" techniques to do things that were good for the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city Arizsona where 2500 people will live closely together in one large building called an "archology" Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will allbecome one.1.Why did some young Americans decide to "drop out" of scoiety during the 1960s?a.They were not satisfied with American society.b.They wanted to grow marijuana.c.They wanted to go to the Vietnam War.d.They did not want all people to be equal.2.Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune live?a.In dome-shaped houseb.In old school husesc.On a farm inTennesseed.In an archology in Arizona3.Who gave the people of Drop City the idea to bulid dome-shaped house?a.Paolo Soleric.Steve Gaskind.Buckminster Fuller4.What was the Twin Oaks commune base on ?a.The philosophy of "do your own thing"b.Virginaia in the late 1960sc.The ideas of psychologistd.The belief that people must live closely togerher.5.What is an "archology"?a.A person who studies archaeologyb.A large building where people live closely togetherc.A city in A rizonad.A technique to contorl people答案：abdcb大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之八（含答案）There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably, some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual—the sort of environment in which he is reared. If an individual is handicapped envionmentally ,it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intellingence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark X. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth processes were the same. When the twins were three months old , their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster homes. Peter was reated by parents of low intelligence in an isolatedcommunity with poor educational pooprtunities.Mark was rearedinthe home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. He was read to as a child , sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually.This enviromental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were giben tesets to measure their intelligence. Mark's I.Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities , the twins , having identical brains,would have tested at roughly the same level.1.This selection can best be titled_________.a.Measuring Your Intelligenceb.Intelligence and Environmentc.The Case of Peter and Markd.How the brain Influences Intelligence2.The beststatement of the main idea of this passage is that _____.a.human brains differ considerablyb.the brain a person is born with is improtant in determining his intelligencec.environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenced. persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence3.According to the passage , the average _____.a.85b.100c.110d.1254.The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that _______.a.individual with identical brains seldom test at same levelb.an individual's intelligence is determined only by his enviromentck of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenced.changes of enviroment produce changes in the structure of the brain5.This passage suggests that an individual 's I.Q.______.a.can be predicted at birthb.stays the same throuthout his lifec.can be increased by educationd.is determined by his childhood答案：bcbcc大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之九（含答案）As she walked round the huge department store,Edith reflected how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father.She wish that he was as easy to please as her mother, who was always delighted with perfumeBesides,shoppong at this time of the year was a most disgreeable experience :people trod on your toes,poked you with their elbows and almost knocked you overin their haste to get to a bargain ahead of you.Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where some attracive ties were on display. "They are real silk," the assistant assured her, trying to tempt her. "Worth double the price." But edit knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.She moved on reluctantly and then quite by chance, stopped where a small crowd of man had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes on sale-----and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate for long : although her father only smoked a pipe occasionally, she knew that this was a present which was bund to please him.When she got home,with her small well-chosen present concealed in her handbag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was in an especially cheerful mood, "Your father has at last to decided to stop smoking." She informed her daughter.1.Edith's father _______.a.did not like presentb.never got presentc.preferred tiesd.was difficult to choose a present for2.The assistant spoke to Edith because she seemed_______.a.attractiveb.interested in tiesc.tiredd.in need of comfort3.Edith stopped at the next counter_________.a.puroselyb.suddenlyc.unwillinglyd.accidentally4.Edith's father smoked a pipe_______.a.when he was obligedb.on social occasionsc.from time to timed.when he was delighted5.Shopping was very disagreeable at that time of the year because_______.a.coustomers trod on each other's toesb.coustomers poked each other with their elbowsc.customers knocked each otherd.customers were doing their shopping in a great hurry答案：dbdcd大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之十（含答案）If the population of the earth goes on increasing at its present rate, there will eventually not be enough resources left to sustain life on the planet.By the middle of the 21st century,if present trends continue, wewill have used up all the oil that drives our cars,for example.Even if scientists develop new ways of feeding the human race,the crowded conditions on earth will make it necessary for lus to look for open space somewhere else. But none of the other planets in our solar system are capable of supporting life at present. One possible solution to the problem, however,has recently been suggested by American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan.Sagan believes that before the earth's resources are compleetely exhausted it will be possible to change the atmophere of Venus and so create a new world almost as large as earth itself. The difficult is that Venus is much hotter than the earth and there is only a tiny amount of water there.Sagan proposes that algae organisms that can live in extremely hot or cold atmospheres and at the same time produce oxygen,should be bred in condition similar to those on Venus.As soon as this has been done, the algae will be placed in small rockets. Spaceship will then fly to Venus and fire the rockets into the atmosphere .In a fairly short time, the alge will break down the carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon.When the algae have done theri work, the atmosphere will become cooler,but befor man can set foot on Venus it will be neccessary for the oxygen to produce rain. The surface of the planet will still be too hot for man to land on it but the rain will eventually fall and in a few years something like earth will be reproduced on Venus.1.Inte long run, the most insoluble problem caused by population growth on earth will probably be the lack of ______.a.foodb.oilc.spaced.resources2.Carl Sagan believes that Venus might be colonized from earth because _____a.it might be possible to change its atmosphereb.its atmosphere is the same as the earth'sc.there is a good supply of water on Venusd.the days on Venus are long enough3.On Venus there is a lot of ________.a.waterb.carbon dioxidec.carbon monoxided.oxygen4.Algae are plants that can____.a.live in very hot temperaturesb.live in very cold temperaturesc.manufacture oxygend.all of the above5. Man can land on Venus only when_______.a.the algae have done their workb.the atmosphere becomes coolerc.thereis oxygend.it rains there答案：cabdd大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之十一（含答案）What is your favourite colour? Do you like yellow , orange ,red? If you do ,you must be an optimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer greys and 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 as you 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 over the 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 facts。

2023年12月英语四级真题及答案题目一阅读理解阅读下面短文，然后按照题目要求完成任务。

（1）室外空气污染是城市过度工业化和交通拥堵的结果。

大量的机动车尾气和工厂废气排放直接导致了大气中污染物的浓度上升。

这些污染物对人体健康产生巨大的危害，增加了呼吸道疾病、心脏病、肺癌等疾病的患病风险。

（2）针对这一问题，很多城市已经开始采取措施减少空气污染。

限制排放标准越来越严格，发动机技术也在不断进步，以降低尾气中的有害物质排放。

另外，城市也开始推广环保交通工具，例如共享单车和电动汽车，以减少机动车尾气的排放。

题目要求： 1. 空气污染的原因是什么？ 2. 空气污染对人体健康造成了哪些危害？ 3. 城市减少空气污染的措施有哪些？解答：1.空气污染的原因是城市过度工业化和交通拥堵。

大量的机动车尾气和工厂废气的排放导致了大气中污染物的浓度上升。

2.空气污染对人体健康造成了很多危害。

首先，空气污染增加了呼吸道疾病的患病风险，例如支气管炎和哮喘。

其次，空气污染还会导致心脏病的发生，由于吸入污染物可引起心血管系统疾病。

最后，空气污染还与肺癌等疾病的发病风险增加有关。

3.城市为了减少空气污染采取了多种措施。

首先，限制排放标准不断提高，以降低机动车尾气中的有害物质排放。

其次，发动机技术也在不断进步，以提高燃烧效率和降低尾气排放。

此外，城市还开始推广环保交通工具，例如共享单车和电动汽车，以减少机动车尾气的排放。

题目二完形填空阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

（1）Social media is a giant force in modern society. We can use social media to 1 our business, access the news, and stay connected with friends and family members. However, there are also negative 2 to social media. Many people 3 social media as a tool for cyberbullying, spreading fake news, and excessive use of technology.（2）Cyberbullying is a serious problem that affects many people, especially teenagers. With the anonymity offered by social media platforms, bullies can hide behind 4 and target their victims without facing the consequences. This can 5 to severe emotional distress and even suicide in extreme cases.（3）Another negative aspect is the spread of fake news. Social media often becomes a 6 for the dissemination of false information. This can lead to 7 belief and misunderstanding among people. It is essential for users to verify the credibility of news sources before sharing or believing the information.题目要求： 1. 社交媒体在现代社会扮演了怎样的角色？ 2. 社交媒体可以导致哪些负面的结果？ 3. 请列举两个社交媒体的负面影响。

12月英语四级仔细阅读真题答案12月英语四级仔细阅读真题答案「篇一」Happiness can be described as a positive mood and a pleasant state of mind. According to recent polls (民意测验) sixty to seventy percent of Americans consider themselves to be moderately happy and one in twenty persons feels very unhappy. Psychologists have been studying the factors that contribute to happiness. It is not predictable nor is a person in an apparently ideal situation necessarily happy. The ideal situation may have little to do with his actual feelings。

A good education and income are usually considered necessary for happiness. Though both may contribute, they are only chief factors if the person is seriously undereducated or actually suffering from lack of physical needs。

The rich are not likely to be happier than the middle-income group or even those with very low incomes. People with college educations are somewhat happier than those who did not graduate from high school, and it is believed that this is mainly because they have more opportunity to control their lives. Yet people with a high income and a college education may be less happy than those with the same income and no college education。

四级英语考试真题和答案一、听力理解（共20分）1. A) The man is looking for a job.B) The woman is looking for a job.C) Both of them are looking for jobs.D) Neither of them is looking for a job.答案：B2. A) The woman is satisfied with the man's performance.B) The man is satisfied with the woman's performance.C) Both of them are satisfied with each other's performance.D) Neither of them is satisfied with each other's performance.答案：A3. A) The woman is a teacher.B) The man is a teacher.C) Both of them are teachers.D) Neither of them is a teacher.答案：A4. A) The man is going to the library.B) The woman is going to the library.C) Both of them are going to the library.D) Neither of them is going to the library.答案：C5. A) The woman is going to the concert.B) The man is going to the concert.C) Both of them are going to the concert.D) Neither of them is going to the concert.答案：D二、阅读理解（共20分）Passage 16. What is the main topic of the passage?A) The importance of sleep.B) The effects of sleep deprivation.C) The benefits of taking a nap.D) The relationship between sleep and health.答案：B7. According to the passage, what can lack of sleep lead to?A) Weight gain.B) Memory loss.C) Both A and B.D) Neither A nor B.答案：C8. What does the author suggest to improve sleep quality?A) Drinking less coffee.B) Exercising regularly.C) Both A and B.D) Neither A nor B.答案：CPassage 29. What is the author's opinion on the new policy?A) It is effective.B) It is ineffective.C) It is too early to tell.D) It is controversial.答案：C10. What is the purpose of the new policy?A) To reduce traffic congestion.B) To increase public transportation usage.C) To promote carpooling.D) To decrease air pollution.答案：A11. What does the author suggest to further improve the policy?A) Offering incentives for public transportation.B) Encouraging people to buy electric cars.C) Both A and B.D) Neither A nor B.答案：A三、词汇与语法（共20分）12. The company has recently ________ a new marketing strategy to increase sales.A) launchedB) landedC) plantedD) founded答案：A13. She ________ the book on the table and left the room.A) laidB) liedC) ledD) leapt答案：A14. The project was ________ difficult that we had to ask for more time.A) soB) suchC) veryD) too答案：A15. I would rather you ________ to the meeting this afternoon.A) comeB) comesC) cameD) will come答案：C四、完形填空（共20分）16. A) despiteB) althoughC) becauseD) as答案：B17. A) refusedB) acceptedC) ignoredD) rejected答案：A18. A) surprisedB) disappointedC) excitedD) confused答案：B19. A) adviceB) suggestionC) opinionD) idea答案：A20. A) succeededB) failedC) hesitatedD) persisted答案：D五、翻译（共20分）21. 随着科技的发展，人们的生活方式发生了巨大的变化。

2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题（一）In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that our appetite and food intake are influenced by a large number of factors besides our biological need for energy, including our eating environment and our perception of the food in front of us.Studies have shown, for instance, that eating in front of the TV (or a similar distraction) can increase both hunger and the amount of food consumed. Even simple visual cues, like plate size and lighting, have been shown to affect portion size and consumption.A new study suggested that our short-term memory also may play a role in appetite. Several hours after a meal, people's hunger levels were predicted not by how much they’d eaten but rather by how much food they'd seen in front of the m—in other words, how much they remembered eating.This disparity (盖弃）suggests the memory of our previous meal may have a bigger influence on our appetite than the actual size of the meal, says Jeffrey M. Brunstrom, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Bristol."Hunger isn't controlled solely by the physical characteristics of a recent meal. We have identified an independent role for memory for that meal，" Brunstrom says. "This shows that the relationship between hunger and food intake is more complex than we thought."These findings echo earlier research that suggests our perception of food can sometimes trick our body’s response to the food itself. In a 2011 study, for instance, people who drank the same 3S0-calorie (卡路里）milkshake on two separate occasions produced different levels of hunger-related hormones （荷尔蒙），depending on whether the shake’s label said it contained 620 or 140 calories. Moreover, the participants reported feeling more full when they thought they'd consumed a higher-calorie shake.What does this mean for our eating habits Although it hardly seems practical to trick ourselves into eating less, the new findings do highlight the benefits of focusing on our food and avoiding TV and multitasking while eating.The so-called mindful-eating strategies can fight distractions and help us control our appetite, Brunstrom says.56. What is said to be a factor affecting our appetite and food intakeA) How we perceive the food we eat. C) When we eat our meals.B) What ingredients the food contains. D) How fast we eat our meals.57. What would happen at meal time if you remembered eating a lotin the previous mealA) You would probably be more picky about food.B) You would not feel like eating the same food.C) You would have a good appetite.D) You would not feel so hungry.58. What do we learn from the 2011 studyA) Food labels may mislead consumers in their purchases.B) Food labels may influence our body’s response to food.C) Hunger levels depend on one's consumption of calories.D) People tend to take in a lot more calories than necessary.59. What does Brunstrom suggest we do to control our appetiteA) Trick ourselves into eating less. C) Concentrate on food while eating.B) Choose food with fewer calories. D) Pick dishes of the right size.60. What is the main idea of the passageA) Eating distractions often affect our food digestion.B) Psychological factors influence our hunger levels.C) Our food intake is determined by our biological needs.D) Good eating habits will contribute to our health.56. A 58. B 60. BAs a society we might want to rethink the time and money spent on education, so that these resources can benefit a greater percentage of the population. Ideally, both high schools and colleges can prepare individuals for the ever-changing roles that are likely to be expected of them.High school degrees offer far less in the way of preparation for work than they might, or than many other nations currently offer, creating a growing skills gap in our economy. We encourage students to go on to college whether they are prepared or not, or have a clear sense of purpose or interest, and now have the highest college dropout rate in the world.We might look to other countries for models of how high schools can offer better training, as well as the development of a work ethic (勤奋工作的美德）and the intellectual skills needed for continued learning and development. I recommend Harvard's 2011 "Pathways to Prosperity" report for more attention to the "forgotten half" (those who do not go on to college) and ideas about how to address this issue.Simultaneously, the liberal arts become more important than ever. In a knowledge economy where professional roles change rapidly and many college students are preparing for positions that may not even exist yet, the skill set needed is one that prepares them for change and continued learning.Learning to express ideas well in both writing and speech, knowing how to find information, and knowing how to do research are all-solid background skills for a wide variety of roles, and such training is more important than any particular major in a liberal arts college. We need to continue to value broad preparation in thinking skills ihat will serve for a lifetime.Students also need to learn to work independently and to make responsible decisions. The lengthening path to adulthood appears exacerbated (惡化）by parental involvement in the college years. Given the rising investment in college education, parental concern is not surprising, but learning where and when to intervene (干预）will help students take more ownership of the outcomes of these increasingly costly educations.61. What kind of education does the author think is idealA) It benefits the great majority of the general population.B) It prepares students to meet the future needs of society.C) It encourages students to learn throughout their lives.D) It ensures that students' expectations are successfully fulfilled.62. What does the author say is the problem with present high school educationA) Ignoring the needs of those who don't go to college.B) Teaching skills to be used right after graduation only.C) Giving little attention to those having difficulty learning.D) Creating the highest dropout rate in the developed world.63. What characterizes a knowledge economy according to the passageA) People have to receive higher education to qualify for a professional position.B) Students majoring in liberal arts usually have difficulty securing a job.C) New positions are constantly created that require people to keep learning.D) Colleges find it hard to teach students how to cope with the changing economy.64. What does the author think a liberal arts college should focus onA) Solid background knowledge in a particular field.B) Practical skills urgently needed in current society.C) Basic skills needed for change and lifelong learning.D) Useful thinking skills for advanced academic research.65. What suggestion docs the author offer to parentsA) Rethinking the value of higher education.B) Investing wisely in their children's education.C) Helping their children lo bring their talent into full play.D) Avoiding too much intervention in t heir children’s education.答案详解61. B 62. D 63. C 64. C 65 DAccording to a report, around 30,000 pupils started secondary school last year with the math skills of a seven-year-old. MPs (国会议员) warned that many young people would need “expensive” reme dial lessons in later life to get a job —posing major problems for the economy. The findings came just months after Ofsted(教育标准办公室)claimed almost half of math lessons in English schools were not good enough. It said many teachers relied on textbooks and mundane exercises to make sure pupils passed exams at the expense of a proper understanding of the subject. MPs backed the conclusions, saying too many pupils found lessons “boring”. They insisted improvements had been made under Labor but achievement had “leveled off” in recent years.In 2008, 79 percent of pupils met the Government’s expected standard at the end of primary school, well short of the 85 percent target set for 2006. Around five percent moved to secondary school with the math skills of a seven- year-old, said the committee. In 2006, ￡ billion was spent teaching the subject. It equates to around a quarter of the ￡10 billion total budget for primary teaching and support staff.The report said the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) needed to “radically rethink its strategy for improving pupil attainment; otherwisewe seriously doubt that the department will meet its 2011 target”. The target demands that percent of pupils will make the necessary progress between 7 and 11.Last year, the DCSF published a major review of math education in England to boost standards. It called for a math specialist in every primary school within 10 years and more emphasis on mathematical “play” in nursery schools. Mr. Leigh said, “The department’s 10-year program to train 13,000 specialist math teachers will not benefit some primary schools for another decade. That’s far too long; the department needs to look for ways to accelerate the program.” Sarah McCarthy Fry, the Schools Minister, said, “We have already accepted the main recommendation from a recent independent review of primary math that every school should have a specialist math teacher and have pledged ￡24 million over the next three years for a training program for teachers.”Nick Gibb, the Tory shadow schools secretary, said, “The Government is not getting value for the money they have piled into education and the country is falling behind in international league tables as a result. The Government has failed to replace methods of teaching which have failed with tried and tested methods used in countries that have much higher levels of math achievement.”57. What do we learn from the first paragraphA) 30,000 pupils started secondary school with poor math skills.B) MPs insist more improvements should be made under Labor.C) Young people need medical lessons to get a job.D) Half of English schools were not good enough.58. According to the passage, what happened in 2006A) 21% of pupils didn’t meet the Government’s expected sta ndard.B) The target set for 2006 was 87 percent.C) ￡ billion was spent on math teaching.D) The total budget for primary teaching and support staff was ￡5 billion in 2006.59. What will people probably do to improve math education in EnglandA) Spend money on training specialist math teachers.B) Hire a math specialist for every primary school.C) Allow pupils to have more mathematical “play”.D) Spend more time on math education.60. What do Nick Gibb’s words meanA) The British government should put more money into math education.B) Britain is falling behind in the international knowledge competition.C) The British government should learn from other countries’ failures.D) The British government should change their teaching methods every few years.61. What’s the passage mainly talking aboutA) There aren’t enough math teachers in British primary schools.B) The British government didn’t spend enough money on math education.C) British pupils are not good at math.D) Math lessons in British primary schools need to be improved.Conservationists call them hot spots — habitats that cover just percent of the earth’s land surface but are so rich in biological diversity that preserving them could keep an astonishing number of plant and animal species off the endangered list.Since 1988, when Dr. Norman Myers and his colleagues began describing these hot spots in a series of scientific papers and arguingfor their protection, they have become a focus of worldwide conservation efforts. Private organizations and government agencies, including the World Bank, have made preserving 25 such ecological arks a top priority for financing and protective legislation. But a growing chorus of scientists is warning that directing conservation funds to hot spots may be a recipe for major losses in the future. Of species that live on land, nearly half of all plants and more than a third of all animals are found only in the hot spots. But they do not include many rare species and major animal gro ups that live in less biologically rich regions (“cold spots”). And the hot-spot concept does not factor in the importance of some ecosystems to human beings, the scientists argue.This debate has been simmering quietly among biologists for years; however, it is coming to a boil now with the publication of an article in the current issue of American Scientist arguing that “calls to direct conservation funding to the world’s biodiversity hot spots may be bad investment advice.” “The hot-spot concept has grown so popular in recent years within the larger conservation community that it now risks eclipsing all other approaches,” write the authors of the paper. “The officers and directors of all too many foundations, non-governmental organizations and international agencies have been seduced by the simplicity of the hot spot idea,” they go on. “We worry that the initially appealing idea of getting the most species per unit area is, in fact, a thoroughly misleading strategy.”But hot spots have their ardent defenders, notably Dr. Norman Myers and Dr. Russell Mittermeier. Dr. Myers says hot spots have been successful at attracting attention and financing for conservation in tropical countries. “And that has been good,” he said. “No one is suggesting that one invest solely in hot spots, but if you want to avoid extinctions, you have to invest in them.”62. The best title for this passage would be ________.A) A Debate on Preserving Hot Spots B) An Introduction to Hot SpotsC) Hot Spots vs. Cold Spots D) How to Finance Hot Spots63. Hot spots occupy a small percentage of the earth’s landsurface with _____________.A) a third of all plantsB) many major animal groups living in cold spotsC) rich biological diversityD) many rare species living in cold spots64. Critics of hot spots hold the opinion that ________.A) hot spots are always as important as cold spotsB) it is unwise to invest largely in hot spotsC) governments should choose the best time to invest in hot spotsD) the hot-spot approach is a misleading strategy from the very beginning65. According to Dr. Norman Myers, _________.A) protecting and investing in hot spots can save species from extinctionB) conservation efforts should not center on hot spotsC) governments should invest most in cold spotsD) the hot-spot approach now is not as good as it was in the past66. What is the writer’s attitude towards the hot-spot approachA) Critical. B) Neutral. C) Supportive. D) Doubtful.2012年6月英语四级Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.In times of economic crisis. Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent. an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses, By 1932. when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929 But this doesn't mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone.Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households, Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities, A 1940 book. The Unemployed Man and His Family, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work."He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale(士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.Today's economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it's only when the economy is healthy again that we'll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.57．In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to __________.A)tear many troubled families apartB)contribute to enduring family tiesC)bring about a drop in the divorce rateD)cause a lot of conflicts in the familythe Great Depression many unhappy couples close to stick together becauseA)starting a new family would be hardB)they expected things would turn betterC)they wanted to better protect their kidsD)living separately would be too costlyaddition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce？A)Mounting family debtsB)A sense of insecurityC)Difficulty in getting a loanD)Falling housing priceswill the current economic crisis eventually do to some married couples？A)It will force them to pull their efforts togetherB)It will undermine their mutual understandingC)It will help strengthen their emotional bondsD)It will irreparably damage their relationshipcan be inferred from the last paragraph？A)The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rateB)Few couples can stand the test of economic hardshipsC)A stable family is the best protection against poverty.D)Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage57. B. 58. C. 59. D. 60. C. 61. D.People are being lured (引诱)onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they're paying for it by giving up toads of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Face book because people don't really know what their personal data is worth.The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules Early on you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook you could create own little private network. Last year. The company changed its privacy rules so that many things you city. Your photo, your friends' names-were set, by default (默认)to be shared with every one on the Internet.According to Facebook's vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information They have a "less satisfying experience".Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. In original business model, which involved selling ads and putting then At the side of the pages totally Who wants to took at ads when they're online connecting with their friends？The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites."I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits.I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning. Which is why I'm considering deactivating(撤销)my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't That's too high a price to pay.do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph？A)It is a website that sends messages to targeted users.B)It makes money by putting on advertisements.C)It profits by selling its users' personal data.D)It provides loads of information to its users.does the author say about most Facebook users？A)They are reluctant to give up their personal information.B)They don't know their personal data enriches Facebook.C)They don't identify themselves when using the website.D)They care very little about their personal information.does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage？A)To render better service to its users.B)To conform to the Federal guidelines.C)To improve its users' connectivity.D)To expand its scope of business.does Senator Charles Schumer advocate？A)Setting guidelines for advertising on websites.B)Banning the sharing of users' personal information.C)Formulating regulations for social-networking sites.D)Removing ads from all social-networking sites.does the author plan to cancel his Facebook account？A)He is dissatisfied with its current service.B)He finds many of its users untrustworthy.C)He doesn't want his personal data abused.D)He is upset by its frequent rule changes.62. D) 63. C) 64. C) 65. B) 66. C)2011年12月全国大学英语四级考试试题Boys' schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and involve them in activities such as art, dance and music.Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity (阳刚), the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to conform to a stereotype. a US study says.Boys at single-sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to conform to the "boy code" of hiding their emotions to be a "real man".The findings of the study so against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls.Tony Little, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being faded by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls.The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become discouraged when their female peers do better earlier in speaking and reading skills.But in single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boys' learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study's author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia.Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with "boy-focused" approaches such as themes and characters that appeal to them. Because boys generally have more acute vision learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given "hands-on" lessons where they are allowed to walk around. "Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine (女性的) and prefer the modem genre (类型) in which violence and sexism are major themes, "James wrote.Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to conform to a stereotype that men should be "masterful and in charge" in relationships. "In mixed schools boys feel compelled to act like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means, " the study reported.57. The author believes that a single-sex school would ____ .A) force boys to hide their emotions to be "real men"B) help to cultivate masculine aggressiveness in boysC) encourage boys to express their emotions more freelyD) naturally reinforce in boys the traditional image of a man58. It is commonly believed that in a mixed school boys _____ .A) Perform relatively better C) behave more responsiblyB) grow up more healthily D) receive a better education59. What does Tony Little say about the British education systemA) It fails more boys than girls academically.B) It focuses more on mixed school education.C) It fails to give boys the attention they need.D) It places more pressure on boys than on girls.60. According to Abigail James, one of the advantages of single-sex schools is ______.A) teaching can be tailored to suit the characteristics of boysB) boys can focus on their lessons without being distractedC) boys can choose to learn whatever they are interested inD) teaching can be designed to promote boys' team spirit61. Which of the following is characteristic of boys according to Abigail James' reportA) They enjoy being in charge. C) They have sharper vision.B) They conform to stereotypes. D) They are violent and sexist.57—61 CACACIt's an annual argument. Do we or do we not go on holiday My partner says no because the boiler could go, or the roof fall off and we have no savings to save us. I say you only live once and we work hard and what's the point if you can't go on holiday. The joy of a recession means no argument next year - we just won't go.Since money is known to be one of the things most likely to bring a relationship to its knees, we should be grateful. For many families the recession means more than not booking a holiday A YouGov poll of 2, 000 people found 22% said they were arguing more with their partners because of concerns about money. What's less clear is whether divorce and separation rates rise in a recession - financialpressures mean couples argue more but make splitting up less affordable. A recent research shows arguments about money were especially damaging to couples. Disputes were characterized by intense verbal ( 言语上的) aggression, tended to be repeated and not resolved and made men, more than women, extremely angry.Kim Stephenson, an occupational psychologist, believes money is such a big deal because of what it symbolizes, which may be different things to men and women. "People can say the same things about money but have different ideas of what it's for." he explains. "They'll say it's to save to spend, for security, for freedom, to show someone you love them." He says men are more likely to see money as a way of buying status and of showing their parents that they've achieved something."The biggest problem is that couples assume each other know what's going on with their finances, but they don't. There seems to be more of a taboo (禁忌) about talking about money than about death. But you both need to know what you're doing, who's paying what into the joint account and how much you keep separately. In a healthy relationship, you don't have to agree about money, but you have to talk about it."62. What does the author say about vacationingA) People enjoy it all the more during a recession.B) Few people can afford it without working hard.C) It makes all the hard work worthwhile.D) It is the chief cause of family disputes.63. What does the author mean by saying "money is known ... to bringa relationship to its knees"(Line 1, Para. 2)A) Money is considered to be the root of all evils.B) Some people sacrifice their dignity for money.C) Few people can resist the temptation of money.D) Disputes over money may rain a relationship.64. The YouGov poll of 2, 000 people indicates that in a recession ______ .A) conflicts between couples tend to riseB) it is more expensive for couples to split upC) couples show more concern for each otherD) divorce and separation rates increase65. What does Kim Stephenson believeA) Money is often a symbol of a person's status.B) Money means a great deal to both and women.C) Men and women spend money on different things.D) Men and women view money in different ways.66. The author suggests at the end of the passage that couples should ______ .A) put their money together instead of keeping it separatelyB) make efforts to reach agreement on their family budgetsC) discuss money matters to maintain a healthy relationshipD) avoid arguing about money matters to remain romantic62—66 CDADC。

大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之一（含答案）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大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之二（含答案）The economy of the United states after1952was 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 year1955,a typical year of the1950’s,may be typical as illustrating the rapid economic growth of the decade.The national output was value at10percent above that of1954(1955output was estimated at392billion dollars).The production of manufacturers was about40percent more than it had averaged in the years immediately following World War2.The country’s business spent about30billion dollars for new factories and machinery.National income available for spending was almost a third greater than it had been it had been in1950.Consumers spent about256billion dollars;that is about700million 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 agriculture complained 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 of1950’sb.The Unemployment Rate of1950’sc.U.S.Economy in the50’sd.The Federal Budget of19522.In Line3,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 in1955viewed the national economy with an air of_________.a.confidenceb.confusionc.disappointmentd.suspicion4.Which of the following were LEAST satisfied with the national economy in the1950’s?a.Economistsb.Frmaersc.Politiciansd.Steelworkers5.The passage states that incom available for spending in the U.S.was greater in1955than in1950.How much was it?a.60％b.50％c.33％d.90％答案：cdabc大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之三（含答案）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 a1987update,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 in1987was greater than that of1985b.the number of women professors in the University in1987was smaller than that of1985c.the number of women professors was the same as that of1985d.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大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之四（含答案）Today,as in every other day of the year,more than3000U.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 these3000about23will be murdered,30 will die in traffic accidents,and nearly750will 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 late1970s,when daily smoking among high school seniors reached30precent,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 late1970s,smoking among male high school seniors exceeded that among female by nearly10percent.The statistic is reversing.Third,several recent studies have indicate high school dropouts have excessively high smoking rates,as much as75percent.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)began its 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大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之五（含答案）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 diet and 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.In1945,about35years 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 penicillin to 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：cacbd大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之六（含答案）As the pace of life continues to increase,we are fast losing the art of relaxation.Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down.But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body. Stress is an natural part of everyday lift and there is no way to avoid it.In fact,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be.A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation adn give purpose to life.It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual.Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities.Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties.When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically.In fact we make choice between "fight"or"flight"and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death.The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response.It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress.Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.1.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.a.they do not know how to enjoy themselvesb.they do not believe that relaxation is important for healthc.they are travelling fast all the timed.they are becoming busier with their work2.According to the writer,the most important character for a good manager is his________.a.not fearing stressb.knowing the art of relaxationc.high sense of responsibilityd.having control over performance3.Which of the follwing statements is ture?a.We can find some ways to avoid stressb.Stress is always harmful to peoplec.It is easy to change the hagit of keeping oneself busy with work.d.Different people can withstand different amounts of stress4.In Paragraph3,"such a reaction"refers back to_______.a."making a choice between'flight'or'fight'"b."reaction to stress both chemically and physically"c."responding to crises quickly"d."losing heart at the signs difficulties"5.In the last sentence of the passage,"do so"refers to______.a."expose ourselves to stress"b."find ways to deal with stress"c."remove stress from our lives"d."established links between diseases and stress"答案：dadbc大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之七（含答案）In the1960s,many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society.They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S.epual.Some of them decided to"drop out"of American society and form their own societies. They formed utopian communities,which they called"communes,"where they could follow their philosophy of"do your own thing."A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called"Drop City."Following the ideas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller they built domeshaped houses from pieces of old cars.Other groups,such as author Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters,the followers fo San Francisco poet Steve Gakin,and a group that called itself the Hog Farm,lived in old school huses and traveled around the United States.The Hog Farm become famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in1969.Steve Gaskin's followers tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee,but they had to leave when some members of the gruop were arrested for growing marijuana.Not all communes believed in the philosophy of"do you own thing,"however Twin Oaks,a commune founded in Virgiania in the late1960s,was based on the ideas of psychologist B.F.Skinner.The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner's"conditioning"techniques to do things that were good for the community.In1972,Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti,a utopian city Arizsona where2500people will live closely together in one large building called an"archology"Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will all become one.1.Why did some young Americans decide to"drop out"of scoiety during the1960s?a.They were not satisfied with American society.b.They wanted to grow marijuana.c.They wanted to go to the Vietnam War.d.They did not want all people to be equal.2.Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune live?a.In dome-shaped houseb.In old school husesc.On a farm inTennesseed.In an archology in Arizona3.Who gave the people of Drop City the idea to bulid dome-shaped house?a.Paolo Solerib.B.G.Skinnerc.Steve Gaskind.Buckminster Fuller4.What was the Twin Oaks commune base on?a.The philosophy of"do your own thing"b.Virginaia in the late1960sc.The ideas of psychologistd.The belief that people must live closely togerher.5.What is an"archology"?a.A person who studies archaeologyb.A large building where people live closely togetherc.A city in A rizonad.A technique to contorl people答案：abdcb大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之八（含答案）There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence.The first is the sort of brain he is born with.Human brains differ considerably,some being more capable than others.But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with,an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn.So the second factor is what happens to the individual—the sort of environment in which he is reared.If an individual is handicapped envionmentally,it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intellingence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins,Peter and Mark X.Being identical,the twins had identical brains at birth,and their growth processes were the same.When the twins were three months old,their parents died,and they were placed in separate foster homes.Peter was reated by parents of low intelligence in an isolatedcommunity with poor educational pooprtunities.Mark was reared inthe home of well-to-do parents who had been to college.He was read to as a child,sent to good schools,and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually.This enviromental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens,when they were giben tesets to measure their intelligence.Mark's I.Q.was125,twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother.Given equal opportunities,the twins,having identical brains,would have tested at roughly thesame level.1.This selection can best be titled_________.a.Measuring Your Intelligenceb.Intelligence and Environmentc.The Case of Peter and Markd.How the brain Influences Intelligence2.The beststatement of the main idea of this passage is that_____.a.human brains differ considerablyb.the brain a person is born with is improtant in determining his intelligencec.environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenced.persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence3.According to the passage,the average I.Q.is_____.a.85b.100c.110d.1254.The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that_______.a.individual with identical brains seldom test at same levelb.an individual's intelligence is determined only by his enviromentck of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenced.changes of enviroment produce changes in the structure of the brain5.This passage suggests that an individual's I.Q.______.a.can be predicted at birthb.stays the same throuthout his lifec.can be increased by educationd.is determined by his childhood答案：bcbcc大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之九（含答案）As she walked round the huge department store,Edith reflected how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father.She wish that he was as easy to please as her mother,who was always delighted with perfumeBesides,shoppong at this time of the year was a most disgreeable experience:people trod on your toes,poked you with their elbows and almost knocked you overin their haste to get to a bargain ahead of you.Partly to have a rest,Edith paused in front of a counter where some attracive ties were on display."They are real silk,"the assistant assured her,trying to tempt her."Worth double the price."But edit knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.She moved on reluctantly and then quite by chance,stopped where a small crowd of man had gathered round a counter.She found some good quality pipes on sale-----and the prices were very reasonable.Edith did not hesitate for long:although her father only smoked a pipe occasionally,she knew that this was a present which was bund to please him.When she got home,with her small well-chosen present concealed in her handbag,her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was in an especially cheerful mood,"Y our father has at last to decided to stop smoking."She informed her daughter.1.Edith's father_______.a.did not like presentb.never got presentc.preferred tiesd.was difficult to choose a present for2.The assistant spoke to Edith because she seemed_______.a.attractiveb.interested in tiesc.tiredd.in need of comfort3.Edith stopped at the next counter_________.a.puroselyb.suddenlyc.unwillinglyd.accidentally4.Edith's father smoked a pipe_______.a.when he was obligedb.on social occasionsc.from time to timed.when he was delighted5.Shopping was very disagreeable at that time of the year because_______.a.coustomers trod on each other's toesb.coustomers poked each other with their elbowsc.customers knocked each otherd.customers were doing their shopping in a great hurry答案：dbdcd大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之十（含答案）If the population of the earth goes on increasing at its present rate,there will eventually not be enough resources left to sustain life on the planet.By the middle of the21st century,if present trends continue,we will have used up all the oil that drives our cars,for example.Even if scientists develop new ways of feeding the human race,the crowded conditions on earth will make it necessary for lus to look for open space somewhere else.But none of the other planets in our solar system are capable ofsupporting life at present.One possible solution to the problem,however,has recently been suggested by American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan.Sagan believes that before the earth's resources are compleetely exhausted it will be possible to change the atmophere of V enus and so create a new world almost as large as earth itself.The difficult is that Venus is much hotter than the earth and there is only a tiny amount of water there.Sagan proposes that algae organisms that can live in extremely hot or cold atmospheres and at the same time produce oxygen,should be bred in condition similar to those on V enus.As soon as this has been done,the algae will be placed in smallrockets.Spaceship will then fly to V enus and fire the rockets into the atmosphere.In a fairly short time,the alge will break down the carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon.When the algae have done theri work,the atmosphere will become cooler,but befor man can set foot on V enus it will be neccessary for the oxygen to produce rain.The surface of the planet will still be too hot for man to land on it but the rain will eventually fall and in a few years something like earth will be reproduced on V enus.1.Inte long run,the most insoluble problem caused by population growth on earth will probably be the lack of______.a.foodb.oilc.spaced.resources2.Carl Sagan believes that V enus might be colonized from earth because_____a.it might be possible to change its atmosphereb.its atmosphere is the same as the earth'sc.there is a good supply of water on V enusd.the days on V enus are long enough3.On V enus there is a lot of________.a.waterb.carbon dioxidec.carbon monoxided.oxygen4.Algae are plants that can____.a.live in very hot temperaturesb.live in very cold temperaturesc.manufacture oxygend.all of the above5.Man can land on V enus only when_______.a.the algae have done their workb.the atmosphere becomes coolerc.thereis oxygend.it rains there答案：cabdd大学英语四级阅读理解试题40篇之十一（含答案）What is your favourite colour?Do you like yellow,orange,red?If you do,you must be an optimist,a leader,an active person who enjoys life,people and excitement.Do you prefer greys and 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 as you 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 over the 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."Y ou 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_______.。

6月大学英语四级阅读真题以及答案一、真题回顾Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on thefollowing passage.How can you tell if a child is gifted? There are no tell-tale signs, but there are some clues. Here are a few of them.Gifted children often start talking early. They have large vocabularies and an excellent grasp of language before they start school.Their questions are penetrating and their conversation is often on an adult level.Gifted children learn to read by themselves, sometimes before they start school. They are advanced readers, and they read for pleasure as well as for knowledge. They often have a good memory and can remember details of things they have read or seen.Gifted children are very curious about the world around them. They want to know how things work and why things happen. They are interested in many different things, and they enjoy learning about them. They are not easily satisfied with simple answers and may drivetheir teachers and parents to distraction with their endless questions.Gifted children are often very independent. They like to do things their own way and are willing to take risks. They are often very creative and enjoy expressing themselves through art, music, or writing.Gifted children may also have some difficulties. They may find it hard to fit in with other children their own age. They may be teased or bullied because they are different. They may also find the schoolwork too easy or too hard, which can make them feel lonely or misunderstood.Gifted children need special attention.Their parents and teachers should recognizetheir abilities and encourage them to develop their talents. They should be givenopportunities to learn at their own pace and to explore the things that interest them. With the right support, gifted children can achieve great things.46. What is the passage mainly about?A. The definition of gifted children.B. The characteristics of gifted children.C. The problems faced by gifted children.D. The importance of education for gifted children.47. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about gifted children?A. They are born with excellent language skills.B. They learn to read by themselves at an early age.C. They are easily satisfied with simple answers.D. They are less creative than other children.48. What is the possible problem for gifted children in school?A. They are often teased or bullied by their classmates.B. They find it difficult to keep up with their schoolwork.C. They are not given enough attention by their teachers.D. They feel lonely and misunderstood because of their abilities.49. What should parents and teachers do for gifted children according to the passage?A. Help them to fit in with other children.B. Provide them with special education.C. Encourage them to develop their talents.D. Let them learn at their own pace.50. What would be the best title for the passage?A. Gifted Children: Born to ShineB. Gifted Children: Challenges and OpportunitiesC. Gifted Children: Special Education NeededD. Gifted Children: Understanding and Supporting Them二、答案解析46. 答案：B。

（完整版）英语四级阅读试题库含答案解析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 or isn ’t –we won ’t do much about it. We will argue overit 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 warmi ng 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, totalenergy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. butthat ’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 freeze everyone else‘s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050.No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economicgrowth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back global warming. Still, politicians want to show they ’re “doing something. ”Consi der the Kyoto Protocol (京都议定书). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didn ’t. But it hasn ’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 ’s really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don ’t solve the engineering 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 wide crisis at all. 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 understandin g, 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 permiss ion 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, agirlfriend, 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. The digital 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 a worldwhere 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 b others 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 personal information 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, youdon ’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 ’sidentities.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 anythingdevices. about it.66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________.A) people will make every effort to keep itwoman.B) its importance is rarely understoodThere are many reasons forC) it is something that can easily be lostD) people don ’t cherish it until the y lose itthis-typically, men take more risks thanwoman and are more likely to drink andsmoke but perhaps more importantly,men don ’t go to the doctor.“Men aren ’t seeing doctors as often2.Passage Oneas they should, ”says Dr. Gullotta, “This Question s 57 to 61 are based on theis particularly so for the over-40s,when following passage.diseases tend to strike. ”If you are a male and you are readingGullotta says a healthy man should this ,congratulations: you are avisit the doctor every year or two. For survivor .According tostatistics .you arethose over 45,it should be at least once amore than twice as likely to die of skinyear.cancer than a woman ,and nine timesTwo months ago Gullotta saw a more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you50-year-old ma who had delayed doing make it to the end of your natural term,anything about his smoker ’s cough for a about 78 years for men in Australia, youyear.will die on average five years before a“When I finally saw him it had alreadyspread and he has since died from lung Regular check-ups for men would cancer ”he says, “Earlier detection and inevitably place strain on the public purse, treatment may not have cured him, but it Cartmill says. ”But prevention is cheaper would have prolonged this life ”in the long run than having to treat the According to a recent survey, 95%of diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far women aged between 15 and early 40s greater: it is called premature death. ”see a doctor once a year, compared to 57.Why does the author congratulate his 70% of men in the same age group. male readers at the beginning of the “A lot of men think they are invincible passage?（不可战胜的）”Gullotta says “They only A. They are more likely to survive serious come in when a friend drops dead on the diseases today.golf course and they think ”Geez, if it B. Their average lifespan has been could happen to him. considerably extended.Then there is the ostrich approach, ” C. They have lived long enough to read some men are scared of what might be this article.there and would rather not know, ”says D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and Dr. Ross Cartmill. happier live.“Most men get their cars serviced 58.What does the author state is the mostmore regularly than they service their important reason men die five years bodies, ”Cartmill says .He believes most earlier on average than women?diseases that commonly affect men could A. men drink and smoke much more thanbe addressed by preventive check-ups. womenB. men don ’t seek medical care as often disease becaus e of fearas women 61. What does Cartmill say about regularC. men aren ’t as cautions as women in check-ups for men?face of danger A.They may increase public expensesD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal B.They will save money in the long rundiseases C.They may cause psychological strains on59. Which of the following best completes menthe sentence “Geez, if it could happen to D.They will enable men to live as long ashim ?’(line2,para,8)? womenA. it could happen to me, too Passage TwoB. I should avoid playing golf Questions 62 to 66 are based on theC. I should consider myself lucky following passage.D. it would be a big misfortune High-quality customer service is60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by preached( 宣扬)by many ,but actually“the ostrich approach ”(line q para.9) keeping customers happy is easier saidA. a casual attitude towards one ’s health than doneconditions Shoppers seldom complain to the B. a new therapy for certain psychological manager or owner of a retail store, butproblems instead will alert their friends, relatives, C. refusal to get medical treatment for fear co-workers, strangers-and anyone whoof the pain involved will listen.D. unwillingness to find out about one ’s Store managers are often the last tohear complaints, and often find out only include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满when their regular customers decide t 了的) shelves, overloaded racks, frequent their competitors, according to a out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, study jointly conducted by Verde group and rude salespeople.and Wharton school During peak shopping hours, some “Storytelling hurts retailers and retailers solved the parking problems by entertains consumers, ”said Paula getting moonlighting （业余兼职的）local Courtney, President of the V erde group. ”police to work as parking attendants.the store loses the customer, but the Some hired flag wavers to direct shopper must also find a replacement. ”customers to empty parking spaces. This On average, every unhappy customerguidance eliminated the need forwill complain to at least four other, and customers to circle the parking lotwill no longer visit the specific store for endlessly, and avoided confrontationevery dissatisfied customer, a store will between those eyeing the same parkinglose up to three more due to negative space.reviews. The resulting “snowball effect ”Retailers can relieve the headaches bycan be disastrous to retailers. redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking According to the research, shoppers sales items, hiring speedy and who purchased clothing encountered the experienced cashiers, and having salesmost problems. ranked second and third representatives on hand to answerwere grocery and electronics customers. questions.The most common complaints Most importantly, salespeople shouldbe diplomatic and polite with angry them.customers. C Few customers believe the service will “Retailers who ’re responsive and be improved.friendly are more likely to smooth over D Customers have no easy access to storeissues than those who aren ’t so friendly. ”managers.said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe 63. What does Paula Courtney imply by something as simple as a greeter at the saying “?the shopper must also find astore entrance would help. ”replacement ”(Line 2, Para. 4)?Customers can also improve future A New customers arebound to replace shopping experiences by filing complaints old ones.to the retailer, instead of complaining to B It is not likely the shopper can find thethe rest of the world. Retailers are same products in other stores.hard-pressed to improve when they have C Most stores provide the sameno idea what is wrong. D Not complaining to the manager causes注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答the shopper some trouble too.62. Why are store managers often the last 64. Shop owners often hire moonlightingto hear complaints? police as parking attendants so that A Most customers won ’t bother to shoppers_____complain even if they have had unhappy A can stay longer browsing in the store experiences. B won ’t have trouble parking their carsB Customers would rather relate theirC won ’t have any worries about securityunhappy experiences to people around D can find their cars easily after shopping65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeopleB Hiring of efficient employeesC Huge supply of goods for saleD Design of the store layout.66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers areadvised 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 sustainable fabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges toinclude 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 t hat can just replace what you ’re doing and shat your customers are used to, ”he says. For example, organic cotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable once woven 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 greenentrepreneurs (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 thesupply 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 hunt for “cute stuff that isn ’t too expensive. ”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 sustainablematerials .B) they have to create new brands for clothes made of organicmaterials .C) customers have difficulty telling organic from non-organicmaterials .D) quality organic replacements for synthetics are not readilyavailable .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 t oward 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 D) She is very muchopposed to the idea61. 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 heavierwater to California than to Utah.Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along astrand 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 and constructed a mop of the regional differences. They checked the accuracy 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 goodfor eliminating many possibilities. ”Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learnmore about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near 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 way downfor 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 Cerl ing ’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 underinvestigation.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 lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing 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 esca pe the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexedfemales raised by our never-married, alcoholic ( 酗酒的) mothers.These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit toa cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhapsmost complicated duty may be simple to be herself.It won ’t be easy. Because few mainstream publicationshave donein-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 whousually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogshave written about what they ’d like to see Michelle bring to the WhiteHouse —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 women like me, just a little of her poise ( 沉着), confidence and intelligence will goa long way in changing an image that ’s been around for far too long.57. Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?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-Americanwomen.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.。

大学英语4级真题Passage 1The endless debate about “work-life balance’’ often contains a hopeful footnote about stay-at-home dads. If American society and business won5t make it easier on future female leaders who choose to have children, there is still the ray of hope that increasing numbers of full-time fathers will. But based on today’s socioeconomic trends, this hope is, unfortunately, misguided.It’s true that the number of men who have left work to do their thing as full-time parents has doubled in a decade, but ifs still very small：only 0. 8% of married couples where the stay-at-home father was out of the labor force for a year. Even that percentage is likely inflated by men thrust into their caretaker role by a downsizing. This is simply not a large enough group to reduce the social stigma(污名)and force other adjustments necessary to supporting men in this decision, even if only for a relatively short time.Even shorter times away from work for working fathers are already difficult. A study found that 85% of new fathers take some time off after the birth of a child—but for all but a few, it’s a week or two at most. Meanwhile, the average for women who take leave is more than 10 weeks. Such choices impact who moves up in the organization. While you’re away, someone else is doing your work, making your sales, taking care of your customers. That can’t help you at work. It can only hurt you. Women, of course, face the same issues of returning after a long absence. But with many more women than men choosing to leave the workforce entirely to raise families, returning from an extended parental leave doesn’t raise as many eyebrows as it does for men.Women would make more if they didn't break their earning trajectory (轨迹）by leaving the workforce, or if higher-paying professions were more family-friendly. In the foreseeable future, stay- at-home fathers may make all the difference for individual families, but their presence won’t reduce the numbers of high-potential women who are forced to choose between family and career.56.What gives women a ray of hope to achieve work-life balance?A)More men taking an extended parental leave.B)Peopled changing attitudes towards family.C)More women entering business management.D)The improvement of their socioeconomic status.57.Why does the author say the hope for more full-time fathers is misguided?A)Women are better at taking care of children.B)Many men value work more than their family.C)Their number is too small to make a difference.D)Not many men have the chance to stay at home.58.Why do few men take a long parental leave?A)A long leave will have a negative impact on their career.B)They just have too many responsibilities to fulfill at work.C)The economic loss will be too much for their family to bear.D)They are likely to get fired if absent from work for too long.59.What is the most likely reaction to men returning from an extended parental leave?A) Jealousy. C) Admiration. B) Surprise.D) Sympathy.60.What does the author say about high-potential women in the not-too-distant future?A)They will benefit from the trend of more fathers staying at home.B)They will find high-paying professions a bit more family-friendly.C)They are unlikely to break their career trajectory to raise a family.D)They will still face the difficult choice between career and children.答案：BCABDPassage 2Some of the world’s most significant problems never hit headlines. One example comes from agriculture. Food riots and hunger make news. But the trend lying behind these matters is rarely talked about. This is the decline in the growth in yields of some of the world’s major crops. A new study by the University of Minnesota and McGill University in Montreal looks at where, and how far, this decline is occurring.The authors take a vast number of data points for the four most important crops :rice, wheat, com and soyabeans (大豆).They find that on between 24% and 39% of all harvested areas, the improvement in yields that took place before the 1980s slowed down in the 1990s and 2000s. There are two worrying features of the slowdown. One is that it has been particularly sharp in the world’s most(人口多的）countries, India and China. Their ability to feed themselves has been an important source of relative stability both within the countries and on world food markets. That self-sufficiency cannot be taken for granted if yields continue to slow down or reverse.Second, yield growth has been lower in wheat and rice than in com and soyabeans. This is problematic because wheat and rice are more important as foods, accounting for around half of all calories consumed. Com and soyabeans are more important as feed grains. The authors note that “we have preferentially focused our crop improvement efforts on feeding animals and cars rather than on crops that feed people and are the basis of food security in much of the world. ”, The report qualifies the more optimistic findings of another new paper which suggests that the world will not have to dig up a lot more land for farming in order to feed 9 billion people in 2050, as the Food and Agriculture Organisation has argued.Instead, it says, thanks to slowing population growth, land currently ploughed up for crops might be able to revert (回返）to forest or wilderness. This could happen. The trouble is that the forecast assumes continued improvements in yields, which may not actually happen.61.What does the author try to draw attention to?A) Food riots and hunger in the world.C) The decline of the grain yield growth.B) News headlines in the leading media.D) The food supply in populous countries.62.Why does the author mention India and China in particular?A)Their self-sufficiency is vital to the stability of world food markets.B)Their food yields have begun to decrease sharply in recent years.C)Their big populations are causing worldwide concerns.D)Their food self-sufficiency has been taken for granted.63.What does the new study by the two universities say about recent crop improvement efforts?A)They fail to produce the same remarkable results as before the 1980s.B)They contribute a lot to the improvement of human food production.C)They play a major role in guaranteeing the food security of the world.D)They focus more on the increase of animal feed than human food grains.64.What does the Food and Agriculture Organisation say about world food production in thecoming decades?A)The growing population will greatly increase the pressure on world food supplies.B)The optimistic prediction about food production should be viewed with caution.C)The "slowdown of the growth in yields of major food crops will be reversed.D)The world will be able to feed its population without increasing farmland.65.How does the author view the argument of the Food and Agriculture Organisation?A)It is built on the findings of a new study.B)It is based on a doubtful assumption.C)It is backed by strong evidence.D)It is open to further discussion.答案：CADDBPassage 3Junk food is everywhere. We’re eating way too much of it. Most of us know what we’re doing and yet we do it anyway.So here’s a suggestion offered by two researchers at the Rand Corporation : Why not take a lesson from alcohol control policies and apply them to where food is sold and how it’s displayed?“Many policy measures to control obesity(肥胖症）assume that people consciously and rationally choose what and how much they eat and therefore focus on providing information and more access to healthier foods,” note the two researchers.“In contrast,” the researchers continue, “ many regulations that don’t assume people make rational choices have been successfully applied to control alcohol, a substance—like food—of which immoderate consumption leads to serious health problems. ’’The research references studies of peopled behavior with food and alcohol and results of alcohol restrictions, and then lists five regulations that the researchers think might be promising if applied to junk foods. Among them:Density restrictions：licenses to sell alcohol aren’t handed out unplanned to all comers but are allotted (分配) based on the number of places in an area that already sell alcohol. These make alcohol less easy to get and reduce the number of psychological cues to drink.Similarly, the researchers say, being presented with junk food stimulates our desire to eat it. So why not limit the density of food outlets, particularly ones that sell food rich in empty calories? And why not limit sale of food in places that aren5t primarily food stores?Display and sales restrictions: California has a rule prohibiting alcohol displays near the cash registers in gas stations, and in most places you can’t buy alcohol at drive-through facilities. At supermarkets, food companies pay to have their wares in places where they’re easily seen. One could remove junk food to the back of the store and ban them from the shelves at checkout lines. The other measures include restricting portion sizes, taxing and prohibiting special price deals for junk foods, and placing warning labels on the products.56.What does the author say about junk food?A)People should be educated not to eat too much.B)It is widely consumed despite its ill reputation.C)Its temptation is too strong for people to resist.D)It causes more harm than is generally realized.57.What do the Rand researchers think of many of the policy measures to control obesity?A) They should be implemented effectively.C) They are based on wrong assumptions.B) They provide misleading information.D) They help people make rational choices.58.Why do policymakers of alcohol control place density restrictions?A)Few people are able to resist alcohol’s temptations.B)There are already too many stores selling alcohol.C)Drinking strong alcohol can cause social problems.D)Easy access leads to customers’ over-consumption.59.What is the purpose of California’s rule about alcohol display in gas stations?A)To effectively limit the density of alcohol outlets.B)To help drivers to give up the habit of drinking.C)To prevent possible traffic jams in nearby areas.D)To get alcohol out of drivers’ immediate sight.60.What is the general guideline the Rand researchers suggest about junk food control?A)Guiding people to make rational choices about food.B)Enhancing people’s awareness of their own health.C)Borrowing ideas from alcohol control measures.D)Resorting to economic, legal and psychological means.答案：CCDDCPassage 4Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy (破产）protection is a sad, though not unexpected, turning point for a leading American corporation that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to adapt to the digital revolution.Although many attribute Kodak’s downfall to “complacency ( 自满)”that explanation doesn’t acknowledge the lengths to which the company went to reinvent itself. Decades ago, Kodak anticipated that digital photography would overtake film—and in fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975—but in a fateful decision, the company chose to shelf its new discovery to focus on its traditional film business.It wasn’t that Kodak was blind to the future, said Rebecca Henderson, a professor at Harvard Business School, but rather that it failed to execute on a strategy to confront it. By the time the company realized its mistake, it was too late.Kodak is an example of a firm that was very much aware that they had to adapt, and spent a lot of money trying to do so, but ultimately failed. Large companies have a difficult time switching to new markets because there is a temptation to put existing assets into the new businesses.Although Kodak anticipated the inevitable rise of digital photography, its corporate(企业的）culture was too rooted in the successes of the past for it to make the clean break necessary to fully embrace the future. They were a company stuck in time. Their history was so important to them. Now their history has become a liability.Kodak’s downfall over the last several decades was dramatic. In 1976, the company commanded 90% of the market for photographic film and 85% of the market for cameras. But the 1980s brought new competition from Japanese film company Fuji Photo, which undermined Kodak by offering lower prices for film and photo supplies. Kodak’s decision not to pursue the role of official film for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a major miscalculation. The bid went instead to Fuji, which exploited its sponsorship to win a permanent foothold in the marketplace.61.What do we learn about Kodak?A)It went bankrupt all of a sudden.B)It is approaching its downfall.C)It initiated the digital revolution in the film industry.D)It is playing the dominant role in the film market.62.Why does the author mention Kodak’s invention of the first digital camera?A)To show its early attempt to reinvent itself.B)To show its effort to overcome complacency.C)To show its quick adaptation to the digital revolution.D)To show its will to compete with Japan’s Fuji Photo.63.Why do large companies have difficulty switching to new markets?A)They find it costly to give up their existing assets.B)They tend to be slow in confronting new challenges.C)They are unwilling to invest in new technology.D)They are deeply stuck in their glorious past.64.What does the author say Kodak’s history has become?A) A burden.B) A mirror.C) A joke.D) A challenge.65.What was Kodak’s fatal mistake?A) Its blind faith in traditional photography.C) Its refusal to sponsor the 1984 Olympics.B) Its failure to see Fuji Photo’s emergence.D) Its overconfidence in its corporate culture.答案：BADACPassage 5When it’s five o’clock, people leave their office. The length of the workday, for many workers, is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they’re done.These days, the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches, but on cell-phones and computers. That may be a bad thing, particularly at work. New research shows that clock-based work schedules hinder morale (士气) and creativity.Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours. For example：a meeting from 9 a. m. to 10 a. m. , research from 10 a. m. to noon, etc. On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish. They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed. It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.What, then, are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier, they had participants organize different activities—from project planning, holiday shopping, to yoga —by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under “clock time vs “task time.” They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives. Task timers are happier and more creative, but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening, and seize opportunities that come up.The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in business culture. Smart companies, they believe, will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office, but the researchersargue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by dock time. While most people will still probably need, and be, to some extent, clock-timers, task-based timing should be used when perfoming a job that requires more creativity. It’ll make those tasks easier, arid the task- doers will be happier.56.What does the author think of time displayed everywhere?A)It makes everybody time-conscious.B)It is a convenience for work and life.C)It may have a negative effect on creative work.D)It clearly indicates the fast pace of modem life.57.How do people usually go about their work according to the author?A)They combine clock-based and task-based planning.B)They give priority to the most urgent task on hand.C)They set a time limit for each specific task.D)They accomplish their tasks one by one.58.What did Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier find in their experiments about clocks timers?A) They seize opportunities as they come up.C) They have more control over their lives.B) They always get their work done in time.D) They tend to be more productive.59.What do the researchers say about today’s business culture?A)It does not support the strategies adopted by smart companies.B)It does not attach enough importance to task-based practice.C)It places more emphasis on work efficiency than on workers5 lives.D)It aims to bring employees, potential and creativity into full play.60.What do the researchers suggest?A)Task-based timing is preferred for doing creative work. B)It is important to keep a balance between work and life.C)Performing creative jobs tends to make workers happier. D)A scientific standard should be adopted in job evaluation.答案：CADAAPassage 6Martha Stewart was charged, tried and competed of a crime in 2004. As she neared the end of her prison sentence, a well-known columnist wrote that she was “ paying her dues,” and that “ there is simply no reason for anyone to attempt to deny her right to start anew.”Surely, the American ideal of second chances should not be reserved only for the rich and powerful. Unfortunately, many federal and state laws impose post-conviction restrictions on a shockingly large number of Americans, who are prevented from ever fully paying their debt to society.At least 65 million people in the United States have a criminal record. This can result in severe penalties that continue long after punishment is completed.Many of these penalties are imposed regardless of the seriousness of the offense or the person’s individual circumstances. Laws can restrict or ban voting, access to public housing, and professional and business licensing. They can affect a person’s ability to get a job and qualification for benefits.In all, more than 45, 000 laws and rules serve to exclude vast numbers of people from fullyparticipating in American life.Some laws make sense. No one advocates letting someone convicted of pedophilia（恋童癖）work in a school. But too often collateral(附随的）consequences bear no relation to public safety. Should a woman who possessed a small amount of drugs years ago be permanently unable to be licensed as a nurse?These laws are also counterproductive, since they make it harder for people with criminal records to find housing or land a job, two key factors that reduce backsliding.A recent report makes several recommendations, including the abolition of most post-conviction penalties, except for those specifically needed to protect public safety. Where the penalties are not a must, they should be imposed only if the facts of a case support it.The point is not to excuse or forget the crime. Rather, it is to recognize that in America’s vast criminal justice system, second chances are crucial. It is in no one’s interest to keep a large segment of the population on the margins of society.61.What does the well-known columnist’s remark about Martha Stewart suggest?A)Her past record might stand in her way to a new life.B)Her business went bankrupt while she was in prison.C)Her release from prison has drawn little attention.D)Her prison sentence might have been extended.62.What do we learn from the second paragraph about many criminals in America?A)They backslide after serving their terms in prison.B)They are deprived of chances to turn over a new leaf.C)They receive severe penalties for committing minor offenses.D)They are convicted regardless of their individual circumstances.63.What are the consequences for many Americans with a criminal record?A) They remain poor for the rest of their lives.C) They are marginalized in society.B) They are deprived of all social benefits.D) They are deserted by their family.64.What does the author think of the post-conviction laws and rules?A)They help to maintain social stability.B)Some of them have long been outdated.C)They are hardly understood by the public.D)A lot of them have negative effects on society.65.What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?A)To create opportunities for criminals to reform themselves.B)To appeal for changes in America’s criminal justice system.C)To ensure that people with a criminal record live a decent life.D)To call people’s attention to prisoners’ conditions in America.答案：ABCDBPassage 7The wallet is heading for extinction. As a day-to-day essential，it will die off with the generation who read print newspapers. The kind of shopping—where you hand over notes and count out change in return—now happens only in the most minor of our retail encounters, like buying a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk from a comer shop. At the shops where you spend any real money, that money is increasingly abstracted. And this is more and more true, the higher upthe scale you go. At the most cutting-edge retail stores—Victoria Beckham on Dover Street, for instance—you don’t go and stand at any kind of cash register when you decide to pay. The staff are equipped with iPads to take your payment while you relax on a sofa.Which is nothing more or less than excellent service, if you have the money. But across society, the abstraction of the idea of cash makes me uneasy. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned. But earning money isn’t quick or easy for most of us. Isn’t it a bit weird that spending it should happen in half a blink (眨眼）of an eye? Doesn’t a wallet—that time-honoured Friday-night feeling of pleasing, promising fatness—represent something that matters?But I’ll leave the economics to the experts. What bothers me about the death of the wallet is the change it represents in our physical environment. Everything about the look and feel of a wallet—the way the fastenings and materials wear and tear and loosen with age, the plastic and paper and gold and silver, and handwritten phone numbers and printed cinema tickets—is the very opposite of what our world is becoming. The opposite of a wallet is a smartphone or an iPad. The rounded edges, cool glass，smooth and unknowable as a pebble (鹅卵石）. Instead of digging through pieces of paper and peering into comers, we move our fingers left and right. No more counting out coins. Show your wallet, if you still have one. It may not be here much longer.56.What is happening to the wallet?A) It is disappearing.C) It is becoming costly,B) It is being fattened.D) It is changing in style.57.How are business transactions done in big modem stores?A)Individually.C) In the abstract.B)Electronically.D) Via a cash register.58.What makes the author feel uncomfortable nowadays?A)Saving money is becoming a thing of the past.B)The pleasing Friday-night feeling is fading.C)Earning money is getting more difficult.D)Spending money is so fast and easy.59.Why does the author choose to write about what’s happening to the wallet?A)It represents a change in the modem world.B)It has something to do with everybody’s life.C)It marks the end of a time-honoured tradition.D)It is the concern of contemporary economists.60.What can we infer from the passage about the author?A)He is resistant to social changes.B)He is against technological progress.C)He feels reluctant to part with the traditional wallet.D)He feels insecure in the ever-changing modem world.答案：ABDADPassage 8Everybody sleeps, but what people stay up late to catch—or wake up early in order not to miss— varies by culture.From data collected, it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep, on average, are sporting events, time changes, and holidays.Around the world, people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time, Russians, for example, began to wake up about a half-hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to “winter time” starting on October 26.Russia’s other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays. On New Year’s Eve, Russians have the world’s latest bedtime，hitting the hay at around 3:30 a.m.、Russians also get up an hour later on International Women’s Day, the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly, Americans, late nights, late mornings, and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends. Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey （冰球）. The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation(剥夺）.The worst night for sleep in the U. K was the night of the England-Italy match on June 14. Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it, and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights, the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime. That was nothing, though, compared to Germans, Italians, and the French, who stayed up around an hour and a half later on various days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns; in some of these nations, it’s likely that only the richest people do. And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person. Even if that’s the case, though, the above findings are still striking. If the most health-conscious among us have such deep swings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year, how much sleep are the rest of us losing?61.What does the author say about peopled sleeping habits?A) They are culture-related.C) They change with the seasons.B) They affect peopled health.D) They vary from person to person.62.What do we learn about the Russians regarding sleep?A)They don’t fall asleep until very late.C)They get less sleep on public holidays.B)They don’t sleep much on weekends.D)They sleep longer than people elsewhere.63.What is the major cause for Europeans’ loss of sleep?A)The daylight savings time.C)The World Cup.B)The colorful night life.D)The summertime.64.What is the most probable reason for some rich people to use a device to record their sleep patterns?A) They have trouble falling asleep.C) They are involved in a sleep research.B) They want to get sufficient sleep.D) They want to go to bed on regular hours.65.What does .the author imply in the last paragraph?A)Sleeplessness does harm to peopled health.B)Few people really know the importance of sleep.C)It is important to study our sleep patterns.D)Average people probably sleep less than the rich.答案：ACCBBPassage 9Could you reproduce Silicon Valley elsewhere, or is there something unique about it?It wouldn't be surprising if it were hard to reproduce in other countries, because you couldn't reproduce it in most of the US either. What does it take to make a Silicon Valley?It's the right people. If you could get the right ten thousand people to move from Silicon Valley to Buffalo, Buffalo would become Silicon Valley.You only need two kinds of people to create a technology hub (中心) : rich people and nerds (痴迷科研的人).Observation bears this out. Within the US, towns have become star, up hubs if and only if they have both rich people and nerds. Few startups happen in Miami, for example, because although it's full of rich people, it has few nerds. It's not the kind of place nerds like.Whereas Pittsburgh has the opposite problem: plenty of nerds, but no rich people.The top US Computer Science departments are said to be MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and Carnegie-Mellon. MIT yielded Route 128.Stanford and Berkeley yielded Silicon Valley. But what did Carnegie-Mellon yield in Pittsburgh? And what happened in Ithaca, home of Cornell University, which is also high on the list?I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to college at Cornell, so I can answer for both. The weather is terrible, particularly in winter, and there's no interesting old city to make up for it, as there is in Boston. Rich people don't want to live in Pittsburgh or Ithaca. So while there're plenty of hackers (电脑迷) who could start startups, there's no one to invest in themDo you really need the rich people? Wouldn't it work to have the government invest in the nerds?No, it would not. Start up investors are a distinct type of rich people. They tend to have a lot of experience themselves in the technology business. This helps them pick the right startups, and means they can supply advice and connections as well as money. And the fact that they have a personal stake in the outcome makes them really pay attention.56.What do we learn about Silicon Valley from the passage?A. Its success is hard to copy anywhere else.B. It is the biggest technology hub in the US.C. Its fame in high technology is incomparable.D. It leads the world in information technology.57.What makes Miami unfit to produce a Silicon Valley?A. Lack of incentive for investment.B. Lack of the right kind of talents.C. Lack of government support.D. Lack of famous universities.58.In what way is Carnegie-Mellon different from Stanford, Berkeley and MIT?A. Its location is not as attractive to rich people.B. Its science departments are not nearly as good.C. It does not produce computer hackers and nerds.D. It does not pay much attention to business startups.59.What does the author imply about Boston?A. It has pleasant weather all year round.。

英语四级阅读理解部分的真题及答案阅读理解是中的重中之重，因为阅读理解占了30个题目，分值也较大。

再过不久就要进行英语四级考试了，同学们可以通过做真题来找到阅读理解的感觉。

为大家整理了英语四级阅读理解部分的真题及答案，希望能给大家带来帮助!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 identi ied by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Global warming is a trend toward warmer conditions around the world. Part of the warming is natural; we have experienced a 20,000-year-long warming as the last ice age ended and the ice__36___away,However , we have already reached temperatures that are in__37__with other minimum-ice periods, so continued warming is likely not natural. We are __38__to a predicted worldwide in increase in temperatures__39__betweem 1℃ and 6℃ over the next 100 years. The warming will be more__40__in some areas, less in other, and some places may even cool off. Likewise, the __41__of this warming will be very different depending on where you are-coastal areas must worry about rising sea levels, while Siberia and northern Canada may become more habitable(宜居的)and __42__for humans than these areas are now.The fact remains, however, that it will likely get warmer, on __43__, everywhere. Scientists are in general agreement that the warmer conditions we have been experiencing are at least in part the result of a human-induced global warming trend. Somescientists___44__that the changes we are seeing fall within the range of random(无规律的)variation-some years are cold, others warm, and we have just had an unremarkable string of warm years__45___--but that is becoming an increasingly rare interpretation in the face of continued and increasingwarm conditions.A) appealing I) melted B) average J) persist C) contributing K) ranging D) dramatic L) recently E) frequently M) resolved F) impact N) sensible G) line O) shock H) maintainSection 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.The End of the Book?[A] Amazon, by far the largest bookseller in the country, reported on May 19 that it is now selling more books in its electronic Kindle format than in the old paper-and-ink format. That is remarkable, considering that the Kindle has only been around for four years. E-books now account for 14 percent of all book sales in the country and are increasing far faster than overall book sales. E-book sales are up 146 percent over last year, while hardback sales increased 6 percent and paperbacks decreased 8 percent.[B] Does this spell the doom of the physical book? Certainly not immediately, and perhaps not at all. What it does mean is that the book business will go through a transformation in the next decade or so more profound than any it has seen since Gutenberg introduced printing from moveable type in the 1450s.[C] Physical books will surely become much rarer in the marketplace. Mass market paperbacks, which have been declining for years anyway, will probably disappear, as will hardbacks for mysteries, thrillers, “romance iction,” etc. Such books, which only rarely end up in permanent collections, either private or public, will probably only be available as e-books within a few years. Hardback and trade paperbacks for “serious” non iction andiction will surely last longer. Perhaps it will become the mark of an author to reckon with that he or she is still published in hard copy.[D] As for children’s books, who knows? Children’s books are like dog food in that the purchasers are not the consumers, so the market (and the marketing) is inherently strange.[E] For clues to the book’s future, let’s look at some examples of technological change and see what happened to the old technology.[F] One technology replaces another only because the new technology is better, cheaper, or both. The greater the difference, the sooner and more thoroughly the new technology replaces the old. Printing with moveable type on paper dramatically reducedthe cost of producing a book compared with the old-fashioned ones handwritten onvellum, which comes from sheepskin. A Bible—requiredto be sure, a long book—vellum, which comes from sheepskin. A Bible——to be sure, a long bookvellum made from 300 sheepskins and countless man-hours of labor. Before printingarrived, a Bible cost more than a middle-class house. There were perhaps 50,000 books in all of Europe in 1450. By 1500 there were 10 million.[G] But while printing quickly caused the hand written book to die out, handwriting lingered on (继续存在) well into the 16th century. Very special books are still occasionally produced on vellum, but they are one-of-a-kind show pieces.[H]Sometimes a new technology doesn’t drive the old on [H]Sometimes a new technology doesn’t drive the old one out, but only parts of it e out, but only parts of it while forcing the rest to evolve. The movies were widely predicted to drive live theater out of the marketplace, but they didn’t, because theater turned out to have qualities movies could not reproduce. Equally, TV was supposed to replace movies but, again, did not. [I] Movies did, however, fatally impact some parts of live theater. And while TV didn’t kill movies, it did kill second-rate pictures, shorts, and cartoons.[J] Nor did TV kill radio. Comedy and drama shows (“Jack Benny,” “Amos and Andy,” “The Shadow”) all migrated to television. But because you can’t drive a car and watch television at the same time, rush hour became radio’s prime, while music, talk, and news radio greatly enlarged their audiences. Radio is today a very different business than in the late 1940s and a much larger one.[K] Sometimes old technology lingers for centuries because of its symbolic power.Mounted cavalry (骑兵) replaced the chariot (二轮战车) on the battle ield around 1000 BC. But chariots maintained their place in parades and triumphs right up until the end of the Roman Empire 1,500 years later. The sword hasn’t had a military function for a hundred years, but is still part of an of icer’s full years, but is still part of an of icer’s full-dress uniform, precisely because a sword always -dress uniform, precisely because a sword always s ymbolized “an of icer and a gentleman.”[L] Sometimes new technology is a little cranky (不稳定的) at irst. Televisionrepairman was a common occupation in the 1950s, for instance. And so the old technology remains as a backup. Steamships captured the North Atlantic passenger business from sail in the 1840s because of its much greater speed. But steamships didn’t lose their sails until the 1880s, because early marine engines had a nasty habit of breaking down. Until ships became large enough (and engines small enough) to mount two engines side by side, they needed to keep sails. (The high cost of steam and the lesser need for speed kept the majority of the world’s ocean freight moving by sail until the early years of the 20th century.)[M] Then there is the ireplace. Central heating was present in every upper-andmiddle-class home by the second half of the 19th century. But functioning ireplaces remain to this day a powerful selling point in a house or apartment. I suspect the reason is a deep-rooted love of the ire. Fire was one of the earliest major technological advances forhumankind, providing heat, protection, and cooked food (which is much easier to cat and digest). Human control of ire goes back far enough (over a million years) that evolution could have produced a genetic leaning towards ire as a central aspect of human life.[N] Books[N] Books——especially books the average person could afford—haven’t been around long enough to produce evolutionary change in humans. But they have a powerful hold on many people nonetheless, a hold extending farbeyond their literary content. At their best, they are works of art and there is a tactile(触觉的)pleasure in books necessarily lost in e-book versions. The ability to quickly thumb through pages is also lost. And a room with books in it induces, at least in some, a feeling not dissimilar to that of a ire in the ireplace on a cold winter’s night.[O] For these reasons I think physical books will have a longer existence as a commercial product than some currently predict. Like swords, books have symbolic power. Like ireplaces, they induce a sense of comfort and warmth. And, perhaps, similar to sails, they make a useful back-up for when the lights go out.46. Authors still published in printed versions will be considered important ones.47. Some people are still in favor of printed books because of the sense of touch they can provide. 48. The radio business has changed greatly and now attracts more listeners.49. Contrary to many people’s prediction of its death, the ilm industry survived. 50. Remarkable changes have taken place in the book business.51. Old technology sometimes continues to exist because of its reliability.52. The increase of e-book sales will force the book business to make changes not seen for centuries. 53. A new technology is unlikely to take the place of an old one without a clear advantage. 54. Paperbacks of popular literature are more likely to be replaced by e-books. 55. A house with a ireplace has a stronger appeal to buyers.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or un inished 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 56 to 60are based on the following passage.The question of whether our government should promote science and technology or the liberal arts in higher education isn’t an either/or proposition(命题)，although the current emphasis on preparing young Americans for STEM(science, technology, engineering, maths)-related ields can make it seem that way.The latest congressional report acknowledges the critical importance of technical training, but also asserts that the study of the humanities (人文学科)and social sciences must remain central components of America’s educational system at all levels. Both are critical to producing citizens who can participate effectively in our democratic society, become innovative(创新的)leaders, and bene it from the spiritual enrichment that there lection on the great ideas of mankind over time provides.Parents and students who have invested heavily in higher education worry about graduates’ job prospects as technological advances an d changes in domestic and global markets transform professions in ways that reduce wages and cut jobs. Under these circumstances, it’s natural to look for what may appear to be the most “practical” way out of the problem “Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some, though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run. Indeed, according to surveys, employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily.Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their irst job, but for their 4th and 5th jobs, as there’slittle reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers. The ones who will do the best in this new environment will be those whose educations have prepared them to be lexible. The ability to draw upon every available tool and insight—picked up from science, arts, and technology——to solve the problems of the future, and take advantage of the opportunities technologythat present themselves, will be helpful to them and the United States.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。